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NFC South Predictions

1. Carolina Panthers

There’s a new sense of urgency with this team, and a return to a power-offense is the right idea.

2. New Orleans Saints

The most explosive team in the division, but without a more trustworthy rushing attack, the Saints will have trouble dictating the flow of games.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Solid offense, excellent defense, but this team never puts together back-to-back successful seasons.

4. Atlanta Falcons

At least drafting in the top five again next season will help their rebuilding efforts.

Cont. to see All-NFC South team

The pattern was snapped last season. When the Carolina Panthers failed to finish above .500 for the second year in a row. John Fox’s team has always followed a trend: toggle in mediocrity, then surge by winning 11 games and making some noise in the playoffs. Then, catch your breath the following season with another seven or eight-win campaign. Then, fully energized, come back and have another fruitful run. Look at Carolina’s history: 2002…7-9; 2003…11-5 (reached Super Bowl); 2004…7-9; 2005…11-5 (reached NFC Championship); 2006….8-8; 2007….7-9. Oops.

Order broken. It doesn’t take much to figure out why. The Panthers started four different quarterbacks last season. The only one capable of excelling was Jake Delhomme, and he was lost after two games. You need pitching to win in pro baseball, goaltending to win in pro hockey, a large home market to win in pro basketball and quarterbacking to win in pro football. It’s simple, really.
Cont….

Down the road. Oh, down the road. Hard to fathom how great they’ll both be. But you know what? We don’t need to discuss down the road; they’re actually ready now. Both of them.

One of them you’re familiar with. He’s the one out west who burst onto the scene on Monday Night in Week 1 last season before going on to claim NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The other you’ve heard of but may not have yet encountered. He’s the one back east who terrorized opponents last year after the leaves turned.

They’re both ready, which means we need to be ready. The debate is in place. Preemptive as…

1.) Jared Allen                  DE     TRADE         6-6          270       4    Chiefs         Vikings

Contract:  6 yrs, $78 million with incentives ($31 million guaranteed)

Traded with a 6^th round pick in ’08 for a 1^st round pick, two 3^rd round picks and a 6^th round pick

The Hope: The high-motor Allen builds on his league-leading 15.5-sack performance from a year ago.

The Caveat: The Chiefs labeled Allen an “at risk” player, thanks to is two DUI’s while in Kansas City.

The Reality: Without approving drinking and driving, the fact of the matter is Allen already served a two-game suspension and has been a model citizen over the past year and a half. His legal woes are behind him. On the field, he may very well…

NFL.com recently published a list of all the rookie free agent signings for 2008 (view it here).

Few fans realize how many good players in the league today were once rookie free agents. Just take a look at this All Undrafted Team. It’s stunning.

(starters in bold)

QB: Tony Romo, Dal   Jake Delhomme, Car   Jeff Garcia, TB

RB: Willie Parker, Pit   Dominic Rhodes, Ind   Marcel Shipp, Ari  

FB: Tony Richardson, NYJ

WR: Drew Bennett, Stl   Mike Furrey, Det   Hank Baskett, Phi

WR: Wes Welker, NE   Eric Parker, SD  

TE: Antonio Gates, SD   Mark Campbell, NO

OT: Jason Peters, Buf   Tom Ashworth, FA

  G: Brian Waters, KC   Ryan Lilja, Ind   Jason Whittle, Buf

  C: Jeff Saturday, Ind   Casey…

“Why is everyone whispering?” I asked David, a Boise sportscaster, in my own hushed tone. He and I were leaning against a railing inside the Caven-Williams Sports Complex, Boise State’s new regal indoor practice facility. We were encompassed by the interior of a barn-like edifice that seemed better suited for housing 747-jets. Thirty five feet in front of us was a white stripe that someone had carefully painted on synthetic grass to indicate the 40-yard-line on the school’s only green football field. Forty-five yards to the left of that line sat Ryan Clady, Boise State’s 6’6”, 315-pound All-Everything left tackle, two months removed from declaring for the NFL draft and two…