The dog days of summer are almost over. This is one of my favorite days of the year as Cowboys training camp gets underway, which means football season (both pro and college) is just around the corner. Just about everyone that I’ve seen or heard is picking Dallas to win the NFC so this is the first time in over a decade the Cowboys have entered training camp a legitimate contender to not only go to the Super Bowl but win it. However, just because they ended up with the #1 seed in the NFC last year doesn’t automatically mean they will even make the playoffs. Of the 19 #1 seeds that didn’t make it to the Super Bowl in the previous season, more failed to reach the playoffs the following season than won the championship: 6 miss the playoffs altogether, 5 lost in the wild care or divisional round, 2 lost in the conference championship game, 2 lost in the Super Bowl and 4 won the Super Bowl.
However, it is my opinion that the Cowboys will win the NFC and get back to the Super Bowl for a record 9th time. They are absolutely loaded at just about every position. And really, the only glaring weakness I see on the team is at strong safety (Roy Williams) and by middle of the season he might be buried on the roster or traded altogether depending on how Adam Jones works out. Every position, except defensive line, boasts of at least 1 pro bowl player and Dallas has kept key free agents from leaving the team (Flozell Adams, Ken Hamlin), have made solid additions to the team through free agency (Adam Jones, Zach Thomas) and the draft (Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Mike Jenkins and Martellus Bennett).
Even though Dallas is favored to make it back to the Super Bowl, there are a few things that could derail a trip to Tampa in early Feb. ’09:
-First and foremost is the play and health of Romo. Even though he had an outstanding season overall last year, his play in December dropped and, well, we all know what happened in the playoff game vs. New Yawk. Romo was not completely to blame for the loss but his play during the game was not on par with what he did during the season. I don’t think any of the “drama” regarding his tabloid romance with Daisy Duke will matter though although I am getting tired of hearing or reading about it. As the play of Romo goes, so goes the team.
-The injury bug didn’t really hit the Cowboys last year and that is a rarity in the NFL. And even when it did (Terry Glenn) it didn’t seem to really affect the team. If Dallas has the same good fortune, then book your hotel reservations in Tampa. However, since last year was rarity, I wouldn’t count on that happening again. Dallas has solid depth at most positions but if a key injury occurs to either the WR corps or the offensive line, things could get a little dicey.
-As a follow up to the above paragraph, TO Owens has to stay healthy. If he goes down, this team goes from elite to pretty good overnight. Unless Dallas picks up Anquan Boldin from Arizona, the WR position is without adequate depth if an injury crops up. So, hopefully if/when a season ending injury strikes, the WR corps can dodge it.
America’s Team is back in the elite company of the NFL and hopefully will stay for a while. Here’s to the start of training camp and my favorite time of the year.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Ron Artest, Eat Your Heart Out
Who says that the WNBA is boring…
And this was also at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit where the Pistons and Pacers brawled in ’04. Maybe it’s the building…
And this was also at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit where the Pistons and Pacers brawled in ’04. Maybe it’s the building…
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Disturbing News for Cowboy Fans and As if I Needed Another Reason to Dislike the Saints
On Sunday, the Washington Deadskins made a trade with Miami to acquire defensive end Jason Taylor. The six-time Pro Bowler and 2006 defensive player of the year was traded to Washington for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and sixth-rounder in 2010. Taylor had fallen out of favor with Big Bill Parcells, who is now running the ship down in Miami, for being on Dancing With The Stars this past season and while Taylor is not quite the player he was in the late 90’s and early 00’s, he is still a very effective pass rusher who can wreak havoc on opposing QBs. As a Cowboys fan, I’m a little unnerved by this move because Dallas will now have to face Taylor twice a year. Washington without a doubt improved their defensive line with this addition. And while I still think Dallas is the class of the division, this move upped the ante a bit. Taylor is a quality guy and a great player so I'm more than just a little disappointed he is now playing to little Danny Snyder.
And staying with other NFC East news…
As if I needed another reason to detest the Saints, the world champion New Yawk Giants (or “Jints” as a friend of mine calls them) have traded the much over-hyped Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans for a second-round and sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft. I’ve never been a big fan of Shockey’s. And even though he has made Roy Williams look down right silly in trying to cover him (who hasn’t done that to Roy?), that’s not the reason I’ve never been a big fan of his. I have seen Shockey rip off his helmet and light into his QB on numerous occasions, act like a jerk on the sideline and pretty much embody all that is wrong with NFL. I know there are plenty of players who also do this (namely one that wears #81 and plays for Dallas) but I don’t really care for them either. I don’t remember Jerry Rice, Steve Largent or Jay Novacek throwing their helmets on the sideline in disgust toward their respective QBs. Shockey is loud, boisterous and high maintenance…and he’s only a tight end and not a wide receiver (like the aforementioned #81 for Dallas).
Unfortunately, Shockey is going to a team that will probably benefit from his services. Sean Payton, the Saint’s coach, was Shockey’s offensive coordinator in New Yawk during Shcokey’s first season. Shockey thrived that season winning Rookie of the Year. However, the Saints big problem last year was not the absence of a tight end but the absence of a defense. So, unless Shockey starts playing linebacker, New Orleans is going to still have problems stopping people from scoring.
And staying with other NFC East news…
As if I needed another reason to detest the Saints, the world champion New Yawk Giants (or “Jints” as a friend of mine calls them) have traded the much over-hyped Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans for a second-round and sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft. I’ve never been a big fan of Shockey’s. And even though he has made Roy Williams look down right silly in trying to cover him (who hasn’t done that to Roy?), that’s not the reason I’ve never been a big fan of his. I have seen Shockey rip off his helmet and light into his QB on numerous occasions, act like a jerk on the sideline and pretty much embody all that is wrong with NFL. I know there are plenty of players who also do this (namely one that wears #81 and plays for Dallas) but I don’t really care for them either. I don’t remember Jerry Rice, Steve Largent or Jay Novacek throwing their helmets on the sideline in disgust toward their respective QBs. Shockey is loud, boisterous and high maintenance…and he’s only a tight end and not a wide receiver (like the aforementioned #81 for Dallas).
Unfortunately, Shockey is going to a team that will probably benefit from his services. Sean Payton, the Saint’s coach, was Shockey’s offensive coordinator in New Yawk during Shcokey’s first season. Shockey thrived that season winning Rookie of the Year. However, the Saints big problem last year was not the absence of a tight end but the absence of a defense. So, unless Shockey starts playing linebacker, New Orleans is going to still have problems stopping people from scoring.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Still Here…
Well, I’m still here and as I wrote previously, the dog days of summer haven’t given much to write about. I mean, the Rangers have been doing well (at least compared to what they normally do) but there really is only so much you can say about them. Once NFL training camp gets rolling at the end of this month, I will probably have a few topics to write about. However, I want to express my thoughts on Brett Farve’s recent “about face” in regards to his March 6th retirement.
First off, while I’ve never been a big Farve fan, I do recognize his greatness and respect what he has accomplished over the course of his career. With that being said, I am sick to death of hearing about the teeter-totter soap opera regarding Farve’s future. For the past 3 years (until this year), the minute the off season hit, Farve would “contemplate retirement” only to indicate he would come back for another year in June or July. This basically held the Packers franchise in limbo because they never knew what their plans were at QB until training camp was about to start. And even though I’m not a Packer fan, I think that is just wrong.
I know Farve is one of the all time greats and I know he holds virtually every QB record this is. But dude, make a decision! And when you have, stick to it! Don’t come on ESPN in a teary press conference and announce you are done for good only to completely reverse yourself 4 months later after the Packers have moved on. If this would have been the first time he had done this, then I might understand and wouldn’t really hold it against the guy. I heard Troy Aikman say that it took him 3 years to get that “I still can play, I still want to play” feeling out of his system…and Troy had medical issues (concussions) that forced him to retire. Farve is still relatively healthy so I don’t fault the guy for still wanting to play. I fault him for basically holding the Packers hostage the last few years and then having a big fond farewell only to come back and say just kidding.
Now, the Packers are in a conundrum because half their fan base wants Farve to come back and play for the Cheese Heads and the other half wants the team to move on with Aaron Rogers. Since Farve never signed his retirement papers with the NFL, he technically never retired and his contract is still the property of Green Bay. So the Packers can do one of a few things here: They can 1) bring him back; 2) they can trade him (and Farve would have no say in where he would play); or 3) they can give him an outright release (which Farve wants because they he essentially is a free agent).
And if you’re Aaron Rogers, what are you thinking? This is a kid that was drafted in the first round several years ago to be Farve’s successor. And the only real playing time he has had was this past season in the game vs. the Cowboys…and even then he came in when Green Bay was pretty far behind but played very well in the loss. Rogers only has a couple of years left on his contract and if Green Bay brings Farve back, Rogers may just ask for a trade or a release himself. And even if Green Bay does neither of those, he probably won’t stick around too long when he becomes a free agent…and then Green Bay is really messed.
If I were a Packer fan, there is no way I would want to see #4 playing for any other team but Green Bay. He is a shoe in first ballot Hall of Famer and the thought of him playing for Baltimore, Miami or (heaven forbid) Minnesota or Chicago would turn my stomach. But on the flip side, the fact that he has done this time and time and time again would leave me with a sour taste too. That is why I think half the Packer faithful would like to see him retire…so they don’t have to deal with his off season soap opera again but also so they won’t have to see him in any other uniform.
It’s gonna be interesting to see what happens with this though, that’s for sure.
First off, while I’ve never been a big Farve fan, I do recognize his greatness and respect what he has accomplished over the course of his career. With that being said, I am sick to death of hearing about the teeter-totter soap opera regarding Farve’s future. For the past 3 years (until this year), the minute the off season hit, Farve would “contemplate retirement” only to indicate he would come back for another year in June or July. This basically held the Packers franchise in limbo because they never knew what their plans were at QB until training camp was about to start. And even though I’m not a Packer fan, I think that is just wrong.
I know Farve is one of the all time greats and I know he holds virtually every QB record this is. But dude, make a decision! And when you have, stick to it! Don’t come on ESPN in a teary press conference and announce you are done for good only to completely reverse yourself 4 months later after the Packers have moved on. If this would have been the first time he had done this, then I might understand and wouldn’t really hold it against the guy. I heard Troy Aikman say that it took him 3 years to get that “I still can play, I still want to play” feeling out of his system…and Troy had medical issues (concussions) that forced him to retire. Farve is still relatively healthy so I don’t fault the guy for still wanting to play. I fault him for basically holding the Packers hostage the last few years and then having a big fond farewell only to come back and say just kidding.
Now, the Packers are in a conundrum because half their fan base wants Farve to come back and play for the Cheese Heads and the other half wants the team to move on with Aaron Rogers. Since Farve never signed his retirement papers with the NFL, he technically never retired and his contract is still the property of Green Bay. So the Packers can do one of a few things here: They can 1) bring him back; 2) they can trade him (and Farve would have no say in where he would play); or 3) they can give him an outright release (which Farve wants because they he essentially is a free agent).
And if you’re Aaron Rogers, what are you thinking? This is a kid that was drafted in the first round several years ago to be Farve’s successor. And the only real playing time he has had was this past season in the game vs. the Cowboys…and even then he came in when Green Bay was pretty far behind but played very well in the loss. Rogers only has a couple of years left on his contract and if Green Bay brings Farve back, Rogers may just ask for a trade or a release himself. And even if Green Bay does neither of those, he probably won’t stick around too long when he becomes a free agent…and then Green Bay is really messed.
If I were a Packer fan, there is no way I would want to see #4 playing for any other team but Green Bay. He is a shoe in first ballot Hall of Famer and the thought of him playing for Baltimore, Miami or (heaven forbid) Minnesota or Chicago would turn my stomach. But on the flip side, the fact that he has done this time and time and time again would leave me with a sour taste too. That is why I think half the Packer faithful would like to see him retire…so they don’t have to deal with his off season soap opera again but also so they won’t have to see him in any other uniform.
It’s gonna be interesting to see what happens with this though, that’s for sure.
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