Bleacher Report - Articles by Bryn Swartz

The Time Is Now: The Official 2009 Philadelphia Eagles Preview

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:39:21 -0400

They lost six games (and failed to win a seventh) during the 2008 season.

Their franchise quarterback temporarily lost his starting job in the season's most crucial game.

They needed a Sunday of miracles to even qualify for the postseason.

They entered the postseason as the sixth best team in the NFC and left it as the second best.

And now? What about now?

The Philadelphia Eagles are poised to enter the 2009 season as the top team in the National Football Conference.

The offseason for the Eagles' has been one of the more interesting in the franchise's history.

Despite the continuous calls for a big-name wide receiver such as Chad Johnson or Anquan Boldin, head coach Andy Reid refused to provide quarterback Donovan McNabb with a proven receiving threat.

He also allowed Brian Dawkins, arguably the most popular player in the history of the franchise, to leave the team and join the Denver Broncos. And he failed to resign two of the more accomplished offensive tackles in the history of the franchise.

However, Reid made what is now being realized as a tremendous splash in both free agency and the NFL draft.

Reid drafted Jeremy Maclin with the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft. The speedy wide receiver from Missouri just turned 21-years-old and is poised to be a legitimate receiving threat for Donovan McNabb. He will also compete with second-year wide receiver DeSean Jackson for the position of punt returner.

Fullback Leonard Weaver, a 2008 Pro Bowl alternate as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, replaces converted defensive tackle Dan Klecko, giving the Eagles much-needed depth at an extremely neglected position over the years.

In 2008, the Eagles lost two conference games after failing to convert on a fourth-and-one late in the game.

Weaver will be blocking for 20-year-old LeSean McCoy, who has been described by ESPN as "lightning in a bottle every time he touches the ball." In May of 2004, McCoy ran a 4.25 40-yard dash at the State College Nike Training Camp. McCoy was 15-years-old. \

By comparison, Michael Vick and Randy Moss, two of the fastest players in the history of the National Football League, never ran a 4.25 in the 40.

Two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters was signed from the Buffalo Bills to replace aging three-time Pro Bowler Tra Thomas. Peters suffered through a disappointing 2008 season, but is expected to power the Eagles' rushing attack next year. Andy Reid has even gone as far as to call Peters the "best left tackle in football."

Right tackle Stacy Andrews was acquired from the Cincinnati Bengals and will replace Pro Bowl tackle Jon Runyan. Andrews, who can play guard or tackle, will play alongside of his brother on the offensive line. The massive Andrews' brothers (combined weight: 675 pounds) give the Eagles one of the largest and most successful offensive lines in the NFL.

Sean Jones was signed from the Cleveland Browns in the hopes of replacing the legendary Brian Dawkins at free safety. Jones possesses playmaking ability, as he ranks third among safeties in interceptions since 2006. Jones's consistency makes him one of just four players in the NFL to intercept four or more passes in each of the past four seasons.

The Eagles' new acquisitions may provide the much-needed depth to get the Eagles' over the hump in the NFC.

Although quarterback Donovan McNabb still lacks a legitimate No. 1 receiving threat, his receiving core is significantly above average. It can be argued that no team in history has possessed as much speed as the Eagles. The third fastest wide receiver on the Eagles is Kevin Curtis, who will join DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin as big-play threats.

Brian Westbrook turns 30-years-old this season and is coming off a disappointing injury-plagued season, in which he still managed to set a career-high with 14 touchdowns. Westbrook's injuries last year have left concern for his future, and McCoy was specifically drafted to complement Westbrook in the backfield.

Following a second consecutive disappointing season, the Eagles parted ways with tight end LJ Smith. Likely starting next season will be 24-year-old Brent Celek, who showed his potential late last season with 19 catches and three touchdowns in the postseason, including two scores in the NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Backing up Celek will be rookie Cornelius Ingram, who has been described as one of the steals in the draft. A former quarterback, Ingram switched to tight end, where he will provide the Eagles with a solid receiving target in the red zone.

Joining Jason Peters and the Andrews' boys on the offensive line will be left guard Todd Herremans and center Jamaal Jackson. Herremans has provided the Eagles with solid depth as a starter over the past three seasons.

Jackson has started 56 consecutive games for the Eagles, the third longest streak among active NFL centers. In 2008, the Eagles' powerful offensive line set a franchise record by allowing just one sack for every 27.3 pass attempts.

On the defensive line, the Eagles will incorporate a steady dose of the following eight players: ends Trent Cole, Juqua Parker, Darren Howard, Victor Abiamiri, and Chris Clemons; and tackles Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, and Trevor Laws.

Cole was voted by his teammates' as the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player following the 2007 season, and is the most experienced member of the defensive line.

Bunkley and Patterson anchor the middle of the defensive line, where they have helped the Eagles rank sixth in the league in fewest rushing yards allowed per game over the past two seasons. Darren Howard led the Eagles with ten sacks in 2008, ranking first in the NFL in sacks among players who didn't start a game.

Ironically, four of the Eagles' defensive linemen have scored touchdowns in their career, with Parker and Clemons scoring last season. Parker's 55-yard interception return sealed a victory against the San Francisco 49ers and is one of the more underrated moments of a roller-coaster 2008 season.

Clemons' 73-yard fumble return helped the Eagles dominate the Cowboys and clinch a playoff spot in the final game of the season.

Anchoring the Eagles' linebacking corps will be 25-year-old middle linebacker Stewart Bradley. Bradley possesses an impressive combination of size and speed, with a nose for the football. Last year, he was selected to the Sports Illustrated All-Pro team following his first season as a starter.

Despite losing two Pro Bowl players—Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard—the Eagles' secondary might be the strongest group of players on the team.

Cornerback Asante Samuel is one of the more accomplished defensive players in recent NFL history. Samuel's 20 interceptions since 2006 rank second among all NFL players and he is the all-time postseason leader in interception touchdowns. Samuel was selected to his second Pro Bowl following the 2008 season.

Strong safety Quintin Mikell earned All-Pro honors in his first full season as starter, while Sheldon Brown didn't allow a single touchdown pass in the regular season. Mikell has the potential to step up as the Eagles' defensive leader during the 2009 season.

Brown, who is currently in the middle of a contract dispute, will likely play next season. Newly acquired Sean Jones will likely beat out Quintin Demps for the starting job.

With Akers and Rocca returning, and the return duties being handled by two of the following four players—Demps, Jackson, Ellis Hobbs, and Maclin—the Eagles' special teams will continue to be among the best in the league.

In the 2008 season, the Eagles underachieved. There's no denying the obvious. Teams that outscore their opponents by 127 points should not need a miraculous season finale to earn a playoff spot. The Eagles could very easily have won 15 games, with the blowout to Baltimore being the only loss by more than a single score.

The Eagles' biggest weakness in 2008 was probably their inability to convert short plays on third and fourth down. Signing Leonard Weaver will prove to be one of the more underrated transactions of the offseason.

The 2009 team has more speed than possibly any team in the NFL. They have strength and size. The best thing about this team is that they have depth at virtually every position, with either a Pro Bowler or a solid starter at each of the 22 positions.

No one player is worth more than the entire team, and while injuries are never a positive factor, the Eagles could stand to suffer an injury or two and still remain extremely competitive next season.

Heading into the 2009 season, the Eagles are considered to be one of the top teams in the NFC. With quarterback Donovan McNabb turning 33-years=old in the middle of next season, the Eagles—specifically their quarterback—are running out of time in their quest for a Super Bowl title.

The time is now.

In the Trenches: The Five Biggest Positional Battles for the 2009 Eagles

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:34:44 -0400

Positional battles.

They might be the most underrated part of training camp.

Training camp is not just about getting yourself into supreme physical condition.

It's about competition. Survival.

Many training camp battles are swept under the radar. Only the winner is talked about. The loser is nothing.

Yet some training camp battles receive much publication. In 2006, Sports Illustrated featured centers Jamaal Jackson and Hank Fraley on its front cover, a rare feat for an offensive linemen.

The following five battles will be the most publicized battles of training camp for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2009 season.

5. Tight End: Brent Celek vs Cornelius Ingram vs Matt Schobel

Following a multitude of disappointing seasons as the Eagles' tight end, LJ Smith saw his tenure as a member of the Eagles come to an end.

In six seasons, LJ never produced a season that surpassed or even met expectations. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in March, leaving the Eagles three potential candidates for tight end next season.

The odds-on favorite to win the starting job is third year player Brent Celek, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2007. Celek developed into a solid receiving target last season, hauling in 27 balls for 318 yards and a score. Against the Seahawks, Celek broke the Eagles' single-game receiving record for a tight end, hauling in six passes for 131 yards.

In the postseason, Celek was an absolute beast. He caught six balls for 56 yards in the wild-card round. He scored a touchdown against the Giants in the divisional round. And he went wild against the Cardinals in the conference championship game, catching 10 balls for 83 yards and two touchdowns.

When the postseason is factored in, Celek was actually the team's best tight end last season.

Cornelius Ingram was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2009 draft. Ingram missed the entire 2008 college football season due to injured ligaments in his knee. As a result, he slipped a few rounds in the draft, but has been described by many as the steal of the draft.

Ingram averaged 15 yards per reception in the 2007 season, an unheard-of amount for a tight end. He also has been described as a clutch target, especially reliable in the red zone.

Matt Schobel has been with the Eagles since the 2006 season. Over three seasons, he has hauled in 27 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns. He has been described as a "reliable target" but possesses no real playmaking ability. Schobel turned 30 years old in the middle of the 2008 season and will probably have to fight for a roster spot next season.

The starting position at tight end is Celek's job to lose. Ingram lacks experience at the professional level and Schobel simply can't compete with Celek's playmaking ability. However, a phenomenal training camp by Ingram could earn him the starting position.

On the other hand, a disappointing performance could drop him to third on the depth chart. It would take a virtual miracle for Schobel to enter next season as the team's starter.

4. Return Duties: Quintin Demps vs Ellis Hobbs and DeSean Jackson vs Jeremy Maclin

For the first time in years, the Eagles have legitimate weapons at both kick returner and punt returner. In 2008, Demps averaged over 25 yards per kickoff return, including a 100-yard touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson returned a punt for a touchdown against the Redskins in October, and added two other returns of over 60 yards.

In the offseason, the Eagles signed cornerback and kick returned Ellis Hobbs from the New England Patriots. They also drafted wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first round of the NFL draft. Hobbs had been a sensational kick returner for the Patriots.

In 2007, he set an NFL-record by returning a kickoff for a 108-yard touchdown. In 2008, Hobbs led the entire AFC in kick return yardage.

Maclin has been described as one of the more explosive return specialists in the game today. Maclin holds the NCAA single-season record for total all-purpose yards in a season by a freshman. He returned a kick for a touchdown in 2007 and in 2008. He had two punt returns for scores in 2007 and another in 2008, giving him five return touchdowns in two seasons.

The Eagles have an unusual situation in 2008. Hobbs, Demps, Maclin, and Jackson are four of the more explosive return men in the NFL. The team only needs one kick returner and one punt returner. Likely the team's number one wide receiver, Jackson is at risk for injury as a return specialist.

Maclin is just a rookie and will likely be the team's DeSean Jackson in 2009, meaning he'll play wide receiver and return punts. Demps will likely not return kicks if he somehow beats out Sean Jones for the starting job. However, if Hobbs somehow beats out Brown for the second spot at cornerback, Demps may still be returning kicks.

The logical choice, assuming that both Hobbs and Demps fail to land a starting job on defense, is to keep Demps at kick returner and give Maclin the punt returning duties.

3. Defensive End: Trent Cole vs Juqua Parker vs Darren Howard vs Victor Abiamiri vs Chris Clemons

This one is complicated.

Trent Cole is one year removed from a Pro Bowl selection and should keep his starting job for the 2009 season. However, Darren Howard played surprisingly well last season, leading the team in sacks. Cole will probably keep his starting job, but if Howard continues to shine, expect Cole to see about two-thirds of the snaps.

Parker was a pleasant surprise last season, tallying five sacks and returning an interception for a game-saving touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers.

However, Parker is now 31 years old and will likely be splitting time with Abiamiri and Clemons next year. Abiamiri is just 23 years old and saw limited action in 2008, recording 22 tackles and two sacks.

He will compete with Parker for the starting job. However, Abiamiri will be pushed by sixth-year player Chris Clemons, who finished with four sacks in the season's final nine games in 2008. Clemons also added a 73-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the season finale against Dallas.

Expect Cole and Parker to keep their starting spots, but don't be surprised if a strong training camp by Howard or Abiamiri (or even Clemons) gives one of them a starting spot.

2. WILL Linebacker: Akeem Jordan vs Omar Gaither

This battle will be intense. Akeem Jordan joined the Eagles as a rookie free agent before the 2007 season and managed to steal Omar Gaither's starting spot at linebacker for the final six games of the 2008 season. Jordan accumulated 52 total tackles last season and helped the Eagles win five of their final six games to earn a playoff spot.

Omar Gaither is an underachieving outside linebacker whose pride suffered a massive hit when he relinquished his starting position in the middle of the 2008 season. Gaither is capable of playing any position in the linebacking corps, but is most comfortable at outside linebacker.

He showed his true potential by leading the Eagles in tackles in the 2007 season. However, a disappointing 2008 season has left Gaither's future as a starter in jeopardy.

This may not be the popular choice, but I expect the determined Gaither to win his starting job back in training camp.

1. Wide Receiver: DeSean Jackson vs Kevin Curtis vs Jeremy Maclin vs Reggie Brown vs Hank Baskett vs Jason Avant

Not a single one of the six is a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver. The Eagles don't even like naming a player as a number one wide receiver, preferring to use a mix. And guess what? Nobody cares. All are capable of getting the job done and all six will see significant playing time in the 2009 season.

DeSean Jackson is likely the favorite to earn the title of "number one wide receiver." The second year player caught 62 passes for a team-high 912 yards and two touchdowns in the 2008 season. His speed and playmaking ability helped the Eagles finish one game short of the Super Bowl.

Jackson provided many memorable moments from last season, from a 55-yard reception on his first-ever NFL play to a 62-yard go-ahead touchdown catch to complete an improbable 18-point comeback in the NFC championship game.

Kevin Curtis is the only member of the Eagles' receiving corps to catch 1000 yards in a season. In 2007, Curtis led the team with 1110 yards on 77 catches. He suffered through a disappointing 2008, catching just 33 passes. In 2009, Curtis will likely rebound to top form and will compete for a starting spot.

Jeremy Maclin is the only rookie wide receiver on the Eagles' squad. He is a big play threat, but possesses more ability as a return man. He caught 102 passes as a sophomore in 2008, and will likely contribute 40-60 catches in 2009.

Reggie Brown has been a disappointment throughout his entire career. He lost his starting job to rookie DeSean Jackson in the middle of the 2008 season. He also slipped behind Kevin Curtis and Jason Avant on the depth chart. Brown has a lot to prove in 2009, and could end up as anything from the team's third to sixth wide receiver.

Hank Baskett possesses deceptive big play ability and turns in at least one 85-yard touchdown per season. Baskett made six starts in 2008 and caught 33 passes for 440 yards and three touchdowns. Baskett will compete for a fourth or fifth spot at wide receiver next season.

Jason Avant made a name for himself as the team's third-down receiver in 2008. He has turned 14 of 17 third down catches into first downs. He could enter next season ranked as high as fourth or as low as sixth on the depth chart.

Expect Jackson to relinquish his punt returning duties and serve as the number one receiver. Curtis will probably beat out Maclin for the third spot. I expect Avant to surprise and capture the fourth spot, with Baskett and Brown rounding out the wide receiving corps.

Five New Playcalling Trends for the 2009 Philadelphia Eagles

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:31:04 -0400

With all of the changes to the Philadelphia Eagles' roster, the coaching staff will need to adjust their playcalling in order to take advantage of the talent they will have on the field. Here are five new playcalling trends the coaches should look to use this season:

1. More Deep Passes

When Kevin Curtis is the third fastest wide receiver on your team, you know you have a special group of playmakers.

Jackson, Curtis, and Maclin all possess dangerous speed and are longball threats on virtually any given play. Baskett has deceptive speed on deep passes, and Brown and Avant have been known to catch a deep ball every now and then.

With a quarterback possessing one of the strongest arms in the National Football League, as well as a powerful offensive line capable of withstanding any defensive line in the league, the Eagles will have plenty of options on the deep pass.

2. Short Yardage Runs

For the first time in the Andy Reid era, the Eagles have a Pro Bowl-caliber fullback.

Leonard Weaver is more than capable of creating holes for third and fourth down situations. In 2008, the Eagles lost two games because of their inability to convert short yardage plays. Perhaps the problem resulted from using a converted defensive tackle as a fullback.

Weaver is experienced and powerful, and should help the Eagles jump from one of the worst short-yardage teams to one of the best.

3. Four Wide Receiver Formations

This is the formation that the "Greatest Show On Turf" thrived on. The St. Louis Rams thrived on four wide-receiver formations and watched as quarterback Kurt Warner won the league's Most Valuable Player award in 1999 and 2001.

A four wide-receiver formation with Jackson, Curtis, Maclin, and Baskett is perfect. None of the four wide receivers is dangerous enough to require double coverage. However, all of the four is more than capable of breaking free from their defender on a fly pattern. Using this formation will also help the Eagles to stretch the field.

4. More Screen Passes

The Eagles need to keep using the screen pass.

It has been the signature play of Brian Westbrook's career. In the 2008 postseason, Westbrook took a McNabb screen pass 71 yards for a touchdown, sealing the Eagles' playoff victory against the Vikings. With the selection of the speedy LeSean McCoy in the 2009 draft, the Eagles have no reason to shy away from screen passes.

McCoy has game changing speed, perhaps even more than Westbrook. If the Eagles get the ball in the hands of either of these two in the open field, the results could be devastating.

5. Wide receiver end-around

Why not?

Jackson is fast. He's incredibly fast. So are Curtis and Maclin.

If the Eagles use the end-around every other game, defenses will be fooled.

Look at the stats last season. Jackson rushed 17 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. You can't argue with the results. 5.6 yards per carry is phenomenal. Even if a few end-arounds result in a big loss behind scrimmage, think about the big play potential.

With the speed of the Eagles' receiving corps, this is a play that has the potential to be a 70 or 80 yard touchdown run.

It's a risky play, sure, but the reward is worth much more than the risk.

Philadelphia Eagles: Why the Big Three Coaches Are Among the Best

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:47:12 -0400

In Major League Baseball, a team can capture a world championship without a truly successful manager.

In the National Basketball Association, a team can win a title without a great coach.

But in the National Football League, no team can expect to contend for a Super Bowl title without a superb coaching staff.

It's no coincidence that the Philadelphia Eagles have reached the postseason seven times in the past nine seasons, despite a roster that is often not even the most talented in their own division. Five times the Eagles have soared to the NFC championship game, advancing to Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season.

Leading the way is the most successful coach in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles and two of the most talented coordinators in the history of the National Football League.

Andy Reid: Head Coach/Executive Vice President of Football Operations

Reid earned a reputation as an offensive line and quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers in the 1990's, where he helped future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre capture a third consecutive Most Valuable Player award following the 1997 season.

"Big Red" was selected as the team's head coach before the start of the 1999 season, despite never having served as an offensive or defensive coordinator for any team.

Since 1999, Reid has turned in a potential Hall of Fame career, winning 97 games in the regular season and 10 more in the postseason. In all seven of his postseason appearances, Reid has led the Eagles to at least one playoff victory.

Reid has received criticism for his inability to sign a big-name wide receiver, and in 10 seasons as the team's head coach, the Eagles have only possessed a No. 1 wide receiver for 21 games.

However, Reid has always kept the little men to help win football games. Leonard Weaver. Dorsey Levens. Mike Bartrum. Hollis Thomas.

He's quietly made clutch decisions that have resulted in more wins. He picked no-name kicker David Akers to replace longtime veteran Norm Johnson after the 1998 season. He inserted middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter into the starting spot halfway through the 2004 season, helping to improve a porous run defense. He chose to start 36-year old Jeff Garcia at quarterback after Donovan McNabb suffered a torn ACL halfway through the 2006 season, despite having fan-favorite A.J. Feeley on the roster.

He's also been extremely underrated when it comes to drafting players. Yes, he messed up by selecting Freddie Mitchell. Trading up to pick Jerome McDougle was a disaster. And L.J. Smith was pretty much a bust.

But the selection of the undersized, speedy Brian Westbrook in the third round of the 2002 draft was genius. Drafting Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown despite having two Pro Bowl cornerbacks on the roster was phenomenal. And choosing Donovan McNabb as his franchise quarterback instead of selecting Ricky Williams in the first round of the 1999 draft was brilliant.

Reid has also managed to build a rather impressive coaching tree. Former offensive coordinator Brad Childress has become a successful head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to the NFC North title in 2008.

Marty Mornhinweg: Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator

After an extremely disappointing two-year stint as the Detroit Lions' head coach, Mornhinweg joined the Philadelphia Eagles, where he has helped control the Eagles' offense for the past six seasons.

Mornhinweg's success as the offensive coordinator for the Eagles should come as a surprise to no one. He helped the 1998 San Francisco 49ers become the first team since the 1941 Chicago Bears to lead the NFL in both gross passing and gross rushing yards.

Mornhinweg's biggest success came in the final six games of the 2006 season, when he turned the Eagles into a mini-Cinderella story, as they won their final five regular season games to capture the NFC East title.

Mornhinweg helped Brian Westbrook turn in the most impressive season by a running back in franchise history in 2007.

In 2008, Mornhinweg helped the Eagles set a franchise-record with 416 points. Expectations remain high for the offense entering the 2009 season, as Mornhinweg will be asked to work with younger players such as LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin and Cornelius Ingram in the hopes of leading the Eagles back into the Super Bowl.

Jim Johnson: Defensive Coordinator

For the past 11 seasons, Jim Johnson has been nothing short of spectacular as the Eagles' defensive coordinator.

Because Reid has chosen to focus on working with Mornhinweg to improve the offense, Johnson has been given complete control of the team's defense.

With 13 years of NFL experience already under his belt, Johnson was signed by Reid to be the team's defensive coordinator before the 1999 season.

The results were immediate. Despite a 5-11 record, the Eagles ranked first in the NFL with 46 turnovers, including five returned for touchdowns.

Johnson's group has been taught the only way to play is to attack. Over the past decade, Johnson's squad has been among the best, if not the best, at the blitz. The Eagles have totaled the second most sacks and allowed the fourth fewest points over the past decade.

Eagles' defenders have racked up an incredible 26 Pro Bowl selections in Johnson's tenure, including seven by future Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins.

Johnson has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has taken a leave of absence from the team. The team has announced that secondary coach Sean McDermott will be taking over Johnson's responsibilities as the defensive coordinator.

Overall:

The Eagles possess one of the more dominant coaching staffs in the National Football League. Andy Reid is the most successful coach in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite being an absolute disaster as a head coach, Marty Mornhinweg is one of the more successful offensive masterminds in the game. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is simply a legend and has been called the greatest non-head coach in the history of the National Football League.

The loss of Jim Johnson would be an enormous disappointment for the Eagles. If Johnson is healthy enough to continue coaching the Eagles' defense for the 2009 season, the Eagles will continue to be one of the most dominant teams in the National Football League.

Just For Kicks: 20 Questions With David Akers

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:33:32 -0400

I love the Philadelphia Eagles. I love all 53 members of the team. I would give anything to sit down and talk with each and every member of the team.

But perhaps the most fascinating member of the team is three-time Pro Bowl kicker David Akers, who joined the team in 1999 and is entering his 11th season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here is a list of questions I would ask the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.

1. You are widely known around the league for your tackling ability. What gives you a bigger thrill: Making a tackle on a kick return, or kicking a field goal?

2. Many fans view the kicker primarily as a field goal kicker and underestimate the importance of kickoffs. Just how important is a long kickoff? In 2008, you set career highs in average yards per kickoff (65.8) and touchbacks (17). Was last season a fluke, or do you expect to see continued success in the future?

3. You are a devout Christian. How important is your faith and how do you combine your faith with football?

4. Everybody knows that you are a true football player. But it's time for you to dispel the myth. Does a kicker have to be a football player? Or do they only need to be able to kick field goals and extra points?

5. In 2003, you made a career-long 57-yard field goal against the New England Patriots. There have been rumors of you kicking 60+ yard field goals in practice. What is the longest kick you ever made in your life? And what is the longest kick that you ever attempted?

6. Down by two, seven seconds left, ball on the 42-yard line. Do you tell Andy Reid to send you in for the 59-yard field goal or do you hope he calls for the Hail Mary?

7. We all have goals. Many of them are unrealistic, but still we strive to achieve them. What are some goals you have set for yourself?

8. You are going to be 35 years old following the 2009 season. How long do you see yourself playing in the NFL? Realistically, can you play for 10 more years?

9. You are a real life rags-to-riches story. The city of Philadelphia loves the underdog. Rocky and Vince Papale are two prime examples. Do you take pride in the fact that you were a nobody entering the league?

10. Hollywood calls you after you nail a game-winning 58-yard field goal to defeat the New England Patriots in next year's Super Bowl. They want to make a movie of your life and they ask you to choose the title. What do you pick? And which actor gets to play David Akers?

11. In 2005, you kicked a game-winning 28-yard field goal to defeat the Oakland Raiders despite a torn hamstring in your kicking leg. You then collapsed into your teammate's arms after making the kick. How excruciating was the pain and how much willpower did it take for you to be able to make the kick? Was this your greatest moment as a football player?

12. Many athletes claim that individual accolades don't matter. They say that winning is the only thing that counts. Is this really true?

13. Let's face the facts. From 2007 to the middle of the 2008 season, you simply could not kick a field goal of over 40 yards. What happened?

14. You missed an extra point and a field goal during last year's NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals. How much will misses like this dwell on you? Are you able to block out failures from your past?

15. In an emergency situation, could you punt the football? And how far would your punts go?

16. If you were forced to play one position other than kicker (or punter) for a full game, which position would you pick? Could you survive playing another position?

17. In 2001, you established the David Akers Kicks for Kids Foundation, which raises money for sick children and their families. How important is charity work to you?

18. Who do you think is the best kicker in the National Football League?

19. What do you think about as you are lining up for a field goal? Are you thinking about making the kick or do you try to clear your mind of any thoughts?

20. Every year, the Eagles bring in a no-name kicker during summer training camp sessions. Are you ever actually worried that you might lose your starting job?

Do You Believe in Miracles? The Story of the 1960 Philadelphia Eagles

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:33:39 -0400

They are my favorite team in NFL history and I never even saw them play.

The Eagles entered their third season under head coach Buck Shaw. The 1958 season had marked disaster, as the club won just 2 of 12 games.

The 1959 campaign produced five more wins than the previous campaign, and sparked excitement for the 1960 season.

Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin had already announced that the 1960 season would be his last. Aging center and linebacker Chuck Bednarik, the last of the NFL's two-way players, had reached the age of 35.

The Eagles were under immense pressure to contend for the league crown. However, many experts viewed the Eagles as nothing more than a slightly above average football team.

The season began with a disappointing blowout loss against Jim Brown and the Cleveland Browns.

The Eagles then turned in a team-record nine game winning streak.

They squeaked out two-point road wins against the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns game ended with an improbable walk-off field goal by kicker Bobby Walston, and is described by Hall of Fame analyst Ray Didinger as the game that launched the Eagles toward their championship crown.

They won back-to-back games against the New York Giants, both times coming from behind in the fourth quarter.

The first of the two Giants' victories is remembered for the massive hit that Bednarik laid on running back Frank Gifford, now called one of the most incredible hits in NFL history.

Bednarik described the hit as a "Volkswagen going down a one-street, with a Mack truck coming the opposite way." The Mack truck won.

The image of Chuck Bednarik, right fist clenched, standing over Gifford's unconscious body, is arguably the most memorable image in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Giants' kicker Pat Summerall remembers the incident: "They carried Frank off the field on a stretcher, and unknown to us, some fan that day had had a heart attack in the stands. The man had unfortunately died in our locker room.

"They were taking him out with a sheet over his face, just as we started to walk in, and we all thought that Bednarik had killed Gifford."

In all, the never-say-die Eagles turned six potential losses into six fourth quarter victories.

"We would bite, scratch, kick, gouge, anything we could do to win a game. It just seemed like we had a guardian angel over us or something.," said wide receiver Tommy McDonald.

The team's Most Valuable Player (in fact, the league's MVP) was Norm Van Brocklin. "If ever a single player lifted a team that was average into winning a championship, it was him, and he did it by the sheer force of his personality, his will, and his skill," said Philadelphia sports columnist Larry Merchant.

Despite ranking 10th out of 12 teams in defense, Bednarik's men forced an incredible 45 turnovers in 12 games, including six each versus the St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Buck Shaw's powerful Eagles' squad won 10 of 12 games on the season and captured the NFL East championship.

They earned the right to host the Green Bay Packers in the NFL championship. The Packers featured an absolutely awesome lineup, including 10 future Hall of Famers. They were coached by Vince Lombardi, who many consider to be the greatest coach in the history of the National Football League.

The Eagles were underdogs for the championship game, despite winning two more games in the regular season than the Packers, and playing at home.

The Packers outplayed the Eagles for virtually the entire game, until Ted Dean's five-yard touchdown run gave the Eagles a 17-13 lead with five minutes to play.

With eight seconds left, the Packers had the ball on the 25-yard line. Running back Jim Taylor caught a short pass and quickly broke two tackles.

He was promptly leveled by Bednarik, who held Taylor down on the ground as the last few seconds ticked off the clock.

When the clock reached zero, Bednarik stood over Taylor and exclaimed, "You can get up! This f------ game is over!"

The Philadelphia Eagles were the champions of the National Football League.

The 1960 Eagles have been called "a team with nothing but a title."

"The 1960 football season was like a genie that came out of a bottle in City Hall courtyard, and for one year, it granted Philadelphia's football fans their every wish," said Didinger.

"It was just a strange, unique group of guys that suddenly decided that the most important thing in the world to them was to win a championship," says tight end Pete Retzlaff.

No Eagles team in history has ever taken its fans on such a thrill ride as the 1960 team.

Not the 1991 squad playing without a quarterback. Not the 1980 team that reached the franchise's first Super Bowl. Not even the 2004 team that dismantled all but one of its opponents before resting its starters and reaching a second Super Bowl.

In Philadelphia, winning is everything. It's not optional. It's not a bonus.

It's a necessity.

Before 2008, people would ask me my favorite Phillies team and I would tell them that I didn't have one. Sometimes I would choose the '80 team. Now I have seen a world championship from our baseball team.

I have never seen a winner from our football team.

I've seen a team that I will argue was the best team in the NFL (2004). I've seen a true-life Rocky team (2006). I've seen extreme roller-coaster rides (2008). I've seen overachievers (2003) and underachievers (2007). I've seen one-man teams (2000).

I have never, in my 19 years, seen a champion. I can't even remember 1960. My dad doesn't even remember 1960.

I would give anything to have lived through the times of Van Brocklin and Bednarik.

The 1960 season produced the most memorable, wild, roller coaster ride in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles, culminating in dramatic fashion, with the arrival of the team's third NFL championship.

And their last, to date.

The 10 Greatest Postseason Quarterbacks in NFL History

Bryn Swartz — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:20:04 -0400

Let's admit it.

The playoffs are how we judge quarterbacks. Sometimes it's the only thing used to judge quarterbacks. Why else are guys like Troy Aikman and Bart Starr considered to be among the finer passers in the game's history?

It's simple. They win playoff games—especially championships.

It's one thing to dominate in the regular season. It's quite another thing to dominate in the postseason. Everything changes in the playoffs. It's win or go home. The defenses step up. Teams are a little more aggressive, a little more determined, a little more...desperate.

So many of the great quarterbacks throughout history haven't won a Super Bowl.

Dan Marino is one of the best pure passers in NFL history. Instead of judging him on his 61361 passing yards or 420 touchdown passes, history will judge him by his zero. Zero Super Bowl wins.

Donovan McNabb is the least intercepted quarterback in NFL history. He even has a winning playoff record. The only thing missing? A ring.

Football can be cruel too. Sometimes just winning a Super Bowl doesn't get a quarterback off the hook. Look at Peyton Manning, who has won three regular season MVPs and a Super Bowl MVP. Many fans still focus on his career playoff record, which, at 7-8, is a far cry from his regular season credentials.

I have always said that it's not about the Super Bowl titles. It's not even about the playoff record. It's about how well you play in the postseason.

Sorry Steelers fans, but when your quarterback posts a 22.6 passer rating, he deserves no credit for winning a Super Bowl.

And yes, Cardinals fans (if there are any), if your quarterback throws for 377 yards and three touchdowns, he deserves a tremendous amount of credit, even if his team falls short in the Super Bowl.

Cold Hard Football Facts did an extensive study on the correlation between the number of interceptions a quarterback throws in a playoff game and the final result of the game. Their results were fascinating.

A quarterback who throws zero interceptions will play for the winning team in 78.3 percent of postseason games. A quarterback who throws one interceptions plays for the winning team 55.6 percent of the time. Two interceptions? Just 31.4 percent. Three interceptions? A paltry 18.3 percent. And four or more interceptions? Forget about it--only one out of 41 times.

Below is a list of the best of the best. These are the guys who had what it takes to step up their game in the postseason. They won Super Bowls and NFL championships. They led game-winning drives.

They shredded defenses with their pinpoint accuracy. Each of the quarterbacks on this list has won a Super Bowl (or championship). Most won two or more. And a few have the potential to improve their ranking with continued success in the postseason.

10) John Elway, Denver Broncos.

Career postseason record: 14-8

Career postseason statistics: 355-651, 4964 yards, 27 TD, 21 INT; 79.7 passer rating

John Elway is the only quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to five Super Bowls. After beatdowns in each of his first three Super Bowls, Elway led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in his final two seasons.

Elway's career highlight came in the 1986 AFC championship game against the Browns. The Broncos trailed the Browns 20-13, with 5:32 remaining, and the ball on their own two-yard line.

Elway then led what is now known as "The Drive," completing six of nine passes for 88 yards, and rushing twice for 20 yards (a 10-yard penalty and an eight-yard sack pushed the Broncos back).

With third down from the Cleveland five-yard line and just 39 seconds remaining in the game, Elway tossed a five-yard touchdown pass to Mark Jackson to tie the game. The Broncos won in overtime 23-20.

Elway has less than satisfactory statistics in his Super Bowl performances. He did throw for 304 yards and a touchdown against the Giants in 1986. And he threw for 336 yards and a touchdown in his final NFL game against the Falcons in 1998.

However, Elway threw for an interception in all five Super Bowls. He completed just 14 of 38 passes against the Redskins in 1987, and just 10 of 26 passes against the 49ers in 1989.

His total Super Bowl statistics look like this:

76-152, 1128 yards, 3 TD, 8 INT

Elway was at his best in conference championship games, where he led the Broncos to wins in five of six games. He victimized the Cleveland Browns not once, not twice, but three times in a four-year span.

However, Elway only had one phenomenal postseason game, when he completed 20 of 36 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns against the Browns in the 1989 AFC championship game.

He posted a triple-digit passer rating five times, but he also turned in some pretty poor games. He posted a passer rating under 65 in eight games, including three Super Bowls.

For the most part, Elway was a great postseason quarterback, as he tossed a combined 24 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in the wild-card, divisional, and conference championship games. However, his statistics are hurt by his inconsistency in the game's biggest stage.

9) Otto Graham, Cleveland Browns.

Career postseason record: 9-3

Career postseason statistics: 159-300, 2101 yards, 14 TD, 17 INT; 67.4 passer rating

Otto Graham is the only quarterback to play in the postseason in every season of his career. Not only did he play in every postseason, but he appeared in a record ten championship games, four straight in the AAFC and the final six in the NFL.

Graham led the Browns to victories in the AAFC championship from 1946-1949. While he never turned in a spectacular passing performance, he led the Browns to 49 points in the 1948 AAFC championship. He threw just two interceptions in 89 passes, for a dazzling interception rate of 2.24 percent.

In 1950, the Browns moved to the NFL, where Graham received much pressure to continue his dominance from the AAFC in the much superior NFL. He led the Browns to a 10-2 record, with both losses coming against the Giants.

In the playoffs, he got revenge, leading the Browns to a victory over the Giants in the divisional round. He led a come-from-behind game-winning drive against the Rams in the NFL championship, giving the Browns a 30-28 victory. In the game, Graham tossed four touchdowns and rushed for 99 yards.

The Browns lost their next three NFL championship games, the first against the Rams, and the last two against the Detroit Lions. Graham played poorly in all three games, tossing only one touchdown against six interceptions. He posted a 0.0 passer rating in the final game.

Graham got revenge on the Lions in 1955, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for three more in a 56-10 blowout victory. He retired after the 1955 season but returned to lead the Browns to a seventh championship. He avenged his 1951 loss to the Rams, throwing for two touchdowns in a 38-14 victory.

In all, Graham's postseason statistics weren't spectacular:

14 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 67.4 passer rating

However, he helped the Browns average 25 points per playoff game, while winning a record seven championships. His most notable contribution will always be his game-winning drive against the Rams in the 1950 NFL championship, as he proved that his Browns could compete not only in the AAFC, but in the National Football League.

8) Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys.

Career postseason record: 11-5

Career postseason statistics: 320-502, 3849 yards, 23 TD, 17 INT; 88.3 passer rating

Aikman is another quarterback who probably wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame if it weren't for the postseason. It was in January when Aikman truly shined.

He led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories in a four-year span in the 1990's, including a 52-17 stomping of the Buffalo Bills in 1992. He threw for 273 yards and four touchdown passes in this game, earning MVP honors. He posted a triple-digit passer rating in nine of his 16 postseason games, all victories.

Aikman lost his first and his final three postseason games. In between, he led the Cowboys to victories in 10 of 11 games.

Aikman's Cowboys have been so dominant in the postseason that all 11 victories have come by 10 or more points. Their five losses have all come by nine or more points, meaning Aikman has never really been involved in an exciting win or heartbreaking loss. He's just been consistent in almost every game.

The only knock against Aikman?

He hasn't faced many great defenses. The 1995 AFC champion Steelers allowed 325 points. The 1999 Vikings allowed 335 points. The 1995 Eagles allowed 338 points. The 1998 Cardinals allowed 378 points.

The bottom line, however, is that in the three biggest games of his life, Aikman led the Cowboys to victory all three times, with the average win coming by 21 points.

7) Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams & Arizona Cardinals.

Career postseason record: 8-3

Career postseason statistics: 261-403, 3368 yards, 26 TD, 13 INT; 98.9 passer rating

Besides being one of the best, Kurt Warner is also one of the most exciting postseason quarterbacks in NFL history.

Warner led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title in 1999.

In the three playoff games, Warner threw eight touchdown passes, including five against the Vikings in the divisional round. He threw a game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game against the Bucs, and he threw two touchdowns in the Super Bowl against the Titans.

Warner's final pass in the Super Bowl was a 73-yard game-winning touchdown to Isaac Bruce with just under two minutes remaining.

Warner took the Rams back to the Super Bowl in 2001. He led the "Greatest Show on Turf" back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, tossing a game-tying 26-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl with under two minutes remaining.

In 2008, Warner took the Cardinals on one of the most impressive Cinderella runs in recent memory.

They won two straight road playoff games, with Warner throwing two touchdown passes in each, before becoming the first 9-7 team to host a conference championship game. Warner threw four touchdowns, while leading the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in team history.

In the Super Bowl, Warner threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns. His 64-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald gave the Cardinals a 23-20 lead with under three minutes remaining.

Warner holds the three highest single game passing totals in Super Bowl history: 414 in 1999 against the Titans, 377 in 2008 against the Steelers, and 365 in 2001 against the Patriots. His career passer rating in the Super Bowl is 95.9.

He completed 14 of 19 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Steelers. In fact, he has thrown a touchdown pass in all three fourth quarters he has played in, and his career fourth quarter statistics in the Super Bowl are as follows:

26-40, 457 yards, 4 touchdowns

Were it not for a few costly turnovers--a 47 yard interception touchdown by Ty Law in the 2001 Super Bowl; a 100 yard interception touchdown by James Harrison in 2008; and a lost fumble with five seconds remaining in the same Super Bowl—Warner would likely have three Super Bowl rings and would probably rank as the third or fourth greatest postseason quarterback in NFL history.

6) Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys.

Career postseason record: 12-6

Career postseason statistics: 223-410, 2791 yards, 24 TD, 19 INT; 76.0 passer rating

Staubach was nicknamed "Captain America" for a reason. He helped the Cowboys become "America's Team" during the 1970's.

Staubach played in four Super Bowls during the decade. He led the Cowboys to blowout victories in two of them, winning the MVP trophy in 1971 against the Dolphins. He posted a 102.6 passer rating in a 27-10 victory over the Broncos in 1977.

He threw three touchdown passes and posted another triple digit passer rating in a loss to the Steelers in 1978. His worst Super Bowl performance still resulted in two touchdown passes and a 77.8 passer rating against the Steel Curtain in 1975.

Staubach authored one of the most famous plays in NFL history in the divisional playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings in 1975. With the Cowboys trailing 14-10 and under a minute remaining, Staubach hooked up with receiver Drew Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown pass, the first known "Hail Mary" pass.

Staubach completed his first six postseason games without throwing an interception. His battles with the Rams became legendary, as the Cowboys walked away victorious in three of the five battles from 1973-1979, including both times in the conference championship game.

In 1975, Staubach helped the Cowboys put up 37 points against a defense that allowed just 135 in the regular season.

Staubach's legs added excitement, as "Roger Dodger" scrambled for 432 yards on just 76 rushes, for an average of 5.7 yards per run. Staubach topped 20 rushing yards in 11 postseason games, with a high of 59 against the Redskins in 1972.

Staubach faced some pretty incredible defenses in the 1970s. He faced the Purple People Eaters three times. He faced the Steel Curtain dynasty twice. He even squared off against the No Name Defense. Even the Los Angeles Rams regularly ranked among the NFL's best defenses.

Had Staubach managed to defeat the Steel Curtain in one or both of the Super Bowls, he would probably be one of the three greatest postseason quarterbacks in NFL history.

5) Sid Luckman, Chicago Bears.

Career postseason record: 5-1

Career postseason statistics: 45-85, 721 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT; 89.4 passer rating

Luckman is probably the most underrated quarterback in the history of the NFL. Besides turning in the greatest regular season by a quarterback in NFL history, he is one of the more effective quarterbacks in postseason history.

Luckman's first playoff game came in the 1940 NFL championship against Sammy Baugh and the arch-rival Washington Redskins.

The Redskins had defeated the Bears 7-3 in the regular season, after which Redskins' owner George Allen called the Bears "crybabies" and announced that they quit when the going got tough. Bears' coach George Halas used Allen's remarks to fire up his players, posting Allen's comments on a bulletin board in the locker room.

It worked. The Bears throttled the Redskins 73-0. That's right. 73-0.

It remains, to this day, the single most dominating performance by any team in any championship, in any sport, throughout history. Luckman passed just four times, completion three for 88 yards and a touchdown. That's all he needed to do, as the Bears rushed 57 times for 382 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Bears won the NFL championship the next year, thrashing the New York Giants 37-9. Luckman completed 9 of 12 passes for 160 yards, for a 116.7 passer rating.

The Redskins dominated Luckman and the Bears in the 1942 NFL championship game. The Bears posted an 11-0 record in the regular season, scoring 376 points, while allowing just 84.

They remain, to this day, probably the greatest team in NFL history to not win a championship. Luckman's championship game performance is one of the worst in history, as he completed 5 of 12 passes for two yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Luckman led the Bears back into the winner's circle the following season, defeating Baugh and the Redskins 41-21, for his third NFL championship. He threw for 286 yards and a championship-game record five touchdowns, while also rushing for 64 yards.

Luckman played in a final NFL championship in 1946, leading the Bears to a 24-14 victory against the Giants. He threw for 144 yards and a touchdown, but his two interceptions brought his passer rating down to an anemic 40.7.

Overall, Luckman won four of five NFL championships. He participated in the greatest thrashing in championship history. He topped a 115 passer rating three times, and his career passer rating of 89.4 is unbelievable, considering his era.

4) Tom Brady, New England Patriots.

Career postseason record: 14-3

Career postseason statistics: 372-595, 3954 yards, 26 TD, 12 INT; 88.0 passer rating

Brady could retire one day as the greatest postseason quarterback in history. It's unlikely, but it's possible.

As of now, he has three Super Bowl trophies under his belt, as well as a fourth appearance. He won the MVP trophy in his first two Super Bowls and should have won it against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Brady became an instant hero in the playoffs. In his first postseason game, he rallied the Patriots from a 13-3 fourth quarter deficit.

The Patriots defeated the Oakland Raiders in overtime, 16-13. He led a classic two-minute game-winning drive against the St. Louis Rams in 2001, before Adam Vinatieri's walk-off 48 yard field goal gave the Patriots one of the greatest upset wins in NFL history.

He led the same drive against the Carolina Panthers in 2003, before Adam Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining gave the Patriots a second title. He led a classic drive against the New York Giants in 2007, giving the Patriots a 14-10 lead with a touchdown pass to Randy Moss with under three minutes remaining.

Brady has thrown one or fewer interceptions in 14 of his 17 postseason games. 10 times he didn't throw an interception, including three of his four Super Bowls. He may not post the most dominating statistics, but he knows how to win football games, and that's by not turning the ball over.

He also has avoided 'dud' playoff games. His worst playoff game ever? 27 for 51 for 280 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Sure, it's not a good game by any standards. But find me a quarterback who has played 17 playoff games who can call that his worst playoff game.

For Brady to be considered the greatest playoff quarterback in NFL history, he will probably need to win a fourth and a fifth Super Bowl title. MVP trophies in both games would help.

3) Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers.

Career postseason record: 14-5

Career postseason statistics: 261-456, 3833 yards, 30 TD, 26 INT; 83.0 passer rating

Terry Bradshaw is just one of two quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls. In each of the Steelers' Super Bowl victories, he posted a passer rating above 100. He led a fourth quarter comeback in the second and fourth games, and threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of each game.

As a matter of fact, Bradshaw's fourth quarter passing statistics in the Super Bowl look like this:

11-16, 292 yards, 4 TD

That is not a typo. Bradshaw averaged 18 yards per pass attempt. He threw five incompletions against four touchdown passes. His final pass in his first three Super Bowls was a touchdown pass, and in his fourth Super Bowl, it was a 45-yard completion that set up a final touchdown.

His passer rating is a jaw-dropping 151.0, and he was awarded the MVP trophy in his final two Super Bowls.

Bradshaw doesn't just shine in the Super Bowl either.

There was the "Immaculate Reception," a fourth-down, game-winning, 60-yard touchdown pass to Franco Harris on the final play of the game. Then there were the 1976 AFC divisional playoffs, where Bradshaw posted a perfect passer rating against the Baltimore Colts.

Bradshaw threw for two or more touchdown passes in his final seven postseason games, all of which the Steelers scored 27+ points. He averaged an incredible 8.4 yards per pass attempt throughout his playoff career.

Bradshaw may have been only slightly above average in the regular season, but in the postseason, his success was topped by only two men.

2) Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers.

Career postseason record: 8-1

Career postseason statistics: 130-213, 1753 yards, 15 TD, 3 INT; 104.8 passer rating

Simply put, Bart Starr is the winningest quarterback in NFL playoff history, in terms of both postseason winning percentage and championships won.

Starr has led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships, in 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967. The final two championships came in the first ever Super Bowls. Starr earned the MVP trophy in both games.

Starr participated in just a single postseason loss, by virtue of the mighty 1960 Philadelphia Eagles. Still, this game wasn't decided until the game's final play, when Chuck Bednarik tackled Hall of Fame running back Jim Taylor on the eight-yard line.

Starr holds the record for highest career postseason passer rating: 104.3. He topped 100 in five of his nine games. His career Super Bowl passer rating is 106.0.

Even more incredibly, he threw just three interceptions in his nine playoff games! His 1.41 interception percentage would be the 15th best regular season total in NFL history. When factoring in the quality of the defenses that Starr faced, his achievement is one of the most impressive in NFL history. It is a record that will likely never be broken.

Tom Brady came close. After his first ten playoff games, all victories, he had thrown three interceptions in 331 passes. His 0.90 mark was significantly better than Starr's career mark. Then he threw nine interceptions in his next 264 passes, still an impressive rate. But 12 interceptions in 595 pass attempts? Not even close to Starr.

Bottom line: You're not going to lose football games if you don't turn the ball over.

Starr even found a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in one of the most unlikely scenarios. In the 1966 NFL championship game, now known as the "Ice Bowl," the Packers trailed Dallas 17-14, with 16 seconds remaining. The Packers faced a third-and-goal from the one-yard line with no timeouts remaining.

Any sensible quarterback would have called for the field goal team. Instead Starr audibled. He carried the ball himself for the game-winning touchdown. Even more impressive? The game time temperature was 18 degrees--below zero.

Starr wasn't just a game manager either. His 15 touchdown passes in just 213 pass attempts give him one of the best touchdown percentages in playoff history.

In the playoffs, Starr helped to victimize two tough New York Giants teams. He took down a Jim Brown-led Browns team. He defeated a Johnny Unitas-led Colts team. He ousted a stingy one-loss Rams team.

He throttled an Oakland Raiders team that many call the greatest team in AFL history. And he took down the tough Dallas Cowboys in consecutive conference championship games.

Starr's intangibles as a leader, as well as his knack for not turning the ball over, are what makes him the second most successful quarterback in postseason history.

1) Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers & Kansas City Chiefs.

Career postseason record: 16-7

Career postseason statistics: 460-734, 5772 yards, 45 TD, 21 INT; 95.6 passer rating

There's no way around it.

Joe Montana is the greatest postseason quarterback in the history of the National Football League.

Montana holds a 4-0 record in the Super Bowl. All four times he posted a triple-digit passer rating. His 11 touchdowns are a Super Bowl record and his zero interceptions in 122 pass attempts are a testament to his greatness.

He helped the 49ers jump out to a 20-0 lead against the Bengals in 1981. They scored 38 points against the Dolphins in 1984. He led one of the greatest fourth quarter game-winning drives in NFL history in a rematch with the Bengals in 1988, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining.

And he threw five touchdown passes against the Broncos, while helping the 49ers score 55 points.

Montana has thrown one or fewer interceptions in 18 of his 23 postseason games. He posted a passer rating above 100 in 12 of his 23 playoff games, including eight in a row. He averages 250 yards and two touchdown passes per game.

Even when Montana struggles, he often finds a way to get the job done. He threw three interceptions against the Cowboys in the 1981 NFC championship game, before firing a game-winning third-down touchdown pass to Dwight Clark with under a minute remaining.

He threw three interceptions against the Giants in the 1984 divisional round, yet still threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 63 yards, including a 53-yard scamper, in a 21-10 victory.

"Joe Cool" could win games any way. He won close games: 28-27, 20-16, 27-24. He won blowouts: 55-10. 41-13. 38-16. Simply put, Montana was legendary in the regular season.

In the postseason? He was simply magical.

Where Have You Gone, Lawrence Taylor?

Bryn Swartz — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:55:18 -0400

I love football history. I love reading about it, writing about it, and learning about it. I have a whole slew of players from the Eagles that I would have loved to see play—Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Eric Allen, Randall Cunningham, and Seth Joyner.

But if there was one player throughout NFL history that I could watch, it would be an outside linebacker for the New York Giants.

Lawrence Taylor.

The legend of Lawrence Taylor began in the 1970s, when the 15-year-old catcher switched from baseball to football. Taylor is one of four future NFL players to attend Lafayette High School in Virginia. He attended the University of North Carolina on a football scholarship.

At UNC, Lawrence Taylor, who had been recruited as a defensive end, switched to linebacker. He became one of the most dominant players in the country.

His assistant coach, Bobby Cale, recalls, "As a freshman playing on special teams, he'd jump a good six or seven feet in the air to block a punt, then land on the back of his neck. He was reckless, just reckless."

LT tallied 16 sacks in his final season, earning Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors. His jersey number has since been retired by UNC, and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in college football history.

A poll was taken before the draft and 26 of the 28 general managers in the NFL announced that they would draft LT if they had the first overall pick. However, the New Orleans Saints, who had the first pick, were one of the two teams not interested in Taylor.

Instead they selected running back George Rogers, and LT was drafted with the second pick by the New York Giants.

Although he had a clean slate entering the NFL draft, Taylor caused some controversy from the day he was drafted.

Before the draft, LT had made it clear that he was asking for a salary of $250,000 per year, an absolutely insurmountable figure for a rookie. Taylor's teammates were furious and several threatened to leave the team if Taylor received his money.

Almost immediately after training camp began, Taylor had developed a reputation. His teammates began calling him Superman and teams around the league began hearing about the "rookie from UNC."

He was so feared that his own quarterback, Phil Simms, could hardly wait for the regular season to begin so Taylor would stop hitting him in practice.

Taylor's rookie season was one of the most memorable by a defensive player in NFL history. He earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, as well as Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Giants won six more games than the previous season, including an upset win in the playoffs.

Taylor's second season was even better than his first. He again captured Defensive Player of the Year honors, giving him one of the most prestigious honors for the second consecutive season.

For the next eight seasons, Taylor became the most dominating defensive player in the history of the National Football League.

Seven times, Taylor posted double-digit sack totals, including a career high of 20.5 in 1986.

He earned a Pro Bowl selection every single season, giving him 10 in a row after the 1990 season.

Taylor was named First-Team All-Pro from 1983-1986, and 1988-1989, as well as his first two seasons. His eight First-Team All-Pro selections are an NFL record for a linebacker.

His 1986 season will go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, seasons ever by a defensive player. Taylor posted 20.5 sacks, an all-time single season record for a linebacker, and the fifth highest single season total in NFL history.

Taylor not only won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award for the third time in his career, he was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. He became just the second defensive player to capture the award, and the first to do so unanimously.

In the playoffs, the Giants steamrolled the San Francisco 49ers 49-3 and the Washington Redskins 17-0. They continued their dominance in the Super Bowl, crushing the Denver Broncos, 39-20.

Taylor missed four games in the 1987 season due to the player's strike, but still led the team with 12 sacks, in just 12 games.

Taylor's first brush with controversy came during the 1988 season. He was suspended for 30 days for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the second time.

Taylor missed the first four games of the season, instead undergoing rehab for his cocaine addiction. He returned in typical dominating fashion, posting 15.5 sacks in the season's final 12 games.

One of Taylor's most memorable games came near the season's end, when he recorded seven tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles in a game with playoff implications.

Even more incredibly, Taylor played through a torn pectoral muscle so serious that he was forced to wear a shoulder harness for the remainder of the season. Giants' head coach Bill Parcells called the game "the greatest game I ever saw."

Taylor continued playing through pain during the 1989 season. He played the final five games of the season with a fractured tibia. He still managed to post 15 sacks and lead the Giants to a 12-win season. He was also named defensive co-captain, an honor he shared with teammate Carl Banks.

Taylor said that "playing in pain was simply a matter of tricking yourself into believing that you aren't hurt."

Taylor's controversy continued into the 1990 season. He held out of training camp until three days before the start of the season, arguing for a larger contract. He still turned in a great season, posting 10.5 sacks and leading the Giants to a 13-3 record, including a 10-0 start.

In the postseason, the Giants annihilated the Bears, 31-3, and squeaked by the 49ers, 15-13, to face the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl. The Giants came away with a 20-19 victory, thanks to a missed 47-yard field goal by Scott Norwood on the final play of the game.

The 1991 season was the most disappointing of Taylor's career, to date. He ended his record-setting streak of 10 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. He missed two games due to injury, for only the second time in his career. And he had to adjust to a new head coach, as the two-time Super Bowl champion Bill Parcells was replaced with Ray Handley.

Taylor suffered through two more disappointing seasons, as he ruptured his Achilles tendon in early November of 1992, costing him the final seven games of the season. The Giants were 5-4 when Taylor played, and 1-6 without him. Taylor considered retiring after the 1992 season, but expressed his desire to play for new head coach, Dan Reeves.

Taylor was determined to end his final season without an injury, and he managed to play in all 16 games during the 1993 campaign. He posted only six sacks and was no longer the same player he had been through the entire decade of the 1980's. The Giants did, however, lead the entire NFL in total defense.

In the postseason, the Giants defeated the Vikings, 17-10, before the defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers throttled the Giants, 44-3.

Taylor retired after the game, saying, "I think it's time for me to retire. I've done everything I can do. I've been to Super Bowls. I've been to the playoffs. I've done things that other people haven't been able to do in this game before. After 13 years, it's time for me to go."

Throughout his career, Taylor's on-field success was almost overshadowed by his off-field antics. Only after his career was over did Taylor admit that he had been using drugs as early as 1982, his second season in the National Football League.

Taylor had originally failed a drug test for cocaine in 1987, but the NFL didn't reveal this information, as was policy, until he failed his second test the following year.

Taylor gave up drugs in 1988, because a third failed drug test would have ended his career.

However, he began using drugs again immediately after his retirement. He was arrested twice over the next five years for trying to buy cocaine from undercover police officers. Taylor admitted that "things had gotten so bad that my house was almost like a crack house."

Taylor's story has a happy ending though. He has lived a clean lifestyle since 1998 and is currently pursuing a career as an actor.

His impact on the game is what Taylor should be remembered for. It could be argued that no player, certainly no defensive player, has ever changed the game as much as LT.

Taylor is credited with changing the position of outside linebacker from "read and react" to an attacking, aggressive position.

As he recalls, "A linebacker was just a linebacker. He would cover a little, stop the run, stop the pass. I would make so many mistakes in the pass coverage. I would supposed to be covering here, and I wouldn't. My answer to everything was just to rush the quarterback. See what happens."

Taylor also is credited with being the first to chop the ball out of the quarterback's hands upon impact. His theory was simple: "If you're going to take down the quarterback, why not take the ball also?" Taylor forced 34 fumbles over his career, the majority of them taken from quarterbacks.

Taylor was so dominant as a linebacker that future Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins literally invented new offensive formations to contain LT.

Gibbs invented the two-tight end offense and the position of h-back to account for Taylor's blitzing. Instead of having a running back try to block the blitzing Taylor, Gibbs utilized offensive linemen, usually the left tackle, to contain Taylor.

Taylor was fearless, reckless, and intimidating. He was probably the most intense player to ever play in the National Football League.

"What makes LT so great, what makes him so aggressive, is his total disregard for his body," says Bill Belichick, the Giants' defensive coordinator during Taylor's tenure.

From sending prostitutes to the hotel rooms of his opponents' the night before a game in an attempt to tire them out, to submitting his teammates' urine to pass drug tests, to playing through unbelievable injuries to help the Giants win football games, Lawrence Taylor is truly one of a kind.

"I live my life on the fast lane. I always have and I always will," says Taylor.

The comparisons to Lawrence Taylor still exist. Nearly every great defensive player in college football is compared to the Giants' legend.

Ray Lewis. Brian Urlacher. Julius Peppers.

In reality, we will probably never again see one like No. 56.

Lawrence Taylor.

The greatest defensive player in NFL history.

The Greatest Athlete You've Never Heard Of

Bryn Swartz — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:19:20 -0400

Everybody knows who the greatest athletes in the world are. Guys like LeBron James. Alexander Ovechkin. Albert Pujols. Michael Phelps. And many more.

These are the athletes who dominate their respective sports to the point of absurdity. They win Most Valuable Player trophies, championships, and gold medals. They set records and make millions of dollars.

So I found it somewhat shocking when I heard about a man doing some of the most unbelievable acts of physical fitness in the history of mankind, and I didn't even know his name.

Meet Dean Karnazes, the world's greatest running machine since...well...ever.

That's right. A runner. It's what Dean does, every day, for several hours. He doesn't run 5K's or 10K's. He doesn't just run marathons either.

In his autobiography, he says, "I seek extremes. Why run 10 miles when you can run 100? Moderation bores me. For me, a marathon is just a warm up. I run 50-mile races, 100-mile races. I'll run 24 hours and more without sleep, barely pausing for food and water, or even to use the bathroom.

"I'll run up and down mountains; through Death Valley in the dead of summer; at the South Pole. I push my body, mind, and spirit well past what most humans would consider the limits of pain and exertion."

Dean Karnazes was born on Aug. 23, 1962 in Los Angeles. One of his earliest memories came in kindergarten when, to save his mother the trouble of picking him up from school, he ran home—every single day.

Karnazes enjoyed the running so much that he began creating new routes to take home from school. He increased the length of these routes to an unnecessary extent, simply running for fun.

As he recalls, "Running gave me a sense of freedom and exploration that school never did."

Karnazes began competing in more running events over the next few years, many of which he organized himself. He became more passionate about physical exercise, specifically pushing his body to extremities.

By age 11, he had biked across the Grand Canyon. He also climbed Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States.

As a middle schooler, Karnazes was introduced to long distance running. His track coach, Jack McTavish, lived by the simple philosophy: "If it comes easy, if it doesn't require extraordinary effort, you're not pushing hard enough: It's supposed to hurt like hell."

Karnazes states that this advice helped him win the one-mile California State Long Distance Championships.

Karnazes' freshman track coach, Benner Cummings, believed that a runner should "run with their heart." Karnazes lived by this motto, and was awarded "Most Inspirational" member. He also ran his first marathon that year.

However, Karnazes had a falling out with his track coach. He reacted by hanging up his running shoes for 15 years.

When he turned 30, he had a sudden panic attack, which he now considers his midlife crisis.

Karnazes went on a spontaneous 30-mile run, in which he transferred from a "drunken yuppie fool into a reborn athlete."

And on that day, a legend was born.

In the last 17 years, Karnazes has become one of the world's greatest athletes. He has accomplished more as a runner than many would have thought was humanly possible.

Eleven times, Karnazes completed the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile race through mountain trails in California.

He ran 148 miles on a treadmill in a 24-hour span in 2004.

He completed the 199-mile Providian Saturn Relay six times.

He won the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon in 120-degree weather. The Badwater Ultramarathon is described as "a 135-mile trek across Death Valley to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States...widely considered the ultimate test of endurance and human resolve...or just plain insanity."

He joined a team of runners to become the first men to complete a marathon at the South Pole, finishing in second place, with a time of nine hours and 18 minutes.

He completed the North Face Endurance 50, which is 50 marathons...in 50 states...in 50 days. The day after Karnazes completed his final marathon, he decided to run home: from New York to San Francisco.

But Karnazes's single most impressive accomplishment came in 2005, when the 42-year-old businessman ran for 350 consecutive miles without stopping. Yes, 350 miles. As in, the equivalent of 13 and a half marathons in a row.

So why? Why does Karnazes run for such great distances?

"Running great distances was a release, and, on some level, my boundless energy needed an outlet. Running great distances is my way of finding peace. It's a sense of adventure that keeps me running.

"I love nothing more than to put a credit card in my pocket, tuck the kids in for the night, and head out the door for an all-night run. If I want a latte, I stop by Starbucks and grab one. If I see something interesting, I stop and check it out. It's never tedious when I'm immersed in the adventure."

Karnazes isn't satisfied with running for 350 miles either.

His goal? To run for 500 consecutive miles without stopping.

The biggest challenge? Not the actual running.

"The biggest challenge for running 500 miles is the sleep deprivation. I've fallen asleep while running before on several occasions. I didn’t fall over or anything—just kept “sleep running” for a fair distance.

Initially I thought this was a bad thing, but I realized that when I awoke I was actually refreshed. So now I’m going to try to train myself to sleep-run as a way to overcome sleep deprivation."

Some things about Karanzes's running may surprise you.

Not only does Karnazes need to eat during his runs to, well, stay alive, but he literally eats whatever he wants.

He'll order enormous pizzas with everything on them, topped off with chocolate eclairs or a gigantic cherry cheesecake. He doesn't gain weight from it either. He'll burn 9000 calories during a 24-hour run.

Karnazes has, as you may have imagined, developed some pretty intense sores from running. He has lost dozens of toenails, and will often take off his shoes after a run to find his feet covred by giant, foot-devouring blisters. Want to know Karnazes's chosen methods of treatment?

Krazy Glue and duct tape.

That's right. Karnazes's blisters are popped open, filled with Krazy Glue, and sealed with duct tape. As he says, "I feel like a raft having a leak repaired."

Whether or not Karanzes ever runs his 500 miles, there is no doubt that he is one of the most dominant athletes in history. But Karnazes doesn't have the heart of a champion because of how fast he can run. Running great distances isn't about speed.

"Being a champion means not quitting, no matter how tough the situation becomes, and no matter how badly the odds are stacked against you. If you have the courage, stamina, and perseverance to cross the finish line, you are a champion. And if you can't run, then walk. And if you can't walk, then crawl. Do whatever you have to do. Just keep moving forward and never, ever give up.

Karnazes's final piece of advice for future runners?

"Dreams can come true...especially if you train hard enough. Sometimes you've got to go through hell to get to heaven."

Source: Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

Heart of a Champion: The Unbelievable Story of Kyle Maynard

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:27:06 -0400

I have always had a special place in my heart for athletes who overcome specific obstacles on the path to greatness.

Jim Abbott, who was born with one hand and pitched a no-hitter in the major leagues.

Rocky Bleier, who won four Super Bowls as a running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a life-threatening injury in the Vietnam War.

Lance Armstrong, who overcame a two percent chance of beating testicular cancer to win seven consecutive Tour De France titles.

And then there's a guy like Kyle Maynard.

Kyle Maynard was born on March 24, 1986, in Suwanee, Georgia with a rare disorder called congenital amputation. Kyle's condition essentially means that his arms end at his elbows and his legs end at his knees. He has no hands. He has no feet.

When Kyle's parents first found out that their son might have physical disabilities, their nurse suggested that they have an abortion. Kyle's parents stated that an abortion was not an option for them and they would not even consider it.

The first year of Kyle's life progressed in the same way as a normal child, even given his physical differences. However, after the age of one, Kyle's life began to change drastically.

He couldn't keep up with the other children his age. He couldn't stand or walk, or use his hands. He had to be fed at every meal. This went on for a few years, until one day Kyle's father announced that the family would no longer help feed Kyle.

Kyle would need to learn how to feed himself. Kyle's father's reasoning was simple; he knew that one day his son would live on his own, and he would need to know how to take care of himself.

So Kyle learned how to eat, using a prosthetic spoon, and eventually regular silverware.

Kyle recalls his experiences with his grandmother as some of the most helpful during his childhood: "She took me everywhere and taught me a great deal about life, lessons that I have carried now for 19 years."

Kyle's grandmother and parents made sure to treat him like any other child. They took him to the playground and let him cook dinner, but Kyle's favorites memories as a child were with the kids in the neighborhood.

"My childhood friends treated me in the simple, straightforward ways that good kids do. They accepted me. We played capture the flag and cops and robbers. We played video games. It was all kinds of fun."

In fifth grade, Kyle remembers talking with all of his friends about his favorite players and teams, and the game the night before. He would join in on the conversations—until his friends started talking about the sports that they played on teams.

Kyle dreamed about being a professional athlete: "I imagined myself being the savior of the championship game by catching a last-second touchdown pass or scoring a game-winning basket. I wanted to be the quarterback on the football team who dated the cutest cheerleader. You know, like every other kid."

Kyle persuaded his mother to let him play organized football for the first time that fall. His mother was reluctant at first, but Kyle begged to be given the opportunity to play a real sport on a real team. As he remembers: "No obstacle would keep me from accomplishing my dreams."

Kyle recalls the humiliation of being surrounded by high school football players in the weight room. As a 60-pound sixth grader, Kyle began his training by lifting two and a half pounds with each arm.

His primary focus in the weight room was to strengthen his shoulder muscles, which is "the reason why I haven't suffered a serious injury in my wrestling and weightlifting career."

Kyle played nose tackle on the football team. Because he weighed less than half as much as some of the offensive linemen, he patented such moves like the "butt roll."

He also took advantage of his height, or lack thereof, noting that no offensive player could get as low to block him as he already was.

Although he wasn't a starter, Kyle didn't make any excuses. "I didn't quit or give up. I met the adversity with a full head of steam. I wanted to change the way players and coaches saw me—not as a disabled player, but as a defensive linemen who could inflict more damage than anyone else had before."

During the season, CNN decided to do a live interview with Kyle, following the last football game of the season. The interview garnered so much attention that the public relations director of the Atlanta Falcons' invited Kyle and his entire family to the locker room before a game to meet his team.

Kyle recalls the experience as one of the most thrilling of his life.

After the football season ended, Kyle decided to take up wrestling, just to stay in shape for football. Little did he know it would change his life.

Kyle recalls entering his first wrestling practice excited about the possibility of "jumping off the top ring and bodyslamming my opponents' into the ground." However, he soon learned that real wrestling is much different to the wrestling seen on TV.

Kyle's coach—Coach Ramos—is the man Kyle credits with helping him more than just about anybody else. "From the beginning, he willingly devoted himself to helping me succeed. I look up to him because I believe wrestling has forged him into a man of strength and fortitude in life, not just in this sport."

After Kyle lost his first match, his coach invented another move to use, which he called the "Kelly."

This move was similar to how firemen carry unconscious victims. The move worked, but only a little. Kyle finished his first year without a victory. He remembers wanting to quit, but only staying with the team because his father reassured Kyle that he also hadn't won a single match in his first year.

It was only while Kyle was writing his autobiography that he learned that his father had lied just to motivate his son—and it worked. Kyle calls his decision to continue wrestling in seventh grade the best decision of his life.

After 35 consecutive losses to begin his wrestling career, Kyle Maynard finally emerged as a champion, halfway through his seventh grade year.

On this one day, an animal was unleashed and a legend was born.

Over the years, Kyle learned that his different body type could be used as a psychological advantage to beat opponents.

Along with the help of his coach, Kyle created several unusual techniques to defeat his opponent, such as the "jawbreaker" and the "buzz saw." He even created a move called the "rope-a-dope," a move used by famous boxer Muhammad Ali in the 1970s that he adjusted to fit the sport of wrestling.

Kyle continued wrestling all throughout his years in school. He finished his high school career with 35 victories and only 16 losses. He even finished 12th in the 103-pound weight class at the National High School Wrestling Championships.

Kyle, who earned a 3.7 GPA during high school, attended Georgia University, where he continued his wrestling career.

He is now a conscientious public speaker, addressing everyone from Midwestern high schoolers to South Florida senior citizens, preaching his "pursuit of normalcy."

He even wrote a book titled "No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life."

In 2004, Kyle earned the ESPY award for Best Athlete With a Disability. He earned a Courage Award from the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Kyle broke the world record in the modified bench press by lifting 360 pounds. He is currently training in mixed martial arts.

Through wrestling, Kyle learned the importance of staying optimistic, no matter the odds or the enemy.

"I am an athlete driven by competition. Without the sport of wrestling, I would not be where I am today. There are so many problems and difficulties that I will never have to endure because of the character I've developed through wrestling.

"It is my discipline and my passion. I will never come into a match unprepared and in a worse cardiovascular condition than the kid I'm up against, because that is an advantage I can't afford to give up."

When asked how he is able to overcome such a severe disability that requires him to run on all fours like an animal, Kyle responded: "I believe God made me the way I am in order to show people that there is no amount of adversity that a single person cannot overcome if they trust in themselves and trust in the will of Jesus Christ.

"And in time, I learned that I had to trust and believe in myself on the mat, and, even more importantly, I learned that I had to trust fully in the Lord my Savior, no matter the circumstances."

Kyle Maynard is one of the most inspiring athletes in history. He may have no hands, he may have no feet, but what he does have is the heart of a champion.

Maynard's story is not just one of an athlete fighting against all odds to emerge a winner. It's the story of an ordinary human succeeding against odds that the average human being can't even comprehend.

Source: No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and Life

The Ultimate List: My 20 Greatest Moments as a Philadelphia Sports Fan

Bryn Swartz — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:44:44 -0400

This is a list of the ultimate, the best, the greatest...the 20 most incredible moments of my life as a Philadelphia sports fan.

These are the moments that make me smile every single time I think of them. These are the moments I'll never forget as long as I live.

I can tell you the date, who I was with, and where I was for all of these moments. They're that special.

My only regret is that I had to leave some highlights off this list. Chase Utley's walk-off single to complete a four-game sweep of the Mets in August 2007. Jimmy Rollins' 20th triple in the season finale of 2007. Chris Coste's walk-off bases-loaded 13th-inning single to beat the Mets and give the Phillies sole possession of first place in August 2008.

Lito Sheppard's season-saving interception against Carolina on Monday Night Football in 2006. 4th and 26.

The massacre against the eventual division champion Green Bay Packers in 2004. Hollis Thomas's hit on Michael Vick in the 2004 NFC championship game. Every single highlight from every beatdown on the Cowboys since 2000.

The 20 moments below are the moments that essentially have shaped me into the Philly fan that I am today.

Honorable Mention. Jan. 18, 2009: DeSean Jackson go-ahead touchdown in NFC championship game.

This is a play that had the potential to rank as high as second on my list.

Completing a comeback from 18 points down, Donovan McNabb hit rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson on a 62-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a one-point lead with 11 minutes remaining in the NFC championship game.

Jackson's catch, which included three different bobbles, and a complete body turn, had the potential to rank as the single most memorable play in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Unfortunately...

The "Highlight Film" Moments

20. Jan. 16, 2005: Freddie Mitchell catches LJ Smith's fumble in postseason.

There are some moments when you just know things are going your way. This was one of them.

When LJ Smith caught a McNabb pass and headed towards the end zone, he was flipped head over heels by a Vikings defender. The ball flew through the air, where it landed in the arms of wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for an Eagles touchdown.

I have been told that the crowd at the stadium was 100 percent silent while the ball flew through the air. I have also been told that the noise by the crowd after Freddie scored was one of the loudest in the history of the Linc.

It was over. We knew it. The Vikings knew it. It was time to start preparing for the Falcons, because this game was in the bag.

19. Nov. 15, 2004: McNabb's 14.1 second scramble.

This has the potential to go down as the signature play of Donovan McNabb's career.

In a game that I like to call the "Monday Night Massacre," the Eagles showed the rest of the football world just how dominant they really are, piling on 49 points vs. the Dallas Cowboys in Texas Stadium.

The signature play of the game (and the season) came late in the second quarter, with the Eagles already leading 28-14.

McNabb took the snap and dropped back. The protection broke down, and McNabb spun around to avoid a defensive tackle. He rolled to his right, dodging a diving tackler.

Following a furious sideways sprint with a defender hot on his heels, McNabb stutter stepped, stopped, and rolled back to his left.

On a full sprint, McNabb fired a deep ball to a streaking Freddie Mitchell. Without breaking stride, Mitchell caught the pass for a 50-yard gain.

McNabb's pass, given the fact that his body was turned almost sideways upon delivery, is probably the most impressive of his 10-year career.

18. Jan. 13, 2007: Sheldon Brown hits Reggie Bush.

The hardest hit in NFL history. Don't argue. It's a fact.

Bush was so shaken up by this hit that he literally crawled on his hands and knees for a few seconds after the play. Watching "The Crawl" was almost as good as "The Hit."

This was the first play of the game. This was supposed to set the stage for the Eagles to reach the NFC championship game.

Unfortunately, the magic of Jeff Garcia and Company came to a disappointing end.

17. May 11, 2006: Aaron Rowand catch.

Before the Phillies became an elite team, it was moments like these that we lived for as Phillies fans.

In the first inning, the Mets loaded the bases with two outs for Xavier Nady, who smashed a deep drive to center field. Rowand sprinted back and made a spectacular leaping catch, before smashing facefirst into the center field fence.

Rowand suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations to his face, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

The Phillies ended up winning the game 2-0. Nady's drive would have likely scored three runs for the Mets.

16. Oct. 23, 2005: Matt Ware returns blocked field goal for touchdown.

This remains the single highlight from the worst year I can remember as an Eagles fan (thankfully I don't remember 1998 too well).

With 2:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, Matt Ware returned a blocked field goal 65 yards for a game-winning touchdown.

Nobody even remembers that future Pro Bowl safety Quintin Mikell was the real hero of the play, blocking Kaeding's 40-yard field goal attempt.

Forgotten about this game is the performance of LaDainian Tomlinson, who rushed for 7 yards on 17 carries. That's right. Seven yards.

His first four carries netted -10 yards. LT also failed to score a touchdown, ending a record-tying streak of 18 consecutive games with a touchdown.

The Eagles improved to 4-2 after their miraculous win...if only the season could have ended then.

The "Goosebumps" Moments

15. Dec. 25, 2006: Christmas Day goal line stop of Marion Barber.

This was when I knew the Eagles were going to win the division. We all did. It was over, after this single play.

The Eagles entered their Christmas Day battle with the Dallas Cowboys on a three-game winning streak, at the helm of their quarterback, Jeff Garcia.

The Cowboys were supposed to win this game, thanks to their hotshot rookie Tony Romo and his future Hall of Fame wide receiver, Terrell Owens.

The Eagles were leading 7-0, with 13 minutes left in the second quarter, when Quintin Mikell stuffed Marion Barber for a three-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the one.

43 minutes remained in the game. It didn't matter. We knew it was over.

14. January 6, 2007: Tony Romo's fumble in the playoffs.

This was by far my greatest moment as a Cowboys hater.

The Cowboys trailed the Seahawks by one point with 1:19 remaining in the game. The Cowboys lined up for a 19-yard field goal attempt (essentially an extra point) to win the game.

Then something incredible happened.

Tony Romo fumbled the snap. He dropped the ball. When he picked it up and ran with it, he was caught from behind and tackled by Jordan Babineaux at the one-yard line.

Seattle ended up winning the game 21-20 and the Cowboys lost their fifth consecutive playoff game.

13. Jan. 23, 2005: Brian Dawkins' speech.

I believe Brian Dawkins is the most motivational player in NFL history. Nobody can get more from his teammates than Dawkins.

That being said, I will never forget his reaction to the Eagles winning the NFC championship game. I still get chills every time I hear any of Dawkins' memorable lines from this speech:

"I give all the credit to Michael Vick, we gave him the most respect. But nobody respected us as a defense! Give me some respect right now!"

"I'll tell you what. I wanted to set a tone. We wanted to set a tone as a defense. It's not just me, it's the defense, it's my line, it's Burgess, it's Kearse, all them boys, Trot, we came and we brought it, every doggone play!"

May the Weapon X video live on forever.

12. Sept. 27, 2008: Jimmy Rollins division-clinching double play.

I had no doubt that the Phillies were going to win the division. Even if they lost this game, they had Sunday. Then things got a little scary with a two-run lead entering the ninth inning.

Brad Lidge hadn't blown a save all season. 40-for-40. And against the Nationals? This should have been three up and three down.

The inning went like this: Swinging strikeout. Single to right. Walk. RBI single to right center. Single to center.

With the bases loaded and one out, the Phillies led 4-3. The Phillies' division title, as well as Brad Lidge's perfect season, were on the line against the Nationals' best hitter, Ryan Zimmerman.

Zimmerman smacked a hard ground ball up the middle and my heart stopped.

Enter Jimmy Rollins.

The reigning National League MVP made a sliding stop of Zim's ground ball. He tossed to Utley, who fired a bullet to Howard to complete the double play and ensure that the Philadelphia Phillies were division champions for the second consecutive season.

The "I Can't Believe This is Actually Happening" Moments

11. Oct. 29, 2008: Utley's throw at home plate in Game 5.

This might be the most underrated play of all time, any sport, any time, ever.

I would argue that this play was better than Derek Jeter's flip toss to home plate in Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS.

In the top of the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series, the Rays and Phillies were tied 3-3. With two outs, Jason Bartlett of the Rays stood on second base. Akinori Iwamura bounced a ground ball up the middle.

I'll never forget Utley fielding the grounder, faking a throw to first base, pivoting, and firing a strike to home. The ball arrived just a second before Barlett. Ruiz caught the bouncer and dove to his left, tagging Bartlett for the final out of the inning, and preventing a potentially Series-altering play.

When Chase Utley is elected to the Hall of Fame in 17 or 18 years, this will be the signature play that defined his career.

10. Oct. 25, 2008: Carlos Ruiz game winning World Series single.

Here's your situation: Game 3 of the World Series, tied one game apiece. Bottom of the ninth inning. Bases loaded. No outs. Catcher Carlos Ruiz at the plate.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon pulls one of the most intelligent moves I have ever seen, incorporating an infield composed of an extra infielder.

Ruiz hit a little dribbler down the third base line. A dinky little 45-foot hit. And this dinky little 45-foot hit was far enough for Eric Bruntlett to score the winning run and give Philly a lead in the World Series that they would never relinquish.

9. October 19, 2003: Brian Westbrook's game winning punt return.

I have watched this single play more times than any sports clip throughout history.

They call this the "Miracle in the the Meadowlands: Part 2."

With 1:30 remaining in the game, the Eagles trailed the Giants 10-7. Brian Westbrook fielded Jeff Feagles' punt on one bounce, dodged a tackler, and raced down the left sideline, untouched, for an 84-yard touchdown.

I'll never forget Merrill Reese's call: "He gets it away. It's a wobbler. Bounces across the 20. Westbrook takes it. Looks for running room. Up to the 25, the 30. To the 35, 40. 45, Midfield. 45, 40. 35, 30. Brian Westbrook! He's going, he's gone! Touchdown! Brian Westbrook 84 yards! I don't believe it! Brian Westbrook has just exploded. This place is in a state of shock!"

The Eagles won the game, improving their record to 3-3. They won eight games in a row, eventually clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

8. Jan. 11, 2004: Dawkins interception off Favre in overtime.

This is the play that I cherish the most from the most exciting Eagles playoff game I have ever seen. This play was even more valuable than fourth-and-26.

In overtime, Brett Favre threw what I will tell anyone is the single worst pass I have ever seen by an NFL quarterback. It was intercepted by Brian Dawkins and returned 35 yards.

The Eagles, who trailed 14-0 at halftime, went on to win the game 20-17 on an Akers field goal.

I consider this to be the signature play of Brian Dawkins' future Hall of Fame career.

7. Oct. 13, 2008: Matt Stairs home run.

This one was just so...unexpected.

The Phillies led the Dodgers two games to one in the NLCS, but trailed 5-3 entering the eighth inning. Shane Victorino smacked a two-run line drive homer into the right field bullpen. Carlos Ruiz singled, prompting the Dodgers to bring in flamethrower Jonathan Broxton.

Stepping to the plate was 40-year-old, out of shape, little used, backup outfielder Matt Stairs. I'll never forget the disbelief I felt when Stairs absolutely crushed a 3-1 fastball into the right field stands. I was so stunned that I just sat there not moving, before screaming my lungs out.

This single hit essentially ended the NLCS. There was no doubt in my mind that the Phillies were going to the World Series.

6. Oct. 8, 2006: Lito Sheppard game winning interception touchdown against Dallas.

Not counting games with playoff implications, this was my greatest moment as an Eagles fan.

This was arguably the most hyped regular season game of the season: the return of T.O. to Philadelphia.

It lived up to expectations. I'll never forget a bucketload of plays from this game: Baskett's 87-yard touchdown catch, T.O.'s alligator arms against Michael Lewis, Dawkins' diving interception right in front of T.O., and the seven sacks of Drew Bledsoe, including two on the final drive.

With 32 seconds remaining in the game, the Eagles led 31-24. The Cowboys had second and goal on the six-yard line, and, for the moment, my heart had stopped beating.

Until Lito Sheppard stepped in front of Drew Bledsoe's errant pass and returned it 102 yards for a touchdown, sending the city of Philadelphia into a state of absolute pandemonium.

5. Sept. 30, 2007: Glavine gets shelled/Brett Myers strikes out Wily Mo Pena to win division.

You're not going to understand what this was like unless you're a fan of a team that doesn't make the playoffs every single year.

You may not fully understand this unless you were like me, and you had never seen your favorite team in the playoffs, not one time.

But what Brett Myers and the rest of the Phillies showed their fans was that, yes, the playoffs are a possibility.

The Phillies and Mets entered the final game of the season tied for first place in the division. Jimmy Rollins had already proclaimed the Phillies the "team to beat in the East," despite the Mets' success from the year before.

The Mets faced the Marlins at 1:05; the Phillies faced the Nationals at 1:35.

By 1:35, the Mets game was essentially over. 303-game winner Tom Glavine, in arguably the most important regular season game of his career, allowed seven runs, while retiring one batter. He hit pitcher Dontrelle Willis with the bases loaded and made a throwing error. Essentially, his outing summed up the final 17 games of the season for the Mets.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Jamie Moyer pitched 5 1/3 effective innings, Ryan Howard homered, and Jimmy Rollins collected his 20th triple to join the elusive 20-20-20-20 club.

But the greatest moment came in the ninth inning. With two outs, Brett Myers struck out Wily Mo Pena on a curveball to clinch the Phillies' first division title in 14 years.

Harry Kalas's call: "Curveball, struck him out! The Phillies are National League East champions! Look at the scene on the field! Look at the scene in the stands! This is incredible! The Phillies are National League East champions and will go to the postseason for the first time since 1993!"

4. October 2008: Shane Victorino grand slam off CC Sabathia/the whole second inning.

I can't even describe the elation I felt during the second inning of Game 2 of the NLDS.

The Phillies were supposed to lose this game. CC Sabathia was on the mound. We didn't stand a chance. Everybody knew it.

With a 1-1 score in the second inning, Brett Myers batted with a man on third and two outs. Two pitches in, Myers was down 0-2. He then proceeded to complete the most clutch at-bat by a Philadelphia pitcher in the history of the franchise, forcing seven more pitches until he walked.

Sabathia walked Jimmy Rollins on four consecutive pitches, before, with a 1-2 count, Shane Victorino connected on a hanging cutter for a game-winning grand slam.

The roar of the crowd, starting from the fifth pitch of Myers' at-bat and culminating with the Flyin' Hawaiian's grand slam, was the loudest I have ever heard a Philadelphia crowd in my entire life.

How many fans would give their pitcher a standing ovation for fouling off a pitch?

Only in Philadelphia.

3. Dec. 28, 2008: The "Sunday of Miracles."

I like to make up names for events in history. I call this day the "Sunday of Miracles."

There will never again be a regular season that ends in such incredible fashion for the Philadelphia Eagles.

With their backs against the wall in the NFC playoff hunt, the Eagles needed the Houston Texans to beat the Chicago Bears, and the Oakland Raiders to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Then they needed to beat the Cowboys. In my article before the game, I calculated the Eagles' playoff chances at "three percent. Maybe two percent."

I'll never forget all of my Eagles friends all week telling me that they thought we still had a chance; the feeling of despair I felt when I saw the Bucs had built a ten-point lead on the Raiders in the fourth quarter; the feeling of elation when I saw that the Texans had downed the Bears; and finally, the absolute chaos that erupted when Jeff Garcia was unable to lead the Bucs to victory after Michael Bush's two touchdown runs.

What followed next were the greatest three hours of my life as a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Eagles fans everywhere will recall the image of our hero, #20 Brian Dawkins, dancing out of the tunnel for the pregame warmups. He knew. The fans knew. We still had a chance. And we knew we were in for a show.

Not only did the Eagles win, they did so in such dominating fashion that it was almost like a dream. Given the extremity of the rivalry and the situations surrounding the game, it might have been one of the ten biggest blowouts in the history of the National Football League.

I have watched the highlights for this game many, many times in the past three months. It never gets old and it never will. With everything on the line for both teams, it was just breathtaking watching the Cowboys' season literally fall apart before a national audience.

In an 9:18 span:

Correll Buckhalter scored on a four-yard touchdown pass;
Sheldon Brown intercepted Tony Romo and returned the ball 23 yards;
Pacman Jones committed a 15-yard late-hit penalty that essentially summed up his career in the NFL;
Terence Newman committed pass interference in the end zone;
Brent Celek proved his worth as a future playmaker with a one-yard touchdown catch;
Omar Gaither recovered Pacman Jones's fumble on the ensuing kickoff;
David Akers nailed a 50-yard field goal on the last play of the first half;
Brian Dawkins stripped the ball from Tony Romo, which Chris Clemons returned for a 73-yard touchdown;
Brian Dawkins stripped the ball from Marion Barber, which Joselio Hanson returned for a 96-yard touchdown; and
Chris Clemons stripped the ball from Tony Romo, which Trevor Laws recovered.

The image of Tony Romo lying facedown on the ground, arms covering his head, is one of the most priceless images in Philadelphia Eagles' history.

44-3 with 6:04 left in the third quarter. 24 points in the second quarter, and 17 in the third quarter.

How many points could the Eagles have scored if they had tried for the last third of the game? 55 points? 60 points? 65 points?!

The game reached the point where, when David Akers missed a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys' announcer commented, "And the Eagles, for the first time today, don't succeed at something that they try to do."

The Eagles handed the Cowboys their ninth consecutive loss in the season finale. They beat up on Tony Romo and Company for the third consecutive December, sending the preseason Super Bowl favorites home for an early vacation.

I have never been prouder to call myself an Eagles fan that I was on this particular day. For one day, the Philadelphia Eagles (and their fans) were on top of the world.

2. Jan. 23, 2005: Chad Lewis's second touchdown in NFC championship game.

This one was extra special because it made up for three consecutive years of heartbreak, the final two making up two of the three worst days of my life as a Philadelphia fan.

When Chad Lewis scored on a two-yard touchdown with 3:21 remaining, it was over. A 17 point lead with 3 minutes left? Game over.

Philly erupted into the single biggest celebration the city had seen in 24 years. With "Rocky" blaring from the speakers, the ecstatic crowd reached a volume that could be heard miles away.

This was the ultimate "if at first you fail, try, try again" moment.

As a Philadelphia Eagles fan, it never get any better than this.

The "Dreams Can Come True" Moment

1. Oct. 29, 2008: Brad Lidge strikes out Eric Hinske.

This was the greatest moment of my life as a Philadelphia sports fan. This was when I learned what it felt like to be on top of the world. This was the moment when I learned that, yes, dreams can come true.

I'll never forget this feeling as long as I live. Words can't describe this moment, so I'm not even going to try.

At 9:59 p.m., Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske of the Tampa Bay Rays on the "slider from hell," and the entire city went into its biggest state of euphoria since 1980.

I have the entire fifth game of the World Series on my iPod and I have watched the ninth inning many, many times. It's absolutely incredible.

It makes me feel like I'm back on the sidewalk, standing outside Chickie and Pete's, with 300 other people, experiencing our own, "Do you believe in miracles?!" moment.

This was one of those moments I can't wait to tell my kids about. This is one that I'll never get tired of reliving over and over again.

This was my single greatest moment as a Philadelphia sports fan.

Why Jerry Rice Is NOT the Greatest Wide Receiver in NFL History

Bryn Swartz — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:52:04 -0400

There are some things in sports that one just accepts without hesitation. The New York Yankees are the greatest franchise in professional sports history. Michael Jordan is the greatest clutch player in basketball history. And Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history.

However, what if a closer examination revealed...that the general public might be wrong?

What if Jerry Rice really isn't the greatest wide receiver in NFL history?

What if somebody 50, 60, even 70 years ago was better?

Accept it. It's true.

Meet Don Hutson, wide receiver of the Green Bay Packers from 1935-1945.

Don Hutson, the greatest wide receiver in the 89-year history of the National Football League.

To compare Hutson and Rice, I have chosen five different topics to focus on: supporting cast, longevity, postseason, impact on the game, and most importantly, a statistical analysis.

1. Supporting Cast

Let's be honest. Jerry Rice was truly blessed throughout his entire career.

Rice had the luxury of playing for two of the five greatest quarterbacks in NFL history: Joe Montana and Steve Young. He also played for Jeff Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowler. And as a member of the Oakland Raiders, he caught passes from Rich Gannon, who captured the 2002 MVP award.

Overall, Rice played 20 seasons in the NFL, during which his quarterbacks went to the Pro Bowl 13 times and earned five—count 'em, FIVE—Most Valuable Player awards.

Rice never played for a quarterback who was anything short of spectacular.

What about Hutson?

Hutson played for three very, very good quarterbacks: Arnie Herber, Cecil Isbell, and Irv Comp. Herber is currently a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Isbell was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Comp was a good quarterback who played like a great quarterback during the three seasons he played with Hutson. The year after Hutson retired, Comp threw for one touchdown pass and eight interceptions, while posting a single-digit passer rating (yes, single digits).

However, as great as Herber, Isbell, and Comp were, they were never better than Sammy Baugh or Sid Luckman.

Baugh and Luckman were always the two best quarterbacks in the NFL. Their rivalry was arguably the most intense in NFL history (sorry Colts and Patriots fans).

Whoever quarterbacked the Green Bay Packers, as in, whoever had the luxury of throwing to Don Hutson, was generally considered to be the third best quarterback in the 10-team National Football League.

Advantage: Hutson, easily

2. Longevity

Jerry Rice played 20 seasons in the National Football League. He played every single game of every single season, except for 1997, when he missed 14 games due to a torn ACL suffered in the season opener, after a facemask tackle by Warren Sapp.

Rice returned in the season finale, catching his lone touchdown pass, but cracking the patella in his left kneecap upon landing.

In all, Rice played 303 regular season games in his NFL career, and another 29 in the postseason. He played in more games than any non-kicker in NFL history and holds numerous longevity records, including oldest player to score a touchdown (40) and the oldest wide receiver to play in the NFL (42).

His training regime was legendary, as he was particularly noted for his fondness of running up hills in the offseason, a method also utilized by the great Walter Payton.

And Hutson?

Hutson played 11 seasons in the National Football League. He played wide receiver and defensive end. He also kicked field goals and extra points.

He played in 116 of 120 games during his 11 seasons, missing three games in his rookie season and one in 1938. Playing both ways--all three ways--Hutson played in 96.7 percent of games during his NFL career, slightly higher than Rice's 95.6 percentage.

In essence, Hutson literally played all 60 minutes of every single football game.

Advantage: Rice, but only by a little bit.

3. Postseason

Yup, we're addressing the postseason before the regular season. Why? Because the regular season is much more important.

Jerry Rice has been just as successful--and consistent--in the postseason as he has been in the regular season.

In 28 postseason games, Rice caught 151 passes for 2245 yards and 22 touchdowns. Projected over a single season, Rice's stats would look like this: 86 receptions, 1283 yards, 13 touchdowns.

Rice caught three touchdown passes in two different Super Bowls. His 215 receiving yards in Super Bowl XXIII are a single-game record.

Rice played in four Super Bowls. Three times he walked away on the winning team.

What about Hutson?

Well, Hutson played for two championship winning teams. He played in four total NFL championship games.

Unfortunately, game statistics cannot be found from these championship games, so we have no idea how Hutson performed.

All that is provided from these games is the boxscore, meaning we know that Don Hutson scored on a game-winning 48-yard touchdown reception in the 1936 NFL championship game. He didn't score in any of the other three NFL championship games. One touchdown in four championship games is not at all impressive, but chances are pretty good, though, that the greatest player in the NFL had a major role in his team's two championships.

He may not have dominated quite like Rice, but then again why couldn't he have? Great players step up their game when it counts.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to know how Hutson played, besides his lone touchdown.

Advantage: Rice

4. Impact on the Game

Rice showed that a wide receiver can excel--even dominate--without being the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest.

Longtime Cardinals' coach Dennis Green calls Jerry Rice "the greatest route runner I've ever seen." Rice is also universally regarded as one of the best, if not the best, blocking receiver in NFL history.

And Hutson?

Well, Don Hutson completely revolutionized the position of wide receiver in the National Football League. He was the first great receiver in league history. On Hutson's first play from scrimmage in his first NFL start, he caught an 83-yard touchdown pass. The Packers won the game 7-0 and a legend had been born.

Hutson is said to have literally created the art of "route-running" among wide receivers. He is credited with creating the buttonhook, the hook-and-go, and Z-outs. It was said that there wasn't a single defender in Hutson's era who could cover him one-on-one. Not one.

Hutson literally created the position of wide receiver in the National Football League. He didn't just revolutionize it for future generations. He created the position.

I wish Dennis Green (or any of us) could have seen Don Hutson play.

Advantage: Hutson

5. Statistics...

...where Rice blows Hutson away. Right?

Wrong.

I have one small issue with the success of Jerry Rice.

Rice had fantastic stats, stats that look much better on paper than Don Hutson. But nobody in the NFL dominated the rest of the league like Don Hutson.

Take Rice's 1995 season: 122 catches, 1848 yards, 15 touchdowns.

Rice's season is easily one of the greatest in history, right?

Nope. A case could be made that Rice was just the fourth best receiver in the NFC that season.

Herman Moore caught 123 (a new single-season record) passes for 1686 yards and 14 touchdowns, despite having Scott Mitchell as his quarterback (career Pro Bowl selections: zero).

Isaac Bruce caught 119 passes for 1781 yards and 13 touchdowns. His quarterback(s)? Chris Miller and Mark Rypien. The next leading receiver on the St. Louis Rams was the ever-dangerous Troy Drayton, a 260-pound tight end who hauled in 47 passes for 458 yards and four touchdowns during the season.

Cris Carter caught 122 passes for 1371 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns, while helping to coax one final great season out of the 39-year-old Warren Moon.

Michael Irvin caught 111 balls for 1603 yards and 10 touchdowns. Nine different players caught 100 passes that season. The list goes on and on.

Now, not to take anything away from Rice, but he wasn't quite as dominant as some people may realize.

In his 20 seasons in the National Football League, Rice led the league in receptions twice, yards six times, and touchdowns six times. In all, he led the league in 14 different categories during his career, all between 1986-1996.

His 22 touchdown catches in 1987 set an NFL single-season record. Even more incredibly, they came in just 12 games, due to a strike-shortened season.

He caught 122 passes in 1995, the second highest single-season total in NFL history. His 1848 receiving yards did set a single-season record.

Rice hauled in 100 passes four times, 90 passes six times, and 80 passes 12 times. He topped 1000 yards receiving in 14 different seasons. He caught double-digit touchdowns nine times, including five seasons of over 15. All of these are NFL records.

What about Hutson?

Hutson was literally the greatest wide receiver in the National Football League every year for 11 consecutive seasons. He might have been the best PLAYER in the National Football League in half of those seasons.

Hutson led the NFL in receptions eight times. He topped the league in receiving yards seven times. He finished first in touchdown catches nine times. In all, Hutson finished first in 24 different receiving categories in his 11 seasons. He finished second seven times, third once, and sixth once. He finished in the top three in all three receiving categories in 32 of 33 possible chances. The only exception? A sixth place finish in receptions in his rookie season.

You want to give Rice an advantage because he played in a league with 30 teams, compared to Hutson, who played with 10 teams?

Realistically, that's fair.

Let's count all of Rice's top three finishes in receiving statistics, while only counting Hutson's number one finishes.

Rice finished in the top three in receptions six times, receiving yards ten times, and touchdowns nine times. That's equal to 25 first place finishes, which would give him a minuscule advantage (25-24) over Hutson.

Hutson's 1942 season is the greatest season by a wide receiver in the history of the National Football League. There are no ifs, ands, or buts. Hutson caught 74 passes for 1211 yards and 17 touchdowns. In today's game, this season would look fantastic. In 1942, Hutson's season was simply out of this world.

The league's second, third, and fourth leading receivers combined for 74 receptions for 1336 yards and 17 touchdowns. Those are the TOTAL statistics of the next best three wide receivers COMBINED. Projected over a 16 game season, Hutson's statistics would look like this:

108 catches for 1761 yards and 25 touchdowns

That's WITHOUT any way to compare the difference in eras. You think that passing was considered to be legit in the 1940s? Passing the football was considered risky! The forward pass was considered dangerous so most teams utilized two or three running backs (and often two or three quarterbacks).

Hutson's season was Ruthian. He caught more touchdown passes than eight of the nine TEAMS in the National Football League. He had more receiving yards than four NFL teams and more receptions than three teams.

In any given year, for Jerry Rice to dominate the rest of the league the way Hutson did, Rice would need approximately:

300 catches for 4200 yards and 45 touchdowns.

That's never going to happen. Ever. Only one player has ever gotten half of any of those statistics in a single season, and that was when Randy Moss caught 23 touchdown passes in his record-breaking 2007 season.

Let's look at how each player performed in their typical season. We'll give Rice an advantage and pick his best 11 seasons, meaning we exclude his rookie season (1985) and every season after 1997. For Hutson, we can simply use his entire career, which was 11 seasons.

In Rice's 11 best seasons, he caught 1001 passes for 15450 yards and 151 touchdowns.

In Hutson's 11 seasons, he caught 488 passes for 7991 yards and 99 touchdowns.

It's not even close. Rice blows Hutson away. Now let's look at their average season.

Rice averaged 91 catches for 1405 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Hutson averaged 44 catches for 726 yards and 9 touchdowns.

When adjusting to a 16 game schedule, Hutson's average season looks like this:

67 catches for 1102 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Rice still wins by a decent amount.

But there's still one more adjustment to be made—accounting for the difference in eras played. When Hutson played, the average team passed the ball approximately 20 times per game. In Rice's era, teams passed approximately 30 times per game. The final adjustment shows Hutson's average season looking like this:

101 catches for 1653 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Those are Don Hutson's statistics on an average season, projected to today's game.

You want to see his 1942 season again, with all of the adjustments?

162 catches for 2641 yards and 38 touchdowns.

And for the final comparison?

Let's see Hutson's 11-year career compared to Jerry Rice's 20 seasons, when adjusted for relative to eras.

Hutson: 1110 catches, 18389 yards, 225 touchdowns, 16.4 yards per catch

Rice: 1549 catches, 22895 yards, 197 touchdowns, 14.8 yards per catch

Despite a nine-year disadvantage in career length, Hutson managed to outscore Rice by 28 touchdowns, despite playing in the football equivalent of the Dead Ball Era.

Rice caught about 400 more passes for 4000 more yards, which, if distributed among those extra nine seasons, is equal to 49 catches for 501 yards per season. Those are the numbers of a solid number three receiver.

Ignoring the difference in eras is the biggest mistake one can make when comparing two players. On paper, Rice appears to blow Hutson away, but in reality, it's Don Hutson who leaves Jerry Rice in the dust.

Advantage: Hutson, by a solid margin.

The Verdict

Calling Jerry Rice the greatest wide receiver in NFL history is probably the safest argument for a football fan to make.

However, I highly doubt that most football fans have even considered the other side of the fence—that there is in fact somebody better than Rice.

Hutson led the NFL in the three major receiving statistics 24 out of 33 times. He finished in the top three 32 times. He led the league in either receptions, yards, or touchdowns every single season of his career.

He won the receiving Triple Crown five times, including four consecutive seasons (1941-1944). He caught a touchdown on 20 percent of his receptions, compared to 13 percent for Jerry Rice.

Don Hutson is the only wide receiver in NFL history to win the Most Valuable Player award, which he did twice (1941 and 1942).

Hutson was a winner, as shown by his four championship game appearances and two victories.

He didn't have the career length that Jerry Rice did, but he also never lost a step, retiring at the top of his game. Rice, however, never again produced an elite season after his ACL injury at the age of 35.

When his career statistics are adjusted due to the time periods, Hutson matches up quite well with Rice.

When their average seasonal statistics are compared, Hutson blows Rice away.

There's no other way to look at it. The greatest wide receiver in NFL history is not a 6'2", 200-pound first-round draft pick from Mississippi Valley State—it's a 6'1, 183-pound walk-on at the University of Alabama.

The 10 Greatest Running Back Seasons in NFL History

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:39:52 -0400

Did you ever realize that the quarterback is considered to be the most important position in all of sports, but it's a successful running game that is considered to be arguably just as important or even more important than a good passing attack? It's no coincidence that teams with dominant running games and average quarterbacks can win championships.

Look at the Miami Dolphins of the 1970s. Was Bob Griese a great quarterback? Absolutely not. But when your team rushes for close to 3000 yards in the regular season, it's easy to blend in and become what is now known as a game manager. Griese threw seven passes in one Super Bowl--and the Dolphins won 24-7!

Throughout history, the position of running back has changed significantly. Seasonal rushing totals have increased, partly due to a stronger emphasis on powerful offensive lines. There was a time when, even factoring in the increases in games played during the season, a 1000-yard rusher was considered impressive.

Nowadays, the majority of teams produce a 1000-yard rusher, and within the next 10 to 15 years, I predict that a half dozen or more teams yield two 1000-yard rushers.

The single season touchdown record has been broken five times in my lifetime, and will probably be broken again in the near future. However, rushing touchdowns are slightly overrated--maybe even more than slightly overrated.

Three of the five seasons--Emmitt Smith in 1995, Priest Holmes in 2003, and Shaun Alexander in 2005--failed to make my list. Only Marshall Faulk's 2000 campaign and LT's recordbreaking season of 2006 found their way onto my list.

Take Barry Sanders as an example. The Lions' legendary running back averaged 5.0 yards per carry throughout his Hall of Fame career, but scored 'only' 99 touchdowns in 10 seasons. In 1998, Sanders carried 343 times for 1494 yards, but scored just four touchdowns.

Why? Because the Lions' had a 234-pound fullback named Tommy Vardell who carries the ball just 18 times but scored six touchdowns! Should Barry Sanders be penalized for his lack of touchdowns? No, because he consistently put his team in position to score.

So what should a running back be rated on?

Well, my two favorite statistics for running backs are yards per carry and fumbles.

Yards per carry is the real deal. There's no messing around. It's plain and simple. The best running backs average in the National Football League over five yards per carry. Good running backs average about four and a half yards per carry, and average running backs average around four yards per carry.

The best thing about yards per carry is that averages have been relatively unchanged over time. Unlike passer ratings, where the league average practically doubled between the 1940's and now, yards per attempt has always been relatively consistent--between 3.9 and 4.2 yards per attempt.

Fumbles are the worst thing a running back can do. It's the easiest way for a rookie to get cut from a team. And it's the quickest way for the National Football League's single-season rushing holder to fail to qualify for this list.

In 1984, Eric Dickerson rushed 379 times for a still-standing record of 2105 yards. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns. He also fumbled the football 14 times. That's flat-out unacceptable. A team needs to be able to trust its running back to hold onto the football at all costs.

Dickerson fumbled the football one out of every 27 carries in 1984. Imagine needing your running back to carry the ball seven times on a fourth-quarter drive to seal a victory. There would be over a 25 percent chance that Dickerson would fumble the football during the drive. No coach wants to gamble with odds like that.

The following list includes the best of the best, the greatest of the greatest, the most elite of the elite--the 10 greatest seasons by a running back in NFL history, with one season earning honorable mention. Five of these playershave already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with two players having multiple seasons on this list. Two other players are future first-ballot Hall of Famers.

*Honorable Mention*

11) Beattie Feathers, Chicago Bears, 1934:

119 carries, 1004 yards, 8 TD, 8.4 avg; 6 rec, 174 yards, 1 TD; 0 fum? 10 GAMES

1934? Are you kidding me?

Yup. 1934.

Feathers played for arguably the greatest team in NFL history--a team better than the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Better than the 1985 Chicago Bears. Even better than the 2007 New England Patriots.

And just like the 2007 New England Patriots, the Bears ran the table in the regular season--13 games, 13 wins--before losing to (who else?) the New York Giants in the NFL championship. Diehard football fans know of the 1934 NFL championship as the "Sneaker Game," in which the Giants, who were losing 10-3 at halftime, switched from cleats to sneakers to account for the mud on the field. It worked, as the Giants scored an incredible 27 points in the fourth quarter to win, 30-13.

Feathers helped the Bears score an NFL-record 286 points, which was more than the five worst NFL teams combined. The Bears scored over 20 points in each of their first nine games, a feat that, when adjusted to today's standards, is equivalent to a team scoring 45 points per game.

Feathers rushed for 1004 yards on 119 carries. He was the NFL's first 1000-yard rusher, and the only player until Steve Van Buren rushed for 1008 yards in 1947. Feathers' 1004 rushing yards topped three other NFL teams that season.

He averaged an unheard-of 8.4 yards per attempt. No running back in the 75 years since has come within two yards per carry of approaching Feathers' record.

10) Jim Taylor, Green Bay Packers, 1962:

272 carries, 1474 yards, 19 TD, 5.4 avg; 22 rec, 106 yards, 0 TD; 5 fum 14 GAMES

In 1962, Jim Taylor did something that no other running back has ever done. He stole a rushing title from the great Jim Brown.

Taylor won the rushing Triple Crown in 1962. He led the league in carries (272), yards (1474), and touchdowns (19). He finished second in yards per carry (5.4).

Taylor helped perfect the legendary Packer Sweep, which helped the Packers win five NFL championships, including two Super Bowls, during the 1960's.

Taylor's 1962 MVP season is arguably the greatest in the history of a franchise filled with Hall of Fame football players.

9) Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears, 1965:

166 carries, 867 yards, 14 TD, 5.2 avg; 29 rec, 507 yards, 6 TD; 9 fum

16 punt returns, 238 yards, 1 TD, 14.9 avg; 21 kick returns, 660 yards, 1 TD, 31.4 avg

14 GAMES

Sayers' 1965 season is probably the most famous rookie season in NFL history. Ironically, Sayers wasn't even the best rookie on the 1965 Bears. That honor belongs to middle linebacker Dick Butkus.

Sayers did it all in 1965--literally. He carried the football, caught the football, and returned the football. He scored touchdowns four different ways--running, receiving, returning punts, and returning kicks.

Sayers touched the ball 232 times in 1965, for an average of 16 touches per game. He averaged one touchdown every 10 touches, significantly more than one touchdown per game, and his 9.8 yards per touch ranked first in the NFL by two full yards.

He finished second in the NFL in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards per punt return, and yards per kick return. He finished third in yards per carry and rushing yards per game. His 22 touchdowns broke the single-season record of 20 set by Lenny Moore in 1964.

In a December game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sayers scored an electrifying six touchdowns to tie a single-game NFL record. His final touchdown came on an 85-yard punt return and was voted by NFL Films as the seventh greatest touchdown in NFL history.

No player in NFL history has done more (22 touchdowns) with less (232 touches) than Sayers in 1965.

8) Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos, 1998:

392 carries, 2008 yards, 21 TD, 5.1 avg; 25 rec, 217 yards, 2 TD; 2 fum

Davis is the only running back on this list to play for a Super Bowl champion.

In 1998, Davis became just the fourth running back in NFL history to rush for over 2000 yards in a season. He became the first running back to also rush for 20 touchdowns in the same season.

Davis's 2008 rushing yards rank fourth on the single-season charts. His 21 rushing touchdowns are more than all but five players in the history of the NFL. His 392 carries are the seventh highest single-season total in NFL history. His 23 total touchdowns rank eighth on the single-season lists, and his 125.5 rushing yards per game are tenth all time.

In all, Davis eclipsed the top ten single-season list in five different categories that season.

TD earned league MVP honors. He won his third consecutive rushing title. He was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. And he was the hero in a second straight Super Bowl win, rushing for 102 yards (152 total yards) in a 34-19 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

7) Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions, 1997:

335 carries, 2053 yards, 11 TD, 6.1 avg; 33 rec, 305 yards, 3 TD; 3 fum

In 1997, Barry Sanders averaged more yards per carry than any running back since Jim Brown in 1963. Sanders' 6.1 yards per carry was more than one and a half times better than the rest of the league.

His 2053 yards are the third highest single-season total in NFL history. He ended the season by rushing for more than 100 yards in 14 consecutive games, an NFL record.

Sanders scored 'only' 11 touchdowns on the ground, mainly because the Lions used fullback Tommy Vardell in goal-line situations. His 14 total touchdowns were still good for third in the NFL.

Sanders also set a new NFL record with 2358 total yards from scrimmage, which has been surpassed three times.

His season stands as the greatest by an NFC running back from the Super Bowl era to the turn of the millennium.

6) OJ Simpson, Buffalo Bills, 1973:

332 carries, 2003 yards, 12 TD, 6.0 avg; 6 rec, 70 yards, 0 TD; 7 fum 14 GAMES

"No matter what happens to me, I was the first man to rush for 2000 yards in a season. They can never take that away from me." --OJ Simpson

While his 2000-yard rushing season is no longer the first thing people think of when they hear the name, Simpson still deserves to be remembered for his accomplishments on the football field.

He won the rushing Triple Crown in 1973, leading the NFL in carries (332), yards (2003--a new record), and touchdowns (12). His 143.1 rushing yards per game is the highest total in NFL history, by a full ten yards. OJ also ranked second in yards per carry (6.0), a total that has been surpassed by just one running back in the last 35 seasons.

Simpson topped 200 yards rushing three times in 1973. After 12 games, OJ had rushed for 1584 yards. He rushed for 219 yards in the 13th game of the season, and capped off a brilliant campaign with exactly 200 yards, breaking the 2000-yard barrier.

Simpson earned a million different awards in 1973, including NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, the NFL MVP, the Bert Bell Player of the Year award, and the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award. OJ would be the last NFL player to capture AP Male Athlete of the Year honors until Joe Montana did it in consecutive seasons ('89-'90).

5) OJ Simpson, Buffalo Bills, 1975:

329 carries, 1817 yards, 16 TD, 5.5 avg; 28 rec, 427 yards, 7 TD; 7 fum 14 GAMES

1973 will always be OJ's most famous season. But 1975 was just a little bit better.

Simpson set the NFL single-season record by scoring 23 touchdowns. He broke Sayers' 10-year NFL record.

He led the NFL with 1817 rushing yards, then the third highest single season total in NFL history. His 129.8 yards per game have been surpassed by just two running backs since, and stand as the fifth highest total in NFL history.

Simpson led the NFL in carries (329) and touches (357). He led in yards per carry (5.5) and yards from scrimmage (2244). He even had the longest run in the NFL (88 yards). Simpson led the NFL in every single statistic that a running back could lead the league in.

He accomplished all of this despite playing in just 14 games. Had Simpson had the luxury of a 16-game season, he would have easily rushed for over 2000 yards and scored over 25 touchdowns. In fact, Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2105 yards might belong to OJ Simpson.

4) LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, 2006:

348 carries, 1815 yards, 28 TD, 5.2 avg; 56 rec, 508 yards, 3 TD; 2 fum; 2-3, 19 yards, 2 TD

31 touchdowns.

That's all that needs to be said.

LaDainian Tomlinson broke Shaun Alexander's one-year old NFL-record of 28 touchdowns by more than 10 percent. That's the equivalent of a quarterback throwing for 55 touchdowns in a season. That's the equivalent of a wide receiver catching 160 passes in a season. That's the equivalent of a defensive end accumulating 25 sacks in a season.

His 186 points scored set a new NFL record, breaking Paul Hornung's 46-year-old record of 176 points. This doesn't even account for Tomlinson's two passing touchdowns that season, meaning he was directly involved in 33 touchdowns during the season.

LT also led the NFL with 1815 rushing yards. His 5.2 yards per carry finished second among players with at least 200 carries. He also finished second in total yards from scrimmage (2323).

Tomlinson earned every award in existence after the 2006 season, including the NFL Most Valuable Player award, Offensive Player of the Year honors, the Bert Bell Player of the Year award, and the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Tomlinson's magical season helped the Chargers win 14 games and capture home-field advantage in the playoffs.

3) Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, 1963:

291 carries, 1863 yards, 12 TD, 6.4 avg; 24 rec, 268 yards, 3 TD; 7 fum 14 GAMES

Brown turned in the highest yards per carry in NFL history by a running back with 200 or more carries. His 6.4 yards per carry has not been seriously threatened since. Only Barry Sanders and OJ Simpson have averaged six yards per carry.

Brown also set NFL records in rushing yards (1863) and rushing yards per game (133.1). He also set a new NFL record in total yards from scrimmage (2131).

Brown also led the NFL in touches (315) and total touchdowns (15). He earned Bert Bell Player of the Year honors, and was named the UPI NFL Most Valuable Player.

Had Brown played in a 16-game season, he would probably still hold the single-season record for rushing yards (projected total: 2119).

What about his high total of fumbles?

Brown's seven fumbles may seem like a lot in today's standards. But take in mind that the average team fumbled 29 times per season in 1963. That's over two fumbles per game! Brown's seven fumbles in 1963 equates to just four fumbles in today's game.

2) Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams, 2000:

253 carries, 1359 yards, 18 TD, 5.4 avg; 81 rec, 830 yards, 8 TD; 0 fum

Take a look at Faulk's numbers in 2000. You know the first thing I see?

Not 26, as in total touchdowns scored.

How bout 0? As in, zero fumbles over the entire season, despite touching the football 334 times, an average of 24 per game (Faulk missed two games due to injury).

His 26 touchdowns broke Emmitt Smith's five-year NFL record and would stand as the record for three seasons. Had Faulk played in all 16 games, he would have likely scored 30 touchdowns and accumulated 2501 total yards from scrimmage, which would have broken his own single-season NFL record (2429 yards in 1999).

Despite finishing 'only' eighth in the NFL in rushing yards, Faulk led the league in rushing touchdowns (18) and yards per carry (5.4). He scored eight more touchdowns than any other player in the league and scored 160 points, which was one fewer point than the entire Cincinnati Bengals team scored that season.

Faulk helped the Rams set a franchise-record with 540 points, the fourth highest total in NFL history. The Rams accumulated 7335 yards of total offense (458 per game), shattering the previous NFL record.

Faulk earned National Football League Most Valuable Player honors, the second of three straight seasons that the MVP award would go to a member of the St. Louis Rams' Greatest Show on Turf (Faulk finished second to teammate Kurt Warner in the 1999 and 2001 MVP voting).

Faulk's season came in the midst of arguably the greatest three-year stretch of any running back in NFL history--better than Emmitt Smith ('93-'95), better than Earl Campbell ('78-'80), better than Barry Sanders ('95-'97), even better than Jim Brown (pick your three seasons).

1) Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, 1958:

257 carries, 1527 yards, 17 TD, 5.9 avg; 16 rec, 138 yards, 1 TD; 5 fum 12 GAMES

The greatest season by a running back came in only 12 games?

Absolutely.

In just his second season in the NFL, the 22-year-old Brown established himself as the greatest running back in the NFL.

Brown won the rushing Triple Crown in 1958, leading in carries (257), yards (1527), and touchdowns (17). He also topped the NFL in touches (273), yards from scrimmage (1665), total touchdowns (18), and rushing yards per game (127.3).

Five of these marks set single-season NFL records: rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, yards from scrimmage, and rushing yards per game. Brown's 257 carries were the second most in the 35-year history of the NFL.

His season was so dominant that just one running back (Alan Ameche) rushed for half as many yards as Brown. Only one running back (Tommy Wilson) scored half as many touchdowns as Brown. Only one running back (Alan Ameche) averaged half as many yards per game as Brown.

Brown was the first true workhorse in the NFL. No other running back carried the ball more than 15 times per game in 1958. Brown averaged 21 carries per game.

Had Brown played a 16-game season, his numbers would have looked like this:

343 carries, 2036 yards, 23 TD, 5.9 avg; 21 rec, 184 yards, 1 TD; 7 fum

By the conclusion of the 1958 season, Brown's numbers looked like this:

2 seasons, 2 Most Valuable Player awards.

It's only appropriate that the greatest season by a running back came by the greatest running back in NFL history.

The 10 Greatest Quarterback Seasons in NFL History

Bryn Swartz — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:01:54 -0400

I have always had a fascination with the quarterback position. Maybe it's because the position is the single most important position in all of professional sports. Maybe it's because I love leaders, and the quarterback is supposed to be the leader of a football team both on and off the field. But mostly it's because quarterbacks always have—and probably always will—received the most praise when a team wins...and the most blame when a team loses.

In the history of the NFL, there have been 1,678 cumulative seasons of quarterback play. The following list includes the most elite of the elite. It's a list so profound, some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history—John Elway, Brett Favre, Bart Starr, and the immortal Johnny Unitas—didn't make the final cut. Neither did Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Roger Staubach, Jim Kelly, or Terry Bradshaw. No quarterback appears twice on this list, which includes seven Hall of Famers and two future first ballot Hall of Famers.

I made the difficult decision of not including the postseason as factors in my rankings. I included some of the postseasons in my description, but didn't let them factor into the decision making. For example, a player like Ben Roethlisberger would only be rated on his regular season performances; the playoffs mean nothing.

I also needed a way to compare the statistic of passer rating across different eras. So I created a little formula I call PR+. It's very similar to the baseball version of ERA+, which is a way to compare earned run averages in different eras by factoring in the pitcher's ballpark and the strength of the league that year. PR+ will factor in the passer rating compared to the league. A score of 100 is considered to be average, meaning above 100 is above average, and below 100 is below average.

For example, in 2004, Donovan McNabb's passer rating was 104.7. The league average for passer rating was 82.8. McNabb's value is 26 percent above the league average, meaning his passer rating plus (PR+) would be 126.

* Honorable Mention*

11) George Blanda, Houston Oilers, 1961.

Average quarterback: 64.7 rating, 202-405, 2906 yards, 21 TD, 26 INT

George Blanda: 91.3 rating, 187-362, 3,330 yards, 36 TD, 22 INT, 141 PR+

The 1961 Houston Oilers are the greatest offensive team in AFL history, and the most prolific scoring machine the league has ever seen, besides the 2007 New England Patriots.

The Oilers scored 513 points in 14 games for an average of 36.64 points per game. They put up 55 points against the Raiders and the Broncos. They scored 49 and 48 points against the New York Titans. They topped 45 points in two other games. In five of these six games, they put up over 500 yards of total offense.

The 34-year-old Blanda made just 11 of the 14 starts in 1961, leading the Oilers to 10 consecutive victories to end the season, including the AFL championship.

Blanda shattered the single-season record for touchdown passes (36). He was the only AFL quarterback to throw for more than 20 touchdowns. He came within two touchdown passes of doubling the runner-up in the league.

His 3,330 passing yards led the league and set a new AFL record. The AFL Player of the Year also topped the league in yards per attempt (9.2), yards per completion (17.8), and touchdown percentage (9.9 percent). He threw seven touchdown passes in a November game against the New York Titans.

Just under 20 percent of Blanda's completions went for scores. His 19.2 percentage ranks as the second greatest percentage in history, and has not been surpassed since.

The only knocks against Blanda?

22 interceptions ranked Blanda fifth out of the eight AFL quarterbacks in interception percentage. He also had pretty impressive supporting talent. Billy Cannon was the best running back in the league that season, while wide receivers Bill Groman (23.5 yards per catch, 17 touchdowns) and Charley Hennigan (82 receptions, 1746 yards, 12 touchdowns) turned in two of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in history.

Blanda would go on to throw a record 42 interceptions the following season. He led the league in interceptions in each of the next four seasons. He played 15 more seasons of professional football and would never again be an elite quarterback.

For one season, though, he was king.

10) Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams, 1999.

Average quarterback: 77.1 rating, 309-541, 3,653 yards, 21 TD, 18 INT

Kurt Warner: 109.2 rating, 325-499, 4,353 yards, 41 TD, 13 INT, 142 PR+

In Kurt Warner's autobiography, he tells of a time when he and his father were stopped in the airport by Chris Berman of ESPN. This was in May 2000, following the Rams' Super Bowl victory over the Titans. Berman congratulated Warner on his season and told him that ESPN considered him to be the greatest one-story wonder in the history of the National Football League.

Warner earned the starting job in August, after a season ending injury to Trent Green. Warner, who had thrown 11 passes in his professional football career, joined Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 40 touchdowns in a single season (Brady and Manning have since joined that list).

Warner's league-leading 109.2 passer rating stands as the seventh highest total in NFL history. He also topped the National Football League in completion percentage (65.1 percent), yards per pass attempt (8.7), and touchdown percentage (8.2 percent). He ranked second in passing yards (4,353).

The Rams won 13 games during the regular season and earned home field advantage in the playoffs. Warner led the Rams to a Super Bowl title, throwing eight touchdown passes in the postseason—five against the Vikings in the divisional round, one against the Buccaneers in the championship game, and two against the Titans in the Super Bowl. His final pass of the season was a game-winning 73-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce with under two minutes remaining in the Super Bowl.

I have just two knocks against Warner's storybook season. He ranked just ninth in the NFL in interception percentage (2.6 percent), and he was surrounded by some of the most unbelievable supporting talent in the history of the NFL—future Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Orlando Pace.

In fact, in 2008, Whatifsports conducted a test, where they took the 42 Super Bowl champions and played them against each other 100 times. The 1999 St. Louis Rams walked away as the greatest team in NFL history, winning 77.1 percent of their games.

In one season, Kurt Warner was the MVP of the National Football League, the MVP of the Super Bowl, and the quarterback of the greatest Super Bowl champion team in NFL history.

9) Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants, 1963.

Average quarterback: 69.1 rating, 205-407, 2,992 yards, 22 TD, 23 INT

Y.A. Tittle: 104.8 rating, 221-367, 3145 yards, 36 TD, 14 INT , 152 PR+

The 37-year-old Tittle turned in the greatest season ever by a Giants quarterback in 1963, capturing league MVP honors.

Tittle set a new NFL record with 36 touchdown passes. He topped the NFL in completion percentage (60.2 percent), yards per attempt (8.6), touchdown percentage (9.8 percent), and passer rating (104.8). Only one quarterback (Bart Starr in 1966) would surpass Tittle's passer rating over the next 20 years.

Tittle threw just 14 interceptions, which was a 50 percent improvement over the rest of the league.

In leading the Giants to the NFL championship, Tittle set an NFL record by throwing for 22 more touchdown passes than interceptions. He remains the only Hall of Fame quarterback to never win a postseason game (0-4 in NFL championship games).

8) Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, 1989.

Average quarterback: 75.6 rating, 286-512, 3,659 yards, 21 TD, 20 INT

Joe Montana: 112.4 rating, 271-385, 3521 yards, 26 TD, 8 INT, 149 PR+

Although he only started in 13 of the 16 games that season, Montana absolutely dominated the NFL, earning league Most Valuable Player honors.

He set the single-season record for passer rating (112.4), leading the league by 22 percent. His league-leading 70.2 completion percentage is the third highest single-season total in history. He topped the NFL in yards per attempt (9.1) and touchdown percentage (6.7 percent).

Had Montana played a full season, he would have likely finished with 4,400 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes.

Montana led the 49ers to a 14-2 record (11-2 when he started) and a victory in Super Bowl XXIV. In the Super Bowl, Montana threw for five touchdown passes.

7) Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers, 1994.

Average quarterback: 78.4 rating, 312-538, 3,639 yards, 21 TD, 17 INT

Steve Young: 112.8 rating, 324-461, 3,969 yards, 35 TD, 10 INT, 144 PR+

Steve Young's 1994 season is probably my favorite quarterback season in NFL history.

Young dominated the league in 1994, setting a single-season record in passer rating (112.8). He topped the league with 35 touchdown passes, the fourth highest total in league history at that time. His league-leading 70.3 completion percentage still ranks second in NFL history. He easily led the NFL in yards per attempt (8.6) and touchdown percentage (7.6 percent).

Young also rushed 58 times for 293 yards (5.0 yards per carry), and seven touchdowns, meaning he accounted for 42 scores during the season.

Young earned Most Valuable Player honors for the second time in three seasons, solidifying his status as one of the greatest, if not most unappreciated, quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Young led the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where he broke Joe Montana's Super Bowl record by throwing for six touchdown passes in a 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers. Young became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to win league MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors in the same season (Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana).

6) Milt Plum, Cleveland Browns, 1960.

Average quarterback: 63.2 rating, 175-355, 2,463 yards, 19 TD, 22 INT

Milt Plum: 110.4 rating, 151-250, 2,297 yards, 21 TD, 5 INT, 175 PR+

Plum's 1960 season is probably the most forgotten season in NFL history. While only diehard fans will even know the name, few could tell you that in 1960, Plum was better than all but five quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Plum set an NFL record in passer rating (110.4), with a PR+ of 175, the third highest among quarterbacks in the top ten seasons. He averaged 9.2 yards per pass attempt, the fifth highest mark in NFL history at that time. He led the NFL in completion percentage (60.4 percent) and interception percentage (2.0). The next best quarterback in the NFL threw more than twice as many interceptions as Plum.

For Plum to throw less than one-fourth as many interceptions as the average NFL quarterback would be the equivalent of a quarterback today throwing for approximately four interceptions in a full season. One interception every 50 pass attempts is a record setting pace nowadays. In 1960, it was simply a mind-boggling statistic.

Brown did have the luxury of playing with the greatest running back in NFL history (Jim Brown), and a Hall of Fame fullback (Bobby Mitchell). He led the Browns to an 8-3-1 record and a second-place finish in the NFL East.

5) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, 2004.

Average quarterback: 82.8 rating, 305-511, 3,604 yards, 23 TD, 16 INT

Peyton Manning: 121.4 rating, 336-497, 4,557 yards, 49 TD, 10 INT, 147 PR+

Manning's finest season came in 2004, as the NFL's Most Valuable Player led the Colts to a 12-4 record and a franchise record 522 points.

Manning shattered pro football's most famous record, as he threw his 49th touchdown pass in the season's 15th game to break Dan Marino's 20-year-old NFL record. His touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.9-to-1) set an NFL record for quarterbacks with at least 25 touchdown passes. He became the first quarterback to throw 10 touchdown passes to three different wide receivers. In one five-game stretch, Manning threw 24 touchdown passes. He could have easily hit 50 touchdown passes if he had played in the last game of the season. He threw more than twice as many touchdown passes as the average quarterback.

Manning also shattered the single-season record for passer rating (121.4). He posted a 100+ passer rating 11 times, including nine games in a row. He not only broke the single-season record for passer rating, he obliterated it. His mark will probably never be broken.

Manning topped the NFL in yards per attempt (9.2) and touchdown percentage (9.9 percent).

The only knock against Manning's brilliance?

He didn't dominate the league quite as much as some may remember. 2004 was a record-setting season in scoring, as four quarterbacks posted a passer rating above 104. Twelve different teams scored more than 370 points.

4) Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, 1984.

Average quarterback: 76.1 rating, 288-512, 3,651 yards, 22 TD, 21 INT

Dan Marino: 108.9 rating, 362-584, 5,084 yards, 48 TD, 17 INT, 143 PR+

Marino's 1984 season might be the most popular and well-known of any quarterback in NFL history.

Marino shattered the single-season record for passing touchdowns (48). He broke George Blanda's 23-year-old NFL record by a full 33 percent—the equivalent of a quarterback throwing for 66 touchdowns today.

He also broke the single-season record for passing yards (5084), a record that has been challenged many times, but has withstood the test of time.

Marino led the league in completions (362), attempts (564), yards per attempt (9.0), touchdown percentage (8.5 percent), and passer rating (108.9). His completion percentage ranked third (64.2 percent) and he posted the sixth lowest interception percentage (3.0 percent).

He turned Mark Clayton (1,389 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Mark Duper (1,306 yards, 8 touchdowns) into superstars. He did all of this despite having a leading rusher (Woody Bennett) who failed to average 40 yards per game.

Marino led the Dolphins to a 14-2 record and an appearance in Super Bowl XIX, where he threw for 318 yards with a then-record 29 completions.

3) Sammy Baugh, Washington Redskins, 1945.

Average quarterback: 47.5 rating, 96-211, 1,438 yards, 11 TD, 19 INT

Sammy Baugh: 109.9 rating, 128-182, 1,669 yards, 11 TD, 4 INT, 231 PR+

I believe that PR+ is the most important statistic when judging a quarterback. In 1945, Sammy Baugh turned in the highest single-season PR+ total in NFL history: 231.

Baugh's season was record-setting in three extremely important statistics: passer rating, completion percentage, and interception percentage.

Baugh's passer rating of 109.9 ranks as the seventh highest total in NFL history—unofficially. Officially, because Baugh played in just eight of the 12 games and threw just 182 total passes, his season is not recognized by the NFL record book. Sid Luckman ranked second in the league with an 82.5 passer rating, meaning Baugh bettered Luckman's mark by 33 percent.

The average quarterback completed 45.5 percent of his passes in 1945. Baugh completed 70.3 percent of his passes, setting an NFL record that would be broken by Ken Anderson (70.6 percent) in 1981. It could be argued that no quarterback in the history of the National Football League has ever dominated a single statistic the way Baugh dominated completion percentage in 1945. Baugh's completion percentage was 55 percent better than the league average, which would be the equivalent of a quarterback completing 97 percent of his passes in today's game.

Baugh set an NFL record in interception percentage (2.2 percent). His four interceptions in 182 pass attempts looks extremely impressive based on today's standards. Projected over a full season, Baugh would have thrown about 12 interceptions. Factoring in the difference in eras, Baugh would have tossed approximately 30 and 32 touchdowns, and either four or five interceptions.

Baugh also led the team in interceptions, as usual, and led the entire NFL in punting, as usual. His Redskins finished 8-2 and advanced to the NFL championship game.

2) Tom Brady, New England Patriots, 2007.

Average quarterback: 82.7 rating, 326-533, 3,652 yards, 23 TD, 17 INT

Tom Brady: 117.2 rating, 398-578, 4,806 yards, 50 TD, 8 INT, 142 PR+

This should come as no surprise to anyone.

In 2007, Tom Brady turned in the greatest season by any quarterback in the last six-plus decades.

Brady led the New England Patriots to the first 16-0 season in NFL history.

The Patriots shattered the NFL single-season record for points scored with 589. Brady led the charge on a scoring attack that topped 50 points twice, 40 points four times, and 30 points 12 times. The Patriots averaged 41.4 points per game in the first half of the season. In the second half, they 'cooled' off, averaging 32.3 points per game. Most importantly, they did not lose. Not once.

Brady's numbers were astronomical. His 50 touchdown passes broke the most famous single-season record in all of the NFL, and with the advent of the steroid era in baseball, possibly in all of professional sports.

He led the NFL with a passer rating of 117.2, the second highest total in NFL history. His fairly-low PR+ of 142 (compared to the rest of the quarterbacks on this list) can be attributed to the fact that the league passer rating was 82.7, one of the highest marks in history. Brady could have posted a 158.3 passer rating and his PR+ would have been 191, 'only' third all time.

Brady topped the NFL in passing yards (4806), yards per attempt (8.3), completion percentage (68.9), and touchdown percentage (8.7 percent). He became just one of four quarterbacks to average a touchdown pass per 100 yards passing. He posted the greatest touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history (6.25 to 1).

It didn't matter who Brady played. He threw for 23 touchdowns and three interceptions in seven games against playoff teams. He threw for three or more touchdowns in the first 10 games of the season. He posted a triple-digit passer rating 11 times. He threw for 20 touchdown passes in October. At one point in the season, Brady had thrown 39 touchdown passes and four interceptions.

The 2007 Most Valuable Player threw more than twice as many touchdowns as the average quarterback. He joined Donovan McNabb on the short list of quarterbacks who have thrown more than 30 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season. He joined Montana, Elway, and Bradshaw on the list of quarterbacks to lead their team to four Super Bowls.

1) Sid Luckman, Chicago Bears, 1943.

Average quarterback: 96-217, 1,414 yards, 14 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 48.6 rating

Sid Luckman: 110-202, 2,194 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 107.5 rating, 221 PR+

What? You never heard of him? You barely heard of him but don't know too much about him? You have heard of him but didn't realize how great he was?

Get ready to learn.

Sid Luckman's season in 1943 stands as the single greatest season by any quarterback in the league's history.

In 1943, the average quarterback completed 44 percent of his passes. Quarterbacks averaged 14 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions.

Luckman threw twice as many touchdowns as the average quarterback. He threw half as many interceptions.

His 28 touchdowns broke the previous NFL record of 24 set by Green Bay Packers' quarterback Cecil Isbell the year before. His 2,194 passing yards and 219.4 passing yards per game set new records. His 107.5 passer rating was 20 points higher than the previous single-season record holder (Cecil Isbell of 1942).

One out of every four Luckman completions went for a touchdown. By comparison, one out of every seven Manning completions in 2004 went for a touchdown. One out of every seven Luckman attempts went for a touchdown. His 13.5 touchdown percentage is a record that will never be seriously challenged, let alone broken.

He averaged 10.94 yards per pass attempt, another NFL record. Some quarterbacks struggle to average that per completion.

Luckman even set NFL records in statistics that don't exist. His PR+ was 221, the second highest mark in NFL history. He averaged one touchdown pass per 78 passing yards, another record.

Were it not for a career year by Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, Luckman would have finished first—and not second—in completions, attempts, and completion percentage.

Watch what happens when I take Luckman's stats away from the league's statistics:

Average quarterback: 94-219, 1302 yards, 12 touchdowns, 24 interceptions, 41.9 rating

Sid Luckman: 110-202, 2194 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 107.5 rating, 257 PR+

Take away Sammy Baugh—the only other legit quarterback in the league—and the numbers are even more extreme:

Average quarterback: 88-217, 1227 yards, 10 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, 35.8 rating

Sid Luckman: 110-202, 2194 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 107.5 rating, 300 PR+

Even more amazingly, Luckman achieved these stats with little to no protection. Defenders were allowed to practically decapitate the quarterback, and many tried to do so.

Luckman also had the 'luxury' of playing virtually every single snap that season—on both sides of the ball. He played all ten games at quarterback. He intercepted four passes as a defensive back. He served as the team's punter. He even returned a few punts and kickoffs.

For Luckman to play the way he did is unbelievable and shows how superior he was to the rest of the NFL. His season in 1943 will likely stand as the greatest season by a quarterback until the end of time.

Should the Philadelphia Eagles Bring Back Terrell Owens?

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:39:32 -0500

On March 4, around midnight, the Dallas Cowboys officially released six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens. Owens had spent the previous three seasons as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, a team that featured as much drama in the locker room as a Brett Favre retirement conference.

Almost immediately upon hearing that T.O. had been released, I was struck by a thought, a terrible thought, a nagging thought that hasn't gone away for the last day; a thought that, to be honest, has surprised even me.

What if the Philadelphia Eagles gave Terrell Owens a second chance?

The odds of the former Philly wide receiver actually re-signing with the team can be valued at slim to none.

But what if?

What if it actually happened?

Let's look at the pros and the cons.

The Pros

Terrell Owens has played with Donovan McNabb and knows the Eagles' offense.

In March 2004, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired Terrell Owens from the San Francisco 49ers in a highly documented trade that sent defensive end Brandon Whiting and a fifth round draft pick to the Niners.

The acquisition of Owens could not have come at a better time. In January 2004, the Eagles' wide receivers were dominated by the Carolina Panthers secondary in the NFC championship game. With the absence of running and receiving threat Brian Westbrook to a torn triceps, quarterback Donovan McNabb was ineffective, eventually leaving the game due to torn cartilage in his ribs.

The 2004 season started off with a bang, as Owens caught three touchdowns in a week one win versus the Giants. Owens helped the Eagles dominate the rest of the NFC, as the Birds finished 13-1 before resting their starters for the final two games. Owens set a franchise receiving record with 14 touchdowns. He caught 77 balls for 1,200 yards.

More importantly, he brought something to the game that the Eagles hadn't seen in years, and haven't seen since—a wide receiver who could break tackles.

Probably my best memories of Owens were not the balls he would catch. It was the way he would run after the catch. I will never forget him flipping one of the Green Bay Packers defenders over his back after making a sideline catch. His combination of size and speed, as well as his ability to go across the middle, is priceless, especially in the eyes of an Eagles fan.

Owens' season appeared to be over on Dec. 12 when a horse-collar tackle by Dallas safety Roy Williams broke his ankle. However, with the appearance of the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, Owens decided to play.

Love him or hate him, there's no denying that his performance was nothing short of brilliant. Rocky would have been proud, as Owens caught nine balls for 122 yards, while risking future injury to his surgically-repaired ankle.

Would the Philadelphia Eagles have won the Super Bowl if Owens had been completely healthy?

It's debatable.

However, in a three-point game, a few extra yards here and there might have made the difference for the Eagles, who were seven-point underdogs in the game.

The Eagles are desperate for a No. 1 wide receiver.

Our wide receivers can be described as average at best.

Kevin Curtis entered the season as the Eagles' number one wide receiver. He played in only nine games due to injuries, catching 33 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns. Projected over a full season, Curtis would have barely surpassed 700 yards receiving.

DeSean Jackson came within one huge play of a 1,000-yard season, but scored just two touchdowns, and made a careless rookie mistake in front of a record-setting audience on Monday Night Football.

Reggie Brown entered the season as the number three receiver and as of now will probably not make the team next season. He played in seven games, catching 18 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. This was as many receiving touchdowns as the Eagles' starting left guard, Todd Herremans. On Dec. 17, 2000, Terrell Owens caught 20 passes for 283 yards and one touchdown.

Jason Avant proved his value as a legit number three wide receiver, and racked up several key third downs, including a huge 3rd and 20 reception deep in the Eagles' territory in the third quarter of the divisional round of the playoffs. He finished the season with 32 catches for 377 yards and two touchdowns.

Hank Baskett continued to prove his value as a deep play threat, catching a 90-yard touchdown in week one, and finishing the season with 33 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns. Baskett has proved to be another legit number three wide receiver.

I feel that Jackson is a legit number two wide receiver on any football team. The same applies to Kevin Curtis. Jason Avant and Hank Baskett are both legit number three wide receivers.

However, this presents a problem, as an NFL team needs more than two No. 2 wide receivers and two No. 3 wide receivers. It would be one thing if the Eagles had a Jason Witten or Tony Gonzalez type at tight end, but Brent Celek has not yet proved his value as a starting tight end.

The Eagles would be the team to beat in the NFC East, possibly in the entire NFC.

The acquisition of Terrell Owens would be enormous for the Philadelphia Eagles. After a second place finish in the 2008 season, the Eagles would be considered the team to beat in the NFC East headed into the 2009 NFL season. They might even be the team to beat in the NFC. Let's look at the contenders, in no particular order:

1) The New York Giants. The Eagles handled the Giants well last season, winning both road games, including a divisional round matchup.

2) The Dallas Cowboys. I could really see next season going either way for the 'Boys, but I think the loss of T.O. is equivalent to a two-game swing, which probably will be too much to overcome.

3) The Arizona Cardinals. I would be very, very surprised to see the Cardinals repeat as NFC champions, especially because Boldin might play somewhere else next season.

4) The Green Bay Packers. The Pack could easily bounce back following a season decimated by injuries. Or Aaron Rodgers could suffer a sophomore slump.

5) The Minnesota Vikings. Until the Vikings get a quarterback, they cannot be mentioned in the same sentence as Super Bowl.

6) The Atlanta Falcons. I am one of many who expect the Falcons to disappoint next season. Even if they don't disappoint, I don't think they have improved enough to win the NFC.

7) The Carolina Panthers. I think the Panthers overachieved last season and I wouldn't be surprised to see a new quarterback next season.

The Cons

The negative reaction. Everywhere. From everyone. The fans, the media, the players of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Can you imagine the insanity if the Eagles actually signed Terrell Owens? Combined with the failure to re-sign Brian Dawkins, and the intensity of the Philadelphia crowd, good things would not happen at home games.

I doubt attendance would go down. However, I guarantee the fan base—which I once ranked as the second best in the entire NFL—would be divided. Just look at the Green Bay Packers this past season, who struggled with mixed emotions while watching the face of their franchise lead another team to victories.

The media would have a field day. President Joe Banner would become the laughingstock of the league and would be called the most desperate man in the world. The front pages of the newspapers would be filled with speculation stories on how long T.O. would last his second time in Philly.

Most importantly, the players would hate the move. Most importantly, Donovan McNabb, the face of the Eagles franchise and unarguably the greatest quarterback in team history, would hate the move.

You cannot upset your franchise quarterback, specifically one as valuable as McNabb. T.O. didn't get along with his teammates in 2004. Why should things be different this time around?

T.O. hasn't changed.

Where Terrell Owens goes, so does controversy.

As a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Owens openly insulted his quarterback Jeff Garcia by calling him gay. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2004.

With the Eagles, Owens insulted his quarterback Donovan McNabb by referencing the Super Bowl. He wore a Dallas Cowboys Michael Irvin jersey in public, called the Eagles a classless organization for not honoring his 100th career touchdown, and announced that the Eagles would be undefeated if Brett Favre, who would go on to lead the NFL with 29 interceptions, was the quarterback.

Owens announced that if he could return to the offseason in 2004, he would not have signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. To top it all off, he fought with Hugh Douglas—the team's ambassador—in the locker room.

As a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Owens contributed to the drama in the locker room that eventually led to a total collapse at the end of the regular season, as the 'Boys were beat down by Owens' old team, the Philadelphia Eagles, 44-6, in the regular season finale.

Is T.O. still productive?

Owens will be 36 years old during the 2009 season. His skills have been diminishing, as highlighted by his 1,052 receiving yards during the 2008 season—his fewest since 1999. He still caught 69 balls for 10 touchdowns, making him an average number one wide receiver, but no longer in the 'elite' category.

Owens would be the number one wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. He wouldn't be quite the threat that he was in 2004, but he would be the biggest receiving threat Donovan McNabb has seen since, well, himself.

Bottom line

Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Terrell Owens is an incredible football player. He's not just a great football player, but he is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He ranks in the top 10 of every major receiving category, and his 141 touchdowns are the second most in NFL history.

His passion is evident. He doesn't always show it the right way, but there's no denying the inevitable—T.O. wants to win just as much as any player on the football field. He's 35 years old. He has never played on a Super Bowl champion. His teams are 3-7 in playoff games, including an 0-1 mark in Philadelphia and an 0-2 mark in Dallas.

Time is running out for No. 81. I fully expect some NFL team to given T.O. a chance.

Are the Philadelphia Eagles desperate enough to be that team?

Brian Dawkins: Thanks for the Memories

Bryn Swartz — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:11:03 -0500

It's official, Eagles' fans. Brian Dawkins is no longer a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN reported several hours ago that the Denver Broncos signed seven-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins to a five-year, $17-million dollar deal.

The deal could reach as high as $27 million if Dawkins reaches some "achievable performance levels."

And now we have reached the end of an era—the official conclusion of the Brian Dawkins era in Philadelphia. Dawkins had been an Eagle for his entire career—13 seasons. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft.

During his 13 years in Philadelphia, Dawkins earned seven Pro Bowl selections. Five times he was named First Team All-Pro. In a 2002 game against the Houston Texans, he became the first and only player in the history of the NFL to record a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown reception in the same game.

The single biggest play of Dawkins' career came in overtime in the divisional round of the playoffs in 2003, when he intercepted future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre on the first play of overtime and returned the pass 35 yards to set up David Akers' game-winning field goal. The Eagles advanced to their third straight NFC Championship Game.

He has been feared throughout his career for his trademark safety blitz. His ability to blitz from his position at free safety has resulted in 20 career sacks, almost unheard of for a defensive back.

In 2008, Dawkins became just the ninth member of the 20/20 club—20 sacks and 20 interceptions in an NFL career. He also broke the Eagles' career record for most games played, playing in 201 games, including the postseason.

Dawkins' fierce competitiveness, size, and strength have resulted in some of the biggest hits in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles. He covers like a cornerback and hits like a linebacker. In 2004, the Sporting News named Brian Dawkins No. 1 on the list of “Guys You Don't Want Bearing Down On You.”

Now, thanks to a little bit of "luck," Donovan McNabb and the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles will get to see Brian Dawkins bearing down on them for 60 minutes next season. Yup, that's right. Every four years we play the Denver Broncos. That's next year.

I don't know who I'm more frustrated at right now. The Eagles are $40 million under the cap. And we couldn't use one-tenth of that to sign arguably the most popular player in the history of Philadelphia sports?

That's not just ridiculous. That's flat out unacceptable.

I've talked to a few Bronco fans. They think they're lucky. They think they got a 35-year-old safety on the decline, who hopefully can still make a few plays for them next season.

They don't get it. Brian Dawkins isn't just about his talent—and by the way, I would argue that he hasn't lost a single step over the years, not one.

He is about the leadership, on the field and off the field. The Denver Broncos acquired not only a future Hall of Fame safety, but probably the best motivational speaker in the game today.

I quote one of my favorite Weapon X lines—"If you got something in you that says we ain't winning this game, you need to get that out of you right now!"

Dawkins is about the winning. He knows how to win, and because of his presence on (and off) the field, his teammates play better.

Thirteen years. That's how long Brian Dawkins was an Eagle. I'm only 19. I can't remember a single game without Brian Dawkins on the roster.

I love Lurie and Banner. I believe Lurie is one of the best owners in the game today, and that Banner is one of the best general managers in the NFL. But I don't understand what they were thinking. I just don't get it.

Signing Dawkins wasn't a want. It was a necessity. It was more important than bolstering the offensive line. It was more important than replacing LJ Smith at tight end. It was even more important than signing a big-name wide receiver for Donovan.

I don't even know what to feel anymore. Do I root for the Broncos to do well next season? Am I supposed to pick a new all-time favorite athlete? How can I watch the Weapon X video without feeling a small sense of betrayal?

I'm new to this. I've had my heart broken by the Eagles before—on game days. Every January. I'm used to that. I expect that. But this is a completely new feeling.

I now understand how Packers fans feel when they look at Brett Favre in a Jets jersey. I can't even picture Brian Dawkins in orange and blue.

There is no loyalty in sports anymore.

Lurie and Banner, you promised us multiple championships 15 years ago. Where are they?

You've made mistakes. Terrell Owens. Freddie Mitchell. Kevin Kolb. It happens.

But this is one that I cannot overlook. When Brian Dawkins left the Philadelphia Eagles, a small part of me died. I just lost every ounce of excitement for the 2009 season.

We didn't even put up a fight to keep Weapon X.

Now I lost just about every bit of respect I ever had for the Eagles organization.

Why Kurt Warner Is NOT a Hall of Famer

Bryn Swartz — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:36:24 -0500

The talks have been swirling around since the day the Super Bowl ended: Will Kurt Warner officially retire after this season? And the ever-popular question: Is Kurt Warner a Hall of Famer?

It's close.

It's very, very close.

But I am here to tell you that Kurt Warner is NOT a Hall of Famer...not yet.

In the Beginning:

Kurt Warner's story is one of the most famous in all of professional sports. After a mediocre college career at Northern Iowa, Kurt attended training camp for the Green Bay Packers in 1994. Warner competed for a spot on the Packers' roster against Brett Favre, Mark Brunell, and Ty Detmer. Warner was released before the season began.

The four quarterbacks in training camp would combine for 862 touchdown passes, 329 wins (including 23 in the postseason), 17 Pro Bowl selections, and 5 MVP awards, while contributing 50 years of service for 14 different teams.

Warner played for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League from 1995-1997, earning All-Arena First Team selections in 1996 and 1997.

Warner was signed by the St. Louis Rams in 1998, before playing for NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals in the spring. He backed up future Pro Bowl quarterback Trent Green during the 1998 season and was named the starter before the 1999 season, after Green suffered a season-ending knee injury in preseason.

The Good:

Warner responded with one of the greatest seasons by a quarterback in NFL history. He threw for 41 touchdown passes. His 4353 passing yards, 109.2 quarterback rating, and 65.1 completion percentage led the league. The Rams dominated the rest of the NFC, winning 13 games before advancing to Super Bowl XXXIV, where Warner threw for 414 yards and two touchdowns en route to Super Bowl MVP honors and a world championship.

Warner had one and a half more very good seasons with the Rams. He broke his hand in the middle of the 2000 season, causing him to play only 27 games over those two seasons.

During that time, Warner led the Rams to a 22-5 regular season record and a 2-2 postseason record, including an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI, where he threw for 365 yards and a touchdown. He threw for 8259 yards and 57 touchdown passes, with a cumulative passer rating above 100. He earned his second MVP award in 2001, making him already the most successful quarterback in franchise history.

He resurrected his career with the lowly Arizona Cardinals in 2007, throwing for 27 touchdown passes despite only starting 11 games. The following season, Warner started in all sixteen games, throwing for 4583 yards and 30 touchdown passes. He ranked third in the NFL with a 96.9 passer rating, leading the Cardinals to their first division title since 1976.

In the postseason, the Cardinals won a home game, a road game, and a home game, to advance to their first Super Bowl in team history. Warner threw for 377 yards and three touchdown passes in Super Bowl XLIII, including a 64-yard touchdown to Larry Fitzgerald with under three minutes remaining to give the Cardinals the lead.

Should Kurt Warner retire before the 2009 season, he will hold numerous NFL records, including most passing yards per game (261.2), most games with a perfect passer rating (three), most yards passing in the Super Bowl (career: 1156, game: 414), and highest percentage of games with 300 yards passing (45.2%, 47 of 104).

He ranks second in NFL history in completion percentage (65.75 percent) and is one of three quarterbacks to take two teams to the Super Bowl.

The Bad:

1) The Benchings:

Kurt Warner's career began in 1998, at the age of 26. It will likely end before the start of next season, at the age of 38. During those 11 seasons, Kurt Warner played in 16 games exactly three times. He only started more than 11 games only three times. He played in 110 games in his career, starting 101 of them. I'll be fair and not count his 1998 season (one game played, zero starts) against him.

Over his 10 years, he averaged 10 starts per season. He missed 51 games, at least five in six different seasons. Some can be attributed to injury, but most of this resulted from the one thing most people don't want to acknowledge: Kurt Warner kept losing his starting job. Over and over again. FOUR times.

In the 2002 season, he struggled with injuries and posted one of the most dismal touchdown-to-interception ratios in NFL history (three touchdowns, 11 interceptions). He lost his job for good after fumbling SIX times in the 2003 season opener against the Giants. Marc Bulger replaced Kurt Warner and was able to lead the Rams to a 12-4 record and a second-seed in the postseason.

The Rams released Warner in June of 2004, who was promptly signed by the New York Giants. Eight fumbles and three interceptions in a three-game span cost Warner his starting job in the middle of a season. Rookie Eli Manning struggled for the remainder of the season and the Giants finished with a 6-10 record.

The Arizona Cardinals signed Warner before the 2005 season. Head coach Dennis Green named Warner the starting quarterback. Warner struggled for three straight games, before injuring his groin.

Former starter Josh McCown performed well enough during Warner's absence that Green handed the starting job back to McCown. However, after McCown began to struggle, Warner was named the starting quarterback again, before suffering a season-ending partially torn MCL in week 15.

Warner opened the 2006 season as the Cardinals starting quarterback, before losing his job in the fourth quarter of week four. He didn't play again until Matt Leinart suffered a shoulder injury in week 16.

Leinart was named as the team's starter for the 2007 season, before suffering a season-ending injury in week four that handed the job back to Warner.

Even in the 2008 season, Warner almost lost his starting job before the season even began. Leinart was named as the team's starter in the offseason, but on August 30th, Kurt Warner was officially handed the starting job.

2) Surrounding Talent:

Kurt Warner has been blessed with some of the most amazing talent a quarterback could ask for. His receiving and running back corps are not only successful, they are a quarterback's dream come true.

The 1999-2001 Rams were nicknamed the "Greatest Show on Turf", as they became the first team to score 500 points in three consecutive seasons. While Warner was an integral part of this offense, there's no denying the unbelievable talent in the Rams' offensive players.

During those three seasons:

- Running back Marshall Faulk earned three NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards. He finished first in the MVP voting in 2000, and second in 1999 and 2001. Faulk amassed over 6700 combined rushing and receiving yards, while scoring 59 total touchdowns. Faulk's three-year totals are higher than the career numbers of Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers.

- Wide receiver Isaac Bruce, one of the best route runners in NFL history, earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections, averaging 76 catches for 1247 yards and nine touchdowns per season.

- Wide receiver Torry Holt earned two Pro Bowl selections and averaged 72 receptions for 1262 yards and six touchdowns per seasons.

- Offensive tackle Orlando Pace was easily the best linemen in the NFL, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro selections.

With the Arizona Cardinals, Kurt Warner has been blessed with arguably the greatest wide receiver in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has averaged 98 catches for 1420 yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons, both of which he was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Warner has also had the services of Anquan Boldin, a 2008 Pro Bowl selection, who has averaged 80 catches for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

3) Turnovers

I'm going to cut straight to the chase. Kurt Warner is a turnover machine. He averages more than one interception per game, throwing for 114 in 110 career games (101 starts).

He has fumbled the ball 91 times in his career, at a rate of .87 times per game. Projected over a full season, he averages 14 fumbles. He fumbled six times in a single game in 2003.

Even with the "Greatest Show on Turf," he threw for 53 interceptions and fumbled 23 times in 43 games. His 5.2 interception percentage in the 2000 season was the worst of his career, even worse than his 11-interception performance in just six games in 2003.

In Warner's five best seasons (1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, and 2008), he totaled 130 turnovers. Despite making only 70 of a possible 80 starts, Warner has averaged 26 interceptions and fumbles per season. That's an average of 1.87 interceptions or fumbles per start--just a slight improvement over his career mark (2.03 per start).

Let's compare Kurt Warner's 2.03 mark to other Hall of Fame quarterbacks--Joe Montana (1.17), Troy Aikman (1.21), Steve Young (1.22), Bart Starr (1.28), George Blanda (1.44), Fran Tarkenton (1.46), Bob Griese (1.48), Otto Graham (1.49), Dan Marino (1.51), John Elway (1.57), Jim Kelly (1.57), Sonny Jurgensen (1.60), Len Dawson (1.67), Norm Van Brocklin (1.86), Terry Bradshaw (1.86), Johnny Unitas (1.87), Warren Moon (1.94), Joe Namath (1.95), Y.A. Tittle (1.97), Bob Waterfield (2.00), Dan Fouts (2.03), and Bobby Layne (2.18).

Only the Detroit Lions' Hall of Fame quarterback from the 1950's, Bobby Layne, has a higher percentage than Kurt Warner.

Warner's turnovers are crucial also. It's not just first quarter interceptions or second quarter fumbles. It's the big stuff.

He threw a 47-yard interception touchdown to Ty Law in Super Bowl XXXVI, giving the Patriots a lead they would never relinquish.

He threw a 100-yard interception touchdown on the final play of the first half in Super Bowl XLIII.

He lost a fumble with five seconds remaining in the same game.

4) Passer Rating

Kurt Warner has the fourth highest passer rating in NFL history (93.8).

However, I have three issues with passer rating as the primary statistic for a quarterback:

1) It doesn't account for fumbles

2) It doesn't factor in the strength of a quarterback's running and receiving corps

3) 18 of the top 22 all-time leaders in passer rating are active quarterbacks.

Offensive records are falling like crazy nowadays. Look at record-setting guys like Priest Holmes, Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Marvin Harrison, and Adrian Peterson. Anymore, a 100 passer rating probably won't even lead the league. An 85 passer rating is merely average.

5) Longevity

Major League Baseball requires ten seasons of play for a baseball player to make the Hall of Fame. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has no requirements for length of a player's career.

However, I personally don't feel that Kurt Warner played enough games in his career to warrant a selection into Canton.

Warner played in 16 games three times. He played in 11 or fewer games in every other season. It's not just because of injuries, either. It's because he just wasn't good enough to keep his job—over and over and over and over again.

The Verdict:

Kurt Warner is a fantastic quarterback and is one great season away from the Hall of Fame. Twice, he was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He won a Super Bowl championship in 1999 and led his team the Super Bowl in 2001 and 2008.

Besides being a winner, Warner has fantastic numbers and ranks in the top in many single-season passing statistics.

However, Warner did not win football games without incredible supporting talent, as Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, and Larry Fitzgerald are future Hall of Famers, while Anquan Boldin also has a chance. It could be argued that no quarterback in NFL history has been aided by his teammates more than Kurt Warner.

Faulk, Bruce, Holt, Pace, Fitzgerald, and Boldin all either had previous success before playing with Kurt Warner, or continued their success after his departure.

Isaac Bruce was no more successful during Warner's tenure than at any other point in his career. Torry Holt's greatest season came with Marc Bulger in 2003. Orlando Pace continued making Pro Bowls (four more) after the days of the Greatest Show on Turf.

Larry Fitzgerald has been consistent throughout his career, whether playing with Josh McCown, Matt Leinart, or Warner. Anquan Boldin had his best season in 2003, with the services of Jeff Blake and Josh McCown.

Marshall Faulk is the only one of the six to have his best seasons with Kurt Warner.

Warner won more than five games in a season just four times in his career. He won more than two games in a season only six times. When he doesn't have the talent, he cannot win. Sometimes he had the talent, and he still didn't win.

He went 0-6 with the 2002 Rams and 0-1 with the 2003 Rams. He went 2-8 with the 2005 Arizona Cardinals and 1-4 with the 2006 Arizona Cardinals. He once went 33 months without winning a regular season game. He has won just 57 career regular season games.

This is what separates him from the best of the best. I believe that the Pro Football Hall of Fame should warehouse the best of the best.

The 32 Best Quarterbacks in the NFL

Bryn Swartz — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:00:09 -0500

What makes a quarterback great? There are so many things: Statistical accomplishments. Winning—in the regular season and the postseason. Leadership, both on and off the field. The strength of the receiving corps. Intelligence.

This is my attempt to rank the 32 best quarterbacks in the National Football League—right now. Not in 2005. Not for what they did over their career. This is about right now. The NFL, probably more than any other sport, is a "What have you done for me lately?" type of league.

Quarterbacks with a "+" next to their name are on the rise. Guys like Tyler Thigpen, who played much better than most people realized with a pretty pathetic offense around him, will have a "+." There are also those guys with a "-." These are the guys with something to prove to me. The 33-year-old quarterbacks coming off multiple injuries. Can they still bring the heat? Are they still in the NFL because of their successful past or because of their actual talent?

So, this list won't include all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Buffalo doesn't have a quarterback on this list. Neither does Detroit (shocking, isn't it?). However, some teams have two quarterbacks. New England has two quarterbacks, as does Seattle.

Right from the very start to the very end, this list is debatable. Very debatable. But here you go.

32. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders

Is the former No. 1 draft pick a flop? No, not yet. Not even close. But Russell hasn't been living up to the expectations people had of him. He threw for 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the 2008 season, ranking 26th in the NFL with a 77.1 passer rating. He also fumbled 12 times and failed to help the Raiders improve on a now-NFL record six straight seasons with 11 losses.

31. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens +

Diet Pepsi's winner for NFL Rookie of the Year, Flacco can best be defined as a "caretaker" quarterback. He plays the game and usually makes the necessary big play or two for the defense to win the game. He led the Ravens into the postseason with an 11-5 record and became the first rookie quarterback to win two playoff games.

Flacco completed 60 percent of his passes and threw for almost 3,000 yards during the season. However, he also threw just 14 touchdown passes, fumbled 12 times, and ranked near the bottom of the league in passer rating. He also played extremely poorly in the postseason, completing 44 percent of his passes with a 50.8 quarterback rating.

30. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers -

Delhomme had an up-and-down season in 2008. All things considered, he gets a passing grade for leading the Panthers to a 12-4 record and their first playoff appearance since 2005. He threw 15 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions and ranked 18th in the NFL in passer rating. He led the NFL with 13.4 yards per completion. However, he self-destructed in the postseason, throwing five interceptions and losing a fumble in a home loss to the eventual NFC-champion Arizona Cardinals.

29. Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams -

Bulger's last two seasons have been garbage. Total garbage. In 27 starts, he has exactly four wins. He has thrown for 22 touchdowns and 28 interceptions with a passer rating of 70.8. Bulger was a top eight or top-10 quarterback just a few seasons ago, but has done absolutely nothing since 2006.

28. Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans

Kerry Collins made the Pro Bowl. I still think he's a below-average quarterback. He led the Titans to a 13-3 record and home-field advantage in the postseason before—as many people expected of him—struggling against the mighty Baltimore Ravens in the divisional playoffs. Collins threw for only 12 touchdowns and averaged just 160 passing yards per game. He did rank fifth in the NFL in lowest interception percentage and he set a record with a 12-year gap between a player's first and second Pro Bowl appearances.

27. Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears

Well, he's better than Rex Grossman. Then again, so am I. Orton did almost lead the Bears into the playoffs, despite ranking 25th in the NFL with a 79.6 passer rating. He tossed 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games of play. Orton is a decent quarterback, but could use a playmaker to expose his talent. What's the difference between him and a guy like Joe Flacco or Kerry Collins? Nothing, really.

26. Shaun Hill, San Francisco 49ers +

Hill is a productive quarterback with a bright future. He won five of eight games in 2008—including the final two in the fourth quarter—and is the first 49ers quarterback since Steve Young with a winning record. Hill threw 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, with an 87.2 passer rating. He has a bright future for the 49ers, although he will already be 29 years old next season.

25. Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings +

Jackson played well in limited action, throwing for nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. He led the Vikings to the postseason before throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown in a home loss to the Eagles. With a 95.4 passer rating, Jackson will be the Vikings' starter next season.

24. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars did nothing in 2008, but Garrard actually had a decent season. He ranked in the top 10 in the league in completions (335), attempts (535), and yards (3,620). A lot of his troubles came from an offensive line that allowed Garrard to be sacked for the most lost yards (288) of any quarterback in the NFL. Despite a career-high 13 interceptions, Garrard ranks as the second-least intercepted quarterback in NFL history (tied with Donovan McNabb) and looks to rebound from a disappointing season.

23. Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns

Derek Anderson lost out to Charlie Frye for the starting job before the start of the 2007 season thanks to a coin toss—yes, a coin toss. After Frye was ineffective in the first quarter of Week 1, Anderson took over. He proceeded to throw for 29 touchdowns and 3,787 yards. He led the Browns to a 10-6 record, just missing the playoffs.

However, he was largely ineffective throughout the 2008 season, throwing for five touchdowns and eight interceptions in limited action. He will have to compete with Brady Quinn for the starting job in the 2009 season.

22. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks -

Just a few years ago, Hasselbeck was the best quarterback in the NFC. Maybe even in 2007. Now his future in football is in jeopardy. He was injured throughout most of the 2008 season, and threw for just five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His passer rating (57.8) was worse than the NFL average for completion percentage.

However, he not only suffered from a bulging disk in his back that started during the preseason, but he also hurt his knee in the season opener, and even suffered minor brain damage after a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Arizona Cardinals. Hasselbeck may never play in the NFL again.

21. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans +

Schaub played much better than many people realized in the 2008 season. Despite playing in only 11 games, he tossed 15 touchdowns and threw for 3,043 yards. He ranked second in yards per passing attempt (8.0) and seventh in passer rating (92.7). He also completed 66 percent of his passes while helping the Houston Texans post back-to-back non-losing seasons for the first time in team history.

20. Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City Chiefs +

Everything considered, Thigpen played well for the Chiefs in 2008. Originally a third-string quarterback, Thigpen was unexpectedly thrust into action following injuries to Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle. Thigpen tossed 18 touchdowns against only 12 interceptions. He threw for over 2,600 yards, although his quarterback rating was only 76.0. Thigpen set a single-season franchise record for quarterbacks with 386 rushing yards (6.2 yards per carry, three touchdowns) and will be the starting quarterback for the Chiefs next season.

19. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Garcia is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. Despite being 38 years old, he completes his passes, doesn't throw interceptions, and even makes plays with his feet. The Buccaneers almost made the postseason, until a late-season record-setting collapse. Garcia tossed 12 touchdowns and had only six interceptions, ranking fourth in the NFL in lowest-interception percentage. Garcia ranked ninth in passer rating (90.2) and completion percentage (64.2). He came within one win (or tie) of leading his third team to the postseason.

18. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins +

I bet you didn't know that Jason Campbell is the least intercepted quarterback in the history of the NFL. He doesn't have enough attempts to officially qualify, but Campbell is intercepted just one out of every 50 pass attempts. His 1.2 percent interception percentage led the NFL in 2008 and is the fourth-lowest total of all time.

However, 13 touchdown passes in over 500 attempts is ridiculous, and is the reason his quarterback rating (84.8) ranked only 19th in the NFL. Campbell is a slightly above-average quarterback, and easily could have quarterbacked teams like the Ravens or the Titans into the postseason.

17. Seneca Wallace, Seattle Seahawks +

Wallace did a pretty good job replacing Matt Hasselbeck for 10 games in 2008. He threw for 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His 1.2 percent interception percentage led the NFL and ranks as the fourth best single-season total in NFL history. Wallace ranked seventh in passing touchdown percentage (4.5 percent) and set a team record with a 90-yard touchdown pass against the Philadelphia Eagles.

16. Matt Cassel, New England Patriots +

Cassel emerged from the shadow of the greatest quarterback since Joe Montana to lead New England to an 11-5 record and a second-place finish in the highly competitive AFC East. Cassel played behind a hideous offensive line and still ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in completions (327), attempts (516), yards (3,693), touchdowns (21), and passer rating (89.4). He threw just 11 interceptions and helped the Patriots finish as the greatest non-playoff team in NFL history.

15. Brett Favre, New York Jets -

Many moons ago, Brett Favre was the best quarterback in the NFL. He collected three consecutive MVP awards and led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 1996. Now, his time has passed. Favre had a decent season, completing almost 66 percent of his passes for 3,472 yards and 22 touchdowns. But his passer rating ranked 21st in the NFL. He led the NFL with 22 interceptions. He fumbled 10 times and he failed to lead the Jets into the postseason after starting the season with an 8-3 record.

14. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons +

Statistically, Matt Ryan didn't blow anybody away in 2008. But in terms of winning, Ryan's season was a huge success. He started all 16 games and led the Falcons to an 11-5 finish, their first playoff berth since the Michael Vick era. Ryan earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after tossing 16 touchdowns and throwing for 3,440 yards. Ryan ranked second in the NFL in yards per completion (13.0) and fourth in yards per pass attempt (7.9). Next year, Ryan looks to lead the Falcons to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in team history.

13. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers +

I don't understand why people say Rodgers' season was a disappointment. Yes, he failed to lead the Packers to a fourth-quarter comeback. But what did he do? He emerged from the shadow of one of the greatest passers in NFL history to throw for 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while also rushing for four scores. Despite a poor offensive line, Rodgers ranked in the top 10 in just about every passing category and his 93.8 passer rating topped all first-year starters. Green Bay fans should be excited for his very promising future.

12. Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins

Pennington's performance for the 2008 Miami Dolphins was nothing short of spectacular. He led the Dolphins to an 11-5 record, a 10-win improvement over the previous season. In the process, he picked up his second Comeback Player of the Year award in three seasons. The all-time leader in completion percentage topped the league with a 67.4 percent mark and was the third least-intercepted quarterback in the league (1.5 percent) before self-destructing in the postseason (four interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens).

11. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

I still think Romo is the biggest choker in NFL history. But there's no denying that he's a good quarterback. He threw for 26 touchdown passes and almost 3,500 yards, despite missing three games with a broken pinkie finger. He ranked eighth in the NFL in passer rating (91.4).

However, there's also no denying that Romo should be playing much better with talent like Marion Barber, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, and Roy Williams. He needs to cut down on his interceptions (one per game is too many) and fumbles (13, the second-most in the NFL). He needs to be a leader, both on and off the field. And he needs to win a playoff game.

10. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals

Palmer had a throw-away 2008 season, but is still one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He threw for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, although he did lead the NFL in interceptions in 2007. In limited action in the '08 season, he threw for three touchdowns and four interceptions, but should rebound in the 2009 season.

9. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Eli silenced critics for a long time with his brilliant performance in the 2007 postseason. Good thing, because his Giants lost their first playoff game at home to the sixth-seeded Philadelphia Eagles. Eli turned in easily the best season of his career, throwing for 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, with an 86.4 passer rating. He cut down on his fumbles (four) and led the Giants to 12 wins in the regular season. However, he struggled without Plaxico Burress and played poorly in the postseason (zero touchdowns, two interceptions).

8. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos +

Cutler is one of the more promising young quarterbacks in the National Football League. He almost led the Broncos into the postseason in his third year in the NFL, until the team suffered a historic late-season collapse. Cutler earned his first selection to the Pro Bowl after ranking second in attempts (616), third in completions (384) and yards (4,526), seventh in touchdowns (25), and 10th in yards per pass attempt (7.3).

Cutler benefited greatly from a strong offensive line that allowed him to be sacked the seventh-fewest times in NFL history (1.7 percent of his pass attempts), but much of this can also be contributed to Cutler's quick release. Cutler is erratic though, as his 18 interceptions were the second-most in the NFL.

7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger erased any worries about a disappointing 2008 season with a stellar postseason performance. In the regular season, he threw just 17 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. He led the NFL with 14 fumbles and ranked 24th in the NFL with an 80.1 passer rating. The Steelers finished with a 12-4 record despite Roethlisberger's troubles.

In the postseason, Big Ben came alive, tossing three touchdowns and one interception. His 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with under a minute remaining capped off an incredible two-minute drive in which Roethlisberger established himself as one of the best clutch quarterbacks in the NFL.

6. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

Yes, he didn't know that an NFL game could have ties. He got benched in the middle of the season. And 'he' lost in the NFC championship game for the fourth time. He also threw for 23 touchdowns, set a franchise-record with 3,916 yards passing, and set career highs in completions and attempts.

He ranks first in NFL history (among quarterbacks with 1,500 attempts) in lowest interception percentage. Donovan led the Eagles to two road playoff wins and posted a combined 148.3 passer rating in the fourth quarter of his three playoff games (19-of-26, 293 yards, 3 touchdowns).

5. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals

Before the season started, Kurt Warner's chances for the Hall of Fame were iffy. Now he's almost a lock. The 37-year-old took the Arizona Cardinals somewhere they had never been before—the Super Bowl.

Warner led the Cardinals to their first division title in 32 seasons, throwing for 30 touchdowns and over 4,500 yards, while setting career highs in completions and attempts. He ranked third in the NFL with a 96.9 passer rating. In the postseason, Warner threw for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions, including 377 yards in the Super Bowl—the second highest total in one Super Bowl.

4. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Rivers hasn't missed a game in his three seasons as the starting quarterback, leading the Chargers to a 33-15 record. He has a less-than-impressive postseason record (3-3), but is the only active quarterback to lead his team into the postseason in every season as a starter (minimum three seasons). In the 2008 season, he led the NFL in touchdown passes (34), passer rating (105.5) and yards per attempt (8.4). He led the Chargers from a 4-8 record to a division title and an overtime playoff win in the wild card round.

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Until the end of the season, Brees was considered a candidate for Most Valuable Player, despite playing for a last-place team. Brees threw for the second most yards in one season in NFL history (5,069) and was selected to his third Pro Bowl.

The NFL's Offensive Player of the Year led the league in completions (413), attempts (635), yards (5,069), touchdowns (34), and net yards per pass attempt (7.68). Brees also ranked fourth in the NFL in passer rating (96.2) despite throwing to mediocre guys like Lance Moore, Billy Miller, Devery Henderson, and an injured Marques Colston.

2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

For the third time in 11 seasons, Manning was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player, leading the Colts on a nine-game winning streak after a 3-4 start. He threw for 27 touchdown passes and topped 4,000 yards passing for a record ninth time.

However, for the sixth time in nine tries, Manning failed to lead the Colts to a victory in a postseason game. Manning is "only" 32, though, and will likely one day break all of Brett Favre's career passing records (except for interceptions).

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Brady is still ranked as the NFL's top quarterback even though he missed virtually the entire 2008 season due to a torn ACL. Brady led the New England Patriots to Super Bowl victories following the 2001, 2003, and 2004 seasons.

In 2007, he led New England to the first 16-0 season in NFL history, while throwing for an NFL-record 50 touchdown passes in the regular season. He suffered a season-ending injury in the first week of the season and is expected to return to the Patriots by the beginning of the 2009 season.

The 10 Most Passionate Fan Bases in the NFL

Bryn Swartz — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:45:27 -0500

10. Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos fans are underrated. I don't hear much about them, but they always rank in the top five in attendance. The team has sold out 301 consecutive home games and they have a season-ticket waiting list of 27,600. They also routinely have lots of support at away games, sometimes as much as one-third of the stadium.

They were ranked as the eighth most loyal fans in the NFL. They also have one of the wackiest forms of celebration—every time the opposing quarterback throws an

incompletion, they stand up and scream, “IN-COM-PLETE!” at the top of their lungs.

9. Buffalo Bills

Give these fans credit. The Bills haven't fielded a playoff team since the 1999 season but that doesn't stop the fans from showing up to games. Last season, the Bills possessed the most season-ticket holders since the team went to the Super Bowl following the 1993 season.

That's pretty impressive for a franchise that has suffered through four consecutive Super Bowl losses, the Music City Miracle, and zero Super Bowl wins in its history.

Give the fans more credit for showing up, considering the Bills' home-field situation—they are the only NFL team to have two home sites, one in New York, and the other in Canada. Bills' fans are famous for their tailgating, with parties frequently lasting the entire weekend leading up to a game.

They also routinely deal with -10 degree weather on game days.

8. Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins ranked second in attendance during the 2008 season, despite finishing in last place in the NFC East. Fans have filled the stadium to capacity in six of the past eight seasons, sporting their trademark feathers and face paint.

They have sold out 327 consecutive games, dating back to the 1960s. This is the longest streak in the entire NFL. They also have a season-ticket waiting list of 200,000, which is the largest waiting list in the NFL.

Their fans were voted the 10th most loyal fans in the National Football League. Their stadium is located 45 minutes away from anything resembling civilization, but fans still flock the stadium.

Their patience is well-known and admired throughout the NFL, which has come in handy with the recent string of head coaches.

7. Dallas Cowboys

There's no way I could leave Dallas Cowboys fans out of my top 10. Trust me, I wanted to, but it just wouldn't be right.

I went through all 32 NFL teams today. There are more Dallas Cowboys writers than any other team on Bleacher Report.

The reference “America's Team” may be debatable, but the Cowboys are the definition of a love 'em or hate 'em team. The Cowboys have fans in every city across the United States and no conversation with a Cowboys fan is complete without the phrases “five rings,” and “America's Team.”

The Dallas Cowboys' star has become a thing of legend. The only knocks against Cowboys' fans are as follows:

Many are bandwagon jumpers from the dynasty in the early 90's who have now transformed into 'diehards.'
Texas Stadium was a joke. Matt Mosley of ESPN called Texas Stadium “one of the safest places in the league to wear an opposing jersey.”

6. Kansas City Chiefs

It's simple: Kansas City is the sixth smallest market in the National Football League, yet they have had the second highest attendance over the past decade.

They haven't won a playoff game since 1993, despite three home games (1995, 1997, 2003). But their fans still show up and turn the stadium red. The Chiefs have sold out almost 150 consecutive home games. Their stadium is frequently referred to as the loudest stadium in the entire NFL.

How could anyone not admire a Chiefs fan?

The Chiefs are also famous for their barbecue, easily the best in the NFL. The Chiefs are often referred to as the "Green Bay of the AFC," which, as you'll see, is a huge compliment.

5. Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders fans are awesome. I admire them more than any other fan base, with the possible exception of the Cleveland Browns. They have suffered through one of the most pathetic recent strings of losing in the NFL, maybe in all of professional sports.

Since going to the Super Bowl after the 2002 season, they have become the only NFL team to lose at least 11 games for six straight seasons. The 2006 Raiders team is frequently considered one of the worst teams in NFL history. But they still attract fans. Lots of fans.

Younger fans don't realize the history of winning that is associated with the Oakland Raiders. They won the Super Bowl three times: 1976, 1980, and 1983. They've been to the Super Bowl five times, and they have won 15 division titles.

“Raider Nation” is one of the rowdiest fan bases in the history of the NFL, particularly the Black Hole section of the Oakland Coliseum. Sitting in the Black Hole is not a safe place for an opposing fan.

One lifetime Raider fan, asked to describe “Raider Nation," responded with, “The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled.”

Raiders fans dress up in ridiculous costumes for all of their home games. ESPN described them as “maybe the most fun group of fans in the entire league.”

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

My only complaint with Pittsburgh Steelers fans: They are possibly the most annoying fan base in the entire world. Every argument, every sentence, every breath, begins and ends with mention of the phrase “five rings.”

Why are the Steelers the best team in NFL history? Because the Steelers have five rings. Why do the Steelers have the best fans? Because the Steelers have five rings. Why is Troy Polamalu the best safety in the game? Because the Steelers have five rings.

But there's no denying the unbelievable passion. The Terrible Towel has become “arguably the best-known fan symbol of any major pro sports team.” Since 1996, sales from the Terrible Towel have helped to raise $2.2 million for people with physical disabilities.

They have sold out every single home game since the 1972 season, a streak of 307 consecutive games. They have an incredible fan base on the road, and are often the only reason that the Cincinnati Bengals would sell out for a home game.

In November of 2007, the Steelers were ranked as the most popular local sports franchise out of all 122 teams in the MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA. They also have the highest percentage of female fans in the NFL, ranking twice as high as the average city.

“Steeler Nation” has become legendary and will continue to expand if the Steelers win their sixth Super Bowl.

The only problem: The stats don't back up their reputation. They were ranked as the 21st most loyal fans in the National Football League. They rank just 16th in percentage of seats filled since 1996, despite winning seven division championships in the last 13 years.

3. Cleveland Browns

Why are Browns fans so great? Their teams have never won—ever—and they continually support their franchise. They were ranked first out of all 32 NFL teams in “fan loyalty.” They routinely fill their 73,000-seat stadium despite cold temperatures and a dismal recent history, which includes zero postseason wins since the 1994 season.

They have the number one fan group in all of professional sports, the “Browns Backers”, which can be found in literally every city in the United States, and even in different countries.

Their fans can be visibly present at home games in the famous “Dawg Pound”, which is located in the east end of the stadium. Fans wear dog paraphernalia to all of the games.

The Browns may have lost their team for four seasons, but they never lost their incredible passion.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Everybody has heard stories about Philadelphia Eagles' fans, most of them exaggerated. But face the facts.

They have the second highest capacity rating since 1996 (percentage of seats filled), only topped by the newly-established Houston Texans, who play in a much warmer atmosphere.

They were ranked as the third most loyal fans in all of football, trailing just the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.

Their fans are also knowledgeable. Ask an Eagles fan the quarterback before Donovan McNabb. He'll know.

Their season ticket waiting list is over 70,000 and they rank in the top three in merchandise sales just about every season. The amount of fans that travel to watch the Eagles in summer training camp sessions is almost legendary, with up to 20,000 fans on some days. They have the most famous fight song in the National Football League.

The booing that is so regularly associated with Philadelphia fans, only Philadelphia fans, and nothing but Philadelphia fans?

Eagles' fans want to win. Now. They don't play the “wait till next year” game. No offense to the Brooklyn Dodgers, but Eagles' fans want a championship every season, and if—when—they don't get one, they'll let their players know. Players like Brian Dawkins and Jeremiah Trotter thrive on this type of treatment.

Philadelphia talk show host Glen Macnow once commented, “You could drop a Martian into Philly the day after a game, and within three minutes, he'd know whether the Eagles had won or lost.”

The bullying?

It's toughness. Raiders' fans do it. Sports Illustrated once claimed that Raiders fans are the only other group of fans that Eagles' fans respect. Both pride themselves in bullying the opposition.

There's nothing wrong with installing fear in the enemy. The old 700 level at the Vet—the Nest of Death—was the last place in the world a fan would want to wear a Cowboys' jersey. The 700 level was worse than one of Dante's levels of hell.

What is the favorite team of a Philly fan? The Eagles and whoever is playing the Cowboys.

1. Green Bay Packers

The greatest fans in the world. Better than Steelers fans. Better than Browns fans. Even better than Eagles fans.

The Green Bay Packers ARE Wisconsin. Nobody cares about the Milwaukee Brewers. It's all Green Bay, all the time. Lambeau Field has been sold out in every game since 1960: win or lose. That's almost 300 consecutive sellouts. Their season ticket waiting list is 78,000.

The fans brave the frequent sub-zero temperatures (remember the Ice Bowl?) to attend every single game. They're loyal also—they were voted the fifth most loyal fans in the NFL.

Four things place the Packers above every other fan base:

The Lambeau Leap, which is the most famous touchdown celebration of all-time, giving the fans a brief moment to interact with the players.
The cheeseheads—those crazy yellow pieces of plastic Green Bay fans insist on wearing to each and every home game.
The owners. You know who owns the team? The fans. The Packers are the only non-profit, community-owned major professional sports team in the country.
The respect they give to their players. Never have I seen any team worship one player more than Packers' fans worship Brett Favre. It's more than the Bulls and Jordan, the Yankees and Jeter, and the Patriots and Brady.

The late, great Reggie White, a man I admire more than just about any athlete to ever live, agrees with me. Reggie had the pleasure of playing in front of the two best fan bases in the NFL, but he picks the Packers as the best fans in the world.

ESPN agrees with me. Before the 2008 season, the Packers tied with the Steelers as the best fans in the entire NFL. The edge was given to the Steelers, thanks to a tiebreaker decided by Pittsburgh native John Clayton (thoughts, Packers' fans?).

Clayton was wrong. Green Bay, the team with more championships than any other team in the NFL, has the best fans in the world.

The 20 Greatest Catches in Football History (Video)

Bryn Swartz — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:47:18 -0500

20. Calvin Johnson

In the fourth quarter of a close game against NC State, Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson reached back with his right hand to snare a poorly thrown ball by the quarterback.

19. Torry Holt

Holt's long touchdown reception against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants came after the pass was deflected at the goal line. Holt's great concentration enabled him to catch the ball while lying on his back in the end zone.

18. Antonio Bryant

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' wide receiver Antonio Bryant made a diving, one-handed grab for a touchdown in a Monday night game against the Carolina Panthers. Bryant's 15-yard touchdown came with just over two minutes remaining, cutting the Panthers' lead to eight.

17. Lewis Bennett

During the 1987 NFL season, New York Giants wide receiver Lewis Bennett caught a deep pass for a touchdown, after reaching around the defender's back, tipping the ball into the air, and grabbing it for the touchdown. Bennett was a replacement player and would never play in the NFL again.

16. Antonio Cromartie

Cromartie intercepted future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning four times in the 2007 season; three times in one epic November battle and once in the postseason. Cromartie's leaping one-handed grab is a play that the San Diego Chargers cornerback calls the best play of his career.

15. Jason Sehorn

I still have nightmares of this play. Jason Sehorn intercepted quarterback Donovan McNabb in the second game of the 2000 season. Sehorn dove for McNabb's pass, deflected it up into the air, caught it, and ran for a 32-yard touchdown.

14. Marty Booker

Yes, Booker's grab came this year against the single worst team in the history of professional sports. It still deserves some credit. With the Bears leading 17-0 against the Detroit Lions, Booker caught a pass with his left hand, just inches above the ground. Booker's grab covered 30 yards.

13. Dwight Clark

Clark's catch is one of the most famous in NFL history. Nicknamed “The Catch,” Clark's third-down reception helped the San Francisco 49ers end a potential Dallas Cowboys dynasty, while beginning one of their own. The catch by Clark is the signature play in the Hall of Fame career of quarterback Joe Montana.

12. Gerald Phelan

Doug Flutie's throw, known as college football's “Hail Mary”, won the game for Boston College against Miami in an epic battle still talked about today. Gerald Phelan caught Flutie's bomb one yard deep in the end zone.

The play was officially a 48-yard play, but Flutie's pass traveled more than 63 yards in the air. The play is recognized as one of the greatest plays in college football history.

11. Matt Davison

Matt Davison's diving reception came on the final play of the game in a 1995 battle. The catch, aided by several deflections, helped the Nebraska Cornhuskers beat the University of Missouri and is remembered as one of the most memorable catches in college history.

10. Clint Session

Session's grab is the second interception from the epic Colts-Chargers game in November of 2007. Session intercepted the pass after it bounced off the arm of a Colts defender, off another Colts defender, and off the back of another Colts defender lying on the ground.

Session ran 95 yards following the interception, but the play had incorrectly been signaled dead, costing the Colts incredible field position, and likely a win.

9. Freddie Mitchell

Freddie Mitchell provided the Eagles with the biggest catch in team history, grabbing a 28-yard strike on 4th-and-26. The pass came from Donovan McNabb with one minute remaining in the divisional playoffs against the Green Bay Packers. The Eagles went on to win in overtime, 20-17.

8. Nate Poole (start at 5:52)

“NOOO! NOOOO! The Cardinals have knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs!”

One of the greatest calls in sports history, as Josh McCown connected with Nate Poole on a 4th-and-24 pass from the 25-yard line on the last play of the game.

The play gave the 4-12 Cardinals a dramatic 18-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, who just needed to win to make the postseason. (The call)

7. Edwin Baptiste

Wide receiver Edwin Baptiste of Morgan State made a leaping, one-handed catch of a pass thrown from his own end zone in the 2008 season. Baptiste's catch was one of the most popular videos on Youtube for several months afterward.

6. Chris Moore

Wide receiver Chris Moore of Western Washington University caught a sideline pass from quarterback Jason Stiles. The between the legs catch came against the University of Puget Sound Loggers. Moore won an ESPY in 1992 for the College Football Play of the Year.

5. Tyrone Prothro

Prothro's catch came on a fourth-down Hail Mary pass by quarterback Brodie Croyle right before halftime against the University of Southern Mississippi. Prothro's catch won the 2006 ESPY for Best Play of the Year. He also won the Pontiac Game Changing Award of the Year for Best Play.

4. Lynn Swann

Swann's juggling reception came on a deep pass from Terry Bradshaw in Super Bowl X. Swann, who earned MVP honors with his 161-yard performance in the game, wasn't even supposed to play in the Super Bowl, following a severe concussion in the AFC Championship game the week before.

3. Antonio Freeman

Freeman's incredible touchdown came in 1) in overtime, 2) on Monday Night Football, 3) at home against the division rival Minnesota Vikings. Freeman caught an errant pass from Brett Favre while laying on his back, got up, juked out a defender, and ran into the end zone for the winning score.

In 2005, ESPN voted Freeman's catch the greatest play in the history of Monday Night Football.

2. Franco Harris

“The Immaculate Reception.” Often ranked as the greatest touchdown in NFL history, Franco Harris caught a deflected pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw for a 60-yard touchdown to defeat the Oakland Raiders in dramatic fashion.

The play marked the start of the Steelers' powerful dynasty and led to a heated rivalry between the Steelers and the Raiders in the 1970s.

1. David Tyree

The greatest catch in history: NFL, college, or high school. Tyree's catch would be talked about for years even if it wasn't in the Super Bowl! With 1:15 remaining in Super Bowl XLII and the Giants trailing 14-10, Eli Manning escaped the grasp of two Patriots defenders and scrambled to his right.

In desperation, he heaved the ball downfield, where it was caught and trapped against the helmet by wide receiver David Tyree. The catch, a 32-yard gain, led to the biggest upset in the history of professional sports, as the New York Giants defeated the undefeated New England Patriots.

10 Things We Learned From the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles

Bryn Swartz — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:09:57 -0500

1. Donovan McNabb is the greatest offensive weapon in team history.

It's not Steve Van Buren or Wilbert Montgomery. It's not Ron Jaworski or Randall Cunningham. It's not Terrell Owens or Harold Carmichael. It's not even Brian Westbrook. The greatest offensive weapon in Eagles history is Donovan McNabb.

From his breakout season in 2000 in which he finished second in the NFL MVP voting, to his 31-touchdown, eight-interception season in 2004 to his comeback season of 2008, McNabb has proven that he is the most important member of the Philadelphia Eagles' offense.

He ranks first in NFL history in fewest interceptions per pass attempt and is six touchdown passes away from joining Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 200 touchdown passes and fewer than 100 interceptions.

His career postseason record is 9-6, which is better than many Hall of Fame quarterbacks, including Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Steve Young, and John Elway.

2. Brent Celek is the real deal.

I think Andy Reid is a great coach. I really do. He's the most successful coach in Philadelphia Eagles history. But I will never understand what he saw in LJ Smith.

LJ Smith started at tight end for six seasons. During that time, he posted fairly decent statistics for a tight end. He caught a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, and topped 600 yards receiving in both 2005 and 2006.

However, over the past two seasons, he caught 59 passes for 534 yards and four touchdowns. Those are good statistics for one season. Those are hideous statistics over a two-year span.

But it's not just about the numbers. LJ has always had problems catching the football. He dropped a touchdown pass in his first NFL game, a Monday night loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003.

He dropped McNabb's final pass in the Super Bowl, which landed in the arms of Rodney Harrison for a game-ending interception. He had one of the highest dropped pass percentages in the NFL in the 2008 season (14 percent of passes thrown to him).

Meanwhile, backup tight end Brent Celek caught six passes for 131 yards, including a 44-yarder, against the Seattle Seahawks in week nine. His 131 receiving yards were a single-game record for Eagles' tight ends.

Next week, Celek was back on the bench. He started against the Baltimore Ravens and posted respectable numbers: three catches for 26 yards. He started the season finale against the Cowboys and caught a 20-yard touchdown.

He caught six passes for 56 yards against the Vikings in the wild-card round and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Giants in the divisional round.

In the conference championship game, Celek caught an Eagles postseason record ten balls, for 83 yards and two touchdowns. LJ Smith caught one pass for five yards and dropped a pass.

In 2004, LJ Smith watched as backup tight end Chad Lewis caught two touchdowns in the NFC championship game. In 2008, LJ Smith watched as backup Brent Celek caught two touchdowns in the NFC championship game.

This has gone on long enough. Brent Celek, who turns 24 next week, will be the starting tight end next season. That's just about a guarantee.

3. Quintin Mikell will be a Pro Bowler for many years.

He's not Brian Dawkins, but Quintin Mikell might even be better. Including the postseason, Mikell recorded 110 tackles. He deflected 12 passes and intercepted four balls, including one off of Eli Manning in the postseason to clinch a victory. He forced two fumbles and recorded two sacks.

He does everything Brian Dawkins does, and just missed earning a Pro Bowl selection. If Brian Dawkins doesn't return to the Eagles next season, look for Quintin Mikell to be the biggest defensive weapon for the Eagles.

4. Shawn Andrews' presence was greatly missed at right guard.

The Eagles need Shawn Andrews back. The right guard was one of the top linemen in the NFL in 2007, earning a selection to his second Pro Bowl. Just 25 years old, Andrews was looked at as one of the key members of a high-powered Eagles offense.

In 2008, Andrews played in just two games all season, citing depression and a back injury as the reason for missing virtually the entire season.

Whatever the problem is, Andrews needs to figure it out—now. He needs to decide whether he is committed to playing in the National Football League. He knows his value on the team. If he comes back, the starting job is his.

I believe some of Brian Westbrook's struggles this season had to do with the missing 350-pound guard. Andrews is signed with the Philadelphia Eagles through the 2015 season.

All he has to do is come back to the team. Nobody wants a repeat of the 2008 season from Andrews.

5. Brian Westbrook has raised some questions about his future as an elite running back.

There are many possible reasons for the disappointing season of Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook in 2008.

Westbrook had an off-year. It happens. Look at LaDainian Tomlinson this year.
The absence of Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews was more than we realized.
Westbrook is getting old. He's going to be 30 next season. Running backs generally don't perform well after the age of 30.
Injuries. Westbrook was banged up all season. He suffered broken ribs, a badly swollen ankle, and a knee injury. It's not easy playing hurt. Westbrook is not a big guy, and maybe the injuries were too much for him.

Correll Buckhalter is a free agent. He has proven, over the past eight seasons, that he is one of the best backup running backs in the National Football League.

I doubt he could start, but the Eagles should attempt to re-sign him and use him for at least five carries every game next season. The combination of Westbrook and Buckhalter is phenomenal.

When the Eagles ran the ball 20 times in 2008, they were 11-1. When they ran the ball fewer than 20 times, they were 0-6-1.

6. Quintin Demps and DeSean Jackson are the greatest return combination in the Andy Reid Era.

For the first time since 2000, the Eagles had a kick return touchdown and a punt return touchdown in the same season. Unlike 2000, the touchdowns came from different players.

Quintin Demps returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in week 11. He averaged 25.7 yards per return throughout the season. The 23-year-old undrafted safety has future Pro Bowler written all over him.

DeSean Jackson averaged "only" 8.8 yards per punt return throughout the season. However, he exploded on a 68-yard touchdown against the Washington Redskins.

He also returned a punt for 60 yards against the St. Louis Rams in the first game of his NFL career and returned a punt for 62 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card round.

He did make some rookie mistakes, notably a negative-13 yard punt return against the Atlanta Falcons, and three fumbles.

If Demps and Jackson can duplicate their rookie seasons, the Eagles will have one of the best special teams corps on the NFL for many years.

7. The Eagles need another wide receiver.

Does anybody remember when we almost got Larry Fitzgerald before the season? I wish we had tried a little bit harder. A lot harder.

DeSean Jackson has a bright future. The 22-year-old kid caught 62 balls for 912 yards and two touchdowns. He made some rookie mistakes, specifically the well-documented "fumble" on the one-yard line against the Cowboys.

He also struggled at times catching the football, dropping two touchdown passes against the Redskins. And he ran the wrong routes a few times, resulting in two Donovan McNabb interceptions.

He also set an Eagles rookie record with 912 receiving yards and looks to be a future Pro Bowler. Jackson would be perfect—as a No. 2 wide receiver.

Kevin Curtis missed the first six games of the season due to injuries, and caught only 33 passes for 390 yards. His only 100-yard receiving game came in the post-season.

His ability to gain yards after the catch makes him a quality No. 2 receiver, but he scored just two touchdowns in 2008 and is now 30 years old.

Hank Baskett had a decent year, with 440 yards receiving and three touchdowns, including a 90-yarder.

He is listed as the Eagles fifth wide receiver and has the ability to move up to No. 3 by the start of next season, but will never develop into a reliable target.

Jason Avant became the Eagles primary target for third down receptions, and is a lock to rejoin the Eagles next season. However, he will never develop into much more than a third- or fourth-string wide receiver.

Reggie Brown has likely played his last game in an Eagles uniform. The second-round draft pick is one of the biggest busts in the Andy Reid Era. Listed as the No. 2 wide receiver, Brown caught 18 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown this season.

In 2000, wide receiver Terrell Owens caught 20 passes for 283 yards and one touchdown—in one game. Brown missed eight games in the 2008 season and will likely be cut in the offseason.

Greg Lewis might be the worst offensive player the Eagles have ever had. He has good speed, and makes a big play about one time a season.

However, he can't catch the football. He is not a good route runner, and he is physically overpowered by the majority of cornerbacks and safeties. Lewis has contributed exactly seven touchdowns in his six-year NFL career. Expect him to be cut immediately.

If the Eagles sign a No. 1 wide receiver, they will solve their biggest problem. DeSean Jackson will thrive as a No. 2 wide receiver.

Kevin Curtis could catch seven or eight touchdowns as a third receiver, and Avant and Baskett can hopefully produce the occasional big play.

8. Four former Pro Bowlers may not be here next season: Tra Thomas, Jon Runyan, Brian Dawkins, and Lito Sheppard.

Will Tra Thomas be back? Probably not. He's 34 years old and is a free agent heading into the offseason. The three-time Pro Bowler is coming off the worst season of his career, and struggled throughout the entire post-season. Thomas has played in 166 games in his career, all as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jon Runyan? I think so. Big Jon Runyan is one of the most underrated, yet popular players in Philadelphia Eagles history. He has appeared in 209 consecutive regular season games, the second longest streak among active NFL players.

He has a reputation for playing dirty, one of the main reasons he has only been selected to one Pro Bowl throughout his 13-year career. Runyan is 35 and is a free agent, but I think the Eagles will attempt to sign him to a multi-year deal.

Brian Dawkins? I think so. I hope so. He's the most popular player in Philadelphia Eagles history. He is still, at the age of 35, one of the best safeties in the National Football League, as proven by his seventh Pro Bowl selection.

He has been the emotional leader of a dominating defense for 13 seasons and recently played in his 200th game, an Eagles record.

There has been talk around Philadelphia that Dawkins is contemplating retirement, but I think a player like Dawkins loves the game too much to walk away after such a dominating season.

Lito Sheppard? I doubt it. He was our best cornerback in the 2006 season, the second best in the 2007 season, the third best at the start of the 2008 season, and the fourth best by the end of the season.

He's had his moments: the 64-yard interception touchdown against the Panthers in 2004, the 101-yard interception touchdown against the Cowboys in 2004, the game-winning 102-yard interception touchdown against the Cowboys in the 2006, and the game-winning interception in the end zone against the Panthers in 2006.

Unfortunately for Lito, he made a living as a Cowboys and a Panthers killer. He has a knack for the occasional big play, and may be able to start somewhere else, but with Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, the Eagles can use Lito Sheppard as trade bait.

9. Anything can happen.

Don't ever count the Philadelphia Eagles out of a game or the season. Ever. This team was left for dead three separate times.

After the 36-7 loss to Baltimore, which dropped us to 5-5-1.
After the 10-3 loss to Washington, which dropped us to 8-6-1.
After we trailed Arizona 24-6 at halftime in the conference championship game.

Each time, the Eagles came back. Twice it was good enough. Finally, the magical run came to an end on the final play of the conference championship game.

10. 48 years and counting.

In the end, it wasn't good enough. It's never been good enough. We've never won a Super Bowl. It's been 48 years since we were crowned champions of the world, defeating Vince Lombardi—the greatest coach of all time—and the Green Bay Packers.

The pain from this loss won't go away. In my opinion, this was the worst one of them all (excluding the Super Bowl). This was worse than the 2002 NFC championship game.

We were never really in that game, and I believe Tampa Bay was a better team. This was worse than the 2003 NFC championship game. We were better than the Panthers, but that game was torture from the opening kickoff to the end.

This one was worse. This was against a team that many considered to be the worst playoff team of all time. The Eagles, on the other hand, were the team of destiny.

They were supposed to win this—for Donovan, for Dawkins, and for Reid. The Phillies in October, the Eagles in February. It was the season of miracles. The Eagles went down 24-6 at halftime, and then the impossible happened. They came back.

They retook the lead, on a play that should go down as the greatest catch in Philadelphia Eagles history (yes, this was better than fourth-and-26).

Instead, Jackson's play and McNabb's stellar performance will be forgotten. All that will be remembered is that once again, the Eagles lost the NFC championship game. Once again, we weren't good enough.

Bo Jackson: What Could Have Been?

Bryn Swartz — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:51:04 -0500

I'm an Eagles' fan. I own 19 jerseys—all members of the Philadelphia Eagles. I would never wear a jersey of another team. But if I had to pick one jersey from another team to wear, it would be the jersey of one of the greatest running backs in National Football League history—No. 34 of the Oakland Raiders, Bo Jackson.

Vincent Edward Jackson was born in 1962 in Alabama. As a kid, he was said to be full of energy and was constantly getting in trouble. He was described as a “wild boar” and earned the nickname “Bo.”

Bo had a fairly difficult childhood. Growing up without a father was not easy for him. As he recalls, “We never had enough food. But at least I could beat on other kids and steal their lunch money and buy myself something to eat. But I couldn't steal a father. I couldn't steal a father's hug when I needed one. I couldn't steal a father's whipping when I needed one. Being the eighth out of ten kids, and being the one that stayed in trouble, I sort of became a momma's boy.”

Bo developed a stuttering problem as a child. He grew extremely self-conscious of his problem. His speech therapist helped him realize that saying his own name when speaking about himself reduced the amount of stuttering. To this day, he still talks about himself in third person—even titling his autobiography, “Bo Knows Bo.”

At McAdory High School in Alabama, Bo showed his unbelievable athletic ability in three sports—football, baseball, and track and field. In track, he won two state decathlon championships. In baseball, he slammed 20 home runs in 25 games as a senior. In football, he rushed for for 1,173 yards on 108 carries (10.9 yards per carry) with 17 touchdowns.

The New York Yankees were mesmerized by Bo's baseball talent and drafted the 19-year-old in the second round of the 1982 MLB Draft. But Bo turned down the Yankees' offer. He instead chose to accept a scholarship to play football for the Auburn Tigers.

Bo never regretted his decision to attend college and pursue an education instead of immediately entering into professional baseball. Bo says, “Your education can take you way farther than a football, baseball, track, or basketball will—that's just the bottom line. Don't sell yourself short because without college you can't go far in life because after sports the only thing you know is sports and you can't do anything else with that.”

Bo quickly became a dominant college running back. He rushed for over 4,300 yards and scored 43 touchdowns in his career. He set an SEC record by averaging 6.6 yards per carry—including 7.8 yards per carry as a sophomore.

Bo rushed for almost 1,800 yards in his senior year—including four 200-yard games. He was awarded the Heisman Trophy—defeating University of Iowa quarterback Chuck Long in the closest Heisman race in history.

Bo continued playing baseball in college, batting .401 with 17 home runs and 43 RBI in 1985.

He also excelled in track and field. He briefly considered joining the US Olympic team as a sprinter but decided not to because sprinting would not give pay him like his salary as an NFL player.

In 1986, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Bo Jackson as their first overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Buccaneers didn't want Bo to injure himself playing college baseball and took him on a private plane—costing him his college eligibility. The Bucs also forced Bo to choose between baseball and football.

Rule No. 1: Do not force Bo Jackson to do anything.

Bo chose baseball—turning down a five-year, $7.6 million offer by the Bucs to sign with the defending world champion Kansas City Royals. The Royals, who drafted Bo in the fourth round of the 1986 amateur draft, offered Bo a three-year deal worth $1.066 million.

Many questioned Bo for turning down the largest contract given to a rookie in NFL history, but Bo's decision was simple. He said, “My first love is baseball, and it has always been a dream of mine to be a major-league player.”

Bo spent just 53 games in the minor leagues in 1986 before debuting on Sep. 2, 1986. In his first at-bat in the major leagues, he hit an infield single against future Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton.

Bo's name reappeared in the 1987 NFL Draft because he did not sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the year before. The Los Angeles Raiders selected Jackson in the seventh round of the draft with the 183rd overall pick.

Owner Al Davis supported Bo's decision to play football and baseball and convinced Jackson to sign by offering him a four-year contract with a full-time starting running back's salary and the understanding that Bo would only play part-time because of the conclusion of the baseball season.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals gave Bo lots of playing time in the 1987 season. Jackson played in 116 games—clubbing 22 home runs and driving in 53 runs. He displayed his versatility and speed by also stealing 10 bases and recording nine outfield assists. However, he batted only .235 and ranked fourth in the American League with 158 strikeouts.

Following the end of the baseball season, Bo broke out his shoulder pads and joined the Los Angeles Raiders. He played in seven games that season—five of them as a starting running back.

He rushed for 554 yards and four touchdowns on just 81 carries for a ridiculous 6.8 yards per carry. He also caught 16 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

The signature game of Bo Jackson's career as a professional football player occurred on Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks—29 days after his NFL debut. Seahawks' linebacker Brian Bosworth, who had just signed the largest contract by a rookie in NFL history in April of 1987, insulted Bo and promised to contain Jackson during the game.

Rule No. 2: Do not insult Bo Jackson.

Bo Jackson rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries. He also caught a touchdown pass while providing the football world with two of the most memorable runs of all time—a two-yard touchdown run in which he literally ran through Bosworth at the goal line and a 91-yard sprint untouched down the sideline in which he ran past the end zone and into the tunnel leading to the locker room.

His 221 yards rushing is still a Monday Night Football record.

Bo had two months following the season to rest before it was time to report for spring training. This would be his routine for the next three seasons. In between, there were highlights...many highlights.

In the 1988 baseball season, Jackson smacked 25 home runs, drove in 68 runs, and stole 27 bases. His combination of power and speed ranked him third in the American League.

He joined the Raiders after the season ended but posted the worst statistics of his career—averaging only 4.3 yards per carry and scoring just three touchdowns. The Raiders finished 7-9 and missed the postseason for the second straight year.

1989 was the greatest season of Bo's baseball career. Although he led the American League in strikeouts, he smacked 32 home runs, drove in 105 runs, and stole 26 bases.

His combination of power and speed ranked first in the American League. He finished 10th in the MVP voting and was selected to his first All-Star Game as the starting left fielder.

In the All-Star Game, Jackson smacked a 448-foot home run off starting pitcher Rick Reuschel in his first All-Star at-bat. He also beat out an infield single for the game-winning RBI, and he stole a base—joining Willie Mays as the only player in All-Star Game history to hit a home run and steal a base in the same game.

On June 5, 1989, Jackson made one of the most memorable fielding plays of his career— throwing out the speedy Harold Reynolds at the plate on a line drive off the left field wall. This play is probably the trademark play of Bo Jackson's baseball career.

With the Royals again missing the postseason, Bo joined the Raiders in October of 1989. For the first time in his career, he was listed as a running back and not a fullback.

Five-time Pro Bowl running back Marcus Allen missed the majority of the season with a knee injury—meaning Bo would be the go-to-guy at running back for the first (and only) time in his NFL career.

He played in 11 games and started nine of them—carrying the ball 173 times for 950 yards and four touchdowns. He set a career-high in carries and yards and his 5.5 yards per carry ranked third in the National Football League. He also became the first player in NFL history to rush for a 90-yard touchdown twice in a career.

The Raiders failed to make the postseason for the third straight season, just like the Royals. Little did Bo know that he would have only one more year left as a multi-sport athlete.

Bo performed his biggest baseball highlight reel play in June of 1990, when he caught a ball several feet from the fence and literally ran up the outfield wall in a successful attempt to avoid injury upon impact of the fence. This play has been shown on numerous baseball highlight reels over the past two decades.

In 1990, Bo helped the Raiders win 12 games—enough to win the AFC West title. Bo was selected to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 698 yards and five touchdowns on 125 carries (5.6 yards per carry).

Jackson ran for an 88-yard touchdown during the regular season, the third time in his four years that he posted the longest rush in the NFL during the regular season.

The Raiders won their first playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in which Bo Jackson suffered the most serious injury of his professional career. After being tackled by linebacker Kevin Walker, Jackson lay on the ground in extreme pain. Bo reportedly popped his hip back into his socket while waiting for the trainer to come out onto the field.

Jackson's football career ended on January 13, 1991. The Raiders would go on to lose the AFC championship game to the Buffalo Bills, 51-3.

Jackson's hip did not respond well to treatment, and the Kansas City Royals were forced to release the 29-year-old left fielder.

He attempted to play baseball in 1991 as a member of the Chicago White Sox but could only play in 23 games—batting .225 with just three home runs and zero stolen bases.

Jackson's hip injury required surgery and rehabilitation. Doctors discovered that Bo had avascular necrosis resulting from decreased blood supply to his left femur. This literally caused Bo's hip to deteriorate. Eventually, Bo's hip was replaced.

He missed the entire 1992 baseball season. Many sports' experts told Bo that he would never again be able to play baseball at the professional level. Even Bo knew that his football career had ended. Everyone figured that the days of Jackson the athlete had ended.

Rule No. 3: Don't ever tell Bo Jackson what he can't do...ever.

Jackson briefly tried his hand as a semi-professional basketball player for a team out in Los Angeles despite never having played basketball in his life. Ironically, Bo also admitted that he didn't like basketball.

Bo hated rehabbing. He hated working out in the gym—something he admitted that he never done before in his entire life. “I was always active—I went from baseball to football to baseball. I didn't have time to work out. Before I injured my hip, I thought going to the gym was for wimps,” he said.

It took over a year, but Bo eventually worked himself and his prosthetic hip back into shape. He had promised his mother that upon his return to professional baseball, he would hit a home run for her. During the time that Bo was rehabbing, his mother died.

In 1993, Bo Jackson returned to the Chicago White Sox. In his first at-bat, on his first swing, he hit a pinch-hit home run to right field. It is considered by many to be the greatest moment of Bo Jackson's career as an athlete—college or pro, baseball or football. Bo had the baseball engraved in his mother's tombstone.

Bo played in 85 games that season—splitting time as a designated hitter and an outfielder. He smacked 16 home runs and drove in 45 runs but batted only .232. His blazing speed was gone, and he was forced to rely on his power to win games.

The White Sox finished first in the American League Western Division—meaning Bo Jackson was about to receive his first taste of postseason action. Unfortunately, it was a disaster. Bo batted ten times without a hit, and the Sox lost the American League Championship Series to the eventual world champion Toronto Blue Jays.

After the season, Jackson was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year. He was also awarded the Tony Conigliaro Award—given to “a player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage.” For Bo, it was overcoming hip replacement surgery.

However, the White Sox released Jackson after the season and many thought his future in baseball was done.

Bo managed to sign with the California Angels—batting a career-high .279 in 1994. He hit 13 home runs and drove in 43 runs. After the season, Bo Jackson retired from the game of baseball—ending his eight-year career with 141 home runs, 415 runs batted in, and a .250 career batting average.

Jackson had one more goal to accomplish—he had to fulfill a promise he made to his mother when he was in college, to complete his degree. In December of 1995, Bo Jackson graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in family and child development.

Family has always been the most important thing in the world to Bo Jackson. Many athletes say that, but the difference is that Bo means it. When asked about his greatest achievement in life, he responded not with the tale of a game—a winning home run or a long touchdown run. Instead, he answered, “I would say my greatest achievement in life right now—and I'm still trying to achieve it—is to be a wonderful father to my kids.”

Bo Jackson has one of the most unusual trophy cases of all time—MVP in the 1983 Sugar Bowl, MVP in the 1984 Liberty Bowl, Walter Camp Award in 1985, Heisman Trophy in 1985, All-Star Game MVP in 1989, Pro Bowl selection in 1990, Tony Conigliaro Award in 1993, AL Comeback Player of the Year in 1993, and Election to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

If there's one thing I could change about Bo Jackson's professional sports career, it would be for him to completely ignore professional baseball. He was a good baseball player who was overhyped because of his tendency to produce highlight reel moments.

I wish Bo Jackson would have focused on football and only on football. Football was his true calling.

Bo had more talent than maybe any player that ever lived. He might be the greatest combination of power and speed in NFL history.

He almost rushed for 1,000 yards on 172 carries. He averaged an insane 6.8 yards per carry as a rookie running back. There's no telling what he would have done if he had been a full-time starting running back.

I believe Bo Jackson would have been a Hall of Fame running back. I think that Bo might have been the greatest running back in NFL history. He would have recorded some of the most insane rushing totals of all time.

It wouldn't surprise me if Bo would have rushed for 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in a season. I think he would hold virtually every rushing record imaginable—yards in a season, touchdowns in a season, career rushing yards, career rushing touchdowns, and most rushing yards in a game. The list goes on and on.

The average career of a running back in the National Football League is four years. Jackson played from 1987-1990. Exactly four years.

He might have been the single most athletic human being to ever walk the planet. There was nothing he couldn't do on a football field. Many consider him to be the greatest athlete who ever lived.

Yet, I remember him not for his accomplishments as a football player or a baseball player. Instead, I remember him in probably the most unfortunate way to remember someone—what could have been?

15 Reasons Why the Philadelphia Eagles Will Beat the Arizona Cardinals

Bryn Swartz — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:15:51 -0500

1. Brian Westbrook

The Eagles' superstar running back has been virtually shut down the entire postseason. This won't last. It can't last. Westbrook will rebound from two of the worst rushing performances of his six-year career with a big game against the Cardinals.

On Thanksgiving night, Westbrook scored four times against the Cardinals' defense—twice on the ground, and twice through the air. McNabb may be the most important member of the Eagles' offense, but Westbrook is the most dangerous.

2. Brian Dawkins

The future Hall of Fame safety is playing the best football of his 12-year career. Dawkins forced a fumble against the Vikings in the wild-card round and totaled 10 tackles against the Giants.

His mere presence on the football field is downright scary. With his future as a professional football player in doubt, Dawkins will do whatever it takes to earn a ring.

3. DeSean Jackson

The explosive rookie wide receiver and punt returner for the Eagles brings back memories of Brian Westbrook in 2003, who electrified fans with two regular-season punt-return touchdowns.

Jackson returned a punt 63 yards against the Vikings and set an Eagles single-game record with 105 punt return yards. He caught four passes for 81 yards against the Giants, including a clutch 48-yard reception.

4. Andy Reid

There's a reason that he chose to grow a playoff beard. Seriously, though, Reid is much more postseason experienced than Ken Whisenhunt. He has led the Eagles into the playoffs seven times, winning five NFC East titles, with one Super Bowl appearance.

Reid watched his sons go to prison last year. Rumors circulated about the future of his job this season. He is a Super Bowl ring away from the Hall of Fame.

5. Revenge

Kurt Warner knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs in the 2001 NFC Championship game. Seven Eagles still remain from that team—Donovan McNabb, AJ Feeley, Correll Buckhalter, Tra Thomas, Jon Runyan, Brian Dawkins, and David Akers, as well as head coach Andy Reid.

In 2001, the Rams were the far superior team, winning 14 games en route to their second Super Bowl in three years. But times have changed. The Eagles have been the best team in the NFC since 2001.

6. Experience

The Eagles are the most experienced playoff team of the decade. The NFC Championship game will be their 17th playoff game of the decade, tying the New England Patriots for the most in the new millennium.

The amazing part?

No team in the history of the National Football League has played in more postseason games in one decade. The Cowboys of the 1990s? 16 games. The 1980s 49ers? 17 games. The 1970s Steelers? 17 games. The Eagles will set a single-decade record with 18 postseason games if they win on Sunday.

7. Defense wins games

Defense wins championships. The Eagles' defense has been the hottest in the NFL over the past six games. They've allowed four offensive touchdowns in their past six games. In that same span, the defense has contributed four touchdowns, and missed a fifth by one yard against the Giants last Sunday.

8. David Akers

He is the hottest kicker in the NFL right now. After a dismal start to the 2008 season, Akers rebounded to set an Eagles' single-season record for field goals made and points scored.

His 51-yard field goal against the Vikings set a team postseason record, and he has a current streak of 18 consecutive postseason field goals without a miss, an NFL record.

9. Confidence

The Eagles are the hottest team in the National Football League—so hot, that they beat the Vikings and the Giants by 12 points each, without their offense clicking during most of the games. They have won six of their past seven games, including two straight on the road.

This team was counted out and left for dead just six weeks ago. Now they're one win away from a second Super Bowl in the last five years.

10. Kurt Warner

The two-time MVP quarterback has always struggled against Jim Johnson's defense. In five games, his team has won two games and lost three. Warner has thrown seven touchdowns and seven interceptions, mediocre statistics at best. The immobile Warner will be heavily pressured by the Eagles' powerful defensive line all game.

11. Donovan McNabb

The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles should have won Comeback Player of the Year. He is playing with a chip on his shoulder. McNabb is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time to not win a Super Bowl.

He has done more with less over the past ten years than any quarterback in the National Football League. Here's my favorite Donovan McNabb fact: In his last five full seasons, he has led the Eagles to five NFC championship game appearances.

12. The Phillies

You think the city's baseball team winning the World Series has nothing to do with the success of the Eagles? Wrong. Philadelphia had a history of losing over the past quarter century. It took 25 dedicated ballplayers to break one of professional sports' most famous curses, and the Eagles desperately want to join the Phillies as the toast of the town.

13. Teamwork

All 22 starting players, plus most of the backups, have contributed to the Eagles playoff run. Every game has a new hero. Chris Clemons. Jason Avant. Victor Abiamiri. Kyle Eckel. David Akers. Quintin Mikell.

If the offense has a bad game, the defense takes over. If the defense struggles, the offense dominates. This team is anything but one-dimensional.

14. Are the Cardinals really this good?

The Philadelphia Eagles are superior in virtually every category. No matter which way you compare the teams, Philly comes out on top. There's a reason the Eagles are favored, despite playing on the road. They ranked fourth in the NFL in point differential during the regular season (+127). The Cardinals ranked 18th in point differential (+1).

The Eagles dismantled the Cardinals during the regular season, 48-20. They have outscored their opponents by an average of 15 points per game over the last seven games, despite playing opponents with a combined record of 60-37. They have been in the postseason seven times in the past decade and are desperate for football's ultimate prize.

15. Heart

This team is on a mission. Donovan McNabb is 32 years old. Brian Westbrook will be 30 years old next season. Tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan might not be back next season. And Brian Dawkins is considering retirement following the season.

The nucleus of this football team has been around for years, longer than most teams. They've seen failures year after year after year. They were left for dead just six weeks ago, with the future of their head coach and quarterback in jeopardy. Now they have risen from the ashes.

They've destroyed every team in their path and they're not going to stop until they reach the ultimate goal: the Lombardi Trophy.

The Eagles Win! The Eagles Win! The Eagles Win!

Bryn Swartz — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:14:08 -0500

Is it destiny? Did we really just do this again? Could this really be OUR year?

January 11, 2009. We just traveled into East Rutherford, New Jersey and dismantled the Super Bowl champions. The Super Bowl champions. The first No. 1-seeded defending Super Bowl champion to lose in the divisional round. ELIMINATED.

The Madden Curse?

How bout the Manning Curse?

For the second straight week, our offense looked sluggish. Donovan threw two interceptions and cost the Eagles two points by throwing the ball away in the end zone. Brian Westbrook was a non-factor in the first half. Our offensive line looked to be outplayed for the majority of the game.

What wins games?

Defense!

Asante Samuel almost took another interception for a touchdown. Quintin Mikell intercepted Eli Manning late in the fourth quarter. Stewart Bradley made 11 tackles. And the leader of our defense, possibly of our entire team, my favorite athlete of all time, made 10 tackles, leading the Eagles to yet another NFC championship game.

Congratulations to the best kicker in the NFL, David Akers—the new NFL record holder for most consecutive field goals made in the postseason

Congratulations to the best defensive back in Eagles' history, Brian Dawkins, who will now play in the postseason for the seventh time in his future Hall of Fame career.

But most of all, congratulations to the greatest coaching and quarterback combination in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Andy Reid.

Donovan McNabb.

We're one game away from the Super Bowl.

We're playing with more heart than any team I have ever seen in my life.

On the five-year anniversary of “4th-and-26”, we might have a new play.

“4th-and-inches.”

This is a team of destiny.

Fly Eagles fly.

Could the A-11 Formation Be the Future of the NFL?

Bryn Swartz — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:10:36 -0500

There are some things in the world of sports that are generally accepted by the public: the tallest player on a basketball team is the center; the best fielder on a baseball team is the shortstop; and the player on a football field standing behind the center is the quarterback.

But what if things changed?

What if...

There were two quarterbacks on a football field?

What if...

There was only one designated offensive linemen?

What if...

Every single player could potentially touch the ball during a play?

Welcome to the world of perhaps the wackiest and most creative offensive formation in the history of football.

The A-11 offense.

Before the start of the 2007 season, two coaches at Piedmont High School, near Oakland, California, decided to change its recent trend of losing seasons. These coaches were frustrated with the other schools in its division, all of whom were larger and more talented, thanks to much larger enrollments.

Kurt Bryan, the head coach of the Piedmont High School Highlanders, and Stan Humphries, the school's Director of Football Operations, implemented the most insane offensive formation imaginable.

Imagine an offense where every single player on the offense in eligible to touch the ball.

Originally called the "Pluto offense", A-11's own website (www.a11offense.com) describes the offense as “an innovative offense blending aspects of the spread option, West Coast, and run-and-shoot.”

The possibilities on an A-11 offense are endless: Draws, wedge plays, screen passes, run-and-shoot, the option—you name it and Piedmont has done it.

Coach Bryan's main philosophy is that the ball is always faster than the man. Spreading the field negates the speed and size of opposing defenses.

Here is exactly how the offense works:

The A-11 offense is essentially a "scrimmage kick" formation, meaning that one player is at least seven yards behind the line of scrimmage and no player is under center to receive the snap.

A center and two tight ends surround the football. Three receivers split right. Three receivers split left. Two quarterbacks stand in a shotgun formation, one of which must be seven yards behind the ball. The other quarterback can be positioned as a halfback closer to the line of scrimmage, as long as he is not directly behind the center.

Four of the six receivers must be on the line of scrimmage, meaning a total of seven players (the four receivers, the two tight ends, and the center) are on the line of scrimmage.

The best part about the offense is that the eligible players can change after each play without having to change personnel. Each player wears the number of an eligible receiver, making it appear to the defense that every player is a probable target.

In reality, five of the players are ineligible and one is the passer. The ineligible players cannot advance downfield on a passing play until the ball crosses the line of scrimmage in the air. However, they can be handed the ball on a reverse play. They can also receive backward passes.

The difficult part for the defense: Speed.

A normal defense has two defensive tackles, two defensive ends, and three linebackers who simply cannot run as fast as wide receivers or running backs. In an A-11 offense, it makes no sense to use anything but the fastest players. Therefore, a defensive lineman is essentially useless, because even if they overpower the offensive line, the ball will likely have been thrown or handed off already.

It's also extremely difficult for a defense to immediately identify which players are on the line of scrimmage and which are not. In a hurry-up offense, the A-11 can be a defense's worst nightmare.

Imagine being a defensive coordinator and expecting your players to cover the A-11 offense for an entire game. You think a star running back keeps a defensive coordinator up at night...or a star quarterback?

Imagine not knowing which players were even going to touch the ball!

How could a defensive coordinator possibly expect to be prepared for the game?

Which defense do you do?

A 4-3? A 3-4? A zone defense? Man-to-man?

Coach Bryan knew the headaches his offense would cause defenders. But first he had to confirm its legality.

Before utilizing their offense in a game, Bryan and Humphries met with the National Federation of State High School Associations and the California Interscholastic Federation.

“We had a 99.9 percent feeling it was legal,” said Bryan. “After it was approved, there was a sense of, 'OK, now what do we do?' ''

Bryan and Humphries spent the summer teaching the offense to their baffled football team, who had never seen anything like this before.

Quarterback Jeremy George recalls entering the Piedmont High School football coaches' office to talk to Kurt Bryan, and mistaking the new offensive formation for the punt formation.

George, as well as the majority of the players, was somewhat unsure of the new offense.

“Initially, the first thought I had was, 'I'm pretty sure that's illegal.' I've got to admit I thought it was a little crazy. I think most of the players thought it was crazy. A lot of people were a little skeptical.”

The skepticism increased after the Highlanders lost their first two regular season games, by scores of 31-2 and 15-7.

Then something happened.

The Highlanders mastered the A-11 offense.

Using the A-11 offense in about 60 percent of their offensive plays, and a more traditional formation in 40 percent of their plays, the Highlanders embarked on a seven-game winning streak, culminating in a playoff appearance.

The A-11 was a smashing success.

Bryan knew other football coaches would be interested in the A-11, so he produced five instructional videos on it.

In just a few months, he was contacted by 70 collegiate coaches interested in employing the A-11 offense. He received over 5000 emails on the subject. He even created a website, which receives over 700 hits daily.

The A-11 offense was becoming a hit across the country, but it also had its share of enemies.

Many football experts dislike the A-11 offense. North Carolina banned the A-11 offense from high school football, calling it “deceptive” and “an unsporting act.” Joe Warren, the football rules interpreter for the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, calls the A-11 offense “sneaky”, saying “it makes a travesty of the game.”

In all, six states have banned the offense from high school games.

The offense is also illegal under NCAA rules, as a scrimmage kick is defined as a formation where it is “obvious that a kick may be attempted.”

However, the formation is not illegal in the National Football League.

Eligible receivers need to be declared by an official before each play. The NFL's numbering system becomes difficult to implement while using this formation.

The risk of injury may be more severe for quarterbacks or other offensive players.

Is it practically impossible to implement? Maybe.

But it is illegal? No.

It's been said that the A-11 offense would never work in the National Football League.

Critics say, “It's not real football. It doesn't even look like real football.”

Since when do sports have to look pretty?

Didn't Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs batting cross handed? Didn't Rick Barry shoot 90 percent while throwing his free throws underhanded?

Why can't football fans view the A-11 offense for what it really is: brilliant and ingenious.

Didn't the forward pass used to be banned? Didn't hitters in baseball used to be able to request a high or a low pitch from the pitcher? Didn't a basketball team have the ability to hold onto the ball for an entire game?

Rules change.

So do opinions.

Haven't we recently witnessed the rebirth of the Wildcat offense?

In 2008, the Miami Dolphins singlehandedly re-introduced the Wildcat Offense to the NFL. They first used this offense in the third game of the season against the New England Patriots. The Miami Dolphins, 1-15 in the 2007 season, defeated the Patriots, 16-0 in the 2007 season, by the score of 38-13.

The amazing part? The Dolphins only used the Wildcat Offense on six plays, five of which resulted in touchdowns! Running back Ronnie Brown became the first player to score four touchdowns and throw for a fifth touchdown in the same game.

Offensive coordinators around the league noticed. At least 13 NFL teams, including the New England Patriots, instituted a form of the wildcat offense in their playbook. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins won 11 games and the AFC East crown in 2008.

The Wildcat Offense works; so would the A-11 offense.

Trust me. It's only going to take one team to implement the A-11 offense before it spreads to every team in the National Football League.

When asked about the future of the A-11 offense, Kurt Bryan called the offense “limitless.”

“Here's what's going to happen. If we were sitting down with football coaches and players in 50 or 100 years, the A-11 would be no big deal because that's what the game will be. It's futuristic football. We're doing football where every play is innovative, and that's why people find it fun to watch. It's fun to play. Every player has the potential to be a part of almost every play. People can laugh at it, but that's reality.”

In 2002, New York Jets head coach Herman Edwards uttered one of the most important lines ever spoken by a football coach: “You play to win the game.”

Isn't that what Kurt Bryan and Stan Humphries do every time they use the A-11 offense in a game?

Which is More Important: The Role Of The Closer Or The Kicker?

Bryn Swartz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:14:28 -0500

They are some of the most unnoticed athletes in professional sports.

While their teammates are hitting home runs and stealing bases, throwing touchdown passes and recovering fumbles, they sit quietly on the bench and wait for their opportunity. Often, they are the deciding factor in an intense three-hour game. The sole difference between winning and losing. The X factor.

But which is more important?

Historically, the position of closer is the more prominent role. Closers receive much more glory than kickers. They are often considered to be the backbone of a team, as managers will even build a team around their closer.

They are in the debate for Cy Young Award just about every season and a few (Jim Konstanty, Willie Hernandez, Dennis Eckersley) have even won MVP awards, deservedly also. Many closers are enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. I have even heard arguments calling Mariano Rivera the greatest pitcher of all time.

Kickers, on the other hand, are considered to be the weakest part of a football team. Literally. They don't get drafted in the first couple of rounds and will never be in the discussion for Most Valuable Player (with the exception of Mark Moseley for the Washington Redskins in the strike-shortened season of 1982).

No coach would ever build a team around a kicker. It's also extremely difficult for a kicker to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and nobody, not even the mother of a kicker, would consider a kicker to be the best player in the NFL.

One of the notable trends between the two positions is the inconsistency of kickers. Historically, many kickers have exploded to have one truly sensational season, followed by many very good seasons. Gary Anderson made all of his kicks in 1998 for the Minnesota Vikings (except for the biggest one). Neil Rackers made 40 field goals for the Arizona Cardinals in 2005.

Closers, on the other hand, generally remain the same year after year. Mariano Rivera has posted an ERA under 2.00 in eight of the past 12 seasons. Joe Nathan, the most underrated athlete in professional sports, has posted an ERA under 2.00 in four of the past five seasons. Jonathan Papelbon has a career ERA of 1.84!

The biggest support for kickers is that they are directly responsible for many of a team's points in a game. They can account for all of the scoring in a game. They can change the tempo of a game with a 50-yard kick right before halftime. Unlike the closer, they play every single game.

The closer, however, can sit on the bench during ten straight losses and not once be called on to pitch. However, I personally disagree with the role of the closer, as preferred by virtually all of today's managers. In a tied game, seventh inning, bases loaded, and one out, I'm bringing in my best pitcher. And if that guy happens to be the closer, let him pitch.

Too many managers today fall victim to the "save" rule. Why is it that a closer rides the bench with his team up by four runs in the ninth inning, but when up by three runs, he's out on the mound? Do the 7-8-9 hitters really strike so much fear into a manager that they need to bring in their best pitcher to "save" the game?

Or do they know that he will get credit for an easy save? I thought statistics didn't matter in today's game.

It's generally the postseason that sets the two positions apart.

It's Game Five of the World Series, tied game, bases loaded, when you find out what your closer is really made of. An average closer will blow a game or two in the playoffs. Maybe more. Facing the best hitters on one of the best teams in baseball is just too much for a mediocre closer to handle. He'll crack.

But the top-notch closers (Brad Lidge, Mariano Rivera) rise to the occasion.

I'm a Philadelphia fan. I just watched the Phillies win the 2008 World Series, on the heels of our closer, Brad Lidge. Would we still have won the World Series with an average closer? Probably not. We probably wouldn't have won the division without Brad Lidge.

Switch to football.

Can an NFL team win a Super Bowl with an average kicker?

Absolutely.

Look at the 2007 New York Giants.

Lawrence Tynes did everything he could to blow the NFC Championship Game against the Packers, missing two kicks in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter. But he got a third opportunity, and won the game in overtime.

This doesn't happen in baseball. Look at the World-Series winning closers of the past couple of years, specifically their performances in the postseason.

Brad Lidge in 2008—0.97 ERA in the postseason, perfect in save opportunities. Jonathan Papelbon in 2007—0.00 ERA in the postseason, perfect in save opportunities. Adam Wainwright in 2006—0.00 ERA in the postseason, perfect in save opportunities.

There are closers that are so good that teams just know if they don't get to the starting pitcher or the other relievers in the first eight innings, the game is over. Current guys like Brad Lidge and Mariano Rivera. Hall-of-Famers like Dennis Eckersley and Goose Gossage.

What did these guys have in common? They were the best pitcher on their team.

They also won world championships.

A kicker is much different. When a closer is facing some of the best hitters in the world in the most crucial situations imaginable in the playoffs, a kicker feels only the pressure of the big game. A 50-yard field goal is still the same. He doesn't have to worry about the defense of the other team. All he has to do is make the kick.

There is a reason that closers are paid more and receive more glory.

You can win with an average kicker. You will find it extremely difficult to win with an average closer.

Philadelphia Eagles: Is This OUR Year?

Bryn Swartz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:51:32 -0500

I probably wouldn't be writing this article if the Phillies had not won the World Series. I know I wouldn't. But the Phillies did win. On Oct. 29 of last year, Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske to clinch the first championship for a Philadelphia team in 25 seasons.

This singular moment opened up a new world I had never seen before in my entire life. Winning. I'm not talking about playoff appearances, or even deep playoff berths. I'm talking about the whole thing.

Championships.

The Eagles defeated the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings 26-14 on Sunday afternoon, advancing to the NFC Divisional round, where they will travel to New York to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Giants.

It was on Sunday that I realized something about the Eagles: We are a championship-caliber team.

I've never had this feeling before, with the obvious exception of the 2004 Super Bowl run. I didn't even have this feeling after we throttled the Dallas Cowboys 44-6 to clinch the final wild-card spot in the NFC.

But I have this feeling now. There is something special about this team. It's something that I have never seen before in any Philadelphia Eagles team in my lifetime, including the 2004 Eagles. It's something that I saw in the 2008 world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Heart.

Lots of it.

This Eagles team has more heart than any team I've ever seen before. They have as much heart as the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies.

Let's face it, heart might be more important than talent. Just ask the Dallas Cowboys, who possess as much individual talent as any team I have ever seen in my entire life. They finished the season one game above .500 and failed to qualify for the postseason.

Now look at the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies. We were not the best team in baseball. The Cubs were probably better. The Red Sox. Maybe the Angels. But we had as much heart as any team I have ever seen in my life, and it came out at precisely the right time.

The result? The 11 postseason wins needed to call one group of 25 players "world champions."

This year's Eagles are the NFL's version of the Philadelphia Phillies. We didn't have the best record in the NFL—not even close. We needed one of the biggest upsets of the year to even have a chance to make the playoffs.

But when it counts, this team has been amazing.

We throttled the Arizona Cardinals by four touchdowns on Thanksgiving night. We knocked off the Giants in New York. We destroyed the Browns in Cleveland. And after a slip-up in Washington, we turned in arguably the greatest game that any NFL team has played in the past 10 years.

What happened yesterday? We played a C+ game at best, and won by 12 points.

It might be desperation, and not heart, but something is driving this team.

Maybe it's the fear that Donovan McNabb still may not be back next season.

Maybe it's the realization that Brian Westbrook turns 30 years old next September.

Maybe it's the thought of future Hall-of-Fame safety Brian Dawkins retiring at the end of the season.

But I think it's something else. On Nov. 23, Andy Reid made perhaps the biggest decision of his 10-year career. He benched his star quarterback. In benching McNabb, Reid showed what many players—and fans—had taken for granted. He showed that no job is secure in the National Football League.

As Dick Vermeil says in the movie Invincible, “I don't care what your story is. Veteran. Rookie. Free agent. I don't care. You earn a spot on this team by what you show me on this field. I play no favorites. None.”

Since Nov. 23, the Eagles have played with a passion unlike any I've ever seen before. They have won five of six games. They defeated three playoff teams and one other with a winning record. They have outscored their opponents by 18 points per game.

We are the hottest team in the National Football League. There's not a single team in the playoffs that wants to play the Philadelphia Eagles right now.

Our offense has been great. McNabb has been firing on all cylinders. Westbrook cannot be stopped for a full game. Our receivers, particularly Avant, are picking up their game, especially on third-down situations. Brent Celek is playing for a starting job. The offensive line might be the most valuable aspect of the team.

The defense has been unbelievable. Every game, it seems that Darren Howard, Juqua Parker, Trent Cole, Mike Patterson, or any other defensive linemen comes up with a big play. Stewart Bradley leads our young linebacking corps, arguably one of the top five in the league.

And the defensive backs have been playing out of this world. Asante Samuel, Brian Dawkins, and Quintin Mikell are all Pro Bowlers, and are playing the best football of their lives right now. Sheldon Brown and Joselio Hanson have been clutch recently, and Lito Sheppard might be the best No. 4 cornerback in NFL history.

The special teams are the hottest I've ever seen. David Akers simply doesn't miss anymore, even from above 40 yards, even above 50 yards. DeSean Jackson is better than Brian Westbrook was at returning punts, and Quintin Demps might be the best kick returner under Andy Reid.

Bottom line: This might be the most complete Eagles team I have ever seen. Not only are they poised to do some damage in the playoffs, they might be on the verge of giving Philadelphia the greatest year in sports history.

Is Ed Reed the Best Player In the NFL?

Bryn Swartz — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:21:01 -0500

They say that defenses win championships. Just ask the Baltimore Ravens, who may be on their way to a second Super Bowl title in the millennium. Safety Ed Reed intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown in a blowout victory on the road against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.

“The Human Ball Magnet” just finished one of the greatest regular seasons by a defensive player in recent memory, and led his team into the Divisional round of the playoffs against the top team in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans.

Reed might be the most versatile defensive player I have ever seen in my entire life. I don't mean that this man can play more than one position, but that he can do absolutely anything on a football field.

It starts with the interceptions. He has 43 in his career. He picked off nine passes in 2004, when he won Defensive Player of the Year, and he intercepted nine more in 2008. Expectations are high that Reed will earn Defensive Player of the Year honors a second time.

He scored on a record 107-yard interception touchdown in 2008, breaking the previous record of 106 yards—set by Ed Reed. He holds the single-season record for interception return yardage (358 in 2004) and ranks sixth all-time, first among active players (1144 yards).

His success continues with his special teams play. He has blocked four punts in his career. Three of these have been returned for touchdowns, tying an NFL record.

He is a wizard with the football in his hands. He has scored 11 career touchdowns—five on interceptions, three on blocked punts, two on fumble returns, and one on a punt return.

He is the first person in the history of the NFL to score a touchdown on an interception, a blocked punt, a punt return, and a fumble return. He averages almost 30 yards per interception return and is one of the most dangerous runners in the game.

Reed is arguably the biggest playmaking safety in the history of the National Football League.

And he has the greatest start to his postseason career of any player in the history of the NFL. After three games, he has recorded an unprecedented five interceptions, including one returned 63 yards for a touchdown.

His mere presence on the football field is enough to make quarterbacks hesitate to throw the ball his way. Many coaches refuse to allow their quarterbacks to throw long with Reed roaming the field, and those that do pay for it.

Reed, notorious for studying the tendencies of the opposition inside and out during the week, was named the NFL's most feared defender by Sports Illustrated before the 2008 season.

Ed Reed: not just the best defensive player in the league, but the best player in the league.

The greatest player on maybe the most feared team in the NFL postseason. A team that lost to the 12-win Steelers twice, the 12-win Indianapolis Colts, the 13-win Tennessee Titans, and the 12-win New York Giants.

Soon the five-time Pro Bowler may have a new addition to his trophy case—a Super Bowl ring.

Tony Romo: The Biggest Choker in NFL History

Bryn Swartz — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:22:01 -0500

After three seasons, I have watched Tony Romo in countless pressure situations. And I have come to a conclusion: There is a new universal sign for choking, football fans. It's no longer Brett Favre. It's Tony Romo.

Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo is the biggest choker in the history of the National Football League.

Make no mistake. Tony Romo is a very good quarterback. You could even make the argument that Tony Romo is a great quarterback. A top-eight quarterback in the NFL—until the months of December and January.

Where did it begin?

The legend of Tony Romo began halfway through the 2006 season, following the benching of Drew Bledsoe (Dallas fans can thank the Eagles for that one).

Romo quickly led the Cowboys to four straight wins, including a beatdown on the previously undefeated and eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. He threw five touchdown passes on Thanksgiving Day, a game in which I still remember turning to my dad and saying, “Dallas is going to the Super Bowl.”

But the trouble began the very next week. Although the Cowboys defeated the Giants 23-20, Romo threw no touchdowns and two interceptions. The next week pitted the Cowboys against the new NFC-favorite New Orleans Saints. Romo completed less than half of his passes and again threw two interceptions, as the Saints dismantled "America's Team”, 42-17.

A narrow win over the Atlanta Falcons brought the Dallas Cowboys into a favorable situation against the Jeff Garcia-led Philadelphia Eagles with the division title on the line. Every Cowboys fan remembers this game. I call it the Christmas Day Massacre.

Just like he did against the Saints, Romo completed less than half of his passes and threw two costly fourth-quarter interceptions, as the Eagles clinched a playoff spot with a 23-7 victory.

Cowboys fans didn't panic. They knew they could still win the division. The Lions (2-13) were coming to town the next week. Yet, to the shock of the football world, the roar of the Lions was too much for Romo's squad to overcome. He fumbled four times, losing two of them, and threw an interception, as the Lions handed the Eagles their fifth division title of the millennium.

Dallas, losers of three out of four in the month of December, still earned a wild-card spot and traveled to Seattle for the first round of the NFL playoffs. Trailing 21-20 with under a minute remaining, the Cowboys attempted a 19-yard field goal—essentially an extra point. Tony Romo fumbled the snap from center, and attempted to run with the football to win the game. A diving tackle by defensive back Jordan Babineaux sealed an improbable victory for the Seattle Seahawks.

It was the happiest moment of my life as a Cowboys hater.

The 2007 regular season spelled success for the Dallas Cowboys. Winners of 11 of their first 12 games, Romo helped Dallas earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. He continued to struggle in December, throwing three interceptions, fumbling twice, and completing 13 of 36 passes as the 'Boys lost a home game to the 5-8 Eagles.

The Cowboys also lost their seventh consecutive season finale, as Romo threw an interception and completed 43 percent of his passes against the Redskins.

In the postseason, the Cowboys made history—dubious history. "America's Team" became the first NFC team with home-field advantage to lose in the divisional round. Romo completed just 50 percent of his passes and threw a game-sealing, fourth-down interception in the end zone with nine seconds remaining.

The 2008 season was an interesting roller-coaster ride for Tony Romo. A broken pinky on his throwing hand (reminder: Donovan McNabb played with a broken right thumb) sidelined the fragile Cowboys quarterback for three games, while the inept, immobile Brad Johnson struggled to run America's offense.

Following Romo's return, a pivotal December matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers looked to be a Super Bowl preview. Romo turned in his usual stellar performance, throwing an interception touchdown to Deshea Townsend with the game tied and under a minute remaining. Romo's four turnovers raised serious questions about the legitimacy of Dallas as a playoff team.

Two interceptions and another fumble resulted in a heartbreaking loss against the Baltimore Ravens in the last game in the history of Texas Stadium. Following a gift loss by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys needed just a win to reach the playoffs.

In a win-or-die situation, the Dallas Cowboys, led by their superstar quarterback Tony Romo, turned in arguably the most lifeless performance of the 2008 NFL season. Romo threw an interception and lost two fumbles in the worst beatdown in the history of the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry.

I call it the Christmas Massacre Part Two. A third straight season for the Cowboys ended in the most heartbreaking situation imaginable.

He has some of the most incredible offensive talent to work with: Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber, six-time Pro Bowl selection Terrell Owens, Pro Bowl wide receiver Roy Williams, and five-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten. Combined, his skill position players have been selected to 13 Pro Bowls.

Yet he cannot get the job done. Ever. He is 0-2 in playoff games. Both games came down to the final minute, and both times he choked in the most important, pressure-packed situation of the year.

Throughout his career in December and January, he has thrown a combined 16 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He has a 22-4 record in games played before December. He has a 5-10 record in games played after December. He is 0-2 when his latest Barbie doll girlfriend is in the stands, both courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Romo has absolutely no leadership ability. In yesterday's loss to the Eagles, he challenged his coach's authority in front of the entire football team by refusing to leave the field on a fourth-down situation. He has zero charisma in the clubhouse, ignoring the common notion that a quarterback should serve as a role model to his teammates.

Tony Romo was described today by Dallas newspapers as “gutless and pathetic.”

Plaxico Burress may have shot himself in the thigh, but Tony Romo shoots himself and his entire team in the foot in every single pressure situation imaginable.

There's no way to deny the inevitable. Tony Romo has become the laughingstock of the National Football League. He doesn't just lose. He embarrasses himself. He has completely humiliated himself and the Dallas Cowboys for the past three seasons.

His success in the regular season will forever be overshadowed by his glaring and continuous failures in any and every pressure situation.

Philadelphia Eagles: You Saved My Christmas

Bryn Swartz — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:06:53 -0500

We did it! We are in the playoffs. We had the most impossible odds. Absolutely impossible. Just one week ago, I calculated our playoff chances at two percent. Possibly three percent.

The Oakland Raiders. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Houston Texans. The Chicago Bears. All of these teams were involved in helping us make the playoffs—before we even stepped onto the field.

It happened. By some miracle, it happened. Michael Bush, whatever you want for Christmas, the city of Philadelphia will buy for you.

I do not even know what to say. This article should not exist. This was not supposed to happen. It was not going to happen. But next week, the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Minnesota Vikings at some time on Sunday afternoon.

There is only one human being more pumped up than Brian Dawkins was today, and that is me.

Speaking of Brian Dawkins, in November, I wrote an article suggesting that No. 20 be elected to the Hall of Fame following his NFL career. Dawkins may have locked up his Hall of Fame chances today.

I have never seen Brian Dawkins play a better game than he did today. Five tackles. An eight-yard sack. Two forced fumbles, both of which were returned for touchdowns.

We set a single-season team record for most points scored. We allowed the fewest sacks per pass attempt in team history. McNabb threw for the most yards in team history. Akers set records for field goals made and points scored.

Speaking of Akers, my first Eagles article ever bashed David Akers and called for a new kicker. David Akers, I would trust you on a 50-yard field goal with the game on the line.

The texts I got from my friends during the game were absolutely hilarious.

“I think I just saw Jerry Jones's facelift fall.”

“I wonder who is more upset right now: Terrell Owens, Jerry Jones, or Joe Buck?”

“Donovan totally just showed up T.O.!!!!”

“Andy Reid is the ugliest cheerleader in Eagles history.”

“Tony 'I Can't Play in December' Romo.”

“Dawkins is a man possessed right now.”

“Andy Reid just showed emotion?!?!?!”

And my favorite:

“I had this dream last night.”

This was just miraculous. This was literally a miracle. This might be the greatest day in Philadelphia Eagles history during my lifetime. It was absolutely the most unforgettable regular season game I have ever seen.

My dad summed it up best. After we scored to make it 41-3 in the middle of the third quarter, he turned to me and said, “I have been watching football for over 40 years, and I have never seen a game like this. Not an Eagles game. Any game.”

Let me recap this season. First of all, I have never had my feelings change so much about one team during a single season. Ever.

After we lost a close late-season game to the Giants on Nov. 9, I called Andy Reid a joke.
Completely discouraged and heartbroken, I called out Donovan McNabb for not knowing that games could end in a tie on Nov. 16.
Two days later, I wrote an article telling Eagles fans that this team was going to the playoffs. I predicted 9-6-1 to make the playoffs. Most people thought we needed to be 10-5-1.
The very next week, I thought our season was over. Instead, I just encouraged Eagles fans to keep watching.
On Dec. 21, I informed the Eagles that they had ruined my Christmas.
Three days later, I investigated a rumor suggesting head coach Andy Reid would step down after the Dallas game.

And now I am here to tell the Eagles that they have saved my Christmas, thanks to the most unbelievable win in Philadelphia sports since Oct. 29, 2008.

This was a win so memorable that it needs to be given a name, a name like "The Christmas Day Massacre: Part 2."

I do not know which play was my favorite today: Correll Buckhalter's 59-yard romp. Chris Clemons' 73-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Joselio Hanson's 96-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The zero penalties committed by our team. Correll Buckhalter's 35-yard run. David Akers' 50-yard field goal before halftime. Pacman Jones' fumble. Both of T.O.'s drops. Michael Bush's 67-yard touchdown run.

We just sent a team with the most talented roster in football home. Home for eight months. Bye bye to your sack record, DeMarcus Ware. Congrats for choking, Romo. Again. Five turnovers in one game. Donovan's never done that and he never will.

Eagles fans, this is a day you should never forget. This is a day that you will tell your kids about 50 years from now. We did it. We are in the playoffs!