My 5 most hated players...(active)

Here's 5 players I just don't like.

I root against these guys and like to see them fail. I wont mention any Patriots because I obviously hate all N.E. players.

#5) Jason Taylor: This guy may be the most naturally talented player of the past 15 years. He played hard and is a future HOF'er. That being said, this guy hates the NY Jets with a passion, was a thorn in our side for over a decade, and has overstayed his welcome in the NFL. He is hanging around because he's afraid of life after football. Reminds me of a QB from Mississippi. Retire already!

#4) Laveranues Coles: He was my favorite Jet starting his rookie year and his break out game when he scored his first TD in the NFL. 'The Miracle in the Meadowlands' was an amazing moment in Jets history and the first time I ever noticed Coles. In 2002 he and Pennington forged an amazing bond and made a nice playoff run. The future looked bright. He decided to leave for greener pastures in Washington at the most inopportune time... for the Jets and his career. He was a bust for the Redskins and we made a move to bring him back to NY and reunite him with Pennington. Chad even renegotiated his contract to free up cap space to give Coles a raise.

He gave us 4 underachieving years and a new headache every offseason as he cried about his contract. The Jets finally cut ties with him and I for one am thrilled. Chrebet took him under his wing during his formative years in this league and it showed on the field. Laveranues played with heart but was a cancer to his team off of it. He really alienated his fans and now he's joined that dysfunctional family in Cincinnati... where he fits in well.

3) Ladainian Tomlinson: I loved him when he was the best player in football... in 2005. It's 2009 and he may not even be the best RB on his own team anymore. I think LT lost me during the 07' AFC Championship game when he took himself out of the game because he wasn't "100%" as he put it. Watching his team struggle, and not having the fight to tough it out, showed he has lost the fire.

2) Larry Johnson: One fluke season running behind a legendary O-line assembled by Dick Vermeil and he was crowned as the next great running back in the NFL. I was skeptical and I have always had the same policy. Put together 3 outstanding seasons and I will recognize you as a great player. That holds true for Adrian Peterson as well. His first two years in this league have been mind blowing, but one simple injury like turf toe and he will be forgotten about and on the scrap heap like Shawn Alexander. Johnson has one last chance this season to make something of his career. I don't think he has the heart.

1) Philip Rivers: He is an upper echelon QB, he's just has no sportsmanship. I would be miserable if my child was growing up and his favorite player was Rivers. He's the worst example of how to behave on the field in the NFL.

Jets claim WR Mario Urrutia off waivers...

The Jets added a big body to their group of young wideouts that are trying to land a roster spot. He may very well end up on the scrap heap and never make the squad... but he is an interesting prospect.

He is 6'6" tall and 232lbs, basically Calvin Johnson's size. He had an interesting career in college. He went to Louisville and had amazing freshman and sophomore campaigns. He put up nearly 1,000 yards both years and 10+ TD's. When his head coach left (Petino to the Falcons) his production dropped dramatically. A player who looked like he was a 1st or 2nd round prospect dropped to the 7th round where he was snatched up by the Bengals. 

He was a rookie last year and didn't play at all. Cincinnati is inundated with wideouts right now and decided to let him walk. So there must be at least one of these three issues... if not all of them: No separation speed, bad hands, or bad character/lack of work ethic. 

The reality is guys like this come and go everyday in the NFL. However, just because his production dropped his last year in school and therefore his stock dropped to the 7th round, that doesn't mean he worthless. This kid could be a diamond in the rough. 

NFL.COM posted this analysis of him in the 2008 combine:

Positives: Rare build for the wide receiver position. ... Excellent height. ... Evenly proportioned body. ... Long arms and big hands. ... Long-strider who builds up to good football speed. ... Flashes the foot quickness to develop into a quality route-runner. ... Uses his size to his advantage and competes hard for the ball. ... Strong hands and can pluck the ball out of the air. ... Obvious red-zone potential. ... Better deep ball target than you'd think with his pedestrian estimated 40-yard time.

Negatives: Lacks traditional downfield speed. ... Too often rounds off his routes and isn't athletic enough to gain consistent separation against NFL-caliber cornerbacks without improving his attention to detail. ... Generally a reliable pass catcher, but allows too many passes into his chest, resulting in some ugly drops. ... Has never been the "go-to" guy here. ... Struggled throughout the 2007 season with a turf toe injury.

You can't teach 6'6".... you either got it or you don't. Keep an eye on him. 

7 QB's that should be starters...

These 7 players will most likely spend most or all of the 2009 season on the bench or holding a clipboard. In a league that is starving for competent signal callers all of these players have shown great potential and have been passed over far too quickly. I have a major problem with the current system in the 'win now' NFL. QB's are chewed up and spit out. Talented players like Billy Volek, who showed potential, have been put on the shelf. In the blink of an eye they are in their 30's and heading for retirement. It's such a waste of a valuable resource. 

Here's my list:

Derek Anderson, Rex Grossman, Vince Young, Tyler Thigpen, Tavaris Jackson, Matt Lienhart, and last but not least... Kellen Clemens.

I'm not saying teams should have unlimited patience with young QB's. At some point you have to pull the trigger and send these guys off to stud. Players like Leftwich, Harrington and Boller were given fair chances and now their former teams have a complete picture and can move on. That being said, does anyone think Eli Manning would have had the chance to become the Superbowl MVP if he was judged by any 6 or 8 game stretch during his formative years... and yes I said YEARS. 

I hope some of these players get a fair chance to prove themselves. Sink or swim. 

J.Wagner

My K-Gun/ No huddle / 2 minute drill on all 32 teams....

What does the NFL look like as we enter the summer? Here's a quick snap shot of each team. 

AFC

The New York Jets: Haven't I said enough about this squad?

The New England Patriots: Fred Taylor in, Rodney Harrison and Matt Cassel out... I wonder if Scott Pioli picked the perfect time to get out of dodge. The Brady era may be over, if he is too shell shocked or re-injures himself early in 09' what does Belichick do? Personally, I would like to beat the Brady and Belichick led Pats in-route to a NYJ championship... so I hope he's OK. 

The Miami Dolphins: I have always respected Parcells, but last year was amazing. He had a big head before. After turning around a 1-15 team and winning the division beating out Belichick and Mangini he must be kneeling and praying to a picture of himself every morning. He used the NYJ's castoff QB who, incidentally, he drafted in the first round when he was our head tuna. I think Mike Vick would be a nice fit down in southern Florida. I don't see them winning the AFC East again, but they will play tough every week.  

The Buffalo Bills: The media has already coined the phrase... 'The Bickering Bills'. Got to love it. The Bills have been an emotionally fragile team for years. They have a very unassuming head coach and QB. The idea of Owens playing in December... on a team that is below .500... in below freezing weather seems like the perfect storm. Should be fun to watch.

The Baltimore Ravens: The questions is twofold. Can Flacco continue to grow as a signal caller? And, will the defense continue to be a dominate unit with out their top 3 defensive coaches? Rumors abound regarding Brandon Marshall of Denver. My opinion is that Ozzie Newsome is the best GM in football. If he wants Marshall who am I to question him?

The Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis is the WORST coach in the NFL. How does this guy still have a job? Enough about him. As for the players, I think their offense is walking a tightrope. Diva's like Coles and Johnson, and a lighting rod like Chris Henry have the makings of a high risk/reward WR corps. I love OT Andre Smith in the first round, MLB from USC Ray Maualuga in the second round and 6'7" pass rusher Michael Johnson in the 3rd. I guess their biggest question is who is going to carry the rock?

The Cleveland Browns: They made an impulsive move by jumping on Mangini. He has stayed true to his colors and has alienated his players and the media. That being said, they have held on to Braylon Edwards and I think they have a real big league QB in Derek Anderson. Poor Brady Quinn, he has now played for 3 former Belichick assistants. I am still having a hard time swallowing the fact that we gave away Abrahm Elam to the Browns. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers: This is the best run organization in all of sports. They can't go out and spend an unlimited amount of money on players like the Yankees, they can't go pick up the 3 top free agents on the market and win it all like the Celtics. They have tons of hall-of-famers, more championships than any other team, and have done it over a 30 plus year stretch. Wow.

The Houston Texans: I think the Schaab experiment is a failure and it's time to move on. Rex Grossman is currently on the roster. I like Rex and feel he got a raw deal in Chi-town. If he could get a chance as a starter again, I for one would be rooting for him. This franchise has spent a lot of high draft picks and money on their defense. It's time for that unit to pay back the team for it's investment and take it's rightful place among to top 5 defenses in the league. Rex had some success the last time he played on a team with an elite defense, didn't he?

The Indianapolis Colts: Peyton is not done yet.... in my opinion. The only thing that worries me is the fact that the coaches who were closest to him and know him the best have all rode off into the sunset. Do they think the gravy train is off it's tracks for good? If Addai and Sanders can stay healthy for 16 games the Colts are in good shape. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars: I feel Jack Del Rio is one of the finest coaches in the NFL. His public 'calling out' of DT John Henderson was not a sloppy out burst stemming from anger. It was strategical and was intended to send a message to the whole team. He knows how to motivate, and is not afraid to admit when he is wrong. He has cut ties with some of his top draft picks like Leftwich and Matt Jones. They were dragging the team down so they were let  go. Del Rio is a real leader and his team s always a threat. 

The Tennessee Titans: I am on record saying how disgusted I am with Jeff Fisher and his benching of Vince Young. Fisher never wanted Vince and was forced to draft him. They had a great regular season in 08' and fell flat on their face in the playoffs. I hope Collins struggles in the first half of the season and Fisher is forced to turn to Young. 

The Denver Broncos: What a disaster. The owner got upset when his team missed the playoffs and made a quick ill-advised decision out of frustration. Much like a fan who gets mad when his team looses and says 'fire everyone', he cleaned house and went after one of the better offensive minds in the league. Why not? You have the best young QB and WR in the league. McDaniels should be able to make magic happen with these guys. I looked good on paper didn't it? If I was a Bronco fan right now I would hang myself. The Orton era has officially begun.

The Kansas City Chiefs: Let me say this, they fired Herm Edwards... so they automatically have to be better in 09'. Not only did they hire Herm, they gave up a draft pick in compensation. Is it any surprise they fired their GM too? I like Cassel and they didn't over pay for him. They also have a bunch of interesting young players who they have picked up in the previous two drafts. 3 LSU 1st round picks in the past 3 years (WR and two D-linemen) I wonder if this can help overall chemistry. It all comes down to Larry Johnson. If he can stay healthy and dominate he and Jamaal Charles could become one of the best one two punches in the NFL. 

The Oakland Raiders: They could have had Russel, McFadden and Crabtree in 3 consecutive drafts. Instead Al Davis pushes the envelope of craziness one step further by drafting a very odd group this year. Somehow someone needs to wrestle the reins away from this geezer and remind everyone that the Raiders are from Oakland, not Mars. Hey Raider Nation, at least you are not Denver fans. 

The San Diego Chargers: The key word in Charger land is NOW. The time to win is NOW. Do they have some solid young players? Sure. However, their veteran leaders are getting very long in the tooth. They have underachieved for years. They have an elite young QB and a dynamic defense. Now is the time for the Tomlinson's and Norv Turner's of that team to step up and put their money where their mouths are. 

NFC

The Dallas Cowboys: I love watching Tony Romo suffer. This guy is everything that a guy like Eli Manning is not. He has an inflated image of himself, and a ridiculous salary. He has proven nothing as a pro. If you don't have at least one playoff win in your career as a QB you need to shut up and play. That goes for all the 1st round draft picks that are holding clipboards and all the QB's dating singers and actresses. Before Jerry Jones puts Romo's jersey up in ring of honor he should let him prove it in the post season like all of the other previous Cowboy legends. That being said, the Cowboys running game looks scary in 2009. I think Felix Jones is the real deal. 

The New York Giants: They have a great pass rush, a great O-line and a coach and QB who believe in one another. How will they fair without #17? I'll say this, their 1st round WR Hakeem Nicks has a lot of potential. I see him making a much bigger splash as a rookie in NY than Sanchez in 09'. 

The Philadelphia Eagles: Can all of you foul Eagles fans (no pun intended) finally concede that Mcnaab was a brilliant draft pick? I'm sure you can't. If I'm the eagles I would have paid Torry Holt whatever he wanted to fill out the WR squad. He was their missing piece. I know he is no spring chicken, but he has all the intangibles that the Eagles young WRs are missing. They let Dawkins walk, and I am on record as saying if they miss the playoffs this year you can point to that one bad move as the reason. 

The Washington Redskins: Daniel Snider is a fool. Thats it. I have harped on this mismanaged franchise over and over so I won't focus on the negative. I'll list the positives... which is a much shorter list. Jim Zorn has good character and has a ton of potential, Portis may be the best pound for pound RB in the league today,  and their defense is talented and opportunistic. Campbell has done nothing to impress me thus far.

The Chicago Bears: I think people are way too high on Matt Forte. Their defense has lost it's edge, and they are the third best team in their division. Bears fans were so quick to crucify Grossman, and just as Kyle Orton was coming into his own he was traded. Lets see if Jay Cutler can be the messiah Bears fans have been waiting for. 

The Detroit Lions: After an 0-16 season things can't get any worse... thats for sure. For more on this subject read my previous post... "0-16.. Really?" 

The Green Bay Packers: I like their GM and head coach and they may be the best young duo in the league. They had the guts to dump Favre and have built a solid young team. My question is about Ryan Grant. This young back made a name for himself in the second half of the 07' season including an inspired performance in the post season. If he can step up I think this team can be a real threat to make a run.... for the Superbowl. Will Favre throw a wrench in their plans?

The Minnesota Vikings: Their defense is the best in the league. Their RB is the most explosive home run hitter in the league. Their O-line is dominate. Thats a pretty good formula for success. So why haven't we seen them make an appearance in the post season lately? Apparently they feel it's because they are missing a 40 year old, past his prime, diva QB with a surgically repaired shoulder. Enter Favre!!!

The Atlanta Falcons: They have a great young nucleus. They are in a weak division. Who knew what a great situation Matt Ryan was getting himself into? Can Mr. Turner step up and show he is not a one season wonder? I for one say hell yes! They should make a playoff run, but I don't think they can do much damage in the post season... not yet. 

The Carolina Panthers: They have an elite coach and some great individual players. I don't exactly understand the whole Julius Peppers situation. Why would you want to trade him??  Why would you want to pay him what amounts to a million dollars a game by applying the franchise tag. Give the guy a long term contract and spend your time trying to find your QB of the future. I wonder if Vick would fit in well with the Panthers?? He could be an all purpose threat this season and take time to learn the offense. You could get an x-factor player this year and your future starting QB in 2010. Just a thought.

The New Orleans Saints: They are the only team that will challenge the Falcons for the division. I think if they can beat out the Falcons and they make it to the post-season, they could be very dangerous. No one will want to face an offense like this in a win or go home scenario. Breeze missed the single season passing record by 15 yards????? Wow. Think he may have something to prove?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gruden... Out. Brooks.... Out. Garcia... Out. Dunn... Out. Kiffin... Out. Not much left from their Superbowl champion squad. It's time to start fresh and I can't believe it, but they are not going to run the 'Tampa Two" in Tampa anymore. What is this world coming to? I am not a fan of starting rookie QB's, but if Freeman can't beat out those other two jokers for the #1 spot this year I would be very worried in Tampa. I'm excited to see if ex-Jet/ ex-Giant RB Ward can handle the load as a feature back. I predict he misses at least 4 games with injury. 

The Arizona Cardinals: Wisenhunt is the real deal. It took a lot of guts to bench Leinhart in favor of that washed up old guy Warner. Boy did that ever pay off? Kurt thanked the Cardinls by raping them, forcing a contract that could end up paying him 19 million dollars for 1 season if he chooses to retire at the end of 09'. They are having contract issues with their stand out WR. They need to pay Boldin. He is tough and plays his heart out. 

The St. Louis Rams: I had the chance to see the Rams play in 2008 when the Jets mopped the floor with them in the Meadowlands. What a joke. I considered demanding a refund. That team has no heart. I was really high on Chris Long the #2 overall pick for the Rams in 08'. I think he could become a superstar under the tutelage of Mr. Spagnolia. Oh, and please dump Bulger already so he can become the first MVP of the UFL. 

The San Francisco 49ers: I like Mike, but he will be unemployed by seasons end. Another Mike... namely Holmgren will be the 'niners' head man in 2010. I don't see them winning more than 4 or 5 games and their skilled players like Vernon Davis and Frank Gore are horribly overrated. 

The Seattle Seahawks: This team could make some noise this year. They are perpetually under the radar, but this offseason they seem to be off the map all together. I like Jim Mora and I think he has all the tools to be a great Head Coach. This could be another good landing spot for Vick, and Mora's sidekick Knapp is back at his side as his offensive coordinator. They had success with Vick in Atlanta, why not get the old team back together again? Their top pick Aaron Curry (LB) could be the center piece of their defense for a very, very long time.  

J.Wagner

Our Highlights and Low-lights in the upcoming season...

I foresee some ups and downs in 09' season and it's always good to look ahead and try to avoid the bumps in the road. However I think we are headed for some potholes in the next 6 months and we are currently on a collision coarse. 

Our defensive line is highly suspect. I have been harping on this subject from the moment the 08' season ended. Ellis is old, lazy and inconsistent. Jenkins is injury prone and is a one man show in the middle. Our RE spot will most likely be filled by Marques Douglas who is a non-factor, journeyman, stop gap option at this stage in his career. And thats it. Those are our big 3 names on the D-line. 

Look at teams like the Steelers, Giants, Patriots, Chargers, and Titans. They are all built from the inside out, meaning they have strong Defensive and Offensive lines with depth. The Giants have 3 pro-bowl caliber DE's (Umenyiora, Tuck, and Kiwanuka) and they still paid Chris Canty, the former Cowboys 300lb DE, big free agent money. We didn't even sniff at any significant FA linemen. To put it simply, if Jenkins goes down our D-line is non-existent. In todays NFL you need 4 or five high quality players on your D-line. 

So thats the bad news for our defense. The good news is that we enter the 2009 season with an offensive line that has the potential to dominate. They are savvy veterans who can protect the QB and get down and dirty run blocking as well. They showed great chemistry in the second half of the 08' season( they were the only highlight of the last 6 games). Our front office made the right move re-signing Brandon Moore who is not the most well known of that group but is an important piece to the puzzle none the less.

Our backfield is looking like a very dynamic group. Jones and Washington are a great one two punch and Mr. Greene should be able to contribute his rookie season in short yardage and small doses. Musa Smith, who is a former Raven who also appeared in our training camp last year, would be a nice addition for depth. I am not sure about the status of Jesse Chatman. He is no longer on our roster but I think we still have the rights to him. He has potential but he has struggled with a lot of 'off the field' issues.  

Our D-line will cause what is a very talented defense to look second rate. Our O-line and dynamic backfield will most likely carry our offense. 

I haven't mentioned the tight end position or the gaping hole in our WR corps either. Again I feel we dropped the ball in the draft. I saw some interesting young TE's WR's and DE's throughout the draft. Our lack of depth at these positions could have and should have been addressed via the draft. I am confident that Kellen Clemens is good enough to run the type of offense we are going to play in 09'. Instead of addressing the most important issues facing our team we made a flashy move for a GQ model from USC who can sell jerseys and hopefully PSL's. 

Winning sells seats and merchandise. The front office has made some great moves in the past few years. I like Rex, I like our squad as a whole. But, I think Tannembaum's lack of respect for the value of draft picks and his misuse of them via trades (like the Vilma debacle or the foolish Favre trade) will eventually lead to his termination. And trust me when I say that I hope I can look back on this in 2 years and say I was dead wrong.

I hope Sanchez becomes the mexican Joe Namath and we sign Burress and he becomes the 'King of NY' by catching the Superbowl winning pass for BOTH NY football teams. I also hope Rex creates the most dominate defense since the 85 Bears (shout out to Buddy 'Big Daddy' Ryan!). But I can't help but feel the new stadium is more important right now to Woody and the entire franchise than creating a dynasty and winning championships, and that scares me. 

J.Wagner

Intangibles...

From time to time you hear 'intangibles' referred to when describing a upper echelon player in the NFL. 

Chad Pennington, one of my all time favorite NFL players, is well know for having a weak arm. For a while he was also looked at as injury prone. He has been a starter in this league for years and made millions of dollars. He has also won a few games along the way. The NY Jets released him last year during training camp and he was a free agent for less than 24hrs. Why would a weak armed, fragile QB continue to win the starting job year after year and make multiple playoff runs? 

Because of his 'intangibles'! Chad is a true leader, meaning when he takes the field and enters the huddle he commands respect. He's also a team player that has the innate ability to rally the troops and get more out of them than they probably knew they had. It also helps that he is smart with the ball and is deadly accurate. These are all things you can't teach. 

We drafted Kellen Clemens in the early second round of the 2006 draft that also yielded Mangold, Ferguson, and Leon Washington. I am a big believer in karma and that draft had good karma. The other 3 names I mentioned have become important reliable players for us and Kellen is a part of their draft class. They started together and I believe they can  win together.

Clemens has been in a very unique position with this team. He is entering his 4th season and has spent the entire time in the same offensive system. He has had the chance to start a handful of games. He was able to play behind two very different and significant veteran QB's in Pennington and Favre. If you could combine Favre's good qualities and Penningtons strengths you would have the perfect signal caller. Kellen has a strong arm and is pretty mobile for a QB. 

I was under the impression that the front office had every intention of starting Sanchez this year and most likely from opening day. I recently saw an interview with Brian Shottenhiemer on SNY's 'Jets Nation' where he compared our current QB situation to the 2004 season when he was the QB coach for the Chargers. 

Philip Rivers was the first round draft pick and QB of the future in San Diego and Drew Breeze was the young signal caller who was quickly becoming an after thought. After a long preseason battle Breeze emerged as the starter. He proceeded to develop into one of the premiere QB's in the league.   

I for one will be rooting for Clemens to be our starter in 09'. If he shows he can win games and get the job done I have no problem sending Sanchez to an NFC team for the right compensation somewhere down the road. I know he's not the flashy choice, but he shows a lot of promise. 

Character, a solid work ethic, natural leadership, and an unrelenting desire to win... these are the intangibles that any champion needs to have. I see some of these characteristics in Kellen, the rest needs to be proven on the field. I just hope he gets a chance.

He won't make it to the pages of GQ Magazine anytime soon, but he may just be our next franchise QB. 

J.Wagner

10 most underrated players...

I've selected my most over and underrated players on the Jets roster.... Risk vs. Reward .

I have also highlighted 12 players I think will emerge this year as stars and have break out seasons.... Players to watch . 

Now I am going to focus on 10 underrated players who are all well known, but don't get the credit they deserve. They are all elite players in their respective positions. 

#10) Andre Johnson, WR Texans. 6300 yards and a 13yd average per reception in 6 years. He's never had a legitimate QB and has fumbled the ball 4 times in 486 touches. Imagine what his numbers would be if he had even an average QB. 

#9) Nate Clements, CB 49ers. He received a ridiculous contract a few years back when he left Buffalo for the west coast. Because of the dollar amount he was expected to be superman. He may not be the man of steel, but he has 29 picks, over 600 tackles and 5 defensive TD's in 8 seasons. 

#8) Joseph Addai, RB Colts. His season was shortened last year by an injury and in 07' he only appeared in 15 games. In a total of 43 games he has 3600 yards and 30 TD's (rushing and receiving combined). He's the closest thing we have in todays NFL to Marshall Faulk in his prime. If he can stay healthy, he's a hall-of-famer in training.

#7) Heath Miller, TE Steelers. 2,000 yards and 20+ TD's in his first four years. Oh, and two rings. Gates and Whitten get all the attention but this guy is a valuable blue collar TE who played an important role in two championship runs. And, his career is just starting.  

#6) Mason Crosby, K Packers. This 193rd pick in the 07' draft has started every game for Green Bay and has a powerful leg. He has 31 touchbacks in 2 seasons and is very accurate, even from over 50 yards. Now the Pack have to get deep in the postseason to see if he has nerves of steel. 

#5) Nnamdi Asomugha, CB Raiders. In 2006 he had 50 tackles, 8 picks and a TD. Since then teams simply don't throw his way. He is a top 5 CB in this league and you may not be able to pronounce his name, but it's one you should know none the less. 

#4) John Abraham, DE Falcons. He had  rough start to his career struggling with off the field issues and injuries. The Jets traded him away and all his problems. However, he is one of the best pass rushers of his generation and the numbers don't lie. 84 sacks in 103 games. To put those numbers in perspective Dwight Freeny who is one of the highest paid pass rushers in this league and a true icon. He has 70 sacks in 113 games. If we would have only had Abraham healthy in that Divisional playoff game in 2004 vs. the Steelers.... Ok, lets leave the past in the past =)

#3) Kevin Williams, DT Vikings. The best pass rushing DT I have ever seen in the NFL, it's that simple. Minnesota's defense has been amazing for the past 3-4 years and it all starts with the big man in the middle. 300 tackles and 42 sacks in 6 years.... from the DT position, WOW! Hanesworth may have a absurd 'billion dollar' contract in Washington, but the best DT in football wears purple. 

#2) Calvin Johnson, WR Lions. Some may feel that I am overly excited about a player who has only been in the league for two seasons. He also has the undesirable distinction of playing for the only team to ever go 0-16. It's not his fault he was drafted by Detroit. He has already played with 6 different starting QB's and his team just drafted #7. Most other receivers who can produce on Johnson's level have a steady competent QB. 2000 yards with a 16.5 yard average and 16 TD's in his first two years. I already feel he is the best WR in the league and if he gets lucky enough to pair up with a elite QB he will re-write the record books. If I'm Jerry Rice I am a bit nervous. 

#1) Clinton Portis, RB Redskins. I guess if I needed to pick a pound-for-pound, best overall player in the league it would be Mr. Portis. He does it all, pass blocks, runs between the tackles, catches the ball, has amazing visions and is a leader on and off the field. He probably only has a few elite years left, but he is the class of the NFL right now. Want some stats? Ok, how about 9200 yards, a 4.5 yard average for his career and 18 fumbles in 2200 all purpose touches. Thats one every 126 times he handles the ball. AMAZING! 

J.Wagner

Rex the Ruthless!!

I love the new attitude that Rex Ryan brings to our NY Jets. This week while appearing on the Mike Francesa show on WFAN Rex expressed his feelings about Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. When asked if he had respect for Billy B's reputation and championships he replied "I didn't take this job to kiss Belichicks rings!" And when asked how he felt about playing them in the same division he said "week two of the NFL season we will show them exactly how we feel". 

Finally someone who isn't afraid to step up and let the AFC East know that this is going to be our divisions again. Rex has the natural ability to rally the troops and motivate anyone.  I already broke down the schedule and predicted an 8-8 record at best. Thats not good enough to make the post season. That being said I am not afraid to hope for the best and jump on the Ryan bandwagon. If he can make these guys believe maybe they can accomplish something special. 

One other thing that Rex pointed out was Woody Johnson's dedication to winning. The new stadium and practice facility are state of the art and the best money can buy. He has done everything he can do as an owner to prove he wants the Jets to win championships. I have been very critical of Johnson for breaking his promise to the fans that we would have our own stadium. It's not his fault that the west side stadium was not approved by NYC, but I do blame him for not having another location set up as a back up. Now we are stuck with the Giants in the Meadowlands.  

Young: Play me or Trade me!

Finally Vince Young has stepped up and demanded to be on the field again.

I feel 100% that jeff Fisher did not want to draft Young in the first place and has a personal vendetta against this young QB. Obviously Kerry Collins  is not the future of this team. I think Fisher might be looking to move on to a life after football and is only interested in making one more run for a ring. Frankly, I think 10+ years without a Superbowl is long enough to know he isn't going to bring you one. Vince Young is the future of that franchise... to let him sit and waste away on the bench is the wrong move for the Titans and a disservice to the NFL as a whole. Fisher needs to play this kid or trade him.  

Where would he fit nicely?... funny you should ask. I think the top two destinations for Young would be the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills. Houston passed on Young in 06' and has no established QB to speak of. The Matt Schaub experiment seems to be a failure. If Gary Kubiack has any guts he would pursue Young and modify his zone blocking system to fit a mobile QB. 

I would love to see a strong armed signal caller like Young play with a legitimate #1 WR like Andre Johnson. The Houston defense has improved year after year and Young could be the missing piece to their puzzle. I'm sure the Texas football fans will welcome Young back with open arms. 

As for Buffalo, I think Young would fit in well with playmakers like Owens, Evans, Parrish, and Lynch. That could become one hell of a dynamic offense. Do I want to see Buffalo get better.... NO!, but you can't debate that he would fit in nicely there. 

I am a big Vince Young fan. I watched this special player dominate in college, and frankly I feel if he was white he would be treated much differently. If everything about his resume and past were the same, if his physical skills and natural leadership ability were the same, if his intelligence and reputation off the field were the same... and his skin was white... he would have been given more time to develop just like Eli Manning and Jay Cutler and would have never been benched. He also would have been the #1 pick in the draft instead of #3, no question. 

I know he needs to improve as a passer and make better decisions regarding when to stand in the pocket and when to run, but this guy has intangibles that cannot be ignored. I hope we get a chance to see him as a starter again this year..... somewhere.

J.Wagner

 

Teams and players to watch in 2009...

There are three teams who missed the playoffs in 2008 to watch out for in 2009. All three are under the radar and will sneak up on the league during the first half of this season. I have also targeted some players that I feel will have a breakout season.

Lets start with the teams I feel will take that next step and make it to the post season. All three are in the NFC, so there should be quite a shift in the balance of power in that conference. The Saints and Packers are my first two choices. This is not much of a stretch because these teams were in the postseason year before last.

The Saints explosive offense is no secret but I think their defense is going to shock some people in the NFL this year. I could easily see the black and gold in the super bowl. I think they will be very balanced, and if they except that Bush should be used mostly in the receiving game and special teams they will probably be able to keep him healthy.  Their defense which has been a work in progress for two years is finally coming together, and their high octane offense will not need to put up 30+ points a week to have a chance at a win. If they can get a Matt forte/Steve Slayton type RB to emerge for them I see no way the don't make a deep post season run.

The Green Bay Packers are a real 'jekll & hyde' organization right now. In 07' they looked like the next big thing in this league. In 08' they struggled and looked lost. They have a ton of young, disciplined solid players on both sides of the ball.  I loved how they built an smart, aggressive defense and didn't just focus on acquiring offensive weapons for Favre during his final years there. They have balance and had the guts to give Brett his walking papers (and even got a 3rd round draft pick out of it!). Their GM and head coach are the best young tandem in this league and I think 08' was a stutter step. They will be back on track in 09' with at least 11-12 wins.  

My third team to watch is the Seattle Seahawks. Aaron Curry is the missing piece not only for the defense, but for the team as a whole. Can a rookie be a leader on the field and in the locker room? YES! Especially a MLB like this Wake Forest product. Obviously the health of Hasselbeck is the most important unknown for this team. If I am Jim Mora I get real aggressive about making Mike Vick a part of my team. They have history, and Seattle is a small market. The less attention, the less drama surrounding Vick's return. A wildcat style offense with a seasoned vet like Hasselbeck and an x-factor like Vick could be wicked. They are in a weak division and have a realistic shot at a wildcard birth.  

Lets switch gears to individual players who have a chance at becoming household names this season. First off I'll start with Miles Austin WR from the Dallas Cowboys. I won't spend much time on him because everybody and their mother is predicting a breakout year for Austin. The departure of Owens opens the door for Austin to step up as a prime target for Tony Romo. He has all the tools to become a dominate receiver in the NFC East..... IF..... he can stay healthy.

The next player on my radar is Abram Elam safety from the Browns. He's a playmaker and Mangini tried every way possible to get him to Cleveland. He finally succeeded with a blockbuster trade during round one of this years draft. I think he could have beat out Jim Leonhard for the starting job and he will certainly have a huge impact on his new team. Breaks my heart to see him leave the green and white.

Paul Posluszny MLB from the Bills could easily be a probowler from the AFC east beating out some of his high profile counterparts. This Penn State product is the real deal. He would have been a big story last year, but the epic collapse of the Bills as a whole out-shined him as an individual. He's powerful, smart and nasty... perfect formula for a MLB playing for a cold weather team. 

Greg Camarillo WR from the Dolphins made some noise last year before having his season ended early by an injury. Again, like a lot of young talented players trying to make a name in this league, his ability to stay healthy will weigh heavily on his future. He will have a hard time making  it to the probowl considering the other WR talent in the AFC, but a 1,000 + yard season is very realistic for this opportunistic, sure handed prospect in 09'. That qualifies as a breakout season for any wide-out.

Kevin Smith RB from the winless Lions had an excellent rookie outing. He doesn't fumble, has great vision and a second gear in the open field. His sophomore season should be even better. He may end up as a part of the 'new triplets' consisting of Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Smith. If Stafford is the real deal we could e seeing the start of something special here. 

Next up is Brandon Jackson RB from the Packers. I know Ryan Grant is the man in Green Bay, in my opinion he was a flash in the pan. I see Jackson as a better all around back and I have been singing his praises for years, so I won't stop now. I think he is an every down RB and can anchor the Pack's running game. He is a natural pass catcher as well and until he makes a big impact I will stick with him. Come on BJ, it's now or never... the clock is ticking.  

Domenick Hixon WR from the NYG is primed for an explosive 2009. His QB believes in him and he is not afraid to make a big play. The team has a bunch of draft picks from the past few years who are all clawing to become Eli's new favorite. Nicks, Manningham and Smith will all get a lot of looks during camp and the preseason. When it's all said and done I see Hixon and Smith taking over for Burress and Toomer as the NYG new book ends. Smith will be racking up the most catches and Hixon scoring the most TD's and big plays. How about 1050 yards and 11 Td's... is that a breakout season?

There is a big hole in the middle of the Tampa Bay Bucs defense with the release of Derrick Brooks and Barret Ruud MLB will step up to the plate. This dude is a leader and a playmaker. Tampa only let the legend walk because they know how great Ruud is. This new look defense in Tampa will be it's salvation (Tampa will not be running the 'Tampa 2' anymore?????). If they plan on winning any games they will need a probowl season from Ruud. 

Dwayne Bowe WR is a powerhouse from Kansas City. He and Jamaal Charles RB will really reap the benefits of the acquisition of Matt Cassel. The real question mark on this team is their young re-building offensive line. If that line gels, this offense could take flight. Charles and Bowe were solid starters last year who are poised to be the Roddy White and Mike Turner of the 09'season thanks to a new leader behind center. 

Steve Spagnuolo is the new head coach in St. Louis and he is all defense all the time. He learned an unpredictable, attacking defensive system from Jim Johnson in Philly and the student has out grown the teacher. Chris Long DE, the Rams #1 overall pick in 08', is a dynamic player. He can play all front 7 spots in this defense and can be an invaluable weapon for Spagnuolo. He had a lackluster rookie season but remember his name, you will be hearing it a lot in 09'.   

Speaking of poor rookie seasons, my 'last-but-not-least' player to watch in 09' is Vernon Gholston OLB...  of course.  If you have given up on this player as a Jets fan because he had little to no impact his first year consider this... He played DE about 85% of the time in college, not OLB. He was asked to drop back into coverage maybe 5% of the time in college. He was playing in an overcomplicated system last year, with Mangini and Sutton as his coaches.

Things are different this time around and Rex knows he will be judged heavily on his ability to get through to this young talent. I have faith in him and I see at least 7-9 sacks this year. If he is ever to live up to his potential and draft position it will not be for sometime, but he will make some noise in 09' and start to quite the critics. 

J.Wagner