triba_la_raza@yahoo.com
08-07-2008, 01:37 AM
Yeah, it's not looking too good for youse guys this year, each of you
having to face
each of the NFC East teams.........
Of special interest will be the Cowboys/Steelers matchup, which
always
promises to be a great game.
We'll be touching base with youse guys as the season progresses....
triba la raza!
On Jul 31, 12:16 am, "observer" <obser...@shinyfeet.com> wrote:
> --
> July 30, 2008
>
> Who got an 'A'?
>
> Summer report cards for all 32 NFL teams
>
> By Nate Davis, USA TODAY
> http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-07-30-offseason-grad....
> ---
>
> With training camps opening, USA TODAY
> assesses each team's offseason progress with
> summertime report cards:
>
> [Re-arranged in order by team,
> from highest ranking to lowest
> ranking]
>
> 1. DALLAS COWBOYS A+
>
> CB Adam "Pacman" Jones is the latest arrival
> for a team that's perfected the high-risk/high-
> reward transaction. LB Zach Thomas is also
> in that mold, though the risk with him is mile-
> age. With WR Terrell Owens, RB Marion Bar-
> ber III, LT Flozell Adams, CB Terence New-
> man and S Ken Hamlin receiving new deals
> and rookie RB Felix Jones and CB Mike Jen-
> kins providing playmaking ability and depth,
> it's little wonder the Cowboys are thinking
> Super Bowl.
>
> 2. MINNESOTA VIKINGS A
>
> An already stout defense should see its vulner-
> ability to the pass rectified with DE Jared Allen,
> the reigning sack king, and S Madieu Williams
> now among its ranks. WR Bernard Berrian not
> only gives QB Tarvaris Jackson a credible deep
> threat, but his arrival also weakens the division
> rival Chicago Bears.
>
> 3. ATLANTA FALCONS A-
>
> The house has been cleaned from top to bottom.
> General manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach
> Mike Smith are the new architects of a franchise
> that is trying to emerge from the Michael Vick-
> era wreckage. Dimitroff snared six players in the
> draft's first three rounds, headlined by a new fran-
> chise cornerstone in QB Matt Ryan. Free agent
> RB Michael Turner and K Jason Elam should
> also pay immediate dividends. Gone are CB De-
> Angelo Hall, TE Alge Crumpler and RB Warrick
> Dunn, who were among the unhappy campers on
> the squad in 2007.
>
> 3. NEW YORK JETS A-
>
> It remains to be seen if the Jets make a play for
> a certain Packers quarterback they wanted to
> draft in 1991. Regardless, New York has already
> made $140 million worth of noise to upgrade its
> roster. G Alan Faneca and T Damien Woody should
> help the running game take flight, especially with
> FB Tony Richardson also on board. Rookie sack
> artist Vernon Gholston is expected to be a force,
> and LB Calvin Pace fits the 3-4 defense like a glove,
> though new NT Kris Jenkins must adapt. Locking
> up S Kerry Rhodes was a wise move. Now about
> that quarterback position ...
>
> 3. MIAMI DOLPHINS A-
>
> Bill Parcells' arrival as the football operations king-
> pin was a precursor to an ongoing overhaul. Largely
> unknown head coach Tony Sparano will get to work
> with LT Jake Long, the draft's No.1 overall pick. DE
> Phillip Merling, QB Chad Henne and G Shawn Mur-
> phy are other potential starters obtained on draft day.
> Parcells also received good value by getting a second-
> round pick for DE Jason Taylor. Miami got younger,
> if not immediately better, in 2008.
>
> 3. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS A-
>
> They continue to lock up their nucleus (DE Luis Cas-
> tillo, SS Clinton Hart) while making crafty signings
> (T L.J. Shelton, G/C Jeremy Newberry, LB Derek
> Smith) who could be valuable role players. CB An-
> toine Cason and RB Jacob Hester should contribute
> as rookies. Bigger question is if QB Philip Rivers,
> TE Antonio Gates and C Nick Hardwick will be
> close to 100% by Week1.
>
> 7. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS B+
>
> In typical fashion, the Colts quietly restocked the
> bottom of their roster through the draft, let some
> middling players such as G Jake Scott and LB Rob
> Morris go and locked up pieces they value more
> -- TE Dallas Clark and G Ryan Lilja. This recipe for
> success should breed more success.
>
> 7. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS B+
>
> Priority No.1 was retaining WR Randy Moss, which
> the Patriots did. Priority No.2 was adding youth to
> the linebacker corps -- hello Jerod Mayo (first-round
> pick) and Victor Hobson (signed away from the New
> York Jets). Priority No.3 was compensating for the
> expected loss of CB Asante Samuel, especially in light
> of Ellis Hobbs' injuries. Didn't happen.
>
> 7. CAROLINA PANTHERS B+
>
> Rookie RB stud Jonathan Stewart and RT Jeff Otah
> should enhance a stagnant running game. QB Jake
> Delhomme and WR Steve Smith should be much
> happier having WRs Muhsin Muhammad and D.J.
> Hackett helping them rather than Keary Colbert and
> Drew Carter. The team might not be able to afford
> both DE Julius Peppers and LT Jordan Gross in 2009.
>
> 7. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS B+
>
> They gambled in the draft, trading up for DT Sedrick
> Ellis, and on the trading block, importing LB Jonathan
> Vilma and TE Jeremy Shockey, who no longer fit their
> old teams' plans. The Saints addressed needs with each
> gambit, and if two pay off, they could be right back
> atop a weak NFC South.
>
> 7. NEW YORK GIANTS B+
>
> LB Mathias Kiwanuka's return should partially salve
> DE Michael Strahan's retirement. The Giants scored
> a second-round pick for disgruntled TE Jeremy Shockey.
> And the club wisely reinvested in its underrated offen-
> sive line rather than overpay for LB Kawika Mitchell
> or S Gibril Wilson. Rookie S Kenny Phillips could be
> star.
>
> 12. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS B
>
> DT Glenn Dorsey, G/T Branden Albert and CB Bran-
> don Flowers highlight what might be a watershed draft
> crop. DE Jared Allen won't be easily replaced, but the
> Chiefs did the right thing letting CB Ty Law, WR Eddie
> Kennison, C Casey Wiegmann, et al. go. The Chiefs
> won't be good in 2008, but a promising foundation
> looks to be in place.
>
> 12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES B
>
> CB Asante Samuel's arrival garnered the headlines, but
> the draft-day trade for RB Lorenzo Booker could prove
> to be a coup, too. Rookie WR DeSean Jackson should
> be perfect for the lackluster return game. CB Lito Shep-
> pard's situation is still festering.
>
> 12. WASHINGTON REDSKINS B
>
> Until DE Jason Taylor's acquisition, the only major
> change had been on the sideline, where Jim Zorn takes
> the headset from Joe Gibbs. Personnel continuity is
> good for a playoff team; hiring an unproven coach with
> a new playbook is more dicey.
>
> 12. BUFFALO BILLS B
>
> The Bills enlisted playmakers in the draft (CB/KR Leo-
> dis McKelvin and WR James Hardy) and play-killers
> on the market (LB Kawika Mitchell and DT Marcus
> Stroud). They have not addressed Pro Bowl LT Jason
> Peters' desire for a hefty raise.
>
> 12. CLEVELAND BROWNS B
>
> Throwing caution to the wind, the Browns punted the
> '08 draft to acquire QB Brady Quinn (last year) and
> DTs Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams (this year) as
> the defensive line needed the help. WR Donte' Stall-
> worth was a good pickup amid Joe Jurevicius' knee
> issues. And it was smart to retain QB Derek Anderson
> and see if he's the real deal. CB Leigh Bodden will be
> missed.
>
> 17. DETROIT LIONS B-
>
> Coach Rod Marinelli is stocking his Tampa 2 defense
> with men he knows -- CB Brian Kelly and S Dwight
> Smith -- while the likes of DT Shaun Rogers are
> shown the door. CB Leigh Bodden, netted in the Rog-
> ers deal, fills another hole. Rookie RB Kevin Smith
> and RT Gosder Cherilus are made to order for a team
> that wants to stress the run with Mike Martz gone.
>
> 17. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS B-
>
> New offensive coordinator Mike Martz might be the
> key for a team that saw its offense struggle in 2007.
> His creative schemes and ability to integrate either
> QB Alex Smith or Shaun Hill and new WRs Bryant
> Johnson and Isaac Bruce into them will likely deter-
> mine this club's fate in 2008. The draft netted young
> linemen.
>
> 17. ST. LOUIS RAMS B-
>
> DE Chris Long, the No.2 pick of the draft, should rev
> up a defense in need of a jolt. On the heels of a season
> ruined by injuries, QB Trent Green and G Jacob Bell
> are welcome sights. Mainstay WR Isaac Bruce and
> K Jeff Wilkins are gone, but with K Josh Brown
> aboard, the Rams will no longer have to endure the
> ex-Seattle Seahawk breaking their hearts at the gun.
> Does coordinator Al Saunders' arrival help or hinder
> the offense?
>
> 17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS B-
>
> Out with the old, in with the new. The Jaguars drafted
> rookie pass rushers Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves
> and said goodbye to Bobby McCray and Marcus Stroud.
> Are WRs Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson upgrades
> or lateral moves?
>
> 17. OAKLAND RAIDERS B-
>
> Ignoring the trenches, the Raiders opted for voltage,
> drafting Arkansas RB Darren McFadden. It'll be con-
> sidered a wise move if he takes heat off QB JaMarcus
> Russell, but it could leave the Raiders open to sec-
> ond-guessing if Russell's constantly on his back or
> trying to bail out a defense that can't stop the run.
> CB DeAngelo Hall will team with Nnamdi Asomugha
> to form a near airtight air defense. WR Javon Walker
> is a wild card.
>
> 17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS B-
>
> Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall could be more than
> a valuable insurance policy for Willie Parker, while
> WR Limas Sweed is the big target QB Ben Roethlis-
> berger requested. But an offensive line that struggled
> to protect Roethlisberger and lost its best player (G
> Alan Faneca) could be an issue.
>
> 23. CINCINNATI BENGALS C+
>
> Give the Bengals points for finally jettisoning chronic
> distractions in WR Chris Henry and LB Odell Thur-
> man. But deduct points as they let WR Chad Johnson's
> histrionics devolve into a spring sideshow. The offen-
> sive line's health will determine whether franchising
> G/T Stacy Andrews was shrewd or foolish. The defense
> needs rookie LB Keith Rivers to be an immediate pre-
> sence.
>
> 24. BALTIMORE RAVENS C
>
> With LT Jonathan Ogden and QB Steve McNair retiring
> and veteran CBs Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and
> TE Todd Heap coming off injury-marred seasons, the
> Ravens seem to be inexperienced and aging in all the
> wrong spots. Much hinges on rookie QB Joe Flacco's
> development. Early returns for coach Brian Billick's
> replacement, John Harbaugh, seem positive.
>
> 24. DENVER BRONCOS C
>
> Quite a revolving door with K Jason Elam, RB Travis
> Henry and WR Javon Walker among those exiting and
> LB Boss Bailey, rookie LT Ryan Clady and DT De-
> wayne Robertson entering. Could be much ado about
> nothing unless new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik
> can fix a unit that banished Jim Bates could not.
>
> 26. ARIZONA CARDINALS C-
>
> The defense lost LB Calvin Pace but added depth with
> DE Travis LaBoy, DL Bryan Robinson and LB Clark
> Haggans. Rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
> and DE Calais Campbell also help. Failing to hammer
> out deals for WR Anquan Boldin and LB Karlos
> Dansby could hurt down the road.
>
> 26. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS C-
>
> The Brett Favre whispers are still simmering. But for
> now, other than adding C Jeff Faine and dumping CB
> Brian Kelly, the Bucs shuffled a lot of spare parts
> around their roster.
>
> 26. HOUSTON TEXANS C-
>
> Though on the playoff cusp, the Texans were fairly
> quiet with LB Rosevelt Colvin the splashiest new-
> comer. Houston will need its journeymen signings
> and unheralded rookies to bolster the running game
> and hold down the secondary until CB Dunta Robin-
> son is ready to play.
>
> 29. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS D+
>
> Would it have been wiser to draft RB Shaun Alex-
> ander's replacement rather than throw cash at Julius
> Jones and T.J. Duckett? The receiving situation is
> ugly with Bobby Engram unhappy, Deion Branch
> hurt and D.J. Hackett with the Carolina Panthers.
> And who's kicking? At least they kept CB Marcus
> Trufant and signed LG Mike Wahle.
>
> 30. CHICAGO BEARS D
>
> Addition by subtraction with RB Cedric Benson?
> Maybe, but no guarantee that Matt Forte' or Kevin
> Jones will be better. The receiving corps is a mess
> with Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad gone,
> not exactly an elixir for a shaky quarterback tandem.
> At least LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and
> KR Devin Hester got paid.
>
> 31. TENNESSEE TITANS D-
>
> That receiver QB Vince Young so badly needs?
> Aging TE Alge Crumpler and retread WR Justin
> McCareins will have to do. DE Jevon Kearse hardly
> makes up for the departures of DEs Antwan Odom
> and Travis LaBoy or DT Randy Starks.
>
> 32. GREEN BAY PACKERS I (Incomplete)
>
> The NFC runners-up return virtually intact ... virtually.
> But until the Brett Favre saga plays out, it's hard to
> assess the offseason of a club that could be a contender
> or if the drama will impact Favre's apparent heir appar-
> ent, Aaron Rodgers. The Pack and Favre get an 'F' for
> failure to communicate.
>
> --- end of article ---
having to face
each of the NFC East teams.........
Of special interest will be the Cowboys/Steelers matchup, which
always
promises to be a great game.
We'll be touching base with youse guys as the season progresses....
triba la raza!
On Jul 31, 12:16 am, "observer" <obser...@shinyfeet.com> wrote:
> --
> July 30, 2008
>
> Who got an 'A'?
>
> Summer report cards for all 32 NFL teams
>
> By Nate Davis, USA TODAY
> http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-07-30-offseason-grad....
> ---
>
> With training camps opening, USA TODAY
> assesses each team's offseason progress with
> summertime report cards:
>
> [Re-arranged in order by team,
> from highest ranking to lowest
> ranking]
>
> 1. DALLAS COWBOYS A+
>
> CB Adam "Pacman" Jones is the latest arrival
> for a team that's perfected the high-risk/high-
> reward transaction. LB Zach Thomas is also
> in that mold, though the risk with him is mile-
> age. With WR Terrell Owens, RB Marion Bar-
> ber III, LT Flozell Adams, CB Terence New-
> man and S Ken Hamlin receiving new deals
> and rookie RB Felix Jones and CB Mike Jen-
> kins providing playmaking ability and depth,
> it's little wonder the Cowboys are thinking
> Super Bowl.
>
> 2. MINNESOTA VIKINGS A
>
> An already stout defense should see its vulner-
> ability to the pass rectified with DE Jared Allen,
> the reigning sack king, and S Madieu Williams
> now among its ranks. WR Bernard Berrian not
> only gives QB Tarvaris Jackson a credible deep
> threat, but his arrival also weakens the division
> rival Chicago Bears.
>
> 3. ATLANTA FALCONS A-
>
> The house has been cleaned from top to bottom.
> General manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach
> Mike Smith are the new architects of a franchise
> that is trying to emerge from the Michael Vick-
> era wreckage. Dimitroff snared six players in the
> draft's first three rounds, headlined by a new fran-
> chise cornerstone in QB Matt Ryan. Free agent
> RB Michael Turner and K Jason Elam should
> also pay immediate dividends. Gone are CB De-
> Angelo Hall, TE Alge Crumpler and RB Warrick
> Dunn, who were among the unhappy campers on
> the squad in 2007.
>
> 3. NEW YORK JETS A-
>
> It remains to be seen if the Jets make a play for
> a certain Packers quarterback they wanted to
> draft in 1991. Regardless, New York has already
> made $140 million worth of noise to upgrade its
> roster. G Alan Faneca and T Damien Woody should
> help the running game take flight, especially with
> FB Tony Richardson also on board. Rookie sack
> artist Vernon Gholston is expected to be a force,
> and LB Calvin Pace fits the 3-4 defense like a glove,
> though new NT Kris Jenkins must adapt. Locking
> up S Kerry Rhodes was a wise move. Now about
> that quarterback position ...
>
> 3. MIAMI DOLPHINS A-
>
> Bill Parcells' arrival as the football operations king-
> pin was a precursor to an ongoing overhaul. Largely
> unknown head coach Tony Sparano will get to work
> with LT Jake Long, the draft's No.1 overall pick. DE
> Phillip Merling, QB Chad Henne and G Shawn Mur-
> phy are other potential starters obtained on draft day.
> Parcells also received good value by getting a second-
> round pick for DE Jason Taylor. Miami got younger,
> if not immediately better, in 2008.
>
> 3. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS A-
>
> They continue to lock up their nucleus (DE Luis Cas-
> tillo, SS Clinton Hart) while making crafty signings
> (T L.J. Shelton, G/C Jeremy Newberry, LB Derek
> Smith) who could be valuable role players. CB An-
> toine Cason and RB Jacob Hester should contribute
> as rookies. Bigger question is if QB Philip Rivers,
> TE Antonio Gates and C Nick Hardwick will be
> close to 100% by Week1.
>
> 7. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS B+
>
> In typical fashion, the Colts quietly restocked the
> bottom of their roster through the draft, let some
> middling players such as G Jake Scott and LB Rob
> Morris go and locked up pieces they value more
> -- TE Dallas Clark and G Ryan Lilja. This recipe for
> success should breed more success.
>
> 7. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS B+
>
> Priority No.1 was retaining WR Randy Moss, which
> the Patriots did. Priority No.2 was adding youth to
> the linebacker corps -- hello Jerod Mayo (first-round
> pick) and Victor Hobson (signed away from the New
> York Jets). Priority No.3 was compensating for the
> expected loss of CB Asante Samuel, especially in light
> of Ellis Hobbs' injuries. Didn't happen.
>
> 7. CAROLINA PANTHERS B+
>
> Rookie RB stud Jonathan Stewart and RT Jeff Otah
> should enhance a stagnant running game. QB Jake
> Delhomme and WR Steve Smith should be much
> happier having WRs Muhsin Muhammad and D.J.
> Hackett helping them rather than Keary Colbert and
> Drew Carter. The team might not be able to afford
> both DE Julius Peppers and LT Jordan Gross in 2009.
>
> 7. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS B+
>
> They gambled in the draft, trading up for DT Sedrick
> Ellis, and on the trading block, importing LB Jonathan
> Vilma and TE Jeremy Shockey, who no longer fit their
> old teams' plans. The Saints addressed needs with each
> gambit, and if two pay off, they could be right back
> atop a weak NFC South.
>
> 7. NEW YORK GIANTS B+
>
> LB Mathias Kiwanuka's return should partially salve
> DE Michael Strahan's retirement. The Giants scored
> a second-round pick for disgruntled TE Jeremy Shockey.
> And the club wisely reinvested in its underrated offen-
> sive line rather than overpay for LB Kawika Mitchell
> or S Gibril Wilson. Rookie S Kenny Phillips could be
> star.
>
> 12. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS B
>
> DT Glenn Dorsey, G/T Branden Albert and CB Bran-
> don Flowers highlight what might be a watershed draft
> crop. DE Jared Allen won't be easily replaced, but the
> Chiefs did the right thing letting CB Ty Law, WR Eddie
> Kennison, C Casey Wiegmann, et al. go. The Chiefs
> won't be good in 2008, but a promising foundation
> looks to be in place.
>
> 12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES B
>
> CB Asante Samuel's arrival garnered the headlines, but
> the draft-day trade for RB Lorenzo Booker could prove
> to be a coup, too. Rookie WR DeSean Jackson should
> be perfect for the lackluster return game. CB Lito Shep-
> pard's situation is still festering.
>
> 12. WASHINGTON REDSKINS B
>
> Until DE Jason Taylor's acquisition, the only major
> change had been on the sideline, where Jim Zorn takes
> the headset from Joe Gibbs. Personnel continuity is
> good for a playoff team; hiring an unproven coach with
> a new playbook is more dicey.
>
> 12. BUFFALO BILLS B
>
> The Bills enlisted playmakers in the draft (CB/KR Leo-
> dis McKelvin and WR James Hardy) and play-killers
> on the market (LB Kawika Mitchell and DT Marcus
> Stroud). They have not addressed Pro Bowl LT Jason
> Peters' desire for a hefty raise.
>
> 12. CLEVELAND BROWNS B
>
> Throwing caution to the wind, the Browns punted the
> '08 draft to acquire QB Brady Quinn (last year) and
> DTs Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams (this year) as
> the defensive line needed the help. WR Donte' Stall-
> worth was a good pickup amid Joe Jurevicius' knee
> issues. And it was smart to retain QB Derek Anderson
> and see if he's the real deal. CB Leigh Bodden will be
> missed.
>
> 17. DETROIT LIONS B-
>
> Coach Rod Marinelli is stocking his Tampa 2 defense
> with men he knows -- CB Brian Kelly and S Dwight
> Smith -- while the likes of DT Shaun Rogers are
> shown the door. CB Leigh Bodden, netted in the Rog-
> ers deal, fills another hole. Rookie RB Kevin Smith
> and RT Gosder Cherilus are made to order for a team
> that wants to stress the run with Mike Martz gone.
>
> 17. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS B-
>
> New offensive coordinator Mike Martz might be the
> key for a team that saw its offense struggle in 2007.
> His creative schemes and ability to integrate either
> QB Alex Smith or Shaun Hill and new WRs Bryant
> Johnson and Isaac Bruce into them will likely deter-
> mine this club's fate in 2008. The draft netted young
> linemen.
>
> 17. ST. LOUIS RAMS B-
>
> DE Chris Long, the No.2 pick of the draft, should rev
> up a defense in need of a jolt. On the heels of a season
> ruined by injuries, QB Trent Green and G Jacob Bell
> are welcome sights. Mainstay WR Isaac Bruce and
> K Jeff Wilkins are gone, but with K Josh Brown
> aboard, the Rams will no longer have to endure the
> ex-Seattle Seahawk breaking their hearts at the gun.
> Does coordinator Al Saunders' arrival help or hinder
> the offense?
>
> 17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS B-
>
> Out with the old, in with the new. The Jaguars drafted
> rookie pass rushers Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves
> and said goodbye to Bobby McCray and Marcus Stroud.
> Are WRs Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson upgrades
> or lateral moves?
>
> 17. OAKLAND RAIDERS B-
>
> Ignoring the trenches, the Raiders opted for voltage,
> drafting Arkansas RB Darren McFadden. It'll be con-
> sidered a wise move if he takes heat off QB JaMarcus
> Russell, but it could leave the Raiders open to sec-
> ond-guessing if Russell's constantly on his back or
> trying to bail out a defense that can't stop the run.
> CB DeAngelo Hall will team with Nnamdi Asomugha
> to form a near airtight air defense. WR Javon Walker
> is a wild card.
>
> 17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS B-
>
> Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall could be more than
> a valuable insurance policy for Willie Parker, while
> WR Limas Sweed is the big target QB Ben Roethlis-
> berger requested. But an offensive line that struggled
> to protect Roethlisberger and lost its best player (G
> Alan Faneca) could be an issue.
>
> 23. CINCINNATI BENGALS C+
>
> Give the Bengals points for finally jettisoning chronic
> distractions in WR Chris Henry and LB Odell Thur-
> man. But deduct points as they let WR Chad Johnson's
> histrionics devolve into a spring sideshow. The offen-
> sive line's health will determine whether franchising
> G/T Stacy Andrews was shrewd or foolish. The defense
> needs rookie LB Keith Rivers to be an immediate pre-
> sence.
>
> 24. BALTIMORE RAVENS C
>
> With LT Jonathan Ogden and QB Steve McNair retiring
> and veteran CBs Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and
> TE Todd Heap coming off injury-marred seasons, the
> Ravens seem to be inexperienced and aging in all the
> wrong spots. Much hinges on rookie QB Joe Flacco's
> development. Early returns for coach Brian Billick's
> replacement, John Harbaugh, seem positive.
>
> 24. DENVER BRONCOS C
>
> Quite a revolving door with K Jason Elam, RB Travis
> Henry and WR Javon Walker among those exiting and
> LB Boss Bailey, rookie LT Ryan Clady and DT De-
> wayne Robertson entering. Could be much ado about
> nothing unless new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik
> can fix a unit that banished Jim Bates could not.
>
> 26. ARIZONA CARDINALS C-
>
> The defense lost LB Calvin Pace but added depth with
> DE Travis LaBoy, DL Bryan Robinson and LB Clark
> Haggans. Rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
> and DE Calais Campbell also help. Failing to hammer
> out deals for WR Anquan Boldin and LB Karlos
> Dansby could hurt down the road.
>
> 26. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS C-
>
> The Brett Favre whispers are still simmering. But for
> now, other than adding C Jeff Faine and dumping CB
> Brian Kelly, the Bucs shuffled a lot of spare parts
> around their roster.
>
> 26. HOUSTON TEXANS C-
>
> Though on the playoff cusp, the Texans were fairly
> quiet with LB Rosevelt Colvin the splashiest new-
> comer. Houston will need its journeymen signings
> and unheralded rookies to bolster the running game
> and hold down the secondary until CB Dunta Robin-
> son is ready to play.
>
> 29. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS D+
>
> Would it have been wiser to draft RB Shaun Alex-
> ander's replacement rather than throw cash at Julius
> Jones and T.J. Duckett? The receiving situation is
> ugly with Bobby Engram unhappy, Deion Branch
> hurt and D.J. Hackett with the Carolina Panthers.
> And who's kicking? At least they kept CB Marcus
> Trufant and signed LG Mike Wahle.
>
> 30. CHICAGO BEARS D
>
> Addition by subtraction with RB Cedric Benson?
> Maybe, but no guarantee that Matt Forte' or Kevin
> Jones will be better. The receiving corps is a mess
> with Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad gone,
> not exactly an elixir for a shaky quarterback tandem.
> At least LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and
> KR Devin Hester got paid.
>
> 31. TENNESSEE TITANS D-
>
> That receiver QB Vince Young so badly needs?
> Aging TE Alge Crumpler and retread WR Justin
> McCareins will have to do. DE Jevon Kearse hardly
> makes up for the departures of DEs Antwan Odom
> and Travis LaBoy or DT Randy Starks.
>
> 32. GREEN BAY PACKERS I (Incomplete)
>
> The NFC runners-up return virtually intact ... virtually.
> But until the Brett Favre saga plays out, it's hard to
> assess the offseason of a club that could be a contender
> or if the drama will impact Favre's apparent heir appar-
> ent, Aaron Rodgers. The Pack and Favre get an 'F' for
> failure to communicate.
>
> --- end of article ---