http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/ Posts for alt.sports.football.pro Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:39:36 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/ http://www.nnseek.com/img/64.png 64 64 NNSeek http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/biggest_improvements_2005_to_2006_2006_to_2007_2007_152107234t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/biggest_improvements_2005_to_2006_2006_to_2007_2007_152107234t.html ---

Comparison of Wins from 2005 to 2006
(-5- biggest improvements)

1. New Orleans Saints ... 3 to 10 (playoffs), 333%%

2. New York Jets ........... 4 to 10 (playoffs), 250%%

3. Baltimore Ravens ...... 6 to 13 (playoffs), 217%%

4. Tennessee Titans ........ 4 to 8, 200%%
4. Green Bay Packers ..... 4 to 8, 200%%

---

Last year, prior to the season, I asked,
among the 2006 teams with 6 wins or
less, which teams will have a similar
improvement in 2007?

2006 Wins

Oakland Raiders ............ 2

Detroit Lions ................. 3

Tampa Bay Bucs ........... 4
Cleveland Browns ......... 4

Washington Redskins .... 5
Arizona Cardinals .......... 5

Minnesota Vikings ......... 6
Houston Texans ............. 6
Miami Dolphins ............. 6

---

How'd they actually do in 2007? Here's
that comparison:

2006 Wins 2007 Wins

Oakland Raiders ............ 2 ................ 4

Detroit Lions ................. 3 ................ 7

Tampa Bay Bucs ........... 4 ................ 9 (playoffs)
Cleveland Browns ......... 4 ............... 10

Washington Redskins .... 5 ............... 9 (playoffs)
Arizona Cardinals .......... 5 ............... 8

Minnesota Vikings ......... 6 ............... 8
Houston Texans ............. 6 ............... 8
Miami Dolphins ............. 6 ............... 1

>>>>> Interesting, 8 of 9 teams improved,
with 2 making the playoffs.

---

Comparison of Wins from 2006 to 2007
(-5- biggest improvements)

1. Cleveland Browns ..... 4 to 10, 250%%

2. Detroit Lions .............. 3 to 7, 233%%

3. Tampa Bay Bucs ........ 4 to 9 (playoffs), 225%%

4. Oakland Raiders ......... 2 to 4, 200%%

5. Washington Redskins 5 to 9 (playoffs), 180%%

---

Among the 2007 teams with 6 wins or
less, which teams will have a similar
improvement in 2008 (keeping in mind
that from 2006 to 2007, 8 of 9 teams
with 6 wins or less improved)?

2007 Wins

Miami Dolphins ............ 1

St. Louis Rams .............. 3

Oakland Raiders ............ 4
New York Jets ............... 4
Kansas City Chiefs ........ 4
Atlanta Falcons .............. 4

San Francisco 49ers ....... 5
Baltimore Ravens ........... 5

---

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]]> Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:39:36 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/leading_head_coaching_trees_billick_dungy_parcells_150992354t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/leading_head_coaching_trees_billick_dungy_parcells_150992354t.html ---
June 25, 2008

by Don Banks, SI.com
http://tinyurl.com/5gnhlg
---

Excerpt:

[Brian Billick]

Brian Billick may be gone from Baltimore
after nine years and one Super Bowl title,
with his future now cast as a game analyst
with FOX and as a co-author of an upcoming
book about the NFL.

But in one key way his imprint on the league
remains beyond his coaching tenure.

No fewer than four former Billick assistants
in Baltimore are current NFL head coaches,
which ties the Colts' Tony Dungy for the
league's second-fullest coaching tree.

Billick's former Ravens assistants include

o Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati,
o Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville,
o Mike Nolan in San Francisco
and
o Atlanta's new head coach Mike Smith,
who also happens to be Billick's brother-
in-law.

Interestingly, all four coached defense in Balti-
more, which was always the strength of Billick's
Ravens teams, despite his offensive background.

Say what you will, but Billick certainly recog-
nized defensive coaching talent when he saw it.

---

[Tony Dungy]

Dungy also has four of his former assistants in
NFL head coaching jobs, and all of them worked
for him during his six-season tenure in Tampa
Bay (1996-2001):

o Kansas City's Herman Edwards,
o Chicago's Lovie Smith,
o Detroit's Rod Marinelli
and
o Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin.

Coincidentally, all four worked on the defensive
side of the ball with the Bucs, but that was Tampa
Bay's strength as well as Dungy's background too.

Whenever Dungy retires, he'll have a fifth member
of that club, because the Colts have already named
assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Jim Cald-
well as his successor.

---

Perhaps the more amazing thing is that Dungy and
Billick worked together in Minnesota from 1992
to 1995, where they were defensive and offensive
coordinators on Dennis Green's staff for most of
that time. Dungy left Minnesota for a head coach-
ing job with the Bucs in January 1996, and Billick
did the same for Baltimore in January 1999.

Combined, their eight former assistants now com-
prise one-fourth of the NFL's 32-man head coach-
ing ranks, a pretty impressive feat in any era.

---

[Bill Parcells]

If you're wondering whose coaching tree currently
out-does even Billick and Dungy's, look to South
Florida, where Bill Parcells now works as the Dol-
phins new football czar.

The Tuna still has five former assistants in the
head coaching ranks:

o New England's Bill Belichick,
o the Giants' Tom Coughlin,
o Cleveland's Romeo Crennel,
o New Orleans' Sean Payton,
and
o Miami's Tony Sparano.

--- end excerpt ---

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]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:27:01 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/so_what_are_the_10_best_football_teams_in_the_worl_150981346t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/so_what_are_the_10_best_football_teams_in_the_worl_150981346t.html NOSPAMatt.net> wrote:
> "American Patriot" gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:a45f8d64-3f63-4213-9ad8-e29a71328eb0@27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> On Jun 30, 3:50 am, jingus mindspring.com> wrote:> Raja wrote:
> > > 1. Brazil
> > > 2. Argentina
> > > 3. Spain
> > > 4. Germany
> > > 5. Holland
> > > 6. Portugal
> > > 7. Croatia
> > > 8. Italy
> > > 9. France
> > > 10. England
>
> > well, even though they lost the super bowl, i think that the new england
> > patriots are a pretty good football team.
>
> yeah, but they have an asterisk for beside every season, and yes,
> every super bowl they have had, under bill belichick.  they have been
> illegally taping the whole time bill has been their head coach!
> f'shame!
>
> they went 18-1 w/out taping last yr.
>
> bob

they DID have some taping at the beginning of the year,hence tainting
the ENTIRE season! if they can remain chaste from taping in the 2008
year, they can then go around without an asterisk behind it.

but ANYTHING done while Bill Bellicheat has been coach up to the 2008
season MUST have an asterisk, for the Patriots most verily were taping
since Bellicheat came aboard. Thanks to matt walsh, the truth came to
the attention of the world.

and, later, the NFL had to be hit by the threat of an obstruction of
justice charge by the US department of jusitice. seems that the NFL
front office tried to destroy all evidence of bellicheat taping other
games before the game with the jets.

yeah, NFL front office... we done and been on to you for years. and,
for some reason, you were protecting the "loaf of white bread"
Patriots - if for no other reason that they are a "loaf of white
bread" team. how's it feel to be stone cold busted, roger goodell,
just like your predecessor had been soooo many times, you white cracka?

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]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:06:37 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_network_blackouts_no_more_147710178t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_network_blackouts_no_more_147710178t.html ---

Maybe.

---
With possible ESPN deal,
NFL may resolve its cable battle

ESPN reportedly in talks involving
NFL Network's late-season package
of games.

by Greg Johnson and Sam Farmer,
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
June 21, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-espn21-2008jun21,0,3719298.story
---

Excerpt:

Is the NFL ready to hand off a contro-
versial package of eight late-season games
to ESPN?

The league and network on Friday declined
to comment on a Wall Street Journal report
that the NFL is talking to Walt Disney Co.'s
sports media juggernaut about a possible
partnership ...

--- end excerpt ---

Comments:

The one Cowboys game on the NFL Network
this season?

The last regular season game, ever, at Texas
Stadium, the 15th Cowboys game of the
season:

Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys
7:15 PM CT, Saturday, December 20, 2008

It would be welcome news if the NFL
ended the NFL Network exclusivity
which to-date has ended up with most
cable viewers blacked out from seeing
games (the one exception being New
England's attempt at a 16th regular
season win versus the Giants last year).

---

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]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:49:09 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/we_need_some_players_145458914t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/we_need_some_players_145458914t.html Players are still needed for Goalline Blitz. Like fantasy football
but you create and maintain your own players and teams. Serious
players ONLY! And you MUST...must...must sign in often during the
first couple days to become active.
100%% FREE!
http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=11486321

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]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:22:21 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/sportswriter_s_views_on_religion_promotion_in_spor_144520418t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/sportswriter_s_views_on_religion_promotion_in_spor_144520418t.html - - -

Ran across a mention of this article in
the Cowboys Blog (at DMN) this morn-
ing. The following, basically comments
by a sportswriter who objects to religion
(and positive deeds) being promoted by
christian athletes (at least he objects in
the mentioned instances).

A lot of examples given, including 3 Cow-
boys players (Roy Williams, Terrell Owens,
Pacman). Most of the examples for non-
Cowboys not included in the following
excerpts.

- - -
June 8, 2008

by Gregg Doyel
CBSSports.com National Columnist
http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10858796
- - -

Excerpts:

Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams
sucks at zone coverage, but Jesus loves
him.

No, wait. Sorry -- I made a mess of that
sentence. Let me try it again:

Roy Williams sucks at zone coverage
because Jesus loves him.

Yes, Roy Williams, you've had on-field
problems. But God isn't getting involved.
(Getty Images)
http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/football/nfl/img10858794.jpg

There. Better.

Why are you looking at me like that? Don't
blame me. I'm not the latest athlete to play
the God card so clumsily and self-centeredly.

I'm not the "role model" who told an Okla-
homa newspaper that a direct line can be
drawn from his football struggles to his
new-found faith in the Lord. That was all
Roy Williams, who had been having a tough
year before opening his mouth and inserting
his Bible.

Williams went through the entire 2007 sea-
son without a sack. He struggled in Wade
Phillips' 3-4 defensive scheme to the point
Phillips didn't start him in two games. There
was talk of a feud between Williams and
coaches and even some teammates after
Williams -- whose horse-collar tackles led
to a rule banning them -- got himself sus-
pended by horse-collaring the Eagles' Don-
ovan McNabb.

Two Cowboys questioned him recently in
the media. Greg Ellis said Williams has been
whining and distancing himself from team-
mates. Terence Newman said Williams "had
a bad season" in coverage thanks to his "deer
in headlights type of reaction to some plays."

With that as context, here's what Williams
told the Oklahoman last week:

"Ever since I've rededicated my life to Christ,
I've caught way more persecution now," he
said. "But it's a beautiful thing because I know
it's a breakthrough coming for me. I welcome
it. What makes me any better than Christ? He
was persecuted and I've been persecuted. My
teammates know where my heart is. They know
where my mind is at."

Williams' heart may be in the right place, but
his brain needs work if it sees parallels between
the persecution of Jesus and the persecution of
a $25 million safety.

...

I've not been to church in a year, but for a decade
before that, I went weekly and tithed 10 percent
of my salary, such as it is, to the church. There's
my story.

Lots of Christians tithe. Nothing special about
me. Hell, Darryl Strawberry told reporters he
was tithing in 1991. In later years, he was strung
out on coke and indicted for tax evasion and
charged with soliciting prostitutes and assault-
ing a girlfriend and failing to support his kids.

...

Not that Christians are, or are supposed to be,
perfect. They're not. On the day before Super
Bowl XXXIII, Falcons safety Eugene Robinson
was awarded the Bart Starr Award by the Chris-
tian group Athletes in Action for his "high
moral character." That night he was busted for
soliciting a prostitute. It happens. Christians
are fallible too, you know.

But when Christian athletes are fallible or
narcissistic or just stupid, there are thousands
of easily influenced people taking note. So
when a whining malcontent like Roy Williams
starts comparing himself to Jesus, he's not
helping the bigger cause. He's hurting it. And
he's just the latest in a long line of athletes to
do so.

...

Before the 2005 Super Bowl, receiver Terrell
Owens said God had healed his injured ankle.
Doctors had inserted two screws and a metal
plate into the leg on Dec. 22, 2004. Four days
later, Southeast Asia was decimated by a tsu-
nami that killed more than 200,000. Maybe
T.O. really does think God was healing an
ankle at the same time He was allowing such
death and destruction. Fine. But don't tell us.

Just the other day, Paul Pierce said God dis-
patched an angel from heaven to uplift him
after Pierce went from a heap to a hero in
Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Said Pierce: "I
think God sent an angel down and said, 'Hey,
you're going to be all right. You need to get
back out there and show them what you've
got.'"

God is a Celtics fan. Good to know.

These athletes don't get it. After Kobe Bryant
is accused of sexual assault, we don't want to
hear him tell us, as he did then, "we need your
prayers now more than ever."

After Michael Vick is sentenced to jail for the
killing of dogs, we don't want to hear him say,
"Through this situation, I found Jesus and asked
Him for forgiveness and turned my life over to
God." After Pacman Jones made it rain in Las
Vegas, triggering a melee that left a man para-
lyzed, we don't want to see him handing out
boxes of food in a staged photo-op at an Atlanta
church.

...

- - - end excerpts - - -

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]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:30:37 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_athletes_arrested_or_brought_in_for_questioning_143773410t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_athletes_arrested_or_brought_in_for_questioning_143773410t.html ---
June 6, 2008
http://www.11alive.com/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=116921&catid=5
---

Excerpt:

...

[Arrested, imprisoned based on previous
arrest, or brought in for questioning re-
garding a crime in the past year]

* Cedric Benson - Chicago Bears
(boating while intoxicated; resisting arrest)

* Ahmad Brooks - Cincinnati Bengals
(assault for punching woman in the face)

* Charles Grant - New Orleans Saints
(involuntary manslaughter)

* Kenneth Hahey - Pittsburgh Steelers mascot
(drunk driving)

* James Harrison - Pittsburgh Steelers
(simple assault, criminal mischief after
domestic altercation with girlfriend)

* Marvin Harrison - Indianapolis Colts
(questioned in connection with a
Philadelphia shooting)

* Chris Henry - Cincinnati Bengals
(misdemeanor assault, property damage
for punching a teen in the face and break-
ing a car window with a beer bottle)

* Adam "Pacman" Jones - Tennessee Titans
(now with Dallas Cowboys) (speeding --
on the heels of multiple charges of assault
and vandalism charges)

* Kenyatta Jones - New England Patriots
(now with AFL's Tampa Bay Storm) (battery
on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest
after urinating on the dance floor of a night-
club)

* Nick Kaczur - New England Patriots
(illegal purchase of OxyContin)

* Kenton Keith - Indianapolis Colts
(disorderly conduct, resisting law enforce-
ment for refusing to leave a nightclub's
parking lot)

* Marshawn Lynch - Buffalo Bills
(hit and run)

* Bryant McKinnie - Minnesota Vikings
(felony aggravated battery stemming from
abar fight)

* Roscoe Parris - Buffalo Bills (DUI)

* Lofa Tatupu - Seattle Seahawks (DUI)

* Michael Vick - Atlanta Falcons
(federal dogfighting, conspiracy charges)

* Fabian Washington - Oakland Raiders
(domestic battery)

* Cedric Wilson - Pittsburgh Steelers
(slapping his girlfriend)

* Kenny Wright - Cleveland Browns
(unlawful restraint, evading arrest, multiple
charges of marijuana possession)

--- end excerpt ---

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]]> Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:33:10 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_s_top_10_defensive_lines_olbs_in_3_4_defenses_dallas_143102690t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_s_top_10_defensive_lines_olbs_in_3_4_defenses_dallas_143102690t.html ---
June 4, 2008

by Pete Prisco, CBS Sportsline
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10853318
---

Excerpts, re-sorted by ranking:

~~~

1. San Francisco 49ers

Best player: RE Justin Smith.

Weak link: LE Kentwan Balmer or Ron Fields.

The skinny: The 49ers paid a lot for Smith, espe-
cially since he had two sacks last season. But they
like his toughness. Balmer, the team's first-round
pick, should be the starter at the other end spot.
Fields will try to fend him off.

Nose tackle will be a battle between Aubrayo
Franklin and Isaac Sopoaga, who showed well
when Franklin was hurt last season. The 49ers
need to get more from outside linebacker Manny
Lawson, who missed most of last season with an
injury. Tully Banta-Cain has quickness on the
other side.

~~~

2. New England Patriots

Best player: NT Vince Wilfork.

Weak link: OLB Mike Vrabel.

The skinny: Wilfork has turned into one of the
best inside players in the league. He's a force
in there. He is flanked by Richard Seymour and
Ty Warren in the Patriots' 3-4 scheme.

Seymour was bothered by a knee injury last
year, and didn't play his usual dominant way.
When he's healthy, he's the best on this line.

Warren is steady. Backup Jarvis Green would
start for a lot of teams. Vrabel went to the Pro
Bowl last season, so it's hard to make him the
weak link, but somebody has to go there. He
isn't as good as his reputation.

Adalius Thomas once again will play on the
outside full time this season after bouncing
around last season. That should help his pro-
duction.

~~~

3. New Orleans Saints

Best player: RE Will Smith.

Weak link: LE Charles Grant.

The skinny: Smith is a quality pass rusher off
the right side. Grant didn't play as well in 2007
as in years past and he has some legal issues
hanging over his head. The addition of first-
round pick Sedrick Ellis will help the tackle
play. He should be a starter early in the season.

Veteran Brian Young is a solid player when he's
not sitting with injuries and Hollis Thomas is a
capable veteran when he's in shape. Bobby Mc-
Cray, signed away from Jacksonville, will help
in passing situations off the edge.

~~~

4. New York Jets

Best player: NT Kris Jenkins.

Weak link: LOLB Bryan Thomas.

The skinny: The Jets' 3-4 will see some new faces
this season. Jenkins takes over as nose tackle. When
he's in shape, he's a power player and can play at a
Pro Bowl level. Calvin Pace comes over from Ari-
zona as one of the outside linebackers.

Thomas will try to fend off first-round pick Vernon
Gholston. The ends will be Shaun Ellis and Kenyon
Coleman. They both look more like 4-3 ends. The
Jets should be improved up front from a year ago.
Gholston, Jenkins and Pace should make that hap-
pen.

~~~

5. Denver Broncos

Best player: RE Elvis Dumervil.

Weak link: Left end, whomever it is.

The skinny: This has been a trouble area for the
Broncos for the past five years. They have brought
in a wave of veterans who have flopped and used
high draft picks to help make their front better.
Those picks need to produce this year.

Dumervil is a speed rusher who can get handled
in the run game. But he's the best of the group.
Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder need to do more
off the edge. Moss will push John Engleberger
and Ebenezer Ekuban for the left end spot. Mar-
cus Thomas has tons of potential at tackle, while
Alvin McKinley is average. The addition of De-
wayne Robertson will help if he can stay healthy.

~~~

6. Buffalo Bills

Best player: RE Aaron Schobel.

Weak link: LE Chris Kelsay.

The skinny: Schobel remains a force off the edge,
but Kelsay didn't play well in 2007 after getting
a new contract. The addition of Marcus Stroud
at defensive tackle will really help the interior
if he can stay healthy.

Kyle Williams and John McCargo will offer nice
support inside. The key here will be Stroud. If he
regains his Pro Bowl form of a few years back,
the defense will be better.

~~~

7. St. Louis Rams

Best player: DT Adam Carriker.

Weak link: DT La'Roi Glover.

The skinny: In Carriker, the Rams have a force
in the middle of their defense. As a rookie, he
showed he should become a Pro Bowl player.
Glover is a still capable of playing well in spurts,
but he isn't the player he once was.

The addition of defensive end Chris Long, taken
second overall in this year's draft, will help. He
has star ability. Leonard Little, the other end,
still has the speed to get to the passer. He just
needs help.

~~~

8. Cincinnati Bengals

Best player: LE Antwan Odom.

Weak link: DT John Thornton.

The skinny: The signing of Odom away from the
Tennessee Titans will help the pass rush. He's just
coming into his own. Right end Robert Geathers
also has speed off the edge. Domata Peko is under-
rated inside at defensive tackle while Thornton's
play has tailed off in recent years. Right end Jon-
athan Fanene is a player to watch.

~~~

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

Best player: LE Aaron Smith.

Weak link: RE Brett Keisel.

The skinny: In the 3-4 scheme they use, the outside
linebackers are key to the success of the defense.
James Harrison had a Pro Bowl season in 2007
and LaMarr Woodley should be a strong force on
the other side in his second season. He flashed
speed off the corner last season.

Nose tackle Casey Hampton is a load in the run
game, but he's 32. Smith is a perfect 3-4 end, but
he's no kid either at 31 and he's coming off a torn
triceps. Keisel is a try-hard player who is OK, but
not much more than that.

~~~

10. Houston Texans

Best player: RE Mario Williams.

Weak link: DT Travis Johnson.

The skinny: Williams might have been the best defen-
sive player in the league in the second half of 2008.
He was a star off the right edge. Playing next to him,
rookie defensive tackle Amobi Okoye showed star
potential as well. Once he learns the tricks of the
trade, watch out.

Travis Johnson, another former first-round pick,
played better than in other years in 2007, but he's
still just a guy. Anthony Maddox is a capable back-
up. Anthony Weaver doesn't bring much in terms
of pass rush on the other end, but he is stout against
the run. N.D. Kalu is a solid backup.

~~~

11. San Diego Chargers
12. Indianapolis Colts
13. Washington Redskins

~~~

14. Dallas Cowboys

Best player: OLB DeMarcus Ware.

Weak link: LE Marcus Spears.

The skinny: The Cowboys play a 3-4, so the outside
linebackers are included in the evaluation. Ware is
the best player on the defense coming from the right
outside spot, while Greg Ellis joined him at the Pro
Bowl last year from the other side. There is depth
with Anthony Spencer.

The three down players are highlighted by right end
Chris Canty, who is coming off his best season. Jay
Ratliff takes over at nose tackle from the departed
Jason Ferguson and he played well last season when
Ferguson was hurt. Tank Johnson is a good backup.

Spears, who was a first-round pick, is an OK player
but not what the Cowboys expected.

--- end excerpts ---

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]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:19:27 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/who_loves_l_a_143093218t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/who_loves_l_a_143093218t.html ---
Updated: June 3, 2008, 8:25 PM EST

by John Czarnecki

Fox Sports: http://tinyurl.com/58ul9r
---

Excerpt:

...

There are many in the NFL who doubt
that Ed Roski and his City of Industry
stadium will become a reality, but that
hasn't stopped the rumors of what team
will end up in forsaken Los Angeles,
America's No. 2 television market

A number of cities are under the stadium
gun, so to speak. You can also call it
municipality blackmail.

For example, St. Louis has a lease with
the Rams that guarantees them a stadium
worthy of the top eight structures in the
entire league by 2015. The only way St.
Louis can pull that one off is by demol-
ishing their current dome and building
a new one like Indianapolis has done for
the Colts. I guess that's why Chip Rosen-
bloom, the son of the late owner, wants
to sell the Rams. Who knows if St. Louis
can ever deliver?

Up in the Bay area, both the 49ers and
Raiders are struggling without grand pal-
aces in which to play. The Raiders' lease
in Oakland expires in 2010, which puts
this popular franchise in play anywhere.
There's no way that Oakland has the funds
to do anything special for the Raiders.
The Raiders make the most sense to Roski
because he figures he can purchase a share
of the team.

The Chargers have long been rumored as
a possibility in L.A., but Alex and Dean
Spanos still want to make a go of it in
San Diego.

NFL owners are very sensitive to the idea
of Al Davis and the Raiders back in Los
Angeles. I say they will fight that possi-
bility as long as Al is alive. It's part jeal-
ousy and it's part the memory of Al's fed-
eral court victory that allowed him to
leave Oakland for Los Angeles in the
first place.

--- end excerpt ---

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]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:31:39 PDT http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_s_top_10_offensive_lines_142779618t.html http://www.nnseek.com/e/alt.sports.football.pro/nfl_s_top_10_offensive_lines_142779618t.html ---
June 2, 2008

by Pete Prisco, CBS Sportsline
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10851305
---

Excerpts, re-sorted by ranking:

~~~

1. Denver Broncos

Best player: LG Ben Hamilton.

Weak link: The right tackle spot.

The skinny: The Broncos line, which has been
a strong point in recent years, wasn't so good
last season. That's why Denver picked Ryan
Clady in the first round. He will start at left
tackle.

The rest of the line will see a lot of competition
for jobs. At right tackle, Erik Pears should battle
Chris Kuper for the starting job. Getting left
guard Ben Hamilton back from injury is huge.
Center will be a battle between Tom Nalen and
Casey Wiegmann.

~~~

2. San Francisco 49ers

Best player: LT Joe Staley.

Weak link: C Eric Heitmann.

The skinny: They will move Staley from right tackle
to the left side. He played the right side as a rookie,
but is more of a left tackle. Look for rookie Chilo
Rachal to start at guard, although he has worked
some at right tackle. The inside people are average
at best. Rookie Cody Wallace could challenge Heit-
mann.

~~~

3. New Orleans Saints

Best player: RG Jahri Evans.

Weak link: C Jonathan Goodwin.

The skinny: Evans plays at a Pro Bowl level and left
tackle Jammal Brown is a good player as well. The
biggest concern is center, where Jonathan Goodwin
takes over for the departed Jeff Faine. Right tackle
Jon Stinchcomb needs to revert to his 2006 form.
He could be pushed for his job this summer.

~~~

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Best player: RT Tony Pashos.

Weak link: LT Khalif Barnes.

The skinny: This is one of the best lines in the league.
There are no real weak spots. Barnes' only troubles
have been focus. If he's focused, he's a heck of a player.
The team is moving Vince Manuwai from left guard
to right guard and look for second-year player Uche
Nwaneri to push Maurice Williams at left guard.

~~~

5. Kansas City Chiefs

Best player: LG Brian Waters.

Weak link: C Rudy Niswanger.

The skinny: The Chiefs were really bad last season up
front, a big departure from recent seasons. Age and
retirements set them back, so they are looking to im-
prove. Rookie first-round pick Branden Albert will
start at left tackle, which will help. Waters is still a
top-flight guard. The rest of the line is so-so at best.
Niswanger is a first-year starter at center, but he has
potential.

~~~

6. Dallas Cowboys

Best player: C Andre Gurode.

Weak link: LG Kyle Kosier.

The skinny: This is an outstanding line from tackle
to tackle. Picking out a weak line is tough, but
Kosier is the choice. Gurode and right guard Leon-
ard Davis are both coming off outstanding seasons.
It will be interesting to see how left tackle Flozell
Adams plays with his new contract.

~~~

7. New York Jets

Best player: LG Alan Faneca.

Weak link: RT Damien Woody.

The skinny: They added Faneca and Woody in free
agency. The Woody move will be one to watch
because he's moving from guard/center to full-
time tackle. Does he have the feet to handle the
speed out there? The key for this group will be if
left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick
Mangold show better than they did last season.

~~~

8. New England Patriots

Best player: LG Logan Mankins.

Weak link: RT Nick Kaczur.

The skinny: This is a unit that took a beating for the
way it played in the Super Bowl loss. They struggled
in pass protection. But Dante Scarnecchia, the best
line coach in football, should get this unit back on
track. Mankins is one of the game's best and center
Dan Koppen went to the Pro Bowl last season. Left
tackle Matt Light needs to play better. Right guard
is a concern.

~~~

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

Best player: LT Marvel Smith.

Weak link: LG Chris Kemoeatu.

The skinny: They've traditionally had one of the bet-
ter lines in the NFL. But with the loss of guard Alan
Faneca and the poor development of players like
tackles Willie Colon and Max Starks, the line isn't
what it used to be. Smith had back surgery in the
offseason that needs to be watched. Justin Hartwig
will be an upgrade over Sean Mahan at center.

~~~

10. Houston Texans

Best player: RT Eric Winston.

Weak link: LT Duane Brown.

The skinny: The Texans have had problems at left
tackle their entire existence, but Brown steps in as
a rookie and will likely start. That's a risk in a divi-
sion with Dwight Freeney. Winston is underrated
at right tackle. The interior will be better with the
acquisition of center Chris Myers from Denver.
Adding Alex Gibbs to coach this group will help.

--- end excerpts ---

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