NFL News and Jabber

It appears that Roger Goodell has come up with his latest way to shake up the NFL.  He has already made great improvements with the player conduct and shortening up the NFL Draft.  Now it sounds like the Commish wants to put his stamp on the outrageous salary that is demanded to sign the top NFL rookies.  Looking at Jake Long’s deal with the Fins it appears that it has ruffled Roger’s feathers a little… Read more

NFL Jabber | Mini Camp and More

The media is trying really hard to make Jason Taylor’s comments about wanting to win in 2008 into a confrontation between Taylor and Bill Parcells. “Please give us some kind of story people…” I feel your pain mainstream media. Not much going on right now so you work with what you have. Jason Taylor would like you to point out that his talk is not a demand to be traded (DAMN!) but a request… Read more

NFL Jabber

This has been out for a few days but we can take a look at it anyway.  ESPN has put out their Power Rankings already for the NFL.  It really looks a lot like it would have at the end of last season, except for the Packers falling down to #10.  No, the Giants are not #1 and they were far from that at the end of the regular season.  You can’t take away how hot they were but you have to admit they were not one of the top teams…they played the best though.  The Falcons steal the #32 spot from the Dolphins…

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2008 NFC North Draft Grades

Chicago Bears

Needs: OL, WR, RB, QB, DL

Between inconsistent play, injuries and free agency, the Bears need a complete retooling on offense. Both starting receivers, Bernard Berrian (Vikings) and Muhsin Muhammad (Panthers), left via free agency. Cedric Benson produced sporadically before suffering a severe ankle injury and there is little prognosis on his comeback. Rex Grossman resigned with the Bears because there was little recourse in the QB free agency market. A solid draft would cue a Bears turnaround.

1.14 - Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
2.13 - Matt Forte RB Tulane
3.07 - Earl Bennett WR Vanderbilt
3.27 - Marcus Harrison DT Arkansas
4.21 - Craig Steltz S LSU
5.07 - Zackary Bowman CB Nebraska
5.23 - Kellen Davis TE/DE Michigan State (no that’s not a misprint, Davis played on both sides of the ball last year)
7.01 - Ervin Baldwin DE Michigan State
7.15 - Chester Adams OG Georgia
7.36 - Joey LaRocque OLB Oregon State
7.40 - Kirk Barton OT Ohio State
7.41 - Marcus Monk WR Arkansas

Draft Grade: B+

Comments: I know that popular opinion is to condemn the Bears draft because they neglected to get a QB. I agree somewhat. If Angelo had turned the Steltz pick or the Bowman pick into Andre Woodson, I would have to give them an A. Chicago hit on all of the positions they needed to (except QB) without any reaches that I saw. They even picked up a couple steals in Marcus Harrison and Marcus Monk. I believe Harrison is a first day pick if he doesn’t get injured early in the year and I cannot fathom how Marcus Monk is 7th round material. His size alone should allow him to crack the Bears roster. Chris Williams will provide the Bears with stability on the offensive line and Matt Forte is a three down back who will make Bears fans forget the name Cedric Benson. I think Earl Williams will make a serviceable pro as well. This draft was solid and should bring Chicago back on the right path.

Detroit Lions

Needs: OL, RB, LB, DL, CB

Mike Martz is gone as offensive coordinator. Gone with him are runningbacks TJ Duckett and Kevin Jones and defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Quarterback Jon Kitna will be sacked all the way to the hospital if he gets hit with the same frequency he has in the past two years. Paris Lenon is likely one of the worst MLBs in the NFL. The Lions have made no secret to the fact that they would like to shift gears and get back to a power running game. Difficult to do without an offensive line and a runningback.

1.17 - Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College
2.14 - Jordon Dizon OLB Colorado
3.01 - Kevin Smith RB Central Florida
3.24 - Andre Fluellen DT Florida State
3.29 - Cliff Avril DE/OLB Purdue
5.01 - Kenneth Moore WR Wake Forest
5.11 - Jerome Felton FB Furman
7.09 - Landon Cohen DE Ohio
7.11 - Caleb Campbell S Army

Draft Grade: A

Comments: Probably couldn’t have done much better. The first three rounds filled all of the major needs that the Lions had. They even got a decent fullback to lead block. Gosder Cherilus will be used as right tackle, which is his best position and Jordon Dizon will start at SLB before transitioning into the MLB role. There is nothing flashy about Kevin Smith’s running style; he just gets it done. I view the Lions running game in a similar light. No razzle dazzle but solid production. I think Cliff Avril will play a hybrid type of role; both standing up at LB and with his hand down as DE on pass rush downs. Caleb Campbell is an interesting prospect out of Army. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him integrated into the Lions defense sooner rather than later. Excellent draft by the Lions.

Green Bay Packers

Needs: CB, OL, QB, TE, DL

The Green Bay Packers are coming off of a season that saw them win the NFC North and make it to the NFC Championship game. They are a team with very few holes. Youngster Aaron Rodgers seems poised to take over the reigns from Number 4 at QB and hidden gem Ryan Grant seems ready to handle the upcoming year with a full load. What the Pack does need is insurance for Rodgers and some depth on the line and at TE. Their CBs are getting up there in age as well.

2.05 - Jordy Nelson WR Kansas State
2.25 - Brian Brohm QB Louisville
2.29 - Patrick Lee CB Auburn
3.28 - Jermichael Finley TE Texas
4.03 - Jeremy Thompson DE Wake Forest
4.36 - Josh Sitton OT Central Florida
5.15 - Breno Giacomini OT Louisville
7.02 - Matt Flynn QB LSU
7.10 - Brett Swain WR San Diego State

Draft Grade: B-

Comments: It’s difficult to grade a draft where the team doesn’t have any glaring needs. At first glance, they hit on all of the positions they needed depth at. But upon further inspection, there are a few head scratchers. Brian Brohm at 2.25 sticks out for sure. Why spend that high of a pick on a backup for Aaron Rodgers? I know that competition breeds winning but that seems like a bit of a waste to draft a backup QB that high, especially with prime interior lineman on the board available. Taking Matt Flynn alone could have accomplished the same goal without the use of a 2nd round pick. Jordy Nelson is an interesting pick. I like him as a faster, smaller version of TO. He uses body positioning and physicality to make a living over the middle. Just not sure he was the pick with every WR not named Thomas or Avery on the board. Ted must have seen something though. I like the Lee pick. He is a better corner than many give him credit for. The tackles taken both seem like fliers but if I am banking on one team flier tackles panning out; it’s the Packers. Finley seems like a bit of a reach. All in all, Green Bay got the depth they needed but I wonder if a couple of their choices were out of place or reaches.

Minnesota Vikings

Needs: QB, WR, OL, S, DT

Minnesota made a huge splash before the draft, trading their 1st and 3rd round picks to acquire Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen. If you can make a deal to secure a big piece of the puzzle and you need to move high picks to do it, good on you. In my opinion, the Vikings are a pass rusher and a consistent quarterback away from being a huge contender. Vikes brass seems high on Tarvaris Jackson but he needs to work on his decision making and consistency.

2.12 - Tyrell Johnson S Arkansas State
5.02 - John David Booty QB USC
5.17 - Letroy Guion DT Florida State
6.21 - John Sullivan C Notre Dame
6.27 - Jaymar Johnson WR Jackson State

Draft Grade: A-

Comments: Minnesota made its mark before the draft but the players they added with those picks should propel them into the division title race. My only complaint is waiting until the 6th round to address the OL. I think a better guard or tackle should have been had in the 5th round like Roy Schuening, Carl Nicks or Barry Richardson. John David Booty is an intriguing pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job. Tyrell Johnson is a quality prospect who should crack the starting lineup late this year or next. Jared Allen could very well be the player they need for their defense to be propelled into legendary status.

tag: NFL, NFL Draft, Grades, Vikings, Lions, Packers, Bears, sports, footballjabber.com

How Long will Aaron Rodgers Last?

Fielder, Feeley, Freotte, Harrington, Lemon. Those are the names of the leading passers since Dan Marino decided to call it quits in Miami. The Dolphins are still looking for the guy who will lead the team and comparisons (if they are worthy of comparison) will fade out.

Tomczak, Majkowski, and Wright. Those are the names of the last three passing leaders for Green Bay before Brett Favre took the leading role. His first couple of years were very rocky but they kept going with him. After all, he did not have to replace Brett Favre (or anyone remotely close). Will Aaron Rodgers get the same chance? It’s hard to say. Even since the times when Favre took over at QB for the Packers there is more urgency now to win. Even after the rough start the Packers only fell below .500 once under Favre. Brett Favre didn’t have to take over a team that was one drive away from the Super Bowl either. How long will Aaron Rodgers last?

“I’m going to be the best quarterback I can be,” said Rodgers, who was in Green Bay for the Packers’ annual fan fest. “He did it his way, I’m going to do it my way. And hopefully, I can be successful.”

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Brett Favre is One Swell Fella

Couple of local boys from around these parts here in Iowa made the 13 hour trip to Hattiesburg, Miss. to deliver a golf cart to the QB of the Green Bay Packers. Scott Harris was to deliver the custom built golf cart and his buddy went along to “keep him company…” Riiight. He wanted to keep him company, had nothing to do with who it was being delivered to.

“You’re always kind of nervous when you’re going to meet someone you look up to, because you’re afraid to be disappointed,” Harris said. “The last thing you want is for the guy to be a jerk, because it blows your whole opinion of him.”

It didn’t take long for their nervousness to disappear.

Favre not only welcomed the two onto his 450-acre property, he gave them the grand tour. For more than two hours, the trio chatted as if long-lost high school buddies.

“What a friendly guy,” Leytem said. “He’s got to be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. The whole time we were down there, he made us feel really comfortable being around him.

“I was half-expecting some guy to show up at the gate and say, ‘Put it here, boys. See ya later.’ But he was awesome. It’s definitely something I’ll never forget.”

I have to say that Brett Favre has to be the furthest thing from a football diva. when a guy will wear a beat up cap and faded jeans to a press conference you know you have a down to earth guy.

Apparently after Favre is done using the cart it will be auctioned off to benefit his foundation.

tag: Packers, nfl, football, brett favre, fans, charity,

NFL Free Agency | Trade Jabber 2/29/08

The melting pot of the NFL, Free Agency has begun! With that we see teams shooting trades and cutting players, trying to beat the deadline as well. Let’s have a look around at the NFL Free Agency and trade happenings.

 

It appears that the Saints have finally got another big name LB after all these years. Well, was a big name before injuries and the 3-4 defense hampered his productivity in New York. Word is that Jonathan Vilma will be going to the Saints for a conditional draft pick. If he can get past the bum knee, Vilma is what the Saints have been missing for some time and they can shift the focus of their $30 Million in cap space elsewhere. After it appearing that Brian Young and Mark Simoneau would be set out to pasture, the Saints worked deals out to keep them In New Orleans. The Saints are still rumored to be looking at Asante Samuel and his hefty price tag.

 

The Eagles gave the boot to Jevon Kearse. Poor fella has never really lived up to that Freak in Tennessee.

 

“We tried to work out a restructure with the Eagles and it didn’t work out,” Drew Rosenhaus said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He had a wonderful career there.”

The Eagles could also be looking to bulk up their defensive backfield with Gibril Wilson and Asante Samuel.

 

Ty Law’s days in Kansas City appear to be coming to an end. The Chiefs have told Law that he will be released, likely in the next week. This type of thing cracks me up. Why tell him that and wait a week? That’s like your girlfriend of couple years telling you your going to break up…but not until next week, me and the girls are going to be going to Spring Break and when i get back we can break up then.

 

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Football Jabber’s Top Ten Super Bowls

We are just days away from the biggest game of the year. The Patriots are up to becoming the first team to post a 19-0 record and the first team since the 72′ Dolphins to run the table. What better time to take a look back at the Top Ten Super Bowls played? Of course some of the games can be up for debate. Things taken into consideration were lead changes, comebacks, game deciding scores, and when the game was decided, among others things.

#10 Super Bowl III Jets 16- Colts 7

MVP: Joe Namath QB, Jets

What makes it great? I could catch some flack for this but this game barely gets in here. It bumped out the Niners and Bengals Super Bowl XVI and Joe Montana’s first MVP performance. The game wasn’t even close and the Jets were never threatened. That, however, is why it is looked at as one of the greatest Super Bowl (and Football) games in history. We all know about the guarantee. The Jets were 18 point underdogs. This is the game that showed that the AFL could hang with the big dogs, which gives us the NFL we have today.

#9 Super Bowl X Steelers 21- Cowboys 17

MVP: Lynn Swan WR, Steelers

What makes it great? The Cowboys went into the fourth quarter with a 10-7 lead. The Steelers scored four straight times with a safety, two field goals and capped it with a 64 yard from Terry Bradshaw to Lynn Swan. The Cowboys scored another touchdown with a little under two minutes to play but the game was decided. Lynn Swan becomes the first WR to be MVP. He only has four catches but he gained 164 yards and that TD mentioned above.

#8 Super Bowl XXV Giants 20- Bills 19

MVP: Ottis Anderson RB, Giants

What makes it great? The Giants come in as underdogs and they don’t have their starting QB. They go into the second half trailing 12-10. Halfway through the fourth quarter the Giants go up 20-19 on a Matt Bar field goal. The Bills have a chance to seal the deal but Scott Norwood’s filed goal sails wide right with seconds remaining. The Giants held a HUGE time of possession advantage having the ball over 40 minutes of the game.

#7 Super Bowl XIII Steelers 35- Cowboys 31

MVP: Terry Bradshaw QB, Steelers

What makes it great? The Steelers enter the fourth quarter with a small 21-17 lead. With half of the quarter scoreless the Steelers tack on two more scores with a Franco Harris run and Bradshaw to Swann TD pass. The Cowboys do not lay down and score on two Roger Staubach touchdowns in the last two and a half minutes of the game. Once again the Cowboys fall just short of beating the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

#6 Super Bowl XXXIV Rams 23- Titans 16

MVP: Kurt Warner QB, Rams

What makes it great? The Rams go into the second half with a 9-0 lead. Halfway through the third quarter Kurt Warner hooks up with Torry Holt for a nine yard TD pass. Trailing 16-0 the Titans begin their comeback and have three straight scores that tie the game. Kurt Warner hits Issac Bruce for a 73 yard TD with a little under two minutes to play. The last two minutes are some of the most exciting in Super Bowl history as the Titans drive down into scoring position. With six seconds to play and the clock running, Steve McNair hit Kevin Dyson on the three-yard line. Dyson appeared to be going in for the score when a hail marry of a tackle by Mike Jones stopped him. Dyson stretched for the score but time expired with the ball marked on the 1 yard line.

#5 Super Bowl XXXII Broncos 31-Packers 24

MVP: Terrell Davis RB, Broncos

What makes it great? The Broncos come into the game as underdogs. After giving up the first score to Green Bay, the Broncos score three times before the Packers score again just before the half. Going into the second half the score was 17-14 in the underdogs favor. The Packers tie the game up just minutes into the 3rd quarter. Within minutes of the end of the 3rd quarter and start of the 4th, the Packers and Broncos exchange blows with two more scores. In an act of desperation as the Broncos are driving for the winning score, Mike Holmgren says he lets the Broncos score so they could get the ball back. 1:45 later the game is over and John Elway has finally got that ring.

#4 Super Bowl V Colts 16-Cowboys 13

MVP: Chuck Howley LB, Cowboys

What made it great? This game is a good example of staying with it and not giving up. The Baltimore Colts had three interceptions and lost four (of five) fumbles to the Cowboys. They trailed from the first quarter, never having a lead in the first half. At the end of the second quarter the Colts trailed 13-6. The Cowboys were shut out in the second half. The Colts tied the game in the fourth quarter and then with five seconds left in regulation, Jim O’Brian hit a 32 yard field goal to win the game for the Colts.

#3 Super Bowl XXXVI Patriots 20- Rams 17

MVP: Tom Brady QB, Patriots

What made it great? The Patriots were 14 point underdogs. The largest spread since Super Bowl III when the Jets upset the Colts. The “Greatest Show on Turf” of the Rams were held to a field goal until the fourth quarter. Trailing the underdog Patriots 17-3 the Rams began a fourth quarter comeback when Kurt Warner ran a two yard TD in. With 1:30 left in the game Warner hit Ricky Proehl from 26 yard out to tie the game. As time expired Adam Vinatieri hit a 48 yard field goal to mark the biggest upset in the Super Bowl in over thirty years. In the times of 9/11 the Patriots were victorious.

#2 Super Bowl XXXVIII Patriots 32- Panthers 29

MVP: Tom Brady QB, Patriots

What made it great? The score was locked at zero until the final three minutes of the first half. The Patriots scored…then the Panthers…then the Patriots…then the Panthers, going into the half with the Patriots leading 14-10. The third quarter was another stalemate as neither team could find a way to score. Eleven seconds into the fourth quarter the Patriots started the electric final quarter of the season. The Panthers scored twice, taking a 22-21 lead. The Patriots struck back and added a 2 point conversion making the score 29-22. The Panthers would tie the game with just over a minute left when Jake Delhomme hit Ricky Proehl (yeah the one ironically mentioned at this point in game # 3 above). The Patriots, in Patriot fashion, drove down and kicked a winning field goal with four seconds left on the clock to take them to 2-2 in Super Bowls.

#1 Super Bowl XXIII 49′ers 20- Bengals 16

MVP: Jerry Rice WR, 49′ers

What made it great? Neither team could do more than a field goal in the first half. The teams exchanged another field goal each before the first touchdown was scored on a 93 yard kick return by the Bengals at the end of the third quarter. The underdogs were up 13-6 going into the final period. Joe Montana hit Jerry Rice for a touchdown within the first minute of the 4th quarter, the 49′ers first steps in the endzone in the game making the score 13-13. With just over three minutes left in the game the Bengals hit another field goal taking a 16-13 lead. From here, Joe Montana does what Joe Montana does. With 34 seconds left in the game, Montana hits John Taylor for the winning touchdown and the third ring for San Francisco.

As we go into Super Bowl weekend and the Patriots are well favored to defeat the New York Giants, hopefully I will feel like this list needs to be updated next week. Take a look at game #3…just ask the Patriots…you never know who can come out on top!

tag: Bills, Colts, Cowboys, football, Football Jabber, Giants, Jets, nfl, Rams, Rank, Steelers, Super Bowl, Titans, Top Ten, Broncos, Packers, Patriots, Panthers, 49′ers, Bengals

Conference Title Games and Beyond

The Stage is set. Patriots and Giants. Get ready for several references to David and Goliath over the next two weeks. All kinds of “team of destiny” quotes. Peyton Manning interviews where he is asked why his brother got there earlier than he did. Tiki Barber fibbing and saying how happy he is for the Giants (lies…you know that guy hoped they would crash without him). Oh yeah, the Patriots might make some history. Is Eli going to beat up the bully who has been pushing his brother around for years?

The thing the Super Bowl does have going for it is that the Giants, with nothing to play for, were the last team to seriously threaten the Patriots in week 17. Eli was hot with Four TD’s and 251 yards. Sure…he had an INT but that is what Eli does. He has been hot since then. I do realize that this praise could just be talking myself into believing that the Super Bowl will be a good game. I have nothing else to do the next two weeks.

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NFL Playoff Jabber: Title Games

I have to say that looking at my RSS Reader this morning I thought that I had accidentally subscribed to The Weather Channel. The big story seems to be the weather for the games today. They are looking at a temp around zero with wind chill of -15 to -20 below in Green Bay. Those East Coast papers are so damned cute whining about their 20 degree temps. I can tell you that I intend to have a blanket on the couch just in case.

This weekends games are being looked at as practice games for the most part of the Packers and Patriots. We should not forget that there have been a couple upsets so far in the tournament. With that said, this weekends games will be like practice games for the Packers and Patriots…

As we have done weeky here in the playoffs we will take a look at some polls from here at Football Jabber, AccuScore (which is used collectively by the mainstream sites) and our friends at The Fan Yard who use The Yard Stick to measure fans thoughts on the winners and the points they will win by. We will follow that up with a link and quote dump after the jump.

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Kickoff is at 2pm EST on CBS

Poll Results:

• Football Jabber has the Patriots with 82%
• AccuScore favors New England by 88%
• The Yard Stick have the Patriots by 88% and 11 points

@

Kickoff is at 5:30pm on FOX

Poll Results:

• Football Jabber has the Packers by 79%
• AccuScore has 67% in favor of Green Bay.
• The Yard Stick has the Packers by 70% and 6 points.

Now on to the link and quote dump…

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