Around the NFL: Same Old Story
This week the NBA has been ejecting players left and right, Shaquille O’Neal is learning martial arts, and Manny Ramirez is making Dodgers fans regret their recent season ticket purchases. Just another week in sports, I suppose. Still, there must be some sort of NFL news out there. I wonder what could be the top story going on in NFL news…
Favre-Watch ‘09
It’s begun. The annual Brett Favre retirement conversations and rumors have started. After Favre retired following a terrible downward spiral with the Jets at the end of the 2008 season, I really thought he was done. He didn’t look healthy, he didn’t seem to be having fun, and he didn’t seem to be the Brett Favre that I’ve grown accustomed to watching since he come into the league in the early 90’s. However, this week he’s been linked to meetings with Brad Childress, HC of the Minnesota Vikings. With his rights released by the Jets and an unclear response from Favre himself, the speculation has gained momentum on Favre perhaps returning once again, though this time in purple. True that Favre has already said that he told the Vikings he intends to stay retired, but how many people are really buying this? I truly believe that this won’t be the last we hear of the Brett Favre saga. Whether he stays retired or not, people are going to continue talking about it throughout the off-season.
I’ll admit that I’m generally tired of the annual Brett Favre sagas. All the speculations, the “will he” and the “should he” analysis that goes in is enough to make you want to rip your own teeth out. However, I have to say that in spite of everything, a part of me hopes Favre comes back. In a season where I lost John Madden’s commentary, it’ll be too difficult to adjust to the lack of Favre-bashing and Favre-praising that goes on during every game throughout the season. It’ll just be too difficult for me to listen to Tony Kornheiser and not hear him announce his undying devotion to Favre with each quip and every comparison regardless of the game he’s talking about. Plus, Favre just simply makes football that much more interesting. You never know when he’s going to single-handedly lose a game for his team or when he’s going to randomly take over a game and throw six touchdowns. When he drops back to pass, you never know if you’re going to get a pick-six or a fifty yard touchdown pass. At this point in his career, he’s basically Rex Grossman with a better track record and a higher percentage of positive outcomes (sometimes).
I know that this gets old and that his wishy-washy actions year after year grow thin on all of us. But my answer to that is to simply sit back, relax, and enjoy all the ridiculous hooplah that surrounds any and all things Favre. That’s what I’m doing this year. I’m enjoying the fact that there’s so much NFL talk during the off-season and after the draft even. I’m enjoying the idea of Favre playing for the Minnesota Vikings and perhaps getting them on national television a couple extra times so I can watch Adrian Peterson while he’s still young and in his prime. I’m even enjoying the back-and-forth arguments on whether this is a good idea for Favre or not.
The way I look at it is this: if Favre’s torn biceps is not a factor, then he is better than Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson. To me, this means the Vikings (who are in a position to make a Super Bowl run if they get a half-decent QB) would benefit from the addition of Favre. Also, Favre is probably a better option for them than any other available QB right now (the best remaining free agents are probably Rex Grossman and J.P. Losman). Because of these factors, I don’t see any reason for the Vikings not to look into bringing Favre into the mix. From Favre’s perspective, I really don’t think his legacy can be tarnished anymore than it was at the end of last season, when he led the Jets to a downward spiral last season that cost them the playoffs and cost Eric Mangini his job as Head Coach. He might as well go to the Vikings and try again. I’m not saying he’s still an amazing QB, I’m just saying he’s kind of a fun part of the league. If he wants to play and a team wants to sign him, I have no problems with that. Either way, this will dominate football conversations for about the next six months.
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Significant Release
In the wake of the Cincinnati Bengals drafting OT Andre Smith out of Alabama in the top-10 of the recent NFL draft, the Bengals have released starting LT Levi Jones. Jones has at times played like a Pro Bowler since coming to the Bengals as a first round pick in 2002. However, his last three seasons have been marred by injuries and the decision to upgrade the decision with the rookie Smith was made.
This was a good move for the Bengals: injecting youth into an offensive line that will have the lofty mission of protecting franchise QB Carson Palmer, fresh off an elbow injury that kept him out of almost the entire 2008 season. This move also may prove good for Jones as well, as many teams craving a starting-caliber LT are likely to take notice. The Buffalo Bills, who traded away two-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters and then failed to address the LT position in the draft, are sure to take notice of Jones’ availability. Other teams such as Detroit, Arizona, Oakland, and San Francisco could be interested as well. Each team is looking for an upgrade, and if Jones can turn in a healthy season, he could provide some offensive line stability to these teams that so sorely need it. Good luck to Jones as he enters the next chapter in his career. I would certainly take a gamble on him if I were in need of a LT.
Other Transactions
There were a few other significant transactions this week:
Before releasing Jones, the Bengals signed FS Roy Williams, one of the most feared safeties of this decade while he was with the Dallas Cowboys. Williams is coming off an injury and he’s known to be a liability in coverage, but this is still a great pickup for the Bengals as they are sorely in need of defensive playmakers. Williams should lend help to the secondary and bring some more added toughness to a defense that also added Tank Johnson and physical rookie MLB Rey Maualuga this off-season. Maybe this will be the year that Marvin Lewis finally lives up to his billing as a defensive-minded coach.
Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers MLB Larry Foote was released to make way for youngster and former first round pick Lawrence Timmons. Foote was unhappy with his diminished role, as he was pulled in passing situations throughout the 2008 season. He shouldn’t have to worry about that this year however, as he signed a contract with the Detroit Lions. The Lions have gone through instability at the MLB position ever since Stephen Boyd retired after the 2001 season due to injury. Foote will bring toughness and experience to the middle of the Lions’ defense, and with newly acquired Julian Peterson and Lions building block Ernie Sims on either side of him, Foote should help to create a formidable trio of LB’s for the 2009 Lions.
The Colts signed DT Ed Johnson, whom they cut last year for a drug charge. This is a great move for the Colts. They stuck by their decision to cut him last year and now they’re giving him a second chance. I think that this keeps their integrity in check and fills a huge hole. Johnson was arguably their best (maybe even only) run-stopper on the D-Line last year and his presence was sorely missed throughout the season and especially against Darren Sproles in the playoff game against San Diego. Pairing Johnson up with rookies Fili Moala and Terrance Taylor will help out the Colt’s run defense and make teams like Jacksonville and Tennessee throw against them. I really feel as though this signing (along with the additions of rookies Donald Brown and Austin Collie) puts them back in a good position to take the AFC South again.
The Rams traded third year FB/RB Brian Leonard to the Bengals for DT Orien Harris. This is probably a decent trade for both teams and it involves role players who should be able to help in certain situations. After the Bengals brought in Tank Johnson, Harris wasn’t necessary, and the Rams replaced Leonard with Mike Karney. Leonard will provide the Bengals with a backup running back and a fullback that can catch passes out of the backfield and carry the ball up to a half-dozen times per game. Harris, who’s bounced from team to team but performed adequately at the very least in one start last year, will add depth to the Rams defensive line.
Also, the Dolphins cut third year QB John Beck, a second round pick in 2007. He then signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Beck didn’t fit in with the Parcells regime in Miami and he’s better served in Baltimore with OC Cam Cameron who drafted him. This is a good move on the part of both teams, but Dolphins fans will be sad to see the confirmation of another failed draft pick from 2007, joining Samson Satele, Lorenzo Booker, Abraham Wright, Kelvin Smith, Reagan Mauia, and Drew Mormino as players drafted that year who are no longer with the team. In fact, the only two players from that draft still on the roster are P Brandon Fields and WR Ted Ginn Jr., a player who has yet to develop into the star that Dolphins fans hoped he would be.
The Patriots took a shot this week when rookie Tyrone McKenzie, expected to play OLB in their 3-4 scheme, tore his ACL. McKenzie will be lost for his entire rookie season, which is a blow to the Patriots’ off-season mission of getting younger and more athletic on defense.
I’ll be back in two weeks to talk about more movement, and hopefully a resolution on the Favre situation!
By: Brandon Niles
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer