Early Summer Rankings

As we near the end of June there is realistically no training camp in sight quite yet, and until the owners settle their differences amongst themselves and the players we as fans cannot plan on the season starting on time. That doesn't mean we will not have a season though. As I've said before, I believe the show will go on sooner or later because there is too much at stake for everybody.

Having said that, it is time to start evaluating each team's roster based on the talent they have on hand at the moment. A lot could change in the next few months, especially if free agency happens, but it is obvious to me which direction each team is going.

1. Green Bay Packers - The defending Super Bowl Champs are also one of the youngest teams in the league. Their draft was solid overall but lacks any real firepower. Derek Sherrod, Randall Cobb, and D.J. Williams are nice additions as far as depth goes on offense but the rest of the crop could easily be training camp fodder, if there is a training camp this year. That brings up an interesting thought: Would most of these rookies even get a shot to make the team if there is no pre-season?
2. Pittsburgh Steelers - You have to give the defending AFC Champs credit, as they continue to find ways to win year after year in a league filled to the brim with quality talent and parity. First round pick Cam Heyward has the skills to be a dominant DE in their scheme.
3. New Orleans Saints - Even though they got thumped by Seattle in the first round of the playoffs last year, the Saints are a talented team that got a lot better on draft day. RB Mark Ingram and DE Cam Jordan could both start immediately, helping the run offense and the run defense.
4. Baltimore Ravens - It is very difficult to look at this roster and think that they do not have a chance at making a strong run for a conference championship. All the pieces are in place and the team drafted some nice prospects, including CB Jimmy Smith from Colorado, who may have been the best pure cover-corner in the draft, and WR Torrey Smith, who brings speed and great run-after-the-catch ability to the position.
5. Philadelphia Eagles - Michael "Madden" Vick put on a show last year and looks to do that all over again. This is one of the fastest teams in the league and they should challenge for the NFC championship. The draft produced 11 picks that should help on special teams and improve the overall depth of the team.
6. New York Jets - One of the most over-rated teams in the league, the Jets need to learn to just keep their mouths shut and play ball. They do have the talent to beat anybody but they are a little too green at some key positions, including QB. Do not be surprised if a team like Miami beats them out for a playoff spot.
7. San Diego Chargers - The biggest underachievers in the league, the Chargers led the league in both total offense and total defense in 2010 but failed to make the playoffs in a weak AFC West division. With all the talent here they should be competing for the Lombardi Trophy in 2011 but the odds are they won't.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Another team with a lot of nice pieces in place, including Pro-Bowl players in QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, and WR Roddy White. However, the defense seems to be missing the right type of attitude and leadership it takes to compete for a ring. Somebody needs to step up at DT and LB. With the addition of first round pick WR Julio Jones maybe the Falcons think they can outscore the likes of Green Bay or New Orleans.
9. New England Patriots - Tom Brady and company will look to make another Super Bowl run, but the team still needs to address its outside pass-rush. The draft brought some promising talent to the OT and RB positions, and QB Ryan Mallet could turn out to be a quality backup.
10. New York Giants - I love the drafts they have put together in recent years and if everybody stays healthy they should put together a nice season. In the end, this team may just be loaded with enough talent to take it all again.
11. Indianapolis Colts - Whenever QB Peyton Manning, the NFL's wealthiest man, is on the field you have a chance to put points on the board. This team just needs to improve on its 20th ranked defense in order to put another title run together. The team did take some nice steps towards protecting their prized QB by drafting OT's Anthony Costonzo and Ben Ijalana in the first two rounds of the draft. Third round DT Drake Nevis could be a steal as well.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - No other team has drafted better than the Bucs over the last few years. Third-year QB Josh Freeman is possibly on the verge of becoming one of the NFL's top passers and the DL is loaded with young talent. The team started several rookies at RB, WR, OL, DL, and S in 2010 while putting together a 10 win season. This is definitely a team on the rise.
13. Houston Texans - Third in total offense and 30th in total defense is the tale of the tape here. I love the J.J. Watt pick in the draft as the team needs bigger DE's to run the new 3-4 defense. Linebackers DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, and second round OLB/DE Brooks Reed could all have big years in the new D. They will have to in order for them to make a run in the AFC South.
14. Kansas City Cheifs - The surprise team of the AFC West should be competitive again. The Chiefs put together one hell of a draft that should at least improve the overall depth of the team, despite the fact that they reached for WR Jonathan Baldwin in the first round. A 10 win season is likely but another playoff berth will be tough to accomplish. Watch out for them in another year.
15. Chicago Bears - This team is over-rated as they squeaked their way into a division title and a first round bye in the playoffs. Jay Cutler is not, and never will be, an elite QB, especially with a horrendous O-line in front of him. Taking DT Stephen Paea in the second round was brilliant and he should help the run defense immediately. Overall, this looks more like an 8-8 team than anything.
16. Detroit Lions - Another team on the rise, the Lions possess two of the NFL's best players at their respective positions in WR Calvin Johnson and DT Ndamukong Suh, and they have several others on the verge of breakout seasons, including QB Matt Stafford and TE Brandon Pettigrew. The additions of DT Nick Fairley, WR Titus Young, and RB Mikel Leshoure in the draft could help solidify things just enough in terms of depth to get the team over the hump and nab a playoff spot.
17. Miami Dolphins - I believe the talent is there in all the right places for this team to make a run. A lot is hinging on QB Chad Henne's ability as a starter, although I believe it's way too early to call him a bust yet. Taking RB Daniel Thomas in the second round is a move that could pay off immediately and help take pressure off the young passer. The defense, which was sixth overall, will be the key to any success.
18. Seattle Seahawks - They surprised everybody with a convincing playoff win against the Saints after being the first team to make the post-season with a losing record. The truth is, however, that they should not have been there in the first place and it exposed a hole in the NFL's system of determining playoff teams. This team is still a couple years away from really being good but they will at least be competitive again in 2011.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars - With the addition of QB Blaine Gabbert through the draft the team seems well-stocked at the position and they could challenge for a playoff spot in a competitive division. However, it appears they could be headed for L.A. so forgive the fans in J-ville if they are not too excited.
20. Dallas Cowboys - The biggest underachievers in the NFC did improve their overall talent on the roster through the draft. OT Tyron Smith is a smooth athlete and is intelligent enough to pick up the pro game and RB DeMarco Murray could help take a lot of pressure off Tony Romo. They still need a lot of work though before they become winners again.
21. Washington Redskins - One of the worst franchises in all of American sports when you consider how much money is put into a lackluster product on the field, the Redskins have too many question marks to make me want to put money on them. I do love the drafting of DE/OLB Ryan Kerrigan, DE Jarvis Jenkins, and WR Leonard Hankerson.
22. Cleveland Browns - I love the draft picks this team has made over the last few years and Colt McCoy might just have the "it" factor to be a good NFL QB. It's just really too bad they have to play the Steelers and Ravens twice each year, but they do get to play the Bengals twice too and the schedule could be weak enough overall with away games in San Francisco, Oakland, and Arizona, and home games against St Louis, Seattle, and Tennessee, to put them in position to nab a playoff spot.
23. St Louis Rams - QB Sam Bradford is making believers out of many folks and the addition of TE Lance Kendricks and WR's Austin Pettis and Greg Salas in the draft should bolster the receiving arsenal a bit. First round pick Robert Quinn could be the pass-rusher the defense needs to take the next step. Lucky for them they play in the league's worst division.
24. San Francisco 49ers - The defense was decent last year, ranking 13th overall, but they did not get much help from the offense, which ranked 24th. This team will go only as far as whoever plays QB will take them but Head Coach Jim Harbaugh could be the difference-maker that they need on the sidelines. Could Kevin Kolb be an option at QB?
25. Minnesota Vikings - There may be a huge question mark at QB but the roster is solid enough overall to put together some wins. RB Adrian Peterson may be facing a tough road ahead in 2011, unless rookie Christian Ponder or second-year passer Joe Webb can get the ball out to the receivers.
26. Oakland Raiders - The biggest problem with this franchise is the owner. If the O-line and the secondary can hold their ground this team could be the big surprise of 2011. Just give Jason Campbell some protection and he will be just fine.
27. Carolina Panthers - Until Cam Newton delivers at QB the team will rely on its running game to get things going on offense. Jimmy Clausen could step in if Newton takes a while to adjust to the pro game. The defense could've used a boost against the run, and maybe third round DT Terrell McClain will help, but that is a lot to ask of the young man. They need a lot of help at WR and DB.
28. Tennessee Titans - They reached for QB Jake Locker in the draft but he should be a big step up from Vince Young in the long run. WR Kenny Britt might be going to jail for a while too so the passing game may take a while to develop. The team drafted several guys that should be solid contributors on defense and special teams down the road, including LB Akeem Ayers, DT Jurrell Casey, LB Colin McCarthy, and DE Karl Klug.
29. Denver Broncos - I am not a believer in Tim Tebow or Knowshon Moreno but but the defense will get better with the return of OLB Elvis Dumervil and the drafting of OLB Von Miller. Of course, they did rank dead last in total defense in 2010 so there is only one way to go.
30. Cincinnati Bengals - I do like the young talent on the roster but it is hard to accomplish much in this league with a rookie QB. They are in rebuilding mode but could be a force in two or three years.
31. Arizona Cardinals - Without a legitimate starting QB it really doesn't matter how good your receivers are downfield. CB Patrick Peterson and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie have the talent to become the best cornerback tandem in the league, but that will take a lot of hard work. Get a QB and things will get better in Tempe.
32. Buffalo Bills - DT Marcel Dareus is a huge upgrade on the DL, literally. The league's worst run defense should get better with him in the mix. The roster is not that bad overall but the guys they have need to play more consistently as a team. I have never been a fan of Head Coach Chan Gailey so it may come as no surprise that I believe he is the biggest problem.

Checking In and the Top Ten Things to Do if There is No NFL Season

It has been nearly three months since the 2011 NFL Draft and nothing more concerning business on the field has been conducted due to the current lockout situation. For any of you that are not aware of this holdup you obviously have not been paying too much attention, which is not a bad thing. This labor dispute between the league and the players concerning $900 million in revenue ultimately has nothing to do with us as fans, and hopefully the multitude of Americans that watch the NFL actually have something better to do than worry about what kind of deal is being worked out.

I for one do not care about the details of the business side of things concerning football. First of all, it is really none of my business. Secondly, I do have a life of my own. I understand that I am just a fan that willingly pays to see the NFL product one way or another, and I even go one step further and write about it for virtually nothing in return. I do not have any real vested interest in the NFL so I do not have a say in how things operate. I am just too damned busy enjoying myself to worry about what kind of deal those running the league are working out amongst themselves and the players anyway. When they get their stuff in line I will gladly indulge without taking anything personally. After all, it is just a business and my ultimate happiness does not hinge on other people's business dealings.

I know a lot of fans, especially the blue collar folk out there, feel like they have been slapped in the face over this multi-million dollar disagreement. As far as I am concerned no fan has any real justification for being upset. I'd like to think that this is still a free market capitalist society that thrives on the theory of supply and demand. If it is then there will most-likely be an NFL season to look forward to in our near future. However, if the league decided to close up shop for good that is their decision and they have every right to do just that, just as Post Cereals has a right to stop producing Fruity Pebbles if that is the direction they want to go as a business. Whether or not thousands of college kids that cannot cook for themselves go hungry is not the company's responsibility.

Obviously, I for one do not find too much value in traditions but don't misinterpret my words. I would not be happy to see us lose one single season of pro football. The point I am trying to make here is simply that professional football is THEIR business, not OURS. They, being the league and its owners, have every right to do what they want with their product no matter what we as fans might think. The players do not have to like it either, as they too have other options.

If the players decide that they should take their business elsewhere there is always the CFL (Canadian Football League) or the UFL (United Football League). If they are not happy with any of those options either there is always the possibility of them starting their own league, owned and operated by the players for the pure enjoyment of the fans. Now think about that for a minute. Do the players really need the NFL? I don't think so. Even if most of the uber-elite players in the NFL, such as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, decided to stick it out with Commissioner Roger Goodell and the owners, imagine if a large group of players, consisting of the likes of Reggie Bush, James Harrison, Chad Ochocinco, or Donovan McNabb decided it was in their best interest to explore other avenues for employment. Most of us would probably watch it at least a little bit, especially if there was no NFL season.

Of course most fans would have a hard time not rooting for their favorite NFL franchise. Some habits do indeed die hard. I do believe though, that if we the fans were left with no other choice than to watch the UFL, or some other form of professional football, we would. I know I would. I even watched the XFL, despite its laughable attempt to make the game more entertaining. Remember, the Super Bowl was not always as big as it is today, with the first title game having over 30,000 empty seats in the L.A. Coliseum. In fact, all the fans in attendance of Super Bowl I were moved to the center of the stands to make it appear as if the stadium was full on TV. As we all know today regular season tickets average about 100 bones and one should expect to dish out a few grand to make it to the Super Bowl.

In all, do not expect me to weigh in too much on what is going on behind closed doors in the NFL. Let them conduct their business as they see fit. Things will work themselves out eventually. Until then find something else to do. In fact, here is a list of ten things to do this fall if there is no NFL season:

1. Watch College Football and argue about the need for a playoff system.
2. Watch the MLB playoffs and the World Series.
3. Watch the beginning of the NHL season (Looks like the NBA is headed for a lockout as well so forget about pro basketball)
4. Go for a hike.
5. Make a baby.
6. Celebrate Oktoberfest.
7. Plan and stock up for the 2012 apocalypse.
8. Go fishing.
9. Listen to the new album by The Deal with 44 due out sometime in November.
10. Watch the CFL and UFL.

Remember, these are just suggestions. If anybody has any better ideas please let me know what they are as I am always looking for something new to try.