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Season Preview 2009 Minnesota Vikings

By Richie Denis | July 1, 2009 | Vikings War Cry

Anthony Chergosky from DailyNorseman.com gives us a look at the 2009 Minnesota Vikings. When you think of the 2009 Minnesota Vikings, two words probably enter your mind: Brett Favre. But when taking a look at the team, its chances of repeating as NFC North champs, and its opportunity to go further in the playoffs than it did last season, Favre is just the tip of the iceberg. All over the field and on both sides of the ball, the Vikings are a team built for success this season. This team's bread and butter is still its ability to run the...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings, Vikings

The War is Won in the Trenches

By Ronnie Shumake | June 29, 2009 | The Cockpit

There is much to be excited about this year with the New York Jets. There is a new head coach, key new additions via free agency and a top five pick quarterback from this year's draft. The thing that may be a bit under the radar to the casual eye, is that the offensive line is returning intact. This unit has a full year together under thier belt and that is both rare and vital to success in the running game and pass protection. Football teams take on identities similar to that of the head coach. From Lombardi to Parcells, Walsh to Manigini. Teams play with the same energy level on the field as the coach's persona and demeanor. I mentioned Mangini because when you look at the overall body of work his teams produced here, they were as middle of the road and non-emotional as he was. Aside from the...

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: AFC, AFC East, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Offense

TRUST ME...Don't sleep on Chansi Stuckey!

By Ronnie Shumake | June 26, 2009 | The Cockpit

So everybody wants one of the wideout divas in the league. Burress, Edwards, Jones and Marshall are the common names thrown around, some have even thrown Harrison out there. While I like the thought of adding a proven big threat reciever, I want to get one who doesn't shoot himself, drop the ball, do coke or hit women. So those guys are all up a river with a boat with no paddle. I suppose for the right price, I wouldn't mind Edwards or Harrison if you held a gun to my...nevermind. Anyhow, I really like the things I am hearing and seeing from Chanci Stuckey. Here is a guy who always seemed to make plays last year. While Favre got the credit, he made a riduclous catch in week 1 to help fry the fish in Miami. The guy got separation time and time again last year in the slot. This year he seems...

Read more | 3 Comments | Tags: AFC, AFC East, Buffalo Bills, Favre, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Always Overlooked...

By Ronnie Shumake | June 24, 2009 | The Cockpit

There is much talk about the many additions and changes with the team this year. Whether it's new head coach Rex Ryan, the free agent additions of Bart Scott, Lito Sheppard, Jim Leonhard, Larry Izzo, Donald Strickland, Howard Green, or draft picks Mark Sanchez, Shonn Greene or Matt Slauson. One player who seems to often go practically unnoticed or unmentioned is Marques Douglas. As of an undrafted free agent entering into his tenth year in the league, Douglas is used to being overlooked. After being signed with Baltimore out of Howard in 1999, he has had stints with New Orleans, San Fransico, Tampa, and then returning to the Ravens last year via trade. Mostly used as a reserve, early on, he had a solid year in 2003 starting all 16 games and recording 61 tackles and 4.5 sacks. This is actually a better year statistically than Kenyon Coleman's best year in his career thus far, which...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: A.F.C East, Baltimore, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans, New York Jets, NFL, San Fransico, Tampa Bay

Key Sophmore Jet players to watch this year pt.4-David Clowney

By Ronnie Shumake | June 22, 2009 | The Cockpit

The final player I wish to cover in this four part article is David Clowney. While Dustin Keller made an instant impact last year. Clowney turned heads in pre-season and then was injured for most of the year. This sophmore player has the potential to be the biggest unproven "X-factor" on the team this year. The reality of the situation is that the Jets have no proven number two at wideout. Some may argue that the number one is really a number two at best. Many people are still looking to an addition from outside the team like Anquan Boldin or Plaxico Burress. Let's just assume that they are not brought in. As of this writing, Chanci Stuckey is ranked at the number two position due to his relative greater amount of experience. I would prefer if he was the slot receiver and Clowney the number two for one main reason. He...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: AFC East, New York Jets, NFL, Wideouts

Broncos Should Re-Build

By Shawn Zobel | June 18, 2009 | Zobel's Corner

In just his third year in the league, Jay Cutler threw for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns. While he also threw for 18 interceptions, Cutler's aggressive mentality at the quarterback position is what makes him such a good player. Nearly the definition of a franchise quarterback, Cutler's gritty, competitive attitude has brought him up the the elite status as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. So when the Denver Broncos decided to give in to Cutler's trade demand this offseason, and ship him away to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and Kyle Orton, it really made you wonder what they were thinking and what their new plan was for the future.While Cutler owned a 17-20 record as a starter, you have to remember that he's only entering his fourth year in the league. Stars don't grow overnight. It takes time to develop into...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Jay Cutler, NFL

PB and J?

By Ronnie Shumake | June 18, 2009 | The Cockpit

With the news that Plaxico Burress' trial has been postponed to September, there is great speculation that he may get a chance to play in the NFL this year. There is a need for the Jets to improve the talent and depth at the wideout position. I will examine what this latest development means in this article. There are two main factors that will affect the outcome of whether or not we see the big receiver don the green and white this year. The first obstacle is Roger Goodell. While Burress was suspended last year for five games, that was a team suspension issued by the Giants. The NFL still has a right to issue a suspension for violating the league's good conduct policy. I fear this more than the legal issues at this point as it truly looks as if he will not be in court until 2010 at...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: AFC East, Buffalo Bills, Giants, Goodell, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, NFL, Steelers

NFL Top 10: Best Storylines heading into 2009

By Greg Trippiedi | June 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

I really love spending hours putting together the research for a long-winded heavy analytical post, but sometimes, a fan needs to appreciate the game from a different perspective. This isn't going to provide any insight into why teams will win and lose this year, but because it's June, and we're two months from training camp, I'll forgive myself.Today, NFL Top 10 takes a look at the best storylines entering 2009, as well as those potential developing storylines that could shape the upcoming NFL season.10. Ray Lewis, Rex Ryan, and defense in the AFCIf the Baltimore Ravens are going to make good on my super bowl appearance prediction, they can't allow the media to even speculate that they might be missing Rex Ryan. The effect of defensive coordinator on a team's defense has certainly been overstated throughout the years, so we'll never know if the Ravens are actually missing Rex Ryan. ...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins

NFL Crystal Ball: Projecting the Rookie Quarterbacks

By Greg Trippiedi | June 1, 2009 | MVN Outsider

It was universally agreed upon by draft analysts that the 2009 NFL Draft's quarterback class was one of the weakest in memory. But when the first round was said and done, the results suggested that the teams disagreed: 3 quarterbacks picked in the first round, all before the 20th pick was made.On this kind of thing, history suggests that the majority draft opinion usually produces more first round names than there are actual first round talents. The bust rate for all rookie QBs is around 50%, but that figure is considerably lower in the top 20 picks of the first round, which more directly applies to the three gentlemen who will be the primary focus of this article: Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman.I will rely heavily on historical draft position in this analytical and predictive column. Draft position helps to separate the elite prospects from the good prospects,...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Detroit Lions, New York Jets, NFL Draft, Predictions, Prospects, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Great Debates: What to Do with Michael Vick?

By Staff Report | May 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

NFL Outsider's Greg Trippiedi and Anthony Brown debate the issue: Which team is the best spot for Michael Vick if he overcomes the enormous hurdles necessary to get on the field this year?Greg Trippiedi says Vick shouldn't be a starting quarterback:It's pretty clear that Michael Vick is not going to have a job waiting for him when he gets back. He's 29 years old -- too old and too young in different ways. Vick's open field running abilities were already in decline when we last saw him, and that was in 2006. But that doesn't mean he won't stick somewhere. He's still got a good five or six seasons ahead of him as an effective athlete. The question though remains: Where will Michael Vick fit in, and who will take a chance on him? I don't think Vick is a good fit on a team with a clear need...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: NFL

NFL Great Debates: Would Favre Fit in Minnesota?

By Staff Report | May 9, 2009 | MVN Outsider

NFL Outsider's Greg Trippiedi and Anthony Brown debate the issue: Would Brett Favre fit in with the Minnesota Vikings if he decided to come out of retirement once again?Greg Trippiedi says No. 4's retirement would be a blessing in disguise for Vikings fans:Regardless of what the results of Favre Watch '09 produce, I think the best thing Minnesota Viking fans can hope for is that Brett Favre does not suit up for them this September.Jets fans will vouch for me here.First, the Vikings need to realize that they aren't resigned to another year of poor QB play this year like they have been since Daunte Culpepper left. Given: Sage Rosenfels, Tavaris Jackson, and John David Booty don't bring a lot of hope, and that's one thing that Favre brings wherever he goes.But hope is cheap, and ultimately hollow.The big picture is that a 40-year-old Brett Favre does nothing to improve...Read more

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, NFL

NFL Great Debates: Harvin, Freeman Draft Busts?

By Staff Report | May 1, 2009 | MVN Outsider

NFL Outsider's Greg Trippiedi and Anthony Brown debate the issue: Which first round draft pick is likely to be a bust with his new team?Greg Trippiedi says Percy Harvin will struggle in Minnesota:Of all 32 of the players selected in the first round of the 2009 draft, historical statistics show that between five and six are unlikely to do anything in the NFL whatsoever. The riskier positions tend to be defensive lineman and wide receiver.I happen to think that this is a particularly good year for defensive linemen. There will be a pure pass rusher or two who busts, but the interior guys, and prototypical 4-3 defensive ends (Raji, Jerry, Orakpo) seem as safe as they've ever been. Receiver Michael Crabtree is every bit the prospect that Calvin Johnson was, and Johnson was great in Detroit this year on a team that didn't win.There's one player who I think who...Read more

Read more | 21 Comments | Tags: Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Five Questions: Talking Draft Winners, Heyward-Bey, Stafford and More

By Anthony Hall | April 29, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Who emerged from last weekend as a "winner" of the NFL Draft? Which first round quarterback (Stafford, Sanchez, Freeman) will have the best career in the NFL? And what on earth were the Oakland Raiders thinking? The NFL Draft left behind a plethora of unanswered questions, so to talk more about the weekend in football, we sat down with NFL blogger Reid Kerr of NFL Examiner, who was tracking the draft every step of the way with his Official Unofficial 2009 NFL Draft Timeline. Here's what Reid had to say about the draft in the latest installment of NFL Outsider's "Five Questions" series: 1. Give us a team and a player that you think have emerged from the weekend as "draft winners."Both of my main winners came through predraft trades. I think the Falcons adding Tony Gonzalez for a second round pick was a great move. The Eagles had a...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Draft, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles

Derrick Williams, Jarron Gilbert, Jared Cook Lead Round 3 Recap

By Greg Trippiedi | April 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Process points become negligible after the first day, so lets look at round three and the players that each team got in the middle of the draft.65. New York Jets -- Shonn Green, RB, IowaThe Jets traded up for this pick, so the Green pick was really disappointing. I didn't think he was anywhere near the best available, and with this being the first pick of the day, I expected a great pick here.66. St. Louis Rams -- Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa67. Kansas City Chiefs -- Alex Magee, DE, PurdueThe Chiefs pick their second 3-4 DE of the draft. So what does this mean for Glenn Dorsey? Will he split time with Magee and Tyson Jackson, or is he already on his way out?68. Chicago Bears -- Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose StateChicago moves forward looking for best player available, while making sure to add a defensive lineman every year. ...Read more

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Alphonzo Smith Trade, Rey Maualuga, Pat White Highlight NFL Draft's Second Round

By Greg Trippiedi | April 26, 2009 | MVN Outsider

The second round of the 2009 NFL draft was fronted by some high profile trades. Both the Panthers and the Broncos traded first round picks in 2010 for players they had first round grades on, but drafted in the second round. Pat White ended up getting drafted by the consummate "Wildcat" offense, which seems like a good fit, if not a reach. Inside linebackers Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis slipped through the first round, but got drafted by teams in the second with defensive issues. They'll step in right away and help those situations.However, it was some lesser known prospects who will be the story of the second round in a few years.33. Detroit Lions -- Louis Delmas, S, Western MichiganDelmas is a local product who was clearly head and shoulders above all the other safeties in this draft. After going with the QB with a steep developmental curve in...Read more

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