Tag: Anthony Stalter (Page 131 of 133)

      Offseason Blueprint: St. Louis Rams

      February 10, 2009 /

      Notable Free Agents: Ron Bartell, CB; Richie Incognito, C; Dane Looker, WR; Dante Hall, WR;

      Projected 2009 Cap Space: $8000,000

      Draft Order: 2

      Top Needs: The Rams have major holes along their offensive line and will likely look to upgrade their linebacker corps and secondary.

      Offseason Outlook: Rumors are already circulating that the Rams will part with long-time veterans Orlando Pace and Torry Holt, although don’t rule out either player restructuring their current contracts in order to stay in St. Louis. Holt’s cap charge in 2009 is $10.25 million and Pace carries a charge of $9 mil next year. Neither player will be in a St. Louis uniform next year at their current prices. The team will either deal the players or flat out release them if they don’t agree to restructure their contracts.

      The Rams might also consider releasing safety Corey Chavous ($1.2 million), linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa ($2.25 million), backup quarterback Trent Green ($1.3 million) and defensive tackle Claude Wroten ($726,000) this offseason. Considering they’re handcuffed at only $8 million, expect new head coach Steve Spagnuolo and his staff to make moves in order to free up some cap space this offseason.

      If the Rams part with Holt, some believe they may target a wide receiver in the draft, possibly even Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree. But don’t count on it. Even if the team releases/trades Holt, word is that the Rams love the potential of Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, and therefore could address other needs with the second overall pick in the draft.

      The Rams’ draft plans could revolve around what they do in free agency. Apparently free agent center Matt Birk (Vikings) is on the Rams’ radar, as well as linebacker Bart Scott (Ravens), even though he’s played in a 3-4 defensive scheme his entire career. But with their current cap state, the Rams probably won’t be able to add both Birk and Scott without a fair amount of roster movement (i.e. cuts, trades, etc.). If St. Louis can add Birk, they might target Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who could play either inside or outside in Spag’s 4-3 defense. If they land Scott, the Rams could consider Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe with their top pick, which would go a long way in rebuilding their offensive line.

      It’s also imperative that the Rams re-sign cornerback Ron Bartell, who was a solid player that was overlooked because he played on a bad team. He’s prone to following up a good play with two bad ones, but the fact remains that he’s the Rams’ most underrated free agent and he should get top priority among players they re-sign. (Unlike center Richie Incognito, who proved to be a thorn in the sides of teammates, coaches and even fans last year.)

      Perhaps the Rams’ offseason game plan should revolve around running back Steven Jackson, who is without a doubt their only marquee player. Nothing helps a back more than having a solid offensive line in front of him, so St. Louis could make a big push to sign Birk, then draft a big-bodied tackle like Monroe or Alabama’s Andre Smith with their first pick in April. With the amount of money the Rams committed to both Jackson and quarterback Marc Bulger the past two offseasons, it makes sense to build the offense first (especially considering they play in a dome at least eight times a year), then concentrate on defense. Hiring Spags also plays into the notion of building the offense first, because he arguably can do more with less on the defensive side of the ball by plugging in players that fit his successful scheme.

      NFL

      Is A-Rod pulling a fast one on everybody?

      February 9, 2009 /

      Let’s take a moment and reflect on this Alex Rodriguez-steroid situation for a moment, shall we? Let’s take a step back and really examine what has transpired over the past couple days.

      On Saturday, SI.com ran a report that A-Rod tested positive for steroids when he was a member of the Rangers in 2003. The only response Rodriguez gave to the report was, “You’ll have to talk to the union” and “I’m not saying anything.”

      That was smart – he might as well give himself some time to plan his next move before he started digging a deeper hole for himself.

      So on Monday, A-Rod phones ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons and admit he did in fact use steroids and that SI.com’s report is true. (By the way, I find it kind of humorous that instead of going to SI.com, he went to ESPN since the former was the one that had a hand in outing him.)

      “When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure, felt all the weight of the world on top of me to perform, and perform at a high level every day,” Rodriguez told ESPN’s Peter Gammons in an interview in Miami Beach, Fla. “Back then, [baseball] was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naïve. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time.

      “I did take a banned substance. For that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful.”

      “To be quite honest, I don’t know exactly what substance I was guilty of using,” Rodriguez said.

      “Overall, I felt a tremendous pressure to play, and play really well” in Texas, the New York Yankees third baseman said. “I had just signed this enormous contract I felt like I needed something, a push, without over-investigating what I was taking, to get me to the next level.”

      “It’s been a rough 15 months here for me,” Rodriguez said. “I was stupid for three years. I was very, very stupid.”

      He also said: “The more honest we can all be, the quicker we can get baseball [back] to where it needs to be.”

      There are a couple of things we can take from A-Rod’s discussion with Gammons and ESPN. One, regardless of what you think of him, Rodriguez has more balls than Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and every other player that knowingly took steroids and either denied it or tap danced around the subject in order to save face. He got caught red-handed and decided to fess up. If nothing else, I give him credit for stepping up and being a man about being caught.

      But his argument that he didn’t know what substance he was guilty of using is complete bull.

      Why do athletes continue to treat fans like brainless idiots? Some athletes hire professional chefs to cook their meals every day. Some athletes have professional trainers to construct detailed workout regimens for them every day. And some athletes have professional dieticians so they know what foods and supplements would be best for their bodies.

      So we’re supposed to believe that athletes like A-Rod would spend money to hire all these people to help them live healthier lives, yet they don’t know what’s going into their bodies? Come on. I read the bottle of aspirin twice just to make sure I take the correct dosage when I have a headache. And these athletes are saying that they don’t what kind of steroid they were about to take and what kind of side effects could come with it? Not a chance.

      Alex RodriguezPerhaps the bigger issue in A-Rod’s apology is what he used as an excuse. He talked about being “young”, “naïve” and “stupid” when he took steroids. He was 26 in 2003 – not 16. Anyone who has gone through their teenage years and their early twenties probably did some stupid shit for a variety of reasons, none of which were probably given much thought. But by your mid-20’s, you’re fully aware of every decision you make and you have come up with justification for doing it.

      Rodriguez didn’t take steroids because he was young and naïve – he took steroids to gain an edge. He took steroids to make his game better, which is ridiculous when you think about it because he was already better than anyone in the league at the time. He knew exactly why he took what he took, and probably came to a rational decision as to why to do it. (Therefore the young and naïve bit doesn’t fly.)

      One can’t help but wonder if this is all part of A-Rod’s plan to weasel out of this situation with minimal damage. He’s already not well liked around the league, but many of us were hoping that he would legitimize the home run record by breaking the mark after Barry Bonds stole it from Hank Aaron. We thought, “Well, A-Rod’s an ass but at least when he breaks the record that cheater Bonds won’t have it.”

      So what does A-Rod do when he gets caught? Admit to it, knowing that he might save a little face and not have to endure the same public scrutiny that Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Palmero and Clemens did. After all, his own teammate Andy Pettitte came clean about using steroids and now you barely hear his name associated with those athletes that were caught using performance-enhancers.

      A-Rod confessing that he did use steroids in 2003 is all well and good. But he also claims he hasn’t used steroids since then, yet if you look at pictures from 2003 until now, his body has changed all that much. The question now becomes: Did he just fess up to being caught so it would divert everyone’s attention away from the fact that he’s still on riods? If he did, he just hung himself in the court of public opinion. The American public loves to forgive and forget, but they won’t stand for being lied to twice.

      Then again, maybe this is a pessimistic way of looking at this situation. Maybe Rodriguez truly did only take steroids for one year and has been clean ever since. Maybe his reasoning that he was young and naïve is a viable excuse. And maybe everyone should focus on the fact that he stepped forwarded and admitted his wrong doing instead of dragging the situation out further. When you look at how Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, Sosa and Palmeiro handled their respective situations, A-Rod looks like the poster child of for what to do when an athlete makes a mistake.

      Either way, A-Rod better hope he knows what he’s doing because every step he makes from now until the end of his career will be reported and talked about in length. He’s not in Texas or Seattle anymore – he’s in New York. And that media has only begun to take aim on his situation.

      MLB

      Offseason Blueprint: Detroit Lions

      February 9, 2009 /

      Notable Free Agents: Dan Orlovsky, QB, Rudi Johnson, RB; Jason Hanson, K; Shaun Cody, DT; Paris Lenon, LB.

      Projected 2009 Cap Space: $26,000,000

      Draft Order: 1

      Top Needs: A team doesn’t go 0-16 by accident. The Lions have major holes to fill at every position although offensive line, linebacker, quarterback and secondary are arguably their biggest needs.

      Offseason Outlook: Where do I start? This team is such an utter mess that it’s going to take new GM Martin Mayhew at least 2-3 years to rebuild the roster. And that’s assuming most of his moves pan out.

      Even though it would be a long, slow process, Mayhew’s best approach would be to blow up the entire roster and start over. The two biggest problems with the Matt Millen era is that it lacked direction and he couldn’t spot talent if it fell from the sky and dropped in his lap. What Mayhew needs to do is build from the inside out and it all starts with the offensive line.

      Many will argue that the Lions need a franchise starting quarterback first and foremost, but without an offensive line it won’t matter who they have under center. That’s why drafting Virginia’s Eugene Monroe with the first overall pick might be Detroit’s best move. Monroe is the type of player that could anchor the Lions’ offensive line for years to come and considering the team has a decent amount of cap space, Detroit could get a piece or two in free agency to help rebuild the offensive line as well. (Although the top available linemen – Matt Birk, Mike Goff, Mark Tauscher – are all over the age of 30.)

      Even though it would pain most Lion fans to watch either Daunte Culpepper or Drew Stanton take another snap under center, the fact is that the other options aren’t that great either. The Patriots seem content to hang onto Matt Cassel and even if they weren’t, it would take multiple draft picks (multiple draft picks the Lions need to help rebuild the roster) and mucho dinero to acquire him from New England. And unless Jeff Garcia (already a failed experiment in Detroit), Rex Grossman or Kyle Boller gets your motor running, the unrestricted free agent market isn’t too promising either. In fact, the Lions’ best option at quarterback next year might still be on the roster in Jon Kitna. He was too happy with the way the team placed him on IR with a back injury midway through the season last year, but the coaching regime that made that decision isn’t in Detroit anymore. He could essentially be a solid stopgap at quarterback so the Lions could address the offensive line and defense this offseason.

      Of course, the Lions could draft Georgia’s Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick, but again, if they have no line to protect him, he could wind up being another Joey Harrington. It all comes down to what Mayhew and the Detroit scouting team thinks about Stafford. If they believe he’s a franchise-type quarterback, then he’ll be in Honolulu blue next year. But if he’s not very high on their boards, then they need to address other areas and maybe Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy or another quarterback prospect will be available next year.

      In terms of addressing their defense, the Lions could go any direction they want. They could throw big money at any one of the top free agents (Julius Peppers, Terrell Suggs, Nnamdi Asomugha, Karlos Dansby, etc.) and then draft the best available in April. Or they could choose to rebuild the roster with bargain-type free agents that fit into new head coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham’s scheme. Either way, there are a plethora of solid defensive players in both free agency and the draft, so there should be no excuse for Mayhew not to address that side of the ball this offseason. (Of course, he still has to convince free agents to come to Detroit, which won’t be any small task.)

      Lions fans have every reason not to be optimistic that good things are on the horizon. But the good thing is that the Matt Millen era is over and now Mayhew will have an opportunity to implode the roster and start over. And despite the overall lack of talent, Mayhew does have a franchise player in Calvin Johnson to build the offense around. Hopefully he can build off his first move (wisely dumping receiver Roy Williams for multiple draft picks) as Lions’ GM and right a sinking ship.

      NFL, NFL Draft, Rumors & Gossip

      Ten things to look forward to now that the Super Bowl is over

      February 2, 2009 /

      Click here for six observations on Super Bowl XLIII.

      Lucifer himself might as well have created the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday.

      Is that extreme? No.

      The Monday after the Super Bowl signals the end of another NFL season and that means there is no football on the horizon unless you’re one of the 10 people that watches the Pro Bowl. There are seven months between now and the start of preseason games, which makes me sick to think about. If I could freeze myself for the next seven months and thaw just in time for the 2009 season, I would.

      Is that extreme? No.

      But fear not my football friends because even though there isn’t any football this Sunday, it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to get excited about while looking ahead. Below are 10 things to look forward to now that the Super Bowl is over.

      Before you read on, realize that I’m not going to cop out and write about how free agency and the draft are things to look forward to. Of course they are, but let’s get more specific here, people.

      Tom Brady1. The Patriots’ decision regarding Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.
      The Patriots are faced with arguably the biggest decision of any team this offseason. Brady has won multiple Super Bowls for the organization, has been the face of the franchise for almost a decade and he’s one of the Pats’ most outspoken leaders. But he’s also coming off major knee surgery, is 32 years old and his backup (Cassel) is younger and had a productive season as a fill-in. Cassel is also an unrestricted free agent, which makes this situation even more intriguing. Rumor has it that the Pats will franchise Cassel, but that’s a risky move because they would have to pay him $14.65 million for one year. If New England went that route, they would have nearly $30 million tied up in the quarterback position next year and Cassel might not even take a snap if Brady recovers in time for the start of the season. Another option would be to re-sign Cassel to a long-term contract and then trade Brady, but that’s easier said than done. Even though Brady’s a multiple Super Bowl winner, the Pats would still have to find a suitor willing to take on his injury concerns and contract. Of course, New England could keep Brady and allow Cassel to walk, but then they would have to hope golden boy Tom is healthy, and have a backup option in place in case he does get hurt again. Either way, the Pats have one hell of a decision to make soon.

      2. Will the Cardinals trade Anquan Boldin?
      On the surface, this situation isn’t too complicated. Boldin wants to be paid like a No. 1 receiver, but the Cardinals want him to honor the contact extension he signed in 2005, which won’t make him a free agent until 2011. If Boldin doesn’t get paid, he wants Arizona to trade him, but the Cardinals just got done playing in the Super Bowl and would love to keep their dynamic passing game intact for next season. Will the Cardinals pony up? They might not have to. Larry Fitzgerald once again proved this season that he is the team’s No. 1 and while Boldin remains highly underrated, Steve Breaston is more than capable of being the Cards’ No. 2. The team could find another wideout to play the slot either via the draft or free agency. Plus if they trade Boldin, they could acquire multiple draft picks to use to strengthen other areas on the team, including offensive line and defense. But if Fitz is willing to rework his contract in order to help keep Boldin, then obviously Arizona is a much better team with him than without him.

      3. Will the Lions draft a quarterback with the first overall pick?
      The Lions have a new general manager in Martin Mayhew and it’s unclear at this point what they’ll do with the first pick in the draft. Some mock drafts have Detroit selecting Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford first overall, while others suggest Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith should be the team’s first pick. With the success that rookie signal callers Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco had last year, many draft pundits will probably urge the Lions to take a franchise quarterback. But taking a quarterback in the first round (especially in the top 10) has proved to be a fatal move for teams in the past and the Lions’ offensive line is one of the worst in the league. Perhaps Mayhew’s plan for free agency will be a telltale sign of what the Lions do come draft day. If the GM decides to rebuild the offensive line, Stafford might be the pick. But considering new head coach Jim Schwartz’s background is in defense, Mayhew might spend the entire offseason rebuilding on that side of the ball and then target quarterbacks Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy next year.

      4. Donovan McNabb’s situation in Philadelphia.
      McNabb is under contract with the Eagles until 2013, but according to several sources, he’s only signed through 2010, which is why he and the team are talking about a possible contract extension. Let the rumor mill start. Some media outlets claim that McNabb wants out of Philly, while others suggest that he wants to retire an Eagle. The fact that Andy Reid benched McNabb for former second-round pick Kevin Kolb in a game against the Ravens earlier this season adds intrigue. But I guess before anyone gets too wrapped up in the McNabb-Eagles offseason story, more information has to be released about his contract. If he’s under contract through 2012, there’s no sense in buying the rumors that he won’t be an Eagle next year. But if his contract is up, there are seemingly endless possibilities in this situation.

      5. Brett Favre…the saga continues.
      If this were a list of “top 10 things not to look forward to now that the Super Bowl is over”, this same exact topic would be listed. Favre’s retirement dance is brutal, but it makes for good drama. Jets’ owner Woody Johnson recently said that if Favre isn’t in OTA’s this spring, he wouldn’t be with the team next year. Peter King thinks that Favre will retire. Methinks that unless Favre isn’t in uniform next year, then he won’t retire. He’ll never retire…ever.

      Ray Lewis6. What will the Ravens do about their linebacker corps?
      Ray Lewis, Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs are all set to become free agents this offseason. The Cowboys are reportedly willing to spend upwards of $30 million to acquire Lewis, but that’s just a rumor at this point. If you’re Baltimore and another team wants to spend that kind of money on an aging linebacker, you might have to let him walk. Scott is highly underrated and Suggs is one of the premier pass-rushers in the league. Both players are also younger (Scott is 28, Suggs is 26) than Lewis and the Ravens can’t afford to lose all three players, especially considering their defensive coordinator (Rex Ryan) just became the new head coach of the Jets. Baltimore finally found a franchise quarterback in Joe Flacco and an offense that can score points and now their defense could be falling apart.

      7. Will Kurt Warner stick around?
      Warner proved that he has plenty left in the tank after leading the Cardinals to the Super Bowl, but he’s no spring chicken at 37 years old and he’s set to become one of the more sought after free agent quarterbacks on the market. While Arizona might be the best fit for him, this will likely be his last opportunity to get a decent-sized contract and while the Cardinals would love to have him back, Matt Leinart is still waiting in the wings to take over the reins again (again). Warner’s agent recently said he’d test the market, but it’ll be interesting to see how many teams will pursue him given his age and decreasing arm strength.

      8. Scott Pioli’s first offseason in Kansas City.
      It’s time to see what the mastermind behind the Patriots’ drafts this past decade can do outside of New England. The situation in Kansas City is a mess and it’ll be interesting to see whom Pioli hires to replace Herman Edwards at head coach. He has a plethora of candidates, but will he hire a veteran like Jon Gruden or go with an unknown? It’ll also be interesting to see what he does in his first draft, with the Chiefs in need at all positions. KC needs to rebuild the offensive line, has tons of holes on defense and unless Pioli thinks Tyler Thigpen is the answer, he’ll probably look at quarterback this offseason, too. Chiefs fans have one hell of a busy offseason to look forward to.

      9. Is LaDainian Tomlinson done in San Diego?
      By now, most people understand the situation in San Diego. Tomlinson is coming off his worst season as a pro, isn’t getting any younger and his backup is a free agent. All of this has spurned the idea that GM A.J. Smith will trade or release LT this offseason, re-sign Darren Sproles and then concentrate on landing another back either in free agency or the draft. But when you stop and think about it, the Chargers obviously didn’t think LT was on his last legs last offseason when they didn’t try and persuade Michael Turner to stick around. Had they known Tomlinson was done, they would have taken preemptive measures in trying to keep Turner and pair him with Sproles. Tomlinson is still under contract and Sproles is likely to test the free agent market. So maybe Smith’s decision isn’t as tough as everyone thinks and LT will remain a Charger for at least the 2009 season. Or Smith could part ways with the most productive back in team history and then the fun really begins.

      10. Mock Drafts – in all of their glory.
      All right, I had to do one less specified thing to look forward to this offseason. Mock drafts – are they pointless? Yeah. But you know damn well that you’ve already Googled over hundreds of them. Don’t lie.

      College Football, NFL, Super Bowl

      Super Bowl XLIII Preview: Five reasons why the ________ will win

      February 1, 2009 /

      If Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and Patriots taught us anything, it’s that regular season records mean nothing and there are no guarantees when it comes to crowning a champion in the NFL.

      The 17-0 Patriots looked like a slam-dunk to win the Super Bowl last January. That is, until a rowdy Giants bunch that played perfect football throughout the playoffs shocked most of the world en route to a 17-14 victory. Sound familiar?

      No, the Steelers didn’t go 17-0 in the regular season. In fact, they were far from perfect and at times, looked awfully inconsistent. But with their No. 1 defense leading the way, it’s hard to argue that Pittsburgh doesn’t have the better overall talent heading into this year’s Super Bowl against the Cardinals, especially when you consider Arizona finished with a 9-7 record, competed in a crappy division and scored just one more point than they allowed this season.

      But as the Giants proved last year, sometimes all it takes is momentum, which the Cards certainly have after soundly defeating the Falcons, Panthers and Eagles to get to Super Bowl XLIII. Arizona has a lot going for itself these days, including a resurgent veteran quarterback in Kurt Warner, a highlight reel playmaker in Larry Fitzgerald, and an underrated defense that is playing its best football of the season.

      So who has the edge in Super Bowl XLIII? You can make a case for either team, which is exactly what I did. (Five of them actually.)

      Below are five reasons the Cardinals will win on Sunday and five reasons why the Steelers will come away victorious. Contradictory? Sure, but play along – it’ll be more fun that way.

      Five reasons the Cardinals win will Super Bowl XLIII:

      1. They will put the Steelers back on their heels early.
      In each of their three playoff victories, the Cardinals held first quarter leads and in wins over the Panthers and Eagles, Arizona led at halftime. The Cards don’t have the most dominating defense, but it’s a unit that plays well with a lead. Earlier this week, former Steeler Rod Woodson suggested to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Cardinals would come out in their two-minute offense to start the game. While the Steelers wouldn’t necessarily be caught off guard by this tactic, it would nevertheless be hard for defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to get into a rhythm of attacking Arizona with his various blitz packages. If the Cards can get on the scoreboard early, it would give them confidence that they can move the ball against the Steelers vaunted defense, as well as give them momentum that could carry them throughout the game.

      Adrian Wilson2. They’ll win the turnover battle.
      Want to know how a 9-7 team made it to the Super Bowl? Twelve takeaways, that’s how. In their three postseason wins, the Cardinals forced 12 turnovers, including six in a 33-13 victory over the Panthers in the divisional round. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is vastly underrated in many ways, but the biggest knock against his game is that he hangs onto the ball too long. If Arizona defenders Adrian Wilson, Karlos Dansby and Darnell Dockett can crash the pocket and get to Big Ben, they might be able to force a turnover or two and turn the game on its head. In a Week 16 loss to the Titans, Roethlisberger threw two interceptions and fumbled four times, losing two. Big Ben has proven countless times that pressure doesn’t faze him. But if the Cardinal defense can force him into turning the ball over, takeaways might come in bunches.

      3. The Cardinals offense is that good.
      It’s easy to talk about how good the Steelers defense is because they rank No. 1 in the league in that category. But don’t forget that Arizona ranks fourth in total offense, including second in passing yards per game and tied for third in average points scored. And they racked up those stats in the regular season while their running game finished dead last with just 73.6 yards per contest. Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower have resurrected the team’s running game in the postseason, which has only served to make quarterback Kurt Warner’s job easier. The Cardinals have been more balanced offensively now than they were in the regular season and now that defenses have to honor the run again, they can’t drum up pressure like they want to and Warner has time to pick them apart. The Steelers’ defense is fantastic, but if the Cardinals can stay balanced, there’s no reason to think they won’t be able to move the ball.

      4. They have the X-factor in Larry Fitzgerald.
      Have you seen Larry Fitzgerald catch a ball? Stop and actually think about it. Have you seen Larry Fitzgerald go up, get the ball at its highest point and snatch it out of the air using only his hands? He’s the best in the game and now that the Cardinals are good, he is finally getting the attention he deserves. Fitzgerald never allows the ball to come close to his body; he has some of the best hands of anyone in the NFL and thanks to his height and speed, he makes life awfully difficult for defensive backs. Having Anquan Boldin on the opposite side and Steve Breaston in the slot helps, as well because defenses usually can’t double Fitz in fear that the other two wideouts will burn them in one-on-one coverage. Football is the ultimate team game, but special players can take over games by themselves and Fitzgerald is certainly one of those players. The Eagles had one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL this year, but they had no answer for Fitz in the NFC Championship Game. He’s at the height of his career and given the chance, he can take over the game on Sunday.

      5. They’re a team of destiny.
      I hate this one – I truly do. I’d rather talk about the individual matchups or break down the X’s and O’s then cop out and say a team will win because they’re destined to. But the Cardinals really shouldn’t be here. They played poorly heading into the playoffs, had unfavorable matchups against the Falcons and Panthers, and then were fortunate enough that the Eagles beat the Giants so that they could host the NFC Championship Game. But you know what? They also deserve to be here. They deserve it just as much as the Steelers do and sometimes it’s just a team’s year. Kurt Warner’s comeback is a great story, Larry Fitzgerald is finally getting his time in the spotlight and Adrian Wilson is as classy as they come. This is finally the Cardinals’ year and the Steelers’ defense be damned, ‘Zona will finish their fairytale season with a with a Super Bowl win.

      Five Reasons the Steelers win will Super Bowl XLIII:

      1. To hell with fairytale seasons – the Steelers are just better.
      Let’s take a look at some stats, shall we? In addition to leading the league in total defense, the Steelers limited opponents to just 13.9 points, 157 passing yards and 80.3 rushing yards per game this season. The Cardinals also finished just one game above .500, played in a brutal division, lost an average of two games per month and beat just one team (Miami) with a winning record in the regular season. The Steelers had the better record, faced stiffer competition and in a sport where defense usually wins championships, theirs is king. Hey, it’s the postseason – anything can happen. But reality is about to set in for the Cardinals because playing one of the best teams in the AFC is a different animal than beating the best the NFC has to offer.

      2. They’re going to pressure Kurt Warner – over, and over, and over again.
      The Cardinals have had a ton of success this postseason because they’ve kept Warner upright. The Falcons and Panthers created zero pressure on Warner and the Eagles could only do it for one quarter (the third) in the NFC Championship. But one thing the Steelers’ defense and coordinator Dick LeBeau specialize in is getting to the quarterback. After an entire half of barely laying a finger on Warner, Philly finally started to pressure him in the third quarter and wouldn’t you know it, the Eagles mounted a huge comeback. Warner is having one of the best seasons in his career but he’s still Kurt Warner – pressure him and his play will dramatically suffer. He’s immobile, will take sacks and hates to have defenders in his face. Unfortunately for Warner, he’s about to face immense pressure for not just one quarter, but for the entire game and if he doesn’t react well, the Steelers are going to cruise. Expect Pittsburgh to move the pocket backwards so Warner can’t step into his throws and will have to spend most of his game either on the run or on his back.

      Ben Roethlisberger3. All of the Ken Whisenhunt inside information talk is overblown.
      Yeah, Ken Whisenhunt used to be the Steelers’ offensive coordinator so there is a remote possibility that he holds all the answers to beat Pittsburgh on Sunday. But the fact of matter is that Whisenhunt is two years removed from Pittsburgh, which oh-by-the-way has a completely different staff than it did when he was their offensive coordinator and for the most part, different personnel, too. Whisenhunt might know Ben Roethlisberger well and therefore might know some of his tendencies, but this isn’t the same situation as it was in 2002 when Jon Gruden helped dismantle the Raiders and Rich Gannon in Super Bowl XXXVII. Gruden was just one year removed from Oakland and knew most of the personnel from the season before. Plus a lot of what makes Big Ben so unique and successful is the way he can improvise. How many times have you seen him escape a potential sack and make something happen on a broken play? A defense can’t prepare for that. Besides, Arizona defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast will design his game plan from things he picked up from this year’s Steeler team – not off of what Whisenhunt remembers from two years ago. So in other words, the fact that Whisenhunt used to coach the Steelers will have little to no impact on the outcome of the game.

      4. They have the X-factor in Troy Polamalu.
      Simply put, Polamalu is a game-changer. He never takes plays off, he’s a missile in run support and a blanket in pass coverage. Quarterbacks have to account for his whereabouts on every play or else he’s going to make them pay and who better to have in coverage when facing Larry Fitzgerald than Polamalu? His best attributes are his speed and instincts. He always seems to be a step faster than everyone on the field and he’s incredibly versatile. He also has a knack for coming up with the big play and while he can be too aggressive at times, he doesn’t make many mistakes. Polamalu can do it all and he’ll once again this Sunday he’ll prove why having a playmaker at the safety position can often be the difference in what makes a good defense great.

      5. If the Steelers start to falter, the refs will step in and ensure victory…
      …just like in Super Bowl XL. That’s funny? That’s funny right? Get it, because a lot of non-Pittsburgh fans think that the Steelers’ Super Bowl victory that year was fixed so that Jerome Bettis could retire with a championship win in his hometown? Ah, I’m just f*&king around. Everyone knows Big Ben got the ball across that goal line…

      Check back on Friday for a Super Bowl XLIII prediction.

      NFL, Super Bowl

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑