More Football (NFC Analysis)

Now for my brilliant insight on the NFC:
NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: With TO in camp you just have to hope he stays happy. This guy is talented for sure, but no one else on this team is. Terry Glenn (worst haircut in football) is past his prime and Drew Bledsoe is not good(see career stats for proof). I think Julius Jones is the best QB on their roster and he's playing halfback, well maybe Drew Henson. The only redeeming thing is Parcells and he is inconsistent at best with respect to winning. My bad, Jason Witten is a great TE this does not matter when your team is crap.

New York Giants: Looking good on paper are the New York Giants this year. Solid on both sides of the ball with a number of proven all-stars. Watch for Eli to get his act together, everything hinges on him. The defense can hold their own, but will not win games for them, and the two backup QBs will not get the job done if Eli goes down. I think he was thrown to the wolves a bit early last year and just wasn't ready for this level of competition. Probably sucks being Peyton's brother.

Philadelphia Eagles: This team actually, still, has all the tools to win it all ESPECIALLY with TO gone. McNabb is great and Garcia can also win games if anything goes wrong. The defense is also solid with perhaps the weak link or intangible being whether or not Kearse can play an entire season. After an amazing first three years he has been a bit fragile. If this team stays healthy watch out.

Washington Redskins: A storied history and a once great franchise, the Redskins should investigate the possibility of playing a season or two in the NCAA or possibly High School. Mark Brunell is quite fragile and only a shadow of the man from the past. They have some great people on defense that have never really emerged as stars but definitely could if the scheme was tailored to their abilities. My advice; throw Brunell the clipboard and let Jason Campbell play. I normally don't like rookies to be starters but he is the better option. I know some folks will talk the receivers up but I have never been sold on short receivers.

NFC North

Chicago Bears: Have some talent no doubt, but Rex Grossman will take no one very far. This has nothing to do with his fragility either, he is simply not big or athletic enough. They have Griese who can be a winner if he could ever get out of "I'm good because dad was" mode(primadonna). Three good running backs, and one fantastic receiver (Mushin) along with a good defense. None of that matters if Grossman is the guy though.

Detroit Lions: Should also investigate a season or two in the minors( see Redskins). A few talented guys sprinkled into positions that don't win games is a recipe for another losing season. I want to see Orlovsky play mainly because he is ginormous and can't be any worse than Kitna. The Jury is still out on McCown since he started his tenure with Arizona where they only allow one good player at a time to be on the team.

Green Bay Packers: Favre returns! Unfortunately that equals a losing season now. His competitiveness is to be admired but his ability is no longer the stuff of legend. With a good QB this team could rampage the NFL like the Packers should. I would try Aaron Rodgers and hope he has been learning from Favre the kid was great in college. Every other position on this team is tough and stacked.

Minnesota Vikings: Seems weird we won't see Culpepper out there in his giant purple uniform, wait who's that throwing the ball? Brad Johnson?!?! Doesn't he suck? No he does not if placed in the right scheme. Has good numbers sprinkled through his career, which started in Minnesota, and has a championship to his credit. The bad news: I don't know who anyone else on this team is. Koren Robinson sounds familiar, and Tank Williams but that's it. Good luck Vikes!

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: With Finneran out already things don't look good. To be fair Vick can win a game by himself on the right day, but not everyday. I see D.J. Shockley as the number three QB, but look for that to change shortly. This team can only win when Vick is accurate and has some lateral movement to find throwing lanes. Box him in and he is terribly mediocre at best. If he can move even a little this team is always a threat. This team's success rides on the O-line.

Carolina Panthers: Good team solid on both sides with decent backups for almost every position. This is not news, why hasn't this team won a ring the last three years? Something is stopping the Panthers and it isn't lack of talent. John Fox's third year, let's see if it finally comes together for Carolina.

New Orleans Saints: Snatched Drew Brees thinking he would help but the running game is the battle to watch. Reggie Bush will be the man on this team. If Brees has time he can make plays, if he is hurried and flustered it's over. I see they snatched up the embattled Adrian McPherson too; this kid looked amazing before FSU pitched him on his ear for stealing. Keep an eye on that number three QB, the Saints might actually do some damage this year.

Tamp Bay Buccaneers: IF Chris Simms and Michael Clayton can get on the same page this team will be an absolute terror to their opponents. Good talent at almost every position offense and defense it all hinges on those two guys. Yes, there are other receivers but none are as explosive as Clayton can be( see 2004).

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: Snagged Edge and Leinart. Seems this team may be violating their self imposed only one good player per year rule. Edgerrin's days of scaring people are over, but perhaps the mystique will work when combined with the legend of Kurt Warner. My hope is that Leinart gets to sit with the clipboard and learn all year until the Cards can grab a fresh dynamic young RB. If that happens Leinart is the prototypical NFL type and should be able to bring some success to the team for the future. This year they can do damage, but only based on the memories of Warner and James in their prime.

San Francisco 49ers: I love Trent Dilfer, but he isn't great and he's the number two. Alex Smith was a stud in college, but class is over son. Other than them I don't know anyone on this team, what happened to them? Wait, Larry Allen is there wasn't he in the 1974 Super Bowl?

Seattle Seahawks: Came close last year certainly the stars were aligned in their favor. Shaun Alexander is truly amazing, but I think we will learn that last year was some sort of fluke, I look for Hasselbeck to, once again, prefer the opponent's defenders to his own receivers. David Greene is on the roster at number three and will certainly pass Seneca for the number two shortly. He might be the spark that Seattle needs.

St Louis Rams: I see some talent (Stephen Jackson) mixed in with some guys that really need some relief (rest of offense). Good defense but the offense is suspect. I don't see Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce worrying too many defenders these days. Seattle managed to do it with only a running back, so you never can tell.