Tag: Tom Brady (Page 43 of 46)

      AFC, NFC even par in the NFL?

      September 20, 2008 /

      Is the AFC still the NFL’s dominant conference? Probably not. The reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants reside in the NFC. Two of the AFC’s best players (New England Patriots QB Tom Brady and San Diego Chargers LB Shawne Merriman) are lost for the entire season. And the NFC is 4-2 vs. the AFC in interconference play after two weeks of the season.

      The NFC has not had a winning record against the AFC since 1995. Last season, the conferences were even (32-32) in head-to-head competition for the first time since 2001. And entering last season’s Super Bowl, the AFC had won six of the last seven title games.

      Improved offensive play is a big reason why the NFC is flourishing once again, as 13 of the 16 NFC teams are averaging 20 or more points per game this season. A few star players in the conference have successfully returned from injury this season. Donovan McNabb is healthy, rejuvenated, and the Philadelphia Eagles are once again one of the top scoring teams in the league. And Jake Delhomme has brought his signature enthusiasm and gunslinger personality back to the undefeated Carolina Panthers after missing all of last season due to ligament-replacement surgery in his right elbow.

      Scoring has been a staple in the AFC, thanks largely to the play of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Historically, the AFC has always been considered “the conference of the quarterback, “and on most Sundays they will have more first-round starting quarterbacks than their NFC rivals. But Brady’s season-ending knee injury and the struggles of Carson Palmer have hurt the QB quality in the AFC.

      Typically, the NFC has been a conference that features strong defenses and solid running games. But that philosophy could be changing, as some NFC teams are copying the AFC formula: basing their success on the play from the quarterback position. The statistical numbers do not lie; Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, and Drew Brees are all having hot starts to their seasons. The passing numbers haven’t been this good in the NFC since the Kurt Warner era in St. Louis. And during this recent AFC’s domination, Brett Favre and McKnabb have been only premier quarterbacks the NFC had to offer in competition.

      The supremacy of the AFC could be ending this season, as the gap seems to be closing between the two conferences. Perhaps now the NFC will get the respect it deserves.

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, General Sports, NFL, Television

      Top 10 Active NFL Passing TD Leaders

      September 20, 2008 /

      When you think of passing touchdowns, you think guys like Peyton Manning and Brett Favre and Tom Brady, right? Who else do you think of? Hmm, you have to knock your head a bit, don’t you? Well, we’ve come to the rescue with a list of the active Top 10 in that category…..

      1. Brett Favre, New York Jets (445)—Well sure, if you start every game since 1992, you’re going to put up numbers like this. But it’s not all longevity—because Number 4 has had 30 or more TD passes in eight different seasons. And by now, we forgive him for that yes-no-yes-no-yes-no-yes act of this past summer.

      2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (308)—If he stays healthy, there’s no reason to believe that Manning won’t eventually pass Favre. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne don’t hurt his game, but Manning could complete passes to you and me if he had to.

      3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (197)—Brady is out for 2008 after breaking Manning’s NFL single-season record in 2007 with 50 TD passes. But it wasn’t like Brady was a slouch before that—his only season with less than 23 TD passes was 2001, the year he took over for Drew Bledsoe.

      4. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles (175)—McNabb never seems to be 100% healthy, but regardless, he still manages to have huge games frequently. Well, at least when Osi Umenyiora isn’t knocking him down six times in a game.

      5. Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans (175)—Collins might have his best chance ever of winning a Super Bowl ring this season, as he has taken over for the mentally and physically injured Vince Young. We won’t even count that debacle with the Giants against Baltimore in 2001.

      6. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals (156)—When you look at the big picture, it’s a wonder that robo-Warner doesn’t have twice as many TD passes. But injuries and backup status with various teams has contributed to that fact. Now, at 37, he’s the starter again in Arizona and flinging balls all over the field.

      7. Jon Kitna, Detroit Lions (151)—Forget about the fact that Kitna plays for the hapless Lions. He had 23 TDs with Seattle in 1999 and 26 with the Bengals in 2003. He’s no pretender.

      8. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Bucs (150)—No matter what kind of numbers he puts up or what kind of leadership he displays on the field, Jeff Garcia seems to earn zero respect.

      9. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks (143)—Is Matt Hasselbeck really only 33? He’s dealt with injury, but he’s shown that he’s a better QB when he has a decent running game to complement the passing attack.

      10. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (138)—In any season in which Brees started all or almost every game, he’s never had less than 24 touchdown passes. The guy is a solid QB—but more than that, he’s a very smart and talented football player.

      Source: Pro Football Reference

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, Fantasy Football, NFL

      The Patriots are down but not out in the AFC

      September 13, 2008 /

      Have you noticed people on the streets lately with more spring in their step, exchanging high-fives with one another, or smiling in your direction? No, they’re not trying to flirt with you. They’re probably a fan of an AFC team that doesn’t play in New England.

      A story came out this week that George Lampman was taking advantage of the season-ending injury suffered by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to earn some money. He owns a silk-screening printing company in Pittsburgh and decided to unveil a t-shirt lauding Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard’s hit on Brady that knocked him out for the year. For $19.99, you can become an honorary member of the Pollard fan club with a commemorative t-shirt.

      Not so fast football fans. Do not plan a traditional Irish funeral just yet for the Patriots. No need to sprinkle dirt over the casket and raise your glass in honor to of the end of their legacy. It’s too early to count the Pats out of the hunt for the Super Bowl.

      We have talked ad nauseam about the impact of Brady’s injury on the balance of power in the AFC, but I can give three reasons not to give up on the Patriots just yet: Bill Belichick, the offense, and their schedule.

      Coach Belichick is masterful in managing games on both sides of the ball and should be able to create a game plan to minimize Matt Cassel’s inexperience at the quarterback position. He will shorten the game by using the Patriots’ depth in the backfield (Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan) to run the football. The Patriots coaching staff will never ask Cassel to try to win the game on his own. Instead, they will ask him not to lose games by making costly mistakes.

      In-game adjustments are critical for any team to have success in the NFL, and Belichick has a knack for devising schemes to either fix problems on the field immediately or attack weaknesses he has noticed in the first few series of a game. No NFL coach can adjust better to the flow of a game than Belichick.

      And let’s not forget Cassel is taking over the reins of one of the top offenses in NFL history. They gave the impression last season that they could score points at will without breaking a sweat. The passing game will be revised to exploit Cassel’s strengths, and it doesn’t hurt to have Randy Moss and Wes Welker lining up at the wideout positions.

      Plus, on paper, the Patriots have one of the easiest schedules in the league. The Pats will face the Niners, Rams, Raiders, and meet the Dolphins twice during the course of the season. Ten wins and a playoff berth are still within reach.

      By Sunday night, we should have a better idea about the state of the AFC. We will see how the Patriots react to life in A.B. (After Brady) and also have a better understanding of how Cassel will adjust to his new reality. If they can get good play from their new quarterback, the Patriots will still be a factor in the AFC.

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, General Sports, NFL

      All-Time Top 15 Team Turnarounds

      September 11, 2008 /

      Marshall FaulkTHE LOVE OF SPORTS has compiled a list of the all-time top 15 team turnarounds.

      14. Atlanta Falcons (1998)
      This team went from 7-9 and out of the playoffs in 1997 to 14-2 in 1998, winning the NFC West and putting together a magical Super Bowl run before losing to Denver and John Elway…

      9. New England Patriots (2001)
      This was the year that launched the Patriots’ dynasty, with their first of three Super Bowls coming in the 2001 season…

      6. New Orleans Saints (2006)
      This was, and quite possibly still remains, the best story in football in recent memory. It wasn’t only the Saints’ incredible turnaround on the field, but also how their play raised everyone’s spirits off the field…

      2. St. Louis Rams (1999)
      For decades, the Rams had always been a franchise that just couldn’t get it right, drafting poorly and lacking the necessary talent to compete in the NFL. The year before its miraculous turnaround, St. Louis had traded for dynamic running back Marshall Faulk, but it didn’t turn into immediate success, as the team finished 4-12…

      The teams listed above are prime examples of why the NFL needs parity. Every year a team comes out of nowhere, makes a run and people enjoy jumping on the bandwagon. Remember how good the Rams were in 1999? They torched everybody that year and were fun to watch. And who didn’t get into the Saints’ 2006 season after Hurricane Katrina ruined their 2005 season? Can’t wait to see what team comes out of nowhere and emerges in 2008.

      General Sports, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL

      NFL News and Notes Week 2: LaDainian Tomlinson misses practice

      September 11, 2008 /

      LaDainian Tomlinson– According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and Antonio Cromartie all missed practice Wednesday. All three are expected to play Sunday.

      – The Colts cut DT Ed Johnson following a marijuana arrest. Johnson made the team last year as an undrafted free agent and played in all 16 games.

      – Browns’ receiver Donte Stallworth didn’t practice Wednesday and might miss his second straight game due to a quadriceps injury.

      – The Jets extended the contract of tight end Chris Baker. He received a three-year extension, which includes $12.2 million in “new money.”

      – Texans’ running back Ahman Green is in a walking boot, which means rookie Steve Slaton will likely start this week against Baltimore.

      – More bad news for the Patriots as receiver Randy Moss is dealing with a back injury and Tom Brady’s ACL surgery has been delayed 4-6 weeks.

      – The Bucs will start Brian Griese at quarterback Sunday against the Falcons. Jeff Garcia is out with an ankle injury.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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