Ultimate 32 Man Roster

So I took on the task of creating a team of 31 players and 1 coach filling every major roster spot with one player from every team. The following are the results.

HEAD COACH

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots - Belichick has more Super Bowl rings than any active head coach and he's also one of the ten greated head coaches in the history of the league.

OFFENSE

QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints - You can make a case for Drew Brees as the best quarterback in the league not only right now, but over the past five years.

RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings - Peterson is without a doubt the best running back in the league right now and probably has been since he came into the league in 2007.

FB Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta Falcons - Mughelli doesn't get a lot of attention but he's one of the best full backs in the league and Matt Ryan and Michael Turner know it.

WR1 Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals - Larry Fitzgerald is the best wide receiver in the NFL so you have to take him here. He may actually be the best receiver since Jerry Rice.

WR2 Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles - Maclin has emerged as the Eagles go to guy inside and is becoming one of the leagues best #2 receivers.

WR3 Brandon Gibson, St. Louis Rams - You may not know the name now but Brandon Gibson has a chance to get his name out there with all the injuries in St. Louis.

TE Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys - Witten has been an elite tight end for a while now and the University of Tennessee prodigy shows no signs of slowing down.

LT Jake Long, Miami Dolphins - Long is the best tackle in the NFL and the Dolphins made the right decision drafting him over Matt Ryan.

LG Ryan Lilja, Kansas City Chiefs - Lilja is getting older but he can still play left guard pretty well.

C Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers - Pouncey was Pro Bowler last year as a rookie. He has a chance to become great.

RG Chris Snee, New York Giants - Chris Snee has been one of the most underrated players in the NFL over ther past 6 years and that's saying something for one of the only guards in the league who may actually be close to a household name.

RT Michael Oher, Baltimore Ravens - Though he's probably more famous for being the main character in a Sandra Bullock movie, Oher is actually one of the leagues best right tackles.

DEFENSE

LDE Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts - Over the past half decade Robert Mathis has emerged as not only a perennial Pro Bowler, but also as the best left side pass rusher in the league.

LDT Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions - Suh is the scariest defensive player in the NFL and is only getting better.

NT B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers - At 337 pounds, Raji is the perfect size for a nose tackle.

RDE Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - One of only two rookies to make the team, Clayborn is a solid pass rusher who should develop into a solid player in Tampa's cover 2 scheme.

OLB Von Miller, Denver Broncos - Miller may well be on his way to defensive rookie of the year, and one day he may become a defensive player of the year. He's the real deal.

OLB Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers - He may be hurt, but when healthy he's an elite outside linebacker.

ILB Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers - He's the best linebacker in the league, not much
else to say besides that.

MLB David Hawthorne, Seattle Seahawks - At middle linebacker Hawthorne makes all the necessary plays to be above the league average at that position.

LCB Darrelle Revis, New York Jets - At this point in time Revis is the best defensive player in the NFL. He had to make this team.

RCB Jonathan Joseph, Houston Texans - Joseph was a great pick up by the Texans this offseason and he's one of the two or three best right side cornerbacks in the NFL.

SS Chris Hope, Tennessee Titans - It was hard to find a place for a Titan on this roster but Chris Hope is a solid strong safety. He's not as good as he was six years ago, but he's still adequate.

FS LaRon Landry, Washington Redskins - Landry is a playmaking free safety who can
take over a game from that position.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders - Janikowski is the best kicker in the NFL. Not much else to say besides that.

P Mike Scifres, San Diego Chargers - Scifres is one of the most underrated players in the NFL and he's the rare punter who can actually win games with his toe.

LS Garrison Sanborn, Buffalo Bills - Sanburn makes the team because someone had to be the long snapper, but he's no bum either. The former Florida State player has been with the Bills since 2009.

H Kevin Huber, Cincinnati Bengals - He has zero botched snaps.

KR Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland Browns - Since 2007 Cribbs has rivaled Devin Hester as the best return man in the league.

PR Devin Hester, Chicago Bears - He's getting older but the University of Miami product is still the best kick returner in the NFL and may one day actually be a Hall of Famer.

ST Montell Owens, Jacksonville Jaguars - Owens is a part time full back who was a Pro Bowler last year as a special teamer. He holds the franchise record for career special teams tackles.

So what do you think? Do I do a good job? Do you think I did awful? What does your team look like? Feel free to post yours.

Pre-Pre-Seaon NFL Power Rankings

We’re really close to the start of the NFL preseason, so now is the right time to make the first power rankings of the year. We’ll call these the pre-preseason power rankings. Before you get upset at where your team ranks remember what power rankings really are: a ranking 1-32 of the teams with the best chances of winning the Super Bowl. That’s the goal. A team like the 2008 Chargers at 8-8 had a better chance of winning the Super Bowl than the 11-5 Patriots who were absent from that year’s tournament, thus San Diego would have finished the season ranked ahead of New England.

My format for power rankings has the 32 teams broken up into four categories: the elite; or the teams with the best chance to win the Super Bowl, the very good; otherwise known as the teams with an average chance to win the Super Bowl, hanging in there; or the teams who are alive but barely, and the dead; or the teams with no chance of winning the Super Bowl.

For the sake of a fresh start to a new season no team is currently classified as “dead.”

So here they are, Funk Football’s first power rankings of the new NFL season. What lockout?

The Elite

01. Green Bay Packers – The defending Super Bowl champions only got healthier, which makes them better and more dangerous. Aaron Rodgers is one of the league’s top difference makers, and their schedule is easy enough where even if they don’t win the division they should be in the playoffs. This team is built well and built to win anywhere, and if Rodgers is healthy enough they can beat any team.

02. New Orleans Saints – Several of you out there may be calling me crazy for putting the Saints at number two, but this is a team one year removed from one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history, and this year’s version of the team includes an upgraded running game with the addition of Heisman trophy winning running back Mark Ingram and former San Diego Charger standout Darren Sproles. Last year in a “down year” the Saints went 11-5 before an embarrassing loss on the road to the Seahawks. The 2011 Saints should be healthier, stronger on defense, better on offense, and believe it or not under the radar. They should run away with the division.

03. San Diego Chargers – A lot of people seem to think the Chargers were a losing team last year, but they were a 9-7 team, and probably the best team that didn’t make the playoffs. By the end of the season there was little doubt that they were better than the Chiefs, and New England, Indianapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore were shaking in their cleats over the prospect of facing Philip Rivers and company in the playoffs. The Chargers seem to have fixed their major weakness: special teams, which was really the teams only weakness. The running game is underrated, the defense is great, and if Bob Sanders is healthy, the Chargers will have gotten the most game changing free agent of the off season, because after all, how many Super Bowls have Asomugha and Haynesworth carried their teams to? Sanders is the 2007 defensive player of the year and he’s joining a defense where he won’t be asked to be the only guy who can make a tackle. Watch out.

04. Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles made 90% of the headlines in free agency and they certainly got deeper at a ton of positions. The only thing that can stop this team is health, and running into teams like the Packers and Saints who can score on anybody. Michael Vick was a great story in 2010, but it’s important to note that in Vick’s entire career he’s never had solid back to back seasons. In order for the 2011 Eagles to obtain immortality as Super Bowl champions, Vick is not only going to have to have a solid season, he’ll probably have to have the best season of his life considering at some point he’ll like have to face opposing offenses lead by Rodgers, Brees, Ryan, Peyton, Rivers, and Brady, any of which can score efficiently and mistake free.

05. New England Patriots – If the Patriots created 90% of the free agency headlines, the Patriots scooped up 9%, but their moves were far riskier. The acquisitions of Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, and Shaun Ellis would all fall under the category of low risk, high reward. The problem is, the Pats aren’t handling it as low risk, instead moving their defense to a 4-3 to better accommodate for Haynesworth, while slotting Ochocinco as their #1 receiver in Brady’s offense. If you look at these power rankings, no other team in the top six would slot Ochocinco as the number one receiver. The move to 4-3 is far riskier than the Ochocinco move, not just because all five of Belichick’s Super Bowl victories have been with a 3-4, but because Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees have obscene career numbers against the 4-3, and relatively poor numbers against the 3-4. Still, I have to give Bill Belichick the benefit of the doubt until he proves otherwise. A tough division and a tough inter-conference schedule is this team’s biggest concern. A first round bye is paramount to a Super Bowl run for this team.

06. Indianapolis Colts – If the Colts plan to go back to the Super Bowl, this might be their last best chance, at least with this system. I’m not worried about Peyton’s neck, the Colts offense will be better than they were last year with an upgraded offensive line, and a healthy Dallas Clark and Austin Collie. What makes the Colts more dangerous than before are the defensive acquisitions they’ve made: the addition of injury plagued Tommie Harris, who by all accounts is now healthy, rivals that of the Bob Sanders acquisition as the best unsung signing of the offseason. You have to believe that if the Jets, Patriots, or Eagles made those signings it would be the second coming of Warren Sapp for all of those franchises. That’s east coast media bias, which has never stopped the Colts from having a great shot at a ring come January. This year should be no different. Like the Chargers and the Saints they’re flying under the radar right now, and that’s dangerous.

07. Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers have followed their other two Super Bowl berths in the Roethlisberger era with seasons in which they don’t make the playoffs. A part of me believes that will be the case again for the Steelers, but I don’t believe enough in the Ravens or Browns to see that as plausible just yet. I think a Super Bowl loss will motivate this team, and a healthy Troy Polamalu is as valuable as any other team’s best player. The rings speak for themselves in Pittsburgh, and as long as Roethlisberger and Polamalu are there (and healthy), this is the team to beat in the AFC North.

08. Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens have been good enough to get out of the first round the past three years, but not good enough to get to a Super Bowl. The Ravens best shot at getting to one is going to be by getting a first round bye, and if ever that was possible this is the year. The Ravens need to stay healthy on defense, but if Joe Flacco can take that next step to borderline Pro Bowl quarterback, this Ravens team can win the division, and potentially get that first round bye. If they do, then watch out.

09. New York Jets – The New York Jets Super Bowl hopes begin and end with Mark Sanchez. In order for the Jets to get to that next level, Sanchez needs to get to that next level. The Jets have gotten to the conference title game two years in a row the hard way; on the road as a wild card team with a below average playoff quarterback. If they had an average to above average playoff quarterback the Jets would have likely gone to the Super Bowl one of those years. The Jets roster is strong enough where Sanchez isn’t going to be asked to be Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers, instead he’s going to be asked to be Brad Johnson circa 2002. Before you laugh at that here are Brad Johnson’s 2002 numbers: 62.3 completion percentage, 234.5 passing yards/game, 11:3 TD:INT ratio, 92.9 QBR. The only thing to laugh at may be expecting Sanchez to obtain those sort of numbers, nevertheless it’s what he’s going to need to do if the Jets want to get past Brady, Manning, Rivers, Rodgers, Brees, and Roethlisberger, most importantly in the regular season where the Jets have struggled the past two seasons.

10. Atlanta Falcons – Call me crazy for putting them down at number ten, but I just see this as a step back year for Atlanta. A lot went right for the Falcons in 2010, including being in the same division as a hung-over Saints, but in the playoffs the Falcons proved they didn’t belong on the field with the eventual Super Bowl champions. This year it may be the Falcons who have the hangover. I think this team is good enough to get to the playoffs, but their schedule isn’t exactly a cakewalk, either. Julio Jones is a great add, but rarely do rookie wide receivers make the impact that puts a team over the top.

11. Dallas Cowboys – If the Saints, Chargers, and Colts are under the radar, then the Cowboys are beneath under the radar. This is a team that has flirted with an NFC title for awhile now, but fell short due to a poor coaching staff and a mismanaged roster. A healthy Tony Romo, a new regime, and low expectations may be the gift that the Cowboys needed this whole team, at least for the first few weeks of the season and training camp. Expect Dallas to be back in the playoffs, and if the roster lives up to its potential, there’s a great chance they could be representing the NFC in Indianapolis.

The Very Good

12. Minnesota Vikings – Brett Favre’s miserable play and a bad offensive line in 2010 made us forget how good the 2009 Vikings really were. The roster isn’t that far gone and 2011 Donovan McNabb should be an upgrade over 2010 Brett Favre. This is a team that can compete for a playoff spot, and if things unfold the right way compete for a division title. Adrian Peterson should have a good year behind a revamped offensive line, and playing in a dome (ten times) should help revitalize Donovan McNabb’s career the way it helped Favre once upon a time. They may not win the Super Bowl, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re better than the Eagles.

13. New York Giants – In 2007 Michael Strahan held out, Tiki Barber said sayonara, Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin were severely questioned, and the Giants did nothing but go on to win the Super Bowl. This year, Eli and Coughlin are again on the hot seat, Osi Umenyiora is holding out, and Tiki Barber is trying to find a team to attempt a comeback with. With all of the NFC talk focused outside of the Meadowlands, don’t be surprised if this is the year the Giants make another great run. Eli Manning is, believe it or not an underrated quarterback, and Coughlin coached teams are often winners. If they can sneak into the playoffs they’ll be dangerous, I’m not sure if they can win a division title, though. Injuries to start the season will hurt them.

14. Houston Texans – The Texans have felt like an on-the-verge team since 2004, but they have made some above average moves this offseason, and the Colts aren’t as dominant in that division as they once were. The key to the Texans season will be winning week one versus Indianapolis and using that momentum to help win a division title, the way the Titans did in 2008. If the Texans can get to the playoffs, then they’ll have that 2008 Cardinals danger to them that could help them defeat the Chargers, Patriots, Ravens, or Jets.

15. Chicago Bears – I’m going to go out and say it; I think this will be a down year for Chicago. The defense will be solid if healthy, Roy Williams could be a good addition at WR, and Jay Cutler may finally take that next step, but in reality they’re going to need all of those things to occur in order to get back to where they were. The window is closing in Chicago though, they have a veteran defense, so if they don’t get back to the playoffs this year, that may be it for this incarnation of the Bears.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jaguars made a lot of moves this offseason, most of which I thought were bad. If David Garrard is injured to start the season then this team is dead on arrival, but if not they have a shot to win the AFC South, which is perhaps the most wide open division in the AFC. But in reality, number sixteen of thirty two is about where Jaguars are, and always seem to be. Until Jack Del Rio moves on I can’t see this team being consistent enough to get through Peyton or the Texans.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I have the Bucs at seventeen not because I think they’re untalented, but because I hate the division that they’re stuck in. The Bucs are a good young team with a lot of talent, but when they play four of their games against the Falcons and Saints it will always be hard to win their division. On top of that games vs Indianapolis, Dallas, and Houston, and at Green Bay, Minnesota, and Jacksonville could make this a long year for the Bucs.

18. St. Louis Rams – The Rams should win their division. The defense is strong and will likely improve a good amount this year. This teams entire Super Bowl hopes hinge on the arm of Sam Bradford, who will be asked to make progress like fellow former number one overall pick Peyton Manning made in 1999, his second pro season. The problem is, since Peyton Manning no second year quarterback who started their first year has made that sort of progress so it’s unrealistic, on top of that, 1999 Peyton Manning didn’t get to the Super Bowl. Nevertheless, a division title in 2011 will go a long way towards eventually helping Bradford get what Manning eventually got as well, a Super Bowl ring. I like Bradford, I could see him being a Pro Bowler this year, and I can see the Rams having a strong season, I just don’t think I can see them having a Super season.

19. Detroit Lions – I’m going to say it: the Lions can win the Super Bowl. What’s the catch? They play in the NFC North. I think the Lions will be improved this year, and if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, this could be a winning team and even a playoff team. I just don’t know if they can go deep into the playoffs just yet. The defense is going to be great one day, and the offense has potential to be even better. 2011 should be the year where the Lions finally re-enter the NFL as a legitimate team. If they’re healthy, that will definitely happen.

Hanging In There

20. San Francisco 49ers – In a way it’s a good thing that the 49ers plan to find out what they have in Alex Smith once and for all. Unfortunately for the 49ers I think that they’re going to find out Alex Smith isn’t a winning quarterback at this level. If the Rams don’t move forward, the 49ers could pass them and potentially win this division on the strength of the players around Smith. I could see the 49ers getting back to the playoffs this year, but I can’t see them going any further than a first round beat down by Philadelphia, New York, or Dallas.

21. Kansas City Chiefs – They were a playoff team last year and the most embarrassed playoff team at that. The best thing that could happen for this relatively young team would be to have a down year and find a real future quarterback. Cassell is good to start another year after this season, but I can’t see the Chiefs ever competing for a ring with Cassell. With Denver and Oakland ready to go on the rise, now would be the right time for the Chiefs to fail, before mediocrity turns them into this decades Buffalo Bills.

22. Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals cashed in their future for Kevin Kolb, a quarterback who has shown some signs of excellence these past few years, as well as some signs of futility. We’ll see what they have in Kolb, but the bigger problems in Arizona lie elsewhere. The offensive line has gotten worse, the defense has gotten worse, and I’m not sure if Kevin Kolb can do what Kurt Warner was able to do. I don’t see Arizona getting back to the playoffs this year, I honestly thing St. Louis are better overall, but if the Kolb move was a good one, then the Cardinals can become a force in the NFC again very soon.

23. Cleveland Browns – I’ll come out and say it: I like Colt McCoy as a pro quarterback. I think he has the intangibles, and enough of the skill set to succeed along the lines of a Flacco or Roethliberger, in that the numbers won’t be gaudy but the wins will be in abundance. The problem is, it will be hard for McCoy to pan out on an offense with so few weapons. The Jets got Sanchez every weapon he could ever ask for. The Broncos and Rams surrounded Tebow and Bradford with solid offensive weapons as yet. The Browns continue to rebuild, and McCoy may become the victim of this rebuilding process. Nevertheless, this is a team with a shot at the wild card in a slim AFC wild card picture. In order for that to happen, McCoy may need to play out of his mind, something I don’t think he’s ready to do.

24. Seattle Seahawks – Pete Carroll is becoming a mad scientist as a head coach. I can’t see this year going as well as last year. Their quarterback situation should be renamed “backup city” and their defense is average at best. I can see them battling around .500, but I honestly believe 6-10 is their peak.

25. Washington Redskins – Tough division for a team to try to rebuild in, especially with a coach like Mike Shanahan. If this season goes well for Shanahan then we’ll have to concede to his genius. If this season goes poorly for Shanahan then we’ll have to say that Al Davis was actually right and the only reason Shanahan has two Super Bowl rings is because of Terrell Davis and John Elway. The somewhere in between would be that Shanahan got too far inside his own head to the point where he started to believe in his ego, which told him that he could win a tough division with Rex Grossman or John Beck at quarterback, with no offensive game-breaker, and an improving but not great defense.

26. Miami Dolphins – They have the roster to become the most exciting team in the AFC East, the issue is they don’t have the quarterback. Instead of going after Orton they should go after Tebow. They won’t win much in the AFC East this year, but it’ll be fun to watch. Tebow in Florida would turn the NFL on its head, and with Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall, he could actually meet his potential as a major offensive weapon. It won’t happen because of the fan backlash that will occur in Denver, who are absolutely smitten with Tebow, but this what-if get’s the point across. The Dolphins biggest issue is quarterback, and they have done very little to address this issue. If Chad Henne develops this year, then I can see them making a push for the playoffs and hurting the Patriots and Jets first round bye hopes.

27. Oakland Raiders – It was going so well! Last year the Raiders had a shot at the playoffs. The Chargers were bewildered and the Broncos were in flux. This year the Chargers will be back and the Raiders will go back to third in the division. They had the right idea going for a veteran quarterback with Jason Campbell, but I think it’s time they find that franchise quarterback. If you’re going to beat Rivers consistently, you’ll need that heavyweight to throw up against him. It’ll be a step back year in Oakland.

28. Tennessee Titans – The Titans know that they’re rebuilding. Matt Hasselbeck is the right type of guy to tutor Jake Locker, and he’s openly willing to do it. This team’s best chance at the playoffs is Peyton Manning injury. This team’s best chance at a Super Bowl is a Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers collective injury. In all seriousness, I’d rest Locker all year and let him watch.

29. Denver Broncos – Kyle Orton will start week one, but we know that right now this franchise is relevant for one reason only, they currently own the rights to the NFL’s greatest enigma: Timothy Tebow. The Broncos have little to no hope this year, and all you Tebow-maniacs can circle Sunday, October 23 on your calendars as the day the Tebow era truly begins, in Florida when the 1-4 Broncos take on the 1-4 Dolphins. If the Broncos win that one expect to hear about whether or not Tebow is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Expect them to maybe win four to five games after that.

30. Carolina Panthers – I could see this defense being really good. I hope they give Jimmy Clausen a chance to sort of impress the league so that the Panthers can trade him for a mid to late round pick, probably to Washington or Seattle where they collect those sort of players. Cam Newton will probably do alright as a rookie, I can’t see him doing great like Roethlisberger or Young, and the Panthers won’t be as patient with him as the Broncos were with Tebow, in part because the Panthers don’t need a QB controversy between Clausen and Newton, two young guys. A brutal division will force this team to pick in the top five again next year, and I expect them to use it to find Cam some protection.

31. Buffalo Bills – This is the team that Andrew Luck should go to. It would be great, and he could singlehandedly help keep the Bills in Buffalo long term. C’mon Bills, do us a favor, don’t go on another stupid November-December run that moves you from number one pick to number eight pick. Not this year. In Andrew Luck you would have the best quarterback in the AFC East by 2013, and if you prefer Fitzpatrick and his Harvard degree please note one thing: Andrew Luck will have a Stanford degree. Me personally, I trust a Stanford man more than a Harvard man at anything.

32. Cincinnati Bengals – This team will probably end up at 32 at the end of the year. The problem is this is the one franchise at the bottom that doesn’t want to be in that position because they just wasted an early second round pick on an average quarterback named Andy Dalton. If Dalton shows hope this year, they’ll probably try to trade that number one pick to someone who needs it. If not, then Andrew Luck, like Carson Palmer, will be a Pac 10 quarterback headed to Cincinnati where he’ll likely never meet his potential.

Projecting the All Decade Team

This Sunday at the Pro Bowl the NFL will commemorate the 00’s, a decade that saw the NFL go from America’s third favorite (and at times arguably 4th) sport, to not only America’s number one sport, but perhaps it’s greatest passion, with the All-Decade team.

I’ve followed the same format that the NFL uses to commemorate each decade, and though this format leaves a lot of great players off the list (only two QB spots saved a huge head ache and a lot of debate), when you see this list of names the majority of the players probably already have some blacksmith (I just wanted to use the word blacksmith) working on their bust for Canton.

An important thing to note when looking over this list is that the All Decade team is not a marathon as much as it is a sprint. The list commemorates the players who performed the best this decade. Two to three years of dominating at your position are more valuable than six good seasons and one great one (see Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, and Curtis Martin vs Adrian Peterson and Marshall Faulk).

The 2000's Funk Football All Decade Team:

WR Terrell Owens

WR Randy Moss

WR Marvin Harrison
WR Larry Fitzgerald
TE Tony Gonzalez
TE Antonio Gates
T Jonathan Ogden
T Walter Jones
T Orlando Pace
T Chris Samuels
G Steve Hutchinson
G Will Shields
G Larry Allen
G Alan Faneca
C Kevin Mawae
C Olin Kreutz
QB Peyton Manning
QB Tom Brady
RB LaDainian Tomlinson
RB Shaun Alexander
RB Marshall Faulk
RB Adrian Peterson
FB Lorenzo Neal

DE Michael Strahan
DE Julius Peppers
DE Jason Taylor
DE Dwight Freeney
DT Shaun Rogers
DT Warren Sapp
DT Tommie Harris
DT Richard Seymour
LB Ray Lewis
LB Brian Urlacher
LB Zach Thomas
LB Derrick Brooks
LB James Harrison
LB Joey Porter
CB Champ Bailey
CB Ty Law
CB Ronde Barber
CB Charles Woodson
S Ed Reed
S Troy Polamalu
S Brian Dawkins
S John Lynch

P Jeff Feagles
P Craig Hentrich
K Adam Vinatieri
K Jeff Wilkins
PR Devin Hester
PR Ed Reed
KR Dante Hall
KR Josh Cribbs

Coach Bill Belichick
Coach Tony Dungy

The Day The Patriots Dynsasty Died?

The moment was bound to happen eventually. It couldn't have been after the 2005 divisional loss to the Broncos because they were too close to their last championship. It couldn't have been after their 2006 conference championship loss to the Colts because the game was too close and the Patriots were only one game away from the Super Bowl. It definitely wasn't after the 2007 Super Bowl loss to the Giants because heck, they went 18-0 to the Super Bowl. It couldn't have been the 2008 season because they didn't have Tom Brady.

But it may have finally happened. The New England Patriots, who since 2001 have been amidst the elite teams in the NFL every year, may have finally taken a step back to mediocrity. Yesterday's 33-14 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens was the Patriots 7th loss of the 2009 season, and the Patriots franchises completed the "season ending cycle" in doing so; In 2004 they won the Super Bowl, in 2005 they got eliminated in the divisional round, in 2006 they got eliminated in the conference championship, in 2007 they lost the Super Bowl, in 2008 they missed the playoffs, and in 2009 they made their playoff exit in the first round.

It's easy to forget now, but the 2009 Patriots entered the NFL season as the odds on favorites to win the Super Bowl, and after a 59-0 spanking of the Tennessee Titans, it was hard to argue against the Patriots going very, very deep in the 2009 playoffs. The franchise was 6-2 heading in to week 10, but looked like the most dangerous team in the league.

Then the franchise unraveled. First there was Bill Belichicks 4th and 2 call against Indianapolis that signified the Patriots were no longer the defensive minded team that won three Super Bowls. Belichick also conceded that the Patriots aura of invincibility was a thing of the past, and that Peyton Manning's arm was more dangerous than his team.

But the Patriots hung in there heading into the post-Thanksgiving edition of Monday Night Football against the Saints. That day the Patriots lost 38-17 and seemingly gave up midway through the fourth quarter. The next week the Patriots would lose in Miami to acquire their fifth loss of the season, meaning adding Tom Brady would equal no improvement in the teams overall record.

So where do the Patriots go from here? They need to get some offensive line improvement, they need to get a sure thing running back, and their defensive backs aren't what they once where; when the Patriots were winning Super Bowls they had secondaries that ranked amidst the greatest in league history. But as we know, the Patriots aren't afraid to make offseason moves, be it through trade or free agency.

Next there is the question of Tom Brady. It seems as though ever since the Manning vs Brady showdown where Brady lost, and the the Hall of Famers sided with Peyton, Brady hasn't been the same. Something like that could definitely damage an ego, especially someone like Brady who notoriously wears his ego on his sleeve. Adding to his frustration are the continuous nagging injuries. Towards the end of the season rumors began to circulate that the Patriots are seriously considering drafting their successor to Brady sometime in the next two NFL drafts, meaning that the Patriots and Brady both know that his playing days are coming to an end.

Is the Patriots dynasty dead? Yes. It's definitely not 2004 anymore. This team doesn't follow the same mentality the 2001-2004 Patriots had; if they did they wouldn't have traded Richard Seymour.

Can the Patriots be back in 2010? Absolutely. Bill Belichick was able to go 11-5 with Matt Cassell, a kid who hadn't started a football game since high school. Lord only knows what would have happened in the 2008 playoffs had the Patriots actually gotten in.

Can this team continue to rely on Brady the way the Colts rely on Manning, the Cardinals rely on Warner, and the Chargers rely on Rivers? Absolutely not. When he was a champion, Tom Brady was the best game manager in the league; he was a Phil Simms clone for the 21st century.

Brady is still a Super Bowl QB, the running game and defense are not championship caliber.

Charlie Weis: Done

As if it weren't already inevitable, Charlie Weis' career as the head coach of Notre Dame likely ended today; and for good reason.

No hate towards UConn, but they were a 4-5 team entering the game, while the Irish were some people's preseason pick to go to the BCS, and maybe even the national championship. At this point, another Holiday Bowl bid seems like a good scenerio for the Irish. This time however, beating down on the Hawaii Warriors won't save Weis' job.

What's even worse is that Weis' career record is 35-26, with a .573 winning percentage; Lower than his predecessors Tyrone Willingham and Bob Davie. What also shines a light in Weis' face is that his two best seasons were with a lot of Willingham's recruits.

Jimmy Clausen will probably go pro. If he doesn't he's a bonehead. Weis has done a mediocre to below average job as the head coach of Notre Dame, and you can't blame the school's high academic standards for that, I mean, what about Stanford? They're having a better season than Notre Dame, and they have equal academic standards.

You can argue that Notre Dame has lost it's place as a top recruiting college, being replaced by the SEC, Texas, Penn State, Oklahoma, Miami, Ohio State, USC, and other big name schools, but how do you explain the schools recruitment of Jimmy Clausen, arguably the decades most sought after recruit? Clausen was from Southern California and opted away from USC, Tennessee (where his brother Casey played), and other schools with better professional resumes (post 1993) than Notre Dame.

On top of that, Notre Dame are currently ranked #11 on the Rivals.com Recruitment rankings, sandwiched in between USC and Miami. For 2009 the team finished #21, for 2008 the team finished #2, for 2007 the team finished #8, for 2006 the team finished #8, and for 2005 the team finished #40 despite late recruitment because of coaching change. So to make a long story short, Weis has had a perennial top 10 team in terms of recruit value, and has underperformed with it.

Let's be a little more honest. Weis has done horribly with it.

By comparison, Coach Phil Fulmer, a national championship winning coach for Tennessee who snagged Peyton Manning away from Ole Miss was fired after the 2008 season because he failed to reach a bowl game. The season before Fulmer's team was in the SEC Championship game against eventual national champion LSU, but that wasn't enough. Fulmer had a perennial top 10 recruiting team, but lost his job because he couldn't win a national championship with it.

Weis is not Phil Fulmer. The media, ESPN, and programs around the league have sucked any respectability out of Weis' name as a coach. How could a serious recruit choose Weis over Pete Carroll, Mack Brown Nick Saban, Les Miles, Urban Meyer, or Bob Stoops? Those are just some of the names that Weis has to compete with, and some of those names Notre Dame turned down to hire Weis.

So what now for Notre Dame? I've heard Jon Gruden, Phil Fulmer, Bob Stoops, and even Tony Dungy's names thrown around. Not going to happen. Stoops, maybe, but why? Oklahoma is a better program than Notre Dame, why leave to go to that mess?

Enough with that though. This article is about Charlie Weis, who like every other coach who left Bill Belichick, has failed miserably on his own. To their defense, even Belichick initially failed as a head coach when he strayed away from Bill Parcells after Super Bowl XXV. And that's where Weis will find his next home if he wants one. He'll have enough money to retire I'm sure, he could even transition to a studio somewhere, but if he wants to coach again, he'll have to find a job with Bill or Bill.

On this day, when Weis' firing seems absolute, there should be no Weis apologists. He was given the players, given the recruiting tools, and given the environment to succeed. Truth be told, Weis was always scared, thus, he never succeeded. He was a passionate guy, seemed like a good one too. He loved Notre Dame and was happy to be there. But that doesn't mean he was head coaching material.

He'll always be a champion coordinator though.

Manning vs Belichick: The Greatest Rivalry of All Time Recapped Through 18 Rounds.

In 1998 Peyton Manning was a highly touted rookie who already had questions about his ability to win the "big game" while Bill Belichick was a two time Super Bowl Champion defensive coordinator, but a failure as a head coach. On September 20, 1998 few would have projected that Manning would go on to become arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history while Belichick would go on to become arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history; but September 20, 1998 was the first time these two met, when Manning made his third career start at the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets.

I was at that game.

Though Bill Parcells was the head coach of the 98 Jets, and it was undeniably his team, Belichick was certainly the architect of the defense. That Sunday Belichick made the Manning Doubters look pretty good, holding Peyton 193 yards passing, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The Jets cruised that Sunday to a 44-6 win.

And round 1 went to Belichick.

But even at age 22, Peyton Manning was still Peyton Manning. The next time the Jets and the Colts met, Peyton added 80 passing yards and three touchdowns to the numbers he had in week 3, and it was not only enough to beat the Jets; but it was also enough to hand the team their first loss of the season under QB Vinny Testaverde; and it was the crown jewel in Manning's rookie campaign.

And round 2 went to Manning.

And thus the greatest individual rivalry in NFL history began. Not in 2001, not in 2003, not in 2006, but in 1998.

As we all know the 98 Jets would storm all the way to the AFC Championship game before losing to the Broncos, while the Colts would go 3-13; but in 1999 the rivalry would continue.

Testaverde would go down in week 1 of the NFL season against the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, Manning, now with 16 games under his belt, had risen to elite status as a 23 year old. The Colts would defeat the Jets twice in 1999, but for an offense that was ranked third in the NFL, Belichick managed to hold the Colts to only 29 points in two games. Mannings numbers in both games would be human, and you could sense that Belichick found Manning's Achilles heal while the rest of the NFL was still looking for it.

In 2000 Belichick would leave the Jets (ultimately turning down the teams head coaching position) to become the head coach of the New England Patriots, and yet again Manning and Belichick would split their season series.

Through three years the Score was Manning 4, Belichick 2, but things were about to change.

In week 3 of 2001, Patriots second year QB Tom Brady made his first career start and helped the Patriots crush the Colts 44-13. Things wouldn't get much better in week 6 for the Colts as the Patriots again dominated them 38-17. The Colts would finish 2001 6-10 and miss the playoffs for the first time since Peyton's rookie season, while Belichick would lead the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXVI, where he'd pick up his third Super Bowl win, and first as a head coach.

From 2002 to 2004 Belichick would go 4-0 vs Manning, including two playoff wins. Belichick would beat Manning in the 2003 and 2004 playoffs en route to two more Super Bowl rings. On top of that the Manning vs Belichick fight was now scored at 4-8 in favor of Belichick, and without a doubt Belichick was in Manning's head.

But things weren't as bad as they seemed. Though the Colts would lose all four games in 2003 and 2004 against New England, all four games were relatively close. In the 2003 regular season the Colts came up "one yard short," had the Colts won that game they would've hosted the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. That same AFC Championship Game saw Peyton with his first shot at a legendary drive in the 4th quarter, he'd fail on a "questionable call" that lead to new rules for "receiver protection." In the 2004 season opener the Colts lost on a last second field goal gone wrong, and in the AFC playoffs that season, the Colts would enter the second half trailing only 6-3. Though Peyton was 0-4 vs Belichick he was slowly gaining on him.

Then 2005 happened.

As Peyton entered Act II of his career as a player he began to "do less" while "doing more." No longer did Peyton force throws. He worked harder, and quickly developed into not only the best quarterback in the league, but the best player in the game. In the 2005 regular season Peyton lead the Colts into New England and crushed the Patriots 40-21.

In the 2006 regular season the Colts again beat the Patriots, and when the two met in that years AFC Championship game, Peyton pulled off what many consider the greatest comeback in NFL history when he lead the Colts back from 21-3 deficit to stun Belichick and the Patriots en route to a Super XLI championship.

At the end of 2006 the fight was score 7-8.

2007 and 2008 would see Manning and Belichick split the series to make it 8-9. In that time span Manning vs Belichick would feature a contest of undefeateds that would side with Belichick, and a Week 9 playoff game that would side with Peyton. Belichick would return to the Super Bowl where he'd lose for the first time as a head coach, and Peyton would pick up his league record third MVP.

Entering 2009 there was little question who the best coach and quarterback were in the NFL. Bill and Peyton.

And entering their 2009 showdown the only question was "who is in the others head more?"

With a 4th and 2 in the 4th quarter, on his own 28 yard line, with close to two minutes on the clock and a six point lead, Belichick answered the question.

In 2009, Peyton Manning, now a 33 year old, is in Bill Belichicks head. Belichick feared giving Manning the ball with 70+ yards to go; instead opting to make a call he knew would doom his team had it been unsuccessful.

And unsuccessful it was.

And successful was Manning's next jab. As we all now know, Manning yet again pulled a rabbit out the hat vs Belichick.

Unlike from 2003-2004, in 2006, 2008, and 2009, the Colts no longer lose the close ones to the Patriots. It has been Belichick who has gotten beaten, and it has been Peyton who has shattered Belichicks defenses when the game mattered most.

Like great fighters the two have fed off of one others previous rounds; learning from previous mistakes, making adjustments, psyching your opponent out.

At 9-9, this is undeniably the greatest rivalry in NFL history. At this point in time it has to favor Peyton; his failures were mostly when he was young; as a man he's done little but defy every scheme Belichick has thrown at him, and Sunday was no different. It was just a great fighter making another great comeback.

It's a testament to Manning's greatness, and Belichick's as well. Most QB's would've rolled over after 2004 and accepted Belichick's dominance the way Pedro Martinez once called the Yankees his "daddy." But Manning didn't, he kept fighting back the way he did in the 2006 and 2009 renditions of this rivalry. And most coaches get scared by Peyton and force unnecessary blitzes, 2nd quarter on-side kicks, and offensively play calling unfitting of their teams image. Belichick never does that versus Peyton, he sizes him up. You can't blame Belichick from trying to keep the ball out of Peyton's hands, it'd be a different story if he made dumber moves early in the game like most teams do versus the Colts.

So let's enjoy the rest of this heavyweight main event. We all know round 19 will be bigger than the last.

Once Again the New England Patriots Show No Class

No one really considers the New England Patriots a classy organization. Their owner is a crook. Their coach is a known cheater; both on his wife and on the game in which he coaches. Their quarterback is openly arrogant, and has the sportsmanship of a six year old crybaby. And the team has featured such class acts as Randy Moss, Rodney Harrison, and Corey Dillon this decade.

This is the franchise that got caught cheating and got away with it. The coach who walked off the field before the game could end. The QB who refused to shake his opponents hand after an AFC Championship loss. These are the New England Patriots.

So it should come as no surprise that the Patriots; who were heavily favored coming into Sunday's game against the Titans would kick a team when they're down.

At halftime the score in 45-0. This includes a touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Wes Welker with under twenty seconds on the clock... in the snow... when your QB got his knee destroyed last year. When you're up by 38.

Totally unnecessary. Who cares if the team sits all of it's starters in the second half. This is the NFL not the BCS. There's no style points in the NFL. At the end of this game you'll still be 4-2 and in 2nd place in your division.

But I hope the Patriots feel good about themselves after this. After all it's been a rough couple of years for the people of Boston, MA. The city has only won six major sports titles since 2001. Sure three of them are forever tainted, but still. Hopefully a win like this fills those open hearts in the Bay state.

I try to keep this blog fair and balanced. I'm honest with my readers and say when I don't like players, teams, or coaches. I've tried to keep my Patriot hating to a minimum. But this is gross. I just hope the Saints return the favor when the Anna Nicole Smith of American sports travels to the Superdome.

P.S the second half is starting and Brady is throwing. Smart move, right? Great example to set for the millions of young kids who are in Pop Warner watching this game.