Week 2 Sobered by Death of Broncos WR Kenny McKinley

As much as I would like to talk about how the Bears managed to trump the Dallas Cowboys this week (I still had to get it in edgewise), the most important story this week is that of Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley, a second-year pro who was found dead in his Englewood, Colorado home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound according to espn.com. This has obviously come as a shock to all around the league, especially after McKinley's positive interviews this season concerning his hopes for a burgeoning role in the Denver offense. McKinley was placed on Injured Reserve, but hopes were still high that he could eventually become a regular contributor to the Broncos.

McKinley died yesterday on September 20. He was 23 years old.

Rest in peace, Kenny McKinley, 1987-2010.

Quarterbacks Get Clocked In Week 1, Defense Dominates

I would have doubts about the sanity of anyone who didn't cringe watching the hit that Bears defensive end Julius Peppers laid on Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford on Sunday. Peppers came around Stafford's blind side and delivered a crushing blow that separated the former first overall pick's shoulder, ruling him out for four to six weeks. Even without Stafford, the Lions were still only one bullshit rule away from defeating Chicago (I'm not complaining, but I can still admit that it was legitimately stupid).

But Stafford wasn't the only quarterback to get knocked out of the game for less-than disastrous results for his team. Eagles starter Kevin Kolb left Philly's game against the Green Bay Packers with a concussion after one dismal half, probably meeting a merciful end at the hands of Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. His replacement, three-time Pro Bowler Michael Vick, looked sharp, completing 16 of 24 passes and rushing for over 100 yards. This may be a blessing in disguise for Andy Reid's team; since Kolb is ruled out for presumably at least next week, Philly can start him and keep starting him when Kolb comes back. So long as he keeps winning.

QB Chaos Ensues in Arizona, New England

The Cardinals have (finally) cut ties with former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. Now we can all release that breath we were holding, or we could shrug our shoulders and ask why we should care about Mr. Leinart. His release honestly shouldn't come as a surprise; the former first-round pick has only played in 29 games since being drafted in 2006, twelve of which came in the 2006-'07 season before current Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was hired. Throughout that time, he has been bested in his quest for Arizona's starting spot by a resurgent Hall of Famer in Kurt Warner and now a one-season wonder in former Browns signal-caller Derek Anderson. In hindsight, losing a quarterback battle to Warner is understandable, but losing out to Mr. Anderson (despite his select merits) is less so. Especially for a quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy at a program known for producing successful NFL players. But when you assume a job is yours and don't work for it, as Mr. Leinart did, you can never expect to remain employed for long. With the current NFL emphasizing work ethic and character, those few who believe themselves entitled to a position are quickly being winnowed out, as seen with former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell and now Leinart. The USC man, however, has been significantly more fortunate than his LSU counterpart; while Leinart was signed by the Houston Texans to back up Matt Schaub a day after his release from Arizona, Mr. Russell has been arrested on charges of possession of codiene syrup (also known as "purple drink") and is still without a job.

Meanwhile, Tom Brady has caused heads to shake with a comical haircut that has been relentlessly compared to teenage pop singer Justin Bieber (who, according to , even personally voiced his appreciation for the new do). The Patriots star got into a car accident early this morning (maybe his overly long locks interfered with his vision), but was fortunately unharmed and attended practice later in the day. Fully taking Bieber's comments into account, I think New England's head coach Bill Belichick should force Brady to cut away his tresses. Long hair may work for Drew Brees of New Orleans, but this car accident should be enough of a red flag to prove that it does not do the same for Brady. I don't really have any grudge against long hair, but honestly, an endorsement from Justin Bieber is not positive press. If he doesn't cut it, perhaps an incident reminiscent of Troy Polamalu getting dragged down by his own mane (now insured for one million dollars) will convince Mr. Brady to return to his usual cleaner cut self.

Hall of Fame Overshadowed by Training Camp Flu

After a pretty miserable Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class, I was interested to see who the NFL would bring into the Hall this year. Thankfully, they did not disappoint, with a 2010 draft class sporting multiple NFL record holders (perhaps the greatest wide receiver and running back of all all time in Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, respectively) and one of the great innovators of the game in former Lions defensive back and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau. In case you didn't watch, rounding off the class were Floyd Little (nicknamed "The Franchise" and the first of Denver's many 1000 yard rushers), Rickey Jackson (who anchored one of the best albeit least winningest linebacker corps of all time in New Orleans before winning a Super Bowl with the 49'ers), John Randle (an undersized defensive end who record 137.5 sacks in his career, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings), and Russ Grimm (a member of the famous Hogs offensive line known for paving the way for multiple championship squads during Joe Gibbs' first stint as head coach). I wish I could say more, but most of these guys played before I was even born, so that somewhat feeble testament will have to stand for their much grander achievements.

In the meantime, the typical off-season affliction has settled in to the NFL. We are tuning out the antics of the Bengal's latest celebrity couple in T.O. and Chad "Johnson", which could possibly even contest the Miami Heat's triumvirate of Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade as the year's biggest meeting of the egos. While there is little doubt that all players in either case are determined to win, the price of failure will be exponential for both of them. The NFL faithful (and the Bengals in particular) will simply havee to hope that Terrell Owens realizes he is actually on his last legs as a player. Unless he stays on in Cincy, I find it extremely difficult to believe anyone would take a flyer on T.O. with all the mileage and baggage that he's carrying.

The 'Skins $100 million dollar man Albert Haynesworth also passed his fitness test (finally) after skipping/failing it multiple times due to a nagging swelling in his knee. This strangely comes after Haynesworth skipped all of the optional and mandatory OTA's due to his unhappiness with being forced to conform to head coach Mike Shanahan's 3-4 defensive scheme. Despite the fact that it would be indicative of his change of direction speed and the ability of his knee to resist stress, I personally find it difficult to discern what possible benefit the Redskins could get from making Haynesworth run a 300 yard wind sprint. Practically, when is he ever going to run for than 20 yards on any one play. I think this is Shanahan's way of exerting his influence over the biggest (and I mean that both literally and figuratively) headache that he has inherited from Washington owner Dan Snyder.

Of course, the most commonly recognized symptom of Offseason influenza is Favre-watching. The 40 year-old quarterback recently announced that there is persistent pain in his ankle despite surgery following the completion of last season. In what has already been established as one of the league's most popular running gags, news spread last week that Favre allegedly texted teammate Visanthe Shiancoe that he had decided to retire. He, of course, denied sending any such message, citing that if his ankle was the only obstacle between him and playing for another season. In my opinion, Brett Favre has earned more right than anyone to waffle during the off-season, but we're honestly growing tired of this charade. So I have a suggestion for Brett: stay on the team until you decide to not return for good. No one will care how long it takes, really, as long as you don't keep the media in a frenzy every time someone suspects you're calling it quits.

Big Trade For Big Ben?

Tonight will be the the first ever primetime NFL draft. Unlike previous years, tonight's show will only feature the first round. And with no first overall pick (held by the St. Louis Rams) yet to be determined, the anticipation is as high as ever.

The 'Skins have essentially eliminated the speculation that they would take a quarterback by mercifully ending Donovan McNabb's up-and-down decade in Philly, a city he will curiously revisit next year in a watered down rendition of Brett Favre's return to Green Bay as a Viking. That has cast Jimmy Clausen's draft position into serious doubt since Sam Bradford still holds the #1 spot in the eyes of most analysts. But given the interest shown by the Rams and Raiders in troubled Steelers passer Ben Roethlisberger (who just got handed a six game suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell for repeated violations of the league's misconduct policy), I have more than once entertained the idea of a blockbuster trade: the #1 overall pick and perhaps some extra picks for Mr. Roethlisberger.

Given the huge investment in guaranteed funds awarded to whoever has the increasingly dubious distinction of being the first overall pick, it may even be beneficial to the Rams to sign a proven veteran in Roethlisberger who is already tied to a longer deal. Sure, they might not get to play him or even have him in practice for several weeks, by St. Louis is in full-scale rebuilding mode. Getting a 2-time Super Bowl winner in Roethlisberger is more certain to me than committing their future to, say, Sam Bradford.

In return, Pittsburgh could draft Bradford, or they could trade down and possibly get Jimmy Clausen later in the draft. It is difficult for me to imagine anyone in the top five picks choosing a quarterback, since they all have high-priced signal-callers already. So I could see the Steelers maneuvering down to the sixth or seventh overall selection so that either Seattle or Cleveland could nab Bradford with the first pick. Then Pittburgh could go with Jimmy Clausen (the last famous Notre Dame quarterback to play for them was Super Bowl MVP Terry Bradshaw, after all) and still have the bargaining power of their later first round pick. There are few better places for a young quarterback than Pittsburgh, who have a dominant defense and usually a dependable running attack.

As for Roethlisberger, I am of the opinion that a six game suspension for his misconduct was harsh, although in keeping with the history of Commissioner Goodell. I understand that it is important for Mr. Goodell to be consistent in his punishments in order to show that no player is above the misconduct policy and I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment, but given that no charges were levied against Mr. Roethlisberger I believe that a one or two game suspension would have been sufficient. His former teammate Santonio Holmes (who was traded from the Steel City to the New York Jets for a paltry fifth-round draft pick) was only suspended four games by the league for repeated substance abuse violations. Suspending a player who has not been found guilty of any crime goes beyond the sensibilities of just punishment, especially in a 16 game NFL season where the first six games can make or break a team's season.

Philly's Quarterback Quandry

One of the most dramatic stories of this young off-season has been the rumors surrounding Eagles signal-caller Donovan McNabb. News has circulated the NFL community that Philly is allegedly willing to deal the 10-year quarterback (selected with the second overall pick in the 1999 Draft), with the most likely potential suitors being the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and St. Louis Rams.

It is beyond this blogger's imagination as to why Mr. McNabb would even want to stay in Philidelphia, given the decade of mistreatment and disrespect shown to him by the organization and, to a much greater degree, the notoriously fickle Philidelphia fanbase. McNabb was famously booed by Philly fans when he was drafted (what a vote of confidence), and despite taking the Eagles to a Super Bowl and numerous NFC Championship games, the man still gets abused by the Philly faithful (a misnomer if there ever was one) who clamor for his release annually to the point that I expect some noise to come from Philly every off-season. It has become almost as routine as Brett Favre's flip-flopping on retirement, but much less amusing given that the Philly fans are hardly McNabb fans at all. Until he wins, at least. Even then, their loyalty isn't won for long; after they lose a couple games, the entire city goes back to sulking about a new quarterback.

Mr. McNabb's stats throughout his career are even more impressive considering that his only quality target in the passing game until the drafting of DeSean Jackson (only two years ago) was Terrell Owens, who was only there for a year before the relationship between him and McNabb disintegrated. Even now, I would be willing to bet that there are still some people in Philly who wish that T.O. had stayed with the Eagles and not McNabb.

As for his value in a trade, I would feel that despite McNabb's quality as a franchise quarterback, his injury concerns and age leave questions concerning his longevity. As such, he should merit a second or third round pick in this year's draft. I would suggest that Buffalo, who have struggled to find a playmaking quarterback for years, line up with the 41st overall selection. Who knows, maybe Andy Reid could nab Tim Tebow at that spot. Then Philly could have another quarterback to poke fun at for a decade.

Bears Should Look to Make A Splash In Free Agency; Draft Prospects Are Limited

The Chicago Bears of recent years have not been known as a team to dole out hard currency to high-priced free agents; most of their present impact players have been acquired through the NFL Draft or—in the case of quarterback Jay Cutler—trades for draft picks. Previous free agent ventures by the current regime, including safeties Mike Brown and Adam Archuleta, have not panned out; Hall of Fame left tackle Orlando Pace—Chicago’s most recent free agent acquisition from last offseason—was released last week after only one year with the club, moving third year tackle Chris Williams back to the left side and opening another potential gap in an already inconsistent offensive line that has struggled to find bookend tackles.

The Bears have also released defensive end Mark Anderson, who after a successful rookie season failed to live up to expectations for three unproductive years in the Midway. Coupled with the untimely and tragic death of defensive end Gaines Adams (for whom the Bears gave up a second round pick to Tampa) and numerous injuries across the defense, the Bears’ depth on that side of the ball is being strained to its limit.

According to they typical modus operandi of the Chicago front office, these problems would be resolved through draft picks. For the most part, the Bears have picked well in the early rounds, especially on defense (Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, and Lance Briggs anyone?) and have played their cards well when drafting with lower picks as well (cornerback Charles Tillman and wideout Johnny Knox, just to name a few). Unfortunately, the first pick Chicago has in this year’s Draft is the 75th overall selection in the third round. Given the high talent level of this year’s class, it is hardly inconceivable to believe the Bears cannot get a solid player out of these picks, but they are missing out on a premier star in their first round pick (11th overall, traded to Denver as part of the Cutler deal).
As such, it is imperative that the Bears scrap their typical frugal ways and try to land a big pickup in the free agent market. Early events indicate they are on the right track; personnel officials from Chicago met with representatives of Carolina’s star pass rusher Julius Peppers at the Combine. Peppers is expected to fetch a high price as a free agent, and would likely be a great fit for the Bears by adding a fearsome pass rush to a defensive front that already includes seasoned veteran Adewale Ogunleye. But given that Peppers’ other suitors include the likes of the Patriots and Eagles, the Bears will likely have to offer up a lot of money to even lure Mr. Peppers away from Carolina. If their trend of thriftiness continues, this early meeting may be as far as any negotiations go.

If Peppers does not sign, the market instantly becomes smaller. It seems that by all accounts linebackers Karlos Dansby (of the Arizona Cardinals) and Gary Brackett (from the Indianapolis Colts) will be retained by their respective teams. And because Brian Urlacher is also expected to return fully healthy after sitting out a season after having surgery on a dislocated wrist, the chances of the Bears signing a middle linebacker seem slim to none.

A veteran running back to compete with and spell Matt Forte could also be highly beneficial to the Bears offense. There are certainly plenty of them to pick from, whether it be Thomas Jones (whose previous stint in Chicago culminated in a Super Bowl appearance), LaDainian Tomlinson (or his Chargers teammate Darren Sproles), or Chester Taylor from the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings. All of these could offer a complement to Forte, particularly in a time that is being defined partially by a two-runner backfield. Since Mr. Forte already has the ability to catch out of the backfield, a more pure runner would add a new dimension to the Bears offense, a power running element Chicago hasn’t seen since the departure of Mr. Jones. Kevin Faulk and Brian Westbrook are also potential targets, but are more similar than complementary to Forte.

Since my hopes of a Brandon Marshall trade have effectively been dashed by the franchise tag placed upon him, the Bears could end up looking for a veteran receiver. Torry Holt and Terrell Owens could be intriguing prospects in this regard; both are reaching the age where most receivers start to slow down, but anemic offenses in Buffalo and Jacksonville were more to blame for their lack of production last year than any individual declines. If nothing else, they would be a steadying presence in the receiving corps until Johnny Knox or another younger guy is ready to assume the mantle of Jay Cutler’s #1 target.

The Bears could also use help at safety, where they have lacked a true impact player for years. Darren Sharper, who helped turn the New Orleans Saints into a champion last season and finished the year leading the NFL with nine interceptions (three of which were returned for touchdowns), could bring another veteran leader to the Bears in the backfield as well as his natural ball skills. Mr. Sharper is also familiar with the NFC North, having played previously for the Minnesota Vikings before going to New Orleans.

Stocking up on older players may not seem to be the most appealing option given the recent misfortunes of free agent laden clubs like the Washington Redskins, but the Bears have few other options at this point and the uncertainty over a new collective bargaining agreement has loomed large amidst rumors of an uncapped year. If they want to be competitive, the Bears simply need more talent, and one or two free agents could be the missing pieces to help revive the Monsters of the Midway.

Black And Blue & Passing Too

The arrival of Mike Martz is more than a move to revive one of last year's most disappointing offenses in Chicago (not that too much was expected of a talented but still young quarterback, a group of fledgling receivers, and a sophomore running back supported by a mediocre offensive line). It was an an omen. A harbinger of the end of the run-first mentality of the NFC North that has led to its nickname: the "Black and Blue Division".

Following last season, it seems apparent that the Bears are no longer going to resist one of the league's new trends. Despite head coach Lovie Smith's insistence that they would stick to the running game, Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler threw the ball 555 times last season. Admittedly, that's not as many as Mr. Cutler threw last year in Denver (616), but 90 more than Bronco and former Bear Kyle Orton threw in his final year in the Midway. For the sake of comparisons (and to show a reason for Cutler's seemingly frantic number of pass attempts in 2008), Mr. Orton attempted 541 passes for Denver last season.

The Bears had little success running the ball last year due to a sophomore slump by Matt Forte, who came off one of the best rookie years in the history of the Chicago Bears and the NFL in which he personally accounted for one third of his teams all-purpose yardage from the line of scrimmage. An ailing defense further aggravated the situation and forced Cutler to throw in situations that he had no business throwing in. This, combined with inexperienced receivers and inconsistent line play, led to Mr. Cutler being sacked 35 times and throwing 26 interceptions last year (he led the NFL in the latter category). Not a good recipe for success, despite the flourishing of passing offenses in the last few years.

The Bears are hardly the only member of the NFC North to have scrapped the running game in some form or another. Green Bay hasn't had a dominant runner in years, since before Mike Holmgren instituted the West Coast offense and established the Brett Favre era. It wasn't until the breakthrough of Ryan Grant that the 2007 Packers even had a bona fide rushing threat. And even with Grant's emergence, they have still relied on Favre (and now his replacement Aaron Rodgers, who has somehow engineered one the league's best offenses despite a terrible offensive line) to put up points and win games.

The Vikings are the latest beneficiaries of Mr. Favre's prowess; Brad Childress' system in Minnesota is essentially the same offense that Favre ran in Green Bay. And even though Minnesota has one dominant back in Adrian Peterson and another quality rusher in Chester Taylor, #4 still attempted 531 passes (only four less than he threw for the running back-less 2007 Packers). In the end, it was Favre's arm that won games for Green Bay, not Peterson or Taylor's legs. The only reason they got away with it is because every defense in the league is still afraid of the the threat of Adrian Peterson.

But perhaps the lamest team in the division has been the Detroit Lions, whose only excuse for their high passing numbers has been their otherwise awful performance. Mike Martz may be renowned as a passing fanatic, but Marshall Faulk is remembered as much for his rushing ability as he is for his ability to catch the football. When Martz's teams have been good, he has allowed a greater degree of rushing into the gameplan. But in the two years that Jon Kitna was in Detroit, he averaged 579 passes a season. Things haven't improved with Kitna's departure; in the ten games new Lions signal-caller Matthew Stafford played last year, he threw 377 passes. Had he played all sixteen games and continued throwing at that rate, he would have had just over 600 passes on the season.

As sad as it sounds, the NFC North is bucking a trend; while many teams have developed their passing games into precise and lethal machines, poor play has made the Black and Blue division flounder, caught transitioning too late to the new era of pass-first professional football.

All stats are courtesy of www.nfl.com.