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Column: Don’t look now, here comes the rest of the NFC
Matt DeWalt
sports@weatherforddemocrat.com
The offseason talk on every local sports show and most national sports shows has focused on the expectations of the 2008 Dallas Cowboys, and for the most part, rightfully so.
The Cowboys didn’t have any significant losses in the offseason and the nucleus of the team that went 13-3 a season ago remains in tact, however, they still lack a proven No. 2 wide receiver.
Quarterback Tony Romo and girlfriend Jessica Simpson (which is another column entirely) haven’t done anything, yet, to take away from the team and its goals. Sometimes troublesome wide receiver Terrell Owens, who usually makes as much news off the field as does on, has been absent from any and all media attention this offseason. I guess that happens when you bring in a guy like Pacman ... excuse me, “Adam” Jones. He tends to command a bit of attention.
For most of the offseason, the analysts and talk show hosts have been predicting where the teams in the NFL will finish their respective season. Most, if not all, have Dallas sitting atop the NFC with a chance to add yet another Lombardi Trophy to its already storied trophy case.
However, the face of the NFC has changed over the past week and some possible challengers for the conference crown are beginning to take shape, and one of those happens to be a divisional opponent of the Cowboys.
The Washington Commanders landed a big fish when they traded for disgruntled Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor. Taylor fell out of favor with, former Cowboys coach and current Dolphins president Bill Parcells, because of his participation on the show “Dancing With the Stars” during the offseason. Apparently, he wasn’t focusing on football enough for Parcells, which made him the lead dog in Big Bill’s dog house.
The Commanders scratched their way into the NFC playoffs last season and with the addition of a playmaking defensive end, they should get better. Another key component to fuel Washington’s fire this season is the fact that this is the first full season without safety Sean Taylor, who was shot and killed in his home last season. We saw what emotions can do for a team, just ask the New Orleans Saints.
Speaking of the Saints, they too made a big move this week, acquiring tight end Jeremy Shockey from the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Shockey adds yet another weapon to the New Orleans offense, which already contains a leader in quarterback Drew Brees, a playmaker in running back Reggie Bush, a solid veteran in running back Deuce McAllister and a budding star in wide receiver Marques Colston.
If the Saints can get back to their 2006 form on defense, which they are trying to do by acquiring linebacker Jonathan Vilma from the New York Jets and drafting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis from the University of Southern California, they may be able to go toe-to-toe with some of the more talented teams in the NFC, including the Cowboys.
The drama that is Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre’s retirement or almost retirement in also continues, which could have a dramatic effect on how the conference shapes up. With Favre, the Packers are a playoff team. Without him, they should be, but with unproven Aaron Rodgers at the helm of one of the greatest franchises in sports, playing in the shadow of a Hall of Famer, who knows.
If Favre doesn’t return to Green Bay and the Packers finally give in and decide to grant him his unconditional release instead of trading him, he could possibly end up in Minnesota with a Vikings team that seems to lack only a quarterback and proven leader. Favre could provide both.
With Adrian Peterson in the backfield, the Vikings will have a running game no matter who they are up against. Minnesota also has a quality receiver in former Chicago Bears wideout Bernard Berrian, who came over in the offseason. On the other side of the ball, their defense was one of the best in football in 2007 and only got better with the addition of former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen. One last piece and the Vikings could be a legitimate contender.
Of course there are the New York Giants who are wearing the NFL crown until someone takes it from them. However, they have lost leadership in the retirement of defensive end Michael Strahan and now Shockey. Besides that, I don’t know anybody who honestly believes that quarterback Eli Manning can replicate his playoff run from a year ago throughout the 2008 season.
With just those potential suitors vying for a chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, the Cowboys have their work cutout for them. Dallas may still be the best team in the conference, but everyone else seems to be doing all they can to keep pace as they await their opportunity for a title shot at the favored team from Dallas.
Matt DeWalt
sports@weatherforddemocrat.com
The offseason talk on every local sports show and most national sports shows has focused on the expectations of the 2008 Dallas Cowboys, and for the most part, rightfully so.
The Cowboys didn’t have any significant losses in the offseason and the nucleus of the team that went 13-3 a season ago remains in tact, however, they still lack a proven No. 2 wide receiver.
Quarterback Tony Romo and girlfriend Jessica Simpson (which is another column entirely) haven’t done anything, yet, to take away from the team and its goals. Sometimes troublesome wide receiver Terrell Owens, who usually makes as much news off the field as does on, has been absent from any and all media attention this offseason. I guess that happens when you bring in a guy like Pacman ... excuse me, “Adam” Jones. He tends to command a bit of attention.
For most of the offseason, the analysts and talk show hosts have been predicting where the teams in the NFL will finish their respective season. Most, if not all, have Dallas sitting atop the NFC with a chance to add yet another Lombardi Trophy to its already storied trophy case.
However, the face of the NFC has changed over the past week and some possible challengers for the conference crown are beginning to take shape, and one of those happens to be a divisional opponent of the Cowboys.
The Washington Commanders landed a big fish when they traded for disgruntled Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor. Taylor fell out of favor with, former Cowboys coach and current Dolphins president Bill Parcells, because of his participation on the show “Dancing With the Stars” during the offseason. Apparently, he wasn’t focusing on football enough for Parcells, which made him the lead dog in Big Bill’s dog house.
The Commanders scratched their way into the NFC playoffs last season and with the addition of a playmaking defensive end, they should get better. Another key component to fuel Washington’s fire this season is the fact that this is the first full season without safety Sean Taylor, who was shot and killed in his home last season. We saw what emotions can do for a team, just ask the New Orleans Saints.
Speaking of the Saints, they too made a big move this week, acquiring tight end Jeremy Shockey from the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Shockey adds yet another weapon to the New Orleans offense, which already contains a leader in quarterback Drew Brees, a playmaker in running back Reggie Bush, a solid veteran in running back Deuce McAllister and a budding star in wide receiver Marques Colston.
If the Saints can get back to their 2006 form on defense, which they are trying to do by acquiring linebacker Jonathan Vilma from the New York Jets and drafting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis from the University of Southern California, they may be able to go toe-to-toe with some of the more talented teams in the NFC, including the Cowboys.
The drama that is Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre’s retirement or almost retirement in also continues, which could have a dramatic effect on how the conference shapes up. With Favre, the Packers are a playoff team. Without him, they should be, but with unproven Aaron Rodgers at the helm of one of the greatest franchises in sports, playing in the shadow of a Hall of Famer, who knows.
If Favre doesn’t return to Green Bay and the Packers finally give in and decide to grant him his unconditional release instead of trading him, he could possibly end up in Minnesota with a Vikings team that seems to lack only a quarterback and proven leader. Favre could provide both.
With Adrian Peterson in the backfield, the Vikings will have a running game no matter who they are up against. Minnesota also has a quality receiver in former Chicago Bears wideout Bernard Berrian, who came over in the offseason. On the other side of the ball, their defense was one of the best in football in 2007 and only got better with the addition of former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen. One last piece and the Vikings could be a legitimate contender.
Of course there are the New York Giants who are wearing the NFL crown until someone takes it from them. However, they have lost leadership in the retirement of defensive end Michael Strahan and now Shockey. Besides that, I don’t know anybody who honestly believes that quarterback Eli Manning can replicate his playoff run from a year ago throughout the 2008 season.
With just those potential suitors vying for a chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, the Cowboys have their work cutout for them. Dallas may still be the best team in the conference, but everyone else seems to be doing all they can to keep pace as they await their opportunity for a title shot at the favored team from Dallas.
