NFL Truths ... back for another season
This is a special training-camp edition. The Truth will return permanently with the start of the NFL season. Munch on these truths until kickoff of the regular season:
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10. Every head coach not leading a team nicknamed the Packers, Jets, Buccaneers or Vikings owes Brett Favre a gigantic thank you. The Favre saga pretty much allowed teams to go about the business of preparing without media distraction.
I'd assume that Bill Belichick and the Patriots — despite having to face Favre twice this season — are the happiest.
Without Favre, the NFL media would still be milking the pointless Spygate story and there would be a lot of talk about how the Patriots will rebound from their Super Bowl letdown.
For my money, New England's Super Bowl defeat will have a significant impact on this season.
OK, let me set-up my next point by adding a little context. I like the Patriots. I like the way Belichick and Scott Pioli have constructed their team/dynasty. I'm a huge Tom Brady fan. Other than John Elway, he's my favorite NFL quarterback of all time. I hope Brady wins two more Super Bowls before his career is through.
I think the Patriots are going to take a big step back this year. There's going to be a hangover from that Super Bowl loss and their 18-0 run.
The Pats lost to the Giants, an inferior opponent, because of the mental fatigue of going undefeated. What New England accomplished last season was far more impressive than what the Dolphins did in '72. The NFL wasn't the King of the sports world in 1972. There wasn't around-the-clock coverage and discussion of the 1972 Dolphins.
The last month of the 2007 season, the Patriots were mentally drained, and they weren't a great team. The team we saw at the end of last season is the team we will see this season. The Pats are still tired.
They'll win 10 games and lose in the first round of the playoffs.
9. I have a lot of respect for Carolina coach John Fox and the way he and the Panthers dealt with star receiver Steve Smith and his sucker-punching of teammate Ken Lucas.
I was shocked when I heard the Panthers suspended Smith for the first two games of the regular season. Carolina has missed the playoffs the past two years, finishing 8-8 and 7-9. There's considerable pressure on Fox and his coaching staff this season.
The team didn't have to suspend Smith and weaken their chances of beating the Chargers and the Bears. The Panthers could've hit Smith with mammoth fine and suspended him for the remainder of training camp.
Had the Panthers taken that action, no one would've raised much of a fuss. It was a training-camp fight.
Instead, Fox chose to send a strong message to his entire team that no one player is bigger than the organization, especially not a wide receiver. Good for Fox.
Now, when the Panthers start 0-2 and miss the playoffs for a third straight year, I won't complain when Fox is fired.
8. The NFL Truths obtained a rough draft of Pacman Jones' reinstatement letter to Roger Goodell. What follows are just a few of the highlights:
What's good, Roger? I mean, what's Goodell, Roger? I'm just playing, Commissioner Goodell. This is Pacman Jones. My agent said I needed to drop you a letter saying why I should be reinstated. Well, as you know, I do a lot of work in the community supporting single mothers one dollar at a time. I've included some reference letters from a few of the gals I've helped get through nursing school. They were embarrassed to include their last names, but I'm sure you will be impressed when you read the heart-tugging letters from Lexus, Athena, Diamond and Mercedes. Without my rain, these independent, hardworking women would not be in their seventh year of nursing school. Also, my good friend Joe Pete, the owner of Magic City, has constructed a graph highlighting the negative economic impact my suspension has had on Atlanta strip clubs. Pacman's suspension has been worse than gas prices. President Bush calls my rainmaking trickle-down economics. Sincerely, Pacman Jones
7. I loved running back Mike Hart when he was at Michigan. A sixth-round pick for the Colts, Hart will be the steal of the draft.
Hart fell to the sixth because he ran a 4.6 40-yard dash. He runs faster on the field because he runs decisively and with purpose. A fast guy who doesn't know where to go runs slower than Hart.
Hart won't beat out Joseph Addai. But Hart will be a starter in this league before the end of his career. He reminds me of Michael Turner, LaDainian Tomlinson's old backup.
6. The Rams should let Steven Jackson sit out the entire season.
It is mistake to overpay for any running back not named L.T. The Rams can develop a new running back. Jackson's talents aren't so unique that he's worth breaking the bank. Let him bounce.
5. For several years, NFL Truths has complained that Jacksonville receiver Matt Jones is the poster child for lazy, irresponsible football players. Now that he's been busted for allegedly carrying cocaine maybe others will catch on.
Must-read:
Must-see:
Top headlines:
- Plaxico suspended, done for season
- Reports: Weis to keep Notre Dame job
- NFL suspends 6 in drug case
- Sources: Braves get ChiSox's Vasquez
Worth a thousand words:
The Jaguars might be the league's most dysfunctional football squad. Jack Del Rio's group has had as many players pinched as Marvin Lewis' Cincinnati Bengals. But I guess there are benefits to running a franchise in the deep south and in the middle of nowhere.
No one cares about the lawless Jaguars.
4. Am I the only one who thought ESPN's coverage of the Favre soap opera was appropriate?
There have been numerous complaints that the World Wide Leader went overboard with its coverage. I disagree. Favre is so talkative and forthcoming that the network had no choice but to report all the twists and turns. It was fascinating. I enjoyed every text message.
Yes, some ESPN NFL experts looked foolish claiming that Favre would never accept a trade to the Jets. But I enjoyed that, too. I particularly enjoyed Jay Glazer putting a clown suit on ESPN's army of reporters at the end.
Overall, Ed Werder, Chris Mortensen, Wendy Nix and all the rest did a great job. I watched.
3. This may be more of a wish than a belief, but Donovan McNabb is my pick for league MVP.
He's been written off by most the experts. He's too injury prone. He's overrated without Terrell Owens.
I love the way McNabb approaches the game. In the right situation -- had Owens supported McNabb the way Owens supports Tony Romo — McNabb could've been as good as Brady and Peyton Manning.
McNabb is going to have a rebound season and make his critics choke on crow.
2. The Ball State Cardinals are going to run the table and make a bid to crash the BCS bowl party. I (spit) you not.
The Cardinals are loaded. In Nate Davis, they have quite possibly the quarterback with the most pro potential in the college game. Davis' favorite target is Wes Welker clone, Dante Love. The Cards have a 6-foot-6 tight end, Darius Hill, who can't be stopped in the red zone. Their right tackle, Robert Brewster, is one of the nation's best run blockers. Ball State punter, Chris Miller, is a two-time Playboy All-American.
Ball State is this year's Boise State.
1. Right now, I like the Colts to win the Super Bowl.
I know it's not a sexy prediction. It's just what I really think. Tony Dungy is going to christen Lucas Oil Stadium with a Super Bowl champion and then immediately retire.
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