2010 Sixer's Preview: It Can't Get Worse

Can we all just forget last season didn’t happen?

Seriously, basically no one saw it. There were few victories- and definitely no moral ones. There was a coach, but since he won’t be back, let’s just pretend he was never even there.

Can’t we go back to before last season, when there was at least some level of excitement? Thaddeus Young still had potential. Andre Iguodala seemed to finally be coming into his own. He even hit a game winning shot- in the playoffs! Marreese Speights was playing so well that Elton Brand seemed to be glued to the bench. Better yet, Brand wasn’t even there for most of that season. Now those were brighter days.

The fact is, those days can come back. Ed Stefanksi has made mistakes in his time here, but give him credit for cutting the cord on the Eddie Jordan experiment before it sunk this team even farther. It was clear that this team did not respond to him. The minute he tried to force this team to play some semblance of an offense, and not just let them run, the season started to sink- and it kept going until the Sixers found themselves 20 games worse then they were the season before.

Jordan even managed to turn this town against the team. Sixer’s tickets could not be given away. Announced attendances 10,000 below capacity were even lower then that. Every game felt like a preseason game.

The good news it, it can’t get much worse.

The Sixers might not be a top team, but the fact is, there is a lot of talent of this team. With even a decent coaching job, this team should be greatly improved this season. Also, the Sixers are lucky enough to play in the Eastern Conference, where a .500 record could get you in the playoffs. Before the “season that shall not be named”, the Sixers were a .500 team, and even gave the Orlando Magic a scare in the playoffs.

Since they, they have gotten younger at point guard, added the number two overall pick in the draft, traded Willie Green and improved their head coach. The team, despite what the public thinks it or will watch it, is ready to take a step forward.

Lets take a look at the roster and what we can expect from this team.

Starting Line Up: Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Jason Kapono, Elton Brand, Spencer Hawes.

The Sixers return only 2 of the players that started for them in last seasons opener. The play from the guard positions could very well determine how this season turns out for the Sixers. Many NBA experts- and not just ones that reside in the Wells Fargo Center- are very high on Jrue Holiday. Holiday posted modest numbers last season- 8ppg, 2 apg, 2rpg- and has improved those numbers in pre-season play. The Sixers better hope that he is ready to take the leap many predict, because other then him, they do not have a true point guard on this roster.

If Holiday can play well and run Collin’s offense, it will help this team tremendously. Andre Iguodala is coming off of an impressive performance for USA this summer, but all that really did was confirm what we all believe- he is a great sidekick, but cannot be “the man” on a team. Iguodala is said to be working on his defense, which took a step back last season. Coach Collins is said to be pushing him to be on of the best defensive players in the league once again. Combined with the solid defense Holiday is capable of playing, and the Sixers have a good defensive backcourt.

The frontcourt, however, is a different story. It is good to see Kapono will get minutes this season, after being buried on Jordan’s bench last season. Kapono can shoot the three, but as a defensive player he is a huge liability. With shooting guards and small forwards getting stronger and faster every day in the NBA, Kapono will be a defensive mismatch every time he steps on the court.

Elton Brand is the starting power forward on this team, but he is not the best. That title belongs to Speights. But because of his salary, Brand will be out there when the game starts. Brand has lost a lot of weight, and he says he feels better then he has in years. If the Sixers can get anything- and I mean anything- out of him this season, it will be a bonus. If Brand can even be 70 percent of the player he once was, he can finally be the down low option this hoped he could be. But no matter how well Brand plays, he is not going to get younger or faster overnight. Brand is a square peg trying to fit on a team with only rectangle holes. The Sixers are best when they are out and running- Brand could not beat Charles Barkely in a race.

For the first time since 2003, Samuel Dalembert will not be the starting center on this team. That job now belongs to Spencer Hawes, the former 10^th overall pick turned lottery bust. Hawes has talent, and may benefit from a change of scenery. He will not give the Sixers the shot blocking threat Dalembert did, but he does have hands that can actually catch the ball down low. At the end of the day, Hawes is not a player to write home about, but in the Eastern Conference, who can say their starting center is?

Bench: Thaddeus young, Marreese Speights, Andres Noccioni, Louis Williams, Jodie Meeks, Evan Turner, Tony Battie, Darius Songalia, Craig Brackens.

The Sixers starting line up will change a lot at the beginning of the season, with Collins figuring out how to mesh this young team together. One result of that will be a bench that is better then in years past. Young, Speights, and Williams are all players who could come in and give the team instant offense. Those players could also start on a number of other teams. Young is the player who’s game suffered most under Jordan, and if he can improve his play and reach his potential, don’t look for him to be on the bench for long. Andres Noccioni is something the Sixers did not have last season- a tough, proven, veteran player that knows his role. Noccioni also brings a toughness to this team that it lacks.

Evan Turner will start this season coming off of the bench. Turner has not played one minute in a regular season NBA game, and yet he has already been labeled a bust by many. Reports I have read say that when Turner first arrived at Ohio State, people said the same things about him- he was having trouble adjusting. Former coaches of Turner say that he is a player that needs to feel like he belongs before he succeeds. I buy into this train of thought. Evan Turner might not be the stud he was in Ohio State. It’s to early to tell. Bur Turner will give this team something this year, and he helps round out a very impressive bench.

Final Verdict:

Not many people expect this team to go far. There is no question that this team should not be mentioned in the same breath as the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics. Right now, the teams that are unquestionably better then the Sixers in the Eastern Conference are the Heat, Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls. Other then that, there is not much standing in the way of the Sixers. They will battle with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and the Charlotte Bobcats for those final playoff spots. They only have to beat out 1 of them to make the playoffs. And I think they will. Whether it Is good for this team to make the playoffs this season or not is debatable. They could benefit from another lottery pick. But the East is bad, and the Sixers have enough talent, finally coupled with competent coach, to make the playoffs.

Prediction: 6^th in Eastern Conference, First round exit.

Weaver Should Be Lesson to Jackson

It’s no secret by now that DeSean Jackson is not happy about his contract. The Pro-Bowl wide out is not having a good season so far, and has to see the dollars slipping away every time Kevin Kolb lines up behind center.

Jackson has been a good camper so far, not holding out, not creating a scene, and has yet to start working out in his driveway. His refusal to talk to the media on most days is the farthest he’s gone to show his displeasure.

It’s unlikely Jackson could be any more motivated to get a new deal. A base salary of 800,000 will do that to the top weapon on the team. But if he needs more proof now is the time to get the deal done, he needs only to look a few lockers down to Leonard Weaver and Owen Schmitt.

Last season, Weaver signed a one-year deal with the Birds. One Pro-Bowl appearance later, Weaver turned that one-year deal into the highest contract ever given to a fullback. With 6.5 million guaranteed, Weaver will receive over 3 times as much as Jackson will over the next two years (around 1.8 million dollars).

After the devastating injury Weaver suffered the first week of the season, his season is now over. Some question if he will ever be able to recover from the damage suffered in his knee. Once Weaver went down, the Eagles had no choice but to bring in a little known fullback in Owen Schmitt.

Schmitt’s play since he has arrived has been a pleasant surprise. He is averaging almost 10 yards a catch and players on the team have raved about what a great job he has done opening up lanes for LeSean McCoy.

Will Schmitt permanently replace Weaver? That remains to be seen. Weaver has come back from a season ending injury before. But if he comes back and is not the same player, he will be replaced by the Eagles, as the Birds have done with many other players. Schmitt has made the most of his opportunity. Ask Kevin Kolb what happens when a backup shines in your absence.

How does this relate to DeSean Jackson? Because every time Jackson takes the field, he risks his career ending. Jackson is a little receiver, one that kills teams with his speed. In the NFL, speed is the first thing to go. It is also the hardest thing to get back after an injury. Every time Jackson returns a punt, or catches a screen pass, he risks suffering the same fate Weaver did- without the big pay day.

If the Eagles front office decides to go with Kolb as their future quarterback, does Jackson become as valuable to the team? His numbers under Kolb are horrible, and you can tell Jackson is frustrated when Kolb is on the field. The Eagles already have a number one wide out in the making in Jeremy Maclin. They would not hesitate at all to make him the premier wide out on this team.

The Eagles front office pays for the future, and does not reward players based off past achievements. Regardless of what Weaver’s future holds, he is set for life financially.

Jackson can not say the same. And with the situation at quarterback, and a possible hold out coming next season, Jackson has to be frustrated on how long till that pay day will come- if it ever does.

Eagles Defense Needs to Toughen Up

Perhaps no play portrayed the state of the Eagles defense Sunday better then the first quarter touchdown run by Ryan Torain.

On the play, the Eagles defensive front was pushed back. The linebackers over pursued the run and had to turn around to try to make a play. Once Torain got into the secondary, he through Saftey Quiten Mikell like he wasn’t even there. Touchdown, Redskins.

This play not only was typical for the day, but for the season so far when it comes to the defense-their to make the play, but unable to finish. This defense is one that will succeed with its speed. It has no big bodies on the line, and it’s linebackers are also under sized. The corner backs and safeties are ball hawking players that will rarely put a lick on a receiver coming across the middle. This puts them in position to make a game changing hit or tackle- but their size prevents them from doing so.

On Sunday, the defense was beaten and bruised up and down the field. Clinton Portis, a player who was considered washed up the week before, ran through tackles like he used to in his prime. He shed the smaller Eagle’s arm tackles like they weren’t even there. Multiple times the Eagles used their speed to get to him in the backfield, but were unable to finish the play. Their lack to do so really highlighted the problem this defense will face all year- they are simply not big enough to beat an offense man to man. They can blitz and scheme their way to an occasional big play, but cannot win the one on one battles when it matters most.

The defense lacks any toughness what-so-ever. The only player that strikes any semblance of fear into players is MLB Stewart Bradley. Other then that, the unit has no intimidator. This is one area where the team really misses Brian Dawkins. Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott tries to use Quiten Mikell in that Saftey/Blitzing LB role Dawk excelled in, but he lacks the size and toughness to mix it up like Dawk did. Ask Torain if he is afraid when Mikell comes running at him.

When the Eagles defense was at its best, it had players who would knock the daylight out of an opposing player. Jeremiah Trotter and Brian Dawkins punished players through out the game to the point where they would wear down as the game went on. By the fourth quarter, the players were so physically beat up, they could not run like they did when the game started.

One player who became available this week that might help is Saftey Michael Lewis. Lewis was asked to be released by San Francisco, and is now a free agent. For all of his liabilities in coverage, Lewis would bring an attitude and toughness to this defense it lacks. People said Dawkins could not cover when he left, but he brought enough to the Denver defense that he earned a Pro-Bowl Bid. Clearly Lewis is no Dawkins, but the Eagles are thin at safety already, and Lewis would not have been knocked over like Mikell was on that play.

This unit has talent. It can create turnovers and only gave up 17 points on Sunday. But if it wants to move to that next level and really become a defense that can win a game, it needs to toughen up, start winning the one on one battles, stop being pushed around.

Reid Has Tough Week Ahead

When Reid made the decision to bench Kevin Kolb in favor of Michael Vick, he sat at the podium and said he didn’t mind being the made guy, and was paid to make the tough decisions.

Well after the way this football team played against Washington, he should get ready to make a lot more.

He already began to answer some questions, but what happened at the end of the first half was such typical Andy Reid clock management is was nauseating. Only Reid could manage to get a delay of game out of a time out, following a challenge that took so long it had Joe Buck questioning the time it was taking. Reid said after that game that the ball was moved back, and when he got no explanation as to why, he had to pick a new play. I find it hard to believe that a play that is designed to get inches in dramatically different then a little under a yard. Donovan caught a lot of flack during his time here for his 2 minute drive, but I think today we found out that it was 100% Reid that was behind those lazy efforts within 2 minutes. Reid should get ready to face tough criticism all week about what happened.

Next on Reid’s plate is going to be what to do about the quarterback situation. Reid better hope that Michael Vick is a quick healer and can play next week. If not, Reid will have a real mess in front of him. There’s no question that Kolb is not the player that Vick is. He showed today that when the heat is on, he eye’s down his receivers to that point that even Troy Aikman could see where he was going from the booth. Kolb was lucky to not have more of this throws intercepted.

Kolb also checked down way to often today, especially when the game was on the line. He needs to know better then to be throwing a ball 6 yards to LeSean McCoy in the middle of the field with time running down and his team needing to score. Kolb showed that his decision making with the ball sill leaves a lot to be desired. Add that to the way he carries the ball in the pocket, and he can be a walking turnover out there.

But with that being said, Kolb still moved this offense at times and kept the team in the game. Kolb was thrown into a nearly impossible situation- down 14 to his former mentor, having already been benched, then having to bring his team back in front of 60,000 people in the stands and 52 on the sideline who don’t believe in you.

However, If it wasn’t for Reid’s poor clock management at the end of the half and McCoy’s fumble late in the game, we could very well be sitting here discussing Kolb bringing this team back. Analysis aside, Kolb still threw for over 200 yards behind one of the worst lines in the NFL. He had close to 80 yards more then Donovan McNabb did.

Next week the Eagles face a 49ers team that is 0-4. What is Reid going to do is Kolb plays well and leads the team to victory? What is Vick misses two weeks, and Kolb plays well enough to win the games he’s in? Kolb excelled in this exact same role last season. What does Reid do then? How can Reid look Kolb in the face and bench him again if he plays well in Vick’s absence?

After Reid figures out his quarterback situation, he needs to take a look at his fellow coaches. Ultimately the players are the ones who are responsible for making plays, but how can Reid ever feel confident his team had a chance to win when two crucial units of your team- offensive line and special teams- continue to cost them games. Bobby April’s unit allowed McNabb to start his first drive inside the Eagles 40 yard line. After the Redskins score, Jorrick Calvin proceeds to bring the ball out 4 yards deep in his own end zone. What is Calvin thinking there? Why is Bobby April’s voice not in his head telling him not to bring it out?

I wrote about it in earlier in the week, but this offensive line is getting to the point that it’s going to end up costing Juan Castillo his job. Better coaches have been fired because their unit simply can not perform. If I had a dollar for every time this offensive line had a stupid penalty that killed a drive, Jayson Werth would be a Phillie next year. It’s getting to the point that you can’t have Jason Peters on the field.

Andy Reid says he doesn’t mind making the hard call. But as this season goes on, and McNabb isn’t here to take any blame, the questions he is faced with are just going to get harder and harder.

Reid created this mess- let’s see if he can get himself out of it.

Where is Castillo's Blame?

Today before practice, Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg talked about his suffering offensive line. Mornhinweg said he had faith that the line would improve and they can be great.

To say an offensive line that features Mike McGlynn and Reggie Wells could be great is a stretch to say the least. But is it a stretch to say that Offensive Line coach Juan Castillo might not be the man to take them there?

People within the organization, and most in the media, pump up Castillo. He is often referred to as one of the best offensive line coaches in the league. But the performance of the offensive line this season has been unacceptable, and it's his job to improve it. The simple truth is, he hasn't, and the O line has been a problem for a while.

Once the Eagles jettisoned Donovan McNabb to Washington, we heard that him holding the ball for a long time was the problem. We were told that quick-release Kevin Kolb would be the answer. But Kolb was sacked 3 times in his only half of action. This offensive line has even managed to get Michael Vick sacked 11 times in his 2.5 games of action- against Detriot and Jacksonville. If this keeps up, Vick will get sacked a whooping 70 times this season. Sound too high? Castillo’s line in 2007 gave up almost 50 sacks. That year he had Jon Runyan, Tra Thomas, and Shawn Andrews in a Pro Bowl year. Needless to say, this offensive line does not have that kind of talent.

Many fans can not break down the intricate ins and outs of how the offensive line is supposed to block on certain plays, but this line has made glaring mistakes that anyone with eyes can recognize. This line has to many penalties. Penalties that have stalled drives.

Castillo has been blessed in the past to have very talented players at the two biggest positions- Left and right tackles. But since John Runyan and Tra Thomas left, this team has not found adequate replacement. While none of us really know how much input Castillo has on who the team drafts or signs to be on the line, I do know he looks at players before they are brought it. He is there to work out draft picks. So he had a say in bringing in players like Stacy Andrews. The current offensive line has no depth, and it's starting 5 is suspect at best. Where is his share of the criticism for this?

In addition, the Pro Bowl offensive lineman who have been brought in here have regressed. The fact that Jason Peters cannot grasp the concept of how to avoid a false start penalty is a direct result of coaching. Before Peters came in here, he was praised as one of the best tackles in the league. People in Philadelphia will tell you his Pro-Bowl selection last season was based on reputation alone. A first round pick and millions later, Peters is now just another member of the offensive line that drives the fans crazy.

People blame Sean McDermott for the step down in defense last season. Mornhinweg and Andy Reid are constantly criticized for their play calling. Speical teams coach Ted Dashier got ran out of town last season. Even the strength and conditioning coach was let go last season.

Castillo is not solely to blame for this mess upfront. But to not hear his name at all when the problem is talked about makes no sense.

Where is Castillo's blame?

Eagles- Packers: What We Know, Don't Know

What We Know:

Andy Reid loves the wildcat, McNabb didn’t- Vick in on the first play from scrimmage? Eagles running the wildcat 4 plays out of first 14? That would never have happened with McNabb on this team. While Reid ran the wildcat with McNabb, it was clear that McNabb was not as ok with it as Kolb is. It was like tag team QB’ing out there. When the Eagles went into the locker room at half time, Vick had more carries then McCoy. The wildcat is an effective play, like when Vick scrambled for the first down on 3^rd and 1 play in the second quarter. But to pull Kolb out of the game (roughly) every 4 plays is not the way to get him going. This was not Kolb’s first start, but there’s no question that the pressure was on him today to prove he belonged. Reid killed any chance he had by constantly putting Vick in.

Same Old Andy Reid: To have no time outs, and be unable to stop the clock after the two minute warning is simply put, unacceptable. His horrible clock management over the years has been discussed, and this game was just another example of it costing his team a shot to win a game. The quarterback has changed, but the same infuriating Eagles are still here.

Eagles Defense is Fast, Can Get Pressure- Looking for a positive in this game? Look no further then the front 7 of this Eagles defense. The front 7 got after Rodgers early and often, sacking Rodgers 3 times and forcing him out of the pocket. Juqua Parker, benched in the preseason in favor of rookie Brandon Graham, finished the game with 2 sacks. Stewart Bradley got in Rodgers face consistently. They made Ryan Grant a non factor. They held TE Jeramichal Finley to only 4 catches. Only after Bradley left the game did they start to get run over. But with Bradley in the game, this defense looked like some of the Eagles defense of old. If it wasn’t for the defense, this game would have been over early. They kept the team in the game.

Eagles’s Are Better Then They Look- It couldn’t have gone worse for the Eagles. Their Quarterback, center, middle line backer and fullback all go down- in the first half. Those positions right there are the heart and soul of your team. If you told Eagle fans that in the first half, the Eagles would have 0 yards passing and they would loose Kolb, Bradley, Jackson, and Weaver, but only be down 10, they would have taken it.

But this team didn’t give up or get blown out. This game could have gotten ugly. But they fought back. The Packers are, if you listen to the experts, one of the best teams in the league. Many people think they will come out of the NFC, and Rodgers will be MVP. The Eagles played with this team. And for a young team, that is saying something.

This Offensive Line is a Mess- Remember when the Eagles thought they had one of the biggest, best lines in the league? That the Andrews brothers and Jason Peters would anchor the line for years to come? Those days are long gone. Kevin Kolb was running for his life from the start. Packers ran into the Eagles back field early and often. The Eagles were able to get nothing on the ground. Only once Micheal Vick came in the game, and was able to run away from the pressure, did they offense get anything going. Even then, Vick was running for his life. They couldn’t have even get enough push to get the most mobile quaterback in the league 1 yard when the game was on the line. There’s no question Kolb was not sharp (to say the least). But the O line did not help him one bit.

Bobby April Has His Work Cut Out- Special teams is something that will come with time. Only a week ago did April find out who his special teams players would be, when the final cuts were made. But it was not a good showing for his unit. When the Eagles were mounting a comeback, the Eagles gave up returns of 51 and 40 yards when team was mounting come back. Eldra Buckley had a brain fart of epic proportions when he nailed the returner in the 4^th quarter.

Those Kelly Green Jerseys are Amazing- The fans waited for it, sat through the hideous blue/yellow debacle, and they finally got it. The jerseys were worth the wait.

What We Don’t Know:

Whos fault was this? Is Kevin Kolb really this bad? It’s clearly too early to tell. But the difference between this team was night and day once Vick entered the game. Kolb was lucky to only have the one interception and threw multiple balls into tight coverage. For as much as he talked about being a distributer this off season, he sure wasn’t able to get any of the Eagles weapons into the game. DeSean Jackson, this teams best player, was invisible when Kolb was behind center. Only once Vick came in did Jackson have a catch. It could be the offensive line or the play calling, but the numbers don’t lie- the Eagles outscored the Packers 17-14 in the second half. Was it all Kolb’s fault? Was this the coaching staffs fault? We don’t know yet. But we’ll find out next week and the upcoming games if Kolb’s performance this week was his fault or Reid’s.

What were they doing during training camp? On each unit’s first series on the field, they had a penalty for illegal formation. To practice those first plays of the game for the whole week, and to be coming off of training camp where the defense is taught, and then have those penalties is unacceptable. As much as it falls on the players, it’s the coaches who are supposed to “put their players in position to win the game”. And they didn’t do that.

Who’s going to play fullback? Has anyone ever felt worse for a player then they did watching Leonard Weaver be carried off the field. You have to respect him getting to the sideline and not taking the cart to the locker room. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Weaver will be out for the season wit a torn ACL. While he could be wrong, no body watched that injury and thought he would be back this season. Coming off of a Pro Bowl season, you have to wonder if it’s not Weaver who gets that ball on 4^th and 1 to end the game. Luckily, this team has practice playing with no fullback. While Weaver did not play a big role in the offense, I saw what he ment to the team at training camp and in practice. Weaver was one of the offensive leaders, and a calming voice to Kolb. He won’t be there anymore, and it’s going to hurt this team. But Joe Banner and the coaches have their work cut out for them in replacing a player of Weavers status.

How Long till DeSean Jackson Blows? It’s no secret Jackson is not happy about his contract situation. His mood in the locker room when the media is around it not a positive one. When fans yelled at him during training camp about his contract, he played along and let it be known he wants to be paid. So how long till he starts to yell back? DeSean Jackson thrived last year with McNabb’s strong arm, but if this is how it’s going to look with Kolb under center, Jackson may never get paid. The fact is, the NFL is a league that values the future, not the past. Joe Banner will not care Jackson paid the Pro-Bowl last season if he doesn’t make it this year. Jackson knows how he plays this year, and his numbers, will decide his future. If Kolb doesn’t get him the ball, and Jackson’s numbers start to fall, how long till he calls for Vick? Or start to complain publicly about his contract? We don’t know yet, but I can imagine his mood is even worse today then it was before kick off.

How will this team bounce back? It’s been written about how this is a young team. These are not your Eagles of old who had veteran leadership ozzing from the locker room. How will the team bounce back from a loss where their leader (Kolb) was beaten and battered? How will the locker room respond to Vick playing so well? Will they support Kolb? This loss clearly makes the next two games, against Detroit and Jacksonville, must wins. Good teams in the NFL beat the teams they are supposed to. At the end of the day, the Eagles were not supposed to beat the Packers. But they should beat the Lions. We don’t know yet how they will bounce back, but we will learn a lot about this team during this week and next Sunday.

AFC Preview

AFC East

1.Patriots- The Patriots were sneaky good last season. While all the attention was on the Jets and Colts in the AFC, the Patriots quietly finished 6^th in offensive ppg, and allowed only 17 ppg, good for 5^th in the league. Going into the playoffs they were winners of 3 of their last 4. Tom Brady, in his first year after major knee surgery, still managed to throw 28 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions. Players coming off of that kind of surgery generally take a big step forward in their second year- and that’s bad news for the rest of the league.

The Patriots will have Wes Welker back in time for the start of the regular season, and with the emergence of Julian Edelman last season in Welker’s absence, will have a solid group of wide outs for Brady to throw to. The main question on this will be age- Brady, Welker, and Moss all have more then likely seen their best days. But the Patriots have won 10 games or more 8 of the last 9 years, and are one of the most consistent teams in the league. No body is talking about them this year, but they will be when they win the division over the Jets.

2. Jets- The Jets are walking a thin line this season. It goes without saying they have talked the talked. A team that didn’t qualify for the playoffs until the last game of the season was saved by a run through the playoffs that surprised many. That run has expectations through the ceiling for this team. It’s how they made that run that has people excited - a defense that is tops in the league, and a running game that took the pressure off Mark Sanchez. Those things should stay the same this year, and the additions of Antonio Cromartie and Ladanian Tomlinson will only improve those. Say what you want about Tomlinson, but he is the best “backup” running back in the league, and is another weapon on this offense.

But will the Jets catch all the breaks again this season? Can they win with Sanchez throwing 20 interceptions and only 12 touchdowns? Is Shonn Greene ready to be the number one back on a team that relays on the run? The Jets like to talk, but numbers don’t lie- the Jets ranked 2^nd to last in passing yards per game. This team has the talent and swagger to make it all the way to the Super Bowl. But it will not be the cake walk that the experts, and the Jets, seem to think it will be, and it may take the regular season to figure it out.

3. Dolphins- When the Dolphins acquired Brandon Marshall this off-season, it was a signal that they were ready to move on from being a one trick pony with the Wild Car offense. With Marshall, they have one of the best wide receivers in the league, and one that will excel in catching the ball over the middle. They can also go to Marshall a lot- Marshall has caught over 100 balls a season since he became a starter. With Marshall being a reliable option for Chad Henne, and a solid running game with Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams behind him, Henne will not be forced to make a lot of plays. That’s a good thing if you’re a Dolphins fan- Henne was 7-6 as a starter, throwing more interceptions then touchdowns.

4. Bills- The Trent Edwards era continues this season in Buffalo, much to the disappointment of their fans. It might not matter who is behind center for the Bills though, as their offensive line allowed their Qb to be sacked 44 times last season. The line also struggled to get holes for their running backs, and the team finished 21rst in the league in rushing yards. The Bills have had a winning record only once since the year 2000, and that should not change this season.

AFC North

1. Ravens- The Baltimore Ravens are a lot like the Jets without all the talk. The Ravens defense continued to be one of the best in the NFL over the last decade, finishing 3^rd in points allowed per game. But it is the offense that has people excited. With the additions of Anquan Boldin and Tj Housmanzadeh, the Ravens have the best set of wide outs they have ever had to team with the Defense.

The Ravens also have something the Jets do not- a reliable quarterback. Joe Flacco threw only 12 interceptions last season, while throwing for over 20 touchdowns. With Ray Rice at running back, the Ravens have everything you need to win in this league- tough D, solid RB, reliable QB, and weapons at the skill positions.

2. Bengals- The most impressive statistic last season might have been 6-0. That was the Bengals record against their division rivals last season. While they won’t be expected to duplicate that, the Bengals teams last season was not a fluke. The team was carried by its defense, which allowed only 18 points per game. With 17 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries last season, the defense also managed to have a take away in 14 of the 17 games. They had more then one take away in 9 of those games. That’s how you win games in the NFL.

3. Steelers- The Steelers were a streaky team last season- they had 2 winning streaks of 3 or more, and a losing streak of 5 games. The Steelers also had an uncharacteristically bad season running the ball, finishing in the bottom half of the league in yards per game. The defense missed Saftey Troy Polamalu last season, giving up over 20 points per game.

The main problem facing the Steelers tho, is the skill positions. With Ben Roethlisberger out for the first 4 games, the Steelers will start the season with Dennis Dixon, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, and Rashard Mendenhall as their main offensive threats. Even when Big Ben returns, that pedestrian group isn’t scaring any defense this season.

4. Browns- Poor Cleveland. When Jake Delhomme is your savior at quarterback, your officially in trouble. There was not much to like from the Browns last season. 3^rd worst offense in the league, and a defense that gave up almost 24 points per game. Even there future looks bleek- Colt McCoy has been less then impressive in his limited preseason action.

AFC South

1. Colts- For the Colts, the regular season has come to mean very little. They showed us how much it ment to them when they pulled their started against the Jets, deciding to not go for a perfect 16-0 record. They have won at least 12 games the last seven seasons. There offense has been in the top 10 in 6 of seasons. Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning.

The Colts will be there during the regular season. The real season begins for them in the playoffs, where they will be there once again, the top overall seed. As usual.

2. Titans- The Titans are on top of everyone’s list of sleeper teams, so much so that they barely qualify as a sleeper anymore. The Titans got to the top of that list by going 8-2 in there last 10 game. But look at that number closer and it starts to fall apart. During that streak, the Titans beat 7 teams that did not make the playoffs. The only playoff team they did beat during that streak was the Cardinals, and they only won after a miracle play at the end.

Chris Jonson is the best running back in the league- hands down. Will he get 2500 yards? No. Not when he is the only offensive weapon on the whole team. Vince Young is improving, and showed signs last season, but 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions is not going to scare any teams from stacking the box. And the defense? Finished 28^th in the league in points per game last season.

3. Texans- Is this the year the Texans can finally get over the hump? Last season, 6 of the 7 games they lost was by 8 points or less. It seems every year is going to be the year for them, but they have not made they playoffs since they arrived in Houston. They have the weapons, with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton combining to make one of the best trios in the league. For this team, it isn’t about talent- that is there. They lack the ability to win games, plain and simple, especially the big ones. 7 of their 9 wins were against non-playoff teams. And that won’t change this year.

4. Jaguars- David Garrad, once thought to be the answer at quarterback, regressed last season. After throwing only 3 interceptions 3 years ago, while going 9-3 as a starter, he has thrown double digit interceptions the last two seasons- and his touchdown’s thrown has decreased as well. Maurice Jones-Drew will try to make his fantasy football owners happy, but that will be the only reason anyone will watch the Jags this season.

AFC West

1. Chargers- The Chargers picked wrong when they decided to make Darren Sproles there feature back last season. With only 343 yards rushing, and a little under 500 yards receiving, the Chargers decided to draft Ryan Matthews with their number one selection in this years draft. With Vincent Jackson in limbo, the team all of the sudden has a lack of weapons for Phillip Rivers to get the ball to. Antonio Gates continues to be a top tight end in the league, but how long will it be until he takes a step back?

They’ll win the division, but no one will be impressed with them doing it.

2. Raiders- The Raiders will surprise a lot of people this season. This team was better then its record indicated last season. They played the teams in their division close, being within 8 points of each game, and beating the Denver Broncos late in the season. The Raiders have a nice set of Rb’s- Michael Bush, Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas- and an emerging tight end in Zach Miller.

But the big reason the Raiders will be better this year? Jason Campbell. To say the Raiders got nothing out of the quarterback position last season would be an understatement. Campbell is better then people think, and he’ll show people this year. Watch out for the Raiders.

3. Broncos- The Broncos were the opposite of the Titans last season- started off great, but lost it down the stretch, losing 8 of their final 10 games. The loss of Elvis Dumervil is huge for this team- his 17 sacks last season will be hard to replace.

4. Chiefs- If you need any reason as to why the Chiefs will finish last, you havnt been watching the NFL the last few seasons. The Chiefs have not won more then 4 games in the last 3 seasons, or finished better then 25^th in overall offense or defense. Matt Cassell also appears to be more a product of the Patriots system then a player- 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions last season. Bright spot on Chiefs? Rookie RB Dexter McCluster.

Playoffs:

1. Colts

2. Patriots

3. Ravens

4. Chargers

5. Jets

6. Titans

Wildcard: Ravens over Titans; Jets over Chargers

Round 2: Ravens over Patriots; Jets over Colts

Conference Championship: Ravens over Jets

AFC Champion: Ravens

Linebackers Look Great So Far

Theirs no question the Eagles defense was the weakness of the team last season. They struggled against both the pass and the run, and gave up over 300 yards per game.

This could be credited to many things: first year on the job for Sean McDermott, the loss of Brian Dawkins or the lack of a consistent pass rush. All of those things are valid reasons for the set back last season.

However, if the linebackers can play as good as they look early on in training camp, the team could make a big leap back in the right direction.

Stewart Bradley, who was on the way to being an all-pro before he injured his knee last season, seems to be back in pro bowl form. He is all over the place at LeHigh, getting behind the line to stop the run, and following tight ends stride for stride. He has knocked the ball down from Brent Celek countless times.

Bradley had the play of the day today when he stepped in front of Jeremy Maclin to intercept a Kevin Kolb pass. Bradley said afterwards that the defense this year will allow him to make more plays with his lateral speed. It show so far.

In addition to Bradley, the team also added Ernie Sims from Detriot this off season. Sims had over 100 tackles his first 3 seasons in the league, before missing 5 games last season due to injury. He is built like a bowling ball, and has serious speed. He had no problems following Jeremy Maclin today on a crossing route.

Sims is also not afraid to lay down a big hit. He had crushing people today when the pads were on, both in the scrimmages and the drills. He will be a serious problem for opposing offenses when he comes on the blitz.

In addition to Sims and Bradley, the team has a surprising amount of depth in the line-backer spot. Omar Gaither can play all 3 spots, Moise Fokou is a year older and looks impressive so far, and Akeem Jordan has played decent when called upon in the past. Undrafted rookie Simoni Lawrence has been making plays when he is called upon, and even ran with the 2nd team today. Playing beside Bradley and Sims should make these players even better.

If the Eagles can get great play from the linebackers, it will help the defense immensely. This group looks like they can cover linebackers, which will help the pass defense. They are also a fast, hard hitting bunch, which will help the run. It could also help a secondary that has some question marks. Having Bradley back will also allow McDermott to call a more aggressive game plan.

Its early on, and theirs still plenty of camp to go, but the Eagles have to be happy about what they see so far from their line-backing crew.

Don't forget to follow @philly_stand_up on twitter for up to the minute updates from Eagles Camp!

Iguodala to Clippers?

One Philadelphia team could be ready to make a franchise altering move- and its not the Phillies.

Sources close to David Aldridge of NBA.com have told him that the Los Angles Clippers have called the Sixers about the possibility of acquiring Andre Iguodala. The Clippers have a big hole at the small forward spot, and have not been able to make any big moves this off season despite their efforts. While this may amount to nothing, it does make sense for both teams.

Aldridge does not mention who the Sixers asked for in return, but given the huge amount of money that is owed to Iguodala this season (almost 12 million), the only two players who would make sense under the salary cap restrictions are Baron Davis and Chris Kaman.

If it is even possible, Baron Davis might have an even worse contract then Iggy, with Davis far past him prime and still owed 41 million over the next 3 years. Plus, with Jrue Holiday at point guard, the team has no need to add the shoot first point guard to this young roster.

Kaman, on the other had, is an interesting prospect. Even with Spencer Hawes now on the roster, Kaman would be valuable to the Sixers as a low post scoring option. Kaman averaged close to 20 and 10 last season. The Clippers drafted DeAndre Jordan to be his eventual replacement, but it is not known if they are ready to move on from Kaman just yet.

Moving Iguodala would be a dream come true for the Sixers. With Iggy out of the picture, they could start Thaddeus Young at the 3, and Evan Turner at the 2. Young took a step back last year coming off the bench, which should motivate the Sixers even more to make sure he is in the starting line up this season.

Hopefully Ed Stefanski can make this happen. Adding Turner, while getting rid of Iguodala and Dalembert in the same summer, would definitely have this team heading in the right direction heading into the new season.

Oswalt Not The Answer For Phillies

The Phillies need help.

No one that has watched this team recently can disagree with that. With a record of 1-6 since the All Star break, the Phillies have fallen even further out of the playoff picture. They are 7 games behind the Atlanta Braves, and 4 games out of the wildcard picture.

With a line up that has arguably the most talent in the NL, it easy to look at this team and say the need is a pitcher. Maybe Rueben Amaro Jr realizes the mistake he made by trading Cliff Lee, and thinks that by acquiring another star pitcher, the season will be what it was supposed to be: another smooth run to October baseball.

While it can be debated what the main need for the this team is, and they certainly have a lot of holes for back to back NL champions, one thing is clear:

Roy Oswalt is not the answer for the Phillies.

Roy Oswalt by the numbers is not overly impressive. 1 All Star appearance in his career. His ERA has not been under 3 in 4 years. In the playoffs, his ERA was close to 4. He has not won double-digit games in the last 2 years, and has more loses then any other pitcher in the NL this season.

The win/lose numbers can be rationalized: the Houston Astros are a horrible team. But one number cannot be: 39 million.

That is the amount of money the Phillies will have to pay Oswalt over the next 3 seasons (its assumed Oswalt will force any team he is traded to pick up his option for 2011-2012.) When you compare Oswalt’s (3.16) ERA to players already on the Phillies roster, such as Cole Hamels (3.63) or Jamie Moyer (4.84), it becomes even clearer that Oswalt is not the option. Hamel’s ERA is under 2 in his last 4 stops.

Is it worth paying Oswalt 15 million a season to be the third best pitcher on this team?

Oswalt is being paid ace money, but is not an ace. Is it worth it for the Phillies to risk holding on to Werth and hoping they can resign him in off season? Could they take the money they were going to pay Werth and turn it into fan favorite Lee? Will the season turn around if no move is made?

The answer to those questions are unclear. But one answer is clear: Oswalt is not what this team needs right now.

NFL Preview: AFC

Here is the breakdown of the AFC this season, with the Philadelphia Eagles preview coming later this week:

AFC North: The division will come down to one game: Baltimore at Steelers, Dec 27th. 

1. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens surprised the league last year, advancing all the way to the championship game behind the play of rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, and rookie head coach Jon Harbaugh. If it was not for the 3 losses to the Steelers, it might be the Ravens who would be defending Super Bowl champions. The Ravens boast a strong running game behind the play of second year player Ray Rice and veteran Willis McGahee. I think Joe Flacco is ready to take the step into league star this season. And the defense? There ok.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers: Its a hard to repeat. Since Super Bowl 1, only 8 teams have managed to win back to back championships. The Steelers return virtually everyone from last years team. Head Coach Mike Tomlin is one of the best in the league, and this is a team that has experience in being defending champions, having won the Super Bowl in 2006. At the end of the day, its hard to continue to dominate a team like the Steelers did to the Ravens last year, and I the Ravens will beat the Steelers this season in the key games. 

3. Cincinnati Bengals: With Carson Palmer back under center, the Bengals hope to rebound from a dissapointing 2008 campaign, where they didn't get their first win until week 9. The combination of Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco should be a dominant one, but the connection has yet to result in wins for this team. This season should be a better one for the Bengals, but at the end of it, Marvin Lewis could be looking for a new job. 

4. Cleveland Browns: I can't remember the last time I saw a team go from so promising to such a mess so quickly. Last season the Browns were a trendy Super Bowl pick. Now? Its  days before their first game, and they havn't even named a starter. Reports are that Brady Quinn will get the nod, and I think he will be decent. But there is to little talent on this roster to compete. And with lame duck Eric Mangini at the helm, this should be another dissapointing season for the Browns. 

AFC South: After running away with this division last season, the Titans show their age  at QB, and Manning shows why he is MVP.

1. Indianapolis Colts: There are a lot of reasons to think this season could be a disapointing one in new Lucas Oil Stadium. After a year of learning the ropes under Tony Dungy, rookie head coach Jim Caldwell will take over. I think rookie running back Donald Brown will be a bust. Saftey Bob Sanders is injured again. So why will the Colts win this division? Peyton Manning is still under center. The real coach of the team, Manning will make a star this year out of Anthony Gonzalez, and should be able to put enough points on the board to lead this team to a division title. 

2. Tennessee Titans: Even though last season ended on a dissapointing note, losing their first playoff game to the Ravens, the Titans surprised everyone last year, rolling all the way to the best record in the AFC. The running back combination of Chris Johnson and Lendale White is one of the best, if not the best, in the league. But this is the season I think Kerry Collins falters. The Titans are paper thing at receiver, and Collins will show his age this year as the Titans miss the playoffs. 

3. Houston Texans: Everyones favorite team this season, the Texans finished up 5-1 to end last years campaign. Rookie running back Steve Slaton showed enough promise to push him up to the top of everyones fantasy football draft board. Wideout Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the game no one knows about. But I am not ready to say Matt Schaub is good enough to lead this team to the playoffs. 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags upgraded their wideouts this off season, adding Tory Holt to try to help out quarterback David Garrard. Garrard threw an uncharacteristically high amount of interceptions last season, totaling 13 picks to only 15 touchdowns. Maurice Jones Drew is now the feature back with Fred Taylor in New England. The Jags should be better then last season, but this division is to strong for the record to indicate it. 

AFC West: Anyway the Chargers don't go 6-0 in their division? Anybody?

1. San Diego Chargers: This one should be a cake walk for the Chargers. After stunning the Denver Broncos last season to capture the division, their should be little fight from any of the other 3 teams this year. The Chargers boast one of the quickest backfields in the league with Ladanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, last seasons playoff hero. Quarterback Phillip River's pockets are a lot heavier this year, fresh off 36 million dollers in his new contract. Its Super Bowl or bust this year for the Chargers. 

2. Denver Broncos: It could be one and done for new coach Josh McDaniels. Since his hire, whether you can blame it on him or not, its been nothing but bad news for the Broncos. Franchise quarterback Jay Cutler is in Chicago, leaving the once high powered Bronco offense in the hands of Kyle Orton. The defense was a mess last season, and even more pressure will be on them this year. With that being said, there is enough talent on this team if Brandon Marshall plays to at least finish 2nd. But no playoffs once again. Poor Dawkins.

3. Oakland Raiders: This season is a big one for JaMarcus Russell, as the Raiders will look for the former number 1 pick to finally flash some of the talent he showed at LSU. The Raiders cut Jeff Garcia to make no doubt in Russell's mind that he was their guy. I think Russell, along with Darren McFadden and Micheal Bush, will show enough promise this season to get the group of fans in the Black Hole excited for next year.

4. Kansas City Chiefs: Matt Cassell will be eager to prove that he is not a product of the New England Patriots system. Simply put? He won't. Long year in KC.

AFC East: Tom Brady shows he's human, and the Jets surprise everyone. 

1. New York Jets: If theirs one team that isn't afraid of Bill Belichick, its Rex Ryan and the New York Jets. And if theirs one sports writer that isnt afraid to go out on a limb, its me. Alot has to go right for the Jets to win this division. Mark Sanchez has to play like someone who has more then just 14 starts in him- all on the college level. Leon Washington and Thomas Jones have to take enough pressure off Sanchez to give him time to grow. Rex Ryan has to back up all his talk. The defense has to be great. I think all of that will happen.

2. New England Patriots: Even though they didn't make the playoffs last year, the Patriots enter this season in a familar role- Super Bowl favorites. This is all because of the return of Tom Brady. Brady, who tore his knee up so bad last year there were some rumors he might never play again, is expected to step back in and be the same player who led his team to 18-1 the year before. Why does everyone just assume he is going to be ok? It took Donovan McNabb and Carson Palmer a full season playing before they were the same. Daunte Culpepper never recovered. Is Brady Culpepper? No. But he also isn't superman. 

3. Miami Dolphins: Can the Dolphins ride the wildcat to another playoff berth? Even with the Wildcats wetdream Pat White on the team, the Dolphins still have Chad Pennington under center. Pennington had a solid year last season, but he has not been able to put it together in consecutive seasons his whole career. The division was strong last year, and is even stronger now. The Dolphins are the odd team out. 

4. Buffalo Bills: Its going to be a cold winter in Buffalo. With the off season addition of Terrell Owens, the Bills feel they are ready to win now. Marshawn Lynch and Trent Edwards, along with Owens, do form a nice core of talent, but does anyone believe Owens is going to be quite as he catches from the worst quarterback hes had his whole career? Things could get ugly quick, as the Bills limp to a last place finish. 

Playoffs:

1. San Diego Chargers

2. Baltimore Ravens

3. Indianapolis Colts

4. New York Jets

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

6.  New England Patriots

Round 1: Colts over Patriots; Steelers over Jets

Round 2: Ravens over Colts; Chargers over Steelers

Round 3: Ravens over Chargers

AFC Champion: Ravens

NFL Season Preview: NFC

This week on Philly Stand Up, I'll get you ready for the upcoming NFL Season with a week long preview. Today is the NFC, the AFC tommorw, and then the rest of the week will be focused on the Birds. 

National Football Conference

East: With almost every quarterback in this division on the hot seat, the Eagles emerge from this group of teams that all have big question marks.

1. Philadelphia Eagles- The preseason was not kind to the Birds, as they entered it as a trendy Super Bowl pick, and left it with more questions then answers. The offensive line, linebacker, and secondary is a concern, but in this once strong division, who dosn't have holes? The Eagles have the best quarterback, wide receivers, and running back in this division- and that should be enough. More to come later in the week. 

2. New York Giants- This is the year we will get to see what Eli Manning is really about. After a strong start to last year, the Giants finished the season in a downward spiral. After the suspension of Plaxico Burress, the Giants went 2-3 in the last 5 games, then lost their first round playoff game. While rookie wideout Hakeem Nicks has been impressive in preseason (8 catches, 263 yards, 3 TD), the Giants are paper thin at receiver. The running game and defense will be good, but Manning showed us last year he can't win without Plaxico, and he won't prove us wrong this year.

3. Dallas Cowboys- The pressure will be on the Cowboys this year: with the opening of their new stadium, the departure of Terrell Owens, and the embarising end to last year. The Cowboys should commit to the run this year, as they field an impressive backfield of Marion Barber and Felix Jones. Tony Romo will find that despite the headache Owens gave him off the field, he will get a bigger one on it when he realizes the Roy Williams is no T.O.

4. Washington Redskins- This team is one losing streak away from completely imploding. Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell are playing for their jobs this year. Albert Hanyesworth has bust written all over him. Clinton Portis is getting older, and his relationship with his coach is cordial at best. Its very possible that after this year, Campbell, Zorn and Portis could all be gone. 

South: The Falcons, Panthers, and Matt Ryan try to prove they were no fluke last year- only the Falcons pass the test.

1. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons took everyone by surprise last year, and have "bust" written all over them. They return a second year coach and quarterback, an aging tight end, and an immense amount of expectations to live up to. But this team has to much fire power on offense not to be good again. Couple that with a mediocre division, and that leads to a NFC South crown for the Falcons.

2. New Orleans Saints: The Saints failed to meet high expectations last year, as injuries ravaged their season. Drew Brees, one of the best quarterbacks in the league, has plenty of toys to play with. And he better be ready, because the Saints defense gave up the 2nd most points per game last year. 

3. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers have everything you could want in a team- a powerful running game, solid defense, and a good coach. But this will be the year Jake Delhomme comes back to bite them. He started with his choke artist game in the playoffs last season, and will continue into this one. 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Theres no much to like when it comes to this team: questions at quarterback, no real play makers at the running back or wide reciever postion, a defense that lost its leader in Derrick Brooks, and a rookie head coach. It should be a long season down in Tampa.

West: In one of the weakest divisions in the league, the Cardinals try to loose the division- but win it anyway.

1. Arizona Cardinals: Coming off a surprising Super Bowl appearance, the Cardinals will try to be the first team in a while to make the playoffs after losing in the Super Bowl the previous season. The Cardinals did address their running game with the addition of Chris "Beanie" Wells thru the draft, and still have the best group of wide outs in the league. Kurt Warner will continue to add to his (gulp) Hall of Fame Career. 

2. San Fransico 49ers: The 49ers ended the season as the team no one wanted to play, finishing 5-2, including impressive wins over the Jets and Redskins. Mike Singletary has this team on the right track, but any team that has Shaun Hill at quarterback is not ready to win in this league.

3. Seattle Seahawks: This is a team that has a lot to prove. Matt Hasselbeck is coming off a season ravaged with injuries, and wants to prove he is once again one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. Jim Mora is back head coaching, and wants to prove that he can get the job done. TJ Housmandzadeh is out to prove his Madden ratings are to low- and that he can be a number 1 wideout in this league. All three will fail.

4. St Louis Rams: What is there to say for this team? New coach Steve Spagnuolo was a good hire? Stephen Jackson is a good back? Kyle Boller is still playing? Another long season for the Rams. 

North: The best division is football features 3 teams that could win it all- Aaron Rodgers passes Favre for the division title.

1. Green Bay Packers: The Packers have come out like gangbusters this preseason, and America should get to know these names: Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, and Greg Jennings. The Packers defense was actually better then the Bears last year, and their offense was better then the Vikings. The Packers lost 7 games by 5 points or less last year, and with another year under Aaron Rodgers belt, they'll win those games this year.

2. Minnesota Vikings: Look at the numbers of Tavaris Jackson last years, compared to Brett Favres: Jackson: 9 td's, 2 int's, and a quarterback rating of 95. Favre: 22 td's, 22 int's, and had a quaterback rating of 81.  Throw is the fact that Jackson is liked by team mates, mobile in the pocket, and not brittle like an old man, and you have to ask: Is Favre really an upgrade? Jackson killed the team last year with being unable to make things happen in the passing game, which Favre might be able to do better. But Favre is also known to throw the ball to the other team at key points in the game- and that will do the Vikings in, just like it did the Jets last year, and the Packers the year before.

3. Chicago Bears: With the arrival of Jay Cutler to the south side, the Bears finally have the quarterback they need to get to the Super Bowl. Only problem? The defense might not be their anymore. The Bears gave up the 21rst most points in the league last season at 21, and Brian Urlacher is only getting older. And while Cutler is an upgrade, if the Bears really plan to use Devin Hester as their number 1 wideout, Cutler could be forcing his way out of Chicago as well by seasons end. 

4. Detroit Lions: The good news is, the Lions can only improve this year, after going 0-16 last season. The bad news? I think they made the wrong call on Matthew Stafford. Bright spots on the team will be Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith, but thats about it. When will they win their first game? Week 8, when the Rams visit. 

Overall Conference Breakdown: 

Do the Eagles have question marks? Absolutely. But what team dosn't. The teams that could compete with the Eagles (Packers, Falcons) have little playoff experience at both quarterback and head coach. The Bears, Vikings and Packers will beat each other up in the regular season, giving the Eagles home field. Brett Favre isn't beating the Eagles in a playoff game. The Cardinals don't win that game last year in Philadelphia. The Giants, if they can get their offense together, are the Eagles biggest threat, and the Eagles went into the Meadowland last year and beat them in the playoffs. So by default, its the Eagles.  

Playoff Seeding:

1. Philadelphia Eagles

2. Green Bay Packers

3. Atlanta Falcons

4. Arizona Cardinals

5. Minnesota Vikings

6. New York Giants

Round 1: Giants over Falcons; Vikings over Cardinals

Round 2: Eagles over Vikings; Packers over Giants

Round 3: Eagles over Packers

NFC Champion: Eagles

To Sheridan: It Isn't Time to Let Sheldon Brown Go

In what is becoming an annual off season event for the Eagles, another play reported to the mini-camp yesterday unhappy with his current contract.

Like Brian Westbrook two years ago, and Lito Sheppard just last year, the Eagles find themselves once again deciding what to do with an important part of their team.

This year its Sheldon Brown, the Eagles most consistent corner over the last several years. After watching money thrown the way of Asante Samuel and Juselio Hanson, Brown finally spoke out about his displeasure with his contract status.

Last week, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Phil Sheridan wrote a piece advising the Eagles to get rid of Brown as quick as possible, even resorting to cutting him if they have to. While I respect Sheridan, I could not disagree more with that stance.

First of all, the idea of cutting Brown is crazy. You do not release a Pro-Bowl caliber cornerback, who is not in his prime, but not that far past it. Brown only gave up 1 touchdown pass last year, and that was to Larry Fitzgerald in the playoffs. If your going to release cornerbacks off of that, then theirs going to a lot of corners looking for jobs when training camp rolls around.

Sheridan says that with the acquisition of Ellis Hobbs, the Eagles have a better, younger replacement. I find that hard to believe on a number of levels. First off all, if Hobbs is so good, then why did it only cost the Eagles 2 5th round draft choices to get him? The Eagles got only slightly less for Sheppard, and he didn't play at all last season.

The Eagles defense last season carried this team into the playoffs, with their secondary giving up the thirds fewest yards through the air and 12 fewer touchdown passes then the Patriots secondary. The Patriots secondary gave up more touchdown passes then anyone else in the league last year. While other things factor into that, when you look at those numbers, then put in the fact that the Patriots practically gave him away, it makes you think twice about releasing Brown and putting Hobbs in their.

Sheridan references the Sheppard situation last season as a main reason to let Brown go. He says Sheppard "poisoned the air in the locker room, quit on them, and took up a valuable roster spot." Obviously, Sheridan has more access to the Eagles then I do, but I didn't think that Sheppard poisoned the locker room at all. Sheppard had a bad year, no doubt about that. But if having a bad year means you poisoned the locker room, then Reno Mahe should be dragged out and beaten for letting off so many fumes in that room.

The truth is that the Sheppard situation is completely different then the Brown one. Sheppard was replaced. The Eagles decided Asante Samuel was better then Lito Sheppard. Sheppard had not choice but to ride the bench. Browns situation is different. You could argue that Brown had a better season then Samuel last year. There were many times Samuels was burned over and over by players like Devin Hester. There's a reason Brown was on Fitzgerald in the redzone last year. If Brown wants to, he will be the starting cornerback for the Eagles in week 1. Sheppard did not have that option.

Sheridan then compares Sheldon Brown to Terrell Owens. That is a stretch in almost everyway. Does anyone think Brown is going to start hitting team mates and doing sit ups in his drive way? No. Brown is the ultimate team player, having watched players like Brian Dawkins and Troy Vincent handle themselves like professionals. Brown is one of the leaders on that defense for a reason. Worst case scenario, Brown makes the ocassional, snotty comments after loses.

That brings up another reason why they should keep Brown. Loses. The Eagles will not being doing a lot of that this year. This team is good, really good. The defense and offense are both in the top of the league. They have a good young nucleus surrounding a veteran quarterback in Donovan McNabb. This team is going to win a lot this year. And we all know in sports, winning is the ultimate deodorant. It covers up anything. Do you think that after blowing out teams, and playing the whole game, Brown is going to be complaining out his contract? No. Winning even shut T.O. up. I think it can keep Brown quite. And the truth is, the Eagles have a better chance of winning with Brown on the roster.

That is why the Eagles need to hold on to Brown. Don't pay him. Don't do anything with him. Keep him on the roster, let him pretend to throw a fit, then start him on Sundays.

But don't, by any means, let him go. The Eagles have enough young players on this team already. Don't let another proven veteran walk out of the secondary.

It is in the interest of everybody involved- the Eagles, Brown and fans- that Brown stays.

No matter what Sheridan says.