NFL Preview / Review

The NFL begins playing for keeps on Thursday when the New Orleans Saints and reigning Super Bowl champs, the Green Bay Packers open up the regular season. What’s ahead? And what did the preseason tell us, if anything. For starters the NFL futures board changed ever so slightly. The Steelers are now co-favorites with the Patriots at 4/1 to win the AFC title with the Jets, Chargers and Colts right behind.

In the NFC, the Packers are 4/1 followed by the Saints (5/1), Falcons (5-1) and Cowboys (6-1). There’s still no clear cut favorite in the NFC West but Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers have the best odds at 20/1. Next comes the Rams (25/1), followed by Seattle (30/1) and Arizona (50/1). It sounds like the sportsbooks and public alike aren’t thrilled with the upcoming Kevin Kolb era in Phoenix. The Packers and Patriots at 7/1 remain the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

Love for the Lions

Tampa Bay opened as a -4-point pick over Detroit for its home opener at Raymond James Stadium but that number has dropped to -1 at several locations and some NFL odds makers believe that the Lions could actually be favored by the time kickoff rolls around. I’ve been saying it to anyone who will listen. The Lions season goes down the drain when Matthew Stafford gets hurt. They don’t have a proven running game unless you count Jahvid Best who is another serious concussion from having his NFL career cut short. After those two players, there’s not much left on the table.

The defense is another story. Ndamukong Suh who is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the league’s dirtiest players has brought a nastiness to the Lions but unless he can carry the football, throw it and catch it, Detroit is still a long shot to win the NFL title (30/1).

What we learned from the preseason

There were too many injuries again which means the NFL is still overdoing it with the exhibition games. If a player is going to lose his livelihood for a week, a month, the entire season or his career then at least let it happen in a meaningful game. Play an 18-game schedule. The owners wanted it, the players didn’t but maybe after another August filled with needless injuries the union will reconsider. I’m sure the NY Giants wouldn’t mind taking another vote.

Memo to the Packers, Patriots and any other NFL teams that used their starting quarterbacks in Week 4. You were lucky. There is no excuse for risking an entire season by playing your breadwinner in a game where a free-agent scrub from Wattsamatta U puts your guy out for the season. I would expect it from the Rams and maybe even the Patriots but I was stunned to see the Packers start Aaron Rodgers. It wasn’t even safe for the No. 2 QB’s. Just ask Vince Young. The last cut is the deepest Players were getting cut left and right, as teams got down to the 53-man rosters. However because one team didn’t need them, doesn’t mean they’ll be out of work long. Another team with needs specific to that player will grab them off the waiver wire. What’s that old saying, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure? Two teams went undefeated with the Rams and Lions finishing at 4-0. Three teams were winless; the Falcons, Chiefs and Raiders. Two of those teams won their divisions last year and the other team is still in a black hole. Atlanta should be okay but the Chiefs won’t catch anyone by surprise this year.

Mel Kuiper, draft expert

Which rookie QB had the best preseason and is ready to lead his respective team on opening day? How about first-rounder’s Cam Newton, Jake Locker and Christian Ponder? If you answered none of the above you were right. The two best first-year QB’s in the preseason were Andy Dalton of SMU who will start for the Bengals and Ryan Mallett of Arkansas who is Tom Brady’s heir apparent but could start right now for any number of teams. Starting in place of Newton will be Jimmy Clausen and that should tell you all you need to know about that NFL draft pick.


www.sbrforum.com