McDaniels May Have The Credentials, But He Has Lots To Prove

Hot-shot young coaching prospects are the way NFL owners and general mangers are going. Gone are the days when coaches who have been in the business for 20 years and gradually worked their way up before becoming a head coach. While the practice has worked in some situations (Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who become the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl last season), there have some examples of failure (Lane Kiffin with the Oakland Raiders).

The latest team to experiment with a young coach is the Denver Broncos, who hired 33-year-old Josh McDaniels, a former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots. Denver previously had Mike Shanahan as its head coach for 13 years before firing him after a disappointing end to the 2008 season. Shanahan was one of the best coaches in the league, an offensive guru who won two Super Bowls during his time with the team. Owner Pat Bowlen felt that a change was needed after the Broncos collapsed and lost their final three games of the season, blowing their division lead to the San Diego Chargers.

McDaniels was the man handed the job, to the surprise of many. During his time with the Patriots, McDaniels spent just three seasons as offensive coordinator, but all three of those seasons were special, most notably the 2007 season in which the Patriots went 16-0 during the regular season and broke multiple single-season offensive records. His best job, however, may have come in 2008, when quarterback Tom Brady went down with a torn ACL in the first game of the season. Most pundits wrote the Patriots off at that point, figuring there was no way the team could contend without Brady at the helm. McDaniels and head coach Bill Belichick had a plan, which was to play and succeed with backup Matt Cassel, who had not even started a game since high school. And succeed they did. The Patriots went on to finish the season 11-5, falling just short of making the playoffs. Off of the success the Patriots had without Brady, McDaniels become much of a commodity than expected, and Bowlen chose him to lead the Broncos franchise back to having winning seasons.

McDaniels is young, but he already compiled the résumé of someone who deserves a shot at being a head coach in the NFL. Especially considering that he spent seven years in New England learning under Belichick, arguably the best coach in the league, it made sense for Denver to take a chance. But just because McDaniels learned from a great organization doesn’t mean he’s not going to make mistakes. And that is the risk teams take by hiring young coaches.

Cassel may have ascended McDaniels all the way to being a head coach, but that ultimately to McDaniels’ first quibble as head coach of the Broncos. He like Cassel so much that he attempted to swing a trade to bring Cassel to Denver, which then-Broncos quarterback, Jay Cutler didn’t take kindly to. Cutler had been the man in Denver ever since he was drafted 11^th overall in 2006. Shanahan had tabbed Cutler as the team’s quarterback of the future, the player who was finally going to live up to the John Elway-level expectations fans in the Mile High city have. Cutler wasn’t happy that McDaniels was hired in the first place, and attempting to trade for Cassel only made Cutler angrier. Eventually, Cutler requested a trade, which the Broncos granted. He was traded to the Chicago Bears – along with a fifth-round pick – for fellow quarterback Kyle Orton, first-round draft picks in 2009 and 2010, as well as a third-round pick in 2009. Cutler is a top-10 quarterback in this league, and trading away a young franchise quarterback is virtually unheard of in the NFL.

McDaniels will have to prove to everyone around the NFL that he didn’t make a mistake in trading away Cutler, and that starts with developing Orton into more than a serviceable quarterback. Orton has always been solid – somewhat of a game manager who rarely makes mistakes – but the Broncos are going to need more than that. Cutler has arguably the best arm in football, as he is able to make all the throws imaginable. Nothing is off-limits for Cutler, and that gives offensive coordinators the ability to greatly expand the playbook. Orton, on the other hand, doesn’t have the strongest arm but is accurate, something Cutler struggled with at times. McDaniels believes Orton will do a good job of grasping the playbook, something that he believed Cutler wouldn’t have an easy time with. No matter what McDaniels says about Orton, football logic still says that Cutler is and always will be the better quarterback. McDaniels is going to have a chance in 2009 to immediately show just how good of a coach he is. If Orton plays well and the Broncos succeed, McDaniels will look like a genius. But if Orton fails, McDaniels will be on thin ice with Denver’s fan base. The Orton era hasn’t gotten off to a good start, as he threw three interceptions in the team’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.

McDaniels didn’t get off to a good start in handling disgruntled players, but he has another chance with Brandon Marshall, the team’s star wide receiver. Marshall, one of the most talented receivers in the game, wants a new contract. His numbers say that he clearly deserves a dramatic pay raise, but his off-the-field actions complicate the situations. Marshall has had various domestic violence disputes, one of which got him suspended for the first game of the season in 2008. And just last week, Marshall was found not guilty on misdemeanor battery charges. He and his agent, Kennard McGuire, have asked for a trade if no contract extension can be worked out, but McDaniels and the Broncos have refused to comply with either request. Marshall has refused to practice in the meantime, claiming he is still suffering pain due to offseason hip surgery. Marshall is clearly unhappy and reportedly has “trust issues” with the organization. McDaniels likely isn’t helping matters, either, as he is often vague in his responses to the media and refuses to even begin to broach the subject of a contract extension for Marshall. McDaniels must prove that he knows what is doing, because if he trades Marshall after trading away Cutler, it will appear that he has no concept of how to run a football team.

The easiest way to erase the memories of a tumultuous offseason will be to win games, but that will be no easy task for a team with a shaky defense, running game and now passing game as well. McDaniels will have to prove himself right away.

Press Coverage: 8/17/09

As the NFL’s regular season approaches, more and more stories emerge every day. Whether it be about a quarterback controversy, a team’s chances to succeed or a potential problems down the road, there is seemingly always something to talk about when it comes to the NFL. Twice a week, this post will look at the three biggest headlines of the day. I’ll give some background on the story and also provide my opinion. Here we go for August 17:

1. Donovan McNabb addressed the Philadelphia media today after practice, and discussed candidly the signing of quarterback Michael Vick. McNabb had lots to say on the subject, the most interesting of which is that he first broached the subject of the Eagles signing Vick in July. There had been some reports in the days after Vick was signed that McNabb was not happy with the move and felt threatened by Vick’s presence. McNabb seemed to debunk those rumors today:

“I’ve been through many situations here throughout my career when they’ve cheered for the backup,” McNabb said. “It happened with Garcia. It happened with (Kevin) Kolb. It happened with A.J. (Feeley). I’m used to that.”

McNabb certainly has been through a lot during his career in Philly. Fans have never seemed to appreciate all he has accomplished, and the presence of Vick won’t provide a dynamic that he hasn’t experienced before.

For the most part, McNabb was focused more on Vick’s personal well-being than what he can contribute to the Eagles on the football field. “I believe in second chances and I have strong faith in God that he forgives our sins,” said McNabb, a dog lover who owns two American bulldogs and a Belgian Malinois. “Yes, it was a bad thing and a malicious act, but somewhere in your heart, you have to have forgiveness.”

“I kind of can be a mentor to him, give him an opportunity to get his feet under him, get his life together,” McNabb said.

From a football perspective, how Vick is used will be interesting to watch. Since McNabb is entrenched as the team’s starting quarterback, Vick likely will be used in a wildcat role. Vick is one of the best athletes to have ever put on a football jersey, and even though he has missed two seasons, he still should have the ability to be a threat in certain situations.

2. Is Brett Fave coming back? Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com seems to think so. Glazer spoke with several unnamed Vikings players, one of whom thinks that the deal is “already done.”

When Favre told the Vikings a few weeks ago that he was staying retired, many believed him. He told ESPN that he couldn’t handle the mental and physical grind of an entire season, and people believed him. Favre has fooled fans before, and now he could be making yet another return to the league. It’s not a surprising development considering the Vikings still need a quarterback that can take them to the next level. In Friday’s preseason game against the Colts, Sage Rosenfels got the start and went 10-of-13 for 91 yards. Yes, he was accurate, but he couldn’t convert on the deep plays that change the momentum in football games. Favre can do that, which is why the Vikings still want him.

Even though Favre has missed vital training camp time, it’s not like he needs to learn a new offense. The Vikings run a similar offense to the one Favre ran for the bulk of his career in Green Bay, so there wouldn’t be a steep learning curve. The main thing that hurt Favre when he came to the Jets last year was that he didn’t know the offense. That won’t be a problem in Minnesota.

While the Vikings have been chastised in some ways for their continued pursuit of Favre, you can’t blame Brad Childress for trying to make the team better. After all, aren’t coaches supposed to do all in their power to improve their football team? If Childress feels this is the move that will take the Vikings deep in the playoffs, he should do it.

Hopefully, Favre will address his intentions shortly. If he plans on playing for the Vikings this season, it would be best for him to let everyone know, because I don’t know if I can take much more of the Favre drama.

3. According to FanHouse.com, Tom Cable punched an assistant on August 5. Randy Hanson, a defensive coach for the Raiders, was the man on the receiving end of the punch. Hanson reportedly didn’t see the punch coming, as he was in engaged in a conversation with defensive coordinator John Marshall when it occurred. The National Football Post first had the report, but did not name the coach who punched Hanson.

Hanson had to go to the hospital because his jaw was injured, and a police report was subsequently filed. Hanson refused to name the man who punched him, but FanHouse’s sources say that Cable was the man who delivered the blow.

The circumstances behind the punch are not yet known, but Cable could be facing criminal charges if Hanson tells the truth to police. Whether he does is in doubt, because he may fear that his job will be in jeopardy if he gives Cable up.

If this report turns out to be accurate, Cable should face some sort of punishment from the league and/or the Raiders. Punching an assistant coach is out-of-line, to say the least, and Cable must be made an example of. While I don’t think he should be suspended, I do think Cable should be fined for his actions.The Raiders almost have an obligation to punish Cable, because when a player punches a fellow player, a fine or suspension always seems to follow. Steve Smith of the Panthers punched teammate Ken Lucas during training camp last year, and Smith was subsequently suspended for the first two games of the season by the team. Coaches shouldn’t receive special treatment, and as a result Cable deserves to reprimanded for his conduct.

The Jaguars Could Make Some Noise This Season

Two years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars were a team on the rise. Their quarterback, David Garrard (pictured, right), was developing into a one of the most accurate passers in the league and was proving to be more than capable of leading the team. Byron Leftwich had been released prior to the season, re-affirming the team’s faifth in Garrard. As a thank you, Garrard rewarded the team with a playoff run. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor were forming one of the best running back tandems in the league. Everything was going right for the Jaguars, but the fun ride stopped after the team’s loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional round.

In 2008, big results were expected from the Jaguars. The team signed Garrard to a seven-year, $60 million contract. Garrard, who threw just three interceptions in ’07, was going to be counted on to perform even better in ’08. But before the season began, the Jaguars streak of terrible luck began. Offensive lineman Richard Collier, who figured to be an important role player, was shot 14 times outside of an apartment building on September 2nd, paralyzing him from the waste down. The shooting was the first of many injuries for the offensive lineman. The Jaguars couldn’t put together a formidable line, and as a result the team struggled mightily. Garrard threw 13 interceptions, the receiving corps was weak and the defense was mediocre at best. It all added up to a 5-11 season for the Jags, and the team was in need of a revamping heading into this season.

Coach Jack Del Rio knew changes needed to be made, and it started by getting rid of the team’s top three wide receivers in Matt Jones, Dennis Northcutt and Reggie Williams. The team also released Javon Walker, possibly one of the biggest free agent busts in franchise history. Long-time St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt was signed, and he still has some games left in his system. But the biggest move made was the toughest to actually do. Fred Taylor, who had been with the Jaguars his entire career was released. Taylor has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but he was a leader for Jones-Drew and still a solid player. The team felt it was time to move on.

Defensively, former Philadelphia Eagles safety Sean Considine was signed, and defensive back Tyron Brackenride was claimed off waivers.

With a rebuilt roster, the Jaguars now have a chance to be much better than 5-11 in 2009, but lots will have to go right, and little can go wrong.

How the offensive line performs is likely to tell a good part of the team’s story in 2009. Monroe, who is currently holding out of training camp, needs to get into training camp quickly. Rookie offensive lineman have a lot to learn, and the longer he holds out, the less likely his is to contribute right away. Britton, who is under contract, is expected to immediately make an impact. Being a quick understudy will be important, because the team can’t survive with both rookie tackles failing to make an impact this season. Signing Thomas, who will likely begin the season as the starting left tackle, was a great move, because his 12 years of NFL experience will be extremely valuable to this team. Not only will he be important on the field, he’ll also contribute off it. Thomas can show Britton and Monroe the ropes and give them constant instruction on how to play tackle in the NFL. That’s the kind of instruction that rookies should always have the luxury of receiving from veterans. The key for this unit will be staying healthy. If it suffers an unfortunate amount of injuries like it did last season, the Jaguars will not be able to succeed. Garrard needs time to throw the football, and he’ll only be able to do that should the line protect him.

Of course, the offensive line will also be key for the running game, which should be a big part of Jacksonville’s offense this year. With the release of Taylor, the Jaguars have handed Jones-Drew the keys to the car. Jones-Drew, even in a committee role, has been one of the best all-around running backs in the league. He’s quick, can burst through seems created by the line, and doesn’t get tackled easily. He also has great hands, which has helped him develop into an excellent receiver. Jones-Drew will be counted on to do most of the work this season, with Greg Jones and rookie Rashad Jennings also contributing.

For Jones-Drew and the running game to be affective, Garrard will have to look for like the ’07 version of himself. Last year was a disaster on all fronts, though the team’s health played a big part in that. Assuming the team stays relatively healthy this season, it will be left up to Garrard to put up good enough numbers to win football games. He doesn’t have to produce like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning — he didn’t do that in ’07 — but he has to minimize his mistakes and make the big plays when necessary. Basically, he has to manage the game. Garrard can’t do it on his own, though, and that is where his wide receivers will come in. Holt clearly needed a change of scenery after losing so many games in St. Louis over the past two seasons, and Jacksonville could give him a new lease on his football life. Second-year wideout Mike Walker will be counted on to play well, as will rookie Mike Thomas. Marcedes Lewis will finally have to develop into the players the Jaguars thought he would be when they drafted him with their first-round pick in 2006.

The Jaguars have a talented roster, but can they put it all together to form a winning season?

Staying healthy is the biggest priority, because that was what really hurt the team last season. Garrar needs to regain his form and be a confident leader for the team. How Jones-Drew performs as the No.1 back will also be interesting to watch. Del Rio knows this team has potential, and he also likely realizes that fans won’t be too happy if the team falters. Jacksonville is a small-market and the team will have trouble selling tickets unless they start winning. The team has been mentioned in potential moves to Los Angeles, and this could be an important season for the Jaguars to see how much support they can get from their fans.

Playing in the AFC South will not make it easy to reach the playoffs, but it is possible for the Jaguars. If the pieces fall the right way, this team has the opportunity to make some serious noise this season.

For Chargers, The Time Is Now

In the NFL, the future always takes a back seat to the present. No matter how many young, talented a players a team may have on its roster, winning immediately is what sells in football.

The San Diego Chargers are a team that has been loaded with talent in all aspects of the game for several years now. Philip Rivers is a rising star at the quarterback position, Shawne Merriman is one of the best linebackers in the league, LaDainian Tomlinson is an all-time great running back — the list goes on and on. For all of their talent, the Chargers have yet to accomplish what all teams covet, winning a championship. They have had their fair share of chances, however.

When Marty Schottenheimer coached the team in 2006, the Chargers were one of the best teams in football. Tomlinson was at his peak, as he shattered the record for most touchdowns by a running back and total points scored. No player in the game was better, and Tomlinson was honored as the game’s most valuable player. Tight end Antonio Gates was also in his prime and made playing the position look easy. Rivers, still developing his game, didn’t just come along for the ride. He had multiple games of over 250 yards passing and had earned the respect of his teammates along the way. Everything was set up for the Chargers to make a run at winning the Super Bowl. They had the best record in football at 14-2 and therefore had home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Shockingly, the Chargers lost 21-24 in the AFC Divisional round to the New England Patriots. Losing left every Chargers player and fan with a bad taste, and the organization decided to fire Schottenheimer, whose record in the postseason was far from exemplary. Still, deciding to fire a coach after going 14-2 was a risky move for the Chargers.

They turned to offensive guru Norv Turner, whose previous stints as head coach of the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders were epic failers. His best work had come as a coordinator, and giving him another chance to be a head coach was gutsy. It quickly appeared to pay off the following season, however, as the Chargers once again won the AFC West. The team finally broke through and won a playoff game, defeating the Tennessee Titans in an AFC Wild Card game contest. A remarkable win over the Colts in Indianapolis followed. To reach the AFC Championship game against the Patriots, who were undefeated at the time, was impressive. It also said a lot about Turner’s ability to lead a team. Fate was not on the Chargers side, though, as Phillip Rivers was playing with a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Rivers gave a great effort, but the Chargers lost 12-21.

Last season, the loss of Merriman after the season opener derailed the defense. The Chargers struggled early in the season and had to scramble and win their final four games of the season to surge past the Denver Broncos and win the AFC West. An overtime win over the Colts was impressive, as Tomlinson was injured and clearly not himself. The emergence of running back Darren Sproles caught everyone’s attention — he had 105 rushing yards in the win. But Sproles was brought back to reality against the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Though he had 91 yards receiver, he managed only 15 yards on the ground.

Even with some of the most talented teams in the league over the past three seasons, the Chargers simply have not been able to overcome the biggest obstacles in the pursuit of a title. Sure, injuries have played a part the last two seasons, but that cannot be used as an excuse. San Diego was picked by many to go to the Super Bowl the last three years, but they have failed to live up to those lofty expectations.

Luckily for the Chargers, there talented roster is still in tact as the 2009 season approaches. But this may be the final season to capture a championship with the roster as currently constructed.

Tomlinson, the centerpiece of the franchise since he was drafted in 2001, is now 30-years-old. While 30 is a relatively young age for most people, the same rules don’t apply for running backs. 30 is typically is the age in running backs hit the wall — where their bodies no longer can take the punishment of playing in the National Football League. The signs of Tomlinson’s demise have already to started to appear. Last season’s rushing yards were the worst of Tomlinson’s career, and he has lost some of his effectiveness. One of the great things about Tomlinson is that he can run to the outside for 5 yards, then quickly cut back inside and gain an extra 10. That version of Tomlinson was gone in 2008, however. Instead of cutting back inside, he simply ran out of bounds, costing the Chargers valuable yards.  The Chargers used the franchise tag in order to retrain Sproles and also restructured Tomlinson’s contract. If he has a poor year in 2009, Tomlinson could be on the way out.

Gates has suffered a rash of injuries over the past few seasons, and it seems like he still hasn’t recovered from a toe injury he suffered against the Titans in the 2007 playoffs. Without him as a viable threat, the Chargers passing game takes a big step back. Then there’s Merriman, who is coming back from multiple ligament tears. Whether he can be affective in 2009 is a key question. Merriman’s contract is up after this season, but if the NFL and NFL Players Association do not reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, Merriman will only be a restricted free-agent since he will have only accrued five years of service (six is required in order to become unrestricted when there is no CBA).

Indeed, this may be the last chance this group has to a win a Super Bowl together.

Winning the AFC West should not be a problem this season, as the division will be considerably weak. Getting off to a fast start will be key for the Chargers, as they have struggled out of the gates early over the past several seasons. Trying to make up games late in the year can mentally drain a team, and that showed in San Diego. The defense should be much better if Merriman is healthy, and the offense should be very solid with Rivers and a receiving core that includes Vincent Jackson, who has the potential to be very good.

But it all has to come together now for the Chargers. If it doesn’t, changes will be made, and the a golden opportunity to win a Super Bowl will have been lost.

Seats Will Be Even Hotter For Coaches In 2009

Every season there are a number of NFL head coaches who are placed on the proverbial ‘hot seat’ by media and fans. It means that if the coach does not produce a successful season, he will inevitably be fired. The definition of a successful season is based solely in the eyes of the general manager and owner. Sometimes the coach can’t control the outcome of a season due to injuries and the like, but owners rarely let coaches make those kind of excuses after a poor season. Depending on how much patience an owner has, a coach can last a few years while the team transitions, or he can be out in flash after just one bad season.

The 2009 season will unfold with a different dynamic to the coaching hot seats in 2009. Sitting out the season and available for hire next year will be three Super Bowl winning head coaches in Mike Shanahan (two), Bill Cowher and Mike Holgrem (one each). Jon Gruden and Brian Billick also have Super Bowls under the belts, but it is questionable whether they want to return to coaching in 2010.

There are a number of different ways this will affect coaches who have little wiggle room heading into the upcoming season. The media will continually document that three better coaching options are waiting if the current coach’s team begins to struggle. Questions will be asked to the coach and his players about the situation almost daily, possibly creating a distraction. And if the distraction ends up trickling down to the players, the team could get gradually get worse. Remember, there is a reason the particular coach is on the heat seat.  Being able to avoid distractions and teach his team to compartmentalize likely isn’t a strong suit.

Just how bad the situation the coach is in will without question be the leading factor in determining whether he should be given another year to coach the team. The players on the roster, how long it’s been since reaching the playoffs and the overall attitude and culture on the team all are aspects that must be considered.

In Dallas, for example, coach Wade Phillips likely will be on a short leash. Over the past three seasons, the Cowboys have arguably had the most talent roster each of those years. What has it equated to? Two postseason appearances, 0 wins. Last season’s result probably won’t exit owner Jerry Jones’ brain for quite a while, as the team failed to make the playoffs thanks to a two-game losing streak to end the season. Team chemistry played a big role in the team’s struggles, which is why Jones released wide receiver Terrell Owens, cornerback Pacman Jones and defensive tackle Tank Johnson — all troublemakers that reflected on the Cowboys locker room chemistry. Owens may have been the biggest of them all, and getting rid of him signals that this is now quarterback Tony Romo’s team. At least one playoff victory is a must for Phillips if he wants to keep his job.

Another hot-spot will be on coach Dick Jauron of the Buffalo Bills, the team with which Owens landed. Signing Owens, who has wrecked three teams in his career, is a last-ditch attempt by Jauron at trying to make the playoffs and save his job. It’s a risky move, but it is a necessary move as the Bills could have used another playmaker on offense last season. How the signing affects QB Trent Edwards remains to be seen, but Owens has never had a good relationship with a QB before. Jauron knows that the Bills must improve on their 2008 record of 7-9, and with all of the hype surrounding the team anything but a trip to the postseason could get Jauron canned. The team got off to a great start in 2009, going 4-0, before Edwards suffered a concussion against the Cardinals. Jauron will not only to need to repeat the start of the season, but will need to build on it.

A somewhat similar situation is developing in Houston. Coach Gary Kubiak has not yet made the playoffs in his tenure, and expectations are going to be high this season. The team has had the talent over the last few seasons, but have failed to capitalize on it. QB Matt Schaub is talented, but he has not yet played a full 16-game season in his time with the Texans. Injuries have slowed him down in both of his seasons, and he will need to stay healthy should the Texans have a chance to reach the postseason. Armed with what has the potential to be one of the best offenses in the league, the Texans will be expected to do big things this upcoming season. Andre Johnson is possibly the best WR in the league, and RB Steve Slaton is a playmaker. On top of that, the defense should be solid with defensive end Mario Williams continuing to improve. While a playoff berth may not be the end-all-be-all for Kubiak, but he will need to improve.

Those are just three examples of coaches that will be on the hot seat. How the owners go about making decisions after the season should coaches struggle will be intriguing thing to watch. Jones has never shown the willingness to wait long for a coach to develop his team. He is one of the most impatient owners in the league, and the fact that he has given Phillips this much lee-way is remarkable in and of itself. One reason may be because Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett, the head coach in-waiting, may not be ready for the responsibility that entails being the head coach of the Cowboys. Bills owner Ralph Wilson is getting up in age, and he wants to see his team reach the postseason. If Jauron and the Bills struggle, he may be quick to to make a change. It will be interesting to see what route the Bills go if that does happen, because Wilson is far from the richest owner in the league, and it is going to take a good amount of money to hire a high-profile coach. Bob McNair, owner of the Texans, could choose to go in a number of different directions. If he doesn’t see improve, Kubiak could be as good as gone. But if McNair doesn’t want to hire a first-year head coach and also doesn’t want to pay big money for a coach, Kubiak could remain in Houston.

Will the state of the economy play a role in just how many big-name coaches get hired next season? In this terrible economy — even the NFL is apparently affected — it may be hard for owners to plunk down $10 million a year for a head coach, which is what it may take. Holmgren, Cowher and Shanahan are not going to come back for free. All are excellent coaches and will demand a high salary. Another issue will be control of personnel decisions, which may back some owners (Jones and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Synder come to mind) off.

The presence alone of Holmgren, Cowher and Shanahan is sure to put an extra dose of pressure coaches who are on the hot seat heading into 2009. It’s yet another intriguing aspect to think about heading into the season.

Training Camp Power Rankings

Training camps have begun for all 32 teams in the NFL. The preseason will be here in a flash, and the regular season will shortly follow. It’s a great time for football fans, there’s no doubt about it. As training camps are now in full swing, this is a great time to take a look at where teams stand in the power rankings. Injuries will certainly impact the standings on almost a daily basis, and new rankings will be posted periodically during training camp and the preseason. I hope to make this a regular feature during the regular season.

1. New England Patriots — The return of quarterback Tom Brady and various offensive additions (wide receiver Joey Galloway, running back Fred Taylor) make the Patriots the odds-on Super Bowl favorites.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers — The defending champs lost Nate Washington, their No.3 receiver, but that’s about it. Look for the running game to re-emerge this season. The Steelers should see improved offensive line play in 2009.

3. Tennessee Titans — QB Kerry Collins was a surprise last season, and he will need to do more of the same this season. The running game is where the Titans will excel, which is a great formula for winning football games.

4. Philadelphia Eagles — Eagles management finally gave QB Donovan McNabb the offensive playmakers he needs to win it all. There will be no excuses in Philly this season.

5. New York Giants — A young receiver corps is going to have to develop quickly, but the Giants will have the ability to rely on their running game and defense to win football games. Not a bad combination.

6. Indianapolis Colts — The model for consistency in the NFL is QB Peyton Manning and the Colts. Always at the top of the standings, expect nothing different this year. Anthony Gonzalez will need to step up as the No.2 WR.

7. Baltimore Ravens — Don’t underestimate the loss of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. He also took with him to New York linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard. How new DC  Greg Mattison adapts will be key.

8. Atlanta Falcons — There will be no sophomore slump for QB Matt Ryan. The addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez makes the Falcons even better. For the Falcons to improve upon last season, the defense has to be better.

9. San Diego Chargers — The window for winning with the team as currently constructed is closing. With RB LaDainian Tomlinson approaching 30, this may be the last chance the Chargers have to win it all with this group.

10. Minnesota Vikings — Brett Favre won’t be playing QB, but that doesn’t mean the Vikings hopes are dashed. With the best RB in the game in Adrian Peterson, a return trip to the playoffs is almost inevitable.

11. Arizona Cardinals — The history of Super Bowls runners-up hasn’t been pretty over the past decade. The Cardinals will have a good chance to reverse that trend playing in a weak NFC West.

12. Dallas Cowboys — Addition by subtraction is the phrase being thrown out around Valley Ranch. Getting rid of WR Terrell Owens is the best thing the Cowboys could have done to improve the team. This is now QB Tony Romo’s team.

13. Miami Dolphins — After shocking everyone by going 11-5 last season, it will be difficult to improve in 2009. Teams began figuring out the wildcat late in the year, so improvements to the formation must be made.

14. Chicago Bears — With the easiest schedule in the league and the addition of QB Jay Cutler, expect big things from the Bears. A questionable receiver corps keeps them out of the playoff picture, for now.

15. Carolina Panthers — One of the league’s best teams last season, the Panthers now stand to take a dip down in the standings. The big question: can Jake Delhomme recover from his 6-turnover performance in the NFC Division round?

16. Green Bay Packers — As long as they can avoid the injuries that plagued them last season, a playoff run is possible. RB Ryan Grant needs to return to his 2007 form. How they transition to the 3-4 defense will be something to watch.

17. New Orleans Saints — The Saints have one of the best offenses in the league, but they will need the help of the defense in order to compete in the tough NFC South. Expect QB Drew Brees to have another monster season.

18. Houston Texans — With playmakers across the board, the Texans figure to compete in the always-competitive AFC South. QB Matt Schaub, who hasn’t played a full season with in Houston, must stay healthy for this team to have a chance.

19. New York Jets — New head coach Rex Ryan will give this team loads of toughness on both sides of the football. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez likely will start right away, and he will be counted on to limit his mistakes and make a few big plays.

20. Washington Redskins — Coach Jim Zorn is on the hot seat. The addition of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will improve the ‘Skins front seven, but the play of QB Jason Campbell will determine wins and losses.

21. Buffalo Bills — Good luck to you, Trent Edwards. The signing of WR Terrell Owens could easily stall Edwards development as a QB. The over/under on a T.O. blowup is Week 8. Coach Dick Jauron’s seat is getting very warm.

22. Cincinatti Bengals — Losing WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh won’t hurt the team as much as people think. Laveraneus Coles was signed in the offseason, and Chris Henry is reportedly ready to have a big year.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars — Injuries to the offensive line had a dramatic impact on the Jags last season, which is why they drafted Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton in the first round of the draft.

24. San Francisco 49ers — The Mike Singletary era has begun in San Fran. Signing rookie WR Michael Crabtree is going to be tricky, and there’s also a QB battle to worry about. Welcome to coaching, Samurai Mike.

25. Seattle Seahawks — QB Matt Hasselbeck’s health will be a key to the season, as will the improvement’s of the defense. Adding Houshmandzadeh will help the receiver corps, but that group must also stay healthy, which didn’t happen last year.

26. Tamba Bay Buccaneers — New head coach Raheem Morris has a lot of work cut out for him. The team cut a host of veterans in the offseason, and a rebuilding process is under way. Picking a starting QB will be Morris most important task yet.

27. Denver Broncos — Trading away disgruntled QB Jay Cutler was far from smart. Now the Broncos must go into the season with Kyle Orton as the starter, and WR Brandon Marshall requesting a trade. Even in the AFC West, the Broncos stand to struggle.

28. Oakland Raiders — QB JaMarcus Russell needs to have a big season to shed the “bust” label. QB Jeff Garcia is ready to take his job if things don’t go well. Second-year RB Darren McFadden needs to have a big year after suffering a rash of injuries in 2008.

29. Kansas City Chiefs — When you go 2-14, it’s hard to get much worse. New head coach Todd Haley must have that attitude as the Chiefs embark on a rebuilding process. Adding QB Matt Cassel is a great way to start the process.

30. St. Louis Rams — Like the Chiefs, the Rams are coming off a 2-14 season. The Rams have had just 5 wins over the past two seasons, so new head coach Steve Spagnuolo has a lot of work to do. Spagnuolo will bring the team a better plan defensively.

31. Cleveland Browns — New head coach Eric Mangini has a tough decision to make at QB. Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn have both been unimpressive, reportedly. Without good QB play, the Browns could struggle mightily in 2009.

32. Detroit Lions — For the Lions, the only way to go is up. They were the first team in league history to 0-16 last season. Rookie QB Matthew Stafford will likely be counted on to play and play well. RB Kevin Smith should be a bright spot.

Same Old, Same Old In The NFC East

Less than a week from today, the NFL season will begin with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. The game will take place between the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans. The Hall of Fame Game is a guarantee every year that fans look forward to. It signals the start of the new season. But few things in the NFL are guaranteed. With all of the contact and risk of injury on every play, there simply isn’t enough consistency for things to stay the same year-after-year. One of the things that is consistent is the NFC East, consistently the best and toughest division in football. Last season was a little different, as the NFC South gave the East a run for its money. Based solely on wins and losses, the South was the best division in football last season. Based on all factors, including talent and teams overall, arguments could have been made for every division. But the South’s dominance last season would appear to be an anomaly. In 2009, the East will once again reclaim its place as the best and toughest division in the NFL.

There are a number of factors that go into determining just how good a division is, and wins and losses isn’t necessarily the biggest. Talent, skill, competition and the rivalries are all important determining factors. Every game within the division must be tough. To truly gage just how good a division is from a pure football standpoint, look at the team that is expected to finish last. And in the case of the East in ’09, most experts and fans (including myself) have pegged the Washington Redskins to finish in fourth place.

The Redskins won’t be as bad as most people think. Last season, they came out on fire behind the energy of first-year head coach Jim Zorn. They got off to a 4-1 start, thanks to a solid offensive numbers from running back Clinton Portis and quarterback Jason Campbell. Portis wound up carrying the team on his back for the first half of the season, and the workload he received early on probably contributed to the team’s down-slide in the second half of the year. Cambell, who had gotten off to such a good start, fizzled in the last half of the season as the Redskins lost 4 of their final 5 games. Their record was 8-8, good enough for last in the division. To finish with a .500 winning percentage and come in last says a lot about the East, as only the South had a similar result. In Zorn’s second season at the helm, improvements naturally should me made. Plus, owner Daniel Synder did what he does best by making the biggest splash of the offseason. The ‘Skins signed arguably the best defensive tackle in football, Albert Haynesworth. They also added defensive end Brian Orakpo through the draft. Both additions should improve their front seven. Though the ‘Skins likely will come in last place, they should be better than their record shows, which will ultimately reflect on the division.

From a talent standpoint, tally up another victory for the East. Offensively, New York Giants QB Eli Manning (pictured, right), Dallas Cowboys’ QB Tony Romo and Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb comprise the best group of QBs in one division. While the East doesn’t have the best group of defensive players in one division, it does have two players, LB DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Asante Samuel, that are arguably the best at their respective divisions. This category is the trickiest to judge, because loads of talent is sprinkled throughout the league. Finding the most talented players stacked in division is nearly impossible, but a compelling case can be made for the East. But this is the category in which all of the divisions are stacked up closely.

The competition aspect is where the race for best division is really won. If a team goes undefeated in their division, it doesn’t bode well for the strength of the division. In 2008, for example, two teams went undefeated in their respective divisions: the Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) and Arizona Cardinals (NFC West). Obviously both were excellent teams as the played in the Super Bowl, but their divisions were far from great. And at the bottom of the spectrum, having a team go 0-6 in the division isn’t a good harbinger of strength. Three teams — the St. Louis Rams (NFC West), Detroit Lions (NFC North) and Buffalo Bills (AFC East) — didn’t win a single game in their divisions last season. As usual, the NFC East was the most competitive division in football last season, along with the South. The team with the best record in the division, the Giants, went 4-2. The team with the worst record, the Eagles, went 2-4. Only the South had the same win-loss numbers. But the South figures to take a slide this season, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be nearly as good as they were last season. The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints stand to be improved, but Carolina may come back down to earth  after going 12-4 last season. Every team in the East, meanwhile, has improved. As a result, games in the division figure to be even better and more competitive in ’09.

In the NFC East, rivalry is a word that gets thrown around a lot, and deservedly so. Cowboys/Giants always seems to produce two of the best games of the year. Eagles/Cowboys tends to be just as good and it is one of the best rivalries in the game. Redskins/Giants and Redskins/Eagles don’t necessarily have the storied history of the other games, but both are always fun to watch. Then there is the crown jeweled rivalry of the division, Redskins/Cowboys. These two games are two of the most intense and hard fought games in football. This game means so much that when the Redskins defeated the Cowboys in the final Redskins/Cowboys game at Texas Stadium, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones looked like he was going to fire every member of his coaching staff on the spot. While there are great rivalries throughout football, the East has produced the best rivalry games on a consistent basis.

The ’09 season once again figures to be an excellent one for the NFC East. No matter how much people seem to dislike the teams in the division, everyone will be watching. And how can they not? Quite simply, it’s the best division in football.

Finally, The Favre Saga Is Over (Maybe)

After months of reporters camping out in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, waiting for the latest news on a retired NFL quarterback looking to possibly return to the league — for the third time — the Brett Favre saga has ended, for now.

Earlier Tuesday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress had said that Favre would not be making a comeback. Favre later confirmed the news to ESPN.

Favre had set a self-imposed deadline for a decision on whether to return for July 30, which is when the Vikings open up training camp. If Favre were to be an affective QB for the Vikings, he would need to be in camp, interacting with his new teammates and building chemistry with his wide receivers. Though reports recently emerged that the Vikings had no deadline set for Favre, the fact that Favre followed through and came up with a decision before the start of camp was a nice gesture.

The pressure was mounting on Favre to come to a conclusion, as football fans had become sick of the story. Favre has been contemplating retirement for the last seven years now, and the back-and-forth that he has played with the media has worn on the emotions of not just fans directly effected by his decisions, but with fans everyone. When Favre conducted a teary-eyed press conference a few months after the Green Bay Packers heartbreaking loss to the New York Giants in the 2008 NFC Championship, the world assumed he was done for good. Just a few weeks later, however, Favre indicated that he was getting the itch to return to the game. When he decided that he wanted to return to Green Bay, the Packers had already moved on, giving the starting QB job to Aaron Rodgers. Drama ensued, with Favre reportedly wanting to play for the Vikings. The Packers would not let that happen since it was a division rival, and promptly traded him to the Jets.

The bright lights of New York never appeared to become comfortable for Favre, but he played well enough to get the Jets off to an 8-3 start. The Jets tailed off at the end of the season, however, with Favre being the key reason for the dropoff. Favre retired after the season, and once again it looked like his career was over.

Then, Favre was released from the Jets, giving him the ability to sign with any team in the league, should he so choose. The Vikings quickly became the first and only option, and months of posturing between the two sides followed. But the back-and-forth has now ended. Favre is finally done tormenting with the Vikings. His comments to ESPN show that this well-likely could be the end of a fascinating career.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre said. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable. I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings — but, most importantly, the fans.”

Even with those comments, this is Brett Favre we are talking about. He could once again get the itch to play in the NFL, and the back-and-forth could be back on. He told NFL Network’s Steve Mariucci that he will still throw and work out. This story may be over, and it may not be over. With Brett Favre, it’s hard to truly know.

Later, we’ll be diving further into Favre’s career and his place in NFL history, as well as where the Vikings go from here.