NFL Signings... A Couple Days Late!

Sorry I am late once again, big ups to Trinko, a consistent reader of the Corner who informed me that Clifton was signed late Friday. I think the money we paid him was the right amount and I do worry about him staying healthy although I think it will turn out good for us.  

Dunta Robinson CB:  HOU to ATL- I like this deal for the Atlanta Falcons because they get a legitimate cornerback who cannot only cover the big receivers but they can also come up on run defense deliver the big hit.  I think he has been underrated because he has been played in Houston who really hasn't been some to keep your eye on.

Aaron Kampman DE: GB to JAX- I am really not disappointed about Kampman leaving... I wish him the best he is a class act and I hope he has an awesome career with the Jaguars. Although, I hope that he doesn't get comfortable in Jacksonville because they are moving locations some time soon. He will beneficial playing in the AFC and in 4-3 again. I think he should have a good year for the Jaguars.

Antrel Rolle FS:  ARIZ to NYG- I am kind of confused by this deal. Correct if I am wrong, but don't the Giants have a pretty good free safety in Kenny Phillips?   The only way the signing makes sense if the Giants are planning to move Phillips to another spot in the secondary. Rolle is a good player and seem to finally be understanding how to play free safety after a couple years of a transition process.  I think Rolle will make an impact on an improving Giants' defense. 

Karlos Dansby: ARIZ to MIA- Once again, the Cardinals have lost another great player on their defense and you have to wonder how they good will they be next year? The Dolphins have the luxury of knowing Dansby can play in the 3-4 and he does it very well.  He is two times the player than Joey Porter is and is much younger.

-Charlie.

NFL Preview: NFC South/West

On to the next part, I will try to get the AFC done by Thursday. A lot of homework on my hands to keep me busy so stay tuned.

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints: Key Players- QB Drew Brees RB Reggie Bush WR Marcus Colston Key Games- at Philadelphia (9/13) vs. NY Jets (10/4) vs. NY Giants (10/18) at Miami (10/25) vs/at Atlanta (11/2, 12/13) New England (11/30) vs. Dallas (12/19) Outlook- Their offense is probably one of the best in the league and I do worry some about their hard opening schedule. I think they can get past that and slide into the fourth spot in the playoffs.


2. Atlanta Falcons: Key Players- QB Matt Ryan, WR Roddy White, RB Michael Turner Key Games- vs. Miami (9/13) at New England (9/27) vs. Chicago (10/18) at Dallas (10/25) at/vs New Orleans (11/2, 12/13) at NY Giants (11/22) Outlook: There is a part of me that hates the Falcons schedule but Ryan seems to be doing all the right things in the Hotlanta so we shall see. They will fight for the final Wild Card spot.


3. Carolina Panthers: Key Players: RB DeAngelo Williams WR Steve Smith LB Jon Beason Key Games- vs. Philadelphia (9/13) at Atlanta (9/20 11/15) at Dallas (9/28) at Arizona (11/1) at/vs. New Orleans (11/8, 1/3) at New England (12/13) vs. Minnesota (12/20) at NY Giants (12/27) Outlook- Very challenging schedule and I am convinced that Jake Delhomme is as close to washed up as you can get. Carolina win around 7-8 games.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Key Players: DE Gaines Adams WR Antonio Bryant CB Ronde Barber Key Games: vs. NY Giants (9/27) at Philadelphia (10/11) vs. New England (10/25) vs. Green Bay (11/8) vs/at New Orleans (11/22, 12/27) at/vs Atlanta (11/29/1/3) Outlook- I wasnt a big fan of the Bucs deciding to scrap their offensive coordinator and I believe they will have many problems on the offense side of the ball.

NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks: Key Players- QB Matt Hassleback WR T.J. Houz (saving space) LB Lofa Tatupu Key Games-vs. Chicago (9/27) at Indianapolis (10/4) vs/at Arizona (10/18, 11/15) at Minnesota (11/22) at Green Bay (12/27) vs. Tennessee (1/3) Outlook: The NFC West is really a two horse race and I think the Seahawks have the edge. I like the overall team if they stay healthy, they will take the fourth spot.

2. Arizona Cardinals: Key Players- WR Larry Fitzgerald QB Kurt Warner Wr Anquan Bolden Key Games- vs. Indianapolis (9/27) at/vs Seattle (10/18 11/15) at NY Giants (10/25) at Tennessee (11/29) vs. Minnesota (12/6) vs. Green Bay (1/3) Outlook- The Cards may contend for the division but that will be it. Tough road games to NY and Nashville loom and you have to worry about a near forty-year old QB.

3.St. Louis Rams: Key Players- RB Stephen Jackson QB Marc Bulger WR Donnie Avery Key Games- at/vs Seattle (9/13, 11/22) vs. Green Bay (9/27) vs. Minnesota (10/11) vs. Indianapolis (10/25) vs. New Orleans (11/15) vs. Arizona (11/22) at Tennessee (12/13) Outlook- The Rams are a bunch of nobodies but they have a favorable schedule facing most of their challenging opponents at home.

4. San Francisco 49ers: Key Players- RB Frank Gore LB Patrick Willis CB Nate Clements Key Games- at/vs Arizona (9/13 12/14 ) vs. Seattle (9/20 12/6) at Minnesota (9/27) at Indianapolis (11/1) vs. Tennessee (11/8) at Green Bay (11/22) at Philadelphia (12/20) Outlook- Could be a real ugly year for the Niners with a tough as nails schedule. They could really benefit from Michael Crabtree if he ever signs but they are looking at a top ten pick again.

-Charlie

Atlanta Just Got Scary

Well I think everyone in the NFC gave a big sigh when they saw the Kansas City Chiefs traded Tony Gonzalez for a future pick to the Atlanta Falcons.

This was a great trade for both teams really because the Falcons took themselves from being a good team to a Super Bowl contending team with the addition of Gonzalez for multiple reasons. Number one, they have a great young quarterback who seems to be the next great young quarterback in Matt Ryan or as I like to call him Matty Ice (his college nickname). Number two, they have Michael 'The Burner' Turner in the backfield where he proved last year he was much more than a quality backup. Also lets not forget Roddy White, I truly believe is an underrated wide receiver. Now you add Gonzalez to the mix and you have probably the best offense in the NFC.

You might ask why is this a good deal for the Chiefs? They get rid of a guy that doesnt want to be in Kansas City. I firmly believe that if someone doesnt want to be there then ship his ass somewhere else. Yes it will hurt to see Gonzalez tear up in Hotlanta but in the long run, they will be better without the distractions. Now you have to wonder if Larry Johnson will be on the move too because he was another guy who has complained about being a Chief?

-Charlie.

Bobby Petrino is a Snake

Today Bobby Petrino decided to resign from the Atlanta Falcons who are looking right now worse than Amy Winehouse. He is now close to taking the head coaching job at Arkansas. This leads me to my title, he is an absolute SNAKE, and a coach I will never had any respect for.

Lets break it down from the beginning, he had basically just started a 10 year deal at Louisiville then hit jackpot with a big season with Brohm and co. Atlanta needs a head coach so they decided to go with Petrino and being the snake that Petrino is he took the job forgoing that 10 year deal worth a ton of money despite how horrible college coaches have faired in the NFL. He gets a 5 year deal from the Falcons with a somewhat promising team with quality quarterback. Then the dog scandal and cue the downward spiral. Now we are arrive at today where he takes the Arkansas job.

The argument about being a worthless team in Atlanta is a foolish because he could draft Brian Brohm whose been in his system plus the head coach and QB usually are closer than the other parts of the team so the fit would be perfect. The other argument about Lou Holtz is another stupid one because they didn't have the outrageous deals that they do now plus he only resigned with one game left which is completely normal.

Would Petrino taking the Arkansas job make Darren McFadden stay? I think it could have an impact yet he could just play the tape of Willis McGahee tearing up his knee. He still has a good NFL career but why should Run DMC stay? Just to win the Heisman, yet why would want that curse? Please leave Darren.

Let me put you in this situation, what if Kragthrope has another poor year at Louisville and they decided that he is not the right man for the job. What are the odds that Petrino comes back to Louisville, I bet pretty good.

Charlie.

Vick Gets Put in the Pound

Look at that picture long and hard because it could be the last time that you see Michael Vick in an Atlanta Falcons uniform or even an NFL uniform. Today Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison and could get out a couple months earlier due to good behavior. That would mean that Vick would be out of jail in October of 2009.

There were two things that surprised ESPN analysts this morning was one that Vick was in a black and white jumpsuit because even in a case like this he was expected in a suit. The other was that he got 23 months because that is 5 months greater than the max expectancy, I have to believe that Vick's statement was not very good and this judge is a dog owner so that did not help things out either.

I think that the outlook for Vick is not good, I do not think Roger Goodell will allow Michael Vick back into the league. Also Vick will be three years out of the NFL which for any player in any pro sport is very lengthy so who knows if his skills will be polished. If he is allowed back into the NFL, I believe that there will be a team who would rather have Vick instead of their current quarterback situation because I could think of several teams who could use a quarterback like Vick.

Charlie.

Michael Vick gets Dawged

As you most know already, Michael Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday in the dogfighting scandal that has swept America in a few short days of this being released. When the national news is getting into it then you know its a huge deal. The reason is simple, Vick is accused of harming a "man's best friend" and when animals become involved, it's hard for people to stay quiet.

Michael Vick was never one of my favorite players ever since the debacle the Packers had in the playoffs that put Vick on the map. He got the Madden deal, he got a fat contract, he already had Nike yet it increased production in shoes. I did not care how much hype this guy got, he was not that good. He was a prototypical college quarterback, able to run the ball from the QB position but cannot throw an accurate pass to save his damn soul. He just was not that good and everyone failed to see that despite the Falcons dragging their heels in the last two years.

Vick was not perfect and not a role model for kids. He had flipped off the fans, had got herpes form some random chick (still love Ron Mexico name though), had a supposed substance in a water bottle, and did not show up to a Congressional meeting for after school programs, some role model eh? Then BOOM! Shit hit the fan when Vick was accused of running a dogfighting program and was considered a heavyweight in dogfighting all the way back in 2000 which would put him in college still, how is he getting all that money? Weird, Va. Tech.

Now just recently Nike decided to put his shoe on hold for the football season and all of the other deals he has have expired although he would be lucky to get a deal from anyone these days. PETA is pressuring the shit out of the NFL to get Vick suspended which Goodell is going to do because its only fair, Pacman was indicted yet never charged which lead to a whole year suspension. This will be the first and only time I am on PETA side.

Seriously Michael Vick, you had all the money in the world, you had a city that supported you for the most part, a lot of inner-city youth in the Deep South looked up to you, and you disappointed everyone to the fullest. You should tell the media that you are taking a year off of football because that's what a man does. Oh I forgot, your brother Marcus tried to get a 15 year old drunk and rape her,

so obviously the Vick family does not know how to act like men

Charlie.