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The NFL Report: Week 1
Posted by Dr. Tom on Sep 2, 2003, 16:07
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THE NFL REPORT: WEEK 1
If you�re among the millions of readers who loved my insightful, accurate, and eminently well-written AFC Preview article, you�re probably wondering where the promised NFC preview went. It�s a simple explanation: school. My current programming class has kept me busy to the point where I can�t sit down and devote the hours it would require for me to band out a full conference preview. Something like this is much quicker to write, but I will give a brief NFC preview.
I�m going to write one of these every week, and how long and in-depth the columns are will be a direct function of my current school workload. Each week, I�ll preview the games ahead (with my picks for the winners), take a look back at the week that was, steal significant NFL news from the usual online sources, and opine about matters of the league I feel like opining about. This column will continue straight up through the Super Bowl.
The NFC Preview That (Almost) Wasn�t
East:
Philadelphia 11-5. They�re still the class of their division.
NY Giants 10-6. A strong defense will pair with their resurgent offense.
Washington 7-9. Patrick Ramsey and Trung Canidate?
Dallas 5-11. The Tuna will need another year or two to make real strides.
North:
Green Bay 10-6. The luster is fading.
Minnesota 9-7. I might be a game optimistic, but don�t buy the hype that they suck.
Chicago 6-10. I pity the fool who gives Kordell Stewart a starting QB job.
Detroit 5-11. Charles Rogers looks like a PLAYER in this league.
South:
Tampa Bay 11-5. Note to Bucs fans: don�t bother putting the champagne on ice.
Carolina 9-7. That defense can�t be ignored. Can Stephen Davis spark the O?
Atlanta 8-8. Johnson and Dunn instead of Vick and Duckett? Ugh.
New Orleans 8-8. Look for the annual late-season fade to strike again.
West:
St. Louis 12-4. Faulk and Warner are back. Believe the hype on this one.
"The City" 9-7. The defense is bad, but the offense will carry them.
Seattle 8-8. The offense is high-octane, but they�ll miss Shaun Springs.
Arizona 4-12. The light at the end of the tunnel IS a train.
Wild cards: NY Giants and one of the 9-7 teams, probably Carolina.
Looking Back at Last Week
Yay, more meaningless preseason games. Nothing to see here.
And Speaking of Meaningless Preseason Games. . .
When will the NFL finally smarten up and do something about the preseason? Really, there�s absolutely no need for each team to play four exhibition games just to get ready for the regular season. Fans see these games as being necessary because the league has brainwashed them into thinking that way. How many preseason games do college teams play? If you guessed anything other than �zero,� do not pass Go and do not collect $200. College teams play no exhibition games and their starters aren�t keeling over from being out of shape.
Basically, preseason games are a racket. Teams learned their fans were stupid enough to pay regular-game prices to see a bunch of guys who are going to be cut in a few days play a game that approximates American football. The genie�s out of the bottle there. Teams don�t want to get rid of preseason games because they make money. A million season ticket holders pay for these shams every year, so why should the teams want to get rid of them?
Answer: they don�t, until someone important gets injured. How many fans in Atlanta had their views on the necessity of preseason football do a quick 180 when they saw Michael Vick carted off the field with a broken leg? More importantly, why does it take something like that for the fans to realize these games don�t mean a damn thing? Preseason games are advertised as a chance to see the stars of the league play. What the ads don�t mention is that the stars will play a series or two (if they play at all � Mike Martz wisely took no chances with Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner in the last exhibition game), and then the second-stringers, random has-beens, and a bunch of never-weres will take over.
Basically, preseason games are an excuse for the NFL to make money at the expense of fans who don�t seem to know better. These are professionals making millions of dollars a year; if they can�t come to camp in game shape, then they should be suspended until they can stay out of the buffet line. Charging fans $75 a head to see a collection of scrubs play 55 minutes isn�t the answer.
I�d be in favor of eliminating the preseason games altogether. Teams can have more practices and scrimmages this way, so their players will still get the same number of reps. If there must be a preseason (and let�s face it, kids, there must: it�s a goddamn cash cow), then cap it at two games. Coaches play their starters more than 5:00 per game at their own peril. And make the damn things half price for the fans to attend, since they�re about half the quality of a regular season game.
Rant over.
News From Around The League
--- Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was shot in the behind outside a Denver bar Saturday night. Porter was attending the Colorado State � Colorado game, and had just seen his alma mater lose to Colorado. There was an altercation outside the bar, in which Porter was not involved, according to reports. One man is dead and four others were injured by the gunfire. The bullet entered Porter�s left buttock and is lodged in his right thigh. Doctors were debating whether to surgically remove the bullet before finally going ahead and doing it Friday night. Porter will be sideline anywhere from two to eight weeks, according to coach Bill Cowher. In the meantime, the Steelers will shift their players around to cover Porter�s absence, with Clark Haggans and James Farrior playing his spot depending on the defensive package.
--- There were a few surprising cuts around the league. Power runner Chris Fuamatu Ma�afala was cut by the Steelers. Considering the uncertainty of Amos Zereoue in the starting RB spot, a guy like �Fu� would have been good to have around. If Zereoue does stumble � and I think he�ll be fine in the role � then former starter Jerome Bettis will again shoulder the load. The Titans cut veteran backup QB Neil O�Donnell (after signing him to a nice bonus, in fact), who should catch on as a backup elsewhere. Receiver and kickoff returner extraordinaire MarTay Jenkins is available, and should draw some interest. Robert Edwards, who recovered from the most gruesome leg injury I�ve ever seen, was sent packing over the weekend, and should land somewhere as a special-teams guy. The Bills released Marcus Jones, who should be able to ply his pass-rushing trade somewhere else. Frank Winters, best known for being Brett Favre�s roommate on the road, was released by the Packers. Finally, Lawyer Milloy was released by the Patriots after refusing to take a pay cut for this season. Milloy will still count about $4 million against the Pats� cap for next season. Buffalo has expressed the most early interest.
--- Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones, unhappy about being labeled his team�s franchise player, will end his holdout and stop whining about being paid �only� $5.9 million. Jones wants to be paid like Jonathan Ogden, and the Seahawks tried to accommodate him, despite the fact he�s not as good as Ogden.
--- Former Michigan QB, and current Yankees minor-leaguer, Drew Henson has dropped some strong hints that he�s giving up baseball after this season. Two straight years of more strikeouts than hits will do that to a body, I suppose. Henson was chosen in the sixth round by the Houston Texans in the recent NFL draft, but will probably sign and be traded elsewhere, rather than play behind franchise QB David Carr. Henson will be foregoing millions of dollars from the Yankees to try and catch on in the NFL, but it�s a better career choice for him. He�ll need a couple years to get NFL-ready, and then he should be a good QB for whichever team gets him from Houston.
--- Lions RB James Stewart had his shoulder re-evaluated by team doctors, and the Lions decided to place him on Injured Reserve. This will force Stewart to miss the entire season. To take his place, the Lions traded for Olandis Gary, most recently with the Bills. Gary had a very good rookie season in Denver, and the Lions are hoping he can bring that level of play with him.
--- The 49ers officially announced that veteran Garrison Hearst will be their starting halfback, though he�ll be sharing time with promising third-year man Kevan Barlow.
--- After losing starting linebacker Mike Fields for the season to Hodgkin�s Disease, the Panthers signed Bears expatriate Mike Caldwell to compete for the job. Caldwell signed a three-year contract worth $2.48 million, and will challenge Greg Favors for the starting spot.
Sources: ESPN and the AP.
Week 1 Games
Home teams are in bold.
Washington 24, NY Jets 14: I didn�t like the Jet�s offense before Pennington got hurt.
New England 23, Buffalo 19: These teams will be vying for the AFC East crown.
Denver 27, Cincinnati 16: If only Marvin Lewis could suit up and play. . .
Indianapolis 30, Cleveland 22. I don�t like either defense, but the Colts have the better O.
Kansas City 21, San Diego 17. Holding KC to three touchdowns is an achievement.
Miami 20, Houston 3. The over/under on David Carr sacks is seven.
St. Louis 24, NY Giants 21. I like the Giants� D, but the Rams� offense is back.
Pittsburgh 20, RAVENS~! 16. Poor Kyle Boller. Talk about a baptism by fire.
Detroit 17, Arizona 10. Somebody has to win this one.
Green Bay 27, Minnesota 23. Another divisional shootout, another win for Favre.
Carolina 16, Jacksonville 13. They�re just counting the days until Leftwich takes over.
�The City� 26, Chicago 17. If you don�t get it, you need to watch Eddie Izzard more.
Seattle 24, New Orleans 23. I�ll go with the hotter offense in this one.
Atlanta 21, Dallas 13. They don�t need Vick to win this one.
Oakland 24, Tennessee 20. Will the lessons Tampa Bay taught be learned?
Tampa Bay 23, Philadelphia 18. The Eagles will continue to have problems with the Bucs.
Questions, comments, and snide remarks about my powers of prognostication can be sent to the usual address. I promise to slog through all the Blaster and SoBig worm emails just for YOU, loyal readers. Doesn�t that just give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside?
Dr. Tom Fowler
Pass your feedback downfield.
(Sack the "NOSPAM" tag before you send)
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