NFL Talk

[NCB]

With the 2007 season fast approaching, and an interesting and controversial off-season still in the mix, there's alot to talk about!

[richyb83]

Yes there sure is Nate Thanks for starting this thread; there is no such thing as an off season when it comes to football talk.

The Patriots will once again be a team to watch, they have a couple of new explosive weapons for Tom Brady. Can Randy Moss resurrect his career?? And Donte Stallworth stay healthy an entire year??

New head coaches for the Cowboys, Falcons and others.

This thread should gain some momentum as the Summer moves along.

Edited May 28, 2007 by richyb83

[dgreco]

love my pats , I am gonna move the rankings up here to keep this sticky going.

#1 - The Dallas Cowboys

Total Points: 106

Total Playoff Years: 66C, 67C, 68, 69, 70SL, 71S, 72C, 73C, 75SL, 76, 77S, 78SL, 79, 80C, 81C, 82C, 83, 85, 91, 92S, 93S, 94C, 95S, 96, 98, 99, 03, 06

Without Question, the heavyweight champion of this exercise is the Dallas Cowboys. Out of towners may assume this is biased to help the home town Cowboys, but trust me, you can change the point values any way you want and the Cowboys still finish first. It should be noted, though, that the lead has been shrinking since 1995. The Steelers have cut their deficit in half since then.

#2 - The Pittburgh Steelers

Total Points: 90

Total Playoff Years: 72C, 73, 74S, 75S, 76C, 77, 78S, 79S, 82, 83, 84C, 89, 92, 93, 94C, 95SL, 96, 97C, 01C, 02, 04C, 05S

The Steelers with Cowher did not equal the Steelers with Noll, but it has still been very nice to be in Pittsburgh. With the win in Detroit at Super Bowl XL, the Steelers blew past the 49ers into 2nd place.

#3 - The San Francisco 49ers

Total Points: 85

Total Playoff Years: 70C, 71C, 72, 81S, 83C, 84S, 85, 86, 87, 88S, 89S, 90C, 92C, 93C, 94S, 95, 96, 97C, 98, 01, 02

The first team to win 5 Super Bowls, and still undefeated in the Super Bowl at 5-0, the 49ers resume is solid. They obviously have not done too much since Steve Young was injured, but the quality from Montana to Young and from Walsh to Seifert put them into the top group.

#4 - The Oakland Raiders

Total Points: 77

Total Playoff Years: 67SL, 68C, 69C, 70C, 72, 73C, 74C, 75C, 76S, 77C, 80S, 82, 83S, 84, 85, 90C, 91, 93, 00C, 01, 02SL

The Raiders were always the bridesmaid in the 1970's and if it wasn't for the Steelers they would have been Champions plenty more. But, with the two titles in the 1980's with Tom Flores, the point total vaulted them into the top group.

#5 - The Denver Broncos

Total Points: 57

Total Playoff Years: 77SL, 78, 79, 83, 84, 86SL, 87SL, 89SL, 91C, 93, 96, 97S, 98S, 00, 03, 04, 05C

The Broncos have certainly had many quality teams, mostly due to the John Elway era. But make no mistake, 1 player does not elevate a franchise to the top 5 in the NFL. 6 Super Bowl appearances is very impressive for anyone, and now with decent post-Elway runs, they are the best of the rest.

#6 - The Miami Dolphins

Total Points: 57

Total Playoff Years: 70, 71SL, 72S, 73S, 74, 78, 79, 81, 82SL, 83, 84SL, 85C, 90, 92C, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01

The Dolphins level of quality is among the best in the AFC, but falls short of the top 5. Since 1973, the Dolphins have been close, but no cigar. Still the only team to navigate through a season undefeated, the Dolphins have a proud past.

#7 - The Washington Redskins

Total Points: 55

Total Playoff Years: 71, 72SL, 73, 74, 76, 82S, 83SL, 84, 86C, 87S, 90, 91S, 92, 99, 05

Let's not kid ourselves - since 1992, when Joe Gibbs and the boys exited stage left, things have not been very good in Washington. Despite that, they are merely a few points out of the top 5 proving that they have a very solid resume in the Allen/Gibbs eras.

#8 - The New England Patriots

Total Points: 54

Total Playoff Years: 76, 78, 82, 85SL, 86, 94, 96SL, 97, 98, 01S, 03S, 04S, 05, 06C

The first time I did this study, New England was well out of the mix. They were ranked somewhere in the bottom third of the league in 2000. But since then, Brady and Belichick have added up 37 points in 6 seasons, shooting up into #8. That deserves a "wow".

#9 - The Green Bay Packers

Total Points: 50

Total Playoff Years: 66S, 67S, 72, 82, 93, 94, 95C, 96S, 97SL, 98, 01, 02, 03, 04

Green Bay has had some HUGE gaps in their runs. After Lombardi left in 1967, they accomplished nearly nothing until hiring Mike Holmgren and Ron Wolf in 1992. They get the tie-breaker with the Rams for #9 due to the total number of Super Bowl wins (3) to the Rams (1).

#10 - The St Louis/Los Angeles Rams

Total Points: 50

Total Playoff Years: 67, 69, 73, 74C, 75C, 76C, 77, 78C, 79SL, 80, 83, 84, 85C, 86, 88, 89C, 99S, 00, 01SL, 03, 04

There is no question that the Rams and the Vikings have some of the best consistent quality over the course of the last 40 years. The Rams lost in 6 different NFC Championship Games, and lost two more Super Bowls. From 1973 to 1989, the Rams may have had the best run of anyone in the NFC, but only 1 Lombardi trophy.

#11 - The Minnesota Vikings

Total Points: 48

Total Playoff Years: 68, 69SL, 70, 71, 73SL, 74SL, 75, 76SL, 77C, 78, 80, 82, 87C, 88, 89, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98C, 99, 00C, 04

Without question, no team in football has had more good teams and won less than the Minnesota Vikings. Look at the playoff years that demonstrates no lengthy gaps between playoff caliber teams. But, alas, despite always being in the hunt, the Vikings have never closed the deal. Snakebit is an understatement.

#12 - Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts

Total Points: 47

Total Playoff Years: 68SL, 70S, 71C, 75, 76, 77, 87, 95C, 96, 99, 00, 02, 03C, 04, 05, 06S

With 11 big points in 2007, the Colts are fresh off their First Super Bowl win in 36 years. The Colts had nice teams in the Shula and post-Shula eras, then some decent Bert Jones squads. Beyond that, and the 1995 Harbaugh run, it is all about Peyton Manning. And with him in his prime, they will be higher up this list in no time.

#13 - The New York Giants

Total Points: 36

Total Playoff Years: 81, 84, 85, 86S, 89, 90S, 93, 97, 00SL, 02, 05, 06

The Giants won two Super Bowls in 5 years (lest we forget) and compiled many points during the Parcells years. Before and since, it has been pretty slim pickings - save for the Super Bowl run in 2000. Nothing wrong with #13 on the list.

#14 - The Buffalo Bills

Total Points: 34

Total Playoff Years: 66C, 74, 80, 81, 88C, 89, 90SL, 91SL, 92SL, 93SL, 95, 96, 98, 99

Close calls all around for the Bills. Four Super Bowls, four defeats. But, the quality of that team that Marv Levy put together is there for all to see as they were in the mix every year except 1994 from 88 to 96. That is impressive in the NFL these days, but still no rings.

#15 - The Chicago Bears

Total Points: 31

Total Playoff Years: 77, 79, 84C, 85S, 86, 87, 88C, 90, 91, 94, 01, 05, 06SL

If they would have won Super Bowl XLI, they would have shot all the way into 13th place. As it stands, they sit in 15th place, with the Super Bowl XX crown jewel. The Bears wish they had more to show for the 1980's powerhouse, but they sit in the top half of the league.

#16 - The Kansas City Chiefs

Total Points: 30

Total Playoff Years: 66SL, 68, 69S, 71, 86, 90, 91, 92, 93C, 94, 95, 97, 03, 06

The Chiefs barely rank in the top half of the league, and have one world title (Super Bowl IV) along with a far number of nice teams that have not quite achieved in the post-season. Overall, not bad, but their fans would have liked plenty more.

#17 - The Philadelphia Eagles

Total Points: 30

Total Playoff Years: 78, 79, 80SL, 81, 88, 89, 90, 92, 95, 96, 00, 01C, 02C, 03C, 04SL, 06

Philadelphia = 30 points. Philadelphia Before Andy Reid = 14 points. Since, Andy Reid = 16 points. I think that proves that he has done a pretty nice job for them. Still 0 Super Bowl titles, but there is no doubt that this team has been the NFC power since 2000.

#18 - The Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers

Total Points: 28

Total Playoff Years: 67C, 69, 78C, 79C, 80, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 99SL, 00, 02C, 03

Obviously, the Oilers had some real nice teams, but never could get past the AFC title game. Then, the Titans finished 1 yard short in Super Bowl XXXIV. Therefore, they are in the midst of a number of similar teams that had some nice teams, but generally no titles (aside from the Jets).

#19 - The New York Jets

Total Points: 26

Total Playoff Years: 68S, 69, 81, 82C, 85, 86, 91, 98C, 01, 02, 04, 06

Super Bowl III is still the one shining moment for the Jets. They have had some nice years, but have not had the type of playoff runs that score many points in the Sturm Formula.

#20 - The Cleveland Browns

Total Points: 24

Total Playoff Years: 67, 68C, 69C, 71, 72, 80, 82, 85, 86C, 87C, 88, 89C, 94, 02

If only the Drive didn't happen. If only the Fumble didn't happen. If only. A rich tradition has gone by the boards since 1966.

#21 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Total Points: 23

Total Playoff Years: 79C, 81, 82, 97, 99C, 00, 01, 02S, 05

Tampa Bay has shot up the list since I started doing this years ago, and the last decade has pushed them from nearly dead last into the middle third of the league. All Hail, Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden as the uniform change has changed the fortune of this floor mat of the 1980's.

#22 The San Diego Chargers

Total Points: 17

Total Playoff Years: 79, 80C, 81C, 82, 92, 94SL, 95, 04, 06

With many years of decent teams that never did much in the playoffs, the Chargers have scored some points - just not as many as they would have liked. Dan Fouts and the boys never could get over the hump. But they always had nice uniforms.

#23 - The Cincinnati Bengals

Total Points: 16

Total Playoff Years: 70, 73, 75, 81SL, 82, 88SL, 90, 05

Despite 15 seasons between playoff years from 1990-2005, the Bengals used two Super Bowl losses in the 1980's to grab a decent position.

#24 - The Seattle Seahawks

Total Points: 15

Total Playoff Years: 83C, 84, 87, 88, 99, 03, 04, 05SL, 06

The Seahawks have been bad far more than they have been good, but, obviously Holmgren has the team as good as it has ever been in the history of the franchise. Once again, uniform/stadium change coincides with fortune changes.

#25

[dgreco]

Patriots player has gone missing in Louisiana.

NEW ORLEANS -- U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews continued searching Lake Pontchartrain on Monday for New England Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill, who was reported missing following a jetski accident.

Hill

[richyb83]

Man, that's just down the road from me. That's scary. No life jackets?? ummm. Do they have life jackets for people 6'-6"/6'-7" nearly 300lbs.??? How sad is this? I met him before, he played on that great LSU defense in the 2004 National Championship. On the local news the women claims he saved her life. The water is no joke. This sucks!

[NCB]

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, as the news doesn't look good. It has now become a search and recovery mission as he is presumed drowned.

Lake Ponchartrain is a massive lake, and the currents in the area where he was last seen can be quite strong at times.

A good friend of mine played ball with Marquise at De La Salle High School in New Orleans, and I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of years ago. A very nice guy, and it seemed like he really had a head on his shoulders. Sad.

Pray for a miracle!

[NCB]

This is Lake Ponchartrain, just north of New Orleans. The red dot on the lake, near the Industrial Canal and New Orleans Lakefront Airport, is where Marquise was last seen:

[NCB]

Breaking News:

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confirms they have found the body of former LSU star Marquise Hill

[NCB]

Body of ex-LSU star found in Lake Pontchartrain

http://www.wwltv.com/sports/stories/wwl052...u.1aa969dc.html

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said it had found the body of former LSU star Marquise Hill near the area where he was last seen Sunday night following a jet skiing incident.

[dgreco]

Body of ex-LSU star found in Lake Pontchartrain

http://www.wwltv.com/sports/stories/wwl052...u.1aa969dc.html

[TONYCLT]

Hills death was ruled an accidental drowning on Tuesday evening.

Edited May 30, 2007 by TONYCLT

[dgreco]

Hills death was ruled an accidental drowning on Tuesday evening.

[dgreco]

A possible route could be to enforce a zero-tolerance policy. If players knew their actions wouldn't be tolerated, I'm sure they would get their mind right. When Tagliabue was commissioner, he didn't do nothing when players were acting a fool. Last year, arrests were at an all-time high.

[dgreco]

Where does Mr. Culpepper end up?

[richyb83]

Good question dgreco, how is his knee?? Is it still giving him problems?? I think he would have a shot with his old team, the Minnesota Vikings. If 100%healthy.... I think he could beat out current starter Tavaris Jackson. Who they handcuff just to manage games and not win games. Of course they now have rookie stud-RB Adrian Peterson.

Injury aside, Culpepper suprised me how inept he really was w/o Moss and crew. He's not as good as I thought he was.

Can Chris Chambers get back in the Pro-Bowl with Trent Green??

AFC will be really fun to watch....The Patriots and Chargers will be right back in the Colts grill this year. I look for the Broncos and Bengals to get back in the playoffs. The Steelers, Ravens will battle for a playoff spot.

Edited June 16, 2007 by richyb83

[dgreco]

Good question dgreco, how is his knee?? Is it still giving him problems?? I think he would have a shot with his old team, the Minnesota Vikings. If 100%healthy.... I think he could beat out current starter Tavaris Jackson. Who they handcuff just to manage games and not win games. Of course they now have rookie stud-RB Adrian Peterson.

Injury aside, Culpepper suprised me how inept he really was w/o Moss and crew. He's not as good as I thought he was.

Can Chris Chambers get back in the Pro-Bowl with Trent Green??

AFC will be really fun to watch....The Patriots and Chargers will be right back in the Colts grill this year. I look for the Broncos and Bengals to get back in the playoffs. The Steelers, Ravens will battle for a playoff spot.

[dgreco]

more players involved in crimes, and again PacMan at a strip club getting introuble, will it ever end?

[dgreco]

Add to the patriots, they resign Junir Seau

[richyb83]

Wow, talk about veteran leadership at the linebacker position for the Patriots! With Seau, Teddy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel.

[dgreco]

Wow, talk about veteran leadership at the linebacker position for the Patriots! With Seau, Teddy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel.

[richyb83]

Oh yeah...that was probably the best defensive player free agent signing of all!!! That dude is just sick! At 6'4" and 270lbs. he is freakish "fast"! The Patriots have made some excellent off season moves!

[dgreco]

Oh yeah...that was probably the best defensive player free agent signing of all!!! That dude is just sick! At 6'4" and 270lbs. he is freakish "fast"! The Patriots have made some excellent off season moves!

[egrguy]

hopefully they can all mesh.

[richyb83]

No doubt Brady's stats this season will be double what they were with last year's receivers. As always, staying healthy is the key. Stallworth can't seem to play a full season; Moss has been dinged up. Don't underestimate Welker in the slot underneath with teams focusing on Moss/Stallworth.

For what it's worth?? SportingNews predicts the Patriots to finish 14-2! Chargers 14-2; Colts 13-3; Broncos and Bengals both 10-6; Ravens and Jets battling for remaing wild-card at 9-7.

In the NFC....Cowboys 13-3; Saints 12-4; Bears 10-6; Seahawks 10-6 and 49ers 10-6; Eagles 9-7.

I pretty much agree with SportingNews with the AFC teams; not too sure just yet on the NFC??

*Correction...Adalius Thomas is 6'2" not 6'4" like I said before; still his size/speed ratio is in elite company at 270lbs.. He will make the Patriots Defense even better.

Edited July 1, 2007 by richyb83

[torgo]

So John Kitna, the QB of the NFL's laughingstock, the Detroit Lions, says that they are going to win at least ten games this year. Sure, they have a good bunch of receivers, but last I checked, they had no offensive line, no defensive line, no secondary, and a so-so running back with a nasty leg injury. Does anyone think that a team that hasn't won more than six games since the Clinton Administration can suddenly win 10? I think they will be better, maybe (maybe!) winning seven, but not ten.

Every year someone from Detroit says "this will be the year we get it together", only to start the season 2-9. I really like the new coach and his attitude, but I can't help but think "same old Lions..."