NFC North Preview

1. Green Bay Packers

What I like: As scary as this may seem, the Packers' vaunted offense may be more dangerous this year than they were last postseason when they were carving defenses left and right. For one, much to the surprise of even me, WR James Jones turned his nose up at offers to be better featured elsewhere so that he could stay in Green Bay. Jones returns to an offense that already had one of the best young wideouts in Greg Jennings, a cagey veteran in Donald Driver and last year's Super Bowl hero Jordy Nelson at wide receiver. The team also used a 2nd round pick on Kentucky WR Randall Cobb, in the event Jones decided to leave. Speaking of returns, the offense gets RB Ryan Grant back after missing all of last season with knee and ankle injuries. It remains to be seen how strong a comeback Grant will make but James Starks, who came on in the playoffs last year, and rookie Alex Green are around to pick up the slack. The Packers also get TE Jermichael Finley back after missing most of last season with a knee injury. Finley looked primed for a break out before being carted off against the Redskins in October. That gives QB Aaron Rodgers, who has carved his niche as one of the two or three best passers in the game, an offense that can stretch as much as five deep. Defensively, Clay Matthews Jr. is back, fresh off winning a championship and getting jobbed for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Matthews will provide the pass rush and will get a little help from a secondary that features a former DPOY in Charles Woodson, two good young corners in Tramon Williams and Sam Shields, and a Pro Bowler at free safety in Nick Collins. Also, B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett fortify the defensive line for Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme.

What I don't like: For all the defending champs gained back from the IR, they did have a couple key losses. DE Cullen Jenkins was one of the best pass rushing 3-4 ends in the league and he's now in Philly. The team also bid adieu to MLB Nick Barnett, who was oft-injured but still one of the team's better playmakers. There's also concerns with the offensive line, even despite the addition of first round pick Derek Sherod. Left tackle Chad Clifton is getting up in years and, with the lockout, Sherod is a step behind in development and would be risky to be trusted to protected Rodgers' blind side if injuries continue to take their toll on Clifton. The team also has to prove it can win close games under Mike McCarthy. While the Super Bowl run alleviates some pressure from McCarthy and company, it must be remembered that the Packers backed into the playoffs to start their surprise run. Now, the target's on their back and teams that may have taken the Pack lightly last year won't make the same mistake twice.

Bottom line: The Packers have been heralded as the favorites to become the first repeat champions since the '04 Patriots. While it's not impossible, it's asking a lot for a team in a conference that got significantly better in the offseason. Unlike past champions, however, Green Bay doesn't have to worry about being cursed by the injury bug after winning a title with 15 players on the IR last season. Rodgers controls the deepest offense in football and Matthews' relentless pass rush combined with a talented secondary will keep opposing offenses at bay. Still, the team didn't do much to bring in another pass rusher to complement Matthews and while the flaws are small, they do exist in the Packers' armor. Green Bay has enough talent to repeat, but it's up to McCarthy to keep his team from getting too wrapped up in their own press clippings if they are going to make it to Indy in February.

2. Detroit Lions

What I like: For starters, the Matt Stafford-Jahvid Best-Calvin Johnson trio is tantalizing, to say the least. The same can be said about the interior tandem of Ndomukong Suh and Nick Fairley(when Fairley is healthy) on the other side of the ball. Stafford has the game's biggest arm and he has the luxury of a genetic freak in Johnson, who is too quick for the bigs and two big for the quicks. Best gives Detroit its best rushing threat in a long time and his ability as a runner and pass-catcher makes this offense much more dangerous. On defense, offensive lines are going to have nightmares trying to hold off Suh and Fairley. Suh commanded triple teams on his own as a rookie last year and Fairley, who has been slowed by a foot injury, comes to Detroit with a similar collegiate reputation as Suh did when he left Nebraska a year ago. In Fairley's absence, Corey Williams is no slouch as a pass rusher either and neither is DEs Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch. The Lions also signed tackling machine Stephen Tulloch away from Tennessee to reunite him with head coach Jim Schwartz, who was Tulloch's defensive coordinator with the Titans. The secondary also has a couple young studs in former Falcon Chris Houston and hard-hitting safety Louis Delmas.

What I don't like: The hype. You can't call a team a "sleeper" team is everyone knows about them. Any chance of Detroit sneaking up on opponents has been killed by all the preseason talk of this being the Year of the Lions. Some experts even have gone as far as to predict Detroit to make the Super Bowl this year. For that to happen, the Lions have to become very fortunate with injuries. Stafford, for all his talent, has missed significant parts of his first two seasons. Best was slowed by turf toe and concussion issues last year and Johnson had his own injury problems. The team is already without Fairley to start the season. The offensive line, long the team's biggest weakness, has to prove it can keep Stafford upright and healthy. Also, with second-round pick Mikel Leshoure done for the year, it's up to Jerome Harrison to take some of the load off the undersized Best. The team also needs someone to emerge from the Nate Burleson/Titus Young duo to keep defenses from tripling Johnson. On defense, the team needs Fairley back soon and ready to team with Suh and wreak havoc.

Bottom line: There's positive buzz in the Motor City for the first time since the Barry Sanders era, but the team has already been bitten by misfortune with the injuries to their two top picks in Fairley and Leshoure. For the Lions to live up to expectations, everything has to go right for them. If Stafford, Best, Johnson, Fairley and Suh can stay healthy down the stretch, the Lions are going to be a tough out in the 2nd half. However, with so many teams fighting for so few playoff spots, the young Lions are going to have to grow up fast to make wise men out of all the "experts" fueling up the bandwagon. The Lions have to compete with a defending division champion in Chicago and a defending Super Bowl champion in Green Bay but they have enough talent to make dents in the NFC. It's just a matter of keeping everyone on the field.

3. Chicago Bears

What I like: Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher. That's it. That's the list. The Bears won the North last year thanks to some close wins and some stingy defense. Peppers may not have lived up to his guady contract, but he wasn't a walking stiff either. Urlacher isn't the machine he was a few years ago, but he's still capable of taking over when he's healthy. The team also did QB Jay Cutler a favor by getting him some offensive line help in first round pick Gabe Carimi, a tackle out of Wisconsin, and a new target in former Cowboy Roy Williams. Williams never panned out in Dallas after his much-maligned trade from Detroit but the former Longhorn's lone Pro Bowl season came under Mike Martz, who just happens to be the offensive coordinator in Chicago. Williams' presence, in theory, allows everyone to slip into the roles they are best suited for. Devin Hester has come on as a wideout after being mainly used as corner/return specialist early in his career but he's a #2 at best and Johnny Knox is probably a better fit as the team's #3.

What I don't like: At the risk of sounding bitter, the Bears' division title last year had more to do with luck than talent. A lot of the teams' wins could have went either way and the Bears could have been on the outside looking in instead of in the NFC Championship. This year, there's actual cause for concern. The offensive line gained Carimi but lost its anchor in center Olin Kruetz. His absence forces the team to move Roberto Garza from guard to center, further weakening a terrible unit. This preseason, the Bears have shown an inability to keep Cutler from eating dirt every time he drops back to pass. Further complicating matters are contract squabbles with two of the team's best players. RB Matt Forte has tabled discussions for a new deal but he's felt strong enough about an extension to walk out on camp at one point. LB Lance Briggs is once again demanding a trade out of the Windy City, as he has grown frustrated with negotiating for a new deal. Those are two guys the team can't afford to piss off. My biggest concern with Chicago is Cutler. Coming off a season where his toughness was questioned and where he was upstaged in the biggest game of his career by backup Caleb Hanie, Cutler has to try to prove himself behind an offensive line that may be WORSE than the unit that gave up the most sacks in the league last year and with a new #1 wideout in Williams who has a reputation for having hands of stone. It doesn't help that the division has gotten significantly better since last season.

Bottom line: Lady Luck has never been known to stay in one place too long and, from the looks of things, she's on the first thing smoking out of the Windy City. It's asking a lot for this team to win 11 games again with Cutler running for his life, Briggs and Forte distracted by contract squabbles, and the overall talent taking a hit with the departures of TE Greg Olsen and DT Tommie Harris. At the very least, the team should have been a bit more aggressive in enhancing the offensive line, especially after how embarrassing this team was trying to protect Cutler last season. Instead, a team that set the bar high with an improbable NFC Championship run now sits in a state of flux. With a QB and head coach on a hot seat and holes in so many crucial areas, putting the Bears at 3 might be a bit overly optimistic.

4. Minnesota Vikings

What I like: The 2011 Vikings are a far cry from the team that came within a Brett Favre interception of the Super Bowl two years ago and slightly worse than last year's disappointing bunch but, at the end of the day, it doesn't hurt to have the best running back in football in Adrian Peterson. Peterson is the only real sure shot on this team, which made a lot of drastic changes on both sides of the ball. Donovan McNabb is going to give his career one last shot from the defibrillator after underwhelming in his lone season in Washington. He'll have significantly more talent around him in Minnesota than he ever did with the Redskins. Percy Harvin has supposedly put the migraine issues behind him and is ready to emerge as #1 wideout in his third season. Bernard Berrian is back and, at the very least, is a steady #2. The Vikings two-tight end set features Visanthe Shiancoe and promising rookie Kyle Rudolph. Defensively, Jared Allen and his ridiculous sack dance are back and he'll have one of the better linebacking cores behind him led by Chad Greenway and E.J. Henderson.

What I don't like: McNabb comes to The Land That Prince Built a year too late. The team swapped out Pro Bowl left tackle Bryant McKinnie for former Colt Charles Johnson, making the team a bit unsteady on both ends of the offensive line unless Phil Loadholt can impress in his 3rd season. Suspension and old age has torn apart the once-frightening Williams Wall and DE Ray Edwards fled to Atlanta in free agency. That leaves Jared Allen as the only proven pass rusher until Kevin Williams returns from suspension on a substance abuse beef. The secondary is a bit thinner, too. Antoine Winfield is getting up in age and the rest of the gang doesn't inspire too much hope, especially if offensive lines find ways to muzzle Allen.

Bottom line: Optimism on this year's Vikings depends mainly on your belief that McNabb has something left in the tank. Last year, with every reason to have a chip on his shoulder and prove his doubters wrong, McNabb showed up out of shape and disappointed to the point that he got benched for Rex Grossman midseason. This year, he's being asked to keep the team afloat and avoid the urge to see what it has in first round pick and "QB of the future" Christian Ponder. The Vikings hope they've caught lightning in a bottle twice by going to the "aging QB with something to prove" well with McNabb after hitting a homer with Brett Favre(well, the first year with Favre, at least), but a lot has changed and a lot of questions have to answered immediately. Harvin has to prove he can pick up the slack left by Sidney Rice's departure. The offensive line has to not miss a beat by swapping McKinnie for Johnson. The defense has to somehow suffice without The Williams' boys clogging the middle. Most importantly, McNabb has to show the motivation to resuscitate his career that he didn't show last year and make defenses respect his dwindling talent enough to take pressure off Peterson and not make a back with injury and fumbling issues carry the team. I don't see that happening. McNabb's ability to make plays with his feet is now non-existent, forcing him to become more of a pocket passer.....which would be great if his accuracy hadn't slipped as well. Two years ago, McNabb would have been perfect for this Vikings team but, like with Favre last year, the Vikings are making a losing gamble by rolling the dice that an aging QB has one last hurrah left in him. I think we see Ponder by Week 10 and only a Bears collapse keeps Minnesota out of the cellar.

Back To The Drawing Board

With 2010 NFL regular season coming to a close, we have a bit more clarity than we did a few weeks ago in terms of figuring out who is at the top and has a real legit shot at the Lombardi Trophy (New England and Atlanta seem to be the front-runners)and who is just a pretender. However, the bigger story are the teams that disappointed us a little. 2010 didn't really offer up many surprises beyond the Rams and Seahawks contending for the NFC West title(almost by default though, since San Fran and Arizona have done everything they can to NOT win it) and the Chiefs standing atop the AFC West(unless, of course, you co-signed what I predicted in August).

So, since we'll have the next month or so to dissect the contenders and who and what to watch for come playoff time, let's use this time to take a look at the teams that were a bit underwhelming this season and what needs to be done next year to be more Chiefs-esque.

*Dallas Cowboys(currently 4-9)

Expectations: With their acquisition of first-round pick Dez Bryant to go along with an offense that already had Pro Bowl QB Tony Romo and last year's breakout star, WR Miles Austin(as well as a stable of legit running backs) to complement an athletic defense, Dallas was seen as a chic Super Bowl contender. This, however, was despite the fact this year's Super Bowl was to be held in the new home of the Cowboys and no team has ever made it to the Super Bowl when it's set to take place in their backyard. This was also despite the fact the Cowboys were still being coached by underachieving head coach Wade Phillips.

What Happened: To put it plainly, this team quit on Phillips at the first sign of danger. After losing to Washington and Chicago to start the season 0-2, the Cowboys got a nice win over Houston and then proceeded to go through the motions for the next six weeks. During that span, Romo would get sidelined with a broken clavicle after fullback Chris Gronkowski whiffed like Adam Dunn on a curveball in a blitz pickup of Giants linebacker Michael Boley. Beyond the loss of Romo, the team found out the hard way that once-punishing running back Marion Barber is now a few deep breaths above a cadaver and that Felix Jones is no more than a taller Darren Sproles. On top of that, the pass defense is every bit as bad as I hinted at in August, as they now stand 27th in the NFL against the pass. Needless to say, after a public trouncing on Sunday night by the Packers, Phillips was canned and replaced by one-time heir apparent Jason Garrett. The team, suspiciously has played better under Garrett, winning 3 of their last 5, but their season is done, regardless if Romo comes back or not.

Plan of Action: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is going to want to make a splash in appointing his new coach. To the surprise of no one, he'll start first by dipping into the quartet of Jon Gruden/Mike Holmgren/Tony Dungy/Bill Cowher.....and he'll end up being disappointed. Gruden couldn't handle working for Al Davis in Oakland, so I can't see him jumping at working for an egomaniac like Jones. The same goes for Cowher, who spent years under the well-respected Rooney family in Pittsburgh and might not be so eager to deal with the polar opposite in Dallas. I really think Dungy is done with coaching and Holmgren isn't going to give up complete control in Cleveland to butt heads with Jones in Dallas. Another name that will surface may be former Florida coach Urban Meyer. Meyer is off doing the family man gig and has given no signs of wanting to return to coaching or join the pros for that matter, but he's a big enough fish for Jones to take a shot at. Inevitably, he'll find he's better off with Garrett. The team knows his playbook and clearly have responded better with him as the head coach than the offensive coordinator. What Garrett will need, however, is a good coordinator for the defense. A team with this much talent on the defensive side of the ball should not be as bad as they've been this season. Perhaps a guy like Mike Nolan could do wonders for this defense.

Once the coaching staff is straight, Jones needs to do a better job of acquiring talent through the draft. Sure, Bryant was a nice steal before breaking his ankle, but there hasn't been much to show from the last few draft classes. If he can't lock down a top of the line corner like Nebraska's Prince Akanamura or LSU's Patrick Paterson, Jones needs to shore up the offensive line. Doug Free isn't getting it done as Flozell Adams' replacement and, if the team wants to avoid seeing Romo in street clothes again, they are going to need to keep him out of harm's way. A trade for Ravens' left tackle Jared Gaither would be a low-cost risk, as he is coming off an injury-marred 2010, but given the lack of elite tackles in this year's draft, he may be worth it.

*Minnesota Vikings(currently 5-8)

Expectations: After coming an interception short of having their storybook season end with a Super Bowl appearance, the Vikings conned QB Brett Favre into giving it one last go under the assumption that they could repeat last year's performance and send "The Riverboat Gambler" out on top(Although my friend Andre warned people to not get too excited).

What Happened: They couldn't. Favre never played like a man motivated to make one last run, either because he was still hurting from offseason ankle surgery or the pressure from the Jenn Sterger sexting scandal was weighing on his mind. On top of that, the team grew more and more impatient with incumbent head coach Brad Childress. After butting heads for weeks with Favre, Childress was eventually canned and replaced with promising head coaching candidate, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Still, even with the Vikes winning two of three under Frazier, it was too little, too late. Favre became a turnover machine more so than he's been in perhaps his entire career, as the offense clearly missed Sidney Rice(who missed the first two months after hip surgery). Minnesota tried to motivate Favre and instill some life into the passing game by trading a 3rd round pick for Randy Moss but, after three weeks, Moss was waived and the offense continued to sputter. The defense mirrored the offense in its underachievement. Jared Allen started off slow after being an all-season terror last year and frustration finally settled in this past Monday when players were irate after getting trounced by the Giants on Monday night.

Plan of Action: Cam Newton. That's the simple answer. Favre's finished, as you may or may not have heard about his 297-start streak ended the other night, and Tarvaris Jackson isn't the answer. There really isn't a veteran QB out there that would pick up where Minnesota left off last year, unless something drastic happens with Donovan McNabb in Washington(and even he isn't an upgrade) or if they can pilfer Mike Vick or Kevin Kolb from Philly. Newton, the 2010 Heisman winner, is the Draft's biggest enigma. He's big(6'6, 250lbs), with a solid arm and runs like a Mack truck. With him, Adrian Peterson and a left side of the offensive line led by Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, they easily become the scariest power running team in football. A switch to an unproved QB who won't try to win the games on his own will allow Minnesota to go back to winning the way the knew how to pre-Favre: By handing the ball off to #28. No Favre means more emphasis on the best back in the country and with the mobility and power of a guy like Newton, teams will be a little more apprehensive of stacking the box against the Vikings. Newton could be a poor man's Big Ben or Josh Freeman and he's enough of a quandary to slide down to Minnesota in the first round.

On defense, whether DT Pat Williams retires or not, the team needs some fresh legs to replace him. They also need another DE to complement Jared Allen as Ray Edwards disappointed in what was supposed to be a breakout year following his solid postseason last year. The team can also use a corner or two to be eventually take over for Antione Winfield as well as bolster a unit damaged by injuries. As for Frazier, he's a bright enough star to deserve a full season. Again, unless Minnesota can lure a Cowher/Gruden-type to the Twin Cities, there isn't another coordinator out there that would be a better candidate than who they already have running the show.

*Washington Redskins(currently 5-8)

Expectations: The return of head coach Mike Shanahan to the sidelines and the acquisition of Pro Bowl QB Donovan McNabb gave people in the nation's capital hope that this would be the year they get off the snide after years of suffering under the Jim Zorn/Jason Campbell combo.

What Happened: Shanahan was aggressive in leaving his mark on his new team. He just may have went about it the wrong way. For starters, he butted heads almost immediately with overpaid, overweight DT Albert Haynesworth, but never was able to find a way to get rid of him from the roster, so the toxic nature of their tension spread throughout the locker room. In addition to that, Shanahan may have damaged the ego of McNabb by benching him during a crucial two-minute drill for Rex Grossman because Shanny was unimpressed with McNabb's "conditioning" and ability to run a two-minute offense.

If the lack of confidence from Shanahan wasn't hurting McNabb enough, the lack of a run game certainly didn't help matters. Clinton Portis stayed true to form and got hurt early in the season. Shanahan stayed true to form as well in his typical roulette with who was going to shoulder the load in Portis' absence. First,it was Larry Johnson. Then, it was Ryan Torain. Then, it was Keiland Willams. None were too productive, but Torain and Williams did a decent job filling in. The same can't be said for McNabb's receivers. Santana Moss was good for a few big plays here and there but he's clearly playing like a man whose best days are behind him. The same can definitely be said about Joey Galloway, who was washed up long before Washington tabbed him as their #2 receiver. Anthony Armstrong emerged as a nice target, but he's a #3 or #4, at best. Defensively, the team was abysmal. Beyond Brian Orakpo, the team had no other pass rush, which led to a highly overrated secondary getting burnt to a crisp routinely. The lack of motivation by Haynesworth to man the middle in the new 3-4 also killed the team against the run. Going into Week 15, the 'Skins are 29th against the pass and 28th against the run.

Plan of Action: Washington needs to make decisions on the futures of Haynesworth and McNabb. Haynesworth is obviously not coming back next year, but there's no excuse for why this team couldn't have tried harder to move him sooner than this offseason, when he had some value. As for McNabb, he got a new extension but the Redskins made it a point to publicly mention the out clauses in Donovan's new deal. He could very well be the first QB to sign an extension midseason and be gone before the next year. The problem with that is, who's better than McNabb? Grossman isn't worth cutting ties with Donovan. Perhaps Washington could make a run at Kyle Orton or try to revive Carson Palmer, but neither of those guys seem like definite upgrades. Shanahan needs to come out in Year 2 and hit some homers in the offseason. The offensive line is still horrible and now the team needs a real running back instead of trying to stay afloat with once-great veterans. They also need someone on the other side of Orakpo to put some pressure on opposing quarterbacks, as well as finding a nose tackle who actually wants to play in the 3-4. The fortunate side of all that is that Shanahan has Dan Snyder's big checkbook to go grocery shopping with. While the 'Skins got their props for not being big spenders this offseason, there's too many holes on this team to incorporate that logic again this year. Shanahan has to be flawless this offseason. Otherwise, given Snyder's quick trigger, Haynesworth might have some company flying out of D.C.

*San Francisco 49ers(currently 5-8)

Expectations: They were the sexy pick to win the NFC West, mainly because everyone else seemed a year or two away. They made some moderate improvements to the offensive line and, given the breakout years of Vernon Davis and Alex Smith a year ago, combined with a full season of Michael Crabtree and the presence of Frank Gore, this offense seemed poised for fireworks. Defensively, they one of the league's best last year and the addition of hard-hitting safety Taylor Mays was only going to stand to make them better.

What Happened: It's hard to say, really. I guess we should have expected Alex Smith to not be the goods with the spotlight on him, but you would have thought San Fran would at least be serviceable the first two months of the season. They weren't. The Niners entered November 2-6 and, by then, already made the switch to another Smith at QB: Former Heisman winner Troy Smith. Troy wasn't terrible under center, but eventually, his shortcomings(no pun intended) were exposed and the team went back to Alex this past week in their 40-21 win over Seattle. To show how putrid the NFC West is, the Niners are only a game out of first, despite starting the season 0-5. Any run at the postseason, however, will have to be done without Frank Gore, who is done for the season.

Plan of Action: Again, it's hard to say, because this team could very well back into the playoffs still. They are in must-win mode and their final three games aren't exactly backbreakers. They travel to San Diego to face a Chargers team that has been up and down all season. Then, they finish with two division games: on the road against the Rams and then at home for now John Skelton-led Cardinals. It's not incomprehensible to think San Francisco can run the table. Regardless of how these final weeks shake out though, their mission this offseason is clear: Upgrade at quarterback. The first name that pops up is Kevin Kolb. Given the way Mike Vick is playing right now, there's no way he's not the starter in Philly next year unless he prices himself out of the Eagles' range and goes elsewhere. That's got to be a huge setback for a kid who entered the year finally getting his shot at being The Man. In San Fran, Kolb can do what he does best: dink and dunk defenses to death and load up for a few bombs deep. Kolb's accuracy makes him a huge upgrade over either of the Smiths and his couple games of experience makes him a better option than going back to the drawing board and drafting another QB. Even with a class that is set to have Andrew Luck of Stanford, Jake Locker of Washington, Ryan Mallett of Arkansas and the aforementioned Cam Newton, the Niners might win enough to be out of range for those four. The other possibility, if the Niners can't get Kolb(or even Vick, who would be an even better option) would be.....prepare to cringe, Niners fans.......Carson Palmer. Palmer's been dreadful the last couple of years, but that could be attributed to Cincy's poor offensive line(or Palmer could just suck). Regardless, all signs point to Palmer being available and maybe he could return to form by going back to Cali and playing for a better team in a weaker division. Other than a new QB, the Niners aren't missing too much else. Some help at corner would be nice, since Nate Clements is being weighed down by his big contract far too much to return to Pro Bowl form.

*Cincinnati Bengals (currently 2-11)

Expectations: The Bengals went the "Expendables" route and brought in every former NFL miscreant, in the hopes they'd come together in unison and form a talented team of head cases. Some of the names added this offseason: Matt Jones, Pac-Man Jones, Terrell Owens and Antonio Bryant. With all that untapped potential, some thought the half-brain plan might actually work and the team would actually make another return to the playoffs after winning the AFC North last year.

What Happened: Surprisingly (sarcasm alert), a team consisting of T.O., Chad Ochocinco, Cedric Benson, Andre Smith, Tank Johnson, and Pac-Man Jones couldn't hack it together. With all the proposed firepower on offense, Carson Palmer still couldn't revert back to his old Pro Bowl form. Perhaps a mystical curse swapped out Carson for his brother, Jordan, or perhaps the Bengals' Swiss cheese offensive line has morphed Palmer into a chuck-and-duck quarterback or maybe Palmer just sucks. We may never know, but shockingly, T.O. has been the lone bright spot for Cincinnati, reeling in 72 catches for 983 yards and 9 TDs so far this season. Of course, that didn't stop T.O. from resorting to his typical T.O. antics. Beyond Owens, there hasn't been much to like in the 'Natti. Cedric Benson went from being last year's feel good story to the lead rusher on the 30th ranked rushing offense. Ochocinco has disappeared from the face of the Earth, save for a couple commercials, a terrible reality show, and appearances on Versus' T.Ocho Show. Palmer's thrown 18 picks this season, and may have ended his Bengals career with the two pick-6s he threw against Pittsburgh this past week. He'll have company on his way out, as head coach Marvin Lewis(in the final year of his contract) is a sure shot to not be back next year. Defensively, what was once a hard-hitting, physical, and inspired defense now has somehow forgotten how to rush the passer(combined 18 sacks...with Carlos Dunlap leading the way with 4.5) or stop the run.

Plan of Action: Palmer will probably welcome a change of scenery, after being sacked 28 times and having to deal with this merry band of knuckleheads. Of course, cutting ties with Palmer means having to find his replacement and, needless to say, that person is not on the roster. The Bengals will be in better position to snatch one of the top flight QBs than some of the other teams mentioned here, but they have needs elsewhere that need to be addressed. For starters, former top 10 pick LT Andre Smith isn't the goods and either needs to have an inferno lit under his rear end or be sent packing. The offensive line needs huge upgrades, regardless of who the QB is next year. Since there's nobody at the top of the draft that's worth taking on the offensive line, Cincy needs to go defense, where they've had success in the past years in the first round(Keith Rivers, Jonathan Joesph, Leon Hall). The name that has come up a few times in association with the Bengals is Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers. Bowers is 6'4 275lbs and is coming off a season where he notched 15 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. While Cincinnati has used high picks on the line in bringing in guys like Dunlap and Michael Johnson, Bowers wouldn't be a bad guy to throw in the mix. If not Bowers, Auburn DT Nick Fairley(if he declares, which many think he will) or Alabama's Marcell Dareus(who is an underclassman as well) would fill a huge void in the middle of the line as well.

As for who replaces Lewis, it needs to be someone hard-nosed who is also willing to clean house. A team can get by with a huge loose screws but he can't have a whole team of them. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has been a candidate for head coaching jobs for years but it's hard to promote a guy whose defense has failed as miserably as Zimmer's D has. As much as it pains me to type this, former Packers head coach/current Texas A &M coach Mike Sherman may be deserving of another try after his success in Green Bay and his stature as an offensive line guru. Another offensive-minded guy who could get a look is former Super Bowl-winning head coach Brian Billick, who probably would like a crack at a return to the NFL on top of facing his former team in Baltimore. Regardless, to change the Bengals, there needs to be a change in demeanor. There needs to be less gambling on problem children in the hopes that the friendly confines of Cincinatti will change their ways. It hasn't worked in years past and it certianly won't work going forward. Owens probably wore out his welcome with his latest comments and he was the only one of the troubled bunch to actually produce. It's time to cut ties with all of them and start from scratch. A team with this much talent should be not 2-11. The case can be made for Palmer to stay, but after this season, why would he want to?

*Houston Texans(currently 5-8)

Expectations: Everyone thought this was the year Houston finally takes the next step. With QB Matt Schaub finally stepping up last year into the rung of elite QBs, Andre Johnson as his tag team partner, and a young and athletic defense, the Texans were supposed to take the AFC by storm....and that was before we found out that RB Arian Foster was a certified beast.

What Happened: Like a nerd on prom night, the Texans couldn't close. They set an NFL record this season for coming back from down 14+ points to tie or take the lead and lose(Note: They did that four times......in 13 games. Terrible.). While the Texans didn't blow the doors off the AFC, Foster sure did. He leads the league in rushing with 1,330 yards and 13 touchdowns. Schaub and Andre 3000 have been Pro Bowl calibur as well. Schaub has close to 3,500 yards passing and 20 TDs and Johnson has contributed 1,158 yards and 7 TDs of that. Defensively though, the team was as good giving it up through the air as they were slinging it themselves. While stout against the run(6th best run D), the Texans were dead last against the pass. Some of that could be attributed to the loss of former star corner Dunta Robinson(who went to Atlanta), but a team with guys like Mario Williams and Brian Cushing rushing the passer should be better at stopping team through the air. Still, the Texans' Achilles heel this season is the same thing it's been the last couple of years under Gary Kubiak: their tendency to choke like a first-time throater with the game on the line. Case and point: Down 28-7 to Baltimore on Monday Night Football, Houston battles back to force overtime.....only to have Schaub toss the game-winning Pick-6 to Josh Wilson to give the Ravens the win. The Texans' struggles late in games is mind-boggling and it is hard to find one person to place blame on. Is it head coach Gary Kubiak who is getting the late game jitters? Is it Schaub? Or is it just bad luck? Regardless, this team can't continue to hang their hat on what their record is SUPPOSED to be. Fact is, they are a 5-8 team and they've deserved every one of those eight losses.

Plan of Action: The easy solution will be firing Kubiak, because he's the easier goat than Schaub(especially since Schaub has numbers on his side and the fact there's only a select number of signal callers who can sling it like him), but who is out there that release the large lump lodged in this team's throat during crunch time? I mentioned last week that Jon Gruden would be a good fit for this team since he's fiery and has an good offensive mind, but this team's problems aren't on the offensive end. Leslie Frasier is a solid defensive coach, but is he a proven late-game winner? Not yet. The best man for the job is the guy who can rally this team when the pressure is on. That might be Gruden. It could also be Marty Schottenheimer, who is also looking to get back in the NFL. As for the personnel, the secondary could use a veteran or two to shepard young corner Kareem Jackson. Champ Bailey is the big name on the market, but it remains to be seen whether he'd leave Denver. The same can be said for Antonio Cromartie and the Jets. If Gruden gets the gig, maybe he brings former pupil Ronde Barber over from Tampa. However it's done, change needs to happen. The Texans have an insane amount of talent on both sides of the ball, but it needs a proven motivator to take them to the next level. Otherwise, they'll be where they've been every year: on the outside looking in and making excuses.

Gathering Moss

False hope.

That's what Randy Moss' return to Minnesota provides to the Vikings and, most importantly, Vikings fans. Sometimes, when blockbuster trades like this Moss deal get done, fans and experts just look at the fancy names on paper and start overreacting without looking at the big picture. Yes, on paper, an offense comprised of Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Brett Favre looks pretty damn impressive. However, somebody has to be on the outside looking in here. There isn't enough touches to keep three hungry receivers happy as well as the game's best running back. Something has to give. Brett Favre, throughout his entire career, has been a man consumed with being the hero. It's why he implodes EVERY postseason. He has to be the last gunslinger standing when the dust clears. It's why he single-handedly shot the Vikes in the foot last January in the Superdome with that ridiculous cross-the-body interception to Tracy Porter against the Saints. It's why he blew the Packers' Super Bowl chances in '07 against the Giants, '03 against Philly, '02 against Atlanta and '01 against St. Louis with costly picks and all around buffoonish play. Now, he gets a new weapon who has a history of being a piss poor run blocker and who mentally takes himself out of the game(and sometimes, physically) when he isn't getting the ball early and often.

Favre has always wanted to throw bombs to Moss and, maybe now that he gets that chance, it will shake off some of the malaise Favre has been playing with the first four weeks of the season. Favre's playing like a guy who wasn't healthy enough to come back but felt compelled to return after being bullied by teammates and coaches for one last run. Maybe Moss rejuvenates him. Or maybe Moss makes matters worse. After all, there's a reason this man was ushered out of the Twin Cities and into the Bay Area a few years ago. His tendency to be a pain in the ass is equal to his tendency to split the defense for a long touchdown. Somehow, on a team that was a perennial Super Bowl contender, Moss couldn't find happiness. Somehow, on a team known for chemistry and camaraderie, Randy Moss became a distraction(something not even Corey Dillon managed to be). What happens when defenses double-cover Moss and Favre is forced to look Percy Harvin's way? What happens if AP does his own pouting and Childress begins to run the ball more in the first half and Moss becomes disenfranchised? These are the "What ifs" that need to come into play during trades like this. Yes, Moss can be a gamebreaker. That's the glass-half-full part of it. He's also a terrible self-motivator and a bit of a knucklehead. That's the other side of the coin.

Having watched Favre, as a Packer fan, for nearly two decades, I can tell you that Vikings fans are going to be in for some heartache. Moss isn't just one of the game's best receivers, he's a guy who runs one route in particular better than any other wideout: the go route. Moss is going to go straight ahead down the sideline at full speed, throw that lanky tree branch of an arm up, and Favre, no matter who is in Moss' vicinity, is going to chuck that ball with every bit of gusto he's got. That sounds great....if this was last year's Brett Favre. This year, Favre's a wounded animal. Still dangerous, sure, but wounded nonetheless. His passes aren't as crisp. The velocity isn't what it once was and he doesn't throw that deep ball like he once did. For shit's sake, he's 41 and coming off ankle surgery. You can't expect him to reclaim last year's magic now that he has a new toy. Even with Rice, Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe and Peterson last year, Favre couldn't get himself out of New Orleans and I think that offense was better than the one that will trot out Monday night against the Jets. Call me crazy, but I'd take a healthy Sidney Rice over this year's Moss any day of the week(Side note: Another thing to factor in is Moss doesn't get a bye week now. He'll play all 17 weeks because he's coming in after Minnesota's bye week. Moss is 33 and he's never been, how do you say, a husky fellow. I'm not saying Moss is going to get hurt, but I don't know if I like the chances of a skinny 33-year old receiver who has to play balls-to-the-wall for the next four months without a break not getting banged up a little bit.)

So, Moss' acquisition is a hit-or-miss gamble that will ultimately tell the tale of the 2010 season. A team that may have very well been a 10-6 team with Tarvaris Jackson handing off to Adrian Peterson and letting the defense hold opponents instead went into desperation mode and begged a 41-year old man to play QB and then rushed into getting him a new weapon when the old man started to lose interest. If rolling on the dice on Favre and Moss pays off, then the Vikings are the clear-cut team to beat in a wide-open NFC. However, the history of both men, combined with the incompetence of Brad Childress and the uncertainty of both Rice's health coming off hip surgery and AP's role now that Moss is in town, gives people like myself a legit reason to be skeptical.

(Another side rant: I had the Patriots finishing 3rd this season in the AFC East..and that was WITH Randy Moss. Now that he's gone, I'm not sure how New England makes the postseason. Yes, they beat Miami with Moss not even registering a catch, but how many teams are going to throw three picks and allow New England to score touchdowns off numerous blocked kicks and kickoff returns? Moss is gone. Wes Welker's knee is, admittedly, not 100% and now his workload increases. The running game is non-existent. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is serviceable, but hardly someone who keeps defensive coordinators up at night. The defense, outside of last Monday night's rout of the Dolphins, has been terrible and I'm not in love with Brady's offensive line. Yes, the Patriots have eight picks in the first four rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft....but none of those guys are playing this season for New England. Maybe the team plays better with Moss distraction gone. Maybe Brandon Tate steps up. Or maybe this trade bites them in the ass. We shall see.)

So brace yourselves, Vikings fans, the Favre rollercoaster just got revamped and it may very well be a bumpy ride.

NFC North Preview

Slowly but surely, we are plowing away at these divisional previews. Here's our look at the NFC North.

Dave:

1. Green Bay Packers: I'm basing this on call on three things: 1. Everything fell in place for the Vikings in Year 1 with Brett Favre at QB and I'm hard-pressed to believe lightning will strike twice for them in Year 2. 2. I also think the Packers' offensive line was the only thing that kept Green Bay from the Super Bowl last year and I just can't see that unit being that bad(league-worst 51 sacks allowed last year) again. 3. I'm a bit of a homer. Sue me.

I've always been one to find preseason meaningless. After all, these same Packers ran through the exhibition season like a tornado last year, not allowing a sack and looking like the second coming of the '99 Rams, and then we saw what happened once the games started to matter. This year, it's pretty much the same deal. The Packers are coming off dropping 59 points on the Super Bowl runner-up Indianapolis Colts in the third game of preseason and the media frenzy around heralding Green Bay as a Super Bowl contender has surged once again.

Now, I told you people a couple years ago that Aaron Rodgers was the real deal(granted, not on THIS site, but still) and now it looks like I am right. Rodgers is a legit Top 5 QB, with the chance to crack the Top 3 with another big year. When you throw over 4,000 yards and 30 TDs(as well as a mere 7 picks) when your offensive line is giving you no help, you are a damn good QB. This year, the Packers' swiss cheese O-Line is expected to be better. Aging tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are finally healthy(or at least, reasonably healthy) and the surprise story of camp is first round pick Bryan Bulaga, a OT out of Iowa, playing admirably enough at guard to possibly crack the starting lineup. If Rodgers gets protection, he has a bevy of options. There's emerging superstar Greg Jennings as A-Rod's top deep threat, consistent chain-mover Donald Driver opposite Jennings, and a couple of solid youngsters in Jordy Nelson and James Jones as the 3rd and 4th option. Then, there's the guy I'm most excited about in this Packers' air attack: TE Jermichael Finley. If you read my All-Breakout Team piece(and you should, if you haven't), you'll know I think this is the year Finley busts loose. He's tall(6'5), big(260lbs), with good speed and great athleticism. Rodgers has hit him frequently in the preseason and that's not going to change once the season kicks off. When the Packers aren't airing it out, they can hand it off to vastly underrated back Ryan Grant. Since 2007, only one man has more rushing yards than Grant(Adrian Peterson). He's gotten his fumbling issues in check and he's even decent catching passes out of the backfield(although that job will mainly be handled by Brandon Jackson, who is the perfect change-of-pace option for Grant, if he can stay healthy).

The defense is where I'm a bit worried. CB Charles Woodson won the Defensive Player of the Year award last year, but he's 34. The guy who is normally opposite him, Al Harris, is on the PUP list, as is safety Atari Bigby. Tramon Williams filled in admirably a couple years ago for Harris but his place in the starting lineup hurts the overall depth in the secondary. Still, the Packers can pick it with Woodson and Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins in the defensive backfield. As for the front seven, DE Johnny Jolly is gone(facing a one-year suspension) and the team tried to soften the blow by drafting 2nd rounder Mike Neal to rotate inside. The key to the Packers D-Line in Year 2 of Dom Capers' 3-4 will be last year's first round pick B.J. Raji becoming the disruptive force inside many thought he would be on Draft Day. If Raji is up to snuff, a defensive line of Raji, massive NT Ryan Pickett and pass-rushing end Cullen Jenkins looks mighty formidable. As for the linebackers, it's fight or flight time for A.J. Hawk. Hawk has been decent in his time in Green Bay, but not the dominator he was expected to be after being taken in the Top 5 a few years ago. Fellow inside linebacker Nick Barnett is a tackling machine, but has had trouble staying healthy. On the outside, Clay Matthews returns from a breakout rookie season(10 sacks). Matthews has been slowed by a hamstring injury but is expected to be ready for the regular season. Opposite Matthews will be second-year man Brad Jones, who was adequate last year but hardly a lynchpin on the outside. Matthews and Jenkins are responsible for a majority of the pass rush and with the secondary missing two key members(although rookie Morgan Burnett should fill in for Bigsby brilliantly), someone else is going to have to emerge to keep the Packers from getting bombed on.

So, this could be the year for the Packers. The offensive line has to keep their young stud QB upright and the defense has to continue to improve on their excellent performance from last year. The schedule does them no favors and certainly Minnesota won't lie down for them this year, but there is reason for optimism in Title Town. Then again, we said that last year.

2. Minnesota Vikings*: Brett Favre did what many thought was impossible last year. He came into a new team, with new receivers, fresh off of surgery on his legendary cannon arm and had the best season of his career. He made household names out of bargain bin receivers like Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian. This time, Favre comes late into camp once again with a new ailment: his surgically-repaired ankle. Favre has always been the epitome of toughness since he came into the league, but it just seems far-fetched to have a 40-year old man put on another passing clinic coming off yet another serious injury. Eventually, Father Time catches up with you. The injury to top receiver Sidney Rice doesn't help Favre's cause. Rice could miss up to the first half of the season as he recovers from hip surgery. On top of that, electrifying second-year wideout Percy Harvin(the man who was supposed to benefit the most from Rice's absence) has been slowed by migraines. That opens the door for a couple of cagey vets. There's Bernard Berrian, who was pretty much reduced to a third option(and sometimes fourth option when Favre got TE Visanthe Shiancoe involved). Berrian has speed but has had trouble with a bad case of stone hands at times. The Vikings traded for Dolphins WR Greg Camarillo a week ago. Camarillo wasn't much of a factor with Miami and it will take him time to adjust to the new scheme(not to mention, Favre's lasers), but he could be a Greg Lewis-type fill-in if he pans out. So, Favre is going to have to put on another show with a bum ankle, his top receiver out, his second receiver fragile and his other two merely adequate. The smart call would be the Vikings leaning on all-world back Adrian Peterson for the first half of the season until the receiving core is at full strength, but as we saw last season, Favre is going to take a back seat for long. Eventually, Favre is going to audible out and try to make something out of nothing. That's where this team's downfall will be.

On the plus side, Minnesota has a nasty defense, led by the mullet master Jared Allen and The Williams Wall(Pat and Kevin) on that front line. Rounding out that vaunted Vikings defensive line will be Ray Edwards, who put on quite a show in the playoffs in the hopes of getting paid in the offseason(he didn't). Behind that front four is steady-but-oft-injured MLB E.J. Henderson and two very solid outside linebackers in Chad Greenway and Ben Leber. This front seven is fast, physical and are sure-tacklers. As for the secondary, I'm a bit more skeptical than most. CB Antione Winfield has always been able to overcome being undersized by showing good ball skills and being one of the best tackling corners in the game, but he's 33 and has had his issues with the injury bug in recent years. Opposite him will be former Eagles Pro Bowler Lito Sheppard. Sheppard's filling in for the injured Cedric Griffin, who hurt his knee in the NFC Championship game. Lito is still an adequate corner but he isn't the shutdown kind of a guy he once was. Safeties Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson are adequate but they aren't the type of playmakers that the Vikings had when Darren Sharper was patrolling the deep middle a couple years ago.

So, yeah, the Vikings have a lot of pass-rushing talent in that devastating front seven, but any team that gets time to throw will be able to pick apart this secondary. On offense, there's a ton of talent but also a ton of potential for turnovers. Favre's a threat to throw a handful of picks the minute he's feeling lucky and Peterson has had a chronic case of fumblitis since entering the NFL. Last year, everything bounced in Minnesota's favor until Favre killed them at the end. It seems like wishful thinking for that to happen again this year. Favre's older, cagier and a bit more hobbled and now teams won't be foolish enough to underestimate the old man. Minnesota's still a good bet for the playoffs, but a run like last year's? Doubtful.

3. Detroit Lions: This looked like more of a curveball before the preseason, when the Lions showed flashes of being a tough, young team and the Bears showed flashes of being on the clock with the #1 overall pick. Truth be told, I think Detroit and Chicago will combine win less games than Green Bay or Minnesota win individually, but the Lions seem to be more on the right track than their Windy City rivals. For one, their offense is highlighted by the Motor City Triplets(as they are known to me and only me). Matt Stafford made a few rookie mistakes last year, but showed amazing guts in that game against Cleveland(throwing the game winning TD with a busted shoulder, then coming back four days later and taking a beating from Green Bay on Thanksgiving) and there's no denying the kid has a howitzer attached to his shoulder. On the receiving end of that cannon will be Calvin Johnson. "Megatron" hasn't lived up to his press clippings as of yet, mainly because injuries have slowed him, but he's an athletic freak with great speed, solid hops and suction cups for hands. This could be his breakout season. Another young star in the making is the second of Detroit's 1st round picks this year, RB Jahvid Best. Best isn't an every-down type of back, but he's electrifying with the ball in his hands. If he continues to produce with 15-20 touches he'll get a game, the Lions become very interesting to watch going forward. The key is protecting Stafford, who was sacked 24 times in two games and played a couple of those games with a separated shoulder. If Stafford has time to throw, the Lions will step into the 21st century and actually be able to utilize a vertical passing game.

On defense, the lynchpin is 2nd overall pick Ndomukong Suh, the nasty DT from Nebraska. Suh is a disruptive presence on the interior of this Detroit front line and the attention he grabs will open things up for fellow DT Corey Williams(who had back-to-back 7 sack seasons when he last played in a 4-3 scheme in Green Bay) and former Titans DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. Former 49ers Pro Bowler Julian Peterson has lost a step or two but he's still a solid linebacker and will lead a young Lions LB core, including promising MLB DeAndre Levy. In the secondary, safety Louis Delmas made a few plays in his rookie season last year and he's going to have to make a few more to make up for this porous cornerback duo. Chris Houston has great speed but terrible coverage skills and the guy playing opposite him, Jonathan Wade, is a virtual unknown. The lack of playmakers in the secondary means Detroit will keep things just as entertaining on defense as they will when they are on offense.

The Lions are a couple years away but, for the first time in years, they have some pieces in place in the Megatron/Stafford/Best troika and guys like Suh and Delmas on defense. Jim Schwartz has made strides with this team since taking over a year ago. Are they breakout candidate? No. Could they sneak up and win 6 or 7 games this year? Sure.

4. Chicago Bears: All signs point to this being a disastourous season for the Bears. QB Jay Cutler led the league in interceptions last year and is now playing in a Mike Martz-led offense where protection(which was already terrible last year, when Cutler was sacked 35 times) will be at a minimum and Cutler will be firing wild passes constantly. The Bears didn't improve their turnstile offensive line and the running game is still a question mark. Can Matt Forte shake off his disappointing sophomore campaign? Can Chester Taylor get things going if Forte falters? Nobody really knows. Then, there's Cutler's "weapons". Devin Hester, Devin Aroshamadu, Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett are all high-ceiling guys who probably wouldn't be more than #3 wideouts on most teams. In fact, the Bears' best receiving option may be Greg Olsen, which would be great if the TE was utilized more in Martz's scheme. All of that means Cutler could very well be worse than the dreadful display he was last season.

On defense, Chicago replaced the late Gaines Adams by throwing a bucket of money at former Panthers Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers. When motivated, Peppers is one of the game's dominant forces. Problem is, the keywords there are "when motivated". Carolina wasn't too pressed to keep Peppers because of his history of dogging it whenever he felt like it. Now, the Bears have to expect inspired play from a guy who just signed a HUGE contract. That's a recipe for disaster. Beyond Peppers, the Bears have two solid defensive pieces in DT Tommie Harris and MLB Brian Urlacher. Harris and Urlacher can be disruptive up the middle, but they are almost never healthy. Urlacher missed all of last season with a wrist injury and is already banged up in the preseason. Fellow LB Lance Briggs can make plays but he's a shell of himself after signing his big contract a couple years ago. As for the secondary, Nathan Vasher is gone and the guys in charge of shutting down the passing game are holdover Charles Tillman and youngster Zach Bowman. Bowman had 6 INTs last year and Tillman was an ace at forcing fumbles with 6. Safety Daniel Manning had 92 tackles last year, and he could be a bright spot for this defense but the key will be getting pressure up front. Chicago was in the bottom half of sacks last year and the hope is that Peppers has enough of a fire under his ass to fix that.

The Bears have all the makings of being a train wreck. Their QB, when not being a spoiled pouting baby, is the league's premier turnover machine. There isn't a receiver on this team that scares you unless Hester somehow morphs into the second coming of Torry Holt in this new offense(and, all signs point to Hester having struggles picking it up so far). The running game is suspect and the offensive line might as well be replaced with five large bricks. Bears fans are known for being testy and if Cutler and company falter again, there will be big changes this season in Chi-town.

Gabe:

I am going to skip the fantasy analysis for the rest of these because most of you have had your drafts and don't need the advice anymore. I'll be playing is straight from here on out.

1. Green Bay Packers - What do I like? The offense, especially Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, and their roster of pass catchers. Rodgers is finally starting to get the love he deserves, especially from the fantasy set. Rodgers has shown that one can successfully be "the guy after the guy." Grant is great. Their tight end, Jermichael Finley, established himself as an elite go-to guy. Greg Jennings and Donald Driver are still one of the best receiving tandems in the league. If their offensive line is healthy this offense is going to be great.

On defense the only questions are in the secondary. I love their front seven, especially the linebackers. Dave touched on all of the injury issues they are having in the defensive backfield. They'll need to improve but I think they have enough to win what may turn out to be a pretty weak division.

2. Minnesota Fighting Favres - I don't like their offense. Adrian Peterson is great. He is one of the top two or three backs in the league. But...Brett Favre's ankle is hurt. I think it is going to bother him more as the season goes on. Their top receiver, Sidney Rice, is done for the year. Their no. 2, Percy Harvin, gets attacked suddenly by migraines and they never know when they'll strike. Bernard Berrian is a nice compliment receiver, but he's nobody's number 1. They just have too many offensive issues for me to put them ahead of Green Bay.

3. Detroit Lions - This team is coming up. They have a great young nucleus on offense with Matthew Stafford at quarterback, Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith at running back, and Calvin Johnson at receiver. After years of taking garbage in the draft they may have finally gotten it right these last three years.

Their defensive line might be down right nasty. Ndomukong Suh is a full grown man who obviously have no problem unceremoniously planting a veteran in the turf, even if it doesn't count. Just ask Jake Delhomme. I like the addition of Kyle Vanden Bosch as well. Like I said, this team is on the rise and is going to take a huge step forward this year.

4. Chicago Bears - This team has been in free fall for a while now. It's too bad not backing up loud mouth trash doesn't equal completions, because Jay Cutler would be a superstar. Now part of the problem is his receiving corps sucks. I guess if he could throw the ball straight up and let Devin Hester fair catch it they might do better. But Cutler's receivers aren't to blame for all of the interceptions he throws. And he is showing no signs of stopping that either. They have one nice weapon on offense in Matt Forte, but he needs to stay healthy. The defense has added some nice players but I think the offense is going to be terrible. They won't be able to do anything and they are going to lose a lot of games.

Better Luck Next Time

Less than two weeks from today, the Saints and Colts will kick off what is expected to be a very exciting Super Bowl(a Super Bowl that could have been much more exciting had both teams played a bit harder in December and ended up at this point both at 18-0). We have more than enough time to get to the Super Bowl, but what about the other playoff teams that had to leave with some nice parting gifts?

Ask no more. Here's a detailed look at what should be on the agenda for the ten playoff teams who couldn't make the big dance(starting with the recently eliminated first).

1. Minnesota Vikings

How It Ended: The same way any big Brett Favre playoff game seems to end these days: With The Riverboat Gambler's uncanny knack for completing passes to the guys in the wrong colored shirts in the most inopportuned times. Favre wasn't alone wearing the goat horns, as guys like Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson fumbled the ball the way Carlos Menica fumbles another comedian's jokes.

What Happens Now: Obviously, who quarterbacks this team next year is first and foremost. Favre says he's unlikely to come back next year, but how many times have we heard THAT this decade? Backup Tarvaris Jackson is a free agent and you have to think he's not returning if he thinks he'll be Favre's caddy again. That's why the Vikes need to harden their stance and impose a deadline for Favre's decision. If Favre agrees to come back, the team can move on to their other big need: Finding an heir apparent for one half of the vaunted Williams Wall, Pat Williams(who says he is 50-50 on whether he's hanging them up). If Big Pat decides to give it one more go, the team can focus their first rounder on a QB whether Favre comes back or not. The fact of the matter is, if the team had faith that Jackson or Sage Rosenfels could run the show, they wouldn't have spent last summer making the googly-eyes at Favre.

Oh, and if you can find a solid RBs coach who can teach AP how to be a bit more careful with the football, that might be great for Minny's long-term future. Other than that, this team is set to contend for quite some time.

2. New York Jets

How It Ended: They showed some spunk on the road against the Colts, but inevitably became another victim of The Peyton Manning Show. The Colts also seemed to do a better job in the second half running the ball, Gang Green's trademark, which made stopping Number 18 that much harder.

What Happens Now: Like the Falcons last year, the team has the luxury of knowing it has a capable, playoff-tested young QB in Mark Sanchez. The team also has a great young runner in 3rd-rounder Shonn Greene. However, there are questions. Starting RB Thomas Jones, who quietly had a solid season, has been rumored to have played his last down in Jersey as the team looks to save some money. The same might also be true for injured and since long-forgotten RB Leon Washington, who was hoping for a big contract before he was lost for the season and Greene decided to break out. Two other big decisions involve WR Braylon Edwards, whom the team traded for midseason, and LB Vernon Gholston, the #6 pick of the 2008 Draft. The Jets need to decide whether they want to move forward with the stone-handed Edwards, who will probably want a contract along the lines of what the Cowboys paid fellow hands of concrete wideout Roy Williams, as their top guy. Edwards showed flashes of his ability in the AFC Championship with his 80-yard catch and run against the Colts. That also came two weeks after a potential TD catch hit right off his mitts against Cincinatti. If the Jets wave bye-bye to Braylon, they could try to make another move for a guy like Arizona's Anquan Boldin or sign problematic wideout Brandon Marshall OR they can go the draft route and look at a guy like Notre Dame's Golden Tate.

As for Gholston, two years removed from all of the Lawrence Taylor hype he had coming out of a productive career at Ohio State and an impressive combine, he's still yet to record an NFL sack. Perhaps it's his inability to play in the 3-4 or perhaps he's not really the goods. Nevertheless, he's making a nice paycheck for zero production, and that's something that's sure to not sit right with GM Mike Tannenbaum or coach Rex Ryan. Other needs for Gang Green include finding a solid corner to play opposite Darrelle Revis and perhaps a change-of-pace back for Greene if they decide to part with Jones and Washington.

3. Dallas Cowboys

How It Ended: The Cowboys got a thorough lesson in defensive dominance at the hands of the Vikings as Leslie Frazier's boys routinely found ways to smack Tony Romo and company in the mouth.

What Happens Now: We can debate for days whether keeping Wade Phillips as head coach was the right move but, at the end of the day, Phillips is still the coach. The team would probably love to cut ties with drop-prone loud mouth Roy Williams, but that would be very costly. For now, they'll have to settle on improving on a team that seems to be thisclose every year. First things first has to be the offensive line. When left tackle Flozell Adams isn't a holding penalty waiting to happen, he's showing every bit of his 34 years of age. The time has come for the Cowboys to make a concerned effort on protecting its pretty boy star quarterback. Next up, the team needs to continue to bolster their secondary, especially at the safety position. SS Gerald Sensabaugh was decent in his first year in Big D, but he's hardly a franchise guy(he's also a restricted free agent). As for FS Ken Hamlin, when it comes to tackling, he swings and misses more often than Mike Cameron. The team can consider itself lucky if freakishly athletic safety Taylor Mays of USC is still available in Round 1, but that's probably wishful thinking.

Last, but certianly not least, this team needs a kicker. Nick Folk came and went and the late season addition of Shaun Suisham only served to make Folk look like Gary Anderson. This team needs a kicker who can consistantly put it through the uprights. Pronto!

4. San Diego Chargers

How It Ended: The Bolts continued their string of January lumps in the throat with another postseason no-show against the Jets.

What Happens Now: When you're one of the worst rushing teams in the league, the running game needs addressing. LaDainian Tomlinson was given a reprieve of his horrible season last year and was allowed to come back so he can continue to look washed up this season. The buck probably stops here this offseason. By cutting the 31-year old Tomlinson, the team saves $4 million, which it can use to lock up jitterbug back Darren Sproles or even linebacker Shawne Merriman. Sproles is clearly not an every down back and the decision to pass on "Beanie" Wells will continue to haunt them. With so many young stars on this team, adding a franchise RB has to top the list if this team is going to challenge the AFC's big three(Indy/Pittsburgh/New England...though NE's time might be over). One name that could be interesting is Titans FA back LenDale White. White was a star at Southern Cal and with the emergence of Chris Johnson in Tennessee, he's clearly not coming back to Nashville. With so few openings for starting RBs in the NFL, White might find his free agent options limited and may pounce at the idea of being a star in the Golden State once again.

If they can nab a guy like White, the team can shift its focus to finding some more beef on the interior defensive line(Texas A &M's Terrance Cody comes to mind) or on the interior offensive line(Idaho guard Mike Iupati would be nice). A new coach would help, too, but that's a whole 'nother story.

5. Arizona Cardinals

How It Ended: After giving up 45 points in a thriller against the Packers, the Cards decided to do it again against the Saints.......only this time, Arizona couldn't drop 51 to advance.

What Happens Now: All signs point to former Heisman winner and 10th overall pick Matt Leinart taking the reigns from the retiring Kurt Warner. That's an obvious step back, and the eventual departure of WR Anquan Boldin certianly doesn't help matters. While the team can use some more help protecting its new QB with an infusion of talent on the offensive line, you clearly need to address the defense first when you give up 90 points in two games. The team already lost pass-rusher Bertrand Berry to retirement and have to make some free agent decisions on top guys like Karlos Dansby, Gabe Watson, and Chike Okeafor. The team might decide to keep Dansby(the hero of the Packers win) and Watson(a valuable big body inside) and let Okeafor find greener pastures elsewhere. That would mean the team needs to grab a couple pass rushers and perhaps find an upgrade in the middle of the linebacking core opposite Dansby(if he's retained). Alot will ride on what the team can get for Boldin if and when he's dealt and whether the team can have more solid talent fall to them much like Beanie Wells did last year.

6. Baltimore Ravens

How It Ended: The Colts quieted a one-dimensional offense and beat up an aging defense so bad, Ed Reed might retire.

What Happens Now: Age and a lack of depth could give the Ravens the grimest outlook of all the playoff teams. If Reed decides to hang them up, there would be no replacing him. Add that to the fact that the team already needed help in the secondary after watching their corners get burnt to a crisp all season. Legendary MLB Ray Lewis came back with authority this season, but how many great seasons does he really have left at 34?

On offense, if QB Joe Flacco is going to be a star in this league, he's going to need weapons other than RB Ray Rice. Top wideout Derrick Mason is thinking retirement and the guys behind him, Mark Clayton, Kelly Washington and Demetrius Williams, are free agents. That could mean the team doubles up in the offseason with a combination of Marshall/Boldin and a first rounder like USC's Damien Williams or LSU's Brandon LaFell. The team also needs to lock up LT Jared Gaither to shore up a much improved offensive line.

7. Green Bay Packers

How It Ended: In a blaze of glory. The Packers came back from down 21 at the half to force overtime and get their heart broke by a Cardinals team that was on the ropes at home.

What Happens Now: Like the Chargers, the Packers have enough young talent on both sides of the ball to be downright dangerous the next few years. QB Aaron Rodgers has proven to be a top 3 QB. RB Ryan Grant has come on as a franchise back, and the recieving core is four deep with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Plus, the team found a potential stud in young TE Jermichael Finley. On defense, Clay Matthews Jr. was absolute steal at the end of the first round last year and they have the reigning Def. POTY in aging Charles Woodson.

That being said, even with the improved performance down the stretch, the offensive line needs work. The Packers need to snag one of the top left tackle prospects, be it Oklahoma's Trent Williams or Iowa's Bryan Bulaga. The team can also use some depth on the interior as well as injuries forced them to do some shuffling throughout the season.

On defense, longtime franchise pass rusher Aaron Kampman will probably be allowed to walk as he's not a fit for the team's 3-4 scheme. The same might also be said of former Pro Bowl corner Al Harris, who was lost for the second straight year with an injury and is a bit long in the tooth at 34. If Harris goes, locking up backup Tramon Williams becomes a priority, as does signing Pro Bowl S Nick Collins long-term(and hard-hitter Atari Bigby, as well). The Packers will enter next season with potentially only four starters over 30(Woodson, Driver, Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton), but even with all the fresh legs, depth is going to be a huge concern.

Another underlying issue will be the return game. Return specialist Will Blackmon is a free agent but, like Harris, has had his injury woes. The team can hope to find a guy to replace Blackmon in the draft but will more than likely try to keep him.

8. New England Patriots

How It Ended: Bad karma came back to sting the overly-aggressive Patriots in the form of the punishing Ravens defense in one of the most embarressing playoff losses in New England history.

What Happens Now: The team gets Tom Brady a full year recovered from ACL surgery, so perhaps that goes a long way to helping the offense. What won't help the offense will be the recovery of Brady's top target, Wes Welker, who tore his ACL and MCL in a meaningless Week 17 loss to Houson. With Welker not being completely right and continued concerns about Randy Moss' effort, the once electrifying Patriots passing attack looks like it might be grounded. Speaking of the ground, the team will probably cut ties with RB Laurence Maroney who subconciously tried his best to get booted out of Beantown. That means going back to the drawing board and bringing in a new rusher as current holdovers Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris are a bit too old to carry the load. That could mean a guy like Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer or Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart. The offensive line is going to need some adjusting, especially if Brady continues to develop happy feet in the pocket.

As for the defense....well, it doesn't look good. The Leigh Bodden/Shawn Springs experiment didn't work so well and the team has yet to develop a young corner through the draft the way it did with guys like Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs. The front seven is a mess, with the only real standouts being ILB Jerod Mayo, DE Ty Warren and NT Vince Wilfork(whose a free agent). Adalius Thomas is probably on the next thing smoking out of Belichick-ville, and one has to wonder if that means the team will take a look at free agent pass rusher Julius Peppers. With the Jets and Dolphins nipping at their heels, this offseason more so than any other, leaves very little room for error for The Boston Hoodie and company.

9. Philadelphia Eagles

How It Ended: Philly laid down to division rival Dallas in back-to-back weeks, first in Week 17 in a game for the division title and then in the Wild Card round. Both losses should have been the end of the Andy Reid Era, but alas, we get one more year of Big Red.

What Happens Now: Time to decide on a QB. Is it going to be embattled starter Donovan McNabb? Annointed heir apparent Kevin Kolb? Or the wild card, ex-con Mike Vick? We can probably take Vick out of the equation, as his starting days will probably not be in Philly(Washington, perhaps?). Reid has said that McNabb's his guy but you have to wonder just when Donovan is going to ask to get out of Philly, where he's constantly under fire. The same goes for Kolb. After showing flashes of competence in relief, it has to be irritating for him to continue to play McNabb's caddy. Reid knows his fate lies with McNabb, which is why this will be the final show for both if they can't produce on all the promise that has been generated since their arrival in '98.

Beyond the signal caller issue, there's the possible retirement of RB Brian Westbrook(which is somewhat padded by the presence of "Shady" McCoy) and a newfound focus on fixing the defense after years of adding offensive weapons. After addressing their big needs on the offensive line last year with Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews, the team now needs to fix some holes on the D. The team really missed Brian Dawkins in centerfield and will have to fight Dallas as well as others for a guy like Taylor Mays. The team is also hoping to get better health from the linebacking core as things went downhill once Stewart Bradley went down in camp. The Eagles have solid depth at corner and on the defensive line and, on paper, they will be once again considered a threat for the Super Bowl. The biggest issue, though, will be how dangerous the formidable Eagles will be to themselves if they make another postseason run.

10. Cincinatti Bengals

How It Ended: Like the Eagles, the Bengals held their hands behind their back facing an opponent for the second time in as many weeks. First, the Bengals pulled out quicker than a kid on prom night in their shutout loss to the Jets. Then, Gang Green beat on the Bengals once again in Cincinatti in the Wild Card game.

What Happens Now: After finding their franchise back in the most unlikely of places(former Bears castoff Cedric Benson), the Bengals need to breath some life into their once powerful air attack. Head coach Marvin Lewis put the shackles on former #1 pick Carson Palmer, playing it safe all season to avoid injury to his franchise QB. The result was a offense that lacked a punch beyond Benson's hard-nosed running. After spending three draft picks on wideouts in the event they'd lose star wideout Chad Ochocinco, the Bengals are now stuck in a quagmire where, not only is Ochocinco still present, but there is nobody around to complement him. The team lost Chris Henry to a tragic accident and the rest of passing game seemed to die with him. Andre Caldwell showed signs of promise, but is still wildly inconsistant and Missing Persons is still searching for youngster Jerome Simpson. Even if the team can find a viable partner for Ocho, that becomes moot if they don't lock up Benson to a long term deal.

On defense, the Bengals possess an underrated cornerback tandem in Jonathan Joesph and Leon Hall. They also hit home runs in the draft with linebackers Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga. The focus now will be shoring up the defensive line, where the team saw its pass rush zapped once sack leader Antwan Odom was lost for the season. Greg Hardy is an interesting prospect out of Ole Miss but a guy who could really bring a pass rush is USF's George Selvie. The team can also make a play for Packers' FA Aaron Kampman, who starred for years in the 4-3.

Obligatory Brett Favre Commentary

aka Brad Childress Opens His Yap Redux

I'm going to make this quick because Dave covered most of this in the post that can be found below.

But here is my take. Brad Childress is an idiot. About a month ago he was asked whether the Vikings would pursue Jay Cutler. Childress said in the newspaper that he was fine with what the Vikings have a quarterback (career journeyman Sage Rosensels and unproven commodity Tarvaris Jackson). I wrote about that situation, and called Childress an idiot then too.

I can't understand why Childress would do all he is doing to get Favre to come out of retirement if he is happy with Sage and T-Jack. And you can't tell me an aging QB, with a busted arm, that the rest of your division knows inside and out is worth pursuing when Cutler was not.

So, this is an open call to all Vikings fans. You have permission to renounce your fandom and choose another team, at least until Childress is gone. Why not follow my Giants? The G-men play in Minnesota every year, and they always win there. Maybe the Bears? They aren't too far away and have the QB that could have taken your team to a championship. Maybe even the Redskins? If you're going to root for a team with a mediocore coach and goofy ownership at least you'll have fun winning the offseason Super Bowls.

Boom. Roasted.

- Gabe

And Here....We....Go...

After last season's melodrama, I swore to myself I would never write another thing about Brett Favre. However, as a Packers fan for nearly two decades, the thought of The Riverboat Gambler and the Vikings uniting has me downright giddy. Here's the irony of the potential Favre-to-Minnesota scenario: Favre is an upgrade at quarterback over Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson(though at 40 with half an arm, only a slight upgrade), yet he makes the Vikings as a team worse. Why, you ask? I'll get to that in a minute. Before I delve into Favre's venture into Prince Country, a quick commentary on Ol' Number 4.

It takes a real idiot to look upon his status as an iconic figure in a particular city and then go out of his way to piss all over it. Let's be clear about one thing: A couple of years ago, nobody meant more to a city and a fan base than Brett Favre meant to Green Bay, Wisconsin and Packer Nation. NOBODY. Not Derek Jeter in the Bronx. Not LeBron James in Cleveland. Nobody. Favre was to Cheeseheads what Jesus Christ is to Holy Rollers. Apparently, though, that wasn't enough. Favre's biggest character flaw was that he always lived in the moment, thought in the moment, acted in the moment. The reason Favre never has an affirmative answer about his career was that he never looked that far ahead. The same went with his decision making on the field. Last year, Favre still had some resonance of sympathy from the Packer faithful because they weren't quite ready to give him up. Now that Favre's sole reason for "unretiring" and sign with Minnesota is to stick it to the team that once loved him like a son, he's about as adored in Wisconsin as Slim Fast.

Also, let's stop calling Favre's hunger for attention a "comeback". When Michael Jordan unretired to play for the Wizards, THAT was a comeback. When Tiger Woods teed up in Augusta at The Masters after sitting on the sidelines with a knee injury, THAT was a comeback. Favre deciding he may or may not want to ratchet up his dead arm one more time after retiring all of two months ago, is not a comeback. Mike Vick has spent more time away from football than Brett Favre. Hell, Cris Collinsworth has spent more time away from football than Brett Favre. So, please, enough with calling Favre's soap opera a "comeback". Now, on to why Favre will destroy Minnesota worse than Jesse "The Body" Ventura.

The main concern involving Favre has to be the well-being of his torn biceps in his throwing arm that he decided not to have repaired because, as of that five minutes, he was done with football. The game plan for Favre's arm would be to continue to stave off surgery and let it heal with good old fashioned rest. Here's the problem: The Vikings would want Favre in camp. Throwing the ball. Developing chemistry and timing. In other words, HE WOULDN'T BE RESTING!! You have to believe Favre sitting out camp would be a deal breaker seeing how his former Jets teammates weren't too pleased with Favre's standoffish nature in New York. Also, torn muscles on guys pushing 40 don't just magically heal and even if Favre chooses to just shoot himself up with cortisone shots, you have to think it will eventually get past the point where numbing it up will fix it. If the torn muscle initially required surgery, then doctors obviously felt that rest wasn't a logical option. Even with a solid running game led by Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, you're bringing in Favre to add some flair to the passing game. If Favre's arm collapses like it did during the second half of last season and he's reduced to just protecting the ball and handing it off, then there is really no reason to not just entrench Rosenfels or Jackson in their as caretaker anyway.

Speaking of Rosenfels and Jackson, how much of a kick in the balls is all this Favre talk for them? For one, Rosenfels had a nice cushy job as backup to the fragile Matt Schaub in Houston and now he's brought in to a quarterback clusterfuck where he went from initially having to fend off Jackson to now taking a backseat to an aging legend whose arm is practically falling off his body. It also doesn't send the best message to a young quarterback like Jackson that the team felt the need to bring in not one, but two, quarterbacks to "compete"(though you have to believe Favre is the starter if and when he signs with Minnesota). Nothing says dysfunctional like trading a fourth round pick for a quarterback, giving him a new contract, and then a few weeks later, deciding to replace him with an aging legend who was last seen single-handedly crushing his team's playoff hopes. You're pretty much telling your fans you don't know what you're doing(which should have been obvious anyway and never more so than by taking pot-smoking speedster Percy Harvin with their first round pick two weeks ago).

Then there's the outlook from the Packers' scenario. Who's better equipped to know how to defend Favre than the team that watched him in practice for so long? As sad as this is to say, the Packers might have been worse off having to face Rosenfels or Jackson twice a year. For one, they've never dealt with Rosenfels and Jackson's mobility gave them fits in the opener last year. The Favre signing has to be a blessing in disguise for a Packers defense adjusting to a new scheme. Think about it. The veterans on this defense know that Favre isn't being brought in to hand off to AP(which is the smart thing to do, no matter whose quarterback). They also know that Favre is going to be dead-set on proving to the Packers front office that they were wrong for leaving him for dead in the Meadowlands, so Favre is going to overdo it. You know what happens when a quarterback with a fading arm and a history of bad decision making decides to play with a chip on his shoulder? The answer would be a field day for the opposing defense. Favre was so in denial that his arm was failing him last year that he stubbornly tried to make throws he no longer could make, and it cost the Jets dearly. The best news the NFC North could ever recieve would be Favre coming back into the fold and then forcing the Vikings to abandon unleashing the best running back in the league. Man, I'm getting excited just thinking about it.

So, in conclusion, the Favre scenario is going to play out like this. Favre and coach Brad Childress are set to meet sometime this week to discuss Favre being a Viking. Childress will demand Favre be in camp and Favre will test out his arm to see if he can oblige. If Favre's arm can't go, Favre will pass or just wait til midseason to see if the arm is better and then sign with the Vikings. The Vikings will then go from being a run-oriented team behind an enormous offensive line to essentially becoming the second coming of the run and gun as Favre attempts once again to write his final chapter the way he sees fit. Rosenfels will ask for his release and after Favre tears the team apart, the Vikings will find themselves back to square one, only this time they will do what they should have done a while ago: Kick Childress to the curb. It's an ending that anyone can see coming, except for Favre....but then again, ask him again in 5 minutes.

----Dave

Brad Childress Opens His Yap

I really didn’t want to chime in on the Cutler saga. To me it has already been beaten to death.

But then I read that Vikings head coach Brad Childress said this about his quarterback situation to the Minneapolis Star-Ledger,

"I don't see it as in shambles. Now, do you want improvement there? Yeah. We always know that the laser is going to get pointed at the quarterback. But I don't feel that way. I feel like we've upgraded with a guy like Sage [Rosenfels], and I think that [Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson] will compete."

He also said that in Rosenfels he feels the Vikings have someone who could grow into a Gus Frerotte.

If I were a Vikings season ticker holder or fan I would be upset. This is not the kind of thing you want to hear your coach saying.

Let’s review. For the past three seasons the Vikings have lead the league in run defense, averaging less than 80 yards per game given up each year, with a silly 61 ypg in 2006. They also run the ball better than almost anyone. They have Adrian “Purple Jesus” Peterson carrying most of the load and Chester Taylor as well. Taylor has spent most of his career as a back-up or second fiddle type guy, but remember, in his one full season as the feature back he had over 1400 total yards. (I remember well; he and Tiki Barber ran me into my fantasy football playoffs.)

Many people, this writer included, think the Vikings are only a good QB away from being in Super Bowl contention. Childress saying he thinks they can be competitive with what they have is angering. The NFL is a win now league. The Vikings have a chance to put together a Super Bowl run. The coach should want to be the best, always. He should not just want to do what is adequate. I understand they gave Rosenfels starter money, but that shouldn’t be Childress’ concern, at least publicly. Tell me you don’t want to give up the picks, or Cutler doesn’t fit your system, but don’t try to convince me you would rather have Rosenfels and Jackson on the field over Cutler.

This whole situation makes me think of Ari Gold, Hollywood super-agent played brilliantly by Jeremy Piven on the HBO show Entourage. Ari has everything; The big house in the Hollywood Hills, the hot wife, partner at a big agency, tailored suits, and tons of cash. All he needs to complete the image is a car.

And he chooses two VW Passats over the 600 Series Mercedes Benz. Sure the Passats are reliable and get the job done, but they aren’t sexy and don’t turn heads. There are just some things a 600 can do that a VW cannot.

The same goes for Sage, TJack, and Cutler. Cutler is more talented and can do some things that the other guys cannot.

Brad Childress, you have Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback.

Boom. Roasted.

-Gabe

EDIT: The Broncos traded Cutler to the Chicago Bears for Kyle Orton and a mess of draft picks.