Last year, the AFC West was a terrible division. The difference between first place in the division (Denver 8-8) and last place (Kansas City 7-9) was 1 game. This division was devastated by injuries (Chiefs, Raiders), subpar quarterback play (Broncos) and general suckiness (Chargers). This year, however, things are supposed to be different. I have serious doubts about that.The professional referees are still being locked out by the league, which is unbelievable. It is pretty much universally agreed that the replacement refs are not up to par, but the 9 billion dollar business that is the NFL isn’t blinking over a few thousand dollars. I’ve seen these replacements in enough preseason games to know that if the regular season starts with this circus, games will be altered, players will be hurt and games will be about 30 minutes longer.
San Diego Chargers – I don’t like the Chargers. For years I have been hearing how this is their year to go to the Super Bowl and every year they flame out. This team is a great example of how to waste a bunch of star athletes in their prime. Jackson has taken his talents to southwest beach. Mathews is hurt and while he might be able to start this season, players in high-impact positions (like running back) who miss training camp and try to rush back end up with a torn hamstring or a blown quad. Philip Rivers is the most overrated quarterback of my lifetime. The only real question about this team is: Will they start fast and fall apart down the stretch or start on the schnide and come on strong at the end of the season? Chance of Making the Super Bowl – Highly Doubtful – 1%
Oakland Raiders – The Raiders were one of those teams from last year who looked very promising and fell apart when their QB went down for the season with an injury. They then decided to try and win now and mortgaged the future away for a highly suspect Carson Palmer. In Palmer’s defense they pretty much threw him to the lions in the middle of the season and expected him to put up Pro Bowl numbers. Well, the Raiders finished out of the playoffs and the Bengals ran away with a fistful of draft picks giggling like school girls. I think Palmer will do much better this year but I’m not sold on their running game. I know running backs are pretty interchangeable, but I have to question the wisdom of letting Michael Bush escape to Chicago. There is something to be said for known quantities and team chemistry. Chance of Making the Super Bowl – They are still recovering from Gruden dismantling the organization in the Super Bowl XXXVII – 0%
Kansas City Chiefs – Another team that was absolutely crushed by injuries last season, I’d say the Chiefs are one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL this year. I like the Chiefs backfield (Hillis and Charles) and their receivers, but Cassel needs to have a break-out year for this team to go anywhere. He wasn’t exactly setting the NFL on fire before he broke his hand last year (10 TDS, 9 INTS). He’s 30 now, and history shows us that if your quarterback doesn’t show he can hang with the big boys by the time he is 30 he’s more than likely never going to be good. Cassel is another one of those backups who took a big free agency contract and was less than impressive. The Chiefs defense would be my second question mark regarding this team as I’m having trouble naming any of these players. Well, at least they have a wicked home field advantage. Chance of Making the Super Bowl – I just don’t think Cassel is good enough to carry this team – 0%
Denver Broncos – The Broncos made the most noise in the offseason by signing Peyton Manning as a free agent. Listen, I like Peyton Manning. I love my Broncos. I’m happy he signed with my team as it gives them instant credibility at a position that has been a revolving joke since Elway retired. I just don’t think that if Peyton wanted another ring, this was the team to give it to him. Manning has spent most of his professional career playing in a dome. Now he is going to be outside in the elements for a minimum of 11 games a year while he plays for Denver, and that does not bode well. One of the things I learned during the preseason is that the Broncos WRs seem to have a case of the dropsies. Maybe this is because a ball thrown to the numbers is surprising to them after last year and Tim Tebow. I’m not super impressed with their running game this year as McGahee is old and Moreno is injury-prone. If the defense can play as well as they did last year (or better), the division is easily theirs. The Super Bowl, however, is another story. I’ve seen this opera on the stage before. It starred Joe Montana and didn’t end with a ring. Chance of making the Super Bowl – 10% 100%! Eat a bag of %$@#s Patriots fans, I’m all in this year!
Other NFL News – The Jets are the first team in 35 years to go three preseason games without scoring a touchdown. The starters will not be playing for the final preseason game (including Tebow, so take that to mean what you will) and if they DON’T score a touchdown in their first regular season game they are done for the year. Sanchez won’t make it through the first four games of the season as the New York crowd will turn on him in a heartbeat. The Jets did dump Wayne Hunter (who was a serious liability on the offensive line) on the Rams and oft-injured Sam Bradford. Sorry Rams fans. The Dolphins have thrown in the towel for the season, trading (who some say is their best player) Vontae Davis to the Colts. Dolphins players are reportedly upset about this as they thought the team was supposed to be getting better, but Miami’s management seems to be moving in the other direction.
Other Sporting News – The Dodgers had a massive 9-player trade with the Red Sox this week. They gave up a decent prospect at first base and some other scrubs for about a quarter of a billion dollars’ worth of Red Sox players. Gonzalez is the key to this deal, but they still had to take Beckett (a .500 pitcher) and Crawford (out for the year with Tommy John surgery).
Next Week – So you want to be an NFL referee?
