2008 NFL Season

[ScoopBrady]

Was Lovie Smith a Bellicheat disciple?

Nope, Dungy. Lovie should be safe but he needs to get rid of Bob Babich pronto and a lot of the position coaches. If he doesn't then I think they need to put him on the hot seat.

[RobVarak]

I'm pretty neutral on Lovie, don't hate him or love him. He gets far too much s*** from the mouth-breathing "fire and passion" Bears fans (the stooges who sit in bars and phone call-in's bitching about the players not having enough of either) who don't like the fact that he's not a screaming asshole.

I think that the Bears outperformed pre-season expectations and that most of their shortcomings were the result of poor front office decisions. They did as well as could be expected given that they labored yet again without a QB capable of running a full modern passing game.

They overspent on aging defensive players, enormously so in the case of Urlacher, and foolishly chose to attempt to play an entire NFL season without a single NFL-caliber wide receiver. The Devin Hester experiment was an unimitigated failure, turning arguably the greatest return man in the history of the NFL into an undersized, below replacement-level WR.

On the other hand they did get a few passable performances from Orton, the OL far surpassed expectations and they discovered a nice workhorse RB in Matt Forte. Olsen emerged as the receiving threat from TE that he was expected to be.

The end was disappointing, but even in a down year this was not the caliber of team that really belongs in the post-season. I wish they had gotten there because I love the team, but realistically speaking it's not the end of the world.

[snaz16]

Everyone's talking about the Cowboys mess, but the Broncos just finished one hell of collapse of their own.

And this is coming from a Mets fan.

I thought I read that Mike Shannahan might be on the hot seat if he didn't get to the playoffs this year. There's now talk of Chucky getting the axe in Tampa even though he got an extension. It looks like another round of coaches getting fired after the instant success of this years Dolphins, Falcons, Ravens and Panthers.

The Jets collapse was pretty good too. Though probably the most predictable.

Edit:Dont want to forget the Bucs. This was a good year for collapses.

Tampa was 9-3,leading the division with early season wins against both Atl. and Carolina,only to start getting gashed with no defense against the run,the last 4 losses in a row. Don't know if Monte Kiffins decision to join his son in Tenn. was key,or whether the aging defense ran out of gas. But Chucky makes the decisions there,as Bruce Allen is pretty much a figure head,and he should be on the hot seat. He probably survives,but nothing short of a deep run into the playoffs next year,or he should be gone.

[pk500]

There's a similar ambivalence about Jauron among Bills' fans, including my wife and I.

The Bills did some very nice things in the first half of the season but were pathetic in the second half. So there is a bit of promise.

Jauron also is a nice, straightforward guy that the players seem to like and respect, and Bills owner Ralph Wilson also likes Jauron.

But the numbers don't lie. The team collapsed in the second half of the season, and someone must be held accountable. The horrific loss to the Jets, in which Jauron overruled offensive coordinator Turk Schoenert and ran Losman on the fated play-action, could prove pivotal in Jauron losing his job.

Still, I'm not crazy about firing Jauron and replacing him with another retread off the NFL scrap heap. The Bills already went the "hot assistant" route with Williams and Mularkey, and that didn't work. And Ralph is too cheap to wave big bucks in front of someone like Cowher.

So Jauron probably is the best option, at least for one more season.

Take care,
PK

[ScoopBrady]

I've always liked Jauron. He's very likeable and the players seem to play hard for him. His biggest problem is decision making. He gets his guys prepared to play and they usually don't give up. In a way Lovie reminds me a lot of Jauron. Given talent they can both get teams to overachieve.

wco mentioned Bears fans never letting go. It's true for me with Wannestedt since he set back Bears football many years but I'll never hate Jauron. Wanny even set back Miami Dolphins football many years. He's better served as a college head coach or NFL coordinator at best.

And Rob, I agree with you about the typical Chicago meathead fans and media who want Lovie to seethe with anger and rant and rave at every little slight imperfection. That's why I can't handle the local sports media and very rarely listen to it or read it. I had the displeasure of listening to Matt Abbaticola on the Score after the Bears/Saints game and couldn't believe the d*****bag actually was allowed on the air. That being said I want Lovie to surround himself with a pro-caliber coaching staff because I think some positional players have regressed and/or are being asked to do things that don't play to their strengths. For the love of god why have they had Peanut and Vasher playing off the wide receivers when they're both physical cornerbacks, particularly Peanut? If it's the safety position then address that in the offseason.

I'd like to see an upgrade in the safety position, some younger o-line drafted or obtained to be the heir apparents to the aging guys, a legitimate number 1 and number 2 wide receiver. Let Hester battle it out for the number 2 spot which he will likely lose and make him the number 3 WR. He's got potential but you can't expect him to max that out until his third year on the job. Those three changes put this team in the playoffs IMO. They definitely need a new DC and d-line coach though.

[wco81]

Three coaches out already and it's barely noon EST.

The hot names are Pioli and Cowher. There's talk about Cleveland making a run at him, offering up to $10 million a season. It will probably take a lot for him to take over the reins of a Steelers division rival. Well, it seemed he was going to look for a payday anyways so it's going to take a lot period. Jets probably want to make a splash with the new stadium.

49ers give Singletary a 4-year contract. The players and a lot of fans are support this move but I'm leery. It would be a great story for an all-time great player to lead a franchise back to glory (great players generally have not become successful coaches in the NFL).

But keeping Singletary means we keep the GM, who along with Nolan made atrocious draft picks and FA signings. If "hot" new GM signed on with keeping Singletary, I'd feel better.

Question about Singletary is his experience, whether he's been in coaching long enough to make contacts with good coaches and ultimately attract top assistants, who might better handle the X's and O's, another question mark about Singletary. That scheme of an inexperienced coach with experienced coordinators worked for Baltimore this year.

There's no question the players are performing better under Singletary, but they're still mediocre players and the team has won a lot of close games to finish the season on a higher note -- which is exactly what happened two years ago and then they flopped the following year instead of building on the stronger finish.

Here's hoping the team exceeds expectations but it won't be that hard to contend for the division title in the NFC West for the next couple of years. It's pointless though to win the division if you're going to be one and done like the Cards likely will be.

[ScoopBrady]

Here's hoping the team exceeds expectations but it won't be that hard to contend for the division title in the NFC West for the next couple of years. It's pointless though to win the division if you're going to be one and done like the Cards likely will be.

I totally disagree. Winning the division and being one and done is way better than failing to make the playoffs and drafting higher for a team. Teams need to learn what playoff football is like, especially young teams. Winning breeds more winning. Draft picks are crapshoots and I'll take playoff experience any day of the week.

[wco81]

I meant within the 4-year contract that Singletary got.

Sure if he can win the division next year, which isn't that unlikely, that's great and he needs to build on that.

But Mariucci lost his job here because for the most part, the team didn't advance enough in the playoffs. He got the teams to the playoffs though, which seems so much better now than the two coaches who followed him.

[RobVarak]

I'd like to see an upgrade in the safety position, some younger o-line drafted or obtained to be the heir apparents to the aging guys, a legitimate number 1 and number 2 wide receiver. Let Hester battle it out for the number 2 spot which he will likely lose and make him the number 3 WR. He's got potential but you can't expect him to max that out until his third year on the job. Those three changes put this team in the playoffs IMO. They definitely need a new DC and d-line coach though.

They really need to continue their quixotic hunt for a real NFL QB as well. Orton is barely serviceable. They really shouldn't go into next year with him and Grossman again. I'm not necessarily on the Matt Cassel bandwagon, but they need to find someone who can make all the throws, read a defense, see over the OL and not trip over himself every time the pocket breaks down.

[pk500]

Here's hoping the team exceeds expectations but it won't be that hard to contend for the division title in the NFC West for the next couple of years. It's pointless though to win the division if you're going to be one and done like the Cards likely will be.

Balderdash. The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999, and I would give my left nut for one and done next weekend.

Take care,
PK

[XXXIV]

Here's hoping the team exceeds expectations but it won't be that hard to contend for the division title in the NFC West for the next couple of years. It's pointless though to win the division if you're going to be one and done like the Cards likely will be.

Balderdash. The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999, and I would give my left nut for one and done next weekend.

Take care,
PK

Thats probably what its going to cost you...

[JRod]

Here's hoping the team exceeds expectations but it won't be that hard to contend for the division title in the NFC West for the next couple of years. It's pointless though to win the division if you're going to be one and done like the Cards likely will be.

Balderdash. The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999, and I would give my left nut for one and done next weekend.

Take care,
PK

Losing a nut for a bill's playoff loss. There's a new one.

[greggsand]

Here's hoping the team exceeds expectations but it won't be that hard to contend for the division title in the NFC West for the next couple of years. It's pointless though to win the division if you're going to be one and done like the Cards likely will be.

Balderdash. The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999, and I would give my left nut for one and done next weekend.

Take care,
PK

As a Cards fan, I'll take a "1 and done" in the playoffs over another 5-11 season ANY DAY! And for smaller market teams, that one playoff game will make them some extra cash (hopefully towards actually 'keeping' their good players next year...).

[Sudz]

why is everyone drooling over cassel? if he didn't have welker catching all those short balls...the pats would have been 7-9. he can't throw deep.

[Rodster]

why is everyone drooling over cassel? if he didn't have welker catching all those short balls...the pats would have been 7-9. he can't throw deep.

Didn't they say the same thing about Brady?

Seriously the guy took over as QB from the legend and he did a damn good job. And let's not forget the constant reminders to filling Brady's shoes at QB. Cassell had to deal with some serious pressure but he took the team to 11-5.

[wco81]

He's got the arm to throw deep. EArlier on, they were limiting the playbook, trying to get by with those screens.

But he didn't throw for 400 yards not throwing deep.

As for Welker, the reason he can work underneath is partly due to the threat Moss presents. So if defenses didn't think Cassell could get the deep ball to Moss, Welker wouldn'tt get those short passes.

As it is, there's some speculation that Brady could miss next season too, because he's having complications with rehab.

[Rodster]

He's got the arm to throw deep. EArlier on, they were limiting the playbook, trying to get by with those screens.

But he didn't throw for 400 yards not throwing deep.

As for Welker, the reason he can work underneath is partly due to the threat Moss presents. So if defenses didn't think Cassell could get the deep ball to Moss, Welker wouldn'tt get those short passes.

As it is, there's some speculation that Brady could miss next season too, because he's having complications with rehab.

It was reported on Pro Football Talk.com that Bill Bellicheat wasn't too happy with Brady using his doctor. Bill wanted him to use the Patriots sports physician because that's the scenario he feared.

[wco81]

Yeah but there are cases in the NFL of team physicians giving players a clean bill of health on injuries and turns out they really shouldn't have rushed back to play.

I don't blame Brady for wanting to deal with his own doctors.

He must have collected so much guaranteed money by now that if he never plays another down, he's set.

[Rodster]

What I meant to say is the Patriots recommended Sports Physician and not the team doctor.

[wco81]

Brady went to the same high school as Barry Bonds, who also had problems coming back from knee surgery, again ignoring the team's advice on which doctor to see.

Maybe it's something about that HS.

[pk500]

Brady went to the same high school as Barry Bonds, who also had problems coming back from knee surgery, again ignoring the team's advice on which doctor to see.

Maybe it's something about that HS.

'ROIDS!

Take care,
PK

[RobVarak]

I've got several friends who are agents and they all advise their clients to eschew team physicians for anything but the most mundane injuries, as would I.

[greggsand]

why is everyone drooling over cassel? if he didn't have welker catching all those short balls...the pats would have been 7-9. he can't throw deep.

To say he can't throw deep is highly inaccurate. When he was allowed to wing it, he could. Solid, smart QB's with an arm & can scramble (when needed) is a rare thing these days. There's at least 6 teams that will try and sign him. There's a reason he was drafted despite never starting a game in college. NE would be nuts to let him go.

BTW, if the pats didn't have Welker "cathing all those balls" in 2007, you think they'd be the same team they were? Uh..no.

[dbdynsty25]

Can't believe that Denver is getting rid of Shanahan and the Bills are keeping Jauron. Wow.

[Rodster]

I can't believe Cleveland is interested in man-Genius. I think both Jauron and Shanahan have over stayed there welcome. And another coach that needs to go is Jon Gruden.