Borderline NFL Teams in Need of Change After Week 17

Denver Broncos

It's amazing to watch an see how little success Mike Shanahan has had without Gary Kubiak to nurture and coach his QBs.

The Denver Broncos have not earned a playoff berth since Kubiak's departure. Maybe management will wake up and realize Shanahan is NOT the mastermind behind the offensive success Denver has seen prior to 2005.

Despite having Hall of Famers like Elway and Young play under Shanahan, we watched Jake “the Fake” Plummer show success under Kubiak's coaching.

Now that's talent—being able to take a has-been QB that folks thought was a bust and make him one of the higher rated passers in the league. Jake played from 2003–2005 and the Broncos had a playoff team each year.

Ultimately, Jake struggled in 2006 with Kubiak gone. However, Jake was 7-4 as a starter that year. Shanahan made a QB change and the Broncos ended up missing the playoffs, going 2-3 with Cutler as the starter.

Kubiak is the kinda coordinator you pay big money to stay. I am hoping Denver Bronco management figures this out and sees if they can woo the guy back to the Mile High City.

Philadelphia Eagles

All I have to mention hear are two words to sum up the year: McNabb and TIE.

Andy Reid needs to leave town and take that Seattle job when it's up for grabs. One would think that after not being able to maintain a locker room that was just in the past year's Superbowl, along with the shenanigan's that went forth between T.O. And Donovan, that coaching changes would ensue.

Now we can all see that T.O. was not the problem. The problem has been lack of leadership, which is the reason the Eagles will fall short this year.

And to think some Philly players never knew an NFL game could end in a TIE....ugh!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Read these words: JON GRUDEN IS NOT THE QB MASTERMIND WE ALL THOUGHT HE WAS

Here goes the list of QB's Coach Gruden has developed:

See anyone familiar?

Al Davis went out and got him a seasoned QB in Rich Gannon in 1999 after running a QB carousel featuring the likes of Jeff George and Wade Wilson the previous year. After 1999, the Raiders won two division titles, especially after acquiring the likes of Jerry Rice and Al Davis buying whatever other players he could.

So Jon gets traded to the Bucs, and inherits a Hall-of-Fame defense with a few tweaks needed in the cogs. He wins a Superbowl over the Raiders. Need I remind all he had another seasoned QB in Brad Johnson?

Taking a look now, the Bucs have only made the playoffs three out of the six years Gruden has been there. Since the Superbowl, it's been a roller coaster at the QB position. The so-called QB genius couldn't even develop Chris Simms, and he struggled to figure out if he should stick with Garcia or Griese.

I highly doubt after seeing Garcia bounce around the field against the Panthers that anyone questions Garcia's toughness as a QB in this league. With all the injuries that surround the Bucs going into Sunday's game against the Raiders, I am kinda smelling upset. But a healthy Garcia gets them the win. Too bad they will miss the playoffs once again this year.

To sum it all up, Coach Gruden can't develop a quarterback, but he can sure coach a West Coast Offense.

New York Jets

Hate to say it, but I did say Eric Mangini was on the hot seat in Week one (no, I never wrote an article).

Reason being, they made strides to improve their team significantly. These significant changes show the Jets have a vested interest in getting results NOW. And if he gets beat by the Dolphins, the end is definitive. If you needed a game winning drive with 2:00 left, would you pick Chad or Brett?

San Diego Chargers

The only thing saving Norv Turner's job is that THEY WILL win the division this Sunday. And this is where I might wanna get into another topic of discussion involving playoff formats for each conference. There is no way in heck that either the Chargers or the Broncos should be in the playoffs if my hometown Buffa-slow Bills beat both of them.

Dear Commish,

Please go back to a three division format for each conference, with each division winner and three wildcard teams making the playoffs. This will give us back the rivalries between cities we are use to. Yes, I want the City of Baltimore back in the AFC East.

Toughest problem is the fact there are 16 Teams in each conference. 16 divided by three leaves a remainder of 1. So how about two divisions in each conference? Just like the NBA use to be. Two division winners and 4 wild card teams...sounds good. Either way, an 8-8 team should not make the playoffs.

Another option would be to give the winner of the Denver-San Diego game their division crown, but also let them know the did not win enough to make the playoffs. I actually dig this option most.  In this way, a 10-6 team won't get snubbed from the playoffs.

Bottom of the Barrel needs cleaning

Cincinnati Bengals

The only excuse I can give them is their franchise QB has been out with a busted wing all year. The Bengals seriously need to clean house and eliminate the distractions brought on in their locker room. I would keep Marvin Lewis as head coach, but there are enough quality players out there to replace the big mouths like Ocho Cinco.

Detroit Lions

Funny how the Lions lose Mike Martz and all of sudden they struggle to score points, which in turn keeps their defense on the field more than any other team.

Mike Martz had Jon Kitna looking like Andre Ware in the ole' Cougars uniform. Martz moves on, and Detroit looks pitiful. Detroit needs to clean house and put some coaching investment into their young talent. The Lions have the tools on offense to continue to put up points with their vertical game, and a young and talented rookie RB.

If I were Detroit management, I'd go out and hire Brady Hoke. Another thought is to give one of those Ryan twins a head coaching job. Let's just say I love the 46 defense. Shoot, hire Buddy as a consultant as well. But ultimately, they should talk to Mike Martz, who I am hoping stays another year in San Fran with the success of Shaun Hill.

Cleveland Browns

Romeo, oh Romeo, wherefore art though oh Romeo? Let's just hope out the door.

We have watched an offense loaded with too much talent sputter to move the ball. At least Braylon Edwards is a spectacular catch receiver in Madden '09, but not in real life.

When Romeo got hired, I thought Cleveland would prove to at least get a respectable defense, which has not happened. The Browns got Willie McGinest to cross over into the dark side, and for what? Romeo wanted a guy that knew is defense on his defense, as oppose to just COACHING a defense.

I really can't wait until Marty-Ball returns to bring progress and prosperity back to Cleveland football.

St. Louis Rams

Maybe I should write an article entitled “Six degrees of Mike Martz” or “Hey St. Louis, you reap what you sow.”

First Kurt Warner got ran out, then Mike Martz. Then they musta fell and banged their head, because they still have not figured out that when Isaac Bruce left, you need to backfill his opening with some other receiver of that caliber, to compliment and keep Torry Holt from getting doubled all the time. Genius, just genius.

I hope all of you enjoy Week 17. All you Cowboy fans are in for a treat in Philly. And all of us Bills fans (well just call me an AFC east guy) hope we can beat the Pats and would love to see the Jets lose.