Category: NFL

NFL

Passing Thoughts…

Since many of our actual newspaper columnists do this, I figured it’s good enough for Sportscolumn.com too. So, here goes my initial installment of a potpourri of unrelated sports comments entitled Passing Thoughts.

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles get slaughtered on Monday night, I heard about this new curse of the Super Bowl losers. The last 5, and 6 of 7, losers of the previous season’s Super Bowl have failed to make the playoffs, or even have a .500 record. That puts in perspective the incredible feat achieved by the 1990-93 Buffalo Bills of reaching a record 4 consecutive Super Bowls.

Philadelphia Eagles

Phuneral Procession

By: Jon Morrill

The 2005 Philadelphia Eagles were pronounced dead late Monday Night; after being found in their snow covered home at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia after being on life support for months.

NFL General

NFL Power Rankings Week 13 – December 6 2005

Post author By Editor
Post date December 6, 2005
No Comments on NFL Power Rankings Week 13 – December 6 2005

Seattle’s strong showing on national television puts them #2 in the power rankings. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and Dallas’ playoff hopes are fading and they are dropping in the standings. Jacksonville remains at #9 but they might be the only current top 10 team not to make the playoffs. Here we go with the complete Week 13 Power Rankings:

NFL General

Is Troy Aikman a Hall of Fame Quarterback?

Post author By Cellar Dweller
Post date December 5, 2005
6 Comments on Is Troy Aikman a Hall of Fame Quarterback?

Should an individual player get into the NFL Hall of Fame based mostly on the accomplishments of the TEAM he played on? If we’re talking about running backs, receivers, or defensive players, the history of the NFL’s Hall of Fame answers the question with a resounding no. Backs, receivers, and defensive players must get in on the basis of superior statistics, or tremendous impact. But, why is that standard seemingly ignored when it comes to quarterbacks? Or, rather, some quarterbacks?

Troy Aikman is not a Hall of Fame quarterback. Troy Aikman’s statistics pale in comparison to his peers during his playing era. Many of his numbers even fall short of Hall of Fame quarterbacks who played in less pass happy eras (pre-1980’s). However, Troy Aikman is one of the leading candidates for induction in the NFL’s 2006 Hall of Fame class. Why?

NFL General

The Chase Is On

THE NFL PLAYOFF RACE

With five weeks worth of games remaining in the NFL regular season, no team has clinched yet, but many of them are on the verge. Here is how I see the playoff race ending up:

Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Must Pull In Reins and Ground Colts

Post author By James Butler
Post date December 2, 2005
4 Comments on Peyton Must Pull In Reins and Ground Colts

Sport, unlike other occupations, is designed to produce only one winner. With the exception of Division I-A college football (another story for another day), only one team celebrates after the final game is played. No matter the number of impressive performances each year in a given sport, only one winner is crowned. That being said, the Indianapolis Colts must keep their focus on the end prize. Their leader Peyton Manning must act as the catalyst for them doing so.

Philadelphia Eagles

T.O. makes Niners look like smartest team in NFL

Post author By renteen
Post date December 1, 2005
1 Comment on T.O. makes Niners look like smartest team in NFL

The San Francisco 49ers were once a storied football franchise with five shining Vince Lombardi trophies in their collection. Since the late 1990s, however, the 49ers ownership has made numerous unintelligent decisions, transforming their dynasty into the laughingstock of the league. However, despite all the criticism the 49ers deserve for their failures, they did one thing right: they traded Terrell Owens to the Philadelphia Eagles.

NFL General

NFL Week 13 Picks – December 4 2005

Post author By Editor
Post date December 1, 2005
No Comments on NFL Week 13 Picks – December 4 2005

Last week, we went an incredible 51-13 (.797) overall, with Boston Mac leading the way at 14-2. We’re looking to continue that hot streak this week as the playoff races heat up.

Don’t forget about the podcast to go along with the picks below. You can listen/download the mp3 file directly here or you can subscribe to the podcast using this feed. If you have iTunes, go to your Advanced Menu, click on Subscribe to Podcast and enter this url: http://feeds.feedburner.com/nflpickspodcast

If you enjoy our podcast, please go to the yahoo directory and vote for us. It’s much appreciated.

Detroit Lions

Bly and Garcia Should Be Suspended and Fined

Post author By cernig
Post date November 30, 2005
5 Comments on Bly and Garcia Should Be Suspended and Fined

On Monday, cornerback Dre’ Bly and quarterback Jeff Garcia of the Detroit Lions came out publicly and put blame on 4th year quarterback Joey Harrington for the firing of former head coach Steve Mariucci. True or not, Bly and Garcia should be fined and suspended for their actions.

Indianapolis Colts

Why Don’t Teams Blitz Peyton Manning?

Post author By Cellar Dweller
Post date November 30, 2005
3 Comments on Why Don’t Teams Blitz Peyton Manning?

Peyton Manning is a pocket passer. Peyton Manning is purely a pocket passer. He cannot beat a defense with anything except his arm. So, why do defenses hardly ever blitz him?

Last night, I watched another game where a NFL defensive coordinator chose to sit back in zone defense and attempt to fool Peyton Manning with a variety of coverage schemes. It didn’t work. Peyton Manning was allowed to pick a defensive secondary apart, while the defensive line rushed only 3 or 4 linemen. His statistics were 15/25 for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns.

What has happened to common sense in the NFL? Why let an immobile quarterback sit comfortably in the pocket all game and pick you apart? Immobile, dropback, pocket passers are vulnerable to the pass rush. They always have been and always will be. Johnny Unitas, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Drew Bledsoe, and, yes, Peyton Manning were, or, are, least effective when forced out of the comfort zone of the passing pocket. Good pocket passers have to be pressured for a defense to be successful because they are too knowledgeable and too accurate for a defense to solely try coverage trickery.