NFL 2007 Season - Discuss it all here

[tim_m]

I think Goodell is going to be a great Commish. He's already come down hard on others and vick should be no different especially if he is convicted. I think he should honestly never play again. The league does not need scum like this.

[Axl4Prez2004]

I don't think anyone here disagrees that Vick should not be allowed to play in the NFL if any part of this case is true.  I'd love to see him banned for good.  However, with no priors and a ton of money on his side, I don't see him doing time.

sweeeet!  I just saw he was suspended without pay from Nike.   

[sandman]

camps are open. this is such an awesome time of year. the anticipation and speculation leading up to the season is unmatched. the vick story isn't going away, but it's nice to be focused on football again.


the eagles camp is gonna be interesting...

LEHIGH, Pa. -- On the first morning of training camp on the dewy South Mountain of Lehigh University, Donovan McNabb came out early, ahead of many of the rookies required to be there. He was by himself, walking deliberately with a shiny new black brace on his surgically repaired right knee.

Then, on the good knee, McNabb knelt and bowed his head, pressing his helmet against the moist dark green grass. He stayed there, pausing perhaps to contemplate his fate, perhaps to thank his God for helping him find his way through a crippling injury and into another NFL season.

It was a moment soaked with unmistakable symbolism. In the ninth year of his career, McNabb is entering his first training camp with his potential replacement on the roster, and for the first time, his fate is not entirely in his own hands.

He has been booed by his own fans on draft day. Survived Rush Limbaugh's misguided rant. Been on the losing end of three straight NFC championship games, been accused of losing steam in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. And had a national catfight with Terrell Owens.

But this is different. The organization that has stood by him, even as McNabb has played in just 19 of the team's last 32 games, decided to create enough doubt about their future together that it drafted quarterback Kevin Kolb of Houston with its first pick in the draft, calling him a franchise-type quarterback.

Thus, from Manayunk to Margate, there is equivocation about McNabb. He no longer is viewed as Theseus, a savior capable of great feats in a pinch. Indeed, McNabb has become a poster child for Philly sports angst. And that is beginning to sink in.

"It's the NFL -- 'Not For Long,'" McNabb said. "Everybody wants to get young, but I'm just older. I'm not old. I'm just older. Thirty is still young. I'm still dancing with the young kids. I don't look at it as though he's taking my job. So, it's not really a motivational factor for me to look over my shoulder. I prepare to go out so that we can win a Super Bowl. Now, whatever happens after this year, next year or whenever it is, it's really out of my control."

That last sentence is telling. No reporter asked McNabb about "next year." He brought it up on his own. This year, McNabb makes $5.5 million. Next year, his pay shoots up to $6.3 million. If he has a down season or gets injured again, that will be a daunting amount for the Eagles to invest in an over-30 quarterback who can't stay on the field, especially now that Kolb is waiting in the wings.

When asked to clarify that comment, McNabb joked that he's "not moving to receiver" and that he plans to play quarterback in Philadelphia "for years to come."

McNabb has had three months to absorb the shock of the team's drafting his replacement. And although he vehemently denies it, all evidence to the contrary suggests that this episode has motivated him like no other. This weekend, his actions and words gave away his emotions -- and what they might mean for one of the league's top performers, and a team that was just three points shy of the NFC Championship Game last season.

After practice, coach Andy Reid was pulled aside and asked how he and his quarterback are getting along after the initial strain of the surprise Kolb pick.

"Oh, we're fine," Reid insisted. "Donovan understands it's not about him. You do that with any position."

Both McNabb and Reid understand the business -- any signs of friction or uncertainty would reduce McNabb's ability to move elsewhere if it came to that. But look carefully and you can find subtle signs that the organization and the franchise quarterback don't have identical agendas.

A month ago, it was McNabb -- not Reid -- who pushed to get on the field about a month early, taking reps during minicamp. It is McNabb's idea to wear the brace.

"Just trying to be protective of the injury," McNabb said. "I can go on without it. But if I feel the best thing is to move on with this thing, then I'll continue to wear it."

That was Saturday. The day before, Reid had this to say about the brace: "I think once the season kicks off, he'll probably get rid of that and move on."

Reid knows this offense is built on the quarterback's ability to move. (See Jeff Garcia, Steve Young, Brett Favre, et al.)

By the way, for the first time in anybody's memory at Eagles training camp, McNabb is taking snaps from the shotgun. A way to relieve him of constantly dropping back and planting on his rehabbing knee? Or a way to usher in Kolb, who took more than half his snaps in college from the shotgun?

Reid is not trying to indelicately prod McNabb to take more risks. Just the opposite. Case in point was when the rains came Sunday in Lehigh, forcing the Eagles to practice indoors. McNabb was left behind in the training room to rehab and work on conditioning. The reason: "This [indoor] surface here has a tendency to get a little slick, and I didn't want to take any chances," Reid said.

Wow. That tells you just how cautious Reid wants to be, and just how far McNabb must go before the coach has enough confidence in that right knee. McNabb says his knee is 75 percent, but who knows?

That's why when McNabb said he will be ready to start the second preseason game Aug. 17, there is organizational grumbling. That's the head coach's call. And Reid has put out the word: No risks. McNabb must be healthy for the opener in Green Bay on Sept. 9.

But the Eagles have a backup plan, and a good one. McNabb is fully cognizant of that. He remembers that his current backup, A.J. Feeley, who is 30, did a more-than-adequate job filling in when McNabb went down with an ankle injury in 2002. Feeley was 4-1 as a starter and guided the team into the playoffs. McNabb returned, only to lose in the NFC Championship Game. Feeley was signed to an extension before Kolb was drafted and is a fan favorite in Philadelphia. And there is still a hangover in town about the Eagles' decision not to re-sign Garcia, who salvaged the 2006 season.

"A.J. will get a lot of reps in this camp, but I'm not coming into it thinking that Donovan is going to get hurt this season," Reid said. "That's not what I'm looking at. I'm looking at Donovan having a great season. Like I said before, he was on an MVP pace last year. I expect him to pick that up and go right through the season that way and stay healthy the whole season."

That oft-repeated, seldom analyzed conventional wisdom about McNabb's being on an "MVP pace" last season needs a reality check. Yes, before he was injured on Nov. 19, he had 18 touchdown passes and just six interceptions with a quarterback rating of 95.5.

But the Eagles lost four of his last five starts, beating only the lowly Redskins in Philadelphia (and in that game, McNabb completed just 46 percent of his passes). He lost in New Orleans, threw three picks in a loss to the awful Bucs in Tampa, couldn't get in the end zone at home against the Jaguars and exited the game against Tennessee with a quarterback rating of 33.5.

It's no wonder much of the town is ready to move beyond McNabb. That feeling even permeated McNabb Inc. late last fall when McNabb's mother, Wilma, blogged that the team's success without her son was "bittersweet."

It got worse when Reid asked injured McNabb to stay behind in Philadelphia when the team traveled to New Orleans for a divisional round playoff game. Then, the head coach canceled a McNabb news conference, perhaps worried about what his quarterback would say.

Making matters more sticky, the team fired Rich Burg, McNabb's personal handler in the Eagles' public relations office. What did McNabb do? He hired Burg to handle his personal P.R., which got off to a rough start in May when McNabb held media availability for invited reporters only at a hockey rink in South Jersey.

So, with that complicated backstory in mind, the team and its lame-duck franchise quarterback are trying to get back to the Super Bowl in a season that might be McNabb's last to prove he can get there and win it in an Eagles uniform.

When he was asked whether time is running out, McNabb responded, "So, it's my turn to step to the window now, huh?"

Of course it is. Now that Peyton Manning has done it, McNabb is next in line.

Sal Paolantonio, who wrote about the Eagles for The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1993-94, covers the NFL for ESPN.

[faldor]

Same here, Moss and Brady = GREATNESS!!!

Atleast I hope so.. unless he complains and quits on plays, but thats doubtful atleast for the first year here. I'm a huge Patriot fan and seeing them go from the crappiest receiving corps in the league last year to possibly a top 5 corps is excellent. The only thing i'm concerned about are the runningbacks, Maroney looked good last year but he had Dillon to trade snaps with, this year he doesn't have much backing him up that would really threaten a defense.

2007-08 - GO PATRIOTS!!

Pats offense should be spectacular but they're about as thin as can get at CB right now, which always seems to be the case for them.  Samuel is holding out and very well may continue to, Chad Scott (a projected starter in place of Samuel) just went on IR and is out for the season.  Right now they've got Randall Gay, who's played 8 games the past 2 seasons because of injuries, and Ellis Hobbs.  Both Eugene Wilson and Brandon Merriwether could see some time at CB switching from FS.  Something to keep an eye on.  I'd say they could use a little more depth there.

[D]

All I know is, Dallas are gonna beat up on the NFC this season.

[Timothy]

All I know is, Dallas are gonna beat up on the NFC this season.

Are you planing to watch the early 90's seasons?

[sandman]

All I know is, Dallas are gonna beat up on the NFC this season.

with that purse-carrying, butter-finger QB? 

no way! the (weak) NFC east will remain under the control of andy reid and the Eagles.

my predictions:

Eagles    11-5
Cowgirls 9-7
Skins      7-9
Giants    6-10

[Axl4Prez2004]

I'm with Sandman on this one D...if, and I do mean if McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy.  If McNabb or Westbrook go down, Eagles fans can say hello to 9-7 at best. 

The Cowboys will eek into the playoffs at 10-6 if McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy, 11-5 if they get hurt and then the 'boys would take the East.

Romo's for real.  The Cowboys will be very good this season, like I said, 10-6 or 11-5.

Giants 7-9, and the Jason Campbell-led 'skins will have 6 or 7 wins max.

 

[bazgnr]

And the Steelers are off to a much better start, even if it is only a preseason showing.  Personally, I'm looking forward to the Tomlin era, but it seems that Special Teams will again be needing a good bit of attention...

[Axl4Prez2004]

Panthers-Eagles Pre-season game is on now.  McNabb looks fantastic...but 9 months status-post ACL surgery          Having had an ACL done myself 15 years ago, I'm amazed.  I wish him luck as long as he isn't playing against my Vikings!   

PS looks like Vick's gonna get thrown in the slammer for at least a little while.   

[tim_m]

Panthers-Eagles Pre-season game is on now.  McNabb looks fantastic...but 9 months status-post ACL surgery          Having had an ACL done myself 15 years ago, I'm amazed.  I wish him luck as long as he isn't playing against my Vikings!   

PS looks like Vick's gonna get thrown in the slammer for at least a little while.   

Yep and very likely released by the falcons. His NFL future doesn't look to bright to me.

[cotis]

Michael Vick pleads guility to dogfighting charges.

[freedom78]

Michael Vick pleads guility to dogfighting charges.

Too bad for the falcons that this happened, but it (losing Vick) may be a blessing for them.  I just don't think he's capable of leading them to a championship. 

But who knows, now?  Maybe he'll go to prison, become the Mean Machine, and The Rock will turn him around by creating a prison team! 

[Sober_times]

All I know is, Dallas are gonna beat up on the NFC this season.

The Dallas Cowboys are returning almost their entire roster from last year. Which include Tony Romo, a quarterback who played well but ended the season playing inconsistant the last 2 or 3 games. A defensive secondary that is still average at best. And they took a step back in coaching in losing Bill Parcells

I just don't see how this team with Wade Phillips, a head coach who has only failed as a head coach in the nfl, can be any better this year than they were last year still having the same issues that were not resolved durring the draft or free agency. I see the cowboys as a 9-7 team at best with the eagle again taking the division. I see them more along the lines of 8-8 or 7-9, taking a small step back with the loss of Bill Parcells.

I haven't bought into Tony Romo yet. He did great when no one had any tape on him and no one knew his tendancies as a quarterback. With film on him now, teams can take advantage of his faults, which he has, and you will see a sub-par quarterback at best. Romo at best will be a Danny White, which falls much lower on the quarterback scale of Roger and Troy.?

[Sober_times]

And the Steelers are off to a much better start, even if it is only a preseason showing.? Personally, I'm looking forward to the Tomlin era, but it seems that Special Teams will again be needing a good bit of attention...

I'm very anxious to see how the steelers new offensive scheme works. With reports stating it will be much different than days of run, run, pass. I'm anxious in seeing if rottenburger can elevate his game to winning games for his team rather than not losing them. I still expect to see a lot of running with Willie Parker, but they say a quarterback would be extremely pleased with the passing attack their going to attempt to add to pittsburg.

Michael Vick pleads guility to dogfighting charges.

Too bad for the falcons that this happened, but it (losing Vick) may be a blessing for them. I just don't think he's capable of leading them to a championship.

But who knows, now? Maybe he'll go to prison, become the Mean Machine, and The Rock will turn him around by creating a prison team!

Will Joey Harrington do anything in atlanta this year?? Can they compete in the NFC south against Tampa bay, Carolina, and New Orleans?? I loved Harrington when he came out from college, I really thought he could be a real successful qb in the nfl. So I am anxious to see, given his new found shot away from the black hole that is detroit and coming off a season in Miami where he showed more bright spots than his entire time in detroit, rather he does anything there. I don't expect him to ever be a great qb, but I am anxious to see how performs in atlanta. Reports are saying he looks the best he ever has.?

[sandman]

some refreshing clarity on the recent vick happenings, courtesy of profootballtalk.com....

MICHAEL VICK SPEAKS 
by Michael David Smith

Michael Vick made a public statement this morning, an hour after he officially became a felon when he entered his guilty plea to federal conspiracy charges.

Vick's statement was much more contrite than anything he had said previously, but that's not saying much.  Vick spoke without any notes and began by apologizing to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Falcons coach Bobby Petrino, and his Falcons teammates.  He also described himself as "ashamed" and "totally disappointed in myself."

Although he didn't make any specific references to his own role in dog fighting, he did say, "dog fighting is a terrible thing." Starting off by apologizing and denouncing dog fighting was the right thing to do.

But then Vick moved on, and it's hard not to be extremely cynical of his next statement:  "Through this situation, I've found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God, and that's the right thing to do right now." 

If Vick thinks he's going to buy sympathy with a jailhouse conversion, he must think everyone watching is an idiot.

And then the statement took an odd turn, when Vick said, "In this entire situation, I never pointed the finger at anybody else."  What?  Does Vick think we've all forgotten that the first thing he did when the cops showed up at his Virginia property was point the finger at his cousin?   

Overall, it was not a performance that is likely to do much to change Vick's image.  He's got a long, long way to go for that.


12 OF THE VICK DOGS WEREN'T PIT BULLS

We'd always been confused about the total number of dogs removed from Mike Vick's property in April.  Some reports had the number at 66 dogs; others said there were 54.

Based on a nugget buried in the latest ESPN.com item regarding the Vick saga is an indication that the correct number is 66 total dogs, and only 54 pit bulls.

Writes Elizabeth Merrill:  "Approximately 12 other dogs were seized from the Vick residence.  Some are believed to be beagles, and animal activists hope they are adoptable.  It's unclear why Vick had them."

Here's why Vick had them, Liz -- they were practice dogs.  Canines of weaker breeds intended for use in testing sessions.  You know, the same testing sessions that 6-8 pit bulls failed that same month, prompting Vick and his cohorts to conclude that, if the pit bulls weren't able to fight, there was no point continuing to spending money feeding and caring for them.  After all, Mike had committed to giving $10,000 to the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings; he needed to reduce that Alpo line on the 1915 Moonlight Road budget.

Thus, maybe some of those beagles were the dogs that exposed some of the 6-8 pit bulls as pussycats.

We apologize for being so frank about this, but we believe candor on the present topic is required so that folks don't lose sight of what this operation was all about.  It had nothing to do with "loving" dogs; the dogs were the vehicles for Vick's "love" of watching two animals fight.

As one reader wrote on Friday after reading about Vick's insistence that he didn't game on dog fights:  "Now I understand. Mike Vick didn't run a dog fighting operation and go to dog fights to gamble.  Because he's not a gambler.  It says it right on his plea agreement.  He just went to see the dogs rip each other to shreds.  Not for the excitement of winning or losing few bucks but for the blood, guts, gore, suffering, and death.  So at least he's not a gambler, just a sadistic, sick mofo.  I feel much better now.  For a minute I thought he had some awful character flaw like gambling." 

[tim_m]

What a complete egotistical asshole. I honestly hope he gets the max sentence of 5yrs.

[Axl4Prez2004]

wow.  great post.  I can't stand Vick...and I'm someone who loooved watching him play.  I always thought his career would be cut short, but I thought it was gonna come down to too much scrambling and a devastating hit from someone a lot bigger than him.

to think that this scum-bag was my team's fantasy quarterback the last 2 years!!  He's disgraced my team!!

[freedom78]

I have difficulty believing these celebrity apologies, because you know they each have a lawyer/PR person saying "if you want to salvage your career..."  I hope he means it.  I hope his mother whoops his ass for it.  But more than anything, I hope that he simply doesn't repeat this behavior. 

I always wondered how his younger brother could be such an asshole, while Michael seemed the opposite (minus the bird flipping incident, which I think is understandable)...guess he just hadn't been caught.

[sandman]

speaking of fantasy football.....i have my draft tonight and i'm picking 6th.

my top 5 are:

1. LT
2. Addai
3. SJ
4. LJ
5. gore

assuming those are the top 5 picked, who would you pick at 6? any thoughts would be appreciated! 

my main options are:

1. alexander - personally, not a big fan of him. but even if his best days are behind him, he's probably a lock for 1200 yards and 8 TDs

2. parker - i like him alot, but am a little concerned pitt is gonna use their backups more this year.

3. travis henry - i LOVE henry. but am VERY concerned about drafting a denver RB. seems like shannahan gets bored and just starts using everyone.

4. westbrook - hometown favorite. carried me to a title last year.

other options are maroney, ronnie brown, rudi johnson.