It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it Summer Scramble, and today we look at the NFC West's looming position battles.
Everyone makes mistakes. But when those mistakes are magnified by intense scrutiny of the NFL draft, well, they become much more embarrassing than, say, my typical Friday morning, mustard-stain-on-khakis incident.
Which is why the NFL FanHouse braintrust got together to determine who is the biggest bust for each NFL team. They're not listed in terms of stupidity -- they're all stupid relative to a team's total draft performance. Meaning, of course, some teams "bust" is much different than another organization's; we did it this way to avoid just linking you to DetroitLions.com.
Instead, we're putting it in current draft order, sans trades, and allowing this list to serve as a reminder of each's team's ability to properly execute a fail. The "bust factor" was based primarily on three things: statistical production (or lack thereof), position in the draft and other available options during that year's draft.
Meet The ... Boys finally freed from the albatross that is Shaun Alexander. I'm guessing Mike Holmgren feels like a gigantic weight has been lifted from his chiseled physique with the departure of the former superstar. A franchise QB will help the offense move forward, along with the freedom to actually play whichever running back runs the hardest.
The Breakout Just like I said in the Browns preview about Donte' Stallworth, we've been down this road with Nate Burleson before. And just like I said there, I'm ready to gamble again. It's a problem, I know. He did have a breakout season in '04 with the Vikes where he racked up 1006 yards on 68 catches ... nine of which went to paydirt. Since then he hasn't been playing full-time whether injury or being buried on the depth chart was the culprit. Last year he found the end-zone nine times again, and he didn't play near full-time. This year he will, with Deion Branch scheduled to miss some possibly significant time. I expect a baseline of 1000 yards on 75 catches to go with 8 TDs. Anything after that is gravy, considering his current ADP (48th WR).
Meet The ... Boys finally freed from the albatross that is Shaun Alexander. I'm guessing Mike Holmgren feels like a gigantic weight has been lifted from his chiseled physique with the departure of the former superstar. A franchise QB will help the offense move forward, along with the freedom to actually play whichever running back runs the hardest.
The Breakout Just like I said in the Browns preview about Donte' Stallworth, we've been down this road with Nate Burleson before. And just like I said there, I'm ready to gamble again. It's a problem, I know. He did have a breakout season in '04 with the Vikes where he racked up 1006 yards on 68 catches ... nine of which went to paydirt. Since then he hasn't been playing full-time whether injury or being buried on the depth chart was the culprit. Last year he found the end-zone nine times again, and he didn't play near full-time. This year he will, with Deion Branch scheduled to miss some possibly significant time. I expect a baseline of 1000 yards on 75 catches to go with 8 TDs. Anything after that is gravy, considering his current ADP (48th WR).
[Crumpler's agent Butch] Williams said. "With Coach [Jim] Mora, Mr. [Tim] Ruskell and Patrick Kerney in Seattle, that causes us to be comfortable."
Mora was fired by the Falcons as the head coach after the 2006. Ruskell served as Atlanta's assistant general manager until being named Seattle's president of football operations in 2005. Former defensive end Patrick Kerney signed with Seattle last season.
From a system standpoint, it makes sense. Crumpler thrived in the West Coast offense in Atlanta -- even if quarterback Michael Vick didn't. He'll go to Seattle and work with a very experienced QB who is well versed in the offense.
It still isn't a done deal, however, as the Tennessee Titans may still be in play. If the Titans come with something much better, Crumpler may elect to become Vince Young's main target.
But what is surprising is that there wasn't even a close second. Of the 50 media voters, 31 chose Sanders, whose return from an injury that cost him most of the 2006 season dramatically turned around the Colts' defense. Two defensive linemen, Seattle's Patrick Kerney and Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth, tied for second, but they got just four votes apiece.
The other players who received votes were: defensive back Antonio Cromartie of San Diego with three; linebackers Mike Vrabel of New England and DeMarcus Ware of Dallas, each with two; and cornerback Ronde Barber of Tampa Bay, linebacker James Harrison of Pittsburgh, rookie linebacker Patrick Willis of San Francisco, and end Mario Williams of Houston, each with one vote.
When the Seahawks have the ball: There's no denying that Shaun Alexander is Seattle's biggest offensive threat, and that won't change this weekend. Although Arizona's somewhat suspect defense did a great job containing Frank Gore on Monday night, it will not stop the Seahawks from running early and often. However, they'll certainly be hoping for better results than last year, in which the Cardinals held Alexander to a 3.4 yards per carry average.
For the Cardinals defense, they'll be looking for more of the same. While things weren't always statistically pretty, they were able to keep themselves in each game last year. Even if Alexander and Matt Hasselback have huge yardage games, holding Seattle to 21 points or below would be a huge moral victory, and possibly enough to steal a win.
I can remember getting pretty upset with Atlanta defenders who continually dove at Carson Palmer's lower half (with no flags), and it turns out the league fined Atlanta defender Patrick Kerney $5000.
It's kind of strange that a play could have occurred where the NFL fined a guy five grand, but no flag was thrown. Carson agrees, saying ""I don't know how you can fine somebody and not throw a flag," Palmer said Sunday when told of Kerney's fine. "That doesn't make a whole lot of sense."
Apparently this has been going on all year. ESPN's Ron Jaworski broke down film of Carson and came to the conclusion that the NFL needs to do a better job of protecting Carson:
Palmer, just 10 months removed from reconstructive left knee surgery, admitted that his mechanics are off. After the game, he didn't quibble with the theory of ESPN's Ron Jaworski that it looks like he's lifting up his front leg to protect the knee from defenders and not following through and therefore is losing his accuracy.
Jaworski said he charted the Bengals' last three games before Sunday and against 35 blitzes, Palmer was 10-of-27 for 56 yards and three sacks.
I think any Bengals fan could tell you that opposing teams have been bringing the house on most passing plays, and that's fine, but what's not fine is guys diving at Palmer's knee.
It kind of boggles the mind that Atlanta would do something like that, since the benefit to them of a Carson Palmer injury is negligible. The Bengals aren't even in Atlanta's conference, they don't compete for a playoff spot, and they can't meet in the playoffs until the Super Bowl. How does it help them if they injure Carson Palmer?
Obviously there's a ton more to the Bengals problems this year than this, but that doesn't mean it's not a problem. The officiating has left quite a bit to be desired this year, and this is just one more reason why.
With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, Fantasy FanHouse is here to preview each and every team. Listen closely, you're almost guaranteed to win your free fantasy football league, only over at Fleaflicker. 
With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, Fantasy FanHouse is here to preview each and every team. Listen closely, you're almost guaranteed to win your free fantasy football league, only over at Fleaflicker. 
Free agent tight end and former Atlanta Falcon Alge Crumpler may be close to signing with the Seattle Seahawks. It makes some sense, seeing that former Falcons head coach Jim Mora, Jr. will be the head coach of the Seahawks once Mike Holmgren retires. 
Colts safety Bob Sanders has been named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, which is no surprise.
To get you ready for week 2, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Seattle Seahawks/Arizona Cardinals preview.
I can remember getting pretty upset with Atlanta defenders who continually dove at Carson Palmer's lower half (with no flags), and it turns out the league fined Atlanta defender Patrick Kerney $5000.
