Jan

6

32 FINALISTS OUT OF 3.5 MILLION CONTESTANTS QUALIFY FOR NFL PEPSI PUNT, PASS AND KICK NATIONAL FINALS

Posted by Al Gordon under NFL
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Thirty-two young football enthusiasts from around the country will compete in the NFL PEPSI PUNT, PASS & KICK National Finals on January 10, prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game in Charlotte, North Carolina. A special on-field award presentation will air after the 3rd quarter of Saturday’s game, which airs on FOX.

Boys and girls will compete separately in four age divisions, with the top scorer in each group crowned national champion. All participants launch one punt, one pass and one kick, with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet). All 32 youngsters advanced to the National Finals through local, sectional and team championship competitions held throughout the NFL regular season. The top four scorers in each age group from around the country qualified as national finalists.

NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick is the nation’s largest grassroots sports skills competition. Current NFL stars including New York Jets QB BRETT FAVRE, Baltimore Ravens K MATT STOVER and Houston Texans P MATT TURK competed in the Punt, Pass and Kick program as youngsters.

“The NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick program gives millions of girls and boys around the country a way to be active participants in the game of football,” said ALEXIA GALLAGHER, NFL Director of Youth Football. “We are pleased to see so many of our young fans entering the world of NFL football through this program.”

All participants and their two guests are provided airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers game in Charlotte.

Finalists are listed along with the NFL team that hosted their regional competition:

Girls 8-9 Boys 8-9
Tori Hanson, Delano, MN (Vikings) Justin Jefferson, St. Rose, LA (Saints)
Maura Hoying, Coldwater, OH (Bengals) Michael Colonna, Miami, FL (Dolphins)
Samantha Mendoza, San Angelo, TX (Cowboys) Michael McCoy, Santa Ynez, CA (Raiders)
Maci Hutto, Aiken, SC (Panthers) Jacob Robinson, Granger, IN (Colts)
Girls 10-11 Boys 10-11
Dominique Greeno, Lacey, WA (Seahawks) Evan Delaney, Hadley, MA (Patriots)
Jamie Holscher, Lincoln, NE (Chiefs) Jacob Donahoe, Mesquite, TX (Cowboys)
Bekah Alcozar, Belton, TX (Texans) Joshua Reyes, Streetsboro, OH (Browns)
Jenna Goodrich, Davie, FL (Dolphins) Kevin Pickelsimmer, Clinton Township, MI (Lions)
Girls 12-13 Boys 12-13
Sarah Firestone, Mercersburg, PA (Ravens) Andrew Beck, Harker Heights, TX (Texans)
Elisa Formiglio, Bozrah, CT (Patriots) Ryan Garmer, Dyer, TN (Titans)
Felicia Stancil, Lake Villa, IL (Bears) Luke Randolph, Pendleton, IN (Colts)
Aubri McCoy, Volant, PA (Steelers) Homer Woody IV, Indiana, PA (Steelers)
Girls 14-15 Boys 14-15
Anna Grant, Stratham, NH (Patriots) Collin Hartman, Indianapolis, IN (Colts)
Mikala Gordon, Pueblo, CO (Broncos) Ronnie Gideon, Hallsville, TX (Cowboys)
Megan Ozungla, San Antonio, TX (Texans) Luke Weiss, River Falls, WI (Packers)
Jessica Escalante, Santa Barbara, CA (49ers) Kyle Auernhamer, Vassar, MI (Lions)

NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick is part of NFL Youth Football, which provides ways for children to play, watch and experience the game of football.  More information about the competition is on www.NFLYouthfootball.com, the NFL’s official youth football website.


Madden NFL 09

Jan

5

Countdown Daily 1/5 - AFC Playoffs

Posted by Matt Loede under Media
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Jan

5

List of Top 2009 NFL Free Agents

Posted by Matt Loede under 2009 Free Agency
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The following is a list of the top 2009 NFL free agents.

Quarterback:
Patrick Ramsey, UFA, Denver Broncos
Charlie Batch, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyle Boller, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Matt Cassel, UFA, New England Patriots
Rex Grossman, UFA, Chicago Bears
Byron Leftwich, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
J.P. Losman, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Kyle Orton, UFA, Chicago Bears
Kurt Warner, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Jeff Garcia, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Charlie Frye UFA Seattle Seahawks
Brooks Bollinger UFA Dallas Cowboys
Chris Simms UFA Tennessee Titans
J.T. O’Sullivan UFA San Francisco 49ers
Matt Gutierrez UFA New England Patriots
Gibran Hamdan UFA Buffalo Bills
Luke McCown UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brock Berlin RFA St Louis Rams
Shane Boyd RFA Houston Texans

Running Back:
J.J. Arrington, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Correll Buckhalter, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Jesse Chatman, UFA, New York Jets
Heath Evans, UFA, New England Patriots
Brandon Jacobs, UFA, New York Giants
Kevin Jones, UFA, Chicago Bears
Ryan Moats, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Maurice Morris, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Darren Sproles, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Aaron Stecker, UFA, New Orleans Saints
Jesse Chatman UFA New York Jets
Kenneth Darby RFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carey Davis RFA Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyle Eckel RFA New England Patriots
Freddie Jackson RFA Buffalo Bills
Terrelle Smith UFA Arizona Cardinals
Jason Wright UFA Cleveland Browns

Wide Receiver:
Hank Baskett, RFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Bobby Engram, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Jabar Gaffney, UFA, New England Patriots
Dante’ Hall, UFA, St. Louis Rams
Devery Henderson, UFA, New Orleans Saints
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Sam Hurd, UFA, Dallas Cowboys
Brandon Jones, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Ashley Lelie, UFA, Denver Broncos
Shaun McDonald, UFA, Detroit Lions
Koren Robinson, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Amani Toomer, UFA, New York Giants
Miles Austin RFA Dallas Cowboys
Dane Looker UFA St Louis Rams

Tight End:
Desmond Clark, UFA, Chicago Bears
Will Heller, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Jeff King, RFA, Carolina Panthers
Jim Kleinsasser, UFA, Minnesota Vikings
Leonard Pope, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Daniel Wilcox, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Eric Johnson, UFA, New Orleans Saints
Mark Campbell UFA New Orleans Saints
Ben Patrick ERFA Arizona Cardinals
Justin Peelle UFA Atlanta Falcons

Place Kicker:
Shayne Graham, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Jason Hanson, UFA, Detroit Lions
John Kasay, UFA, Carolina Panthers
Mike Nugent, UFA, New York Jets
Matt Stover, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Punter:
Craig Hentrich, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Shane Lechler, UFA, Oakland Raiders

Offensive Line:
Stacy Andrews, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Matt Birk, UFA, Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Black, UFA, Houston Texans
Vernon Carey, UFA, Miami Dolphins
George Foster, UFA, Detroit Lions
Mike Goff, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Chris Gray, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Jordan Gross, UFA, Carolina Panthers
Pete Kendall, UFA, Washington Redskins
Seth McKinney, UFA, Cleveland Browns
Jon Runyan, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Mark Tauscher, UFA, Green Bay Packers
Tra Thomas, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Fred Weary, UFA, Houston Texans
John Welbourn, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Kirk Chambers UFA Buffalo Bills
Duke Preston UFA Buffalo Bills

Defensive Line:
Jonathan Babineaux, UFA, Atlanta Falcons
Bertrand Berry, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Kevin Carter, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Shaun Cody, UFA, Detroit Lions
Albert Haynesworth, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Tank Johnson, UFA, Dallas Cowboys
Julius Peppers, UFA, Carolina Panthers
Terrell Suggs, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
John Thornton, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Marcus Tubbs, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Victor Adeyanju RFA St Louis Rams
La’Roi Glover UFA St Louis Rams
Jerome McDougle UFA New York Giants

Linebacker:
Eric Barton, UFA, New York Jets
Jordan Beck, UFA, Denver Broncos
Monty Beisel, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Channing Crowder, UFA, Miami Dolphins
Karlos Dansby, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Tyjuan Hagler, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Ray Lewis, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Willie McGinest, UFA, Cleveland Browns
Mike Peterson, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Carlos Polk, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Bart Scott, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Terrell Suggs, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Jonathan Vilma, UFA, New Orleans Saints
Sam Williams, UFA, Oakland Raiders
Rocky Boiman UFA Philadelphia Eagles
John DiGiorgio RFA Buffalo Bills
Keith Ellison RFA Buffalo Bills
Buster Davis ERFA Detroit Lions
Larry Izzo UFA New England Patriots
Zach Thomas UFA Dallas Cowboys

Defensive Back:
Nnamdi Asomugha, UFA, Oakland Raiders
Tyron Brackenridge, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Brown, UFA, Chicago Bears
Phillip Buchanon, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brian Dawkins, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Chris Gamble, UFA, Carolina Panthers
Jabari Greer, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Rodney Harrison, UFA, New England Patriots
Kelvin Hayden, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Renaldo Hill, UFA, Miami Dolphins
Daven Holly, UFA, Cleveland Browns
Dawan Landry, RFA, Baltimore Ravens
Bryant McFadden, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
R.W. McQuarters, UFA, New York Giants
Justin Miller, UFA, New York Jets
Lawyer Milloy, UFA, Atlanta Falcons
Jarrad Page, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Dunta Robinson, UFA, Houston Texans
Allen Rossum, UFA, San Francisco 49ers
Darren Sharper, UFA,Minnesota Vikings
Will Allen UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Adams UFA Cleveland Browns
Rashad Baker UFA Oakland Raiders
Jason Craft UFA St Louis Rams
Reed Doughty RFA Washington Redskins
Demarcus Faggins UFA Houston Texans
Sean Jones UFA Cleveland Browns
Jermaine Phillips UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers
James Sanders UFA New England Patriots
George Wilson UFA Buffalo Bills

Jan

5

A Quick and Early Look at This Weekend’s Divisional Playoff Games

Posted by Matt Loede under Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers
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Here’s a quick and early look at “rematch” weekend around the league in the Divisional Playoffs:

Baltimore at Tennessee - These two teams met in week five and the Titans won 13-10 in Baltimore. This is going to be a hard-hitting game and right now the Ravens defense is going to be tough to score against. The Titans will need to run the ball with success to try and avoid putting Kerry Collins in a tough spot. As for Joe Flacco, the rookie Ravens signal caller looked great vs the Fins, but the Titans defnese with a returning Albert Haynesworth is another story. Don’t expect either team to put up more than 17 points.

Arizona at Carolina - The Panthers had to rally in week eight to overcome the Cards 27-23 at home. Arizona is coming off a bizarre win over the Falcons in which they actually tried to run the ball. They won’t have much success in doing that vs the Panthers, and will have to challenge Carolina in the air a lot, and I wouldn’t doubt Kurt Warner throwing 40+ times. As for the Panthers on offense, they will run a lot, and I think their running game with Jonathan Stewart and more so from DeAngelo Williams is going to have a big night. Expect plenty of points on each side in a shootout.

Philadelphia at New York Giants - The real grudge game of the divisional round pits two teams that know each other all too well. The Eagles are one of just four teams to top the Giants, and that came just six weeks ago on December 7th 20-14 in New York. The Eagles are playing with a lot of confidence, and the Giants had better be ready. Don’t underestimate the Giants though, they were 12-4 for a reason, and Eli Manning and his crew always seem to play big when they need it, and should have a comeback effort for their last outing here.

San Diego vs Pittsburgh - This was a wild game back on November 16th when the Steelers won 11-10. It was the first 11-10 game in the history of the league. The Steelers dominated in the yards department to the tune of 410 to 218. The Chargers will be likely without LaDainian Tomlinson, and that will put a lot of pressure on Philip Rivers and Darren Sproles. Ben Roethlisberger is coming off a concussion, but he says he’ll be ready to go. The Steelers are six-point favorites, the biggest line of any of the games this weekend.

Jan

5

Steelers LB Harrison Named AP Defensive Player of the Year

Posted by Matt Loede under Pittsburgh Steelers
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Steelers linebacker James Harrison got rewarded today for his record breaking season, as he was named by the AP as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The linebacker had a career-high 16 sacks, set a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles.

He beat Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league’s stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer. “

That’s something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year,” Harrison said. “In my mind, I think I do—and it’s going to sound boring—what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do.”

Harrison is their first defensive player of the year since Rod Woodson in 1993. He is the fifth Steelers player to win the award. Every other Steelers player is in the Hall of Fame (Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Lambert) except Woodson, who likely will be voted in next month.

Jan

5

NFL Touchdown Playoff Quick Keys

Posted by Andy Benoit under Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles
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Arizona Cardinals

Key vs. Atlanta was…

The play of the Arizona front four. Rightfully maligned as an inconsistent and lethargic unit late in the season, Clancy Pendergast’s defensive line exploded against a somewhat undersized Falcons front five. Matt Ryan was pressured all day and sacked three times, and the league’s second leading rusher, Michael Turner, was held to just 42 yards on 18 carries.

Veteran defensive end Bertrand Berry was particularly effective working against rookie left tackle Sam Baker (who had been battling back problems in the weeks leading up to the game). The Falcons also made the mistake of not double-teaming defensive tackle Darnell Dockett. Instead, they singled him up with former undrafted free agent Harvey Dahl. Dockett is by no means a superstar, but his quick hands make him extremely dangerous in a three-technique. Plus, simple film study reveals that Dockett – who is by far Arizona’s most important D-lineman – dominates against single blocking, but disappears against double teams.


Key vs. Carolina will be…

Stopping one of the league’s best rushing attacks. Don’t expect the Cardinals to do it. As well as the front four played Saturday, it’s doubtful they can reenact the performance against an oversized and aggressive Carolina offensive line. A lot of responsibility will fall on the linebackers. Arizona will need Karlos Dansby to be in his brilliant mode (a tossup given the way Dansby’s week-to-week output fluctuates).

It was shrewd of Pendergast to limit middle linebacker Gerald Hayes to one-gap responsibilities against Atlanta – watch Hayes on tape and you’ll quickly see that he’s a star when he does not have to think, but a liability when he does. Stopping the run is the first key for the Cardinals, but it might not be enough anyway. It remains to be seen whether Antrel Rolle is a good enough safety to help the corners contain Steve Smith.


Philadelphia Eagles

Key vs. Minnesota was…

Doing exactly what everyone thought they’d do: load the box to stop Adrian Peterson (20 carries, 83 yards, though only 43 yards on 19 carries if you take away his one big run), then blitz Tarvaris Jackson in third-and-long situations. Right now the Eagles front seven is as venomous as it’s ever been under Jim Johnson, and that’s saying a lot. Two players who have really emerged are middle linebacker Stewart Bradley and pass-rushing defensive end Chris Clemons.


Key vs. New York will be…

Letting the stars shine. It’s pretty simple when you’re facing a divisional rival for the third time this season, and fourth time in the postseason. Both sides know what the other side brings. For Philly, it will be about Andy Reid continuing to go to Brian Westbrook, and Donovan McNabb prioritizing speedy rookie receiver DeSean Jackson when making his reads. The Eagles will struggle to run against the Giants, just like they struggled to run against Minnesota.

But slow developing plays – such as screens and draws – are always a way to isolate Westbrook’s skills. As for finding Jackson, Philly would be wise to get him the ball early and in space (end-arounds, bubble screens, etc.). This allows the rookie to be creative and search for the homerun. It’s important for Jackson to become the aggressor early, for he will have a tough time against the physical Giant cornerbacks, and the Eagles can’t afford to have him get rattled like he did against Washington.

For AFC Playoffs, visit www.NFLTouchdown.com

Jan

5

2009 Offseason Overview: AFC North

Posted by Ian Leslie under Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Offseason Overview, Pittsburgh Steelers
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AFC North:
Pittsburgh Steelers:

-The Steelers have always been a smashmouth team on both sides of the ball, but they sort of got away from that style offensively this season. This was mostly due to their two starting running backs, going down with injuries, and their poor offensive line. However, they are still one of the elite teams in the entire league, thanks to their outstanding defense, and Ben Roethlisberger. Their main goal this offseason will be to upgrade their offensive line, which has allowed too many hits on Roethlisberger, and not opened up enough holes for the ground attack.

Key FAs:

-QB Byron Leftwich: due to the amount of hits Ben Roethlisberger has sustained this season, Leftwich has been a valuable commodity when coming in for the hurting starter. I’m not sure if he has done enough for another team to consider him a starter, but he might want to come back, as this has been a good situation for him so far.

-OT Willie Colon: has done a decent job in the ground game on the right side, but pass protection has been horrible all season.

-OT Marvel Smith: I really see the Steelers going in a different direction at the tackle position. They will likely look for a new starter either through the draft or in free agency.

-CB Bryant McFadden: has played very well this season, and may field offers from other teams that are too high for the Steelers to match. Benefits from an outstanding pass rush, but still a solid starter.

Needs: OL, DL, CB, LB, P

-Offensive line has to be the number one need for this team going into the offseason. The problem for the Steelers is that they will once again be picking late in the first round, which could put the elite tackle prospects out of reach for them. However, they may also elect to trade back, and grab one of the solid guard or center prospects that are also available. Punter has also been a concern of which they will look to address this summer.

-The Steelers’ defense has been outstanding all year, but management may look to bring in some depth at the defensive line, cornerback, and linebacker positions. All of the starters on the defensive line are thirty or over, so look for Pittsburgh to try and find players that they can fit into their 3-4 alignment either through the draft or in free agency. Cornerback is another area in which they could be a little short in the depth department, especially if Bryant McFadden is not retained. Also, the starters at LB are all excellent, but the Steelers may look to add some solid back ups as insurance.

Baltimore Ravens:

-The strength of the Ravens is their defense, but the offense is slowly catching up, thanks to rookie QB Joe Flacco and a strong running game. The Ravens face an interesting offseason in which a few key players are becoming unrestricted free agents, including team leader Ray Lewis. GM Ozzie Newsome has to decide what he is going to do with the linebacker, who has played at a very high level all season. The problem the Ravens face is that Lewis is getting older, so length of contract may be a big talking point, as well, a couple other big names on their defense need new contracts.

Key FAs:

-QB Kyle Boller: He will be let go to pursue maybe a starting position elsewhere. He has a strong arm, but has been a disappointment in Baltimore after being thrust into the spotlight to early.

-FB Lorenzo Neal: Everywhere he goes the running game seems to get better, and Baltimore was no exception. Baltimore may not be able to afford to bring him back, so look for him to lend his services elsewhere.

-LB Ray Lewis: Has been a fixture in the organization and leader of a defense that is always strong and competitive. Look for the Ravens to do whatever it takes to bring him back, as he is highly regarded in the organization, and the leader of their locker room.

-LB Bart Scott: Has emerged as one of their best linebackers, but much like what they did with Adulias Thomas, the Ravens might let him seek big money elsewhere, and replace him with a player already on the roster.

-DE Terrell Suggs: Has emerged as a big time pass rushing threat. After being franchised last summer, he might not be affordable for the cash strapped Ravens, and will be a commodity on the open market.

-SS Dawan Landry: He is a restricted free agent, but the Ravens may be at risk to lose him to an offer sheet, so they will slap a big compensation package on him for anyone trying to take him from them. He is very young, and very talented, so they may be forced to sign him to a long term deal sometime soon.

Needs: CB, LB, OL, WR

-There were some big shoes to be filled when Jonathan Ogden retired after an illustrious career. However, LT Jared Gaither did a very good job stepping in for the legend, and has combined with LG Ben Grubbs to form a nice, young left side. The Ravens may look to add another offensive tackle, though, as on the right side, Willie Anderson is 33, while Adam Terry may not be suited to play there. Although Flacco was sacked 34 times, that is not all on the line, as a rookie quarterback tends to hang onto the ball longer and take unnecessary hits. The Ravens may look to add another wideout, as even though Michael Clayton has shown some big play ability, he is still not that explosive, and Derrick Mason is just more of a possession wide receiver, who is getting older.

-If it wasn’t for the absolute steal of Fabian Washington from the Raiders, this might be an even more glaring need. Washington was excellent in a year, where Samari Rolle and Chris McCalister showed their age, and appear to be fading. The Ravens will probably look to add a good, young corner through the draft that can play in man-to-man. The Ravens have done a good job of filling in their holes at linebacker with good young players in their system, but it may be time to look for some reinforcements in this years draft, either at rush OLB or ILB.

Cleveland Browns:

-After such a promising season, the Browns suffered a monumental letdown in 2008, and have fired both their head coach and GM. Considering this roster has all sorts of talent on it, they underachieved, and couldn’t handle their tough schedule. Whoever comes into this job shouldn’t have that much work, as like I said, there is talent, but they must change the culture, as both Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage were “nice” to a fault. They will also have to unload one of their starting QBs, most likely Derek Anderson.

Anderson didn’t exactly increase his trade value this season, and if anything, lowered it significantly. He has a strong arm, but is extremely erratic, and it doesn’t help your completion percentage when you have a receiver who drops the ball as much as Braylon Edwards does. It looks as though owner Randy Lerner is trying to bring in a big name like Bill Cowher, or Marty Schottenheimer, but Cowher has already turned it down, so who knows what will happen with their coaching situation.

Key FAs:

-LB Andra Davis: Has started for the Browns ever since he was drafted by them, but has fallen out of favor, and has been overshadowed by D’Qwell Jackson, who led the league in tackles this year.

-LB Willie McGinest: Has been a great mentor for the young players on the defense, especially Kamerion Wimbley, but has lost a step, and may retire or come back for a lesser salary.

-SS Sean Jones: Is part of a good young secondary, and will most likely be brought back with an extension.

Needs: WR, DL, LB

-With Brady Quinn most likely pegged as the starter he is going to need some consistent targets. Donte Stallworth has struggled with injuries, and will need to regain the form that made him a prized free agent, while Braylon Edwards needs to find his 2007 form, and stop dropping the ball. The Browns may try and find more touches for Joshua Cribbs, and Joe Jurevicius is talking of coming back as well. Some depth at this position could be useful, though.

-On the defensive side of the ball, there will need to be some attention paid to the front 7, as they struggled to stop the run this year. Shaun Rogers was a great pick up, but they need more than him on their line, as well as a big linebacker who can fill the gaps and make solid tackles, is needed to replace Davis. Another pass rushing specialist at linebacker is also needed if Willie McGinest is not brought back, and even if he is, this still could be a need.

Cincinnati Bengals:

-How Marvin Lewis has managed to keep his job is incredible. The Bengals started this season 0-8, and there was speculation that he might get canned then, but he stayed on as head coach, and now with all of the latest firings in the NFL, he has still yet to be fired. To the Bengals credit, they did play pretty well down the stretch after their horrendous start, and they were missing starting QB Carson Palmer, not to mention the distraction of Chad Johnson in the summer.

Once an offensive force, now the defense has seemed to of caught up to the O, and it looks as if the offense is going to need to be rebuilt. There is also the question of what will happen with Carson Palmer. He went down with an elbow injury, and was reportedly speaking with Jake Delhomme about Tommy John surgery. Delhomme made a full recovery after the surgery, and is back to playing at a high level, so if Palmer elects to have the surgery, he should be back at some point next year.

Key FAs:

-QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: Struggled in his first few starts with turnovers, but was solid down the stretch. May stick around as insurance for Palmer, if Palmer is not ready in time for the start of 2009.

-RB Cedric Benson: Found the form that made him a top 5 pick, with the Bengals and should be brought back to compete for the number one RB position.

-WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh: Had another solid statistical season, but may bolt to a contender.

-OT Stacy Andrews: was franchised last summer by the team, so they must have seen enough in him to not let him walk. However, he gave up 9.5 sacks this season on the right side, and with promising rookie Anthony Collins playing well at LT, Andrews may be expendable.

-K Shayne Graham: Mr. Consistency for the Bengals. They would be wise to bring him back after another solid year, although he did not make or attempt any 50+ yard field goals.

-DL John Thornton: At age 32, he may be let go because of his age. Still somewhat effective, but easily replaceable.

Needs: DE, WR, TE, RB, LB

-The need at WR really hinges on what happens with their two starters, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson. As mentioned earlier, T.J. is an unrestricted free agent, and Chad Johnson may get traded because of the distraction he has become. Even if only one of them stays around, the need isn’t so great after the drafting of Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson last April. The Bengals brought in Colts back up Ben Utecht to be the much needed pass catching tight end in the offense, but he was a bust, so the search continues. As far as running back, the Bengals may look to bring in a running mate to help Cedric Benson, or as an insurance policy, if they are still not fully convinced that he can be a number one guy.

-The Bengals were one of the worst teams in the league at pressuring the quarterback this season. They finished with only 17 sacks as a team, good for second worst in the league. All things considered, it was amazing how well their secondary played in spite of having to cover for longer periods of time. Also, it is hard to say that the defense really played all that bad this season, but this is definitely an area of concern heading into next year. As far as the need at LB, it is not dire, but some more depth would really shore up that unit.

Jan

4

Eagles Move on to Giants Following 26-14 Win Over Vikings

Posted by Landis Andrews under Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles
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The Philadelphia Eagles triumphed over the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minnesota, by a score of 26-24.

Brian Dawkins and Asante Samuel showed why they earned their Pro Bowl slots by leading this defense in an impressive performance.

Samuel set an NFL record for being the first player to have four post-season interceptions for touchdowns while Dawkins had 5.5 tackles, a forced fumble and he came up with the team’s only sack of the night.

Vikings head coach Brad Childress was quick to hurl laurels at the Eagle defense.

“They played with great resolve,” Childress said. “They didn’t lose sight of the big picture.”

Tavaris Jackson was not able to keep his team’s eyes on the prize.

Jackson went 15 for 35 for a measly 176 yards and zero touchdowns.

Adrian Peterson provided what little help he could. Although the Eagles made sure Peterson was not the person that beat them, he ran for 83 yards on 20 carries, and had two touchdowns. Almost half his yards coming on a 40-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

AP AD had a hard fought night. Other than his 40-yarder, he had no rushing attempt that went for more than six yards. His only other long play came at the end of the game when he was sent back to return a kick in a last ditch effort to make something big happen. His 20-yard return did not spark anything from the Viking offense.

Speaking of offense, they Eagles had a lot of it. McNabb threw for 300 yards on 23 completions with one touchdown and one interception.

His hard work went unrewarded for most of the game. It was not until the 10th drive, which came in the fourth quarter, that the Eagles offense was able to find the endzone. Donovan McNabb said he was never worried about that.

“I wouldn’t say that we were struggling,” McNabb said. “We were able to sustain some drives but we just couldn’t come up with a touchdown.”

The veteran quarterback said this helped his offense wear down the Purple People Eaters and allowed them to strike at the proper time.

“We tried to soften them up a little bit with the run game,” McNabb said.

When Eagles head coach Andy Reid felt the time was right, he called on the ever-patient Brian Westbrook to run a screen pass. This was the most successful play of the night, and the second longest play in Eagle-postseason history.

Accompanied by a convoy of green helmets, the Eagle offense treated Westbrook like a king, not letting anyone touch him for 71 yards and dropped him off in the endzone.

“They had been pressuring us all game with the linebackers and the defensive line,” Wesbrook said. “We just called the right play at the right time.”

It will take much more than that to defeat “a tough Giant team” (I quoted that phrase because it was echoed by Reid, McNabb and Westbrook). The best team in the strongest conference in the league has had a week off, and now they will set their sights on a conference rival that split the season series.

The New York Giants defeated the Eagles early in the season and the Birds returned the favor, defeating the G-Men in NY.

In a bit of role reversal, the Eagles, who played their way into the playoffs on the back of a highly scrutinized quarterback, will ride a late-season wave into Giants Stadium to face a team that was in their position this time last season. The Giants rode that wave all the way to the Super Bowl. Will Philadelphia be able to make their way to Tampa while taking a detour in New York?

Jan

4

Falcons Coach Mike Smith Wins AP Coach of the Year Award

Posted by Matt Loede under Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins
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Not all the news this weekend is bad for the Falcons. Sunday, a day after the team was eliminated from the playoffs, head coach Mike Smith was bestowed from The Associated Press as the 2008 NFL Coach of the Year. Smith edged out Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano by one vote.

“I’m honored individually, but more so for our coaching staff and our players. I think we have tried to establish that we’d be very systematic in how we did things, that we were going to have a plan,” Smith said. “We laid that plan out from the very beginning how we were going to practice, how we were going to travel, how we were going to meet, how we were going to communicate, and I think the guys really appreciated definitely how we presented the plan in the framework for us to start the season.”

Smith took a team that was 4-12 last season and in complete turmoil and turned them into a great NFL story as they went 11-5, and were the fifth seed in the NFC. They fell 30-24 to the Cardinals on Saturday in a wild card game in Arizona. Smith was helped out a lot by QB Matt Ryan, who won the AP Rookie of the Year award, and RB Michael Turner, who ran for one yard short of 1,700 yards and 17 TD’s.

Jan

4

Ravens Take Apart Miami to Move on in the AFC 27-9

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins
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The Miami Dolphins, whether they had the playoff jitters or were just happy to be in a playoff game, happened to have the good misfortune of having the Baltimore Ravens as their first-round opponents in the AFC playoffs. And if performance on the field had anything to do with the final outcome, I would have to say that the Dolphins were in over their heads. Miami quarterback Chad Pennington threw four interceptions - one returned for a touchdown - while the Ravens defense held the Dolphins to 276 total yards. The end result of this massacre was Baltimore thoroughly annihilating Miami at Dolphin Stadium 27-9.

Ed Reed shone brightly for the Baltimore secondary as he has a pair of interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown. But first things first; the first quarter was one of attrition as little offense was generated and the only scoring was a pair of field goals - one by Dan Carpenter and one by Matt Stover, which tied things up at 3 going into the second quarter. The second period brought the aforementioned interception by Reed - returned 64 yards for a score - and a 23-yard FG by Stover, which put Baltimore up 13-3, which would be their lead going into halftime.

The Ravens would add to their lead when running back Le’Ron McClain scored from 8 yards out, giving Baltimore a 20-3; the Dolphins would not recover thereafter. Joe Flacco had a rotten day for the Ravens - although they didn’t suffer from it - as he went 9-of-23 for 135 yards while the Dolphins’ Pennington didn’t do much better as he went 25-of-38 for 252 with a TD and 4 INTs.

McClain led the Ravens’ potent running game with 75 yards on 19 carries and a TD while Willis McGahee added 62 yards on only 7 carries; Ronnie Brown was the leader of the Dolphins rushing attack, although he managed only 19 yards on 12 carries. Derrick Mason led the Ravens’ receivers with 4 receptions for 75 yards while the Dolphins’ Patrick Cobbs caught four for 55 yards. Baltimore continures on the playoff trail, when they travel to Nashville to face the Titans next Saturday at 4:30 PM (EST).

One thing that can be said about the Dolphins - yes they got demolished at home by the Ravens. However, it can only get better for them as they have a solid foundation of players on their roster and a Coach of the Year in Tony Sparano. If they can retain Ricky Williams and make a smart decision about their future at QB, they should be in relatively good shape for the ‘09-’10 seaosn and beyond. Now pray that GM Bill Parcells doesn’t think he’s the second coming of George Steinbrenner and start meddling unnecessarily.

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