Thoughts on Week 3 of the NFL season

- I have to give up to Old Man River aka Brett Favre. That was a hell of a drive he led culminating in a hell of a pass to win the game. I don't think the catch gets nearly as much credit as it deserves, but the throw was pretty much in the only spot Favre could have put it to have a chance for a completion. That was a great play by Favre.

- San Francisco is going to be a tough out this year. They aren't the most talented team, but they play a tough, disciplined brand of football, and Singletary has them playing a tough brand of football. I think the 9ers will find themselves in the postseason this year.

-Peyton Manning is just simply the best, period. Besides the fact that he is just damn great, he is definitely fun to watch. I definitely get a kick out of him getting to the line with 20 on the clock, then proceeding to gesture and jump up and down and around and around. He's the best QB I've ever had a chance to see play.

-It was good to see Jay Cutler come up big again for the Bears in the waning moments of the game against Seattle. I think the guy is growing as a QB. And also much props to Devin Hester, who has silenced the critics (including myself) to this point with solid play to this point. And on a somewhat related note, Devin Hester has more yards than both Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal combined. Interesting stuff.

-The topic of 'Troy Polamalu being absolutely great and vital to the Steelers' is old and misguided. Week 1, the Steelers gave up 10 points playing the majority of the game without Polamalu. Week 2. they gave up 17 points and week 3 they gave up 16. The defense is holding up it's end of the bargain. The Steelers have been screwed by a couple individual plays. This week it was the Sweed TD drop, and last week it was Reed missing 2 FGs. The notion that Polamalu being out being the main reason Pittsburgh is losing is head scratching.

- Cleveland is an unmitigated disaster.

- I've never seen so much hoopla over an 0-2, 7 rushing yard effort. I heard someone on the radio say "Vick looked comfortable, and he looked crisp.'' Completely forgetting that he played, I decided to peep the box score only to realize Vick didn't even complete a pass. I see the standards are still delightfully low when it comes to Vick. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

- The Seattle Seahawks jerseys made me feel like I was watching a team of Human lifesavers. Whoever came up with those uniforms should be released of his duties immediately.

-The Jets are 3-0. This start for them is completely unexpected. I don't think the defense played particularly well this week, but they did enough with the game on the line to come through with the 'W'.

-Jerricho Cotchery is 3rd in the league in receiving yards to this poont (Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne). Hopefully he keeps ir up).

-Every week Philip Rivers completes a bomb to Vincent Jackson that is mouth dropping. 3 guys draped all around, Jackson and he just comes down with it like it's nothing. Jackson is really making a name for himself among the game's top receivers.

- The play where Pennington injured himself didn't look that serious. Unfortunately for him, it was serious, and now his career is in jeopardy.

Thoughts on Week 2 of the NFL season

-Did Seattle put 11 guys on the field on D, Sunday? All I saw was Frank Gore, looking like Usain Bolt at an Olympic track meet, running untouched and unimpeded in straight lines in the open field.

-Miami's tiring usage of the wildcat tells me one main thing. They have little to no confidence in Chad Pennington leading the offense and putting up enough points, so they rely on trickery and gimmicks to try and score points. That is why he is a lame duck QB and is as good as gone in the offseason.

-Was JaMarcus Russell really 3/22 at one point in Sunday's game? 3/22? Really? You would think one would be able to complete more than 3 passes out of 22 by accident.

-Baltimore needs to find a way to get Kelly Washington into the endzone more often. That TD dance is absolutely hilarious.

- The last drive for SD in the BAL/SD game was absolutely baffling. On second down, Legedu Naanee is 1-2 stepping like Reggie Bush in the backfield, meanwhile he needs one yard for a first down. Why didn't the guy just lunge forward and get the first? I don't mind passing the ball on 3rd and 2, but it's almost as if Norv got his playcalls mixed up for the respective 3rd and 4th downs. If you are going to run the ball on one of those downs why not make it 3rd and 2? And on 4th and 2, for the ball game, how does running a 175 LB back through the middle of a defense featuring Haloti Ngata and Ray Lewis make any sense, especially considering Rivers had 425 passing yards in the game and is one of the league's best QBs? I think that drive puts into perspective why SD has always been paper champions.

-Ray Lewis' play on the aforementioned 4th down was absolutely ridiculous. I'm surprised that:
A) Sproles held onto the ball
B) Sproles is still alive and well

-The Jets talked the talk, and then walked the walk. They brought the heat at Tom Brady all game long, and he was clearly flustered. Right now he is not the same QB. I think it's the psychological hurdle of having to overcome the 'fear' of the knee more than anything else.

- Randy Moss is sore and it's quite funny. 'Revis isn't a shutdown CB. No one is a shutdown CB, they all need help. Revis had help.' Did Revis have help every where on the field? You might as well have filed a Missing Person's Report because Moss was nowhere to be found on Sunday. And if Revis isn't a shutdown CB because he needs "help" then there are no great or "dominant" players in the NFL then, since they all need "help", no?

-Eli Manning leading his team on a fourth quarter comeback. Ho hum. It's amazing how good Eli looks on a regular basis, when the game is at its most chaotic stages. It's commonplace for him. That is the way to beat the Cowboys in the first game at their new palace.

-Carson Palmer rebounded from a tough start and led his team to a W at Lambeau Field. Good for him. Hopefully he rebounds from an injury plagued 2008 season.

- Can someone explain to me why Byron Leftwich has a starting job in the NFL? The guy is not good, and is a 'never was'. I guess he is just holding the fort until Josh Freeman is ready, but man is Leftwich brutal.

-Indianapolis ran 34 plays on Monday Night, and they scored 27 points in those 34 plays. Peyton Manning is just that damn good.

-It was nice to see Jay Cutler rebound and play a good game against the Steelers yesterday. He played disciplined smart football. He left the across the body madden esque throws in Green Bay, and it showed. Chicago needed some luck to win that game, but Cutler delivered when it mattered, leading the team to two scoring drives accounting for 10 points in the last 6 minutes of the game. On a related note, Johnny Knox looks solid.

-I'm in a gang of fantasy leagues, and in HALF of them I faced off with Chris Johnson. Guess how many of them I won for the week? Yep, zero. He's really good, but on that one long pass play what exactly was the Texans defense doing?

- The Redskins beat the Rams 9-7. Where was the Skins offense?

-Kurt Warner, 24-26. That is video game esque right there.

-Drew Brees and Marques Colston are percolating right now. It's hard to believe Colston was a 7th round draft pick. He's a very good wide receiver.

-Jake Delhomme rebounded fairly well from his latest stinker, but then did what he does best with the game on the line. He threw an interception.

-The Cleveland Browns are really, REALLY bad. Brady Quinn needs to step up and do something, ANYTHING, to keep his job and to point Cleveland in the right direction.

-The Broncos are 2-0. That's a mild surprise, but they have played 2 pretty nondescript teams in the process (Cleveland, Cincinnati). The Broncos D looks FAR better than it did last year.

Top 10 Building Blocks/Cornerstones- NFC West

If I was to draft 10 players from the NFC West to serve as my core of a Superbowl contender for the next 3-4 seasons, the players I would draft and the priority I place on them are:

10. John Carlson, TE, Seattle Seahawks- I'll be completely and bluntly honest. There are two reasons that Carlson is on this list. One of those reasons being that he used to play for the Fighting Irish, and another because the NFC West is absolutely pathetic. That being said, Carlson is a bright young player with a lot of skill who had an excellent rookie year. He had 55 catches for 627 yards, and 5 TDs, playing with a bunch of nobodies on an injury ravaged Seattle offense. He has a bright future ahead of him. Oh, and go Notre Dame!

9. Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, CB, Arizona Cardinals- While he has a tendency to give up the big play, as he showed in the postseason, he still is an incredibly gifted athlete who showed some good things as a rookie. His kind of natural ability isn't matched by many CBs in the NFL. if he can harness the nuances of his position, the sky is the limit for this guy.

8. OJ Atogwe, S, St Louis Rams- I rarely hear this guy's name mentioned among the league's best safeties, but he definitely is one of them. He's one of those really good players on a REALLY bad team so he doesn't get the notoriety some other players would. The last three seasons, Atogwe has 16 interceptions, and 24 pass deflections . He has proven he is adept in coverage, and has done so despite playing with a team practically devoid in talent in every other aspect of defense.

7. Lofa Tatupu, MLB, Seattle Seahawks- Lofa is Mr Reliable. He isn't going to wow you with his natural ability, but the guy is a really good football player. He always seems to be in the right spot, and hits very well. The last four years he has racked up 431 tackles and nine interceptions. He is one of the best middle linebackers in football.

6. Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona Cardinals- Dockett is one of those guys who is just a disruption up front. He causes havoc on most weeks for whoever happens to have the unenviable task of blocking him. He's one of the league's better pass rushers from the defensive tackle spot, and can line up anywhere on the defensive line and cause problems. He doesn't have the greatest numbers in the world, but numbers aren't as paramount for defensive tackles, and don't really tell the whole story.

5. Marcus Trufant, CB, Seattle Seahawks- I like Trufant. I believe he's a top CB in the league and has been so for awhile. He has great physical ability, and has been excellent for the Seahawks. He has poor hands, but that is not a prerequisite to being a good CB, it is a bonus. Trufant and Cromartie give the team a potentially dynamic set of CBs.

4. Adrian Wilson, S, Arizona Cardinals- I think Wilson is behind only Ed Reed when it comes to safeties in the NFL. His speed, his size and his hitting ability (just ask Trent Edwards) makes him one of the league's best defensive players. He also is one of the league's best blitzers from the safety spot.

3. Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals- The only reason he isn't #2 on this list is durability concerns. Boldin plays fairly recklessly so he's a risk, given his age and injury history. All that being said, the guy is a top WR in the game and embodies consistency. Year in and year out, you can rely on Boldin for very good numbers. He is arguably the league's best possession WR, but can beat you in a variety of ways. Add to that the fact that he's probably one of the two or three hardest WRs in the league to tackle and you have a force.

2. Patrick Willis, MLB, San Francisco 49ers- There might not be a more talented defensive player in the league than Willis. He might also be one of the fastest players in the NFL, and an LB being in that discussion is saying something for sure. Willis flies to the ball and makes a ton of plays. His 315 tackles, 15 pass deflections and 5 sacks over the last two years speak to that ability and the scary part is that he can get even better.

1. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals- Fitzgerald is one of the game's very best wideouts. His size, his strength, his physical ability and most of all his amazing hands separate himself from the pack. Regardless of the terrible QBs and offensive lines he has been around, Fitzgerald has produced in a major way pretty much every season he has been in the league. He's one of those receivers you can pretty much build an entire offense around, and be successful that way.

Others who garnered consideration
Stephen Jackson, HB, St. Louis Rams
Frank Gore, HB, San Francicso 49ers
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Karlos Dansby, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Steve Breaston, WR, Arizona Cardinals
TJ Houshmanzadeh, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Michael Vick signs with the Eagles

About a month after his reinstatement to the NFL, Michael Vick has found his way back into the NFL. Vick signed a one-year deal, with an option for a second year, with the Philadelphia Eagles marking his official return to the NFL after a two year hiatus.

Personally, while I've never been high on Vick as a football player, it's cool with me that he is back in the NFL. I realize what he did was absolutely heinous, disgusting, reprehensible, among a laundry list of other not so flattering words. That being said, he did his time, and hopefully he learned from it and is a stronger person as a result. I'm not buying the whole sob story act, or the whole 'I'm sorry, please forgive me' act, because in reality if he didn't get caught, who's to say he wouldn't STILL be doing those disgusting things? Am I saying it is impossible for a human being to be rehabilitated? No, I am not, but I am skeptical by nature. It always kills me when people say 'Oh, well he looks remorseful,'. Well, some people are better actors than others. I'm not saying he can't be remorseful, just that I don't buy it. All that being said, I'm not one to hold grudges and I definitely believe that he deserves a chance to redeem himself for the wrong that he has done. However, I'm not buying any of the 'woe is me, I'm sorry for what I did' rhetoric.

I do think that some of the 'He shouldn't be allowed to play ever again in life' sentiments, and even as far as callers on sports radio wishing him injury is somewhat extreme. I can understand why people would be outraged, especially those who love animals. I can even understand those who say the punishment wasn't strict enough, but really, not allowing him to ever play again in the NFL? Really? Honestly, if Vick isn't allowed to play again then there are a ton of NFL players who shouldn't be allowed to play again, based on some events that we know of (Stallworth-yes I'm aware he got suspended for a year, Leonard Little among others), and several others of which we don't know (Ray Lewis, probably half of the rest of the NFL). If there is consistency in the argument, I don't mind it, but if the crying foul is exclusive to Vick, that isn't right. I AM NOT trying to rationalize what he did, but the extreme nature of some of the complaints regarding Vick are a bit misdirected and exaggerated. He is not the most evil man that has ever walked the face of the planet.

And for the people crying foul about him being able to regain his job as a result, let's not forget the fact that, in essence, Vick DID lose his job. He was employed for the Atlanta Falcons making a truckload of money and got fired, and lost a ton of money during his jail stint. I also read a lot of comparing Vick to the regular joe. As unlikely as it is, someone fresh out of jail can also get a job somewhere else. Vick was released from his duties, went to jail, came out and another organization was interested in his duties. While Vick is playing in the same league, he now plays for a different employer for a reduced paycheck in a reduced role as he tries to rebuild his career.

I'm glad he is getting a chance to redeem himself, and genuinely hope he takes advantage of it. Will he ever be a good guy? Perhaps not. Is he actually sorry for what he's done, or what he lost as a result of getting caught? Who knows. But as a forgiving person, I hope he succeeds and becomes the latest good ol' American comeback story. What he did was heinous and inhumane, but I hope he rebounds from the adversity that he has faced, and conquers it.

As far as the football ramifications, I think the name and the luster of the story far outweigh what he will actually do on the field. The Eagles already have a QB, they already have a stable of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, and I'm not buying into the 'fad' called the Wildcat. I can see him being on the field for 7-10 plays a game and someone to be accounted for, but can't see him doing enough to make the signing a noteworthy one.

Thoughts on the Yankees/Red Sox series

-The crowd was as loud as I've heard it all season over the weekend. A winning team and the hated Red Sox tend to have that kind of effect.

-A.J. Burnett was simply marvelous Friday night. While Burnett can be somewhat erratic at times, his start Friday night was a snapshot to why the Yankees paid the man $82 million this offseason to be their #2 starter.

-Boy, John Smoltz has hit a wall hasn't he? If he was on any other team, I'd probably feel a little bad for the guy. It has to be tough for someone who has seen nothing but success for the majority of his career to have his performance just fall off a cliff like that. Regardless, I'm glad the Yankees were able to bash him into his current 'DFA' status.

- It's truly a beautiful thing to watch Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter turn the double play. There were three that stuck out to me this weekend, those being the Ortiz 4-6-3 on Friday night, the 4-6-3 on Lowell Saturday, and the 6-4-3 on Bay tonight. Boy, can they turn it or what?

- The ESPN broadcast team, as I've said ad nauseum, is absolutely horrendous. They make John Sterling sound like a combination of Marv Albert, Vin Scully and Al Michaels.

-It's good to see Alex Rodriguez come through with big hits for the team. Rodriguez is vilified far too much for a player of his stature. While he brings some of it on himself, the guy is a great baseball player. It's nice to see him come through in a big spot. He has actually done that quite a bit this year, and even in his relatively abbreviated season, he has come through quite a bit in the big spot. That was an absolute shot he hit off Lester tonight.

- Mark Teixiera is simply an awesome baseball player. To this point that signing has been a rousing success. His offensive numbers, and his defense have been top notch. I think you can make a very good argument for him as the American League MVP. To this point, he has been worth every penny. That bomb he hit off Bard was incredible, and I've never heard the Stadium that loud.

-This series was well pitched from the time A.J. Burnett took the mound on Friday to the end of the series. It's a pleasant change of pace from the usual sloppy, back and forth slugfests for which these two teams usually partake.

- While the Red Sox did get swept, I have to admit that they have the makings of a nice pitching staff with Beckett, Lester and Bucholz in the future. We all know about Lester and Beckett, as they are proven commodities, but Bucholz has nasty stuff and pitched very well on Saturday.

- Mariano Rivera is so automatic that it's a surprise when he puts a runner on base. I'm going to miss that man when he retires

- The chants of 'Sweep' at the end of Sunday's game was great. Hopefully the Stadium remains like this for the rest of the year, and the 'public library' atmosphere goes away. That is for the birds.

-Johnny Damon, like the rest of the Yankee team, has benefited immensely from the short right field porch in the New stadium, but that shot he hit last night was legitimate. He blasted it, and sent the Stadium into a frenzy. He has been a very good offensive player for the Yankees this year, artificially enhanced numbers or not.

-The sweep is a significant body blow to the Red Sox. They were already reeling and the Yankees set them back even further. It will be interesting to see if they can recover from it.

- The chant of 'Sweep' at the end of last night's game was incredible.

-Lastly, GO YANKEES!

Eli Manning gets paid

And when I say 'paid' I mean 'PAID'. Can you say 'mucho dinero'? The Giants made Eli Manning, the NFL's highest paid player. Manning agreed to terms on a new contract that will pay him $106.9 million (I got a little light headed typing that) over the next seven seasons. He gets a six year, $97.5 extension added onto his current contract which has him making $9.4 million for this upcoming season, the final season of the previous contract. The average yearly salary of $15.23 million, between now and 2015, is an NFL record. The contract features $35 million as the signing bonus, Manning will see $41 million in the first two years of the pact.

Eli Manning is one of my favorite players in the NFL, and is my guy. That being said, this contract is a bit on the ridiculous side. I like him as a player, because he is a good QB. But is just a "good" QB, worth this contract? Eli has always handled himself like a champion through good and through bad, and is as good as it gets with the game in the balance. At the most chaotic of times during the course of a game, Eli's calm demeanor is never fazed. While Eli's statistics were never particularly pretty, he has thrown at least 20 TDs in every full season in the NFL. I think that particular fact is often overlooked when it comes to Eli. Manning is also one of the best QBs in the league in clutch situations, which he has displayed on a consistent basis.

The Giants were in a tough spot when it comes to the negotiations, especially considering this is the last year of Eli's deal. If they offered Eli what he considered a "lowball" deal, what if he basically tells the Giants off, and says 'I'm going to free agency'? You then risk the guy leaving. For all of Eli's faults, he is a good quarterback and during the Superbowl run he was excellent. Do you take a risk on that particular fellow, who is also the Giants "franchise" QB leaving? Or do you pay him handsomely to keep him happy? This is, in essence, throwing a dog a bone. It's a 'Thank you for being a class act, and being so good during the last SB' pay raise for Manning. The only part I think it will affect, is the fact that a contract that big takes dollars away from other parts of the team down the line. I don't think the overpaying of him is really that big a deal, it's no different than the Steelers overpaying for Roethlisberger after last season.

Michael Vick "reinstated"

Michael Vick's "reinstatement" into the NFL and the five game suspension

I realize what he did with the killing of the dogs was heinous, and what he did running the gambling ring revolved around dog fighting, deems him untrustworthy at this point. That being said, suspending him for 5 games in my opinion is a bit much. I know the suspension 'can be uplifted' on 'good behavior, but the man has done two years in prison, lost two years of his NFL career, lost a lot of money. When does punishment beyond that become excessive?

I've heard this, 'Well, he's lucky he has a chance to play in the NFL, and he's lucky he still has a job.. If that was me...' Well, it isn't you. The reality of the situation is Vick is a professional athlete, and professional athletes, like it or not, are held to different standards. Leonard Little killed a woman and did three months in jail, Donte Stallworth killed a man and did 20 days. They are held to a higher standard, so in some instances comparing the average human being to an athlete is a really flawed way to look at things. For the most part, common folks don't have the access to the money, the legal teams, and don't have the notoriety that these athletes do. 50,000 people aren't coming to see 'us' play. Fact of the matter is, athletes for the most part are viewed in a different light when it comes to everything. Is it fair? Not necessarily, but it's the way it is for the most part.

Am I saying Vick should have gotten off scot free? No, not necessarily. I think a two game suspension would have been just and fair. Suspending him two games is a punishment, it's clear, and it gives Vick a better opportunity to catch on with a team and potentially restart his career. Now with the five game suspension that is "subject to change", none of the teams know when the guy is going to be officially off the hook. Hell, Goodell can get up tomorrow morning and while eating his wheaties say, 'Hey, I should suspend Vick until week 10, ' Who can stop him? After all it IS subject to change. I think the five game suspension does a major disservice to Vick because the teams are going to be gun shy as it is with all the negative press, but not knowing when he's going to play could affect these teams and their pursuit of him as well. The suspension just puts an even bigger cloud of uncertainty around Vick.

So my question to Goodell is, when is enough, enough?

I'll leave his startling inconsistency when it comes to issues around the league for another day.

Potential suitors for Vick?

As far as the his potential suitors, it comes down to a few questions in my opinion:

1. When does he get to start playing?
2. What are the teams going to look at him to do?
3. Is his potential production as your starting QB good enough to offset the negative press and the distractions that are bound to come from his involvement with the franchise? I think that is a resounding 'NO', but who knows, maybe in the right offense he can improve. I doubt it, coming off of two years in the pen, but crazier things have happened.

If a team is really desperate (Minnesota I'm looking at you) , I think signing him, bringing him in on a cheap deal couldd be an astute move. If he doesn't work out, cut him. As a starting QB, I'm not sure his caliber as a QB offsets all the baggage he brings at this point. I don't think it does.

That being said, I think EVERY team in the NFL should look into him as a gadget player/weapon because (assuming he can still run CLOSE to the way he used to) he is still useful in the fact that you can line him up on the field and do some different things using Vick in space. Having a weapon like that can't hurt, and I think it would be smart for all the teams to at least entertain that idea.

I don't see him starting this year for someone barring an injury, but I think in a QB starved league for the most part, some teams should at least look into it.

Top 10 Building Blocks/Cornerstones- NFC South

If I was to draft 10 players from the NFC South to serve as my core of a Superbowl contender for the next 3-4 seasons, the players I would draft and the priority I place on them are:

10. DeAngelo Williams- I thought coming out of the draft that Williams would be the best halfback of the 2006 class, and so far he has been up there with Maurice Jones Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars production wise. He is coming off a career year where he ran for 18 TDs, and 1,515 yards. I don't expect him to replicate those numbers again, but he will be solid along with Turner in support of Brees

9. Gaines Adams, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Adams, is a young, gifted DE who showed a penchant for getting to the QB in his rookie season with an impressive 6.5 sacks. He has all the tools and while we have two other stud DEs on the team, you know the saying, 'You can never have too many pass rushers'

8. John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons- As much as I don't particularly like this fellow, going back to the Jets days, his impact cannot be understated. While he isn't exactly the most stout player against the run, he makes up for it with deadly pass rushing moves that makes Sundays difficult for a lot of tackles in the NFL. While his injury history, and his limited threshold for pain is definitely a concern, it's hard to overlook his production and pure ability. He is coming off a season where he put together 16.5 sacks, and has 50 in his last 5 seasons. The bottom line is, this guy can get after the QB, and guys who can do that are extremely valuable commodities.

7. Jon Beason, MLB, Carolina Panthers- The University of Miami aka 'The U', is just a factory that produces very good NFL players. Beason is just one of the many to come from Miami. He burst onto the scene in 2007 as a rookie, and has started every game since. He has put together 278 tackles, 14 deflections and four interceptions. He's a young, fast, athletically gifted LB who has a bright future, and will be the captain of the defense for many years to come.

6. Jordan Gross, T, Carolina Panthers- I need a guy to protect my superstar, shiny QB, and Gross is widely considered one of the best tackles in the game. He should keep the star pass rushers in check a bit.

5. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans- Colston is one of the best late round gems in the 2006 draft (Good job to the Jets missing out on a guy that played in your backyard). In three seasons, Colston has put up 3,000 yards and 24 TDs, and that is with missed time last season. He's the big possession target that is often important in an offense and with his 215 catches during his first three seasons he has proven his hands to be more than reliable. He has a chemistry with our QB, and is a 26 year old with a bright future

4. Michael Turner, HB, Atlanta Falcons- I'll be honest, I thought Turner would be LaMont Jordan Part II in Atlanta. To this point I couldn't have possibly been more wrong. Turner was the heart and soul of that offense last season, as Atlanta shocked everyone in posting an 11-5 record, making the postseason. Turner is a great north and south runner who has enough speed to separate in the open field and is an absolute terror to bring down. The Falcons have built a nice offensive nucleus for this upcoming season with Ryan, Turner, White and newcomer Tony Gonzalez. Expect Turner to have even more space with which to work this season.

3. Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina Panthers.- Yes, I already have two defensive ends but you can never have too many pass rushers. While Peppers had a very shaky 2007 season, he rebounded last season with 14.5 sacks, reestablishing himself as one of the premiere pass rushers in the NFL. Supreme physical ability, great pass rushing moves, and incredible closing speed make Peppers a nightmare for offenses all around the NFL. 70 sacks in seven seasons and still chugging. Peppers will be the anchor of my defensive line for the next 3-4 seasons, and I expect him to play at a high enough level to make that a smart choice.

2.Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers- He is arguably the best player in the division, and clearly the division's most explosive player. At a diminutive 5'9, Smith offers incredible strength, breakaway speed, and good route running. Overall he has a good polish to his game, and has been very productive for a long time despite the not so ideal QB situation in Carolina. Smith and Brees will make my offense a force.

1. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints- What more can be said about this guy at this point? At this point, the guy IS the New Orleans Saints offense, yet goes out there and throws for 5000 yards. He has been the most productive QB in the league statistically since he signed in New Orleans, and has done so without much of a supporting cast. He hasn't had much at WR outside of Marques Colston and he has had nothing at RB to take pressure off him. He goes out there every Sunday with a Bulls eye on his chest and produces. I want that guy leading my football team, though I think he has some questions to answer as far as performance in big situations goes.

Others who garnered serious consideration:

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Aqib Talib, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Jonathan Vilma, MLB, New Orleans Saints
Barrett Ruud, MLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Top 10 Building Blocks/Cornerstones- NFC North

If I was to draft 10 players from the NFC North to serve as my core of a Superbowl contender for the next 3-4 seasons, the players I would draft and the priority I place on them are:

10. Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears- I'm aware that Urlacher is getting up there, and that he has declined a bit but he is still a good LB. He has always made all the difference in the world to the LBs playing with him, and is a great leader. He is also an asset in coverage. He should be good for the next three to four seasons. And if not, he still has some value in the "mentor" role.

9. Steve Hutchinson, G, Minnesota Vikings- Even though he is 34 years old, Hutch is still one of the best run blocking linemen in the business. That being said, I'm putting him on the list more for the influence he'll have on the rest of my linemen, than his actual caliber. Along with being great in run blocking, Hutchinson also brings a significant mean streak to his craft. Hutchinson has also made quite an impact on the RBs he has played with, most recently been Adrian Peterson. Just think, Shaun Alexander with Hutchinson was an MVP. Without him, witness protection? Where has he been anyway?

8. Greg Olsen, TE, Chicago Bears- Olsen will never be confused for an extra offensive lineman, but the size and skills he brings to the position aren't matched by many. He can split out if you need be, and is a guy that has to be accounted for at all times. With a new QB, and the QB of my fictitious team, Jay Cutler now leading the huddle, Olsen should see a rise in his numbers as more balls will come his way.

7. Aaron Kampman, DE, Green Bay Packers- Kampman is a very good pass rusher, which is shown with his 37.5 sacks over the last three years. It will be interesting to see the transition he ends up making this season since he will be playing in a 3-4 defense for the first time in his NFL career. Pass rushers come at a premium and Kampman is one of the better ones in the league.

6. Kevin Williams, DT, Minnesota Vikings- There might not be a better OVERALL defensive tackle in football than Mr. Williams. Not only is Williams one of the two main anchors on a consistenty great run defense, he has put up 16.5 sacks in the last 3 seasons, along with 16 pass deflections and 2 INTs. He can do a little bit of everything and he will be the anchor of the run defense.

5. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers- I mentioned him in another entry as the most underrated player in the NFL. He has explosive speed, good hands, is tough as nails, and is great with the ball in his hands. He's a cost controlled, young stud WR, who reaches the endzone a lot. He will be one of the best complimentary players in the game on my squad.

4. Adrian Peterson, HB, Minnesota Vikings- Now, before I go on, let me just make it clear that Adrian Peterson is the best player on this list and that point probably isn't debatable. That being said, he is a running back and the career spans for those guys are fairly short ,and I don't think having a great RB is really a necessary component of a championship team. Peterson is definitely the best RB in the league though, and one of the most explosive players in the entire NFL.

3. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions- I don't know what is more scary: how good this guy already is on the worst team in NFL history, or how good the guy CAN be given he just completed his second season in the league. Johnson is arguably the best WR prospect ever, and put up a monster season this past season. In my opinion, he is the best WR in the league, and he is all of 23 years old. His potential is scary.

2. Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings- I flip flopped one and two for awhile before finally coming to a conclusion. I don't think people really see and appreciate just how good this guy is. 30 sacks in his last two seasons and 57.5 sacks in the last 5, show that this guy is one of the very best pass rushers in the business. The only thing that I value as much as good QB play, is a good pass rush, and who better than Mr. Allen? Not many.

1. Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears- Cutler is currently one of the more polarizing figures in the NFL right now based on his tantalizing talent, the people who realize that talent and the production that comes with it, along with the people who criticize him for the way he orchestrated his way out of Denver or because he hasn't had the ability to single handedly bring garbage teams to the promised land like so many other QBs in the NFL do (that is sarcastic). Consider me in the "fan" boat, as I love the guy and the way he plays. His arm is among the best in football and he came off a season where he threw for 4500 yds and 25 TDs. He was the focal point of the Broncos offense and yet still succeeded with the pressure of having to score on damn near every possession. Cutler is still learning but has already established himself as one of the top young signal callers in the game. He has the physical tools, and his pocket presence is very good. A young franchise caliber QB with a rifle arm, accuracy and top notch production to go with it trumps all.

Guys who garnered consideration:
Ernie Sims, LB, Detroit Lions
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Chad Greenway, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago Bears
Matt Forte, HB, Chicago Bears
Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers
Antoine Winfield, CB, Minnesota Vikings
Nick Collins, S, Green Bay Packers
Olin Kreutz, C, Chicago Bears
Nick Barnett, LB, Green Bay Packers
AJ Hawk, LB, Green Bay Packers
Robbie Gould, K, Chicago Bears

Top 10 Building Blocks/Cornerstones- NFC East

If I was to draft 10 players from the NFC East to serve as my core of a Superbowl contender for the next 3-4 seasons, the players I would draft and the priority I place on them are:

10. David Diehl, LT, New York Giants- You need someone to protect the QB's blind side. After watching Jason Peters get beaten like a runaway convict all of last season, I can't put him on the list. Diehl is a good, but flawed player. He makes the list by default.

9. Osi Umenyiora, DE, New York Giants- Umenyiora showed his value in the Superbowl, as him and the rest of that defensive line was all over Tom Brady like Roseanne Barr at a buffet table. The only reason he isn't higher on this list is because of the injury he is coming off of last season. From 2004-07, Umenyiora compiled 40.5 sacks, establishing himself as one of the best pass rushers in the business. As is proven over and over, a great pass rush is one of the most important components of a Superbowl winner. The last two SB winners (Giants, Steelers) are great examples of that. With Umenyiora, who is only 27, he should continue to be a productive pass rusher for the next 3-4 years.


8. LaRon Landry, FS, Washington Redskins- Landry is an intimidating safety who runs like the wind, and hits like a truck, but is also more than adequate in coverage. I like those kind of players. I thought he would establish himself as a top two or three safety but he is still very raw. He has all the skills in the world, but he has a lot of growing to do on and off the field. He is only 24 years old and the sky is the limit, and if Landry reaches anywhere near his potential he could be the best safety in the entire NFL down the line.


7. Justin Tuck, DE, New York Giants- In the last two seasons, Tuck has 22 sacks, and has proven to be a terror for offensive linemen all around the league (just ask Logan Mankins). He has the ability to line up anywhere on the defensive line, as he lined up mostly at the tackle spot in the "four aces" look the Giants employed in 2007. He is now a full time defensive end, but has the versatility to line up at tackle if need be. In addition to being a deadly pass rusher he also plays strong against the run. At 26 years old, he has many more good years left, and with Umenyiora we have a fearsome DE combination.


6. Brian Westbrook, HB, Philadelphia Eagles- I'm not a big fan of putting Westbrook this high because of his age and injury concerns but there is no denying this man's talent and production. While he's on the injury list every week, and never practices he still manages to produce. He has also played in 44 of a possible 48 games the last three seasons. While he had a down year (for him) last season, his versatility and the threat of him out of the backfield make him a good pick at this spot.

5. Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins- Cooley has always been among the most productive tight ends in the league despite not ever having a good quarterback to throw him the ball. He has always been a focal point in the Redskins offense but still has managed to get his. Cooley is a great pass catcher, who brings versatility and good hands to the table. He is also taken at that spot to make up for a lack of clear, legitimate receiving options available at the WR spot in this division (Roy Williams has a lot to prove).

4. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys- Another TE? Really? Yes, I want my QB to have plenty of weapons to throw the ball to, not taking into account the form in which they come. Witten is a "seam buster", a guy who has good hands, and is very much in tune with the QB who will lead my team (Romo). He is the definition of safety blanket, and should be the 'go to guy' when Romo is in trouble.

3. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys- I don't put much stock into the fact that Eli Manning "won" a Superbowl, and no I don't care what McNabb does or has done in his career. Romo is clearly the best QB in the division in my eyes. His arm, the touch, the accuracy, and the arsenal of throws he brings to the table as well as his mobility and feel for the pocket make him the pick here. There is no doubt that Romo's performance in big games is worrisome, but that can be alleviated over the course of time, especially when you consider his "failures" in big games are at a whopping number of two. That being said, you can't teach the skill that Romo has.

2. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Washington Redskins- Haynesworth is a beast without question. The guy is a disruptive force, and for a man that size he is quite nimble. He was a wrecking ball in the middle of the Titans defense and also lined up at end many times and was a nightmare for tackles all over the league. The thing about Haynesworth is I truly believe that the guy could also be an all-pro defensive end if placed at that spot. He is truly a special player, and hopefully he keeps motivated enough to make full use of those tools. With the defense we employ, we now have another guy we can lineup all over the place.

1. DeMarcus Ware, LB, Dallas Cowboys- I'm still not quite sure how he didn't win Defensive Player of the Year this past season, compiling a mind blowing 20 sacks, but this guy is an unbelievable football player. Is there anything he cannot do? The best pass rusher in the business, and the best 3-4 OLB in the business, Ware has absolutely dominated to the tune of 53.5 sacks in 4 years. He is a dominant, unstoppable force who is also a do-it-all LBer. I definitely think Ware will eventually set the record for sacks in a season, when it's all said and done. With Ware, Umenyiora, Haynesworth, Tuck, QBs better watch for their lives!!

And my coaching staff, for fun
HC- Tom Couglin
OC- Andy Reid
DC- Jim Johnson

Others who garnered serious consideration:
Desean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Roy Williams, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Antonio Pierce, LB, New York Giants
Chris Snee, G, New York Giants
Shawn Andrews, G, Philadelphia Eagles
Clinton Portis, HB, Washington Redskins