Quarterback or Bust by Lake Lewis

Written by Lake Lewis

As this years NFL football season rapidly approaches there are several storylines that will undoubtedly be front and center.  The position that will be scrutinized the most as always will be that of the Quarterback.  Being a quarterback in the NFL used to mean fame, fortune, and the comforts of job security.  With the pending Mike Vick re-instatement back into the league and rookie Detroit QB Mathew Stafford receiving 50 million plus without ever throwing a pass, scrutiny will be at an all time high.  Security at this position is at an all time low and that needs to change.  The quarterbacks I grew up watching in the 80’s and 90’s were normally at the position and on the same team for at least it seams, 10 years.  Names such as John Elway, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, and Troy Aikmen were staples in their respective cities.  I know you’re thinking well all of these guys are Hall of Fame QB’s?

Well look at this list of the “other” QB’s who graced this period playing for at least 10 seasons with the same team.  Some of these players one could argue had more success in the form of winning championships.

Dan Fouts – San Diego Charger (1973 – 1987)

Boomer Esiason – Cincinnati Bengal (1984 – 1993, 1997)

Joe Theisman – Washington Redskin (1974 – 1985)

Phil Simms – New York Giants (1979 – 1993)

Warren Moon – Houston Oilers (1984 – 1993)

Dave Krieg – Seattle Seahawks (1980 – 1991)

In order to win consistently in the NFL the QB position must be solidified and not changed.  Even in the 60’s and 70’s teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and the New Orleans Saints never won a championship but they had quarterbacks who played behind center for 10+ seasons.  Jim Hart played for the Cardinals from 1966 to 1983.  Steve Bartkowski played with the Falcons from 1975 to 1985 and Archie manning played for the Saints from 1971 to 1982.

Free agency could be the culprit that has all but destroyed longevity at the QB position but I like to think that it also has to do with meddlesome ownership.  The days of waiting patiently for a QB to developed are all but gone.  Teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, and to a lesser degree New England Patriots have been widely successful because their most important position has not undergone major changes every two to three seasons.  Yes I said Green Bay because Brett Favre was there for 16 years, playing in two Super Bowls (won SB XXXI).  The owners and General Managers of these teams understood that longevity makes for a more complete product.  Today’s owners such as Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder are expecting big results from a young QB (Jason Campbell) even though the playing field in which a lot of these Quarterbacks have to work with are not even.  In Washington Jason Campbell had his most productive season as an NFL Quarterback ( NFL low 6 interceptions from a starting QB of 10 games or more) and he has seen everything from being traded to being publicly humiliated by an overzealous owner who needs to let him mature.  The spiral effect of not getting it done quickly does nothing but raise the red flags of which other players do these young QB’s have to work with.

Stability will bring results.  Plain and simple!  The best pro franchises have used this model for the past half century.  I go back to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the blue print on how to draft, build with a QB and watch the results.  Can we say Ben Roethlisberger!  He has been steady as the QB in Pittsburgh and the organization has drafted wisely in order to surround him with equally effective, young, hungry, talent.  The result is 2 Super Bowls in 3 years.

To me this story could easily be called ownership or bust!

Top 10 Training Camp Position Battles – Offense by Lloyd Vance

After months of speculation surrounding NFL teams from the NFL Draft in April to OTAs, our real barometer regarding roster battles, training camp, is finally here.

Some of the NFL Training Camp Offensive Battles to keep an eye on are:

Detroit Lions QB’s – Daunte Culpepper, rookie Matthew Stafford (1^st overall pick in 2009 NFL Draft – Georgia), and Matthew Stanton.

LV’s Take: As soon as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Lions had selected Stafford with the first overall pick, this competition heated up.  Conventional wisdom says that sitting a quarterback early in his career and easing him into a team’s system are the best way to go (See Steve McNair, Steve Young with the Niners, Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning and others).  But recently with the success of 2008 first year starters and playoff quarterbacks Matt Ryan (Falcons) and Joe Flacco (Ravens) more people are believing that it is “sink or swim” time for rookie quarterbacks.  Stafford definitely has all the measurable (arm, footwork, and big school pedigree) that made him the first overall selection.  But all indications are that former three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Culpepper is ready to fight for his role as the Lions starter.  Culpepper is healthier than he has been since his devastating 2005 knee injury and in throwing session you can see his arm strength, pocket awareness, and mobility coming back.

However as much as new Lions head coach Jim Schwartz has proclaimed that this is an open competition, there are the mitigating factors of money – Stafford signed a huge deal of 6 years for $78 Million with 41 Million guaranteed – and a 0-16 team (an NFL-low) looking to make a splash.  Look for this battle to continue through training camp and it will be the Lions’ four pre-season games that will determine this one.  I see Culpepper winning the starter’s job for Week 1 in New Orleans, but you know eventually Stafford will get his shot.  Watch for the Lions’ Week 7 bye as a possible stake in the ground for the start of the Stafford Era in Motown.

New York Jets QB’s – Rookie Mark Sanchez, (1^st Rd – USC), Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge, and UDFA rookie Chris Pizzotti (Harvard).

LV’s Take: This is supposed to be an open competition for new Jets head coach Rex Ryan’s starting job.  But the moment that the Jets traded up with the Browns to select Sanchez in the first-round of the 2009 NFL Draft you knew who would be under center in September.  I am sure Clemens will continue to fight, but the Jets didn’t pay USC pretty boy Sanchez all that money — five-year contract worth $50 million, with $28 million in guarantees – for nothing.  I believe Sanchez has a good chance of being this year’s version of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco — strong rookie season in 2008 by “managing” the offense.

Tampa Bay Bucs QB’s – Luke McCown, Byron Leftwich, Josh Johnson and rookie Josh Freeman (1^st Rd – Kansas State)

LV’s Take:  The Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris continued former head coach Jon Gruden’s trend of collecting quarterbacks by signing McCown and Leftwich plus drafting Freeman this offseason.  Leftwich was perceived to be the automatic starter when he signed, but his long delivery and lack of mobility have opened the door for McCown and surprising Freeman to step in the mix.  In the end I believe the veteran leadership of Leftwich – won a Super Bowl ring in 2008 as the Steelers back-up – will shine through.  However by midseason it maybe time for Freeman to remove his redshirt.

Tampa Bay Bucs RB’s – Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham, Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Clifton Smith, and Josh Vaughan

LV’s Take:  The Buccaneers under new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski will be a running team first so you know this battle is important.  I think this one was over before it even started as Ward got a huge contract – 4 years, $17 Million — to be the starter.  The former Giants change-up back produced a career-high 1,025 rushing yards last year and he will be looking to be this year’s Michael Turner.  Unfortunately roster leftovers from the Gruden era Graham (attitude) and Williams (knee) may have to prove their worth to the new Bucs regime.

New York Giants RB’s – Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, and rookie Andre Brown

LV’s Take:  This one isn’t really a battle, but it will be fun in training camp to see who is going to step-up to be Jacobs other half in the backfield.  Derrick Ward is now a Buccaneer, so Bradshaw will have to hold-off Ware (strong special teams player) and Brown (hard running rookie from NC State).  You know G-Men head coach Tom Coughlin would love to have a running game with two 1,000-yard backs again, but reproducing that effort will be tough in the NFC East.  I believe that the Giants’ new Thunder and Lightning combination will be Jacobs and Brown as Bradshaw is better as a homerun threat than an every down runner.

New England Patriots RBs – Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Omar Cuff

LV’s Take:  Other than the couple years where Corey Dillon was the featured runner for the Pats, head coach Bill Belichick likes to spread the carries around.  Recovering quarterback Tom Brady is going to need some time to get back in shape, so the running game will be essential.  Look for often-injured running back Laurence Maroney to get the lion’s share of carries (200+) if he can shed his “soft” player title.  Taylor will be fill the short-yardage and goal-line role vacated by LaMont Jordan (Broncos) while Faulk will again be the pass-catcher and 3^rd down back for New England.  After those Top 3, it will a training camp fight between Morris (veteran, but how much does he have left), Green-Ellis (Was the “Law Firm” a fluke after a strong ’08 season) and Cuff (good young runner from Delaware).  Look for Maroney as the starter in week one, but eventually injuries will push Taylor into the starting line-up.

Denver Broncos RBs – Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, Ryan Torrain, Darius Walker, and rookie Knowshon Moreno (1^st Rd – Georgia)

LV’s Take:  Another crowded backfield situation as new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels collected running backs this off-season.  Though Buckhalter was promised the job after he signed in free agency, all indications are that if Moreno can be signed by training camp that the former University of Georgia star will be the Broncos featured back.  The first-rounder is quicker to the hole and his young legs will help new starting quarterback Kyle Orton.

New York Giants WR’s – Domenick Hixon, Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, David Tyree (2007 Super Bowl hero); rookies Hakeem Nicks (1^st Rd – North Carolina) and Ramses Barden (3rd Rd – Cal Poly)

LV’s Take:  During the 2008 NFL Season there was no greater impact to a team’s fortunes than the shooting injury and suspension of former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress.  The Giants won 11 of their first 12 games but lost 3 of their last 4 after Burress’ shooting injury in November.  Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said of losing Burress, “With him, we had an identity from Week 1 to Week 11 when he went out. It is hard to bounce back, to find a new identity in the National Football League.”  The G-men tried to pump-up receivers Dommanick Hixon (career highs 43 receptions and 596 yards, but we all remember the dropped potential 80-yard bomb in Week 14 against the Birds), Steve Smith (57 catches) and 13-year veteran Amani Toomer but most secondaries didn’t respect the trio.  The Giants decided, after being bounced from the 2008 playoffs by the Eagles, that in the 2009 draft the receiver position needed to be addressed brining in Nicks and Barden.  But you have to wonder if the G-Men have done enough to get quarterback Eli Manning back in his comfort zone or if they should have pursued potential trades for Browns WR Braylon Edwards or Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin harder this offseason.  Watch for Smith, Hicks, and Hixon to be the leaders for the Giants Top 3 spots in the receiver unit.  It will also be interesting to see if Tyree can return to his pre-injury form and if Moss can stay healthy enough to live-up to comparisons to his older brother Santana (Redskins WR).

Philadelphia Eagles WR’s – DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, rookie Jeremy Maclin (1^st Rd- Missouri), Hank Baskett, Jason Avant, rookie Brandon Gibson (6^th Rd – Washington State), Shaheer McBride, and Danny Amendola

LV’s Take:  Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb wanted weapons and now he may have too many pass catchers.  Obviously 2008 All-Rookie performer Jackson is the No. 1 in this unit then the fun begins after him.  Curtis is coming off his second groin surgery within a year, Maclin is speedy but comes from a spread option system in college, Brown is a former starter that showed potential earlier in his 5-year career then faded, and the others are in the mix too.  Look for the Jackson at the “X”, strong over the middle receiver Avant at the “Y”, and Curtis at the “Z’.   Brown, Baskett (hopefully still has his legs after marrying playmate Kendra Wilkinson), Maclin, and Gibson (Practice Squad) should also make the team.

Chicago Bears WR’s – Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Devin Aromashodu, and rookies Juaquin Iglesias (3rd Rd – Oklahoma), Johnny Knox (5th Rd – Abilene Christian), and Derek Kinder (7th Rd – Pittsburgh)

LV’s Take:  We all know that the Bears may have mortgaged that future to bring-in Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler from the Broncos.  The 4,000-yard passer in 2008 definitely knows how to wing-it, but other than All-Rookie running back Matthew Forte and emerging TE Greg Olsen there are question marks everywhere within the Bears receiving unit.  There have been inklings that the Bears may take a look at free agents Plaxico Burress, Marvin Harrison, or Matt Jones but for now head coach Lovie Smith seems to be okay with his current group.  Unfortunately no receiver on the Bears’ current roster has over 50 catches in their career.  The Bears want Hester, an All-World returnman who is coming off a career high of 47 catches in 2008, to be their main pass catcher.  But the former Hurricane has a lot to learn in terms of running routes and not being a bodycatcher.  The wildcard in the mix could be Bennett, who played with Cutler at Vanderbilt, but the second-year player has zero career catches.  Look for Hester, Bennett, and Iglesias at the Top 3 spots with Davis, Knox, and Kinder rounding out the roster.

Other Battles to Watch

SF 49ers WR’s – Isaac Bruce, Arnaz Battle, rookie Michael Crabtree (1^st Rd – Texas Tech), free agent pick-up Brandon Jones, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, Michael Spurlock, and Dominique Zeigler

Seahawks WR’s – Nate Burelson, Deion Branch, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Jordan Kent, Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu, and rookie Deon Butler (2^nd Rd – Penn State)

Cleveland Browns WR’s – Braylon Edwards, Mike Furrey, Joshua Cribbs, David Patten, Syndric Steptoe, Paul Hubbard, and rookies Brian Robiskie (2^nd rd – Ohio State) and Mohamed Massaquoi (2^nd rd – Georgia)

Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Line – OT Tra Thomas, veteran OG Chris Naole, Vince Manuwai, Maurice Williams, Tony Pashos, rookies Eugene Monroe (1^st Rd – Virginia) and Eben Britton (2^nd Rd – Arizona).  **Hopefully this group will be healthier in ’09 as three O-linemen went down in week one in 2008.

Detroit Lions OL – Jeff Backus, Daniel Loper, Gosder Cherilus, Ephraim Salaam, Damion Cook, Stephen Peterman and rookie Lyndon Murtha (7th Rd – Nebraska)

New Orleans Saints TE’s – Jeremy Shockey, Dan Campbell, Darnell Dinkins, Billy Miller, and Buck Ortega

Tennessee Titans TE’s – Bo Scaife, Alge Crumpler, rookie Jared Cook (2^nd Rd – South Carolina), Craig Stevens, and Matthew Mulligan

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Houshmanzadeh to Boycott Madden Over his Rating by Lloyd Vance

From the “Don’t You Have More Important Things to Worry About Going into to Training Camp” department, Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh says he will boycott playing Madden 2010 because of his rating.

Houshmandzadeh I guess thought that he deserved better than a “91” rating on America’s most popular sports game. He said, via Mike Sando of ESPN.com, “I understand I averaged 10 yards a catch, but it’s the offense, not me”.  In trying to be more like talkative former teammate Chad Ochocinco, Housh added “I’m not playing Madden no more until they get my rating right. . . . I used to be the best in the world at Madden. I’m going to miss not playing it, but until they do me right, I’m not playing it any more.”

I guess the 1-time Pro Bowl player, with only two seasons over 1000 yards receiving, will be on the sidelines for awhile as Electronic Arts, the maker of the game, already decided earlier this year that the ratings on the game would be a little more realistic.  To me I don’t see how Houshmandzadeh — career numbers 507 receptions for 5782 yards with 11.4 ypc average and 37 TDs — can argue with his rating, it is not like he is Randy Moss on the express train to Canton.  The former Bengals receiver has had some nice seasons over the years, but there is now way that he should be considered a top gamebreaker in the NFL.  I can name five receivers off the top of my head that I believe are better than the ponytailed receiver – Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, and Reggie Wayne.

I for one am glad that EA decided to look at their ratings for this version of Madden, as I have been a player of the game from years back. I can still see many broken game controllers in my parents’ house caused by the ridiculous ratings level of former Chicago Bears RB Neal Anderson, a virtual superman, in Madden ’92.  My brother would throw bombs to Anderson between four defenders, run a toss play where he either outran or over everyone, and could go up the middle with “unstoppable” force even creaming future Hall of Famer Reggie White with ease.

To little old T.J… I say stop bellyaching as you don’t hear Philadelphia Eagles LB Omar Gaither – fell 22 points going from a rating of 87 to 65 — or any other players complaining publicly about their ratings and I don’t think EA even cares anyway.

Chad Ochocinco apparently will still Twitter during games despite NFL ban by Lloyd Vance

It maybe just plan conjecture, but Bengals loquacious receiver Chad Ochocinco being “Ocho Cinco” is stubbornly maintaining his stance toward the NFL’s edict against in-game use of the online communication site Twitter.

Recently in a Dayton Daily News interview Ochocinco said, “There’s a lot of things they don’t want me to do”. He continued, “I do it anyway. They know that. I don’t know why they even fussing about it. When I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it, regardless of what they say.”

The NFL through spokesman Greg Aiello recently said regarding Ochocinco’s plans, “We already have a rule that prohibits the use of cell phones or other handheld devices in the bench area during games”.  I firmly don’t believe that the Cincinnati Bengals, owner Mike Brown, or head coach Marvin Lewis will allow any Twitter action during games on the sidelines or lockerroom.  But you know this saga is not going away anytime soon as Ochocinco just loves to get into disputes with the league office, whether it is his post-scoring endzone shenanigans or wanting to change his jersey nameplate after the league already produced and sold jerseys with his old name.

You would think that Ochocinco would be more worried about much more than Tweeting during games when there are much more pressing items are swirling around the Bengals.  The myriad of issues includes: the team is coming off a 4-11-1 season, no playoff appearances since 2005, quarterback Carson Palmer recovering from elbow woes, the Super Bowl Champion Steelers dominating the AFC North division, head coach Marvin Lewis being on one of the hottest seats in the NFL, over five players with past or present off the field run-ins with the law and so much more.

At age 31 and on the downside of his career, the man formerly known as “Chad Johnson” doesn’t seem to have much time left with the Bengals so he needs to forget endzone celebrations, crying over his contract, in-game Tweeting, putting-in his gold teeth mouthpiece, yapping at NFL Network’s Solomon Wilcots, or any of his other distracting behavior.  Much like Terrell Owens, Ochocinco is quickly becoming more of a headache than his play on the field warrants — coming off his worst season (only 53 rec, 540 yards, and 4 TDs) since his rookie season in 2001 – and around the NFL that is not a good mix for employment.

Hopefully #85 quiets down about Twitter and getting under the NFL league office’s skin as right now he is nowhere near the “Future H.O.F” jacket he sported a couple of years ago after scoring touchdown.  But you know once the HBO: Hard Knocks cameras start rolling in training camp that Ochocinco will be looking to put on a show.

In case you wanted it…I have included a hyperlink to Ochocinco’s Twitter feed.

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Redskins select DE Jeremy Jarmon in the 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft by Lloyd Vance

Redskins select DE Jeremy Jarmon in the 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft

Despite his defense finishing ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards (288.8 per game) for the 2008 season, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder wanted more from his defense in 2009.  First Snyder reached into to wallet to lock-up free agents DT Albert Haynesworth and CB DeAngelo Hall then the ‘Skins drafted Texas pass rusher Brian Orakpo in the first round (13th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

On Thursday another piece was added to defensive coordinator Greg Blache’s unit as the Redskins selected Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the third round of the 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft – correspondingly the team now loses their pick in that round in the 2010 NFL Draft.  Jarmon was ruled ineligible for the 2009 NCAA season after testing positive for a banned substance in February and opted for entry into the Supplemental Draft after losing an appeal in May.

In three years at Kentucky, the former 2nd team All-SEC pick in 2007 recorded 121 tackles and 17.5 sacks.  Jarmon (6’3, 318) has the right size and effort to be a solid two-way end in the Redskins 3-4 system.  He plays with good leverage, is a hard worker, and played well against the best the SEC had to offer including Bengals first-round pick Alabama OT Andre Smith.  Jarmon will need to guard against injury (shoulder problems) plus work on his agility and pass rushing moves at the next level.

Washington had their eye on Jarmon as they were spotted at his workout about a week ago.  Look for the young defender to immediately work with Haynesworth and veteran DE Andre Carter.

None of the other seven players eligible for the 2009 NFL Supplemental Draft were selected — Joe McMahon (Central Michigan), Blake Boyd (Western Kentucky), Torris Magee (Southern Mississippi), Dixon McKinner (Texas Tech), Demetrice Morley (Tennessee), Deon Murphy (Kansas State) and Corey Surrency (Florida State).  The unselected players are now free agents and can sign with any team.

Dallas fans cannot blame Jessica Simpson any longer by Lloyd Vance

Everyone knows about the Tony Romo “Swoon” every year around December.  The Cowboys triggerman is usually very efficient through Dallas’ annual Thanksgiving game, but come December a different Romo usually emerges.  Over the last two years Romo’s record is 21-8 before December and 2-6 after the start of the holiday month plus he is 0-2 in playoff game starts.

Of course Cowboys’ fans have offered a lot of reasons why Romo has faded down the stretch, namely inexperience.  Owner Jerry Jones even had his own theories why his Cowboys including his star quarterback can’t get it done late in the season – last playoff victory was in 1996.  The charismatic owner went so far as to rid his team of supposed 2008 distractions — cutting malcontent receiver Terrell Owens in March 2009 and also severing ties with safety Roy Williams, veteran DE/OLB Greg Ellis, off-the-field maniac CB Adam “Pacman” Jones, and talkative troublesome DT Tank Johnson plus released former Defensive Coordinator Brian Stewart.

However one person that you cannot blame for the quarterback and team’s “problems” any longer is entertainment starlet and former Romo girlfriend Jessica Simpson.  As entertainment magazine People reported that earlier this week – apparently right before a planned “Ken and Barbie” birthday celebration for the femme fatale — that Romo had indeed severed ties with Simpson.   The pair had been dating since 2007 and unfortunately for the Cowboys coincidently it was right around the time of the team’s very disappointing divisional playoff round 21-17 loss to eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.  Romo and Simpson made headlines by vacationing in Cabo, Mexico the week before the crucial game.  After the Cowboys’ disappointing loss to a Giants team that they had defeated twice in the regular season, Romo was blasted everywhere.  Even Cowboys legend Troy Aikman was very down on Romo by saying, “You don’t go to Cabo the week before a playoff game, you just don’t do it!”

Earlier this offseason Jones emphasized the need for Romo’s leadership and focus to increase in order to bring the Cowboys back to playoff glory by saying, “I think his leadership role will naturally foment… him exerting leadership is a big ingredient to us winning “.  Was Jones really saying, “Lose the blond and get serious”, apparently so as Romo is now a single quarterback again.

Everyone knows that Antonio “Tony” Ramiro Romo does have some talent as shown by his two Pro Bowl appearances and numerous Cowboys’ single season passing records, including 36 touchdown passes in 2007, in only 39 career starts.  However the NFL is all about winning late in the season when things are at their toughest.  So I will not be sold on Romo’s leadership until he can will his team to victory in situations like last year’s Week 17 “Win and Your In” game in Philly – passing numbers of 21-39, 183 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT with 1 Fumble that was returned for a touchdown in a bad 44-6 loss.

For Eagles and Redskins fans looking to continue Romo’s kryptonite “blonde” ways, maybe they can find a way of getting Britney Spears’ cell number to the star-crossed quarterback.

Martellus Bennett’s ‘Black Olympics’ is a Disgrace by Lloyd Vance

In the wake of America’s first black president in office plus the many progresses made by African American since the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950’s.  You would think that in the Year 2009 and approaching the 90^th season of NFL play that I would have much more on and off the field positive stories to write about than something called the “Black Olympics”.  But after viewing Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett’s egregious video, I thought it was only proper that I join Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock and many others in setting the record straight for another NFL player that “Just Doesn’t Seem to Get It!”

Let me state that I love some good humor just as much as the next individual.  My tastes span from Richard Pryor to Chris Rock, but I can’t imagine how in his right mind that Bennett thought the “Black Olympics” was a good idea or even funny.  In an era where sadly to say some African Americans are still struggling for equality, the Bennett brothers, Martellus and Michael – a Seattle rookie, thought it would fun to emphasize offensive racial stereotypes of African Americans and then broadcast them to the world via YouTube.  The video shows the pair chowing on fried chicken and watermelon plus drinking Kool-Aid all in a timed fashion.

Bennett recently said on Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s Dallas radio show that he thought the spoof was not racially insensitive and Irvin being Irvin agreed with him.  “I don’t really think it’s offensive,” the second-year tight end told Irvin. “It depends on your sense of humor and how you look at things. We were just having fun and it was very funny for me and my brothers, when I look at it I just can’t stop laughing. If someone takes offense, I apologize. That wasn’t my intention. It was just us having fun.”

But the Bennett were dead wrong!   I was already surprised that Martellus Bennett was involved again in these type of shenanigans after he had been fined $22,000 earlier this year by the Cowboys for insulting blacks and gays in another YouTube video.  But you would think someone in the Pro Football Hall of Fame like Irvin would understand and convey to the young tight end that being role models and representatives of “America’s Team” – like it or not – requires much more.  Bennett needs to understand that the news around the NFL already has enough negative player stories — Michael Vick’s Dogfighting case, Donte Stallworth’s drunk driving manslaughter situation, the many misdeeds of Pacman Jones and many more — that kids, particularly those in urban communities without male role models, do not need more fodder to tear down their self esteem especially from their “so-called” NFL heroes.

The Cowboys had “No Comment” on the video, but I am hoping NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with the Bennett brothers and possibly hand down some kind of disciplinary action for their behavior.  Some people may think that this line of thought is too heavy handed and everyone should just “lighten-up”.  Plus what right does the NFL have to interlope into a player’s private work during the offseason.  But in today’s world where the NFL wants to be a global marketing entity, this type of behavior cannot be tolerated.  Already the NFL’s headman has used the open-ended NFL Player Conduct Policy associated with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to administer discipline in all kinds of situations.  And all Goodell has to find a similar example from the sports pages to support this type of action is go back to October 2000.  Do you remember the firestorm around the NBA caused when former Sixers guard Allen Iverson released a hip-hop rap single off his debut CD filled with NBA fan unfriendly lyrics?  League officials met immediately with Iverson causing the want-to-be rapper to shelve his 40 bars CD for the betterment of the league and giving a half-hearted apology, like only Allen Iverson can do.

The NFL, Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones, and any other person/entity affiliated with the league do not need the “Black Olympics” video and the problems that it brings.   I can only imagine what prominent former NFL players and trailblazers like Mel Blount, Doug Williams, James “Shack” Harris, and others think of Bennett’s tasteless video.  Sadly Bennett like every other rookie in the 2008 NFL Draft class visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame last summer in a program that Irvin encouraged Goodell to implement to teach youngsters coming into the league about respect for the legacy of the National Football League.

I guess Bennett kept his eyes and ears shut during his tour as he neither understands nor appreciates the history of the NFL. Especially the plight of men like Charles Follis (first black player in professional football), Fritz Pollard, and the four men that helped to re-open the NFL to blacks in 1946 (Woody Strode, Kenny Washington, Bill Willis and Marion Motley).

If Bennett needs something constructive to do until training camp, I have an idea…read a book.  My suggestion is Outside The Lions: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League by Charles K. Ross.  Just maybe Bennett, in all of wisdom at age 22, will learn something about the “journey” of the black football player in the NFL and the legacy that he needs to help preserve.

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

2009 NFL Head Coaches on the Hot Seat by Lloyd Vance

This is a tough time of the year for NFL fans as most team’s staffs are either on vacation or quietly preparing for training camp.  But don’t worry the summer doldrums will soon lift and NFL training camps will open (Cleveland Browns first to open comp on July 25th).

In the mean time, a favorite summer right of passage is our annual look at NFL head coaches who are on the hottest seats around the league.  As shown by 11 new head coaches for the upcoming 2009 NFL Season, it is never too early to start speculating who will be looking for work come this January’s Black Monday.

Top Head Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2009

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals have been horrible since winning the AFC North title back in 2005 – Lewis’ only winning season.  A lockerroom filled with malcontents and problem players plus the unneeded distraction of HBO Hard Knocks cameras surely will not increase Lewis’ job security.  Even though we know coaches are not banging down the door to coach in Cincy and owner Mike Brown has always been in Lewis’ corner, it is now or never for the head coach who was once the NFL’s hottest defensive coordinator.  The Bengals are coming off a putrid 4-11-1 in 2008 where Lewis’ defense allowing 364 points and his offense allowing 50+ sacks.  A season ending 3-game winning streak probably saved Lewis last year, but he may not be as lucky if his team is awful again in 2009.   Lewis’ record currently stands at 46-49-1 in the regular season and 0-1 in his lone playoff game.

Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys – Expectations are off the charts for the 2009 Dallas Cowboys.  Owner Jerry Jones has spent a fortune to open his new billion dollar Cowboys Stadium and the camera-seeking man in charge wants a winner on the field.  Amidst whispers that Phillips could not control the Cowboys in 2008, the team badly underachieved including being embarrassed with the playoffs on the in Philly – lost to the Eagles 44-6  and allegedly there were a couple of players fighting on the flight back to Dallas.  After a 12-year playoff winning drought, it is now or never for the Phillips led Cowboys or changes are definitely coming.  Jones removed lockerroom problem players Tank Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Adam Pacman Jones, so there are no more excuses and the bull’s eye is firmly on the backs of Phillips and quarterback Tony Romo.  The duo on the hot seat better get off to a quick start in 2009 (at TB, NYG, Carolina, at Denver, and at KC) or Jones could quickly make a move by Dallas’ Week 6 bye.  Everyone around the NFL likes old Wade, but he might be a better coordinator than head coach.  Cowboys Record under Phillips:  27-10 in regular season and 0-1 in playoffs.

Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings – Entering his fourth season as a head coach in the NFL, much like a high draft pick it is time for Childress to deliver or be cut in 2009.  Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is looking for a new stadium deal and he needs his team to produce to sway local politicians and fans.  Childress came to the Vikings from the Andy Reid coaching tree, but he has failed to live-up to his mentor’s winning ways producing a middle-of-the-road 24-24 record in the regular season.  It is not like Childress does not have any weapons on his team with All-World running back Adrian Peterson and the NFL’s best run defense led by the Williams Wall.  But some would say it has been Childress’ loyalty to developing quarterback Tarvaris Jackson that has been his downfall.  Jackson can make plays, but like any young passer he makes some poor decisions at times.  Even though Vikings GM Rick Spielman made the move to bring in quarterback Sage Rosenfels from the Texans this offseason to compete with Jackson, Childress on the suggestion of offensive coordinator Darrell Bevel will apparently somewhere around training camp hitch his future to former Packers great Brett Favre.  For Childress’ sake he better hope Favre plays more like he did in ’07 while leading the Packers to the NFC Championship Game than in ’08 as he looked every bit his age (almost 40) in quarterbacking the Jets to a 1-4 non-playoff finish and throwing an NFL-high 22 INTs.  Childress may also need to watch-out for young up-and-coming defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who is waiting in the coaches’ booth.

John Fox, Carolina Panthers – You might be saying, “How can a coach who’s team finished with a record of 12-4 last year be on a Host Seat?”  The answer is simple, expectations are very high for Fox and he must produce some wins in the playoffs to stay.  Sure the Panthers won the NFC South in 2008, but they were embarrassed at home in the playoffs by the Cardinals losing 33-13.  A lot of people that I have talked to in NFL circles have said Fox’s lockerroom message may have worn off on the Panthers after 7 seasons.  It will be on Fox to produce Carolina’s first back-to-back winning seasons ever – in their 14-year history the Panthers have never produced two winning seasons in a row.  Though his career record is a respectable 63-49 with a 5-3 playoff mark and he led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003, Fox’s team better have a good season or owner Wally Richardson maybe looking to make a change.  Did I also mention that Steelers former Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Cowher relocated his home to the Carolinas.

Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins – And you thought Wade Phillips had it bad in Dallas.  Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder wants to win and like any petulant child, he wants it now.  Snyder was not thrilled last year with Zorn after an 8-8 debut season where the ‘Skins limped home after a 7-4 start.  This offseason the pressure on the former Seahawks assistant coach definitely increased even more after Snyder spent a ton of money in signing free agents DT Albert Haynesworth, CB DeAngelo Hall, OG Derrick Dockery and DE Renaldo Wynn plus drafting Texas pass rusher Brian Orakpo.  With the phone numbers of former Super Bowl winning head coaches Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Brian Billick, Mike Holmgren, and Bill Cowher on Snyder’s speed dial, expect Zorn to answer the bell or get out of the way.  If Zorn is to succeed in 2009, he will need to repair his relationship with running back Clinton Portis (mockingly called Zorn a “genius”) and soothe the ego of efficient quarterback Jason Campbell (Redskins almost brought in Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez).

Dick Jauron, Buffalo Bills – At age 90, Buffalo Bills owner and future hall of famer Ralph Wilson wants a winner now.  Over the last three NFL seasons, Wilson has been very patient with Jauron.  But three consecutive 7-9 season and no playoff appearances have turned up the heat in Buffalo like a plate of hot wings.  You can tell that Wilson has gone-all-in for the 2009 season by signing NFL bad boy receiver Terrell Owens and giving defensive tackle Marcus Stroud a healthy extension.  The Bills even had a pretty good draft bringing in Penn State DE Aaron Maybin and Louisville C/G Eric Wood, but Jauron needs to get his team all on the right page since the AFC East is loaded from top to bottom.  For the sake of quarterback  Trent Edwards and Jauron hopefully good T.O will be shuffling his way to Buffalo or it will be over Niagara Falls in a barrel for the beleaguered head coach.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars – Even though Del Rio has had only two losing seasons during his six year tenure with the Jags, owner Wayne Weaver maybe losing patience.  Weaver cleaned house after the team posted a 5-10 record in 2008 season, removing player personnel head James Harris and several players that he brought in (WR Reggie Williams, LB Mike Peterson, WR Jerry Porter, DB Drayton Florence and others) thus leaving Del Rio to pick-up the pieces.  With all eyes on the head coach, it is now or never for a team looking for a new stadium deal in the near future.  The Jags had a nice run in 2007 winning a playoff game in Pittsburgh, but it is what-have-you done-for-me-lately time for quarterback David Garrard and Del Rio.  Hopefully the Jags will have good health in 2009 as last year they lost six O-linemen to injury for the season.  Del Rio will also need to show that he doesn’t panic or meltdown in big games as some people around the NFL have accused him of doing.  In a very tough division, the Jags will need to show that they are either re-tooling while looking to win the division or rebuilding for the future. Del Rio’s record stands at 50-46 in the regular season and 1-2 in the playoffs.

Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts – You hate to pile-on a first year head coach before he even hits the field, but new Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is already on the hot seat.  The 54-year old veteran coach formerly was the head man at Wake Forest from 1993 to 2000 – record of 26-63 over eight seasons — and he has served under legendary coaches Joe Paterno (Penn State) and Tony Dungy.  But Caldwell now will be calling the shots for a team that has won an NFL record 12 games or more for six consecutive seasons. To put even more pressure on Dungy’s handpicked successor, he may or may not have the services of Colts coaching veterans Tom Moore and Howard Mudd to assist him.  In a very tough AFC South division, look for Caldwell to run the ball with his new two-headed backfield of Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown plus lean on quarterback Peyton Manning and safety Bob Sanders to lead their respective units.

Other Head Coaches Feeling the Heat

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans – An 8-8 record will not cut it this year as expectations are high for this former expansion team.

Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers — Time for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the man who had faith in him to produce more than a 6-10 season.

Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos — A rookie head coach trying to replace a two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan and you have to wonder is he another of Belichick’s fraud disciples.

Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers — A lot of talent on his roster and remember the Chargers once fired a coach that went 14-2.

Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders — He works for Al Davis…enough said.

Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears — Has his quarterback so expectations are high and his Super Bowl appearance in 2006 is long gone.

Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs — young, inexperienced, and was not his team’s first choice plus he could not control Anquan Boldin in Arizona or T.O in San Francisco.

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Former NFL Great Steve McNair is Found Dead by Lloyd Vance

Everyone around the NFL was shocked to learn of the shooting death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair

July 4, 2009

(Philadelphia, Pa) — The Fourth of July around the United States is supposed to be a day of celebration, but this year the entire sports world has a heavy heart on this day as it was learned that former NFL great Steve McNair was found shot to death in Nashville, Tennessee.  The circumstances around McNair’s death  are still forthcoming, but Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron confirmed that authorities were called to a condominium and found McNair, 36, and a woman shot to death inside.

It is hard to believe little over one year after his retirement that McNair a two-time Pro Bowl player (selected four times) has passed away.  The 13-year career veteran was the 2003 co-MVP and he always played courageously during his career that spanned from the HBCU ranks to the NFL.  Everyone will always talk about McNair and Eddie George leading the Tennessee Titans within 1 yard of winning Super Bowl XXXIV against the Rams, but to me one word ”warrior” sums up the signal caller. 

No matter the injury or opponent, you always knew number #9 was going to give you everything he had for sixty minutes. The hard part of being warrior is sometimes toughness led McNair onto the field of battle when maybe taking a rest was a better option.  Often times McNair was a one-man Mash unit as he played through injuries including a separated shoulder, bruised sternum, broken fingers, broken ribs, ankle sprains, and many others to lead his teammates unto the gridiron.

 At the time of his retirement in April 2008, McNair said of his resilient play, “Over 13 years, I had a lot of injuries because I played the game physical, because I gave 110 percent every game”.  In looking back, the nation first got a glimpse of McNair’s greatness at Alcorn State where he followed in his older brother Fred’s footsteps earning the nickname “Air McNair”.  He was a unanimous All-American while putting the small HBCU school on the map and causing such a national sensation that ESPN scrambled to show his games on television.  McNair finished his stellar college career gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated and finishing 3rd in 1994 Heisman Balloting – still is the highest finish in the competition by a 1-AA player.  Air McNair didn’t leave ASU empty handed as he established NCAA records with 16,823 yards in total offense (14,496 yards passing and 2,327 yards rushing) and averaged an incredible 400.55 yards in total offense per game. 

McNair then took his game to the NFL, where some doubters questioned his selection as the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft by the now defunct Houston Oilers.  Early in his career, Air McNair was stuck on the runway for his first couple years in the league as the Oilers wanted him to learn behind Chris Chandler – how crazy does that sound.  But McNair had his breakout season in 1998 leading the newly relocated Titans, starting 16 games and setting then career highs in attempts (492), completions (289), yards (3,228), and passing touchdowns (15). He went on to lead his team to the playoffs ten times finishing with a respectable 5-5 record and winning the aforementioned 2003 NFL Co-MVP award sharing the honor with Peyton Manning.  But it is McNair’s toughness that will be everlasting, highlighted by the season-ending stretch in 2002.  During that stretch McNair cemented his tougher than nails warrior image by starting five straight games to end the season and leading the Titans to the AFC championship game without practicing due to injury.

In the coming days people around the water cooler will spin yarns about the play of McNair and mourn him.  I am sure the uneasy and unnecessary debate over whether his career was Hall of Fame worthy will also come into play. To me the “Warrior” does deserve to get a look by the selection committee as he had the gumption and numbers including six 3,000 yards passing seasons on his outstanding resume. While bridging the gap between Randall Cunningham and today’s athletic quarterbacks, McNair’s career numbers were impressive with 161 games played, a regular season record of 91-62 as a starter, passing numbers of  2733 for 4544 (60.1 %), 31304 yards with 174 TDs and 119 INTs plus an additional 3590 yards rushing (5th all-time rushing for quarterbacks) and 37 touchdowns. 

I believe McNair’s greatest contribution to the game of football was showing how leadership can take many forms.  As a younger quarterback he was able to use his legs to get wins and then later in his career he matured into a winning pocket passer.  I know his legacy will live-on in his many beloved fans and teammates.  Former Ravens’ teammate Ray Lewis said it all about his comrade when he retired last year, “There is no greater warrior or player with a bigger heart than Steve McNair”.

Titans owner Bud Adams said in a statement of his former star player, “We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair’s passing today, he was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl.”

Rest In Peace Warrior and we will never forget you.

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)