Introducing the 2009 All-NFC North Team

After looking at the North, this division has perhaps the league’s best running back, the league’s best defensive tackle tandem, and one of the best free-agent pick-ups.

In the end, this was still not an easy team to compile, especially at quarterback.

Here is the preseason All-NFC North team.

Oh, before we get started, Jay Cutler is actually not the top QB. I’ll explain later, especially to Cutler and Bear fans.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay- Yes, even on a 6-10 team, and his performances late in games, Rodgers still had a higher passer rating than Cutler, and his touchdown-to-interception ratio was 28-13. Plus, he knows he has a pro bowl receiver to throw to in Donald Driver.

RUNNING BACK: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota- It won’t be long until we see him rush for 2,000 yards.

FULLBACK: Jason McKie, Chicago- Not only is he a solid lead blocker, he can run and catch as well. He is one of the league’s most versatile fullbacks.

WIDE RECEIVER: Calvin Johnson, Detroit- On a team that did everything wrong, he did almost everything right with 1,331 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVER: Greg Jennings, Green Bay- He is an emerging star with 80 receptions and 16.2 yards per catch last season.

TIGHT END: Greg Olsen, Chicago- He’s a 255-pound guy who has very good speed and hands. He’ll be one of Cutler’s new favorite targets.

LEFT TACKLE: Orlando Pace, Chicago- The Bears hope he can provide a good two to three years of play before he calls it a career.

LEFT GUARD: Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota- He is the best at what he does, even after nine years in the league.

CENTER: Olin Kreutz, Chicago- He may not be a pro bowl caliber player anymore, but he still remains a strong presence in the huddle and in the locker room.

RIGHT GUARD: Stephen Peterman, Detroit- He may not be dominant, but he’s competitive and fiery.

RIGHT TACKLE: Breno Giacomini, Green Bay- If this massive, 6’7″, 311-pound tackle can block out Aaron Kampman well in practice, he can block almost any good rusher.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE END: Alex Brown, Chicago- He has been a high-motor guy for the Bears throughout his career, and he led the team in sacks last season.

DEFENSIVE END: Jared Allen, Minnesota- He was the boost the Vikings’ defensive line needed with 14.5 sacks.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Kevin Williams, Minnesota- His 8.5 sacks was his best total since the 2004-2005 season. He even has two career touchdowns, off of interceptions.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Pat Williams, Minnesota- The massive 317-pound defender is an immovable force and a key reason why the Vikings are always good against the run.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Lance Briggs, Chicago- He’s emerged as the Bears’ best all-around linebacker, even with Brian Urlacher alongside him.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Julian Peterson, Detroit- Jim Schwartz gets his Keith Bulluck type player on the outside. The versatile five-time pro bowler should be used in a variety of ways.

INSIDE LINEBACKER: Brian Urlacher, Chicago- He’s getting older, plus he has missed the last two pro bowls. But he can still make impact plays.

CORNERBACK: Antoine Winfield, Minnesota- He still remains a physical corner and one of the league’s fiercest hitters in the secondary.

CORNERBACK: Charles Woodson, Green Bay- He’s still not showing his age. He tied for the conference lead in picks at age 32.

FREE SAFETY: Nick Collins, Green Bay- Like Woodson, he tied for the NFC lead with seven interceptions.

STRONG SAFETY: Daniel Bullocks, Detroit- He can hit you hard. Schwartz should love his aggressiveness.

SPECIALIST

PUNTER: Brad Maynard, Chicago- 40 of his punts were placed inside the 20-yard-line.

KICKER: Jason Hanson, Detroit- He’s still reliable and still loyal to the Lions after 18 seasons.

RETURN MAN: Devin Hester, Chicago- Last season was a disappointment because he focused more on being a receiver. But when you put him back on returns, he can still make special team units cringe.

SPECIALIST: Korey Hall, Green Bay- If he’s not considered a good fullback, he’s better at handling special team duties.

HONORABLE MENTION

Jay Cutler, quarterback, Chicago- Yes, he has pro bowls and a rocket-arm. But he doesn’t have a go-to-receiver right now. He must prove himself after his Rocky Mountain fallout and elevate this slow-moving Bears offense.

Matt Forte, running back, Chicago- Maybe he can be Cutler’s best offensive option. He’s a do-everything back for the Bears.

Donald Driver, wide receiver, Green Bay- He’s averaged over 74 catches in the last five seasons. The former pro bowler still has great speed at 34.

Bernard Berrian, wide receiver, Minnesota- Berrian is the deep threat the Vikings needed. Averaged 20.1 yards per catch.

Visanthe Shiancoe, tight end, Minnesota- Improved significantly in his second season with the Vikings. He scored seven touchdowns last season.

Ryan Grant, running back, Green Bay- He rushed for 1,203 yards last season even after contract squabble.

Bryant McKinnie, left tackle, Minnesota- If only he can excel in the zone-blocking scheme his team uses, he’d be a complete left tackle.

Jeff Backus, left tackle, Detroit- Since 2001, he’s started every game for the Lions on the left side.

Ray Edwards, defensive end, Minnesota- If he contributes in a big way, the Vikings front four will become the league’s best unit.

Tommie Harris, defensive tackle, Chicago- When healthy, he’s an elite three-technique tackle, and he makes the unit better.

Ryan Pickett, nose tackle, Green Bay- At 6’2″, 330 pounds, he’ll have no problem lining up in the middle in the new 3-4 Packer defense.

Aaron Kampman, outside linebacker, Green Bay- Even if he hasn’t played linebacker since high school, count on one thing: he’ll still rush the passer.

Chad Greenway, outside linebacker, Minnesota- Greenway went from having a season-ending injury his rookie year in 2006 to leading the Vikings in tackles last season. He performs at a near-pro bowl level.

TOP ROOKIES

Offense

Percy Harvin, wide receiver, Minnesota- He’s an explosive playmaker who can be used in a variety of ways.

Defense

B.J Raji, defensive tackle, Green Bay- He mauled offensive linemen everywhere for Boston College. At 6’2″, 337 pounds, he’ll share nose tackle duties with Pickett and even line up at end.

TOP COACHES

Head Coach: Brad Childress, Minnesota- His teams win by two more games each year (six, eight, ten). Another two-game improvement should easily mean the NFC North title again.

Offensive Assistant: Joe Philbin, Green Bay- The Packers’ offense ranked eighth overall and scored 419 points last season, without Brett Favre.

Defensive Assistant: Leslie Frazier, Minnesota- In time, he’ll be an NFL head coach because of the work he’s done with the new Purple People Eaters.

Special Teams Coach: Dave Toub, Chicago- He not only has Hester, but he has the accurate Robbie Gould and Brad Maynard.

 

Introducing The 2009 All-NFC East Team

Much like the NFC South, this division is also very loaded with talent and potential future stars.

However, after learning my lesson in doing my All-NFC South team, I have decided that I will not settle for a tie at any position and trim down the honorable mention lineup.

Yes, I’ll probably receive some backlash. But here now is the All-NFC East lineup:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia- He plays better when he has adversity, but he may be more dangerous with the weapons he now has.

Running Back: Brandon Jacobs, New York- A running back who’s built like a defensive end (6’4″, 264 pounds), Jacobs scored 15 touchdowns in 13 games last season.

Fullback: Mike Sellers, Washington- Like Jacobs, he has the physique of a defensive lineman (6’3″, 280 pounds). Made his first pro bowl last season. He’s also a good special teamer.

Wide Receiver: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia- After impressive rookie year, he could be even more dangerous with Jeremy Maclin in the lineup.

Wide Receiver: Steve Smith, New York- Unless they make a last minute deal, expect Smith to be the Giants new go-to-guy at receiver.

Tight End: Jason Witten, Dallas- The best tight end in the NFL not named Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates.

Left Tackle: Chris Samuels, Washington- He’s had injuries and he’s getting older, but he’s still valuable to the Redskins

Left Guard: Todd Herremans, Philadelphia- Had his best season last year. Former fourth round selection is emerging into a pro bowl caliber guard.

Center: Andre Gurode, Dallas- Not only one of the strengths of the Cowboys offensive line, he’s a pro bowl regular.

Right Guard: Leonard Davis, Dallas- You want to call this massive 6’6″, 353 pound man a disappointment now? He’s made back-to-back pro bowls since returning to his homestate.

Right Tackle: Kareem McKenzie, New York- Better in 2008 than in 2007, despite back issues.

DEFENSE

Defensive End: Trent Cole, Philadelphia- He has nearly 30 sacks in the last three seasons. One of the reasons why Philadelphia got 34.5 sacks from their line in 2008.

Defensive End: Justin Tuck, New York- An emerging star after a 12 sack season. He also had three forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown.

Defensive Tackle: Mike Patterson, Philadelphia- He uses his small 5’11”, 290 pound frame to his advantage. Gets low leverage on opposing linemen and helps snuff out running backs.

Defensive Tackle: Albert Haynesworth, Washington- Now only is he expected to change the Redskin line, he’s expected to change the defense completely.

Outside Linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Dallas- Sack totals improve each year for him (eight, 11, 14, and 20 last year). Another sack improvement could mean he’ll break Michael Strahan’s record of 22.5 sacks.

Outside Linebacker: Chris Gocong, Philadelphia- Former college defensive end was one of the reasons why the Eagles ranked fourth against the run.

Inside Linebacker: London Fletcher, Washington- He puts up pro bowl numbers and he never misses a game.

Cornerback: Asante Samuel, Philadelphia- Ball-hawking corner had six picks last year. He then added two in the postseason.

Cornerback: Sheldon Brown, Philadelphia- He had just one interception, but he’s one of the best at stopping the run from his corner position.

Free Safety: LaRon Landry, Washington- Its his third season now, time for him to become the ‘Skins top secondary playmaker.

Strong Safety: Quintin Mikell, Philadelphia- He excels against the run and pass. He’ll likely become the new leader of the Eagles secondary with Brian Dawkins being gone.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter: Jeff Feagles, New York- Even at age 42, Feagles is quite possibly the best punter in the NFC.

Kicker: Nick Folk, Dallas- In just three years, he’s become one of the league’s most reliable kickers.

Return Man: Felix Jones, Dallas- If he’s healthy, second-year man will be a game-breaker on returns.

Specialist: Rock Cartwright, Washington- Small running back has carved out a good niche as a special teamer.

HONORABLE MENTION

Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York- We’ll see if he makes good use of his receiving core without Plaxico Burress.

Tony Romo, Quarterback, Dallas- Puts up great numbers, but its December and January where it matters the most. Has a 5’10” career mark in those months.

Clinton Portis, Running Back, Washington- Could have been a 2,000 yard back if it weren’t for a hamstring injury.

Chris Cooley, Tight End, Washington- Even with just one touchdown last season, he’s still the best Redskin tight end in decades.

Chris Snee, Right Guard, New York- Finally got some much needed pro bowl recognition after five great years for the G-Men.

Derrick Dockery, Left Guard, Washington- Flopped in Buffalo, he’s happy to be back in Washington.

Jason Peters, Left Tackle, Philadelphia- Like Dockery, he also is a former Bill. If he cuts down on the 11.5 sacks he allowed last season, He’ll recapture pro bowl form.

Jay Ratliff, Nose Tackle, Dallas- The lone headliner of the Cowboys defensive line. Has gone from seventh round selection to the pro bowl.

Osi Umenyiora, Defensive End, New York- If he’s fully recovered from his knee injury, He and Tuck will become every offensive tackle and quarterback’s worst nightmare.

TOP ROOKIES:

Offense

Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia- Explosive playmaker at Missouri should be used in a variety of ways for Philly.

Defense

Brian Orakpo, Defensive End, Washington- He has versatility, intelligence, and he brings a much needed pass rush to the nation’s capital.

COACHES

Head Coach: Tom Coughlin, New York- Super Bowl title and NFC East crown in the past two seasons make him the cream of the NFC East crop.

Offensive Assistant: Jason Garrett, Dallas- He’s probably the coach-in-waiting for the Cowboys

Defensive Assistant: Jim Johnson, Philadelphia- He’s coached a lot of great Eagle defenses, but last year’s unit had to rank as one of his best all-time.

Special Teams Coach: Ted Daisher, Philadelphia- Its his first year with the Eagles, but look who he has returning the football: DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Ellis Hobbs.

 

 

Introducing The 2009 All-NFC South Team

After looking at this division from top to bottom, I have new reason to believe the phrase “things are hotter in the south.”

The talent level in the NFC South is what heats up the NFL’s “NASCAR” division. There are so many players with All-Pro talent, even young players who could become the face of their teams and the league.

This list made me dig so deep that there had to be a tie for the top NFC South running back, plus there’s a bevy of honorable mentions.

Here now are my picks for the All-NFC South team:

 

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Drew Brees, New Orleans-Three monster seasons for the Saints, plus he threw for over 5,000 yards without a 1,000 rusher or 1,000 yard receiver last year.

RUNNING BACK (TIE): Michael Turner, Atlanta-Not only did he outgain the man he used to backup (LaDanian Tomlinson), he outgained all AFC leading rushers in 2008.

RUNNING BACK: DeAngelo Williams, Carolina-With the 20 touchdowns he scored last year, he couldn’t be left out.

FULLBACK: Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta-He may not knock linebackers over, but his blocking can ensure no one lays a finger on Michael Turner.

WIDE RECEIVER: Steve Smith, Carolina-His 1,421 receiving yards allowed him to average a career-high 18.2 yards per catch for the NFC South champs.

WIDE RECEIVER: Roddy White, Atlanta-Emerging star with two consecutive seasons of over 1,200 receiving yards.

TIGHT END: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta-Even in his 13th year and at 32 years of age, expect him to create more matchup problems for defenses.

LEFT TACKLE: Jammal Brown, New Orleans-Made the pro bowl as an alternate. A key reason why the Saints allowed just 13 sacks last season.

LEFT GUARD: Justin Blalock, Atlanta-Made major progress in his second season. A potential pro bowler.

CENTER: Todd McClure, Atlanta-A scrappy veteran center who deserves to play in the pro bowl.

RIGHT GUARD: Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay-Showed lots of potential in the 12 games he played for the Bucs’.

RIGHT TACKLE: Jordan Gross, Carolina-Yes, he’s a left tackle, and a very good one in that area. But he has versatility and can play both spots.

 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE END: John Abraham, Atlanta-It doesn’t matter if he lines up on the left or right end, he makes offensive coordinators wince with his pass rushing.

DEFENSIVE END: Julius Peppers, Carolina-Freakish athlete rebounded from a disaster 2007 with 14.5 sacks last year.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Johnathan Babineaux, Atlanta-He received a new contract extension because he’s cat quick off the ball.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Chris Hovan, Tampa Bay-A feisty veteran who gives you everything he has.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Thomas Davis, Carolina-Had his best season last year. He’s the Panthers’ go-to-guy when they need a blitz.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Mike Peterson, Atlanta-He got on Jack Del Rio’s bad side in Jacksonville, but he’s a favorite of Mike Smith. Moves back outside.

INSIDE LINEBACKER: Jon Beason, Carolina-Not only did he play in his first pro bowl in his second year in 2008, he’s emerged as the leader of the Panthers’ D.

FREE SAFETY: Darren Sharper, New Orleans-Veteran is expected to shape up a shaky Saints secondary from a year ago.

STRONG SAFETY: Chris Harris, Carolina-A big hitter who’s specialty is forcing fumbles.

CORNERBACK: Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay-He’s lost a step, but he’s still better than most NFL corners. Will be needed for veteran leadership on a young Bucs team.

CORNERBACK: Chris Gamble, Carolina-The Panthers best cover man is also one of the better athletes on the team.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

PUNTER: Josh Bidwell, Tampa Bay-Placed 27 punts inside the 20-yard line last year. Still reliable after 10 seasons.

KICKER: John Kasay, Carolina-After all these years, he still gets it done from 50 yards.

RETURN MAN: Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay-From going undrafted to going to Honolulu. He brings excitement to the Gulf Coast.

SPECIALIST: Kevin Houser, New Orleans-Nearly perfect at long snapping. He’s also the longest tenured Saint with nine seasons in New Orleans.

 

HONORABLE MENTION

Matt Ryan, Quarterback, Atlanta-Showed he’s mature beyond his years after amazing rookie season. Has room to grow.

Jake Delhomme, Quarterback, Carolina-Despite his most recent playoff debacle, he’s been the best quarterback option for the Panthers since their Super Bowl run.

Jonathan Stewart, Running Back, Carolina-The panthers drafted him to become the next Stephen Davis. He’s off to a great start after scoring 10 touchdowns.

Earnest Graham, Running Back, Tampa Bay-Touchdown machine has rushed for 14 touchdowns in past two seasons.

Antonio Bryant, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay-Hes’ been a malcontent, but he finally showed his potential in 2008 with 83 catches, 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns.

Marques Colston, Wide Receiver, New Orleans-When healthy, he’s one of the five best receivers in the NFL.

Jon Stinchcomb, Right Tackle, New Orleans-He’s played well for the last three seasons, which explains why he received a nice new deal.

Jeff Otah, Right Tackle, Carolina-Forms a powerful tackle tandem with Jordan Gross. If he avoids “sophomore jinx”, he could join Gross in the pro bowl.

Kellen Winslow, Tight End, Tampa Bay-Despite injuries, he should be a favorite target for whomever emerges as quarterback for the Bucs. A pro bowl talent when healthy.

Maake Kemoeatu, Defensive Tackle, Carolina-All he does is stop the run and free up space for everyone else, and he does it well for Carolina.

Jonathan Vilma, Inside Linebacker, New Orleans-Led the way with 151 tackles, but he could have a monster season under new coordinator Gregg Williams.

Will Smith, Defensive End, New Orleans-Struggled with a sports hernia last year, but a valuable rusher when healthy.

Sedrick Ellis, Defensive Tackle, New Orleans-After solid rookie campaign, he’ll be needed to make the Saints’ D scary up front.

 

TOP ROOKIES

OFFENSE

Josh Freeman, Quarterback, Tampa Bay-Future franchise QB could become the starter right away. Must be consistent with his throws.

 

DEFENSE

Peria Jerry, Defensive Tackle, Atlanta-Falcons surrendered 127.5 rushing yards last season, but that will likely change with this Mississippi mauler in the lineup.

 

TOP COACHES

Head Coach: John Fox, Carolina-Gets the edge because of his longevity in this division and success. Has led the Panthers to the playoffs three times in his eight-year career.

Offensive Assistant: Mike Mularkey, Atlanta-One of the reasons why Matt Ryan became a rookie sensation and Michael Turner became a top rusher. He could get another shot at being a head coach again.

Defensive Assistant: Gregg Williams, New Orleans-He could actually be the best defensive acquisition in New Orleans. He should get the Saints defense in an attack mode.

Special Teams Coach: Richard Bisaccia, Tampa Bay-He gets recognition because he’s coaching Josh Bidwell and he has an electrifying return man in Clifton Smith.

Introducing the 2009 All-NFC West Team

In college football, they have a projected All-Conference team for each year whether if it’s the PAC-10, SEC, Big XII, or even the Sun Belt.

Lately, I’ve been wondering; what if the media created a projected All-Division team for the NFL?

Who would be considered the best quarterbacks, running backs, linebackers, or even specialists for the NFC West, AFC East, NFC South, etc.?

By creating a list like this, maybe, just maybe, one or two of these guys won’t be snubbed by the Pro Bowl voting system. Not only that, fans will take notice of the impact they can bring.

Here’s who I think can be the biggest impact players on each division, beginning first with the NFC West.

 

Offense

Quarterback: Kurt Warner, Arizona—If he continues the magic of his 2008 season, he’ll get serious consideration for MVP.

Running Back: Frank Gore, San Francisco—Mike Singletary wants to run the ball. Expect Gore to get more carries and perhaps more yards than 2007 and 2008.

Fullback: Moran Norris, San Francisco—Gore refers to him as “my fullback.” Norris shouldn’t be ignored in the new run-oriented offense. 

Wide Receiver: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona—The Pro Bowler and NFC Champion hero makes the jump ball look so cool.

Wide Receiver T.J Houshmandzadeh, Seattle—He’ll breathe new life in the Seahawks passing game if he and Matt Hasselbeck connect.

Tight End: Vernon Davis, San Francisco—Surprisingly, he’s becoming a Singletary favorite with his blocking.

Left Tackle: Mike Gandy, Arizona—He protects Warner’s blindside, and he is a very underrated performer.

Left Guard: Reggie Wells, Arizona—Like Gandy, the seven-year veteran is counted on to protect Warner’s blindside.

Center: Eric Heitmann, San Francisco—He has the three S’s that define premier centers: size, strength, and smarts.

Right Guard: Deuce Lutui, Arizona—The former second-round pick has improved each season for the Cardinals.

Right Tackle: Sean Locklear, Seattle—If healthy, he’ll be a difference maker for Hasselbeck and company.

 

Defense

Defensive End: Patrick Kerney, Seattle—When healthy, he’s a demon pass-rusher. Kearney was limited to seven games last season.

Defensive End: Justin Smith, San Francisco—All he did last year was everything the 49ers asked him to do.

Defensive Tackle: Bryan Robinson, Arizona—He’s up in his years, but he can still stuff the run.

Defensive Tackle: Darnell Dockett, Arizona—Dockett was a force in all 16 games and then the playoffs. He will be a defensive end in the 3-4 alignment

Outside Linebacker: Will Witherspoon, St. Louis—The switch to the weakside will allow him to make more plays, especially against the pass.

Outside Linebacker: Karlos Dansby, Arizona—The leader of the Cards’ linebacking corps led the way with 128 tackles last season.

Inside Linebacker: Patrick Willis, San Francisco—In just three seasons, he’s become one of the best all-around linebackers in the NFL.

Cornerback: Marcus Trufant, Seattle—The Pro Bowl caliber cover man is the Seahawks best shutdown corner. He may benefit even more with the return of Ken Lucas.

Cornerback: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona—He had an impressive regular season; then he had a stellar postseason. The best is yet to come.

Free Safety: Oshiomogho Atogwe, St. Louis—Do you need a ballhawk in your secondary? How about this guy who had five picks, eight forced fumbles, and three recoveries.

Strong Safety: Adrian Wilson, Arizona—If he didn’t enjoy his Pro Bowl season, he probably loved his first playoff taste and Super Bowl appearance.

 

Special Teams

Punter: Andy Lee, San Francisco—Lee has 47.8 yard gross average, and the Bay Area winds never affect his punting either.

Kicker: Josh Brown, St. Louis—Brown was one of the few highlights of the 2-14 Rams last year. He went 31-for-36 in field goal attempts.

Return Man: Allen Rossum, San Francisco—Still a dynamic returner after 12 years, Rossum averaged 26.8 return yards on kickoff returns with one touchdown last season.

Specialist: Brian Jennings, San Francisco—Signed a new five-year contract because he’s one of the best at long snapping.

 

Honorable Mention

Lofa Tatupu, Linebacker, Seattle—We’ll see if the defensive changes can benefit the heart and soul of the Seahawk defense.

Steven Jackson, Running Back, St. Louis—He’s an elite playmaker for the Rams, but he’s missed a combined 10 games in the past two seasons.

Steve Breaston, Wide Receiver, Arizona—If Anquan Boldin does get dealt away, this burner will become the No. 2 guy next to Fitzgerald.

John Carlson, Tight End, Seattle-First Seahawk rookie since Steve Largent to lead the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Seahawk coaches will expect more from him in sophomore year.

Top Rookies

Offense

Jason Smith, Right Tackle, St. Louis—He will likely start on the right side, but he’s a suitable replacement for Orlando Pace due to his athleticism.

Defense

Aaron Curry, Linebacker, Seattle—He’s capable of being a do-everything linebacker with his speed, versatility, toughness, smarts, and physical play.

 

Coaches

Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona—He could become the greatest head coach in the history of the once moribund Cardinals.

Offensive Assistant: Jimmy Raye, San Francisco—He likes running the ball, which means he’s already on the same page with Singletary.

Defensive Assistant: Bill Davis, Arizona—He just might become an upgrade over Clancy Pendergast with this veteran group of defenders he’ll coach. He has spent three seasons with the team.

Special Teams Coach: Al Everest, San Francisco—He has Joe Nedney, Andy Lee, Brian Jennings and Allen Rossum to coach.

 

 

 

Chad Ochocinco and “Lights Out” Give Us a New Breakthrough

We have witnessed history in the making, a dawn of a new era, a technological breakthrough involving two of the NFL’s biggest stars.

A feud through the internet!

Chad Ochocinco has taken his trash talking to a whole new level, a social networking level that is.

The NFL’s biggest attention craver not named Terrell Owens is moving up in the weight class.

Instead of challenging and posted names/pictures of the opposing cornerbacks he’ll face, Ochocinco now wants to move to the heavyweight level.

By doing so, he has “tweeted” his trash talk to Shawne Merriman. The two have now unleashed an all out verbal assault, which could be as entertaining as a freestyle hip-hop battle.

Here’s some of the Twitter beef between Ochocinco and “Light’s Out.”

“Somebody please tell Shawne Merriman thats his ass on Dec. 20th, relay the message to the rest of the D, especially Cromartie!!!!child please”

“@shawnemerriman damit i didnt stutter, i never held my tongue before, you heard me loud and clear, and we can get in the boxing ring too”

“CHILD PLEASE, is the word for the day, Shawne Merriman tryin to stop Ocho Cinco, CHILD PLEASE, better chance at finding Osama!!!”

“Headed to the boxing gym, deal with Mr. Merriman when i return, talking about ringing my neck out, yo lights gone be off permanently!!!!”

“Damit people how do i get the camera on my mac book pro to work, its my turn to talk trash”

Of course, Merriman chose to show his face through an Internet video clip talking about “ringing” Ochocinco’s neck.

But how about that?

Twitter and the internet as a whole is now a place for NFL feuds! I don’t need to pick up the San Diego Union-Tribune or go to Ochocinco’s fan site anymore!

Plus, we don’t need to watch the 6:00 PM news or even wait on Sportscenter, we can see videos of someone responding to a challenge thanks to You Tube or any site that plays video’s!

I knew we would be heading towards technological changes, but this takes NFL trash talk to a whole new level.

Forget following friends on Twitter, I would rather follow an NFL beef through a “tweet.”

I might need to become a “twitter follower” after all to see more of this. Hey, we might as well.

After all, we’ve witnessed the latest breakthrough in technology thanks to two NFL stars. We should get used to this technological advancement.

 

Brian Jennings: Snapping to Perfection

When he has the ball in his hands, 49ers tight end Brian Jennings is one of the best at what he does.

But this is not your typical tight end. You seldom see the 6-foot-5, 242-pound player running routes, going deep, or being a threat near the goal line.

Yet Jennings knows his team can count on him to avoid making mistakes when he has the football.

Simply because, Jennings has solidified the special teams unit as the 49ers’ long snapper.

Since being drafted in the seventh round back in 2000 out of Arizona State, he has not made any glaring mistakes when San Francisco calls upon him. He has been recognized as one of the NFL’s most consistent long snappers in his nine-year career.

Jennings never tenses up when handling snap duties. He’s even valuable on kick coverages, with his 53 career tackles being one of the highest among NFL long snappers.

He even made the Pro Bowl as a specialist in 2004, after receiving a special selection from former Falcon coach Jim Mora Jr.

He now has a five-year contract through 2014 to back up the claim of him being among the best at what he does.

“In a position like mine, longevity is one of your only accomplishments,” Jennings said in a news release recently. “I play a don’t-screw-it-up position. It feels good to be loved, to be wanted, to be appreciated for something I put so much time into.”

Jennings is not the 49ers starting tight end. In fact, he’s rarely listed on the 49ers tight end depth chart. So he had to find a way to contribute to his team.

He’s even admitted that his role as long snapper was shaky at first when he was a rookie. He didn’t fully settle into his role until his second season with the 49ers.

“I was driving back to Arizona, and I was thinking, ‘I can do this,”’ Jennings said in a news release.

Jennings has now handled snapping duties for his entire career. He makes sure that the ball goes to the hands of former Pro Bowl punter Andy Lee on fourth and long situations.

He also snaps it too Lee on field goals, so that Joe Nedney can put three points on the board.

Even with a position that has less scrutiny from the media and team, Jennings is actually one of the most talkative and exuberant 49ers.

Most long snappers usually thrive on being anonymous, but not Jennings. He seems like a player with great pride at what he does.

He recalls one of his finest moments coming in a 2005 regular season game at Chicago. Through blistering winds and bitter cold, Jennings snapped to perfection and helped the 49ers score their only points, even on a day when the club completed only one pass.

“It feels good that in big situations, the harder it gets, the better I do,” Jennings said.

With a Pro Bowl selection and new five-year contract, its clear that the 49er tight end is very good when he has the ball in his hands.

Even if its long-snapping.

Where Are They Now? The 1999 NFL Draft Class

Five quarterbacks were taken, two high-profile running backs were also available, there was also a verbal assault for ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. when he became critical of the Colts for not taking Ricky Williams, courtesy of Colts’ GM Bill Polian.

Ten years later, the 1999 NFL Draft is full of pro bowlers, potential hall-of-famers, star-crossed talents and some notable draft busts.

Here’s a look back at the ’99 first round draft class:

Rodney Harrison: Dirty but Passionate

Rodney Harrison sounds like he doesn’t want to hear the “dirty” player label that has defined his 15-year career.

Granted, Harrison is renown for his helmet-to-helmet hits, the thousands of dollars he coughed up as a punishment for a big hit, or the late hit and unnecessary roughness penalties.

His excuse for the way he played was because of the sport he was very passionate about.

Here’s what Harrison had to say at his retirement press conference in regards to his approach towards football:

“People have called me a dirty player. I’m a very passionate player,” Harrison said. “I also understand that this is not volleyball. This is a very violent, physical game, and if you hit someone in the mouth, they’re not going to be your friend. That’s what the game of football is.”

Of course, no one is going to be your friend if you hit them in the mouth, Rodney, you hit some of them after the whistle was blown, or when they weren’t looking!

But in all honesty, I actually admired the career of Rodney Harrison.

Yes, he may be a “dirty” player, but he was one of the few guys you can count on when you needed players going full speed on the field.

Not once did I see Harrison take a play off, not once did teammates accuse him for playing scared, and not once did teammates or coaches complain about him.

Harrison was the guy you can rely on when you needed aggression. Even on a San Diego Chargers team that went 1-15 in 2000, Harrison was one of the few players playing his heart out when times were tough.

The Patriots took a risk by signing the hard-hitting but thousand-dollar-fine-prone Harrison to help upgrade the secondary in 2003.

Harrison not only brought big hits to the secondary; he also helped bring back-to-back Lombardi Trophies for the Pats.

There were even some unexpected hits delivered on Harrison during his Patriots career: An ACL injury in 2005 and testing positive for HGH.

Yet through his “dirty” play, injuries and illegal supplement use, coach Bill Belichick called Harrison one of the best players he ever coached through this statement:

“In the biggest games, in any situation and on a weekly basis, his production was phenomenal,” Belichick said. “Rodney embodies all the attributes coaches seek and appreciate: toughness, competitiveness, leadership, selflessness, hard work, intensity, professionalism—and coming from Rodney, they are contagious.”

Harrison finishes his 15-year career with 1,198 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 34 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, two touchdowns, and two Super Bowl rings.

He may be considered “dirty,” but he was very passionate and showed toughness throughout his career. He was clearly a football player, not a volleyball player, because of the way he played.

Chargers, Patriots, or Rodney Harrison fans in general will remember him for being dirty, but passionate.

 

 

Mike Singletary Trying to Succeed Where Other Former Players Have Not

Mike Singletary has a tough act to follow, and it actually doesn’t have anything to do with restoring the 49ers to glory.

Singletary is the latest hall-of-fame player to become a head coach in the NFL, and he has some history on his side.

Former NFL hall-of-famers-turned-coaches have had their string run out when they put on a headset and carry a whistle.

Mike Singletary will have to avoid being on this list if he’s looking to have longevity and coaching success with the 49ers.

Here’s some of the people Singletary must prevent following:

 

BART STARR

After a brilliant career that included two Super Bowl victories and All-Pro selections, Starr joined the Packers coaching staff in 1972 and then became head coach in 1975.

Starr compiled a disappointing record of 52-76-2 and was dismissed in favor of his former teammate, Forrest Gregg, in 1984.

Starr’s Packer teams won no more than eight games during his nine-year head-coaching career.

 

FORREST GREGG

Gregg was a hall-of-fame offensive lineman for the Packers’ Super Bowl teams during the ’60s.

Gregg originally began his head coaching career with the Cleveland Browns in 1974. He held that position until 1977.

He spent one year of coaching in the Canadian Football League but came back to the NFL in 1980 with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Gregg had his most success, which included an AFC title in 1981, with the Bengals. He finished his NFL coaching career with the team he played for.

After replacing Starr, Gregg went a dismal 75-85-1 with the Packers from 1984 to 1987.

 

MIKE DITKA

A hall-of-fame tight end and former Rookie of the Year, Ditka won a Super Bowl ring as a Dallas Cowboy in 1971. He coached the Bears and Saints for a total of 14 seasons.

Even though Ditka has a Super Bowl ring as a head coach with the ’85 Bears, he has been fired twice.

Following a 5-11 season in 1992, the Bears fired Ditka. Then Ditka experienced the “three worst years” of his life with the New Orleans Saints from 1997-1999.

Ditka is infamously known for trading all of his draft picks to the Redskins in 1999 to get Ricky Williams. The gamble cost Ditka his job.

He finished the ’99 season with a 3-13 record. In his head-coaching career with the Saints, he went 15-33.

 

ART SHELL

Shell was an eight-time Pro-Bowl selection as an offensive lineman for the Raiders. He had two coaching stints with the silver and black.

While the Raiders were in L.A., Shell led the silver and black to a 12-4 season and the AFC West crown in 1990. He took the Raiders to the playoffs twice after that in 1991 and 1993.

However, following a 9-7 season that had Super Bowl hype, as well as a highly publicized rift between him and then-Raider quarterback Jeff Hostetler, Shell would be fired by Al Davis in 1994. Davis later admitted that he regretted that move.

Shell would get a second chance in 2006 with the Oakland Raiders, but the team finished 2-14 and Shell was fired after one season.

Which NFC South Team Will Rise to the Top?

Maybe its a good thing to finish last or near the bottom in the NFC South, because the very next year, you’ll probably go to the playoffs.

It happened to the Saints in 2006, who won the division after being 3-13 the previous year.

The Buccaneers also did it in 2005 after being 5-11 the previous season.

The Panthers went through a 7-9 campaign in 2007 and finished next to last. Then they took control of the NFC South with a 12-4 record in 2008.

The Falcons finished 4-12 in 2007 in the short termed Michael Vick/Bobby Petrino regime.

Atlanta then became a feel good story by going 11-5, having the NFL Rookie of the Year in quarterback Matt Ryan (photo), and reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 2004-2005 season.

Last season, it was the Buccaneers and Saints who finished at the bottom of the South.

Will one of those two rise out of the cellar and blow past Atlanta and Carolina? Or will it be the Falcons and Panthers again controlling the division?

Here’s a look at the NFC South:

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