| Of course quarterbacks and running backs
| |
| | the past, but the ninth-year man out of
|
| get all the attention. They score
| |
| | Cornell impressed Houston brass enough to
|
| touchdowns, they sell Chunky Soup, and
| |
| | warrant them resigning him in the
|
| they get to bang the homecoming queen.
| |
| | offseason.
|
| They're the ones with the big contracts
| |
| |
|
| and the guys who can be rewarded with
| |
| | John Tait, LT, Chicago
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| either too much blame or too much credit.
| |
| | Tait was the Bears prized free agent
|
|
| |
| | signing in 2003, inking a $33.65 million
|
| Then there are the dozens of free agents
| |
| | deal. Tait, who was part of those
|
| that meander into your team's locker room
| |
| | dominating Kansas City lines a few years
|
| each year. One team's trash is another
| |
| | ago, was solid at right tackle for
|
| team's treasure kind of deal. These hired
| |
| | Chicago last season. However, the Bears
|
| guns are generally heralded as the
| |
| | yielded a league-high 66 sacks which
|
| Missing Link, and you know you're guilty
| |
| | prompted Tait to approach coach Lovie
|
| of over-hyping some journeyman nickel
| |
| | Smith and offer to switch to the critical
|
| back or offensive tackle to your wife or
| |
| | left tackle position. Well, with Rex
|
| co-workers.
| |
| | Grossman out for the year Tait's
|
|
| |
| | importance becomes even greater. If the
|
| Then there are the rookies. The quick
| |
| | Bears are going to win with Chad
|
| fix. The hotshots. They are the future
| |
| | Hutchinson he's going to need plenty of
|
| and the present. Every team is hoping
| |
| | time to survey the field.
|
| that they scored not only that
| |
| |
|
| first-round blue chipper, but that
| |
| | DeAngelo Hall, CB, Atlanta
|
| late-round gem that can turn a team from
| |
| | The electrifying Hall suffered a
|
| wannabe to world champs quicker than you
| |
| | hard-luck hip injury last year that
|
| can say "signing bonus".
| |
| | caused him to miss six games. He came
|
|
| |
| | back for the end of the season and the
|
| This season in the NFL there are a slew
| |
| | playoffs and performed admirably,
|
| of guys whose performances will have a
| |
| | intercepting two passes and scoring one
|
| direct connection to their team's
| |
| | touchdown. Atlanta had the 23rd-ranked
|
| win-loss records. It will be very
| |
| | pass defense in the league last season,
|
| interesting to see how guys like Kurt
| |
| | and didn't make any noticeable upgrades.
|
| Warner (Arizona), J.P. Losman (Buffalo),
| |
| | In a division with Joe Horn, Steve Smith
|
| Deshaun Foster (Carolina), Randy Moss
| |
| | and up-and-coming Mark Clayton, the
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| (Oakland) and Mike Williams (Detroit)
| |
| | Falcons are hoping that Hall can be the
|
| will perform. Very interesting indeed.
| |
| | shutdown corner that their defense has
|
|
| |
| | been missing.
|
| That being said, right now I have no
| |
| |
|
| interest in any of those subcategories of
| |
| | Chad Brown/Monty Beisel, LB, New England
|
| players. I'll leave the big-name free
| |
| | Its got to be pretty tough to come in as
|
| agents, cocky rookies and pretty-boy
| |
| | a low-key free agent and find yourself
|
| quarterbacks to be talked about by the
| |
| | filling in for the heart-and-soul of the
|
| gossip mongers and bobble heads.
| |
| | two-time defending Super Bowl Champions.
|
|
| |
| | Well, with Tedy Bruschi sidelined as a
|
| Instead, I've compiled a list of players
| |
| | result of his offseason stroke and
|
| who might make for exciting talk at the
| |
| | tough-as-nails Ted Johnson retired,
|
| water cooler but will play a crucial role
| |
| | that's precisely where Brown and Beisel
|
| in determining the course of their team's
| |
| | find themselves. To make matters worse,
|
| franchise in 2005. Some are names you
| |
| | Mike Vrabel suffered a lower leg injury
|
| know, some are names you may have heard
| |
| | and has been sidelined for the Pats.
|
| in passing. In my estimation these guys
| |
| | Beisel came over from Kansas City and
|
| represent the types of storylines -
| |
| | their pathetic defense, and Chad Brown is
|
| veterans holding on to that last chance,
| |
| | hoping to recapture a bit of the
|
| disappointing draft picks seeking
| |
| | nastiness that he exuded throughout the
|
| salvation, unheralded role players trying
| |
| | mid-90's. However, they're replacing two
|
| to break into the big time - that make
| |
| | New England legends and better come out
|
| the NFL worth watching.
| |
| | of the corner swinging.
|
|
| |
| |
|
| Ryan Sims, DT, Kansas City
| |
| | Jimmy Smith, WR, Jacksonville
|
| Remember back in 2002 when the debate
| |
| | The 36-year-old Smith is hoping that he
|
| between which North Carolina defender -
| |
| | can keep the magic going for one more
|
| Sims or Julius Peppers - should be taken
| |
| | season. Smith showed no signs of slowing
|
| first nearly reached Manning-Leaf
| |
| | in 2004, finishing with 74 catches for
|
| proportions? Well, their NFL careers have
| |
| | 1,172 yards and six touchdowns. He is the
|
| almost been as lopsided. Sims is in his
| |
| | only proven wide receiver that the
|
| contract year, and is the most naturally
| |
| | Jaguars have and one of the few guys that
|
| gifted player on a defensive line that
| |
| | quarterback Byron Leftwich trusts in the
|
| has been a sieve for the last four
| |
| | clutch. The Jaguars defense is going to
|
| seasons. The Chiefs will feature as many
| |
| | be one of the best in the AFC this
|
| as five new starters on defense,
| |
| | season. But the question mark is whether
|
| including two new linebackers and two new
| |
| | or not this team can put up enough points
|
| bodies in the secondary. But if Sims
| |
| | to earn a playoff berth. The only way
|
| can't hold down the point of attack (only
| |
| | that happens is if Smith stays healthy
|
| 30 tackles and two sacks in 2004) those
| |
| | and tutors some of the Jags young
|
| guys will be getting a lot of work.
| |
| | receivers.
|
|
| |
| |
|
| Darrell Jackson, WR, Seattle
| |
| | Jonathan Ogden, LT, Baltimore
|
| Dropped passes grounded the Seahawks
| |
| | The guy is an eight-time Pro Bowler and
|
| last season, and Jackson was as guilty as
| |
| | potentially a Hall of Famer. However, he
|
| anyone. Koren Robinson is in rehab and no
| |
| | looked as if injuries and age may have
|
| longer with the team, leaving Jackson as
| |
| | robbed him of a step last season. The
|
| the true No. 1 guy in the Seattle passing
| |
| | Ravens restocked their offense at the
|
| game. Jackson had 87 catches for 1,199
| |
| | skill positions this offseason, and Todd
|
| and seven touchdowns last season. That's
| |
| | Heap, Jamal Lewis, Derrick Mason and
|
| not enough. Jackson will need to not only
| |
| | rookie Mark Clayton are ready to put up
|
| achieve those numbers again, but set an
| |
| | some points. However, center Casey Rabach
|
| example by holding onto just about
| |
| | and left guard Bennie Anderson both split
|
| anything he gets his hands on and making
| |
| | this summer, and temperamental Orlando
|
| clutch catches that keep the sticks
| |
| | Brown declined sharply in 2004. If the
|
| moving.
| |
| | Ravens are going to make another push for
|
|
| |
| | the AFC crown, they're going to need
|
| Nate Kaeding, K, San Diego
| |
| | Ogden to anchor that offensive line.
|
| Kaeding, the cherub-faced kicker for the
| |
| |
|
| Chargers, was a revelation as a rookie in
| |
| | Roy Williams, SS, Dallas
|
| 2004. Kaeding was 54 of 55 making extra
| |
| | Last season the Cowboys yielded 31
|
| points, and 20-for-25 with field goals.
| |
| | passing touchdowns, fourth-worst in the
|
| However, he was also responsible for
| |
| | league. They addressed that problem by
|
| missing the kick that more or less ended
| |
| | signing Anthony Henry from Cleveland this
|
| his team's season. He shanked a 40-yarder
| |
| | offseason. With Henry and Terrance Newman
|
| in overtime in a first-round playoff loss
| |
| | holding down the outside, Williams should
|
| at home to the Jets. That's forgivable,
| |
| | be free to roam the line of scrimmage and
|
| but Kaeding missed his first three kicks
| |
| | wreak havoc in the way that he did in
|
| off the preseason. Those three kicks were
| |
| | 2003. Williams is at his best when he's
|
| between 40-46 yards and in a steady rain,
| |
| | delivering vicious hits on running backs
|
| but if there's one thing a kicker can't
| |
| | and receivers coming across the middle,
|
| have, it's wavering confidence.
| |
| | or flying through the line on a safety
|
|
| |
| | blitz. With Dallas switching to the 3-4,
|
| Seth Payne, NT, Houston
| |
| | and time running out on the Tuna,
|
| People are expecting big things out of
| |
| | Williams need a big year.
|
| the Texans this season. If that's going
| |
| |
|
| to happen, the defense needs to perform
| |
| | Doc's Sports Recent Items Of
|
| better than its 23rd overall ranking in
| |
| | Interest:NFL season predictions2005 NFL
|
| 2004. Payne will be a huge part of that.
| |
| | previewfootball picksDoc's Sports
|
| The 6-foot-4, 315-pound nose tackle is
| |
| | Handicapping Service
|
| the fulcrum in the Texans 3-4 system.
| |
| | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports
|
| With young linebackers behind him, Payne
| |
| | has been recognized as one of the leaders
|
| needs to cause some havoc up front to
| |
| | and most trusted names in sports
|
| take some pressure off guys like Jason
| |
| | handicapping information.
|
| Babin. Payne has had injury problems in
| |
| |
|
