NFL and the NFLPA Lockout Countdown: Epilogue, or A Fan’s Retrospective

Dear NFL,

Now it’s been two weeks since the lockout has officially been over for the NFL, and everything is seemingly falling into place as the players and head coaches go forward onto their regularly scheduled business.  Even the fantasy football leagues are promoting themselves across the internet, as if nothing happened.  But something did happen…the past few months while the millionaire players union and the billionaire team owners argued…

These past few months have been long and taxing to say the least.  As much as the NFL team owners and players may have compromised in their collective bargaining agreement, it may have exhausted much of the patience of some of their fanbase, including myself.  We all  have seen how much greed governs much of professional sports with the lockouts recently, as in the case of the current NBA lockout.  What goes around comes around as this collective bargaining agreement is stalled in the courts.

Trades have come fast and furious in the past couple of weeks as quarterbacks, wide receivers, cornerbacks and running backs have been traded onto other teams.  Official training camps have started, and the new players are learning the new gameplans in the works.  But for some fans, football has been tainted somewhat.  No longer is there the enthusiastic jump onto the fantasy football leagues across the internet.  Rather there lies a deep skepticism as they are feeding into the big green monster, the NFL…

But it will come to pass as all things do, like with the MLB and the NHL.  Skepticism by the fans ultimately brought out a better game, and hopefully, with this upcoming season, things will have changed.

Perhaps it will.

Perhaps not.

Sincerely,

A Football Fan and Philadelphia Eagles Fan

NFL and the NFLPA Lockout Countdown: Lockout Day+136, or The Beginning of the Beginning At Last

Better late than never…

The collective bargaining agreement has finally been agreed upon on yesterday, lockout day+136 or thereabouts, on both sides.  Even the Tom Brady, et. al union decertification case was put to rest as the NFLPA decided to unionize once again.  It happened with little drama, although it was quite lengthy.  Now both sides can be back to making money and playing football.  The multi-billion dollar industry will begin in early August as free agency, trades and mini-camps will begin.

It was a public relations scene as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith made their announcement of their 1o-year agreement to the media.  The terms of the new collective bargaining agreement came with some wins and some losses on both sides.  The team owners get 53 percent while the NFL players get 47 percent of all annual revenues going forward.  The team owners now must commit to spending near their salary cap limits.  On the other side, the players get safer practice sessions during the off-season, and the players now get five days off their bye week.  This should lead to better competition between the teams going foward as the players will be able to recover their injuries no matter how slight.  Those prone to injury like Philadelphia Eagles Michael Vick will see immediate benefit from this. The veteran players will also get their minimum salary increased.  Lastly, for the players, the rookie wage scale means that future rookies will have a significantly reduced salary going forward, no matter if their first or thirty-first.  The only factor that wasn’t decided entirely was the 18-game schedule.  It will be decided at a later date supposedly, but that remains to be seen once the mini-camps and the upcoming season begins.

This has been a long and testing time for the NFL fans, and more drama has already begun.  The Brett Favre drama has begun yet again, as it appears that he may have sights for the Philadelphia Eagles.  However, I believe it’s a nightmare wrapped within a pipe dream for most Eagles fans.  The draft boards can now begin to prepared for fantasy football fans, and if it’s anything like the previous season, fantasy football fans should be prepared for anything.

Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson: 2010 Year in Review and 2011 Outlook and Beyond

2010 Year in Review

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson was fairly efficient and productive during the 2010 regular season despite the quarterback situation.  In 2010, he had a total of 1,047 yards on 47 receptions and 6 touchdowns for the season.  He was ranked 12th among wide receivers in total yardage, and tied for 29th in touchdowns among wideouts.  However, his prime achievement was that he led the league in average yardage per catch with 22.5.

During the regular season, Jackson had erratic production at times, but his production improved as quarterback Michael Vick took the helm.  Earlier on, however, in the game against the Detroit Lions with quarterback Kevin Kolb at the helm, he had 135 yards, a touchdown and a stunning 33.8 average yards per catch.  In the following game, he also had a great game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with 153 total receiving yards, a touchdown and 30.6 average yards per catch.  The following three games were downers for him as Eagles running back LeSean McCoy took over as the primary offensive weapon.  Against the Indianapolis Colts, DeSean Jackson blossomed again with 109 receiving yards, a touchdown and 15.6 average receiving yards per catch and was one of the top performers of the game.  In the decimation of the Washington Redskins 59-28, he had 98 yards and a touchdown on two receptions and a stunning 49.0 average receiving yards per catch.  Again, he was one of the top performers of the game, and Jackson essentially set the tone for the rest of the game after his 88-yard catch in the opening of the first quarter.  Then the tides began to turn as defenses began to adjust to Michael Vick, and Jackson’s production went down tremendously until the Dallas Cowboys game.  Jackson rose to the occasion with 210 receiving yards and a touchdown and another stunning 52.5 average receiving yard per reception.  As quarterback Michael Vick began breaking down physically during the close of the season and other personal factors discussed next, DeSean Jackson’s production fell down as well.

2011 Outlook and Beyond

Compared to his 2009 season, DeSean Jackson was admirably comparable.  He was ranked 12th in total receiving yards during the 2009 regular season.  Additionally, he was tied for 10th was 9 total touchdowns and ranked second in average receiving yards with 18.6.  He did show remarkable improvement in average yardage per catch, but he fell somewhat in the number of touchdowns.

With the 2011 season perhaps coming, as the collective bargaining agreement is coming into its final development, DeSean Jackson’s contract has expired.  With the tantrum thrown after the Philadelphia Eagles loss to the Chicago Bears and his unwillingness to mesh with coach Andy Reid, whether DeSean Jackson will have contract extension after the lockout ends remains to be seen.  Potentially, the Eagles should, but they might not have enough to cover Michael Vick’s contract. Should Jackson be traded, the Philadelphia Eagles will lose a valuable cog in their potent offense.  Unfortunately, DeSean Jackson does have Drew Rosenhaus as an agent, and Jackson may become another Terrell Owens, loaded with talent but blinded by money.

2011 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Prospect

During the 2011 fantasy football season, wide receiver DeSean Jackson should be ranked a high-end WR2 to a solid WR1 if Jackson intends on staying with the Philadelphia Eagles.  However, the limitation is by his teammate Jeremy Maclin who may have become the primary wideout in the Eagles offensive scheme.  Perhaps a more severe limitation will be the second half of the Philadelphia Eagles schedule where the opponents become much more physical and potentially cause serious injury to Eagles star quarterback of the 2010 season, Michael Vick.  Finally, the final limitation may be another team.  Which team is an interesting question, but I imagine a pass-happy team like the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers or another can definitely benefit from a wide receiver like him.  Depending on the team, however, his production could fall into solid to high-end WR2 status which could hurt fantasy football players intending on drafting a solid wideout early.

NFL and the NFLPA Lockout Countdown: Unprecedented Two Lockouts in the NFL and the NBA

After five days worth of discussion between the NFL and the NFLPA concerning their collective bargaining agreement and their lockout, the progress has recently regressed.  With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NLFPA head DeMaurice Smith and U.S. Judge Magistrate Arthur Boylan and a few team owners including New York Giants John Mara, Kansas City Chiefs Clark Hunt, Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones and New England Patriots Robert Kraft, it appears that the divisive issue of the annual revenue, with the players taking 45 percent, has fallen as some team owners have resisted against that amount.  It comes as no surprise really as $9 billion is a lot of money to part with and divide among the NFL players and team owners.  Greed is what greed does.

In the NBA, their negotiations have apparently stalled as well.  NBA Commissioner David Stern said a lockout will go into effect after their present collective bargaining agreement expires Thursday at midnight. It would be their first lockout since 1998-99 season.  With their union head Billy Hunter, it appears that the NBA players union will not decertify, but at this junction, anything can happen.

After doing some research, two lockouts in professional sports at the same time are unprecedented with the NFL and NBA collective bargaining agreements in limbo.  I believe this is sincerely disappointing to fans of professional football and basketball and sports in general.  With the U.S. economy still struggling, these lockouts could not have happened at a worst time.  Financially, either of these sports give the economy much-needed jolts with the selling of assorted merchandise, paraphernalia, tickets and foodstuffs.  In terms of morale, fans of these sports could enjoy cheering on their favorite teams and players, instead of dwelling on whether they’ll be able to pay their mortgage and utilities next week.  These are bitter times indeed…whether any sweetness will come out after the Fourth of July celebrations, it may be best to remain with tempered optimism as the issue of money isn’t so good right now for either professional sport.  Unfortunately, no amount of commotion of fans will speed up the process.

Boston Bruins Bring Home the 2011 Stanley Cup: Some Afterthoughts…

After a dominant performance by the Boston Bruins against the Vancouver Canucks for the final game of the Stanley Cup finals, the Boston Bruins bring home the Stanley Cup to their city after three seven-game playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Vancouver Canucks.  It was well-deserved after the Stanley Cup drought since 1972.  With their goalie Tim Thomas winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, he deserved the award with 37 saves and a 4-0 shutout to boot for the Bruins.  Now the Bruins get to return home to add another trophy for Beantown.  Proudly, he ended the post-season with a 1.98 GAA and .940 save percentage.  His rival during the Stanley Cup final, Canucks Roberto Luongo, performed respectably, and he ended the post-season with 2.56 GAA and .914 save percentage.  The Canucks suffered a disappointing last game to end the series on their home ice nonetheless, but it paled in comparison to what happened afterward.

Perhaps the most disappointing thing was that both the Boston Bruins fans and Vancouver Canucks fans caused major disturbances.  Whereas the Canucks fans nearly destroyed their town, with 100 people arrested and 150 hurt, the Boston Bruins had seven people arrested, and they have appeared in the Boston Municipal Court.  Perhaps it’s not the Philadelphia Eagles fans that should get a bad rap after all.  Even with the celebration after the Philadelphia Phillies winning the 2008 World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia got hit with some malcontents in Center City, but it paled in comparison to what happened on Wednesday night in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Concerning the sport of hockey and the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers still have a lot of issues to resolve, but they should solve the goalie issue first and foremost.  The Flyers do have the physicality of the Boston Bruins, but they need to coordinate their forechecking much better.  The Flyers should make their way into the playoffs again next season, as they have the talent to do so.  Coach Peter Laviolette has some work to do this off-season.

Now as another sport has disappeared into the horizon for most of the country, now the clock is ticking on Major League Baseball as each month passes by. With the labor dispute in the NFL progressing with tempered optimism, sports fans, including myself, want a resolution to come as soon as possible.  And by soon, I don’t mean late August or September.  By that time, the playoffs for baseball teams will be coming into view.  And by that time, either Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay or Cole Hamels will have their sights on the NL Cy Young Award for both of their outstanding performances this season to date.  This has been quite the empty season of sports with no NFL mini-camp chatter or rookie speculation.  Perhaps things are looking up. Perhaps not.

The Shortened 8: Top 10 Drafts for Fantasy Football Quarterbacks for 2011-12

Unlike drafting running backs, where even the best generally decline the following season, fantasy football quarterbacks are often more consistent, despite changing their wide receivers, tight ends and other aspects of the offense.  It’s a broad generalization but fairly accurate.  Two issues stand in the way though even with a potentially shortened eight-game regular season: injuries and rookies.  However, with this abbreviated upcoming season, untested NFL rookies in the foreseeable future, aside from a non-resolution of the collective bargaining agreement, are perhaps the hindrance of most quarterbacks for creating a boom or bust season.

Must-Haves

• Philadelphia Eagles Michael Vick.  Although he had a spectacular season for most of last season, Michael Vick did suffer injuries early in the season and pushed through injuries in the close of the season.  However, with a shortened season, this should benefit him tremendously.  He should be capable of putting up QB1 statistics early, but coming into the fantasy football playoffs, I would definitely recommend having a pretty good backup.
• New England Patriots Tom Brady. Goes without saying…
• Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning. Same although he’s been in decline comparatively to Tom Brady.  However, he is still an elite quarterback.
• New Orleans Saints Drew Brees.  Same.
• Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers.  He’s a solid QB1 with lots of talent behind him.
• Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger. He’s a low to solid QB1.
• Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan.  With the talent behind him, it could be a matter of time before he’s about as good as Saints quarterback Drew Brees.  With the abbreviated season, he’s worth a high-end QB2.
• Houston Texans Matt Schaub.
• Baltimore Ravens Joe Flacco.  He’s always seemingly a  solid QB2 and worth a reserve, with use against the appropriate opponents he can fleece.
• Kansas City Chiefs Matt Cassel.  He’s like Tom Brady-lite.  He needs a few more seasons under his belt as he gains experience and skills to match.

Avoid

• Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks.
• Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks.
• Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks.
• Carolina Panthers quarterbacks.

Potential X-Factors

• Philadelphia Eagles Kevin Kolb.  He does have potential, but he needs a team and a coach that will stand by him as he learns and adjusts to whatever system is thrown his way.
• Washington Redskins Donovan McNabb.  This former Pro Bowler could have signs of life.  Or not.  He’s worth a flier at least. Or not.
• Washington Redskins Rex Grossman.  Even though he had admirable statistics when he took over during the last three games of last season, I don’t think he’s quite proven himself quite yet.  He could return to the erratic Rex Grossman of old, which he demonstrated against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Josh Freeman.  Although his team improved significantly with him at the helm, he should be a QB2 going forward.
• Buffalo Bills Ryan Fitzpatrick.  He did show moments of brilliance last season, but he requires more consistency going forward.  He’s worth a flier.
• St. Louis Rams Sam Bradford.  He’s been quite a spark to the team.  Now he needs to develop good and consistent quarterbacking skills…

This is a very early list of fantasy football quarterbacks to draft when there is no upcoming season in view quite yet.  However, this list should help some plan ahead although this list is very speculative.  This list, as well as the upcoming lists of running backs, wide receivers and defenses will undergo revision (perhaps) as a resolution of the work stoppage comes into view.  With the third secret meeting to date between the NFL and the players trade association, it does bring some optimism, but it should be tempered as the cogs of the legal system still have to resolve themselves.

NFL and the NFLPA Lockout Countdown: Lockout Day+90, or the Secret Meeting II and Epic Silence

Another week gone, another week full of nothingness.  This is really sounding repetitive…and honestly, quite depressing.  The media and myself could be writing about the mini-camps, the draftees of the respective NFL teams and other things, but the NFL and the dissolved NFLPA are still at an impasse.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is still hopeful of a season, and NBC is hopeful for a Super Bowl to be held in Indianapolis.  At least, if there is indeed a Super Bowl, even with a shortened eight-game season, we won’t watch the Black Eyed Peas and their horrific techno-rave performance again.

According to an unknown source, who for sake of excitement and rhetoric we’ll call Deep Throat, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith, Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan and assorted team owners and players were in a secret meeting last Tuesday  in a New York City hotel.  Again, nothing of any significance has happened between the collective bargaining agreement between the two gorups.  Perhaps they were talking about the release of former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress from prison.  Perhaps not.  The $9 billion industry of American football has been held in a stalemate for too long.  I am frustrated, like other fans of the game.  With great optimism, fantasy football promotions are hitting the web, but it’s far too early to count the chickens before they hatch.  Both sides are still awaiting the decision of the  National Labor Relations Board since it will directly impact all court decisions and labor negotations going forward.

The Shortened 8 Game NFL Regular Season: The Victors and the Spoils

With the NFL preparing for the shortening of the  regular season, reducing the season from a 16 or 18 game schedule down to 8 games, well, at least there is a very little sliver of hope of something coming to fruition at all. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell however still intends on playing a full season.  On the other hand, the owners of the teams are less than optimistic and more than silent regarding the subject.  The Super Bowl is still scheduled at Lucas Oil Field Stadium in Indianapolis on February 5, 2012 with contingencies for a reschedule on February 12, 2012, if need be. In light of this, a shortened season will benefit some and not benefit others.

The Victors

• NFL Players.  Before you say that, they would be victims in a shortened season.  Although financially they wouldn’t receive as much money overall for fulfilling their seasonal contracts, they would risk less physical injury in a shortened season.  This would immediately benefit most quarterbacks and running backs, particularly those prone to injury, into the regular season realistically. Detroit Lions Javhid Best and Philadelphia Eagles Michael Vick would be two that would benefit from a shortened season as both are prone to injury.
• NFL Fans.  Although this would seem like a downfall for the fans, at this point, something is better than nothing in my opinion.  While a full schedule consisting of either 16 or 18 games would be great, an 8 game regular season schedule will do.  However, there is something amiss which I will discuss in the spoils.
• Television Networks. Whether it’s the NFL Network, ESPN, Fox or any of the other television networks carrying the sport, any amount of playing time in football is better than nothing.  Without football, they bear a drastic loss in revenue from the television advertisers.  Additionally, it would mess up the fall television schedule for the standard television networks, and it could potentially spell disaster in ratings.  With less ratings come less advertising sponsorship, and with the way this economy is free-falling, anything is better than nothing.
• Television Advertisers and Their Products.  Whether it’s beer, chips or aftershave, these advertisers would take a hit.  Although an eight-game season would help make up some of their losses, at this point, they should be grateful for any season whatsoever.  However, they should be able to recoup their losses in the Super Bowl.
• Concession Owners and the Like. Those who work seasonal jobs in the stadiums and those who own concessions in the stand with their overpriced foodstuffs, they will have jobs in this economic recession.  Any employment is better than none with the 9% unemployment rate.
• The Playoffs. It could potentially be a multiple-team horse race, even more than last season.  Even “bad” teams could potentially win the Super Bowl.
• Standard  and Roto-Style Fantasy Football Players. Although these fantasy football players will be playing for a shorter season, if they play their cards right in their draft, they can still have a sufficient season for bragging rights. Those who play roto-style fantasy football will have more excitement in this shortened season, but the betting will be intense as their star player could be injured at any moment and cost them the season.

The Spoils

• NFL Team Owners. This would be a lost season for profits in their billion dollar industry.  With less time, they would have deal with some frustrated NFL fans who would otherwise purchase memorabilia, jerseys and such if there was a full season.
•  NFL Fans. Although some fans will still attend, there remains a question on the price of season tickets.  Will they be reduced pro rata since it is an eight-game season?  Or will they attempt to recoup their losses by still keeping it full price or at least close to it?
• NFL Players. Some rookies and second and third year players will have their growth potentially stunted.  Also, they could remain bench material for an eight-game season despite their talent.
• Super Bowl. As this relates to the team owners and the NFL in general, the Super Bowl itself could potentially be less of a spectacle (no more Black Eyed Peas!) than last year as the influx of money would be reduced.  With less money comes less draw potentially, and the Super Bowl halftime show could crash and burn even more than last season.
• Standard and Dynasty Fantasy Football Players. With a shortened season, if someone had a bad draft in standard fantasy football, there would be insufficient time to pick the waiver wire and remain competitive.  Additionally, an early season injury or injuries could potentially ruin the season in one fell swoop. Additionally, dynasty fantasy football players would be hit as their players would have insufficient time to develop.

Although there hasn’t been any progress to date, at least, both sides are talking about the collective bargaining agreement and attempting to flesh things out.  However, blind optimism won’t work in this valley of legalities and courtrooms.  Realistically, we still have ways to go.

Madden 12: The Video Game Without a Season and Peyton Hillis Without the Curse

Peyton Hillis on Madden 12 Cover

With Cleveland Browns power running back Peyton Hillis as the cover athlete of Madden 12, this football video game published by Electronic Arts is scheduled to be released August 30th despite the work stoppage of the NFL.  Although it is some three months away, it may bring some football fans some entertainment in the meantime.  Admittedly, this has been a lackluster although somewhat entertaining video game for some time now, but without competition from other video games (like the NFL 2K series) and the exodus of the development team, it might be about time for this series to either hit rock bottom or evolve into something more original.  I know what I say goes against the grain of many Madden fans out there.

Cleveland Browns Peyton Hillis won as the cover athlete of Madden 12 in a national poll over the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. Peyton Hillis had a breakout season in 2010 after leaving the Denver Broncos.  During the regular season, he had 1,177 rushing yards (ranked 11th overall in the league), 4.4 yards per rush (ranked 18th overall in the league) and 11 touchdowns (tied for 6th overall in the league).  As a receiver, he also had 477 yards, 7.8 yards per reception and 2 touchdowns to his name.  Hillis additionally set a some records in the NFL and for the Cleveland Browns organization. He won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week in week 12 against the New England Patriots with 163 rushing yards, a stellar 6.3 yards per rush, and 2 rushing touchdowns, and he was the first Browns running back since Eric Metcalf in 1992.  In week 12 against the Carolina Panthers, he as well as Marshall Faulk as the only players to have 130 yards rushing, 3 touchdowns and 60 yards receiving in a single game. He accomplished all this despite the nagging injuries he had from week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons and later on in the season.  He also had to deal with the turmoil of the former head coach Eric Mangini and the trials and tribulations of the Browns young quarterback Colt McCoy.

The Madden Curse afflicts running backs and quarterbacks most harshly, and despite pushing through his injuries from the previous season, Cleveland Browns prized running back Peyton Hillis may not be one to overcome it.  In 2001, Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George did make it to the playoffs, but he and his team ultimately lost.  With it, his statistics plummeted as he never averaged above 3.3 yards per carry for the rest of his career.  In 2003, Marshall Faulk was the cover athlete, and his running back statistics plummeted as he had to contend with knee injuries during from the 2002-2003 season.  This powerful St. Louis Rams running back lost his head of steam as he never registered another 1,000 yard season afterward.  With Peyton Hillis joining Marshall Faulk’s company statistically in the 2010 regular season, the Madden Curse may lead him to the same fate. Most recently, in 2007, Seattle Seahawks Shaun Alexander, coming off as the previous season’s MVP Player, sustained a foot injury, and like the other running backs that fell before him, his statistics plummeted the following seasons.

This Madden Curse has not been kind to running backs in the past.  With the lockout still in effect, Cleveland Browns Peyton Hillis would be best to wish it that way, or otherwise, he may sustain a career-afflicting injury despite his durability and the NFL fans.

NFL and the NFLPA Lockout Countdown: Lockout Day+83, or The Secret Meeting, the Symposium…and Even More Workouts!

With the NFL lockout still going on, the NFL and the now-dissolved NFLPA decided to hold a secret meeting last Wednesday.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, now-defunct NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith and several team owners met in Chicago in attempt to push talks forward.  Now that both sides have heard the NFL fanbase deriding the lockout, I suppose that both sides view now is as good time as any to pursue their “mediation” of sorts somewhat aggressively.  The owners in attendance in this secret meeting were Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones, New England Patriots Robert Kraft, Carolina Panthers Jerry Richardson, New York Giants John Mara and Pittsburgh Steelers Art Rooney.  Despite these talks, not much progress was made again as an unnamed source said that talks were still has ways to go.  With the National Labor Relations Board decision coming soon (hopefully), these other cases will be resolved soon, including the Tom Brady, et. al vs. NFL anti-trust case in Minneapolis next Tuesday.

Until then, even more NFL players hold even more private workouts! The Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots and the Minnesota Vikings held their own private workouts.  With that in tow, at least the rookies attending these camps will have been invited by the NFLPA for a symposium in which they will be discussing finances, proper behavior on and off the field and other pertinent matters.  This symposium will be held at the end of June, and 254 drafted rookies have been invited.  Whether it remains a substantial portion of these rookies will attend or not, that remains to be seen as their potential careers are held in limbo without any season in sight presently.

After much of this week’s smoke and mirrors and the dismal past months of this historical work stoppage, I want to relay a simple note to Commissioner Roger Goodell, the team owners and the players: The stalemate has already gotten stale. Enough already.