On Aug 3, 10:29=A0pm, graverobber...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> On Jul 31, 12:16 am, "observer" <obser...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > --
> > July 30, 2008
>
> > Who got an 'A'?
>
> > Summer re****t cards for all 32 NFL teams
>
> > By Nate Davis, USA TODAY
> >
=A0http://www.usatoday.com/s****ts/football/nfl/2008-07-30-offseason-gra=
d...
> > ---
>
> > With training camps opening, USA TODAY
> > *****ses each team's offseason progress with
> > summertime re****t cards:
>
> > [Re-arranged in order by team,
> > from highest ranking to lowest
> > ranking]
>
> > =A0 1. DALLAS COWBOYS =A0A+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 CB Adam "Pacman" Jones is the latest arrival
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 for a team that's perfected the high-risk/high-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 reward transaction. LB Zach Thomas is also
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 in that mold, though the risk with him is mile-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 age. With WR Terrell Owens, RB Marion Bar-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ber III, LT Flozell Adams, CB Terence New-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 man and S Ken Hamlin receiving new deals
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and rookie RB Felix Jones and CB Mike Jen-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 kins providing playmaking ability and depth,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 it's little wonder the Cowboys are thinking
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Super Bowl.
>
> > =A0 2. MINNESOTA VIKINGS =A0A
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 An already stout defense should see its vulner-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ability to the pass rectified with DE Jared Allen,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the reigning sack king, and S Madieu Williams
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 now among its ranks. WR Bernard Berrian not
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 only gives QB Tarvaris Jackson a credible deep
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 threat, but his arrival also weakens the division
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 rival Chicago Bears.
>
> > =A0 3. ATLANTA FALCONS =A0A-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 The house has been cleaned from top to bottom.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 General manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Mike Smith are the new architects of a franchise
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 that is trying to emerge from the Michael Vick-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 era wreckage. Dimitroff snared six players in the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 draft's first three rounds, headlined by a new fran-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 chise cornerstone in QB Matt Ryan. Free agent
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 RB Michael Turner and K Jason Elam should
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 also pay immediate dividends. Gone are CB De-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Angelo Hall, TE Alge Crumpler and RB Warrick
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Dunn, who were among the unhappy campers on
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the squad in 2007.
>
> > =A0 3. NEW YORK JETS =A0A-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 It remains to be seen if the Jets make a play for
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 a certain Packers quarterback they wanted to
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 draft in 1991. Regardless, New York has already
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 made $140 million worth of noise to upgrade its
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 roster. G Alan Faneca and T Damien Woody should
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 help the running game take flight, especially with
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 FB Tony Richardson also on board. Rookie sack
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 artist Vernon Gholston is expected to be a force,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and LB Calvin Pace fits the 3-4 defense like a glove,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 though new NT Kris Jenkins must adapt. Locking
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 up S Kerry Rhodes was a wise move. Now about
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 that quarterback position ...
>
> > =A0 3. MIAMI DOLPHINS =A0A-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Bill Parcells' arrival as the football operations king-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 pin was a precursor to an ongoing overhaul. Largely
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 unknown head coach Tony Sparano will get to work
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 with LT Jake Long, the draft's No.1 overall pick. DE
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Phillip Merling, QB Chad Henne and G Shawn Mur-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 phy are other potential starters obtained on draft day.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Parcells also received good value by getting a second-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 round pick for DE Jason Taylor. Miami got younger,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 if not immediately better, in 2008.
>
> > =A0 3. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS =A0A-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 They continue to lock up their nucleus (DE Luis Cas-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 tillo, SS Clinton Hart) while making crafty signings
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 (T L.J. Shelton, G/C Jeremy Newberry, LB Derek
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Smith) who could be valuable role players. CB An-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 toine Cason and RB Jacob Hester should contribute
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 as rookies. Bigger question is if QB Philip Rivers,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 TE Antonio Gates and C Nick Hardwick will be
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 close to 100% by Week1.
>
> > =A0 7. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS =A0B+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 In typical fa****on, the Colts quietly restocked the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 bottom of their roster through the draft, let some
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 middling players such as G Jake Scott and LB Rob
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Morris go and locked up pieces they value more
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 -- TE Dallas Clark and G Ryan Lilja. This recipe for
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 success should breed more success.
>
> > =A0 7. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS =A0B+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Priority No.1 was retaining WR Randy Moss, which
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the Patriots did. Priority No.2 was adding youth to
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the linebacker corps -- hello Jerod Mayo (first-round
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 pick) and Victor Hobson (signed away from the New
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 York Jets). Priority No.3 was compensating for the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 expected loss of CB Asante Samuel, especially in light
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 of Ellis Hobbs' injuries. Didn't happen.
>
> > =A0 7. CAROLINA PANTHERS =A0B+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Rookie RB stud Jonathan Stewart and RT Jeff Otah
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 should enhance a stagnant running game. QB Jake
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Delhomme and WR Steve Smith should be much
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 happier having WRs Muhsin Muhammad and D.J.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Hackett helping them rather than Keary Colbert and
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Drew Carter. The team might not be able to afford
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 both DE Julius Peppers and LT Jordan Gross in 2009.
>
> > =A0 7. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS =A0B+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 They gambled in the draft, trading up for DT Sedrick
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Ellis, and on the trading block, im****ting LB Jonathan
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Vilma and TE Jeremy Shockey, who no longer fit their
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 old teams' plans. The Saints addressed needs with each
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 gambit, and if two pay off, they could be right back
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 atop a weak NFC South.
>
> > =A0 7. NEW YORK GIANTS =A0B+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 LB Mathias Kiwanuka's return should partially salve
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 DE Michael Strahan's retirement. The Giants scored
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 a second-round pick for disgruntled TE Jeremy Shockey.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 And the club wisely reinvested in its underrated offen-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 sive line rather than overpay for LB Kawika Mitchell
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 or S Gibril Wilson. Rookie S Kenny Phillips could be
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 star.
>
> > 12. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS =A0B
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 DT Glenn Dorsey, G/T Branden Albert and CB Bran-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 don Flowers highlight what might be a watershed draft
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 crop. DE Jared Allen won't be easily replaced, but the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Chiefs did the right thing letting CB Ty Law, WR Eddie
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Kennison, C Casey Wiegmann, et al. go. The Chiefs
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 won't be good in 2008, but a promising foundation
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 looks to be in place.
>
> > 12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES =A0B
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 CB Asante Samuel's arrival garnered the headlines, but
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the draft-day trade for RB Lorenzo Booker could prove
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 to be a coup, too. Rookie WR DeSean Jackson should
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 be perfect for the lackluster return game. CB Lito Shep-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 pard's situation is still festering.
>
> > 12. WA****NGTON REDSKINS =A0B
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Until DE Jason Taylor's acquisition, the only major
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 change had been on the sideline, where Jim Zorn takes
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the headset from Joe Gibbs. Personnel continuity is
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 good for a playoff team; hiring an unproven coach with
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 a new playbook is more dicey.
>
> > 12. BUFFALO BILLS =A0B
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 The Bills enlisted playmakers in the draft (CB/KR Leo-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 dis McKelvin and WR James Hardy) and play-killers
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 on the market (LB Kawika Mitchell and DT Marcus
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Stroud). They have not addressed Pro Bowl LT Jason
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Peters' desire for a hefty raise.
>
> > 12. CLEVELAND BROWNS =A0B
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Throwing caution to the wind, the Browns punted the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 '08 draft to acquire QB Brady Quinn (last year) and
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 DTs Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams (this year) as
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the defensive line needed the help. WR Donte' Stall-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 worth was a good pickup amid Joe Jurevicius' knee
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 issues. And it was smart to retain QB Derek Anderson
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and see if he's the real deal. CB Leigh Bodden will be
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 missed.
>
> > 17. DETROIT LIONS =A0B-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Coach Rod Marinelli is stocking his Tampa 2 defense
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 with men he knows -- CB Brian Kelly and S Dwight
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Smith -- while the likes of DT Shaun Rogers are
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 shown the door. CB Leigh Bodden, netted in the Rog-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ers deal, fills another hole. Rookie RB Kevin Smith
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and RT Gosder Cherilus are made to order for a team
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 that wants to stress the run with Mike Martz gone.
>
> > 17. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS =A0B-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 New offensive coordinator Mike Martz might be the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 key for a team that saw its offense struggle in 2007.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 His creative schemes and ability to integrate either
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 QB Alex Smith or Shaun Hill and new WRs Bryant
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Johnson and Isaac Bruce into them will likely deter-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 mine this club's fate in 2008. The draft netted young
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 linemen.
>
> > 17. ST. LOUIS RAMS =A0B-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 DE Chris Long, the No.2 pick of the draft, should rev
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 up a defense in need of a jolt. On the heels of a season
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ruined by injuries, QB Trent Green and G Jacob Bell
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 are welcome sights. Mainstay WR Isaac Bruce and
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 K Jeff Wilkins are gone, but with K Josh Brown
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 aboard, the Rams will no longer have to endure the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ex-Seattle Seahawk breaking their hearts at the gun.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Does coordinator Al Saunders' arrival help or hinder
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 the offense?
>
> > 17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS =A0B-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Out with the old, in with the new. The Jaguars drafted
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 rookie pass rushers Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and said goodbye to Bobby McCray and Marcus Stroud.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Are WRs Jerry ****ter and Troy Williamson upgrades
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 or lateral moves?
>
> > 17. OAKLAND RAIDERS =A0B-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Ignoring the trenches, the Raiders opted for voltage,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 drafting Arkansas RB Darren McFadden. It'll be con-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 sidered a wise move if he takes heat off QB JaMarcus
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Russell, but it could leave the Raiders open to sec-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ond-guessing if Russell's constantly on his back or
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 trying to bail out a defense that can't stop the run.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 CB DeAngelo Hall will team with Nnamdi Asomugha
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 to form a near airtight air defense. WR Javon Walker
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 is a wild card.
>
> > 17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS =A0B-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall could be more than
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 a valuable insurance policy for Willie Parker, while
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 WR Limas Sweed is the big target QB Ben Roethlis-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 berger requested. But an offensive line that struggled
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 to protect Roethlisberger and lost its best player (G
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Alan Faneca) could be an issue.
>
> > 23. CINCINNATI BENGALS =A0C+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Give the Bengals points for finally jettisoning chronic
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 distractions in WR Chris Henry and LB Odell Thur-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 man. But deduct points as they let WR Chad Johnson's
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 histrionics devolve into a spring sideshow. The offen-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 sive line's health will determine whether franchising
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 G/T Stacy Andrews was shrewd or foolish. The defense
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 needs rookie LB Keith Rivers to be an immediate pre-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 sence.
>
> > 24. BALTIMORE RAVENS =A0C
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 With LT Jonathan Ogden and QB Steve McNair retiring
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and veteran CBs Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 TE Todd Heap coming off injury-marred seasons, the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Ravens seem to be inexperienced and aging in all the
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 wrong spots. Much hinges on rookie QB Joe Flacco's
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 development. Early returns for coach Brian Billick's
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 replacement, John Harbaugh, seem positive.
>
> > 24. DENVER BRONCOS =A0C
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Quite a revolving door with K Jason Elam, RB Travis
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Henry and WR Javon Walker among those exiting and
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 LB Boss Bailey, rookie LT Ryan Clady and DT De-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 wayne Robertson entering. Could be much ado about
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 nothing unless new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 can fix a unit that banished Jim Bates could not.
>
> > 26. ARIZONA CARDINALS =A0C-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 The defense lost LB Calvin Pace but added depth with
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 DE Travis LaBoy, DL Bryan Robinson and LB Clark
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Haggans. Rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and DE Calais Campbell also help. Failing to hammer
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 out deals for WR Anquan Boldin and LB Karlos
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Dansby could hurt down the road.
>
> > 26. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS =A0C-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 The Brett Favre whispers are still simmering. But for
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 now, other than adding C Jeff Faine and dumping CB
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Brian Kelly, the Bucs shuffled a lot of spare parts
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 around their roster.
>
> > 26. HOUSTON TEXANS =A0C-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Though on the playoff cusp, the Texans were fairly
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 quiet with LB Rosevelt Colvin the spla****est new-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 comer. Houston will need its journeymen signings
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and unheralded rookies to bolster the running game
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and hold down the secondary until CB Dunta Robin-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 son is ready to play.
>
> > 29. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS =A0D+
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Would it have been wiser to draft RB Shaun Alex-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ander's replacement rather than throw cash at Julius
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Jones and T.J. Duckett? The receiving situation is
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ugly with Bobby Engram unhappy, Deion Branch
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 hurt and D.J. Hackett with the Carolina Panthers.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 And who's kicking? At least they kept CB Marcus
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Trufant and signed LG Mike Wahle.
>
> > 30. CHICAGO BEARS =A0D
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Addition by subtraction with RB Cedric Benson?
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Maybe, but no guarantee that Matt Forte' or Kevin
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Jones will be better. The receiving corps is a mess
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 with Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad gone,
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 not exactly an elixir for a shaky quarterback tandem.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 At least LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 KR Devin Hester got paid.
>
> > 31. TENNESSEE TITANS =A0D-
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 That receiver QB Vince Young so badly needs?
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 Aging TE Alge Crumpler and retread WR Justin
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 McCareins will have to do. DE Jevon Kearse hardly
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 makes up for the departures of DEs Antwan Odom
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 and Travis LaBoy or DT Randy Starks.
>
> > 32. GREEN BAY PACKERS =A0I (Incomplete)
>
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 The NFC runners-up return virtually intact ... virtually.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 But until the Brett Favre saga plays out, it's hard to
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 *****s the offseason of a club that could be a contender
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 or if the drama will impact Favre's apparent heir appar-
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 ent, Aaron Rodgers. The Pack and Favre get an 'F' for
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 failure to communicate.
>
> > --- end of article ---
>
> And they all have to face America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, this
> year in the regular season. =A0And, wonder of all wonders, the Seattle
> Seahawks, which is usually the linchpin of that division, came out
> with one of the worst marks.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
LOL. the media "experts" have been predicting the Seahawks demise
since they lost the Superbowl. Since they keep predicting the same
thing every year, eventually they'll get it right.
mogons
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