The Crystal Ball 2011 Season Primer

Bill Belichick is taking on image reclamation projects, the Steelers have questions about their offensive line, the Bungles are a mess before one snap and Rex Ryan is proclaiming the Jets will go to the Super Bowl. All the signs are pointing to the return of football, but where is my annual Favre watch? I won't believe the NFL season is actually upon us until Favre starts waffling about whether he wants to play or mow the grass.

So how has everyone enjoyed the truncated offseason/free agency/training camp period? A wild roller coaster of activity filled with daily changes to rosters, teams, players, contracts and insanity is it not? Well fear not confused NFL fan, The Crystal Ball is here to give you a primer of the key moves, esoteric news and wackiest nonsense that has occurred since the NFL decided to once again grace us with its presence. Yes I know many of you were expecting a lockout recap, but that’s coming next week, just in time to temper our overwhelming enthusiasm for the return of the NFL. In the meantime, pull up a chair, grab a snack and get comfy since this edition is almost as packed as the NFL calendar in August, but with less sweat.

Opening Kickoff

Hey Andy Reid, you and the Eagles cannot just collect big name players and think it automatically translates to Lombardi trophies. Football doesn't quite work that way. Quit taking cues from the Yankees and the Miami Heat. Awww, too soon LeBron?

The Way It Was

Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth both signed with the New England Patriots. I’d hope they would destroy the team from the inside, but I waited for years for Randy Moss to do that, to no avail.

Titans all world running back Chris Johnson decided to not go to camp until he got a new contract, which he richly deserves. The Titans stated they will give him a new contract, if he comes to camp. Doesn’t this seem like a Marx Brothers skit?

Eli Manning feels he is a top 5, top 10 quarterback, just like Tom Brady. While his delusions of grandeur made me laugh heartily, I do have to keep one fact firmly in mind. He did beat Brady head to head when it mattered most. So, maybe he has a point. In deference to his percieved status, I will now refer to him as Eli Brady. Take that Peyton!

Yeah, I think I’m skipping this year’s edition of America’s Game. I’m just not feeling it for some reason.

Heir Roger Goodell cannot relax after closing the book on the CBA, as he now has his hands full now with a small group of ex-players, which includes Jim McMahon, who are suing the league over concussion related issues. With the public conscious of the ramifications of concussions and how devastating they can be over the long term, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. But perhaps this will make Goodell feel like a full fledged commissioner, since Pete Rozelle had his hands full with McMahon as well.

What’s this? Albert Haynesworth will not be punished by the league despite pleading no contest to simple assault. And now Cedric Benson is serving a 20 day stint in the clink for assault as well with no word from the league regarding fines or suspensions. Boy if I were a Pittsburgh fan I would feel pretty singled out by the commissioner right about now. Oh wait, I am and I do! Hey Roger, it’s hard to believe your argument that there is no hypocrisy or bias in your punishments when you let actual convictions slide but bring the hammer down on accusations. And speaking of a Goodell favorite…

Once again fan favorite Michael Vick intimated to GQ that Heir Goodell steered him away from Cincinnati and Buffalo and instead pointed him toward the Eagles? Are you saying that Goodell personally dictated the direction a football player’s life would take? That does not sound like the Czar of Discipline to me.

Since Bills and Bungles fans seem to not have the energy to complain, let alone care, I suppose everything worked out for the best. Especially considering that Philadelphia recently granted their quarterback’s creditors, I mean Vick himself, with a huge new contract. Hey, if we’ve moved past vilifying the convicted felon, think we can let up on the accused assaulter on the other side of the state too?

Speaking of Vick, ESPN recently ran an article regarding Vick in which the author ponders about race, race relations and how different would Vick be today, and how different circumstances of his youth might be, if he were white. Of course the article is complete with a graphic representation of what Vick would look like if he were white which rankled a few feathers. The author states at the end of the article Vick’s redemption has nothing to do with race, yet spends several paragraphs hypothesizing how his life may be different if Vick had what I would describe as a typical middle class white childhood. If the author really wanted to delve into race and race relations regarding fame, sports, social and economic status, why didn’t the article also tackle the other side of the argument and work on a few suppositions on the premise of what if Tom Brady were African American? Come on ESPN, if you’re going to publish an article bent on provoking thought regarding nature vs. nurture and how it applies to race, explore both sides of the subject.

And continuing with ESPN and their ongoing attempts to create and be the sporting news as opposed to merely reporting it, the Worldwide Leader took a stab at finding a better way to rank quarterbacks than the current passer rating system. The created the Total Quarterback Rating. This system seems more convoluted and confusing than the current system, and the only people who will appreciate it are sabermetricians who are bored waiting for baseball season to start again. I’m sorry, but I have trouble trusting in any ranking system that snubs two time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger by putting him at number 10 and crunched the numbers in such a way that no one had a score remotely close to Tom Brady at number 1. Perhaps Bristol is not far enough away from Foxborough.

Did anyone else notice during the NFL Network broadcasts of preseason games the posting of live Twitter feeds from fans watching and commenting on the game in progress? Is this a permanent fixture? Memo to the NFL Network, this may be a step too far with fan interaction.

Former Bungle and current Sunday morning blowhard Boomer Esiason apparently won the media office pool for August and got to take his turn publicly bashing Tim Tebow. Look, I know Tebow at the moment does not have the game necessary to be a top 5 quarterback, or at the moment even a starting quarterback. Perhaps with the right coach, he could blossom into something special or perhaps not. There’s a darn good chance he may never be NFL material. And I know it’s much easier to tear down than to build up, which is why commentators tend to lazily spout negative comments rather than applaud good performances or offer constructive criticism. But I just do not understand this seemingly endless line of vitriol that comes from the media aimed right at Tebow. It’s not like he’s the first big time college quarterback who had trouble adjusting from college to the pros. Have you met Tim’s teammate Brady Quinn?

Is everyone enjoying new Hall of Famer Deion Sanders’ new commercials for DirecTV? I wonder what the satellite television company is paying Prime Time, since I’m curious what the current going rate is for pride and dignity.

As with every season, the NFL has tweaked, changed and added new rules for the upcoming season in order to form a safer, gentler NFL. If you want a video rundown where they cover the standardization, try not to laugh too hard at that comment, of what makes an illegal hit, feel free to watch it courtesy of NFL.com here. My favorite line is:

“A hit to the head of a passer with the hands, arms or other parts of the body will not be a foul unless it’s a forcible blow.”

Now, I wonder if this will include closed fist punches to the face that leaves the quarterbacks nose pushed to the side of his face. But I digress.

A few of the rule changes for 2011 I find interesting include:

·         Moving the kickoff from the 30 to the 35 yard line  - I’m enjoying hearing everyone complain about touchbacks. I bet this disappears eventually just like the ball hitting Jerry Jones’ TV during punt plays

·         If quarterbacks are within the grasp of a tackle or sack the play will be called dead – This concerns me since Roethlisberger, Vick and a few other freelancing quarterbacks typically make something special happen after breaking free from a few would be tackles and eliminating that potential excitement would stink

·         After an interception, the returning team cannot block the quarterback – How long until a quarterback, unblocked, attempts to tackle the intercepting player and gets hurt?

·         Coaches can freely substitute their third string quarterback without eliminating the first or second string quarterback from returning to the game – How many second string quarterbacks will now be on a short leash if they screw up badly?

And finally, former Baltimore Colt and actor Bubba Smith passed away. While most of a younger age that never got to see this ferocious player in action will remember him from the Police Academy movies, in which he was fabulous, I will always have a soft spot for his guest appearances on Married With Children. We will miss you Hightower.

The Steel Pit

Well, the Steelers managed to keep the drama to a minimum once actual football began, much to my supreme satisfaction.

They did not sign Tiki Barber, as rumors insisted could happen. And actually at this point neither has anyone else. So much for Tiki’s big comeback.

Tackles Max Starks and Flozell Addams were released for cost cutting measures. But the scuttlebutt is that the team was ticked that Starks showed up overweight and out of shape and his salary cap hit was but the final straw. It’s funny, I always thought if the Steelers got upset at any player for showing up overweight it would be Casey Hampton.

They also released popular receiver Antwaan Randle El, and signed former Jet Jericho Cotchery, who was made expendable when the Jets signed former Steeler and former inmate Plaxico Burress. What a weird world.

James Harrison felt the need to apologize to Roger Goodell concerning his inflammatory comments he made about Goodell in an issue of Men’s Journal. I am supposing he’s trying to avoid getting on Goodell’s radar before the season even starts. Good call there.

Second year receiver Antonio Brown is showing in preseason some flashes of potential brilliance. Now if Pittsburgh fans can come to accept his end zone celebrations, which are so far more T.O. than Pittsburgh.

Quarterback Byron Leftwich ended his preseason the same way he did last year, with a nasty injury, this year with a sickeningly looking broken arm. And to think, last year at this time it was thought that Charlie Batch was the fragile one.

And in a heartwarming story, former secondary coach Ray Horton, before leaving for his new job as defensive coordinator for the Cardinals, sold his Mercedes Benz to a team cafeteria staff member for $20. Seeing how he treats people, here’s hoping Ray has tremendous success in his new position working for Steelers West.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Weirdness? It’s always available in the NFL. And with everything compressed into August, you bet your sweet bippy there’s been some weirdness in the NFL.

Chad Ochocinco, new to the Boston area, needs a place to live. Are you a Patriots fan ok with a Twitter obsessed athlete, have a game system and need someone to split the rent? I may have found you a roommate.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis stated that if they should win a ring this year, he would retire to spend more time with his son. Now that’s great motivation and an awesome goal that anyone can support. But being a fan, I hope he plays next season.

Watch out Tom Brady, you have some new competition in the Quarterback Dream Boat club, and Sam Bradford can make them swoon!

The Vikings released left tackle Bryant McKinnie at his request, as the lineman did not want to be placed on the team’s reserve/non-injury list due to weight issues and high cholesterol, which is a new one to me. The Ravens have no such concerns and recently signed McKinnie. And yes, I find it disturbing that I learned this information from TMZ.

Due to the timing of the lockout and the truncated off season and training camps, HBO decided there was no time to find a team in which to feature in their popular series Hard Knocks and they would skip this season. The effects of the lockout still reverberate throughout the football public.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan, never one to shy away from the spotlight, showed up to training camp with a gigantic tattoo on his calf which he revealed on the teams Facebook page means “Believe in yourself”. Considering the design, size, location and his method of revealing the meaning, I think the true meaning of the tattoo is, “I’m a douchebag”.

Unable to find a team to give him a job, and having already exhausted his Raiders “we’ll take anyone” option, receiver Randy Moss retired from the NFL. Straight Retirement, Homey!

Dolphins fans, desperate for a quarterback since, well, Dan Marino retired, openly booed incumbent Chad Henne and chanted for Kyle Orton, rumored to be traded to the Fins. Maybe newly single part owner Jennifer Lopez can comfort Henne in his time of need. There TMZ, now I gave you an unsubstantiated rumor to dig dirt on, you’re welcome.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez intimated in an article with GQ, geez they get all the quarterback scoops lately, that during a turbulent period last season he wanted to fight head coach Rex Ryan. It’s a good thing he didn’t, since Rex has size and feistiness and most likely 8 of every 12 swings Sanchez would take at Ryan would clang incomplete.

Speaking of the Jets, they’re already running their mouths about going to the Super Bowl. Well at least their egos are in mid season form.

Giants fans have let loose a volley of fury at departed receiver Steve Smith for signing with the rival Eagles. Relax Giant fans, once Smith has a stretch of one or two bad games, Eagles fans will dump such a load of wrath on his head he’ll think he’s still playing for New York.

What? Favre’s back? Are you serious? Well almost. A Favre impersonator did have some fun pretending to be the actually retired quarterback during Packers training camp. I’m shocked Al Davis didn’t try to sign the guy.

Upon Further Review

A curious side effect of the prolonged NFL lockout was that there was no normal free agency period during the off season. Usually, the period of time before the draft would involve a multitude of rumored player movements, team visits, offered contracts and eventually some big money signings. But with players forbidden to talk to teams, even their own, during the lockout this never happened. So players no longer under contract sat for months not knowing where they would eventually ply their trade.

Once the players and owners agreed to a CBA, and the official NFL year began and with it came the opening of training camps, signing of draft picks and the long awaited start of free agency. With but a small window for teams to sign their own players no longer under contract and sign new players into the fold, the feeding frenzy for player services came on fast and furious. With players changing teams at a prodigious rate, one that while slowed still continues with less than two weeks before the season starts, remembering who went where has become a task only achievable for Rain Man and Alan from The Hangover.

For the rest of us, yours truly has attempted to keep track of this player merry-go-round in this wild NFL preseason. So let’s grab a ticket and take a whirl on the free agency carousel.

Perhaps we should start with the quarterback who made waves with a new address last season, Donovan McNabb, who was unceremoniously traded to Washington. McNabb found himself on the outs by season end, and the Redskins feel they have a better chance going forward with former Miami backup John Beck. Now this season McNabb finds himself a new Minnesota Viking, a team that has become a veritable clearing house for over the hill and marginally talented quarterbacks.

The Vikings in bringing in McNabb, allowed their quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to escape to Seattle, as well as receiver Sidney Rice, who followed the young signal caller to the Pacific Northwest. They also allowed Brett Favre to finally have the time he needs to mow that pesky back 40 acres.

Having worn out his welcome in the Emerald City, longtime quarterback Matt Hasselbeck packed his bags and headed east, landing in Tennessee to replace the formerly retired Kerry Collins, now with Indianapolis, and Vince Young, who joined the Dream Team in Philadelphia, with a litany of other big name free agents.

With Vick and now Young in the fold, Andy Reid found Kevin Kolb expendable and traded him to Arizona for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie which came as a surprise to no one since that rumor has persisted since February.

The Cardinals, now with a potentially decent quarterback commodity, mercifully ended the Derek Anderson experiment, who has found a home in Carolina backing up Jimmy Clausen and the newly drafted Cam Newton. Something tells me this season the Panthers will not be playoff bound.

The Panthers are in full rebuilding mode, starting with new head coach Ron Rivera, who formerly coached the defense in San Diego with Norv Turner. The Chargers continued their recent trend of jettisoning running backs without adequate replacements in place, letting their spark plug speed guy Darren Sproles leave. Sproles hooked up with former Charger Drew Brees in New Orleans to bring his diminutive flash to the Big Easy.

With Sproles in the fold, the Saints found they no longer required the services of mega star, but minor offensive threat Reggie Bush. Bush made the move Brees tried five years previously, and signed with the Miami Dolphins. Bush will team up with former Chief Larry Johnson in a newly revamped backfield. Miami also signed Jason Taylor, but that seems to happen every other year.

As for Miami’s former backfield, Ronnie Brown fled to the Dream Team, a common theme, and Ricky Williams bolted for Baltimore, which should be an interesting pairing to say the least.

Baltimore also scored by picking up Lee Evans from the Bills in exchange for a draft pick. The Ravens also jettisoned a few players, including Marc Bulger to retirement and popular tight end Todd Heap, who also flew the coop to Arizona.

This may benefit the Cardinals, since they lost blossoming receiver Steve Breaston, who is setting up shop with his former coach Todd Haley in Kansas City. While Breaston may not have the best opinion of Haley personally, he apparently has no issue playing for the man. However, Kansas City not convince the Patriots to trade them any decent players for 50 cents on the dollar, so no everything was perfect in Scott Pioli’s world.

Speaking of the Patriots, they of course had to make their predictable head scratching move, plucking Albert Haynesworth from the Redskins and grabbing former Bungle Chad Ochocinco off the streets.

Ochocinco escaped a rapidly deteriorating situation in Cincinnati, where Carson Palmer “retired” T.O. became a free agent with a torn ACL and no job and Cedric Benson is heading to the Big House for a few weeks. The team did attempt to make an effort to field a team, drafting quarterback Andy Dalton and signing former 49er Nate Clements and bringing in Bruce Gradkowski to shore up their quarterback situation.

But what will the Raiders do? Fear not, Al Davis is on the case drafting Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft and signing Trent Edwards, who managed to start games last year for both Buffalo and Jacksonville.

But let’s not overlook the 49ers, as they welcomed both a new head coach in Jim Harbaugh, but also grabbed receiver Braylon Edwards off the scrap heap. Edwards became superfluous to the Jets when they managed to land Riker’s Island free agent Plaxico Burress.

Burress’ signing also allowed the Jets to, well, jettison receiver Jericho Cotchery, who found a new home in the Steel City as a part of Pittsburgh’s now stocked receiving corps.

Feeling left out of Pittsburgh’s new aerial attack, or just looking for a better payday, tight end Matt Spaeth left for the Windy City and the Cutler led Bears. The Bears, while handing their own pretty well in the free agency market, did lose questionable backup quarterback Matt Gutierrez to the Washington Redskins.

Washington, while gaining Matt, managed to lose wide receiver Maurice Price to the Buccaneers, who gained……

Woof, boy this is making me dizzy. Perhaps this handy free agent tracker will make life much easier. I’m going to go lie down for a minute.

Baby if You Ever Wondered Whatever Became Of Me

Now former Bungle Carson Palmer, who demanded a trade from the dysfunctional organization or he would retire, has kept good to his word and cut ties with the team. Owner Mike Brown stated he would not trade Palmer, as he is under contract and should live up to the terms of that agreement.

Media pundits have agreed with Brown’s stance and publicly stated Palmer should honor his contract rather than try to weasel out of it with ridiculous demands. Never mind that frequently general managers, head coaches, position coaches, coordinators and other team personnel regularly ignore their contracts when a better job offer comes along. Let’s also forget that owners and general managers will also ignore the terms of a player’s contract if he’s no longer of use to the team or someone better comes along. Palmer should be the one who stands by his word.

If you can sense from my sarcasm, I’m with Palmer. Yes, by signing his contract, and happily cashing the fat checks it provided, he did make a commitment to the team. But conversely, did the team not make a commitment to Palmer as well? Did they not commit to building a winner, to bringing in talent to augment Palmer’s offense and create a defense capable of supporting the offense? Did they not commit to creating a championship caliber team, one of the selling points that enticed Palmer to re-sign with the franchise?

I say yes they did. Then Palmer watched helplessly as they let talent go, filled the holes with unproven young guys or washed up former stars. He watched as his head coach Marvin Lewis, the leader of the team, demanded that things needed to change radically regarding how the franchise did business if the team were to truly create a winning organization. Then Palmer stood by, I’m sure flabbergasted, when nothing changed, Lewis stopped saying inflammatory comments regarding team management and quietly signed an extension of his own. If you were a player, would you feel these moves translated into a dedication to building a champion?

But Palmer in his desperation to leave placed himself into a no win situation by making his demand public. Even if the team would grant him his wish for greener pastures had the matter remained private, they never would after he went public with his wishes. Every other team in the league knows now that Palmer does not want to be there, and they know that the Bungles now have no bargaining position when it comes to a trade. No matter how desperate they may be for a quarterback, they figure they could wait until the Bungles eventually release Palmer and pick him up for nothing. So with Brown’s choices being don’t trade Palmer and hope he comes back or try to trade him and get next to nothing, Brown took unenviable choice A.

Palmer, by default, did the only thing he could do and walked away. And while some may call him out for not honoring his contract, I say that sometimes, enough is enough. Good luck Andy Dalton, you are going to need it.

He Said He Said

"We're fine being the sleepers right now. You know, we're just waiting in the wings, ready to take over the NFC East." – Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman

Takeover scheduled for 2015, date subject to postponement.

"Thank you all for the support, but if you talk bad about Kristin I will delete and block you. It's unnecessary and heartless. Also, don't say now I can play football, I could play football when I had her compared to when I don't. Football is the least of my worries, so have some respect," – Bears quarterback Jay Cutler commenting on his Facebook page regarding his breakup with his fiancée.

Look Jay, just relax. No one wants to insult her, although I think now she realizes how much she was settling for. And I’ve seen you play, and seen your win-loss record. Football should be the biggest, and only, worry lest you want to end up in Washington backing up a former Miami Dolphin scrub. Zing on Rex Grossman!

"It is official that I will be an Indianapolis Colts for my entire career. I will not play for another team. My last down of football will be with the Colts.''-- Colts quarterback Peyton Manning commenting on his new contract with the team.

I think Brett Favre said something like that once in Green Bay too.

"There's no need to do some of the stuff I did before.'' – Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco regarding how his outlandish style will fit into his new buttoned down environment in New England

The key word in that sentence, kiddies, is some.

We've got fans and people who work at the stadium and they need those jobs. We can't let them down. I think all the guys want to play football. They don't want to be locked out again.” – Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey regarding the lockout before the CBA was finalized.

From the mouths of babes.

“There's no way I'm going to wish him well.''—Jets head coach Rex Ryan commenting on former defensive lineman Shaun Ellis who signed with the New England Patriots

I guess it would be too much to ask of Ryan to be civil, and leave the vitriol to the fans, and wish a former player on his team the best of luck as he continues his career elsewhere. You stay classy, Rex.

“Tom Brady threw him one in the end zone, the offense practicing against air in the red zone. Boink. Another drop. Awful practice for the Ocho. But I doubt there'll be many of those.” – SI.com’s Peter King commenting on new Patriot receiver Chad Ochocinco’s first practice with his new team.

Having watched him in the AFC North for a few years now Peter, I must respectfully disagree. His hands were made for Twitting, not catching.

“Coach Haley’s not always a butthole” – new Chiefs receiver Steve Breaston on his new head coach and former offensive coordinator in Arizona.

I’m not sure what I liked best about this quote, the backhanded compliment or the fact that Breaston used the word butthole, which you don’t hear much anymore.

"Dream team. From Nnamdi (Asomugha) to (Dominique Rodgers-) Cromartie, to Jason (Babin) to myself. I know they are going to do some more things. It's just beautiful to see where we're trying to go.” – new Eagles backup quarterback Vince Young

Ha ha ha! You know when a player makes a statement like those things are bound to fail spectacularly, right? If you’re unsure, ask LeBron James how he feels about his “Not one” championships speech today.

“We don’t even know him, we ain’t vanilla man. So for him to come in here and be the starter, I don’t see it. I think that’s a step back.” – Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne on the signing of formerly retired quarterback Kerry Collins

Really Reggie? If Peyton can’t go, you really feel more confident in Curtis Painter? Heck I’d rather have Jim Sorgi than Curtis Painter.

“If you change the thing that really made the guy, you take away from his ability to play the game, because now he’s thinking about his delivery as opposed to playing the game and throwing the ball on time, and that’s what it’s all about. If you can throw it accurately and on time, I don’t care what your delivery looks like.” – Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana on Tim Tebow

Finally someone sticks up for Tim. And I’m going to take the advice of the 4 time Super Bowl Champion, 3 time Super Bowl MVP and the man who was taught by legendary coach Bill Walsh over a former Bungle any day. Thanks Joe.

“I think I can say this now, because it’s not going to hurt anybody’s feelings, and it’s the truth … I didn’t want to come to Philadelphia.” – Eagles quarterback Michael Vick

Usually players say that after they get there.

“I think we have to find somebody else out there to beat New England besides us, I think that would help. Anybody out there that wants to sign up for it? Are you good enough as a team to beat the New England Patriots? Forget about us, are you good enough to go out and beat the New England Patriots? I'm challenging the league.” – Jets head coach Rex Ryan

Sure, Ryan, we'll just forget about your twice to the AFC Championship game Jets who just stockpiled new talent and focus on a team that hasn't won a playoff game in four years. And by the way, take care of your own division problem. You don't see Mike Tomlin begging, I mean challenging, the league to beat the Ravens do you, you big baby.

Idiot of the Week

The preseason award for Idiot is just like the regular season award, except it doesn’t count in the standings. So who is willing to take this pseudo hit?

Jay Cutler? Good choice but hey, we’ve all had relationship woes and imaginary knee troubles.

Rex Grossman? Too easy, especially since he’s already got a strike against him backing up John Beck.

Roger Goodell? Oh way too easy, plus I have a special edition planned for Heir Commissioner in the coming weeks.

No I think this award belongs to Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie and head coach Andy Reid granting a ridiculous contract extension to Michael Vick. I think most educated NFL fans understand that player contracts are rarely worth what’s stated in the bold print. If you have any doubt, ask Donovan McNabb how much of that $88 Million contract he signed with Washington last season actually ended up in his pocket.

But for the Eagles brain trust to lavish a 6 year, $100 Million contract on a 31 year old quarterback who has never advanced past the championship round of the playoffs, is still a lightning rod of controversy, is reaching an age where the skill that makes him most valuable (his running ability) will start to deteriorate and is prone to injury seems downright, well, idiotic. Sure, Vick does provide some thrilling moments and is great for marketing purposes, but does he have what it takes to get the Eagles that long elusive championship? As it stands now, McNabb took the Eagles farther than Vick ever has. It seems to be quite the gamble on a still unknown quantity.

So Jeffrey and Andy, I deem you the preseason Idiots. Congratulations, try not to grab the award when the games count.

Next Week On….

We have on tap a the lockout special edition coming in the next week to be followed by the season opening special before the champion Packers take the field. And then, what we’ve all been waiting for, the return of regular editions of The Crystal Ball. It’s like Christmas come early. Stay tuned…