My Wes Welker Blog

The addition of WR Randy Moss by the New England Patriots was without a doubt the biggest offseason transaction in the league. With the Patriots being underminned by a struggling passing game in 2006, the New England front office made it a point to go out into the free agent market and address this need. The signings of WR's Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth, and Kelly Washington surely brought a smile to the face of QB Tom Brady. The trade for Randy Moss from Oakland probably caused Brady to jum up and down on couches(a la Tom Cruise). All in all, the New England Patriots now have an incredible amount of weapons at their disposal for the passing game and has made the team the favorite to be Super Bowl champions. For their QB, 2007 could turn out to be a huge year for Tom Brady.

As far as fantasy is concerned, Brady has always been a solid tier 2 passer who owners could depend on week in and week out to put up solid all around numbers. The fact that he has made every start since replacing Drew Bledsoe four seasons ago gives Brady even more value due to the fact you never have to worry about injuries at a very injury-prone position. Tell that to Donovan McNabb owners how valuable that is. Now with all of the additions to the passing game, look for Brady to have a monster season in the TD and yardage department. Usually hovering between the 24-28 TD mark, expect Tom to stand more than a good chance of having his first 30 TD season. A 4,000 yard passing total is a given.

So when drafting a quarterback in your 2007 draft, it is suggested here that you let other owners grab Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, and Drew Brees, while you wait until the third round to draft Brady. He may not be the most flashiest QB in the league, but Brady will put up numbers to rival anyone throwing a football in the 2007 campaign.

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The New England Patriots have been respected as one of the best teams in the league for much of the past decade. They have won three Super Bowls, they made another trip to a Super Bowl during an undefeated regular season campaign, and they have been consistently strong even when they haven't won. So what can be expected in 2010?

One of the major concerns for the club was the injury suffered late last year by star wide receiver Wes Welker. However, Welker has rehabbed his injury in amazing time, and is back to the lineup, in time to give quarterback Tom Brady another go-to option on the field.

As for Brady, he is trying to finalize a contract extension that will see him through the next three or four years of action. He obviously wants to stay with the club, but there have been rumors that he and the team are not exactly seeing eye to eye, and may end up parting ways sooner than most would have expected.

Randy Moss also has contract concerns. The dynamic wide receiver is in the last year of his deal as well, and there have been no signs that the team wants to sign him to another pricey contract. This may end up affecting his attitude and performance as the season drags on, something that the club definitely doesn't want to deal with.

Ultimately, the team has loads of talent on offense, but needs the defensive side of the ball to pick up the pace and return to their championship form. If they want to stay as one of the favorites in the conference, they will need big play on both sides of the ball, and a happy and healthy Brady, Moss and Welker on offense.

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Every year, a handful of teams vie for a shot at the playoffs as the football season nears an end. Typically, these teams will finish with anywhere between 7 and 10 wins, and while all of them are generally talented teams, only two will be able to break through.

The action usually comes down to the last week of the season, and the outcomes of certain games will determine who gets in and who doesn't. Some teams, like last year's 11-5 Patriots, suffer from tough luck and won't make it through. In other years, 8-8 has been good enough to make it happen.

This season, the two teams that were fortunate enough to get a shot at the post season were the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets. Let's take a quick look at the Ravens here, as I'll also provide some quick analysis regarding their chances.

First, there are the Baltimore Ravens. Having secured the #5 seed, this may be a team that no one wants to face come playoff time.

Why would this be the case if they were only 9-7? Well, for one, the team has experience. Having made the playoffs last year, Joe Flacco and the Ravens have been there, and they won a game last year as well. In fact, they came one game away from the Super Bowl before losing to the Steelers.

With one of the most potent running backs in the league in Ray Rice, defenses have a lot to fear. Willis McGahee isn't half bad either, and his 167 rush yards in week 17 may have very well been what put the team past the Raiders and into January play.

On top of this, Baltimore has some of the best defensive weapons in the game. Guys like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are seasoned veterans who are ready to embrace the challenge.

With a round 1 matchup against the New England Patriots, most would favor the Pats to win here. Still, there are a few reasons that the Ravens may have a shot in addition to what was mentioned above.

Most notably, Wes Welker is out with injury for New England and this will hurt. Additionally, these two team met in week 3, and the Pats only won by 6 points. Can Baltimore build on their last experience and make it through this time?

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The New York Jets and New England Patriots have much to prove in their Week 2 matchup at the New Meadowlands Stadium. The Patriots have to prove they can again display the offensive firepower they showed against the Bengals. And suffice to say that the Jets need to get their offense going and show that the off-field issues swirling around the team aren't affecting their play on the field. These divisional rivals would like nothing more than to make a statement on Sunday and gain an upper hand in the competitive AFC East. Before we could even consider what the NFL predictions for this game would be let's take a closer look at both teams offense.

Patriots on Offense

The Patriots were extremely impressive on Sunday against the Bengals. New England's passing offense truly stood out as Tom Brady went 25-35 in the game with three touchdown passes and four receivers caught at least four balls. Most importantly for the Patriots, Wes Welker looked to already be on the same wavelength with Tom Terrific in his first game back from an ACL and MCL tear in his left knee.

New England has the ability to score on the vaunted New York defense. Just as Baltimore went after Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie for any offensive edge, Tom Brady will do the same the Jets. New York's cornerbacks must be more disciplined than they were on Monday night and resist the urge to go for the flashy play. If New York sticks to the same defensive scheme from Monday and blitz the Patriots and Brady almost constantly, New England has a veteran offense which can pick them apart in the middle of the field. I expect the Jets to put forth a fine defensive effort and to be more disciplined then last week, but it will take more than one game for New York to plan a working defensive scheme and to get players back in regular season form. As long as New England is able to successfully run the ball they will have a solid day on offense.

Jets on Offense

The Jets offense was pathetic on Monday night, making only six first downs and passing for a measly 60 yards. Brian Scottenheimer and Rex Ryan must be willing to take more risks on offense and to be more creative. All the Jets offense seemed to consist of in their first game were screen passes and runs up the middle. If Mark Sanchez takes shots in the middle of the field and deep when appropriate and avoids constantly going to his first option New York can slice and dice the Patriots, who lack depth in their secondary and were frequently burnt by the Bengals. As long as the passing offense has some success, Ladanian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene should be able to pull off the long runs that eluded them exhibited on offense in game one, and I expect it to display plenty of growing pains.

Prediction

The Jets cannot completely shut down Tom Brady and one of the NFL's best offenses on defense, and on offense they are too much in flux to take advantage of the Patriot's deficiencies. Sorry New York fans, Mark Sanchez is not the second coming just yet. Expect a low scoring game but for Brady to eventually put it out of reach.

NFL predictions: Patriots at Jets

NE 21
NY 14

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I know, I know. I must be crazy for even asking the question. How can a guy who is on pace to not only obliterate the single season mark for TD's but also possibly go undefeated not be the MVP? Only someone who has a personal grudge against the guy could think otherwise. Someone would have to be a die-hard Ohio State Buckeye fan, or hate QB's who appear in GQ magazines, or hate any player who plays for Darth Hoodie to even entertain the notion that Tom Brady does not deserve the MVP.

Well I stand here today (well, sit here really) as someone who is none of the above three. I happen to like the Wolverines and hold no grudges for the GQ club or anyone who plays for the despicable presence that is Bill Belichick. So now that we are on the same page, allow me to explain to you why Tom Brady is not the MVP of the NFL this season so far.

Yes, Tom Brady will statistically be the best player not only this season, but quite possibly ever. Yes, he will end the season at a minimum of 14-2, with the chance of perfection absolutely in sight. But do these two things mean he HAS to be the MVP. This type of debate arises every year in baseball. Does having the most insane stats imaginable mean you are the most VALUABLE player in all of your sport? A-Rod just won the American League MVP. Was it just because he put up Mantle and Ruth-like numbers? No. It was because he single handedly propelled the Yankees into the playoffs. Take A-Rod away, and the Yankees do not make the playoffs.

So this brings me back to my point. I will say it boldly. As of this moment in the NFL season, having just about completed week 12, Brett Favre is the NFL MVP. Just to endure some more ridicule, lets look at a brief side by side statistical comparison.

Touchdowns: Brady-39, Favre-22.

Yards: Brady-3,439, Favre-3,356.

Interceptions: Brady-4(are you kidding?), Favre- 8

Passer Rating: Brady-127.9, Favre-101.5

Why, after this near embarrassing statistical comparison, and knowing that Tom Brady is quite possibly going to be the quarterback who leads his team to a perfect season, do I think that old man river Brett Favre is the MVP? Thank you for asking. I'll tell you why. Lets look at some important factors that should not be overlooked. We'll start simple. Tom Brady actually has a team around him. Brett Favre has players around him. Brady has a team, and one hell of a team on that note. He has the most gifted receiver in the NFL, after the quietest steal in NFL history in terms of trades. His 2nd receiver could be the #1 on many teams. Wes Welker, the #3, could be #1 or #2 on many teams as well. The tandem of Maroney and Morris, although nothing amazing lately, has provided a sound running game. Add this to the fact that Brady is protected by the damn Great Wall of China with his offensive line, and you have all of the pieces for success. I'm not downgrading his success. He is an amazing quarterback. But keep in mind he is playing for an amazing team. He is a product of his own talent, but also of the incredible talent around him.

Brett Favre, on the other hand, is a product of nothing more than himself. Please name for me 4 starters on the Packers offense not named Brett Favre or Donald Driver. You can recite the Patriots wide receiver trio, their tight end, running backs, etc. Brett Favre is playing nearly by himself out there. He is creating a star in a kid named Greg Jennings and until the past few weeks had the equivalent of a high school running game behind him. Despite all of this, despite the lack of talent around him, despite the lack of running game around him until the recent emergence of Ryan Grant, you have an old quarterback doing absolutely incredible things.

And now onto the second reason why Brett Favre, and NOT Tom Brady is the MVP as of right now. Take the fact that the Patriots are the best team in the NFL and add onto that the fact that their schedule hasn't exactly been, let's say, daunting. Tell me if this line of opponents sounds scary to you. Buffalo Bills(twice), New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals. Anyone else still shaking? Didn't think so. The only real defense they have played this season was Indy, and MAYBE San Diego (although lately they can't seem to defend anybody). The Packers, on the other hand, have played these teams: Eagles, Giants, Chargers, Vikings(twice), Bears, @Denver, @Kansas City, and Carolina. I said it in a previous post of mine, but I don't believe anyone in the league has had a tougher schedule defensively than that so far. And yet Brett Favre has nearly single-handedly led his team to a 9-1 record.

Add all of these factors together, and it spells one thing; MVP. Most VALUABLE Player. Brett Favre, in terms of value to his team, is the best player in the National Football League right now. Let the hate emails and comments proceed.

My name is Justin Beegel. I am currently an MBA student at Binghamton University. Sports have always played a huge role in my life, and because of this have created a blog that I update daily to talk about everything going on in the NFL. This has been very fulfilling for me because it allows me to write about something I love to be immersed in. The website is http://www.TheOnlyFootballBlog.com

In preparation for the NFL season, in addition to revising my power rankings almost constantly, I am taking a look around the league, team-by-team. While up to now, I have only been looking at the teams as a whole, I will now, here and in upcoming posts, take a look at each facet of the team. (Quarterbacks, O-Line, etc.)

Let's start at the top, with a division very close to my heart (I live in Massachusetts), the AFC East. Here are the most comprehensive rankings you can find on the World Wide Web:

(# = Last year's rankings)

1) New England Patriots 12-4
Quarterback: Tom Brady (#1)
Running Back: Laurence Maroney (#24)
Wide Receivers: Wes Welker (#3), Randy Moss (#5), Julian Edelman (#53)
Tight Ends: Alge Crumpler (#31)
QB Protection: #2
Rush Protection: #19
Sacks (on opponent): #22
Run Defense: #23
Pass Defense: #19
Key Additions: WR Torry Holt (#68), TE Alge Crumpler (#31)
Key Losses: TE Ben Watson (#10), DE/DT Jarvis Green, DE/OLB Adalius Thomas
Notes: The downgrade at tight end should be minimal, given the two TEs the Patriots have in the wings (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez), and the fact that in the Belichick system, tight ends are used as blockers.... You may not think that a team with such a shoddy defensive line could be expected to go 12-4, but look at the New Orleans Saints (#26) last year... Laurence Maroney, entering a contract year, must put up or be eclipsed by Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, or another back on the roster... With Welker looking like he's made a full recovery, the passing unit looks like it can shoulder the brunt of the responsibility for this team.

2) New York Jets 11-5
Quarterback: Mark Sanchez (#38)
Running Backs: Shonn Greene (#30), Ladanian Tomlinson (#42)
Wide Receivers: Santonio Holmes (#11), Jerricho Cotchery (#22), Laveranues Coles (#44), Braylon Edwards (#49)
Tight Ends: Dustin Keller (#28)
QB Protection: #24
Rush Protection: #6
Sacks (on opponent): #16
Run Defense: #4
Pass Defense: #1
Key Additions: RB Ladanian Tomlinson (#42), WR Santonio Holmes (#11) DE/OLB Jason Taylor, CB Antonio Cromartie
Key Losses: RB Thomas Jones (#23), FS Kelly Rhodes
Notes: No surprise that the Darrell Revis-led pass defense is ranked #1... The addition of Santonio Holmes gives QB Sanchez a strong core to mask his inexperience... Don't be surprised if the running game takes a hit this year; time will tell whether RB Greene can lead the staff... Jason Taylor will provide depth and experience to what is already a fantastic defensive line... For Mark Sanchez to mature, the O-line has to step up and prevent sacks.

3) Miami Dolphins 9-7
Quarterback: Chad Henne (#17)
Running Backs: Ricky Williams (#8), Ronnie Brown (#16)
Wide Receivers: Brandon Marshall (#24), Brian Hartline (#30), Greg Camarillo (#37), Davone Bess (#41),
Tight Ends: Anthony Fasano (#37)
QB Protection: #14
Rush Protection: #8
Sacks (on opponent): #1
Run Defense: #15
Pass Defense: #32
Key Additions: WR Brandon Marshall (#24)
Key Losses: DE/OLB Joey Porter, DE/OLB Jason Taylor
Notes: The only better one-two punch than RBs Williams and Brown are Carolina's Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams... Without DE/OLBs Porter and Taylor, look for Miami's defense to quickly deteriorate... Don't be surprised if Miami is the #1 offense next year; they have all the tools to make it happen: A young, able quarterback; a stable of running backs; and 4 (count 'em) wide-recievers on the edge of breaking out.

4) Buffallo Bills 8-8
Quarterback: Trent Edwards (#32), Ryan Fitzpatrick (#34)
Running Backs: Fred Jackson (#22), Marshawn Lynch (#45)
Wide Receivers: Lee Evans (#64), Steve Johnson (N/A), Chad Jackson (N/A)
Tight End: Johnathan Stupar (N/A)
QB Protection: #32
Rush Protection: #10
Sacks (on opponent): #19
Run Defense: #30
Pass Defense: #2
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: WR Terrell Owens (#70)
Notes: This team will flop no matter the quarterback behind the rudder... There is so much to dislike about this team, but let's start with the fact that they have just one capable wideout... There is only one way this team can win 8 games, and that is to run down their opponents' throats, and keep their pass defense as steady as it was last year.

More to come!

Si
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