Monday, June 17, 2013

2013 Offseason Update, Week 19


Leach has moved quickly since being cut by the Ravens, visiting the
Miami Dolphins early in the week. He has also been linked to
Kansas City and Denver. Photo credit to ESPN.

We’re now seven weeks from Preseason. Also, Tebow-mania picked up a bit this week when he signed a two-year deal with New England, one that includes no guaranteed money.

Ravens Lose Major Piece

I’ve written about a possible opening for the Dolphins in the AFC East with the Patriots lack of experience at receiver, and about the important year Jake Locker and the Titans have in the AFC South.

Meanwhile, in the AFC North, the release of Vonta Leach could give the Bengals an even better chance to win the division than I already thought. These days, we rarely see impact players at fullback who have the ability to influence the outcome of games.

Leach is the exception to the rule. He can run the ball in more than just short-yardage situations, the can catch it out of the backfield, and he’s a solid blocker on both run and pass plays. With an offensive lines that already can be suspect at times, letting go of Leach is going to come back to bite Baltimore. I can it costing the Ravens up to two games this season, which should allow Cincinnati to win the division comfortably.

Austin Collie Working Out

After more concussions than even I can remember, Austin Collie, the former Indianapolis Colt, is trying to keep his NFL career afloat. He worked out for the Patriots on Wednesday and the 49ers on Thursday. Both teams are in dire need of experienced receivers. The Patriots only have a couple active receivers with solid NFL experience and the 49ers are looking someone to offset the loss of Michael Crabtree. San Francisco signed another receiver recently, Brandon Carswell, but he suffered a torn ACL.

Lombardi Turns 100

Vince Lombardi, one of the greatest coaches in NFL history and also one of the most quoted sports figures, would have turned 100 last Tuesday. To honor him, I’d like to share my Top 10 favorite Lombardi quotes.

10. “Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will all be judged on one thing: the result.”

9. “Success is like anything worthwhile. It has a price. You have to pay the price to win and you have to pay the price to get to the point where success is possible. Most important, you must pay the price to stay there.”

8. “If it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?”

7. “The difference between a successful person an others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

6. “Winning is not everything – but making the effort to win is.”

5a. “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”
5b. “Once your learn to quit, it becomes a habit.”

4. “The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.”

3. “Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time.”

2. “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

1. “Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. What your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.”


If I am missing anything important, or if you just want to hear my thoughts on any other offseason news from the past week, feel free to contact me via my Twitter account, @cpuffnfl.

Monday, June 10, 2013

2013 Offseason Update, Week 18

Jake Locker is entering his third season in the NFL, viewed by most as
the most important year in a young quarterback's development.
Photo credit to USA Today.

As of yesterday, we are now eight weeks away from the 2013 Hall of Fame Game in Canton, featuring the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys.

Jake Locker Entering Important Season

Last week I talked a little about the AFC East, focusing on the Dolphins and Patriots. The AFC South appears pre-determined with the Texans leading the way, the Colts close behind and the Titans and Jaguars bringing up the rear.

But the Titans have an opportunity to surprise some people and it starts with Jake Locker, who is entering his third season, typically and important one in the development of an NFL quarterback.

Locker showed great potential at times last season and now needs to become more consistent. High draft picks are expected to break through in their third seasons, and those who don’t tend to flame out soon after. Locker has some solid targets, especially with Delanie Walker coming from San Francisco. If Kenny Britt can stay healthy and out of trouble, Locker has the opportunity to lift Tennessee to the number two spot in the division.

JaMarcus Russell Bears Workout

Russell’s NFL comeback attempt landed him in Chicago on Friday. His accuracy was reportedly erratic at times, but he gained positive reviews overall. The Bears also worked out Trent Edwards and Jordan Palmer, so it doesn’t seem likely that they will sign JaMarcus, but his workout could land him some other opportunities around the NFL, and will certainly boost his standing among CFL teams if it comes to that.

Donté Stallworth

Back in March, Stallworth and his girlfriend were in a hot-air balloon that hit some power lines. Both were shaken up and sustained some injuries, but both recovered and Donté was cleared to resume his NFL career in May.

A few days ago, the Redskins invited Stallworth to participate in their veteran minicamp next week. If they end up signing him, it would be his second stint in Washington after playing in 11 games for them in 2011.

Stallworth suffered an injury last year after playing in just one game for the New England Patriots, but in that game he scored on a 63-yard touchdown pass. So, if healthy, he can bring some explosiveness to an offense that already has plenty of it in Washington.


If I am missing anything important, or if you just want to hear my thoughts on any other offseason news from the past week, feel free to contact me via my Twitter account, @cpuffnfl.

Monday, June 3, 2013

2013 Offseason Update, Week 17

Tom Brady is working with new receivers during OTAs. Three of his
top receivers from 2012 are inactive with injuries and four more are
no longer with the team. Photo credit to BusinessInsider.com.

We had yet another slow week of NFL news. But it’s June, so that is certainly something to be excited about. We’re another month through the offseason and that much closer to football!

JaMarcus Russell

Fifty pounds is a lot to drop for anyone. For JaMarcus Russell, it was essential if he wanted any chance of returning to professional football. He has done it and is now down to 265, his weight from 2007. He is rumored to have the interest of multiple NFL teams and some CFL teams, though no teams have been named as suitors. Russell has said that he is open to signing with a CFL team if he doesn’t do so in the NFL some time in the next four to six weeks.

Cam Newton has also shed some weight this offseason, twelve pounds to be exact. It appears to be mostly fat weight he’s shed as he looks a little more toned. Hopefully that leads to a healthy season as he tries to carry the Panthers to a better finish in the NFC South in 2013.

Opening for the Dolphins?

I haven’t offered much insight into my predictions for the upcoming season yet, so here is a little on the AFC East. I expect the Dolphins to finish second, but there may be an opening for them to leapfrog the Patriots. With the various surgeries Rob Gronkowski has gone through and is recovering from, Tom Brady is without his top seven pass-catchers from 2012.

Here is the list:
  • Wes Welker (118 receptions) – Denver Broncos
  • Brandon Lloyd (74) – Free Agent
  • Rob Gronkowski (55) – Inactive, rehabbing arm and upcoming back surgery
  • Aaron Hernandez (51) – Inactive, rehabbing shoulder injury
  • Danny Woodhead (40) – San Diego Chargers
  • Julian Edelman (21) – Inactive, foot injury
  • Deion Branch (16) – Free Agent


Madden NFL 25

I always look forward to Madden and keep close tabs on the development of the games. This year, Connected Careers returns with modes where you can play as a coach, player, or owner. Unfortunately, owners can’t bid to host Super Bowls, so there goes my idea of building a state-of-the-art dome with real grass for the Redskins.

There will be a sideline reporter, Adam Schefter will provide commentary during the draft and replays are supposed to look more authentic, like what you see during actual broadcasts. In addition, the Infinity Engine has been touched up so we should see more realistic foot-planting when running with the ball and players shouldn’t be able to float up onto their feet after the play.

Reminder

As I mentioned at the beginning of the offseason, I am now writing for ACC Battles, covering several athletic teams here at the University of Maryland. Because of that, I have less time for projects like this blog.

That said, covering the NFL truly is my passion and I am not prepared to give it up completely. So this year I will be doing something a little different. During the regular season, I will be focusing on the Redskins and Ravens, the two local teams. I will also cover prime-time games in depth (Thursday-, Sunday- and Monday-night games) and will predict every game of every week. But, until the playoffs, my main focus will be the Redskins and Ravens. I will still be watching as many games as possible, but I will not recap every game as I did last season.


If I am missing anything important, or if you just want to hear my thoughts on any other offseason news from the past week, feel free to contact me via my Twitter account, @cpuffnfl.