Following an exciting first round, we break down the favorite picks, most pleasant and biggest surprises, most under-appreciated pick, worst move and more.
Peyton Manning, Mario Williams, Mike Wallace and Carl Nicks headline an intriguing free agent class that can shift the balance of power this offseason.
The Eagles seemingly came out of nowhere to sign Nnamdi Asomugha as they eye a trip to the Super Bowl.
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$.01--With their Monday night victory, the Vikings are right back in the playoff race. Credit Brad Johnson as being a perfect fit with the receiving corps. Johnson doesn't have the arm nor the mobility of Daunte Culpepper, but his quick reads and short-to-medium accuracy are both better suited with their receivers. Too many times with Culpepper the WRs caught the ball while runnign back towards the line of scrimmage whiel Daunte scrambled or slowly progressed thru his reads. Johnson hits guys moving forward and before the secondary help gets there. The fact he doesn't throw 3 INTs a game hasn't hurt either.
$.02-Staying on the NFC North, it's time for all the national media to stop degrading the division. The Bears are legitimately among the NFC's best, the Vikings have clawed up to .500, and the division's overall winning percentage is higher than both the AFC East and NFC West. Yes the Lions are a disappointing mess, and the Packers are 2-8 and playing 5th string RBs and WRs, but every division except the NFC East has at least one team worse than both of those teams at this point. And when Detroit upsets Atlanta on Turkey Day, stuff the talk about the NFC North being the worst division in pro sports for good.
$.03-I'm of the belief that Terrell Owens will play again this season, and that he will wind up in a place that seldom gets mentioned when the list of usual suspects gets bandied about by the experts. Miami is too far away from being good and has a dreadful QB situation, so they're out. Dallas already has Keyshawn and Terry Glenn, both sizeable egos that are also playing quite well, so they don't need TO. No way would Owens fit in with Marty-ball in San Diego, and he certainly wouldn't accept being the #3 option in an offense behind LT2 and Antonio Gates. I think the Redskins and Chiefs will both be intrigued, but the best fit is on a team that is making a playoff run and needs a homerun threat WR to get over the hump in the playoffs. Don't be shocked if you see Terrell Owens sporting the orange and blue in Denver if he's cleared to play this season. Even if he has to wait until next year, the Broncos need to replace Rod Smith and TO is far and away the best WR on the market.
$.04-Mike Nolan deserves a lot of credit in San Francisco for keeping a badly undertalented team competitive in most games. They start at least 6 guys on both sides of the ball who wouldn't ever see the field on most playoff teams, including at QB, RB, both S, and the right side of the OL. Yet they haven't quit despite some awful early losses. Since the 52-17 annihilation by the Redskins, they've held their own with playoff teams New York, Chicago, and a near upset of Seattle, plus a win over playoff contender Tampa Bay. Brandon Looyd has stepped up as a legit #1 wideout and Shawntae Spencer has proven he's more than capable of supplanting Ahmed Plummer and Mike Rumph at #1 CB. Not many rookie head coaches can earn the respect and fight from their players when they know pretty much every week they're heavy underdogs that must play perfect to win. Nolan has done a great job despite another awful season by the Bay.
$.05-After Reggie Bush's instant-classic performance against Fresno State, the draft debate is heating up. Bush is an amazing college talent with speed and versatility that should translate quite nicely to the NFL, but to me it's almost a no-brainer to take Matt Leinart ahead of him. Running back is the most easily replaced position in the NFL, and the falloff between 1st and 2nd string is probably less than any position on most teams. As Denver, Pittsburgh, and Dallas have proven, if you're committed to running and have an effective line, any decent back can put up good results. Teams like the Jets, Texans, Packers, Saints and 49ers jockeying for the #1 pick all have much bigger problems than a great RB can fix. Since all those teams but the Jets have their future at QB decided, all would be wise to shop the pick for more selections and a proven vet or two. For any of them to pick Bush is too great a risk, with the short lifespan of RBs and the shaky lines that Bush would run behind. Personally I wouldn't take Bush in my top 5. That doesn't mean I don't think he won't make a very good NFL player--I see him as Terry Metcalf with size and better acceleration--but if you're picking that high, one pretty good RB ain't gonna cure what ails you.
$.06-In a preseason column I argued for Shaun Alexander to happily accept the franchise tag and enjoy a bigger payday after this season. Alexander has vaulted himself to the top of the heap of NFL RBs, on pace for over 2000 yards and 30 TDs. He got his full $6.5 million this season and now can cash in for the biggest contract in the NFL. Had he held out or signed an earlier extension, he'd have cost himself millions in both bonus money and total dollars. Once again the system works for both sides, much to the chagrin of the agents. Alexander should reward the Seahawks' brave decision and stay in Seattle, on a team that looks like Super Bowl contenders for at least the next couple of seasons.
$.07-It's very hard for me to watch three great warriors end their careers as shadows of themselves on lousy teams. Steve McNair is only 2 seasons removed from being NFL MVP, but it seems like a lot longer. Though his stats haven't appreciably declined, the Titans have lost so much talent that McNair is no longer capable of leading them to victory. He's lost more than one step and some accuracy on his deep ball, and it's time for him (and the Titans) to move on. He'd make a great backup for a team with a promising youngster if he decides to subject his body to further damage. The same cannot be said for either Brett Favre or Curtis Martin. Favre still has the fire, but the rifle doesn't have the power, nor the targets, anymore. Martin should have walked away on top after his amazing 2004 season for the Jets. Both have suffered from lousy, injury-plagued lines and the hits hurt a lot longer when you're in your mid-30s. If they leave after this season I can still forgive a rough ending. Another season even close to this poor for either, though, and their legacy is tarnished in my mind.
$.08-Don't look now, but Reuben Droughns has nearly 450 yards in his last 4 games and will blow past 1000 yards. Since the Browns bye in week 4, he's 4th in the league in rushing and averages almost 5 yards per carry. With very little fanfare Droughns has proven he's no product of the legendary Denver run scheme, a la Olandis Gary or Quentin Griffin. Give the Browns credit for upgrading a line with 4 new starters, all of them pile movers that keep holes open. They're still several players, most notably at QB and DL, from the playoffs, but they found themselves a legit #1 RB in Droughns, something the franchise has sorely lacked since its return. Droughns will be the first 1000 yard rusher since Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner both topped 1000 in 1985, the longest drought by a wide margin.
$.09-Indianapolis has proven they are far and away the best team in the league, but I still don't see them going undefeated through the regular season. And that shouldn't matter to Tony Dungy & Co., because as long as they win the Super Bowl, that's all that matters. Tough games remain with Pittsburgh, at Jacksonville, and with San Diego and at Seattle. While the Colts should rightly be favored in each of those games, any of those teams is talented enough to trip up the Colts if Indy isn't in top form. Still, wouldn't it be nice to see the Colts march through the Super Bowl undefeated, if only to shut up all the obnoxious 1972 Dolphins and their ceaseless chest puffing?
$.10-Through ten games, here are my award winners:
MVP-Peyton Manning, over Jake Plummer, Ladainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander
Defensive MVP-Michael Strahan over Brian Urlacher and Deltha O'Neal
Rookie-DeMarcus Ware over Kyle Orton and Odell Thurman
Coach-Lovie Smith over Tony Dungy and Tom Coughlin
Hope you have a great Turkey Day free of turducken!
