Around the NFL: 10 Things for Week 7
The trading deadline came and went and with very little action as usual. However, I think this is because we’ve already filled out quota for huge NFL trades this year. Braylon Edwards a couple of weeks ago going to the Jets was just the final chapter in a trade-filled 2009. Jay Cutler, Jason Peters, and Richard Seymour highlight the year and provided more trade excitement than we’ve become accustomed to in the NFL. It’s doubtful that we’ll see so many marquee players traded in the years to come.
Week 6 saw Minnesota barely hang on to a victory over the Ravens, the Bills beat the Jets in the battle of “teams that seriously didn’t want to win Week 6,” and Drew Brees and Tom Brady put on a passing frenzy. Lots of excitement, and this week Peyton Manning plays against the Rams.
Here are 10 things to look for in Week 7:
10. The One Trade
The trading deadline did provide one trade. The Eagles, who have lost two starting linebackers this season already, traded for Rams LB Will Witherspoon giving up WR Brandon Gibson and 5 th round pick in the 2010 draft. Witherspoon was withering (pun intended) away in St. Louis and will be an upgrade over Jeremiah Trotter who is roughly 92 years old. The Rams get a developmental WR and a badly needed draft pick. They’re so bad right now; cutting loose a few veterans really isn’t a bad idea. Witherspoon is a capable starter and should immediately help the Eagle defense. Now if only their patchwork offensive line could get it together…
9. Saints vs. Dolphins
The Saints will visit the Dolphins in what could theoretically be their hardest game yet. The Dolphins have momentum going their way, a young QB who has looked good in his first two starts, and an offensive gameplan that matches up well against the explosive Saints. The Dolphins deployed a run-first, control the clock gameplan against the
Colts in Week 2 and wound up almost winning. Their tackling has been a little better since then, so if they can have similar offensive success this week and minimal defensive improvements against Drew Brees, they might stand a chance in this one. Of course, the Saints have been unbelievable this season, so this has the potential to be a blowout and a deflating loss for the Dolphins. Still, it should be entertaining. All the Dolphins other games have been so far.
8. Roughing the Brady
I know last week was Brady’s coming out party and that the roughing the passer penalty against the Titans was actually legit. However, people need to stop acting like this isn’t a Brady rule. While Big Ben gets his fair share of roughing the passer penalties as well, Brady has to be the king of it. At this point, there have now been two rules created for Brady. The tuck rule (sorry Raider Nation) and the Brady rule, which says you can’t dive at the QB’s legs. My issue with this new rule is that if it had happened to any other quarterback short of Peyton Manning, nobody would’ve batted an eye. And that’s proven because I consistently see hits that are far more of an infraction than the one called on Terrell Suggs a few weeks ago on other QB’s that aren’t called at all. They shouldn’t be, and neither should most of the roughing the passer calls against Brady. Brady is an amazing player. He doesn’t need this much help.
7. Houston Love
The Houston Texans have looked really good at times and really bad at times this season. They stand 3-3 and with Tennessee doing so badly and Jacksonville even less predictable, they stand a legitimate shot to compete for a playoff spot if they can continue to play the way they did against the Bengals last week. They have a dynamic WR in Andre Johnson (one of the best in the game right now if you ask me), a talented QB in Matt Schaub, and a breakaway threat in RB Steve Slaton. The defense shows signs of life and the offensive line seems to be improved over years past. I’m not giving them a wildcard berth yet, but keep an eye on them. The talent is there, they just need to finally put it all together and play with some consistency.
6. Snyder Error
Daniel Snyder needs to hire me to make his football decisions for him. He brought in a long retired offensive consultant in Sherman Lewis and has now given him play-calling duties. I think he’s trying to make HC Jim Zorn quit. Give Zorn the season, then fire him if the Redskins still suck. However, I always preach consistency in this league and Snyder needs to learn that once he hires a coach, he needs to stay out of everything and just support his hire for a good three to four years before evaluating the situation. I imagine that Snyder is getting ready to fire Zorn during the bye, but we’ll see I suppose. Don’t be surprised to see major changes in the next year in D.C.
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5. Lost Defenders
Lofa Tatupa, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Omar Gaither, and Antwan Odom all were lost for the season. These are key players on their respective teams, particularly Tatupa and Odom. Tatupa has been an outstanding MLB for the Seahawks for several years now and his absence will put more pressure on rookie Aaron Curry. Odom was finally starting to live up to his massive contract in Cincinnati but will now have to wait until next year to further his impact. Tinoisamoa and Gaither were solid starters on the Bears and Eagles respectively. Both teams have already lost their starting MLB’s for the year and can ill-afford another loss. In a league where the QB’s get all the attention, these injuries should be noted and should get more press. They seriously hurt their respective teams and could make an impact on their overall success this season.
4. Spotlight on a Budding Star: James Laurinaitis, MLB, St. Louis Rams
It’s hard to find any Rams to be excited about. Sure there’s the always solid O.J. Atogwe, the talented Steven Jackson, and the young Chris Long who’s trying to put it together. But generally speaking, it’s hard to find anything very good to say about the Rams this year as they appear to be on their way to another top 5 pick in the draft (if not first overall this time). However, rookie second round pick James Laurinaitis is slowly asserting himself as a leader on their defense and he’s making big plays for the Rams. He’s not perfect yet and we won’t likely see him in the Pro Bowl this year, but he’s definitely an up-and-comer and shows the smarts, the athletic ability, the sideline-to-sideline vision, and the all out guts to be a dominant MLB in this league. I’m excited for him and I hope that he provides a solid foundation for the Rams to get back on track.
3. Rush Limbaugh
Is anyone actually sad that Limbaugh can’t buy a team? Look, I’m all for free market, bashing Roger Goodell, and definitely freedom of speech. But people have to remember that Rush has made some comments that legitimately angered NFL players. Because of that, the NFL Players Union wrote a letter basically saying they didn’t want Rush to be a part of the league. Many key players, notably Matthias Kiwaunuka of the Giants, expressed feelings that they wouldn’t sign with a team that was co-owned by Limbaugh. The way I look at it is this: If I’m going to buy a company, and many of the workers make it known that they won’t work for one of the people involved in the transaction, I will either pull out or replace that person. It’s simply good business to do so. Particularly when you’re dealing with the best of the best in the field such as in professional sports: Just my take.
2. The Non-Story
I realize that it’s kind of counterproductive to write a story bitching about people writing stories about nothing. However, I was so irritated I had to share. Jerry Jones came out and basically said the equivalent of: Someone offered a significant trade, but I didn’t do it. That’s not a story. If Bill Belichick offered Al Davis ANY trade and Al didn’t do it, then THAT would be a story. However, anyone else and it’s just another trade offer. You know what I did? I offered to call the plays and handle personnel decisions for the Panthers. They said, “who are you and why are you calling the stadium?” That’s about as valid of a reason to report something as Jerry Jones deciding not to make an undisclosed trade. I realize we all have to fill columns and articles, but come on!
1. Game of the Week
The Vikings will visit the Steelers this week in a game that is a must-win for Pittsburgh. The Steelers are playing inconsistent football so far this season and trail the upstart Bengals for the division lead. With the Ravens also competitive and coming off a huge loss to the Vikings last week, the Steelers need to come out of this game with a win. The Vikings however, are 6-0 and are coming off a thrilling victory that came down to the wire in which they benefited from a late missed field goal. On the shoulders of Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre, the Vikings will try to remain undefeated and push the Steelers further down in the standings. No matter who wins (and if I were a betting man, it’d be on the Vikings), the game should be entertaining to watch as it provides fans with exciting QB play, great pass rushers, a young and talented running back in Rashard Mendenhall, and of course Adrian Peterson: the most exciting player I’ve watched since Barry Sanders.
By: Brandon Niles
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer