On this day in 2001, Korey Stringer was going through his seventh training camp with the Minnesota Vikings when he started having difficulties in the Mankato heat. As a 345 pound offensive tackle these summer practices were always a grind. He had been carted off of the field the day before. This day was worse. Stringer collapsed of heatstroke and died early in the morning of August 1, 2001. He left his wife Kelci and 3-year old son Kodie.
A lot was learned that day. Things that should have been learned long before. It's probably no coincidence that July 31 is Heat Stroke Awareness Day. Stringer's death was so preventable but maybe it saved some lives. It's no longer considered "un-manly" to get some water during a football practice. Proper hydration is encouraged now. The game changed. It became a little more civilized.
I learned a lot about being a fan that day and with the days that followed. I'd never met Korey Stringer yet his death hit me like I'd lost a loved one. I suppose that I did. I've thought about Stringer often over the years. When training camp starts. When I see that big "77" in the stadium. When I think of the Vikings current offensive line woes. I especially think about Korey Stringer on this day. I think about his wife Kelci, his son Kodie. He's a lineman too.
The Vikings planted a tree in Korey Stringer's honor on the Mankato St. campus. It had to be moved when the Gage Hall dorms were demolished. The tree's presence and Stringer's memory is reason enough for the Vikings to always hold their training camp in Mankato. Jim Kleinsasser was the last Vikings player to have played alongside Stringer. He retired following the 2011 season. Stringer's memory can never fade.
I'll never forget Korey Stringer.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Throwback Thursday: Walter Camp Axioms
If not for Walter Camp we might still be starting each football play with a scrum. Here's a few things that he had to say about "his" game about 125 years ago.
Line up quickly the moment the ball is down and play a dashing game from start to finish.
Never under any circumstances talk about your hurts and bruises. If you are unable to play, or have a severe sprain, tell the captain at once. He will always release you.
When thrown down hard always get up as if not hurt in the slightest. You will be thrown twice as hard next time if you appear to be easily hurt by a fall.
When coached upon the field never under any circumstances answer back or make any excuses. Do as nearly as possible exactly what you are told.
Always throw your man hard, and toward his own goal, when you tackle him.
Never converse with an opponent during the game, but wait until the game is over for the exchange of civilities.
If you miss a tackle turn around and follow the man at utmost speed; some one else may block him just long enough for you to catch him from behind.
Never play a "slugging game"; it interferes with good football playing.
Try to make a touch-down during the first two minutes of the game, before the opponents have become fairly waked up.
Play a fast game; let one play come after the next in rapid succession without any waits or delays. The more rapidly you play, the more effective it will be. Therefore line up quickly and get back to your regular place instantly after making a run.
When thrown, allow yourself to fall limp, with legs straight, and then you will not get hurt. Do not try to save yourself by putting out a hand or arm; it may be sprained or broken. If you are flat on the ground you cannot be hurt, no matter how many pile on top of you.
Always tackle low. The region between the knees and waist is the place to be aimed at. When preparing to tackle, keep your eyes on the runner's hips, for they are the least changeable part of the body.
Lift the runner off his feet and throw him toward his own goal. When not near enough to do this, spring through the air and hit him as hard as possible with the shoulder; at the same time grip him with the arms and drag him down. Always put the head down in doing this and throw the weight forward quickly and hard. Crawl up on the runner when he falls and take the ball away if possible; at least prevent its being passed.
When the runner is in a mass, or wedge, drive in and lift his legs out from under him, or fall down in front of him.
If the runner's feet are held, push back on his chest and make him fall toward his own goal.
Don't wait for the runner to meet you; meet the runner.
Always have a hand in the tackle. Don't "think" the runner is stopped; make sure of it.
Follow your own runners hard; you may have a chance to assist him, or block off for him. Always be in readiness to receive the ball from the runner when he is tackled.
Fall on the ball always in a scrimmage or when surrounded by opponents. When the ball is kicked behind your own goal, or across the side line, do not fall on it until it stops unless there is danger of the opponents being put on side.
Put you head down when going through the line and dive in with your whole weight.
Call "down" loudly, but not until it is impossible to make further advance.
Squeeze the ball tightly when tackled, or when going through the line.
Never under any circumstances give up because the other side seems to be superior. They may weaken at any moment, or a valuable player be ruled off or temporarily disabled. Let each man encourage the others on the team by monosyllables and keep up a "team enthusiasm."
Be the first man down the field on a kick.
Block your men hard when the opponents have the ball.
Tear up the line, break through and stop every kick that is made.
Never take your eyes off the ball after the signal has been given, if you are a man behind the line.
Do not be contented with a superficial reading on football, but study it carefully, if you would master it.
Good stuff. I especially like the urging to "play a dashing game." Camp coached a fast game long before Chip Kelly was born. Much of the physicality of the game, the good and the bad, can be found in these words of Walter Camp.
Line up quickly the moment the ball is down and play a dashing game from start to finish.
Never under any circumstances talk about your hurts and bruises. If you are unable to play, or have a severe sprain, tell the captain at once. He will always release you.
When thrown down hard always get up as if not hurt in the slightest. You will be thrown twice as hard next time if you appear to be easily hurt by a fall.
When coached upon the field never under any circumstances answer back or make any excuses. Do as nearly as possible exactly what you are told.
Always throw your man hard, and toward his own goal, when you tackle him.
Never converse with an opponent during the game, but wait until the game is over for the exchange of civilities.
If you miss a tackle turn around and follow the man at utmost speed; some one else may block him just long enough for you to catch him from behind.
Never play a "slugging game"; it interferes with good football playing.
Try to make a touch-down during the first two minutes of the game, before the opponents have become fairly waked up.
Play a fast game; let one play come after the next in rapid succession without any waits or delays. The more rapidly you play, the more effective it will be. Therefore line up quickly and get back to your regular place instantly after making a run.
When thrown, allow yourself to fall limp, with legs straight, and then you will not get hurt. Do not try to save yourself by putting out a hand or arm; it may be sprained or broken. If you are flat on the ground you cannot be hurt, no matter how many pile on top of you.
Always tackle low. The region between the knees and waist is the place to be aimed at. When preparing to tackle, keep your eyes on the runner's hips, for they are the least changeable part of the body.
Lift the runner off his feet and throw him toward his own goal. When not near enough to do this, spring through the air and hit him as hard as possible with the shoulder; at the same time grip him with the arms and drag him down. Always put the head down in doing this and throw the weight forward quickly and hard. Crawl up on the runner when he falls and take the ball away if possible; at least prevent its being passed.
When the runner is in a mass, or wedge, drive in and lift his legs out from under him, or fall down in front of him.
If the runner's feet are held, push back on his chest and make him fall toward his own goal.
Don't wait for the runner to meet you; meet the runner.
Always have a hand in the tackle. Don't "think" the runner is stopped; make sure of it.
Follow your own runners hard; you may have a chance to assist him, or block off for him. Always be in readiness to receive the ball from the runner when he is tackled.
Fall on the ball always in a scrimmage or when surrounded by opponents. When the ball is kicked behind your own goal, or across the side line, do not fall on it until it stops unless there is danger of the opponents being put on side.
Put you head down when going through the line and dive in with your whole weight.
Call "down" loudly, but not until it is impossible to make further advance.
Squeeze the ball tightly when tackled, or when going through the line.
Never under any circumstances give up because the other side seems to be superior. They may weaken at any moment, or a valuable player be ruled off or temporarily disabled. Let each man encourage the others on the team by monosyllables and keep up a "team enthusiasm."
Be the first man down the field on a kick.
Block your men hard when the opponents have the ball.
Tear up the line, break through and stop every kick that is made.
Never take your eyes off the ball after the signal has been given, if you are a man behind the line.
Do not be contented with a superficial reading on football, but study it carefully, if you would master it.
Good stuff. I especially like the urging to "play a dashing game." Camp coached a fast game long before Chip Kelly was born. Much of the physicality of the game, the good and the bad, can be found in these words of Walter Camp.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
How Long Can This Go On?
There hasn't been a lot of good NFL news in a long time. Yesterday there was. We got two great news items. The best NFL news in a very long time should have had it's day but both got washed away. The Arizona Cardinals held a press conference to announce the hiring of Jennifer Welter as an interim inside linebacker coach. Welter is the first woman to hold an NFL coaching position. Congratulations Coach! There isn't a lot of NFL news that could top that but one did. Later in the day it was announced that Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been cleared to return to the football field. It was only eight months ago that he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Not only was his football career in question his life was in question. After only months of cancer treatments, Eric Berry will be back on a football field. With so many football players dreading the start of training camp a silly thing like cancer couldn't keep this player from it. Simply fantastic news.
Instead of those two terrific news nuggets the idiots in the NFL offices saw fit to drown them out by releasing the news that Roger Goodell has denied Tom Brady's appeal of his suspension. Nice work Roger. The NFL has drawn out this mess for so long. The possible deflation of footballs deserved about ten minutes of attention. It should have ended before we got out of the month of January. Each day since has made the whole thing more comical and sad. The manner in which the NFL has handled this nonsense has hurt the integrity of the game far more than the "crime" that caused it. Now it's going to last longer than Berry's cancer fight.
Yesterday should have been about Jennifer Welter's new job. This moment should have had the light that is reserved for historic moments.Yesterday should have been about Eric Berry's miraculous return to football. Instead of giving both the attention that they deserved the NFL dumped their trash on them. Nice.
Congratulations Coach Welter!
Welcome back Eric Berry!
Instead of those two terrific news nuggets the idiots in the NFL offices saw fit to drown them out by releasing the news that Roger Goodell has denied Tom Brady's appeal of his suspension. Nice work Roger. The NFL has drawn out this mess for so long. The possible deflation of footballs deserved about ten minutes of attention. It should have ended before we got out of the month of January. Each day since has made the whole thing more comical and sad. The manner in which the NFL has handled this nonsense has hurt the integrity of the game far more than the "crime" that caused it. Now it's going to last longer than Berry's cancer fight.
Yesterday should have been about Jennifer Welter's new job. This moment should have had the light that is reserved for historic moments.Yesterday should have been about Eric Berry's miraculous return to football. Instead of giving both the attention that they deserved the NFL dumped their trash on them. Nice.
Congratulations Coach Welter!
Welcome back Eric Berry!
Vikings Defense
Here's the Minnesota Vikings starting defense that took the field to start Training Camp 2015 on Sunday.
DE Everson Griffen
DT Sharrif Floyd
NT Linval Joseph
DE Brian Robison
LB Anthony Barr
LB Audie Cole
LB Chad Greenway
CB Xavier Rhodes
CB Terence Newman
S Harrison Smith
S Robert Blanton
There really aren't any surprises here. The starting defensive line returns from last season. There was sure to be a new middle linebacker as the starter last year Jasper Brinkley is now in Dallas. Audie Cole is first up in the middle of the defense. Terence Newman is a newcomer to the Vikings but he's the player most experienced in Mike Zimmer's defense. He played for the head coach in Dallas and Cincinnati. He might be 37 by the time the 2015 NFL season starts but he plays much younger. Robert Blanton will face a lot of competition to keep the starting safety spot opposite standout Harrison Smith. Blanton's competition will come from second-year Antone Exum, Andrew Sendejo, Shaun Prater, and undrafted rookie Anthony Harris. That's stiff and numbered competition. Blanton was solid as the starter last season but the Vikings are looking for more than solid.
Anthony Barr isn't quite 100% after offseason knee surgery. He should be fine but his play in live scrimmages will be limited for a few days. Cole will have a tough time keeping the job from second-round pick Eric Kendricks. The rookie is too instinctive, too quick, too good against the pass to be kept on the bench. If he can't wrestle the middle linebacker spot from Cole he might even push veteran leader Chad Greenway to the bench at weak-side linebacker. The guess here is that Kendricks takes the middle linebacker job. The Vikings linebacker group of the future probably looks like this:
Anthony Barr
Eric Kendricks
Gerald Hodges
That's a fast, athletic group. Greenway's experience and leadership should be enough to keep the future from happening this year.
Newman will face a cornerback challenge from first-round pick Trae Waynes during training camp and into the season. Newman might be a placeholder for now but he's a really good one.
There's the Vikings defense. They were middle of the pack last year but that was a significant improvement from the often horrid defense of 2013. This year the Vikings defense should be top-10, maybe top-5.
DE Everson Griffen
DT Sharrif Floyd
NT Linval Joseph
DE Brian Robison
LB Anthony Barr
LB Audie Cole
LB Chad Greenway
CB Xavier Rhodes
CB Terence Newman
S Harrison Smith
S Robert Blanton
There really aren't any surprises here. The starting defensive line returns from last season. There was sure to be a new middle linebacker as the starter last year Jasper Brinkley is now in Dallas. Audie Cole is first up in the middle of the defense. Terence Newman is a newcomer to the Vikings but he's the player most experienced in Mike Zimmer's defense. He played for the head coach in Dallas and Cincinnati. He might be 37 by the time the 2015 NFL season starts but he plays much younger. Robert Blanton will face a lot of competition to keep the starting safety spot opposite standout Harrison Smith. Blanton's competition will come from second-year Antone Exum, Andrew Sendejo, Shaun Prater, and undrafted rookie Anthony Harris. That's stiff and numbered competition. Blanton was solid as the starter last season but the Vikings are looking for more than solid.
Anthony Barr isn't quite 100% after offseason knee surgery. He should be fine but his play in live scrimmages will be limited for a few days. Cole will have a tough time keeping the job from second-round pick Eric Kendricks. The rookie is too instinctive, too quick, too good against the pass to be kept on the bench. If he can't wrestle the middle linebacker spot from Cole he might even push veteran leader Chad Greenway to the bench at weak-side linebacker. The guess here is that Kendricks takes the middle linebacker job. The Vikings linebacker group of the future probably looks like this:
Anthony Barr
Eric Kendricks
Gerald Hodges
That's a fast, athletic group. Greenway's experience and leadership should be enough to keep the future from happening this year.
Newman will face a cornerback challenge from first-round pick Trae Waynes during training camp and into the season. Newman might be a placeholder for now but he's a really good one.
There's the Vikings defense. They were middle of the pack last year but that was a significant improvement from the often horrid defense of 2013. This year the Vikings defense should be top-10, maybe top-5.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Vikings Offense
The Minnesota Vikings initial offense for their initial walkthrough of Training Camp 2015 on Sunday looked like this:
WR Mike Wallace
TE Kyle Rudolph
T Matt Kalil
G Brandon Fusco
C John Sullivan
G Mike Harris
T Phil Loadholt
WR Jarius Wright
WR Charles Johnson
QB Teddy Bridgewater
RB Adrian Peterson
It sure is great to see Adrian Peterson in the Vikings lineup.
This lineup really doesn't mean much. A lot can change between now and September 14. I'm more inclined to think that the Vikings trot out a "12" personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends) for their Monday night date with the San Francisco 49ers. Back to the present. It sure is great to see Peterson in that lineup. So great. Mike Harris at right guard might be the biggest surprise. At least it was for me. Head coach Mike Zimmer said after the walk-through that they were going to start out with the veteran Harris over the younger players at right guard. He also said that rookie T.J. Clemmings will work at tackle rather than take part in the competition at right guard. This was a further surprise to me as I, naively, had Clemmings penciled in as the starting right guard. It looks like the competition for the position will include Harris, fellow veteran Joe Berger, rookie Tyrus Thompson, and second-year David Yankey. This is one of the biggest and most populated position competitions of camp.
Apparently, Peterson had to be reminded that this first practice was only a walkthrough. Typical Peterson. It sure is great to see him in the lineup. And on the field. So great.
The Vikings made some injury-related moves before taking the field.
Reserved/Injured
Linebacker Casey Matthews
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)
Cornerback Josh Robinson
Active/Non-football injury
Defensive tackle Shamar Stephen
Receiver DaVaris Daniels
The most serious of the above moves is Matthews. He's down for the season. Robinson suffered a pectoral injury during offseason workouts. His return is up in the air. He could miss all of training camp and even some of the season. Or he could be back in a week. That would be very optimistic. Stephen should be back in a couple of days. Zimmer mentioned that one player didn't pass the conditioning test necessary to get on the field. The guess here is that player was Daniels. It's beyond ridiculous for a young player with NFL dreams to not show up for camp in condition to go.
The best news of the day, other than the start of camp, was the signing of kicker Blair Walsh to a contract extension. The Vikings have found remarkable contributions in recent drafts. The 2012 draft was the first of those "keeper" drafts with eight of ten selections still on the team. Walsh is the first of that class to sign an extension. The contract: 4 years, $14 million, with 5.25 guaranteed. He's now among the best paid kickers in the game.
It's great to see Vikings football. It's great to see Adrian Peterson on a football field again.
WR Mike Wallace
TE Kyle Rudolph
T Matt Kalil
G Brandon Fusco
C John Sullivan
G Mike Harris
T Phil Loadholt
WR Jarius Wright
WR Charles Johnson
QB Teddy Bridgewater
RB Adrian Peterson
It sure is great to see Adrian Peterson in the Vikings lineup.
This lineup really doesn't mean much. A lot can change between now and September 14. I'm more inclined to think that the Vikings trot out a "12" personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends) for their Monday night date with the San Francisco 49ers. Back to the present. It sure is great to see Peterson in that lineup. So great. Mike Harris at right guard might be the biggest surprise. At least it was for me. Head coach Mike Zimmer said after the walk-through that they were going to start out with the veteran Harris over the younger players at right guard. He also said that rookie T.J. Clemmings will work at tackle rather than take part in the competition at right guard. This was a further surprise to me as I, naively, had Clemmings penciled in as the starting right guard. It looks like the competition for the position will include Harris, fellow veteran Joe Berger, rookie Tyrus Thompson, and second-year David Yankey. This is one of the biggest and most populated position competitions of camp.
Apparently, Peterson had to be reminded that this first practice was only a walkthrough. Typical Peterson. It sure is great to see him in the lineup. And on the field. So great.
The Vikings made some injury-related moves before taking the field.
Reserved/Injured
Linebacker Casey Matthews
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)
Cornerback Josh Robinson
Active/Non-football injury
Defensive tackle Shamar Stephen
Receiver DaVaris Daniels
The most serious of the above moves is Matthews. He's down for the season. Robinson suffered a pectoral injury during offseason workouts. His return is up in the air. He could miss all of training camp and even some of the season. Or he could be back in a week. That would be very optimistic. Stephen should be back in a couple of days. Zimmer mentioned that one player didn't pass the conditioning test necessary to get on the field. The guess here is that player was Daniels. It's beyond ridiculous for a young player with NFL dreams to not show up for camp in condition to go.
The best news of the day, other than the start of camp, was the signing of kicker Blair Walsh to a contract extension. The Vikings have found remarkable contributions in recent drafts. The 2012 draft was the first of those "keeper" drafts with eight of ten selections still on the team. Walsh is the first of that class to sign an extension. The contract: 4 years, $14 million, with 5.25 guaranteed. He's now among the best paid kickers in the game.
It's great to see Vikings football. It's great to see Adrian Peterson on a football field again.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Optimism
There's a lot of optimism surrounding the 2015 edition of the Minnesota Vikings football club. The happy return of running back Adrian Peterson is a big reason for that optimism. The addition of young talent from recent productive drafts is another reason. The biggest reason for the rising optimism has been the solidifying presence of a head coach and coaching staff that teaches and a young quarterback that just wants to win. The Vikings haven't had a coach and quarterback combo this promising since the joyous days of Hall of Famers Bud Grant and Fran Tarkenton. That was forty years ago. The feeling in Minnesota is that Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater have the potential to do what Grant and Tarkenton never could. Win a Super Bowl. Hopefully several.
The most sure path to success in the NFL is to have a terrific quarterback and coach. The Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers have made that look ridiculously easy over the past few decades. At least the quarterback part of the equation. A terrific coach-quarterback combination doesn't make championships automatic. The Packers and Colts, despite the continuous presence of gifted quarterbacks, combined for 3 Super Bowl titles over the last 25 years. It's tough to win it all when the right pieces are in place. It's pretty much impossible when they aren't. Just look at the he New England Patriots. The Bill Belichick-Tom Brady combo is one of the best in NFL history. They've won four Super Bowls in their fifteen years together. They've also lost two. They didn't make it to the big game in the other nine season. The biggest challenge for football teams in today's NFL isn't winning games. It's finding the right coach and quarterback. Some teams find them. Others don't. The teams that do? They win. The teams that don't? They have a tough road ahead of them. The Vikings have wildly inconsistent over the last decade. The reason for that can be easily seen in the quarterbacks under center over that time.
2006 (starts)
Brad Johnson (14)
Tarvaris Jackson (2)
2007
Tarvaris Jackson (12)
Kelly Holcomb (3)
Brooks Bollinger (1)
2008
Gus Frerotte (11)
Tarvaris Jackson (5)
2009
Brett Favre (16)
2010
Brett Favre (13)
Joe Webb (2)
Tarvaris Jackson (1)
2011
Christian Ponder (10)
Donovan McNabb (6)
2012
Christian Ponder (16)
2013
Christian Ponder (9)
Matt Cassel (6)
Josh Freeman (1)
2014
Teddy Bridgewater (12)
Matt Cassel (3)
Christian Ponder (1)
Sad. It doesn't take much effort to see that the 2009 and 2012 seasons were probably the most successful. Those were the only seasons in which a single quarterback started every game. Favre led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game in 2009. It was a magical season that should have ended in the Super Bowl. It's really no surprise that the best Vikings season in recent memory was the one in which they had solid, often spectacular, quarterback play. The playoff appearance at the end of the 2012 season was due more to Adrian Peterson putting the team on his back than their quarterback. Still, Ponder, the Vikings 2011 first-round pick, showed some promise that season. His play was more careful than daring but he did bring some hope for the future. That hope didn't last. The Vikings disastrous revolving door at quarterback has, hopefully, come to an end with Teddy Bridgewater.
The Vikings hired Brad Childress as head coach in 2006. He might have been difficult at times but the team improved 2 wins each year from 2006-09. It looked like he had something but it all fell apart in 2010. The season was a nightmare. From Favre's fun with texting to a roof collapse, each week was a new treat. It was a season that rivals 1984 as the worst in franchise history. Childress didn't make it through the season. He was fired after 10 games. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier finished the season and got the full-time gig when it finally ended. 2011 was the offseason that brought in Christian Ponder as the Vikings quarterback of the future. It was a short future. The Frazier/Ponder pairing lasted three seasons but never gained any traction. The only real success during that time was delivered by Peterson's MVP running in 2012. Ponder's shine faded in 2013 and as a result his and Frazier's time in Minnesota came to an end.
The current hope is that 10 years from now people will look back at the 2014 offseason as the turning point in Minnesota Vikings franchise history. That's the offseason in which Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach and Teddy Bridgewater was selected with the 32nd pick of the first round. That's the offseason in which the Vikings future brightened. The need for a terrific head coach and quarterback is never more apparent when your team doesn't have either. The Vikings have only played one season with Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater and both were mere rookies at their positions. That's hardly enough to suddenly expect this grand future. But the optimism for a grand future is certainly there. It's mind-numbing to try to understand why no NFL team had given Zimmer a chance at a head coaching shot before the Vikings did so last year. He'd had interviews. No offers. He'd been in the coaching business since 1979. He was considered one of the better defensive coordinators around for nearly all of this young century. Hell, Eric Mangini got two head coaching jobs before Zimmer got his first. It's a mystery. The Vikings were so lucky that no team had hired Mike Zimmer. They were also lucky that no team had selected Bridgewater before the final pick of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. They were lucky that the Seattle Seahawks were so stocked with talent that they were willing to trade that pick. It wasn't always beautiful for Zimmer and Bridgewater in their first NFL season in their respective new jobs. There were so many times in which they looked very much like the rookies that they were. The difference between them and so many that came before in Minnesota is that they both seem to have the "it" that no one seems to be able to define. They both seem to get that it isn't just about them no matter how much everyone else makes it about them. They both seem to get that it takes so much work before they can even think about walking or running. Let alone winning. They both seem to get that they'll never really be successful until they've actually won it all.
The Minnesota Vikings are a trendy pick as a surprise team this season because of a young talented roster and the return of Peterson. The Vikings have had talented rosters before. They've had talented rosters that included Peterson. What they haven't had is a talented roster led by a coach and quarterback quite like Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater. No matter how they say otherwise, the reason for optimism in Minnesota is because of them. Because they are what the Vikings have been missing for a very long time. But the young, talented roster and coaching staff that surrounds certainly helps.
The most sure path to success in the NFL is to have a terrific quarterback and coach. The Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers have made that look ridiculously easy over the past few decades. At least the quarterback part of the equation. A terrific coach-quarterback combination doesn't make championships automatic. The Packers and Colts, despite the continuous presence of gifted quarterbacks, combined for 3 Super Bowl titles over the last 25 years. It's tough to win it all when the right pieces are in place. It's pretty much impossible when they aren't. Just look at the he New England Patriots. The Bill Belichick-Tom Brady combo is one of the best in NFL history. They've won four Super Bowls in their fifteen years together. They've also lost two. They didn't make it to the big game in the other nine season. The biggest challenge for football teams in today's NFL isn't winning games. It's finding the right coach and quarterback. Some teams find them. Others don't. The teams that do? They win. The teams that don't? They have a tough road ahead of them. The Vikings have wildly inconsistent over the last decade. The reason for that can be easily seen in the quarterbacks under center over that time.
2006 (starts)
Brad Johnson (14)
Tarvaris Jackson (2)
2007
Tarvaris Jackson (12)
Kelly Holcomb (3)
Brooks Bollinger (1)
2008
Gus Frerotte (11)
Tarvaris Jackson (5)
2009
Brett Favre (16)
2010
Brett Favre (13)
Joe Webb (2)
Tarvaris Jackson (1)
2011
Christian Ponder (10)
Donovan McNabb (6)
2012
Christian Ponder (16)
2013
Christian Ponder (9)
Matt Cassel (6)
Josh Freeman (1)
2014
Teddy Bridgewater (12)
Matt Cassel (3)
Christian Ponder (1)
Sad. It doesn't take much effort to see that the 2009 and 2012 seasons were probably the most successful. Those were the only seasons in which a single quarterback started every game. Favre led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game in 2009. It was a magical season that should have ended in the Super Bowl. It's really no surprise that the best Vikings season in recent memory was the one in which they had solid, often spectacular, quarterback play. The playoff appearance at the end of the 2012 season was due more to Adrian Peterson putting the team on his back than their quarterback. Still, Ponder, the Vikings 2011 first-round pick, showed some promise that season. His play was more careful than daring but he did bring some hope for the future. That hope didn't last. The Vikings disastrous revolving door at quarterback has, hopefully, come to an end with Teddy Bridgewater.
The Vikings hired Brad Childress as head coach in 2006. He might have been difficult at times but the team improved 2 wins each year from 2006-09. It looked like he had something but it all fell apart in 2010. The season was a nightmare. From Favre's fun with texting to a roof collapse, each week was a new treat. It was a season that rivals 1984 as the worst in franchise history. Childress didn't make it through the season. He was fired after 10 games. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier finished the season and got the full-time gig when it finally ended. 2011 was the offseason that brought in Christian Ponder as the Vikings quarterback of the future. It was a short future. The Frazier/Ponder pairing lasted three seasons but never gained any traction. The only real success during that time was delivered by Peterson's MVP running in 2012. Ponder's shine faded in 2013 and as a result his and Frazier's time in Minnesota came to an end.
The current hope is that 10 years from now people will look back at the 2014 offseason as the turning point in Minnesota Vikings franchise history. That's the offseason in which Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach and Teddy Bridgewater was selected with the 32nd pick of the first round. That's the offseason in which the Vikings future brightened. The need for a terrific head coach and quarterback is never more apparent when your team doesn't have either. The Vikings have only played one season with Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater and both were mere rookies at their positions. That's hardly enough to suddenly expect this grand future. But the optimism for a grand future is certainly there. It's mind-numbing to try to understand why no NFL team had given Zimmer a chance at a head coaching shot before the Vikings did so last year. He'd had interviews. No offers. He'd been in the coaching business since 1979. He was considered one of the better defensive coordinators around for nearly all of this young century. Hell, Eric Mangini got two head coaching jobs before Zimmer got his first. It's a mystery. The Vikings were so lucky that no team had hired Mike Zimmer. They were also lucky that no team had selected Bridgewater before the final pick of the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. They were lucky that the Seattle Seahawks were so stocked with talent that they were willing to trade that pick. It wasn't always beautiful for Zimmer and Bridgewater in their first NFL season in their respective new jobs. There were so many times in which they looked very much like the rookies that they were. The difference between them and so many that came before in Minnesota is that they both seem to have the "it" that no one seems to be able to define. They both seem to get that it isn't just about them no matter how much everyone else makes it about them. They both seem to get that it takes so much work before they can even think about walking or running. Let alone winning. They both seem to get that they'll never really be successful until they've actually won it all.
The Minnesota Vikings are a trendy pick as a surprise team this season because of a young talented roster and the return of Peterson. The Vikings have had talented rosters before. They've had talented rosters that included Peterson. What they haven't had is a talented roster led by a coach and quarterback quite like Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater. No matter how they say otherwise, the reason for optimism in Minnesota is because of them. Because they are what the Vikings have been missing for a very long time. But the young, talented roster and coaching staff that surrounds certainly helps.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Vikings Starters?
The Minnesota Vikings reported to training camp yesterday. Their first practice is today. A week one Monday night date with the San Francisco 49ers is only a fistful of weeks away. We're almost there. Until then, here's a look at a possible Vikings starting lineup.
R Charles Johnson
T Matt Kalil
G Brandon Fusco
C John Sullivan
G T.J. Clemmings
T Phil Loadholt
TE Kyle Rudolph
R Mike Wallace
QB Teddy Bridgewater
RB Adrian Peterson
FB Zach Line
DE Everson Griffen
DT Sharrif Floyd
NT Linval Joseph
DE Brian Robison
LB Chad Greenway
LB Eric Kendricks
LB Anthony Barr
CB Xavier Rhodes
CB Trae Waynes
S Harrison Smith
S Antone Exum
K Blair Walsh
P Jeff Locke
KR Cordarrelle Patterson
PR Stefon Diggs
LS Cullen Loeffler
The Vikings have been a trendy pick to be a surprise team in the league this year. It's easy to see why. There's a lot of young talent on this roster. The Green Bay Packers are a serious obstacle for the division title but a playoff berth this year is a definite possibility for a Vikings team that is pointed in the right direction.
Offense
Adrian Peterson returns. No matter how much football talking heads honked about other possibilities Vikings GM Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer maintained that Peterson is and will be a Vikings football player. So many ludicrous rumors and here he is. In Minnesota. Peterson is a big reason for optimism in Minnesota. So is Teddy Bridgewater. The Vikings young quarterback was fantastic down the stretch as a rookie last season. And, he didn't have Adrian Peterson in the backfield with him. He also didn't have a deep threat like Mike Wallace. Bridgewater will have more weapons around him in his second season. Receiver Charles Johnson rose from the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns to be a reliable playmaker for the Vikings all in a matter of months. Great route-runner, hard-worker. His future looks bright. Cordarrelle Patterson, Jarius Wright, Adam Thielen, and Stefon Diggs provide nice, diverse receiver depth. Kyle Rudolph is a star at tight end if he can stay healthy. Fifth-round pick MyCole Pruitt could be a real find as a movement tight end. He can line up in the backfield, tight, or split wide. He's a matchup problem for defenses. He might even impact the Vikings decision on whether to keep a fullback. For now Zach Line is in the backfield for about a dozen plays a game. The line was the biggest offensive problem for the Vikings last year. Bridgewater was nearly killed in back-to-back games against the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. The young quarterback has to stay upright and the line has to make that happen. A return to health will help. Brandon Fusco has been the Vikings best, most consistent lineman over the past couple of seasons. He missed most of the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Phil Loadholt missed about the last quarter of the season with the same injury. The return to health of both will help the line. Fusco is moving from right to left guard this season. That move should help one of the line's biggest problems of the last two seasons. The puzzling play of Matt Kalil. The fourth pick of the 2012 NFL Draft has disappointed since a standout rookie season. Health, confidence, Charlie Johnson (not to be confused with the receiver Charles Johnson) have all been mentioned as reasons. Replacing Charlie Johnson with Fusco at left guard will help Kalil immensely. Staying healthy all season will also help. Right guard is one of the top position battles of training camp. Fourth-round pick T.J. Clemmings is probably the most skilled lineman of the candidates but he has no experience at guard. He also has limited experience as an offensive lineman as he spent half of his college career as a defensive lineman. Fellow rookie Tyrus Thompson also spent some offseason time at right guard and it sounds like he might be penciled in as the starter to open camp. Second-year guard David Yankey and veteran stalwart Joe Berger are also in the mix. On paper, the Vikings offensive line looks talented. That doesn't win games or keep the quarterback on his feet. Kalil has to play better.
Defense
This is the baby of head coach Mike Zimmer. The defense was historically horrid in 2013. That sad defense was a big reason for Leslie Frazier getting fired and Zimmer getting hired. In the new coach's first season the Vikings defense improved dramatically. The pass defense was solid. The run defense is a work in progress. A second season in Zimmer's defense should improve that. He inherited some nice talent. He's brought in even more. Rookie Eric Kendricks looks like the three-down middle linebacker that the Vikings have been looking for since the best years of E.J. Henderson. About a decade ago. He's a bit smaller than some say that Zimmer likes in the middle but how would they know? Zimmer has never had a team to call his own. Maybe Kendricks is the perfect middle linebacker for Zimmer. The linebacker group should be improved. Strong-side linebacker Anthony Barr is a star in the making. Chad Greenway is on the wrong side of 30 but he's healthy again. He wasn't last year. His experience and leadership is an asset. He's penciled in at weak-side linebacker. If he struggles, Gerald Hodges is ready to start. No matter what happens at the position Greenway and Hodges will likely come off the field in pass defense packages. A common occurrence in today's pass-happy NFL. It looks like a Barr-Kendricks combo in those situations. The defensive line should have the same starters as last season. Everson Griffen was terrific in his first season as a starter. He's only going to get better. Great athlete. He gets to the quarterback and makes plays against the run. Brian Robison joins Greenway on the wrong side of 30 but he can still hassle quarterbacks. Nose tackle Linval Joseph should be better in his second year with the Vikings. Zimmer mentioned him as a standout in offseason workouts. Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd is on the verge of stardom if he can stay healthy. The secondary was solid and often great last year. Corner Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith are stars. More will be aware of that this season. First-round pick Trae Waynes should pair nicely with Rhodes at corner for years to come. If he's not ready to do that right away veteran Terrence Newman will likely open the season as the starter. Captain Munnerlyn had a rough first year with the Vikings last year but is a solid nickel corner. The safety spot opposite Smith is the other top position battles of camp. This one is as wide open as right guard. Robert Blanton was solid as the starter last season but the Vikings are looking for more than solid. Blanton enters camp as the leader but he's face challenges from second-year Antone Exum, veteran Andrew Sendejo, and undrafted rookie free agent Anthony Harris. Exum is probably the most athletic of the group and most capable of providing something more than solid. But who knows? He's penciled in as the starter here. This could be a top-10 defense this year. Maybe even top-5.
Special Teams
The Vikings have made a concerted effort to get younger on special teams over the past few seasons. Blair Walsh replaced the solid Ryan Longwell at kicker in 2012. Jeff Locke replaced Chris Kluwe at punter in 2013. Is it long snapper Cullen Loeffler's turn to be replaced this year? He's been with the team since 2004. He's always been nothing but solid. Last year was the first year that he wasn't. Kevin McDermott will provide Loeffler with his first training camp competition in years. Cordarrelle Patterson is one of the most, if not the most, dangerous kick returner in the league. Always the underdog, Marcus Sherels has surprised everyone in establishing an NFL career. He's become one of the best punt returners in the league with determination, work, and effort. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Sherels continue his inspiring NFL career but Stefon Diggs might have too much natural ability for that to happen.
The future looks bright for the Minnesota Vikings. They have an excellent coaching staff put together and led by Mike Zimmer. They have added a bunch of young football talent over the last few years. It's mostly a young team but there's still a nice mix of veteran leadership. They have a very motivated, even angry Adrian Peterson. His first NFL season at 30 might be his best season. They have a tremendously promising young quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater. He has weapons. Certainly more than he had last season. This could be a very good year for the Vikings. With even better years to follow.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Training Camp 2015
It all starts today for the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. Their players report for Training Camp 2015 today. Those two teams will take the field at Fawcett Stadium in Canton for the Hall of Fame Game on August 9. They have an early and extra preseason game so they get a head-start on the 2015 season. The rest of the 30 NFL teams will trickle into their respective camps over the coming week. Actual football is back. Well, practice for actual football is back.
The Vikings and Steelers are part of a shrinking number of teams that move away from home for training camp. There was a time when every team traveled to a somewhat remote location so that the players can concentrate on nothing but football. The recent trend has been to keep training camp at home. That trend really got started started this century. In 2000, all but five teams traveled to a somewhat remote location. That number has increased to 20. There will only be 12 teams traveling to camps this season. The Vikings and Steelers are two of them. The Vikings will train at Minnesota St. University in Mankato for the 50th consecutive season. The Steelers will train at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania for the 50th consecutive season. Only the Green Bay Packers have called their training camp home-away-from-home home longer. The Packers will train at St. Norberts College in De Pere, Wisconsin for the 58th consecutive season. The Packers first training camp at St. Norbert's was the season before Vince Lombardi was hired. A lot has changed since then. Including the number of NFL teams staying in the cozy comfort of home for training camp.
Perhaps it's for nostalgic reasons but I prefer that football training camps take place away from home. To me, it's part of the process. It gets hot and football players go off to camp. They go and live in cramped dorm rooms. Eat, drink, sleep, study, and practice nothing but football. Curfews and bed checks. It's the bonding and team-building that comes with being stuck together, going through "football hell" together. I'm not sure why so many teams broke from the tradition of traveling to camp. It must have been for money reasons. Everything is now done for money reasons. It has to be cheaper to practice at home. The cost of moving enough football equipment to cover 90 football players of varying sizes can't be cheap. The cost of feeding these players as they burn thousands of calories each day can't be cheap. Staying at home must have been a decision made by an owner. It couldn't have been made by a football coach. A football coach would never choose a training camp that is cozy and comfortable.
In addition to the Vikings, Steelers, and Packers these are the other nine teams that handle training camp the way that it should be handled. They travel to it.
Buffalo Bills
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints
Washington Redskins
The Dallas Cowboys travel the furthest for their summer home. They fly half way across the country to practice in Oxnard, CA. This is the tenth time that they've done this since their first visit to Oxnard in 2001. The Panthers make the "other" Carolina feel like part of the family by traveling to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Most teams that travel stay at small colleges. This has always made sense as small colleges already have practice fields, dorms, and cafeterias. Despite the potential hazards of 300+-pound linemen storming through the dorms, it's also a commercial win for the colleges to have NFL teams spend a few weeks on their campuses in the summer. Then there's the New Orleans Saints. They may travel through a few states to get to camp but their destination is The Greenbrier. "America's Resort since 1778." Bet it's nice! The Saints stay at a celebrated spa in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Poor Saints. Tackling dummies and pedicures. They should be refreshed for the hardships of the 2015 NFL season.
The best part of training camp is the fresh start. There's hope in a fresh start. Some teams might have a bit more hope than others. Anything can happen in a new NFL season and it all starts with training camp.
Oh, to be in Mankato in the middle of the summer.
The Vikings and Steelers are part of a shrinking number of teams that move away from home for training camp. There was a time when every team traveled to a somewhat remote location so that the players can concentrate on nothing but football. The recent trend has been to keep training camp at home. That trend really got started started this century. In 2000, all but five teams traveled to a somewhat remote location. That number has increased to 20. There will only be 12 teams traveling to camps this season. The Vikings and Steelers are two of them. The Vikings will train at Minnesota St. University in Mankato for the 50th consecutive season. The Steelers will train at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania for the 50th consecutive season. Only the Green Bay Packers have called their training camp home-away-from-home home longer. The Packers will train at St. Norberts College in De Pere, Wisconsin for the 58th consecutive season. The Packers first training camp at St. Norbert's was the season before Vince Lombardi was hired. A lot has changed since then. Including the number of NFL teams staying in the cozy comfort of home for training camp.
Perhaps it's for nostalgic reasons but I prefer that football training camps take place away from home. To me, it's part of the process. It gets hot and football players go off to camp. They go and live in cramped dorm rooms. Eat, drink, sleep, study, and practice nothing but football. Curfews and bed checks. It's the bonding and team-building that comes with being stuck together, going through "football hell" together. I'm not sure why so many teams broke from the tradition of traveling to camp. It must have been for money reasons. Everything is now done for money reasons. It has to be cheaper to practice at home. The cost of moving enough football equipment to cover 90 football players of varying sizes can't be cheap. The cost of feeding these players as they burn thousands of calories each day can't be cheap. Staying at home must have been a decision made by an owner. It couldn't have been made by a football coach. A football coach would never choose a training camp that is cozy and comfortable.
In addition to the Vikings, Steelers, and Packers these are the other nine teams that handle training camp the way that it should be handled. They travel to it.
Buffalo Bills
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints
Washington Redskins
The Dallas Cowboys travel the furthest for their summer home. They fly half way across the country to practice in Oxnard, CA. This is the tenth time that they've done this since their first visit to Oxnard in 2001. The Panthers make the "other" Carolina feel like part of the family by traveling to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Most teams that travel stay at small colleges. This has always made sense as small colleges already have practice fields, dorms, and cafeterias. Despite the potential hazards of 300+-pound linemen storming through the dorms, it's also a commercial win for the colleges to have NFL teams spend a few weeks on their campuses in the summer. Then there's the New Orleans Saints. They may travel through a few states to get to camp but their destination is The Greenbrier. "America's Resort since 1778." Bet it's nice! The Saints stay at a celebrated spa in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Poor Saints. Tackling dummies and pedicures. They should be refreshed for the hardships of the 2015 NFL season.
The best part of training camp is the fresh start. There's hope in a fresh start. Some teams might have a bit more hope than others. Anything can happen in a new NFL season and it all starts with training camp.
Oh, to be in Mankato in the middle of the summer.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Flea Flicker's Top-9 Safeties
It may be a little cheesy but the tenth spot is being kept open for the hopeful healthy return of Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry from his battle with cancer.
Here's a Flea Flicker look at the Top-9 safeties in the league.
9. Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers
Reid just has to put an end to his run of concussions. His health is the most important thing. If he can stay on the field he can be one of the best.
8. T.J. Ward, Denver Broncos
Ward's best season might have been his first season in 2010 with the Cleveland Browns. He brings a physical presence to the Broncos secondary.
7. Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks
If Chancellor played ever game like he played against the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs last season he'd be at the top of this list. He was a beast that day. Big plays. Key plays.
6. Jairus Byrd, New Orleans Saints
Byrd's first season with the Saints was a wash due to injuries. When healthy he's one of the best.
5. Tashaun Gipson, Cleveland Browns
Gipson is ranked higher than this on many safety lists. If he keeps playing like he has the last two seasons he'll soon be higher on this list too. For now, #5 isn't too shabby.
4. Devin McCourty, New England Patriots
McCourty was drafted as a corner in 2010. The Patriots moved him to safety during the 2012 season. He's been terrific ever sense. The Patriots seemed to put a greater importance on retaining McCourty than Darrelle Revis this offseason. That says a lot about McCourty's importance to the Patriots defense.
3. Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers
Weddle is one of the most versatile safeties in the game.
2. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Most people outside of Minnesota don't know this yet but Harrison Smith is damn good.
1. Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks
With Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu retired Thomas is the best in the game. Like those two all-time greats, Thomas is all over the field.
Training camps start opening this weekend!
Here's a Flea Flicker look at the Top-9 safeties in the league.
9. Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers
Reid just has to put an end to his run of concussions. His health is the most important thing. If he can stay on the field he can be one of the best.
8. T.J. Ward, Denver Broncos
Ward's best season might have been his first season in 2010 with the Cleveland Browns. He brings a physical presence to the Broncos secondary.
7. Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks
If Chancellor played ever game like he played against the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs last season he'd be at the top of this list. He was a beast that day. Big plays. Key plays.
6. Jairus Byrd, New Orleans Saints
Byrd's first season with the Saints was a wash due to injuries. When healthy he's one of the best.
5. Tashaun Gipson, Cleveland Browns
Gipson is ranked higher than this on many safety lists. If he keeps playing like he has the last two seasons he'll soon be higher on this list too. For now, #5 isn't too shabby.
4. Devin McCourty, New England Patriots
McCourty was drafted as a corner in 2010. The Patriots moved him to safety during the 2012 season. He's been terrific ever sense. The Patriots seemed to put a greater importance on retaining McCourty than Darrelle Revis this offseason. That says a lot about McCourty's importance to the Patriots defense.
3. Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers
Weddle is one of the most versatile safeties in the game.
2. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Most people outside of Minnesota don't know this yet but Harrison Smith is damn good.
1. Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks
With Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu retired Thomas is the best in the game. Like those two all-time greats, Thomas is all over the field.
Training camps start opening this weekend!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Throwback Thursday: All-Time AFL Team
I looked at the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team last week. It's only fair to look at the terrific football players from the young, little league that took the 40-year old league to task for nearly all of 1960s. Here's the All-Time AFL Team.
Quarterback
Joe Namath
Running back
Clem Daniels
Paul Lowe
Flanker
Lance Alworth
Split End
Don Maynard
Tight end
Fred Arbanas
Tackle
Ron Mix
Jim Tyrer
Guard
Ed Budde
Billy Shaw
Center
Jim Otto
Defensive end
Jerry Mays
Gerry Philbin
Defensive tackle
Houston Antwine
Tom Sestak
Outside linebackers
Bobby Bell
George Webster
Middle Linebacker
Nick Bouniconti
Cornerback
Willie Brown
Dave Grayson
Safety
Johnny Robinson
George Saimes
Kicker
George Blanda
Punter
Jerrell Wilson
There's no doubting Joe Namath's prominence in the AFL or his role in the history of professional football but I have a difficult time seeing him as the All-Time AFL quarterback over Len Dawson. Buck Buchanan's absence as one of the defensive tackles is a surprise. Tom Sestak and Houston Antwine were excellent players but Buchanan is in the Hall of Fame for a reason. Old-time Buffalo Bills fans would put Sestak in Canton with Buchanan. They'd put George Saimes in as well. Johnny Robinson is one of the best football players not in the Hall of Fame.
Cookie Gilchrist was the All-Time AFL second team running back. No offense to Paul Lowe or Clem Daniels but Gilchrist should have been first team. In his six-year AFL career Gilchrist really only played four complete seasons. Three with the Buffalo Bills. One with the Denver Broncos. He was the Jim Brown of the AFL. Big, powerful, fast. He was probably the most dominant offensive player in the league during those four seasons. He was the AFL's Player of the Year in 1962. He could have won it the next three years as well. He played the first six years of his professional football career in the Canadian Football League. If he'd been in the NFL for his entire career he'd probably be in the Hall of Fame. It's a real shame that he's not better remembered.
Quarterback
Joe Namath
Running back
Clem Daniels
Paul Lowe
Flanker
Lance Alworth
Split End
Don Maynard
Tight end
Fred Arbanas
Tackle
Ron Mix
Jim Tyrer
Guard
Ed Budde
Billy Shaw
Center
Jim Otto
Defensive end
Jerry Mays
Gerry Philbin
Defensive tackle
Houston Antwine
Tom Sestak
Outside linebackers
Bobby Bell
George Webster
Middle Linebacker
Nick Bouniconti
Cornerback
Willie Brown
Dave Grayson
Safety
Johnny Robinson
George Saimes
Kicker
George Blanda
Punter
Jerrell Wilson
There's no doubting Joe Namath's prominence in the AFL or his role in the history of professional football but I have a difficult time seeing him as the All-Time AFL quarterback over Len Dawson. Buck Buchanan's absence as one of the defensive tackles is a surprise. Tom Sestak and Houston Antwine were excellent players but Buchanan is in the Hall of Fame for a reason. Old-time Buffalo Bills fans would put Sestak in Canton with Buchanan. They'd put George Saimes in as well. Johnny Robinson is one of the best football players not in the Hall of Fame.
Cookie Gilchrist was the All-Time AFL second team running back. No offense to Paul Lowe or Clem Daniels but Gilchrist should have been first team. In his six-year AFL career Gilchrist really only played four complete seasons. Three with the Buffalo Bills. One with the Denver Broncos. He was the Jim Brown of the AFL. Big, powerful, fast. He was probably the most dominant offensive player in the league during those four seasons. He was the AFL's Player of the Year in 1962. He could have won it the next three years as well. He played the first six years of his professional football career in the Canadian Football League. If he'd been in the NFL for his entire career he'd probably be in the Hall of Fame. It's a real shame that he's not better remembered.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Flea Flicker's Top-10 Cornerbacks
How about a look at the defensive side of the ball? Here's a Flea Flicker look at the top cornerbacks in the NFL.
10. Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins
Grimes is 32. He's 5'10." He's still one of the best corners in the league. Everyone was talking about Odell Beckham's one-handed catch on Monday Night Football. Grimes made a similar catch while covering Calvin Johnson in the end zone that received little attention. Incredible hops. Terrific cover skills. Grimes is a remarkable football player.
9. Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos
Talib is a puzzle. Sometimes he plays like one of the best corners in the game. Sometimes he doesn't.
8. Sean Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs front seven gets a lot of attention. The secondary is pretty good too. Smith is a big reason for that. He's also a big corner at 6'3." He's been one of the better corners in the league for a while now.
7. Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings
If Rhodes keeps improving as he has since the end of his rookie season in 2013 he's on his way to the top of this list.
6. Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos
Undrafted in 2011. A torn ACL in the 2013 playoffs. Harris' play last season was near miraculous. If he plays this season like he played last season he joins the best. He may already be there.
5. Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts
Davis often gets left out of the "best corner in the league" conversation. He shouldn't.
4. Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns
There really is very little separating the top-7 corners in the league. Haden is one of the best.
3. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
Peterson is probably the most physically gifted corner in the league. He may be the most physically gifted player in the league. If he can stay healthy and play to his natural ability he'll be the best corner.
2. Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
The Sherman vs. Revis argument is silly. Each is great and each is deserving of being considered the best. So do some of the other corners but most of the talking heads separate Sherman and Revis from the rest. Revis and Sherman. Sherman and Revis.
1. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
Sherman vs. Revis. Revis vs. Sherman. The nod here goes to Sherman simply because he's three years younger.
10. Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins
Grimes is 32. He's 5'10." He's still one of the best corners in the league. Everyone was talking about Odell Beckham's one-handed catch on Monday Night Football. Grimes made a similar catch while covering Calvin Johnson in the end zone that received little attention. Incredible hops. Terrific cover skills. Grimes is a remarkable football player.
9. Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos
Talib is a puzzle. Sometimes he plays like one of the best corners in the game. Sometimes he doesn't.
8. Sean Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs front seven gets a lot of attention. The secondary is pretty good too. Smith is a big reason for that. He's also a big corner at 6'3." He's been one of the better corners in the league for a while now.
7. Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings
If Rhodes keeps improving as he has since the end of his rookie season in 2013 he's on his way to the top of this list.
6. Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos
Undrafted in 2011. A torn ACL in the 2013 playoffs. Harris' play last season was near miraculous. If he plays this season like he played last season he joins the best. He may already be there.
5. Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts
Davis often gets left out of the "best corner in the league" conversation. He shouldn't.
4. Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns
There really is very little separating the top-7 corners in the league. Haden is one of the best.
3. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
Peterson is probably the most physically gifted corner in the league. He may be the most physically gifted player in the league. If he can stay healthy and play to his natural ability he'll be the best corner.
2. Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
The Sherman vs. Revis argument is silly. Each is great and each is deserving of being considered the best. So do some of the other corners but most of the talking heads separate Sherman and Revis from the rest. Revis and Sherman. Sherman and Revis.
1. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
Sherman vs. Revis. Revis vs. Sherman. The nod here goes to Sherman simply because he's three years younger.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Flea Flicker's Top-10 Receivers
Here's the receiver's. Maybe some surprises. Maybe not?
10. Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
It'll be interesting to see how Jeffery does as the top threat in Chicago with Brandon Marshall now in New York.
9. Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
I've liked Cobb since his rookie season. He's so versatile. So dangerous. Plus, Aaron Rodgers throws to him.
8. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
Based on the 12 football games that he played in his rookie season last season, Beckham should be in the top-3. If he can duplicate in year 2 what he did in those 12 games he will be in the top-3. He does so many things right and that doesn't include the spectacular catches. He does those as well.
7. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
This might be a little low but I've seen some games in which he disappears for stretches. Joe Haden seems to have a handle on him. Top receivers shouldn't disappear even against top corners. Green is so smooth. Besides, being #7 with some of the receivers that now populate the NFL isn't a bad thing.
6. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
Thomas is a beast.
5. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
Nelson does everything right. His body-positioning is excellent. He dictates where the corner can be. Plus, Aaron Rodgers throws to him. In a season in which he faced Calvin Johnson. Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, A.J. Green, Josh Gordon, and Antonio Brown, Vikings rising corner Xavier Rhodes said that Jordy Nelson was the most difficult to cover.
4. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
Over the last couple of seasons Brown has become an offensive force. He works so well with Ben Roethlisberger. Brown is hard to stop on the play that's called. He's nearly impossible to stop when he and Roethlisberger improvise.
3. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
The top-3 are toss-up. Bryant can take over a game. There are times in which he is simply impossible to cover. Then there are stretches when you question whether he's even on the field. Maybe it's the playcalling. Maybe he just disappears.
2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
There were a few times last year when it felt like Johnson had started to fade. Then there were time when feeling that was just silly.
1. Julio Jones, Atlanta Flacons
I just really like the way that Jones plays the receiver position. He plays physical. He plays angry. Like the other top receivers he can take over a football game. Defenses, fans, everyone knows when he's in the game. Even when he's not catching the football.
There are a lot of really good receivers in the NFL right now. It's easy to see why quarterbacks want to throw it so much. T.Y. Hilton should be on this list. Mike Evans will be. Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins, Amari Cooper... More skilled receivers are added each year. The pass-catching talent in the NFL is at an all time high.
10. Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
It'll be interesting to see how Jeffery does as the top threat in Chicago with Brandon Marshall now in New York.
9. Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
I've liked Cobb since his rookie season. He's so versatile. So dangerous. Plus, Aaron Rodgers throws to him.
8. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
Based on the 12 football games that he played in his rookie season last season, Beckham should be in the top-3. If he can duplicate in year 2 what he did in those 12 games he will be in the top-3. He does so many things right and that doesn't include the spectacular catches. He does those as well.
7. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
This might be a little low but I've seen some games in which he disappears for stretches. Joe Haden seems to have a handle on him. Top receivers shouldn't disappear even against top corners. Green is so smooth. Besides, being #7 with some of the receivers that now populate the NFL isn't a bad thing.
6. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
Thomas is a beast.
5. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
Nelson does everything right. His body-positioning is excellent. He dictates where the corner can be. Plus, Aaron Rodgers throws to him. In a season in which he faced Calvin Johnson. Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, A.J. Green, Josh Gordon, and Antonio Brown, Vikings rising corner Xavier Rhodes said that Jordy Nelson was the most difficult to cover.
4. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
Over the last couple of seasons Brown has become an offensive force. He works so well with Ben Roethlisberger. Brown is hard to stop on the play that's called. He's nearly impossible to stop when he and Roethlisberger improvise.
3. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
The top-3 are toss-up. Bryant can take over a game. There are times in which he is simply impossible to cover. Then there are stretches when you question whether he's even on the field. Maybe it's the playcalling. Maybe he just disappears.
2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
There were a few times last year when it felt like Johnson had started to fade. Then there were time when feeling that was just silly.
1. Julio Jones, Atlanta Flacons
I just really like the way that Jones plays the receiver position. He plays physical. He plays angry. Like the other top receivers he can take over a football game. Defenses, fans, everyone knows when he's in the game. Even when he's not catching the football.
There are a lot of really good receivers in the NFL right now. It's easy to see why quarterbacks want to throw it so much. T.Y. Hilton should be on this list. Mike Evans will be. Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins, Amari Cooper... More skilled receivers are added each year. The pass-catching talent in the NFL is at an all time high.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Neat Stuff At The New Stadium
US Bank Stadium is scheduled to open in time for the Minnesota Vikings 2016 NFL season. It's currently at 65% complete. It looks great. It will look spectacular. It will also have the following features.
1. WiFi hotspots in the handrails providing easy, reliable access.
2. Club Purple-a Vegas-style lounge suite-allows for comfy couch space with tableside service.
3. Fantasy football stat boards
4. Snowshield. Snow slides off the roof into gutters and collection basins on the edges where it will be melted and funneled into the drainage system. This will keep the snow and ice from falling to the ground. It will also keep the roof from collapsing.
5. Downtown East Commons. A 4.2 acre park area will include a great lawn that can accommodate 7,000 people, a reflective pool, ice skating rink, pavilion, cafe, and patio.
6. "Front Door" Plaza. The West Entrance will have a 3 acre plaza that will be used for outdoor concerts and pregame festivities.
7. Obtuse and acute angles only. There will be very few right angles throughout the stadium architecture. The angularity of the building reflects Nordic/Minnesotan architectural culture and some of the angles represent the ice shards found in Minnesota winters.
8. More than 2,000 HD TVs.
9. Exceeds federal ADA requirements with 690 wheelchair and companion seats.
10. 979 toilets requiring a "flush test." High school football teams and volunteers will take part in a "flush test." Letting all 979 toilets go at the same time.
It would be a blast to take part in that last one. And I'm not sure why a "Vegas-style lounge is necessary in a football stadium.
The stadium opens about this time next year!
1. WiFi hotspots in the handrails providing easy, reliable access.
2. Club Purple-a Vegas-style lounge suite-allows for comfy couch space with tableside service.
3. Fantasy football stat boards
4. Snowshield. Snow slides off the roof into gutters and collection basins on the edges where it will be melted and funneled into the drainage system. This will keep the snow and ice from falling to the ground. It will also keep the roof from collapsing.
5. Downtown East Commons. A 4.2 acre park area will include a great lawn that can accommodate 7,000 people, a reflective pool, ice skating rink, pavilion, cafe, and patio.
6. "Front Door" Plaza. The West Entrance will have a 3 acre plaza that will be used for outdoor concerts and pregame festivities.
7. Obtuse and acute angles only. There will be very few right angles throughout the stadium architecture. The angularity of the building reflects Nordic/Minnesotan architectural culture and some of the angles represent the ice shards found in Minnesota winters.
8. More than 2,000 HD TVs.
9. Exceeds federal ADA requirements with 690 wheelchair and companion seats.
10. 979 toilets requiring a "flush test." High school football teams and volunteers will take part in a "flush test." Letting all 979 toilets go at the same time.
It would be a blast to take part in that last one. And I'm not sure why a "Vegas-style lounge is necessary in a football stadium.
The stadium opens about this time next year!
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Flea Flicker's Top-10 Running Backs
Just ranked the quarterbacks. How about the top running backs?
10. Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
This might be a year early for Hill but he sure looked great when he became the top ball-carrier for the Bengals.
9. Arian Foster, Houston Texans
Foster probably should be ranked higher than #9. Despite rushing for over 1200 yards in four of the last five seasons he always seems to have injury concerns.
8. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
Forte has been one of the best all-around for a while. He still is. Just a little older.
7. DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles
Murray is no longer running behind the terrific offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys. That line and finally staying healthy for an entire season made him look like a whole new runner. And he looked great. The biggest question for him in Philadelphia might be how many carries Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles take from him.
6. LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
Another back joining a new team. On a Rex Ryan-led team it's a good bet that McCoy is more like the back that led the league in rushing in 2013.
5. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
His slow start last year is a bit of a puzzle. When he's on, he's a bull. He could jump into the top-3 if he's on for a an entire season.
4. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
As a Cal fan it was a revelation to watch Lynch carry tacklers as a freshman in 2005. It was the same season that fellow freshman Adrian Peterson was wowing the nation at Oklahoma. No one knew about Lynch then but the Pac-10 defenses learned real quick. He's still carrying tacklers.
3. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
It's a blast to watch Charles run with the football. Like Chris Johnson in his best years it feels like Charles might score every time that he's handed the ball.
2. Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
It's hard to believe that Bell is only entering his third NFL season. He does it all. Run, catch, block.
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
He's the best. Even with a year off, he's the best. The guess here is that Peterson makes his 2012 season look like a mere warm-up for his 2015 season.
10. Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
This might be a year early for Hill but he sure looked great when he became the top ball-carrier for the Bengals.
9. Arian Foster, Houston Texans
Foster probably should be ranked higher than #9. Despite rushing for over 1200 yards in four of the last five seasons he always seems to have injury concerns.
8. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
Forte has been one of the best all-around for a while. He still is. Just a little older.
7. DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles
Murray is no longer running behind the terrific offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys. That line and finally staying healthy for an entire season made him look like a whole new runner. And he looked great. The biggest question for him in Philadelphia might be how many carries Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles take from him.
6. LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
Another back joining a new team. On a Rex Ryan-led team it's a good bet that McCoy is more like the back that led the league in rushing in 2013.
5. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
His slow start last year is a bit of a puzzle. When he's on, he's a bull. He could jump into the top-3 if he's on for a an entire season.
4. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
As a Cal fan it was a revelation to watch Lynch carry tacklers as a freshman in 2005. It was the same season that fellow freshman Adrian Peterson was wowing the nation at Oklahoma. No one knew about Lynch then but the Pac-10 defenses learned real quick. He's still carrying tacklers.
3. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
It's a blast to watch Charles run with the football. Like Chris Johnson in his best years it feels like Charles might score every time that he's handed the ball.
2. Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
It's hard to believe that Bell is only entering his third NFL season. He does it all. Run, catch, block.
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
He's the best. Even with a year off, he's the best. The guess here is that Peterson makes his 2012 season look like a mere warm-up for his 2015 season.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Flea Flicker's Top-10 Quarterbacks
The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp one week from today. The rest of the 32 NFL teams soon follow. So, the coming week is a fine time do things like this. The Top-10 Quarterbacks in the NFL.
10. Eli Manning, New York Giants
Manning should be much better in his second year with offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Manning will also be in his second year with receiver Odell Beckham Jr. That would help any quarterback play at a higher level. If Victor Cruz is healthy, Manning will have a very talented group of receivers. Perhaps the best receivers that he's ever had,
9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan will move up this list if he can return the Falcons to the playoffs and actually get some playoff wins. He has pretty much everything to be top quarterback. He's one of the best at the end of games.
8. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco would be in the top 3 or 4 if he played every game like he plays in playoff games.
7. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
It feels like Brees is starting to fade. He's still one of the best.
6. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Rivers always seems to be rated a bit behind the top quarterbacks in the league. He needs a Super Bowl win to be grouped with the best.
5. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
The NFL is better with Manning in it. Great quarterback. And he's still much better than he played at the end of last season.
4. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
He might be routinely ranked a little behind the best but he's one of the best. The Steelers always seem to provide him with a steady supply of terrific receivers. Now, he has a terrific running back in Le'Veon Bell.
3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Brady has won four Super Bowls including the last one. It doesn't feel right to rank him third but the top-3 are so close.
2. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Colts fans are officially spoiled. Luck's ceiling is so high that a new one is constructed each year.
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
The most talented thrower in the game.
10. Eli Manning, New York Giants
Manning should be much better in his second year with offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Manning will also be in his second year with receiver Odell Beckham Jr. That would help any quarterback play at a higher level. If Victor Cruz is healthy, Manning will have a very talented group of receivers. Perhaps the best receivers that he's ever had,
9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan will move up this list if he can return the Falcons to the playoffs and actually get some playoff wins. He has pretty much everything to be top quarterback. He's one of the best at the end of games.
8. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco would be in the top 3 or 4 if he played every game like he plays in playoff games.
7. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
It feels like Brees is starting to fade. He's still one of the best.
6. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Rivers always seems to be rated a bit behind the top quarterbacks in the league. He needs a Super Bowl win to be grouped with the best.
5. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
The NFL is better with Manning in it. Great quarterback. And he's still much better than he played at the end of last season.
4. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
He might be routinely ranked a little behind the best but he's one of the best. The Steelers always seem to provide him with a steady supply of terrific receivers. Now, he has a terrific running back in Le'Veon Bell.
3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Brady has won four Super Bowls including the last one. It doesn't feel right to rank him third but the top-3 are so close.
2. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Colts fans are officially spoiled. Luck's ceiling is so high that a new one is constructed each year.
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
The most talented thrower in the game.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Signin' Time
Maybe it was the time on the NFL calendar. Maybe it was the players involved. I can't recall a franchise tender signing deadline that received more attention than the one that passed on Wednesday. It turned out that the deadline was deserving of all of that attention as it was quite eventful.
Five players had the franchise tag slapped on them.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Stephen Gostkowski, K, New England Patriots
Five players had the franchise tag slapped on them.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Stephen Gostkowski, K, New England Patriots
Jason Pierre-Paul was the only one that failed to sign his tender or a contract extension. That was pretty much expected after his 4th of July firecracker accident and the eventual amputation of his index finger. He's in something of a holding pattern until he's physically ready to play football.
The remaining four players all signed contract extensions. It was a very eventful day. Many football talking heads didn't expect any of the players to sign. It was wonderful to see that they were wrong.
The little kicker Stephen Gostkowski agreed to a four-year deal worth $17.2 million. He was the only player of the five that had signed his franchise tender. He had signed it almost as soon as it was handed to him way back in February. There was little drama to his signing but the Patriots now have their kicker secured for a while.
The biggest contract of the day, and one of the biggest contracts for a defensive player, went to Justin Houston. 6 years, $101 million. $52.5 million guaranteed. $32.5 million of which is guaranteed upon signing. That's a big one. Dwarfed only by the mammoth deal that the Miami Dolphins handed to Ndamukong Suh earlier this year. Houston has collected sacks at an absurd rate over the past few years. The Chiefs had to lock up their defensive cornerstone.
The receivers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas agreed to their deals in the last hour before the deadline. They were suspiciously similar. They were especially suspicious seeing as the NFLPA has expressed concerns over possible collusion between the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos involving these negotiations. Each receiver agreed to 5-year, $70 million. The difference between the two contracts came in the guaranteed monies and how those monies will be paid. Bryant has $45 million guaranteed. Thomas has $43.5 guaranteed. A coincidence? Their respective agents Tom Condon and Todd France work out of the same office. Collusion between the agents? Who knows? Who cares if both players and teams are happy?
It was nice to see these agreements. Holdouts suck.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Throwback Thursday: NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
Here's a Flea Flicker look at another of the NFL's All-Decade Team. The 1960s All-Decade Team was the first to be done in real time. As the NFL approached their 50th Anniversary in 1970 the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters put together All-Decade teams. The 1920s-1950s All-Decade Teams were done retroactively. The 1960s All-Decade Team was the first to be done when the decade was still fresh in the mind of the voters. Here it is:
Quarterback
Sonny Jurgensen
Bart Starr
Johnny Unitas
Halfback
John David Crow
Paul Hornung
Leroy Kelly
Gale Sayers
Fullback
Jim Brown
Jim Taylor
Split end
Del Shofner
Charley Taylor
Flankers
Gary Collins
Boyd Dowler
Tight end
John Mackey
Tackle
Bob Brown
Forrest Gregg
Ralph Neely
Guard
Gene Hickerson
Jerry Kramer
Howard Mudd
Center
Jim Ringo
Defensive end
Doug Atkins
Willie Davis
Deacon Jones
Defensive tackle
Alex Karras
Bob Lilly
Merlin Olsen
Linebacker
Dick Butkus
Larry Morris
Ray Nitschke
Tommy Nobis
Dave Robinson
Cornerback
Herb Adderley
Lem Barney
Bobby Boyd
Safety
Eddie Meador
Larry Wilson
Willie Wood
Kicker
Jim Bakken
Punter
Don Chandler
It's always interesting to look at these All-Decade Teams and see which players haven't been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's been said that to make the Hall of Fame a player has to be among the best at their position in the era in which they played. Appearing on an All-Decade is a pretty clear indication that the player was among the best at their position at the time that they played. The 1960s All-Decade Team includes 14 players that have not been inducted.
John David Crow
Del Shofner
Gary Collins
Boyd Dowler
Ralph Neely
Jerry Kramer
Howard Mudd
Alex Karras
Larry Morris
Tommy Nobis
Bobby Boyd
Eddie Meador
Jim Bakken
Don Chandler
Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer has been the poster boy of Hall of Fame exclusion for years. I'd put Alex Karras right up there with him. His exclusion has been a joke. Maybe it's because of his suspension for the entire 1963 NFL season for gambling. Paul Hornung served the very same suspension and his bust is in Canton. Who knows? Karras was one of the best defensive tackles of his generation.
One omission from this team that's a bit of a surprise is Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka. He shouldn't replace John Mackey but he should be there with Mackey. The voters included at least one extra player for each position but kicker, punter, center, and tight end. I can understand leaving it to one punter and kicker by why only a single center and tight end? Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff would be a fine choice as a second center. He succeeded Jim Ringo as the best center in the NFL and he'll receive his much deserved induction into the Hall of Fame in a few weeks.
One curious aspect of the 1960s All-Decade Team is the listing of receivers as split end and flanker. The terms are certainly accurate but they aren't used on the teams of previous or later decades. They were ends before and wide receivers after. Today we here x-, and z-receivers far more often than split end and flanker.
No AFL players but that should be expected. It's an NFL team. The All-Time AFL Team will be looked at later. They had some keepers.
A much belated congratulations to the 1960s All-Decade Team.
Quarterback
Sonny Jurgensen
Bart Starr
Johnny Unitas
Halfback
John David Crow
Paul Hornung
Leroy Kelly
Gale Sayers
Fullback
Jim Brown
Jim Taylor
Split end
Del Shofner
Charley Taylor
Flankers
Gary Collins
Boyd Dowler
Tight end
John Mackey
Tackle
Bob Brown
Forrest Gregg
Ralph Neely
Guard
Gene Hickerson
Jerry Kramer
Howard Mudd
Center
Jim Ringo
Defensive end
Doug Atkins
Willie Davis
Deacon Jones
Defensive tackle
Alex Karras
Bob Lilly
Merlin Olsen
Linebacker
Dick Butkus
Larry Morris
Ray Nitschke
Tommy Nobis
Dave Robinson
Cornerback
Herb Adderley
Lem Barney
Bobby Boyd
Safety
Eddie Meador
Larry Wilson
Willie Wood
Kicker
Jim Bakken
Punter
Don Chandler
It's always interesting to look at these All-Decade Teams and see which players haven't been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's been said that to make the Hall of Fame a player has to be among the best at their position in the era in which they played. Appearing on an All-Decade is a pretty clear indication that the player was among the best at their position at the time that they played. The 1960s All-Decade Team includes 14 players that have not been inducted.
John David Crow
Del Shofner
Gary Collins
Boyd Dowler
Ralph Neely
Jerry Kramer
Howard Mudd
Alex Karras
Larry Morris
Tommy Nobis
Bobby Boyd
Eddie Meador
Jim Bakken
Don Chandler
Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer has been the poster boy of Hall of Fame exclusion for years. I'd put Alex Karras right up there with him. His exclusion has been a joke. Maybe it's because of his suspension for the entire 1963 NFL season for gambling. Paul Hornung served the very same suspension and his bust is in Canton. Who knows? Karras was one of the best defensive tackles of his generation.
One omission from this team that's a bit of a surprise is Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka. He shouldn't replace John Mackey but he should be there with Mackey. The voters included at least one extra player for each position but kicker, punter, center, and tight end. I can understand leaving it to one punter and kicker by why only a single center and tight end? Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff would be a fine choice as a second center. He succeeded Jim Ringo as the best center in the NFL and he'll receive his much deserved induction into the Hall of Fame in a few weeks.
One curious aspect of the 1960s All-Decade Team is the listing of receivers as split end and flanker. The terms are certainly accurate but they aren't used on the teams of previous or later decades. They were ends before and wide receivers after. Today we here x-, and z-receivers far more often than split end and flanker.
No AFL players but that should be expected. It's an NFL team. The All-Time AFL Team will be looked at later. They had some keepers.
A much belated congratulations to the 1960s All-Decade Team.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Talkin' Tags
Today is the deadline for the NFL's franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals. None of the five players carrying the franchise tag have signed an extended contract. Here are those five players:
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Stephen Gostkowski, K, New England Patriots
No offense to the kicking community but it's always a little surprising to see kickers among these typically game-changing football players. Gostkowski is also the only one of the five to have signed has franchise tender. He signed it the very same week that he received it way back in February. He can still sign a contract extension today but he's at least signed for the 2015 NFL season. The other four are in limbo. If they don't sign an extension today they have two options. 1) Sign the tender and receive a very nice one-year salary. 2) Not play football for a while.
Jason Pierre-Paul had a multi-year contract offer from the Giants. He no longer has that contract offer after his 4th of July firecracker accident. He also no longer has one of his fingers. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Pierre-Paul has no intention of signing his franchise until he's healthy enough to play. That prevents the Giants from placing him on the Non-Football Injury list and avoid paying him for a portion of the season. The feeling here is that player and team should sit down and get on the same page. The current separation is more about the health of the player. The money should be secondary right now but money is never secondary in the NFL.
The contract negotiations of the receivers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are further clouded by collusion allegations by the NFLPA. Who knows? Maybe that forces teams and players to come to contract extension agreements as it sounds like that outcome might end those allegations. The Cowboys and Broncos need these game-breaking players in camp. The Cowboys really need Bryant to be in camp after losing running back DeMarco Murray in free agency.
It's difficult to imagine the Chiefs and Justin Houston not coming to an agreement on a contract extension. They have to keep their best defensive player, and one of the best defensive players in the league, in Kansas City for a long time.
Today should bring some news on the immediate future of these players and their teams.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Stephen Gostkowski, K, New England Patriots
No offense to the kicking community but it's always a little surprising to see kickers among these typically game-changing football players. Gostkowski is also the only one of the five to have signed has franchise tender. He signed it the very same week that he received it way back in February. He can still sign a contract extension today but he's at least signed for the 2015 NFL season. The other four are in limbo. If they don't sign an extension today they have two options. 1) Sign the tender and receive a very nice one-year salary. 2) Not play football for a while.
Jason Pierre-Paul had a multi-year contract offer from the Giants. He no longer has that contract offer after his 4th of July firecracker accident. He also no longer has one of his fingers. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Pierre-Paul has no intention of signing his franchise until he's healthy enough to play. That prevents the Giants from placing him on the Non-Football Injury list and avoid paying him for a portion of the season. The feeling here is that player and team should sit down and get on the same page. The current separation is more about the health of the player. The money should be secondary right now but money is never secondary in the NFL.
The contract negotiations of the receivers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are further clouded by collusion allegations by the NFLPA. Who knows? Maybe that forces teams and players to come to contract extension agreements as it sounds like that outcome might end those allegations. The Cowboys and Broncos need these game-breaking players in camp. The Cowboys really need Bryant to be in camp after losing running back DeMarco Murray in free agency.
It's difficult to imagine the Chiefs and Justin Houston not coming to an agreement on a contract extension. They have to keep their best defensive player, and one of the best defensive players in the league, in Kansas City for a long time.
Today should bring some news on the immediate future of these players and their teams.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Training Camp Schedules
Oooh, the 2015 NFL Season is getting closer. Here are the opening dates and locations of all 32 NFL training camps.
Arizona Cardinals
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, Ariz.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 28; veterans, July 31
Atlanta Falcons
Location: Flowery Branch training facility; Flowery Branch, Ga.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 30
Baltimore Ravens
Location: Under Armour Performance Center; Owings Mills, Md.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 22; veterans, July 29
Buffalo Bills
Location: St. John Fisher College; Rochester, N.Y.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 30
Joint practice: vs. Browns - Monday, Aug. 17, Tuesday, Aug. 18 at St. John Fisher College
Carolina Panthers
Location: Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 30
Joint practice: vs. Dolphins - Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20 at Wofford College
Chicago Bears
Location: Olivet Nazarene University; Bourbonnais, Ill.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 29
Joint practice: vs. Colts - Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20 at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, Indianapolis
Cincinnati Bengals
Location: Paul Brown Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio
Camp opens: Rookies, July 27; veterans, July 30
Joint practice: vs. Giants - Tuesday, Aug. 11, Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Paul Brown Stadium practice fields, Cincinnati
Cleveland Browns
Location: Browns training facility; Berea, Ohio
Camp opens: Rookies, July 22; veterans, July 29
Joint practice: vs. Bills - Monday, Aug. 17, Tuesday, Aug. 18 at St. John Fisher College
Dallas Cowboys
Location: Oxnard, Calif.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 29
Joint practice: vs. Rams - Monday, Aug. 17, Tuesday, Aug. 18 at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, Calif.
Denver Broncos
Location: Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre; Englewood, Colo.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 27; veterans, July 30
Detroit Lions
Location: Lions training facility; Allen Park, Mich.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 28; veterans, Aug. 2
Green Bay Packers
Location: St. Norbert College; De Pere, Wis.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 29
Houston Texans
Location: Methodist Training Center; Houston
Camp opens: Rookies, July 26; veterans, July 31
Indianapolis Colts
Location: Anderson University; Anderson, Ind.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, Aug. 1
Joint practice: vs. Bears - Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20 at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, Indianapolis
Jacksonville Jaguars
Location: Florida Blue Health Wellness Practice Fields; Jacksonville, Fla.
Camp opens: Rookie, July 27; veterans, July 30
Kansas City Chiefs
Location: Missouri Western State University; St. Joseph, Mo.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 28; veterans, July 31
Miami Dolphins
Location: Doctors Hospital Training Facility in Davie, Fla.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 29
Joint practice: vs. Panthers - Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20 at Wofford College
Minnesota Vikings
Location: Minnesota State University, Mankato; Mankato, Minn.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 25
New England Patriots
Location: Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, Mass.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 23; veterans, July 29
Joint practice: vs. Saints - Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20 at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.V.
New Orleans Saints
Location: The Greenbrier; White Sulphur Springs, W.V.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 22; veterans, July 29
Joint practice: vs. Patriots - Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20 at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.V.
New York Giants
Location: Quest Diagnostics Training Center; East Rutherford,N.J.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 30
Joint practice: vs. Bengals - Tuesday, Aug. 11, Wednesday, Aug 12 at Paul Brown Stadium practice fields, Cincinnati
New York Jets
Location: Atlantic Health Training Center; Florham Park, N.J.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 29
Oakland Raiders
Location: Napa Valley Marriott; Napa, Calif.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 26; veterans, July 30
Philadelphia Eagles
Location: NovaCare Complex; Philadelphia, Pa.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, Aug. 1
Pittsburgh Steelers
Location: Saint Vincent College; Latrobe, Pa.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 25
San Diego Chargers
Location: Chargers Park; San Diego, Ca.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 29
San Francisco 49ers
Location: Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Center; Santa Clara, Calif.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 27; veterans, July 31
Seattle Seahawks
Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center; Renton, Wash.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 30
St. Louis Rams
Location: Rams Park; Earth City, Mo.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 27; veterans, July 31
Joint practice: vs. Cowboys - Monday, Aug. 17, Tuesday, Aug. 18 at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, Calif.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Location: One Buccaneer Place; Tampa, Fla.
Camp opens: Rookies, July 27; veterans, July 31
Tennessee Titans
Location: Saint Thomas Sports Park; Nashville, Tenn.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 30
Washington Redskins
Location: Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center; Richmond, Va.
Camp opens: Rookies and veterans, July 29
Monday, July 13, 2015
Flea Flicker Favorites
With NFL Network's countdown of the Top 100 Players on my mind here's a look at my favorite players from each of the 31 teams that aren't the Minnesota Vikings. I can't pick my favorite player on the Vikings as there just isn't the space or the time for that internal debate. Here are my favorite players in the NFL. It might be heavy on Cal players.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers, QB
I feel like I was physically there for the discovery of Rodgers. I was in the stands for all of his home games at Cal. I was in front of the TV for the away games. His Cal career that was a year too short if you ask me. But, he didn't. I was disappointed that he was drafted by the Packers but it was a great place for him. Great football player on the field. A great person off of it.
Chicago Bears
Jared Allen, DE
This pick is more for what he did as a member of the Vikings than anything that he's done for the Bears. Matt Forte is another possibility here.
Detroit Lions
DeAndre Levy, LB
Levy is one of the most underrated football players in the league. He's fun to watch. He's also a bit of a nut in a fun way.
Dallas Cowboys
Tyron Smith, T
He's simply a great football player. He's probably the best tackle in the game right now.
New York Giants
Odell Beckham Jr., WR
The way that some people have been talking about this kid after only 12 games you'd think that he's already enshrined in Canton. Still, there are few players in the league that are more fun to watch right now.
Philadelphia Eagles
Mychal Kendricks, LB
One of my favorite Cal players. He's a great, versatile linebacker. He's also the older brother of Vikings rookie linebacker Eric Kendricks. The only thing that I have against the younger Kendricks is that he didn't follow his big brother to Cal. Worse yet, he attended UCLA.
Washington Redskins
Alfred Morris, RB
I just really like how this kid quietly goes about his business. He's a terrific runner.
New Orleans Saints
Cameron Jordan, DE
Another Cal player and the son former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan. What's not to like?
Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones, WR
Jones is one of the my favorite receivers and football players in the league. I love the physical manner in which he plays a position better known for finesse.
Carolina Panthers
Luke Kuechly, LB
I've enjoyed watching Kuechly play since his Boston College days. He's the ideal middle linebacker for today's NFL. Terrific against the run and pass.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lavonte David, LB
This is a really tough choice between David and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Both are fantastic football players.
San Francsico 49ers
NaVorro Bowman, LB
Two of my favorite players in the league retired this year in Patrick Willis and Justin Smith. That's a big blow to the 49ers and the league. Hopefully, Bowman is fully recovered from his brutal leg injury in the 2013 NFC Championship game.
Seattle Seahawks
Brandon Mebane, DT
Another of my favorite Cal football players. Marshawn Lynch would fit here too. I never thought that Mebane received enough credit at Cal and I don't think that he receives enough credit for his role in the Seahawks great defense.
Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald, WR
He's been one of my favorites since I first saw him catching footballs at Pitt. His receiving skills should be shown to every single receiver hopeful. No matter his age.
St. Louis Rams
Aaron Donald, DT
The Vikings drafted two of my favorites in the 2014 NFL Draft in Anthony Barr and Teddy Bridgewater. Donald was right there with them. He's an amazing football player and he's only going into his second year in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Le'Veon Bell, RB
This pick has gone to Troy Polamalu for so long. Now, he's retired. It's Bell's turn now. His rise up the running back charts in only two seasons is remarkable. I like Antonio Bryant a lot as well.
Cleveland Browns
Joe Haden, CB
Haden sometimes seems forgotten in talk of the best corners in the game. He's one of the best. I like former Cal center Alex Mack a lot too.
Cincinnati Bengals
Geno Atkins, DT
Perhaps I see a lot of John Randle in Atkins' play on the field. A little guy that just rips apart an offense from the middle of the line.
Baltimore Ravens
Terrell Suggs, LB
Suggs is a riot. He's been a great player for a long time.
New England Patriots
Rob Gronkowski, TE
How can you not like this running, shouting ball of chaos?
New York Jets
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE
The Jets struck gold with the 30th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was very underrated for a couple of years. Now, most everybody knows that he's great.
Buffalo Bills
Kyle Williams, DT
The Bills defensive line is freakishly loaded. Mario Williams, Jerry Hughes, Marcel Dareus, and this guy. This Williams is as important as the rest of his better-known linemates.
Miami Dolphins
Cameron Wake, DE
I love the persistence and dedication that Wake showed in his fight to finally make it to the NFL. Now, he's one of the best pass rushers in the game.
Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, QB
How can you not like this goofy, superbly-talented quarterback?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jared Odrick, DT
Odrick has yet to take a snap for the Jaguars. He was an underrated player for the Dolphins. I hope that he gets the attention that he deserves in Jacksonville.
Houston Texans
J.J. Watt, DE
He's one of the most dominating defensive players that I've ever seen. He's in a class with Lawrence Taylor with the destruction that he can put on an offense.
Tennessee Titans
Brian Schwenke, C
Schwenke was a terrific player at Cal. I didn't think that he received the attention that he deserved in college. As a result, I was surprised and pleased when the Titans selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Oakland Raiders
Khalil Mack, LB
Mack was terrific as a rookie last year. I don't think that it was even close to the player that he's going to become.
Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning, QB
The NFL is simply better with him in it. I only wish that he was closer to the beginning of his career than the end of it.
Kansas City Chiefs
Jamaal Charles, RB
Charles is a great back. He just has to stay healthy.
San Diego Chargers
Keenan Allen, WR
Another one of my favorites from Cal. Several good receivers have come out of Berkeley over the last couple of decades. Allen is the best.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers, QB
I feel like I was physically there for the discovery of Rodgers. I was in the stands for all of his home games at Cal. I was in front of the TV for the away games. His Cal career that was a year too short if you ask me. But, he didn't. I was disappointed that he was drafted by the Packers but it was a great place for him. Great football player on the field. A great person off of it.
Chicago Bears
Jared Allen, DE
This pick is more for what he did as a member of the Vikings than anything that he's done for the Bears. Matt Forte is another possibility here.
Detroit Lions
DeAndre Levy, LB
Levy is one of the most underrated football players in the league. He's fun to watch. He's also a bit of a nut in a fun way.
Dallas Cowboys
Tyron Smith, T
He's simply a great football player. He's probably the best tackle in the game right now.
New York Giants
Odell Beckham Jr., WR
The way that some people have been talking about this kid after only 12 games you'd think that he's already enshrined in Canton. Still, there are few players in the league that are more fun to watch right now.
Philadelphia Eagles
Mychal Kendricks, LB
One of my favorite Cal players. He's a great, versatile linebacker. He's also the older brother of Vikings rookie linebacker Eric Kendricks. The only thing that I have against the younger Kendricks is that he didn't follow his big brother to Cal. Worse yet, he attended UCLA.
Washington Redskins
Alfred Morris, RB
I just really like how this kid quietly goes about his business. He's a terrific runner.
New Orleans Saints
Cameron Jordan, DE
Another Cal player and the son former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan. What's not to like?
Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones, WR
Jones is one of the my favorite receivers and football players in the league. I love the physical manner in which he plays a position better known for finesse.
Carolina Panthers
Luke Kuechly, LB
I've enjoyed watching Kuechly play since his Boston College days. He's the ideal middle linebacker for today's NFL. Terrific against the run and pass.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lavonte David, LB
This is a really tough choice between David and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Both are fantastic football players.
San Francsico 49ers
NaVorro Bowman, LB
Two of my favorite players in the league retired this year in Patrick Willis and Justin Smith. That's a big blow to the 49ers and the league. Hopefully, Bowman is fully recovered from his brutal leg injury in the 2013 NFC Championship game.
Seattle Seahawks
Brandon Mebane, DT
Another of my favorite Cal football players. Marshawn Lynch would fit here too. I never thought that Mebane received enough credit at Cal and I don't think that he receives enough credit for his role in the Seahawks great defense.
Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald, WR
He's been one of my favorites since I first saw him catching footballs at Pitt. His receiving skills should be shown to every single receiver hopeful. No matter his age.
St. Louis Rams
Aaron Donald, DT
The Vikings drafted two of my favorites in the 2014 NFL Draft in Anthony Barr and Teddy Bridgewater. Donald was right there with them. He's an amazing football player and he's only going into his second year in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Le'Veon Bell, RB
This pick has gone to Troy Polamalu for so long. Now, he's retired. It's Bell's turn now. His rise up the running back charts in only two seasons is remarkable. I like Antonio Bryant a lot as well.
Cleveland Browns
Joe Haden, CB
Haden sometimes seems forgotten in talk of the best corners in the game. He's one of the best. I like former Cal center Alex Mack a lot too.
Cincinnati Bengals
Geno Atkins, DT
Perhaps I see a lot of John Randle in Atkins' play on the field. A little guy that just rips apart an offense from the middle of the line.
Baltimore Ravens
Terrell Suggs, LB
Suggs is a riot. He's been a great player for a long time.
New England Patriots
Rob Gronkowski, TE
How can you not like this running, shouting ball of chaos?
New York Jets
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE
The Jets struck gold with the 30th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was very underrated for a couple of years. Now, most everybody knows that he's great.
Buffalo Bills
Kyle Williams, DT
The Bills defensive line is freakishly loaded. Mario Williams, Jerry Hughes, Marcel Dareus, and this guy. This Williams is as important as the rest of his better-known linemates.
Miami Dolphins
Cameron Wake, DE
I love the persistence and dedication that Wake showed in his fight to finally make it to the NFL. Now, he's one of the best pass rushers in the game.
Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, QB
How can you not like this goofy, superbly-talented quarterback?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jared Odrick, DT
Odrick has yet to take a snap for the Jaguars. He was an underrated player for the Dolphins. I hope that he gets the attention that he deserves in Jacksonville.
Houston Texans
J.J. Watt, DE
He's one of the most dominating defensive players that I've ever seen. He's in a class with Lawrence Taylor with the destruction that he can put on an offense.
Tennessee Titans
Brian Schwenke, C
Schwenke was a terrific player at Cal. I didn't think that he received the attention that he deserved in college. As a result, I was surprised and pleased when the Titans selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Oakland Raiders
Khalil Mack, LB
Mack was terrific as a rookie last year. I don't think that it was even close to the player that he's going to become.
Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning, QB
The NFL is simply better with him in it. I only wish that he was closer to the beginning of his career than the end of it.
Kansas City Chiefs
Jamaal Charles, RB
Charles is a great back. He just has to stay healthy.
San Diego Chargers
Keenan Allen, WR
Another one of my favorites from Cal. Several good receivers have come out of Berkeley over the last couple of decades. Allen is the best.
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