Bleacher Report - Articles by RealFootball365.com

San Francisco 49ers: With Luck, Getting Re-stuck on the Druck Won't Suck

RealFootball365.com — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:05:16 -0400

The future looks lame, so maybe the solution to the Niners' quarterback problem of the present is to turn to their past. But whom to call?

Steve Young has what appears to be a neat job talking on television that he'd unlikely abandon. Joe Montana has a full schedule devoted to ruining his reputation. And Y.A. Tittle is 81 and probably busy running his insurance business and yelling at kids to stay off his lawn.

Instead, they need a younger, less rusty option who has a history with this team. Specifically, the 49ers should call on Jim Druckenmiller, assuming they saved his number.

New Raiders Slogan: "I Will" Sign at Least One Hooligan

RealFootball365.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:51:50 -0400

Oakland Raiders season ticket holders may have been taken aback when they received their ticket packages for the 2008 campaign. There was a small, two-word change ... in big, bold lettering.

The new slogan in Oakland is now "I will," according to the promotional material included with the package. A short year ago, "I'm in" was the motto for the struggling organization. After another season far below the .500 mark, however, it seems the Raiders have given up on "I'm in."

The change in catchphrases coincides very nicely with two speculative reports that were released over the weekend.

The first came from ESPN writer Michael Smith, who said on SportsCenter that Oakland and the Washington Redskins are the top two interested parties in acquiring Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

The second report came from The Tennessean in a March 8 article by Jim Wyatt. Along with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins, Wyatt states that "Detroit, Oakland, Kansas City, Houston, New Orleans and New England are among those to have expressed at least some level of interest" in suspended Titans cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones.

So it seems they just ran out of space to fit the real slogan: "I will ... do what I want."

Both young cornerbacks are known for being loud and controversial. They do what they want. And they certainly don't fit the "I'm in" philosophy.

Hall, 24, has had a productive four seasons in the NFL (230 tackles and 17 interceptions), but he has also established himself as a "me-first" player during that time.

The 5-foot-10 cornerback has pulled several stunts since being selected in the first round of the 2004 draft by the Falcons. In his career, Hall has:

Shaved "I own 85" into his head after winning a bet with Bengals WR Chad Johnson.
Been involved with a highly publicized feud with Cowboys wideout Terrell Owens, who spit in Hall's face on Dec. 18, 2006.
Carried a poster of Michael Vick onto the field and sported an "MV7" eye shade on ''Monday Night Football'' after Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison. (Hall was fined $10,000 by the NFL for the incident).
Skipped out on a team-building outing to the movies planned by former head coach Jim Mora, instead opting to take off in his Lamborghini while players and coaches loaded into buses.
Been fined for receiving three flags in one drive (for a total of 67 yards) while covering Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith.
Reportedly told Saints head coach Sean Payton "I'll play for you for the minimum" during a home game against New Orleans last season.

Jones, on the other hand, has taken much more of an off-field approach to tainting his career. The currently suspended 24-year-old Titan was first arrested in July 2005 on charges of assault and felony vandalism after an altercation at a nightclub. Since that arrest, he has:

Had a petition filed against him by the State of West Virginia for not regularly contacting his probation officer.
Been arrested for disorderly conduct and public intoxication in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Been cited for misdemeanor assault for supposedly spitting in the face of a female Tennessee State University student.
Gotten busted for drug possession after being pulled over for speeding in his 2004 Cadillac XLT.
Had over $80,000 in cash seized and faced two felony charges after the infamous Minxx Gentlemen's Club & Lounge shooting.

And those are just the big ones.

Amazingly, according to Smith and Wyatt, the Raiders have shown some sort of interest in both hooligans.

With "I'm in" out the door, though, it's now "Anything goes" in Oakland.

So "I will" bet team owner Al Davis doesn't care what DeAngelo Hall or Pacman Jones have done in the past. Both are fast.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

R.I.P.: USFL (Finally), AAFL (Probably)

RealFootball365.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:39:40 -0400

From the sports world comes news of a pair of unfortunate demises, with two leagues once full of promise seeing closure of sorts.

Last week saw an all-time great trivia answer from the world of football retire. No, we're not referring to Brett Favre (or even Warren "The QB Killa" Sapp), but rather Sean Landeta. As a punter mostly for the New York Giants, Landeta strung together a pro football career spanning 24 seasons, beginning with the Philadelphia Stars.

That's right: The Philadelphia Stars of that late, great institution of the 1980s, the United States Football League. Whoa, flashback.

Exactly 25 years to the day after the USFL kicked off, Landeta became the last USFL player to hang up the football cleats; the three-year league - truly America's last major sports league to have any measure of success after subsuming by bigger leagues of the American Football League, American Basketball Association, and World Hockey Association in 1970s - that inspired a generation of nostalgia can now finally and emphatically be called inactive.

Meanwhile, though reports of its demise may be slightly exaggerated by some, it appears as though the ambitious All-American Football League, with six teams comprised of locally based players, is dead before the first kickoff.

Nothing is official yet over at AAFL headquarters, but the writing on the wall (and from the PR department) reads, "Every effort is being made to ensure that the '08 season will be played as planned, but this depends upon locating a new majority owner with the needed liquidity, which in turn depends upon the league being able to finalize a TV deal. Otherwise, the inaugural season will be postponed to '09."

Interestingly enough, if the AAFL is aborted, its death will be directly tied to the subprime mortgage crisis. It turns out that the business of AAFL CEO Marcus Katz, the Educational Loan Administration Group, is suffering drastic effects from the loan disaster. Katz can no longer cover the startup costs for the league, and thus the association is essentially without financial backing.

The league has given itself until the middle of next week to find someone willing to provide support. Hey, we'll volunteer; will you take a check? The RF365FL, anyone?

Loving football of all sorts, really, throughout the year at RealFootball365.com.

Pittsburgh Steelers: James Harrison's Assault Charge Merits a Suspension

RealFootball365.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:39:40 -0400

The Pittsburgh Steelers are generally known as a clean organization. With the loss of Alan Faneca, a team captain, and James Harrison's arrest for assault, second-year Head Coach Mike Tomlin has his first genuine PR alarm to answer.

It's in Tomlin's best interest to suspend Harrison, a Pro Bowl linebacker, quickly if he is indeed guilty (an affidavit entered at the time of Harrison's arrest says Harrison corroborated everything the victim said).

Harrison was arrested in Ohio Township (outside Pittsburgh) on March 8 on charges of assault. He is accused of slapping his girlfriend across the face after he broke into her room, where she had locked herself, presumably to avoid Harrison.

When Tomlin took the reins from former coach Bill Cowher in January 2007, his immediate concern was getting the Steelers back into the playoffs after an 8-8 season.

Since then, he's presided over the bitter departure of Faneca, the arrest of running back Najeh Davenport for assault, the general collapse of one of the top offensive lines in the game, a somewhat questionable first-round draft pick (Lawrence Timmons) and now, a criminal charge against one of the team's best players.

How will Tomlin spin this?

Cowher had to deal with then-rookie wide receiver Santonio Holmes picking up a domestic assault charge in summer 2006, but that was eventually dismissed. Former Steeler Richard Siegler was charged with running a prostitution ring in Las Vegas in 2006, when he was a member of Pittsburgh's practice squad. He was quickly released from the team.

Harrison won't be so easily dismissed. Obviously, Tomlin is not going to condone Harrison's behavior. Considering the Steelers' reputation, and the pressure NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has placed on the league since he took over in 2006, suspending Harrison for one game may be the Steelers' wisest course of action.

Harrison has become a fan favorite ever since he was placed on the practice squad as an undrafted free agent in 2002. Known for his toughness, which earned him the nickname "Silverback", Harrison gained YouTube fame in 2003 when he picked up and slammed a fan who ran on the field on the ground during the Steelers-Browns game that season.

It's not so funny anymore. His image certainly has been damaged, and a traditionally straight-arrowed organization is going to be forced into action over this incident. While the standard response of, "We're going to let the authorities investigate the matter before rushing to action" can be expected, the affidavit filed by the police in Ohio Township basically says Harrison admitted to this charge.

Taking care of the matter swiftly and appropriately will help the Steelers save some face with the league and their fans.

Good on His Own, Tony Ugoh Is Even Better by Comparison

RealFootball365.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:39:40 -0400

It turns out that this Colts offense is somewhat fond of throwing the ball. Also, my extensive research indicates that, in American football, the left tackle is the one directly responsible for keeping the quarterback from being attacked from the blind side. With these factors in mind, Tony Ugoh, a rookie playing the most important position on the line for one of the league's most pass-focused teams, had a season successful enough that he could already be considered one of the league's premier tackles. He's only played 11 pro games, but Ugoh's so far put forth a shining performance, especially when compared to others with the same job title.

The easiest way to qualify Ugoh's season is by looking at what he didn't do, namely all that much bad. He was whistled for exactly one false start and no holding penalties over the entire year, which is as amazingly notable as watching a Will Ferrell movie and laughing. Hey, maybe he'll make a dreadfully half-baked football film next!

Even better, Ugoh allowed a paltry total of 1.5 sacks. That fantastically minuscule number looks even more impressive when judged against the sums conceded by a few of the league's best left tackles. For example, Flozell Adams of the Cowboys surrendered 3.5 sacks last season, although, unlike Ugoh, he started every game. Further, perhaps-soon-retired Raven Jonathan Ogden was victimized for 2.5 sacks in 2007 while appearing in the same number of games as the rookie.

Matt Light of the Patriots gave up 6.5 sacks over the course of his team's perfect (regular) season. Meanwhile, Jason Peters of the Bills, often considered the position's emerging embodiment, allowed six during 2007 in an admittedly worse situation offensively; he also played 15 games, four more than his Indianapolis equivalent. Regardless, Ugoh kept perhaps the most important player in the game upright on virtually every play, as he was beaten on fewer occasions than some of the NFL's best at the spot.

To be fair, there is the question of who's most responsible for the paucity of sacks Indianapolis suffers. Including the two Jim Sorgi sustained in their meaningless season finale, Colts quarterbacks were brought down only 23 times in 2007; that was seventh-fewest in the league. Part of that has to be attributed not only to Peyton Manning's sense for pressure but also the coolly capable way in which he eludes rushers and releases the ball quickly.

Still, even though Manning is adept at avoiding sacks, particularly for someone who didn't double as a high school and college track star, he can't do it alone. At least some of the credit must be doled out to the man quelling flank attacks from that week's right defensive lineman, and in that sense Ugoh could have been a rookie of the year candidate if 1) he made more appearances, 2) blockers ever got recognition for anything, and 3) Adrian Peterson didn't happen to be in the same draft class. While both Manning and the line kept sack totals low before Ugoh joined the team, the rookie has to be praised for stepping in and helping to prolong that tendency.

The biggest problem with Ugoh is not regarding his talent but whether he can stay on the field and make use of same talent. He missed a stretch of five games during his rookie campaign because of neck and shoulder troubles; he also sprained an ankle versus the Texans in late September, although that didn't cause him to be excused from any live action.

Perhaps it was coincidental, but the games he sat out happened to include the Colts' two significant regular-season losses. On the other hand, perhaps it most certainly was not: In those games against New England and San Diego, Manning was sacked a total of five times. That decreases the likelihood that it was just random chance; there's an absolute correlation between Ugoh sitting out and the squad's bad stretch.

It's better that durability is the issue rather than skill, but Ugoh still needs to find a way to stay off the injured list. A statistically fine rookie season is evidence that he did far more than simply coast on the efforts of his talented, established teammates. That's especially obvious when he's either held against other top tackles in the league or isn't on the field.

In Retrospect, Buffalo Bills Handled Takeo Spikes and Darwin Walker Correctly

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:30:52 -0500

It was March 27, 2007, almost one full year ago, when the Buffalo Bills made waves by trading linebacker Takeo Spikes and backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb to the Philadelphia Eagles for defensive tackle Darwin Walker and a seventh-round pick in this year's draft.

Spikes, a two-time Pro Bowler for the Bills, had asked the organization for a trade because he didn't want to partake in its rebuilding effort. Coming off a 70-tackle season, his first since tearing his Achilles tendon in September 2005, many believed the 31-year-old was on his way to becoming a dominant linebacker once again. That didn't happen in 2007, though, as Spikes had a quiet season for the 8-8 Eagles (85 tackles, one sack, zero forced turnovers) -- who were only one victory better than the seven-win Bills -- and was released Thursday.

On the opposite end, Walker was supposed to bring a pass-rushing element to the middle of Buffalo's defense, but he held out because the team wouldn't give him a new contract. As a result, Walker was traded to the Chicago Bears -- who gave him a five-year, $25 million deal -- in the summer for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft. In 11 games last year for the ultra-disappointing Bears, champions of the NFC in 2006, Walker amassed 17 tackles and only one sack.

Finally, Philadelphia traded Holcomb to the Minnesota Vikings in August; thus, he never actually suited up for a meaningful game as an Eagle. Holcomb, 34, is now a free agent.

Oddly, three of the pieces from the nearly one-year-old trade have failed to pan out in their new settings. (The jury is still out on Walker, to an extent, and Buffalo will use its seventh-rounder from the Eagles in April.) Originally, it was viewed as a deal that would benefit both sides: Buffalo was supposed to receive much-needed help at D-tackle; Philadelphia thought it was getting a rejuvenated Spikes.

Wrong and wrong.

One of the two picks remaining from that highly publicized trade was the fifth-rounder the Bills received from the Bears for Walker. Last weekend, though, Buffalo dealt that choice (along with a third-rounder) to the Jacksonville Jaguars for another DT, three-time All-Pro Marcus Stroud.

Unlike Walker, who views himself as an elite defender but actually isn't, Stroud is a top-flight tackle. As long as the 30-year-old is fully recovered from an ankle injury that has hampered him the last two seasons -- and there's no reason to believe he isn't -- then the Bills, one year later, will have finally found the solution to their woes in the defensive middle.

Should Stroud have an immediate and lasting impact in Buffalo, ex-general manager Marv Levy's decision to trade an over-the-hill linebacker and an inconsequential quarterback for Walker last March and then refuse to meet Walker's contractual demands might inadvertently go down as one of the best in recent Bills history -- especially if the seventh-round choice bears fruit.

Funny how things turn out sometimes, isn't it?

*E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Matt Millen Believes in Rod Marinelli (also Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Iraqi WMDs...)

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:25:33 -0500

Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen proclaimed in an interview with great unbiased news source DetroitLions.com that he believed head coach Rod Marinelli is "the right guy" and that "I'm convinced he's the right guy and I'm convinced he's the right guy for the team."

Along with expressing his vote of confidence in Marinelli, Millen went on to emphatically state that he believed Roger Clemens has never taken steroids, that Saddam Hussein headed up a massive production program building weapons of mass destruction, and that the earth does not revolve around the sun but rather sits on a tortoise's back.

Seriously, how could Millen say otherwise about his fourth hire for the position? After all, Marinelli is an impressive 9-23 (.281) over his two seasons with the Lions, just under Millen's record (31-73, or a .298 winning percentage), the indicated threshold for keeping job security with the Lions.

Why wouldn't you have faith in Marinelli, a proven winner, at least against marginal teams. Heck, the Lions went an impressive 6-2 in the first half of 2007 against teams with a cumulative 59-75—that's just over a whopping 44 percent—record. Of course, when the big boys with an average .597 winning percentage faced off against Detroit in the second half, the Kitty Cats were a sorry 1-7; but this of course can be attributed to the mystical nature of the Lions' supposed "culture of losing."

Then again, Millen doesn't believe that such a culture exists in Detroit, and early in the 2007 season, he gleefully informing Howie Long at the halfway point that "the players are starting to believe they are actually good as a team." Whoa, Marinelli really is a magician.

In fact, Lions fans have better get prepped for more of Marinelli's main event next season as well, because the Detroit front office has thus far maneuvered a net gain of approximately minus Shaun Rogers in the offseason thus far. The two biggest headlines the Lions have earned in 2008 involved the fire-sale trade of Rogers and the team's failure to engineer a trade with the New York Jets for MLB Jonathan Vilma. (Good news, though: TE Michael Gaines, a guy rumored to be capable of run blocking, is aboard.)

Lack of activity is no problem, though: Even though the Lions are under the salary cap for the first time since the team began signing first-round wide receivers at federal deficit-level salaries, Millen and the guys have assured the faithful that "The reason they're not pursuing high-dollar free agents is because of a shift in philosophy, not financial restrictions."

Besides, who needs bodies when you can hire more brains? While Sean Payton, Brad Childress and especially Mike McCarthy have been able to make positive gains with their clubs since hired for the 2006 season, Marinelli apparently just hasn't had enough staff.

In a bold, brainy move, out went Mike Martz, an overqualified coordinator who was guilty of helping add an average 725 yards per season to the offense since taking over in 2005, while the defense went from the league's 20th best in surrendered yardage to dead last in 2007. (Ah, so that's why they gave up Rogers, perhaps the team's only Pro Bowl-level player on the 'D'.)

Meanwhile, Lions fans are welcome to appreciate the promotion of Jim Colletto, the leader of last year's offensive line that allowed 54 sacks, to OC and that of former XFL coach Kippy Brown. Jimmy Lake, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is now secondary coach; in an excellent show of charity, last year's secondary genius, Clayton Lopez, has been demoted to assistant secondary coach. Excellent move there: The one guy you want advising a new coach is he who screwed the unit back down to ground zero over the course of two seasons.

And back aboard is the Barry family, not at all benefactors of a little nepotism: Marinelli's son-in-law Joe Barry will stay to head up the defense (again, that's the league's worst 'D' in both yardage and points allowed), and assistant offensive line (the league's third worst against the sack) coach Mike "Joe's dad" Barry will be able to wince dozens of times on the sidelines again this season.

Now all Lions fans need is that of which Millen has an unlimited supply (no, not BS, silly): faith. You've gotta have faith, because that's what all it seems Millen and the Ford family are willing to leave you with.

And, by the way, if you decide to act clever and catch Millen on the absurdity of his misplaced beliefs, he's got his snappy retort ready: "It's turtles all the way down."

Believing because we have to throughout the year at RealFootball365.com

Keeping Dominic Rhodes Critical for Oakland Raiders

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:18:11 -0500

The Oakland Raiders certainly took a novel approach when it came to dealing with running back Dominic Rhodes this week.

Instead of paying Rhodes $30 million—or some other excessive amount of money—to stay with the team, they asked him to take a pay cut.

Surprisingly, he did. It's a refreshing change in this offseason.

The 29-year-old running back, due a $2 million roster bonus this week, restructured the two-year, $7.5 million deal he signed last offseason. Rhodes was scheduled to make $3 million in 2008, but he will now earn $1.75 million instead.

The Raiders will save all of $1.25 million in '08 from the transaction. This comes just days after team owner Al Davis dished out $55 million to wide receiver Javon Walker, $50.5 million to defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and $16 million to offensive tackle Kwame Harris.

Keeping Rhodes around, however, is no insignificant event, despite the disproportionate balance of money.

Since 2005, no running back has racked up more rushing yards for the Raiders than 29-year-old LaMont Jordan. However, Jordan is due $4.7 million next season, which Oakland isn't expected to pay. In the final 10 weeks of last year, he carried the ball just 31 times for 54 yards and didn't surpass 20 yards rushing in any single game from Week 8 on.

The team, however, did lock up halfback Justin Fargas, who took control of the ground game midway through last season and ended up with over 1,000 yards.

The '07 season, though, was the first in which Fargas rushed for more than 700 yards in a single year. He's not exactly the proven, veteran-type player you want to put all your team's faith in when it comes to success on the ground. That's why bringing back Rhodes, a nine-year veteran and also a former 1,000-yard rusher, was an urgent move for the Raider offense to make.

Fargas has also been no stranger to injuries since he entered the NFL in 2003. Since then, the 220-pounder -- a rather upright runner -- has suffered injuries to his knee, toe, hamstring and shoulder. In all, Fargas has missed 14 games since his rookie year.

When the former USC halfback was injured for the final two weeks of last season, Rhodes came in and capped off the year with two consecutive 100-yard outings, picking up 115 yards in a loss at Jacksonville and 122 yards against the Chargers.

In all, the ex-Colt rushed 75 times last season for 302 yards (4.0 yards per carry) and one touchdown.

The other member of the Raiders' running back corps expected to see the field next season is 2007 fourth-round pick Michael Bush. The former Louisville standout has never played a down in the NFL, though. Bush's leg is reportedly healed and ready to go, and he'll compete for time in '08.

Assuming Jordan will soon be out of the picture, Rhodes is now the eldest and most experienced of the Raiders' running backs. Despite being just one year older than Fargas, he's been in the NFL two seasons longer, and has rushed the ball 145 times more.

Plus, he's willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Oakland Raiders. That's reason enough to be glad he's sticking around.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

No End in Sight for Minnesota Vikings

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:35:35 -0500

With the Vikings' starting defensive tackles still unpacking from their recent trip to Honolulu, you would think free-agent defensive ends around the NFL might be scrambling for an opportunity to play in Minnesota.

Factor in the $30 million pool of salary-cap money the Vikings are dipping into this offseason, and the team's fans might have rightly assumed heading into free agency that at least one of the top pass rushers available would already be signed to a lucrative contract with the organization seven days into the process.

But one by one during this first week, those players have all found reasons to be someplace else.

Justin Smith paid a visit to San Francisco and never left. Antwan Odom made it as far as the ticket counter at the Cincinnati airport for his Minnesota-bound flight before the Bengals made an offer he couldn't refuse, and his luggage had to be pulled off the conveyor belt, literally, so he could go back and finalize the details.

The Vikings contacted the agent for Travis LaBoy to arrange a visit before he signed with Arizona, and Minnesota was the next stop for Jevon Kearse before he agreed to terms with Tennessee.

It seems a plane ticket to the Twin Cities is a necessity this year for defensive ends looking to strike free-agent gold.

Good for them, bad for the Vikings.

The team currently has six defensive ends on the roster. Together, they totaled 119 tackles and 19.5 sacks during the 2007 season. Two of those players, however, may not be healthy enough to play in 2008. Kenechi Udeze, the team's first-round draft choice in 2004, was diagnosed with leukemia in early February, and Erasmus James—a 2005 first-round pick—underwent the third knee surgery of his professional career last December to repair a torn ACL.

A third player—Ray Edwards—was suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy last season and is one more violation away from a one-year ban.

Subtract the contributions made by those players from that earlier total and the Vikings are left with three ends who made 35 tackles and had 6.5 sacks last year.

That's not going to get it done for a team that was last in the league in 2007 in passing yards allowed, giving up 264.1 per game.

The Vikings have a decent secondary that should be helped by the addition of Madieu Williams -- Cincinnati's former safety known for his coverage skills -- who signed with the Vikings on Feb. 29. But pressuring the quarterback is an area defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier would really like his squad to improve upon in 2008.

The Vikings were eighth in the NFL in total sacks (38) in 2007, but they often had to blitz to get to the quarterback. The Tampa 2 scheme Frazier favors as a base defense is most effective when the front four are able to apply pressure by themselves.

As things stand right now, the Vikings will rely on a pair of fourth-round draft choices to apply that pressure this fall. If he can stay on the field, Edwards—drafted in 2006—has shown flashes of promise; Brian Robison, drafted by the team last season, seems to have a knack for making things happen when he's in the game.

But they will need help. And, although Vikings officials always maintain that drafting the best player available is much wiser than drafting for need, don't be surprised if, on the evening of April 26, those officials are claiming the best player available was a defensive end.

Kansas City Chiefs' Position Analysis: Special Teams

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:24:48 -0500

Dustin Colquitt, punter

Kansas City's third-round pick in 2005, Colquitt has been a Pro Bowl-caliber punter during his three seasons with the Chiefs. And with the team's offense dropping to the bottom of the league rankings, Colquitt was arguably the Chiefs' MVP in 2007 with an average distance on his punts of over 45 yards per attempt.

Having just re-signed with the team for five more years, Colquitt will be booming punts in Kansas City for several seasons to come.

Justin Medlock, kicker

After a shaky preseason, Kansas City's fifth-round pick in 2007 was cut after the Chiefs' first game. Medlock didn't sign with another team for the rest of the season, but he was recently inked by St. Louis amid rumors of Jeff Wilkins' retirement.

With the Rams having signed former Seattle kicker Josh Brown, though, Medlock will likely find himself without a team again soon. It seems unlikely that the Chiefs would bring Medlock back to compete for the kicking job in 2008, but one never knows.

Dave Rayner, kicker

After stints in Indianapolis and Green Bay, Rayner was released by the Packers prior to the 2007 season. The Chiefs signed him to replace Medlock, and though he was solid early on, Rayner didn't prove to be a reliable option.

John Carney, kicker

The longtime NFLer signed with Jacksonville after the first week of the season when Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee injured his leg. When Scobee returned to action in mid-November, Carney was cut and the Chiefs signed him shortly thereafter to replace the struggling Rayner.

Carney failed to convert only two of 11 field goal attempts with the Jags, both misses coming at a distance over 40 yards. With the Chiefs, he was a perfect 3 for 3, showing that his accuracy is still strong after nearly two decades in the league.

At 43 years old, though, Carney doesn't represent a long-term solution for Kansas City. And because of his diminishing leg strength, not only does the offense have to get close to the end zone before he can attempt a field goal, he may also be a liability on kickoffs.

Still, his accuracy inside of 40 yards makes him attractive to any team that needs a kicker. Having signed only a one-year contract with the Chiefs, Carney is currently a free agent. But the team may re-sign him to have him compete for the kicking job in 2008.

Billy Cundiff, kicker

An undrafted rookie free agent, Cundiff caught on with the Dallas Cowboys in 2002 and was their kicker for three seasons. Prior to his fourth season with the team in 2005, he suffered a leg injury on the final day of training camp and was ultimately waived.

The Cowboys re-signed him later that season, but after he missed three of the eight field goals he attempted -- two coming in what would be his final game -- the team released Cundiff once again.

He hasn't kicked field goals in the league since his release from Dallas. But thanks to his strong leg, he signed with New Orleans the next season to handle kickoffs for, ironically enough, John Carney, who was then with the Saints.

Cundiff signed with the Chiefs after the 2007 season and is expected to compete for the kicking job during training camp.

Nick Novak, kicker

Also an undrafted free agent, Novak seems to have been a victim of circumstance during his brief NFL career. He signed with the Washington Redskins as a rookie in 2005 to fill in for injured veteran kicker John Hall. Once Hall was healthy, the Redskins cut Novak and he signed with the Arizona Cardinals later that season to fill in for the injured Neil Rackers.

Novak stayed with the Cardinals through the 2006 preseason before ultimately being cut because the team no longer needed two kickers. He then re-signed with Washington to again fill in for Hall. During Novak's second stay in the nation's capital, he took part in the famous finish of a Cowboys/Redskins game in which he missed a late field goal and allowed the Cowboys to set up for a tie-breaking field goal attempt of their own.

But Dallas' kick was blocked and the ball was recovered by the late Sean Taylor, who had his face masked pulled during the return attempt. The 15-yard penalty gave Novak another shot and he made the winning field goal with no time left on the clock.

After again being released by the Redskins, Novak signed with Chicago and was sent to the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europa. Despite his solid showing, though, Novak was cut by yet another NFL team because the Bears already had kicker Robbie Gould, who had been to the Pro Bowl the previous season.

Novak didn't play in 2007, but he tried out for a host of teams, including the Chiefs, who auditioned several kickers after Medlock's performance in the season opener. The team passed on signing Novak at the time, but added him after the season to compete for the job in 2008.

Eddie Drummond, kick returner

After spending his entire career in Detroit, Drummond signed with the Chiefs late in the preseason to handle their return duties. Being able to add a former Pro Bowl kick returner seemed like a steal for Kansas City at the time.

But fans who watched him return kicks as a Chief are probably still wondering how he ever got voted to Hawaii. Drummond signed a one-year contract and is now a free agent.

Offseason analysis:

The Chiefs have two kickers under contract who will compete for the job this offseason, and they will have another if they re-sign Carney. With six picks in the final three rounds of the draft, it's possible they could draft another young kicker to add to the mix as well.

And with the team having needs at both cornerback and receiver, the returner position is sure to be addressed in the draft. Former Texas Longhorns running back Romance Taylor, who was recently sentenced to five months in jail for violating his probation on drug charges, claimed to have tried out for the Chiefs as a returner in recent weeks. But aside from Taylor's claim, no more information on his tryout has surfaced, and no contract appears to have been signed.

Final analysis:

On a personal note, this will be my last column for RealFootball365.com. And I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank all the readers and fellow writers who have made this one of the premier sites on the Internet for football analysis.

Thanks for reading.

Kansas City Chiefs' Position Analysis: Safety

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

Jarrad Page

The Chiefs' seventh-round pick in 2006, Page saw limited duty in his rookie campaign and made the most of his playing time. He registered three interceptions, plus an additional pick off Peyton Manning in the playoffs, and showed definite flashes of becoming a playmaker.

In 2007 he became a starter in just his second NFL season. Coming off his showing as a rookie, though, his first full year didn't quite live up to the promise he showed early on. Page again finished the season with three interceptions, the same amount he had a year earlier when he didn't play half as much. Page's performance was still mostly solid, just unspectacular.

There may be a reason for that, though, as head coach Herm Edwards has revealed that Page recently underwent offseason shoulder surgery to fix an injury he'd been playing with for much of the year. To have turned in a decent effort in his first full season despite battling an injury may put Page's performance in a new light.

Injury or not, he's a shoo-in to remain a starter next year. Perhaps getting healthy will allow him to make more of the plays he seemed capable of as a rookie.

Bernard Pollard

Like Page, Pollard took over as a starter last season after being drafted in the second round in 2006. His rookie season was spent mostly on special teams, where he quickly became a terror. He blocked two punts his first year, missing out on a third because the blocked ball passed the line of scrimmage.

He drew criticism during his first year as a starter for giving up some big plays, either because of poor decision-making or perhaps being a step too slow to stay close to speedy wide receivers. But he'll likely remain the starter in 2008 as the team hopes he can learn and grow from his first full season of action.

Greg Wesley

If he remains on the team, 2008 would mark the ninth season in Kansas City for Wesley, who was drafted in the third round back in 2000. He'd been a starter for his entire Chiefs career before being moved to the bench in favor of Pollard and Page last season.

Reportedly unhappy with the demotion, Wesley has been on the trade block for over a year. The Chiefs were said to be close to shipping him to both the Houston Texans and the division rival Denver Broncos back in 2007, but they ultimately decided to keep him around as a backup.

The team is apparently dangling him again, though, so Wesley may have played his final game as a Chief.

Jon McGraw

The former Kansas State Wildcat was drafted by Edwards in 2002 when Edwards was with the New York Jets. McGraw signed with the Chiefs last season as a backup safety, but he was more notable for his solid play on special teams.

He should be back with Kansas City in a similar role in 2008.

Offseason analysis:

Depending on what happens with Wesley, the Chiefs may be in the market for a backup safety. And if a highly unlikely scenario were to occur where Miami's Kenny Phillips slipped to the second round of the draft, Edwards might find him too good to pass up. Other than that, though, the team should be quiet at the safety position this offseason.

Up next: special teams

Warrick Dunn Would Be Perfect as Dallas Cowboys' Sort-of Backup

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

Warrick Dunn didn't have the type of season that should be expected from a No. 1 back in 2007, and he wouldn't be a 1A in Dallas; however, functioning as option 1B on a top team with another great rusher in the stable would be a fantastic way to spend the final years of his fine career.

That's probably why Dunn has expressed interest in joining the Cowboys after Atlanta parted ways with him, which is great news for his possible new team. The Cowboys should pursue Dunn if they are his top choice and even if they're not, as he'd work as well with potential top guy Marion Barber as Nutella works with French bread.

Despite his weak year, Dunn should still be considered an ominous presence by opponents. It's important and fair to note that he only averaged 3.2 yards per carry last season with the Falcons, but the amazing thing is that Atlanta even managed to field a team in 2007. The only event that could have exacerbated the troubles stemming from the actions of the Falcons' diabolical quarterback would have been their wholly unscrupulous coach quitting mid-season. And . . . there he went.

Lost in the midst of the absolutely thorough chaos was the direct blow Michael Vick's felonies caused to the offense: The team used a total of three quarterbacks as starters, none of whom served as an additional threat to rush like the last guy and one of whom was Joey Harrington.

If a two-quarterback controversy means a squad doesn't possess a genuine starter, having three of them means the franchise may as well fold and apply for expansion, as a do-over would be easier than trying to fix everything that's so obviously wrong. In short, Dunn wasn't the primary reason why the Falcons finished fourth-worst in scoring offense with an anemic 16.2 points per game or tied for third-worst in wins.

In truth, his age and mileage are more pressing concerns than his immediate past: He's 33 and has 2,483 career carries. But that's precisely why Dallas would be a good choice for Dunn, as Barber could handle a decent but not overwhelming majority of the workload. With hopes that the current Cowboy will be re-signed for the long term and named the starter, Dunn could then come aboard and still employ his talents without having to do so on virtually every running down.

They'd work as a good combination. The quick-moving Dunn would be a perfect change of pace for the pummeling Barber, as it's easy to envision the pair operating as a classic example of the thunder-and-lightning-style rushing attack where two backs with diametrically opposite yet similarly effective styles combine to ensure that defenses never get to rest.

The Falcons have decided to go with a rushing duo comprised of Jerious Norwood and Michael Turner, two players whose careers have so far been spent making big gains by throwing off worn-down tacklers; they've done so by spelling two of the better backs in recent memory in Dunn and LaDainian Tomlinson, respectively.

Whether they can continue to do so is undetermined, but Atlanta's personnel decision means the Cowboys have the opportunity to acquire Dunn and then use a different type of tandem, namely one featuring two runners who have each already demonstrated they can handle a large quantity of carries over a season.

Of course, Dunn has done so more frequently, but the fact Barber had over 200 rushes in 2007 bodes well for his capacity to be the preferred back. Ideally, Barber can keep at about that rate, while Dunn could take over Julius Jones' share except with better production per try.

Other teams will certainly be interested in a back who has a history as both a quality performer and human being, which means that Dallas should use, for lack of a better term, its star power to attract Dunn. If successful, few other teams could then match the Cowboys' overwhelming aptitude at running back. After all, there aren't many offenses who could claim to have a player of Dunn's caliber technically listed as second on the depth chart.

What to Make of Buffalo Bills' "Other" Acquisitions

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

Kawika Mitchell and Spencer Johnson aren't sure bets to succeed in Buffalo.

Buffalo's acquisition of former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud for third- and fifth-round picks last weekend has understandably been the Bills' most talked about move this offseason.

But what about the decisions the Bills have made in the free-agent market so far?

For starters, the Bills signed weakside linebacker Kawika Mitchell to a five-year, $17.5 million contract last Friday. Mitchell, a five-year veteran, is a player who seems like a big upgrade over Buffalo's former right-side starter, Keith Ellison. In addition, Mitchell, previously a Kansas City Chief and New York Giant, brings credibility to the Bills as their only player with a Super Bowl ring. He was a key member of the Giants' title-winning team in 2007-08, racking up 76 tackles and 3.5 sacks during the season; he was also fantastic during New York's four playoff games.

However, the addition of Mitchell doesn't come without its share of concern. The 28-year-old was run out of Kansas City last offseason because he was a poor fit in its Cover 2 defense, the same scheme the Bills run. The 6-foot-1, 253-pound Mitchell, who played the middle for the Chiefs, was below par in pass coverage; however, that was masked somewhat when he moved to the outside for the Giants and demonstrated his run-stopping prowess.

Another issue is that Big Blue didn't exactly put forth a major effort to re-sign Mitchell, who only spent one season in the Meadowlands. Why? Because he wasn't viewed as an overly important cog in their defense; one has to wonder how positive the impact of the Giants' star-studded defensive line was on Mitchell, who was free to roam the field as stalwarts like Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck took care of upfront blockers. The Bills are obviously hoping their line, which will include Stroud at nose tackle and ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay -- neither of whom is on par with any of the Giants' ends -- will have the same effect on Mitchell's game. Whether it does remains to be seen, of course.

Without question, Buffalo's most under-the-radar move this March was its signing of ex-Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Spencer Johnson to a five-year, $17.5 million contract. Before they added Johnson, the Bills wisely released veteran Larry Tripplett, a former Colt who was a major disappointment in two seasons with Buffalo.

As far as Johnson goes, one has to wonder why the Bills handed so much money ($6 million in guarantees) to a player who frankly hasn't proven much in his four NFL seasons. Backing up the Williams Wall (Vikings DTs Pat and Kevin) in 2007, the 286-pound Johnson—a former undrafted free agent from Auburn—totaled 22 tackles, 16 quarterback hurries and three sacks. The 26-year-old is a good pass rusher and decent against the run, but is he ready to fulfill a larger role on a worse D-line than Minnesota's? No longer will Johnson be overshadowed by the Williamses; instead, he'll be expected to rotate with starter John McCargo and accrue a lot of playing time as a three-technique tackle in Buffalo.

As long as the 30-year-old Stroud is healthy, the Bills know they'll be getting one of the league's foremost D-tackles; however, the jury will be out on both Mitchell and Johnson until they fare well in new settings that include more responsibility for the duo. Until the two actually demonstrate they weren't products of their respective surroundings, enthusiasm should be curbed regarding both.

*E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Oakland Raiders Justified in Spending Big on Javon Walker

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

It didn't take long for the media to find the perfect word to describe the six-year, $55-million deal the Oakland Raiders extended to wide receiver Javon Walker.

"Lucrative."

The word fits. The 29-year-old ex-Denver Bronco cashed in for more than any other free-agent wide receiver this offseason. He'll earn more than Randy Moss in New England, Bernard Berrian in Minnesota, Jerry Porter in Jacksonville and Donte' Stallworth in Cleveland.

The lucrative deal, however, prevented something potentially ludicrous from occurring in Oakland in 2008. That is, having Johnnie Lee Higgins (or any other wideout on the Raiders' current roster) start the 2008 season as the team's No. 2 receiver.

If the Raiders didn't lock up at least one proven pass catcher this offseason, they'd have been left with only one experienced WR on their roster, 28-year-old Ronald Curry. He's the only under-contract wideout on Oakland's current depth chart -- Walker not included -- who has more than 10 career catches.

Now, with the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Walker in the fold, Curry suddenly becomes the No. 2 guy. For $55 million, Walker will jump into the top receiving slot, giving young quarterback JaMarcus Russell two proven targets next season, instead of one proven pass catcher and several young unknowns.

In his six-year career (four with the Green Bay Packers, two with the Broncos), Walker has hauled in 252 passes for 3,815 yards and 30 touchdowns. The former first-round pick from Florida State has surpassed the 1,000-yard bar twice since entering the NFL, making him the only Raider with at least one 1,000-yard season under his belt. Even Porter, who left the team this offseason for a $30 million deal with the Jaguars, has never reached 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

The major question surrounding Walker, however, is his health.

The soon-to-be seventh-year man is guaranteed a $6 million signing bonus and a $5 million salary over the next two years -- or $16 million total -- despite missing 23 games because of injury over the past three seasons.

Last season, Walker missed eight weeks after suffering a right knee injury in a Week 3 loss at Jacksonville. In the two weeks prior, the veteran wideout posted consecutive 100-plus-yard outings to kick off the '07 campaign.

Two years earlier, in 2005, Walker tore his right ACL during the Packers' season opener. He had two surgeries that year to repair the knee.

The heavily front-loaded deal, then, is a rather surprising one, considering Walker's recent trouble avoiding injury. Yet, not acting at all would have been an equally surprising move for team owner Al Davis to make. Outside of Curry, all of the wideouts on Oakland's roster are untested.

Of all the big-money deals the Raiders have made this offseason, this one makes the most sense.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

Jason Taylor: Futue Secure with the Miami Dolphins?

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

I know it's probably "journalistic irresponsibility" to speculate about Jason Taylor's future in Miami. After Jason Cole's column at Yahoo! Sports claimed that a decision to trade Taylor had been made, Dolphins capo di tutti capi Bill Parcells sharply denied the claim. He told Chris Mortensen, a former colleague at ESPN, that "the only way Jason Taylor doesn't play for the Dolphins is if he retires," and went on to proclaim Cole's report as "journalistic irresponsibility."

Mortensen wasn't the only member of the media Parcells set straight. In a telephone interview with the Palm Beach Post, Parcells said essentially the same thing about Taylor: "He's going to play for us, unless he decides to retire."

Of course, a scant 90 days ago, the same Parcells told the same Mortensen, when discussing Parcells' taking a position with the Falcons, "I'm pretty sure I'm going to do it...I don't think there's any deal breakers here."

As always with Parcells, choice of words is everything. "I'm pretty sure..." and "I don't think..." gave Parcells the wiggle room to later change course and take the position with the Dolphins while retaining his sense of honor by not having lied to the press. Nothing was definitive and had we all listened carefully to exactly what he said, we might have been able to foresee the escape clause Parcells crafted.

Now, in the case of Taylor's status with the Dolphins, I just can't get past the wording of Parcells' denials: "...if he retires." "...unless he decides to retire."

Is Parcells telling us something here?

Parcells always chooses his words carefully. It was no slip of the tongue when he called Terry Glenn "she" and it was not by accident that he referred to Terrell Owens as "the player" or "he" for most of their time together in Dallas.

Like his good friend Bob Knight, Parcells is loathe to share inside information with outsiders, including (especially?) the press. He believes he is smarter than all reporters and seems to take great pleasure in planting these word-bombs that detonate at some future date. He stands fast by his original comments, only afterward emphasizing the loopholes through which he can later slither.

Because Parcells used essentially the same words when speaking with two different reporters about Taylor's status, I have to stop and wonder if there was a reason for it. If so, I can only surmise that Parcells chose these words because decisions about Taylor's retirement have already been made.

Taylor's appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" is the perfect way for him to make the transition from gridiron to the bright lights of Hollywood. Cole reports that Taylor has even moved his home to Los Angeles, presumably in anticipation of life after football.

Parcells came to town and trimmed Miami's roster with a chainsaw, even unceremoniously cutting fan favorite Zack Thomas loose. Of course, Thomas very quickly signed by Dallas, which Parcells formerly coached. It isn't too far fetched to consider that Parcells offered both Thomas and Taylor the chance to retire as Dolphins but Thomas wanted to play on, so the team gave him an out, allowing him to leave the team without damaging his reputation with the fans. Taylor, on the other hand, may have simply decided he was willing to call it quits so he could move onto the next, Tiki Barber-like phase of his life.

Of course, this is all speculation. Some may even call it "journalistic irresponsibility."

But Parcells' carefully worded, albeit passionately delivered, comments to the media seem too precise to be mere coincidence. Tacking on "if he retires" and "unless he decides to retire" give gives Parcells the perfect out when Taylor announces his retirement from football during the finale of "Dancing."

Ain't showbiz grand?

Denver Broncos Burning Question No. 4: Free Agency

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

We're looking at the burning questions facing this team after its stomach-churning, gut-wrenching disappointment of a 2007 season. Those questions include:

• What's going on in the secondary?
• Will defensive coordinator Jim Bates be fired?
• Are there addressable problems in the offensive line?
• Can free agency help?
• And what is up with the red-zone offense?

Today, free agency.

Cynical enough yet, Broncos fans? If last year's limp to the finish line didn't give you a Rocky Mountain low, well, the uninspiring performance by the Denver front office during free agency has made "Broncos in XLIII" more resemble "Huckabee for President" than a return to the Elway days.

While other teams have been absolute busybodies in collecting players to enhance their rosters (e.g. the Cleveland Browns, the divisional rival Oakland Raiders), consolidating their cores (New England Patriots) or merely throwing scads of money at the problems (New York Jets), the holey Broncos have mostly stood pat, poker-facedly twiddling their collective thumbs.

To be fair, word from Mike Shanahan & Co. immediately after the season was that there would be no shopping spree during free agency -- the whole Sam Adams thing didn't really work out, did it? To be fair, the Broncos' stated current mission to improve through the draft is a noble one (if a tad ignoble in seemingly admitted that rebuilding is underway). Also in fairness, making the pair of high-profile re-signings Denver accomplished was a job well done (though there's a cloud for this silver lining, too; see below).

But why be fair? Heck, if football were always fair, the Broncos would have lost the first two games of the NFL season (in which they were outplayed by the likes of the Buffalo Bills as well as Oakland and required the heroics of Jason Elam), finished at best 5-11, and no one would be afraid of uttering the "R" word.

For a team with bizarre problems in the secondary like this one, why was no token play made for Randall Gay? He's 25 years old and just emerging as a solid player, isn't he? Meanwhile, the offensive line is a hodgepodge of the untested (Ryan Harris) and ancient (Chris Nalen); even though the field is thin for OLs, couldn't the Broncs have made gestures to anyone?

Of Denver's two new additions, Niko Koutouvides will surely be welcomed; safe money says the former special teamer is in the starting lineup at linebacker come Week 1. If so, D.J. Williams would likely be at weakside OLB to cover Ian Gold's empty spot. As for WR Keary Colbert, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, well ... ah, maybe Jay Cutler can squeeze something out of a underachiever since his rookie year of 2004.

(Wait a minute: The Broncos were willing to go with the plummeting Colbert, but barely cast a glance at Jabar Gaffney or Donte' "Rent Me For A Season" Stallworth? Huh?)

"Welcomed" back were Ebenezer Ekuban and John Lynch; enjoy these two while they last, Bronco fans, 'cause neither figures to be back in Denver in 2009. In fact, Lynch, a dude who would not be missed by more than a few Bronco backers after a subpar 2007 in which he turned 36 and looked it often, was this close to leaving; instead, he decided to "swallow the insult of a pay cut in exchange for a chance to play a fifth, and mostly likely final, season with the Broncos." On the plus side, this probably means that if Lynch has anything left, he'll have a heck of a year while seeking to impress as a 2009 free agent or as a glorious Bronco riding off into the sunset of retirement.

So in terms of real infrastructural improvement here, Broncos fans are left to wait for the draft; is there any team excepting perhaps Miami that so requires a nearly perfect draft to contend in 2008? Pessimistic, Denver fans? A little bit, maybe? Truth is, the tiny splash your team has made in the free-agent market makes your worries more justifiable.

For those fans, RealFootball365.com offers some advice: Eyes up, envision sunny skies and whistle a happy tune 'til then. Don't despair; remember to always look on the bright side of life...

Something completely different throughout the year at RealFootball365.com

Aaron Rodgers Era Begins for the Green Bay Packers

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

Just who is this Aaron Rodgers character anyway?

He's the one in the spotlight and between the cross-hairs now that future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has announced his retirement from the Green Bay Packers.

Rodgers, 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, is the one who suffered through several excruciating hours of the 2005 National Football League draft after falling from being the potential first overall selection by San Francisco to the No. 24 spot, where Ted Thompson made Rodgers his first choice as Green Bay's general manager.

The University of California product, who engineered the Bears to a 17-5 record as their starter in two seasons, gets to throw footballs to Donald Driver and Greg Jennings instead of carrying a clipboard for the defending NFC North champions, whose odds in Vegas already have dropped from 14-to-1 to 20-to-1 at winning next year's Super Bowl.

Rodgers suffered a broken foot against New England in Week 11 of 2006 and then pulled a hamstring in practice Dec. 3 that basically ended his 2007 campaign, so durability will be a major concern, especially when you had someone like Favre to depend on every week since 1992.

That means the Packers no doubt have been burning up the phone lines in searching for a veteran backup as security, although the options aren't pretty, and likely will add somebody in the draft.

However, Rodgers' shining moment came against Dallas on Nov. 29 this past season. He entered in the second quarter for an injured Favre and rallied the Packers to within three points before the Cowboys pulled out a 37-27 victory.

It wasn't a preseason game or mop-up duty in a blowout win or loss. It was on a national stage in what was arguably the biggest game in the NFC this past season, and Rodgers showed great potential by completing 18 of 26 attempts for 201 yards and a TD for a 104.8 passer rating. He also ran five times for 30 yards in leading Green Bay to 17 points.

It's that ability to move the chains with his legs that will give the Packers a dimension that it has lacked since before the Favre era began.

Although it was a small sample, Rodgers proved to himself, his teammates, coaching staff and football brass that he could lead this team, and he did it in a hostile environment against a good opponent.

Let the Aaron Rodgers era begin.

Miami Dolphins' Free Agent Pickups Fail to Excite

RealFootball365.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:37 -0500

Last Thursday night on the eve of the NFL free-agency period's beginning, Dolphins fans nestled all snug in their beds while visions of quarterbacks danced in their heads. They just knew that with Santa Parcells and his elves, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano, coming down the chimney, they were going to wake up Friday to find an official Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time under their tree.

Instead, they ended up with socks.

Not that the Dolphins didn't need socks. With all the holes to fill on offense, Justin Smiley and Sean Ryan are a start. Picking up Ernest Wilford to replace the recently released Marty Booker added four inches and shaved two years off the receiver voted most likely to line up across the field from Ted Ginn.

Nice socks, but, still, socks.

Of course, the addition of Josh McCown was more like swapping Aunt Clara's pink bunny jammies from last year for a version that's two inches taller. If you look at McCown's numbers compared to Cleo Lemon's from last season, they both played in nine games, with McCown completing 58.4 percent of his passes to Lemon's 56.0. Lemon passed for 622 more yards than McCown. They both were right at a 1:1 TD-to-interception ratio (Lemon six TDs against six picks, McCown 10 and 11). With passer ratings of 71.0 (Lemon) and 69.4 (McCown, respectively, they are virtually interchangeable with regard to the effect on their respective offenses.

Dolphin fans could have probably done without the bunny jammies.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins brought in Charlie Anderson, Randy Starks, and Reggie Torbor via free agency. Anderson, 26, was an outside linebacker in the Texans' 3-4 system and is the type of big (6-foot-4, 243 pounds), fast LB whom Parcells favors on the outside. Torbor is a little more perplexing because he was only a spot starter with the Giants, though he should keep the Dolphins' feet warm on special teams.

The 24-year-old Starks, on the other hand, may turn out to be a really nice pair of dress socks. Having played both defensive end and nose tackle in the Titans' 3-4 scheme, the 6-3, 312-pounder may well turn out to be the best of this year's free-agent bunch.

Still, he's no Red Ryder air rifle.

In addition to their signings, the Dolphins added another defensive tackle, Jason Ferguson, via a trade with Dallas. After playing only one game and making only one tackle in 2007, maybe the best thing you can say about Ferguson is that at least he's not awaiting prosecution on felony assault charges in Michigan.

But do not despair, Miami fans. Socks will be around long after the carbine action would have broken off, the compass had fallen out of the stock, and the thing that tells time no longer told time. Socks may not be sexy, but they're functional. Of course, it's not so easy to explain away Aunt Clara's jammies. But socks are a solid, practical gift. You should sit down right away and send Santa Parcells and his jolly elves a thank-you note for all of the nice socks they brought you.

Besides, you can always hold out hope that the air rifle is hiding behind the desk on April 26.

The Rumor of All Raiders' Rumors: A Lane Kiffin Move

RealFootball365.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:10:50 -0500

Now begins the countdown to reveal the rumor of all Raiders' rumors as either fact or fiction.

John Czarnecki has apparently had enough of this "peaceful stuff" going on in Oakland.

About a month after ESPN caused commotion by reporting that 32-year-old head coach Lane Kiffin had been asked to resign from his position with the Oakland Raiders, the FOX Sports writer and Hall of Fame selector decided it was time to re-stir the pot.

"There is still a chance that Raiders owner Al Davis will fire head coach Lane Kiffin and replace him with James Lofton, who was fired as the receivers coach of the Chargers," Czarnecki stated in an article on Thursday, entitled "Talk isn't just about college stars at combine."

Lofton was hired as Oakland's receivers coach on February 6th after interviewing with Kiffin and the team's offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, a week before.

Some reports, however, claimed that Davis personally hired Lofton without notifying Kiffin in another attempt to undermine the young coach's authority. Yet, if all Raider-related reports were spot-on this offseason, Kiffin would be the new coach of some NCAA team and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would be wearing New York Jets apparel right now.

True or not, Czarnecki's report is nothing new. It's been said over a hundred times that Kiffin will be, may be, or still might be fired by the Raiders at some time. So, yes, there is "still a chance."

It is the second portion of his statement that is utterly novel.

"It's also no secret," the 30-year NFL analyst noted, "that current Oakland assistans Greg Knapp and Tom Rathman will be on Jim Mora's 2009 Seattle coaching staff."

Yes, he spelled "assistants" incorrectly, but that's beside the point.

The fact that this rumor is "no secret" is rather surprising, considering he's the first and only person to report it. You certainly have to dig deep to find a rumor that is truly fresh when it comes to the Raiders.

The statement presupposes that two years from now, Knapp and Rathman (the team's running backs coach) will leave the Raiders to join ex-Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora with the Seahawks when he takes over for Mike Holmgren in 2009. That means approximately 557 days from now, both of the current Raiders assistants will be dressed in Seahawks gear for Week One of the '09 regular season.

Yes, Czarnecki is predicting that will be happening about 48 million seconds from now.

I'll follow up in about 45 weeks to let you know if this one actually comes through.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

Dolphins O-Line: Mike Maser Ready to Lead the Troops...Whoever They Are

RealFootball365.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:01:51 -0500

As prognosticators and prevaricators scan the South Florida landscape for any signals coming from 2269 Dan Marino Boulevard, there isn't much news to report: only speculation and wishful thinking.

However, most would agree that the Dolphins need to see improvement from their offensive line if the team is to make any significant improvement on last season's 1-15 record.

Fortunately for Dolphins fans, owner Wayne Huizenga was smart enough to lure one of the NFL's most astute grocery shoppers to Miami and has handed over full operational control to one Duane Charles Parcells.

Besides having a proven eye for on-field football talent; Parcells also has a pretty solid track record of identifying quality football people and putting them in positions to succeed (see former assistants Belichick, Bill and Coughlin, Tom).

To shape the Dolphins' offensive front, Parcells and head coach Tony Sparano brought in Mike Maser, a 12-year NFL veteran line coach with a record of developing young linemen and of producing units that create lanes for the running backs and time for the quarterbacks.

The Jags ran for more than 2,000 yards during four of Maser's final five years in Jacksonville (where he served alongside fellow assistant Tony Sparano, Miami's head coach). When Maser took over Carolina's offensive line in 2003 (under offensive coordinator Dan Henning, by the way, now with Miami), the Panthers set team records both for rushing (2,091) and for fewest sacks allowed (26).

Maser's resume is filled with success stories like these, but perhaps his greatest strength is in developing young talent. While Maser was in Jacksonville, left tackle Tony Boselli was selected to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years and Leon Searcy joined Boselli in Honolulu in 2000. In addition, three of Maser's linemen were all-rookie selections while under his tutelage: center Michael Cheever (1996), guard Brad Meester (2000), and tackle Maurice Williams (2001).

Of course, questions remain over who Maser's troops will be in Miami, next year. Sometime over the next week or two, we'll see what moves the Dolphin front office will make in free agency.

Regardless of what Parcells and crew decide, one thing is fairly certain: The offensive line will be young. Five of the six current Dolphins linemen who logged significant playing time in 2007 are 27 or younger, and expectations are that more young blood will be coming via the April draft. The good news is that this player profile plays perfectly to Maser's ability to develop young linemen, both individually and as a unit.

Of course, Dolphin fans are looking toward April, wondering what Parcells, General Manager Jeff Ireland and Sparano are going to do with the overall first pick in the draft. While there is still much discussion about trading the pick or doing something really silly like drafting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, The Dolphins have plenty of holes to fill on the offensive line. So you can bet that the leadership team is at least considering left tackle Jake Long from Michigan.

Most NFL experts seem to agree that Long is by far the best lineman in this year's draft and perhaps the only tackle in the class destined for the left side in the NFL. At the combine, Long carried just 313 pounds on his 6-foot-7 frame (to optimize his performance in the speed and agility drills), but he should be able to easily add another 15-25 pounds by the start of training camp in July, giving him more of the full-figured shape Parcells prefers to see in his linemen. Because of Long's NFL potential, don't be surprise to see Miami go after some lower-profile free agent linemen (such as Maurice Williams from Jacksonville) and target Long in the draft to address their left tackle slot for the long run.

So far, Parcells, Ireland, and Sparano have been tight-lipped about the team's plans and have done nothing to tip their hand regarding personnel decisions. However, over the next two weeks, fans (and second-guessers) will start to get an indication of what direction the team will be headed. Parcells has done a fine job of assembling a coaching staff whose focus is on fundamental football and developing young players. Now the time has come for him to start bringing them some groceries.

Bills Offseason: Five Free Agents To Pursue

RealFootball365.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:57:51 -0500

Leading up to the beginning of the NFL's free agency period on Friday, RealFootball365.com will analyze available players the Buffalo Bills should pursue and avoid in this class. Today, we'll start with players whom Buffalo should be interested in, counting down from five to one in the process.

5. Tommy Kelly, defensive tackle

Face it, the Bills' defensive line is a wreck. The team has two grossly overpaid ends in Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay, neither of whom is worthy of his contract, and a feckless tackle corps that is saved only by the second-year progress of young John McCargo. Other than McCargo, the Bills have the likes of Larry Tripplett, whose decent-sized contract doesn't match his underwhelming play, and a slew of backup-at-best DTs headlined by Kyle Williams.

Though Kelly, who has spent his first four years in Oakland, is hardly an elite player or big name, he would help the Bills' defense both in production and versatility. At 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, Kelly is built well for Buffalo's Tampa 2 defense, and he has the athleticism to complement his size. The 27-year-old Kelly is adequate against the run and somewhat of an astute pass rusher, evidenced by his 13 career sacks, and he can play end in a pinch. The Bills could do worse.

4. Billy Volek, quarterback

The Bills have two young quarterbacks on their roster, Trent Edwards and J.P. Losman, but odds are good that the latter, who lost his job to the former last season, will be traded in the near future. Losman, 26, might be able to resurrect his career elsewhere, but the Bills are set on going with Edwards, a soon-to-be second-year Stanford alumnus who showed positive signs as a rookie.

Volek, presently San Diego's property, has appeared in 30 career games and amassed 26 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. The 6-2, 214-pounder is set to turn 32 in April, and he'd be a steady, ideal backup for Edwards. If Edwards either performs poorly in Year 2 or gets hurt, Volek would have the ability to step in and manage the offense well.

3. Rosevelt Colvin, linebacker

Admittedly, any team that signs the 31-year-old Colvin would be taking a risk. After all, the eight-year veteran, just released by New England, is coming off an injury-shortened season with the Patriots. However, Colvin played all 16 regular-season games in the three campaigns prior to '07, and he has major connections to Bills head coach Dick Jauron.

Colvin was drafted by Jauron's Chicago Bears in 1999, and the 6-3, 250-pounder eventually became a star in the Windy City. In his final two seasons with the Bears, both of which came under the tutelage of Jauron and in the Tampa 2, Colvin totaled 21 sacks as a strongside linebacker.

The grossly underrated Angelo Crowell is currently Buffalo's Sam linebacker, but he does have plenty of experience on the weak side. Adding Colvin on the strong side and shifting Crowell would give the Bills a terrific linebacking corps that would also include the ultra-promising Paul Posluszny in the middle.

2. Alge Crumpler, tight end

The Bills have consistently lacked a lot of elements needed to make an offense succeed over the past decade or so, and one of those areas of failure has been tight end. The last time the Bills had a TE record 40-plus catches in a season was 2001, which is simply nothing short of pathetic.

With very few worthwhile receivers on the free-agent market this year, it would behoove the Bills to address that position via the draft and grab an impact tight end, namely the 30-year-old Crumpler, during free agency. A four-time Pro Bowler, Crumpler was released earlier this month by the fully rebuilding Atlanta Falcons because of age and salary-cap concerns. He'd be a great security blanket for Edwards, particularly in short-yardage and red-zone situations.

1. Lance Briggs, linebacker

As it does with Colvin, the presence of Jauron certainly enters the fold here. Briggs, arguably the best player available on the free-agent market, was drafted in the third round by Jauron's Bears in 2003, and the 27-year-old has an immense amount of respect for his ex-coach.

"I played for Dick Jauron. I always thought Dick Jauron was a great coach. I liked playing for him," Briggs, a two-time Pro Bowler, said over a year ago.

Unlike Colvin, Briggs is a weakside LB, so the Bills would not have to shift Crowell anywhere. Of course, signing Briggs, who has four straight 100-tackle seasons, eight career forced fumbles and six interceptions, is going to be extremely difficult for any team, especially Buffalo.

The Bills, who employ their own budget that operates well below the NFL's salary-cap maximum, would need to hand Briggs a contract worth anywhere from $50 to $60 million, not to mention the ridiculous bonus money the 240-pounder is sure to command.

Obviously, though, if you're a Bills fan, you have to be coveting Briggs entering the Friday bonanza.

*E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Healthy Keith Ellison a Fair Option for Buffalo Bills

RealFootball365.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:28:46 -0500

There's a difference between Keith Ellison having a down season and Keith Ellison being a lousy player. He had a weak 2007, particularly compared to the way he competed during his rookie year, but that doesn't mean he's devoid of ability or can't handle a starting role. Aside from the perhaps astounding revelation that every position can't manned by an All-Pro, the fact is that Ellison is gifted with enough adeptness to be a decent contributor, largely thanks to his prominent defender instincts.

Ellison's capacity for proficiency was on display in his first season, a campaign that was even more notable when one considers that he had literally no time to prepare before the season as a starter. His introduction to NFL game action went along the lines of, "Takeo Spikes is hurt, get in there" against the Patriots in Week 1, and he still acquitted himself nicely, credited with 10 total tackles for the afternoon while facing the division's top team.

Starting seven games and active for 14 overall, he made 65 tackles in 2006 as he often found his way to the ball carrier, displaying his enthusiastically innate sense for the play's direction that all half-decent linebackers must possess.

But there wasn't as much of that this past year, as Ellison didn't exhibit the identical sharpness. That said, it wasn't some mysteriously cosmic sophomore slump that caused a decline in Ellison's resourcefulness: It was the ankle sprain he sustained during the preseason. Even when he did return, it appeared his range was limited compared to the way he performed during the previous season.

Not playing until Oct. 8 also could have been a factor that impacted his comfort level; that's in addition to the entirely feasible and reasonable possibility that it took him time to get acclimated to game action. It's not to make excuses for Ellison, but suffering an injury on the brink of the regular season's opening was the equivalent of returning after missing a week of school with the flu and trying to figure out what fractions are when everyone else is already working on lowest common denominators.

The truth is that this team has gotten a lot out of a sixth-round pick: 16 starts over his first two seasons is evidence that Ellison was a good value selection, not to mention conversely that former general manager Marv Levy knew that the player in question would be a bargain for the price.

Besides, there's an easy way for the Oregon State product to improve. Namely, it's conceivable that playing next to one of last year's draft prizes in Paul Posluszny would benefit Ellison's own affinity for playmaking. The two never got the chance to be on the field at the same time, as Posluszny was placed on injured reserve before the man who was scheduled to be on his right returned from his stint on the sidelines.

Opening the season healthy and playing alongside elite talent are two easy ways to maximize skill, and giving Ellison the chance to battle with both of those aspects in his favor is a better option than dismissing an energetic scrapper as a substandard performer. Aside from the reality that adding a wide receiver, tight end, and nose tackle are all priorities that need draft addressing before luxuries such as linebackers can be added, Ellison can hold his own; just because he's the third-best at his position for his team doesn't make him a horrid failure.

YouTubing with the Oakland Raiders

RealFootball365.com — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:29:24 -0500

You want to know what's criminal? The NFL routinely culls the world's second-greatest website ever, YouTube, of all content containing even the faintest whiff of eau du football for fear of losing a few precious dollars.

When that football jones kicks in, it'd be nice to get a few quick hits from fans—even a sloppily made compilation of cuts from a 1980s VCR recording could do the trick.

But no! Organizations like the NFL (you'll find a similar bunch of money-grubbers in the British premiership) see fit to reign in that idle surfing time in quest of the almighty buck.

Okay, rant over.

In short, this surfer spent a few quality minutes seeking Oakland Raiders clips and found a dearth of football content on the Broadcast Yourself (But Not Our Material Without the Express Written Consent of the National Football League, etc.) site. Herewith, RealFootball365's guide to YouTubing with the Raiders.

Oakland Raiders—History: We'll start right at the top, with Steve Sabol's "Battle Hymn of the Raider Nation," or alternatively The Autumn Wind. You might even find John Facenda reading the ingredients off a tube of toothpaste with some Raider pics rolling—that'd make a great YouTube clip.

"Autumn Wind" is the only reason a self-respecting Raider fan might want to memorize a poem. Impress the ladies with it; you won't even have to reveal that it's about football.

(Warning to extreme citizens of Raider Nation: Stop this video at 0:55. You will not be able to look upon the evil twist 311TB applies to this stirring oratory and slideshow with any sense of humor.)

This Is Sparta: What's that at the beginning of the clip? The crowd at a Twiztid concert? Nah, it's just raucous Raider backers! This is why we love Oakland fans.

The clip is a nicely composed highlight reel of last year's play set to the new Raider theme song, "This is Sparta" by IDK, as conceived by SamG74.

And we've also got a few obligatory videos. For example, a clip set to "Imperial Theme" from the Star Wars series, and a Raiderette clip. We really need more Raiderette stuff. YouTube artists...are you listening? Hello?

What's up with this guy Slow Pain? Either he's a serious Raider obsesser, or he needs to expand the horizons of his subject matter just a tad. Having said that, his raps are good enough. Raider Nation Mix is an infectious "rola" which has multiplied across the net. Some lyrics include:

There's a Cowboy on my shoulder.
Can I kill it?
A 49er on my shoulder.
Can I kill it?
Jon Gruden on my shoulder.
Can I kill it?
Raider Nation in the house.
Can you feel it?

(Wait a minute; is he seriously still rapping about Marcus Allen?)

There's also...um...another song replete with similar referencing and the ubiquitous black Cadillac. In Raider for Life, Pain proclaims that "Al Davis" is his middle name. "Slow Al Davis Pain"?

Following this sampling, let's uncover the purpose of YouTube.

Reason for YouTube's existence No. 1:

We've got to be reminded of the cheesiest '80s moments. Silver and Black Attack, anyone? You've got to be a chronically devoted Raider fan to sit through all of this one. The abomination is 6:40 long!

Slightly irrelevant except to kick Howie Long around a bit after participating in said "attack," we offer Howie Long pokes Al Gore. Long offers a little political analysis of a 2007 pre-game show by defining "Al Gore Syndrome" and explaining how it relates to Mike Martz.

Wait a minute, does Gore really think he's still vice-president? (Guess which FOX guy'll be voting McCain this autumn.)

Reason for YouTube's existence No. 2:

We need clips like this one of former Lyle Alzado roomie and quasi-Oakland Raiders Legend, Michael Dotterer. A true New Yorker, Dotterer reminisces briefly about the draft when selected by the Raiders. This is wonderful stuff. Dotterer searches for the ways to describe the superb feeling of playing pro ball.

How could they have let go of Kevin Boothe, once described as "not a guy that's going to look impressive in drills"? There's also a bonus in this clip. Art Shell justifies his 2006 picks, including first-rounder Michael Huff, who is now said to be on the trading block.

And we find other obligatory videos of the greatest athlete of my lifetime, real and virtual.

The title speaks for itself: Why Raider fans loved Super Bowl LXII. It took awhile to amass enough material critical of Randy Moss, but here it is.

YouTubing for football throughout the year at RealFootball365.com.

Lorenzo Booker: The Best Hope for Tony Sparano's Offensive System

RealFootball365.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:20:48 -0500

During his most recent gathering with the local media, Miami head coach Tony Sparano made two statements that, when tied together, should be an encouraging sign for at least one Dolphin.

In regards to what type of system the team will run with a completely new coaching staff led by a rookie head man, Sparano said that the system would have to fit the players they have.

When asked more specifically about the offensive plan that could be put in place by him and new offensive coordinator Dan Henning, Sparano replied, "Right now we really don't have an idea one way or the other."

It would appear then that all options are open for 2008, and the coaching staff will perhaps design game plans built around the hand they've been dealt and eschew a particular philosophy.

This should be good news for Lorenzo Booker, and getting him more involved in the Dolphins' offense should return good news for Miami.

The story of the 5-foot-10, 191-pound Booker's rookie season is just one of many in a delirious 2007 for the Dolphins. Fans cast a leery eye upon his selection in the draft, having watched him at Florida State and gaining the inevitable comparisons to so-so former Dolphin runner Travis Minor. Skepticism among the faithful grew when Booker didn't see a single snap for 11 games as the losses and running back injuries mounted. If he can't get in the game now, many wondered, when would he?

Once entered into the offense, however, Booker provided a spark that not only was desperately needed by Miami at the time but one that hasn't been seen in the Dolphins' backfield in recent memory. No longer able to consistently pound the ball with a Ronnie Brown-Ricky Williams-Lamar Smith-type back, the Dolphins utilized Booker as a third-down runner and receiver out of the backfield, and the results were encouraging. In Miami's win over Baltimore, Booker averaged 10 yards per catch, and he provided four first downs, including one on a key fourth-and-1 attempt that led to the Dolphins' first touchdown of the afternoon. At New England one week later, Booker turned eight carries into 56 yards, a 7.0-yard average.

Booker ended the season with a 4.5 yards per carry average, and if you project Booker's five game totals over a full season, he would've gained 568 yards receiving. Take note, Bill Parcells -- among runners comparable to Booker's size and abilities, do you know who had a similar rookie season? A guy you coached and won a Super Bowl with, Dave Meggett (4.2 yards per rush, 531 yards receiving). Warrick Dunn (4.4 YPC, 462 yards receiving) did as well. Brian Westbrook didn't have that many yards receiving until his third year, and three-time Pro Bowler Eric Metcalf didn't until his fourth.

Booker's overall skills as a rusher were seen as respectable if not overwhelming, but it's also worth noting that he had to face defenses stacked against the run because of the total lack of respect for Miami's passing game.

Want proof that defenses didn't fear Miami's aerial attack? Go take another look at Greg Camarillo's game-ending touchdown catch against the Ravens. Whoever can locate where the safeties were to help the corners on that play should be recruited to help find Osama bin Laden. However, if the Dolphins' offense can develop some consistent production -- particularly down the field -- defenses will have to back off the line of scrimmage a little to compensate. Booker's speed and elusiveness suggest he doesn't need a whole lot of room to make something big happen either.

With the track record of the brain trust currently in power, no one expects Miami to forsake a power running attack. The most dangerous offense, however, is a diversified one. If Sparano is serious about letting the talent dictate the system, then getting the ball in Booker's hands 15 to 20 times per game through third-down carries, screens and draw plays should be a priority in 2008.

Nate Clements Needs to Make More Plays to Earn His Salary

RealFootball365.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:14:51 -0500

Eighty million dollars buys an improvement from 26th to 22nd.

That's what San Francisco got for its investment in cornerback Nate Clements—the 49ers jumped from being bad in pass defense all the way to somewhat closer to mediocre.

Even if it's true that his final season of his record-smashing deal has been voided, leading to both a smaller per year and grand total, Clements didn't do enough to justify the barely less enormous contract.

It's not entirely fair to say that the 49ers pass defense was only enhanced a little bit by Clements' arrival.

The truth is, the unit actually got worse.

Despite the modest jump in rankings, San Francisco conceded more aerial yards than it did during the last year of the B.C. era, Before Clements: The Niners surrendered 227.7 passing yards per game in 2007 compared to an average of 223.2 yards in 2006.

It only appears that they improved when measured against the bottom two-thirds of the league, which collectively got worse. That allowed the Niners to move up the rankings even as they gave up slightly more ground through the air.

Saying Clements is overpaid is as obvious as announcing that Lindsay Lohan can't act, but it's understandable that teams are willing to pay over what would be objective market value for free agents: If a general manager can add a talented player without having to surrender players or picks in return, it's easier to justify spending more than one would in a vacuum. But, regardless of how the team and player ended up agreeing on a pact as astronomical as this one, it's going to overshadow both until the corner's play makes everyone forget the money.

And, while it might not seem fair to stick the blame for everything on a single member of the secondary, the criticism is justified in light of the responsibility bestowed on him when he chose to cross time zones. That's the consequence of pursuing and receiving this much compensation.

Clements' flashy style has always revolved around gambling: he's a bold player who's willing to make a break on the ball instead of attempting a simple breakup. It sometimes leads to glamorous results, but it also means at worst occasionally getting burned and at best a lack of fundamentally sound results. Tied for 19th in the league last season for passes defensed with a very respectable but not staggering total of 18, he needs to upgrade his execution of the position's basics.

The payoff wasn't worth the risk, either. The team has the right to expect more than the four interceptions Clements managed last season, even though, as a player with 27 over his seven seasons, that's almost exactly his average. Steady production from year to year won't cut it: The 49ers are entitled to expect him to change the tempo and sometimes outcomes of games on his own, including by generating more turnovers than he typically has in the past.

Clements needs to take several steps up if he wants to live up to his "Playmaker" nickname; of course, the fact that he bestowed that title upon himself should have made everyone suspicious from the start. Even setting aside the fishy circumstances of the arrogant moniker, Clements needs to dominate, and not just in a "his stats were down because offenses avoided him" manner.

Looming contract aside, San Francisco needs superhuman individual performances from the most prominent names on the roster if the team plans to reverse its recent history. It starts with stars like Clements playing better than simply pretty well.

How Badly Do the Raiders Want Chris Long?

RealFootball365.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:57:22 -0500

How can Raider Nation not be obsessed with the 2008 NFL Draft? More specifically, how can the group not be completely oblivious to all other concerns except for drafting Chris Long out of the University of Virginia?

Yeah, sure, just last week this writer was espousing the virtues of drafting for the offensive line, but I've been rethinking things. Call me crazy, call me more of a flip-flopper than Mitt Romney, call me blitzed by the hype, but maybe the old guys currently on the silver-and-black OL can hold on for one more season; after all, there should be a few competent centers and such still available in the third and fourth rounds.

Seriously, how perfect would Chris Long be on this Raider team? Imagine a second-generation career Raider who could someday be a second-generation Hall of Famer. Imagine building a 'D' around this guy as an offense similarly evolves based on the refined raw talent of JaMarcus Russell. Imagine Chris debuting on the FOX pre-game show in 2021.

OK, no need to go that far; staying in the immediate present tells us stuff like the 36-inch vertical leap he can put his 272-pound frame through. He's also reportedly run a 4.7 in the 40 at the combine.

The Chris Long story is one of potential epic proportions should he somehow remain on the board when the Raiders step up to choose fourth overall in April.

To whet the appetite a bit, here's a nice compilation of clips from the Gator Bowl. Long was so hyped for the final game of his college career with the Cavaliers that he jumped around to swat passes like a 25-year-old Hakeem Olajuwon, and he was just as dominant a presence.

Check out the play at around 1:50 into the clip, wherein his awareness is justifiably raved about as he helps push the run to the outside. Long's run stuffing is a skill sorely needed by a limp run defense, and this video is a virtual how-to on how DLs should play pass coverage.

Here's a quickie titled "The Safety." Ouch, dude.

The only question - one we'll hereby submit for consideration to the Raider Nation - is: Should the Raiders trade up to get this one-day defensive MVP? How much should the silver and black surrender?

I'm pumped for Chris Long's brilliant career with the Raiders, and I'm not even a fan. How can Raider Nation not be obsessed?

Obsessive about the game throughout the year at RealFootball365.com

Vikings News: Troy Williamson's Exit Closes Book on Randy Moss

RealFootball365.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:48:30 -0500

Troy Williamson's drop deep in Denver Broncos territory in Week 17 of the 2007 National Football League season all but sealed his fate with the Vikings.

So when head coach Brad Childress said Williamson and his agent were free to negotiate a trade, no protests were made by either side.

The announcement by the "Minnesota Vikings Organization," as Zygi Wilf so often puts it, came as no surprise.

The assertion that Williamson was already in cahoots with more than half a dozen teams across the league, something pointed out by his agent, David Canter, was laughable.

Here's a guy who never got it right. Speed is great. We all knew Williamson had speed. What we didn't know is if this burner out of Steve Spurrier-led South Carolina had anything for hands.
Turns out, he didn't.

Williamson blamed his problems, all along, on his eyesight. He even went to the Nike Vision Clinic (which no one had heard of before last year) to get things right.

It seemed OK for a while. But then the drops kept coming. And the last nail went into the coffin against the Broncos.

It also writes the last chapter in the dismal departure of ways with all-everything wide receiver Randy Moss.

Williamson was supposed to make Viking fans forget about Moss as soon as he laid down his 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.

Anyone can run a go route, fans said. And after a while, even the media started to believe that. Moss was overrated.

Besides, Moss was broken down and his attitude was cancerous. He'd suffered a torn hamstring and a rash of ankle injuries in the seasons before his trade to Oakland, which happened just before Wilf purchased the team in 2005.

Minnesota would be better off without him. After all, a stud linebacker (Napoleon Harris, who turned in one good year) and a burner were going to outperform a diva no longer in his prime.
Then, last year came and went, and you had to wonder if the Moss deal ranks up there with the infamous Herschel Walker trade in Vikings lore.

Hold the phone. It will never be that bad, will it? After all, the Patriots lost the Super Bowl. Dallas, with the help of that trade, won three.

As bad as the deal that sent Moss to Oakland was, it may have worked out best for both sides. And maybe that's OK. Moss doesn't fit into a Childress-schemed offense, either. Eventually, the guy would have wallowed in self-pity under this regime. No Randy Ratio here. With a running game that's second to none, Minnesota is more like Adrian's Army now.

So while the Purple Faithful wonder about how to summarize the Williamson/Harris for Moss trade, let's remember this: It could have been worse.

But not by much.

Raiders Rumors: Sebastian Janikowski To Go?

RealFootball365.com — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:48:47 -0500

Rumors surrounding the Oakland Raiders are always suspect. But when the rumor originates from the Denver Post, it comes across as nothing better than tabloid gossip.

Still, there's some substance to the short snippet of speculation offered in Bill Williamson's column Saturday.

The article, titled "Foxworth tired of Upshaw bashing," ended with an "Around the league" section. Squished between "Word is the Broncos aren't high on [Kenny] Phillips and may pursue a safety through free agency" and "If Broncos kicker Jason Elam enters free agency, expect Atlanta to make a push for Elam, who has family in Georgia," was:

"Some in the league expect the Raiders to part ways with inconsistent kicker Sebastian Janikowski this offseason."

Oddly enough, of the five rumors Williamson listed, the one concerning Janikowski was the only that didn't involve the Broncos in any way.

Though, it's not as if the 29-year-old kicker has posted a string of consecutive impressive seasons together. Janikowski, a first-round pick of the Raiders in 2000, has been kicking with the team for eight seasons, and has exceeded an 80 percent accuracy mark just three times.

Keeping with the Raiders-Broncos theme, Elam has achieved an accuracy mark of 80 percent five times in the past eight seasons and has done so nine times in his 15-year career.

Since being drafted, the 250-pound Janikowski has a below-average 76.8 accuracy rating, with his best season coming in 2004 (89.3 percent) and his worst in 2005 (66.7 percent).

Last year was another off season. The ex-Florida State standout missed nine kicks on 32 tries, which translates to a 71.9 kicking percentage. However, those numbers are quite misleading. Janikowski was 10 for 11 on kicks under 40 yards and seven for 10 on attempts between 40 and 49 yards. In the 50-plus range, however, the Polish kicker was six for 11.

Yet, those 50-plus kicks are also the reason team owner Al Davis reached extremely far in the 2000 draft to grab Janikowski 17th overall, two picks ahead of three-time Pro Bowl running back Shaun Alexander. On his career, the strong-legged kicker is just 16 for 34 on tries over 50 yards meaning he's only a strong-legged kicker, not an accurate-legged one.

In 2004, Janikowski signed a five-year, $10.5 million contract extension, which means he wouldn't officially become a free agent until the end of the 2009 season. Next season, the 6-foot-2 kicker is expected to make $1.2 million, and he'll earn $1.5 million in 2009.

It seems very unlikely, considering Janikowski is already under contract, that Oakland would simply let him go. Plus, the last former first-round draft pick the Raiders released was safety Derrick Gibson, who was selected back in 2001 and let go of just prior to last season. Other ex-first-rounders like LB Napoleon Harris and CB Philip Buchanon have been sent away in trades, while names such as Fabian Washington and Robert Gallery are still on the roster.

In one sense, then, letting go of a Janikowski would be a bit of a refresher.

I wouldn't bet on it, though. Then again, I would never bet on predicting the Raiders' next move.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

Zach Thomas Back on Track in Dallas?

RealFootball365.com — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:11:02 -0500

The status of Zach Thomas' career comes down to verb tenses:

It's a matter of whether he was or is a great player.

Age and injury can combine to severely reduce effectiveness, issues the top linebacker will have to face if he wants to rebound from his miserable 2007 with his new team in Dallas. On the other hand, the way Thomas has played throughout his career indicates he's disposed to not just conquer this obstacle but attack and whoop it really bad.

It will be difficult.

Recovering from head injuries like Thomas can be tricky, as concussions and migraines are more delicate to rebound from than a hurt knee or bicep. He also has to be concerned with any potential consequence further playing could have on his life after the game, although that's a decision and risk that only the athlete can and should assess.

While it's his choice to make, Thomas' ability to play, much less start, could be impacted by the wounds that nagged him and eventually ended his last season in Miami.

Also not in Thomas' favor is the calendar, as he will turn 35 on Sept. 1, right before Week 1. Fans will cite the multiple geezers who are members of the Patriots linebacking corps as proof that Thomas can still be valuable, but "New England does it" means that something is either 1) innovatively difficult to reproduce, or 2) an amoral flaunting of rules. Copying Bill Belichick's method is the grown-up equivalent of jumping off a bridge because your friends do it.

Still, Thomas' situation is unique, and this contract grants him the genuine opportunity to prolong his career.

For one, he's going to have plenty of months to heal and see if he'll be ready for contact. That's especially true considering he last played a game on Oct. 21; being placed on injured reserve last year may help him out this year. Time helps, and he'll have as much of it as possible to clear the cobwebs.

Also on the plus side for those making Thomas' case is the fact that 2007 was the first year where he missed significant time to injury: He played in either 15 or all 16 contests during eight of his 11 prior seasons. He was held out of five games in 2000 thanks to a sprained ankle that caused him to be sidelined for the most action of his career until this past campaign.

That's a fine track record of durability for a position where the player is guaranteed to face a tremendous physical burden.

There's also the incentive of playing in his home state, something that can invigorate even those who would be considered elderly by pro football standards. Born, raised, and schooled in Texas, Thomas has to be enthusiastic about the prospect of returning to his native region to compete, an intangible that may give him more energy than even a poorly drawn Red Bull commercial would dare claim to provide.

While he may enjoy a general feeling of excitement because of having a single star both on the state flag above and each side of his helmet, Thomas has to more specifically hope that he can excel with this defense. Wade Phillips is known for tending to use his 3-4 defense relatively aggressively, and that could bode well for the team's new forceful linebacker, who is Michael near the line of scrimmage and Tito in coverage.

Thomas' active style is reflected in his overwhelming statistics: According to the Dolphins, he has 1,866 career tackles, a mind-boggling total that belies his 5-foot-11 height and fifth-round draft status.

Simply put, Thomas is a football player, one who has never bothered to let himself be discouraged by the fact that those analyzing 1996's selections might not have forecast him starting in the NFL, much less be eventually discussed as a possible Hall of Famer.

Aside from the fact that Miami and Dallas, two franchises whose mutual animosity would seem to have begun and concluded with Super Bowl VI, have once again seen an employee jump from one franchise to the other, the fact remains that Thomas is one player who is equipped to overcome challenges.

Aches, age, and slowness could doom this experiment, but one thing that won't ruin it is a lack of effort from the defender in question.

Spygate: I Believe Bill Belichick

RealFootball365.com — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:31:26 -0500

Another page in the continuing saga of Spygate, ran on the pages of that great unbiased media source, The Boston Globe, last week.

"[In my] entire coaching career, I have never filmed a walkthrough," said New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "I've never been on a staff that has filmed a walkthrough. I'm talking about when I was a head coach. As an assistant, I've never seen a head coach film a walkthrough the day before a game..."

Everyone scoffed, tittered and guffawed, but I'll tell you what: I believe Belichick.

Why? Because I have to. Because I was living in New Mexico during Election 2000. Stay with me here for a moment and I'll explain.

Every American citizen (and quite a few living abroad as well) clearly recalls sitting president George W. Bush's, um, closely fought election victory that year. Thanks to the mechanics of the Electoral College, Al Gore was in a position to earn more popular votes while still losing the general election. Everyone knows what happened (or didn't happen) next, as folks in 49 states and the District of Colombia saw the same red-and-blue board on CNN for days and weeks thereafter while recounts went on and on.

The Sunshine State wasn't the only disputed state in that contest, however. You may recall how Oregon stayed off the map in neither Bush nor Gore's column for about two weeks; this was thanks to that state's mail-in ballot procedure and an ultra-close race there.

And then there was New Mexico. Originally given to Gore on election night, three days into the Florida vote recounts, on all the scoreboards, the Land of Enchantment was bleached as officials declared the state's balloting may have been compromised; a recount had been called for in my home state as well, a little-noticed event, as like Oregon, New Mexico did not have enough electoral votes to swing the presidency into either camp.

Two days later—four after Election Day—those turning on CNN may have noticed that the Southwestern state had in fact gone red: After a recount, New Mexico had voted Bush, it seemed, by a margin of some 200 votes or so. Twenty-eight days after Election Day, though, New Mexico had miraculously swung back into the Gore camp, with the Wooden One proclaimed the winner of a state of 1.2 million by 366 votes. For those keeping score at home, the problems included:

• Improperly programmed voting machines in Albuquerque, the state's largest city.

• Missing ballots, later "found" by election officials in "a back room in a warehouse."

• Police impounds of ballots.

• Incorrect programming of voting machines in another county of the state; and finally

• A "misread" handwritten tally of absentee ballots which gave Gore another 500 votes and the victory.

Over the four weeks this was going on and as Gore refused to concede defeat, rumors circulated. There were rumors of improprieties in Ohio, that machines had malfunctioned in Alaska, that basically every state in which the final tally was close may have required a recount. Gore ultimately conceded and was called a hero in some quarters (even some outside of Michael Moore's realm) for saving America and "the process" a little embarrassment on the international front.

The point here is this: If Arlen Specter is allowed to get his hands on the Patriots and investigate allegations of illegal use of video technology, he's going to find this sort of stuff all over the league. This would be tantamount to investigating Jose Canseco for steroid use, under the assumption that he was the sole baseballer in the 1990s to have been juicing.

Or, as my lady put it when I tried to explain the allegations to her (hey, she went to University of Berkeley and still thinks the San Francisco Giants are the big city's football team), "Well, couldn't anyone with a cell phone do that?"

Last Friday saw the Worldwide Leader in [American] Sports fan the embers of the story it pretty much created in the first place; Specter complained that Roger Goodell and the league weren't willing to give full disclosure: "If they had wanted [former Patriots video assistant Matt] Walsh to talk, it would have been done a long time ago. They are not helped by keeping him on ice, unless they intend to [permanently] keep him on ice."

Reportedly, New York Jets officials and Damon Huard (!) have refused to speak with Specter on the matter. Specter wanted testimony from these guys because of their former affiliation with the Patriots, but one can't help but wonder if Jets, Chiefs, and folks from about, say, 29 other franchises would prefer to go the Barry Bonds route and duck hearings altogether.

The truth is, in the high-pressure world of big-money football, anyone and everyone will use any advantage at their disposal to stay (or get) on top and there is just no way every NFL team outside of New England is playing 100 percent by the rules. Doesn't anyone remember Brian Billick's accusations against the Jets on similar grounds early this season?

Yeah, the Michael Vick thing was terrible, but at least it was an easy call morally speaking—except for banal cultural relativists like Whoopi Goldberg, it seems. Who really wants the stickiness of seeing one team after another go under senatorial inspection on C-Span?

And trust me, I know how unsavory it is to have to buy The Hooded One's Nixonesque trash talk. But look at the players: Let's see, we can side with grandstanding politicians led by Specter, who is not at all motivated by his legendary love for the Philadelphia Eagles; the NFL commissioner, a figurehead whose primary job consists of protecting the rights of a few dozen billionaires against a few hundred millionaires in the quest to soak you of as much of your hard-earned cash as possible; the owners, who, to paraphrase Lieutenant Worf, "don't allow themselves to be ... probed"; and ol' Romulan commander Belichick himself.

"I have never authorized, or heard of, or even seen in any way, shape, or form any other team's walkthrough," said the coach in The Globe. "We don't even film our own. We don't even want to see ourselves do anything, that's the pace that it's at. Regardless, I've never been a part of that."

Guess I have to buy it—I'm not that big a fan of congressional hearings.

Ready, willing, and waiting to probe throughout the year at RealFootball365.com