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