411's NFL Round Up 5.06.08

Posted by Emmett Wilks on 05.06.2008

News and notes from around the NFL. Plus, a look at the upcoming quarterback battles from Miami to Arizona. All this and more in the 30th edition of NFL Round Up.

Welcome to the 30th edition of NFL Round Up. It seems like yesterday we were watching Super Bowl XLII, and now Rookie Mini camps are well underway. Just like every season, the infusion of rookies create a great atmosphere of competition within teams that any good coach will tell you is an essential part of a successful football team. Now, onto the Round Up.

QUICK NOTES

I saw first overall pick Jake Long work out yesterday and I can say he looks absolutely phenomenal in person. He appears poised and physically ready to be in the NFL. It was already believed he would be an opening day starter, and I would be stunned if he is not. Not because of one day of rookie training camp, but because he is very, very talented. The big question now, is he NFL talented.

Steeler's rookie Rashard Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint along the Waterfront walk in Chicago. Mendenhall was unhurt and lost a wallet and cell phone.
I felt like making a joke here, but in the Sean Taylor world we live in, it just wasn't appropriate. I really hope he's emotionally alright and can go on and have a good showing with the Steelers this season.

ESPN is reporting that bullets from a gun owned by Colts WR Marvin Harrison were indeed the ones used in a shooting in North Philadelphia last week. The notoriously private and reserved Harrison is a often a his home in Philadelphia. The incident supposedly stemmed from an altercation in and around his bar, Playmakers, and a carwash he owns nearby. The details are still far too lucid at this point, but this situation could prove to be very serious for Harrison.

Rookie TE Fred Smith may be thinking he's still at USC, as he overslept and missed a workout with the Redskins this week. Davis, one of the skins three 2nd round picks, left his room due disagreement with his roommate, and over slept in a different room, where coaches were unable to locate him. I feel bad for Smith mostly due to the barrage of ribbing he will be suffering once the veterans report to camps later this year. I do not envy you Mr. Smith.

Chris Benson could be in a boat load of trouble (Man I love a good pun). Benson was charged with Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) and resisting arrest following an incident Saturday in Travis County, Texas. Benson has come full throttle to his defense. He insists that he was not intoxicated and did not resist arrest, claiming that the officers accounts are simply not accurate. I am not going to make any statement about who or what I believe. This one just has to play out, and then we'll see what's what. If convicted however, Benson could face up to six months in prison, as well as a likely suspension from the NFL.




UPCOMING QB BATTLES

Though every coach and GM will say there is open competition for all the positions, the reality for quarterbacks is that every NFL team wants to find their guy and ride him to a championship. The saying in the NFL today is "You either have your franchise quarterback or you looking for him." As training camps are getting underway, here are some of most notable battles for the starting job that are going to be waged. Quick note, for the time being, I am going to omit Green Bay's situation as an open competition. Packers GM Ted Thompson has declared that Aaron Rogers is the Packers QB for 2008, and second round pick Brian Brohm is not a factor yet. I am going to believe that unless the rumors about Daunte Culpepper prove true. As far as I am concerned, there is no controversy in Green Bay.

Miami Dolphins

The Contenders

John Beck vs. Josh McCown vs. Chad Henne

2007 Stats

Beck-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

5 60 107 56.1 559 5.2 1 3 62

McCown (with Oakland Raiders)-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Sck Rating

9 111 190 58.4 1151 6.1 10 11 54 69.4

Henne-

Rookie, No NFL Stats

Outlook

Perhaps the most intriguing QB battle brewing this off season. I personally have ZERO idea who is going to win this one. The safe money for opening day is with the veteran McCown, but Beck did do a decent job as a rookie, avoiding too many turnovers while leading Miami to their lone victory last year against the Ravens. Beck was also helming an undermanned and devoid of talent offense; one that lost its best wide receiver Chris Chambers (trade) and best running back Ronnie Brown (knee injury) early in the season. The biggest knock on Beck will always be that he was deposed coach Cam Cameron's guy, not new big man Bill Parcells' or coach Tony Sparano. The huge wild in this race will be Henne. Drafted in the 2nd round of this years draft, Henne was a four year starter at the University of Michigan. His poise and intelligence is very strong, but is it strong enough to be an opening day starter in the NFL? I say yes it is, but it may not be enough to take it on day 1.

Opening starter- Josh McCown for experience more than anything

Mid-Season start- Chad Henne. He is now the future in South Florida.


NEW YORK JETS

The Contenders

Chad Pennington vs. Kellen Clemens


2007 Stats

Pennington-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

9 179 260 68.5 176 6.8 10 9 86.1
Clemens-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

10 130 250 52 1529 6.1 5 10 60.9



This battle is one of dire necessity for third year coach Eric Mangini. Following his very disappointing 4-12 campaign in 2007, the Jets went on a free agency frenzy. Damien Woody and Allen Faneca along the O-line, Calvin Pace at the DE/OLB spot, and the resigning of safety Kerry Rhodes, coupled with a good looking draft class lead by 1st round pick Vernon Gholston, the Jets are a win now team. Whoever the QB is on day one is going to be expected to be a winner, not a developing prospect. This does not bode well for Clemens, who is still essentially in a learning phase of his NFL career. Though he has shown some flashes of a very good NFL player, he is not at the level that may be necessary to appease coach Mangini. Pennington, for all his well noted short comings (weak arm, little mobility) has still posted a fair number of wins in his NFL career. We could see Mangini roll the dice on Clemens, a la Jack Del Rio with David Garrard last year, but my money is till on Pennington for Opening Week.

Opening Starter- Pennington
Mid-Season Starter- Pennington, while remaining on a very short leash.


Cleveland Browns

The Contenders

Derrick Anderson vs. Brady Quinn

2007 Stats-

Anderson-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating 298 527 56.5 3787 7.2 29 19 82.5

Quinn-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

1 3 8 37.5 45 5.6 0 0 56.8


The QB battle that no one really expected. Quinn was suppose to be the future for the Browns. Finally, they believed they had found a quarterback to take them to respectability and out of the NFL's bottom feeders. Little did they know that that QB was not 2007's first round pick, but 2005's sixth rounder, Derrick Anderson. Anderson led the Browns to a 10-5 record as a starter last year, garnered a Pro Bowl nod, and a near playoff birth in the ultra competitive AFC. What really is troubling to me is that this is a bigger battle than it should be because of Quinn's draft position. Really, would there even be a debate about who should be the Brown's QB if Quinn had been drafted in the 3rd or 4th round. I don't think so. But Browns GM Phil Savage has stated that there will indeed be a fight for the number 1 spot. I don't have anything against Quinn. He was a very good college player and may very well be a good NFL player, but I know Anderson is very good. 10-5 records don't lie, and Anderson will be the one to helm the Browns this year.

Opening Starter- Anderson- will continue his rise.

Mid-Season Starter- Barring a massive failure, like a 2-6 mid-season or worse, Anderson stays.


Baltimore Ravens

The Contenders

Kyle Boller vs. Troy Smith vs. Joe Flacco

2007 Stats

Boller-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

12 168 275 61.1 1743 6.3 9 10 75.2

Smith-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

4 40 76 52.6 452 5.9 2 0 79.5

Flacco-

Rookie- No NFL stats


This one is perhaps the most intriguing one this off-season. The safest bet is against Boller, who has had his chance to be an NFL starter and is just not up to the task. In Baltimore, unlike Jetsland, first year coach Jim Harbaugh is not going to have as immediate a need to rack up wins. So here is the question: Which young QB will they pick? Boller started 8 games last season, and actually played average. The real surprise was Smith. The former Heisman Trophy winner was never expected to be a real option at QB for most outsiders, but he in fact took over the starting reins late in the season and went 1-1 as a starter. Make no mistake, Smith is a very smart football player. He doesn't turn the ball over and has a very good knack for making big plays. But, as in Miami, there is a rookie who has a lot of people talking. What is different in Baltimore is that both of these QB's were picked by the same guy, GM Ozzie Newsome. But the jump from FCS (I-AA) to the NFL is massive. For that reason, I think Flacco will see little to no time this season. So that leaves the contest between Boller and Smith, which to me should be a easy one to decide. Smith has a year under his belt and proved he can handle the NFL game. The question now is can he thrive playing the NFL's game.

Opening Week Starter- Smith- Boller has had his shot.

Mid-Season Starter- Smith- They do not want to rush Flacco onto the field.


Arizona Cardinals

The Contenders

Matt Leinart vs. Kurt Warner

2007 Stats-

Leinart-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

5 60 112 53.6 647 5.8 2 4 61.9


Warner-

G Cmp Att Pct Yds Yds/Att TD Int Rating

14 281 451 62.3 3417 7.6 27 17 89.8


Kurt Warner is the NFL's offensive Energizer Bunny (Junior Seau has the defensive distinction), he just keeps going and going. Though the Cardinals only mustered an 8-8 record in a weak NFC west division, Warner led the team for most of the season and posted the 4th best statistical offense in the league, while his defense was beyond porous. This left Leinart, who was injuried for the season with an ACL tear, to watch from the sidelines the offense he cannot control. The best thing on Leinart's side is his age (25) to Warner's (38 on opening week). The higher ups of the Cardinals may decide they need to get Leinart in as quick as possible. This off-season has been one of great praise for Leinart's work ethic, with coach Ken Whisenhunt very pleased with both his rehabilitation and study. I cannot see a scenario with a healthy Leinart not in the starting role, and an excellent back up is never a bad thing to have.

Opening week Starter- Leinart- If healthy, it's his opportunity to take the reins.

Mid Season Starter- Leinart- he has mammoth potential, and will bring it all together this season


Until next week, have a good one.