This is why we love the game...

Arizona Cardinals 2010 Preview and Predictions

Last Years Record 10-6

Wins: Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks (x2), New York Giants, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams (x2), Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions

Losses: Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers

Biggest Playmaker Larry Fitzgerald

WR, Pitt, Drafted #3, 7^th Year

The offense’s most lethal weapon, Fitzgerald has the ability to bring down every jump ball thrown his way, and stretch a defense vertically. The versatility in his route running abilities makes him a viable threat on every point and place on a football field. The biggest area of concern I have for him, is the drop in his YPC average, which dipped 14.9 all the way to 11.3. Also another emphasis of concern may be the apparent lack of chemistry between him and new QB Matt Leinart. Through 13 career starts by Matt Leinart, in which Fitzgerald also started in, Fitzgerald has 5 TD receptions. Nevertheless Fitzgerald has 34 TDs in his last 40 games played over the past two seasons and postseasons, and looks to continue his success in 2010.

Impact Player Chris Wells

RB, Ohio State, Drafted #31, 2^nd Year

During limited action in his rookie season, Wells impressed many around the league with an impressive 7 rushing touchdowns and a 4.5 YPC split. All seven rushing touchdowns came during a 9 game stretch in which Wells looked like the number one back the Cardinals drafted him to be. The first signs from Chris Wells look promising, and we will see how much he steps up his game in 2010.

Biggest Offseason Addition Alen Faneca

OG, LSU, Drafted #26, 13^th Year

Alan Faneca is a great move by the Cardinals organization as he adds some grit and toughness to the line. Faneca, a Super Bowl XL Winner, 6-time All-Pro, and nine-time Pro Bowler, will vastly improve the line’s running capabilities. With the Cardinals adjusting to the loss of Kurt Warner, they will make it a point of emphasis to install a solid ground game with future stars Chris Wells and Tim Hightower. With a rushing attack in place, this will take some pressure off Matt Leinart and insure a smooth transition for the football team.

Biggest Offseason Loss Kurt Warner

QB, Northern Iowa, Undrafted, 12 years in NFL

How do you replace a Super Bowl Winner and MVP, Future Hall of Famer, 5 time Pro Bowler, and Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2008? You don’t. You can’t replace leadership like that, or production like that. This is the biggest concern of all Cardinals fans this year, as Leinart tries to establish himself as the franchise QB. Kurt Warner is a winner and a solid character to have in any locker room, and he will be sorely missed in 2010.

Biggest Draft Steal Dan Williams

NT, Tennessee, Drafted #26, Rookie

Dan Williams, a pre draft top 15 draft pick, might be the steal of the entire draft. An absolute monster as a 3-4 nose tackle, Williams huge frame at 330lbs will most likely land him a starting spot from week 1. His ability to clog the middle and wreck havoc as a 3-4 nose, makes him a perfect fit for the Cardinals defense.

Biggest Draft Reach Jim Dray

TE, Stanford, Drafted #223, Rookie

Drafting Dray with the final pick in the draft just seems to me as a wasted pick, as they could have addressed other needs such as depth on the D-line. In his best season, he only hauled in a rather underwhelming 19 catches; he also is not anything more than a mediocre blocker.

Offseason Grade B

With the additions of interior linemen Rex Hadnot and Alan Faneca, the Cardinals look poised to have their most potent rushing attack in years. However the losses of Anquan Boldin and Kurt Warner seem irreplaceable. Couple that with the fact the defense only replaced starters lost in the offseason, rather than adding more depth and improving, and you have yourselves here an average offseason.

X-Factor Matt Leinart

QB, USC, Drafted #10, 4^th Year

Matt Leinart is my X-factor for 2010 because the success of the offense depends on whether or not he can play consistently well through the course of an entire season. Leinart is a very smart player who understands how to read defenses and make checks at the line of scrimmage; however he will need to adjust to the speed of the NFL as he noticeably could not handle the pressure in his first years in the NFL. Leinart does not have the strongest arm, however is accurate for the most part in his passing game. He is a talented young player and it will be interesting to see how he can fill Kurt Warner’s shoes in 2010.

Name You Should Know Calais Campbell

DE, Miami (Fla.), Drafted #50, 3^rd Year

Calais Campbell in his sophomore season in 2009, stormed the scene with 48 tackles,7 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Campbell may not be a household name now, but he soon will be; at 6’8 300 lbs Campbell has the astounding size of a young Julius Peppers and is a nightmare to game plan against. Be ready to here his name more and more on Sundays as he will be a force to reckon with in 2010.

Rising Star Steve Breaston

WR, Michigan, Drafted #142, 4^th Year

With the trading of Anquan Boldin, Breaston will be heavily involved in the Cardinals offense in 2010. In 2008-2009 Breaston showed major improvement from his rookie campaign in 2007, catching 132 passes for 1,718 yards and 6 rec. TDs. The bulk of this production coming off the bench, as he has only 15 career starts through 3 years in the league. Although his lack of experience is a cause for doubt, I believe Breaston will have a breakout 2010 season.

Offensive Outlook B+

The 2010 season has question marks abounding around young QB Matt Leinart as he looks to replace future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. The offensive line looks solid with new acquisitions Rex Hadnot and Alan Faneca, and RBs Chris Wells and Tim Hightower seem primed for a breakout running campaign. The offense has numerous weapons on the outside with perennial Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald and young WRs Early Doucet and Steve Breaston. Replacing Anquan Boldin is difficult, however I feel that Fitzgerald will shine brightly in his absence. Rookie Andre Roberts from The Citadel also looks to make an impact in 2010.

Defensive Outlook B+

I almost put Karlos Dansby down as a second major loss in the offseason, as he has anchored the Cardinals defense in recent years. Although they lose Dansby, the Cardinals drafted ILB Daryl Washington to be his future replacement. A bonus addition this offseason, accomplished pass rusher Joey Porter should increase the intense pressure the Cardinals defense forces on opposing QBs. With newly drafted Dan Williams, ‘09 sack leaders Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell, and recently acquired Joey Porter, the Cardinals have one of the most impressive defensive fronts in the NFL. Also LB Paris Lenon will serve as the immediate replacement for Dansby, and FS Kerry Rhodes will replace Antrel Rolle in the secondary. This defense has the talent to be a top 10 defense this year as the defensive front has vastly improved since 2010. I look for improvement in 2010.

Special Teams Outlook B+

Although they lost long time kicker Neil Rackers, Jay Feely provides just as much, if not more production at the PK spot. In 2009 he made 30-36 FGs including a 55 yarder. At punter, Australian native Ben Graham had a league-tying record of 42 punts inside the 20 yard line and looks to continue his success in 2010. The only question mark on this special teams unit, is who will replace Steve Breaston as a return specialist. All in all a solid unit.

Projected 2010 Record 7-9

Looking over the schedule for 2010, the Cardinals have a very difficult path to the playoffs. Playing at Atlanta, at Carolina, at San Diego, at Minnesota, and at San Francisco is no joke; and neither is playing the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. All in all, Matt Leinart has too many questions surrounding his ability to become the franchise QB and I feel that all success and failure will be subjugated and placed upon him. Whether that is fair or not is out of the question, all Im saying is, nobody will know how good or bad this team will be until we see Leinart in action.

Cleveland Browns 2010 Preview and Prediction

Last Years Record            5-11

Wins: Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Raiders, Jaguars

Losses: Vikings, Broncos, Ravens (x2), Bengals (x2), Steelers, Packers, Bears, Lions, Chargers

Biggest Playmaker            Josh Cribbs

WR/KR, Kent State, Undrafted, 6^th Year

Josh Cribbs is just about the only big-play threat on the Browns’ roster.  After catching just 36 balls in his first five seasons the Browns are planning to use him more on offense, as he ran for almost 400 yards a year ago.  He is the most exciting return man in the game, averaging just under 12 yards per punt return a year ago with one touchdown and three kickoff return touchdowns.

Impact Player            Joe Thomas

LT, Wisconsin, Drafted #3, 4^th Year

Joe Thomas was drafted to become a franchise left tackle and that is just what he has become.  He has gotten great reviews from his coaches, and him lined up next to LG Eric Steinbach gives the Browns a very strong left side of the line.

Biggest Offseason Addition            Benjamin Watson

TE, Georgia, Drafted # 32, 7^th Year

Watson is a guy who is known for chasing down Champ Bailey across the field after an interception, but has yet to live up to his potential.  That said, the Patrios rarely utilized their tight ends in the passing game, and he could be a weapon for Jake Delhomme given his size and speed.  He is also an above average blocker.  Mike Holmgren should also be considered as the biggest addition, just off the field.

Biggest Offseason Loss            Quarterbacks

Sure, the Browns got rid of Derek Anderson who had a miserable year last year and Brady Quinn who the Browns could seemingly not win behind, but they did not get enough in return.   That’s without mentioning they are now looking at Jake Delhomme as their starting quarterback coming off a season with a TD/INT ratio of 8/18 and six fumbles.

Biggest Draft Steal            Colt McCoy

QB, Texas, Drafted #85, Rookie

Given the Browns current quarterback situation (Delhomme and unproven backup Seneca Wallace) they needed to draft a quarterback.  And grabbing Colt McCoy in the late third round was a great value pick.  McCoy is a great athlete for his position and incredibly accurate, the most important trait for a quarterback.  I think he will be an above average starter a few years down the road, but could be pressed into action earlier than that. 

Biggest Draft Mistake            Joe Haden

CB, Florida, Drafted #7, Rookie

Joe Haden is an incredibly talented player and worthy of a top 10 pick, but the Browns just have so many needs that they certainly could have afforded to trade down and take multiple players that will help out right away.  It looks like Joe Haden may start the season as a nickel back, and I believe that anyone drafted 7^th overall should be considered a starter near the beginning of the season.                 

Offseason Grade            C

The Browns really didn’t make many moves this offseason except for hiring Mike Holmgren and paying Jake Delhomme $7 million…far too much for an aging quarterback coming off a brutal season.  I’m not sure if the management figured they could keep winning like they did in their last four games of ’09 (three of the teams being the Chiefs, Raiders and Jaguars), but they really didn’t fill any of their major needs.  Wide receiver and defensive tackle (Shaun Rogers injury and facing possible suspension), anyone?

X-Factor            Jake Delhomme

QB, Louisiana-Lafayette, Undrafted, 14^th Year

Jake Delhomme has the ability to lead this team to six wins or so, but also the potential to steer them towards three.  It is nice to have a veteran QB in the Browns’ situation, but not so nice when his TD/Int ratio was less than ½.  Delhomme has shown that he can lead a team in the past and must step up this year.

Name You Should Know            Jerome Harrison

RB, Washington St., Drafted #145^th, 5^th Year

Harrison broke into the limelight with his 286 yard performance against the Chiefs in week 14.  He then went on to rush for 148 and 127 yards in the next two weeks.  However, those games were against the Raiders and the Jaguars.  The Jaguars ranked 19^th against the run, the Raiders 29^th and the Chiefs 31^st, not to mention these teams had no playoff chances when the Browns played them.  Harrison showed flashes of brilliance last year and will be the feature back of a rushing attack ranked 8^th in the NFL, but I am not sold on him

Rising Star            Alex Mack

C, California, Drafted #21, 2^nd Year

Alex Mack was the Browns first round pick last year and started all 16 games in his rookie season.  He only committed one penalty all year, and was part of a line that allowed just 30 sacks and ranked 8^th in total rushing yards.

Offensive Outlook            C

Jerome Harrison can be a workhorse as he proved last year, carrying the ball 106 times in the last three games, but no one can be counted on doing that for 16 games…that would put him on pace for 565 carries in a year.  Delhomme comes in as the starting QB with almost no weapons around him, and the Browns desperately need to get the ball to Josh Cribbs in open space as much as possible.  The Browns had the least passing yards in the NFL in ‘09

Defensive Outlook            C-

In 2009 the Browns ranked 29^th in yards allowed passing and 28^th against the run.  There only significant additions to this defense were OLB Scott Fujita (1 sack in ’09) and CBs Sheldon Brown and Joe Haden.  The injury to Shaun Rogers and looming suspension will also play a key role.

Special Teams Outlook            A

Special teams have been the one bright spot for the Browns.  Last year they ranked first in overall special teams, much due to Josh Cribbs’ return abilities.  Their kicking game is also very solid with punter Dave Zastudil and kicker Phil Dawson

Projected 2010 Record            4-12

The Browns are playing in a very tough division with the Steelers, Ravens and defending division champs the Bengals.  It seems like every team upgraded this offseason and addressed their needs besides the Browns.  Their schedule being the 10^th toughest in the league doesn’t help matters.  They could definitely pick up wins over the Bucs, Chiefs, Bills and Jaguars and maybe squeeze out one divisional victory.

Elvis Dumervil Could Miss the 2010 Season

Denver Broncos' star outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil tore his pectoral muscle today and will likely require surgery, just a month after signing a six year, $43.2 million contract.  The earliest Dumervil could be back is mid-November, but he may miss the entire year.

So what does this mean for the Broncos' season?  Well, they obviously lost an elite pass-rusher who amassed 17 sacks and four forced fumbles.  The Broncos' next OLB is listed as Jarvis Moss who has 3.5 sacks in his three year career after being a first round pick by the Broncos.  I could definitely see Denver signing a veteran free agent to play most or all of the season, but Dumervil's production at OLB cannot be matched.

Not only will the Broncos lose a considerable amount of sacks from this position, but this will allow quarterbacks to scan the field longer and pick apart the Broncos' aging secondary.  This is a HUGE blow to the Broncos who already looked to be facing a tough season, but the loss of Dumervil alone will likely cause the Broncos to lose one or two games they would have won before.

Broncos Prediction: 6-10

Baltimore Ravens 2010 Analysis and Preview

Last Years Record            9-7

Wins:  Chiefs, Chargers, Browns (x2), Broncos, Steelers, Lions, Bears, Raiders

Losses: Patriots, Bengals (x2), Vikings, Colts, Packers, Steelers

Biggest Playmaker            Ray Rice

RB, Rutgers, Drafted #55, 3^rd Year

In just his second year in the NFL Ray Rice amassed 2,041 yards from scrimmage, 2^nd in the NFL.  Ray Rice is a dynamic player in the open field and a very talented pass catcher, piling up over 700 yards receiving.  Look for Ray Rice to improve his rushing totals this year, as the Ravens will have a stronger pass game, taking the defensive pressure off of him. 

Impact Player            Ray Lewis

MLB, Miami, Drafted #26, 15^th Year

Sure, Ray Lewis is getting old.  Sure, it’s hard to endure a long career as a lineback in the NFL.  Have you ever watched Ray Lewis play?  I have never seen anyone play with as much passion and heart as he does, and he is clearly the leader of the Ravens’ stingy defense.  And who’s to say his 15^th year won’t be as successful as the rest, he racked up 135 tackles in year 14, and has been to 11 out of the last 13 pro bowls. 

Biggest Offseason Addition            Anquan Boldin

WR, Florida State, Drafted #54, 8^th Year

Ozzie Newsome has been a great GM over the years, but after being called out by owner Steve Biscotti for a lack of talent at wide receiver he made one of his best moves yet by trading a third and fourth round pick for three time pro bowler Anquan Boldin.  Boldin is coming off an 80+ catch and 1,000 yard season and will be a huge addition to the Ravens’ aerial attack.

Biggest Offseason Loss            Cornerback

Samari Rolle was unable to play in 2009 due to neck surgeries and unfortunately had to retire this offseason.  Starting CB Domonique Foxworth is out for the season, leaving the team pretty thin at corner.  They are currently looking at Chris Carr and Lardarius Webb as their starters who have a combined four interceptions in six total years (all four by Chris Carr in his five year career).

Biggest Draft Steal            Terrence Cody

NT, Alabama, Drafted #57, Rookie

Terrence Cody fell to the Ravens in the second round because of concerns about his weight, but he passed the Ravens conditioning test in only three tries!  Cody was a two-time Consensus All-American and at around 350 pounds can be a huge factor plugging the middle of the Ravens’ 3-4 defense.  Next to Haloti Ngata the Ravens could have a scary-big defensive line.

Biggest Draft Reach            Arthur Jones

DT, Syracuse, Drafted # 157, Rookie

Only because I had to choose.  The Ravens had a great draft yet again in 2010, but the one guy who could possibly be considered a reach is Arthur Jones.  He had injury problems his junior and senior years (torn pectoral and torn lateral meniscus).  If he can stay healthy he could be productive but will be switching to a 3-4 defensive end and showed inconsistent play during college.  However, Jones could stay healthy and prove to be a factor as a backup 3-4 DE.                   

Offseason Grade            A

The Ravens lost zero starters while upgrading their biggest weakness, the receiver spot.  In addition to Boldin the Ravens also signed Donte Stallworth.  The Ravens’ first two draft choices were the best players available in their opinion, OLB Sergio Kindle and NT Terrence Cody.  Hopefully Kindle can return soon from his fractured skull to bolster an already strong linebacking core. 

X-Factor            Joe Flacco

QB, Delaware, Drafted #18, 3^rd Year

Joe Flacco is entering his third year after leading the Ravens to the playoffs his first two seasons and improving his performance and statistics in his second season.  With the additions of Stallworth and Boldin I expect Flacco to have a big year, but his performance is key to the Ravens’ success. 

Name You Should Know            Matt Birk

C, Harvard, Drafted # 173, 13^th Year

Matt Birk has been one of the most successful centers in NFL history.  He has been to six pro bowls and was a veteran leader of an O-line that ranked 5^th in rush offense in 2009.  Birk may well be the most successful NFL player to come out of the Ivy League the past twenty years.

Rising Star            Michael Oher

OT, Ole Miss, Drafted # 23, 2^nd Year

Oher was made famous because of Michael Lewis’ book The Blind Side (later made into a movie), which told of Oher’s upbringing and journey to Ole Miss.  Oher slipped down to 23^rd in last year’s draft due to concerns about his learning disability and his childhood, but proved doubters wrong, starting all 16 games in his rookie campaign

Offensive Outlook            A-

If Joe Flacco can step up and become an elite quarterback the Ravens will be tough to stop.  Ray Rice is a dynamic weapon, and adding Anquan Boldin seriously helps their passing attack.  Todd Heap is aging but is still productive, and the offensive line is strong with Jared Gaither and Oher at the tackles and Matt Birk in the middle.

Defensive Outlook            B

Probably the first time in recent years that the Ravens’ offense can be considered stronger than their defense.  The Ravens are the 5^th oldest team in the league, and the age is showing on defense.  Ray Lewis should continue to lead the defense even in his fifth season, but the uncertainty in the secondary (inexperience at the corners and Ed Reed being on the PUP list and not knowing when he will return) could definitely hurt the pass defense.  In addition, Terrell Suggs will have to rebound from a season in which he recorded only 4.5 sacks. 

Special Teams Outlook            B

The Ravens ranked 18^th overall in overall special teams last year, and are looking to improve that ranking in 2010.  The Ravens signed Shayne Graham (fifth highest field goal percentage in NFL history) who will likely beat out Billy Cundiff.  Sam Koch was consistent in 2009 with just 5 touchbacks and 26 landed inside the 20.  They will likely look to Chris Carr to return punts again and possibly start Jalen Parmele as the kick returner, who averaged 31.4 yards per return in nine returns towards the end of the year. 

Projected 2010 Record            10-6

The Ravens have a very good chance to win the AFC North this year with the improvements to their offense, but their defense is facing injury problems already with Safety Ed Reed on the PUP list and CB Domonique Foxworth out for the season.  However, Terrell Suggs promised he would never play as badly as he did in 2009, and Ray Lewis is too good to be too old, so I seem them contending for the AFC North title in 2010…mostly due to their now balanced offense.

Sam Bradford Contract Disapproved?

RavensInsider is reporting on Twitter that rookies Sam Bradford, Kyle Wilson and Gerald McCoy have had their contracts disapproved by the league...

Looks like there are just small details to work out... Check the report HERE

The contract has now been approved...disapproval was just a small bump in the road.

Where will DE Aaron Schobel play in 2010?

With Schobel committing to play in 2010, where will he end up?  Right now, it appears as if his likely suitors are in New England and Houston.  A potential move to New England is drawing comparisons to Wes Welker joining the Patriots, as Welker was a Patriots killer and Schobel has sacked Tom Brady more times (10.5) than any other player.  With Derrick Burgess playing his best "Brett Favre" and considering retirement, the Patriots are very thin at OLB.  However, the Patriots have also worked out veteran DE Adewale Ogunleye and may choose to go in that direction.

However, Schobel is from the Houston area, and it would make sense for him to finish his career there, telling the Houston Chronicle it would be his "number one choice."  It looks like Schobel could end up in his hometown, although the choice to play in New England has to be tempting.  Schobel may be able to start immediately in New England. Whatever team signs him can expect a thoroughly improved pass rush from his presence.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 Analysis and Preview

Last Years Record            9-7

Wins: Titans, Chargers, Lions, Browns, Vikings, Broncos, Packers, Ravens, Dolphins

Losses: Bears, Bengals (x2), Chiefs, Ravens, Raiders, Browns

Biggest Playmaker            Troy Polamalu

SS, Southern Cal, Drafted # 16, 8^th Year

Troy Polamalu is simply an exciting player to watch.  The five time pro bowler is seemingly all over the field, racking up 7 sacks and 20 interceptions in his first seven years.  Polamalu will have to recover from a knee injury that limited him to appearances in only five games in 2009, but he should be good to go and back to his pro bowl form this year.  

Impact Player            Casey Hampton

NT, Texas, Drafted #19, 10^th year

Another example of a 3-4 nose tackle having a huge impact on a team.  Hampton is also a five time pro bowler.  In 2009 the Steelers allowed less than 90 yards rushing per game and 305 yards per game, ranking 3^rd and 5^th in the NFL, respectively.  Much of that should be credited to big Casey Hampton plugging the middle.

Biggest Offseason Addition            Flozell Adams

OT, Michigan State, Drafted #38, 13^th Year

Flozell “The Hotel” Adams was signed just before training camp and was immediately inserted as the starting right tackle, due to the loss of Willie Colon for the season (torn Achilles).  Adams is yet another five time pro bowler, a proven player who will immediately contribute and bolster the Steelers offensive line.

Biggest Offseason Loss            Santonio Holmes

WR, Ohio State, Drafted #25, 5^th Year

After Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger’s off the field issues the Steelers’ organization wanted to make a statement that this kind of activity would not be tolerated.  Naturally, instead of trading their franchise quarterback they quickly dealt Santonio Holmes (yes, Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes) to the Jets for a fifth round pick.  The Steelers definitely got their point across, but traded away a talented receiver (79 catches for 1,248 yards and five TDs in 2009).

Biggest Draft Steal            Jonathan Dwyer

RB, Georgia Tech, Drafted # 188, Rookie

Jonathan Dwyer was at one point considered to be a 1^st or 2^nd round talent.  Dwyer is a bigger back at 229 pounds, but looks to fit in as the third running back behind Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore.  Dwyer could see some carries early in the year as the Steelers rely on the running game with QB Ben Roethlisberger serving his suspension.

Biggest Draft Reach            Jason Worilds

OLB, Virginia Tech, Drafted #52, Rookie

I think Jason Worilds is going to be a good player for the Steelers in the coming years.  Immediately, he does not fit into a starting role with OLB’s James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley returning.  Many teams this year are listing their 2^nd and even higher round picks as starters during the beginning of their rookie training camp.  Worilds is a DE-OLB transition and the Steelers likely could have picked him up in the 3^rd or 4^th round.  Steelers Today explains why there was not much competition for a player like Worilds.

Offseason Grade            B

The two biggest downfalls of the Steelers 2009 offseason were Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger.  Holmes misbehaved his way to a trade for only a fifth round pick, and the Steelers will likely be playing the first 4-6 games without Roethlisberger.  This was out of the hands of the Steelers’ management, but it hurt them nonetheless.  The Steelers drafted a steal in Jonathan Dwyer to replace RB Willie Parker and traded for starting CB Bryant McFadden to replace CB Deshea Townsend.    The Steelers also brought back ILB Larry Foote and QB Byron Leftwich to compete for starting jobs. 

X-Factor            Weeks 1-6

With a looming suspension to QB Ben Roethlisberger of six games (may be reduced to four for good behavior), it is key for the Steelers to rally around Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon.  The first four or six games are crucial to the Steelers season success.

Name You Should Know            LaMarr Woodley

OLB, Michigan, Drafted #46, 4^th Year

LaMarr Woodley had a breakout year for the Steelers in 2009, recording 62 tackles and 13.5 sacks.  The OLB position has always been a focus for the Steelers 3-4 defense, and Woodley has the potential to be the next great one.  If he is healthy all year, expect another 10+ sacks.

Rising Star            Rashard Mendenhall

RB, Illinois, Drafted # 23, 3^rd Year

Rashard Mendenhall had a great 2009 campaign, starting 12 games, rushing for over 1,100 yards and 7 touchdowns.  With Willie Parker gone, Mendenhall will be the starter from day 1 and should get many more carries.  He can also be a factor in the passing game. 

Offensive Outlook            B

The uncertainty at quarterback for the beginning of the season hurts the Steelers, but when Roethlisberger is back expect a pretty consistent, balanced offense.  The Steelers are expecting big things from 2^nd year WR Mike Wallace in replacing WR Santonio Holmes (averaged 19.4 yards per catch in 2009), as am I.  The Steelers offensive line is a bit of a concern with the loss of their best lineman RT Willie Colon, and hopefully for them Flozell Adams can step up his pass blocking.  First round pick Maurkice Pouncey should help bolster the Steelers interior very early. 

Defensive Outlook            B+

Troy Polamalu is healthy again.  This is absolutely HUGE for the Steelers defense as Troy will bolster the run defense with his hard hitting aggressive play and the pass defense with his ball-hawking abilities.  NT Casey Hampton, OLBs LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison are coming off great years.  The Steelers biggest concerns are their age and their cornerbacks.  The Steelers had only 12 interceptions last year and their pass defense ranked 16^th in the NFL.  If the Steelers can improve their pass defense from last year they will be very difficult to move the ball on. 

Special Teams Outlook            C+

Kicker Jeff Reed has been consistent on field goals, but the Steelers allowed four kickoff return touchdowns (and lowest average kickoff distance and ranked 25^th in yards per return) a year ago.  However, he only missed two field goals (out of 29) inside the 50.  Punter Daniel Sepulveda is a good placement kicker, sticking 29 inside the 20 last year and allowing under six yards per return.  The Steelers will count on the tiny and shifty (5’6 180 pound) Stefan Logan to handle the kick and punt return duties.

Projected 2010 Record            8-8

The Steelers have been a very consistent franchise for quite some time now, and they will be able to overcome the adversity they face with Roethlisberger’s suspension.  The Steelers defense is aging and did not bolster a pretty poor secondary (other than adding Bryant McFadden who had zero interceptions in 2009).  The offense is relying on Mike Wallace to be able to take Santonio Holmes’ spot as the #1 receiver.

Mike Golic is a Better Athlete than Albert Haynesworth

This is too funny.  Mike Golic, 47 year old former NFL player passes Albert Haynesworth's conditioning test

NFL CBA and Potential Lockout

What is the Collective Bargaining Agreement?
The NFL CBA is an agreement between the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and the 32 NFL owners.  The CBA outlines various aspects of interactions between the two groups and the working conditions for the NFL players.

What has been going on with the CBA?
The current CBA was initially crafted in 1993 and has been adjusted and extended various times since, the last being in March of 2006.  In early 2008 the 32 NFL owners unanimously voted to opt out of the current CBA in March of 2011, one month after this year's Super Bowl.

When the owners opted out of the CBA, the 2010 season became a year without a salary cap.  Why haven't we seen owners offering much larger contracts to free agents?
First, two definitions:
Unrestricted free agent - A players contract has expired and he is free to negotiate with any team, and may choose a team based on the financials of a deal, chances for success, playing time, whatever the player most desires.
Restricted free agent - Essentially is a player whose contract has expired.  First, his previous team offers him a "qualifying" offer - an amount determined by the CBA (a minimum amount required to keep a player a RFA).  Any team is free to offer them a deal, but their previous team may match the offer and retain the player.  There are also guidelines to dictate the compensation the previous team would receive if an offered contract above certain levels.  Find a good explanation here.


In an uncapped season (2010), players must have at least six accrued seasons in order to become an unrestricted free agents, while in a capped season, players must only have four accrued seasons.  Because of this, we have seen the numbers of restricted free agents increase from past years, making it more costly to sign key free agents.

Also, there is no spending minimum, so owners also have the choice to limit their spending and build a team of undervalued players.

Why might there be a lockout in 2011?
First of all, the owners are not majorly concerned about a lockout and losing revenue as the NFL will still be pulling in billions from its network TV deals even if there is no 2011 NFL season.  Sure, they don't want the lockout, but it's a little more likely now with all of the recent TV revenue flowing in.
One issue is for small market teams - as most of the revenue comes from TV contracts (and small market teams such as the Jaguars do not make as much) and teams are required to spend around $112 million (in 2009) on player salaries the profits for these teams are not as high as the owners would like.  This is what enables any given game to be competitive and result in either team winning.  This floor is calculated as a percent of the salary cap, and that percent was going to keep growing under the previous CBA.  Essentially, many of the owners would like to see the salary cap and the salary floor gone.
Another issue is that of revenue sharing.  Under the last CBA NFL owners shared TV revenue, NFL merchandise licensing revenue and 40% of their gate receipts (ticket sales).  There is also a separate $100 million pool that the 15 teams with the highest gross income contribute to and the bottom 17 can draw from.  This assures players that they can make the same amount of many in any market, but the highest grossing teams are not in favor of this pool.
18 game regular season schedule - Another issue to be addressed is the format of the season.  Currently there are four preseason games and sixteen regular season games, but the owners are in favor of changing two preseason games into regular season games.  The players would need to be compensated fairly for an increase in games and they would like to see the studies about long term health risks of adding two more games.
Retirement benefits - Former and current NFL players would like their retirement benefits to be looked at, particularly their health care as the game can have serious long term effects.
Rookie wage sacle - Something that I am completely in favor of, I cannot understand why unproven rookies are getting $50 million guaranteed before they take a single snap!  Players that have proven their worth should be rewarded.

There are many other issues that will be discussed including player misconduct administration and drug testing.  Click the link for more info.

Essentially, if a new CBA is not crafted, signed and considered a done deal there may be a lockout in 2011 and no games played...  Get to work!

Brett Favre to Retire

But will he play???
Brett Favre apparently has told team officials that he is going to retire and not return for his 20th season.

If Brett Favre actually does not return it will be up to Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels to lead the Vikings in 2010.  This would be a major blow to the Vikings, as it is pretty apparent that Brett Favre can still play, having one of the best seasons of his career in 2009.  Odds are it will be Tarvaris Jackson.  Expect the Vikings to fall a good bit in ESPN's Preseason Power Rankings, my guess is from about 3rd to 9th.  Tarvaris Jackson consistently completes under 60% of his passes, but if he can limit the turnovers expect the Vikings to have pretty good success given the strength of their rushing offense and defense.

NFL News 7/30-8/1

Coming soon:
- Collective Bargaining Agreement Q&A: What exactly is going on?  Why might there be a lockout?
- My thoughts from New England Patriots practice on Friday, July 30
- AFC North Previews (Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers)

Here is a short list of ongoing events in the NFL world from this weekend:
Unsigned first round picks : Ndamukong Suh - Lions (2nd), Russell Okung - Seahawks (6th), CJ Spiller - Bills (9th), Jermaine Gresham - Bengals (21st), Dan Williams - Cardinals (26th), Jerry Hughes - Colts (31st)...All other first rounders have signed and have either reported or will report shortly.

- Colts signed free agent CB Deshea Townsend to one-year deal
- Darelle Revis, Jets CB, has yet to report to camp as he is unhappy with his deal
- Albert Haynesworth still hasn't passed his conditioning test
- Wes Welker, Patriots WR, was taken off PUP list and practice for the first time today
- Dez Bryant, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter were all injured and had to be helped off practice field

E-mail Me  or leave comments with suggestions for what to write about!

First preseason game in seven days!