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Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
What sucks is Dallas and Wash really did some work & acquired possible playmakers. Dallas reloaded getting another RB & TE, and WASH getting Limas Sweed (6'5 WR) and the TE from USC. That should certainly help Jason Campbell out alot. Tough division this year.
- NY Giants82
- Rep: 26
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
What sucks is Dallas and Wash really did some work & acquired possible playmakers. Dallas reloaded getting another RB & TE, and WASH getting Limas Sweed (6'5 WR) and the TE from USC. That should certainly help Jason Campbell out alot. Tough division this year.
Sweed went to the Steelers. The Redskins drafted Malcom Kelley and Devin Thomas. They are both good WRs, but I still think Washington is a mess. Dallas will be tough until they implode. With Jerry Jones running the show, and no Jimmy Johnson or Bill Parcells to fix everything, its just a matter of time.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
They are both good WRs, but I still think Washington is a mess.
Easy for you to say when you just won the Super Bowl. Try going 8-8 & missing the playoffs. 
On paper right now Eagles might be 4th in the Division. Hopefully DeSean Jackson is an absolute stud on returns. We need big things from him on Day 1.
Funny how far Colt Brennan fell (I think he was like a 6th rounder). I'tll be interesting to see if his name is ever mentioned or if he ever plays in the NFL. That loss against Georgia finished him. Regardless of his combine, had he won that game, and played fairly well, he would have been at least a second rounder. Crazy how 1 game can shape someones future.
- NY Giants82
- Rep: 26
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
NY Giants82 wrote:They are both good WRs, but I still think Washington is a mess.
Easy for you to say when you just won the Super Bowl. Try going 8-8 & missing the playoffs.
Funny how far Colt Brennan fell (I think he was like a 6th rounder). I'tll be interesting to see if his name is ever mentioned or if he ever plays in the NFL. That loss against Georgia finished him. Regardless of his combine, had he won that game, and played fairly well, he would have been at least a second rounder. Crazy how 1 game can shape someones future.
Its really tought to project where teams in the NFC East will finish right now, even after the draft, but I would say that the Eagles will finish above the Redskins. You can always count on the Eagles to be there, at least challenging in the division. And as long as you have Jim Johnson running that defense, they will have a chance.
I think what is going to hurt the Skins more than anything is the total overhaul of the coaching staff. The players wanted Gregg Williams, and they go and hire a guy who has never even been a coordinator. He was a friggin quarterbacks coach. The guy, in his introductory press conference, didnt even know the teams colors!
Brennan was just so small and he dominated against lesser opponents. When he had to face the big boys (SEC) he folded and got his ass handed to him. He's got this weird quirky throwing motion that is even weirder than Tony Romo and Phillip Rivers. Georgia took him apart. Imagine what an NFL team would do to him. He may not even make it out of training camp!
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
I think what is going to hurt the Skins more than anything is the total overhaul of the coaching staff. The players wanted Gregg Williams, and they go and hire a guy who has never even been a coordinator. He was a friggin quarterbacks coach. The guy, in his introductory press conference, didnt even know the teams colors!
Good point, I forgot about that. Wash made a huge mistake (again, due to the owner) by not replacing Gibbs with Gregg Williams. I don't know how great he would be, but he sure deserved it & the players wanted him. It was the logical choice. Plus, not that moneys the issue, but there was a clause in his contract that Williams would get $1 million if he did not rec'v the job when Gibbs retired. They paid him NOT to be the coach.
Yeah, GA tore Brennan up. It was an embarrasment. Ashame GA didn't play for the championship, probably was the best team. We'll see about Brennan, for a 6th rounder, he was worth taking. Alot of teams without QB's & backups probably should have went for it in the 5th. What are you really losing??
- NY Giants82
- Rep: 26
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
NY Giants82 wrote:I think what is going to hurt the Skins more than anything is the total overhaul of the coaching staff. The players wanted Gregg Williams, and they go and hire a guy who has never even been a coordinator. He was a friggin quarterbacks coach. The guy, in his introductory press conference, didnt even know the teams colors!
Good point, I forgot about that. Wash made a huge mistake (again, due to the owner) by not replacing Gibbs with Gregg Williams. I don't know how great he would be, but he sure deserved it & the players wanted him. It was the logical choice. Plus, not that moneys the issue, but there was a clause in his contract that Williams would get $1 million if he did not rec'v the job when Gibbs retired. They paid him NOT to be the coach.
Yeah, GA tore Brennan up. It was an embarrasment. Ashame GA didn't play for the championship, probably was the best team. We'll see about Brennan, for a 6th rounder, he was worth taking. Alot of teams without QB's & backups probably should have went for it in the 5th. What are you really losing??
Gregg Williams probably should have been the choice, but as NFC East rivals, I think things worked out best for us! The players loved Williams. And ya know, they have a young QB (Jason Campbell) who they see as their franchise QB. They get a new head coach, installing another system in. Poor Campbell is going to have to learn ANOTHER system. Crazy...
Georgia and LSU would have been killer! I would have also liked to have seen USC and Georgia. Fuck the BCS...
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
13 things I can't wait to see in NFL '˜08
By Vinnie Iyer - SportingNews
Welcome to sports' annual summer lull, or the homestretch to end the long NFL offseason. With some teams installing revamped schemes and other teams welcoming key new players, this is where every coach, player and fan can bank on high hopes for the upcoming season.
That includes us fans turned writers. I'm naturally enthusiastic about all things NFL, but for the sake of time and the convenience here is a quick look at 13 exciting new developments I'm looking forward to seeing in 2008:
1. Jared Allen flying off the Minnesota Vikings' defensive line. Minnesota is just about on every radar as the breakout team in the NFC, and it starts with the strength on both lines. The team already was dominant in run blocking and run stopping, but it needed a devastating pass rusher.
With the Williamses, Kevin and Pat, providing the push inside and often eating up three or four blockers, Allen can shoot upfield and wreak havoc on quarterbacks. Although the Vikings' secondary isn't a shutdown unit, it is aggressive in coming up with takeaways and Allen's pressure should lead to even more quarterback mistakes.
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2. Frank Gore starring as Mike Martz's main cog. You might remember that Martz once operated an offense with another versatile, explosive running back as its centerpiece'”Marshall Faulk and the 'Greatest Show on Turf' St. Louis Rams.
Everyone is wondering what Martz, now the offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, will get out of quarterbacks Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, but there's no question the thing Martz does best is get the most out of his most athletically gifted players. Martz can get Gore back to being the all-purpose machine he was just two years ago.
3. Steven Jackson starring as Al Saunders' main cog. Similar good news for Jackson: Saunders is to Priest Holmes as Martz is to Faulk. Saunders, now the offensive coordinator for the Rams, plans to produce a prolific offense in the mold of the one he directed in KC. Jackson's skilled teammates are more used to putting up big numbers off complicated playbooks, most notably Marc Bulger and Torry Holt, who worked under Martz.
Forget the variety of plays Saunders has'”it still comes down to a great back and great rhythm in moving the ball downfield. A healthy Jackson will be fun to watch.
4. LaMarr Woodley becoming the next great edge pass rusher. If Penn State is Linebacker U., then the Pittsburgh Steelers provide Outside Linebacker Graduate School. The staple of the Steelers' four-linebacker blitz-leaning look is having two men who consistently can turn the corner and get after quarterbacks. Just a year after letting Joey Porter go in free agency, the Steelers are back at it again.
Last season, it was formerly undrafted fourth-year man James Harrison exploding on the scene as edge playmaker. After spending one year as a rookie backup, it's Woodley turn to shine on the opposite side of the 3-4 scheme, giving the Steelers' nice-looking bookends at their most critical defensive position.
5. Asante Samuel sparking the Philadelphia Eagles' entire defense. Philadelphia just saw the Giants win the Super Bowl with a defensive mindset similar to its own, orchestrated by no less than former Eagles defensive assistant Steve Spagnuolo. Now, it's time for Spagnuolo's mentor, Jim Johnson, to deliver an improved, attacking unit.
The Eagles already have a good pass rush with end Trent Cole leading the way; they just needed more playmaking oomph to back it up. As solid as Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard have been, the Eagles needed someone to turn their aggressiveness into game-changing plays. Samuel has the acumen and swagger to reenergize the whole defense.
6. Alan Faneca raising the play of the New York Jets' young offensive linemen. It's a not a coincidence that the perennial Pro Bowler's position is left guard, and that the Jets' talented third-year linemen, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold, now will have Faneca between them. Faneca could provide the glue with his savvy, and he certainly will provide a needed nasty streak.
If the Jets are to challenge the New England Patriots, they must develop an attitude and that comes with pounding defenders and playing grind-it-out football. The Jets will learn that paying Faneca a great deal for his dirty job will pay off.
7. Chris Johnson providing another matchup nightmare out of the Tennessee Titans' backfield. Having the mobility and improvisation of Vince Young in the pocket already keeps opposing defenses on their toes, and there won't be many answers for the pure speed of Johnson, the Titans' rookie running back. The return of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger means putting special talents in the right positions to succeed, and expect him to allow Johnson to dazzle with his open-field potential.
8. JaMarcus Russell being let loose to fire away in the Oakland Raiders' offense. Russell stepped into a pretty good position in what essentially is his rookie year after he saw only limited action last season. Coach Lane Kiffin got Oakland to produce as a strong running team last season, and it will get only stronger with the legs of Darren McFadden.
That should take plenty of pressure off Russell, where he can succeed if he just plays off the run and takes favorable shots downfield to tight end Zach Miller and the team's new go-to wideout, former Bronco Javon Walker. If Russell is kept from being a chucker, expect a surprisingly efficient year in his first one as a full-time starter.
9. Steve Smith getting help in the Carolina Panthers' offense. Jake Delhomme looks on track to return from his elbow injury, and Carolina welcomed back a familiar friend opposite Smith in Muhsin Muhammad.
The Panthers reached the Super Bowl with the chemistry of the Delhomme-Smith-Muhammad trio sparking the passing game, and this time they also have another promising target in ex-Seahawk D.J. Hackett. Additions to the offensive line and backfield will help deflect attention from Smith.
Smith is the mightiest of mites at wide receiver, and it will be nice to see him make more plays while being swarmed less.
10. Paul Posluszny emerging as a star in the Buffalo Bills' promising young defense. As we know from Dick Jauron's best days with the Bears, a strong, rangy middle linebacker (see Brian Urlacher) is vital to making the whole defense click. Posluszny was off to a good start as a rookie, until he broke his forearm in Week 3 and was lost for the final 13 games.
This year, he steps back in with more help, in the form of ex-Giant Kawika Mitchell at weakside linebacker and ex-Jaguar Marcus Stroud at defensive tackle. Let's hope Posluszny stays healthy because he is a tackling machine.
11. Donte' Stallworth streaking downfield in the Cleveland Browns' dynamic passing game. QB Derek Anderson took advantage of Cleveland's Brobdingnagian receiving corps (6-3 Braylon Edwards, 6-4 Kellen Winslow, 6-5 Joe Jurevicius) to enjoy a breakout season.
Missing was a complementary, blinding speedster to take advantage of man-to-man coverage either outside or in the slot, punishing opponents who focus on Edwards and Winslow.
Stallworth will make his share of big plays running after catches, and his ability to stretch the field will open more intermediate routes for Edwards and Winslow. Expect Cleveland's offense to rock at a higher level in 2008.
12. John Harbaugh lighting a fire under the Baltimore Ravens. Ever since Brian Billick guided Baltimore to victory in Super Bowl 35, the team just kind of tried to hold status quo in an attempt to duplicate that championship formula. The offense never improved despite Billick's expertise in that area, and in 2000 the defense had set an impossibly high standard, something switches between 4-3 and 3-4 schemes never could match.
The Ravens needed a jolt, and they were smart to go get it for the sidelines. Here come the true Hard Knocks as Harbaugh's hardnosed, old-school style is perfect for a team in transition.
13. Aaron Rodgers taking over for a legend as the Green Bay Packers' quarterback. Packers fans have known this time eventually would come and could glean some hope from what Rodgers did against Dallas last season. That said, Packers fans still are nervous about Rodgers replacing Brett Favre. That's understandable, considering the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins have spent years searching for someone to carry the torch from their all-time greats, John Elway and Dan Marino, respectively.
The best bet on what we'll see from Rodgers is fewer jaw-dropping plays but fewer head-shaking mistakes. As a young, still developing quarterback, Rodgers is more likely to be reined in'”living off the run and high-percentage routes and not taking as many chances as Favre with gunning the ball deep.
The coaching staff should instill in Rodgers that he has several talented teammates on both sides of the ball and that protecting the ball and executing simple throws will be enough to win plenty of games.
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
Cowboys give TO 3-year extension
Receiver's new contract is worth around $27 million
The Associated Press
updated 11:48 p.m. ET, Mon., June. 2, 2008
IRVING, Texas - Terrell Owens has been on his best behavior for quite awhile. The Dallas Cowboys are doing their best to keep it that way.
Both sides agreed Monday to a three-year contract extension worth around $27 million, according to a person close to the negotiations who asked to remain anonymous because it hasn't been announced.
The key to the deal may not be the length or even the money, which is close to what Randy Moss received.
The best part: Owens will not be playing out the final year of his contract, eliminating a potentially explosive topic from a team that needs its attention on ending an 11-season drought without a playoff win.
Word of Owens' deal came a few hours after the Cowboys got other good news: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is allowing suspended cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones to join the club all the way up to the regular season and will decide by Sept. 1 if Jones can be fully reinstated.
Owens' last few deals have been nothing but headline-makers. There was the seven-year, $48.97 million contract he got from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004, followed by all the complaining he did about it in 2005. The Eagles cut him, letting him sign anywhere else, and he wound up getting a three-year, $25 million deal from the Cowboys.
Jerry Jones sure has gotten his money's worth.
Owens has provided glitz, jersey sales '” and lots of catches. He led the NFL with 13 touchdown catches in 2006, then had an NFC-best 15 more last season. His two-year total is tops in the NFL.
His success also coincided with the emergence of Tony Romo, who went from backup to Pro Bowler by following the simple formula of throwing to No. 81 whenever possible.
Owens has insisted for months that he wasn't worried about his next contract because Jones always takes care of his players. True enough, Jones re-signed offensive lineman Flozell Adams early in the offseason, then recently gave extensions to cornerback Terence Newman and running back Marion Barber. All were quite lucrative, just like this one.
Now that the Cowboys are back to being among the NFC's top teams, Jones wants to keep it that way. As much as he wants to win a playoff game for the first time since the 1996 season, and a Super Bowl for the first time since 1995, he also has seats and luxury suites to sell. The team is footing the bill for most of a $1.1 billion stadium that will seat 80,000 for most games, with a capacity of up to 100,000.
Owens will turn 38 in December of the final year of the extension, 2011.
He's 34 now and in as good shape as anyone a decade younger. A fitness devotee, he's unlikely to let himself go now. His former teammate and mentor Jerry Rice played well into his 40s.
The Cowboys have never brought up Owens' age in anything but a positive light. In fact, since coach Bill Parcells left after the 2006 season, the club and 'the player' '” as Parcells called him '” have gotten along just fine. Even fans have come around to the guy who made himself Public Enemy No. 1 for spiking a ball onto the team's midfield star logo twice in the same game while he played for the San Francisco 49ers.
Paying him on par with Moss is another way to keep T.O. smiling.
Owens has averaged 83 catches and 1,267.5 yards over his two seasons in Dallas.
A five-time All-Pro, Owens is ninth on the career receptions list with 882, 10th in receiving yards with 13,070 and third in touchdown with 129.
He's also the active leader in TD receptions, a point of pride for a guy who was the 89th overall pick in 1996, the draft that featured Keyshawn Johnson taken first overall, with Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Marvin Harrison, Eric Moulds, Amani Toomer, Muhsin Muhammad and Bobby Engram among the receivers taken before Owens.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- NY Giants82
- Rep: 26
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
I saw where PacMan was partly reinstated to the league. Basically he can participate in offseason programs and training camp. If he doesnt get in any trouble, he'll probably be let back in on a full time basis.
What a load of crap. So much for Goodell laying the hammer down. I think this is an absolute joke. A father is paralyzed because of PacMan and his "boys".
Re: The NFL 2008 Offseason Thread
D.A.: Bills' Lynch in vehicle at time of accident
By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
Jun 5, 8:08 pm EDTBuzz Up PrintBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)'”Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark calls Bills running back Marshawn Lynch the 'principal suspect' in an alleged hit-and-run accident, saying the player was inside his vehicle when it struck and injured a pedestrian.
What's unclear, Clark said Thursday, is whether Lynch was driving the 2008 Porsche SUV when it struck a woman crossing an intersection in downtown Buffalo before speeding off early Saturday.
'There were other people in the car, too, (Lynch) wasn't the only person in the car,' Clark told The Associated Press. 'I don't know whether he was driving that car or not. But I'm confident that before the investigation ends, we're going to find out, whether he talks to us or whether he doesn't.'
Raising the possibility that those passengers might include Lynch's teammates, Clark warned it would be important for them to step forward.
'I'm not saying how we know it or who they are, but they know who they are, so we'll just see how this plays out,' Clark said.
Clark said he's frustrated with the player's lack of cooperation, saying he's had no direct contact with Lynch or his attorney, Michael Caffery. Clark said he remains hopeful a meeting will eventually take place.
Caffery said he has been cooperative.
'It's an ongoing open-line between the D.A.'s office, my office and Buffalo police, but we don't have anything set at the present time,' Caffery told The AP.
Lynch, the Bills' 2007 first-round draft pick, has declined comment while taking part in the team's voluntary practices this week.
The victim, identified as a 27-year-old woman from suburban Toronto, had a bruised hip and a cut that required seven stitches. She was treated and released from a hospital on the same day.
Shortly after the accident, police impounded the SUV after discovering it in the driveway of Lynch's home in suburban Buffalo. A piece of a vehicle found at the accident site has also been linked to Lynch's SUV, police said.
Clark, who said he's willing to accept a plea deal, acknowledged he cannot compel Lynch to speak to investigators because the player has a right against self-incrimination.
'The minute I have enough evidence to prove whoever it was behind the wheel, I'll charge them,' Clark said.
