Sunday Morning Tight End

Before we start, Congratulations to Eli Manning
and Abby McGrew on their Wedding.

Week 3, a time when things start to take shape and you realise what you're doing, where your going and what's realistically achievable. It has been a week of realisation in the NFL, we're all excited about drafting and signings - yet there have been two notable stories this week involving veterans.

Steve Leave - Its become official, Ravens QB Steve McNair has retired from the NFL after 13 seasons. He announced his retirement Thursday, during an emotional press conference, he said "My mind was there. Mentally, I could go out and play. But physically, I couldn't do it anymore. Not to the capacity that I need to help my teammates win a football game." And it has been showing. McNair showed signs of his groin injury last season, and many were questioning his use to his team. This came after a 2007 season where he developed back and shoulder injuries which limited him to only 6 games. McNair was an excellent quarterback in his day, Leading the Oilers to AFC championship games, being elected to 4 pro-bowls and going to superbowl XXXIV, and i hope this is what he is remembered for. If you take a look at the disastrous affect a leg injury can have on a running back and compare that to the groin injury McNair sustained, it does highlight his toughness. ***Baltimore past to Present*** - The Ravens now have two quarterbacks: Kyle Boller and Troy Smith. First-year coach John Harbaugh said there would be an open competition for the starting job. Boller has the experience but Smith is very quick and "McNair Like". Make your choice Baltimore!

Udeze never dazed - The backbone of the NFL has always been bravery, willingness to do extraordinary things and I cant think of anything braver than fighting a disease. Kenechi Udeze, Defensive End for Minnesota has been through that horror of fighting off Leukaemia and he's coming out a better man. It was Wednesday that he heard his blood and his bone marrow were cancer-free, which is great news for the guy himself and the Vikings. We should not expect Udeze to return this season, give the guy some time to recover and recuperate and he'll be back next year stronger than ever. ***How did Udeze beat it?*** "I tell 'em I have nothing but a cold, because that's what it feels like" WHAT A GUY!

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS...
Rashied Davis - Signed a one year deal with the Bears this week. The Wide Receiver had 17 receptions in the 2007 season...he was kind of overshadowed by Bernard Berrian [The Viking] and Mushin Muhammed [The Panther] OK so he's not exactly Mushin Muhammed but hey....At least he's still around!!

Jared Allen.....I know...this is a crazy thought...this guy lead the NFL in sacks last year...he's 26..and he could be traded.....????????....Kansas clearly getting excited about the draft..calm down, give him some gatorade and watch his highlight reel......Still wanna trade???

Deuce McAllister - Only just moving this week, he's had knee surgery and expects to be back to full strength by next season - that sounds hopeful but he shouldn't worry - he's always got Reggie Bush ready to take over...that might not be far away....

Ryan Fitzpatrick - Bengal's....Quarterback....won't see him play this season....Carson Palmer throws....he's had 6 games NFL experience.....Carson Palmer throws some more....College: Harvard...Carson Palmer's arm's getting tired..............Hello Ryan!!
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ON THE CLOCK...KICKERS
All right, its not exactly a glory position but you can never underestimate the role of a kicker in the game. They have the ability to win and lose games and are often some of the leading scorers....[Morton Anderson "the great Dane" is the leading NFL scorer....at 47!!!]. Some are accurate...some are powerful...some are just awful, but over the years some kickers are becoming well known for their ability to change game situations...names such as Vinateri, Akers, Elam and Janikowski have become household names, and its not their 80.34234239999% field goal percentage, but their ability to kick stunner's. Don't forget Phil Dawson's hilarious..."one post...another post..hit the camera" kick in Cleveland, or Rian Lindell's great field goal from 51 yards...oops time-out Washington...take it again and nail it!!
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AND TO FINISH...

Bye bye Steve
Its time to leave
or do you have something else up your sleeve?
No, well there's nothing left to achieve

Shall we give you a Reprieve?
or can your guys really not receive?

You could do a Brady and just heave
You could do a Vick and run and weave

No, your retirement we do believe
it's Favre's retirement we disbelieve!

What a pity the old days you can't retrieve
Your retiring...believe me....i'm gonna grieve!

Sunday Morning Tight End

Week 2 of our off-season coverage and things are getting rocky in the NFL as draft day approaches on April 28th. It seems like all the players can do in the off-season is get in trouble - i suppose it gives them something to do before training camps begin [No such time for the giants this week - their preliminary training camps started this week!]

Should we play Pacman Again?? He wasn't as addictive as the arcade game but it is a burning question and many think it would be sending a bad message to players and kids who idolise NFL players. Putting that aside, i think that there's no question that the NFL should be reinstating him - He was an NFL star and one of Tenessee's finest players. Since his departure in 2006 no-one has truly replaced him. They need a balance back at Cornerback - Nick harper is really getting on for a cornerback - he's 33 and Michael Griffin still lacks experience. Pacman was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on April 10th, 2007, for his off-field conduct, which now includes six arrests since being drafted - and that.....thats a lot! Don't forget how Pacman's return could affect team morale and if either of the 2 starters feels unhappy, they may cause issues too - it's a delicate balance yet Pacman sure can play...only question is..will he?

Seems like the ghosts of the past are after Pacman....still...the NFL would make a change from TNA wrestling....Wasnt he part of a TNA World tag team championship team??...oh yeah.."TEAM PACMAN!"
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WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT......
Najeh Davenport - The Steeler was acquitted Wednesday of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. Davenport had been accused of slapping and punching Anita Person, the mother of his 5-year-old son at her Cleveland home in October. He was also acquitted of child endangering and unlawful restraint. ***BEST PRESS CONFERENCE COMEBACK OF THE OFFSEASON - Davenport Said...."She's Making that up!"***

Bryant Mckinnie - A Miami judge has set a June 2nd trial date for the Vikings player Bryant McKinnie on charges arising from a brawl outside a nightclub. We havent heard much from the guy on the field..and thats criminal!

Dwayne Jarrett - Well we've got to wait a bit longer for this trial of the century, June 23rd was set for Jarrett's hearing after this week pleading not guilty to drink driving. Jarrett was arrested on March 11 after police say he crossed the center line and ran a red light in the Charlotte suburb of Mint Hill. C'mon Dwayne...Your a reciever...you should have good hands and body control...oh wait sorry....you were drunk!!

Raegen Mauria - The rookie Miami fullback was charged with punching another man in the face and knocking him unconscious in a restaurant parking lot early on Friday morning. Well look at that situation...your standing in a car park and a 6ft muscled coke machine says "What are you looking at?". Who would think "let's do a Trent Green and be brave"......look what happened [Left]

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ON THE CLOCK....CORNER BACKS:
Critics often underestimate the sheer impact that a fast, aware cornerback can have on a defense. "They've always got the safeties to bail them out" - thats not true at all, that only applies in zone coverage, in man on man - you're on your own, and thats what seperates the great cornerbacks from the elite - their ability to play on an island. It's every defensive coaches dream - for example during the superbowl, we payed very little attention to Randy Moss - the media proclaimed "prodigle in New England" - that was because of the job Corey Webster and Sam Madison did bumping him at the line and not letting him get a step on them. You can never truly play Randy Moss on an island and be sucessful, and the Giants cornerbacks were safe in the knowledge that Gibril Wilson [Safety] was there - as he was during the patriots final three huge passing attempts to end the game.
So here are my picks in 2008 -Who will shine??

1. Antonio Cromartie - In my opinion, Cromartie undoubtedly tops the elite of the league - Not just because of his 10 interceptions in the regular season, 2 in the post season, his unbeatable 109 yard missed field goal return for a TD, but also [you may think i'm nuts for needing anymore!] because of the speed at which he was able to assert himself at this level. He has become, at the age of 23 and in only his 2nd year in the league, the most valuable cornerback in the NFL. He can certainly catch, but he's also a great tackler and has exceptional awareness for his age. I would like to see him develop his jamming at the line skills in the forthcoming season, but apart from that you couldn't ask for a better guy to gill the spot....I would expect him to remain as the number 1.

2. Champ Bailey - Needs no introduction, he's been at the top of his game ever since the Bronchos gave him a home in 2004. He has everything - He's one of the quickest players in football, and his agility comes from his excellent body control which we've seen him use to twist and turn around wide receivers. He's experienced and can be used as an island cornerback, as the bronchos very often do. His Line jamming skills are second to none. I was a little concerned last season that his sudden drop from 10 interceptions the year before, down to 3 last season was because he's getting older [he's 29 this year] but i would be wrong, he made the same number of tackles and assists and that makes him just as elite as he has always been - the interceptions were a bonus. I expect nothing less from him in this, his 11th season in the league.

3. Asante Samuel - Very interesting pick this. Moved from being superb in New England to Philadelphia and NFL polls and surveys suggest that he will make a massive impact for the Eagles. They must not expect too much from him, after all he will be used as the primary cornerback and he has a fair amount of time to learn the systems and plays. Not much more to say really, new home, new playbook - lets see what happens!

4. Deangelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha - The new pair to beware of in Oakland. The team has had a truly magical free agency period and "D LO" was one of their finest pick ups. He was a huge star in Atlanta and appeared to be one of their future stars, yet with all of their problems he protested and so the Falcons decided to take the draft picks - Oakland landed a new Cornerback. 5 interceptions last season in Atlanta for Hall, yet only 1 for Asomugha. Drafted by oakland in 2003, when we pair him up with Hall....both unbelieavbly quick, agile and with excellent hands - The "Oakland CB Duo '08!"

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AND TO FINISH...
We had trouble in the NFL this time...
How can I really make this rhyme?
Some of these guys were in their prime
Some of these guys are waiting to shine

But remember just one thing about crime...
No sports jail bird is worth a dime!!
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Sunday Morning Tight End

Its been a week full of resignings and behind the scenes descisions in the NFL. Coming up to the end of the real spark of free agency when the big playmaker trades happen, its the coaches 15 minutes of fame.

Jack Del Rio singed his new contract in Jacksonville this week, after his team reached the playoffs again this year. I cant help but think that this time last year the Jags were an un-noticed team in the NFL, known only for thier defense being good, but not as good as the NFC champion Bears. This year was a different story - Jack del Rio really earnt his paycheck at the beginning of last season when he made the descision to go with David Gerrard and cut Byron Leftwich - a descision which proved the best descision of that season. Del Rio said ""I look forward to building on what we have begun, I really do feel that there is something very special taking place here in Jacksonville right now."...Too right Jack - that something special is called WINNING! and he can get used to it in Jacksonville. With New England's defense suffering in the off season, the AFC south may just have a question mark over it again - its time for Del Rio and his Jags to do "something special"

There were arresting devlopments afoot in the NFL this week, a week which probably cant get much worse for troubled Bengals reciever Chris Henry. He lost his job in with the Bengals, whilst being held in prison, on assault charges - his fifth offense since 2005. [He needs therapy..Don't tell his mum!] The guy may only be 24, but his future looks unclear - many NFL talents have dabbled in the world of crime - Ricky [welcome back] Williams in Miami, Travis [butterfingers] Henry in Denver and Mike [Federal] Vick in Atlanta, all of whom were incredibly popular talents - Henry is a talent up there with the better third string receivers, but is overshadowed by Chad Johnson and Houshmanzadeh. Johnson's problems with the Bengals are growing concerning from the outside so maybe it wasn't the right time to get rid of Henry with such an extroverts shoes to fill??

ON THE CLOCK....RUNNING BACKS:
Forever the play maker, forever the pressure of an NFL running back, but this years selection are a new breed. Gone are the days of Shaun Alexander and Tatum Bell, this year more than ever the Offensive line becomes important - and without these big guys no running back will shine. Ladanian Tomlinson suffered from poor blocking during the opening few weeks of last season, whereas Adrian Peterson strolled out of college into his dream - an offensive line that allowed him to gain the NFL single game rushing title. Maybe Darren McFadden can find his dream come true somewhere in the NFL? We all know that running backs suit different systems - Greenbay always take the quicker guys, whereas they like to ground and pound the ball in Chicago, so which are gonna be on top form this season. Well my RB picks are as follows:

1. Lawrence Maroney - New England - The guy is hugely talented, a power runner with great hands, last season the pats used Maroney as a concealed weapon, they were almost holding him back as Brady threw and threw the ball, but when they used him he was stunning. I think this year they will use him more as a running back than a receiver/occasional threat and behind an offensive line as massive and powerful to give Brady so much time - he could do great things.

2. Ladanian Tomlinson - San Diego - Proved last season that even with a 5 game deficit, he'll still beat you to the top of the rushing charts. Simply the best running back in todays NFL - quick, strong, agile and a pass catcher. Expect him to do...pretty much what he's done for the past three years!

3. Michael Turner - Atlanta - Was Warrick Dunn released so they could Get Turner?? Who knows, all we know is Dunn was slowing down and the Falcons need a play maker and who better to take up the position than Ladanian Tomlinsons understudy. He's Quick, very quick and suits a falcons offensive line that couldn't protect QB or RB in 2007, we'll see if he can bail them out.

4. Clinton Portis - Washington - Hugely valued RB in D.C. for a long time now. He's reached his peak and i hope he remains there - don't forget he's got the speed of Willie Parker, the hands of Tomlinson and the right attitude to continue. You'd expect since Joe Gibbs' departure and Jim Zorn's quarterback past he may be under used....but i wouldn't bet on it!

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AND TO FINISH...

There was a legend'ry man named Favre
Retired, his family did starve
Could he return??
Greenbay will learn..
YOU COULD ALWAYS DEPEND ON BRETT FAVRE!
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Saturday Night Tight End - Welcome

It felt like this was a good opportunity to start writing about the NFL - we're in the middle of the off season, the draft coming up, we all know theres gonna be a lot to talk about. Some teams have already made big moves - Asante Samuel jumped ship to the Eagles.....-1 corner back New England! Randall Gay moves to New Orleans...-1 corner back New England! Michael Turner goes to the Falcons after they cut ex Buc Warrick Dunn..wonder where he went??? But as many coaches say, [quote from Falcons GM, Arthur Blank] the more successful teams build their personnel not around free agency, but through the draft and this years draft is looking interesting.

Look out for the weekly "Sunday Morning Tight End" column and draft specials I've got coming in the next few weeks.