Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Gearing up for the NFL Offseason

Just a few NFL notes...

  • Tom Brady has pulled out of the Pro Bowl "due to injury." Of course, this injury is undisclosed, just like every Patriot injury. While I'm sure this has some kind of legitimacy, I cannot help but be skeptical with the Tom Brady of the past few years. Not that I ever really liked the guy too much (J-E-T-S!), but the attitude and snarkiness of Brady has increased exponentially over the last few years. The guy who used to be the model American kid that caught a big break (thanks Mr. Bledsoe), now is the model dating, conceded chachbag that does ads like this:
The Tom Brady that won the snow game against Oakland would never have turned down a Pro Bowl, or allowed this picture to be taken.


  • Upcoming free agent wideouts to watch: Braylon Edwards, Terrell Owens, Vincent Jackson and Antonio Bryant. The least desirable of that crew would almost certainly be T.O., who was not helped by the dysfunctional Bills offense last season. Edwards seems to be happy in New York, but after serving his time in Cleveland, he's going to be absolutely sure that he lands somewhere that will cater to whatever he needs. If San Diego loses Jackson, they will have a huge hole at the wideout position, as I don't think Malcolm Floyd has shown enough that he is ready to step up yet.
  • Staying with wide receivers, the Anquan Boldin saga will be a very interesting story to watch this offseason and on draft day. Despite his backing off his trade demands and current wishes to stay with the Cards, it may be in the best interest of the Cardinals to trade him now. Fitzgerald is everything a club could want in a wideout and Early Doucet and Steve Breaston showed this season that they are developing into a pair of very talented options. Boldin's no show in the playoffs did not help his case in 'Zona, and the club would likely trade him for considerably less value that previously demanded with Doucet and Breaston ready to take his place.  Traded or not, Boldin will be asking a large price at the end of the 2010 season, a price that Arizona is not going to pay.
  • The coaching meetings going on in Oakland should be enough to scare off the potential candidates for the job opening that doesn't exist yet... what reason would any interviewing head coach have to trust Al Davis knowing that they interviewed while another coach still held the position?! The Raiders franchise will continue to be the joke of the NFL so long as these kinds of stunts remain business as usual. Just ask Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix.
  • Finally, with Chan Gailey looking for the quarterback of the future to lead the Bills back to the glory days of Jim Kelly and the four consecutive Super Bowl appearances (WIDE LEFT!), maybe he should look just south. Michael Vick is looking for a new home and a starting position. Gailey likes the spread offense and Vick is quite familiar with it. And with the lackluster offensive line providing little pass protection, a scrambler may be just what the doctor ordered.



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