Chicago Bears' Devin Hester, Seattle Seahawks' Leon Washington

While teams and players of the National Football League prepare for their day in court, behind the scene it is widely rumored that the owners are trying to throw smoke screens to draw attention away from their greediness by trying to play the worried parent.

They are preaching player safety. And while they may have assured less of a health risk for the players involved in the kick return game Tuesday, the truth is that it has not only rubbed some kick returners the wrong way, it has without a doubt created change in the way teams will build their teams.

It has been long understood that a successful NFL team was built not only on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, but with a good group of special teams players. With the rules that were passed today, the kick return game seems to have taken a step back into obscureness and it doesn’t have the players that play the return position pleased.

Before we get into the players comments, let’s look into the rule changes. In previous years the kicker had to kickoff from the 30 yard line, the next season that is played it will now be the 35.

Not such a big deal you may think, but this will help the weaker legged kickers to be able to get the ball deep into the end zone making it less likely that a return will be attempted. While other rules such as the coverage team only being allowed to get a five yard head start during kick returns rather than fifteen yards will help some, the fact remains that elite kick returners will be affected where as the average one won’t be noticed as much.

Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns Tweeted his unfondness of the new rules by chirping,

“NFL rule changes are BS… U not making the game safer u messing a great sport, trynna hide behind safety just to add 2 games…smh,” he wrote.

“… This means it will be touchbacks all over the place…,” he continued. “Essentially taking returners out of the game…injuries will still take place, then what move it up again, or eliminate it all together..”

Later on Cribbs went on to say that he didn’t think that this would help with the injury aspect of the return game. Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears also has his own thoughts which he spewed all over the airwaves of Chicago.

“They’re going too far. They’re changing the whole fun of the game,” Hester said Tuesday on “The Waddle & Silvy Show”. “Fans come out — especially in Chicago — to see returns. That’s one of the key assets to the team. Fans [like] our big returns. You take that out of the game, not only do they kick it out of bounds when it’s time to punt the ball, now you get the disadvantage on kickoffs. We felt we were guaranteed [a chance] on kickoff returns and now you’re taking that away, it’s like you’re taking the whole return game out of the picture.”

Player safety, smoke screens or something in between? Personally I think this is a step back in the excitement of the game. The Chefs would like to know your opinion though. Call up on a future show and give us your take.

Quarterbacks

Heading into his second year of being a Chicago Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler could have big things on the horizon. The Bears brought in pass happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz to groom the young veteran leader. How good he reacts to the tutelage though is anyone’s guess, but expectations are high. Last year, his fourth in the league, Cutler tossed up 3,666 passing yards and 27 touchdowns, but on the negative side were the 26 interceptions. That is a scary number as Martz forces a lot of passes upon the quarterback. None-the-less, he played as a QB1 last year and he will remain a mid-low QB1 this year. The talent around him though will not allow him into stud status.

Backups: Caleb Hanie, Dan LeFevour

Running Backs

The Bears running back situation is pretty solid having third year running back Matt Forte and free agent/long-time Minnesota Vikings Chester Taylor sharing the rock this season. In 2009 Forte took a step back from his rookie year as he posted 1,400 all-purpose yards and only 4 touchdowns. Expect him to bump up his game some allowing him to raise from his low-end RB2 status of last year to a low-end RB1, high-end RB2 in deeper leagues.

Who Will Do Better In Fantasy Football This Year, Cutler Or Forte? Call The Chefs And Let Us Know.

Taking the carries that Forte won’t get in 2010/11 is Taylor who changed teams in the NFC North this past off season. While he won’t get the touches to make him a respectable fantasy football running back, he will still get enough to make him a low-end RB3, high-end RB4 with the possibility to jump up the charts if Forte falls to injury. Taylor has the talent to take the rock for a solid period of time and star. Whether or not that opportunity will show itself this year though is unpredictable.

Backups: Kahlil Bell, Garrett Wolfe

Wide Receivers

While there is a lack of established talent on the field at the wide receiver position, the Bears do have some possible sleepers in Devin Aromashodu, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett. None are WR1′s nor are they WR2′s by any means. But at least one player from this group will work themselves into being a solid WR3 in fantasy football this year. Will it be Aromashodu who rocked out the last four games of last year? Hester who is explosive with the ball but has a hard time hanging onto the rock? Those two are the more likely candidates. As for Knox and Bennett, they are just a step below from those two but things have to play themselves out before we get a better grasp on what is going on. Martz falls in love with certain receivers so keep your eye on this closely. None should be drafted as anything more than a low-end WR3, high-end WR4 and the latter two shouldn’t be relied on for more than WR5 numbers.

Backups: Rashied Davis, Juaquin Iglesias

Tight Ends

Tight end Greg Olsen enjoyed his best year to date in the league in 2009 as he ranked in the top-12 amongst his competition at his position in fantasy football points by going for more than 600 receiving yards and grabbing 8 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Martz is in Chicago and more times than not his tight end is used primarily for blocking purposes. Look for a slip in stats and ultimately a slip in his fantasy football rankings. A high-end TE2 is the best case scenario this year.

Backups: Desmond Clark

Chris Ziza is a fantasy football fanatic who can be found at Working Man Sports. He hosts a daily Fantasy Football Breakdown Show that you can participate in now until the end of the 2010/11 Super Bowl, helping guide your way to fantasy football domination.

Can Moore Do Better Than Delhomme? Share Your Thoughts With The Kitchen.

Quarterbacks

After a brutal start to 2009, the Carolina Panthers sat Jake Delhomme and started Matt Moore towards the end of the season. Moore did well enough to where the Panthers felt comfortable releasing Delhomme this past off season. In five starts, seven games total, Moore passed for just 1,053 yards but he did toss 8 touchdowns to 2 interceptions. It is tough to see what the Panthers will get from Moore but with his top receiver Steve Smith ailing with another broken arm as well as having two stellar running backs to toss the ball off to, Moore will produce numbers that are no more worthy than a QB3 in 2010/11. The only chance at respectability is if the three rookie wide receivers for the most part do well. That is a lot to ask.

Backups: Jimmy Claussen

Running Backs

You will be hard pressed to find a running back duo on any NFL team that can rival the Panthers DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart heading into this fantasy football season. Williams, who was banged up for a solid part of the year still played in 13 games, putting up close to 1,400 all-purpose yards while carrying the rock into the end zone 7 times. If he regains his health, Williams will bounce back to the tune of an improved season and will qualify as a RB1 in deeper leagues.

Stewart is also a unique back in the fact that he is a power runner that has a knack for finding pay dirt as well as racking up the yardage. Posting a 5.1 yardage average as well as chiming in with 11 touchdowns has put this bruising back on the fantasy football map. Unless Williams is banged up again, Stewart will be 1B in Carolina and while he will produce another very good year he will be looked at as more of a high-end RB2 in deeper leagues.

Backups: Mike Goodson, Tyrell Sutton

Wide Receivers

Smith is the only veteran on this team at the wide receiver position who is capable of big things. Unfortunately a broken arm injury has him scheduled to miss the beginning of training camp. That isn’t the best of news when you have three rookie wide receivers on the team that are dependent on some leadership. Smith, once healthy, will still be a reliable top-end WR2 but with all the crap that has gone on with him lately you have to downgrade him on draft day to a low-end WR2 in deeper leagues. There are no other receivers on the roster expected to make an impact this year in fantasy football.

Backups: Dwayne Jarrett, Brandon LaFell, Armanti Edwards

Tight Ends

Jeff King, Dante Rosario. Those are the two names to know as far as Carolina tight ends go. Why is that? Because you need to know who NOT to draft this year in fantasy football. It is as simple as that. Neither will produce anywhere near high-mid TE2 numbers. Therefore unless you play in a 20 team league, they shouldn’t even be considered.

Backups: Gary Barnidge

Chris Ziza is a fantasy football fanatic who can be found at Working Man Sports. He hosts a daily Fantasy Football Breakdown Show that you can participate in now until the end of the 2010/11 Super Bowl, helping guide your way to fantasy football domination.

Quarterbacks

Sadly, at the time of this posting there is no clear cut favorite for the Buffalo Bills to start at the quarterback position and most likely won’t be until training camp plays itself out. In the mix are Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm. No matter who wins that job, the odds are they won’t finish the season with it. There is just a plain, obvious lack of talent not only at quarterback but also their wide out options as well, minus Lee Evans. Unless your league is 12 deep and you are forced to carry 3 quarterbacks, no one on the Bills should be on your fantasy football roster.

Backups: Could be any of the three

Buffalo Fans Are Holding Tight Onto Spiller. How Will He Do? Call The Kitchen And Discuss This!

Running Backs

If you are hating me Buffalo fan after reading what I had to say about the quarterback situation of yours regarding fantasy football 2010/11, you aren’t going to like me much more here. Now don’t get me wrong, the Bills have a ton of talent at the running back position. Buffalo just drafted C.J. Spiller, an exciting running back who will have to share the touches with Fred Jackson, another solid running back who excelled in 2009 as he went for 1,400 yards and 4 touchdowns. Stud collegiate, nice NFL running back, both should see a solid percentage of touches and both will have a tough time placing in the top-24 at the position. Look for both to be low-end RB2′s to mid-tier RB3′s with Spiller having the better shot at having the higher value. Don’t depend on either as your RB2. Think Chris Wells and Tim Hightower of a year ago.

Backups: Marshawn Lynch

Wide Receivers

Evans is a solid wide receiver who is misplaced in the NFL as he is once again having to play as a WR1 and take on the opposing defenses top defender. While he should get solid yardage, his touchdowns can go anywhere from a few to 9. You never really know what you are getting and with the way the quarterback position is playing itself out, you shouldn’t rely on Evans as anything more than a low-end WR3 in deeper, 12-team leagues. If you put all of your eggs in this basket, odds are they will get scrambled.

Backups: James Hardy, Steve Johnson

Tight Ends

Shawn Nelson, who is an athletic, big (6-5, 240) tight end showed at times last season that he belonged. What adds to his mystique is that the wide receiver options are thin in Buffalo and someone has to catch the ball. Nelson could take a nice step forward for 2010/11 but he is not someone that you want to draft as the tight end position is deep in fantasy football. Leave him on the waiver wires and pray that you don’t have to rely on him as your starter during the bye-weeks.

Backups: Derek Schouman

Chris Ziza is a fantasy football fanatic who can be found at Working Man Sports. He hosts a daily Fantasy Football Breakdown Show that you can participate in now until the end of the 2010/11 Super Bowl, helping guide your way to fantasy football domination.

Will Anquan Bolding Push Joe Flacco To A Whole New Level? The Chefs Want To Hear Your Thoughts. Call Up The Kitchen.

Quarterbacks

While some fall into the realm of the sophomore jinx, Joe Flacco just shrugged his shoulders at such a thought and went on to take a huge leap forward as the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens. Last year Flacco passed for over 3,600 yards, adding 650 yards from his rookie year while throwing for 7 more touchdowns 21/14 yet the same amount of interceptions, 12. The strong armed Flacco now has Anquan Boldin to toss the rock to so continued success for this young quarterback is to be expected. A low-end QB1, high-end QB2 in deeper leagues is where he will fall.

Running Backs

You can count on one hand the number of young running backs in the NFL that give more excitement to their teams on any given Sunday than the Ravens Ray Rice. Because of the season that the Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson had last year, people tend to forget that Rice also went for over 2,000 all-purpose yards while nearing double-digit visits to the end zone. Adding some depth at wide receiver this off season should help spread the defense more on the field, keeping them honest and opening up lanes that have never been available to this young running back. There is no doubt that Rice will finish as a mid-high RB1 for the 2010/11 fantasy football season. As good as Rice is though, he still has a pair of formidable backups.

Willis McGahee started last season hotter than the desert sun, ending with a career best 14 touchdowns. McGahee is definitely a step behind Rice on the depth charts in Baltimore and with the addition of Boldin to the receiving game, McGahee will see his touches continuing to decline for the fourth straight season. None-the-less, McGahee deserves to be a low-end RB option to fill out a fantasy football roster, especially for those that own Rice. If the Minute Man were to go down, McGahee would be the back stepping into his place. Le’Ron McClain on the other hand is a very solid fullback who will put up numbers if the top-2 go down, but that happening once again is very unlikely. McClain does not deserve to be drafted in anything other than the deepest of fantasy football formats.

Backups: Matt Lawrence, Jalen Parmele

Wide Receivers

Flacco finally has a legitimate number one wide receiver option in Boldin who was aquired from the Arizona Cardinals this past off season. A receiver that can draw double-teams while punishing the defender, Boldin has had only two seasons in his career that he has caught less than 83 passes. Averaging close to a touchdown for every two games started, the newest addition to Baltimore now has Flacco and not Kurt Warner tossing him the rock. While his general may be a step down from what he is used to, Boldin will continue to be a solid WR2 in all fantasy football formats.

Derrick Mason is another wide receiver for Baltimore who has found plenty of success in his career. Having trumped 1,000 receiving yards in eight of his last nine seasons, Mason stands out as the true-WR2 that Baltimore has lacked for quite some time. While his looks will most likely go down with the addition of Boldin, the defensive play on him will most likely be softer, allowing Mason to take advantage of passes that he once would not be able to. Look to Mason to be a solid WR3 in deeper leagues.

The other two receivers to keep your eyes on are Donte’ Stallworth and Mark Clayton. While neither should be owned, they are the next options in what is expected to be a fairly high-powered offense. Leave these two go undrafted, grabbing them only during the greatest of match up weeks while you are suffering from the bye-week flu.

Backups: Demetrius Williams, David Reed

Tight Ends

Former Arizona State tight end Todd Heap has never materialized into the stud player that a lot of people had expected in the NFL, which can be mainly finger pointed due to injuries. That doesn’t mean that he holds no value in the fantasy football world though. Finishing as a high-end TE2 in deeper leagues, Heap will have his really good weeks and some solid snoozers throughout the year. For 2010/11 though, expect at leaset 500 receiving yards and 4-5 touchdowns if he can remain healthy. He is best drafted for those in fantasy football leagues that have a early bye-week from their top tight end or find themselves possessing a lower-end TE1 option with question marks.

Backups: Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta

Chris Ziza is a fantasy football fanatic who can be found at Working Man Sports. He hosts a daily Fantasy Football Breakdown Show that you can participate in now until the end of the 2010/11 Super Bowl, helping guide your way to fantasy football domination.

Quarterbacks

The Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan is one of the better, young quarterbacks in the NFL. Yet that success hasn’t translated well into the realm of fantasy football. Having fallen short of expectations last season, Ryan tossed up over 2,900 yards while passing for 22 touchdowns and surrendering 14 passes to the opposing defenses. Ryan finished as a low-end QB2 in deeper leagues last year but has the talent around him as well as in him to take a step forward in 2010/11. Not a huge step, but a solid step none-the-less.

Backups: Chris Redman, John Parker Wilson

Running Backs

When it comes to running back production, Atlanta has one of the best in the business. In his two seasons with the Falcons, Michael Turner has played in 27 games while visiting pay dirt an equal number of times. If not for a severe ankle injury last year, Turner would have undoubtedly scored even more. But last year is last year. What can you expect from Turner in 2010/11? Similar production with an increase in output if his ankle is as healthy as he claims it is. While injuries are always a concern, Turner seems to have cemented himself as a true-blue RB1 once again.

Can Matt Ryan Make Progress? Will Michael Turner Stay Healthy? Call The Chefs And Discuss What You Think.

Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling are both solid change-of-pace backs that hold more value to their NFL team rather than to their respective fantasy football owners. Snelling holds value as injury insurance to round out your roster if you are in need of a handcuff to Turner. He is nothing more than a RB5 in deeper leagues though when the stud back is healthy. Norwood on the other hand has very little fantasy football value. He should remain undrafted unless you play in very deep leagues.

Backups: Antone Smith

Wide Receivers

Roddy White continues to build himself up as one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL. Even better though is that his numbers also translate into the fantasy football world in which he ranked 7th overall in fantasy points last season. The scary thought is that he should had done even better last year but a contractual disagreement with the Falcons had him a bit behind to start the season. He has had over 3,600 receiving yards during the past three years and finally pushed himself into the double-digit touchdown reception mark with 11 last year. He comes into the 2010/11 season as a sure-fire WR1.

Backing White up is Mr. Consistency Michael Jenkins who has had at least 50 receptions in each of the last three years, peaking at 53. Falling in as a slot receiver is Harry Douglas who missed all of last season with a torn ACL. He is questionable to start training camp on time but is explosive when healthy. Jenkins has never had a 800 yard season, nor has he ever come close to the 7 touchdowns that he put up in 2006. Look at him as a very low-end option in deeper leagues. Douglas is someone that you could gamble a late round pick with in hopes of things turning around, but when all is said and done he will most likely find himself sitting in free agency.

Backups: Brian Finneran, Kerry Meier, Eric Weems

Tight Ends

It is very possible that we are about to witness the swan song with Tony Gonzalez as he was contemplating even coming back for the 2010/11 season before finally committing to another year with the Falcons. Even though he is aging, Gonzalez found himself as a top-5 fantasy football tight end during his first season in Atlanta. While he will continue to remain a solid TE1 option, Gonzalez’s best days are definitely behind him. One positive note though is that he has only missed 2 games during his entire career since being drafted out of California.

Backups: Justin Peelle

Chris Ziza is a fantasy football fanatic who can be found at Working Man Sports. He hosts a daily Fantasy Football Breakdown Show that you can participate in now until the end of the 2010/11 Super Bowl, helping guide your way to fantasy football domination.

Quarterbacks

The quarterback position for the Arizona Cardinals took the biggest hit as far as fantasy football terms goes this past off-season. With the departure of veteran quarterback Kurt Warner, there is a changing of the guard in the desert and there is no one who could benefit more from this than Matt Leinart.

Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Leinart has a combined pass attempt number of just over 200 for the past three seasons. While he has the weapons at his helm to help the transition, his passing percentage and quarterback ranking has never been more than suspect. Leinart enters the 2010/11 fantasy football season as nothing more than a mid-low tier QB2 in deeper leagues.

Backups: Derek Anderson, John Skelton

Running Backs

The Cardinals are sitting very good at the running back position heading into the season as they are led by both,Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower. Combined the duo have only three years of NFL experience, yet last season they combined for nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards while chiming in with 15 touchdowns. Individually, they were not very far apart statistically, but it is expected that Wells will see more of the percentage of touches heading into the 2010/11 season. With the departure of wide receiver Anquan Boldin and Warner, the passing game looks to have some competition from their running game.

Heading into fantasy football drafts, expect Wells to be a mid-level RB2 in deeper leagues while Hightower should hold his own as a RB3. Improvement from both backs is expected.

Backups: LaRod Stephens-Rowling, Jason Wright, Nehemian Broughton

Wide Receivers

Larry Fitzgerald is undoubtedly the man amongst men at the wide receiver position for Arizona. Regularly being a top-5 fantasy football WR, Fitzgerald’s numbers should suffer some with Warner retiring and Boldin having been traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Fitzgerald had his worst yardage season since 2006 as he went for 1,092 yards yet he put in his best work in the end zone having caught a career best 13 touchdown passes. He hovered around the century mark in receptions for the fourth time in five years so consistency is no problem for him. With Leinart tossing the rock though, Fitzgerald’s numbers may suffer some. But then again with the added looks that will come with the departure of Boldin, that could be a wash. I recommend to stay cautious, but when all is said and done Fitzgerald should find himself amongst the best once again.

How Much Will Fitzgerald Miss Kurt Warner? Call The Chefs And Let Us Know.

Helping Fitzgerald is Steve Breaston and Early Doucet. Both had shown promise in limited roles last year. Breaston was a solid WR3 for Arizona as he had caught 55 passes, 3 of which went for touchdowns and Doucet, while inferior in stats, still had a few solid games near the end of the season. They both look to take a step up in their offensive roles for 2010/11 so it remains to be seen how they will react. But with the balance of the Arizona offense, neither player should have much of a problem. Either way, when it comes to fantasy football, neither are in high-demand, let alone any type of demand to be quite honest. Breaston could turn out to be a serviceable backup bench receiver for your team in deeper leagues while Doucet should go undrafted.

Backups: Andre Roberts, Onrea Jones, Ed Gant

Tight Ends

When it comes to fantasy football tight ends, no one ever enters their respective drafts, even in the Phoenix area, and quivers about possibly landing one of their stud tight ends. That is because they simply never have one. Their offense is designed to focus more on the long ball and running game, allowing the tight end position to concern themselves more with blocking schemes rather than running routes. Their lead tight end is Ben Patrick who had gone for just over 100 receiving yards last season to go with 2 touchdowns. Those numbers means that he is not necessarily breaking down the door for sleeper of the year. Pass on him as he will be nothing more than waiver wire fodder.

Backups: Stephen Spach, Anthony Becht

Chris Ziza is a fantasy football fanatic who can be found at Working Man Sports. He hosts a daily Fantasy Football Breakdown Show that you can participate in now until the end of the 2010/11 Super Bowl, helping guide your way to fantasy football domination.

The late-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 80 years old from a massive heart attack.

Celebrated as an owner who was very passionate about his team earned his nickname “The Boss” by having a short fuse with his managerial staff who would come and go as quickly as night and day. He would also have strict restrictions on facial hair from his coaches and ball players.

One story I was reminded of this morning is when Steinbrenner would argue with then-star ball player Don Mattingly who was one of the best in the game had a mullet and some facial hair. The two argued back and forth, and Steinbrenner actually threated to sit Mattingly until he obeyed. Eventually the two would come to a happy medium, but that just shows how set in his ways that “The Boss” really was.

Born appropriately on July 4th, 1930, the late-Yankees owner brought fireworks to the organization that he had purchased back in 1973. The total cost was $8.8 million dollars. Today the Yankees average salary is higher than that per player. If not, it is pretty darn close. Through his ability as a business man he started his own cable company network YES. The brilliant move has allowed the Yankees to compete in virtually every free agency and has developed them into a team that is loved or loathed by all.

His death follows the passing of long time public announcer Bob Sheppard. Funeral plans have not been made, but his passing in Tampa, FL has been felt across Major League Baseball. The game has lost one of its true pioneers.

Can you smell what is in the air? We are not talking basil or sage here; we are talking about some good ol’ blood and sweat. That is right folks, it is football season and with that it brings a certain pristine fall warming to all of the NFL souls in the land. We here at the Sport City Chefs are no different as we have a lot going on in the kitchen and we are not talking about cooking either. We are discussing the up-and-coming NFL season like no one else can. In this eight-part series we will be tackling each division in its’ own separate round table. This week we will be discussing the AFC North. So grab a seat, a fork and knife and enjoy. This promises to be as juicy as a Porter House steak.

Today in the kitchen discussing the AFC North will be Mark Moseley host of The Callers Cookout/Sunday Morning Brunch, Jeff who is an avid football fanatic, Chris Ziza owner of Working Man Sports and co-host of Grid-Iron Chefs.

The Appetizers (Quick Snacks Of NFL Opinion)

1. Carson Palmer has had over a year to recover from his arm woes. With a revamped offense behind him does Palmer continue to ascend to his old form, plateau, or decline? Why?

Mose – Carson Palmer is finally healthy and ready to lead the Bengals team once again. He played injured through most of last season and still performed very well. He passed for over 3000 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions. The main reason the Bengals were not able to score in their playoff game was their inability to stretch the field. The death of Chris Henry hurt this offense more than we realize. Yes Chad Ocho Cinco was still there to make plays but the offense as a whole was not the same. Carson Palmer is a good leader and will be playing at a high level next year. I think he will turn the clock back to 2005. He posted career highs in passer rating at 101.1 and 32 touchdown passes.  The Bengals are a good team but are in very tough division. The first step in competing for a division title is  the health of Carson Palmer. If he can stay healthy look for a improved statistical season from last year and another winning season.

Jeffrey -I think the Bengals will be more balanced this season especially with the weapons that were added in the off season. They drafted Jermaine Gresham in the first round who should immediately upgrade there TE position which has been so ineffective the past few years. Gresham is a great pass catching TE that should be able to get vertical and exploit the seams of defenses. Also, the Bengals nabbed Jordan Shipley in the 3rd round who was a highly productive WR at Texas. Shipley is best suited in the slot and has excellent hands along with being a very solid route runner. Many people compare him to Wes Welker but not quite as fast. Shipley excels on special teams as demonstrated while playing with the Longhorns. Antonio Bryant was brought in from TB to be the Bengals #2 WR opposite of Chad Ocho Cinco. Bryant has shown flashes of brilliance in the past and should help upgrade the Bengals passing game. However, he’ll need to be more consistent and remain healthy if he intends on helping the Bengals offense in 2010. Pro Bowl talent Chad Ocho Cinco enters his 10th season and will remain Palmer’s go to guy. Ocho Cinco has averaged around 75 catches, 1100 receiving yards and nearly 7 TD’s a year since joining the Bengals back in 2001. Carson Palmer apparently is back to full health again and will need to throw more often this season to take the added pressure off of there running game especially with Cedric Benson’s recent off the field incident which still hasn’t been determined yet. In 2009, Palmer passed for 3,094 yds, 21 TD’s and 13 INT’s after coming off an injury plagued 2008 season in which he missed 12 games due to a partially torn ligament and tendon in his throwing elbow. Palmer elected to not undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the damage and opted to just rest the elbow. Although Palmer claimed to be back to 100% last year, there were times that he didn’t seem quite comfortable in the pocket as his throws lacked velocity and accuracy which led me to believe that he was still favoring the throwing elbow. With the plethora of weapons that he now possesses, Palmer could have a nice bounce back season. I still think he’s one of the elite QB’s in the game (when healthy) but it will all boil down to the o-line protecting him and weather or not the Bengals passing game can finally step up.

Chris – With the injuries that Palmer was going through for the past two seasons, the recovery time was expected to take him into this up-and-coming season. With that being said, there is no reason to believe that with the extra weapons that have been added to the Cincinnati Bengals offense that Palmer won’t keep making strides and a return to one of the better quarterbacks in the league is on the horizon.

2. With the addition of Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver group, does Joe Flacco have it in him to take his game to the next level?

Jeffrey -I love what the Ravens have done in the off season. They acquired a legitimate # 1 wideout in Anquan Boldin from Arizona, who should immediately upgrade there WR core. Also, they drafted two very young and promising TE’s in Dennis Pitta (BYU) and Ed Dickson (Oregon). Both of these TE’s have lots of upside and look to replace Todd Heap as early as this season. Derrick Mason has been one of the better possession WR’s since entering the NFL in 1997. At age 36, Mason will likely retire at the end of the 2010 season. I think Mason and Boldin will compliment each another very well in Baltimore’s emerging passing game. Donte Stallworth was signed to a 1yr contract and should be the Ravens #3 WR. Stallworth has great speed to stretch the field but is often injured and lacks consistency catching the ball at times.The entire Ravens offensive line remains intact from last season and is still touted as one of the best in the league. They will need to protect Joe Flacco, who is steadily developing and maturing into a fine NFL QB. Flacco has a great arm and has the ability to scramble out of the pocket when pressured. He reminds me a bit of Ben Roethlisberger. When Flacco faces pressure he’ll look to dump the ball off to there rising star, Ray Rice. Rice is very strong and has great ability to read blocks well which allows him to gobble up chunks of yardage. The Ravens are a legitimate AFC Super Bowl contender in 2010 and I believe that Joe Flacco is now ready for the challenge of leading this team to greater heights.

Chris – The addition of Boldin is going to be huge. Not only does it add a stellar, no-holds-barred wideout to the Baltimore receiving group, but it will also allow for defenses to have to double-team him at times. That will open up the lanes for running back Ray Rice who is a huge weapon out of the backfield through the aerial game and in time it should open up the whole field for Flacco to continue improving his game. With the Ravens defense being beat up a little there will be an increased need to score more points this year. That should also help Flacco as the game plan will be a bit more geared to putting the rock into the end zone.

Mose – The Baltimore Ravens added a huge piece to their offense this year when they traded for Anquan Boldin. He is going to be an the number one receiver for Flacco. I am one of those that have doubted the University of Delaware stud at times. I know Joe Flacco is still young at 25, but he is a big, strong QB with a cannon of an arm. The offense came to life last season under Flacco. He improved his passing touchdowns from 14 in his rookie season to 21 last year. The big issue here is that Flacco passed for 11 of those touchdowns in the first 6 games. If you take away the game he passed for 4 touchdowns again Chicago, he finished the 9 out of the last 10 games with only 6 total. I think defense coaches started to really focus on Flacco. This allowed Ray Rice to shine carrying the workload. I do like Baltimore in this upcoming season and do think Boldin will be a huge component to the offense. Joe Flacco is going to be a great quarterback in the future but I do not think he is Pro Bowl ready right now. I am willing to eat my words if he has a monster year.

3. Does longtime coach and front office juggernaut Mike Holmgren have enough left in his tank to turn around the Cleveland Browns franchise?

Chris – As much as I respect Mike Holmgren, he hasn’t had the affect on franchises that other coaches/general managers have had such as Bill Parcells. While the Cleveland Browns seems to be the gig that Holmgren had wanted, rumors were even before he took this job that this may only be a couple year commitment. If that is the case, then his tank could be starting to run dry. That isn’t a very good thought for Browns fans who are in a dire need to rebuild smartly and not hastily. When the smoke is cleared, being that they are in a very tough division dominated by the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, this is one job that I can see Holmgren failing at.

Jeffrey -I’m not sure that Mike Holmgren is the answer for turning the Cleveland Browns franchise around but I do have a great deal of respect for him. I believe it will take some time for the Browns to get back to respectability, especially with there weaknesses at QB and WR. I like the Browns offensive line which is led by Joe Thomas, who’s arguably the best lineman in the NFL. The Browns were able to run the football last season but ran into problems when being forced to throw. With Brady Quinn exiting for Denver and Derek Anderson moving onto Arizona, the Browns brought in Jake Delhomme (Carolina) and Seneca Wallace (Seattle) to lead an already poor offense. I’m not high on either of these QB’s heading into 2010 but I’d still prefer Wallace simply because of his age and the ability to run the ball. I still believe Holmgren will have alot to say regarding the Browns offensive play calling and he has a very strong history of grooming QB’s. The Browns cannot afford to fall behind early in games this season especially with an average WR core that is led by Mohamed Massaquoi. The Browns are not deep at WR but they do have Josh Cribbs. Cribbs is a dynamic player, especially on special teams. However, the Browns are looking to get him more involved (offensively) in 2010. The running back position is the strength of this team, led by Jerome Harrison who really flourished in the last 3 games of last season. Harrison is more of a third down specialist, which is why they drafted Montario Hardesty out of Tennessee. Hardesty is a complete RB but does have a history of injuries. The Browns have raved about Hardesty because of how quickly he’s learning the playbook. Another promising player is James Davis. Davis is returning from an injury filled rookie season in 2009 and should compete as part of the Browns RB rotation. I think Cleveland will finish last in the AFC North this season but Holmgren has such a great football mind that the future of this franchise could improve within in a couple of years.

Mose – The answer is simple .. YES he does. Mike Holmgren is  the type of front office executive you want.  He is known for molding the careers of Brett Favre, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Matt Hasselbeck. He has an eye for talent and a resume that speaks for itself. When Mike sits a young player down they listen to him. He has a Super Bowl ring and plenty of big game experience to back up his words. Mike Holmgren is going to be a great Team President for the Cleveland Browns. They have talented pieces in place for rebuilding the organization. The offense is totally turned over with Anderson and Quinn both being traded since Mike took over. He went out and acquired veterans Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace at the quarterback position. He also drafted rookie studs Eric Barry and  Colt McCoy. The Browns have very key pieces returning from last season with Joe Thomas, Joshua Cribbs, and Jerome Harrison on offense and D’Qwell Jackson on defense. I think Holmgren stepped into a good situation that will allow him to take his time, rebuild, and give Cleveland Brown fans a solid product on Sundays. If Holmgren can’t do it , well than nobody can.

The Meal (5 Questions On The Minds Of NFL Fans)

1. The AFC North is home to two of the better, young running backs in the NFL. Both Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens and Rashard Mendenhall of the Pittsburgh Steelers have come into their own. Which young back do you feel is more important to his teams success in order to win their division?

Mose – The AFC North is a talented group at running back. The main attraction of the group is Ray Rice. That is right, Mr. Double R is only listed at 5’8″ but plays HUGE. He had a breakout season last year and I believe he will continue his success this season. I love what Mendenhall brings to the Steelers but I can see him splitting the load in Pittsburgh. Ray Rice last season posted over 2000 total yards with the ability to score a touchdown from anywhere on the field. Have you seen this guys legs? He has the ability and motivation to lead the Ravens on offense. When Flacco was struggling last year, Rice was the man carrying the offense on his back. I am not ready to say Mendenhall can carry the Steelers for an entire season. Ray Rice is the real deal and has established himself as one of the top 5 running backs in the league. He is my hands down pick for most important to his teams success for next year.

Jeffrey - Ray Rice is my choice here. Simply because he’s so effective with running and catching the football. Mendenhall showed some promise last year by rushing for over 1100 yards behind a mediocre Steelers o-line. The Steelers have had a terrible off season especially with the suspension of Big Ben, the shocking trade of Santonio Holmes and the recent loss of Willie Colon, who is arguably the Steelers best and most consistent offensive linemen. I really like the addition of 1st Rd draft pick Maurkice Pouncey, who will be an impact player at either guard or center. With the Steelers offense in disarray, most teams will likely stack 8 or 9 men in the box to shut down there running game. The Steelers will have to throw the ball more often and I don’t think that Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon or Charlie Batch can beat defenses through the air consistently. If the Steelers can weather the storm by going .500 or better without Roethlisberger, then things could certainly turn around for them. They will rely heavily on Mendenhall who should receive most of the workload. I still like Rice though and think he’s more valuable to his team’s success despite McGahee being a goal line vulture. The major problem with Mendy is that he doesn’t have anyone else to help fill his shoes.

Chris – This is a trick question if you ask me. For 2010 I think both players are equally important. You have Ray Rice on one hand who is going to try and help their young quarterback Joe Flacco as much as possible by getting fed the rock a ton, both through the ground and through the air. While in Pittsburgh you have the Steelers missing their top quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for nearly a half of a season. If either team is to make a run at the playoffs, their respective backs will have to have a huge year. That is why I think both backs have a lot of their teams success on their backs and must have a solid season for any type of shot at the post season.

2. The Baltimore Ravens are best known to the NFL community as an organization that always fields one of the best defenses in the game. With Ray Lewis increasing in age and Ed Reed hurting, how do you see the unit faring in 2010/11?

Jeffrey - I think the Ravens defense will be strong against the run especially since they drafted another giant in Terrence “Mount” Cody (Alabama) to play alongside of Haloti Ngata. Ray Lewis enters his 15th NFL and is still recognized as one the best LB’s to ever play the game despite being 35 years of age. He’ll have plenty of open lanes to make tackles, especially with a huge wall in front of him. However, my concerns are with the Ravens secondary. Ed Reed is still rehabbing from reconstructive hip surgery and may be playing his final year of a Hall of Fame career. Reed has always been a great leader and a tremendous ball hawk in the Ravens secondary, but his days look to be numbered and this will likely be his final season in the NFL. The Ravens secondary has been suspect lately, especially there two returning corners in Domonique Foxworth and Fabian Washington. The key will be weather the Ravens can provide a consistent pass rush, which will help take pressure off of there secondary. If they’re able to do this effectively, then the Ravens should be a solid defensive unit again.

Chris – The Baltimore Ravens possess some of the biggest, most respected names on defense in the league. With that being said, they are aging and that is something that will show on the field this fall. While there have been upgrades at certain positions, the secondary leaves me worrisome. I see a solid product on the field but definite slippage compared to years past.

Mose – I do like the Ravens defense even with an older Ray Lewis and a banged up Ed Reed. I do not think the Ravens defense is the elite group of the AFC North. I think they actually would fit right next to the Bengals as far as defensive units go. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the #1 unit in the division followed by the Ravens/Bengals at 2a and 2b. The one thing you can not take away from the Ravens is experience.  The biggest question is not Ray Ray’s age but Ed Reed’s health. If Ed Reed is as banged up as some NFL reporters say than it could be a tough year in Baltimore. The unit counts of Reed’s game changing plays to keep them in tight games. If Ed Reed is healthy and available for a full season, I would upgrade them to the #2 unit over the Bengals.

3. With the recent arrest of running back Cedric Benson coupled with the consistent off-the-field problems that the Cincinnati Bengals have had to deal with in previous years, do you see a healthy Bernard Scott getting a fair chance to prove that he can be the future back of this franchise?

Jeffrey – I think Bernard Scott can be a solid back, especially if Benson misses any time due to his recent altercation at a night club last month. With Larry Johnson departing for Washington, the door is now open for Scott to shine. Scott was a highly touted rookie coming out of Abilene Christian last season and is a very good special teams player for the Bengals. He stood out in the preseason last year, which caught alot of people’s attention. Although, he battled turf toe and missed a few games throughout the season, I remain cautiously optimistic that his lingering problems are well behind him now. I really like the way this kid runs and think he’ll be a solid contributor in 2010. Scott doesn’t have anyone to really push him for the back up RB job, but if Benson would get hurt or the Bengals decide to part ways with him, then I still believe that Scott can be a solid NFL running back.

Mose- Cedric Benson is still the #1 option in Cincy. He earned the right to carry the work load for the Bengals. I do not think Benson will stay healthy for a full 16 game schedule. He posted career highs in yards (1251), carries (301), touchdowns (6), and games played (13) last season. That is right Cedric Benson’s monster season still came with him missing 3 games due to injury. He is a very physical runner that embraces a lot of contact. This grueling style of running causes injuries during the course of a NFL season.I think Bernard Scott will be a good second option and change of pace back when Benson is sitting out.

Chris – Does Bernard Scott have a fair shot at showing that he is the future back of this franchise? Of course he does. But that doesn’t mean the future will come in 2010/11. As Mose has said, he will most likely be utilized as more of a change-of-pace back that will have a shot to show his goods if and when Cedric Benson goes down with injury or has to miss some time due to this altercation. None-the-less, the Cincinnati Bengals will once again rely heavily on Benson to pound the rock. Will he have the same success this year, especially considering that two of the teams in the division eat up backs in Pittsburgh and Baltimore? Probably not. But then again if you really take a look at Benson’s stats last year and analyze them, you may come to the same conclusion that

4. Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson are out, Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are in. That sounds like a typical Cleveland Browns move. But is it? Do you see this as an improvement, a step backwards or something that just had to be done?

Jeffrey -I don’t see this QB change helping the Browns in 2010 or in the future of there franchise. Delhomme brings plenty of game experience to the huddle, although he’s coming off a dismal 2009 season where he threw only 8 TD’s and 18 INT’s in just 11 games. His poor play resulted in a 59.4 QB rating. Delhomme is now 35 and has played in only 43 games in the past 4 years, so injuries have certainly caught up with him. Seneca Wallace is now entering his 8th NFL season with a combined 14 starts while playing with the Seahawks. Wallace is a very fine athlete and can make defenses pay when running the football. He’s versatile enough to play WR at times too. However, Wallace sometimes has difficulties throwing over interior linemen. One of his main strengths is that he doesn’t force the ball or throw alot of INT’s. It looks like a battle between Delhomme and Wallace is shaking up, but if either one falters, then 3rd round draft choice Colt McCoy will be given the opportunity to lead the Browns. The Browns will likely sit McCoy in his rookie season, which should allow him plenty of time to learn the playbook and speed of the game. McCoy could also be forced into playing time at some point during the season, if the Browns continue to lose games. McCoy is clearly the Browns franchise QB and could take over the starting job as early as 2011.

Mose – Mike Holmgren wanted to change the culture in Cleveland. His first step was fixing the Quarterback position. I know Delhomme has struggled in recent years and Wallace has never been the #1 signal caller. The move by Holmgren was to bring in good leaders and start the rebuilding process. He had to get away from the old Browns and focus on the new Browns. The one surprising move was that he traded both Quinn and Anderson. Mike Holmgren has a better track record than me, so who am I to judge this move? I think Colt McCoy is the Browns future, but for this upcoming season one of the 2 new additions at Quarterback will have to takeover. The Cleveland Browns in their effort to become a playoff team should leave no stone unturned. Now if only LeBron could play Quarterback.

Chris – This situation in Cleveland is more like a double-edged sword. While I don’t think it improves the product on the field as far as production is concerned, this does bring a major overhaul to the attitude in the locker room. Both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn were damaged goods and most likely probably would not have been able to overcome what had taken place during the 2009/10 season. You have to start somewhere and when you can’t replace all of the talent quickly, you can still adjust the attitude of the players. Having confidence in the quarterback is huge, and having the quarterback have confidence is equally important. This is a move that should prove effective during later seasons when both quarterbacks will most likely be gone. This is an attitude adjustment more than anything.

5. The Pittsburgh Steelers have come out and said publicly that they want to get back to the smash-mouth type of football which will emphasize the featured running back more. Does Rashard Mendenhall have it in him to take the reigns in this venture or do you foresee the Steelers having to go with a RBBC (Running Back By Committee)?

Jeffrey I do believe Mendenhall can still be a feature RB for the Steelers. However, he’ll still need another RB to help reduce his workload. With Willie Parker now in Washington, the only remaining backs are Mewelde Moore, Isaac Redmen, Frank Summers and there recent 6th Rd draft pick from Georgia Tech, Jonathan Dwyer. Moore is used primarily as a 3rd down and change of pace back. However, the remaining backs are all inexperienced, so someone will need to really step up and help fill the back up roll to Mendy. Most NFL teams are going with a RBBC approach today because of keeping there RB’s fresh throughout games and the entire season. Even though I see Mendenhall carrying a huge load in 2010, I still believe that he’ll need some help especially with teams focusing on stopping the Steelers running game, especially since Ben Roethlisberger will be missing a few games.

Chris – While Rashard Mendenhall proved last year that he can carry the load over a season, he didn’t have to carry the pressures of being a running back in a run first offense. With that being said, I don’t think that Mendenhall will fail in this role, but I do believe he is going to need a little bit of help. When the season comes into fruition, look for Mewelde Moore to also share the rock, with Mendenhall getting the better part of the carries. The Steelers could also look to keep Mendenhall sharp by continuing to use Moore in a goal line role.

Mose- I think the Steelers are ready to get back to smash mouth football because Big Ben is not active to start the season. I do like Rashard Mendenhall as the number 1 option in Pittsburgh next season. That being said the Steelers will use a RRBC option for most games. The main carries will be split by Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore. They are both able to carry the load but look for Coach Tomlin to split the carries so that fresh legs are always in the game. The Steelers last season were a little pass happy at times with Big Ben throwing the ball all over the field. The loss of Santonio Holmes could impact the amount of passing plays called during the course of a game. I still feel once Big Ben is back the offense will look very similar to last year. The Steelers team needs to rebound from last year and it looks like the running backs are going to have to carry the load to start the season off.

Desert (Division Predictions)

Mose – The AFC North is a very tricky division. We have seen in recent years teams rebound to regain playoff form. The AFC North is going to be a close division but only one team can win the crown. I am going with the Pittsburgh Steelers winning the division this year. Thye won the Super Bowl in 2008 and I like them to regain form this season. I know Big Ben is going to miss the start of the season but I do think they have enough talent to overcome the loss. The Steelers are pegged to go 10-6 and winning the AFC North. I also have Baltimore Ravens making the playoffs at 9-7, with Ray Rice carrying the offensive load and Ray Lewis leading the defensive unit. The Cincinnati Bengals are going to fall just short of the playoffs this year at 8-8. The Bengals team needs Carson Palmer to stay healthy as well as Cedric Benson to exceed my expectations. The Cleveland Browns will improve from last season and finish 6-10. They will compete in games and look very improved from last year. I do believe that the Browns will be very competitive in this division very soon. Watch out for Mike Holmgren and company in the near future.

Jeffrey - I believe that Baltimore is the team to beat in the AFC North. I really like what the Ravens have done via the draft and free agency. Flacco has progressed each year since entering the league two years ago and has a really fine offensive line in front of him. His weapons are very good, when you start mentioning the likes of Ray Rice, Wilis McGahee, Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, Donte Stallworth and a plethora of solid TE’s. However, I do have some concerns with the Ravens defense, especially with Ed Reed’s football career now in jeopardy and Ray Lewis being another year older. The Ravens defense has aged quite a bit, but I still think they’ll find a way to win ball games in 2010. I’m picking the Bengals to finish 2nd in the AFC North division because of there underrated defense, which features two shutdown corners in Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall. The Bengals upgraded there one dimensional (running) offense from 2009. They brought in WR Antonio Bryant and Matt Jones from Jacksonville to provide depth and WR help for Chad Ocho Cinco. Also, they drafted Jordan Shipley to play the #3 WR and he’ll likely contribute in the Bengals return game too. I believe the Bengals will need to throw the ball more often in 2010. Carson Palmer will need to be more consistent and accurate for the Bengals to make the playoffs again. Cedric Benson is coming off a great year, while rushing for over 1200 yards. Benson wore down towards the end of last season and will need to get more help from Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard, if he wants to stay productive on the field. Benson has some question marks regarding his contract and off the field issues. Despite not having Ben Roethlisberger for 4-6 games of 2010, I think the Steelers could struggle, especially with having a difficult schedule. Pittsburgh will look to pound the rock with Rashard Mendenhall, but losing Willie Colon and Santonio Holmes could really hurt this offense in the long run. Byron Leftwich will likely start the season at QB, but his long arm release and lack of mobility could lead to many turnovers and sacks. Lefty is familiar with the Steelers offense while playing for them in 2008. Last season, Lefty was dealt to Tampa Bay, but was reacquired by the Steelers during the past off season.The Steelers defense should be solid again, but they could be on the field more often, especially if there offense can’t move the chains or sustain drives more consistently. The Steelers will have to, (somehow) win games without Big Ben’s presence, otherwise they won’t make the playoffs again. Cleveland will finish last in the AFC North mainly because of there QB problem. Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace have both proven to be inconsistent during there careers and without any viable weapons to throw to, it will only hurt the Browns offensive production even more. The Browns cannot afford to fall behind early in games, so establishing a solid running game early could go a long way in determining the teams success.

Chris – The AFC North should have some solid competition for the top-3 spots as all teams have something going for them as well as against them. Look for the Baltimore Ravens to trump all teams as they have both a solid group of offensive players and key defensive players to make a run at a good percentage of wins; probably nailing a 10-6 record. Coming in behind the Ravens will be the Pittsburgh Steelers who will not have their quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a solid part of the season, yet they do have the ground game as well as the defense to keep games close. They should be able to grind out a 9-7 record. The rejuvenated Carson Palmer should be able to shoulder the Cincinnati Bengals’ franchise to a 8-8 record while the Cleveland Browns will come up lame with a 5-11.

Can’t Stand The Heat? Get Out Of The Kitchen!

Ben Roethlisberger in any sense of the word has been a major disappointment off of the field to all, his teammates, coaches, organization as a whole as well as the fans of the city of Pittsburgh. With a pair of possible sexual misconduct acts having taken place, what will Roethlisberger have to do to gain back the confidence in all, or is that something that you just don’t see happening?

Chris -The sporting world tends to have a “what have you done for me lately” type of attitude and will turn their noses up in a heart beat. But that doesn’t mean that Ben Roethlisberger’s reputation can’t withstand all the negativity and eventually work himself back into the graces of the Pittsburgh Steeler fan. If he comes back this year, focused towards one goal which is a playoff berth and he achieves that while keeping his nose clean WHILE also contributing some way in the community, he can once again become the golden boy in the heart of Pittsburgh. This is a blue-collar city that we are talking about and if you truly express repentance, fans will open their hearts to you. But not all will be rosey.

The odds are set heavily against Big Ben ever coming close to the marketing value that he once had. That won’t really matter though as long as Roethlisberger is ready to focus on football and forget about not only his popularity but also his off-the-field habits. Can Roethlisberger keep from getting into bad situations? Can he forget about what he had going in his career and focus on a new beginning? Does he even want to change? He has never been the poster boy for loved media-icon. Reporters and journalists can’t stand the guy. And he comes off as not only arrogant but a bit slow in the head as well. We are talking about a major overhaul in the person himself. If he can win that battle, then he may be able to win a lot of his teammates respect back. But if he can’t, don’t be shocked if Roethlisberger is moved a year or two down the road.

Jeffrey - This has been the biggest story of the off season so far. I think Ben Roethlisberger will come back stronger and better than he’s ever been before. He is one of the winningest QB’s in the first 6 years of his NFL career and owns two Super Bowl rings. The Steelers will go as far as Ben can lead them, and I hope that he can somehow pull himself back together from all of this. He’ll need to regain the trust of his fans, teammates, coaches, Steelers management and the rest of the NFL community. I’d like to see him putting in the extra work both on and off the field just to prove to everyone that he’s still the leader of this proud organization. Big Ben is coming off one of his best season’s as a pro in 2009 after throwing for 4,328 yards, 26 TD’s, 12 INT’s and an impressive 66.6 completion percentage. What really makes Ben so dangerous as a QB is his willingness to extend plays while being pressured in and out of the pocket. He is a clutch player, especially in two minute drills as we have all witnessed repeatedly in the past. One problem with Ben and some of these other professional athletes is that they’re always making poor decisions. As long as pro athletes are out in the public eye they will always remain a target. Hopefully this will be a learning experience for Roethlisberger and I believe this will be his last opportunity to show his true class and character. The Steelers organization have given him one final opportunity to succeed, otherwise he’ll no longer be playing in the Steel City, and his football career could very well be in jeopardy.

Mose – Big Ben needs to stay out of the night life scene first and foremost. He needs to focus on improving his overall image. If he can win games for the Steelers, the fans will love him once again. The national public  may never see him in a good light again. He has the ability to shake off his bad image with winning championships (think Kobe). I do think that this will take a few years to regain trust  and it starts with being respectful, grateful, and humble. I hope  for the sake of the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger he can repair his image.

Thank you for checking out the AFC North edition for the Sport City Chefs NFL Round Table. Don’t hesitate to let us know what you thought. Who do you agree more with? Who do you think is absolutely insane? Let the Chefs know. We promise not to spit in your food! Check back soon as we will be releasing the AFC South.

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