After two not-so-dramatic days of contract negotiations, former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford (expectedly) signed with the Detroit Lions, officially becoming the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The first pick will now be a mere formality, but the money they splashed to get Stafford will certainly make his arrival in Detroit anything but trivial.
The 6-year, $78 million contract awarded to Stafford is an NFL Draft record, and his average annual paycheck of $13 million exceeds that of established pros Tom Brady (6 years, $60 million) and Ben Roethlisberger (8 years, $102 million). Dishing that much money out to an untested rookie is a big gamble, but one that could ultimately pay off for the Lions, who are coming off the worst season in NFL history. Stafford could certainly be effective soon, with a rising star in Calvin Johnson to accompany him in a potentially powerful Detroit passing attack. This selection also narrows their list of needs. They have a potential franchise quarterback, and now their focus should shift to a left tackle to protect Stafford.
I have heard arguments for USC QB Mark Sanchez over Stafford, but to me Stafford is the better choice. This is not an issue of finished product versus upside (like, say, Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf). Both Stafford and Sanchez are very raw quarterbacks with a tremendous amount of potential, and both came out early when they could had polished their skills during their senior seasons. I think Stafford has the edge for Detroit because he played for an inferior team in college (that is not to say Georgia is a bad team, but their young offensive line has trouble compared to the seemingly endless depth at USC), and therefore has more experience with pressure in his face than Sanchez does. Stafford, who played at Georgia since his freshman year, also has more playing experience in general. I think the Lions can be happy with this pick.
Now, the focus of the Draft shifts to the St. Louis Rams, who hold the #2 pick in the draft for the second year in a row. They also have a pethora of needs, and it will be interesting to see how this pick (and the rest of the draft) plays out.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Pre-Draft News
In two days, the 2009 NFL Draft will be officially kicking off. Of course, the draft clock has been ticking for the #1 overall pick holder Detroit Lions ever since the end of the NFL's first ever 0-16 season. Amidst talk of possible trades for the first selection and the debate over who should get picked first; it appears that the Lions have zoomed in on a target; according to NFL.com's columnist Steve Wyche, Detroit has entered final contract negotiations with former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, despite Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry's pledge to sign for less money if he were picked first.
In other news, the Atlanta Falcons have traded for Kansas City's future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. In return, the Chiefs recieve Atlanta's second round pick in next year's draft. While they did lose an iconic and productive veteran player in Gonzalez, stockpiling picks could be just what the Chiefs need to boost their ailing franchise and perhaps follow the example of last year's resurgent Falcons.
In other news, the Atlanta Falcons have traded for Kansas City's future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. In return, the Chiefs recieve Atlanta's second round pick in next year's draft. While they did lose an iconic and productive veteran player in Gonzalez, stockpiling picks could be just what the Chiefs need to boost their ailing franchise and perhaps follow the example of last year's resurgent Falcons.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Cutler Saga Ends, Dealt to Bears
Jay Cutler was traded last week to the Chicago Bears, and the cost was steep: for Cutler and Denver's fifth-round pick in this year's draft, the Bears gave up quarterback Kyle Orton, their first- and third-round picks from this year, and next years first round selection as well. It is undeniable that Chicago paid through the nose, but was it worth it? As I said concerning the Terrell Owens trade to Buffalo, only time will tell, but until I am proven otherwise I will have to approve.
I'm certainly not without a certain degree of bias. I am a Chicago Bears fan, so I cannot help but be excited by the move, especially coming from a traditionally conservative Bears management and this year's quiet offseason. Signing Cutler was the most emphatic way to make a splash this season; in a league that has become pass-happy (and a division that has not), Chicago certainly has a chance the take the NFC North by storm with the most talented quarterback to grace their roster since Sid Luckman in the 1940's. Cutler's arm strength is at an elite level, ideal for the blustery winds of Soldier Field, and he has already proven that he can play at a high level. It might be rough going for the first year, with an offensive line featuring two newcoming offensive tackles in Keven Shaffer and Orlando Pace and a recieving corps that may be considered lackluster compared to the one Cutler had in Denver, but Cutler will eventually prove his worth to the Bears.
I'm certainly not without a certain degree of bias. I am a Chicago Bears fan, so I cannot help but be excited by the move, especially coming from a traditionally conservative Bears management and this year's quiet offseason. Signing Cutler was the most emphatic way to make a splash this season; in a league that has become pass-happy (and a division that has not), Chicago certainly has a chance the take the NFC North by storm with the most talented quarterback to grace their roster since Sid Luckman in the 1940's. Cutler's arm strength is at an elite level, ideal for the blustery winds of Soldier Field, and he has already proven that he can play at a high level. It might be rough going for the first year, with an offensive line featuring two newcoming offensive tackles in Keven Shaffer and Orlando Pace and a recieving corps that may be considered lackluster compared to the one Cutler had in Denver, but Cutler will eventually prove his worth to the Bears.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Michael Vick: What He's Really Worth
Michael Vick recently released papers to the bankruptcy court entailing his plan for repaying his debts, a plan that assumed he would make ten million dollars a year upon his reinstatement to the NFL. Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?
There is no doubt that Vick is (or at least, was) one of the greatest athletes to ever grace an NFL field (note the use of the word athlete, not quarterback). His electrifying speed dazzled many fans during his previous career with the Atlanta Falcons, and he was at one point considered to be one of the most (if not the most) exciting player to watch in the whole league.
But slow down, Mr. Vick. An NFL team is not likely to sign you at all—let alone for $10 million annually—unless you can prove you're back in shape. A year and a half of incarceration and prison food would wreak havoc with the body of even a great athlete, so pardon the NFL teams for being skeptical. And that's completely ignoring the whole reason why you went to prison in the first place, or your less-than-spotless record before then.
Now, there are undoubtedly some times that will show some interest in Vick. That being said, the number of teams with a dire quarterback need is growing thin. The Detroit Lions, of course, hold the #1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and could select Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, reducing their motivation to sign Vick, and their cap room, considerably. On the other hand, signing Vick could give the Lions the opportunity to select an offensive lineman (a left tackle, specifically) and then either trade down or pick the best player available with their second 1st-round pick (#20 from the Dallas Cowboys). If Vick proved that he could still cut it at the NFL level, this situation could bode very well for the Lions.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could also try and be in the hunt for Vick's signature. David Gerrard has proved that he can play well, but I think the Jags have reason to be somewhat concerned about their depth at quarterback and the resemblance between Gerrard's and Vick's playing styles is perhaps the best you will find in the league.
The Kansas City Chiefs, having just recently traded for Matt Cassel, are most likely out of the question, as are the New York Jets, who have recently publicly stated that they are happy with thier current group of signal callers, and the Chicago Bears, whose style of power run does not fit Vick's abilities.
Having just placed Jay Cutler on the trade block, the Denver Broncos could pursue Vick, but I see that as being unlikely. The signing of a player like Vick—with a controversial past and demands for a salary equaling Peyton Manning and surpassing Tom Brady— would seem to directly contradict the policy of "team before stars" that Josh McDaniels is trying to set up in Denver.
I think the team to not rule out, though, is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their infamous quarterback carousel under Jon Gruden may have faded away, but unless they trade for Jay Cutler their short- and long-term solution for quarterback remain unsolved. Vick had superb arm strength before he left the league and his outstanding speed and mobility were the envy of quarterbacks everywhere. With some improvements to his accuracy, I believe he could excel in the same type of West Coast offense that Jeff Garcia and, going further back, Steve Young played in.
So, my advice to Vick: Don't expect to start or make a starter's wage, don't expect a warm welcome back into the league immediately, and (here's a little bit of a plea in here as well) please, PLEASE keep your head on straight. I'm sure that if you prove yourself to the league, there will inevitably be a job waiting for you somewhere.
There is no doubt that Vick is (or at least, was) one of the greatest athletes to ever grace an NFL field (note the use of the word athlete, not quarterback). His electrifying speed dazzled many fans during his previous career with the Atlanta Falcons, and he was at one point considered to be one of the most (if not the most) exciting player to watch in the whole league.
But slow down, Mr. Vick. An NFL team is not likely to sign you at all—let alone for $10 million annually—unless you can prove you're back in shape. A year and a half of incarceration and prison food would wreak havoc with the body of even a great athlete, so pardon the NFL teams for being skeptical. And that's completely ignoring the whole reason why you went to prison in the first place, or your less-than-spotless record before then.
Now, there are undoubtedly some times that will show some interest in Vick. That being said, the number of teams with a dire quarterback need is growing thin. The Detroit Lions, of course, hold the #1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and could select Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, reducing their motivation to sign Vick, and their cap room, considerably. On the other hand, signing Vick could give the Lions the opportunity to select an offensive lineman (a left tackle, specifically) and then either trade down or pick the best player available with their second 1st-round pick (#20 from the Dallas Cowboys). If Vick proved that he could still cut it at the NFL level, this situation could bode very well for the Lions.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could also try and be in the hunt for Vick's signature. David Gerrard has proved that he can play well, but I think the Jags have reason to be somewhat concerned about their depth at quarterback and the resemblance between Gerrard's and Vick's playing styles is perhaps the best you will find in the league.
The Kansas City Chiefs, having just recently traded for Matt Cassel, are most likely out of the question, as are the New York Jets, who have recently publicly stated that they are happy with thier current group of signal callers, and the Chicago Bears, whose style of power run does not fit Vick's abilities.
Having just placed Jay Cutler on the trade block, the Denver Broncos could pursue Vick, but I see that as being unlikely. The signing of a player like Vick—with a controversial past and demands for a salary equaling Peyton Manning and surpassing Tom Brady— would seem to directly contradict the policy of "team before stars" that Josh McDaniels is trying to set up in Denver.
I think the team to not rule out, though, is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their infamous quarterback carousel under Jon Gruden may have faded away, but unless they trade for Jay Cutler their short- and long-term solution for quarterback remain unsolved. Vick had superb arm strength before he left the league and his outstanding speed and mobility were the envy of quarterbacks everywhere. With some improvements to his accuracy, I believe he could excel in the same type of West Coast offense that Jeff Garcia and, going further back, Steve Young played in.
So, my advice to Vick: Don't expect to start or make a starter's wage, don't expect a warm welcome back into the league immediately, and (here's a little bit of a plea in here as well) please, PLEASE keep your head on straight. I'm sure that if you prove yourself to the league, there will inevitably be a job waiting for you somewhere.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
2009 NFL Rule Changes
At the owners committee today, four new rules were passed, all concerning player safety:
1. A blindside block deliver to a defender's head with the blocker's head, forearm or shoulder will result in a 15-yard penalty. While football is undoubtedly a contact sport, head protection has long been one of the important issues surrounding rule changes, and it's good that the defenders are getting a little protection on the blindside. No offense to Hines Ward, but I trust that most people who witnessed his Week 7 block on Kieth Rivers will agree that it is worthy of being considered for a penalty call.
2. Initial contact to the head of a defenseless reciever is also punishable by a 15-yard penalty. As with the first rule change, this is to protect the player's head in a vulnerable situation (Eric Smith on Anquan Boldin, anyone?). Good rule change from where I'm standing.
3. On kickoffs, any single blocking wedge can be limited to only two players. I'm not familiar with what the previous size was limited too, but I think this is a somewhat detrimental rule. The unpredictablily of the return game is one of the things that makes the NFL exciting, and removing the ability to block with more than two players in a single wedge would seem to make returning a kick to the house a more difficult proposition.
4. On an onside kick, the kicking team can have no more than five players pursuing the ball. This rule seems to stack the odds of the recovery of an onside kick even more in the favor of the recieving team. Don't quote me on this, but most onside kicks fail anyway. I could understand the logic behind this rule if onside kicks were being recovered on a regular basis, but I don't believe that no NFL team currently has a kicker capable of consistently delivering an onside kick just right. I don't see how this affects player safety, and it will likely only marginally affect gameplay.
1. A blindside block deliver to a defender's head with the blocker's head, forearm or shoulder will result in a 15-yard penalty. While football is undoubtedly a contact sport, head protection has long been one of the important issues surrounding rule changes, and it's good that the defenders are getting a little protection on the blindside. No offense to Hines Ward, but I trust that most people who witnessed his Week 7 block on Kieth Rivers will agree that it is worthy of being considered for a penalty call.
2. Initial contact to the head of a defenseless reciever is also punishable by a 15-yard penalty. As with the first rule change, this is to protect the player's head in a vulnerable situation (Eric Smith on Anquan Boldin, anyone?). Good rule change from where I'm standing.
3. On kickoffs, any single blocking wedge can be limited to only two players. I'm not familiar with what the previous size was limited too, but I think this is a somewhat detrimental rule. The unpredictablily of the return game is one of the things that makes the NFL exciting, and removing the ability to block with more than two players in a single wedge would seem to make returning a kick to the house a more difficult proposition.
4. On an onside kick, the kicking team can have no more than five players pursuing the ball. This rule seems to stack the odds of the recovery of an onside kick even more in the favor of the recieving team. Don't quote me on this, but most onside kicks fail anyway. I could understand the logic behind this rule if onside kicks were being recovered on a regular basis, but I don't believe that no NFL team currently has a kicker capable of consistently delivering an onside kick just right. I don't see how this affects player safety, and it will likely only marginally affect gameplay.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Terrel Owens' New Bull Ride
Last week, Terrell Owens was traded by the Dallas Cowboys to the Buffalo Bills. Despite the concerns many people have voiced regarding the controversial reciever's arrival, I think this is one of the best moves the Bills could have made. The Bills passing attack has ranked poorly (and that's being generous) over the past few seasons, and aside from Lee Evans the don't have a big play threat. Despite Roscoe Parrish's amazing return skills, he has not proven himself as a reciever, and second-year man James Hardy has yet to prove his worth to the Bills. So who better to sign as a target for a quarterback on the rise than such an established star as Terrell Owens?
One of my friends, an life-long Bills fan, dismissed the trade as a mistake, citing TO's reputation for controversy, especially when things go bad. People on the Web have also pointed out that having a reciever as controversial and demanding as TO could have a negative impact on both the short-term play and the long-term development of Trent Edwards. I must respectfully disagree. To succeed in the NFL, particularly in the competitive AFC East (where the Bills hold the inauspiscious title of being the only team to go under .500 last year), a team has to take risks. And signing TO certainly is a risk.
But it's a risk that could pay off for them in the long run. Now they have a recognizable threat at wide reciever opposite Lee Evans, which should give significantly more running room to former first-round pick Marchawn Lynch and allow the Bills to utilize their powerful offensive line. The addition of Owens will also give an immediate and much-needed shot in the arm to the Bills' passing game. It should be noted that TO produces wherever he goes; even in Dallas, he played alongside a young quarterback in Tony Romo and still averaged a double-digit touchdown count in his four years with the Boy's, so playing with a young quarterback is not unfamiliar to him. Even if Trent Edwards isn't the best deep thrower in the league, TO has proved time and time again that he is effective at gaining yards after the catch, and even at 35 he has shown few signs of slowing down.
Last but most certainly not least: TO's reputation as a locker room cancer. Despite his past feuds with Donovan McNabb and others, nobody can deny that Owens let it get to him on the field (as it did with a certain #18 with the Oakland Raiders. No matter what happens, Owens gives it his all on the field, and anyone who says he's selfish should see his tearful post-game press conference after the divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants two years back. After that, tell me truly that he doesn't care about the team and about winning.
So until time convinces me otherwise, I must say that the Bills made the right move in signing TO.
One of my friends, an life-long Bills fan, dismissed the trade as a mistake, citing TO's reputation for controversy, especially when things go bad. People on the Web have also pointed out that having a reciever as controversial and demanding as TO could have a negative impact on both the short-term play and the long-term development of Trent Edwards. I must respectfully disagree. To succeed in the NFL, particularly in the competitive AFC East (where the Bills hold the inauspiscious title of being the only team to go under .500 last year), a team has to take risks. And signing TO certainly is a risk.
But it's a risk that could pay off for them in the long run. Now they have a recognizable threat at wide reciever opposite Lee Evans, which should give significantly more running room to former first-round pick Marchawn Lynch and allow the Bills to utilize their powerful offensive line. The addition of Owens will also give an immediate and much-needed shot in the arm to the Bills' passing game. It should be noted that TO produces wherever he goes; even in Dallas, he played alongside a young quarterback in Tony Romo and still averaged a double-digit touchdown count in his four years with the Boy's, so playing with a young quarterback is not unfamiliar to him. Even if Trent Edwards isn't the best deep thrower in the league, TO has proved time and time again that he is effective at gaining yards after the catch, and even at 35 he has shown few signs of slowing down.
Last but most certainly not least: TO's reputation as a locker room cancer. Despite his past feuds with Donovan McNabb and others, nobody can deny that Owens let it get to him on the field (as it did with a certain #18 with the Oakland Raiders. No matter what happens, Owens gives it his all on the field, and anyone who says he's selfish should see his tearful post-game press conference after the divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants two years back. After that, tell me truly that he doesn't care about the team and about winning.
So until time convinces me otherwise, I must say that the Bills made the right move in signing TO.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cutler and Broncos in Standoff
The Denver Broncos and disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler have yet to reach any sort of settlement. In fact, things have only looked worse for both parties as the staredown has worn on.
So where does the blame lie? In this writer's humble opinion, it is at the feet of both Cutler and new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. Niether of them have handled this situation at all adeptly, and while both of them have reason to defend their own side they are each individually at fault.
Cutler voiced immediate displeasure towards the firing of previous head coach Mike Shanahan. While Cutler claims that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told him that former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates would be retained for next season, Bowlen denies that any such conversation ever took place. While it is his right to voice his displeasure (even if it is a breach of professional courtesy), I think Cutler has overreacted towards the coaching changes instituted by McDaniels. Change is rampant in the NFL, with quarterbacks adapting to new systems every year. Why should Cutler by any different? His case for feeling betrayed by Bowlen does not constitute a schism of this magnitude. The rumors about a trade, however, do.
This is where McDaniels takes the fall. Even if Matt Cassel succeeded in the Patriots system last year, there is no telling what Cutler could accomplish until he learns it. McDaniels seemed a little hasty in shopping around for a three-way deal to bring Cassel to Denver, especially when he has a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback already in camp. While some people have stomped on Cutler for his decision-making last year, he threw more than 600 times (616, to be exact) last year, second only to the Saint's Drew Brees. Since the zone blocking and run game that has become Denver's crutch over the last decade and a half was largely unavailable due to a plethora of injuries to their runningbacks (in fact, it got so bad that Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen started the game at fullback, making him the first player to start on offense and defense since 2003), Cutler was forced to throw early and often. The 28th-ranked total defense (30th in points allowed) didn't help much either.
Even so, the Broncos had the 2nd-ranked offense in the league, and Cutler has all the tools (elite arm strength, accuracy, and a certain degree of on-the-field leadership) to succeed. Conclusion: if McDaniels tried to leave an indelible mark on Denver, he has certainly done so, but he went about doing it the wrong way. Even if he is trying to follow the creed of his old Patriots team—team first, stars second—McDaniels has violated an even older guideline: don't fix what isn't broken. Even a offensive-minded guy like McDaniels should have realized that the Denver offense was ready to go from the start; in fact, he should have had an easier time seeing it. The defense was what held the Broncos back. Now, he has a rift with perhaps his best player and certainly his most important player.
I still think the best solution is for Cutler to stay in Denver. With a familiar group of players around him, I think Cutler would adapt well to the kind of Patriots-style offense that McDaniels brings to the table. Now that Cassel is out of the equation, Cutler is the Broncos' best chance, and if McDaniels realizes that will keep a great player and, even better a hold over the locker room; if he resolves the Cutler situation, things should be much less tense in Denver. Both player and coach are professionals and will hopefully be able to resolve their differences.
[All stats come from www.nfl.com]
So where does the blame lie? In this writer's humble opinion, it is at the feet of both Cutler and new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. Niether of them have handled this situation at all adeptly, and while both of them have reason to defend their own side they are each individually at fault.
Cutler voiced immediate displeasure towards the firing of previous head coach Mike Shanahan. While Cutler claims that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told him that former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates would be retained for next season, Bowlen denies that any such conversation ever took place. While it is his right to voice his displeasure (even if it is a breach of professional courtesy), I think Cutler has overreacted towards the coaching changes instituted by McDaniels. Change is rampant in the NFL, with quarterbacks adapting to new systems every year. Why should Cutler by any different? His case for feeling betrayed by Bowlen does not constitute a schism of this magnitude. The rumors about a trade, however, do.
This is where McDaniels takes the fall. Even if Matt Cassel succeeded in the Patriots system last year, there is no telling what Cutler could accomplish until he learns it. McDaniels seemed a little hasty in shopping around for a three-way deal to bring Cassel to Denver, especially when he has a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback already in camp. While some people have stomped on Cutler for his decision-making last year, he threw more than 600 times (616, to be exact) last year, second only to the Saint's Drew Brees. Since the zone blocking and run game that has become Denver's crutch over the last decade and a half was largely unavailable due to a plethora of injuries to their runningbacks (in fact, it got so bad that Broncos linebacker Spencer Larsen started the game at fullback, making him the first player to start on offense and defense since 2003), Cutler was forced to throw early and often. The 28th-ranked total defense (30th in points allowed) didn't help much either.
Even so, the Broncos had the 2nd-ranked offense in the league, and Cutler has all the tools (elite arm strength, accuracy, and a certain degree of on-the-field leadership) to succeed. Conclusion: if McDaniels tried to leave an indelible mark on Denver, he has certainly done so, but he went about doing it the wrong way. Even if he is trying to follow the creed of his old Patriots team—team first, stars second—McDaniels has violated an even older guideline: don't fix what isn't broken. Even a offensive-minded guy like McDaniels should have realized that the Denver offense was ready to go from the start; in fact, he should have had an easier time seeing it. The defense was what held the Broncos back. Now, he has a rift with perhaps his best player and certainly his most important player.
I still think the best solution is for Cutler to stay in Denver. With a familiar group of players around him, I think Cutler would adapt well to the kind of Patriots-style offense that McDaniels brings to the table. Now that Cassel is out of the equation, Cutler is the Broncos' best chance, and if McDaniels realizes that will keep a great player and, even better a hold over the locker room; if he resolves the Cutler situation, things should be much less tense in Denver. Both player and coach are professionals and will hopefully be able to resolve their differences.
[All stats come from www.nfl.com]
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