Bleacher Report - Articles by Jason Henry

I Got Five on It: Week 3 NFL Picks

Jason Henry — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:02:51 -0400

Week 2 of the NFL season came and went as some teams continued to surprise (49ers, Jets) and some squads are surprisingly disappointing. (Titans, Panthers) Either way, the NFL season is off to a great start.

Cowboys vs. Panthers

This week in the NFC East features a few intriguing match-ups. First up is the game between the Cowboys and the Panthers. Dallas is coming off of a tough loss to the Giants on Sunday night as they racked up 251 rushing yards. Carolina continues to skid off the track as they were sent packing by the Falcons last week 28-20, falling to 0-2.

Both teams clash on Monday Night as the Panthers try to avoid a tough 0-3 start. Carolina and Dallas feature quarterbacks that are looking to bounce back from tough games. Panthers signal caller Jake Delhomme has had nothing short of a disastrous start to his season. Jake has a passer rating of 45.3 to go along with five picks and only one touchdown for the year.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw for a dismal 127 yards and three picks against the Giants last week. I’m sure Jason Garrett will try to get Romo into a rhythm early to shake the cobwebs off.

But the ‘Boys may miss a key part of their offense in Marion Barber as he’s nursing a strained quadriceps muscle.

Running backs Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will have to shoulder the load if Barber misses the game.

Even though the Panthers will try to claw and scratch their way out of a losing streak, the Cowboys running game will prove too much for the Panthers weak rush defense.

Look for a close battle, but Dallas pulls it out in the end 27-20.

Eagles vs. Chiefs

The Philadelphia Eagles were the sexy off-season pick to win the NFC East. How’s that working out so far after the Saints game?

Quarterback Donovan McNabb is still injured with a cracked rib and Kevin Kolb is well, umm, a serviceable back-up. The Eagles signed Jeff Garcia as a safety valve for McNabb and Kolb and Michael Vick isn’t quite ready for the bright lights.

So with a defense that’s left licking its wounds and an offense that needs to find a rhythm with Kolb, playing the Chiefs may be just what the doctor ordered.

Kansas City has started the season as many expected 0-2. Head Coach Todd Haley stated earlier this week that he’ll go with the quarterback that puts the team in the best position possible. So does that mean that $63 million dollar man Matt Cassel could be benched?

I doubt it, but it’s good theatre.

The Chiefs also have a suspect defense and a pedestrian running game so far, so I’m not expecting too much of a fight for the Eagles. Philadelphia wins this one 24-13.

New York vs. Tampa Bay

For me at least, this game does not have that much intrigue. The Giants are rolling at 2-0, their defense allowed 250 yards rushing against the Cowboys and they still won, and they found two receivers in Mario Manningham and Steve Smith.

What may concern G-Men fans is that the team will be without Justin Tuck on defense as he’s still suffering a strained shoulder.

I know and understand that any given Sunday any team may loose, but not this Sunday. The Giants have a ton of confidence heading into this week’s match-up against the Bucs and Tampa is still trying to find an identity.

The Bucs have a pretty decent running game in Cadillac Williams, Earnest Graham, and Ahmad Bradshaw. What’s lacking is continuity in the offense as the passing game is charged with bringing the team back late in games and their offense just isn’t built for that.

Look for the Bucs to make it a game late, but the Giants will win this one 35-21.

Redskins vs. Lions

The Redskins were booed un-mercifully last week against the Rams. Washington did win 9-7, but watching the game was worse than listening to a Chris Gaines album.

Quarterback Jason Campbell isn’t playing bad, but he’s not playing that well either. He’s sort of middle of the road right now and he’s not sure which way to turn. The offense is just plain offensive in its play and the defense is holding the team upright.

I’m not sure where to start with the Lions. Rookie quarterback coupled with rookie head coach has equaled no wins thus far this season. What better remedy for a team that needs a quick win than to play the Lions who just happen to be on an 18 game losing streak?

Nothing more to add for this game, Redskins take it 13-10.

I got five on…

Titans vs. Jets

The Titans are a disappointing 0-2 right now and the Jets are 2-0, who knew? Last season the Titans snuck up on a few teams on their way to an impressive 13-3 record.

Doesn’t seem as if that’s happening this season.

Rex Ryan and the New York Jets are playing like its mid-season. Two impressive wins with a rookie quarterback has made the league pay attention to the Jets.

But last year that distinction belonged to Tennessee and the Titans would like to notch their first win against the Jets this Sunday.

New York has a defense that swarms and comes from any and every angle possible. The Titans have a quarterback that’s, well, a little old and tends to stand in the pocket at times. Chris Johnson may be able to provide a protection for Collins because the Jets may be afraid of his speed.

But confidence means the world in the NFL and the Jets have it all right now.

Jets continue their winning ways against the Titans in a defensive battle 13-10.

Worrisome Cowboy: Will Dallas Stick with the Running Game?

Jason Henry — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:17:59 -0400

Last week against the hated New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys racked up 251 rushing yards. The majority of those yards came from Marion Barber, as he toted the ball 18 times for 124 yards and one touchdown.

But what worries me about the Cowboys' running attack isn’t the team’s ability to actually run the ball; it’s their willingness to completely give up on the running game.

That willingness to abandon a successful game plan may be more evident next week against the Panthers simply because the team may be without their star runner Barber.

Against the Giants this past Sunday night, Barber pulled up lame on his longest run of the night, straining a quad muscle.

With Barber possibly out next week, backup runners Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will have to shoulder the majority of the load. Both backs are fully capable of sustaining a potent running attack, as evidenced in Choice’s performance against the Steelers last season.

If the Cowboys aren't able to rack up the kind of yards they had playing the Giants this Sunday against the Panthers, will Garrett divert to the passing game again?

Better yet, if quarterback Tony Romo has another abysmal performance, will Garrett continue to put the ball in Romo’s hands?

While I do not believe that Romo will have two bad games in a row, I am afraid that Garrett will try to force Tony into a passing rhythm. But doing so may take too much attention from running the ball.

The Panthers have been very susceptible to the run this season, and it seems to be in Garrett’s best interest to exploit Carolina’s most glaring weakness.

On to the defense that has shown a little weakness in the first two games of the year. What was once the team’s strongest suit is starting to show a little wear.

The defensive secondary has been nothing short of a liability this season.

Roy Williams was let go and signed with the Bengals in the offseason, and Anthony Henry is no longer a member of the team, so we cannot blame either for the Cowboys' lack of success in the defensive backfield.

Against the Giants, the team allowed Eli Manning to dice them up in the last three minutes and 50 seconds of the game. Unproven wide receivers Mario Manningham and Steve Smith came up big, combining for 20 catches for over 200 yards.

Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme is looking for a bounce-back game, and the way the Cowboys' secondary looks, this may just be his chance to prove the naysayers wrong.

Former Cowboys head coach Dave Campo is responsible for coaching the secondary, and head coach Wade Phillips is the defensive coordinator. Whether there is a lack of creativity or abilities, something has to change going forward.

Last season the Cowboys led the league in sacks with 59, but this season they have laid a big fat goose egg with zero.

Star linebacker DeMarcus Ware has come up injured in both games this season, and while there have been quarterback knockdowns, none have gone for sacks.

There is also the absence of linebacker Greg Ellis. Owner Jerry Jones let Ellis walk to the Raiders in the offseason, and that may have been a mistake. Ellis has three sacks in two games this season, and his replacement on the Cowboys, Anthony Spencer, has been a no-show thus far.

Phillips has to figure out a way to put more pressure on the opposing quarterback if the secondary has any chance of success. Cornerback Terence Newman has played well at times, but Orlando Scandrick and safety Gerald Sensabaugh have yet to play up to their abilities.

The numbers for the secondary might be a little different if the Cowboys had been able to provide a sack in the first two games, but with contests coming up against teams that feature top-flight receivers, I suspect more creative blitz packages or extra help may be needed to aid a secondary that’s nothing less than pedestrian.

-JH

Monday Night Quarterback: Play Calling, Not Tony Romo, Killed the Cowboys

Jason Henry — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:52:57 -0400

It was a night of miscues that eventually cost the Cowboys a win in their new billion dollar stadium. Quarterback Tony Romo turned the ball over four times, the defensive secondary looked pedestrian, and the team showed a true lack of discipline.

But while no team can win when they turn the ball over three times, it wasn’t Tony Romo’s faulty decision-making that cost the team the victory.

It was head coach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s questionable play calling that is to blame for the ‘Boys first loss of 2009.

Last night’s game proved that either Garrett or Phillips is taking catnaps during the game or Jerry Jones is calling plays from that luxurious booth of his in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.

The Cowboys' first possession of the third quarter consisted of a 24-yard scamper by running back Felix Jones. That takes the team to the 44-yard line, close to midfield. Next play is a called run to Jones off the left tackle for only two yards.

But what happens next is key.

Garrett calls a pass play and Romo attempts to hook up with tight end Marcellus Bennett, but the pass falls incomplete.

So now the down is third and the Cowboys have eight yards to go for a first down. Another called pass play from the shotgun, as Romo tosses it to Crayton for only four yards.

Now this may not seem like much, as it was only the start of the third quarter, but it was the scenario that we saw the entire night.

Team gets into a mid- to long-range third down and decides to pass instead of run.

Felix Jones and Marion Barber destroyed the Giants front four, yet Garrett failed to take full advantage of their abilities.

Barber finished the game with over 120 yards rushing, but he only carried the ball 18 times. When a team has a runner that’s averaging over six yards per carry and your back up running back has 96 yards on less than 10 carries, that needs to be exploited.

Now Cowboys fans have no need to panic; there is a silver lining to this loss. The Cowboys turned the ball over four times and still only lost by two points.

The ‘Boys also rushed for over 250 yards and averaged a healthy 8.7 yards per carry, that’s against one of the NFL’s toughest front sevens.

Many mistakes will have to be corrected before next week’s game against the Panthers. Dallas has to cut down on the turnovers, the team must become more disciplined, and they must get rid of silly penalties.

Lastly, the play-calling overall has to improve.

The team must get ready for a tough test as the Cowboys face a desperate Carolina Panthers squad on Monday night in Dallas.

-JH

Inconsistency Plagues Dallas Cowboys in Loss to New York Giants

Jason Henry — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:51:30 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys opened their new stadium to a record crowd of 105,121 people in attendance. Not bad for a stadium that costs more than some countries' gross national product.

On a night where Tony Romo played like a backup and the Cowboys' defense leaked worse than the levee’s in New Orleans, the Cowboys inconsistency killed them in a close 33-31 loss to the Giants.

The loss drops the Cowboys to 1-1 and a tie for second in the division as the Giants improve to 2-0 and command over the NFC East.

The battle between these two rivals went back and forth all night. The Cowboys racked up over 240 yards rushing and Eli Manning looked just fine without Plaxico Burress, as Manning passed for 330 yards.

But the story in this one has to be the amount of turnovers, not to mention the offensive play calling by the Cowboys, along with the breakdown in coverage by the secondary late in the game.

Romo played bad enough to warrant a benching, as he sailed a pass 10 yards over Sam Hurd’s head for a pick, had an interception kicked into Giants' cornerback Kenny Phillips hands, and another pick returned for a touchdown.

Combine that with a 44 percent completion rating with only one touchdown and that usually doesn’t spell victory.

To Romo's credit, overall, the team didn't play well enough to win. Maybe that is a testament to the play calling or just an overall lack of discipline from the team as a whole.

A bright spot for the team was its running game. All summer we heard about the Cowboys and the two tight end set and how they would utilize Tashard Choice, Marion Barber, and Felix Jones.

Tonight we saw each running back in action and they looked pretty good. Barber banged out 124 yards on only 18 carries and Felix Jones added 96 yards and both players scored key touchdowns in the loss.

But the win goes to the Giants, not the Cowboys.

Throughout the first half, Dallas was able to stop the Giants, but the G-Men scored 24 points off of Cowboys turnovers.

Even without Burress, the Giants' receivers made big plays throughout the game, especially in the second half.

The Cowboys' secondary had no answers for Steve Smith and Mario Manningham, who combined for 20 catches and 280 yards receiving. That’s a stat line the Giants hope to see throughout the season from its young corp of receivers.

Perhaps the most telling defensive stat of the night is this: The Cowboys had zero sacks against the Giants, that’s zero for the entire season after leading the league with 59 last year.

As with the 2007 Super Bowl, though not quite as big, Manning drove the Giants down the field and set the team up for a winning field goal from kicker Lawrence Tynes.

The Cowboys try to bounce back next week on Monday Night Football against the Carolina Panthers, while the Giants face off against the 0-2 Buccaneers down in Tampa Bay.

Injury report: Cowboys running back Marion Barber suffered a left-quad strain after breaking for a 35-yard run, he did not return. Some reports state that Cowboys' defensive end/linebacker DeMarcus Ware was injured toward the end of Sunday’s game, no word on the type of injury or if it's serious.

Giants' defensive lineman Justin Tuck injured his left shoulder after being tripped up by Cowboys' offensive lineman Flozell Adams. He left early in the first half and did not return.

Monday Night Quarterback: Dallas Cowboys' Run Defense

Jason Henry — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:28:02 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys impressed with their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

Quarterback Tony Romo looked sharp in the second half and the defense held the Bucs off as the Cowboys won 34-21.

But even with a two-touchdown win over a rather, eh, inferior opponent, the Dallas's run defense looked rather pedestrian.

Cadillac Williams, coming off of two major knee surgeries, was able to dice the Cowboys' defense up for 97 yards and one touchdown.

How does a defense so lauded for its aggressiveness allow a running back to chop it up so finely? Well, let’s take a closer look at the statistics.

As a unit, the Bucs totaled 174 yards rushing to go along with a healthy 5.6 yards per carry.

I know that this is the first game of the season and the defense hasn’t quite gelled, and there are still a few kinks to work out before the team gets going.

But also think about this—the Bucs mainly used two running backs the entire game: Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward, who basically split time during the game. They both are fairly small backs with an average weight of 222 pounds.

Next week, the 'Boys face one of the biggest running backs in the league in Brandon Jacobs. Brandon is 6'4" and weighs 264 pounds.

If the Giants are able to establish the run early, how will they stop Jacobs and the Giants?

But back to the Buccaneers game.

Star corner back Terrance Newman had a nice outing with eight tackles. What’s troubling about that stat is how much the Bucs were able to get to that third level where Newman was able to make eight tackles.

Newman isn’t traditionally an all-out aggressive player. He doesn’t shy away from tackles, but Wade Phillips has to make sure this type of performance doesn’t happen again.

The Bucs not only averaged 5.6 yards a rush, but they had no plays where the running backs were tackled for a loss. That shows that the Bucs were able to get to the second level of the Cowboys' defense throughout the game.

The Cowboys were able to hold the Bucs off as evidenced by the final score. The Bucs running game may have been more of a mirage than real.

But if the Cowboys have any plans of impressing the possible 105,000 thousand people that are expected to show for the opening of the team’s new stadium, Wade Phillips and crew will have to do more to stop Brandon Jacobs.

-JH

Cowboys-Buccaneers: Dallas Sinks Tampa Bay After Slow Start

Jason Henry — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:50:07 -0400

The Cowboys started the game against Tampa sluggish, pedestrian, and uninspired. The first few drives only yielded field goals, and the defense had more than a few holes in it.

After the first quarter, the score was a shock to most, as the Bucs stuck with the ‘Boys only trailing 6-0.

The second quarter was even more ordinary, as both teams seemed to maneuver their way around the field about as well as a blind person. Tony Romo threw in front of, behind, and over receivers as they marched to an eventual 13-7 halftime lead after a 42-yard pitch and catch between Romo and Miles Austin ended in a touchdown.

Going into halftime, the team still seemed to be finding its way as the defensive secondary looked confused and out of sync.

But the second half was a different story.

Bum’s son must have fired the troops up in the locker room because the Cowboys emerged more focused in the third and fourth quarters.

Immediately out of the gate, the ‘Boys were swinging as Romo tossed a 66-yard touchdown pass to Roy Williams and the Cowboys went up 20-7.

It seemed as if Dallas was about to blow the doors off, but Byron Leftwich marched the Bucs back down the field, and newly acquired running back Derrick Ward scored on a one-yard touchdown run.

That was pretty much the last ray of hope for the pirates as the Cowboys took control from there and never looked back.

Touchdown for Patrick Crayton? Check.

Running score for Marion Barber? Check.

It’s on now; the Cowboys are riding on "28’s with the windows down on a 2010 all-blue Range Rover."

Romo finally pulled his head out of the clouds, and the defense patched the holes in the submarine.

All in all, it turned out to be a great day for the Cowboys. Romo ended up with 353 passing yards (a career high), three touchdowns, and no turnovers. Now if he could only go on a run of zero turnovers for more than one game.

Romo also completed 66 percent of his passes thrown over 10 yards and had a healthy 149 quarterback rating.

For Williams, he ended up with a solid outing. He caught three balls for 86 yards and one touchdown.

Terrell who?

The worrisome part of the game was the Dallas defense, actually. The Bucs ran for over 170 yards and scored two touchdowns, racking up 5.6 yards a carry. The Cowboys cannot play that way against the Giants and expect to win, not with Brandon Jacobs in the backfield.

The Cowboys' secondary gave up a few big plays down the middle, something Bum’s son will have to address this week in practice.

The Cowboys beat the Bucs 34-21 and head back home to face the Giants to open their new billion-dollar stadium.

Injury note: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo says that he injured his right ankle during Sunday's game. The ankle will be re-examined on Tuesday. The Cowboys' new starting safety Gerald Sensabaugh was helped off the field after a big hit on Buccaneers wide receiver Michael Clayton. No word on if he’ll return next week.

-JH

Worrisome Cowboy: Is Emmitt Smith Right About the Cowboys?

Jason Henry — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:01:53 -0400

For the majority of Cowboys fans out there, the news that Emmitt Smith predicted seven wins for the ‘Boys came as a bit of a shock.

He blasted the team’s leadership, questioned whether Roy Williams can become a true No. 1 receiver, and wonder if Tony Romo has a knack for “true” leadership.

It’s tough to argue with a guy who has three Super Bowl rings and is the NFL’s all-time rushing leader. But come on Emmitt, seven wins? Really, that’s it?

I mean, we play the Raiders and the Bucs in the same season. That’s at least two wins. We were able to eek out nine wins last year and that was with Brad Johnson as our starter.

So let’s put Emmitt’s assertion to the test.

No. 1: Emmitt stated that he’s unsure if Roy can become a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

I tend to agree with him, but with Roy’s size and height it’s almost impossible for him to, well, suck.

In Detroit and with Jon Kitna as his quarterback, Roy managed to rack up eight touchdowns and over 1100 receiving yards.

If he can do that in the wasteland at Ford Field, why can’t he do that in Dallas in a billion dollar stadium with a million dollar quarterback?

As much as I love Emmitt, he’s reaching on this one.

No. 2: Mr. Smith stated that Romo isn’t a strong enough leader in the locker room or on the field.

I agree 100 percent with Emmitt simply because the Cowboys struggle down the stretch. Now its not his fault entirely that the team falls apart during crunch time, but to Smith’s point, why hasn’t Romo “snatched” up an offensive lineman after a key sack?

Remember the playoff game against the Giants a few years ago when the offensive line all of a sudden started leaking worse than the titanic?

What about when he broke his pinkie against the Cardinals because he couldn’t stay upright?

With one of the largest offensive lines in the league, it shouldn’t be this way.

When Dan Marino was still in the league, there was a commercial featuring All-Pro offensive lineman Richmond Webb and he’s talking to his fellow lineman after they broke the huddle and Webb looks at the defense and says something to the effect of, “these guys want to see Dan, that’s not happening today.”

Point of the advertisement, no one gets to see the quarterback unless the offensive line says so.

I don’t get that same feeling from the ‘Boys upfront for the Cowboys. It seems as if they have Romo overbooked way too many times during the season.

If that continues, it’s going to be another long offseason for the Cowboys.

Here’s hoping that Emmitt’s prediction is at least three or four games off because if it isn’t, Bum’s son will be looking for a new job and Tony may be calling Jessica to console him.

-JH

I Got Five on It: NFC East Week 1 Predictions

Jason Henry — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:08:15 -0400

It's been awhile B/R, but ya boy is back.

With the NFL season officially kicking off on Thursday night in Pittsburgh with Tennessee letting the Steelers off the hook, its now time for the rest of the league to catch up.

I got five on it will be a weekly series where I pick 4 games from the NFC east and a “fifth” (or fourth, depending on how many are in the NFC East that week) game that everyone will want to keep an eye on.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers

The Dallas Cowboys kick off the 2009/10 season tomorrow afternoon in Tampa against the Bucs.

The Bucs aren’t exactly the picture of consistency right now with head coach Raheem Morris firing his offensive coordinator a week before the season starts.

New starting quarterback Byron Leftwich was erratic during the pre-season, basically paving the way for rookie Josh Freeman to take the reigns by the fifth week of the season when Tampa is 1-4 or 2-3.

The Cowboys shouldn’t have a terrible time beating the Bucs. Strong defense and a potent offense punctuated by a pretty good passing game equals a loss for the Bucs.

My prediction: Cowboys 24 Bucs 10

Giants vs. Redskins

This is the most intriguing match-up of the weekend in the NFC Beast. Everyone is wondering if the Giants can replace Plaxico Burress, whether Jason Campbell can overcome off-season adversity, and how tough that Washington defense will be.

Well we will find out at 4pm Sunday afternoon. Since it’s the first game of the year, I believe the Redskins will stick close. The Giants have to work out their passing game, but Jacobs will be a little too much to handle.

Giants 20 Redskins 13

Philadelphia vs. Carolina

The Eagles seem like a team on the edge as of late. Their master of defense, Jim Johnson, passed away right before training camp started. Starting right tackle Shawn Andrews is out for the game, the signing of Michael Vick, and the release of powerhouse safety Brian Dawkins. Even with such an active off-season, the Eagles are still being picked to win the NFC East.

Well I’m picking them to beat Carolina as well. The Panthers have a quarterback that’s a little, eh, erratic, to say the least. The running game is strong and so is Steve Smith, but I’m a little un-sure about the offensive line and how they will handle the blitz from Philly.

Philadelphia 27 Carolina 17

Five on it: Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis

I got five on the Colts versus the Jags. New head coach in Indy, a running game that needs to prove itself, and how will the Colts do without Marvin Harrison? Probably just fine, but the Jags are a team on the brink of greatness or destruction.

The Jags need to start the season off strong if they want any shot at winning the divison or making it to the playoffs for that matter.

As much as I love the Jags, the Colts are a team that still has a lot of weapons and is still pretty strong.

Colts 21 Jags 17

-JH

How the Dallas Cowboys Can Win the NFC East

Jason Henry — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:27:45 -0400

Remember a couple of years ago when the Patriots went 16-0 and lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl? Remember one of the teams the Giants had to beat in order to reach the Super Bowl that season?

If you can recall it was the Dallas Cowboys that went 13-3 and won the NFC East that year, but lost in the playoffs to the hated Giants.

Fast forward to the 2008 season and the Cowboys were once again favored to win the NFC East. But those hopes were dashed when Romo injured his hand, the punter broke his foot, Felix Jones did something strange to his hamstring, Marion Barber got banged up, and the team just plain imploded.

That led to a disappointing 9-7 finish and the team subsequently missing the playoffs. Needless to say, the Cowboys did not win the division last season.

Well 2009 is a new year and the Giants and Eagles are favored to win the NFC Beast with the Cowboys projected to finish at least third, ahead of the hated Washington Redskins.

All through training camp there was no noise coming from the Alamo Dome, no Terrell Owens, no Pacman Jones, no Tank Johnson, and no Jessica Simpson. In fact, it’s a little strange that there is no drama in big D right now.

That may be a good thing for the Cowboys as they aren’t used to an atmosphere that does not include circus clowns and animals.

But how does this pertain to the Cowboys winning the NFC East you ask? Well I’ll tell you.

For the first time in a few years the ‘Boys of Valley Ranch are un-assuming; no one is expecting the Cowboys to do much this season. The Giants have one of the best defenses in the league, the Eagles added two dangerous offensive weapons in Jeremy Maclin and Michael Vick, and the Redskins have…well…Albert Haynesworth.

With all that competition in the East how in the world can the Cowboys emerge from the fray?

1. The Cowboys will run two tight end sets maybe 60 percent of the time. This will give the offense a new weapon in Martellus Bennett and the running game should have new opportunities to shine. Marion Barber does not have the shoulder the load alone as he now has Felix Jones and Tashard Choice as change of pace backs.

Since defense coordinators usually try and double Jason Witten, that option should be taken away with the addition of Bennett streaking or cutting across the middle.

If opposing defenses attempt to shadow the middle with a linebacker and place a safety on either Witten or Roy Williams, then the running game should take over with Barber, Jones, or Choice.

2. The defense should be even better with the addition of Keith Brooking and a healthy DeMarcus Ware. An elder Greg Ellis is now in Oakland which opened up the door for a younger Anthony Spencer. Basically Spencer is a younger more athletic version of Ellis, so that side of the defense should not see a slip in production

Keith Brooking came over from Atlanta to replace Zach Thomas. According to early reports Brooking is meshing well with middle linebacker Bradie James. James stated last season that he and Thomas weren’t always on the same page, which caused a little defensive confusion to say the least.

What does worry me about the Cowboys is their lack of depth on the offensive line. If the team does manage to make it through the season without any injuries on the line, which is highly un-likely, the team should be ok. But if there is even an injured big toe or pulled hamstring Tony Romo could be in big trouble.

Jerry Jones failed to address the offensive line in free agency or the draft, so the Cowboys go into the season with their hopes hinging on an injury free year.

Just like any team, if all goes according to plan and the Cowboys are able to execute their game plan better than their opponent, look for the ‘Boys of Valley Ranch to make another playoff run and pose a serious threat to the Eagles and Giants.

If not, it could be another long off-season for Tony, Wade, and Jason.

-JH

10 Reasons to Watch the NFL This Season: Who's Ready for Some Football?

Jason Henry — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:07:35 -0400

America’s new favorite past time is back. Training camps are open all over the country and the preseason officially kicks off with the Hall of Fame game this weekend. The best part about this time of the year is that every team has hope. The Detroit Lions have a new quarterback in Matthew Stafford, the Redskins went out and bought a new defense with Hall and Haynesworth, and the Patriots got their golden boy back in Tom Brady. There is also the enigma that is Michael Vick, the attempted murder case of Plaxico Burress when he tried to take himself out of the game, and the guy who drove drunk and killed a pedestrian...no jokes on that one. So many story lines and only 16 games to watch them play out, man I love this game. Without further ado, I present my top ten reasons to watch America’s favorite game, the National Football League.

Begin Slideshow

Darrius Heyward-Bey Catches First Training Camp Pass; Holds Out Of Camp

Jason Henry — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:04:05 -0400

Oakland Raiders first round draft pick Darrius Heyward-Bey impressed onlookers and present media when he caught a 70-yard bomb from Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell on his first day in training camp.

“I really wanted to impress Mr. Davis and prove that I was worth the $23 million dollar contract he gave me,” said Heyward-Bey. “I am obviously the best receiver on the team because they chose me so high,” Darrius continued.

Soon after Darrius caught his first pass as a Raider, he promptly excited the field and gave a high five to his new agent: Drew Rosenhaus.

Raiders head coach Tom Cable was seen yelling at Bey as he excited the field, but was soon quieted by local media personality Peter King when he yelled at Cable to “shut-up” as Rosenhaus’s press conference was about to start.

“My client, Darrius Heyward-Bey, is now in the locker room packing his things and on his way back to Maryland. He’s leaving camp because he feels that he’s not being paid for the services that he has given the Raiders,” said Rosenhaus.

There was complete and utter silence among reporters and coaches.

Head coach Tom Cable moved his way to the front of the group and actually raised his hand to ask a question.

“Does Mr. Davis know about this? Because if he doesn’t Darrius is going to be in trouble and so am I,” asked Cable.

Drew responded by telling Cable that Mr. Davis was informed by letter this morning of Bey’s decision to hold-out.

Cable proceeded to yell at Drew, telling him that Al Doesn’t wake up until noon and has to have breakfast before he reads any of his mail.

Tom then ran into the team compound hoping to steal the letter before Mr. Davis had his morning meal of cialis, strawberry oatmeal, and Metamucil.

Drew Rosenhaus continued his press conference by stating that Bey wants a contract extension worth $9 million dollars a year.

“Everyone around the NFL knows that Al Davis prefers a vertical passing game. Howard-Bey posses all the skills needed to take this team and the quarterback to the next level. He just wants to be paid for what he has contributed and what he’s worth,” said Rosenhaus.

Drew then ended his press conference by announcing his newest client, Brett Favre, would be signing with the New England Patriots.

When asked how he ended up in New England and why, Rosenhaus promptly responded with this line.

“Frankly Bill was tired of Tom Brady’s playboy antics and thought that Brett Favre’s steady hand could guide a team in desperate need of leadership.

Later in the day, ESPN reported that John Madden announced his comeback as a Patriots consultant.

-JH

Worrisome Cowboy: Will Tony Romo and Roy Williams Mesh in Dallas?

Jason Henry — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:50:01 -0400

That is one of the big questions heading into Cowboys training camp. According to multiple sources around the Cowboys facility, there are worries that Williams and Romo may get off to a rough start.

During OTAs in the offseason, the pair didn’t click well enough to give coaches and fans much hope of duplicating the success that Tony had with former Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.

Owens is now in Buffalo and Williams is the lone soldier on the end now, left to pair with Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, and Patrick Crayton.

Between these three men, they have a combined total of 52 touchdowns—that’s not even halfway to Owens career total of 139.

When Terrell played for the Cowboys he averaged 12 touchdowns over his three seasons, never logging less than ten touchdowns in one season.

Roy’s career total you ask? A paltry 30 with his highest totals of eight coming in 2004 and 2005, his rookie and sophomore seasons.

When healthy, Tony Romo has the ability to sling 30 touchdowns a year with evidence coming during the 2007 season when he threw 36. With an injury-plagued season in 2008, he only tossed 26. Not a bad average right?

But will he see his totals dip with Williams?

If Tony can stay healthy and his offensive line gives good protection, Tony will throw for at least 30 touchdowns this season. Roy Williams will not put up Terrell Owens-type numbers, but he will have a serviceable season.

Miles Austin will develop into a great deep-threat option, Jason Witten will continue to have Pro Bowl numbers, and Sam Hurd and Patrick Crayton will at least catch five touchdowns between them.

However, if Williams only draws single and double coverage, how will this affect the Cowboys running game?

Against certain opponents Terrell Owens would draw a linebacker, a corner, and a safety up top just to contain his deep-threat abilities. I’m not so sure Williams will command that same respect.

If he doesn’t, look for the Cowboys to use more two-tight end sets with Witten and Martellus Bennett along with featuring Tashard Choice and Felix Jones.

The Cowboys face the possibility of having a 1,000-yard rusher in Marion Barber and at least a 500-yard gainer in burner Jones.

Dallas is also flirting with the idea of returning Barber to his original position as more of a second-half back and starting Felix in a Julius Jones-type of role.

If the running game manages to become as successful as it seems to be on paper, then the Cowboys stand to have a fighting chance in the tough NFC East.

If Roy Williams can scrum up eight touchdowns and 1,100 yards, then look for Tony Romo to make another Pro Bowl appearance and for the Cowboys to contend for an NFC Championship berth.

-JH

Color Me Confused: Does Race Play in the Way Sports Media Treats Athletes?

Jason Henry — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:39:16 -0400

Before I begin, allow me to state that this article will include words about race. Please enter with an open mind and a willingness to see the other side of the argument. - Management

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is having the offseason of a lifetime. He led his team to their second Super Bowl since taking over as starter during his rookie campaign.

He has a burger named after him, posted a score in the 80s at Bethpage Black during the week of the U.S. Open, and played pretty well this past week at the Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament.

Things were going pretty swimmingly for Ben, at least until a few days ago.

Big Ben has been accused of rape by Andrea McNulty, a casino host at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and claims that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her.

Ben has called the allegations “false and vicious” and has promised to fight the pending lawsuit.

Mistakenly, ESPN ran the story on its bottom line stating that Roethlisberger raped the young lady instead of being accused of the deed.

During a press conference held by the quarterback, he had his coach Mike Tomlin, agent Ryan Tollner, and attorney David Cornwell by his side.

This story regarding Ben has traction, but not as much as you think it would. ESPN has it listed on its web site, but it’s not front-page news.

In completely contrasting but similar situations, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was accused of dog fighting around the same time two years ago.

Vick was immediately demonized by animal activists and dropped from corporate sponsors. While I disagreed with the severity of his punishment, Vick did lie about his involvement with dog fighting.

He also lied to his boss, the commissioner of the NFL Roger Goodell, which in turn caused a very harsh penalization to be handed down.

However, Vick spent two years in prison for dog fighting and is still on indefinite suspension from the NFL. According to NFL sources, Goodell is likely to extend Vick’s suspension four more games into the new season.

So I’m guessing doing two years of hard time isn’t enough to warrant a second chance to play football? What Vick did was wrong and most of all it was stupid. But everyone that lives in this nation is entitled to a second chance at life.

The point of serving time in prison is to pay one’s debt to society, which Vick has done.

NBA baller Kobe Bryant was accused of the same crime as Roethlisberger a few years ago. He lost corporate sponsors, fans, and was an endorsement nightmare for the NBA.

Kobe was eventually acquitted of his supposed crime. Turns out the woman that accused him of rape was telling a lie and actually had consensual sex with the four-time NBA champion.

Bryant was wrong in the fact that he committed adultery by sleeping with the young lady. Kobe was demonized by the media and some of his fans for what he did.

Eventually Bryant bounced back to win another NBA championship and eventually gain corporate sponsorship.

The blaring difference between these three athletes is the obvious, skin color. I’m not crying racism or bigotry in the case of Ben Roethlisberger, but there is a media bias for Ben.

Kobe was front page news for ESPN, CNN, and any other news outlet willing to tell about his story. Same thing for Michael a couple of summers ago when he couldn’t get away from the radicals that call themselves PETA.

Ben on the other hand seems to be flying a little under the radar.

A small article on ESPN, a mention on SportsCenter, and a crawl on CNN is all that Ben’s getting so far. Maybe the media is trying a different approach with Roethlisberger, giving him the benefit of the doubt before he’s judged.

By no means am I stating that Ben is guilty. In fact, from what I’ve read I believe that he’s probably telling the truth. However, if it were Dwight Howard or Ryan Howard the story would probably have more legs.

For some odd reason it seems that black athletes behaving badly receive more attention than a white guy that plays quarterback for the Super Bowl champions.

In light of “Skip” Gates being arrested for breaking into his own home, it seems that African-Americans are still better for bad news than good.

-JH

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Preview: Part Two

Jason Henry — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:05:33 -0400

In part one of this two-part series, I discussed how the departure of Greg Ellis, Terrell Owens, and Zach Thomas will affect the team going forward.

There are a ton of questions facing the Cowboys, as with any offseason, but this seems to be a make-or-break year for a team that is expected to make a Super Bowl run every season.

Part two of the series discusses how the Cowboys will fare in the "NFC Beast" this season, and addresses those pesky rumors about Garrett and Bum Phillips’ son.

With the departure of Plaxico in New York, the Eagles spurning Dawkins and allowing him to walk to Denver, and an owner in Washington who has no confidence in his quarterback, how will the Cowboys fare in the NFC East?

For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys seem to be one of the most stable teams in NFC East. Terrell is gone and the focus has shifted to Romo, but the circus atmosphere that surrounded the ‘Boys the past few years isn’t as prevalent this season.

The New York Giants running attack will be strong, but not as potent without Derrick Ward. Sack machine Osi Umenyiora will be back from a knee injury, but the offense will be without its lightning rod, Plaxico Burress.

While I believe that the Giants will having a winning record and make a run at the playoffs, I don’t see another improbable Super Bowl run like a couple years ago.

Heading south to D.C., the Redskins have a huge question mark at quarterback. I’m not questioning the skills of former Auburn man Jason Campbell, but his owner seems to have lost all confidence in the kid.

Campbell was left out to dry when the team unsuccessfully tried to trade for quarterback Jay Cutler and then attempted to draft former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez.

The team may not have much faith in Jason, but from all accounts, he still thinks that he can get the job done.

Washington’s only hope at the playoffs this year may be the mental stability of its “star” quarterback. If Campbell can hold steady and Clinton Portis remains healthy, an 8-8 season isn’t that far out of reach.

Over in "Illadelphia," Donovan McNabb has a new contract, Brian Dawkins is now a Bronco, and blitzing defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is out indefinitely due to a battle with cancer.

As much as I disdain the Eagles, the team seems to be poised for another playoff run as their skill position players are still in place.

The battle for 1-2-3 in the NFC East will be between the Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles. The Cowboys ran away with the division in 2007, and they have the chance to do so again this year.

The ‘Boys have a dastardly tough schedule to end the year with road games against the Giants, Redskins, and Saints. Like last season, the team will face off against the Eagles in the last game of the year, but this time it will be in Texas.

History will be the judge of the future in this case, and I can’t defer from where the ‘Boys have finished the last few years. Their schedule in December is daunting, and the team hasn’t had a winning record during that part of year in over a decade.

Look for the Cowboys to finish second in the NFC East to the Giants or Eagles, but make a serious playoff run in January.

Will this be Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett’s last season in Dallas?

Wade Phillips is entering his third season as head coach in Dallas, and I’m not sure if Jerry will continue to make excuses for Phillips.

As many were calling for Wade’s dismissal after last season’s debacle, Jerry stood by his head coach. Instead of feeding him to the wolves, Jerry decided to give Bum’s son another shot.

If Tony Romo has taken the reigns of the team, the same must be said for Wade Phillips. After last season’s shootout against the Eagles early in the year, which ended with the cowboys winning 41-37, Phillips defended his defense by saying the Eagles were just receiving good breaks and capitalizing off of a few turnovers.

That type of explanation will not fly this season. Wade either has to lead this team deep in the playoffs or to a Super Bowl birth in order to keep his job. His defense has to stand up in the latter months of the season against teams like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

A few years ago, when Jerry brought back former back-up quarterback Jason Garrett to serve as offensive coordinator, it seemed a match made in Heaven as Romo flourished under Garrett’s tutelage.

Last season, though, Romo floundered a little under Garrett’s system and seemed to criticize Jason’s play calling.

Garrett probably has a longer leash than Phillips, simply because he isn’t the head coach.

Heading into training camp, Phillips may have a little sense of urgency because the Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game this decade.

The defense may be a little meaner and the offense a little more disciplined. The turnovers have to stop, and Romo can’t throw his customary one interception a game just to get it out of his system.

If Phillips and Garrett are to remain in Valley Ranch, they both must turn the Cowboys into a more streamlined outfit.

The Dallas Cowboys have one of the most talent-filled rosters in the league. Of course T.O. is gone, and so is Greg Ellis, but the team is still poised to make a serious run at the Super Bowl.

I predicted that the Cowboys will finish second in their division this season, but that could bode well for them. Flying under the radar isn’t something they're accustomed to doing, and this season just may be the one where they do so.

Overall, I think the team will finish 11-5 with losses against the Giants and Eagles in the division. But, we have to get past training camp to enter into a total season preview.

-JH

Why DeMarcus Ware is better than Shawne Merriman

Jason Henry — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:16:18 -0400

ESPN.com NFC East blogger Matt Mosley said in an entry yesterday that the Cowboys made the right decision in drafting Ware over Merriman.

Of course being a Cowboys fan I agree with his assessment, but the only way to truly find out is to simply break down the numbers.

Shawne Merriman, better known as “Lights Out,” was drafted by the Chargers out of Maryland 5 years ago. So far he has amassed an impressive total of 39.5 sacks, his career high coming in 2006 when he notched 17.

That was also the same year that Merriman tested positive for steroids and missed four games, dashing any hopes of breaking the all time sack record.

Delving deeper into Merriman’s stats, in 2007 he had imposing a six sacks in the month of December. If you can recall, that’s the year that the Chargers went to the AFC Championship to face the Patriots.

Shawne had an ok showing in the playoffs that season where he totaled 13 tackles and one sack. However he did have a game or two where he had four or five tackles where he wasn’t really noticeable.

Within the AFC, Merriman does his best work against the Kansas City Chiefs where he sacked their main signal caller four times and had 16 tackles in 2007.

Shawne missed all of last season with a knee injury, which will probably take him at least a season and a half to fully recover from. Will his sack totals decrease due to lack of burst off the line?

Shawne has never had over 70 tackles in a season, so will his tackle total suffer as well?

At first look it seems as if the Chargers were right in their choice. Merriman has a motor that never quits and gives 110% on the field.

However there is a cloud of deceit around his true abilities. Did the steroids contribute to the 17 sacks or was it just pure strength and skill?

Moving on to DeMarcus Ware.

He was drafted the same year as Merriman out of Troy in southeast Alabama.

Ware had his best statistical output last year as he had 20 sacks, 84 tackles, and 6 forced fumbles. He also had 84 tackles in 2004 coupled with 14 sacks.

Ware has more career sacks that Shawne with 53. But to Ware’s advantage, Merriman was injured all of last season.

DeMarcus seems to do his best work against the Giants of New York. Last season he had 12 tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.

Ware also remains consistent as the game progresses. Like Merriman he has 6 sacks in the fourth quarter, but Ware has more tackles that Shawne during the final period amassing 17.

Another situational stat shows that Ware has 3 sacks on 3^rd and long, forcing the team opposing into an obvious 4^th and long situation.

Merriman on the other hand had no sacks and only 1 tackle on 3^rd and long in 2007.

Comparing these two players is like appraising the abilities of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. The thing about Jordan and Johnson is that there is one player that is better than the other. You know the one with 6 championship rings?

Well, that’s kind of like Ware and Merriman without any rings between the two.

Over and above Ware just seems to be the better overall player. He tackles, shows up in crucial situations, and had 20 sacks through an injury riddled season.

Both players will prove to be great by the end of their career. But at this moment in time, who would you choose? The player with the knee injury or the guy with 20 sacks?

-JH

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Preview: Part I

Jason Henry — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:05:12 -0400

NFL fans across the nation are gearing up for what has become a summer tradition for many. NFL training camps are just two weeks away from starting on college campuses and practice fields in a neighborhood near you.

While I, like many, can hardly contain myself with excitement that we are approaching a new NFL season, many NFL clubs have questions that still remain unanswered.

Will Brett Favre come out of retirement again? How will Tom Brady’s knee hold up throughout the season? Can Eli Manning survive without Plaxico Burress? Are the Dallas Cowboys better without Terrell Owens?

The 2008 Dallas Cowboys were nothing short of a disappointment. Injuries dashed hopes of any type of Super Bowl run early in the season when Tony Romo broke his pinky finger and Marion Barber bruised every possible body part.

Owens was made the scapegoat for an underachieving offense as his numbers struggled without Romo calling the signals.

Rookie sensation Felix Jones was amazing before injuring his hamstring, hampering a potent one-two punch anchored by Barber.

But this season will be different for the boys from Valley Ranch.

Owens was released to go roam in Buffalo, safety Roy Williams couldn’t cover the deep ball, so he was allowed to walk as well, and stalwart linebacker Zach Thomas proclaimed after the season that he wouldn’t be back.

Not only are the Cowboys a different team, but they have a different look as well.

This season Romo is the unquestioned leader of an offense that has the potential to rank first in every statistical category.

Romo no longer has the shadow of Owens—or Jessica Simpson, for that matter—hanging over his shoulder in the locker room or in the media.

Jason Witten and second-year man Martellus Bennett are poised to become a potent receiving tandem as the Cowboys look to feature more two-tight end sets than in past seasons.

So what should fans watch for and expect from the Cowboys in training camp and preseason?

1. Can Roy Williams replace the production of Terrell Owens?

The quick answer is no. If you look at the stats for both players, Williams has only logged one 1,000-yard season in his short six-year career, and his career high in touchdowns is eight.

Compare that with Terrell and, Williams cannot hold a candle to his production.

However, Terrell has always had the presence of a great or at least good quarterback behind center. In San Francisco, he had Steve Young and Jeff Garcia. In Philadelphia he had Donovan McNabb, and in Dallas he caught passes from Romo.

Williams ran down the field for Joey Harrington and Jon Kitna. I felt for you in Detroit, Roy, so there really is no comparison.

No excuses for Williams this season about splitting catches or not knowing the system. He has had an entire offseason to prepare himself and to get acclimated to Romo’s passing tendencies.

I’m expecting at least an 1,100-yard season with eight touchdowns and 75-plus catches from Williams. Owens was able to do it when he stalked Texas stadium, so why can’t you?

2. With the departure of Greg Ellis, Chris Canty, and Zach Thomas, will the Cowboys miss their production?

Greg Ellis could still be a Cowboy—well, at least in theory—if he had accepted his role as a 33-year-old defensive end. He didn’t, so now he’s off to Oakland.

Zach Thomas was great last season for the Cowboys, logging 94 tackles and one sack. He was paired with Bradie James in the middle, and they both enjoyed great statistical seasons.

Statistically, Chris Canty only had three sacks and 37 tackles, but he used that leverage and bolted for the Giants and more money, which I can’t blame him for

But he was vital on the line for the Cowboys last year and had his best games against the Cowboys' biggest foe in the beast.

The New York Giants.

So how does a team replace a combined 167 tackles and 12 sacks?

Youth is one answer. Anthony Spencer is finally getting his chance to start, as he will replace Ellis on the line and standing up. Spencer matched Ellis’ output in tackles with 34 but came up empty on sacks and interceptions.

Also, Spencer is only 25 years old and has three years of NFL service on his joints and muscles.

I don’t believe that the team will miss Ellis as much as Thomas or Canty. Ellis is on the downside of his career and only had maybe two good seasons left in him.

Thomas is just as seasoned as Ellis but seems to have more of an upside than Greg.

I’m sure team owner Jerry Jones and head coach Wade Phillips are not looking forward to seeing Canty twice a year now that he’s in New York.

He can be a monster on the line, as evidenced by his two-sack game against the Giants early last season.

Thomas is the type of player that you want and need in your locker room just because of the experience and leadership he brings. Maybe this season Thomas would have had a calming effect on a volatile locker room that has been tamed by Jerry’s son Stephen.

Stay tuned for Part II...

A Call for Help: Greg Ellis Wants out of Oakland

Jason Henry — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:04:44 -0400

In a stunning interview with former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, ex-Cowboy Greg Ellis stated that hybrid defensive end DeMarcus Ware would attempt to remove himself from ballgames just to get Ellis onto the field.

Ellis was released by the Cowboys earlier this season and subsequently picked up by the Raiders. Ellis still seems a little bitter over his disposal from “America ’s team,” even going so far as to state that the team is not ready to win a Super Bowl.

Since Ellis has played his entire career for the Cowboys, I’m pretty comfortable stating his best years are behind him. Ellis is 33 years old and has 12 years of NFL wear and tear on his 6'6" frame.

He made his first Pro Bowl in 2007 after coming back from a career threatening achilles injury and logging 12.5 sacks.

Last season Greg only totaled eight sacks, had no forced fumbles, and only recorded 36 tackles. Granted that was partly due to a reduction in playing time, but Ellis is getting close to NFL retirement age.

In defense of the Cowboys, DeMarcus Ware was dangerously close to breaking the league sack record last season. I think it’s safe to say that any player that comes that close to logging 23 sacks in a single season isn’t coming out of the game.

Maybe Greg is a little bitter because he has been sent to the NFL graveyard; a retirement home of sorts for players who can’t stay away.

Ellis has become part of an elite club of players that decided to give Oaktown a try and will soon find out why Al Davis built his cave in such a town. Randy Moss is the exception to the rule Greg; he somehow was able to except the claws of the falcon.

There will be no 110 tackle, 3 interception, and 15 sack season for Greg. He will not revive a dying franchise out in Oakland in an effort to get back at Jerry for letting him go.

Greg, this isn’t how things are done homie. We all understand that you have an affinity for Dallas, which is the team that decided to bring you into the NFL. But don’t go out like this.

Don’t drive the bus that you are throwing the coaches under. Greg, we appreciate your service out in Dallas. You gave us twelve wonderful seasons, some playing injured.

But is this really how you want to be remembered. As a bitter old man who had to be thrown out of the party because he drank too much and couldn’t hold his liquor?

Greg thanks again for being a good soldier. But please refrain from throwing eggs at the front door and rolling our trees with toilet tissue.

-JH

Death On Site: Losing Generational Superstars

Jason Henry — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:22:56 -0400

I’m sure that isn’t the first article regarding the death of former NFL quarterback, and it most definitely will not be the last.

News broke last week that Steve McNair and a female accomplish were found dead in his downtown Nashville condo, succumbing from multiple gunshot wounds.

McNair is best known for his days with the Tennessee Titans. He famously led the team to one of the greatest Super Bowls in NFL history as the Titans came up one yard short of sending the game into overtime against the Rams.

“Air” McNair retired from the NFL last season as his body just couldn’t take the physical beating any longer. He spent his first 11 NFL seasons with the Titans and his last two with the Baltimore Ravens.

McNair was the perfect example of the quintessential NFL athlete. He was tough, aggressive, played injured, hungry, and had a natural passion for the game.

He was simply a warrior.

As stated by many, he will be sorely missed.

McNair’s death just seems to be the latest in a long list of entertainment losses.

First there was the passing of famed Johnny Carson sidekick Ed McMahon, then the death of “Charlie’s Angel” star Farrah Fawcett, followed by the unexpected passing of the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, infomercial giant Billy Mays, film star Karl Malden, and now Steve McNair.

For my generation, this is our first time having to deal with the sudden loss of a generational icon.

Michael Jackson might have been 50 years old at the time of his passing, but he wrote the soundtrack to the lives of many.

From singing with his brothers about the “ABC’s” to stopping a budding gang war using dance moves in “Beat It,” Jackson’s death represented the demise of a part of our culture and our childhood.

Jackson is recognized as the most charitable entertainer in history by the Guinness Book of World Records, giving more than $300 million dollars to various charities.

Famed infomercial giant Billy Mays was the same age of Jackson when he passed away. Mays gained recognition for his “subtle” ways of selling products, such as Oxyclean, Orangeclean, and Kaboom!

Mays popularity grew to new heights as he was recruited by ESPN to perform a commercial advertising their alternate media Web site, ESPN360. Mays died of heart disease a few days after Michael Jackson.

Growing up in the '80s and '90s, one becomes accustomed to hearing Jackson's songs and seeing posters of Farrah Fawcett.

In the '90s, Steve McNair become the new “face” of African-Americans quarterbacks, especially after he led the Titans to their first ever Super Bowl appearance.

Seeing these larger the life figures pass on to the other side isn’t something that we are used to, at least not my generation. My parents lost JFK, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, RFK, Elvis, John Lennon, and more.

Watching the reaction to the death of Michael Jackson, we aren’t handling it so well. There have been seven reported suicides because of his passing and more than 1.6 million people have requested tickets to his memorial service in Los Angeles.

While Steve McNair’s death will not receive as much attention as Jackson's, it does not take away from the importance.

McNair was only the second black quarterback ever to start in a Super Bowl and was close to winning the Heisman Trophy while attending Alcorn State in Mississippi.

Judging by time and history, this will not the first time we’ll have to deal with losing such large and iconic figures in our time. I just hope that we are equipped to deal with tragedy when the time comes.

But then again, who truly is?

Marion the Barbarian: Barber Is a Warrior in the Fourth Quarter

Jason Henry — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:44:58 -0400

The NFL has always been a league defined by toughness.

To name a few, there's Jack Youngblood playing in the 1980 NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XIV with a broken leg, Emmitt Smith rushing for 168 yards against the Giants with a separated shoulder, and Ronnie lot electing to cut his pinky finger off after it failed to heal properly.

Before his career is over, Marion Barber will be one of the toughest NFL players to ever play the game. Okay, that may be a little much. But he doesn’t have the nickname “Marion the Barbarian” because he enjoys gladiator movies.

Last year, the Dallas Cowboys suffered due to Marion’s absence. The team was able to supplement for a while with rookie Tashard Choice, but the ‘Boys were never the same after Barber went down with an injury.

This season is make-it-or-break-it for the ‘Boys of Valley Ranch. Romo is entering his third full season as quarterback and Marion Barber has help in the backfield with Tashard and Felix Jones.

The team cannot pin any offensive shortcomings on Terrell Owens anymore.

So, while Tony Romo receives the credit and the criticism for wins and losses, the team will only go as far as the Barbarian will take them.

In analyzing Barber's stats from 2007 and 2008, he tailed off a little in the fourth quarter last season due to injury.

However, unlike most backs, Barber sustains his production throughout the game.

In the fourth quarter last season, Marion had 53 rushing attempts and averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Compare that to 2007 when he was healthy, and Barber averaged a strong 4.9 yards per carry on 83 attempts.

Couple Barber's production with the speed and versatility of Choice and Jones, and the Cowboys could very well have the best offensive backfield in the league next season.

That’s if they can all stay on the field and healthy.

With the offensive firepower the Cowboys have stockpiled in Witten, Jones, Barber, Choice, Romo, and Roy Williams, there is no excuse for failure this season.

The Cowboys also have a brand new stadium that has seats that will need to be filled, so the fans' expectations for the team isn’t as high as team owner Jerry Jones.

If Tony Romo acts as the blood that flows through the Cowboys system, Marion Barber is the teams pulse. Without a pulse, you’re dead.

The Taking of Orlando 1-2-3

Jason Henry — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:46:16 -0400

News travels fast when it’s bad. The death of Michael Jackson, sex siren Farrah Fawcett, and funnyman Ed McMahon sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.

Michael Jackson provided the soundtrack for a generation of kids and his death was firmly felt due to his importance to our culture.

Famous Johnny Carson sidekick Ed McMahon was legendary for his zingers and his knack for handing out checks with large amounts of money written on them.

Charlie’s most famous angel, Farrah Fawcett, stared at young men every night before they went to sleep from their bedroom walls as she crept into their dreams soon after they dozed off.

But quite possibly the most shocking news of the week is the partial dismantling of the Orlando Magic.

Soon after the NBA Draft ended the Magic pulled the trigger on a trade that quite possibly handed the East over the Cleveland Cavilers.

Rookie sensation Courtney Lee, backup point guard Rafer Alston, and bench center Tony Battie were all traded to the Nets for former Air Canada star and Daytona Beach homeboy Vince Carter, along with Ryan Anderson.

On the surface this trade seems that the Nets got a steal. Courtney Lee’s stock continued to rise as the season progressed, and I’m not sure if the Magic would have made it to the finals without Alston’s firepower.

While I’m not as upset with Battie’s departure, he was at least an extra body in the paint when Howard got into foul trouble or just needed rest.

For Mr. Carter, this trade represents a homecoming for him. In the summertime, it’s not un-usual to see Carter at the CVS in Dr. Phillips or at burger joint around the city. He’s not a bad guy, just not the guy for Orlando.

Throughout his career Vince has developed a reputation for alienating teammates, placing his needs before the team, and, well, being a show-off.

Already we have Dwight Howard who demands touches, Jameer Nelson who needs touches to run the offense, an itchy three-point shooter in Rashard Lewis, and now we add Vince Carter.

Hey Stan, where will Vince fit in? Better yet, where are his touches going to come from.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Not the Magic, not Dwight, and not Jameer. The team that came so close to beating the Lakers last season now seems like a team that may not make it out of the second round.

Teams like the Trailblazers of Portland, the Nets of New Jersey, and the current bunch of team witnesses in Cleveland may all meet the same fate as those infamous Kings teams of the early 2000s.

The Magic men of Orlando had the right set of players, the right coach, an ecstatic fan base, and a city that yearns for a championship.

Now, I’m not sure of that mix.

During the playoffs there were t-shirts and signs everywhere that simply said “Ignite!” Instead of starting a fire, it looks like we just set off a master explosion that will implode the entire operation.

-JH

Daunting Winter: Cowboys Need To Show and Prove in December

Jason Henry — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:58:16 -0400

Dating back more than 10 years ago, the Cowboys were the toast of the NFL. Three championships in four seasons and surefire Hall of Famers on both sides of the ball led the team to glory.

That was before the concussions, drugs, neck injuries, diamonds, and trash, and well, you get the picture.

The Cowboys have not posted a winning record in the months of December and January since 1996. In fact, the team has gone winless in December and January in two of the 13 seasons since ’96.

For some reason the ‘Boys collapse down the stretch and can’t hold on to any type of momentum.

So, allow me to examine last season’s December and January production and then I’ll give my reason why they must…show and prove.

The Cowboys posted a record of 1-3 in December 2008, losing games to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Steelers, division-rival Eagles, and the Ravens of Baltimore.

In two of the four games, the Cowboys threw a couple of the games away. Remember the Ravens game when McGahee and McClain ran as if the police were chasing them?

What about the game against the Steelers when Romo and Witten had a “mis-read?”

All winnable games for the team from Valley Ranch, they just allowed victory to “slip” through their fingers.

When the Cowboys were in their hey-day, they posted winning records down the stretch. The last time the team won a playoff game was 1996. Their record in December you ask? 2-1.

It’s almost un-thinkable to believe that a team as talented as the ‘Boys can fail so miserably in the final months of the season.

A couple of years ago when the Giants pounced on the Cowboys in that famous playoff game at Texas Stadium, the G-men were able to show and prove why they belonged, harassing Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo to the point where he started to yell at his offensive line.

Still need further reasoning as to why the Cowboys need to win in December?

Well how about this one: Championship teams do not falter down the stretch. The Steelers, Giants, Patriots, and Colts all were able to pull it together to make historic Super Bowl runs. Now it’s time for the Cowboys to show and prove they are capable of doing the same.

Pacman Jones on His Way Back to Dallas?

Jason Henry — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:44:22 -0400

In a report today by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and featured on ESPN.com, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is entertaining the idea of bring back embattled cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones.

According to Jerry, “Pacman” graded as the best cornerback for the ‘Boys last season. Granted Terrance Newman was injured for most of the season, the Cowboys had a liability at safety in Roy Williams, and the team’s entire defensive backfield was at a disadvantage due to so many injuries.

Jerry made sure to add that bringing Adam back was a long shot, but still a possibility. Jones said that he now believes that the fight between Adam and his bodyguard was indeed the bodyguard’s fault. Jerry also added that he has no worries about Adam’s off the field problems.

While the Cowboys could use a little more help in the secondary department, I’m not sure if Pacman is the right option for a team that’s worried about chemistry in the locker room.

No matter how many times Jerry denies it, he released Terrell Owens because of his temperament and how he meshed with Tony Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

I’m not sure if bringing Pacman Jones back to a team that’s looking for comradery is the right thing to do. But then again, we are dealing with Jerry Jones.

The new Cowboys stadium opened this past week and with the nation’s current economic situation, Jones needs to sell tickets and PSA’s. I’m not sure if Adam will serve as Jones’ cash cow, but he will definitely bring attention to the Boys of Valley Ranch.

So with the possible return of Adam “Pacman” Jones, that would most definitely put Jerry back on top of league owners who carry a side show disguised as a football team. Terrell Owens and Roy Williams are gone, Michael Irvin is running a reality show for players looking for a shot at playing for the Cowboys, and Jerry Jones is the proud new owner of the largest jumbotron in America.

With all that being said, the Cowboys could probably use Adam as a nickel back. Terrance Newman is often injured, Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins still have not proven themselves, and the rookies are … well… rookies.

Jones missed a golden opportunity to bring a couple of veteran cornerbacks onto the team, like a Chris McAllister, that could serve as a mentor for Scandrick and Mike Jenkins.

Pacman Jones may add depth to a team that desperately needs it in the secondary, but he will also add un-needed attention to a team that’s lacking focus.

Target Acquired: Kobe Bryant Terminates the Magic

Jason Henry — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:42:38 -0400

A few days before the run-up to game one of the NBA Finals, ESPN ran a story about Dwight Howard and his team’s improbable march to play for its first title since 1995.

Howard was interviewed by ESPN’s Rachel Nix and among the things discussed were Howard’s impressions of his coach Stan Van Gundy, how skinny he was in high school, and what he learned from winning his first golf medal over the summer.

While ESPN did a terrific job of depicting Howard’s charisma, which probably got him another endorsement deal, they didn’t portray Howard as the type of guy that who has the killer instinct needed to lead his team to an NBA Championship.

Last night may have served as proof of just how much the Magic want the championship.

The Los Angeles Lakers everyman Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, added 8 assists and 8 rebounds. Sounds like a guy on a mission doesn’t it?

There was something wrong with Kobe last night. Phil Jackson noticed it too, saying that Bryant “had the smell.”

He had something because for one stretch of the game, Bryant scored 36 points in just 33 minutes. His eyes are fixated on how close he is to the prize and he can smell it.

Coming off of last year’s 39 point loss against the Celtics in game six of the Finals, Bryant was determined to make it back to this point. Never again did he want to feel like he did last year, embarrassed, dejected, and most of all he felt as if he let himself down.

Well, Orlando, if we are to judge the Finals in one game this series may only last about four games. Bryant had an extra bounce in his step, a certain look in his eye, and a determination not to lose.

Howard and the Magic on the other hand seemed lost. Being that this franchise has only tasted Finals glory once in its short history, there is no experience to play off of.

The Magic has a team of shooters that were responsible for putting LeBron James and the Cavs to bed in the Eastern Conference Finals. Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Mickael Pietrus rained threes and jumpers all series long.

But last night their wrists either stiffened up or they just couldn’t handle the insults of Jack Nicholson.

Dwight Howard seemed a shell of himself, only logging 12 points and 15 rebounds.

The only spark of the night for the Magic was the return of scrappy point guard Jameer Nelson. Jameer returned from a shoulder injury that was supposed to have him out for the rest of the season. He played 23 minutes and contributed four assists and six points.

But it wasn’t a big enough spark to lead the Magic to victory.

While I believe that the Magic had first game jitters and were blinded by Kobe’s insanity on the court, Orlando cannot miss as many open jumpers and lay-ups as they did last night.

If they continue their miserable play, look for the Black Mamba to strike and terminate the Magic before Howard and his shooters know what hit them.

-JH

LeBron James to DeAngelo Hall: The Augmentation of the Videogame Athlete

Jason Henry — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:28:57 -0400

Remember when video games were simple? When you would play "Super Tecmo Bowl" and the only way you could tell which team and player you were playing with was by number and team color?

Then came new projects like "Primetime NFL featuring Deion Sanders" and "Charles Barkley Shut-up and Jam." Back when, these games seemed harmless and only served as entertainment for kids and adults to live out their big league dreams through the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo.

But things have changed. Now we have athletes that grace the covers of various video games like John Madden football and EA Sports basketball staple, "NBA Live."

Being awarded the cover of a video game can prove to be very lucrative. Many athletes see their earning potential raise because of the exposure afforded to them by appearing on the cover of "Madden" or "NBA Live."

Not only are sports figures concerned with how they are perceived on the field, but off the field as well, video game wise.

A few days ago LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers lost Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Orlando Magic.

Once the final buzzer sounded, James casually walked off the court without shaking hands or giving congratulations to his Olympic buddy and teammate, Dwight Howard. Let alone the players of the Orlando Magic.

LeBron seemed to be so upset that he skipped out on the media after the game, choosing to sit on the team bus with his headphones on. Left to ponder the what if’s of the season that just ended.

James has since been chided by the media for his actions, some calling him a "spoiled athlete."

Well, Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall may fall into that same category as James.

At a recent Washington Redskins minicamp, Hall stated that his recent bump in play was due to his current “Madden rating.” So in essence, DeAngelo isn’t playing well because he feels that he has something to prove or he just wants to get better.

His rating on the new “Madden 10” has dropped from 93 last season to a paltry 68 this year. That’s his main reasoning for the recent up tick in his performance.

While I’m sure the Washington Redskins are OK with Hall’s upgrade in play, should he really have that much concern over his skill rating in a video game?

Way back when the media was only regulated to interview players after the game and John Madden was still a football coach for the Raiders, players were more concerned about their play on the field and how their improvement would contribute to the team.

LeBron James' reasoning for walking off of the court was that he hates to lose and that he’s a winner. That’s still no reason to take your ball and go home because you lost a game.

Plus at last check, LeBron has yet to win anything in the NBA. So should he really label himself as a winning basketball player yet?

I understand that James had a mission to win his first NBA Championship. Yet there was no mention of how he let the city, his team, and himself down. James talked about how great he felt about his team and how he can’t wait to get back at it next season.

Hall, on the other hand, has displayed a "John Madden complex" since his debut in the league. He has fought with opposing players, teammates, and declared himself the best cornerback in the league, having logged 22 career interceptions.

So is there a problem with athletes sulking on superficial issues?

In the case of LeBron James, he has no excuse not to shake the hand of his opponent. Most boys who have participated in little league sports are taught about the art and nature of good sportsmanship.

Seems as if LeBron either missed that part or is too wrapped up in himself to participate.

In regards to DeAngelo Hall, I’m afraid that we are seeing the arrival of sports individuals who are more concerned with their video game score or how they are perceived and viewed on radio, sports talk shows, and ESPN than if they perform well on the field and with their teammates.

But is it bad that so many athletes are in the business of self promotion? After all, isn’t that a thread within the fabric of American society?

LeBron James had his basketball games televised on ESPN and a brand new hummer before he graduated high school.

Do you think he had a sense of entitlement before the Cavs made him their No. 1 pick six years ago?

From our athletes, I’m just looking for a little more accountability and substance involved in their decisions. You lost a game, OK, so what. Go and shake your opponents hand to show a little respect to the team.

For DeAngelo Hall, really? You sign a lucrative contract after you were noting short of a bust in Oakland, and your play improves because you are disappointed in your Madden rating? What about being embarrassed because you were burned by Eddie Royal, a rookie wide receiver for the Broncos, last season.

Then again, with video games becoming a billion-dollar industry and so many people becoming professional gamers, isn’t this road we are headed down anyway?

-JH

Lebron James and the City of Cleveland: A Lost Love Affair

Jason Henry — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:56:24 -0400

Last night may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. The situation was set-up perfectly for the King.

“Lebron James is crowned ‘King’ of the NBA, wins first MVP.” “Lebron and the Cavs cruise by the Pistons in four.” “The Cleveland Lebron’s ‘trap’ the Hawks, send them flying away for series sweep.”

This year would be different for the city of Cleveland. No longer would they have to endure flashbacks of repeated heartbreak. John Elway, Michael Jordan, Ernest Byner; the list goes on.

Lebron would un-break their hearts; he would right their wrongs, and bring them that elusive championship the city so desperately seeks.

Even the NBA thought it was finally Lebron’s turn. Massive commercial campaigns were rolled out featuring the King, as if the finals were already in hand.

And almost rightfully so, if we were to judge the Cavs based off of their play in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

That was until the King met Superman.

Ask any NBA expert and the Orlando Magic has a good team, but not good enough to matchup with the Cavs. Howard was a beast on the defensive side, but his offensive game still needed honing.

Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu were big men who could shoot the three, but stayed around the perimeter too much to bang with Cleveland. West, Williams, and Gibson were enough to give the Magic backcourt fits, especially since Nelson was lost for the year due to a bad shoulder.

Yes indeed, Clevelandwas half way there. The only thing that stood in their way was a sweep of the Magic, and the dream match up would be realized: Kobe Bryant vs. Lebron James.

But first, the Cavs had to zoom past Orlando.

Fast forward through game one and everyone but the Magic were surprised by the team’s surprising win. The Cavs skated to a 23 point lead at one point, but couldn’t close the deal, as Orlando matched the team’s intensity when it counted the most in the fourth quarter.

Next, we zip to game two, and Lebron hits a monster three that will forever live in Cleveland lore, like the shot Jordan hit over Elo in the playoffs.

It just seemed like everything was finally falling into place for the city of Cleveland. The Cavs seemed to have everything on track and Lebron put a seal on the past with one flick of his wrist.

The shot made Sportscenter's top ten of course, but for all-time greatest playoff shots. The King talked about how he had dreamed of making a shot of that nature, even suggesting that Cleveland needed something like that to bring the city back to life.

Then the Cavs headed to Orlando, and that’s where the wheels came off. Lebron continued to rain points while his supporting cast watched in awe of his, well, awesomeness. Mo Williams at one point in the series shot 32 percent from the field, clanking shots off the side of the rim and backboard.

During one “intense” battle, Williams was accidentally elbowed by Magic guard Anthony Johnson, which led to Mo receiving four stitches over his eye.

I guess that led to his delusional guarantee that the Cavs would eventually win the series after being down 3-1. Yea, ok Mo.

Eventually, the inevitable happened, and Lebron could no longer handle beating the Magic all by himself. And the Magic bounced the Cavs from the NBA playoffs and Lebron walked off the floor in disgust. He even chose not to talk to reporters.

So the love affair that the King has with Cleveland could be coming to a close. For the third year in a row, his supporting cast decided not to show during the team’s biggest games.

Maybe this is why Lebron wears Yankee fitteds during games around the city.

So now come back the ghosts of Jordan, Byner, Elway, and the Braves. That shot that Lebron hit will not and cannot go down as the greatest the city has ever seen since his team didn't prevail in the series.

As much as Cleveland needed the Cavs to at least make it back to the finals, it seems as if the city is turning into Boston before they won their first world series in 1,000 years.

While Cleveland may be begging Lebron not to leave just yet, the King may have his eyes set on a town filled with bright lights. Like the famous O’Jays song goes, “Your body’s here with me, but your mind is on the other side of town.” Cleveland, Lebron may be messing you around.

-JH

Evaluating The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Quarterbacks: Part I

Jason Henry — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:33:21 -0400

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for their most interesting season since their storied Super Bowl run in 2002. The team has a new coach, new general manager, new quarterbacks, new defensive coordinator, and, well, new everything.

“Starting anew” should be the motto at One Buc Place this season since there was a house cleaning and a complete departure from everything Jon Gruden.

No longer will the team train at the Walt Disney World Sports Complex, instead Morris has opted to have the team hold training camp in Tampa Bay .

Even with the changes the organization has made to personnel, will it make a difference?

During the 2008 season, the team primarily used Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese under center. While neither quarterback put up stellar numbers, Garcia at least provided the leadership that the young Bucs offense needed.

Garcia also brought a near 65% completion percentage, 12 touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 114 on pass attempts longer than 10 yards. His production and leadership will be hard to replace.

In his place the Bucs have rookie Josh Freeman, veteran quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown, and Brian Griese. Earlier this offseason, McCown stated that he felt the starting job was his to loose and that no-one could take that position away from him.

But I’m pretty sure head coach Raheem Morris wants a competition instead of a handing the job to McCown. But if McCown wants the job, let’s explore his stats.

Luke McCown

…

Right, we can’t because there are none to go off of. McCown is going to have to prove himself in mini and training camp in order to “keep” the job.

Moving on, let’s take a peek at Byron Leftwich. Remember him? Started in Jacksonville for a while before Del Rio gave him the boot in favor of David Garrard. Then he went on to back up Joey Harrington, of all people, in Atlanta, before winning a Super Bowl with the Steelers as Big Ben’s No. 2.

Byron Leftwich

When examining his stats, Leftwich is a front runner. When his teams are ahead he does better, which is true for many quarterbacks in the NFL. His rating when ahead by 10+ points is a staggering 130.4.

However, when his teams are behind by more than five points his rating drops 45 points down to 85. Looking at Byron’s stats in the fourth quarter, his rating is 110, but he only has a completion rate of 54%.

That’s an astounding stat because the Bucs may play from behind during the season. If that is the case, Leftwich may not be the type of quarterback the team needs.

So with McCown staking his claim for the job with no experience to do so and Leftwich needing to prove himself as a leader and capable of bringing his team back, I’m not sure if either gentleman will be under center when the NFL kicks off.

Part II of this centerpiece on the Bucs' quarterbacks will be published this coming Tuesday; feature Brian Griese and Josh Freeman.

Evaluating the NFC South: 2009-10 Season

Jason Henry — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:28:07 -0400

Last season, fans of the NFC South were caught off guard when the team a lot of prognosticators expected to finish last finished near the top: the Atlanta Falcons.

The departure of embattled quarterback Michael Vick, the loss of tight end Alge Crumpler, and the release of running back Warrick Dunn all seemed to point to another disappointing season in Atlanta.

But new energy was injected when the team drafted quarterback Matt Ryan and signed free agent running back Michael Turner. These key additions propelled the Falcons from 4-12 one season to 11-5 the next.

Which team will catch lighting in a bottle next season in the NFC South?

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have only strengthened their team in the offseason by adding tight end Tony Gonzalez. The continued maturation of wide receiver Roddy White paired with Gonzalez will add depth and length to the team’s potent passing attack.

As long as Michael Turner remains healthy, the Falcons are poised to take the crown in 2009.

Not much has changed from last season’s team, but the Falcons must remain consistent. That is easier said than done in the NFL, but the Falcons are only playing a few of last season’s playoff teams and have a great chance of making it back to the playoffs again next season.

Carolina Panthers

The only reason I chose the Panthers to finish second is age and well, Jake Delhomme. His inconsistency is scary, and he turns into Brett Farve’s strange cousin at times.

If he can maintain his composure and stay in his lane, the Panthers may be OK.

The team also has a very frightening running attack in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who both averaged more than five yards per carry.

However, in each of the team’s four losses their running attack was essentially halted.

If the Panthers can sustain a consistent running game and defense that ranks better than 20th against the run, they may have a shot at snatching the No. 1 spot again. But we all know the history of this division: last goes to first almost every season.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have underachieved the past two seasons after coming one game short of the Super Bowl in Reggie Bush’s rookie season. Now the once promising franchise is teetering with mediocrity.

The Saints have arguably the best quarterback in the league in Drew Brees, but pair him with an oft-inured receiving corps and a shaky defense, and that will most certainly equal a last place finish.

In the four major defensive categories, the Saints rank no higher than 17th.

So Drew can throw for 5,000 yards again, but if the team allows 25 points a game again, the Saints may be looking for a new coach in 2010.

Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush will shoulder the running load for the Saints, which doesn’t seem to bode well for a team that has no viable No. 1 in the backfield.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs finished next to last in the division last season with a record of 9-7. The regime of “Chucky” is over, as the team deposed Jon Gruden and promoted secondary coach Raheem Morris to head coach.

Also gone is quarterback Jeff Garcia and defensive coordinator Monty Kiffin.

But the adage, “out with the old and in with the new” isn’t a bad thing for the pirates off the Bay.

The team drafted quarterback Josh Freeman, signed free agent quarterback Byron Leftwich, and re-signed former first round pick Michael Clayton.

With all of that being said, the team still has a lot of needs that have to be addressed. One of the reasons Gruden was let go was because of his revolving door of quarterbacks, and it seems as if Morris is following his lead.

McCown, Freeman, and Leftwich will all vie for the No. 1 spot at quarterback.

At running back Cadillac Williams is looking for a second chance, Warrick Dunn is still a serviceable back, and Earnest Graham remains the team's main option in the backfield.

But how will the defense fair without the tutelage of the elder Kiffin? What about Raheem’s offensive strategy, and how will Josh Freeman fair?

While I have low expectations for the Bucs, it wouldn’t surprise me if the team finished first or second in the division.

The talent and the leadership on this team is fairly strong, and there are only a few pieces missing.

But if and when will the pieces be put together?

The NFC South will be a competitive division again next season that will include plenty of surprises as always. But what intrigues me the most is the question mark of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

-JH

Grading the Dallas Cowboys' 2009 Draft

Jason Henry — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:50:19 -0400

Day one of the NFL Draft was not one to be had by the men of Irving, Texas.

In trading away their first round pick last year with the Detroit Lions for WR Roy Williams, and getting rid of their second round pick as well, the team failed to make much noise on day one.

So much for day two being "Jerry's day."

The team’s first pick in the draft would be at No. 69, and there was still an immense amount of talent left on the board.

First pick of the draft for the Dallas Cowboys was LB Jason Williams out of Western Illinois University.

I think this was a great pick for the Boys as the team let Kevin Barnett go in free agency.

The Cowboys led the league in sacks last year, and Williams is a great pass rusher off the edge.

This pick receives a B+ grade from me.

I do think the team should have addressed their concerns in the secondary before drafting a linebacker, and by giving up their second round pick, they lost a little ground.

But I can’t go that far against the grain when the team was able to pick up such a great player in this round.

The second pick of the draft for the Cowboys was OT Robert Brewster out of Ball State University.

The Cowboys again used this pick wisely in addressing a need on the offensive line. In my previous analysis of the Boys draft needs, I stated that there was a lack of depth on the offensive line.

This pick receives a B from me.

The fourth quarter of the playoff game against the New York Giants, that took place a couple of years ago, should still haunt the team as a day the offensive line fell apart.

According to NFL.com, Brewster is likely to move inside to guard.

The third pick of the draft for the Cowboys was QB Stephen McGee out of Texas A&M.

In watching post draft analysis, a few talking heads lauded this pick because of what happened with the Cowboys last season at quarterback.

For me, this is a bit of a wasted pick.

The Cowboys already picked up another QB in John Kitna during a trade with the Lions early this offseason.

McGee is a project at best.

Why waste a draft pick on a player that needs serious development and is at best your third string quarterback?

Again, we could have addressed a need at corner, offensive line, or safety with this pick.

Drafting McGee receives a D- grade from me.

The fourth pick of the draft for the Cowboy was DE Victor Butler out of Oregon State University.

Apparently, Butler was surely a pick for the special teams. This is not surprising as most teams build their special teams through later rounds in the draft.

Butler only started one year in college, but had an outstanding pro day, which caught the eyes of many teams in the NFL.

I give this pick a C+ grade because the team addressed a need on special teams, but still went away from team needs.

The sixth pick of the draft for the Cowboys was CB DeAngelo Smith out of University of Cincinnati.

Finally in the 5th round the team starts to address needs.

I give this pick a B+ grade simply because the team needs help in the secondary.

Smith is very aggressive and has great awareness, but according to NFL.com, Smith may be moved to safety. This is a pick that could pay off well for the Boys as Smith has nice size standing at 5’11”.

The seventh pick of the draft for the Cowboys was FS Michael Hamlin out of Clemson University.

This pick seems familiar because of Hamlin’s similarities to former Cowboys' safety Roy Williams.

I give this pick a B because it adds depth to the secondary, and Hamlin is a headhunter.

Hamlin has a nice build, standing at 6’2” and weighing in at 214 pounds.

His only drawback is his speed as he’s not a burner.

The Cowboys selected three times in the fifth round and chose two players that will add depth to their secondary.

Their last pick out of the fifth round you ask?

A kicker from USC.

The team already has one of the best kickers in the league in Nick Folk, so this is not a pick of value

The team did choose another corner, which brought their total up to four for the day.

However, with the release of WR Terrell Owens, the team only selected one wide receiver and that was with their seventh round selection.

Overall, I give the Cowboys a C+ for the decisions on the second day of the draft.

Throwing a pick away on a kicker and not selecting a wide receiver sooner was not in the best interest of the team.

Only one offensive lineman and choosing yet another tight end makes it seem as if Jerry is a little too high on his current team.

I guess we will find out come training camp.

-JH

Why I Would Want Jason Campbell over Jay Cutler

Jason Henry — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:41:50 -0400

As reported on ESPN, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder attempted to trade for former Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. I imagine the trade fell through because neither side could agree on compensation; more than likely draft picks.

But what surprises me about this move isn’t the fact that the Redskins wanted to trade for another quarterback, it’s that they wanted to trade for Cutler. Jay’s record as starting quarterback for his former team was a paltry 17-20. Campbell’s record as a starter for the Redskins you ask? 16-20.

So if we judge the two signal callers by their records, they are both equal. But Jay Cutler is perceived to have more upside than Campbell because is arm is stronger and he’s a better quarterback.

Not judging by the record.

Campbell seems to be the type of quarterback that may need another year or two to develop.

Not because he doesn’t have the skill or the capacity to become great, but because the Redskins can’t seem to make up their minds on offensive coordinators, let alone head coaches.

So here are my reasons for wanting Campbell over Cutler.

1. Jason Campbell has had over 5 offensive coordinators; college and pro.

Campbell has the ability to adapt. During his college career, Campbell never had the same offensive coordinator for longer than a season. Granted he had the Cadillac behind him as well as Ronnie Brown, but he still was able to perform at a high level year after year.

Cutler was in Denver with a decent offense and a terrible defense and ranked ahead of Drew

Brees in the category of passing yards in the fourth quarter. But that still did not translate to wins. Campbell has a hurt running attack, an inconsistent wide receiving core, and rookie head coach to boot.

I’d take Campbell

2. Jay Cutler has the makings of Jeff George

Remember how strong Jeff George’s arm was when he was in the league? Remember how many passing yards he would rack up at one time? Remember how many teams he played for? I’ve heard Skip Bayless drown himself in love for Jay Cutler over and over even going so far as to call him Brett Favre Jr...While I have lost respect for Brett over the years, he was never one to complain (until late in his career).

The 1^st instance of trouble in Denver, Cutler wanted out. Is this what the Bears have to look forward if the head coach changes soon? Look, I understand we have players like Terrell Owens and Jared Allen; but Cutler doesn’t seem to have the mental toughness to become a great leader.

This brings me to my last point…

3. Jay Cutler is not mentally tough

Five or more offensive coordinators, scrutiny over if he can actually play quarterback, and the death of a close friend seem to have hardened Campbell; but not in a bad way. He knows what it takes to win and he has been though enough to have his skin thickened.

While I am more familiar with the career of Campbell than Cutler; Jay doesn’t seem like the type of guy that takes bad news well. He also seems to have the arrogance of a star quarterback without the statistics to match. Stating that your arm is stronger than John Elway is fine, but your Super Bowl trophy case is collecting dust in the meantime.

Maybe Jay needs to focus on his play on the field and let go of the off the field distractions.

Jay Cutler may become the next Jeff George or Brett Favre, but if keeps heading down his current path, we may only know him for his mouth rather than his strong arm.

Dallas Cowboys' 2009 Pre-Draft Analysis

Jason Henry — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:47:32 -0400

The 2008 Dallas Cowboys were defined by injuries, turmoil, and, well, more turmoil. Tony Romo broke his pinkie finger; the punter broke his foot; the team traded for receiver Roy Williams; and then they released safety Roy Williams.

What does that small synopsis tell you about the ‘Boys of ’08?

There is enough drama in Valley Ranch to drive any normal owner crazy. But not Jerry Jones, he lives off of it.

But Jonsey finally realized that wide receiver Terrell Owens was detrimental to the growth of his star quarterback and to team chemistry, so he let him go.

Jones did the same with former safety Roy Williams because he became a hindrance to the pass defense.

So where does this leave the Cowboys of 2009. Who should they draft and what holes need to be filled?

Team Gaps

Honestly, the Cowboys don’t have many holes to fill. However the gaps that the team has are large and glaring. With the release of safety Roy Williams, the Cowboys are in need of more depth in the secondary. The solution could be to sign a veteran defensive back.

Gap: Secondary

Solution: Sign a veteran defensive back

At last check, Chris McAllister was still available. He may have a little mileage and probably took a beating playing in Baltimore for so many years. But Chris is the type of guy that would bring needed leadership to a secondary that seemed lost at times last season.

Jones probably won’t sign McAllister since he’s older and only has a couple of serviceable years left.

Instead of signing a veteran, the Cowboys should draft Louis Delmas out of Western Michigan. The team decided to move Orlando Scandrick to free safety to supplement for the loss of Williams, but still needs additional depth in case of injuries or just plain bad play.

The ‘Boys could use their second round pick on Delmas and still have room for movement in the later rounds for picks on either an offensive or defensive lineman.

Louis’ speed isn’t blazing, registering just a 4.52 on his 40 time at the combine. But neither was Williams' and he was menace his first few years in the league. If the team is able to work with Delmas on his pass coverage, the Cowboys may see instant improvement in their pass defense.

Gap: Defensive line

Solution: Draft

The release of Chris Canty was baffling to me. Maybe only to me but he was an integral part in a defense that led the league in sacks last season. But since he’s gone now, the team must fill his hole by drafting a young player with nice size.

Enter Ron Brace out of Boston College . His natural position is a nose tackle, and he weighs in at an impressive 330 pounds. He may not garner as many sacks as Canty, but trying to run on a team with a person the size of Grady Jackson would be nearly impossible.

Gap: Offensive line

Solution: Draft

Remember that game against the Giants in the playoffs from a couple of years ago? Remember how tired the offensive line looked? OK, what about this one. Remember that game against the Cardinals when Romo was destroyed and broke his pinkie finger? I could continue, but I’m sure you get the picture by now.

The Cowboys need depth on the offensive line. In order to properly protect the quarterback, the line needs to be interchangeable. A drop off in protection could easily turn a win into a loss.

In the last round of the draft, Ramon Foster out of Tennessee will still be on the board. Now I understand that he could easily sign as a free agent or simply go undrafted. But with a little work and added muscle, Foster should turn into a serviceable offensive guard.

In order for the team to move forward, the Cowboys have to address issues that will affect the team long-term. In the interim, drafting role players that could stick with the team for five plus years could turn out to be a just long term investment.

Best Case Scenarios

Traditionally, the Dallas Cowboys have drafted pretty well.

They drafted Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Kevin Smith, Nate Newton, Erik Williams, DeMarcus Ware, Marion Barber, Greg Ellis, and so on and so forth.

So drafting isn’t usually a problem for this team. However, bombing on a day that could make or break your team with the type of picks they have is a possibility.

Jones traded away his first round pick this season for wide receiver Roy Williams. So unless the ‘Boys are desperate for a first round pick and decide to trade up, the team won’t have much movement on day one.

But a best case scenario for the team is to draft for role players and supplemental players, such as Ron Brace.

Also seeing teams like Philly and New York have terrible drafts would be great, but that is highly unlikely.

The Cowboys have an opportunity to grow by subtraction. Ridding themselves of Owens and Williams was a step in the right direction that could result in their first playoff win since 1996.

Now the challenge is finding players that fit well with a team that remains mired in controversy and uncertainty.