NFL Intermission

Being Halfway through the NFL season we felt the need to point out some things.

Shaun Alexander has been running like a little b**** since he signed that big contract in 2005 and it's the worst it's ever been this year. This guy used to hit holes and fall forward, now he looks like a skinny suburban white kid playing against an All-Black team from the hood. I understood why the Rams WRs used to hit the turf when there wasn't anymore yards to get, I mean they got more yards on the next play anyways... but you can't dive on the ground if your a runningback. Shaun Alexander has played in all 8 games and he is on pace for less than 1000 yards (984) this year. In previous year when he has played the whole season, his low was 1175. Also, his shortest long run (stay with me) was 44 yards, this year... it's currently 22 yards. Lastly, in those years he never averaged under 4 yards per carry, this year he's at 3.3.

2 Rookie LBs have stood out to me so far this year. Patrick Willis (49ers) is a beast... no wonder why an agent offered him $75,000 to sign with him when he was a junior in college. Also, undrafted rookie David Harris (Jets) just gets better the more and more he plays. Harris has 41 tackles in his last 2 games.

When the season started, who would have thought Wes Welker (651 yards, 61 cathces and 7 TDs), Kevin Curtis (653 yards, 40 cathces and 4 TDs) and Jason Whitten (629 yards, 47 cathces and 5 TDs) would each be having better seasons then former 1000-yard receivers Steve Smith, Roy Willams, Donald Driver, Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Lee Evans and Hines Ward? OK.... maybe not Hines Ward.
I would argue though that the success of Wes, Kev and J doesn't say as much about the talent they each possess as it does about the talent of their respective quarterbacks: Brady, Romo and D-Mac.
Not too long ago, I read about a bunch of former and current NFL head coaches, including Brian Billick, John Fox, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Bill Cowher, who all subscribe to the theory that it is better to surround a mediocre quarterback with great talent than it is to surround a great quarterback with mediocre talent. Judging by the fact that Trent Dilfer is the only contemporary QB who proves the theory of these coaches -- many of whom will end up in the hall-of-fame -- I can unequivocally say that they are all WRONG. For anyone who wants to dispute this just look at the combined records of New England, Green Bay, Dallas and Indy, which all posses hall-of-fame quarterbacks. (That's right, I said it, Romo will make the hall). Then look at the records of the Panthers, Cardinals, Rams and Lions, which all possess hall-of-fame receivers.
Anyway, my long-winded point is let's not be so quick to call this the year of the white pass catcher. Because it's not. But it is -- and will remain -- the year of the quarterback.

Anything/Anyone affiliated with USC since 2005 has had a terrible year (except LenDale White in his last 3 games). Dwayne Jarrett has 6 receiving yards on the year and has been placed on the inactive list due to performance. Steve Smith has not been taking advantage of Eli Mannings development and has only brought in 4 catches for 26 yards. Reggie Bush has 434 rushing yards halfway through the season. He has been in the league for a year and a half and doesn't have 1,000 career rushing yards. Matt Leinart is now injured but that might be helping the Cards. In his 5 games he averaged 129 yards passing a game with a QB rating of 61.9 largely because he had twice as many interceptions and touchdowns. Also, his commercials do not make me laugh. Frostee Rucker has one career tackle halfway through his second season. Mike Williams got cut from the Raidiers. Nothing more to be said. Winston Justice gave up 6 sacks to Osi Umenyiora in a game this year. Dominique Byrd has 6 career catches in his 1.5 year career. Thank God the pre-2005 USC players Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Mike Peterson and Lofa Tatufo are handing their business or USC would be considered the Duke basketball (please know what I'm referring to) of college football.

Freaks are back in. I appreciate watching people who are successful in the league because they have great technique but it really fun to watch athletes with fresk-ish abilities. Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Plaxico Burress have produced some of the best highlights of the year. Hopefully there will be more to come. I mean, would you rather watch Marvin Harrison run a perfect route and sit in a zone for a 16 yard catch or watch one of those "freaks" do something that makes you say "it looks like he's playing against high schoolers"? Exactly. I should actually throw Brett Farve into this category too. People his age aren't supposed to do what he does either. It'll be fun to see him in the playoffs again.

New England* is the best team I've seen in my lifetime, but I'm still not convinced that they're unbeatable. The Harrison-less Colts surrendered a late lead and lost by just four points to them. Had Harrison played, I think the end result would have been different. Although I won't bet against them winning the Super Bowl, I see four teams capable of beating the Pats: the Steelers, the Colts, the Cowboys and the Packers. Still, even if the Pats remain undefeated, we should all follow the lead of the New York Post and always mention the Pats* with an asterisk attached.

The Bears and The Bengals should play one day before the Super Bowl for the title of biggest disappointment of the year. Earlier it looked like this hypothetical game would feature New Orleans and San Diego but they show some signs of life. Bears/Bengals it is.

Since the Pats are going to win the Super Bowl, I'm going to check out Mel Kiper's ratings.