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| A Word from The Writer: The Monday Analysis - 1 August 2005 Training is open across the league. But first, Gillette Stadium has a few less bodies. Johnson Retires One day before the start of Patriots Training Camp, longtime Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson decided to retire after 10 seasons with the team. The announcement comes as a surprise, as Johnson never gave any public indication he was leaning towards not playing in 2005, however, Johnson gives a series of concussions in the past as the reason for the sudden retirement. The Patriots veteran is opting out of professional football because of those injuries. In a statement from the Patriots, Johnson says, "It is with deep regret that I have decided to retire from football. The decision was not an easy one, but life sometimes has a timetable all its own. I can no longer ignore the severe short- and long-term complications of the concussive head injuries I have sustained over the years." Johnson played for Colorado in college, and was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1995 Draft, 57th overall, playing in four Super Bowls, winning three rings. Ted Johnson was a monster at linebacker, a blue-collar working, throwback type of player in the tradition of other Patriots greats like Steve Nelson, John Hannah, and Steve Grogan. Johnson started 116 of 160 professional games, with XXX tackles and 11 1/2 sacks. "My body just didn't feel right (all offseason)," Johnson told members of the media during a conference call. "I just took it all as a sign Number 52 is also a huge fan favorite right from the beginning of his NFL career. Older style versions of his jersey are still seen around the Stadium on game day. "I am proud of all that Ted Johnson has done for the Patriots, both on the field and in the community," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. "I know that he positively impacted the lives of thousands of Patriots fans and I fully expect that he will continue to be a positive role model in our community." The Monday Analysis congratulates Ted Johnson on a great NFL career, and the very best of luck in the future. Patriots Begin Season on PUP Tedy Bruschi is not the only Patriot to begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List. Among the others making the list are WRs Bethel Johnson and Tim Dwight, both for foot injuries, KR Chad Scott, and Guard Bryan Anderson, both with an undisclosed injuries. Players on PUP can rejoin the team at any point during training camp. After the start of the season, the team has until Week 6 to bring PUP players back for practice, and they must be added to the roster by Week 9. Vrabel Gets Extension Outside Linebacker Mike Vrabel received a long term extension that should make him a Patriot until the end of his career. Vrabel was signed in 2001 after four years as primarily a backup in Pittsburgh. Vrabel came into his own in New ENgland, becoming a vocal leader, and flexible, being able to not only play on defense and special teams, but as a tight end on offense. Vrabel caught touchdown passes in both Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX. Vrabel had three years remaining on his contract, however the 2006 and 2007 years were "dummy" years, and he was eligible for free agency after the 2005 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Seymour Absent from Training Camp Continuing his hold out from the June Mini-camps, linebacker Richard Seymour has yet to report to the Patriots Training facility at Gillette Stadium. Seymour is said to be looking for a contract extension, however, with two years left on his contract, the Patriots are reluctant to extend any contracts with more than a year left. Seymour's original rookie contract leaves him underpaid in contrast to others at his position and skill level in the league. Seymour is being fined $6,000 a day for every absence. Harrison Extended Sources inside the league told the Boston Globe this week that safety Rodney Harrison was given a contract extension, and his agent says the most fined man in football will report to Patriots Training Camp happy and on time. Rumors began to circulate in the spring that Harrison was unhappy with the low-paying contract he signed with the Patriots in March 2003. As a show of solidarity and a joint statement, Harrison arrived at Patriots owner Robert Kraft's home in June for the Super Bowl Ring ceremony and gathering with mini-camp hold out Richard Seymour. There was never an indication that Harrison would be absent from any mandatory camps or meetings. Harrison spent part of the offseason in referee school, and officiated games in NFL Europe. League Notes The Redskins traded WR Rod Gardner to Carolina for undisclosed terms...Denver signed third round pick RB Maurice Clarett to an incentive laden contract worth up to $7 million over four years...Green Bay Packers mini-camp hold out Javon Walker reported to Packers Training Camp...The Saints ended hold out problems with Deuce McAllister by extending the running back's contract. The terms were not disclosed...The Bucs signed first-round pick running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to a multi-year deal with undisclosed terms... Training Camp Division Talk: The NFC North
NFC North
2004 Division Champion: Green Bay The problem with the NFC North is that two teams teeter on the fine line that separates the playoffs and the early vacation, and the other two just stink. That said, I doubt much will change this season. But you know what is the common denominator in the NFC North? Lousy Defenses. We start in Green Bay. Brett Favre is back for another season, which is both good and bad. Good because Favre is still a top shelf quarterback who can lead his team and fill the stands. Good also because it gives the Packers a good year to groom Favre's heir in Aaron Rodgers. It's Bad because it is another season of Brett Favre making Brett Favre errors, the ones that toss six interceptions in the playoffs or lose in January at Lambeau, once known as the Fortress of Solitude of Football, and Favre plays the Clark Kent role. But when the pros and cons are weighed, and they often are, Favre's the guy you want. I'm just not sure we want Mike Sherman continuing in the head coaching role. Sherman lost his GM duties this offseason (that must have been pretty awkward in the front office), and focus all his attention on the field. But that might not matter if a Sherman led Packers can't do anything this year. Green Bay's first round pick in the draft told us two things: the front office was planning for the future and that they didn't expect it to include Brett Favre or Mike Sherman. New GM Ted Thompson could have chosen anyone, and while they may have liked Aaron Rogers, no one expected him to last through the 25th overall pick. Furthermore, the Rogers pick is not a weapon for now, it is for later. And that is what the Packers did, planned for later. Now, Brett Favre may continue to play through the next eight seasons, however, I have serious doubts about Mike Sherman coaching the Packers even next season. If Sherman goes, there is a good chance Favre will hang them up rather than try and fit in with a new coaching staff and system. It makes his decision easier that way. I doubt Green Bay is anxious to rid themselves of Favre. I mean, who would? God, he is a fan draw and national media draw. Why else would SI even think about going to Lambeau in December, save to rock Peter King's jollies (I doubt the editor of Sports Illustrated cares about King's bizarre obsession with Favre). But they are realistic. Favre is year to year and not getting younger. So far, this year to year stuff has not been a problem, and with the drafting of Rodgers, it won't have to be. The job is Favre's to give up, bottom line. Also bottom line is that this is most likely Mike Sherman's final season in green and yellow. But Brett Favre hasn't been to a Super Bowl since the Packers went two years back-to-back in the mid-1990s, winning the first, losing the second. Since, Favre has developed a habit of throwing lots of interceptions in playoff games. He and the Packers have lost playoff games at home. Lambeau no longer scares anyone, even in the winter. In the past few seasons, colder days took place in the North East, so why fear the reaper in Green Bay? Personally, the past two season were rough for Brett Favre, but he claims to be energized. Whether the energy carries over to the rest of the team and coaching staff is very much in the air. But there a much bigger problem in Green Bay. It's the Defense. There isn't one. There hasn't been on in a long time. Favre can go out and win the game for you, but expect him to also go out and lose it after the Defense gives up a pile of points. The secondary lacked production, intercepting only 8 passes and ranking 31st in the league. The defense was terrible against the pass, 25th, and mediocre against the run, 14th. They allowed lots of points, and even though they scored a lot, their total defense ranking was 25th in the league compared to third in offense. Defense wins championships. Offensives lose playoff games in Lambeau. Sherman brought in Jim Bates from Miami to do something productive with the Defense. There isn't a lot to work with, but the Packer took four defensive backs as part of their six defensive picks. Bates will have plenty of chances at upgrading the dismal pass defense. Minnesota enters 2005 with less baggage and less talent in the form of the Randy Moss trade to the Black Hole of Oakland. They were able to get to the second round of the playoffs in 2004, but the push is on for head coach Mike Tice, who will need to impress his new boss as well as Vikings fans globally. Minnesota had a problem child named Moss, and they dealt him to the Raiders. Now one of the better receivers does not play for the Vikings, which is going to hurt Dante Culpepper in being able to go down the field with the ball, and leaves his without a receiver that scares defenses. Culpepper challenged the Marino touchdown mark early in the season, partially because of Moss. No chance for that now, and the Vikings are going to have to find new ways to score points. But the problems in Minnesota run deeper that the absence of Randy Moss. Mike Tice is sloppy, that was never clearer than after the league discovered that Tice scalped Super Bowl tickets, and fined him $100,000. Tice considers his actions wrong, justly punished by the league, and the matter is "now closed." But the sloppiness isn't going away. Plus, the Vikings are for sale, and while the transaction is in limbo, so is the front office. Guess who cares about the Vikings right now? No one. They drafted wide receiver Troy Williamson in the first round and RB Ciatrick Fason in the fourth. The rest of the picks were spent loading up the defense, which ranked near the bottom in 2004, 28th for total Defense, 21st against the run, 29th against the pass, weren't good at causing turnovers. Lovie Smith knew that taking over in Chicago would be an uphill battle, and the battle continues. Da' Bears lost QB Rex Grossman last season to an ACL injury three games into the season, and is expected to be back this season. He sustained a finger injury in his rookie season. However, Grossman is still a young quarterback with very little NFL experience: six games total started and played in both in his career. He's getting a boost in the receivers with the signing of Mushin Muhammed, and after catching 15 TDs from Jake Delhomme in Carolina in 2004, the Chicago offense suddenly looks richer, provided Grossman can effectively get the ball to receivers. Grossman also has a new offensive coordinator, Ron Turner from the University of Illinois. Turner previously held the same position with the Bears in the early 1990s. Now he is charged with getting Rex Grossman and the rest of the offense to be more respectable than bottom of the barrel in scoring and passing. They were also 32nd in the league in Red Zone percentage. The addition of Muhammed has to help this dying cause, and maybe a new quarterback pick in the 2006 draft. But Chicago did not go after a veteran quarterback this offseason as insurance once again, insisting they are standing by their investment in Grossman. The first three draft picks this year are a running back, a wide receiver, a quarterback, and another wide receiver, giving tons of help to Grossman. Defensively the Bears suffered a hammering loss with Brian Urlacher absent from seven games with nagging injuries. The Al-Pro is expected back, and Lovie Smith has to believe that the defense will be more explosive. The final two picks of the draft were safeties, adding to Chicago's already threatening secondary. Detroit is all over the place. Their defense stinks, but so does their offense. That said, the Lions need more production in scoring, something Joey Harrington is lacking. 24th in scoring and 23rd in passing, added to 19th in the run gets you the 24th overall in offense. What's just as bad is that their defense ranks 22nd. Steve Mariucci upgraded the offense, picking WR Mike Williams first in the draft, and getting Marcus Pollard formerly from Indy, and RB Jamal White from Baltimore. Plus he got Harrington a couple of Guards: Rick DeMulling from Indy and Kyle Kosler from San Francisco. He also got QB Jeff Garcia to pick up the pieces if Harrington falters, so the pressure is certainly on Harrington's shoulders. Damien Woody rounds off the offensive line that should give either quarterback plenty of protection and time to get the ball moving. In 2004 their Red Zone percentage was ranked 30th. Charlie Rogers should be returning from shoulder injuries, but the pressure is on him to be productive, which is which he was drafted so high in the first place. Defensively, the Lions ranked 22nd overall. They allowed points, failed to stop the pass, not much better against the run, and didn't go after interceptions. They spent four of their six draft picks on defensive weapons, mainly on the line. They also picked up Kenoy Kennedy from Denver to aid the secondary. Defensive Coordinator Dick Jauron has the task of taking these weapon and getting them productive. Next Week: AFC North NFL Preseason Schedule Hall of Fame Weekend gives us two games: Saturday, August 6, 2005 - 5 PM EST - Indianapolis vs Atlanta from
the American Bowl in Tokyo, Japan Check NFL.com for more preseason listings. 55 games are scheduled to be aired on NFL Network Top Ten List of the Week 1. Richard Seymour, get your butt to camp! 2. In Breaking Baseball News, Baltimore Orioles veteran and anti-steroid message man to Congress Rafael Palmeiro has - gasp - been suspended for violating baseball's steroid policy. Nope, none of us believed you, Rafy. 3. The money may stay on Green Bay and Minnesota to fight it out for the top in the NFC North, but Detroit and Chicago has weapons to be productive, but there are glaring holes in the quarterbacks. Both Grossman and Harrington has the odds against them. Detroit, however, was smart enough to sign a veteran backup when things stop working. 4. What is wrong with Manny Ramirez? Was he dropped as a child? 5. In the NFC North, it'll be the team with the better defense who moves forward, and right now the possibilities are up in the air on which team can and will do it. Lots of bad performances in 2004, and lots of upgrades in 2005, but injuries tend to claim too many bodies. 6. Still unsigned: Ty Law. 7. I like the Patriots' attitude in Camp: Moving forward. No one is groaning about the losses in players or coaches. 8. Best of luck, Ted Johnson! 9. Peter King's column this week has an interesting factoid that not only interests him, but astonishes me. He writes that he ran into Deion Sander's tailor in the lobby of the Ravens' team hotel for training camp. This tailor says that Sanders.. er...'scuse me $anders has 1,900 suits and his closet is 2,500 sq. ft. Just how big is that closet? Bigger than Heise Manor currently is. So, if you have been to the Manor, and you consider the attic, both living floors, and the basement, maybe toss in the shed for good measure, that's the size of $anders' freakin' closet. And just for the record, I have very little 1,900 of anything! 10. Back to Camp! Football is back! ejh1 August 2005 |
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