The Weirdest Season Yet
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From: http://afraidofedhochuli.blogspot.com
In the words of Tony K from MNF: “What more must the Bills do?”
What does this have to do with anything? Well, it seems to be the quote of the Season. It seems that there are several teams out there who are asking themselves: “What more must we do?”
Power Rankings:
This is the preseason Power Rankings from ESPN.Com: NE(1), IND(2), SD(3), BAL(4), CHI(5),
NO(6), DEN (7), PHI (8), DAL(9), CIN(10),
SEA(11), NYJ(12), PIT(13), JAX(14), SF(15),
CAR(16), NYG(17), STL(18), ATL(19), KC(20),
TEN(21), ARI(22), BUF(23), GB(24), MIN(25),
MIA(26), TB(27), WAS(28), HOU(29), DET(30),
CLE(31) and OAK(32)
What are they now?
NE(1), IND(2), DAL(3), PIT(4), GB(5),
JAX(6), TEN (7), WAS(8), BAL(9), SEA(10),
TB(11), SD(12), ARI(13), NYG(14), CHI(15),
HOU(16), CAR(17), DET(18), DEN(19), OAK(20),
SF (21), PHI(22), CIN(23), CLE(24), KC(25),
BUF(26), MIN(27), NYJ(28), ATL(29), NO(30),
STL(31) and MIA(32) (I have highlighted the biggest surprises.)
Teams:
The Chargers.
They were 14-2 last year and fired their Head Coach, they kept their key pieces and upgraded in the draft. They are now floundering (I don’t see last weeks win to be the rule but the exception) and there is only one person to blame: GM A.J. Smith. He fired Marty because they had internal issues and now the Chargers are feeling the pain. If they can’t turn the season around Smith may want to start updating his resume.
The Bears.
They are definitely suffering from the Super Bowl losers curse. Who would have thought that Greise would be better then Grossman? Who would have thought that the Defense would be so weak? I know that they have been through a LOT of injuries, but they were so highly touted last season as having depth. That depth is gone. Their swagger is gone. They are slowly descending to the 5-11 team of 2005. Is it time to bring Orton in again?
The Saints.
The ‘Aints are back. What happened? I know they lost Joe Horn, but did he really bring such a calming presence to this team? Here is an interesting bit of info: Since 1990 when the NFL increased the playoff teams to 12 only one team (the 1992 Chargers) has made the playoffs after an 0-4 start. They are done. I hate to say it, but really, they are. And I went to High School with Mike Karney.
Players: How many injuries have there been? How many QBs not living up to their billing? Holey cow, there is so much change and depth chart jumping it is tough to actually KNOW who is starting or playing any given week.
Here are the Injury reports from around the league.
On Injured Reserve (IR means that they are done for the season):
Matt Leinart (QB – ARI)
Wayne Gandy (OT – ATL)
Jerome Mathis (WR – HOU)
Darrion Scott (DE – MIN)
Chris Simms (QB – TB)
Out:
Jake Delhomme (QB – CAR): Out for Season
Chris Perry (RB – CIN)
Nate Jackson (TE – DEN): Out for Season
Tom Nalen (C – DEN): Out for Season
Trent Green (QB – MIA): May be done for Career
Troy Brown (WR – NE)
Eric Parker (WR – SD)
Mack Strong (FB – SEA): Will Retire
Deion Branch (WR – SEA)
Alex D. Smith (QB – SF)
Jerome Carter (S – STL): Out for Season
Michael Pittman (RB – TB)
David Givens (WR – TEN): Out for Season
This Season has blown my mind. We have three 5-0 teams and two 0-5 teams.(Saints are 0-4 from a bye week)
And don’t you dare say parity, there is no such thing at this point. Parity has still created good teams and bad teams. Free Agency works only as long as EVERY team can pay the same amount, but as we have seen, teams such as New England, Carolina and Dallas have more money to pay, and teams such as the Texans, Browns, Bills and Saints have needed to rely on the revenue sharing program over the last 10 years or they would have been shut down (See the Browns move to Baltimore). It still doesn't mean anything. See: Washington, St Louis and Cincinnati.
That is my take.
