Don't read him as much as I used to (don't go to ESPN.com much) but I've been a fan since before he went national.
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kingsnation
All-Star
Giants by 1. Simply due to the ring. However, ring or none - neither team regrets this move. It did work really well for both.
Still rumor, but front page of NFL.com rumor:Peppers to Pats for 34th overall.
Ugh.
SacKings7
Starter
Was just gonna post this...
I hate the Patriots
But man, what an offseason for themHell, there's still three weeks before the draft. The offseason isn't 25% over yet.Was just gonna post this...
I hate the Patriots
I predict they draft someone out of USC with their top pick.
kingsnation
All-Star
Wow, but I still don't think they will win the AFC, at least not yet.
SacKings7
Starter
Who ya got?
I gotta go with the Pats as much as I hate to say it. I know it's way to early to be discussing that but, look at their roster.
Patiently waiting for AJ Smith to do something. Although one thing I've been overlooking is that Merriman is gonna be healthy this year, and he could be the most valuable addition that any team has made.
SacKings7
Starter
Yeah I'd say they take Maulauga if he's there, but I doubt he will be. I want the Chargers to get him too. I think I've seen SD taking him in one of the mock draftshttp://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/rey-maualuga?id=79852
kingsnation
All-Star
Well, I do think the Patriots will be there fighting until the end, But right now I gotta go Ravens or Steelers.
Bill Belichick loves USC linebackers. Can't blame him, and I think that he'd take Maulauga or Clay Mathews if either of them are still available when the Pats pick.
The latest news on the trade for Peppers is that the Panthers haven't discussed any trade involving Peppers with anyone, because he hasn't signed the tender yet. His agent can discuss deals and contracts with other teams, but the other team would either surrender the two first rounders as compensation, or work something else out with the Panthers. I'm not sure, given the circumstances, that the Pats second rounder (#34) would be enough to get the deal done. I hope not. (By the way, that would essentially be Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel for Julius Peppers.)
Here's the link: Panthers deny Peppers trade report
The Steelers won't make it through the AFC with that god awful offensive line, not if the Chargers, Colts and Pats are healthy. And the Ravens still have issues on offense themselves. I like Joe Flacco as much as anyone, but he's not good enough to power that team through the playoffs against premiere talent. The AFC Championship really brought him back down to earth.
I still think the top three in the AFC are the Pats, Chargers and Colts, in whatever order you want to put them in. Gotta give love to the Steelers, but they have major flaws that would have kept them out of the Super Bowl had the top AFC teams not been so broken down last year.
kingsnation
All-Star
While I don't argue your points, I think they are very true - However, I think you are underestimating Flacco just a bit. If you put any rookie QB not named Brady in Pittsburgh in January - they are going to look very very bad.
With another year under his belt, I think this team can and will be very very good; good enough to be there in the end.
Now as far as Pittsburgh, their O-line is a giant mess like you said. However, they are the Steelers. Plain and simple. They will always contend and fight, espically since they have the OHIO teams in their division. They have been the most consistent team of the past 2 decades and they will be there fighting this year as well.
I like Joe Flacco, and I think he'll be a pretty good quarterback. But he's not good enough to beat the best teams in the AFC in January. That defense isn't as good as it used to be, they just lost two of their key linebackers to free agency, the Ravens still don't have a real #1 receiver or consistent running game (tons of injuries last season). I just don't see the Ravens going to the Super Bowl next year.
The Bengals have Carson Palmer, and the Browns won 9 games just two years ago. Plus, with the Ravens in the division, I don't think the Steelers have a clear shot at the division title. That division could be really tough next season, if the Bengals and Browns can stay reasonably healthy.
I'm with Supes. While I'm insanely biased to a certain team that has had an extremely productive offseason so far and will be getting their all world qb back, I believe the Chargers who also had an off year and Colts who are fading a bit but tend to do their reloading in the draft are the next closest teams. The Steelers have been consistently good over the last 15 years or so which is why they've been able to capitalize when other teams have down years but I don't think they are usually any better than the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference.
kingsnation
All-Star
We will agree to disagree on this one. Talent can get you lots of places in the NFL, however so does great coaching and intangibles. Big names do not always equal big wins. I feel the Ravens are the type of team that does the small things. They may not be pretty, but they get it done.
Well, I do think the Browns will be better with Eric Mangini at the helm, neither them or the Bengals have what it takes to compete in the AFC North, IMHO. Who knows if Carson will be healthy, Ocho Cinco is unhappy there and TJ left for Seattle. The Browns are in a little bit of a better place but in the end, IMO, will not compete with PIT and BAL.
SacKings7
Starter
Gotta agree with Superman and pdx on this one. I may be biased as well, but I'd rank them Patriots, Chargers, Colts, then Steelers and then possibly Ravens. I find the Steelers and Ravens to be inconsistent from year to year, especially the Ravens. The Steelers offensive line is terrible, as was mentioned, and the Ravens have had a bad offseason. I think the Pats are a clear-cut number 1 right now, heck they might even be #1 here without Brady with the offseason they've had.
I rank the Chargers second because I think Merriman is gonna make a huge difference to that defense, which was the Chargers biggest problem last season. If LT is healthy then they are always a very dangerous team. Anyway, I only rank them ahead of the Colts because the Chargers seem to have the Colts number these past few years. Otherwise I'd rank the Colts #2. However, they're gonna have to get more production out of their RBs
I rank the Chargers second because I think Merriman is gonna make a huge difference to that defense, which was the Chargers biggest problem last season. If LT is healthy then they are always a very dangerous team. Anyway, I only rank them ahead of the Colts because the Chargers seem to have the Colts number these past few years. Otherwise I'd rank the Colts #2. However, they're gonna have to get more production out of their RBs
No, I like the Ravens as much as any other non-Ravens fan. I picked them to beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship. I like Joe Flacco, too, but he had his ups and downs just like any rookie quarterback not named Matt Ryan would.
But there's no denying that that defense isn't capable of winning games all by itself anymore. No more Chris McAlister or Samari Rolle. No more Bart Scott, no more Terrell Suggs. They lost Adalius Thomas two years ago. Ray Lewis is older.
On offense, there's no #1 receiver. The running backs are a big question mark, because McGahee can't stay healthy.
I like the way John Harbaugh did things last season, and I think the Ravens are a good team, but not a favorite to win the AFC. They are, at best, fourth on the list, and that's if you push the Super Bowl champs to fifth.
I'd never pick either team to win the division, but I don't think either team finishes with only four wins next season, either. Hell, neither team had a legitimate quarterback standing on his own two feet at the close of the season last year.
The Browns should be better with ManGenius (that's for you, pdx), automatically. With health at quarterback, the passing game should be more consistent. Braylon Edwards probably won't drop 20 balls this season.
The Bengals might not be considerably better, but Carson Palmer on his feet should be good for at least another 3 or 4 wins.
I think Crenell showed that he is a better assistant than a HC, but the verdict's still out on Mangina as far as I'm concerned. He's certainly not a miracle worker, they'll rebound from last year's disaster but I'm not sure they'll be any better than 8-8 either.
kingsnation
All-Star
Ok, we are going to just have to agree to disagree again here. Time will tell here. And honestly, we still have 75 % of offseason to get through. Our opinions are sure to change 3 maybe 10 more times during the summer.
On that note, who does everyone think will represent the NFC so far?
SacKings7
Starter
Ok, we are going to just have to agree to disagree again here. Time will tell here. And honestly, we still have 75 % of offseason to get through. Our opinions are sure to change 3 maybe 10 more times during the summer.
On that note, who does everyone think will represent the NFC so far?
That's a tougher question. Honestly, I have no idea because I don't think the Cardinals will do as good next year. I'm gonna go out on a very thin limb n say the Giants or the Vikings.
kingsnation
All-Star
Giants, yeah. Vikings only because of AP and the D. But don't forget the Falcons. They could be very tough next year.
SacKings7
Starter
Yeah, I just don't see how they can continue to be just an average team with Peterson and that D. So I expect them to take a step forward next season. And actually, I DID forget about the Falcons, haha. They'd be a good pick too.
I don't understand how if a ref blows a whistle you can overturn what happens afterwards. That's stupid, especially with the way unnecessary roughness/roughing the passer gets called. What I would not mind is if on these plays the refs were instructed to not blow the whistle and then auto-review instead. Maybe they could throw their own flag when they knew something was too close to call like they throw a beanie on a loose ball. Nothing drives me more crazy when refs force coaches to use their challenges early because they make the "reviewable call" rather than the correct call which would result in an automatic dead ball. That is the real problem with the rules.
2010 is potentially going to be an uncapped year so I think there will be some realy creative salary moves taking place after the owners meetings and the draft.
Woot!
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