Author: Tom Schaller

Broncos: Berry- Hayward and Shanahan

Post author By Tom Schaller
Post date August 3, 2004
10 Comments on Broncos: Berry- Hayward and Shanahan

DE Bert Berry did a fabulous job for Denver last season. But he did so at the expense of Trevor Pryce, who took most teams double teams.

This year Berry will be the Arizona Cardinals’ Pryce. Will he be able to come up with 8.5 sacks facing double teams every down, as Pryce did last season? Probably not. And who will take advantage of Berry’s double teams for AZ? Berry got a nice pay day, and he deserved it, but it was also a move that will make him look like a one year wonder if head coach Dennis Green doesn’t get him some first rate help in the next year or two.

NFL General

Buh Bye Eddie

Is anyone surprised that Eddie George is no longer a Titan? No? Didn’t think so.

As I said before, this is Eddie’s chance to get out of the NFL with some dignity. This is his “year too early”. But that isn’t going to happen. What might happen – at least if there is any Reason in the universe?

Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis

Like him, hate him, respect him, loathe him. Wherever your views on Ray Lewis as a human being may fall, it’s nearly impossible not to be awed by him when it comes time for your team to play his Baltimore Ravens.

Oakland Raiders

A Long- Sad ’04 for the Raider Nation

Post author By Tom Schaller
Post date July 16, 2004
6 Comments on A Long- Sad ’04 for the Raider Nation

While any Raiders fan should be pleased with Oakland’s house cleaning this offseason, they should also be plenty worried about coaching, age, quality and defensive scheme.

NFL General

Offseason Talking Points

Every now and then during the offseason something will happen or some thought will enter my head that allows me a few pleasant moments to ponder the upcoming NFL season. If I’m lucky, they’ll even allow me to start up a conversation.

Here is a list of a few of them.

NFL General

Time to Go

Sometimes NFL players just don’t know when to call it quits. If only they’d think to ask me.

So here’s a list of a few formerly elite RBs in need of a trip to the glue factory, and a couple more I think will be in a similar position within the next three years.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Gunther Project

Greg Robinson’s defensive schemes helped the Denver Broncos win two SB’s. Not surprisingly, Denver’s scoring defense was ranked 7th and 8th during that back to back SB run.

Then Denver’s defensive secondary started falling apart – and along with it the overall defensive performance – and Robinson was given the boot.

Denver Broncos

In Defense of Griese

I’m a big Brian Griese fan and I have been since I watched him embarrass Ryan Leaf in the Rose Bowl.

Brian Griese is an excellent QB in his own right; in some ways superior to John Elway, and Griese certainly outperformed Jake Plummer as Denver’s starting QB. Making him the whipping boy for Denver’s woes during his stay in the Mile High City, or calling him untalented and worthless, is a considerable distortion of reality.

Denver Broncos

Mike Shanahan: Off With His Head!

Post author By Tom Schaller
Post date July 11, 2004
2 Comments on Mike Shanahan: Off With His Head!

Every team in the NFL exists for one reason and one reason alone. It is their goal, their job, their duty to reach and win the NFL’s championship game; the Super Bowl – we’ll pretend there are no teams like the Bears whose ownership and management have either forgotten this or just don’t give a damn about it.

Denver Broncos

Offseason Induced Scab Picking

Post author By Tom Schaller
Post date July 8, 2004
5 Comments on Offseason Induced Scab Picking

The off season stinks.

At this point in the year there’s little news of any value. All that’s left us is speculation, and the upcoming season has already been speculated to death several times over.

So as any obsessive NFL fan might, I’ve begun picking open old scabs, just to see if there’s still any puss left to squeeze out.