2010 Preview of the AFC and NFC North

I decided to dish out my 2010 NFL season preview as late as I could. Mostly because there has been an awful lot of transactions around the league this preseason. Most recently, Arizona might be shopping their new “prized” QB.
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The AFC North is where I’ll start. “Come on over to the Bungles” was a song in my ear all last season. A close friend of mine assured me they’d be good. This year, I’m skeptical again. They are one of my wildcard teams this year at 10-6, even with Team Obliterator. The team to beat in this division wears black, sometimes.
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The Ravens are my pick to take the division. It isn’t an easy schedule but I like the addition of Anquan Boldin to the receiving core. I’m on the Joe Flacco train for his third season in the bigs. I’ll give them 11-5. The Steelers will start off 1-3. I guarantee it. After they get Big Ben back they’ll be that back and forth team they were last year and finish with seven, eight, or nine wins.

The Browns will be awful. Let’s say 4-12.

In the NFC North we have a few good teams. The Bears and Lions will both be better than last year. The popular pick is the Packers this year because people are banking on a few more turnovers from the ageless wonder.
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I like the Vikings again. All of the NFC North teams have difficult schedules. Yeah, both Green Bay and Minnesota have good run games but you have to like AP more than Grant and Jackson. The NFC North has two of the best teams in the NFC but they’ll beat up on each other. The Vikings win the division going 11-5 and the Packers go 10-6 and receive a wildcard.
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The Bears are better. Jay Cutler won’t play like that again Chicago fans so calm down. He had to put everything on himself with the core of guys they had on offense. With that being said, they’re still at best a 9-7 team. The O-line is still shaky. The receivers are still a tad smelly. The defense is still just ok. The Lions are better too and could win five or six games. I’ll give them 4-12 though. However, Stafford was impressive in his first year. They just need to keep him healthy!

I’ll be back soon with the AFC and NFC East next!

Terrell Owens is the Show

He has is own TV show and website but not his own NFL team. Terrell Owens is quite a show but where will he end up?
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San Diego was the recent bidder but in the end said no. It is becoming more and more obvious that the league is done with “Team Obliterator.” Last year his numbers were bad but he was on the Bills for goodness sake! Is the NFL telling me that no team has a use for him? It’s hard to believe the Rams or Raiders couldn’t use a high profile receiver. But that’s just it, he isn’t who he once was.
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His five touchdowns in 2009 are a result of poor QBs but his numbers were declining. He drops passes and we all know that but he hasn’t eclipsed 1,100 yards since 2008 and is YAC hasn’t been anywhere near the top since his days in Philly.
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Most of all, his personality outweighs his decline. No one wants the problems. Unless you have a guaranteed Super Bowl team, TO will complain about something. And if you’re that Super Bowl contending team, you don’t need Owens. This really could be the end of Terrell Owens on the field. Maybe people will be watching the terrible TV show now and keep him off the field. Football’s better off without him.
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Unwanted WRs, Torres Tired, A Tough Team

It’s hard to believe but there are teams out there that are finally done with Terrell Owens. The days of T.O. getting what he wants have ended. He’s old and is becoming irrelevant. But there’s a more interesting spin to this. Do team’s already have the same hang-ups on Brandon Marshall?
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Yup! Seattle was less than impressed (not with his ability). AND Miami coaching personnel is syndicating the same kind of reaction. BM is young, athletic, tall, strong, and fast (for a big guy). He’s a drop-pass guy but you’d take it all with the ability. BUT he’s a player problem and today’s coaches just won’t put up with it.

Marshall isn’t happy with his contract and I wouldn’t be either. He deserves more but the way he has gone about it has made him less attractive. McDaniels is the coach everyone wants to hate yet he’s keeping number 15 grounded. Hey, there’s no hurry with the way this system is working now. Can you believe he might be in Denver for another year!? STRIKE ONE!

Joe Torre isn’t talking about the future with the Dodgers. Hard to believe this will be his third year away from New York. I personally think he is one of those guys that doesn’t want to step away from the game. Tony La Russa has the same thing going and so does Lou Piniella in Chicago. If you have the talent you want to stay.
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Don Mattingly could be waiting another year. He was a great hitter and could be a nice manager too. Torre is doing a good job but he looks tired. He doesn’t have that fire he used to have. I remember when the guy with the flat brim pulled down with the big overcoat was intimidating. Now, Torre is a tired coach that looks to be heading to retirement. Maybe L.A. will get a world series trophy in Manny’s last year there, and Joes too. STRIKE TWO! (more…)