Is ScottJax getting old?? Broncos, Cardinals playoff bound?? Messi greatest soccer player ever?? This and more, in today’s edition of

Had an appointment with my surgeon this past Monday. I have been having some discomfort with my hip. It gets sore when I am at work lifting mail from containers. He says to stop lifting, but I can’t because its my job. Plus, I have been working out 4 days a week. So now he wants me off the weights and swim, or bicycle ride instead. I can use a stationary bike and ride it for 2-30 minutes. I have been contemplating retiring at 62, which would be in 6 years, or wait until I am 66 and 6 months. If I wait longer I won’t have to pay for healthcare out of my retirement because I would get Tricare for life. Plus social security would be another $600 a month more, that’s a lot of money for senior citizens to have. LOL. Oh they worries to have to make about retirement. LOL. Any suggestions???

If this blog is called Random Thoughts, why do I start writing it 3-4 days in advance?? Am I the only one who starts writing their blogs early??

Do you think with the edition of Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos or Arizona Cardinals are playoff bound?

If Manning goes to the Broncos, does Tebow get traded to the Jaguars?? Fans in Jacksonville wanted Tebow to be drafted by his hometown team, but it didn’t happen. He would have filled the seats at Everbank Stadium. But, this would not have been the same Tebow as these fans are accustom to. I think the Gators of the National Champion era would have given the Jaguars a hell of a fight.

Lionel Messi, considered one of the greatest soccer players, at the age of 23, scored 5 goals in a game. Lionel’s five goals is the first time it has been done in Champions League History. Here is poetry in motion with the great Lionel:

Knicks have lost six in a row. Is this the falls of the team? Is it Lin’s fault? Now that the team is healthy is it a jelling thing? This team is too talented not to make it to the playoffs.

Til Next Time

Scott

Making predictions of an upcoming NFL season is basically akin to swinging a stick at a pinata blindfolded, yet without knowing if such a target truly exists. The reason of an educated guess can be leaned upon, yet there is no real science because too many unknown factors lurk in shadows set aside annually by the enemies of success.

Even with a 2011 season hurriedly smashed together after a players strike that killed much of the preseason, the league has gone on collecting the offerings of fans as this circus barks town to town. The actual play on the field may have degenerated some, but much of this stems from rules that were set out without much clear thought instilled.

As the NFL hits the midpoint of the 2011 season, there are already reasons to rejoice about the game. Some surprises have been peppered in with the unexpected and relied upon. As the pretend awards are passed out, on their way to the real ones in a few months, we look back at preseason predictions and compare them with the reality of here and now.



MVP : Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers


I picked Rodgers to win this award a few months ago, and he has played as expected. His team, which relies on him heavily, is undefeated and showing they could be better than the Packers squad that won it all last year. I still think he walks away with the NFL MVP Award when he season ends, and Rodgers has done nothing to show why he won't yet.

Matt Forte, Frank Gore, Drew Brees, and Eli Manning are worth noting for their efforts so far.






Offensive Player of the Year : Fred Jackson, Halfback, Buffalo Bills


My preseason selection, Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens, has done nothing but show why I selected him. Yet Jackson is the biggest reason the Bills are in first place in the AFC East. He leads the NFL in rushing yards and is just 47 yards away from leading the league in total yards from scrimmage.

Jackson already had the respect of the league for his versatility, and it appears he is headed to his first Pro Bowl season. If he holds up this year, since the Bills rely on him so heavily, Buffalo could make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Rice, Forte, LeSean McCoy, Wes Welker, Calvin Johnson, and Steve Smith are all certainly capable of winning this award when the season ends.










Defensive Player of the Year : Jared Allen, Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings


The player I picked to win this award, Ndamukong Suh, has been average for most of this season. Allen has been awesome all season. He is tied with the most fumbles forced, fumbles recovered, and passes defended amongst all defensive linemen.

He leads everyone with 12.5 sacks and is fourth in tackles amongst defensive linemen. Allen has also found time to intercept a pass. While the Vikings have struggled this season, it could be a lot worse if Allen wasn't having the season he currently is. Minnesota has been mostly competitive because he keeps caving in offensive lines off the edge.

Nick Barnett, Kameron Chancellor, Darrelle Revis, Charles Woodson, and Jason Pierre-Paul are just a few players who could be considered for this award.







Offensive Rookie of the Year : Cameron Newton, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers


My selection, Daniel Thomas, has struggled with his health all year and is fourth amongst all rookies in rushing yards. Newton is third so far.

But it isn't just his legs that makes him special. Despite being the first draft selection of 2011, pundits expected him to struggle from the spread offense, that he played in college, to the pro style offense. Newton has had a few rookie struggles, but he has mostly stood out for his struggling Panthers.

He has performed so well that Carolina hardly runs the football this year despite giving halfback DeAngelo Williams just 75 carries so far after making him one of the highest paid halfbacks in the game before the season started.

Newton has already set team records, by throwing for 432 yards in one game and 854 yards in two consecutive games. His 422 yards passing in his debut is the most in NFL history, and the 854 yards thrown in his first two games is also a NFL record.

Not only is Newton the first rookie in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in first career start, as well as the first rookie in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in first two career starts, he is just the sixth quarterback ever to throw for over 400 yards in consecutive games.

He is the only player in NFL history with at least five rushing touchdowns and five passing touchdowns in his first five games, and he is one rushing touchdown away from having for most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback.

Andy Dalton, who is having an excellent season so far as the starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, is the only rookie in the discussion with Newton. Dalton has done well, but the surprising Bengals sit on top of the AFC North right now because of their defense.

Newton's team is not winning much yet, but the future appears bright for this 6'5" 248 lbs monster who already has the respect of opponents. He has a better quarterback rating than Dalton, as well as over 900 more passing yards. He is already the leader of a rebuilding Panthers franchise, and one day could be the best quarterback in the league.







Defensive Rookie of the Year : Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, Arizona Cardinals


My pick, J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, is playing very well and is certainly in the running. So are players like Mason Foster, Ryan Kerrigan, Von Miller, Akeem Ayers, Marcell Dareus, Phil Taylor, and Brooks Reed.

Peterson leads all NFL rookies in solo tackles, interceptions, passes defended, and is third in total tackles. But what separates him is the work he does on special teams. He is already the best punt returner in the league.

He leads in the NFL with three touchdowns off of punt returns, punt return yards, and a whopping 21.8 average off of 19 returns. Peterson is already within reach of several NFL records.

His three touchdowns is tied with Devin Hester as the second most by a rookie in NFL history and one away from the record Hall of Famer Jack Christiansen set in 1951. He is just 242 yards away from the record Louis Lipps set in 1984 for the most punt return yards ever by a rookie. He is also within reach of the 23 yards per return average Herb Rich set on 12 returns in 1950.

His 99-yard punt return is the second longest ever in NFL history. It happened in overtime against the Saint Louis Rams, and was the first overtime by a rookie off a punt return since Tamarick Vanover did it in 1995.

If Peterson keeps up even half of this pace, as many suspect he will, there should be an easy task for the voters on who is the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year.








Comeback Player of the Year : Ben Tate, Houston Texans


I picked Tate and he is already fulfilling expectations. He already has 623 rushing yards despite being basically a reserve with limited touches. He is averaging a very impressive 5.7 yards per carry as well.

This award generally goes to players who, like Tate, are coming back from a previous year ruined by injuries. It also can go to an improved player who had previously struggled. Men like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Alex Green are in the running based on those facts.

Arian Foster is the star of the Texans. Not only is he the 2010 rushing yards leader, he leads the team in rushing yards , attempts, and touchdowns this season. Yet he has a lead of just 33 yards over Tate despite 45 more attempts and having started every game but two for Houston in 2011.

It will be curious to see how much longer the Texans keep this duo in tact beyond 2011. Tate has just one start this year, a number he undoubtedly would like to change down the road. Houston has the most rushing attempts and second most running yards by a team so far this year, which is a big reason the Texans sit on top of the AFC South right now.

Tate seems a cinch to join Foster as a pair off 1,000-yard rushers for the Texans this year. He has shown no residual effects from the broken leg he suffered during a 2010 exhibition game either. He has given no reason why he shouldn't win the 2011 Comeback Player of the Year Award.






Coach of the Year : Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers


There really is no doubt who is leading here. Harbaugh is leading one if the NFC's better teams with a good defense and rushing attack. Yet Harbaugh also has had a tremendous positive influence on quarterback Alex Smith, who has performed well despite having his top two wide receivers struggling to stay healthy this year.

My selection, Steve Spagnuolo, has seen his team play poorly. The Niners are already running away with the NFC West title, and their rookie head coach is a huge reason why. If Harbaugh keeps it going, he may pass his younger brother John in accolades. He and John Harbaugh, a successful head coach with the Baltimore Ravens, are the first pair of brothers to be NFL head coaches.







Yoooooooooo! Dis iz 7thStoneFromTheSun, 3rd's cuzin, once again! Yo? I did crappy las weak, going 8-6. I iz now 80-50 overall, so lets get dis partee started. Capeesh?



New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
Game of the Week

Da winner gets two sit alone on top of da NFC South, even if Atlanta has played one less game so far. Both teems have average defenses, but da explosive Saints offense has looked better than the more balanced Falsons offense so far.

Matt Ryan has been inconsistent with Atlanta all yeer, but da defense has looked better in each of da las three weaks. Drew Brees has been mostly awesone for New Orleans all seasun, but da inconsistent Saints defense can get exposed by a good running teem.

If Michael "Burner" Turner gets off, Atlanta wins. If not, look for Brees to make da difference.

Atlanta 30 Saints 28










Tennessee Titans @ Carolina Panthers

I really iz flippin a coin on hear. Cam Newton mite prove me wrong.

Titans 27 Panthers 24










Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

OK, da Bungles have had a nice ride against da lesser teems. Now reality sets on.

Steelers 24 Bengals 20










Saint Louis Rams @ Cleveland Browns

YO! I rather have a labotomy den watch dis crap.

Rams 28 Browns 20










Buffalo Bills @ Dallas Cowboys

I tink da Bills fun ride is over. I don't tink much of da Cowboys, but I can sea dem winning hear.

Cowboys 27 Bills 24










Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

How many times in da Jags history have dey gone into Indianapolis expecting two win?

Jaguars 23 Colts 21











Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

Tim Teblow ran a win las weak, but da Chiefs will not allow dis.

Chiefs 31 Broncos 16









Washington Redskins @ Miami Dolphins

If da Skins lose hear, pack it up until 2012. John Beck gets his first win ever, at the expense of his former team.

Redskins 20 Dolphins 17










Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles

Kevin Kolb prolly won't play hear two get back at da Eagles for trading him. But Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will.

Eagles 31 Cardinals 20











Houston Texans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Houston kneads dis, and da Bucs are wildly inconsistent. Dat Houston runbning game pulls it out.

Texans 28 Buccaneers 17











Baltimore Ravens @ Seattle Seahawks

Da Ravens tend two play down too competition and dey are goin to have a let down after a big win las weak. I tink it will be a close one hear.

Ravens 27 Seahawks 24












Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears

Da Bears are cummin off a big win las Monday, but da Lions know how two play dere division rivals.Det beet Chicago by 11 just over a month ago and sweep dis series to try to stay within reach of da Packers.

Lions 26 Bears 24









New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers

I see a old school battle hear, where defense rules most of da game. I like da Niners defense much more den da Jints, but I tink Eli Manning is just a bit better den Alex Smith.

Giants 17 49ers 16








New England Patriots @ New York Jets

Dese are too flaewed teems dat we all expected more from. Flip a coin hear, da winner gets to sit on top of da AFC East. I'm going with the better defense.

Jets 23 Patriots 21









Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

Da Pack just has two loose once. Right? Dis iz a game they very well could, but I tink dey isn't reddy yet.

Packers 34 Vikings 23






Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. Detroit Lions
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. New York Giants
7. Houston Texans
8. New York Jets
9. New Orleans Saints
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
11. Chicago Bears
12. Cinncinatti Bengals
13. New England Patriots
14. Buffalo Bills
15. Philadephia Eagles
16. Dallas Cowboys
17. Tennessee Titans
18. Kansas City Chiefs
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. San Diego Chargers
21. Seattle Seahawks
22. Oakland Raiders
23. Carolina Panthers
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
25. Minnesota Vikings
26. Washington Redskins
27. Arizona Cardinals
28. Saint Louis Rams
29. Denver Broncos
30. Cleveland Browns
31. Miami Dolphins
32. Indianapolis Colts


OK, dat iz dat. Now iz da time two go find a few honeys too hang out with, because yous knows dat I iz all about da honey. As dey say in Ol' Messico = A.M.F.







 

Lean On Me

The defense has often been a big reason the Washington Redskins has won over the last several years. This was true again in their victory against the New York Giants last week.

The Arizona Cardinals offense is still a work in progress because quarterback Kevin Kolb is new to the team. Yet they did show the ability of production against the Carolina Panthers last week in several areas.

Halfback is a big question mark, but Beanie Wells churned out 90 yards on 18 carries last week. The Redskins allowed 75 total rushing yards last week, so it is important they shut down Wells and make the Cardinals defense one dimensional.

Arizona can throw the ball, which is seen by the 309 yards that Kolb put up on 18 receptions. The Redskins might have to play a lot of man-to-man defense because the Cardinals like to throw to their tight ends and even have four on their roster.

Todd Heap and Jeff King combined for 101 yards on four receptions. Both averaged over 20 yards per catch, which included King's 48-yard touchdown catch. King, mostly noted for his blocking ability, had averaged just over eight yards on 114 career receptions in his five seasons coming into this year.

Washington gave up two big plays to Giants tight end Jake Ballard, a rookie who is on the team because he can block well. This lumbering tight end exposed a weakness in a Redskins defense by getting 59 yards on a pair of receptions.

If the safeties are forced to pay closer attention to Heap and King, it will leave wide receivers like Larry Fitzgerald facing the Washington cornerbacks only. Fitzgerald is spectacular in a double-team situation, but he is an even bigger threat in single coverage.

Washington needs the return of strong safety LaRon Landry, who has been nursing a hamstring injury for months. Landry was the best safety in the NFL in 2010, piling up 85 tackles before getting hurt early in the ninth game of the season, is in a contract year and hasn't played since November 15th of 2010.

Landry is a week removed from criticizing the Redskins training staff via Twitter. He now defers questions to head coach Mike Shanahan, who only says Landry has been limited in practice so far.

The Redskins cannot rush him back too early, but Landry has already stated he is excited to play next to free safety O.J. Atogwe. It is the first time since Sean Taylor passed away in 2007 that Landry has a Pro Bowl-caliber player alongside him.

Reed Doughty has been in the lineup while Landry heals, but Doughty is basically an extra defensive back who plays a linebacker slot in a dime package. The Giants picked on him often last week, putting Washington in a precarious position against Arizona if Landry needs another week off.





Special Delivery

Redskins placekicker Graham Gano missed another chippie last week. He missed five field goals of 39 yards or less in 2010, something he did again on his only field goal attempt last week. Washington cannot afford to keep having Gano miss field goals that because points in the NFL are of premium importance.

Washington has the electric Brandon Banks are their return specialist. The diminutive Banks is capable of taking it to the house every time he returns a kick. Yet Arizona has two big threats of their own on special teams.

LaRod Stephens-Howling, who is about the same size as Banks, led the NFL in kickoff return yards last year. He also took two kickoff returns for touchdowns, his third in his two previous seasons as an NFL player. Gano must take advantage of the extra five yards he has kicking the ball off by not giving Stephens-Howling any chances to return the ball.

If that wasn't enough, Arizona also has a dynamic punt returner in rookie Patrick Peterson. Though he was drafted for his excellent coverage skills as a cornerback, the rookie went through college as a dominant punt returner. Peterson returned just two punts last week, but the second one was returned 89-yards for the winning score.

Sav Rocca might have been the Redskins best free agent signing in 2011. Rocca has averaged 43 yards a punt in his four NFL seasons, showing a remarkable consistency along the way.

But putting the ball inside the opponents 20-yard line is possibly what Rocca does best. He has dropped 106 of his 341 career punts inside the 20, and has an impressive net punting average of 37.5 yards. Four of his six punts dropped in inside the 20 last week, but the Redskins gave up 27 yards on the two punts that were returned.

Washington must not allow the Cardinals returners go off this Sunday. If they do not, it could take away any other successes they have on the field.



Bombs Away

Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman took advantage of a immensely crippled Giants defense by throwing for 305 and a pair of scores while tossing just 13 incompletions. Washington needs a similar performance against an Arizona defense that looked bad last week.

The Cardinals have a few injured cornerbacks of their own, and this was seen against the Panthers. Rookie Cam Newton struggled with his throwing accuracy all preseason, but he took the form of Johnny Unitas against Arizona with a record-setting performance.

Newton set a record for a first game by a player by carving up the Cardinals defense for 422 yards and missing on just 13 passes in 37 attempts. Eight different Panthers receivers got a reception, led by the 178 yards and two scores Steve Smith had on eight catches.

Washington could use another big game from tight end Fred Davis, who had 105 yards on five receptions last week, as well as a healthy Chris Cooley. Carolina's tight ends combined for 129 yards on seven receptions last week, so Grossman may want to look in the direction of Davis and Cooley often.



Payback

Tim Hightower was stunned a few months ago by being dealt in a trade between the Cardinals and Redskins. While he was happy to return to the Washington Metropolitan Area, where he grew up, he also saw the Redskins obtained him for just a sixth-round draft pick and 14-year journeyman defensive end named Vonnie Holiday.

Hightower had led the Big Red in rushing last year, his third NFL season, while averaging nearly five yards per carry. He led the NFL with an 80 yard run as well.

Despite 23 touchdowns and 118 receptions in mostly a reserve role in his Arizona career, the team dealt him because his 12 career fumbles bothered the Cardinals coaching staff.

He has a very impressive training camp, getting 170 yards on 25 carries in a few quarters of play. Yet the Giants shut him down to 72 yards on 25 attempts last week. Take away a 22-yard run he had, the 50 yards on 24 attempts showed the Redskins offensive line gave Hightower no chance.

Arizona faced a pair of productive Carolina halfbacks in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart last week. They limited the pair to 56 yards on 19 carries, while also holding the athletic Newton to 18 yards on eight attempts at sacking the rookie four times.

Hightower will certainly want to make Arizona regret trading him, but his offensive line needs to help get that point across. The unit was just terrible last week against a Giants defensive line missing their two best players. Arizona has three excellent run stuffers in the trenches, so this game might ride on Hightower's shoulders.



Hog Revisitation

Football excellence has always followed Russ Grimm. Drafted in the third round of the 1981 draft by the Redskins, he soon became an integral member of three Super Bowl winners for the franchise.

Athleticism was just one reason for his greatness. He may have toiled in the trenches, but he was often listed as an emergency quarterback in a career that saw him go to four Pro Bowls before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Amazingly, he is the only member of the famous Redskins offensive line, dubbed the "Hogs" by coaching great Joe Bugel, to be in Canton. When his playing career ended, he quickly became a coach and used the information the accumulated as a player. Not only did he have his own expertise, he was mentored by coaching giants Bugel, Jim Hanifan and Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs.

After spending nine years coaching Washington's tight ends and offensive linemen, he went off to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line for six seasons. He helped Pittsburgh win a Super Bowl and reportedly was going to be Bill Cowher's replacement at head coach until the offer was rescinded at the last minute and given to current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin instead.

Since 2007, Grimm has been the Cardinals offensive line coach. Success in football continues for him and has now been inherited by his offspring. Cody Grimm is the starting free safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an honor he won in the 2010 season as a seventh round draft pick. Chad Grimm is currently an assistant coach in the Cardinals organization.

Grimm has been a serious candidate for a NFL head coaching job several times. He excels at getting the most out of a players abilities, something he did himself in his career.

He has helped such great Redskins offensive linemen blockers like Chris Samuels and Tre' Johnson to become Pro Bowl players. He did the same in Pittsburgh with Alan Faneca, Marvel Smith and Jeff Hartings.

Arizona comes into 2011 with two free agent veterans now starting at guard. Grimm still has continuity at center and the tackle spots. But this one of his most experienced units with the Cardinals, even with losing 11-year veteran guard Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack to injury for the season.

The depth of the offensive line is bolstered by Duece Lutui, a starter since 2006 until losing his spot to eight-year veteran Rex Hadnot. Grimm has already helped the Cardinals reach their first Super Bowl in 2008, but he undoubtedly expects greatness from his present students.

Chris Nield is certainly on his radar this week. The nose tackle was the second to last player drafted this year, and he made the team because of a solid preseason with few highlights. That changed last week after Neild had a pair of sacks and forced a fumble while spelling starter Barry Cofield.

Not only do the nose tackles need to be as good as last week, but defensive ends Adam Carriker and Stephen Bowen as well. Both contributed a sack last week. Outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan's ability to pressure Kolb will also hold extreme importance.

While no real Redskins fan wants Grimm to experience failure, they are in the unenviable position of rooting against one of their heroes. It is real nice to see an "Original Hog" back in town, and there is a chance he sees fellow Hogs Joe Jacoby and George Starke, who have stayed in the area after their football careers, as well.

Grimm probably has a part of him wishing success for the Redskins as well. But torn emotions will reign on the sideline and stands this Sunday as present situations will temporarily have both rooting against each other.  

Since no one gives a shit about the Almost Pro Bowl that NFL commisioner Roger Goodell is selling this Sunday, lets look ahead.

 Mike Vick

Though it is hard to imagine Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeff Lurie not offering Vick a desirable contract, this free agent should get a lot of sumptuous offers around the league after the season he just put together.

Always known as an excellent running quarterback to where he is already second on the NFL list of most rushing yards ever by a quarterback, this four-time Pro Bowler finally showed an ability to play in the pocket folks had been waiting to see since he was drafted in 2001.

The work Vick and assistant coach Marty Mornhinweg put in paid off beautifully for Philadelphia, and some wonder if Vick would want to separate this tandem for a few dollars more. Yet his financial woes are well chronicled after losing most of his money from time spent in prison during 2007 to 2009.

How the league resolves their contract dispute with the players union could have a significant impact on Vick, who will be 31 years old next year. There is a possibility a team like the Oakland Raiders will offer him so much money he chooses to move on.

Lurie might look to match anything thrown at Vick, but having Kevin Kolb under contract in 2011 might have a part in the final decision. Kolb was named the starter in 2010 before getting hurt in the first game of the year and losing his job to Vick.

Wherever Vick ends up in 2011, he will get a substantial increase in pay. 

 

 

 Donovan McNabb    

  
 

McNabb fell victim to the madness of King Mike Shanahan in 2010. Both entered their first year with the Washington Redskins expected to lift a franchise that has won little since its 1992 Super Bowl win. Shanahan was a head coach who butted heads with several players, as did his son, who served as offensive coordinator.

Kyle Shanahan's treatment of McNabb was well scoffed all year, but it had an everlasting impact beyond the 16 games of 2010. McNabb came in as the anointed saviour and is about to leave town with the "bust" label attached to him.

McNabb was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles after Philadelphia decided to part ways with maybe the best quarterback it's ever had. He joined a team with a very mediocre offensive line, questionable running game and extremely inexperienced offensive coordinator.

He was never sharp all year, but once was on pace to set a team record for passing yards in a season. He spent the final three games as a third-stringer because the Shanahans wanted to see what the other quarterbacks on the roster could do for their struggling team. Though McNabb was offered a chance to make the Redskins squad next year, he has been told he will not be a starter,

There are teams that would probably start McNabb in 2011. Arizona is one of those teams, and McNabb has had a home in that state for years. He is 34 years old, but many critics think he has several more years left of productive play. He might not make big money like he has in the past, but it would be reasonable to predict he will resurrect his career in 2011.

 

 

 

Kyle Orton                               

  
 

Orton was well on his way to setting career best marks in passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns when he got hurt and missed the last three games of 2010. Rookie Tim Tebow stepped in and played well enough that Orton's future with the Denver Broncos may now be in question.

If the Broncos decide to go with Tebow in 2011, Orton will be a very attractive player on the trading block. He is also under contract for 2011, making him even more desirable. The 28-year-old will enter just his sixth season in 2011, but he has been a full-time starter in four years with two teams and had won 10 more games than he has lost before encountering a disastrous 2010 with a terrible Broncos team that saw them win just four times all season.

Denver got him from the Chicago Bears in 2009 after a blockbuster trade that saw the Bears deal several draft picks and Orton for quarterback Jay Cutler. Since the trade, Orton has thrown for over 500 more yards and has tossed 29 less interceptions with a quarterback rating of about seven points higher than Cutler.

The rebuilding job the Broncos have ahead of them will require an influx of new players, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Though it is wise that a team carries two quarterbacks that can win on the roster yearly, one has to wonder if Orton is willing to sit on the bench watching the young Tebow learn when he has already done so well in only five years.

One plus about Orton is his intelligence and ability to secure the football for his team. He has tossed only 48 interceptions in a career that has nearly 2,000 passing attempts. He isn't huge in stature, strong in arm, nor fleet of foot, but Orton has proved himself to be more than a serviceable quarterback. He has shown himself to be a winner, and that may be more than enough for some team to offer Denver draft picks to attain his

 

 

 Vince Young

  
 

Young has had a roller coaster career since winning the 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and being named to the Pro Bowl with the Tennessee Titans. He was benched in 2008 because he was not progressing as a quarterback, which led to a mental meltdown, then he rebounded the next year with another Pro Bowl season.

His 2010 year began with him being caught on tape attacking a fan jeering him in a night club. Young then battled through the season being dinged up with injuries as the Titans struggled to a 5-4 record. He hurt his thumb the next week and was replaced during the game. This infuriated Young enough to throw his shoulder pads into the stands and walk out on the team after some cross words to head coach Jeff Fisher both personally and via the media.

He was benched the rest of the year and has been told by the Titans he is no longer a member of the organization, who will decline to exercise a sixth-year option on him. With his contract now expired, Young is a free agent with the label of a malcontent. He had several problems so far in his career that range from being benched to breaking team rules to disappearing for a short amount of time which some feel was blown out of proportion by the media.

Though he has critics that believe Young does not have the talent to be a successful NFL quarterback, he will be just 28-years-old when training camp takes place in 2011. He also had won 26-of-39 regular season starts before this year, which shows he has that winning intangible no coach can teach.

Yet, his mental problems will scare teams looking to upgrade the quarterback position. It is doubtful he will command the type of salary he earned with the Titans until he shows some maturity and sanity, which will take time to prove through demonstration.

The talent is undeniable, as is his ability to win, so he will get offers from someone. What he chooses to do with those opportunities will all be up to Vince Young.

 

 

 

 Rex Grossman

  
 

Grossman started 31 games between 2003 and 2008 for the Chicago Bears and won 19 times. The 2006 season saw him win 13 times as the Bears reached Super Bowl XLI before losing. He was cut by Chicago after 2008 because he gave the ball to the opponents too many times.

After seeing very limited action for the Houston Texans in 2009, Grossman joined the Washington Redskins last year to back up Donovan McNabb. When McNabb struggled, Grossman was handed the starting job for the last three games of the season.

While he was far from impressive, Grossman's 81.2 quarterback rating was far and away the best of his career. Yet, he still makes ridiculous mistakes as shown in his very first snap of 2010 where he promptly fumbled and watched Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions rumble 17 yards into the end zone to put the game away as the Lions won 37-25.

Though he may return to Washington in 2011, thanks to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan liking him and the fact that Grossman is familiar with Shanahan's system after having spent the past two years in it, there is a slight chance another team calls him in hopes he can be its back up.

His days as a starter do appear over, but his services as a reserve attracts teams because of that Super Bowl season .

 

 

 

 

Jason Campbell 

  
 

As crazy as it may seem, Campbell might soon be learning his eighth different offensive system since he started playing at Auburn University in 2001. Though liked by the Oakland Raiders new head coach Hue Jackson, the offensive coordinator last year and compared to Raiders great Jim Plunkett by legendary Hall of Fame Raiders owner Al Davis, he struggled under last year's head coach, Tom Cable.

Cable preferred journeyman Bruce Gradkowski over Campbell, but Gradkowski spent most of 2010 injured. Campbell started 12 games and put up the second best quarterback rating of his career despite throwing to a very young receivers corps behind a porous offensive line.

While some expect Campbell to start in 2011 because he is under contract, there are rumblings the Raiders will go after free-agent Michael Vick. Vick fits the old school Raiders' mold of being once labelled a malcontent, and the Raiders used many of these types of players to win Super Bowls.

The players union contact talks with the NFL may decide the direction Oakland goes at quarterback next year. There is also a chance Campbell would stay on as a reserve if the Raiders sign a guy like Vick to handle the starting job.

Yet there is a chance Oakland looks to trade him if it signs another starter. Campbell has the measurables to succeed in the NFL, and one must admire his intelligence by how he has digested so many different playbooks in just a sort time.

 

 

 

 Carson Palmer

  
 

Though the Bengals decided not to change head coaches in 2011, it may be time to change their starting quarterback. Palmer, the first overall draft pick in 2003, has been to two Pro Bowls so far but has lost more games than he has won.

Palmer has been the starter since 2004, though he missed 12 games in 2008 because of an injury to his throwing elbow. Many believe he is not the same player since that injury, noticing his passes now lack the zip they once possessed. His 2010 season saw him match a career-high mark of 20 interceptions, as Cincinnati may have been the most disappointing NFL team last year.

After winning the AFC North in 2008, many thought Cincinnati would return to the playoffs. It won just four games instead and again dealt with dysfunction in their locker room. What also stood out was the lack of leadership shown by Palmer, which has to bring into question his abilities to lead a team to a Super Bowl.

The Bengals have a loud-mouthed wide receiver named Chad Ochocinco clowning it up for the media most of his career. They then decided to sign Terrell Owens, a wide receiver more noted for his psychotic behavior rather than his athletic ability. Both are similar in that they demand the ball thrown their way often and will bad mouth anyone who does not agree. They also frequently cry to the media if they feel the ball is not headed their way enough.

Yet, both have aging players who have obviously lost more than a step in their game. This did not dissuade Palmer with trying to force feed the pair much too often at the expense at the team or chance for success. Once Owens was signed, most predicted Cincinnati would lose often because teams that Owens plays on typically lose more than they win.

Cincinnati will have the fourth pick of the 2011 draft, and many feel it will go for a defensive player. Heisman winner Newton and the technically-sound Gabbert are two quarterbacks many experts feel will be the first quarterbacks drafted, and it would not be nonsensical for Cincinnati to at least consider them.

Though just 31 years old, the fading arm strength and losing record of Palmer deserves more scrutiny than it has gotten so far. It may be unlikely another quarterback replaces him in 2011, but that might be the right move for the Bengals. 

 

 

 

 Derek Anderson

  
 

Anderson is an enigma. Tall with a strong arm, he put it all together in 2007 and made the Pro Bowl for the Cleveland Browns. He became wildly inconsistent after that, playing a timid game. This caused the Browns to cut him after 2009.

He joined the Arizona Cardinals last year with a juicy invitation to resurrect his career. The Cardinals were full of excellent wide receivers, led by Larry Fitzgerald. Anderson flopped so bad he was benched by a pair of rookies twice throughout the season.

Many expect Arizona to draft a quarterback with the fifth overall selection this year. Anderson, who signed a two-year deal worth $7.25 million last year, will most likely be cut. Though it appears he will never again regain his Pro Bowl form, there could be a few teams interested in him as a reserve because of his game experience. 

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Virtually every season in the history of the National Football League has experienced change at the quarterback position. From starters losing their jobs to upstart reserves or injuries, change at this position is almost as inevitable as the planets rotating throughout their universes.

Though Andrew Luck has decided to play one more year of college football, there are several prospective rookie quarterbacks who will look to earn a starting job upon their selections. Men like Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett and Blaine Gabbert are considered the best of a group available in the 2011 draft.

If a rookie earns a starting job, a common occurrence, that means another veteran will be looking for work. There are also several others looking for work right now months ahead of the draft. An NFL team must soon decide whether to go with one of these veterans next season or gamble the rookie they desire will fall into their laps and meet expectations through performance.

This is all assuming the players resolve their union contract woes and decide not to strike. If this happens and there are NFL games in 2011, here are a few quarterbacks you may see wearing uniforms in just seven months.

 

Michael Vick

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Though it is hard to imagine Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeff Lurie not offering Vick a desirable contract, this free agent should get a lot of sumptuous offers around the league after the season he just put together.

Always known as an excellent running quarterback to where he is already second on the NFL list of most rushing yards ever by a quarterback, this four-time Pro Bowler finally showed an ability to play in the pocket folks had been waiting to see since he was drafted in 2001.

The work Vick and assistant coach Marty Mornhinweg put in paid off beautifully for Philadelphia, and some wonder if Vick would want to separate this tandem for a few dollars more. Yet his financial woes are well chronicled after losing most of his money from time spent in prison during 2007 to 2009.

How the league resolves their contract dispute with the players union could have a significant impact on Vick, who will be 31 years old next year. There is a possibility a team like the Oakland Raiders will offer him so much money he chooses to move on.

Lurie might look to match anything thrown at Vick, but having Kevin Kolb under contract in 2011 might have a part in the final decision. Kolb was named the starter in 2010 before getting hurt in the first game of the year and losing his job to Vick.

Wherever Vick ends up in 2011, he will get a substantial increase in pay.

 

Donovan McNabb

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

McNabb fell victim to the madness of King Mike Shanahan in 2010. Both entered their first year with the Washington Redskins expected to lift a franchise that has won little since its 1992 Super Bowl win. Shanahan was a head coach who butted heads with several players, as did his son, who served as offensive coordinator.

Kyle Shanahan's treatment of McNabb was well scoffed all year, but it had an everlasting impact beyond the 16 games of 2010. McNabb came in as the anointed saviour and is about to leave town with the "bust" label attached to him.

McNabb was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles after Philadelphia decided to part ways with maybe the best quarterback it's ever had. He joined a team with a very mediocre offensive line, questionable running game and extremely inexperienced offensive coordinator.

He was never sharp all year, but once was on pace to set a team record for passing yards in a season. He spent the final three games as a third-stringer because the Shanahans wanted to see what the other quarterbacks on the roster could do for their struggling team. Though McNabb was offered a chance to make the Redskins squad next year, he has been told he will not be a starter,

There are teams that would probably start McNabb in 2011. Arizona is one of those teams, and McNabb has had a home in that state for years. He is 34 years old, but many critics think he has several more years left of productive play. He might not make big money like he has in the past, but it would be reasonable to predict he will resurrect his career in 2011.

 

Kyle Orton

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Orton was well on his way to setting career best marks in passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns when he got hurt and missed the last three games of 2010. Rookie Tim Tebow stepped in and played well enough that Orton's future with the Denver Broncos may now be in question.

If the Broncos decide to go with Tebow in 2011, Orton will be a very attractive player on the trading block. He is also under contract for 2011, making him even more desirable. The 28-year-old will enter just his sixth season in 2011, but he has been a full-time starter in four years with two teams and had won 10 more games than he has lost before encountering a disastrous 2010 with a terrible Broncos team that saw them win just four times all season.

Denver got him from the Chicago Bears in 2009 after a blockbuster trade that saw the Bears deal several draft picks and Orton for quarterback Jay Cutler. Since the trade, Orton has thrown for over 500 more yards and has tossed 29 less interceptions with a quarterback rating of about seven points higher than Cutler.

The rebuilding job the Broncos have ahead of them will require an influx of new players, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Though it is wise that a team carries two quarterbacks that can win on the roster yearly, one has to wonder if Orton is willing to sit on the bench watching the young Tebow learn when he has already done so well in only five years.

One plus about Orton is his intelligence and ability to secure the football for his team. He has tossed only 48 interceptions in a career that has nearly 2,000 passing attempts. He isn't huge in stature, strong in arm, nor fleet of foot, but Orton has proved himself to be more than a serviceable quarterback. He has shown himself to be a winner, and that may be more than enough for some team to offer Denver draft picks to attain his services for 2011.

 

Vince Young

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Young has had a roller coaster career since winning the 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and being named to the Pro Bowl with the Tennessee Titans. He was benched in 2008 because he was not progressing as a quarterback, which led to a mental meltdown, then he rebounded the next year with another Pro Bowl season.

His 2010 year began with him being caught on tape attacking a fan jeering him in a night club. Young then battled through the season being dinged up with injuries as the Titans struggled to a 5-4 record. He hurt his thumb the next week and was replaced during the game. This infuriated Young enough to throw his shoulder pads into the stands and walk out on the team after some cross words to head coach Jeff Fisher both personally and via the media.

He was benched the rest of the year and has been told by the Titans he is no longer a member of the organization, who will decline to exercise a sixth-year option on him. With his contract now expired, Young is a free agent with the label of a malcontent. He had several problems so far in his career that range from being benched to breaking team rules to disappearing for a short amount of time which some feel was blown out of proportion by the media.

Though he has critics that believe Young does not have the talent to be a successful NFL quarterback, he will be just 28-years-old when training camp takes place in 2011. He also had won 26-of-39 regular season starts before this year, which shows he has that winning intangible no coach can teach.

Yet, his mental problems will scare teams looking to upgrade the quarterback position. It is doubtful he will command the type of salary he earned with the Titans until he shows some maturity and sanity, which will take time to prove through demonstration.

The talent is undeniable, as is his ability to win, so he will get offers from someone. What he chooses to do with those opportunities will all be up to Vince Young.

 

Rex Grossman

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Grossman started 31 games between 2003 and 2008 for the Chicago Bears and won 19 times. The 2006 season saw him win 13 times as the Bears reached Super Bowl XLI before losing. He was cut by Chicago after 2008 because he gave the ball to the opponents too many times.

After seeing very limited action for the Houston Texans in 2009, Grossman joined the Washington Redskins last year to back up Donovan McNabb. When McNabb struggled, Grossman was handed the starting job for the last three games of the season.

While he was far from impressive, Grossman's 81.2 quarterback rating was far and away the best of his career. Yet, he still makes ridiculous mistakes as shown in his very first snap of 2010 where he promptly fumbled and watched Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions rumble 17 yards into the end zone to put the game away as the Lions won 37-25.

Though he may return to Washington in 2011, thanks to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan liking him and the fact that Grossman is familiar with Shanahan's system after having spent the past two years in it, there is a slight chance another team calls him in hopes he can be its back up.

His days as a starter do appear over, but his services as a reserve attracts teams because of that Super Bowl season on his resume. 

 

Jason Campbell

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

As crazy as it may seem, Campbell might soon be learning his eighth different offensive system since he started playing at Auburn University in 2001. Though liked by the Oakland Raiders new head coach Hue Jackson, the offensive coordinator last year and compared to Raiders great Jim Plunkett by legendary Hall of Fame Raiders owner Al Davis, he struggled under last year's head coach, Tom Cable.

Cable preferred journeyman Bruce Gradkowski over Campbell, but Gradkowski spent most of 2010 injured. Campbell started 12 games and put up the second best quarterback rating of his career despite throwing to a very young receivers corps behind a porous offensive line.

While some expect Campbell to start in 2011 because he is under contract, there are rumblings the Raiders will go after free-agent Michael Vick. Vick fits the old school Raiders' mold of being once labelled a malcontent, and the Raiders used many of these types of players to win Super Bowls.

The players union contact talks with the NFL may decide the direction Oakland goes at quarterback next year. There is also a chance Campbell would stay on as a reserve if the Raiders sign a guy like Vick to handle the starting job.

Yet there is a chance Oakland looks to trade him if it signs another starter. Campbell has the measurables to succeed in the NFL, and one must admire his intelligence by how he has digested so many different playbooks in just a sort time.

 

Carson Palmer

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Though the Bengals decided not to change head coaches in 2011, it may be time to change their starting quarterback. Palmer, the first overall draft pick in 2003, has been to two Pro Bowls so far but has lost more games than he has won.

Palmer has been the starter since 2004, though he missed 12 games in 2008 because of an injury to his throwing elbow. Many believe he is not the same player since that injury, noticing his passes now lack the zip they once possessed. His 2010 season saw him match a career-high mark of 20 interceptions, as Cincinnati may have been the most disappointing NFL team last year.

After winning the AFC North in 2008, many thought Cincinnati would return to the playoffs. It won just four games instead and again dealt with dysfunction in their locker room. What also stood out was the lack of leadership shown by Palmer, which has to bring into question his abilities to lead a team to a Super Bowl.

The Bengals have a loud-mouthed wide receiver named Chad Ochocinco clowning it up for the media most of his career. They then decided to sign Terrell Owens, a wide receiver more noted for his psychotic behavior rather than his athletic ability. Both are similar in that they demand the ball thrown their way often and will bad mouth anyone who does not agree. They also frequently cry to the media if they feel the ball is not headed their way enough.

Yet, both have aging players who have obviously lost more than a step in their game. This did not dissuade Palmer with trying to force feed the pair much too often at the expense at the team or chance for success. Once Owens was signed, most predicted Cincinnati would lose often because teams that Owens plays on typically lose more than they win.

Cincinnati will have the fourth pick of the 2011 draft, and many feel it will go for a defensive player. Heisman winner Newton and the technically-sound Gabbert are two quarterbacks many experts feel will be the first quarterbacks drafted, and it would not be nonsensical for Cincinnati to at least consider them.

Though just 31 years old, the fading arm strength and losing record of Palmer deserves more scrutiny than it has gotten so far. It may be unlikely another quarterback replaces him in 2011, but that might be the right move for the Bengals.

 

Derek Anderson

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Anderson is an enigma. Tall with a strong arm, he put it all together in 2007 and made the Pro Bowl for the Cleveland Browns. He became wildly inconsistent after that, playing a timid game. This caused the Browns to cut him after 2009.

He joined the Arizona Cardinals last year with a juicy invitation to resurrect his career. The Cardinals were full of excellent wide receivers, led by Larry Fitzgerald. Anderson flopped so bad he was benched by a pair of rookies twice throughout the season.

Many expect Arizona to draft a quarterback with the fifth overall selection this year. Anderson, who signed a two-year deal worth $7.25 million last year, will most likely be cut. Though it appears he will never again regain his Pro Bowl form, there could be a few teams interested in him as a reserve because of his game experience.

 Alex Smith

 

Despite putting up the best quarterback rating of his career in 2010, the Alex Smith Experiment may be over for the San Francisco 49ers. The first overall pick in 2005 has lost much more than he has won so far, and has often been benched in favor of journeymen-types because he has failed to progress much.

The Niners have the seventh pick of the draft this year, and many critics are split on who they will pick. Though Smith is entering the final year of a contract that has handed him $49.5 million, some think a quarterback will be drafted and groomed to take over by 2012 if not sooner.

Smith has played so erratically in his career that the bust label follows him everywhere. His lack of improvement has also brought out more critics and concern. If the Niners stick with him in 2011, it would hardly be a surprise to see him benched yet again.  

 

 

 

 Brett Favre

 

Before you start singing "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead," never count out the Hickocrite.

Yes, he has turned in his retirement papers to the NFL offices, but Favre has done this a bunch of times already.

Yes, it appears his legendary career is over, and an induction at Canton will be his next move, but he could be a phone call away from donning his Crocs again at the end of a training camp.

Who knows what his next move is. It is doubtful Favre himself knows.

Besides, what will ESPN do if they can't say his name every 15 seconds?