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Official & Unbiased Assessment of the NFC in 05'
Here's an official and unbiased assessment of the NFC Conference courtesy of a Philisophical Troll......
Teams That Got Better:
Cowboys: Ok I'll get this out of the way first obviously. No question this team should be a serious contender in the NFC with the offseason they had. Yes I've clamored over Drew Bledsoe, but that is only one piece to the puzzle. Critics and analysts agree we had the best draft with 2 first round picks in Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. We also added former Parcells players like Ferguson and Glenn to the mix. Anthony Henry and Izell Reese were solid additions to the secondary as well. Offensively we added another probowl lineman in Rivera and Anthony Thomas will be an excellent compliment to Julius Jones. Jason Witten is entering his prime, and Keyshawn and Glenn should be solid. Expect BIG things from this team this year.
Vikings: The additions of Fat Pat Williams, Napoleon Harris and Fred Smoot should improve this defense significantly. A lot of critics question if Culpepper will be any good without Moss though. Even if the offense drops off a little, the defensive additions will compensate for that. But if the offense plays well this will be a very dangerous team.
Cardinals: I've never been a Cardinal fan, but this team may have had the 2nd best offseason behind the Cowboys. I love the addition of Kurt Warner, he is another frustrated and motivated veteran like Bledsoe with plenty left in the tank to be effective. A lot of people wondered why this team didn't acquire Travis Henry, but JJ Arrington should answer that question. Denny Green should have this team playing good football, and if all the pieces come together in a weak NFC West division look out.....
Bears: I love the pick ups of Muhammed in free agency, and the drafting of Cedric Benson. Chicago fans have already began comparing this guy to legendary RB Walter Payton. If Rex Grossman bounces back from last seasons injury and the defense plays well Lovie Smith might have this team thinking wildcard.
Carolina: The fact that this team is healthy entering this 05' campaign is an improvement enough over last season disappointment. John Fox is one of the best young coaches in the game. This team has the best defensive line and a solid running game. Expect this team to regain thier 03' form if they stay healthy.
Teams That Got Worse:
Redskins: Not to sound biased, but Daniel Snyder is one pathetic owner if I've ever seen one. Not only does he have zero knowledge of the game of football, but he lets his ego get in the way when it comes to personnell decisions (He's very similar to a few other GM's around the league I know of). He has wasted millions and millions on over the hill free agents and drafted poorly year after year. Add to the fact they have to play the eagles and cowboys twice and it's going to be another long season in the nations capital.
Packers: Favre is finished and they didn't address the horrible defense either. The end of an era is imminent in the frozen tundra. They very well could finish dead last in the division for the first time in years.
Seahawks: They won a horrible division by default last year, but I don't see this team going anywhere this season especially if they lose Alexander. Koren Robinson has been a bust and Matt Hasslebach is one of the most overrated QB's in the game. They play a much more difficult schedule this year as well.
Lions: Harrington is yet another first round QB on a long list that has not lived up to the hype. A lot of people think this team will be good this year because they sport a trio of first round picks in thier recieving corps, but I suspect that will be more of a detriment than a positive. The heat is on Mariuchi this year to produce as well.
Status Quo Teams:
Giants: Burress was a solid pick-up if he stays healthy. But I can't see this team making much noise with the Cowboys and Eagles battling out ahead of them. The defense doesn't impress either, Shockey is overrated and Manning will struggle.
Eagles: The TO situation really determines this teams fate. Andy Reid thinks they will be fine without him, but that's not reality. This team has been rock solid for the last 5 years but don't expect a fifth straight NFC Championship trip this year. It's going to be extremely difficult for this team to have success this year competing against juggernauts the likes of Carolina, Dallas and Minnesota. But I give them respect and you'll likely see them in the wild card round.
Rams: If this team was in the AFC they'd be no better than the 9th or 10th best team. So it's pretty amazing they made it all the way to the 2nd round last year in the playoffs with an 8-8 record. However this year don't expect the same results. Faulk is about finished and the greatest show on turf is a shell of it's former self.
49ers: Alex Smith is the future, and Jennings was a solid albeit a bit overpriced free agent pick-up. The 49ers should improve marginally, but considering their record last year that is not saying much is it. Could upset a few teams this year though, especially in the weaker NFC Conference.
Falcons: Mike Vick still has to prove he can pass the football for this team to be taken seriously. Peerless Price was a disappointment and should have stayed in Buffalo when Drew Bledsoe was there. The defense is rock solid, but I don't see this team winning the the division again, expect a wild card spot.
Tampa Bay: John Gruden has clearly been exposed as a mediorce coach. In his first year he took this team to a world title, but has done nothing since. Theres a reason Ronnie Brown was taken before Carnell Williams, despite being his back up in college. In any event can't expect too much from this squad this season.
New Orleans: This team is very sporadic by nature. One day they look like a superbowl contender, the next they look like the classic New Orlean Saints teams of years past: bumbling, turnover prone and ineffective. Aaron Brooks is hard to figure out as well. The pressure is on Haslett, who led this team to the playoffs in his first year, but has stumbled since. I expect another mediorce season especially with Atlanta and Carolina being the class of this division.
Teams That Got Better:
Cowboys: Ok I'll get this out of the way first obviously. No question this team should be a serious contender in the NFC with the offseason they had. Yes I've clamored over Drew Bledsoe, but that is only one piece to the puzzle. Critics and analysts agree we had the best draft with 2 first round picks in Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. We also added former Parcells players like Ferguson and Glenn to the mix. Anthony Henry and Izell Reese were solid additions to the secondary as well. Offensively we added another probowl lineman in Rivera and Anthony Thomas will be an excellent compliment to Julius Jones. Jason Witten is entering his prime, and Keyshawn and Glenn should be solid. Expect BIG things from this team this year.
Vikings: The additions of Fat Pat Williams, Napoleon Harris and Fred Smoot should improve this defense significantly. A lot of critics question if Culpepper will be any good without Moss though. Even if the offense drops off a little, the defensive additions will compensate for that. But if the offense plays well this will be a very dangerous team.
Cardinals: I've never been a Cardinal fan, but this team may have had the 2nd best offseason behind the Cowboys. I love the addition of Kurt Warner, he is another frustrated and motivated veteran like Bledsoe with plenty left in the tank to be effective. A lot of people wondered why this team didn't acquire Travis Henry, but JJ Arrington should answer that question. Denny Green should have this team playing good football, and if all the pieces come together in a weak NFC West division look out.....
Bears: I love the pick ups of Muhammed in free agency, and the drafting of Cedric Benson. Chicago fans have already began comparing this guy to legendary RB Walter Payton. If Rex Grossman bounces back from last seasons injury and the defense plays well Lovie Smith might have this team thinking wildcard.
Carolina: The fact that this team is healthy entering this 05' campaign is an improvement enough over last season disappointment. John Fox is one of the best young coaches in the game. This team has the best defensive line and a solid running game. Expect this team to regain thier 03' form if they stay healthy.
Teams That Got Worse:
Redskins: Not to sound biased, but Daniel Snyder is one pathetic owner if I've ever seen one. Not only does he have zero knowledge of the game of football, but he lets his ego get in the way when it comes to personnell decisions (He's very similar to a few other GM's around the league I know of). He has wasted millions and millions on over the hill free agents and drafted poorly year after year. Add to the fact they have to play the eagles and cowboys twice and it's going to be another long season in the nations capital.
Packers: Favre is finished and they didn't address the horrible defense either. The end of an era is imminent in the frozen tundra. They very well could finish dead last in the division for the first time in years.
Seahawks: They won a horrible division by default last year, but I don't see this team going anywhere this season especially if they lose Alexander. Koren Robinson has been a bust and Matt Hasslebach is one of the most overrated QB's in the game. They play a much more difficult schedule this year as well.
Lions: Harrington is yet another first round QB on a long list that has not lived up to the hype. A lot of people think this team will be good this year because they sport a trio of first round picks in thier recieving corps, but I suspect that will be more of a detriment than a positive. The heat is on Mariuchi this year to produce as well.
Status Quo Teams:
Giants: Burress was a solid pick-up if he stays healthy. But I can't see this team making much noise with the Cowboys and Eagles battling out ahead of them. The defense doesn't impress either, Shockey is overrated and Manning will struggle.
Eagles: The TO situation really determines this teams fate. Andy Reid thinks they will be fine without him, but that's not reality. This team has been rock solid for the last 5 years but don't expect a fifth straight NFC Championship trip this year. It's going to be extremely difficult for this team to have success this year competing against juggernauts the likes of Carolina, Dallas and Minnesota. But I give them respect and you'll likely see them in the wild card round.
Rams: If this team was in the AFC they'd be no better than the 9th or 10th best team. So it's pretty amazing they made it all the way to the 2nd round last year in the playoffs with an 8-8 record. However this year don't expect the same results. Faulk is about finished and the greatest show on turf is a shell of it's former self.
49ers: Alex Smith is the future, and Jennings was a solid albeit a bit overpriced free agent pick-up. The 49ers should improve marginally, but considering their record last year that is not saying much is it. Could upset a few teams this year though, especially in the weaker NFC Conference.
Falcons: Mike Vick still has to prove he can pass the football for this team to be taken seriously. Peerless Price was a disappointment and should have stayed in Buffalo when Drew Bledsoe was there. The defense is rock solid, but I don't see this team winning the the division again, expect a wild card spot.
Tampa Bay: John Gruden has clearly been exposed as a mediorce coach. In his first year he took this team to a world title, but has done nothing since. Theres a reason Ronnie Brown was taken before Carnell Williams, despite being his back up in college. In any event can't expect too much from this squad this season.
New Orleans: This team is very sporadic by nature. One day they look like a superbowl contender, the next they look like the classic New Orlean Saints teams of years past: bumbling, turnover prone and ineffective. Aaron Brooks is hard to figure out as well. The pressure is on Haslett, who led this team to the playoffs in his first year, but has stumbled since. I expect another mediorce season especially with Atlanta and Carolina being the class of this division.
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