The NFL 2007-08 Season thread

Communist China

Will the Dolphins can't play in the cold. In almost no year could the Dolphins win a December game in Buffalo. So the kill should've been expected and was, by me.

At the beginning of the year, who would've thought that this week's Browns-Bills game would be the game of the week between playoff hopefuls? And that Minnesota was in good position to make the playoffs?

James

Minnesota absolutely must win the rest of their games. All the other wildcard hopefuls(including the Skins) have tiebreaker advantages over them. They lose one game, the Lions and Cards hold the edge. Lose two, the Skins are above them. Minnesota is in one of those unique situations where the playoffs have pretty much already started for them. Every game from next week until how far they get in the playoffs is a must win.

Not sure who holds the tiebreaker between Cleveland and Buffalo if push comes to shove, but the Browns REALLY need to win that game. Besides a wildcard, they still have a small shot at the division crown.

I just found out that the Pats-Giants game in week 17 is only being shown on the NFL Network. If the Pats enter that game 15-0, the most important regular season game in the past 30 years will only be able to be seen by a minority of football fans.

The cable companies need to resolve their issues with the NFL so everyone gets to see these games on their network, because as more time passes, more and more games will be exclusive to that network.

Communist China

I think the first tie-breaker is head to head, right? So the winner of Bills-Browns this week would have it.

James

Check this out.

The NFL Draft order isn't set, and most of the underclassmen have yet to decide if they'll make themselves eligible for selection in April.

However, it is never too early to take a look at how the draft might shake out if it were held tomorrow.

Rivals.com asked its NFL Draft partner - Frank Coyle of draftinsiders.com - to put together a two-round mock draft with comments on each pick.

1. Miami (0-13)
The Pick: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The Buzz: The Dolphins are a wreck, and the team obviously has holes everywhere. Dorsey is a dominant inside force.

2. New England (from San Francisco (3-10))
The Pick: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas*
The Buzz: Patriots strike it rich and get the premier feature back and best player in this class.

3. St. Louis (3-10)
The Pick: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
The Buzz: The Rams defense must improve along the front four.

4. NY Jets (3-10)
The Pick: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State*
The Buzz: The Jets are looking for another impact defender for their front seven.

5. Atlanta (3-9)
The Pick: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
The Buzz: The Falcons are a total disaster this season and the quarterback spot is their highest priority.

6. Oakland (4-9)
The Pick: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
The Buzz: The Raiders are in the top 10 again and must protect franchise QB JaMarcus Russell.

7. Kansas City (4-9)
The Pick: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss*
The Buzz: The Chiefs' line must improve for this offense to return to the upper echelon in the league.

8. Baltimore (4-9)
The Pick: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
The Buzz: The Ravens defense needs younger talent on the corner, and Cason is a top-flight cover man.

9. Cincinnati (5-8)
The Pick: Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia*
The Buzz: The Bengals are looking for an impact playmaker out of the backfield for this offense.
10. Carolina (5-8)
The Pick: Dan Connor, LB, Penn State
The Buzz: The Panthers are looking to solidify their struggling defense.

11. Chicago (5-8)
The Pick: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
The Buzz: The Bears will jump at a chance for a future leader on offense.

12. Philadelphia (5-8)
The Pick: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The Buzz: The Eagles are looking to stretch the field with a blue-chip receiver.

13. Arizona (6-7)
The Pick: Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern Cal
The Buzz: The Cardinals defense gives up too many big plays and needs a leader and anchor in the middle.

14. Houston (6-7)
The Pick: Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami*
The Buzz: The Texans are looking to continue to build a playoff-caliber defense, especially in the secondary.

15. Denver (6-7)
The Pick: Early Doucet, WR, LSU
The Buzz: Mike Shanahan wants more playmakers to help Jay Cutler develop.

16. Washington (6-7)
The Pick: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
The Buzz: Joe Gibbs wants a big-time pass rusher for the Redskins' front four.

17. Detroit (6-7)
The Pick: Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky
The Buzz: The Lions are in search of a future leader on offense and may take a chance on Woodson.

18. New Orleans (5-7)
The Pick: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State*
The Buzz: The defense continues to be the Achilles' heel for the Saints.

19. Buffalo (7-6)
The Pick: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State*
The Buzz: The Bills may draft into the deep offensive tackle class this spring.

20. Minnesota (7-6)
The Pick: Reggie Smith, CB, Oklahoma*
The Buzz: The Vikings may not be able to pass on a highly regarded defensive back for this emerging unit.

21. Tennessee (7-6)
The Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State*
The Buzz: Gholston could certainly help the Titans improve their pass rush.

22. Dallas (from Cleveland (8-5))
The Pick: DeSean Jackson, WR, California *
The Buzz: The Cowboys are looking to add a young playmaker on the outside.

23. San Diego (8-5)
The Pick: Keith Rivers, LB, USC
The Buzz: The Chargers' front seven would benefit from another strong defender.

24. Tampa Bay (8-5)
The Pick: Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan*
The Buzz: The Bucs are lacking playmakers in the passing game.

25. Seattle (9-4)
The Pick: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
The Buzz: The Seahawks hope to address their offensive line early in the draft.

26. NY Giants (9-4)
The Pick: Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech*
The Buzz: The Giants have major problems in the secondary that need to be addressed.

27. Jacksonville (9-4)
The Pick: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida*
The Buzz: The Jaguars love those Gators defenders, and Harvey is a good one.

28. Pittsburgh (9-4)
The Pick: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU*
The Buzz: The Steelers are looking to fortify their front three, and Jackson has the potential fill a role.

29. Green Bay (11-2)
The Pick: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois*
The Buzz: The Packers want a well-developed feature back to balance this offense.

30. San Francisco (from Indianapolis (11-2))
The Pick: James Hardy, WR, Indiana*
The Buzz: The 49ers offense needs another playmaker to open up the passing game.

31. Dallas (12-1)
The Pick: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas*
The Buzz: The Cowboys defense needs a top-flight cover man opposite Terence Newman.

32. New England (13-0)
The Pick: no pick
The Buzz: Pick forfeited.

James

Amazing that if the status quo continues, the Pats will have the 2nd pick in the draft. While they do need a RB really bad, I just cant see Belichick actually using that pick. I expect a trade of some sort.

This mock draft seems pretty accurate. However I don't think the Bears should go after a QB in the draft. They need a RB really bad before their window of opportunity closes. Seems like Baltimore would go after a QB though. McNair is toast and Boller aint worth a shit.

Crazy that Indy and Cleveland don't even get a pick in the 1st round.

The Buzz: The 49ers offense needs another playmaker to open up the passing game.

Really? Then why did you trade your top pick to New England?:haha: Because 10 people said you were going to the Superbowl this year?:haha:

Gunslinger

Jameslofton wrote:

I just found out that the Pats-Giants game in week 17 is only being shown on the NFL Network. If the Pats enter that game 15-0, the most important regular season game in the past 30 years will only be able to be seen by a minority of football fans.
The cable companies need to resolve their issues with the NFL so everyone gets to see these games on their network, because as more time passes, more and more games will be exclusive to that network.

Damn, this does blow for those of us that don't have access to the NFL Network. The Giants are streaky but really do pose the only chance I can see of beating the Pats. Even though it is slim to none it is a game I would love to see. Hey Lofton....expect lots of pms during the game!

Neemo

haha, funny thing... in canada our espn affiliate TSN shows the NFLN games and we also get the NFLN as a standard cable channel

NY Giants82

James, I would go QB if I were the Bears in round 1. RB is a position that you can get in later rounds. Unless someone like McFadden falls to you, you gotta go with QB. His running back partner at Arknansas, Felix Jones, may be there to take in round 2. He is a nice back, but is obviously overshadowed by McFadden.

I love mock drafts!

Tommie

Petrino resigns as coach of Falcons
Immediate speculation he quit to take college job, possibly Arkansas
The Associated Press
updated 6:21 p.m. ET, Tues., Dec. 11, 2007

ATLANTA - Bobby Petrino resigned as Atlanta Falcons coach on Tuesday, having lasted only 13 games with the NFL team. A person within the league told The Associated Press that Petrino quit to return to the college ranks at Arkansas.

He left Louisville in January to become Atlanta's coach for a five-year, $24 million contract, largely because the Falcons felt he could help star quarterback Michael Vick reach his full potential.

A few months later, Vick came under investigation for a grisly dogfighting operation that eventually led him to plead guilty to federal charges. He was sentenced Monday to 23 months in prison without ever taking a snap for Petrino.

A source familiar with Patrino's decision, speaking on condition of anonymity because the school had not made an official announcement, said he was going to Arkansas. The Razorbacks have been looking for a coach for two weeks to replace Houston Nutt, who resigned after a tumultuous season and took the Mississippi job.

The school had no immediate comment on its coaching search.

The Falcons declined further comment beyond a terse, two-paragraph statement released Tuesday night. Owner Arthur Blank and general manager Rich McKay were scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday.

There was no immediate word who would take over as head coach for the final three games, though defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson would be the most logical candidates.

Petrino did not answer his cell phone or a call placed to his Atlanta-area home. His brother, Falcons receivers coach Paul Petrino, declined comment when reached on his cell phone.

'I don't think I can say anything about it right now,' he said. 'I'm sorry.'

After losing Vick, Petrino tried three starting quarterbacks without success. The Falcons are 3-10 and assured of the 32nd losing season in their 42-year history.

The resignation of Petrino was another jarring blow to the Falcons, who dealt with Vick's legal troubles since the first day of training camp, when a plane flew overhead pulling a sign that said: 'New team name? Dog Killers?'

Petrino assembled one of college football's highest-scoring offenses at Louisville, but the Falcons were anemic without Vick. They also were plagued by injuries on the offensive line, which forced them to start two players who weren't even drafted out of college.

Just hours after Vick's sentencing in Richmond, Va., Atlanta took its fourth straight double-digit loss, 34-14 to the New Orleans Saints.

'Not a good day,' Petrino said afterward.

The resignation had to be a major surprise to Blank, who fired Jim Mora just two seasons after he led the Falcons to the NFC championship game, and lured Petrino with a lucrative contract.

Before Monday's game, Blank said he felt better than ever about his decision to hire Petrino given all the adversity the team faced this season.

'I feel real fortunate we have a terrific guy leading our team, our CEO, in Bobby Petrino,' Blank said. 'I think he's proven to me he's a better head coach than we thought he was going to be, dealing with a set of cards we didn't see unfold this year, which probably never in the history of the NFL has anything like this happened. Bobby has done a wonderful job dealing with all of these issues. He's kept the players focused.'

But there were signs of dissension, especially in the way Petrino dealt with his players.

He ran the team with an aloof style, feeling no reason to share his decisions on personnel with the affected players. He could walk through the locker room without speaking to anyone and was openly criticized by two of the team's stars, Pro Bowlers Alge Crumpler and DeAngelo Hall.

Petrino drew the ire of the veterans with his decision to cut nose tackle Grady Jackson, one of the team's most productive defensive linemen, during the bye week. Quarterback Joey Harrington was clearly perturbed a few weeks ago when, after leading the Falcons to two straight wins, he heard from the media that Petrino still considered injury prone Byron Leftwich the starter.

Against the Saints, the Falcons made another change at the most crucial offensive position, giving Chris Redman his first start since 2002. While Redman threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, the Falcons lost again.

They have been outscored by an average of 18.5 points in their last four defeats.

After the latest loss, Petrino sounded as though he was still committed to getting the Falcons turned around.

'We'll come back on Wednesday to take a look at it, and then we'll get back to work,' he said. 'We have to find something to rally around.'

But clearly, Petrino already had decided to abandon the sinking ship.

James

NFL needs a rule that head coaches cant resign from a team in mid season, unless there is a catastrophic tragedy like a death in the immediate family.

Having said that, the Falcons need to get a major name and influential coach to do a massive rebuilding job because that team is a huge clusterfuck. It was even before the Vick fiasco. They wagered everything they had on Vick, and other than a few big runs and him being a media darling, he was a total bust. Losing him is a blessing in disguise, but now they have to reap what they sowed and start from scratch.

Gonna be hard to find a talented coach to come in there and fix it though. Rebuilding phases can take years.

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