How 2010 Being an Uncapped Year Can Help the
Minnesota Vikings Now

With the way that things stand right now between the league and the NFLPA, the 2009 season might be the last NFL season that will be played with a salary cap.  The two sides still haven't hammered out an agreement that goes beyond the end of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.  That means that the 2010 season would be an "uncapped" year.  Now, the Vikings wouldn't be in any real trouble financially because of this, I don't think.  Each team gets a significant amount of money from the TV contracts that the league has with the networks, so teams would at least be able to cover their team's salaries and things of that nature. . .but what other effects could this potentially have, specifically for the Minnesota Vikings?

We all know that the one position that the Beloved Purple need more help at than any other is the quarterback position.  As we've discussed previously, it appears that Tarvaris Jackson has played his last meaningful snap as a Minnesota Viking, and we know that Gus Frerotte isn't anything resembling a long-term answer.  We also know that the list of senior quarterbacks is, to be generous, iffy in terms of pro prospects.  The top senior quarterback is probably Missouri's Chase Daniel.  Our friends at New Era Scouting currently have Daniel projected to go in Round 2 of the 2009 Draft. . .and he's the only quarterback they have graded out that high.  They have a quartet of signal callers projected as third-round picks, including Purdue's Curtis Painter, Clemson's Cullen Harper, Rhett Bomar of Oklahoma Sam Houston State, and John Parker Wilson of Alabama.

If you're not excited yet, I don't blame you.

However. . .the end of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement would signal not only the end of the salary cap, but also the end of the current rookie pay scale.  That means that contracts like the one given to Atlanta's Matt Ryan would not, necessarily, become the rule.  Teams wouldn't be forced to give huge contracts to players. . .particularly quarterbacks. . .that have never set foot on an NFL field.  So what does that mean for Minnesota?

It means that there's a very good chance that there could be a bunch of talented underclassman quarterbacks that could end up declaring for the 2009 Draft in hopes of hitting the big money that would be gone by the time the 2010 Draft came around.  We'll take a look at these potential Vikings a bit more over the next couple of weeks, but here are the names that you college fans should be keeping an eye on, in no particular order.

Mark Sanchez, Southern California
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
Matthew Stafford, Georgia
Tim "Are We Not Men?  We Are" Tebow, Florida
Josh Freeman, Kansas State
Colt McCoy, Texas

All of those players are juniors except for Bradford, who is a red-shirt sophomore.

As I said, we'll get a better look at all of those players over the course of the next couple of weeks. . .maybe get some profiles from some of our college bloggers that follow those teams.

But that's all we've got for tonight, folks. . .something that I think everyone will enjoy coming tomorrow.  It will give us some Viking-related stuff to look at while our boys have this weekend off.  Until then, enjoy the rest of your Saturday!

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Blogger Deathsport: Week Eight Picks

Keep on truckin

Blogger Deathsport rolls on with week eight, I am still stuck in the basement and too many games this season have been good for me to lose. Will is still crushing and I am in danger of getting fired from my own blog. And now the picks:


Sunday
ATL @ PHI (-9)
Pick: Falcons. To lose and cover, the Eagles I still don't know.

KC @ NYJ (-13)
Pick: Chiefs. the Jets are not thirteen points better than anyone.

STL @ NE (-7)
Pick: Patriots. This is the lock of the week.

BUF (1.5) @ MIA
Pick: Bills. With a line this close take the better team.

OAK @ BAL (-7)
Pick: Ravens. Baltimore is proving to be a very good bad team.

WAS (-7.5) @ DET
Pick: Redskins. If Washington covers it will be their largest victory margin of the season.

ARZ @ CAR (-4.5)
Pick: Panthers. Giant concrete fist.

SD (-3) @ NO
Pick: Chargers. No home field advantage for no one and the Saints are dying a little at a time.

TB @ DAL (-1.5)
Pick: Buccaneers. Brad Johnson may not be viable after this week.

CIN @ HOU (-9.5)
Pick: Bengals. This is a too large spread.

CLE @ JAX (-7.5)
Pick: Jaguars. Let the good times roll.

NYG @ PIT (-2.5)
Pick: Steelers. This is a momentum game, the Giants get to start finding out who they really are.

SEA @ SF (-5)
Pick: Seahawks. Mike Singletary does not get the Jim Haslett bump.


Monday
IND @ TEN (off the board = straight up even)
Pick: Titans. Unless they realize they are flying.
Score: 23-13



R. Crumb illustration from here.

Read The Full Article:
http://curlyr.blogspot.com/2008/10/blogger-deathsport-week-eight-picks.html

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Interview with Former Raider Linebacker Bill
Romanowski

One of the toughest linebackers in NFL history joins us for this interview, as two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro Bill Romanowski stops by for a 1-on-1 with site editor Matt Loede.  Bill speaks on his company - nutrition53.com, and his involvement there as the President and CEO.  Among the other topics talked about - his playing career, the game today and injuries, playing in 243 straight games, and the concussions that ended his career and how he is bouncing back from those today.  Click below to hear Matt Loede with former NFL great Bill Romanowski.

Click HERE to hear the interview

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Week 7 NFC Community Power Rankings

Thanks to those of you who submitted ballots.  We only got 7 this week, but I'll throw up the rankings anyways.  The Giants finished with 6 first place votes, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snagging the seventh first place vote.

Nothing too shocking as the Cowboys have been struggling, while the Falcons are rather hot.  As the MNF game is an all AFC battle, I'll be back with the week 8 ballot on Monday.  Hopefully the 49ers will be climbing the rankings.

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Top ranked running backs for 2009 NFL draft

If Cedric Benson finishes the season with quality performances, then there's a chance that the Bengals could figure Benson in their future plans. On the other hand, I made the point that a weak free agency market could strengthen Benson's position for an inflated contract that may take the Bengals out of the running for his services in 2009. If that's the case, then the Bengals will be left with only Chris Perry and Kenny Watson under contract (aka, status quo).

That would mean the Bengals have to consider grabbing a running back at some point in the 2009 NFL Draft. I believe, easily, that the Bengals should go after offensive linemen in the first two rounds -- preferably a tackle and a center. However, for the sake of information, the National Football Post released their top-ten rankings for the NFL draft -- many underclassmen.

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Even if Signed, Culpepper Won't Help the Bengals
This Season

After Mort reported that Carson Palmer's season is likely over, PFT suggested that the Bengals sign Daunte Culpepper. I disagree that Culpepper would make that much of a difference, after poor stints with the Dolphins and Raiders, winning only three games in 10 starts since 2006. On the other hand, Ryan Fitzpatrick has started six games in his NFL career amassing an 0-6 record (0-3 in 2008, 0-3 in 2005) -- in the game in which he quarterbacked the Rams to a 33-27 win over the Texans, he did not start.

If the Bengals signed Culpepper, it wouldn't be long term; especially after Culpepper waffled at retiring because he couldn't compete for a starting job -- who would invest in that? As for this season, Culpepper would need weeks to prepare. It would take some time to learn the playbook, time to condition back into NFL shape, and adjust to the talent around him. After his knee was shredded, his mobility is limited; we'd be getting the quarterback from Oakland, not the Vikings.

It's not that I think Fitzpatrick is better or worse than Culpepper, but I don't see the team improving significantly with Culpepper -- especially with protection schemes that tend to breakdown all-too easily. Now if Culpepper comes in, signs for 2-3 years and accepts a back up role behind Palmer, then that would be great -- because I believe if Culpepper is given an entire off-season of camps, then he could be a decent backup; light years better than Fitzpatrick.

Ultimately Culpepper won't help the team's flawed pass protection this year. And while he's constantly under defensive pressure, his immobility and tendency to fumble could hurt the team. Like it really matters, as we learned this season: Once Palmer goes down, it really doesn't matter who the quarterback is. The season is done.

Just for the sake of knowledge, other NFL quarterback free agents are listed here (not sure how updated it is).

UPDATE: WDR makes a case for Culpepper.

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Sooners hold off K-State 58-35

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

OU scored 55 in a wild first half: DeMarco Murray racked up 167 total yards and four touchdowns, and No. 4 Oklahoma sustained a 21-point Kansas State rally in the highest-scoring first half in school history to beat the Wildcats 58-35 on Saturday. Sam Bradford added three touchdown passes in a wild first half in which the Sooners (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) give up a 28-7 lead before taking control with 27 consecutive points of their own. The capper was a 68-yard punt return touchdown by redshirt freshman Ryan Broyles that gave the Sooners a 55-28 halftime lead. That total matched the school record for points in a half, set in the second half of Oklahoma's 76-0 shutout of the Wildcats in 1942. (Associated Press)

Oklahoma's Offense? Check. Defense? Ehh...: AOL FanHouse

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Know Your Colts History: Random Thoughts

Obviously, this week's game versus the Titans is huge.  Division implications huge.  Getting over .500 huge.  Having a chance to take down the last remaining undefeated team huge.  The difference between being 4 games back without a tiebreaker or being 2 games back with the tiebreaker huge. 

A game as huge as this provokes a lot of thought, but at least for yours truly, I don't have one major thought for this week.  Rather than trying to pluck one of the many small thoughts out of my head and trying to make something out of it, I'm just going to give you all my random thoughts for this week.

• Why does everyone keep saying the Colts are built to play with the lead?  Last time I checked, they've won more games by lulling their opponents into double-digit leads than they have by taking the lead early and never giving it up.  The only two games that the Colts started with touchdowns on their opening drive this season they ended up losing.  I'm almost tempted to say we should spot the Titans 10 points just so we can have a better chance to win, but that would be mighty crazy and I'm just a notch below that kind of craziness.
• A few weeks ago, I got to see the Titans take on the Ravens (in between frequent checks on NFL Game Center to see how the Colts were doing) and what I saw was a dominant defense on display.  They reminded me a lot of those Raven defenses from early in the decade.  Tough, physical, fast, and very emotional.  Occasionally, that emotion works against them, but it's not like the Colts should go in there looking for ways to get the Titans to use their emotion the wrong way.  And even if they could, I don't think Pierre wants to get any more packages, so don't count on that being a factor on Monday.
  
• When you type in "Colts Titans" in Google's photo search, this is the first photo to pop up:

Now, I'm sure there a very valid reason for whatever Marvin is doing in the background, but it sure looks like he's practicing for a career in Broadway, or in the pointing industry.

• If I could describe rookie running back Chris Johnson in a word, it would be "scary".  If I could describe Chris Henry in a word, it would be "scared".
• Did anyone else know that Adam Vinatieri is a third cousin of Evel Knievel?  I don't know about you guys, but that explains a lot for me.
• I know there's a lot of talk about how the Titans haven't faced a lot of quality opponents yet, but let's not forget when the the Colts started out 13-0 in 2005, the combined record of their opponents through the first six weeks was only 15-23.  In a topsy-turvy season like this, there's something to be said for just going out and beating the teams on your schedule, regardless of how good they are or aren't.
• In the time that it took to write this post, Tim Jennings has been flagged 14 times.

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Soon, we Colts fans won't have Vince Young to
kick around anymore

Bust

Photo: i.a.cnn.net

I think the Colts are better than the Titans. I know. Logically, that makes no sense. If a Titans fan said the same thing and his team was 3-3 and mine 6-0, I'd probably laugh at him. Maybe even give him the Michael David Smith treatment. But, unlike years past, what has defined the first half of the Colts 2008 season is injuries. Now that the Colts are healing up, I personally think their talent, combined with their leadership and savvy, will overcome the Titans. Hell, injuries have defined EVERYONE'S 2008 season, including the Titans. The best thing to happen to the the Titans since they hired Jeff Fisher was an injury this season... to their starting QB, no less.

I've held off taking shots at QB Vince Young all week because it is so obvious that his career with the Titans is over. While other teams have moaned about their injuries, the Titans are practically jumping for joy that they had their starting QB get hurt in Week One. Now, there is next to zero chance Vince Young will ever play as the Titans starting QB again, and for good reason.

He sucks, as we at Stampede Blue have long maintained.

Kerry Collins has stepped in and led Tennessee to their first 6-0 start in franchise history. He is now their unquestioned starting QB. Jeff Fisher would have to pull of his mask and reveal he is Wade Phillips for there to be any shot a Collins getting benched in favor of Vince Young. Collins has earned the right to start for the remainder of the season, no matter what condition Vince Young is in mentally or physically. And then, there is Collins after this season. They will have to re-sign him (he is a free agent at the end of 2008) and Kerry will ask for starting QB-caliber money. Kerry isn't dumb. This means that Vince young, the #3 overall pick in the 2006 NFL, is now a permanent back-up.

A $58 million dollar back-up who has pocketed $28 million in guaranteed money.

Now, the overall opinion of several Titans fans is that Collins is "keeping the seat warm" for Vince. Ole Vince has had a few weeks to get his head screwed on straight, get healthy, and he will get in there during the stretch run for the playoffs.

Um, no.

Collins is the Titans starter from here on out. No ifs, and, or butts. The only way Vince will see the field is if Collins is injured, and an injury to Collins is the death knell to Tennessee's 2008 season. Unlike Kerry Collins, Vince Young cannot throw the ball accurately. He is a whiner and pouts on the sideline when he doesn't get his way. Veteran leaders on his own team accused him of quitting on them. He has violated team rules, gotten into fights with teammates, and (to put it mildly) played a lot of bad, BAD football this season (both in pre-season and limited regular season action) because he doesn't know the offense.

Again, this is all pretty much universal knowledge now in league and fan circles. The reason no one is really talking about the fact that the Titans $58 million dollar QB is picking his nose on the sideline is because they are winning.

Perhaps one of the reasons the Titans are playing with such urgency this season is because they might realize they need to win it all now. Why? Well, this coming off-season things are going to get dicey for the Titans. They need to dump Vince Young and his $58 million dollar cap ball and chain. They cannot franchise DT Albert Hayneswoth again. They will either make him the highest paid defensive player in football (which is what ole Fatty will demand) or see him (and their future hopes at winning anything) walk away. And then there is Collins, a 35-year-old journey man who has won over the locker room and the fans. They will need to pay him too.

One has to give head coach Jeff Fisher a ton of credit for keeping this powder (blue) keg of a team together and focused. Along with the Vince Young fiasco, two weeks ago in a game against the Ravens, team captain Keith Bullock got into a fight with teammate Cortland Finnegan. The fight raged on the sidelines and continued on throughout the game. Again, no one really made a big deal out of it because the Titans are winning. It will be interesting to see how this team responds to a loss, or a series of loses. The Titans have always been a cocky bunch, short on smarts and long on ego. All of their antics this week may well bite them in the ass both in the short and long term. Real winners do not need the kind of silly motivation we are seeing from the Tacs.

Back to Vince, it will be interesting to see what happens to him. He is still a very talented player, but he seems to lack the mental toughness to play professional football. If there was ever an indictment as to the quality of play in the collegiate football ranks, it is Vince Young. He dominated college football, and often won games seemingly all by himself. He comes to the pros, gets treated like royalty, has excuse after excuse made for him, and then bombs out. Some suggest he may suffer from mental depression. Depression is an illness, and if Vince does have such a problem he needs to step away from the game and get help. One's mental health, or health in general, is far more important than this silly game we love to watch and play. 

Regardless of his mental health, it is clear his tenure in Tennessee is over, and with it comes an end to a period for us Colts fans. For years, we have enjoyed making fun of Vince and his cult of rabid fans. They made excuse after excuse for him, and while it often bordered on the absurd, it always fell in the realm of sheer comedy. But, like all good things, it seems Vince's time in Tac Town is up, and we Colts fans won't have Vince Young to kick around anymore in Tennessee.

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

To Win in Houston, the Bengals Need Perfect
Passing Protection

If there were keys to the game for the Bengals to win their first game of the year -- and they will win their first game of the year -- then let's start in the trenches. Our offensive line has had its problems, but sometimes they're getting criticized for protection issues when in fact, it's either the protection scheme (like flowing away from an unblocking blitzing linebacker) or the supporting players that are simply outmatched. With all the blitzing schemes with sack-happy linebackers we've seen, it's now time that the Bengals offensive line meet a group of basic defensive packages that tailor around Mario Williams.

Williams has six sacks this season (tied for sixth in the NFL). However, all six sacks have come in three games (two against the Steelers, two against the Colts, two against the Dolphins). He was shutout against the Lions, Titans and Jaguars.

The guys at Battle Red Blog say that Williams mostly lines up at right defensive end, but he does move around a bit. With Levi Jones slower than ever, age and failing knees a factor, I would suggest that a major key for the Bengals protection schemes is to assign the running back to chip and/or help block Williams. In fact, I'd be willing to suggest that the running back stay in on passing plays -- especially long third-to-go conversion attempts -- to give Ryan Fitzpatrick more time for longer patterns to develop.

A few notes on sacks.

There are 14 players in the NFL with five sacks or more. The Bengals have faced seven of them -- DeMarcus Ware (9), James Harrison (8.5), LaMarr Woodley (7.5), Albert Haynesworth (6.0), Fred Robbins (5.5), Shaun Ellis (5.0), Justin Tuck (5.0).

The Bengals have faced five of the seven best sacking defenses -- Steelers 25 sacks (1st in NFL), New York Giants 21 sacks (t-2nd in NFL), Dallas Cowboys 20 sacks (t-4 in NFL), New York Jets 20 sacks (t-4 in NFL), Tennessee Titans 18 sacks (t-6th).

There are 10 players in the NFL that have more sacks than the Bengals do as a team (5).

The Bengals have allowed a sack in every game this season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been sacked 12 times in the past two games.

Last season, the Bengals protection was tremendous, only allowing 17 sacks all season. In five games, Palmer wasn't sacked. In 13 games, Palmer was sacked one time or less. Only twice was Palmer sacked three times or more. This season, Bengals quarterbacks have been sacked three times or more in four games. Only once have our quarterbacks been sacked one time or less (Titans).

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!