Tom Brady’s Comeback Player of the Year Award is Almost a Tragedy

You’ve got to hand it to Ye Olde Media. Once again, they appear to have voted for a major award without doing their homework—you know, like watching the 2009 NFL season.

How else can you explain the comfortable margin of victory with which Tom Brady captured the Comeback Player of the Year award?

Perhaps some of them cast their votes in Week Three?

Perhaps they got confused and thought that this was the vote for the Associated Press Prettiest Player of the Year award?

Regardless of the explanation, they disgraced themselves by completely ignoring some of the most impressive and inspiring stories that the NFL has seen all decade.

And that’s what is so upsetting about this.

The AP writers decided to half-ass this award in a season that featured some incredibly inspiring comeback stories.

Let’s begin by quickly dismissing the person who actually won. Yes, Tom Brady followed his MVP performance in 2007—and it was more than just an MVP season, it was completely dominant—with a season-ending injury in 2008. He regrouped in 2009 and had a strong, but by no means exceptional, year.

He was a top-10 quarterback, though he absolutely fell from the elite tranche that includes Manning, Favre, Brees, and Rivers. Many, including myself, would argue that his receivers were superior than those available to the QBs listed above—but oh well, no need to tear him a new one.

Does he deserve a pat on the back? Sure. He can have a pat on the back.

Now, let’s take a look at Cedric Benson.

Benson has certainly overcome some physical injuries, but what’s more important is that he has overcome an injured reputation. And not just any injured reputation; he has done what very few blue chip RB prospects have ever done…escaped the “Bust” label.

Ki-Jana Carter, Curtis Enis, Lawrence Phillips; the list goes on and on and on.

When was the last time a certified bust has totally rejuvenated his career to the extent that Cedric Benson has?

He isn’t just good. He is now elite.

His numbers are only the beginning. He finished eighth in the league in rushing, even though he was forced to sit out several games—including the season finale in which his health was conserved.

Why did he sit out Week 17?

Because his once-woeful Bengals had already secured a playoff spot!

The Bengals are the “Comeback Team of the Year,” and Cedric Benson is a big part of the reason why they are thriving.

This year, he was Mr. Comeback.

Were I to cast a ballot, though, my vote might actually have been for Vince Young. From a pure merit standpoint, nobody did more to reverse his team’s fortunes than Vince Young.

Unlike Benson, the former Texas messiah will not be playing in the postseason. However, Young deserves credit for helping to totally salvage a seemingly devastating 2009 campaign for Tennessee.

And his story goes deeper than that.

Six months ago, when it appeared as though Vince Young’s career was already in the abyss, he suddenly lost his friend and mentor, Steve McNair. It’s one thing to lose a starting job in the NFL. It’s another to lose a father figure.

In Young’s own words, “Since I was a teenager, he was like a father to me. I hear his advice in my head with everything I do. Life will be very different without him.”

Young made headlines later in 2009 when he began to take an interest in mentoring McNair’s children.

But he made even bigger headlines this fall when he re-emerged out of nowhere and led the Titans to an 8-2 record following a disgusting 59-0 loss to New England.

Their two losses came at the hands of Indianapolis and San Diego—excusable defeats, to say the least.

Many people will have Tennessee as a favorite to make the postseason once again in 2010, and you can be sure that Vince Young will take the first snap of the season this time.

His numbers are not yet dominant. No, they aren’t as good as future Hall of Famer Tom Brady’s. But Vince Young knows how to win. The high point was a stunning victory over the Arizona Cardinals in which Young engineered a cross-field drive and threw a winning touchdown on the game’s final play.

He is not only a deserving winner of Comeback Player of the Year, but he is also deserving of Comeback PERSON of the Year. Not only did he lose his father figure, but he also overcame severe personal depression, an ailment that has defeated many athletes over the years.

One does not need to be a Titans fan to be a Vince Young fan. Everyone should be cheering for this exceptional man. And it’s a shame for the NFL that too few sportswriters were Vince Young fans when it came time to vote.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

If Roman Polanski Looked Like Michael Vick: He’d Be Rotting in Prison

What a joke.

Put him in prison. Extradite him to America, carry out his sentence, and let him serve his time.

It will be a real shame, since he is a genius. Not only that, but he has suffered a lot in his life, and deserves to be happy in his old age.

But the same could be said for a lot of criminals. How many gang members on death row grew up under terrible circumstances or lived through tragedy? Probably most.

But that’s not what this article is about.

What has a lot of sports fans fuming is this:

If Roman Polanski were an athlete, he’d be rotting in jail right now with no sympathy.

Just look at Plaxico Burress, who carried a concealed weapon, shot himself in the leg, and is now serving a two-year sentence.

Look at Michael Vick. He abused a group of non-human girls, and spent nearly as long in the slammer.

So why should a convicted rapist—a man who had sex with a thirteen year old girl— getting so much sympathy both from his industry, but also from the nation of France?

Because he is skilled behind a camera, instead of being skilled behind a center, two guards, and two offensive tackles?

Or maybe it’s because he is a small, unimposing man, versus a big, intimidating athlete like Michael Vick, who has a tough glare and corn rows.

Maybe because his type of intelligence—creative intelligence—is more valued than the brilliance of somebody who has great field vision and leadership skills.

Perhaps Roman Polanski gets sympathy because his personal tragedies are documented in history books—that makes them more visible than the tragedies that so many athletes have dealt with in their lives: abandoned by parents, recruited for gangs, treated like nobodies (until they get rich).

Or maybe it’s because Polanski committed his crime several decades ago, back when there was “Free Love” or whatever other silly euphemism we want to use in order to sugar coat his crime.

Maybe it’s an issue of race—gasp—there, I said it. No need to dig deeper into this one. Either you buy it, or you think it’s total crap. But it’s more than just a wild conjecture.

Any way you cut it, those of us who admire athletes and would rather see an Arnold movie than an art house flick should all take notice of this. It’s not right.

Roman Polanski committed a crime, and he should serve his time.

Nobody had a problem throwing Plaxico or Vick in prison.

Nobody should have a problem with Polanski’s sentence being carried out.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Dallas Cowboys Should Fire Wade Phillips Immediately After Game

The 4th Quarter is here, and Jerry Jones can’t be amused right now.

Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett are lucky that their team’s highly-engaged owner did not walk onto the field early in the fourth quarter to fire them both on the spot.

At the time of this article’s publication, the Dallas Cowboys maintain a six point lead…

…but that’s the problem. It shouldn’t even be a game at this point.

The offensive play calling on the Cowboys’ critical 1-yard-line set of downs was not bad. It was not horrific. It was nothing less than self-defeating.

Every coach makes mistakes.

But sometimes there are mistakes that are so inexcusable, that they speak directly to the character of the decision maker.

This set of downs was one of them.

Let’s face it, though. The rest of the game has been littered with sloppiness and thoughtless penalties. Carolina has practically handed this victory to the Cowboys (thanks to an equally sloppy performance), and the Cowboys have refused to capitalize.

One cannot blame Phillips for the embarrassing field goal shank by Nick Folk. But it was John Phillips inexcusable penalty on 4th-and-inches that forced the kicking unit back on the field when a touchdown was critical.

Good coaches take responsibility for the discipline of thier squad. This will be the third straight game in which the Cowboys have taken more penalties than their opponent.

But the ‘Boys have outdone themselves tonight with 80 yards of penalization, with a lot of time left on the clock. That’s bad. The timing and momentum-killing nature of those infractions has been even worse.

Cowboys fans should be particularly disappointed in their coaching staff, because the leaders on the field have really stepped up tonight. Romo has surely re-established his sense of confidence. Felix Jones came up big in the first half. Roy Williams has made a handful of big catches.

This one can’t be pinned on Romo.

Even if the Cowboys win this one, Jerry Jones will have to put his coaching staff on alert.

Dallas will not get to play a cupcake of a game at home every week, and they can only play Tampa Bay once. An undisciplined and poorly-called performance like tonights will register a loss against New York or Philadelphia—at home or away.

Who knows how this game will end. It will probably be a Cowboy victory.

But we all know how this season will end if Dallas exhibits such poor play calling and inexcusable discipline…

… there is no margin for error in the NFC East.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

San Francisco 49ers: What To Love About The Season To Date

The 49ers are 2-0? It’s almost too good to be true. Reflecting upon the last two weeks, there are a lot of reasons for why the 49ers find themselves in a commanding position as they embark upon a tough-as-nails schedule.

This afternoon’s game against Seattle offered one obvious explanation for their success: Frank Gore. But even No. 21’s heroics would not have meant much in previous seasons, where San Francisco routinely squandered great performances and under-served their star running back.

Here are—in this writer’s opinion—the five major reasons for the 49ers early success…

 

1. Discipline

Mike Singletary promised discipline from his first moments as a coach last year, when he memorably kicked Vernon Davis out of a game. That same work ethic is still holding strong. In a game of inches, the avoidance of stupid mistakes can be all the difference.

The reason the 49ers are 2-0 right now, is because they displayed far more discipline than Arizona in Week One, and that discrepancy in penalties turned the game in their direction.

They made a few more mistakes against Seattle, though the most critical one took place on a kick return, and from my vantage point, was a highly questionable call.

If Mike Singletary can continue to control the players on his team, expect to gain a much needed 20-30 yard edge on opponents throughout the year.

 

2. Health

Knock on wood. Perhaps this is good luck, or maybe it is a result of the 49ers having a young team. Either way, they are playing in a geriatric division, where the biggest stars are also some of the oldest and most brittle.

It also appears that God hath plagued the Seahawks with one misfortune after another. This doesn’t fully explain the victory today over Seattle, but it more or less put a nail in the Seahawks’ coffin with plenty of time on the clock.

 

3. The 3-4 Defense

What more can you ask for? We’ve got three young linebackers starting for us, as well as a reinvigorated veteran standout. One of them—Patrick Willis—is arguably the most impressive ILB in the entire NFL.

Our head coach knows how to mentor them, because he is one of the Top 5 LB’s of the modern era. They continuously pull through on 3rd downs, holding their last two opponents to a combined eight conversions.

And they are sandwiched between a D-Line and a Secondary that have both exceeded expectations so far.

Let’s face it. This is damn exciting.

 

4. Attitude, Morale, and Fight

This one may seem corny, but it is real, and it is palpable.

How many times did Mike Nolan try to “turn the team around” with a half-hearted speech in the 4th quarter?

When Singletary speaks to his men, the fans know that it will result in a turnaround.

The week after the O-Line humiliated itself, contributing to Frank Gore’s least productive performance as a 49er, what happens? They respond with a massive first half. Sure, there’s still room for improvement, and the fans have every reason to believe that next week will be a step up from this one.

 

5. Vernon Davis, Nate Clements Being Who We Thought They Were

Nate Clements was a high-priced free agent. Vernon Davis was an early First Round draft pick.

But the way they’ve played to date, you might not believe it.

While neither of them were ‘busts’ up until this season, they both fell short of the sky-high expectations that fans harbored.

Now, we are finally seeing that potential being realized.

Seattle and Arizona are both passing teams, and Clements was key in shutting down their Pro Bowl quarterbacks.

Vernon Davis has always been a great blocker, but as a TE, he has dropped passes and failed in the clutch. In the last two games, though, he has delivered on several critical third downs, one of which fell off the score sheet due to a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Regardless, this is the best that he has ever looked, and we all know who to thank for turning the diva around.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Mel Kiper’s Wrong: Michael Crabtree Won’t Be a First Rounder

“With the 21st Pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select…Randy Moss!”

Those words should be haunting Michael Crabtree right now.

If Mel Kiper, or Crabtree’s deadbeat cousin, or Eugene Parker, or any other delusional dreamers think that he has a snowball’s chance of becoming a top 10 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft…all they need to do is remember the quote above.

Let’s revisit the year 1998, shall we?

There was no doubting Randy Moss’s talent. In fact, he had many parallels to Crabtree.

Like Michael Crabtree, he was a top Heisman candidate—Moss finished in fourth place. Also like Crabtree, Moss came from a school that wasn’t exactly a perennial BCS contender (Marshall). Finally, Moss had a “full of myself” reputation that was highlighted when he worse sunglasses to the Heisman ceremony.

And like Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss was supposed to be a top pick.

Many analysts expected Moss to join the Cowboys, who held the No. 8 pick in the draft. Even that would have been a slide down the draft board. His talent was clearly Top Five potential.

But because of his attitude and his off-field issues, Moss fell to No. 21. His episode with marijuana and a domestic violence rap cost him untold millions of dollars.

That’s where the two stories part. Moss accepted the money that he was offered, became a rookie sensation, and put himself on the right track. Crabtree wants his reward before making a single NFL reception.

The reason we must examine this story is because it shows how seriously teams treat bad apples. They don’t want to touch them. They don’t want to look at them. They don’t want to waste their brain power even thinking about them.

And here’s another dirty little secret…

…GM’s can forgive drug use or domestic violence. They will NEVER tolerate crimes that affect their financial statements.

If Randy Moss had held out the 1998 season and re-entered the draft, he would have fallen to the fifth round. Guaranteed.

Mel Kiper’s argument that Crabtree will go Top 12 next year is so asinine that it’s hard to know where to begin. I’ll make three simple points to counter his sensationalistic attention grab:

* If teams wanted him so bad, he wouldn’t have fallen to No. 10 in the 2009 Draft. There were two other teams in between the Raiders (No. 7) and the 49ers (No. 10) who felt that Crabtree’s skills did not make him valuable enough to obviate their positional needs. If he was really that good, he would have gone to the Packers at No. 9.

Oh, and 2010 is a much more loaded draft than 2009, so it only gets harder.

 

* There is no position where conditioning and attitude matter more than WR. Let’s face it, if a receiver loses a step, or even a half-step, he’s done. Falling out of shape is the death knell for a wide receiver, even one of unmatched talent. Just ask Charles Rogers. Crabtree will have missed a year of top-tier conditioning (and no, catching passes from Shaun Hill doesn’t count).

Let’s not even get started on attitude problems. Is there any position in sports that is more susceptible to attitude problems than wide receiver? Nope. T-O, Ochocinco, Keyshawn Johnson, the aforementioned Detroit Lions bust.

Wide receivers drive teams nuts, and Crabtree is looking like he has studied his predecessors well.

 

*Risk. Risk. Risk. Risk. GMs hate taking unnecessary risk. There is more to lose than to gain. Making a seemingly good draft pick and having that pick turn into a bust…that’s bad. Picking somebody who has existing red flags and having that guy bust? That is career-ending for a GM.

 

There is no chance that Crabtree will be a top 10 Pick. He probably won’t be a first rounder. And because Al Davis clearly doesn’t like him, he may not get taken in the early second round either.

If he thinks that the three reasons above are not convincing, he should hop on the phone with Randy Moss.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Michael Crabtree’s Agent Has Gone Too Far, Betraying His “Brother”

Eugene Parker is a smart man. He is a great agent, an astonishing businessman, and he is a recognized leader in the African-American community.

But he isn’t God—and, right now, he doesn’t even look like a man of God.

For a man who claims to be unwavering in his religious values, Eugene Parker is committing a terrible sin. He is brainwashing and ruining the career of a young man who does not know any better.

While it’s true that Michael Crabtree is also receiving bad advice from his deadbeat cousin, the truth is that Eugene Parker is a titan in the NFL, and he clearly has both of Crabtree’s ears.

So why isn’t he encouraging Crabtree to sign?

It’s simple. All logic suggests that Eugene Parker is currently engaged in a grand experiment of sorts, with the Texas Tech receiver serving as his guinea pig.

Parker is famous for having innovated highly lucrative contracts for his star players, but if he were to succeed in his latest quest—breaking the unwritten NFL Draft slotting rules—he will become a legend.

In the eyes of Parker, Crabtree is nothing more than an “interesting opportunity.” Rarely has the NFL seen a talent like Crabtree fall this far down the Draft Board.

The perception that Crabtree fell too far is accepted by some. The notion that he should get paid Top Five money? Universally ridiculed. 

What does Parker have to lose if he fails in his fun little experiment? Nothing.

Eugene Parker is a multi-multi-multi-millionaire, whose client list is nothing short of breathtaking. Among other stars, he represents: Larry Fitzgerald, Steven Jackson, and Derrick Brooks. He has represented several Hall of Fame players in the past.

Let’s not mince words here. Eugene Parker could retire tomorrow, misplace $10 million, and not even notice a difference in his lifestyle. He’s filthy rich.

But guess who has a little less money right now?

Unsigned rookie Michael Crabtree.

If Michael Crabtree were to accidentally trip and fall down the stairs tomorrow (heaven forbid), and never play a game in the NFL, he would be living off insurance for the rest of his sad life.

He has no college degree, so forget about a second career. He has no good will, so forget a life in public speaking. 

In short, Eugene Parker is putting his own interests—the desire to become an agent of (even more) legend—ahead of Crabtree’s.

Meanwhile, the real losers are Crabtree, and we the fans who were so excited when the Niners took a chance on him at No. 10.

I may not be a model of a pious man, but I have enough common sense to know a charlatan and a sinner when I see one.

Eugene Parker, if you are reading this, you are betraying your brother. You are wickedly putting yourself before your client, and you are toying with somebody who trusts you.

Crabtree must take responsibility for himself, he is a grownup. But barely. And you are misleading him.

Good luck explaining this act of selfishness and greed to your creator, you filthy hypocrite.

 

“It is easier for a camel to get through a eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  –  Mark 14:25

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Crabtree, Seymour Are First Humans To Dislike San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco’s reputation as the only city on the planet that nobody dislikes was officially called into question this afternoon, effectively ending a 160-year streak of general popularity.

Former Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree, and recently-acquired Oakland Raiders DE Richard Seymour have both expressed passive-aggressive disdain for the city by the bay, thus obviating its reputation for unquestioned likability.

“He just doesn’t want to be here,” explained former 49er great Steve Young, when asked to comment on Crabtree’s refusal to sign a contract.

If true, Michael Crabtree will be the first person — ever — to hate on San Francisco. Not to be outdone by its more famous cross-bay neighbor, Oakland has responded in kind by unleashing Richard Seymour into the primadona cadre.

Insiders report that both Crabtree and Seymour are committed to their disdain, and Crabtree’s agent has reported that the college standout will not be moved by the following Bay Area virtues:

 

• Fantastic weather that is totally devoid of snow and hail, with perhaps fifteen rainy days a year, and nothing but sunshine  thereafter.

• A laid-back attitude in which B.S. is cut out of the equation, and good ideas help drive an innovation economy.

• The best burritos on earth. Even better than in Mexico.

• Hot European tourists who come here in hopes of discovering a ‘Free Love’ culture that hasn’t existed in forty years. 

• Beaches, Wine Country, and Tahoe — all within a four hour drive of eachother. Like seriously. God put all those awesome things in one place. And to think that he didn’t give any of Russia’s eight timezones jack-sh*t. 

• Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, the Olympic Club, and a ton of other great golf-courses for when you retire rich — and, yes, Mr. Crabtree, $20 million is considered rich. 

• Nerds from Stanford and Berkely who invent awesome stuff for us to use, then crawl back into their caves.

• … and much, much, more!

Michael Crabtree has already gone on the record to say that, in an ideal situation, he would have been drafted higher. More specifically, he wishes that he could live in one of the following cities: Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, or Jacksonville.

Should Crabtree fail to sign with the 49ers, and re-enter the draft en route to an eventual third round selection, it will stand as evidence that, for the first time ever, somebody showed up in San Francisco and determined that they hated it there.

Football analysts continue to speculate that there is no way Michael Crabtree has partied at the bar Medjool in San Francisco’s Mission District, or else he would be “completely sold” on the city. If true, then it is also highly unlikely that he has eaten at either El Ferolito or Taqueria Cancun, further erasing hopes of getting the sophomore standout addicted to his currently-temporary home.

“At this point, we have to assume that he hasn’t rented a lakeside house in Tahoe,” explained John Gruden, “because anybody who does that could never hate on Cali.”

Gruden also pointed out that Crabtree’s current net worth of zero dollars would make it difficult to afford a boat.

Famed NFL coach John Madden, himself a California transplant, added that he “feels bad for anybody who hates getting laid,” noting that San Francisco’s many liberal girls have convinced themselves that sluttiness is better referred to as “open mindedness” or “empowerment.”

Those with knowledge of the conflict have set Saturday as the unofficial deadline for Crabtree to get his shit together and sign the damn contract.

Should he choose to forgoe a contract, Crabtree will force thousands of San Francisco yuppies to exclaim, “What? Is he serious? I mean, seriously?! No… No way…”

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

San Francisco 49ers: The Draft Experts Are Wrong!

Based upon the “consensus” view from the so-called draft experts, the San Francisco 49ers continued their losing ways by executing poorly in this year’s draft.

USA Today gave them a “D+” while grading guru Pete Prisco doled out a similarly lackluster “C-” for the weekend.

Was I watching the same draft as these guys?

By the time I turned off my television on Saturday evening, my thoughts immediately turned to Coors Light and champagne, and a night of celebratory dancing was on my near term horizon. After all, we 49ers fans have almost forgotten what it means to have a hugely successful afternoon.

Saturday, April 25th was a hugely successful afternoon.

Let me begin my defense of this statement by first offering a word of caution. I think that the “professional” Draft Gurus are usually full of hot air. They focus way too much on their assessment of the late rounds.

Why?

Because they like to show off how much they know.

By taking a strong stance on their opinion of the eighth highest-rated wide receiver, and congratulating (or jeering) whichever team selects that player in the fifth round, the “professional” analysts can make themselves feel important and knowledgeable.

And while I’ll be the first to agree that late-round miracles like Tom Brady do happen occasionally, the vast majority of top-tier talent comes in the first two rounds.

In fact, five of this season’s six top passers were taken in the top 32, and the league’s brightest young talent—Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, and Joe Flacco—were also first rounders.

So, while I’ll be the first to agree that the 49ers didn’t set themselves apart with Sunday’s selections—with the possible exception of Scott McKillop—a real Draft “guru” should be smart enough to say “who cares?”

The Niners hit the nail on the head in the first two rounds, and I’ll gladly base 90 percent of my score on those rounds.

My grade? A+.

As a loyal 49er fan, I was shocked when they took Crabtree at No. 10. It was the first time in several years that I have seen them do the sensible thing when given an obvious decision.

How did this man fall so far? It was almost the thing of dreams. It required a little bit of craziness—courtesy of Al Davis—as well as some convenient differences in strategic needs.

One must be truly thankful that Green Bay had already wrapped their minds around B.J. Raji, as the temptation must have been significant.

His free fall was also a result of group-think. A reasonably minor foot injury? That spooked a few suitors.

Unsubstantiated rumblings about a supposed “attitude problem?” His own coach from Texas Tech vehemently denies such a thing.

The last time the “draft experts” used that logic on a receiver was for Randy Moss, who fell to the late first round as a result of supposed “behavioral problems.” Guess how that played out.

The short of it is that nine NFL teams convinced themselves out of taking Crabtree, and now the 49ers have themselves arguably the most talented, and certainly the most explosive player in the draft.

Oh, and they are going to pay him substantially less than $72 million.

What about the second round?

Like most 49ers fans, my heart was racing in the picks leading up to No. 43, in hopes that Everette Brown would remain available.

He was the best available player, and ostensibly fit our needs at DE. When the decision was made to trade the pick, I was a bit surprised, but this is a situation where I do trust that the organization listened to Singletary, a man who would have had every incentive to make that pick were he confident in the Florida State prospect’s talent.

And the trade itself was a steal.

Historically, a second and thirrd rounder usually equates to a first rounder, all else being equal. San Francisco only gave up a second and fourth.

What’s more, a pick in 2010 will be far more valuable than a pick in the reasonably weak class of 2009.

The Panthers have to be awfully cocky to assume that they will be playoff-worthy next year. Having seen them play quite a few games last year, I am not nearly as confident as their front office. I expect this to be a top 20 pick next April.

I fully understand that some critics will talk about urgency—and yes, the team needs to fill a lot of holes right now. But the strategic value of having two first rounders in what will be a very deep 2010 draft is simply too powerful to ignore.

I’m even slightly optimistic that one of the picks can be leveraged in acquiring a real QB (possibly a certain under-appreciated youngster from Cleveland).

Any way you look at it, the so-called experts are wrong about the 49ers. They had the best first round bargain of any team, and made a sensible move to gain footing in next year’s vastly superior draft.

And that earns them a “D+”

Give me a break.

This was a weekend worth celebrating.

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010