NFC East - The Lock Out Review

The NFC East Preview - Before any trading takes place, before anyone can begin the shifty movements between teams; let us take a look at this division and see how these teams match up, and what they need to do in order to get a championship.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys were the biggest disappointment last year. At the beginning of the season most football analysts claimed that the Cowboys would be in the Superbowl. Well, that did not happen. As a matter of fact, the Cowboys were down right pathetic. Big named stars making large salaries were just not performing up to the standards of a Superbowl team. So, we blamed the coach and sent him packing and then Garrett stepped in and the team performed fairly well but still had some major concerns on both sides of the ball. Let us examine these concerns.

Offense

QB

The position of Quarterback is arguably the Cowboys greatest challenge. Tony Romo has held this position for several years and has done a good job holding the reigns. As a matter of fact, Romo has an above average QB rating for a starting QB, his interceptions have progressively decreased, and his fumbles have been greatly reduced. With all of that being said, I don't know if Romo is a true leader. He has always had concerns when the Cowboys have been in the playoffs. He has never really lead this team. He has always been just one of the "boys." Everyone thought once T.O. left town, Romo would break out and become the leader everyone wants him to become. Unfortunately that hasn't happened yet.

RB

Between Marion Barber and Felix Jones, this is a great one, two punch. In the draft they also picked up DeMarco Murray who could add another dimension to the game.

WR

Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are the two featured WR, considering Roy Williams has done very little for the team. Austin could have an amazing year. Bryant the jury is still out. I will let you know, though.

TE

Jason Witten - Solid.

Line

Average. The team had shifting concerns last year on the left and right side. Personally, I think the real issue with the line is the center. Hopefully, this offseason the Cowboys will make necessary adjustments.

Defense

LB

Solid

Secondary

Could use an upgrade. Both sides are weak. But for the most part, Ball and Newman need to go. These are very weak players in the NFL and should be considered backups and not starters.

Ends and Line

Bowan is a beast. Could use a matching end of the right side.

My take:

Once trading can take place. Trade Romo. Romo is still worthy of getting some good players and high draft picks. Trade him and acquire a first round draft pick or a great starting QB. Trade Roy Williams. Make a deal with the Patriots and take any of their WR that is collecting dust on the bench because they will perform better than that SOB. Spend some money and pick up some great Secondary players. Just about anyone will be better than Ball or Newman. Do this and win the NFC East.

New York Giants

The Giants battled their way to the playoffs. Getting in with a Wild Card. Personally, I think this is one of the luckiest teams in the last 10 years. Everything that happens with this team is luck. Let's take a look at this team.

Offense

QB

Eli has a low QB rating for a starting QB. Last year, he had 25 interceptions. 25 interceptions does not get a team into the playoffs…wait a minute…they were in the playoffs. Eli has managed to rack up over 4000 yards in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Also, in the past two years his completion percentage has been in the 60%.

RB

The last two years Brandon Jacobs has been slipping. 2008 season was his best and it is looking like it might be time to put this guy down.

WR

Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham really came into there own this year. Watch out for these two.

TE

Kevin Boss is probably the most standard TE in the game. in the past two seasons, Boss has gained 500+ yards, and has 5 touchdowns.

Line

They have a fairly strong line. It has really improved from a year ago.

Defense

LB

This is arguably the worst group of LB in the league. I believe that this was the greatest challenge for the Giants in 2010. More often than not, teams would pass over the middle or run up the middle and these linebackers were sad to watch.

Secondary

This is a great secondary. Maybe the best Cornerback secondary in the league. And the safeties are not too shabby either.

Ends and Line

Tuck and that other guy on the right side are unbelievable. This is the greatest Defensive End grouping ever in the history of the NFL. The D line has some concerns but its weakest team member is Canty and that isn't too bad.

My take:

Bring in some great RB and LB. This is all that you will need with all that luck this team has. If the Giants see to one or the other position in the off season, they will go to the Superbowl.

Philadelphia Eagles

Everyone who reads this blog knows that I jumped on to the M. Vick bandwagon early on. So some of this will not come as a surprise to you but I bet that some of it will make you wonder if I am alright in the head. You all probably already think that.

QB

M. Vick did great last year. Arguably the best QB of the 2010 season. At least he was the most talked about.

RB

LeSean McCoy had a fairly good year. 1000 yards + rushing a few touch downs.

WR

DeSean Jackson and Jermy Maklin…wow!

TE

Brent Celek is a solid TE. He had a rather slow year due to the new weapons.

Line

The right side is a little weak but I do not believe that this has to do with a particular player it is more about the coaching.

Defense

LB

Bradley maybe the only bright spot on this LB squad.

Secondary

This team is loaded with great corners. The safeties are pretty young but they have done a fairly good job at these positions.

Ends and Line

The ends and the line are above average.

My take:

Personally, this is what I would do. I would trade Vick. I would get a fast WR, a great back up RB. and find some LB with some balls. Have Kolb run the offense and this will make you Superbowl champs next year.

Washington Redskins

This team had the makings of one of the greatest football teams in history. The Shannahans, McNabb, Portis, Cooley, etc… Well, as we know, nothing great came from this but a horrible disaster.

QB

Um…who is the QB now?

RB

Um…well. (Chirp, chirp)

TE

Cooley is a great TE.

WR

Well, Um…

Line

I don't know if they ever showed up last year to judge them.

Defense

LB

The Redskins LB are very strong.

Secondary

DeAngelo Hall is the brightest part about this secondary.

Ends and Line

Well…moving on.

My take:

This has the makings of the 2003 Oakland Raiders all over it. The Shannahans has now officially deconstructed a team that they put together. Now what? They need to build it back up. unfortunately they have done a poor job in doing so in the draft and else where. What would I do? Fire the Shannahans.

Love it or hate it…I want to hear from you. Tell me how much you hate me for making fun of your team or tell me that you agree with me.

To Live and Die in L.A.

Well…Well….

Here we are again. Talking about who is going to be the next L.A. NFL Football Team. The choices are between:

St. Louis Rams

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

Hmmm….Oakland and St. Louis were once L.A. Teams and if I remember correctly the fans didn't support them. At least not the Rams. The Rams ran out of L.A. Oakland is a wild card any way you look at it. Al wants to be in L.A. then he doesn't. Al wants what is best for Al.

The Chargers is an interesting pick. This team is doing well in San Diego. The fans are as loyal as you get. Well at least until you move your team to L.A. This would not be a good idea.

Jacksonville is horrible. This team needs some TNT rather than a move to LA LA land. The Jags have never really attracted a large fan base so this maybe a good move for them.

Minnesota has been threatening to move for some time now. Honestly, I am bored with the whole thing. It is reminiscent of when Favre wants to come out of retirement or when Bernard Hopkins wants to talk about something he knows nothing about. But lets review, fans are relatively present in Minnesota. The team has been going through some growing pains here and there. The whole Favre thing is pathetic. The rebirth of Randy Moss in Minnesota was a sad sight to see. Childress…well, enough said.

Personally, I thin the league should grow. The league should accept two to eight more teams. Here is where I think teams should go:

Los Angeles

Portland

Las Vegas

Vancouver

Mexico City

San Antonio

Quebec

Toronto

Some would say that this would cause the league to be too saturated with average play. I say there is some many great players that never make it to the NFL. Why not merge some leagues together and get some of these great players from the UFL.

As for the five teams listed above. Oakland and St. Louis shouldn't even be considered. These teams already had an opportunity with L.A. and they failed. Minnesota is not going to L.A. San Diego would be fools to move. Jacksonville is the only real potential candidate.

Go Los Angeles Jaguars!

Christmas (or Hanukkah) in June!

Let's face it, the NFL is in shambles. Where do I begin? Let's start with the Lockout. For those who do not know what is going on; currently the owners have locked out the players. Why has this occurred? Well, for a few reasons. But mainly because all sides are greedy bastards. When I say all sides there is much more to this than players and owners, like the papers would want you to believe. The major players in this whole thing; is the Owners, Players, and the NFL. The players would not agree to a new agreement with the owners because the owners are not sharing with the players organization where moneys are coming in from and how much. The NFL and the Owners do not want this material to become public. Weather or not, this is right…I don't care. I really could care less and so could the rest of the football fans out there. As a matter of fact, it seems very discouraging amongst the fans about what is going on. Several fans have jumped ship already. Some plan to if the season doesn't occur and other could care less it is just some mindless entertainment for them. I fall into a little bit of all the above.

So because of all this B.S., I am going to start my Christmas list for June right now.

Dear Santa,

I am writing this list to you in June because I would like to get a few things prior to Christmas. Here is my list and I hope you will comply, like you always do:

10) Please stop Ray Lewis from telling the media that the fans are going to cause major crimes if there is not a football season. We all know that the NFL players will be involved in more crimes than the fans will be.

9) This lady who had a Redskin symbol painted on her teeth, needs to be smacked up side her head. First of all, yuck. Secondly, why? Finally, I would rather her paint something on her boobs so that I would have something to look at instead of her nasty mouth.

8) May Ocho Cinco please find a new career in this off season.

7) T.O. should take up a new career: one that will rival George Michaels Sports Machine called the T.O. Show at night and during the day he should become an interior designer to battle that other wash up.

6) Please stop the racial slurs when discussing Michael Vick. I don't care if you wanna call him a dog murderer or an executioner of pups….don't care. But please leave the racial card at the door. It really shows how ignorant people are when all you can do is call someone a N….

5) McNabb should no longer be allowed to have a number. Instead McNabb should be the only player in history to get a symbol and that symbol is cross hairs. Why? Not cause I wish him harm. As a matter of fact, I am a huge supporter of McNabb. Because that poor guy gets hit every direction he goes. Philly fans, Washington fans, NFL fans, Hopkins…etc…

4) Now with Opera gone. I think Reggie Bush should retire and take her place as the Queen of day time talk shows.

3) Please stop the mindless chatter that Jay Cutler has no heart. The man is a good QB. He is not great. But he is good. Let the man breath and he will do well for you in Chicago.

2) Somebody please wipe the drool from Goodell's mouth and let him slip back into his coma so that he will get off this 18 week season. "Yes. I know. Mr. Goodell. The fans want 18 games." Has anyone ever really done a check to see if this dude is a real person or a mindless robot zombie from the planet Gotohell?

1) I want there to be a football season. I do not care who plays for these teams. I do not care who the owners of these teams are. And I really do not care who the commissioner is and the rest of the NFL executives are. So, if need be…fire them all and lets start over.

Thank you Santa…you are the best.

The Commish