Darrelle Revis' return to the Jets instantly makes Rex Ryan look smarter and Mark Sanchez appear better. The Jets wouldn't have made the playoffs without the NFL's best cover corner. I'll give Revis props for actually enjoying the pressure of playing in New York......unlike LeQuit James.
You know you’re an NFL junkie when you wake up the day after Labor Day and one of the first things that pops into your head is….”It’s week 1 week!” We are officially in football season, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m like a kid at Toy-R-Us, Rex Ryan around donuts and “snacks”, and the sluts from The Bachelor Pad around men all wrapped into one. The opening week of college football provided the appetizer for what’s on tap this week. For me, I have two fantasy football drafts, the Thursday night kickoff, a great Saturday of college action, and the main course of NFL games on Sunday. I may not be seen or heard from until next Monday. So, with the NFL season upon us, here are 16 things I’m looking forward to as the march to SuperBowl XLV begins.
Side Note: Why 16? You didn’t really think I could do an NFL preview without mentioning the greatest quarterback of all time, did you? In case you forgot, #16 never threw an interception in his 4 SuperBowl victories.
1. Darrelle Revis & the Jets: Revis Island has not surprisingly returned to the J-E-T-S(you didn’t really think he would forfeit game checks, did you?) Revis instantly makes the Jets a better team, and Rex Ryan a better coach. I still have my doubts about Mark Sanchez, though. I was high on Sanchez coming out of USC, but HBO’s Hard Knocks has shown he has a little bit of that Matt Leinart-USC diva in him. The episode when quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh was telling him he needs to be a better leader and handle criticism better was one of the highlights of the season. How did The Sanchize react? By playing around with his backpack and not looking his coach in the eye. Too much, too soon for New York’s favorite quarterback? Time will tell, but his leadership is something to keep an eye on. Also, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is looking to become a head coach. To do that he wants his offense to be more explosive this year. Can Sanchez expand from what he did last year? I have my doubts. It’s why I still think the “Hollywood” Jets, again, finish 9-7–even with the best cornerback since Deion Sanders.
2. Lord Favre: Raise your hand if you are hoping the Saints beat up his Lordship Thursday night like they did in the NFC Championship Game? That’s what I thought. This comeback could be as bad as an aging Ric Flair return to the ring. Favre was phenomenal last year, but with Sidney Rice sidelined, and the offensive line appearing more vulnerable than last year, can he repeat that type of play? I don’t see it. I still think he’ll make every start, but this team could struggle early. I think the Vikings will make the playoffs, but it will be as a wild card. I could also see Favre quitting by Halloween if the Vikes start slow and he knows a SuperBowl trip is out of the question. Would it shock you if he told everyone just how much his ankle is killing him and he can’t continue playing? You know a teary eyed press conference is possible.
Your 2010 NFL MVP ladies and gentleman. Mike Nolan will forever be viewed as a football ass-hat for passing on this kid. Nice call, Mike.
3. Aaron Rodgers: The main reason why the Vikings will be fighting for a wild card berth come December. My pick for NFL MVP has the look of someone who is going to dominate the league. Rodgers threw only 7 picks last year despite playing behind an aging offensive line that’s one of the worst in football. Remember that number, Bears fans, when you make excuses for why Gay Butler throws 20 plus picks again. In my predictions piece, I picked the Packers to get to the SuperBowl. I wouldn’t have if they had just about any other quarterback, but that’s how good I think this guy is. Rodgers is on the Brady-Manning-Brees level, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he vaults to the top of that list this season.
4. Ben Roethlisberger: The former Steroidlers captain will be back in time to save his team’s season. Mention the words Dennis Dixon and Pittsburgh fans immediately become ill. Big Ben and his little Ben have hopefully learned something from this ordeal. He is still a creep and a sexual deviant. Make no mistake about that. However, if they can avoid a 1-3 start, they will be your AFC North division champs. If they can’t, Big Ben and little Ben will be scrutinized all over again.
5. Terrell Owens & Chad Ochocinco: T.O. has and will always be a team cancer. If the Bungals were getting 2001 T.O., I’d believe this team could make the playoffs. However, despite a good defense, the thought of the reality TV C-list leading this team over Pittsburgh and Baltimore is funnier than their shows combined.
6. Dennis Dixon: That sound you hear is me laughing and Pittsburgh fans vomiting in their terrible towels.
7. Ryan Matthews: The fantasy “experts” are all over this kid and for good reason. He is a really good back, and will have a solid season. Plus, I drafted him in fantasy this year. That’s either the kiss of death or my fantasy luck really is turning around.
8. Mike Martz & Gay Butler: You didn’t think I’d leave out the locals, did you? This is a marriage made in football hell. Martz likes his quarterbacks to be robots, and Butler is anything but. Butler likes to throw the ball on the run(bootlegs, moving pocket, etc.) but Martz hardly uses those plays. This fake love fest will be over quickly. Martz was highly critical of #6 for a reason last year(he played bad and Martz didn’t like how he handled himself). And don’t forget that #6 didn’t want Martz before he was hired. This pre-arranged marriage will be a disaster. Oh, and did I mention that offensive line and porous secondary? Nevermind, let’s move on.
9. Derek Anderson: Remember when the Cardinals went to the SuperBowl? Enjoy that memory because it’s not happening again anytime soon. How many times do you think Larry Fitzgerald has called Kurt Warner this summer begging him to come back? I’m putting the over/under at 68.
10. Peyton Manning: From a horrendous quarterback to perhaps the best. Manning’s Colts are again a shoe-in for the Playoffs. Add the fact that he’s in a contract year, and he will again perform at his typical peak level.
11. Drew Brees: Another player who will likely see massive amounts of cash coming his way in the near future. Brees will, again, put up great number even if the Saints have a harder time in 2010. Now if we can only do something about his hair.
12. Mike Shanahan & the Redskins: Shanahan has been over the top in his treatment of Albert Haynesworth(just cut him or trade him already), but he will make the Redskins better. Donovan McNabb will show Eagles fans just how good he is if his ankle holds up. The Redskins are a team to watch despite not having much at the wide receiver position. This is another team that is one more draft away from serious contention.
13. Barry Sanders 2.0: How can Chris Johnson possibly top his insane 2009? I doubt he rushes for 2,000 yards again, but the number 1 pick in fantasy football will again electrify. My only beef with CJ2K is that he needs to stop thinking he can beat Usain Bolt in any kind of race. It might only be close if Bolt was wearing the old Charles Barkley Nike’s or any Reebok shoe.
14. The race for the # 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft: This will be a heated race between the Bills(front runners), Jags(sleeper), and the Browns(Mangini is still the coach). Jake Locker and Andrew Luck are vying for to be the first pick, but there’s a good chance they have said to themselves “F***, I don’t want to go to Buffalo.” The Bills are going to be a miserable team to watch this year. Jake Locker will be rooting hard for the Bills this year.
15. Pete Carroll: We now know why the king of USC took the Seahawks gig. The shit storm that came down on that program was similar to the feds raiding Sam “Ace” Rothstein and Nicky Santoro’s Tangiers casino. Carroll inherits a team that isn’t very talented, and, no doubt, had less top level players than his 2005 Trojans. He has a lot of work to do.
No NFL preview is complete without mentioning the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
16. Alex Smith: The 49ers have a deep and talented team, but it all comes back to Smith. He finally was given the same offensive coordinator in back to back years. That may not seem like much, but 5 O.C.’s in 5 years would be tough on any player. He doesn’t have to be Joe Montana or Steve Young with this 49ers squad. All he has to do is build on his play from last year, continue to show strong leadership qualities, and not over think every play like he has in the past. Smith has a good line in front of him that is full of 1st & 2nd round picks. He’s also fortunate to have Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree handling the ball. That’s a good group. The time is now for Smith to show that he has it or he doesn’t. There is no in-between.
The end of summer is always a depressing time(especially when you live in Chicago), but the start of fall brings the start of the greatest sport in the world. Lord Favre’s beating 2.0 is finally here. Once he gets up limping like someone shot his leg off it will definitely feel like football season. And not a moment too soon.
