Kris Jenkins and another episode of Hard KnockZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I am on record as being a big Big Jenks fan. When he went down with yet another major injury last season I heavily endorsed bringing him back in 2010 just because of what he brings to the locker room and practice field. The one positive thing I can take from this season of Hard Knocks is that everything I have read about Jenkins is true. He is a natural leader and motivator.

Our young budding DE Ropati Pitoitua is 6'8" and at least 315LBS. He has been showing real promise and was unfortunately injured during the Carolina game. He is lost for the season, but should be able to make a comeback in 2011. He was in too much pain to walk to the medical cart. Jenkins picked him up off the bench and carried him at least 20ft to the cart. That conjured up memories of Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant in Wrestle Mania III. That was simply amazing!

My overall feelings about Hard Knocks is that it is boring, and I have been a fan of the show years past. It is unbelievably slow paced. For some reason this weeks episode focused on Mike Westoff's disdain for WR David Clowney and the hazing of a young rookie DB. I felt the hazing footage was a bit overly graphic, and I don't see how showing a meeting where all of the coaches are tearing Clowney apart helps this player or this team. The only reason I feel we agreed to do this show as an organization was out of desperation... desperation to sell PSL's and tickets. As each week passes I feel this show can only hurt us as a team. I think Tom Brady and I will both be watching something else next Wednesday night.

Ryan Leaf Syndrome....

Ryan Leaf was an outstanding college athlete. If he wasn't in the same draft as Peyton Manning he would have been the unquestioned #1 overall pick. As a matter of fact, in almost every draft in the 10 years before and after 1998, he would have been #1. He looked like Drew Bledsoe and Troy Ainkman mixed into one exciting young QB. He was able to play at the college level and had all of the physical tools and intelligence to make it happen in the pros. If Chad Pennington can win games in this league certainly Leaf could have been at least average. Instead he was a complete train wreck.

Why? What does Mr. Leaf have in common with other 1st round busts? I would take guys like Matt Leinart, Tim Couch, David Carr, Heath Shuler, Joey Harrington and Rick Mirer and compare them to Vince Young, Carson Palmer, Mike Vick, Chad P, and Donavan McNabb. The only difference between the 1st rounders that were able to win consistently, and those who couldn't seem to play there way out of a pickle barrel... is guts.

No one has been in a tougher situation than Mcnabb. Philly has to be the worst place to play in the entire league. That dude was booooed on the stage as the commissioner presented him with his jersey draft day, and he played his first few years in the old Vet stadium, that had striking similarities to an certain infamous, haunted insane asylum that is near by (and yeah, I am comparing those fans to inmates). Even when he won games it wasn't good enough. That being said, he got it done for a decade because he has BALLS.

I have more arm strength than Chad Pennington, before or after his multitude of throwing shoulder surgery's. With the chips stacked against him, in a league with the fastest men on earth playing corner and safety, he still has a winning record and won games in the regular season and the post season. He had the moxy to face his naysayers and go out and make it happen.

Vince Young has been portrayed as a bust. He has a weird throwing motion, unconventional mechanics and hasn't exactly been known as one of the brightest players to ever line up behind center. His 'wonderlic' score from the NFL combine was made public and was extremely low. All he does is win games... with his arm, with his feet and yes, with his HEART. The guy can't except losing, and his coaches and teammates rarely have to because of him. He has made some mistakes off the field but he is going to go much further in the league than his counterpart Matt Leinart because he has the guts to go out on the field and make it happen.

I watched Leinart playing this past week vs. Young's Titans in a simple preseason match up. Matt looked like a scared rabbit on zanex. He played three series and did nothing to show he deserves to be a back up, not to mention a starter. He couldn't even lead his team to a 1st down, forget a touchdown. It's sickening to see a player with so much talent, who has collected millions for very little return, go out and play half hearted. There was little pressure, preseason games obviously don't count, and still Leinart looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

Dude, just let it go and throw the ball! At least go out in a blaze of glory. Throw 10 INT's in the preseason and 20 in the first 4 or 5 games of the regular season. Let them pull you... at least you can tell your grand kids you left it all on the field... and made millions in the process. He is failing anyway, does he want to show his family video of him throwing 3 yard passes on 3rd and 8 and tell them about the good old days 20 years from now?

This league is not lacking QB's, it is lacking GUTS. Coaches won't let their guys go for it, and the players are terrified of making a mistake. Bill Parcells once told Phil Simms that no matter what happened he would back him up as the starting QB after suffering a 4-12 season. He told him to throw the ball and try to win. Their backs were against the wall and the were desperate. Two years later they were hoisting the Lombardy and Phil was the MVP.

You can criticize Rex Ryan's bravado, and 'all or nothing' approach (I know I have). But one thing he and his young QB aren't lacking is GUTS, BALLS and HEART. Maybe their story will have a happy ending like Bill and Phil a generation ago. =)

Players who are under the radar and will help us get to the promise land....

Mike Devito is a beast and a freak. I love blue collar fat dudes who work their asses off, get a little better each week and eventually start to believe in themselves. He should be our starting RE in my opinion. Give this guy a shot. He will never be a superstar but he is the kind of guy no Offensive linemen want to face play after play.

Danny Woodhead should be active every week this season. Use him in the slot, let him run the ball, make sure he gets at least 5-10 touches. He represents more to the team than just a hybrid player. One nice run or juke move can actually help change momentum in a game because he is such a fan favorite. He can have exactly the same effect on this squad that Chrebet had on the Jets teams of the late 90's. If he is waived I will be very disappointed.

David Harris may be our 2nd or 3rd most important defensive player. I also think he will be elsewhere in 2011. There is simply no money to pay him considering the amount of successful draft picks Mr. T has made in the past 4 years. This guy is an ideal 3-4 ILB. I have so much respect for how he has conducted himself this offseason. He gives 100% in practice and has caused no distraction regarding his contract... which doesn't have 3 years left. He is actually entering the last year of his deal and is in a very vulnerable position. I will hate to see this guy walk. We lost Farrior, Vilma and Harris is probably next. Sad, but this is a business.

Calvin Pace will rack up 16 sacks this year if he stays healthy. This is the year this high profile FA pick up starts to pay off. he is wildly underrated. It's hard enough to find LB's who can get to the QB with any consistency, but Pace has that extra knack for making a game changing impact. He is big mean and has one thing on his mind... chaos.

Players who will cost us games and don't belong here...

There is no doubt in my mind that Nick Folk will cost us at least 2 or 3 games. Considering how competitive post season games are, he may very well end up costing us our entire season. I am not sure why the Jets have struggled for a decade to find a reliable kicker. It is such an important position and we keep throwing losers in there. Why let Feely walk and replace him with a imposter like Folk? Can't process this one.

Dwight Lowery has no place on our roster. Once Revis is back Lowery will move to #4 CB. He isn't qualified for that. He is a waste of a roster spot. One or two major injuries and he will be playing in prime-time and giving out completions with more generosity than Santa Clause.

Joe McNight has no fire. I am not sure if he will cost us games because he probably won't get near the field. But, God forbid Greene goes down. This guy is less inspired than Vernon Gholston.. if that is humanly possible.

Kevin O'Connell looks like he has never even watched football before. He seriously looks like a caveman that was thrown out on the field in some weird sociological experiment. it really frustrates me that Erik Ainge is such a loser off the field. He showed some real promise. I would have been OK with Sanchez, Brunell and Ainge, I would love to see Bret Ratliff get put on waivers in Cleveland. I would snatch him up in a NY minute.

Preseason Week #1 vs. the Giants

What did I take from this game? Lets start with the ill-advised pass to LT on our 2nd offensive play. Schotty and Sanchez couldn't wait to go 5 wide with no backfield and show off. So much for easing into the year and letting the sophomore hand off the ball a few times and get his legs under him. #6 throws a pick on his first pass of the season. What I liked about the whole thing was how he handled it. He didn't hang his head and the coaches on the sideline made sure of that. Rex and Schotty met him as he was coming off the field and told him to forget about it and move on. When he started to cry on Mark Brunells shoulder about it he also let him know that it's only pre-season and to just move on.

Brunell is an interesting addition to this team. He can be an excellent mentor to Sanchez and in his prime I loved the way he played the game. That being said, he doesn't seem physically capable of playing any extended period of time in this league anymore. If he had any value the Saints would have held on to him. If Mark (#6) goes down in the middle of a big game then Mark (#8) may be able to play a couple of quarters and get us a win. But if Sanchez has to miss multiple games we might as well call Brooks Bollinger back from the abyss to line up behind center because Brunell is just not capable. It looks like Clemens is going to be traded or released before the regular season starts. That leaves us with no QB depth. We have our franchise guy, but it is a long season, I am just sayin'.

When Sanchez made it back on the field I must say I was impressed. He shrugged off the pick and directed the offense like a vet. I was most impressed by the accuracy of his passes. He knew exactly where he wanted to go with the ball, looked off the safeties and corners, and delivered the ball on time right in the bread basket. I feel confident that Holmes will have 1,000 yards even though he can only play 12 games. He is our best receiver, and that's saying a lot considering we have players like Cotchery, Edwards and Keller.

I do expect growing pains this year for #6 because that is always how it works for 2nd year QB's. Marty Schottenheimer made an observation this week on HBO's Hard Knocks that if you can get an equal performance out of a 2nd year QB that you got his rookie year, you have made progress. I would agree, but Mark is in a very unique situation. Not many 2nd year QB's have the caliber of skilled players that we have on offense at their disposal... not to mention our lights out defense to go with it. 12 TD's and 20 INTs won't be acceptable this year golden boy.

On defense I was impressed by Calvin Pace like usual. He is a hybrid of Joey Porter and Terrel Suggs. I think he and Taylor have a great shot at double digit sacks this year. Harris and Leonhard were also stand outs. Our D-line seems pretty solid and I predict big things out of Ellis this year. He know this is the best situation he has ever been in as a Jet, and he wants to go out as a champion. Vernon Gholston looks horrible in practice and worse in games. He simply doesn't have the X-factor needed to be a real pass rushing threat in this league. He looks the part but he is only an actor. I think it would serve to motivate the team if he was released before the start of the regular season. The way he restructured his contract allows us to cut ties and absorb no real cap hit in 2011. Dump him!

Dwight Lowery seems to be regressing as his career progresses. He should not be playing corner. He is perfectly suited for safety. He doesn't have the speed or man to man skills an NFL corner needs. He can read defenses, plays excellent zone, has good ball skills and appropriate size for SS or FS. If we end up dumping him the next team that snatches him up will most certainly move him to that spot.

The last thing I will mention was the blind side hit on Eli Manning. I am an Eli fan and have been for years. I like everything about this guy, except the uniform he wears. Watching him get destroyed and run off the field spilling blood was fantastic! Christening our new home field with Giant blood was a thing of beauty. It's too bad our 2nd and 3rd stringers couldn't get us a win, but that violent impact, and the aftermath, made the whole night worth it.

Hard Knocks ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

This show is absolutely boring. I loved the Bengals season last year and even the Cowboys the year before that was interesting. Watching Rex Ryan walk around and sneak snacks is not what i call entertainment. The portion of this weeks episode that focused on Antonio Cromarties 13 children and how he struggles with naming all of them was ridiculous.

This show has taught me nothing about our team that I didn't already know except what a great talent we have in John Connor. The young FB out of Kentucky is going to rattle some cages this season. I did like when they showed or QB coach tearing into #6 about constantly pouting every time he makes a mistake. That was my only real criticism of him last year. Mike Pettine is featured much more than I expected and it's obvious he is much more than Rex's piss boy.

They have finally stopped talking about Revis, thank god! Like I have said before, one player doesn't win or lose you Superbowls. If it is meant to be, we will do it with or without #24. Woody has had much more media exposure since the start of the summer. He is enamored with his plain jane new stadium, and he keeps weighing in on the Revis holdout. I wish he would crawl back under that rock he has been hiding under since the west-side stadium deal fell apart. Sign the checks and shut up!

Be careful what you wish for...

Had to make a quick reference to a post of mine from over a year ago. It was my top 5 most hated players (active). #5 was Taylor, #4 was Coles and #3 was Tomlinson. How the world turns LOL!!!!!

Here's the LINK

Revis Island is getting more and more lonely...

Dude, why is our GM Mike Tannenbaum driving out to a diner in the middle of nowhere to negotiate the biggest contract in the history of our franchise? Why does this process have to be so dramatized? It looked like Mr T was heading for a show down with Tony Soprano on this weeks episode of 'Hard Knocks'. They can't just meet in an office once or twice a week and try to find an acceptable middle ground?

I, for one, could care less what happens with #24's contract. The Jets have offered him a massive 10 year extension. They have said publicly that they feel he is the best defender in the league and want him to be a Jet for life. If you team treats you this way and puts a contract of over 100 million on the table, and your advisors tell you it's not good enough, it may be time to hire some new people. He is in a dream scenario and now he has painted himself into a corner.

The Jets have all of the bargaining power here. They have a probowler in Cromartie and a first round pick with Kyle Wilson. Dwight Lowery can be an excellent nickel back. We are simply not going to tare up the last 3 years of his deal and give him a big one year pay day, even if it is a cap-less season. We are not going to offer anymore money. Everyone keeps referring to a similar situation with Emmit Smith back in the mid 90's. The Cowboys wouldn't budge and after a 0-2 start they blinked and paid the newest member of the Hall of Fame.

If Jerry Jones would have been as deep at running back as we are at defensive back Smith would have never held out in the first place. Revis doesn't have a leg to stand on here. To sit out an entire year in your prime is ridiculous. He will force the Jets into a trade next year, and who is going to pay a player with this type of baggage 16 million a year for 10 years?

He plays a position that relies on speed and quickness to excel, and a fraction of a second makes all the difference. He can only play at a high level for a maximum of 10 years (ask Champ Bailey). He is already 3 years into his career and if he sits out this season he will be near the halfway point of his career and looking for a 10 year deal somewhere else. He is under contract for 3 more seasons.

If I were Mr T I would make it clear to his agents that the 10 year 120 million dollar offer is on the table for 7 more days. If he doesn't sign it they won't revisit it until next offseason. That means he will be stuck with only 1 million if he plays and nothing is he sits out. He can't leave and make money anywhere else. He has no power what so ever, and his greedy agents are holding his career and reputation hostage. Time to wake up #24 and come to your senses. Sitting home and watching the Jets win the Superbowl will go down as one of the biggest mistakes in history.

If I have to guess, I would expect him to sit out until maybe October. Once the trading deadline expires he will probably show up. He will get his huge deal and we will move on from there. This is all business and no one should take it personal. However, it's hard as a fan to look at this guy the same when he is holding our season hostage for the second time in 3 years. The contract he is so dissatisfied with is the one he fought so hard for his rookie year.

I won't hold it against him as long as he is in uniform ready to go on the first Monday night vs. the Ravens. If he doesn't show up for that one I will have no use for my #24 jersey anymore. Posturing during the offseason is one thing. Not showing up once the games count is unacceptable and Jets fans shouldn't forgive.

My 'No Huddle', 'K-Gun' on all 32 teams..................

A quick snapshot of each and every team. Ok, here we go...

The AFC East

The Buffalo Bills: They have a very interesting backfield situation... one that rivals Eva Longoria. They let T.O. walk and I can't wrap my mind around that one. He wasn't wildly productive, but he was pretty inexpensive... he complimented Evans well... and he was a model citizen while he was there. Their owner has no interest in winning, it's that simple. I have a tiny bit of sympathy for their low life, uneducated, country ass fans because we once had an owner named Leon Hess who was Ralph Wilsons mentor. Keep costs down and collect that cash! Very sad.

The Miami Dolphins: Stories are already starting to spread about Pennington pushing Henne for the starting job. There is zero chance that Penny is the opening day starter, but if the other Chad struggles in the first few weeks of the season, #10 will get a chance to work on his third CPOY award. I feel in my heart that Brandon Marshall will be a complete train wreck in south Florida, but maybe thats just a Jets fan praying that this guy doesn't become an unstoppable force in the AFC East. They are talking about Fasano and how he will be one the offenses main focal points. That dude isn't even a top 20 TE in this league. Why would anyone down there be planning on increasing his role?

The New England Patriots: Damn, Brady got old quick! So did Moss, Holt, Crumpler, Faulk and Taylor. I certainly don't know more about football than Belichick, but this is a young mans game. That no name defense is going to be the real X-factor in 2010. They are not the fastest, youngest or most talented squad, but Billy B is one hell of a defensive coach. We know what we will get from Brady, Moss and Welker. What does the D have in store for us this year?

The New York Jets: Are awesome!!!!

The AFC North

The Baltimore Ravens: On paper they look like they are capable of dominating the AFC. The other three teams in their division suck (and I will be addressing them all shortly). They are a lock for the playoffs. Here's my question about this team. Do they still have the chemistry and swagger? They have lost some key players and coaches over the past few years (including that fat dude who use to coach the defense). Flacco and Boldin are not passionate leaders. Ray Lewis will hit the wall big time in 2010 and his leadership will start to suffer as well. Do they have what it takes to win in the post season with the "NEW" Ravens? I guess we will see what they are all about week 1.

The Cincinnati Bengals: Please referance my last few posts. I have targeted this team (for some unknown reason) and picked them apart piece by piece. To put it in a nutshell, I think an NFL team would have the same chance at success building their offense around Bret Michales and Flava Flav, as the Bengals will have with their two VH1 reality stars.

The Cleveland Browns: Mangini does not have what it takes to be a head coach in the NFL. Players don't play for him, the media and fans hate him, and he is a horrible strategist and game planner. If Holmgren is smart he will dump Man-gi-nah after the first 4 or 5 weeks of the season and appoint Rob Ryan as the interim HC. If Ryan shows he can do the job, then keep em', if not... pull whatever strings you need to land Gruden in 2011. Wow, the season is still a month away and I am already writing off the Browns. There only chance is if Cribbs starts to play defense as well. Then the would have one talented player in all three phases of the game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers: If they make the playoffs this year I will consider Tomlin one of the top coaches in the league and the back to back to back hiring of Noll, Cowher and Tomlin as the most impressive moves by any pro sports franchise in my lifetime. 3 coaches in 43 years and all of them champions??? Wow. The Jets had 3 in 3 years (Parcells, Groh and Edwards 99-01) during one stretch, and none of them won shit!

The AFC South:

The Houston Texans: A decade without a playoff birth? That's disgraceful. They have a ton of talent, but they have to deal with #18 in their division... thats why they are always a dollar short and a day late. What a lame excuse. Step up and make it happen! How many times can you be 7-9 or 8-8 before your team leaders just will the team into the playoffs? Their coach and QB are both happy being average and that's the way they will perform. Rex Ryan is running his mouth endlessly and his team was one win from the Superbowl. If I was the Texans coach I would tell anyone that will listen that anything less than a post season birth is 100% unacceptable in 2010. I hope they all understand how many jobs are on the line in Houston. No playoffs this year and I would completely clean house.

The Indianapolis Colts: I would watch Donald Brown, Austin Collie, Jerry Hughes and Kelvin Hayden. Big seasons from all four of these players almost guarantees a big year for the Colts. This division is as weak as ever. On paper it should be one of the leagues toughest... The Texans and Titans are two pretty talented young teams... but Manning has mind control on these teams like Ceasar Millan has on rich white peoples dogs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars: Why? Why go down this road again? Same lame coach, same ultra impotent QB. Has no one in Jaguar-land realized that drafting every DT over 350lbs and every WR over 6'5" is not a good formula to win championships? I can assure you that Jack Del-Rio is still a believer. They have no identity and they always come up short on free agents. No one is interested in this team because they are a total non-story. Gerrards' wife (who is smokin BTW) and mother probably watch bowling on Sunday afternoons at this point. MJD is turning into the Barry Sanders of his generation, stuck in career prison.

The Tennessee Titans: I am a Vince Young fan and I have been ever since he crushed Leinhart, Bush and the rest of USC in the Rosebowl. I learned something that night. This dude can win games by pure strength of spirit. I don't know how smart he is, or how well he can dissect game film and read defenses. All I know is that he is a leader and a winner. I was confident that the Titans would make the playoffs as a wildcard behind the amazing playmaking ability of their QB and RB. But, because I was also sure Young was going to be suspended after he got into a drunken brawl in a strip club, I changed my mind. Now it is looking like he will not be disciplined by the league (which I am befuddled by) and that makes the Titans a real threat once again. A nasty blue collar defense and a dynamic offense with players who cause match up problems like Young, Johnson and Britt can be a very dangerous unit. I don't want to face them in the playoffs.

The AFC West

The Denver Broncos: Their best offensive lineman and league leading sack master are out for the season... before the first pre-season game is played. Even though they are in the weakest, most pathetic division in all of football... I still think they have no chance. They just simply don't have enough talent especially considering how their coach has run Cutler, Scheffler and Marshall out of town. He may have a full squad of obedient players around him now, but can any of them win games? Be careful what you wish for Josh...

The Kansas City Chiefs: They have been a non-factor in this league since they TRADED away a draft pick for Herm Edwards... who was coming off a 4-12 season as the Jets coach. Some mistakes can actually be so big in life that it takes YEARS to recover from them. That would be one of them. That being said, I really like some of the talent on this team. Charles will do an amazing job as the starting RB and hopefully Cassel will start to show some signs of life in 2010. Todd Haley seems like an over emotional cry baby from a distance. He was highly recommended to the Chiefs from their own general managers father-in-law... Bill Parcells. I guess he must be worth something. If the afore mentioned players start to play dominate football this team could shock some people. This division is certainly up for grabs.

The Oakland Raiders: Joe Montana in his prime couldn't help this team right now. So, obviously Jason Campbell is not the solution. Too many busts Mr. Davis... just too many. Lets list them for fun.... Robert Gallery 2004 #2 overall, Fabian Washington 2005 , Michael Huff 2006 #7 overall, JaMarcus Russell 2007 #1 overall, Darren McFadden #4 overall, and lets throw Darrius Heyward-Bey in there after his 11 starts... 9 receptions and 124 yards during his rookie champaign in 2009. Those are just the first rounders.

The San Diego Chargers: A.J. Smith has lost his mind. He drove out Schottenheimer after a 14 win season. He let Brees walk (something else I would leave off my resume) and now he is going to let his starting LT and dynamic young WR sit out indefinitely because of an ego contest. He has an amazing eye in the draft. Tomlinson and Brees in 2001, Jammer in 2002, he had a bad year in 2003 and followed it up with an amazing 2004 draft... The Manning/Rivers trade that scored him one of the best QB's in the league today, Olshansky, Kaeding, Hardwick, LB Phillips, Michael Turner, and even Shane Olivea in the 7th round who went on to start 57 games in four years. 2005 was another amazing year, Merriman, Castillo, Vincent Jackson, and Spoles. In 2006 he picked Marcus McNiell who has started every game at tackle since his rookie year except for two. His most recent drafts remain to be judged. I think if he would have had the guts to hold on to Brees, and considering how amazing he has become... they would have probably won at least one title.

The NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys: Dude, this division has always been fascinating... ever since I started watching football in 1982. Dallas is perennially an overrated team. They are not the Yankees or the Celtics... they aren't even the most dominate team in their own sport. This year I expect them to deliver. They have an outstanding group of skilled players on offense and a very solid defense. The question is weather or not they will crumble under the pressure of their 2010 expectations. Everything their owner has done for the past 5 years is all about his team playing and winning the Superbowl in his new stadium. Romo and the boys don't exactly have a good track record when the pressure is on.

The New York Giants: This team is the most underrated team in the entire league. They have a former Superbowl MVP behind center, two exciting young WR's, a ground and pound O-line, and a stable of dynamic pass rushers. If Rolle and Phillips can stay healthy in the secondary they could do serious damage. This may be the year Kenny Phillips becomes a household name. He and WR Nicks are poised to have breakout years. As goes Eli goes big blue.

The Philadelphia Eagles: Nothing but question marks. No Westbrook, no McNabb and I have no idea what to think. Kevin Kolb is totally unproven. How exciting would it be if at some point Vick takes over and has success? Jackson has quietly become one of the top receivers in the league. Will he be a flash in the pan like Santana Moss, or will he take it to the next level? If nothing else they will be an interesting team to follow in 2010.

The Washington Redskins: I think Mike Shanahan has turned this Hanesworth business into more of a distraction then it needs to be. Let the guy practice already! The Skins need to cut him or get him ready for the season. It may hurt that you gave him all that $$$$ only to find out he is a cancer in the locker room, but he is still a game changer... when he wants to be. Go for broke and try to salvage something from him. There is a bunch of talent on this team, but their has never been an identity or a focus. Their entire roster looks like a 15 year old boys Madden video game line up, and for good reason. Their owner is about as savvy as a teenager with a playstation controller. Every team in this division has a chance to be playing in February or losing double digit games. Like I said, fascinating.

The NFC North

The Chicago Bears: If Favre plays, the Vikings and Packers are in the playoffs. I see no way the Bears have a shot with leaders like Jay Cutler and Julius Peppers. They both have huge salaries, bigger ego's and horrible attitudes. After mortgaging their franchise's future on Cutler the Bears have failed to land him an elite target at WR. It shocks me how WR needy teams somehow missed out on the amazing Santonio Holmes bargain deal. We didn't even really need him and Mr. T made it happen. Homes, Bennett, Hester and Olsen would have been an excellent arsenal for #6 and Mike Martz to work with. Hopefully with Urlacher back the monsters of the midway will regain their lost mojo on defense.

The Detroit Lions: For the first time in over a decade I am actually interested in seeing what the Lions can do. They have been showing some amazing improvement since their 0-16 season 2 short years ago. I really like the squad they have assembled. It's not complete, but it shows some signs of being competitive. What would be considered a successful season for the Lions in 2010? Should every team have the minimum goal of at least making the post season, or is that unrealistic for teams that are in the early stages of rebuilding? Thats hard to say. If anyone took over a 0-16 team with no QB, no quality leaders on either side of the ball and one elite skill player, making the playoffs in the first two years would be unrealistic in the NFL. I would say that considering what a rough division they are in, a 6-10 record would be a logical goal for them.

The Green Bay Packers: I see the Packers at the 3rd best team in the NFL, but I think they will find a way to make a run in the playoffs and represent the NFC in the Superbowl. The Vikings are also an elite team, and on paper they are better, but Green Bay has a better coaching staff and I think they will make a deep run this year. Ryan Grant is my player to watch. If he can start 16 games and their defense finally makes a solid adjustment to Capers 3-4 defense, I think they have what it takes.

The Minnesota Vikings: If the Vikings win the Superbowl this year... even if they defeat the NY Jets in the process, I will still thank the lord everyday that Bret Favre is not wearing the green and white anymore. What he has put those fans through this offseason is nothing short of disgusting. Camp has started and he is still waffling. I am 100% convinced he did send out a bunch of texts saying that he was retiring, and I am also sure he has no intentions of doing so. Everything he does revolves around attention and money. My point is... I am glad he is not our problem. He had an amazing 2010 season and my hat is off to him. That being said, he is still a scumb bag. If he decides to tell this team in August that he is really retiring and follows through with it, I will have lost any shred of respect I may have had left for him. If he doesn't play I don't think either of the QB's on their current roster are capable of leading the team. If he flakes I would do whatever I could to trade for Pennington. I have a feeling that behind an amazing O-line like that, with an elite running back, Chad could really have a big impact there.

The NFC South

The Atlanta Falcons: I see them as a top 10 team this year. I think Ryan, Turner and White could be exactly the kind of trio every team desires on offense. I love their coach Mike Smith and their GM. Imagine for a moment the Falcons playing the Eagles... in ATL... with Mike Vick behind center for Philly.... in the playoffs. Talk about setting the stage. Turner should return to form and the dirty birds defense is very safe. The Tampa -2 is a simple scheme that is easy to place players in. The Panthers and Bucs won't make any noise this year, and the the Saints may suffer from the post Superbowl/ Madden curse (yes Brees is on the cover). Will ATL get what they so desperately desire... a Lombardi trophy? Probably not. But they will raise some eyebrows.

The Carolina Panthers: John Fox will be coaching somewhere else in 2011. He had a special group of players a few years back and slowly but surely they have all left him. Without talent you can't win games. Steve Smith is a failed experiment... he is simply injured more often than not. Their backfield should be scary, but with a mediocre O-line and no real experience at the QB spot, how far can they go? I see a slow start with a boring middle and a disappointing end. Oh, and for the record... those uniforms are the worst ever. They look like something out of the USFL or the movie Any Given Sunday.

The New Orleans Saints: I guess I kind of prematurely revealed my feeling on this subject, and I have been doing so for weeks. I think they will struggle a bit this year. They have no idea what it's like to be the defending champs. Every week they will be their opposing teams biggest game of the year. Thats why so many teams struggle after winning it all. Still love the defense and Vilma, but I think I can answer that annoying question they have been asking since February... ME DAT!!!!

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What a stupid name for a team. Rasheed Morris is their young, exciting, player friendly, hip coach. He is super motivational and the Bucs dumped Gruden because they saw so much potential in this guy. They knew if they didn't promote him when they did, they would have lost him to another team. So, if you have such high expectations for your coach, why not give the guy a couple of talented players? I mean just a handful. When I brake down their team needs it pretty much boils down to everything. Below average skill players, a young QB with no experience, and a defense with Ronde Barber as a key starter. Stinky stinky! At least the fans have beautiful weather to hang their hat on.

The NFC West

The Arizona Cardinals: Warner was given a two year contract that paid him 10 million for 2009 and 12 million for 2010, with an upfront signing bonus of 9 million. So, essentially he was paid 19 million for one season. He decided to retire and still got the whole signing bonus. Brilliant. Who will replace him? I don't think Leinhart has what it takes to be a starter in this league and I also think his coach hates him. Derrick Anderson has a monster arm and he could make it work in the desert. I hope he gets a fair shot at showing his stuff. My eye will be on two players... obviously Kerry Rhodes and also Beanie Wells. Can the former buckeye live up to his first round expectations? They picked up a big DT and LB in the draft and also snagged an interesting QB prospect from Fordham. John Skelton could be a part of the Cardinals long term plans. This is a division without one solid starting QB. Even Hasselbeck isn't a safe bet at this stage of his career. Anything could happen.

The St. Louis Rams: They drafted an injury prone QB with a glass shoulder #1 overall, and then gave him 50 million guaranteed. Well thought out. There are no absolutes in the NFL, but if this guy turns out to be even an average NFL QB, I will get the Dolphins logo tattooed on my forehead. They simply don't know how to draft and they have no shot at any quality free agents. How can they get out of this sad cycle of drafting in the top 3 every year? The only way I see it is if they trade away the pick. Dark days ahead for the Rams.

The San Fransico 49ers: Now thats a cool name and uniform. I grew up watching the 49ers dominate in the 1980's and I also watched Mike Singletary terrorize QB's with his piercing stare. It's no wonder I am so drawn to this team in 2010. If you read a few of my most recent posts I go into great detail about this team. I think they will play in the post season, and maybe even make a deep run. It's all about Smith's development, Gore's health and Crabtrees attitude.

The Seattle Seahawks: Can Carroll make it happen at the NFL level? What a dramatic story line. A guy starts out as an innovative player friendly coach in the NFL. He struggles and seems a bit out of place. He takes over the USC program and makes it even more legendary... if thats possible. He establishes himself as the #1 coach and recruiter in all of college football. He rides the gravy train until the hammer is about to drop and dives back into the pros. He abandoned the ship in souther California very much like a rat. Can he fix things in the great northwest? I was very surprised he didn't pursue players from his program like Leinhart and Bush. They both have been disappointments in the pros. John David Booty is out there and McNight was available in the draft. Instead he traded with the Jets for damaged goods... what was that guys name again... Leon something or other? He also brought in Charlie Whitehurst, and gave up a 3rd round pick for him. Very interesting acquisition. This is a very non-competitive division, maybe the Seahawks can make something happen.

J.Wagner