Welcome back..NFL Girl here. As today starts the beginning of a new season we take a quick look back at some of the off-season moves and the upcoming potential lockout of 2011.
The biggest "this-didn't-come-as-a-surprise" move..the release of JaMarcus Russell from the Oakland Raiders. I mean seriously, who was shocked by this? JaMarcus's 3 year disappointing career resulted in a QB rating of 65.2% and 18 TDs with 23 INTs. It took 3 years for Al Davis to realize that JaMarcus was never going to turn into the long bomb deep threat reliable QB he could count on but after Bruce Gradkowski came in and started and proved that the problem wasn't the inept offense (ok well some of it was but it's the Raiders so give'em a break) but a poor passer with the work ethic of a sloth, Tom Cable was finally able to get Davis to wake up and bench Russell. With the acquistion of Campbell from the Redskins, Russell's days were as good as done. The idea that any team would bring Russell in at this point is laughable. JaMarcus showed up to camp over 300 lbs and with same bad attitude and poor work ethnic he has had all 3 years in Oakland. No one will take a chance on him not even as a back-up until he makes moves to try to improve his accuracy, get in physical condition to play at the pro level and get a better attitude. Let's see if the UFL will take a chance otherwise he will walk away a happy man with his $42Mil & never think twice about playing again.
The Chargers- wow..umm..where to begin? Trading Cromartie and Tomlinson to the Jets? Not signing Vincent Jackson to a new deal but blocking any deals from other teams? Bringing in Patrick Crayton from the Cowboys and a rookie running back? Their off season moves shows they are trying to move in a new direction but at what cost to their immediate future? Despite what many analysts are predicting, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the Chargers are NOT going to the superbowl. Sorry let's just be real..there are too many other tough teams in the AFC for them to be the one team that everyone focuses on.
TO & Pacman Jones to the Bengals- I could get on so many other acquisitions but I hafta admit I'm intrigued by the pick up of these 2. Pacman has been accused of being overrated..as of now that has been true, but I think he has the potential of being a pretty decent DB if he can keep his off the field antics to a minimum (how about none Adam, can we try for that this year?). TO is still a great WR..he stays in condition and has never suffered a major injury in his career. His problem of course is his mouth. If he can keep his mouth under control and split receptions with OchoCinco the Bengals will be a definite threat in the AFC North. Let us pray for both to keep it together this year.
So this year is shaping up to be a good one..who will play for the championship? Who will win the Lombardi trophy? Hmmm...to be honest it's so wide open I'd hate to venture a guess. The teams are much more evenly matched than in any year previously. I predict a lot of good games this season.
Now as far as next year...ugh...where do we begin? The collective bargaining agreement ends at the end of this season..what will happen next season? This is a good question. As it stands the 2 sides are at an impass. Neither side is willing to back down or capitulate to the other. The potential of a lockout is not only very serious but absolutely possible. So real quick here's the deal..first off the owners think the players get too much of the gross revenue..they want a new agreement which would reduce the amount that players receive. Players of course feel that the owners are just being greedy because at the end of the day despite very generous contracts, who really gets the revenue from ticket and concession sales, stadium sponsorship, television contracts, etc? That's right the owners. So for owners to ask the players to less of the pie is an insult to them. Revenue sharing has been lopsided costing bigger teams like the Cowboys and Redskins far more money than smaller market teams such as the Bengals. At the end of the day the people hurt the most by a lockout will be players. Owners will still generate revenue and actually get more of a profit because they wont have to pay stadium or office staff and still get money from their tv deals. So for the players at least the need to get a new deal in place is much more pressing. The question is can both sides finally get over their own massive egos and get to the bargaining table and hash out a deal in time to prevent the potential loss of the 2011 season? For all of us true football fanatics let it happen PLEASE!!
-NFL Girl
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