Donovan McNabb Benched, Randy Moss On 3 Teams and Other NFL Storylines
The biggest storyline of the first half of the 2010 NFL season is the attempt to change the culture of the game.
Roger Goodell wants to clean up the fierce hitting.
There has not been a suspension yet; there have been plenty of fines.
From the sense of society overall, Goodell is the first voice to say that the violence we like to see is too much.
The attempt to take out the big hits from the game is—and will continue to be—a very interesting development in the NFL.
What Happened in Detroit?
1 of 9
With the Washington Redskins trailing late in the fourth quarter, coach Mike Shanahan sent in Rex Grossman to lead the team on a winning drive over the Detroit Lions.
Long story short, Ndamukong Suh scored his first NFL touchdown.
Coach Shanahan filled many headlines with quotes to explain his choice, but the real question is:
Was Donovan McNabb benched?
The Redskins had a bye last week, and it is hard to believe that Shanahan will trot out turnover machine Rex Grossman to start their next game.
In the weak NFC, Washington still has a chance to make a Wild Card run.
They will need Donovan McNabb to do that.
A Hall of Fame Talent On His Third Team in a Month
2 of 9
Most players step up in the final year of their contract so they can secure the next big contract.
Randy Moss has always played to his own drumbeat though, and in his contract year, he has been bouncing around the league like a journeyman wide receiver.
The Patriots went a whole game without a Moss catch. They traded him to Minnesota who needed a deep threat badly. He kinda went nuts in Minnesota, adding to the dysfunction that the Vikings were already enduring, and was simply released.
Now he is a Tennessee Titan, who also had a very well timed bye week, and we will see how they fare with the enigmatic superstar running routes.
Can You Believe I Picked These Guys To Win the NFC?
3 of 9
In my defense, the NFC is weak and the Cowboys have a lot of talent. I thought they could rise above the flaws of coach Wade Phillips.
They have not risen above anything this year.
The Cowboys actually have a very simple problem:
Jerry Jones' ego.
He is a great owner in many ways, but his thirst for credit is the perpetual thorn in the side of this team. He wants to have a coach that will share the credit for winning with him. Jones learned that about himself when Jimmy Johnson won two Super Bowls as the coach and did not share the credit.
Barry Switzer took Johnson's players and won a title that Jones took credit for.
This team is a great coach away from being the team to beat in the NFC. Will Jerry Jones allow this team to reach its potential?
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
The Surprising Teams
4 of 9
This list is quite long.
The Chiefs and Raiders played in a pivotal game in the AFC West, as both teams have been playing good football in the first half.
Sam Bradford is doing great for the resurgent St. Louis Rams.
The New York Giants, after a year long slump, look like the best team in the NFC.
The Atlanta Falcons won a thriller over Baltimore when Matt Ryan took his team down the field in the last minute.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might not be the best team in the NFC but they do have a winning record and that is quite a surprise.
What Is the Deal With These Teams?
5 of 9
The Minnesota Vikings hate their coach Brad Childress, yet they rallied for two late scores to beat the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys liked Wade Phillips and Jerry Jones fired him.
The San Diego Chargers have a little of the Dallas Cowboy problem. A great team on paper with an average—at best—head coach in Norv Turner. Philip Rivers is an elite quarterback and this team can have a nice second half of the season as they look up at the Raiders and the Chiefs.
The Bengals have been horrible as well. Carson Palmer has been struggling. Chad Ochocinco is furthering his reputation as all style and no substance. Terrell Owens, in a strange twist, is having a great year.
After nice starts, the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears both look like they are dropping back to their average ways.
The Carolina Panthers are the antithesis of the Chargers and Cowboys; John Fox is a great coach but his roster stinks.
Something To Cheer For In Cleveland
6 of 9
And it is not the Miami Heat's 5-4 record, although that is pretty sweet.
Cleveland has been a witness to good football this year.
The Browns are 3-5 so there is no need to put lipstick on a pig.
There is reason to be excited as the team has had fourth quarter leads in seven games, and with wins over the Saints and the Patriots, they are on a two game winning streak.
The AFC East
7 of 9
LaDainian Tomlinson looks like he found that step he lost in San Diego, as he is a key piece of the Jets' puzzle.
The Patriots miss what Randy Moss did for them when he opened up the field with his speed.
The Dolphins have switched from Chad Henne to Chad Pennington. They are in danger of falling out of the race and will they ever win a game at home?
The Dolphins will not finish last as the Bills have that sewed up. The Bills have been competitive, so their fans can be pleased with that, I guess.
Other Teams Worth Mentioning
8 of 9
The Colts and Eagles played a great game. The Colts are filled with injuries once again, and once again the will of Peyton Manning is the catalyst for this team playing good football.
Mike Vick looks like the quarterback we all thought he could be, he just had to go to Philly to learn how to play the game right.
The Saints have had a strange year, but are still a team to reckon with in the NFC.
Pete Carroll has the Seahawks playing good...At times.
The Packers, like the Colts, are playing good football while working through injuries.
The Lions, like the Browns, are a good team with a bad record.
The 49ers, unlike the Browns and Lions, are a bad team with a bad record.
The Cardinals miss Kurt Warner badly as he made up for a lot of their flaws.
Are the Jaguars going to LA?
The Steelers are getting by; they don't excite anybody but they know how to win.
The Ravens are good.
The Broncos are awful.
Parity rules in the NFL this year, so the next few weeks should be more of the roller coaster ride.
Can You Believe I Didn't Mention Brett Favre?
9 of 9
I blew that.
Oh well, he was great in There's Something About Mary.
There was no acting there.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")