Surprise teams in '09?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

That's really a misconception of how TO's cancer spreads (and I don't deny he is one). TO has a huge work ethic, and he always starts out by giving good praise to HIS quarterback. That's why his first year is often so good. Now in Dallas with Parcells, the injury thing came up, but that was Parcells not really wanting "the player". Everyone in Buffalo is going to give TO whatever he needs. TO also develops a click around him of players who see him as a hard working athlete who has gotten a bum rap. Buffalo has several players who will line up on that side with him. TO's cancer only starts to eat away at the team as they get so close, but never quite over the top, and he starts sending out messages of "if only I had gotten the ball that one more time we could have won that game". And by the 3rd year the teams are left with a locker room that has two camps, one supporting the QB, the other supporting TO. Of course the media feeds all of this and blows it up causing the cancer to really spread.

I say all that to again make the point that TO's presence this year will be amazingly positive for Buffalo. They may even get to the 2nd round of the playoffs, I doubt they make it to the AFC Championship, but if they can take on NE they may very well have a shot.

You are correct. If history is a guide, in year one TO behaves pretty well and things go relatively smoothly. After year one, take cover!

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I actually say the Lions. The SURPRISE though will be that they win 7 games. Definitely not playoff contender but they will make a huge leap this year.

ditto

[skinsfan69]

I think Seattle is going to bounce back pretty strong and I expect them to be in the playoff hunt.

[Ldyskns fan 26]

My two picks are the Texans and the 49ers.

[backrow]

My Surprise is no surprise!

Steelers repeat taking it to the G-men!

Skins barely miss POs with 9 wins after the OL breaks down after week 7. Two wins each over cow-not-quite men and e-girlz! Zorn and Soup stay! Vinnie-look-inna-my-eyyes stays. We draft a LB in the 1st next year. OL in the 4th and 5th.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

Who do you guys think will be the BIG SURPRISE this season?

BEARS and the BENGALS

Bears-I think Juaquin Iglesias will be a really good receiver, i think that Johnny Knox will help out with PR/KR giving Hester more time to work on WR
I think Cutler will hook Bennett up b/c they're college buddies

Bengals- Have a good defense which got better with a good draft, and they get Carson Palmer back, Chris Henry is getting rave reviews during OTAs and Coles replaces Housh and they got some young receivers waiting in the wings

[TheSmurfs22]

I am going with the Chiefs. Eventhough they are going through an overhaul on and off the field this team has some potential.

[TheSmurfs22]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

The Bengals have one of the worst ownerships IMO, I think they continue to waste away Carson Palmer's talent. Unless the Steelers and Baltimore take a major nose dive, I don't see them being successful.

~~~
When I worked in the league we played the Bengals and they were very hard to work with. They were disorganized and did things at the last minute thus causing a headache for all of us in stadium ops. I learned that for the most part, teams that had problems on the field had administrative issues off the field as well.
As much as I hate the Cowboys they ran an extremely professional organization and Jerry Jones was the ustmost professional.

[DBUCHANON101]

Today, the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves at the top of the list for possible relocation - a rumor that Weaver dismisses. In the aforementioned Post article, he affirms his commitment to Jacksonville -- a city he notes to be growing steadily (by almost 20,000 people a year, according to some estimates) -- but acknowledges the challenges in owning and operating a small-market team.

Los Angeles is the top contender. Football and business enthusiasts alike are given to pose the question: “How does Jacksonville have football when LA doesn’t?”

Although rhetorical, it’s a compelling query. After all, LA is the second-largest market in the US. With its virtually limitless fanbase and corporate sponsors, the Jaguars’ financial woes would melt away.

I know this is off topic. I couldnt imagine the LA JAGS. if they kept the name

[rypper11]

I say Raiders and 49ers both winning their divisions. Though the AFC West might be won with a 7-9 record.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

That's really a misconception of how TO's cancer spreads (and I don't deny he is one). TO has a huge work ethic, and he always starts out by giving good praise to HIS quarterback. That's why his first year is often so good. Now in Dallas with Parcells, the injury thing came up, but that was Parcells not really wanting "the player". Everyone in Buffalo is going to give TO whatever he needs. TO also develops a click around him of players who see him as a hard working athlete who has gotten a bum rap. Buffalo has several players who will line up on that side with him. TO's cancer only starts to eat away at the team as they get so close, but never quite over the top, and he starts sending out messages of "if only I had gotten the ball that one more time we could have won that game". And by the 3rd year the teams are left with a locker room that has two camps, one supporting the QB, the other supporting TO. Of course the media feeds all of this and blows it up causing the cancer to really spread.

I say all that to again make the point that TO's presence this year will be amazingly positive for Buffalo. They may even get to the 2nd round of the playoffs, I doubt they make it to the AFC Championship, but if they can take on NE they may very well have a shot.

Good analysis, we shall see come season kickoff time!
You certainly make a point about how he plays when he starts a new team.
However, when he started in Dallas, they went 9-7. The year before he got there, they were 9-7. When he started in Phily, they went 13-3, the year before he got there they were 12-4. Both Phily and Dallas were pretty good teams before he arrived, and did little to make them better. Also, keep in mind that Owens got hurt at the end of his first year in Phily, and did not make a playoff start, but came back for the S.B. The eagles won without him in the playoffs beating Minn. 27-14, and beating Atlanta 27-10. When he came back, they lost 24-21. Not saying there is a direct correlation here, just pointing out the coincidence...or is it?

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by DBUCHANON101

Today, the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves at the top of the list for possible relocation - a rumor that Weaver dismisses. In the aforementioned Post article, he affirms his commitment to Jacksonville -- a city he notes to be growing steadily (by almost 20,000 people a year, according to some estimates) -- but acknowledges the challenges in owning and operating a small-market team.

Los Angeles is the top contender. Football and business enthusiasts alike are given to pose the question: “How does Jacksonville have football when LA doesn’t?”

Although rhetorical, it’s a compelling query. After all, LA is the second-largest market in the US. With its virtually limitless fanbase and corporate sponsors, the Jaguars’ financial woes would melt away.

I know this is off topic. I couldnt imagine the LA JAGS. if they kept the name

Wait a minute...so your saying going to California, who has the WORST financial situation out of all 50 states, is the answer? HAHAHA. L.A. lost 2 teams for a reason! It wasn't cause the money was pouring in.
I'd rather see Las Vegas get a team, or even Honolulu.

[DBUCHANON101]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Wait a minute...so your saying going to California, who has the WORST financial situation out of all 50 states, is the answer? HAHAHA. L.A. lost 2 teams for a reason! It wasn't cause the money was pouring in.
I'd rather see Las Vegas get a team, or even Honolulu.

Im not sayin anything, that was part of an article on MSN, i just couldnt believe the Jags were in that kind of trouble being a new team.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by DBUCHANON101

Im not sayin anything, that was part of an article on MSN, i just couldnt believe the Jags were in that kind of trouble being a new team.

The Jags get little local support. Their preseason games are blacked out on tv in Jax because no one shows up. And in the regular season, by NFL rules the game cannot be shown locally on tv unless it is a sellout. Because the Jags had no hope of achieving such, they simply covered over a block of seats to make their stadium effectively smaller. Finally, even if they had tons of rabid fans, they play in a small market, which hurts their marketing, etc. The attraction of LA, despite its past failures, is that it is a large market.

[budw38]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Cowboys. Everyone will pick them to win the Super Bowl and they won't even make the playoffs. Wait.....that's not really surprising is it?

How about we hold the cowboys to zero TD's in our two beatdowns < I mean games > with them ,,,, would that be a suprise ? The pukes lost more than just T.O. ,,, on Defense , Canty , Ellis , Burnett, Henry,R Williams and pacman .