Category Archives: NFC
Just how important is Drew Brees to the Saints?
There is no doubt the New Orleans Saints are dependent on quarterback Drew Brees but just how much are they? Are the Saints like the Colts? Are they basically a one-man team? I realize that in even considering this, it’s tremendously insulting to the many other professionals within the Saints’ organization to speculate that their efforts are potentially marginally impactful and, instead, the fate of the team rests mostly on the performance of one elite player. It’s disconcerting to say the least.
Next in line: 5 teams Los Angeles should court next
Yesterday it was announced that the Minnesota Vikings are staying in Minnesota for good. The Minnesota Legislator passed a Bill toward a new stadium and Vikings fans can now rejoice and celebrate the biggest win in Franchise history.
Thumbs up: Bears’ Cutler ready to lead new look offense
Chicago Bears franchise quarterback, Jay Cutler, is literally all thumbs when it comes to leading his significantly upgraded offense in 2012. Cutler had season ending surgery after injuring his right thumb in Week 11 last year but says it is all better and is ready to return.
According to NFL.com Cutler had this to say on Monday during a diabetes awareness event at Perspectives Charter School Calumet Campus when asked about his previously injured thumb.
“It’s fine,” I really didn’t throw a lot in the offseason, rehabbed a little bit and came back and felt good.”
Tim Hightower looking to contribute to Redskins cause in 2012
Tim Hightower was the big high profile acquisition by the Washington Redskins in 2011 and the future was certainly looking bright at the running back posistion for the Burgandy and Gold. Hightower got off to a quick start in the preseason and would start in five of the six games that he played in but a torn ACL in a 33-20 loss at the Carolina Panthers put a premature end to his season. Roy Helu and Evan Royster would fill in superbly for Hightower with Helu showing that he was certainly a dual threat back. Hightower recently signed a one year deal with the Skins which means that he will have to contribute in 2012 and that most certainly should happen.
Should the Bears sign Plaxico Burress?
The Chicago Bears have made some tremendous upgrades at the WR position this offseason with the additions of Brandon Marshall and rookie Alshon Jefferey. When combined with returning receivers Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox and Devin Hester the Bears have a formidable receiving corps that should allow them to keep pace in the pass happy NFC North. But do they need more and if so should the Bears sign free agent Plaxico Burress?
Cam Newton resurrected the career of Steve Smith
When the Carolina Panthers drafted quarterback Cam Newton in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft wide receiver Steve Smith must have been at least a tad bit worried. Smith, a Panther since he was drafted in the third round, has seen 11 different quarterbacks since his rookie year in 2001.
In his 11 NFL seasons he has had his ups and downs with the organization, but coming off his worst year statistically in 2010 and the uncertainty of what he was going to get with Cam Newton, there were not many that thought Smith would accomplish the season he did.
In 2011 Steve Smith did the following;
Can Mike Tice bring some familiar magic to the Bears offense?
The Chicago Bears and former offensive coordinator Mike Martz departed ways at the end of the 2011 regular season and in 2012 Mike Tice will take over the reins. Can he recapture the offensive magic from his Minnesota days?
Say what you will about the somewhat troubled tenure of Mike Tice as the Vikings‘ head coach, but he and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had a three-year run of offensive dominance. In 2002, the Vikings led the NFL in rushing, and by 2003, they led the league in total offense. They stayed equally hot in 2004, riding their fourth-ranked offense into the playoffs and then embarrassing Brett Favre in the Wild Card to the tune of 31-17. While we don’t have Favre to kick around any more, nothing would please Bears fans more than Mike Tice once again taking it to Green Bay. Flip below the fold to see the strange similarities between the Vikings of yore with the Bears of today. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this cruise ship!
Did the 49ers run a ‘bounty system’ during the 2011 season?
Everyone knows that the San Francisco 49ers are a tough physical football team but did part of that toughness include some form of a bounty system in which opposing player’s injuries were targeted last season?
According to NFL.com, in a recent interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hinted that he thought something was going on in their game against the 49ers last season.
” But I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra … Now, obviously, I did have the ankle and I was playing, so there was kind of a bulls-eye on there anyway. But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it. I expect to be tougher than them.”
Kurt Warner: Past NFL greats
As a St. Louis Rams fan I was used to mediocrity in the eighties and nineties. I was used to ending up behind the San Francisco 49ers in the division.
The Rams acquisition of free agent, Trent Green, in 1998 changed the fate of the franchise. Joined with incredibly fast receivers combined with a QB that was reported to be top shelf left the Rams confidently marching into the 1999 season.
The third week of the preseason, in a game against the San Diego Chargers, Green had his ACL ripped – done for the season. Head coach Dick Vermeil sent Kurt Eugene Warner on to the field.
2012 NFC East predictions: Are the Cowboys playoff bound?
Can the Dallas Cowboys make the playoffs in 2012? Historically the NFC East has been one of the toughest divisions in the NFL and that tendency should again hold true in the upcoming season. Last season, the New York Giants won the NFC East with a 9-7 record on the last week of the regular season with a win over the Cowboys. With the offseason upgrades of the Washington Redskins and the way the Philadelphia Eagles ended 2011, any of the four teams are capable of becoming division champs in 2012. Here are the 2012 NFC East final standing predictions and team records.
Chris Hanburger: Past NFL great
If you were to ask someone who holds the record for the most Pro Bowl appearances by a Washington Redskin, the first players that would come to mind would be ones like Riggins, Monk, or Green. The answer to that question is middle linebacker Chris Hanburger with nine, #55 who patrolled the defensive backfield for the Redskins his entire career that spanned from 1965 to 1978. Hanburger was small in stature at 6 feet 2 inches and 225 pounds as compared to today’s linebackers but during his day was known as one of the smartest linebackers in the game and was always known for his knack to be on the ball. Hanburger was affectionately called ‘The Hangman’ for his penchant for clothesline tackling.
Is Matt Forte the greatest Bears running back of all-time?
Whether it was before or after you read the title if you’ve honestly believe that Matt Forte is the greatest running back in the history of the Chicago Bears then you fall in to one of two categories; foolish or naïve. Without a doubt, Forte is one of the top backs in the modern-day NFL and a big part of the Bears current success, but Chicago has had a history fielding elite talent in their backfield. Here are the top five Chicago Bear running backs of all-time; Matt Forte is
