It's that time of year again. As college students find themselves suddenly overwhelmed with reading and problem sets, they can now find some comfort and escape in the start of the professional football season. With the NFL season upon us, here are a few pre-season predictions.
First, the San Francisco 49ers are setting themselves up for a losing season. Talk about stating the obvious, but a post-script needs to be added concerning No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith.
The 49ers were so unimpressed with the play of Alex Smith that they benched him in favor of the washed-up, heavily bruised Tim Rattay. Mike Nolan was very excited about Smith, but after getting a glimpse of the goods in pre-season, made the decision to bench him. While Smith was a solid player at Utah, his arm strength isn't anything to write home about and his mechanics may need some polishing for the big leagues.
With Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells reunited, it looks like the Dallas Cowboys could be the most improved team in the NFC. The Tuna has simplified things for Bledsoe with an offense favoring mid-range passes.
The Cowboys also think - and with good reason - that Julius Jones has the chance to be a premiere running back. Jones is in better shape this year and could easily outdo last season's 800 yard performance. He was a steal in the second round last year and could compete with Curtis Martin as Bill Parcells' all-time favorite player.
The Cowboys also added Peerless Price, possibly the most talented player to get cut during the preseason. If Bledsoe can't deliver with the speed of Jones, the pass-catching of Keyshawn Johnson and the overall talent of Price, it might be time for him to hang up the jersey.
Parcells also acquired Damarcus Ware, Kevin Burnett, Aaron Glenn, and Jason Ferguson to a defense that was shaky at best last season. The Cowboys should collect plenty of sacks, and might even be a dark horse to beat out the Philadelphia Eagles for first in the NFC East. Don't overlook a Belechick-Parcells rematch in Detroit this February; it just might happen.
Additionally, Kevin Burnett, the Cowboy's second-round pick at linebacker, received a more favorable rating than Ware, their stud first-round pick, when former Giant Carl Banks visited Cowboy's camp.
Another team to watch is the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have finally embraced the post-Randy Moss era, and they are a better team for it. The addition of Darren Sharper from the Green Bay Packers adds a punch to a previously weak defense. On that note, Green Bay had better hope that Ahman Green rushes for at least 2,000 yards and Favre throws for 3,000, or the Packers are going to join the Bears in the cellar of the NFC Central. Free agents Napoleon Harris and Sam Cowart - the Vikings' defense - now field ten first or second-round picks. Guided by the undisputable leadership of Daunte Culpepper, the Vikings should improve from their 9-7 mark of a year ago.
With the matchup between the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots tonight, it is only fitting we look at the team facing the reigning NFL dynasty. Oakland has managed to get the best of the NFL's blacklist on its roster, including Moss, defensive lineman Warren Sapp, and QB Kerry Collins. All in all, the Raiders have a lot of wash-ups and has-beens, and so expect their record to reflect this.
On the other side of this contest, the Pats are still the best in the game. Watch for a breakout season from Patriot second-year tight end Ben Watson, and keep an eye on guard Nick Kaczur, as the third-rounder from Toledo could easily be an NFL starter. Middle linebacker Monty Beisel might not be the next Tedy Bruschi, but the guy has great instincts, intelligence, and speed. Belechick has found another steal and, more importantly, a middle linebacker to fit his system.
