One position the Buffalo Bills will not need to worry about is running back. The Bills’ vaunted ground game has been on display through the first two games of the preseason against Washington and Indianapolis. Buffalo already had two former 1,000+ yard rushers in Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch coming into the 2010-2011 season, but the addition of their first round draft pick C.J. Spiller and undrafted talent Joique Bell have turned the Bills backfield into a gold mine. The Bills didn’t miss a step in their second preseason game of the year Thursday night with both Jackson and Lynch out injured. Spiller, an All-American at Clemson last season, displayed his game-changing speed with a emphatic 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the Bills’ game with the Indianapolis Colts. His fellow rookie runner Bell picked up right where Spiller left off -racking up 80 yards on 11 carries and scoring one touchdown. Bell was named the Division II player of the year last season at Wayne State. The Detroit native could be a diamond in the rough should the Bills decide to hold on him at the end of training camp. If the Bills decide to only keep three running backs on the roster I’m sure their will be host of teams interested in Bell’s services.
The NFC North will be one of the most exciting divisional races in the NFL this year without question. One familiar uncertainty hangs over the division that could be the deciding factor in who title. Will Brett Favre play for the Minnesota Vikings this year? If Favre decides to retire this season it could have a huge affect on the Vikings’ postseason hopes. Minnesota’s staunch defense and high-powered running game could still propel the Vikes to the top of the NFC North without Favre, but head coach Brad Childress definitely has his fingers crossed that #4 is in purple this season. The Green Bay Packers would be the next logical contender after going down guns blazing in a NFC Wild Card postseason classic with the Arizona Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers has solidified himself as one of the most best quarterback in the league in his two years in the job. Look for the Pack to be back in the playoffs in 2010. The Chicago Bears were dissapointed with their 7-9 season a year ago, but a number of changes has things looking up in the Windy City. New offensive coordinator Mike Martz could give the Bears’ offense a new look this season, while off season signing Julius Peppers could make a huge difference on the other side of the ball. Coach Lovie Smith and general manger Jerry Angelo have their backs up against the wall this season, because if the Bears fail to make the playoffs this season both are likely to be out of a job. Lastly we have the Detroit Lions who actually considered their 3-win season a year ago an improvement. Quarterback Matthew Stafford showed flashes of becoming a good NFL quarterback last season, but the young signal caller will need to step his game up a few levels if the Lions want any shot of being a .500 team. The focus in Motown will be fixated on the Lions first round draft pick, Ndamakong Suh. The Heisman Trophy canidate is one of the most exciting defensive draft picks in recent history. The Lions certainly are in need of an improved defense from last year.
Predicted Finish (If Favre Retires)
1. Packers
2. Vikings
3. Bears
4. Lions
Predicted Finish (If Favre Plays)
1. Vikings
2. Packers
3. Bears
4. Lions
Mike Martz, newly appointed offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears, has been going on about Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler. In Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback this week, Martz said that Cutler “has no flaws” as a quarterback. The former St. Louis Rams OC/Head Coach has talked up his teams before and been unable to back them up, but things could be different in Chicago. The Bears did make a splash in the free agency, but they have failed to address their problems on the offensive line. The signing of block tight end Brandon Manumaleuna could be a small help, but that alone won’t fix an o-line that couldn’t properly protect their star quarterback. Martz is known for the quick passing game, which could be exactly what Cutler needs in the Bears’ offense. Some have pointed to the battering quarterbacks have taken under Martz in the past including Trent Green and Jon Kitna. The Bears open the season at home against the Detroit Lions, perennial NFC North punching bag and former Martz team. Things will be interesting this fall in the Windy City.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb could have played his last game in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform. Over the past few season their have been a lot of rumors about the Eagles trading McNabb, but none have ever materialized, perhaps, until now. Head coach Andy Reid told the press this week that the team was “entertaining” offers for all three of their quarterbacks. Backup Kevin Kolb showed promise last season filling in for McNabb in three games in the starting role, prompting some fans to declare their five-time Pro Bowler QB expendable. Controversial star Michael Vick was used in 12 games last season only in certain situations. Vick publicly said that this season he’d like to be a starter somewhere in the NFL, but no there has been little reported interest thus far in the off season. One team of interest considering a move for McNabb is the St. Louis Rams. The Rams were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, and could use a proven QB to reboot their franchise. I’m sure a few more teams will come forward in the comings weeks in pursuit of the Eagles #5.
Quarterback Ben Rothlisberger spoke to the media on Wednesday that he did not assault the 20-year-old woman accusing him of sending her to the hospital. The two-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steeler claims that their was sexual contact between himself and the accuser, but he did no physical harm to her. Rothlisberger attests that the woman in question slipped and injured her head on her own accord. The alleged victim went to a local hospital following the incident which took place at a night club in Milledgeville, GA last Friday. It is reported that Rothlisberger was celebrating his birthday with a group of up to eight persons. The incident occurred in the nightclub’s bathroom. It is not known yet if the Milledgeville Police will press charges. An additional civil suit is pending accusing Rothlisberger of raping a woman in 2008 in Lake Tahoe which the NFL star has also claimed not to be true.
At only 26-years-old, Darren Sproles will be a much sought after target this NFL off season. The San Diego Chargers will allow the running back test the free agency waters in the coming months the team announced Friday. The Chargers would’ve had to pay the dual running/passing threat $7 million dollars next year had they tendered Sproles contract. Sproles follows teammate LaDainian Tomlinson who was released earlier this month by San Diego GM A.J. Smith. If teams are llooking for a every down running back Sproles might not be the ideal candidate. The back out of Kansas State has excelled in a secondary role where he catches a lot of balls and plays a lot on third down. That said, compared to older backs on the market like Tomlinson and Westbrook, Sproles might be worth the extra money as he is young, athletic, and knows how to get in the end zone. I don’t know if a team will offer him more than the $7 million he was contracted for in San Diego, but teams will definitely be interested.
With All-Pro defensive back locked on the Indianapolis Colts leading receiver Reggie Wayne, Peyton Manning focused on second-year pro Pierre Garcon in last Sunday’s AFC Championship game. The muscular Garcon broke the record for receptions in a AFC Championship game catching 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown as the Colts defeated the New York Jets 30-17 to advance to Super Bowl XLIV. The young wide out has come a long way in a short time from his days playing Division III football at Mount Union. Garcon was drafted in sixth round of the 2008 draft only catching four balls in his rookie season. A knee injury to Anthony Gonzalez gave Garcon a chance to step into the second receiver role and #85 hasn’t disappointed.
The past few weeks having been bittersweet for Garcon who is of Haitian decent as he dedicated Sunday’s performance to the earthquake ravaged country. Growing up in South Florida, next week’s Super Bowl in Miami will also hold special significance for the 24-year-old as Garcon returns home. When the Colts run out onto field of Dolphin Stadium keep an eye out Pierre Garcon not just for his amazing story, but because he might just be the next big thing in the NFL.
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The NFC Championship for a moment seemed destined to be decided by the right boot of Minnesota Vikings place kicker Ryan Longwell. The broadcast kept cutting to the 35-year-old former Green Bay Packers kicker warming up as his teammates were moving the ball into field goal range with the score tied 28-28 with the New Orleans Saints in the final moments of the fourth quarter.
This is what Longwell worked all year for: the chance to kick the game-winning field goal that would send his team to the Super Bowl. Former Packers team mate and living legend Brett Farve had gotten the Vikings down the field to where Longwell would have to kick a 50+ yarder to win the game. Not ideal conditions for Longwell, but he had done it before with his career long being 54 yards. Time was running down and head coach Brad Childress wanted to see if he could get a few more yards to make the kick a little easier. Longwell waited on the sidelines preparing himself for what would be one of the most important kicks of his career.
The trouble is that Longwell never got the chance. The next play Brett Farve rolled out to his right and rifled the football across his body spiraling into the arms of Saints’ defensive back Tracy Porter. On the other sideline 23-year-old Garret Hartley celebrated with his team mates at their team’s good fortune. The Saints had won a number of games this season in odd fashion and Farve’s folly only furthered the idea that they were a team of destiny.
Cajun luck continued to the joy of the 70,000 Saints fans in the Superdome as New Orleans won the coin toss giving them the ball first in overtime. Hartley began taking his warm up kicks as QB Drew Brees (a Farve-like folk legend in the making in New Orleans) led the offense onto the field. The young kicker had called his father the night before the game in the middle of the night to tell him he just had a feeling he would kick the game-winning field goal from 40 yards away on the right hash mark. Hartley was only two yards off. The Saints strung together a few passes aided by a crucial pass interference call against the Vikings setting up the Texas-born kicker for a 42 yard kick to win the game.
The New Orleans Saints had never been to a Super Bowl in their 43 year existence as Hartley lined up for the kick. The entire city hung in the balance as long snapper Jason Kyle snapped the ball back to holder Mark Brunell with the young kicker waiting to strike. Brunell set the snap down perfectly and just as Hartley envisioned the night before he drilled the pigskin right through the goal posts sending the Big Easy into ecstasy. Hartley will forever be remembered for that kick and beloved in New Orleans while Longwell will always wonder about the kick he never got to take. So goes the life of a NFL placekicker.
He hasn’t played in awhile, but he is poised to be activated for the game this weekend. Deuce McAllister was one of the best players in the league once upon a time. The Saints are hoping against hope that he will reprise that role again this weekend when their team plays against the Arizona Cardinals. This team has been struggling for a long time already, having lost several games to close out the season and really not being on their game. But they did play some very dominating football for much of the season. They need to shake something up and also are hoping that they have improved a few things with the week off. The addition of McAllister could be a fantastic move that gives them an extra oomph, or just something that messes up the chemistry. We’ll see. They will have to be on their game during this game, because the Cards have been on fire. We’ll see if they can make it happen, and it’s going to be an amazing game no matter what.
Tom Brady had a tough game last evening in New England against the Baltimore Ravens. His three interceptions and a couple of lost fumbles are a big reason why the Pats lost by a couple of scores during that game. This eliminates the Patriots for this year. Does this mean that the Brady comeback is not complete? Was he perhaps too injured to get it all done in the end? Several people have suggested that Brady and the Patriots might be finished. He and his team will certainly have to adjust their style of game, particularly on offense, so that they can get back into the playoff hunt next year. They need to keep up with teams like San Diego and Indy. But with the purported injuries that Brady currently has, it’s not necessarily hard to understand that his play was so greatly compromised.
