Looking Forward to the 2010 NFL Season

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With all the coverage surrounding the annual Brett Favre retirement saga, the Albert Haynesworth conditioning test, Darrell Revis' holdout, and the Terrell Owens/Chad Ochocinco pairing in Cincy, I thought I would give a short list of the five things I am most looking forward to for the 2010 NFL season.

1A. The Pete Carroll Era in Seattle

As a lifelong Seahawks fan and a Trojan alum, this couldn't have been a better match. While I was sad to see Pete leave SC, I would rather him go to Seattle than anywhere else. His past stints in the NFL have been overvalued and I think the next couple of years will give us a more accurate picture of his coaching abilities at the professional level. He has full control of personnel, a great owner with money, a great fan base, in a great city. The team? Not so great. The Seahawks have veteran leadership at quarterback, a solid defense built around franchise-caliber players like Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatupu, and young talent like Russell Okung and Earl Thomas. I am not realistically expecting the playoffs in year one, although that would be awesome. But I am expecting signs of improvement.

1B. Fantasy Football

For obvious reasons.

2. New Places, Same Faces

A lot of marquee players shuffled around in the off-season, and I cannot wait to see which moves worked and which moves didn't. I am most excited to see Donovan McNabb in Washington. I have always been a huge McNabb fan, and I hope he gets the support he deserves while playing for the Redskins. Some other acquisitions that I am excited to see are Anquan Boldin in Baltimore, Julius Peppers in Chicago, Brandon Marshall in Miami, and yes, Terrell Owens in Cincinnati.

3. J-E-T-S

I am really excited for Year 2 of Mark Sanchez in New York. Last year the Jets had an amazing run to the AFC Championship game, and as challenging as that was, it may be even more challenging this season. The league always finds ways to adapt. Teams like the Patriots will be healthy again and gunning for the young Jets. Can Rex Ryan conjure up some more magic to inspire his team? Sanchez certainly hopes to improve off of his rookie campaign and all signs in camp point to a more composed, experienced quarterback and leader. They lost two very important pieces in their vaunted rushing attack in Leon Washington and Thomas Jones, so the burden will be on Shonn Greene and newly acquired veteran LaDainian Tomlinson. The defense also improves with the pickup of Antonio Cromartie to play opposite of Revis Island. But how will Revis and his holdout affect the team? Gotta love it all.

4. Rookies

It's always great to see the young kids out of college jump into the pros and find their footing. Sam Bradford should get the nod in St. Louis and we will see how his shoulder holds up, as well as his mental fortitude because the Rams will undoubtedly be a cellar dweller. I already mentioned the Seattle rookies. Then there's the men in the middle like Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy. Finally, I can't wait to see the playmakers like Eric Berry, C.J. Spiller, and Dez Bryant.

5. Adrian Peterson

He's my favorite player in all of football (inches ahead of Ed Reed). He's the best running back in the game. The most dynamic player on the offensive side of the ball. And he is sponsored by Muscle Milk. I can't wait to see my boy ALL DAY suit up and run over defenses. Oh yeah, and the opportunity to see Brett Favre try again to win the Super Bowl might be cool, too.

Matt Leinart's Time to Shine

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With Kurt Warner calling it quits, 2004 Heisman winner Matt Leinart finally gets the reins of Arizona's offense. Things have changed quite a bit since he last had control of the offense in 2008 when he started 11 games. From a personnel standpoint, the team no longer has the best wide receiving tandem in the league after Anquan Boldin packed his bags for Baltimore. Instead, Leinart will aim to hit an often-double and sometimes triple-teamed Larry Fitzgerald, who will share the field with young talent like Steve Breaston and Early Doucet. And Leinart will no longer have a seasoned veteran lining up behind him in the backfield; Edgerrin James is now in Seattle with Leinart's college coach Pete Carroll, while the young legs of Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower will split carries for the Cardinals.

But perhaps more importantly, Leinart's image has changed, as well. The expectations made for him after he was drafted were enormous and probably overbearing. Leinart quickly crumbled under the limelight and was seen by many as a career backup, and even worse, a huge bust. During the off-season, tabloids and internet gossip sites were littered with photos of Leinart partying with girls in hot tubs. He was depicted as unmotivated and a lost cause. 

But this season we will see a new Matt Leinart. At least that's what Cardinals fans and Leinart supporters hope. Leinart has a chip on his shoulder. He is finally the outright starter and can play without worry of Warner breathing down his back. He is playing for a new contract. He's directing a new offensive scheme that will emphasis the run, not the pass like Warner's offense did. He even renewed his brand by ditching Nike and signing up with Reebok. Maybe it's in the shoes.

And I think Leinart breaks out this season. I'm not saying the Cards win the Super Bowl or even make the playoffs. In fact, I hope they don't (Go Seahawks!). But the Cards don't need Leinart to be Warner. They don't even need him to be Matt Hasselbeck. Think Trent Dilfer. Think Rex Grossman of the NFC champion Bears from 2006. In other words, just manage the game. Don't lose it. Back at USC, granted he was surrounded by superior athletic talent, Leinart controlled the game. He was the field general who  made sound decisions and relied on his accuracy, and a weapon named Reggie Bush, to pick apart defenses. He should aim for much of the same this season. Don't turn the ball over. Hand the ball off to the yard eaters behind you. And deliver catchable balls to Fitzgerald and the speed demons on the outside.

Fearless prediction: 2800 yds/20 TDs/10 INTs, 2nd in the NFC West

For further reading, check out this blog post about Leinart's switch to Reebok:  Is Matt Leinart Still Marketable?

Finally...Number 600

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It took him awhile, but Alex Rodriguez finally belted the 600th home run of his fine career earlier today in New York versus the Toronto Blue Jays. A-Rod had not homered since July 22nd, and the milestone blast ended a 9-for-46 slump. I am sure the homer lifted a King Kong-sized monkey off of his back. As he pursued the mark, every at-bat of his was aired live by ESPN; each plate appearance that I saw (and there were many) was painful. Rodriguez never seemed comfortable and with each ground out or third strike you could see the frustration in his body language. That all changed today on a 2-0 pitch from Shaun Marcum that caught too much of the plate. A-Rod drove it deep to right center field and gave the Yanks an early 2-0 lead.

Hours later I visited ESPN.com and saw articles and comments from writers, analysts, and fans trying to put the historic milestone into perspective. Every article and snippet made some mention of steroids and tainted records. The lead article even went so far as to imply that the day would have been more special had A-Rod been clean. And perhaps it might have. But I think there was too much focus on PEDs and A-Rod's past.

Let's remember that only seven players in the history of Major League Baseball have reached the 600 home run mark. Seven. That's not even enough players to fill in a lineup card. That's less than 0.1% of players in the history of the sport. And he did it faster than any of the other six players (35 years, 8 days old).

I doubt you will find many A-Rod fans outside of New York. I consider myself a fan of his, but it pains me to say that after he spurned my Seattle Mariners for the biggest payday in sports history. But personal feelings and moral issues aside, how can you not appreciate the achievement? 600 is 600. Mark McGwire, as juiced up as he was, couldn't reach that mark (583). It isn't easy, clean or unclean. So let's put the steroid issue aside (until his Hall of Fame date) and enjoy the spectacle.  Congrats, A-Rod.

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Advice for Fat Albert

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About 20 minutes ago I was the next caller in line on the Mason & Ireland Show on 710 ESPN talk radio. They were discussing the Albert Haynesworth saga. Unfortunately, they changed topics, but here are my thoughts on the subject.

(Quick saga summary:  plus-sized football player was asked by his new head coach to run two, 300-yard sprints with limited rest time in between; plus-sized football player completes the sprints, but took too long of a break in between them; coach asked him to retake it, but now plus-sized player couldn't pass even if his life depended on it.)

People seem to be split pretty evenly on this story. Who exactly is right or wrong? Is coach Mike Shanahan out of line? After all, he did not force any other player to take the conditioning test. Furthermore, it's a pretty damn hard test; Marcellus Wiley on 710 ESPN claims that 70-80% of current NFL players could not pass this test; on the contrary, if you google search "Albert Haynesworth test," you will find everyone and their mothers attempting and passing the test.  Or perhaps Haynesworth is wrong. Maybe he is just acting like another prima donna athlete. He should just listen to his coach and get in shape.

Well, I personally don't think either person is flat out right or wrong. I don't think this is a black and white issue, because things like this depend on circumstances. In this situation, there's a lot of extra baggage involved--Haynesworth's surliness towards switching to a 3-4 defense, the fact that Haynesworth came into camp 30 pounds lighter, and the fact that these are voluntary workouts, to name a few.

But here's a thought! Why doesn't Haynesworth step up to the plate and shut his critics up?! Everyone from former athletes to talk show hosts to casual fans are doubting you, and questioning you, and ripping on you.  Why not end all the discussion and end this over-hyped ordeal by passing the conditioning test with flying colors? Hell, do THREE, 300-yard sprints. Do one of the sprints while giving Coach Shanahan a piggy-back ride!

Albert Haynesworth is, supposedly, a franchise defensive tackle. He plays like one. He gets paid like one. He acts like one. Well, sometimes. Would a true franchise player ever back down from a challenge like this? When is the last time you saw Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, or Troy Polamalu shrivel up in the face of adversity like Haynesworth is doing? Or how about other guys his size, like Justin Tuck or Jared Allen? The great players of the game rise to the occasion. The saddest part is it sounds like a rival player has called him out before a big game, but NO! This isn't even a game! This is a stupid conditioning drill. I don't know who is right in this, but I know who can make things right, and that's Haynesworth. Don't wait to be saved by anyone. If you want to be treated like a star player, then start acting like one.

MLB Trade Deadline Review: Help or Hurt?

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At this time every season, the contenders indirectly separate themselves from the pretenders.  The top teams deal to strengthen their weaknesses; the teams with the playoffs in their reach make a move to find the missing piece that will put them over the top; and teams in the cellar unload high-priced veterans in hopes of bringing in young talent for the future.  While baseball fans and analysts across the country endlessly debate which teams "won" and "lost," I think it's too early to make such conclusions.  Instead, I put teams into one of two categories:  "Help" or "Hurt."  In the following paragraphs, I will evaluate the moves made by several teams.

Texas Rangers:  Big Help

Of all teams involved in the mid-season bartering, the Rangers helped themselves the most. Nobody believed that the Rangers would be in first place at this point in the season, and the team made big trades that would give them the best chance to remain in first the rest of the way. The first move, and by far the biggest, was trading for star pitcher Cliff Lee from the Mariners.  Lee is arguably the best pitcher in the game. His strikeout to walk ratio is absurd. He dominates in big games that matter (ask the Yankees).  And he's been dealt at this point before in the season, so he can make the appropriate adjustments to joining a postseason race and playing with new teammates and coaches.  Anytime you land someone of this caliber, it would come as no shock to think that you instantly upgraded your team. But why is Lee such a valuable addition? Because the Rangers need pitching more than any other first place team. The Rangers are in first for two reasons.  First, they have a juggernaut offense led by Josh Hamilton, Vlad Guerrero, and Michael Young. And second, they have gotten surprising pitching contributions from C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis.  But to win down the stretch, or at least have the confidence to win, you need proven players. The veteran arms on the Rangers staff--Harden, Feldman, and Holland--have either been hurt or simply underachieved.  So Lee not only gives you a dominant Game 1 starter, but he gives you presence, confidence, leadership, and experience. This will take pressure off of Wilson, Lewis, and Tommy Hunter down the stretch, not to mention the bullpen (Lee is among the league-leaders in complete games).

In addition to Lee, the Rangers went after veteran contributors on offense and in the field. Bengie Molina is a seasoned veteran behind the plate who has shown some life with his bat as of late.  Jorge Cantu is a guy who can play first or third and drive in runs.  And Cristian Guzman is a good defender who plays both positions in the middle of the infield, makes contact at the plate, and has some speed on the base paths.  Ultimately, the Rangers shored up their biggest weakness in the best possible way and gave themselves more flexibility at the plate and in the field with proven veterans.

New York Yankees:  Enough Help

Anyone who has followed the pinstripes this season knows that their biggest hole is in the bullpen. Joba has been a disappointment, Chan Ho Park has been relatively worthless, and whenever you have to rely on Chad Gaudin to bridge you over to the 9th, you have to be concerned.  Well the Yankees took a gamble on a back-end guy and brought in Kerry Wood. Although Wood has struggled a bit so far this season as a closer in Cleveland, the potential is there. I think the Yankees should have gone after someone like Matt Capps (went to the Twins) instead, but Wood was what they got.

The Yanks don't really have any weaknesses in their lineup, unless you count a disappointing Curtis Granderson, who is finally showing signs of life. They passed on big prizes like Adam Dunn and Jayson Werth and instead traded for Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns.  Berkman is a proven offensive monster who may benefit from a change of scenery and the chance to win it all. Kearns will likely spell Granderson when the Yanks face lefties. Ultimately, this just gives the Yanks some extra depth, which can never hurt.

Minnesota Twins:  Needed More Help

Each of these three teams are in the thick of division races and had obvious missing pieces/holes to fill. The Twins needed a starting pitcher, the Rays needed a bat, and the Giants needed offensive help as well.

Supposedly the Twins could have gotten Cliff Lee for highly touted prospect Wilson Ramos. They declined. Then they turned around and traded Ramos for Matt Capps. I understand how important the bullpen is, an Capps has had a solid year closing in Washington. But the Twins already have Jon Rauch, who has stepped in nicely for the injured Joe Nathan.  And the Twins had a chance to put together a starting rotation that could lead them to the World Series. Imagine throwing Lee, Pavano, and Lirano for the first three games in a series. With the Twins' potent offense, that would be a recipe for success. But instead, they will have to settle with Scott Baker or Kevin Slowly instead of Lee.

San Francisco Giants/Tampa Bay Rays:  Helpless

Finally, both the Giants and Rays needed a bat in the middle of their lineups. Both teams were rumored to be pursuing Adam Dunn, but Dunn didn't move because the asking price of was too high. The Rays pursued Jayson Werth as well, but Werth was taken off the market after Victorino went down in Philly.  The Giants were supposedly going after the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista, but nothing came of that.  I just cannot fathom why neither team brought in a bat.  The Giants made the most of things by bringing in a mediocre relief pitcher from the Pirates. But I wouldn't be so easily fooled if I were a Giants fan. That team, along with the Rays, blew their opportunity.

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