NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Jacksonville Jaguars

2008 Recap
Record: 5-11 (4th AFC South)

Best Game: Week 3 @ Colts, 23-21
The Jaguars only won one game by more than one score, but that game was against the woeful Lions. The Colts were the only playoff team the Jaguars beat, and they did so by dominating on the ground, running for 236 yards as both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew went over 100 yards on the day. They also picked off 2 passes by Peyton Manning, but they still needed a 51 yard field goal in the final seconds to win, and Josh Scobee delivered. The video above shows the highlights of this game.

Worst Game: Week 12 vs. Vikings, 12-30
The Jaguars' dreaded seventh loss came in week 12 against Minnesota. The Jaguars actually outgained the Gus Frerotte-led Vikings, but five turnovers (including 2 early fumbles leading to a 14-0 Vikings lead less than 2 minutes into the game) killed Jacksonville's hopes of a win. Down early, the Jaguars abandoned the running game and managed just 35 rushing yards.

MVP: Maurice Jones-Drew
In some ways Jones-Drew had his worst season yet - his 4.2 yard per carry average was his worst yet as a pro. However, Jones-Drew nonetheless carried the offense. His 14 rushing and receiving touchdowns is all the more impressing when you consider that no other player on the team had more than 3. He led the team in rushing, and was a close second to Matt Jones in receiving. He had almost double the yards from scrimmage as any other player on the team.

The Offseason

Significant Losses:
-RB Fred Taylor - Taylor has been one of the more underappreciated running backs in the NFL over his career, as evidenced by only a single pro bowl appearance despite ranking in the top 20 in rushing yards in NFL history (3rd among active players, after only Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson, who have made 4 and 5 pro bowls respectively).
-WR Matt Jones - The Jaguars cut Jones primarily due to problems with drugs and alcohol. Jones, however, was their leading receiver in 2008, setting career highs in receptions and receiving yards.
-WR Dennis Northcutt - Northcutt was their second most productive WR in 2008, with 44 receptions for 545 yards. He was traded to the Lions for Gerald Alexander.
-WR Reggie Williams - Williams was the Jaguars' third most productive WR in 2008, catching 37 balls for 364 yards. After racking up 10 TDs in 2007, Williams had his worst season since his rookie year in 2008, and the Jaguars allowed him to leave in free agency. Since then, he was picked up on a drug charge and has not signed with a team.
-OT Khalif Barnes - Another player who has had some legal problems (a DUI in late 2006), Barnes has been the Jaguars' starter at offensive tackle since his rookie season in 2005.
-DE Paul Spicer - A 10 year veteran, Spicer became a full-time starter in 2005 and has started at least 10 games in the 4 seasons since. Spicer racked up 7.5 sacks in 2005 and 2007, but only 3.5 in 2008.
-LB Mike Peterson - When he was healthy, Peterson was the leader of the Jaguars' defense and one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL. In the last 3 years, however, he has battled injuries, and started only about half of the team's game since 2006.
-SS Gerald Sensabaugh - Sensabaugh only became a full-time starter last season and, along with CB Rashean Mathis, led the Jaguars with 4 interceptions.

Significant Additions:
-WR Torry Holt - A receiver who already has a strong Hall of Fame resume, Holt failed to reach 1000 yards in 2008 for the first time since his rookie season in 1999. Barring injury, Holt should easily crack the top 10 all-time in receptions and receiving yards this season.
-OT Tra Thomas - Thomas, an 11 year veteran who has started 165 games with the Eagles, will fill the vacancy left by Khalif Barnes at left tackle. He has been one of the most consistent tackles in the NFL, and reportedly allowed only 2 sacks in 2008.
-SS Sean Considine - Another former player for the Eagles, Considine steps into the starting strong safety position for the Jaguars.
-SS Marlon McCree - McCree returns to the team he started with after stints with the Texans, Panthers, Chargers, and Broncos. He is perhaps best known for fumbling an interception in the Chargers' 2007 playoff game against the Patriots that might have clinched the game for the Chargers.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 8: OT Eugene Monroe -- Virginia
Round 2, Pick 7: OT Eben Britton -- Arizona
Round 3, Pick 8: DT Terrance Knighton -- Temple
Round 3, Pick 9: CB Derek Cox -- William & Mary
Round 4, Pick 7: WR Mike Thomas -- Arizona
Round 5, Pick 8: WR Jarett Dillard -- Rice
Round 6, Pick 7: TE Zach Miller -- Nebraska-Omaha
Round 7, Pick 41: RB Rashad Jennings -- Liberty
Round 7, Pick 44: WR Tiquan Underwood -- Rutgers

Draft Grade: C
The Jaguars built for the future in the draft, but 2009 is very suspect. With their first 2 picks they took offensive tackles, but they will likely (though it is not certain) be backups to Thomas and Tony Pashos to start the season. They took 3 late-round wide receivers to replace Jones, Northcutt, and Nelson, but they project as backups as well. In fact, the Jaguars may start the season with perennial disappointment Troy Williamson opposite Torry Holt. Rashad Jennings is a sleeper and a great pick in the seventh round, but the Jaguars are still left without quality depth at RB behind Jones-Drew. Now, Monroe and Britton should prove to be good picks down the line as they take over for an aging Tra Thomas and an unspectacular Tony Pashos, but the fact remains that the Jaguars didn't really fill many immediate needs in the draft or through free agency, and as a result will have several extremely inexperienced units.

Training Camp Report:
-The Jaguars have been playing around with using a 3-4 defense in practice and in their preseason games so far.
-Troy Williamson has looked good in camp so far, but his track record when it gets to the regular season has been less than stellar. He did catch 3 balls for 147 yards and a TD against the Buccaneers in the Jaguars' second preseason game.
-The Jaguars signed Ernest Wilford on the 25th. Wilford played with the Jaguars from 2004 to 2007 as a wide receiver, but they will be using him as a tight end. In truth he's a bit of a tweener: too slow to play wide receiver, but light for a tight end. At 6'4", he has the height, however.
-David Garrard has had an up-and-down training camp. He's had a few outstanding practices, but he's also had some real stinkers.
-Mike Walter was an early favorite to be a big contributor at wide receiver, but an ankle injury has forced him to the sideline.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario: With Fred Taylor gone, Maurice Jones-Drew steps up and shows he can be a true #1 back in the NFL. Torry Holt adds longevity to credentials and his experience rubs off on the younger guys. The Jaguars successfully integrate new defensive packages, and the pass protection improves with the addition of Thomas and the two rookies. The Jaguars get 10, maybe 11 wins, and a wild card berth.

Worst Case Scenario: With Fred Taylor gone, Maurice Jones-Drew has trouble handling the load, and the lack of depth at RB catches up with the Jaguars. Torry Holt shows his age, and inexperience at the WR position puts even more weight on Jones-Drew's shoulders. The loss of Mike Peterson and the preseason tinkering with the schemes causes the defense to be disorganized. Things may look promising for the future, but the Jaguars lose 10 or 11 games and miss the playoffs again.

Prediction: 8-8, 3rd AFC South

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks caught a big fish in free agency.


Record: 4-12 (3rd NFC West)

Best Game: Week 3, Vs. St. Louis - 37-13
The 'Hawks got their first win of the season in week 3 against a divisional "foe" in the Rams, who dropped to 0-3 after this game. Seattle had an okay passing attack, but it was the running game that really moved the chains. Three players had runs of at least 15 yards, and Julius Jones and TJ Duckett combined for over 215 yards and three TDs. It felt good to get a win in Seattle, and they thought it might be the early turning point in Holmgren's last season.

Worst Game: Week 9, Vs. Philadelphia Eagles - 7-26
Seattle had just beaten San Fran and new coach Mike Singletary the week before, and looked to ride that wave of success over to a home game against Philadelphia. However, the E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles had other plans. After Seneca Wallace's 90 yard TD pass to Koren Robinson in the 1st quarter, the Eagles closed the game on a 26-0 run. Wallace only complete 45% of his passes and no player rushed for over 43 yards in this game. Even worse, it was the first of six straight losing outcomes for the Seahawks.

MVP: Julian Peterson
ROLB Peterson had a monster season for the 'Hawks last season. He amassed 86 tackles (2nd most on the team) along with five sacks, four FF, and five passes defensed. He and MLB Lofa Tatupu made a dynamic duo on a rather meager team. He was also named to the Pro Bowl for the 5th time in his career. The Seahawks opted to trade him over the offseason to the Lions for DT Corey Redding, hoping to shore up a weakness on the team.

The Offseason

Significant Losses:
Julian Peterson - LB - Traded March 14 to Detroit
Peterson was a pro-bowler in '08, but with the 4th overall pick in the draft Seattle felt the need to trade him for a position that would not be as abundant talent-wise in the draft.

Mike Wahle - G - Retired July 31
Wahle enjoyed 11 seasons in the NFL with three different teams. He signed a 5-year deal a year ago with Seattle, but after injuring his shoulder in week 11 he decided to call it quits after the season.

Maurice Morris - RB - Signed with Detroit February 27
Morris had a 4.3 ypc average on 132 carries last season. He is now backing up Kevin Jones in Detroit.

Mike Holmgren - Head Coach - Retired from coaching after '08 Season
Holmgren said last season was going to be his last, and he held true to his word. I personally believe he was a distraction last season, but he is a well-tenured coach with a Super Bowl victory under his belt.

Significant Additions:

Corey Redding - DT - Traded to by Detroit for Julian Peterson
Redding is a horse inside. Last season was the first he had missed any starts (3) since he became a full-time starter in 2004. He'll bolster a relatively weak Defensive Line.

TJ Houshamdzadeh - WR - Signed March 2
The big fish of the free agency period this offseason, Houshmandzedah instantly improves this offense. He broke 900 yards on a weak offense last season, and is glad to be back in the Northwest.

Ken Lucas - CB - Signed April 27
Spending his last four season with Carolina, Lucas has become an above average DB. He totaled 60 tackles, 2 INTs and 10 Passes Defensed last season.

Jim Mora - Head Coach - Signed February 5
Mora had a good year with Atlanta a while back, leading them to the NFC Championship Game in 2004. A new face at the head coach position could do this team some good.

Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 4: Aaron Curry - OLB - Wake Forest
Round 2, Pick 17: Max Unger - OT - Oregon
Round3, Pick 27: Deon Butler - WR - Penn State
Round 6, Pick 5: Mike Teel - QB - Rutgers
Round 7, Pick 36: Courtney Greene - SS - Rutgers
Round 7, Pick 38: Nick Reed - DE - Oregon
Round 7, Pick 39: Cameron Morrah - TE - California

Draft Grade: A
After trading away LB Julian Peterson, the Seahawks nabbed Aaron Curry with their first pick. He was projected by some to go #1 overall, and Seattle had to jump at him. Max Unger was a great pick (and one of need), and Courtney Greene may be slightly underrated. No team drafted better for needs in the NFL. Mike Teel will most likely make the team, and Deon Butler can develop into a solid slot receiver.

Training Camp Report:

- Players and coaches are raving about TE John Carlson's work ethic. He very well could be 2nd on the team in receptions behind WR Houshmandzadeh.

- Most players agree, Mora ran a much tougher training camp than Holmgren. That could do this team some good.

- All coaches are pleased with the progress the team has shown since the first day of training camp.

- Punter Jon Ryan had a great preseason game in their first against the Chargers.

- QB Matt Hasselbeck has looked strong and healthy up to this point.

- DT Red Bryant has looked strong, blowing up various members on the OL to disrupt running plays.

- RB Devin Moore has looked fierce, showing he has the power to be a backup in his rookie season.

- DT Corey Redding has looked strong. He recorded a sack of Philip Rivers on the very first play of the first preseason game. He's anxious to revamp his career in Seattle.

- Rookie OL Max Unger has spent some time with 1st string due to injuries, and has done well. He will still probably be moved to 2nd string once the season starts.

- DT Redding lined up at WR during one practice, throwing head fakes and the like on the play. Gotta love training camp.

- The Defensive Backfield looks much better than they did during the regular season. Every team should look better in preseason, however.

- QB Hasselbeck has shown his ability to escape the pocket and run down field when a play breaks down. He won't be doing that as much once the season starts, one would think.
2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Hasselbeck can stay healthy and mesh with new WR TJ Houshmandzadeh, Carlson has a breakout year, Julius Jones and TJ Duckett become a great RB combo. The Seahawks rebound from a disappointing season and fight for a playoff birth.

Worst Case Scenario:
Hasselbeck can't stay on the field, Jones and Duckett both feel like they need the ball more, and no WR outside of Housh establishes himself as a legit #2. The Seahawks struggle once again to stay out of the basement in the NFC West.

Prediction: 9-7 (2nd NFC West)

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Kansas City Chiefs

This was pretty much the only Chiefs highlight that anyone remembers from 2008:



2009 Recap

Record: 2-14 (4th AFC West)

Best Game: Week 4 vs. Broncos, 33-19
The Chiefs only won two games all season, and the other was against the Raiders. Despite being outgained by 76 yards and allowing Denver to get more first downs, the Chiefs won the turnover battle 4 to 1, and ran for 213 yards on a woeful Denver rush defense. Larry Johnson had, by far, his best game of the season, rushing for 193 of those yards and scoring 2 touchdowns, his only multiple touchdown game of the season.

Worst Game: Week 5 @ Carolina, 0-34
By beating 3-0 Denver in week 4, it appeared that the Chiefs might be making progress. Any illusion of a competitive 2008 season for Kansas City, however, died in Carolina against the Panthers, when the Chiefs were not only shut out, but outgained by over 300 yards. The Chiefs managed just 127 yards and 8 first downs, their worst offensive output of the season.

MVP: TE Tony Gonzalez
The Chiefs were pretty awful on both sides of the ball, but they did have a few players who stood out. Aside from Gonzalez, I also considered Dwayne Bowe, Bernard Pollard, and Jarrad Page, but settled on Gonzalez, who not only led the team in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns, but also set an individual record, passing Shannon Sharpe for most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history (he passed Sharpe in TDs and receptions last season). He and Brian Waters were the Chiefs' only pro bowlers, and Gonzalez was their only all-pro.


The Offseason

Significant Losses:
-QB Damon Huard (Cut) - Huard became expendable after Tyler Thigpen played reasonably well in 2008, and was released on February 24th despite leading Chiefs QBs in winning percentage 3 straight seasons. Four days after his release, the Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel, so it seems apparent Pioli already had a plan to replace Huard.
-TE Tony Gonzalez (Traded) - Statistically the greatest receiving TE of all time, Gonzalez is a lock for the hall of fame. In addition to what I said about him above, it is worth noting that 2008 was one of Gonzalez's best seasons yet, and for the last few years he has proved critics, who constantly say "this is the year his age will catch up with him," wrong.

Significant Additions:
-GM Scott Pioli - It may seem like a lateral move, but in Kansas City, Pioli gains more control over personnel and staff decisions, while in New England he essentially shared the responsibility with Bill Belichick. Pioli fired head coach Herm Edwards and hired former Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
-Head Coach Todd Haley - Haley was known for being extremely tough (and occasionally abrasive) in Arizona. In fact, in some ways, he's quite similar to another coach Pioli has worked with - Bill Belichick. They're both no-nonsense guys, and they both break down game tape like it's nobody's business.
-QB Matt Cassel (Trade) - Despite failing to make the playoffs, Cassel impressed enough when he filled in for Tom Brady that he became a hot commodity on the market this offseason. Scott Pioli engineered a trade with his former team to bring Cassel to the Chiefs.
-WR Bobby Engram (UFA) - Engram may be nearing the end of his career, but his experience should help young receivers like Bowe develop. And, lest we forget, his best season was in 2007, when he caught 94 balls and broke 1000 yards for the first time in his career. As a possession receiver with good hands, he should still be able to contribute despite his age.
-WR Amani Toomer (UFA) - Like Engram, Toomer is in his 14th season. While earlier in his career he was a legitimate deep threat, he still has the skills, like Engram, to contribute as a possession receiver, despite his declining speed.
-G Mike Goff (UFA) - Goff, who had been with the Chargers since 2004, is an experienced right guard who is starting for the Chiefs on the right side.
-OLB Mike Vrabel (Trade) - Vrabel came to Kansas City in the same trade as Matt Cassel as part of their switch to a 3-4 defense. Vrabel, an all-pro in 2007, is the starting LOLB.
-ILB Zach Thomas (UFA) - Thomas, yet another veteran, came in projected to be the starter at the right inside linebacker position, though between his age and a hamstring injury, he could lose his position to Corey Mays.
-S Mike Brown (UFA) - Brown has been an excellent player, but his career has been marred by constant injuries. He hasn't played a full season since 2003. That being said, the experience and depth he provides should have more of an impact on the defense than his expected position as a backup might indicate.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 3: DE Tyson Jackson -- LSU
Round 3, Pick 3: DT Alex Magee -- Purdue
Round 4, Pick 2: CB Donald Washington -- Ohio State
Round 5, Pick 3: OL Colin Brown -- Missouri
Round 6, Pick 2: WR Quinten Lawrence -- McNeese State
Round 7, Pick 3: RB Javarris Williams -- Tennessee State
Round 7, Pick 28: WR Jake O'Connell -- Miami (Ohio)
Round 7, Pick 47: K Ryan Succop - South Carolina

Grade: B+
A great deal of the B+ grade for the Chiefs is in what they did with their second round pick, trading it for QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel. Getting two proven starters - even if one is a bit on the older side and the other only has one good year under his belt - is great for a second round pick. That being said, they had a decent draft even without considering that trade, and showed that they were committed to switching to a 3-4 by taking Tyson Jackson. The pick has gotten a lot of criticism, but (without actually making the comparison) Pioli has shown he does know how to draft defensive linemen early, as evidenced by 6th overall pick Richard Seymour. Alex Magee, their third round pick, will be switching from a 4-3 DT to a 3-4 DE, and has the tools to do so. Washington is a bit of a project but has good size. My favorite late-round pick of theirs was Lawrence out of 1-AA McNeese State, who was a sprinter in college in addition to playing football, and could develop into a good returner, and perhaps a good deep threat on the offense. Ryan Succop, this year's "Mr. Irrelevant", will be the starter at kicker.


Training Camp Report
-First round draft pick Tyson Jackson signed a 5 year deal with 31 million in guaranteed money on August 7th, one of the last handful of first-round picks to be signed.
-Recent rumors have suggested that Matt Cassel isn't locked into the starting position, and Tyler Thigpen has impressed in camp. Brodie Croyle has been strong as well, and led the team in passing in their first preseason game. Still, Cassel has to be the odds-on favorite here.
-There is some speculation that either Engram or Toomer won't make the team, and Toomer has looked a bit better than Engram. However, Engram and Cassel have had good chemistry.
-Not only has RB Larry Johnson looked extremely sharp in practice, but he's been unusually good-natured, a change from the last few years when he was, more often than not, unhappy with the Chiefs organization.
-Despite raising some eyebrows by skipping the voluntary workouts, Mike Vrabel has been one of the hardest workers in training camp, and any questions about his desire to play for the Chiefs have largely been quelled.
-OG Brian Waters, on the other hand, has reportedly asked to be traded, and has had a confrontational relationship with new head coach Todd Haley, who's approach - treating veteran pro bowlers like Waters and undrafted rookies the same way - clashes with Waters' ego as the best lineman on the team.
-Along with Vrabel, other veteran acquisitions have been setting a good example in camp. Mike Goff and Zach Thomas, in particular, have shown the young guys how to work hard. The last few years, the Chiefs have lacked the cohesiveness that comes with great veteran leadership, and that seems to have changed this offseason.
-Fumbling seemed to be an issue in the first preseason game, as Cassel and Croyle fumbled once each. Second-year RB Dantrell Savage fumbled twice, though he also led the team in rushing.
-Dwayne Bowe has had a mediocre training camp, and even dropped down the depth chart, despite having an outstanding season in 2008. That being said, he caught 5 balls for 70 yards in the first preseason game, leading the team in both stats.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario: The Chiefs gain what they've lacked the last few years - veteran leadership on the offense and defense and a head coach who can pull it all together. Matt Cassel shows he wasn't a fluke, and Larry Johnson follows a great training camp with a return to the form he showed a few years ago. The Broncos and Raiders fail to improve, and the Chiefs battle with the Chargers for the AFC West.

Worst Case Scenario: The "veteran leadership" turns out to be just a bunch of old, declining players. We see the Larry Johnson of 2007 and 2008 instead of 2005 and 2006. Brian Waters not only causes a distraction, but a questionable offensive line can't get it together. Matt Cassel shows he was just a product of New England's offense. The transition to a 3-4 defense largely fails, and the Chiefs limp to a last place finish in the AFC West with just 3 or 4 wins.

Prediction: 10-6 (2nd AFC West)

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Strasburg Signs!

It is official, and Natinal's fans can rest easy. Phenom Pitcher Stephen Strasburg has just signed, literally seconds before the midnight deadline. Details to come...

- According to Pedro Gomez on SportsCenter, Strasburg signed for a guaranteed $15 Million. A far cry from the $50 Mil Scott Boras, his agent, was reportedly demanding.

- Also being reported as a 4-year deal.

- To finish out the story, I'll defer to AP writer Howard Fendrich:

Strasburg gets a $7.5 million signing bonus payable over three years. His 2009 salary is the $400,000 minimum, which comes to a prorated $102,732. He gets $2 million in 2010, $2.5 million in 2011 and $3 million in 2012.

The total is roughly 50 percent higher than the previous record for a drafted player, the $10.5 million the Cubs guaranteed Mark Prior in 2001.

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Chicago Bears

Record: 9-7 (2nd NFC North)

Best Game: Week 1 @ Indianapolis - 29-13
The Bears started off the season with what seemed to be a tough opening opponent, as they walked into the brand new Lucas Oil Stadium to face the Colts in week 1. Things didn't go according to plan, however, when rookie RB Matt Forte burst onto the scene with a 50-yard TD run in the 1st quarter, and the Bears never looked back. A safety by DE Ogunleye and a recovered fumble for a TD by LB Briggs gave Bears fans reason to hope for a great season in 2008.

Worst Game: Week 17 @ Houston - 24-31
So much for saving the best for last. All the Bears had to do to get into the playoffs was win the last game against a beatable (albeit improving) Houston team. The Bears got off to a quick start leading 10-0 after the 1st quarter, but Andre Johnson had two TD receptions in the 2nd quarter as a part of a 21-0 run by Houston, and the Texans spoiled the Bears chances at a playoff birth. Orton had a good game in this one, but Schaub could not be stopped. He went 27-36 for 328 yards and 2 TDs.

MVP: Matt Forte
Forte is the first rookie to win a team MVP in our series, and rightfully so. Forte led all rookie RBs in total yards and receptions, and finished 3rd in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,715. He showed breakaway speed from his very first game, and led the team not only in rushing yards, but also in receptions and TDs. The Bears will try to use Kevin Jones more this season, so as to keep Forte fresher late in the 2009 season.


The Offseason

Significant Losses:

Mike Brown - S - Released February 14
Brown was a staple of this defense for years, as well as the vocal leader. Injuries have derailed his career.

Marty Booker - WR - Released February 13
The impact of losing Booker has much less to do with Booker and much more to do with the WR depth chart now. Earl Bennett and Brandon Rideau have a total of zero combined receptions.

Kyle Orton - QB - Traded to Denver (with picks) April 2
Orton may not have been the greatest quarterback to ever put on a Bears helmet, but he was adequate last season, keeping the Bears in several games.

Significant Additions:

Jay Cutler - QB - Traded for Kyle Orton (plus picks) April 2
A savior in Chicago? Time will tell, but Bears fans have reason to be excited about this brassy move the Bears front office made. Cutler should be in Chicago for years to come.

Orlando Pace - OT - Signed April 2
The first of two ex-Rams signed by the Bears in the off-season, Pace has had a solid career (albeit with a few injuries). He is a projected starter on the Offensive Line.

Pisa Tinoisamoa - LB - Signed May 29
The other ex-Ram to sign, Tinoisamoa led the Rams in tackles last season with 135. He is currently slated as a starter alongside Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher.

Kevin Shaffer - OT - Signed March 25
Shaffer was picked up primarily for depth, but finds himself behind 2nd year Tackle Chris Williams. He committed just one penalty in 15 games last season for the Browns.

Draft Picks:
Round 3, Pick 4: Jarron Gilbert - DT - San Diego State
Round 3, Pick 35: Juaquin Iglesias - WR - Oklahoma
Round 4, Pick 5: Henry Melton - DE - Texas
Round 4, Pick 19: DJ Moore - CB - Vanderbilt
Round 5, Pick 4: Johnny Knox - WR - Abilene Christian
Round 5, Pick 18: Marcus Freeman - OLB - Ohio State
Round 6, Pick 17: Al Afalava - S - Oregon State
Round 7, Pick 37: Lance Louis - TE - San Diego State
Round 7, Pick 42: Derek Kinder - WR - Pittsburgh

Grade: B
Not having a pick in the first day hurt, even though Jay Cutler was part of that reason. There were WR's to be had that rated out far better than Iglesias, but his pick was good value. Gilbert was a good pick in the 3rd round, as was Moore and Knox in the 4th and 5th rounds. Melton in the 4th was a reach. Afalava was a great value pick in the 6th round, in my opinion. He may be starting week 1 with the injuries the Bears have had in the preseason.

Training Camp Report

- QB Cutler and TE Olsen look like they've been playing together for years.

- RB Kevin Jones has looked solid with his cuts. He should take more of a load this season.

- The Bears WRs have had the dropsies early in camp, largely due to how quickly the ball is on them when they turn around.

- CB Zack Bowman has been the best standout on the defensive side of the ball. Bears fans need to hope he can stay healthy.

- CB Nate Vasher looks horrible. Another reason Bowman needs to stay healthy.

- WR Brandon Rideau has impressed with his hands. He has an outside shot at being the #2 WR in week 1.

- DE Alex Brown flattened OT Orlando Pace early in camp. He's paid for it ever since.

- DE Mark Anderson has looked solid rushing the QB. He still needs to improve on playing the run.

- LB Tinoisamoa will start alongside Briggs and Urlacher this season. That's a very solid LB Corps.

- WR Earl Bennett is still struggling.

- Cutler and WR Hester have tried to connect on several deep balls in camp. The ones they have connected on look pretty. The ones they haven't still spread out the defense.

- Rashied Davis has not looked great. However he may stay on the team due to experience.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Cutler impresses, Forte continues to improve, The D-Line is dominant and the Defensive Backfield solidifies itself. Someone in the WR Corps emerges and the Bears win the division and make noise in the playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario:
Cutler struggles, the defensive backfield is in shambles, and the Bears end another season with no WRs to speak of. They struggle to finish 8-8.

Prediction: 10-6, 2nd NFC North

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Atlanta Falcons

Record: 11-5 (2nd NFC South)

Best Game: Week 12 Vs. Carolina - 45-28
Beating the eventual division champ was good enough, but a true testament to this team's gritty desire is seen if you look at the numbers. Carolina had more yards passing and rushing and fewer turnovers, but what they didn't have was an answer for Michael "Burner" Turner. Turner had three rushing TDs in the 4th period, and the Falcons added another impressive win to their playoff run.

Worst Game: Week 2 @ Tampa Bay - 9-24
In a rare terrible all-around performance by the dirty birds, Matt Ryan went 13-33 with two INTs, the O-Line gave up four sacks, and the offense never could find the endzone. The Falcons had eight penalties for 60 yards, and the offense finished with a total of 234 total yards. Against a team like the Buccaneers, you would've expected a better performance.

MVP: Michael Turner
Turner was nothing short of exciting in his first season with a new team. Over the course of the season he amassed 376 rushes for 1,699 yards and 17 TDs. He recorded eight 100 yard games and had four multiple-TD games en route to his first Pro Bowl. He also had two games with over 200 yards rushing. This team still would have competed, but would probably not have made the playoffs without "The Burner".

The Offseason

Significant Losses:
- Keith Brooking - LB - Declared Free Agent February 27
Brooking had a solid season w/ the Falcons last season, piling up 102 tackles. It was his 8th straight season with at least 100 tackles, and the current Cowboy will surely be missed.

- Harry Douglas - WR - Placed on IR August 6
The former Louisville Cardinal has all the potential in the world, but the NFL will have to wait another season to see it. He was carted off the field with a knee injury in the fifth day of training camp and will be sidelined the rest of the season.

- Michael Boley - LB - Declared Free Agent Frebruary 27
Boley is another solid LB to leave the Falcons over the offseason. He wasn't flashy, but he was a solid tackler who had 9 passes defensed last season.

Significant Additions:

- Tony Gonzalez - WR - Traded for April 23 for 2010 2nd round pick
Gonzalez is exactly what Matty Ice needs to keep improving. He's a beast at TE, and amassed 96 receptions for over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs last season.

- Jamie Winborn - LB - Signed August 1
Winborn spent 2008 with the Panthers. He very quietly had 99 tackles and 11 Passes Defensed last season. He'll be a fine replacement for Boley.

- Mike Peterson - LB - Signed March 10
Peterson had a good season for Jacksonville last year, ending with 84 tackles and a sack. He's not Brooking, but some feel he's on par with him.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 24: Peria Jerry - DT - Mississippi
Round 2, Pick 23: William Moore - S - Missouri
Round 3, Pick 26: Christopher Owens - CB - San Jose State
Round 4, Pick 25: Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. - DE - Richmond
Round 5, Pick 2: William Middleton - CB - Furman
Round 5, Pick 20: Garrett Reynolds - OT - North Carolina
Round 6, Pick 3: Spencer Adkins - LB - Miami
Round 7, Pick 1: Vance Walker - DT - Georgia Tech

Draft Grade: B-
I love what they did at the top with Jerry and Moore, and againt in the 4th round with Sidbury. I know they needed CB help, but I think both Owens and Middleton were stretches at best. Overall, they knew they needed help on defense, and their first five picks were used on that side of the ball. Not the greatest of drafts, but an effective one regardless.

Training Camp Report:

- Losing WR Douglas hurts -- bad.

- HC Smith said the Punt Returner battle should be a good one.

- LB Lofton and DT Lewis have missed some time in camp, but look to be healthy again.

- Marty Booker: "It's good to finally play with a pretty good quarterback."

- Everyone is glad to have WR Roddy White back in camp, though most wish he was back before he was.

- Newly acquired LB Peterson has looked good, and says the defense has the focus to succeed in 2009.

- K Jason Elam has looked solid as always.

- Rookie S William Moore is out 2-4 weeks.

- RB Turner looking solid. Making people miss and showing an extra gear in open field.

- Rookie Jerry is practicing with the 2nd team, with spots with 1st team.

- According to the first few live practices, turnovers will be a big factor for the defense this year.

- Brent Grimes has looked solid in camp.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Matty Ice takes a step forward, Roddy White continues to be a top 10 WR, Michael Turner proves he's for real and the Falcons contend for the NFC South title for a 2nd year in a row.

Worst Case Scenario:
Ryan has the dreaded Sophomore Slump and the defense struggles to mesh. The Falcons find themselves fighting for a .500 season.

Prediction: 11-5, 2nd NFC South

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Detroit Lions

Record: 0-16 (4th NFC North)

Least Soul-Crushing Game: Week 5 at Minnesota - 10-12
This was the closest the Lions came to winning a game in 2009, and if not for the infamous Orlovsky out-of-bounds safety (seen above), the Lions may have squeaked out a win vs. a playoff-bound opponent. The Lions forced four fumbles and intercepted Frerotte once, holding a good team to just 12 points.

Worst Game: Week 17 at Green Bay - 21-31
It wasn't their worst loss of the season, but it sealed the deal on a perfectly disastrous season. They only gave up points in two quarters, but the 14 and 17 spots the Pack put on the board in the 1st and 4th periods were too much to overcome.

MVP: Calvin Johnson
The Georgia Tech product had a great second season, especially considering he was the only real weapon. 78 Receptions, 1300+ yards and 12 TDs on this team truly makes him one of the greatest WRs in the game today. He'll be game-planned around for years.


The Offseason

Significant Losses:

- Cory Redding - DT - Traded to Seahawks along with 5th round pick for Julian Peterson.
Redding was the team leader in Sacks in 2008.

- Corey Smith - DE - Deceased
In one of the saddest and most alarming stories to take place in the last 12-month span, Corey Smith died while boating with some friends over the off-season. His number will be retired by the Lions for the 2009 season. RIP.

Significant Additions:

-Larry Foote - ILB - Signed May 6

Probably the biggest non-trade pick-up Detroit has made in the last 10 years, Foote instantly makes this defense better and becomes a leader in an otherwise young defense.

- Julian Peterson - LB - Traded 3/14 for Cory Redding + 5th Round Pick.
Peterson was a solid tackler with a nose for the ball in 2008 for the Seahawks, with 86 tackles and four forced fumbles.

- Phillip Buchanon - CB - Signed March 4
Buchanon isn't the best CB on the market, but he is adequate in coverage and will help a bad secondary.

- Bryant Johnson - WR - Signed March 2
Johnson had a solid season for a bad team last season, putting up 48 catches, 500+ yards and 3 TDs for the 49ers. He should take a little pressure off Calvin Johnson. It may be to his benefit to learn how to drive a golf cart, though.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 1 - Matthew Stafford - QB - Georgia
Round 1, Pick 20 - Brandon Pettigrew - TE - Oklahoma State
Round 2, Pick 1 - Louis Delmas - S - Western Michigan
Round 3, Pick 12 - DeAndre Levy - OLB - Wisconsin
Round 3, Pick 18 - Derrick Williams - WR - Penn State
Round 4, Pick 15 - Sammie Lee Hill - DT - Stillman
Round 6, Pick 19 - Aaron Brown - RB - Texas Christian
Round 7, Pick 19 - Lydon Murtha - OT - Nebraska
Round 7, Pick 26 - Zack Follett - OLB - California
Round 7, Pick 46 - Dan Gronkowski - TE - Maryland

Grade: B+
Stafford underperformed every year in college, but still has good potential. Pettigrew was a great pick, as was Delmas. I think Derrick Williams was a more-than-solid pick for them in the 3rd round. What bothers me was not picking an OT until the 7th round bothers me.

Training Camp Report:

- Kevin Smith has looked good, and a lot of people think he could have a breakout year.

- The O-line still needs a lot of work...which will of course prevent Kevin Smith from having a breakout year.

- The defense has looked better than most thought. Foote and Peterson have stepped up.

- All three QBs have looked good. Choosing a starter right now would be based more on player preference than skill and ability.

- Calvin Johnson. Wow.

- The defensive line is going to have to play better during the season than they have thus far in camp.

- Phillip Buchanon and Rookie Louis Delmas need to make more plays.

- Rookie RB Aaron Brown is turning a few heads, but it will be difficult for him to find regular playing time.

- Injuries are piling up quickly for this team. Smith, Morris, Pettigrew, Bullocks, Delmas, Murtha, Nordin, Northcutt, and others are at best day-to-day.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Stafford looks good, Smith improves, Calvin Johnson becomes elite. They don't compete for the playoffs, but get out of the top-10 draft pick area.

Worst Case Scenario:
Injuries and ineffectiveness hurt the team. Stafford struggles, Smith takes a step back, Pettigrew doesn't develop, and the team picks top 2 for the 3rd time in four years.

Prediction: 3-13, 4th NFC North

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Buffalo Bills

2008 Recap

Record: 7-9 (4th AFC East)

Best Game: Week 7 vs. San Diego - 23-14
Week 7 was the Bills' only win over a playoff team, and they beat up on the Chargers. The Chargers kept it respectable, but Buffalo beat San Diego in virtually every statistical category, including rushing and passing yards, turnovers, sacks, and first downs. At 5-1, the Bills looked poised to make a run at the playoffs - but they only won 2 more games the rest of the season.

Worst Game: Week 5 @ Arizona - 17-41
The Bills started out 4-0, but it was a deceptively weak 4-0: those 4 teams ended 2008 with a combined 16 wins, and none did better than 5-11. Week 5 was the first glimpse of the real Buffalo Bills, as they were leveled by the eventual NFC Champion Cardinals. They committed 4 turnovers an allowed 5 sacks, while Arizona neither turned the ball over nor allowed a sack on Warner. The Cardinals didn't overwhelm the Bills, but they capitalized on 3 of the 4 turnovers with 2 TDs and a field goal.

MVP: LB Kawika Mitchell
The Bills were not especially good in any facet of the game last year, but their defense was ultimately more effective than their offense, and a big part of this was Kawika Mitchell. He led the team in sacks with 4 and had 2 interceptions, as one of only 5 Bills players to pick off a ball in 2008. He also had 82 tackles, second most on the team. His biggest play came against the Chargers in week 7, when he intercepted a Phillip Rivers pass in the end zone to prevent a Chargers comeback.

The Offseason

Significant Losses:
-TE Robert Royal (Cut) - Royal led Bills TEs with 33 receptions for 351 yards in 2008.
-OT Jason Peters (Trade - Eagles) - Peters was a dubious Pro Bowl selection last season, considering a stat (which I haven't been able to verify) has been floating around that his 11.5 sacks allowed was the worst in the NFL. He was traded after he didn't show up at offseason activities, unsurprising given his extended holdout in 2008 which lasted the entire preseason.
-OG Derrick Dockery (Cut) - Dockery, who started 16 games for the Bills in both 2007 and 2008, was a salary cap casualty.
-C/OG Duke Preston (UFA) - Started 11 games for the Bills last season. Versatile and can play guard, center, and even right tackle in a pinch.
-CB Jabari Greer (UFA) - Started the first 10 games of the 2008 season before he was injured. He returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns last season.

Significant Additions:
-RB Dominic Rhodes (UFA) - The first player in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards as an undrafted free agent rookie, Rhodes hasn't averaged over 4 yards per carry since 2004.
-WR Terrell Owens (UFA) - The Bills gave Owens a 1-season contract to minimize their risk. At 35, Owens isn't the player he used to be (and his hands are suspect), but even if he doesn't light the world on fire, he'll definitely free up Lee Evans to do some damage to opposing defenses.
-C Geoff Hangartner (UFA) - The Bills selected 2 interior offensive linemen in the first two rounds of the draft, but signing Hangartner gives the Bills a veteran at center while the rookies adjust to the NFL.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 11: DE Aaron Maybin -- Penn State
Round 1, Pick 28: C/G Eric Wood -- Louisville
Round 2, Pick 10: CB Jairus Byrd -- Oregon
Round 2, Pick 19: G Andy Levitre -- Oregon State
Round 4, Pick 21: TE Shawn Nelson -- Southern Miss.
Round 5, Pick 11: S Nic Harris -- Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 10: CB Cary Harris -- USC
Round 7, Pick 11: CB Ellis Lankster -- West Virginia

Grade: C
The Bills were tied with the Redskins for the 4th fewest sacks in the NFL last season, largely due to Aaron Schobel's foot injury, which limited him to just 5 games. Even with a healthy Schobel, however, the Bills still could use another good pass rusher, and Ryan Denney is only adequate. They addressed this need by taking Maybin with the 11th overall pick. Both Wood and Levitre can play multiple offensive line positions, and they'll be helpful in shoring up a questionable interior line. Shawn Nelson is a fast receiving TE who very well could outperform Royal in his rookie season. Now for the bad: After the Jason Peters trade, they needed an OT, but they didn't get one. Cary Harris is very slow for a CB, though injuries at his pro day contributed to his 4.89 40 time. Byrd is slow too, and barely broke 4.7 on his pro day, though he could be a decent safety. Nic Harris might be too slow to even play safety, running in the 4.8s at the combine and at his pro day. I wouldn't be surprised if 7th round pick Ellis Lankster turns out to be the best pick of the 4 secondary players the Bills took in the draft.

Training Camp Report
-First round draft pick Aaron Maybin has yet to sign, largely due to the holdout of fellow rookie Michael Crabtree, pick in the spot ahead of Maybin. Maybin presumably hopes that Crabtree will get a bigger contract than the 10th pick might merit, giving Maybin leverage on the bargaining table.
-Rookie center/guard Eric Wood has reportedly done well blocking three-time pro bowler Marcus Stroud.
-Just 4 days after cutting him on August 7th, the Bills have re-signed CB Antwain Spann, a 3-year veteran who played for the Patriots from 2006 to 2008.
-In the Hall of Fame game this past Sunday, the Bills lost by 3 to the Tennessee Titans. Backup QB Gibran Hamdan was impressive, completing 11 of his 13 passes, though the only touchdown came from the defense on an interception return by Reggie Corner. Second year RB Xavier Oman got the bulk of the carries and added 3 receptions. RB Bruce Hall didn't do himself any favors with 2 rushes for 0 yards and a muffed punt.
-WR Terrell Owens isn't practicing today with a toe injury. He caught 2 passes for 27 yards in the Hall of Fame game.
-One has to wonder if Terrell Owens will be fined for saying that Antonio Cromartie's (Chargers) fine for complaining about the food at camp was "ridiculous". Somehow I doubt it.
-Ashton Youboty has done well in camp after returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for much of last season.
-Leodis McKelvin has been limited in practice with a strained quad, but he did pick off one of Tennessee QB Vince Young's passes in Sunday's Hall of Fame game.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Terrell Owens behaves like a reasonable human being, and he and Evans compliment each other well at wide receiver, allowing Trent Edwards to put up some stats. The young line meshes and Lynch has his best year yet, rushing for over 1300 yards and 10 TDs. Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes contribute as well. The 4 rookie DBs add depth to the secondary and the Bills pass defense, solid last year, moves into the top 10 in the NFL as Aaron Maybin signs and gets up to speed quickly, while Schobel returns to form. Either the Jets or Dolphins fall apart and the Bills take a run at a wild card shot, finishing around 10-6.

Worst Case Scenario:
Owens, who ultimately didn't get along very well with the likes of Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo, doesn't have the patience for Trent Edwards. The offensive line is in shambles as the rookies develop, and Edwards finds himself on the turf constantly. Lynch plays well, but his numbers suffer behind the inexperienced offensive line. The run defense continues to be mediocre, while the secondary suffers as Maybin's holdout forces him to play catch-up for the first half of the season, while Schobel shows his age. The Bills struggle to win 4 games.

Prediction: 7-9, 3rd AFC East

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NFL Team-By-Team Preview - New Orleans Saints

2008 Recap

Record: 8-8, 4th in NFC-South

Best Game: Week 12, Vs. Green Bay. 51-29
We knew that Green Bay's defense was beaten up, but no one expected the Saints to put up over half a hundred against the Packers. Drew Brees was nearly flawless in this one, going 20-26 for 323 yards and 4 TDs, Lance Moore had his best game of the season (5, 115, 2) and the Running Backs (minus Reggie Bush) ran for a combined three touchdowns. The defense in this game was non-existent, but at a wild home game, the Saints made sure their fans left happy.

Worst Game: Week 7, @ Carolina. 7-30
This was one of only two games the Saints lost by more than 5 points all year, but it was an ugly one. Drew Brees barely completed half of his passes, and had 0 TDs and 1 INT on the day. Reggie Bush left the game with an apparent knee injury and Jeremy Shockey re-injured his groin. And to top it all off, this all happened against the Panthers, a divisional foe. Needless to say, this is one of "those games" that really haunted the Saints, especially early in the season.

MVP: Drew Brees
In one of those no-doubter decisions, Brees was by far the MVP of the 2008 Saints. He became only the 2nd player in NFL History to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, and won the 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. He led the NFL in passing completions, attempts, yards and TDs.


The Offseason

Significant Losses:

- Hollis Thomas - DT: Released April 28
Thomas isn't the greatest DT in the NFL, but the man is a horse. He failed a physical for the Saints, and they decided it would be best for both parties if he was released.

- Deuce McAllister -- RB -- Released February 17
Once the face of the franchise, this former 1st round pick has just suffered too many injuries in the last few years. He will be missed, especially if Reggie Bush continues to lack the ability to be a feature back.

Significant Additions:

Darren Sharper -- S -- Signed March 18
Sharper may not have the speed he once did, but he is a very solid tackler and still has good instincts. He will help the poor secondary in the Big Easy.

Jabari Greer -- CB -- Signed March 4
Greer may not be a top-tier CB, but he, too, can help a very poor secondary. He should be able to cover a #2 WR adequately.

Paul Spicer -- DE -- Signed March 17
The Ex-Jaguar can get to the QB (28.5 career sacks) and should be an upgrade in the Saints weak Pass-Defense.

Heath Evans -- FB -- Signed March 5
Evans isn't the back with the most experience, but w/ McAllister gone he should get a decent amount of short yard carries, along with opening up some holes for Reggie Bush as well.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 14 -- Malcolm Jenkins - CB - Ohio State
Round 4, Pick 16 -- Chip Vaughn - S - Wake Forest
Round 4, Pick 18 -- Stanley Arnoux - ILB - Wake Forest
Round 5, Pick 28 -- Thomas Morstead - P - Southern Methodist

Grade: C+
Jenkins and Vaughn were solid picks and, along with their off-season acquisitions, should go a long way in helping their secondary, but a lack of draft picks really hurt them. Morstead could be a solid punter in the NFL, however.

Training Camp Report

- Vilma has stood out in practice, making plays all over the field.

- Shockey has made a couple of nice catches. Fans can only hope he returns to his "Giants" Form.

- Meachem can run, with or without the ball. He's going to be tough to cover once he gets the playbook down.

- Jenkins didn't play until August 9th, but took all of his exams early so he could join the team for the first part of training camp, and has looked as solid as advertised.

- FB Evans has shown his ability to catch a ball and make a move.

- Saints fans better hope Brees doesn't go down; Harrington and Brunell haven't been "wowing" anybody.

- The O-Line looks to be slightly improved from last season.

- K Garrett Hartley has converted field goals from 50 and 55 yards during training camp.

- DE Charles Grant has looked good. He stripped Brees of the ball on the 7th day of practice and recovered the fumble.

- Quick slant passes may be a thing to look for from the 2009 Saints -- they've converted several of them in practice.

- Marques Colston is reportedly looking good, but it will be interesting to see what happens when secondary's roll coverage over to him.

- Mike Bell isn't a blocking running back.

- The DB's (namely David and Porter) have looked better-than-advertised on several days.
2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
The defense starts to catch up with the offense, and the running game flourishes. The Saints battle to the end for a playoff spot.

Worst Case Scenario:
Bush stays fragile, no other RB emerges and the defense struggles again. The team fights valiantly to a losing record.

Prediction: 8-8, 3rd in NFC-South

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - San Diego Chargers

2008 Recap
Record: 8-8 (1st AFC West)

Best Game: Week 17 vs. Denver - 52-21
The Chargers had some big wins - 30-10 over New England and 48-29 over the Jets among them - but none were bigger than the hurting they put on Denver in the last week of the season, a game which decided the AFC West, when the winner would get a home playoff game and the loser's season would be over. The Chargers ran for 289 yards and 4 TDs, including 3 by LaDainian Tomlinson. The defense picked off Jay Cutler twice and help Denver under 100 yards rushing. The win capped a 4 game win streak to end the season for San Diego, propelling them to the playoffs.

Worst Game: Week 7 @ Buffalo - 14-23
Despite going 8-8, the Chargers had no blowout losses in 2008 - in fact, they didn't lose a single regular season game by 10 or more points. Their worst game, however, was probably a week 7 loss to the lowly Buffalo Bills, who did not beat a winning team all season and only managed 7 wins by having teams like Oakland, Kansas City, and St. Louis on their schedule. The Chargers were outgained by over 100 yards, and lost the turnover battle 3 to 0, dropping to 3-4 on the season.

MVP: QB Phillip Rivers
Rivers had his best season as a pro, setting personal bests and leading the league in TD passes, QB Rating, and yards per attempt. He also threw for over 4000 yards for the first time in his career, and completed over 65% of his passes, another personal best. Despite putting up the fewest rushing TDs since their 5-11 2001 season and a pass defense that ranked near the bottom of the league, Rivers led them to the playoffs on the strength of his arm.

The Offseason

Significant Losses:
-OG Mike Goff (UFA) - Goff played for 5 seasons with the Chargers and started every game over that span.
-DE Igor Olshansky (UFA) - The 13 game starter in 2008 recorded 20 tackles and 2 sacks, and has since signed with Dallas.
-LB Matt Wilhelm (Cut) - The Chargers cut Wilhelm, who recorded 97 tackles over 14 games in 2007, shortly before training camp opened.

Significant Additions:
-LB Kevin Burnett (UFA) - Burnett may not be the biggest name, but he's the only player of note that the Chargers have added this offseason. In 4 season with the Cowboys, Burnett has recorded 146 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 interception which he returned for a TD.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 16: DE Larry English -- Northern Illinois
Round 3, Pick 14: OG Louis Vasquez -- Texas Tech
Round 4, Pick 13: DT Vaughn Martin -- Western Ontario
Round 4, Pick 33: OG Tyronne Green -- Auburn
Round 4, Pick 34: RB Gartrell Johnson -- Colorado State
Round 5, Pick 12: CB Brandon Hughes -- Oregon State
Round 6, Pick 16: S Kevin Ellison -- USC
Round 7, Pick 15: WR Demetrius Byrd -- LSU

Grade: B+
The Chargers didn't make a big splash with their draft, but they did draft intelligently. Larry English is essentially an insurance policy if Merriman doesn't come back full strength. Vasquez can help replace Goff, and Martin, who is athletic for a 330 pounder, fits their 3-4 scheme well. More so than their early round picks, I loved the Chargers picks late in the draft. Johnson is a hard nosed runner, if a bit slow, and would compliment Sproles well if Tomlinson continues to decline this season and the Chargers let him go. Hughes is undersized, but he is athletic and fast enough to develop into a decent player. Byrd, a receiver with outstanding athletic ability, was injured in a serious car accident shortly before the draft, but the Chargers used their seventh round pick in the hopes that his recovery goes well and he turns out to be a steal.

Training Camp Report
-Chargers training camp is closed to the public because of ongoing construction as they repair a broken water line that caused a sinkhole where fans would normally be watching practice from.
-The Chargers have signed all their draft picks with the exception of seventh round pick Demetrius Byrd, who's condition they continue to monitor.
-Darren Sproles continues to be the primary returner.
-In a rather well-publicized incident, Antonio Cromartie was fined $2,500 for complaining about the food at training camp on Twitter, and suggesting that it may be the reason the Chargers haven't won the Super Bowl. Well, Antonio, I think that your 31st ranked pass defense might have something to do with it.
-Rookie RB Gartrell Johnson has impressed so far, to the point where he may beat veteran Michael Bennett out for a spot on the roster.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Tomlinson shows everyone that he's still got some gas left in the tank, and he and Sproles are the best RB duo in the NFL. Rivers has another pro bowl season. The secondary, which has plenty of talent in guys like Jammer and Cromartie, returns to 2007 levels, when they picked off the most passes in the NFL. Shawne Merriman comes back healthy, and DT Jamal Williams plays younger than his age. The Chargers roll through an AFC West full of teams that are rebuilding (Chiefs), stagnant (Broncos), or just plain bad (Raiders) and go 13-3 on their way to their first Super Bowl birth since the mid-90s.

Worst Case Scenario:
Tomlinson is running on fumes, and Darren Sproles isn't enough to counteract another sub-4 YPC year by the starter. Rivers still plays well, but opposing defenses, not afraid of the running game anymore, key on the pass. Jamal Williams is just plain old and Shawne Merriman isn't what he used to be, and their rookie counterparts are unable to replace what Merriman and Williams were in 2007, though not for lack of effort. The secondary continues to get toasted, and the Chargers are taken advantage of by a Chiefs team led my Matt Cassel. The Chargers finish at 8-8 again, but this time fail to make the playoffs in second place in the AFC West.

Prediction: 11-5, 1st AFC West

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - New England Patriots

2008 Recap

Record: 11-5 (2nd AFC East)

Best Game: Week 16, vs. Cardinals, 47-7
Though the Patriots didn't get the help they needed in order to make the playoffs, they took care of business on their end, winning the last 4 games of the season. The most dominant of these wins was a week 16 drubbing of the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. The Patriots held Arizona to just 8 first downs and 186 yards, including only 44 yards on the ground. Matt Cassel threw for 345 yards and 3 TDs to lead the offense.

Worst Game: Week 13, vs. Steelers, 10-33
In retrospect, this was the game that knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs. The Patriots turned the ball over 5 times - to put that in perspective, they only turned the ball over 16 times in their other 15 games combined, and in no other game did they have more than two turnovers. Matt Cassel was sacked 5 times, and though the Patriots jumped out to a 10-3 lead, the Steelers scored the last 30 points of the game.

MVP: Matt Cassel
When Tom Brady went down with a knee injury, the Patriots, despite having won 18 games the previous season, seemed doomed. Cassel was no Brady, but he was a more than adequate replacement, and his 21:11 TD:INT ratio was excellent for a first-year starter.


The Offseason

Significant Losses:
-QB Matt Cassel (Traded - Chiefs) - Cassel's trade suggested that the Patriots have no lingering worries about the status of Tom Brady's knee. He joins former Patriots VP of Personnel Scott Pioli in Kansas City.
-WR Jabar Gaffney (UFA) - Gaffney also joined the Broncos in free agency. A good third option at receiver, he's consistently been good for about 40 catches per season.
-LB Mike Vrabel (Traded - Chiefs) - Vrabel and Cassel were part of the same trade that sent both of them to Kansas City for 34th overall pick in the draft. A Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 2007, he is an experienced OLB.
-CB Ellis Hobbs (Traded - Eagles) - Hobbs was traded to Philadelphia for 2 fifth-round picks. Sometimes a liability in coverage (particularly against tall receivers), he is nonetheless a quality kick returner.
-SS Rodney Harrison (Retired) - Though his skills had declined appreciably in the last couple years, and he missed more games than he played over the last 4 seasons, Harrison was one of the leaders of the Patriots defense.
-V.P. of Player Personnel Scott Pioli - Only in the last few years has Scott Pioli gained the widespread recognition he deserves for his part in building the New England dynasty. His loss may not be felt immediately, but in the long run, only the losses of Belichick or Brady would be more difficult to overcome.
-OC Josh McDaniels - Just 33 years old, McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots from 2006 to 2008. His offense dominated the NFL in 2007, but he was thoroughly outschemed by Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo in Super Bowl XLII.

Significant Additions:
-RB Fred Taylor (UFA) - The Patriots add one of the most successful active running backs to their stable, replacing LaMont Jordan, who left in free agency. At his age, Taylor won't be expected to be a feature back, but should contribute to an already strong running game.
-WR Joey Galloway (UFA) - A replacement for the departing Gaffney, Galloway has experienced a career resurrection the last few seasons in Tampa Bay. A legitimate deep threat, he averaged over 17 yards per reception in 2006 and 2007. The presence of another proven playmaker could help free up Randy Moss in the passing game.
-WR Greg Lewis (Trade - Eagles) - Lewis was acquired in the trade that sent Ellis Hobbs to Philadelphia. While the Patriots had talented receivers in Welker and Moss last season, one thing they didn't have was depth, with only 3 true wide receivers making any significant contribution. Lewis could take the role that Stallworth had in the 2007 season.
-CB Shawn Springs (UFA) - Springs adds some experience to a secondary that otherwise has little following the departure of Rodney Harrison. As a cover corner, he is also an upgrade over Ellis Hobbs. The one uncertainty about Springs is his susceptibility to injury - he hasn't started 16 games in a season since 2000.

Draft Picks:
Round 2, Pick 2: SS Patrick Chung -- Oregon
Round 2, Pick 8: DT Ron Brace -- Boston College
Round 2, Pick 9: CB Darius Butler -- Connecticut
Round 2, Pick 26: OT Sebastian Vollmer -- Houston
Round 3, Pick 19: WR Brandon Tate -- North Carolina
Round 3, Pick 33: OLB Tyrone McKenzie -- South Florida
Round 4, Pick 23: OG Rich Ohrnberger -- Penn State
Round 6, Pick 25: LB Jake Ingram -- Hawaii
Round 6, Pick 34: DT Myron Pryor -- Kentucky
Round 7, Pick 23: QB Julian Edelman -- Kent State (Converting to WR)
Round 7, Pick 25: DT Darryl Richard -- Georgia Tech

Grade: B
Second round pick Patrick Chung is brought in to replace Rodney Harrison, though he will likely start as the third safety behind Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders. Brace and Butler are also good picks, but my favorite late round pick for the Patriots was 4th rounder Rich Ohrnberger, a hard-working guard who is a technically proficient blocker. The most puzzling pick was second rounder Sebastian Vollmer, who has potential but is generally considered a project with less-than refined blocking technique, and was probably a reach in the second round.

Training Camp Report
--Shortly after training camp started, the Patriots cut QB Matt Gutierrez and signed former Raiders QB Andrew Walter. This move was likely done in order to bring in a backup to Tom Brady with experience starting in the NFL, a lesson they learned when Brady went down in week 1 last season.
--On Thursday, August 6th, the Patriots traded draft pick(s) to the Raiders for linebacker Derrick Burgess, who will help improve a very thin linebacking corps, and potentially take the place of Mike Vrabel as a pass rushing threat from the OLB position. This move shows that they're committed to continuing to run a 3-4 defense.
--The wide receivers have impressed thus far in camp, particularly new acquisitions Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis, who have made exciting some exciting catches.
--Second round pick Sebastian Vollmer has surprised with the speed of his devlopment thus far in camp.
--Tom Brady's knee appears to be physically fine, but Mike Reiss noted in his mailbag that "I’ve noticed a few times where the pressure was coming and I thought he looked down instead of keeping his eyes down the field."
--Rookie SS Patrick Chung has impressed with his work ethic and the quality of his play in training camp.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario: Tom Brady picks up where he left off in 2007, and the Patriots march up and down the field on offense. The running back platoon is as effective as it was last season, and Laurence Maroney finally plays to his potential. Burgess fills the role of pass rusher that was left vacant by Mike Vrabel, Jerod Mayo makes the rest of the linebackers look better than they are, and the secondary is vastly improved with the addition of Springs, while Brandon Meriweather finally justifies his high draft spot. Nobody important gets hurt. The Patriots cruise to a 14-2 or 15-1 season on the way to their fourth Super Bowl win of the decade.

Worst Case Scenario: Tom Brady is physically back, but is mentally stuck in 2008. He spends the first 8 games of the season uncomfortable in the pocket and afraid to plant his foot on throws. The passing game suffers. The running backs show why none of them are feature back quality, and Laurence Maroney is downgraded to a full bust. Brandon Meriweather continues to underperform, and Shawn Springs can't stay healthy, while the linebacking corps shows its lack of depth. They start out 3-6 with losses to the Jets, Ravens, Titans, Dolphins, Falcons, and Colts, and limp to a 7-9 or 8-8 finish

Prediction: 13-3, 1st AFC East

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NFL Team-By-Team Previews - St. Louis Rams

Over the next several weeks we will be previewing every single team for the 2009 NFL Season. We will cover one team a day, and start today with the St. Louis Rams.



2008 Recap

Record: 2-14, 4th in NFC-West

Best Game: Week 7, Vs. Dallas. 34-14
The Rams had a terrible start to the year, going 0-4 over the first four weeks. Week 5 was their bye week, and they fired Head Coach Scott Linehan. Interim coach Jim Haslett seemed to have corrected their course, winning in week 6 and then drubbed Dallas in week 7. Three 1st Quarter TDs (Bulger pass, two Jackson runs) proved to be all the offense they needed in this one, but they tacked on another 17 points to cruise to an easy victory. Steven Jackson ended the day with 3 TDs on 160 yards rushing, and Marc Bulger had a QB Rat. of 119.0.

Worst Game: Week 10, @ NY Jets. 3-47
In a train wreck of a ball game, the Rams gave up 40 points in the first half, and didn't act like they wanted to win the game throughout. Thomas Jones' run with just under 11 minutes left in the 1st quarter was all the Jets needed to beat the Rams, but they didn't stop there. With Jackson sidelined due to a thigh injury and Bulger splitting time with Trent Green was too much for the Rams to overcome in a 44-point drubbing.

MVP: Oshiomogho Atogwe
Oshi had a very solid season for the Rams, registering 85 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions. He was named team MVP by the coaches after the season, and this year looks to lead the defense to a better record.


The Offseason

Significant Losses:

- Torry Holt - WR: Released March 13th
One of the best WRs in Rams history, Holt was released due to a combination of things, including falling out of favor with the exec's and the money the team would save. On top of all his accolades as a Rams WR, the most impressive thing about him may be his endurance; he's missed two games out of a possible 176.

- Orlando Pace - OT: Released March 10th
The former #1 overall pick of the '97 draft is an extreme talent, but also extremely fragile. In 2006, he tore his triceps on Nov. 12th game, ending his season. In 2007, Pace was injured in the very first game and did not play again. Last season the big OT appeared in 14 games, his most since 2005. The Rams saved $6 Million by releasing him.

- Pisa Tinoisamoa - LB: Released May 8th
It was a surprise move when the Rams released Tino, their leading tackler in 2008. Releasing him saved $2.25M in cap space, but that amount doesn't seem to off-set the difference he made on the field for them last season. Perhaps he didn't see eye-to-eye with new Head Coach Spagnuolo, or Spag's defensive scheme didn't need a player like him, but this was a questionable move regardless.

Significant Additions:

- Steve Spagnuolo - Head Coach: Signed January 17th
Of all the pickups the Rams could have made, none would have been more significant that taking the Ex-Giants Defensive Coordinator away from New York. Spagnuolo is a tough-minded individual, and was a great hire in my opinion. It may take him a couple of years to get this team in playoff contention, because after all, this time has won only five games the last two years. The bigger question may be how long his window of improvement and opportunity remains open.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 2: Jason Smith -- OT -- Baylor
Round 2, Pick 3: James Laurinatis -- LB -- Ohio State
Round 3, Pick 2: Bradley Fletcher -- CB -- Iowa
Round 4, Pick 3: Dorell Scott -- DT -- Clemson
Round 5, Pick 24: Brooks Foster -- WR -- North Carolina
Round 6, Pick 23: Keith Null -- QB -- West Texas A&M
Round 7, Pick 2: Chris Ogbonnaya -- RB -- Texas

Grade: B-
The Rams top two picks were great selections, and after losing Tinoisomoa, Laurinatis may get a chance to play immediately. Brooks Foster seems a little over-rated to me, as I believe he benefited from the double teams that then-teammate Hasheem Nicks received constantly.

Training Camp Report

- The Rams had all of their draft picks signed by July 30th, making sure to get them all in camp.

- Guard Greco had some cramping problems on the first day of practice and sat out, but it isn't thought to be anything serious.

- Spagnuolo has been pleased with the abilities of WR Ronald Curry, both as a WR and especially as a kick returner.

- Neither Laurinatis nor Smith worked out with the first team in the early going. Both will have to earn starter's spots.

- The Pads were put on during the practices on August 1st, with big hits being made from the 1st stringers on down.

- WR Keenan Burton has impressed, making a notable leaping catch over CB Tye Hill on 8/3.

- After the 8/5 morning session, Spagnuolo demanded more tempo out of his team. He later said he was pleased with it overall, but is always looking for improvement.

- Rookie RB Chris Ogbonnaya has looked smooth catching the ball, and isn't afraid to get physical.

- Both kickers are reportedly "kicking the stuffing out of the ball" according to the Rams official site.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario:
Bulger and Jackson stay healthy, the lines improve, and Donnie Avery improves on his 53 catch, 674 yard, 3 TD line from a year ago. Another WR emerges and and Rams battle for a playoff spot.

Worst Case Scenario:
Injuries deplete the team again, Spagnuolo struggles to get his scheme to work with the current group of players, and no WR outside of Avery has more than 30 catches. The team picks top 5 again next season.

Prediction: 5-11, 4th in NFC-West



Next Report -- New England Patriots

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A History of Hall of Fame Wide Receivers

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has been criticized for many perceived injustices in the past. Defensive players are woefully under-represented. Linemen in particular have gotten the shaft in the voting process - despite making up nearly half the offensive players on the field at one time, there are nonetheless fewer than two offensive linemen in the hall of fame for each QB, RB, or WR. Kickers and Punters are almost entirely unrepresented, even though special teams can have an unbelievably significant effect on the outcome of games, and even seasons, in the NFL.

But one injustice that often goes unnoticed is the Hall of Fame's questionable record in inducting wide receivers. First, compared to quarterbacks and running backs, wide receivers are under-represented - there are fewer receivers in the hall of fame than QBs or RBs, despite more wide receivers seeing the field at any given time than either QBs or RBs. Stranger still is the relative dearth of wide receivers who played the bulk of their careers after the explosion of the passing game in 1978. There are just six wide receivers from that era in the hall of fame (and two of them - Stallworth and Swann - built the majority their hall of fame resumes in the 70s), compared with 7 RBs and 8 QBs in that same era. Perhaps even more astounding that that is that only 3 WRs currently in the Hall of Fame played even one season in the 1990s, while 8 QBs and 4 RBs. The fact is, there is a backlog of deserving WRs, and this decade has shown us that WRs have to wait significantly longer following their retirements to be inducted. Lets compare average number of years from retirement to induction among WRs, QBs, and RBs inducted in the last 10 Hall of Fame classes (since 2000):

WR: 13
QB: 6
RB: 6.33

And the number of players at those positions who were first ballot inductees:

WR: 0 of 5
QB: 7 of 7
RB: 2 of 3

Which brings us to Cris Carter. By any measure, he should have been a first ballot hall of famer. But when he did not even make it on the second ballot, it became apparent that something was wrong. Jerry Rice will almost certainly be the first first-ballot hall of fame WR since Steve Largent was inducted in 1995, but aside from Carter who else is deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame? Let's take a statistical look at wide receivers, reaching back to the start of the AFL in 1960.

1960-1977 HOFers

Name	Seasons	Rec.	Yds	Yds/Rec	TDs	Rec/Game	Yds/Game	Pro Bowls	All-Pro
Lance Alworth	11	542	10266	18.9	85	4.0	75.5	7	6
Charlie Joiner	19	750	12146	16.2	65	3.1	50.8	3	1
Bob Hayes	11	371	7414	20.0	71	2.8	56.2	3	2
Fred Biletnikoff	14	589	8974	15.2	76	3.1	47.2	6	2
Don Maynard	15	633	11834	18.7	88	3.4	63.6	4	1
Paul Warfield	13	427	8565	20.1	85	2.7	54.6	8	2
Tommy McDonald	12	495	8410	17.0	84	3.3	55.3	6	0
Raymond Berry	13	631	9275	14.7	68	4.1	60.2	6	3
Charlie Taylor	13	649	9110	14.0	79	3.9	55.2	8	1

1960-1977 Non-HOFers

Name	Seasons	Rec.	Yds	Yds/Rec	TDs	Rec/Game	Yds/Game	Pro Bowls	All-Pro
Harold Jackson	15	579	10372	17.9	76	2.8	49.9	5	1
Jimmy Orr	13	400	7914	19.8	66	2.7	53.1	2	1
Harold Carmichael	14	590	8985	15.2	79	3.2	49.4	4	0
Art Powell	9	479	8046	16.8	81	4.1	68.8	4	2

First, we look at wide receivers who played the majority of their careers between 1960 (the first season of the AFL) and 1977 (the year before the passing game exploded). Each of the four non-HOFers listed is statistically comparable - or, in many cases, superior - to several of those in the hall.

Harold Carmichael's stats, for instance, are virtually identical to Fred Biletnikoff's - Carmichael has 1 more reception, 11 more yards, and 3 more TDs, with slightly better averages and 2 fewer pro bowls. Biletnikoff led the league once in a major category, Carmichael led the league twice. And yet, Biletnikoff was inducted 10 years after he retired, while Carmichael has been ignored for 25 years. One reason may be that Biletnikoff was voted to the pro bowl two more times than Carmichael, and Carmichael was never an all-pro. Biletnikoff has a Super Bowl ring, while Carmichael was on the losing end of the only Super Bowl he played in (though their individual performances in those games were similar). Perhaps the biggest reason Carmichael has not been inducted, however, is unfortunate timing. Carmichael played roughly half his career in the 70s, during the NFL's passing drought, and the other half in the 80s. Thus, despite the fact that Carmichael was 30 by the time 1980 rolled around, and likely had most of his productive years behind him, he is nonetheless measured against the receivers who came after him, since he was not eligible for induction until 1990, and by that time, the face of the passing game in the NFL and the perception of "good" statistics for a wide receiver had changed.

For Art Powell's part, he suffers from a lack of volume and a career of only 9 seasons. Each hall of fame receiver on that list played at least 11 seasons. Powell, however, had averages that matched or beat nearly all of the receivers in the hall of fame. His individual seasons were outstanding, though he was not always sufficiently recognized - in 1962, despite catching 64 balls for 1130 yards and 8 TDs, he was not picked for the pro bowl, though one of the pro bowl wide receivers that year, Willard Dewveall, had just 33 catches for 576 yards and 5 TDs. Of the hall of fame receivers from this era, only Raymond Berry matched Powell's receptions per game, and only Lance Alworth racked up more yards per game. Powell also scored 81 TDs, better than half those hall of famers despite playing fewer seasons, and his yards per reception were also better than roughly half. If Powell had played 2 or 3 more years, he would almost certainly have been a hall of famer.

Unlike Powell, Harold Jackson DID have the volume stats. He had more yards than all but Joiner and Maynard, and had strong numbers in receptions, TDs, and yards per reception. His per game numbers, however, are what likely has kept him out of the hall of fame, and he has the same problem Carmichael had - retiring in 1983, Jackson was not eligible to be inducted until 1989, by which time his statistics were not as striking as they were when he retired.

Jimmy Orr was an explosive WR who was among the best in yards per reception. In his rookie season, he averaged an astounding 27.6 yards per reception on 33 catches, leading the league and setting the second highest yards per reception number in the history of the NFL. He was also tough - there is a story about him separating his shoulder during a game and going to a local hospital to be x-rayed, after which he ran the five blocks back to the stadium, went straight to the huddle, and caught a 22 yard TD pass on the next play. The reason he has not been voted in to the hall of fame, however, is likely because of his style of play - Orr was not a volume stats guy. He was a deep threat, and one of the best in history, but his receptions per game does not match up well with the list of hall of fame wide receivers.

1978-Today HOFers

Name	Seasons	Rec.	Yds	Yds/Rec	TDs	Rec/Game	Yds/Game	Pro Bowls	All-Pro
James Lofton	17	764	14004	18.3	75	3.3	60.1	8	1
Steve Largent	14	819	13089	16.0	100	4.1	65.4	7	1
Art Monk	16	940	12721	13.5	68	4.2	56.8	3	1
Lynn Swann	9	336	5462	16.3	51	2.9	47.5	3	1
John Stallworth	14	537	8723	16.2	63	3.3	52.9	4	1
Michael Irvin	12	750	11904	15.9	65	4.7	74.9	5	1

1978-Today Non-HOFers

Name	Seasons	Rec.	Yds	Yds/Rec	TDs	Rec/Game	Yds/Game	Pro Bowls	All-Pro
Cris Carter	16	1101	13899	12.6	130	4.7	59.4	8	2
Andre Reed	16	951	13198	13.9	87	4.1	56.4	7	0
Irving Fryar	17	851	12785	15.0	84	3.3	50.1	5	0
Henry Ellard	17	814	13777	16.9	65	3.6	60.4	3	2
Andre Rison	13	743	10205	13.7	84	4.0	54.9	5	1
Stanley Morgan	14	557	10716	19.2	72	2.8	54.7	4	0
Sterling Sharpe	7	595	8134	13.7	65	5.3	72.6	5	3
Mark Clayton	11	582	8974	15.4	84	3.7	56.8	5	0
Gary Clark	11	699	10856	15.5	65	4.2	65	4	1

Lynn Swann's inclusion in the hall of fame is debatable enough, but what is truly astounding is how many players with great volume stats have been snubbed (and often almost unnoticed).

First, lets look at Cris Carter, Andre Reed, and Irving Fryar. Among receivers who retired in 2003 or earlier, they sit 1st, 2nd, and 4th, repectively, in career receptions. Of all the hall of fame WRs, only Art Monk, who himself waited several years before being voted in, had more receptions than any of those 3. However, each has been snubbed multiple times for the hall of fame. Carter also scored 30 more receiving TDs than any other eligible player, and Reed and Fryar also had more TDs than most of the receivers in the hall of fame. Those three are also 2nd, 4th, and 6th in receiving yards among receivers who have reached eligibility. Henry Ellard, another receiver who sits on the outside looking in, is third. And Carter had more receptions per game than any player but Michael Irvin, who nonetheless only matched, and did not beat, Carter in that statistic.

But the arguments for hall of fame induction aren't limited to these "volume" players. Stanley Morgan, for instance, suffers from the same disadvantage that has plagued Jimmy Orr - his style of play. Morgan was perhaps an even more productive and explosive deep threat than Orr, but like Orr, his relatively low receptions and receptions/game numbers hold him back. But Morgan played the part of the deep threat better than almost any receiver in NFL history, and thus has a sound argument for hall of fame induction.

Finally, it's worth taking a look at Sterling Sharpe. It's common knowledge that Sharpe is not generally considered hall of fame material because his career ended prematurely due to a neck injury. But I would suggest that Sharpe has a hall of fame claim nonetheless. Not only did he have more receptions per game than any other player I listed in this article, and more yards per game than any of them except Lance Alworth, but his metrics are quite comparable to Jerry Rice's. 5 Pro Bowls in 7 seasons is a better ratio than anybody else I've mentioned in this article. While volume stats over the course of a career certainly are impressive, the hall of fame shouldn't be limited only to players with long careers - rather, the voters should consider inducting some players, like Sharpe, who beyond a shadow of a doubt played at a hall of fame level for a number of years, but due to extenuating circumstances, did not have the opportunity to continue racking up stats in the years after they had already passed their prime.

While few, if any, of these are clear-cut cases of snubs (excepting Carter), the number of players sitting on the outside of the hall of fame looking in who are statistically comparable or superior to those with busts in Canton is surprising, and perhaps somewhat disconcerting. There is a backlog of wide receivers, and the mindset of some of the voters who decided not to vote for Carter the past two years - that only players like Rice or Largent deserve to be first-ballot inductees - only serves to perpetuate the injustice by making it even harder for these deserving players to be inducted as others, like Rice and Tim Brown, reach eligibility. By denying Carter entry this year, the hall of fame voters may very well have put off his induction yet another year because he'll need to compete with Rice and Brown. The Pro Football Hall of Fame needs to take a look back, and recognize some of the outstanding wideouts who have thus far been overlooked.

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