Haynesworth: Just One Example of the NFL's Unfaithfulness

Albert Haynesworth signed with the Washington Redskins last season and was promised he’d be able to attack the quarterback. He was told that he would be given every opportunity to make plays in the 4-3 defense, whether it be at defensive tackle or at defensive end. Now, with new coaches Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett implementing the 3-4 defense, Albert feels betrayed.

Does he have the right to be angry though?

Is Albert Haynesworth selfish? Yes, there’s no arguing that. But there’s this unwritten rule in the NFL where you have to be faithful to your franchise, your franchise doesn’t have to be faithful to you.

That’s a load of bullshit.

Last year, after their week five win over Kansas City, better known as Miles Austin’s breakout game, Patrick Crayton wasn’t even told he had been demoted to third wide receiver. It was just assumed he knew. That’s like you being outsold by some new guy at your sales job. And the next day when you show up to your shift, your boss looks at you funny. “You’ve been replaced by the new guy….what? I thought you knew!”

NFL Teams can cut you when they want (and only pay the bonuses, regardless of how long your contract was), they can bench you, they switch the scheme when they deem fit, and all of this has a big impact on the players’ livelihood.

This isn’t the NBA. There, when they hand you a contract, they mean it. You get a three-year deal with the Knicks, unless it’s bought out, you’re a Knick until otherwise told. DeAngelo Hall signed a seven-year contract with the Raiders in 2008…before they cut him seven weeks into the season, avoiding paying him a bonus that was going to be due in week eight.

Again, your franchise doesn’t have to be faithful to you.

Do you think a scheme has no effect on how you play? Or how much you’ll get paid?

“If you’re a star player, you’re a star, scheme has very little to do with it.” –Anonymous Friend of mine.

And a lot of people think that. I call those people; idiots.

Steve Young, NFL hall of famer, (you might’ve heard of him) was a Tampa Bay Buc before he was a Niner. Cedric Benson was a bust in Chicago before last year’s season with the Bengals. Kerry Collins took the Giants to the Superbowl after failing in Carolina, and then his downward spiral after leaving New York. Scheme matters people.

That’s why you see so many players holdout of minicamps. That’s the only leverage they have. Some have obviously outperformed their contracts. New York Jets’ Darrelle Revis is playing for about $1 million this year…the Redskins’ Carlos Rogers is getting $1.5 million….think about that for a second.

So all and all, Haynesworth is selfish, but someone has to take a stand against the unfaithfulness that the NFL teams display. The media likes to jump on the players for wanting more money, playing time, etc. Fact of the matter is, nobody jumps on these franchises for betraying them.

Should Roy Williams Play in the Slot?

Should Roy Williams be Dallas’ slot receiver?

You can’t take a lot away from OTAs and other voluntary practices. They’re putting these players in shorts and t-shirts, they can’t hit each other, and there’s a strict no-contact rule enforced across the league (which is why I don’t understand why offensive and defensive linemen are even there). But one big question on the minds of Cowboy fans surrounds the three wide receiver set that Dallas has been experimenting with. The big question is who plays in the slot if Dallas lines up with Roy Williams, Dez Bryant, and Miles Austin?

A popular Dallas area newspaper released a stat that shows Roy Williams’ stats over the middle, and quickly, fans loved the idea. Roy has struggled at wideout, yes, but don’t be fooled by these stats. They are not what you think they are. Just because Roy’s best stats are over the middle, does not mean he will be a great slot receiver. While looking at these stats you’re probably thinking “Slot WRs generally haul in a lot of passes over the middle, so Williams must be well-suited for that spot!” No.

Assuming that is a classic logical error known as confirming the consequent. If you believe the above, here’s what your mind just did:

1. If a player is a slot receiver, he will perform best in the middle of the field.
2. 2. Roy performs best in the middle of the field.
3. Therefore, Roy Williams is, or should be, a slot WR.

That theory may look solid, but that’s the equivalent to saying…

1. If it rained last night while I was asleep, the street will be wet.
2. The street is wet.
3. Therefore, it must’ve rained last night.

With the numerous of reasons a street would be wet, you hopefully now understand why Roy’s excellence over the middle doesn’t immediately translate into him being in the slot.

Truth be told, Roy is excellent in routes referred to as “in-breaking” routes. These routes include slants, posts, and ins, all routes that place you over the middle of the field. It drastically effect the stats I showed you early on that chart. So your next question is, what about Miles or Dez at the slot?

I fully believe the two will share that role with a little bit of Felix sprinkled in. Miles’s stats show that he is just as effective over the middle as on the outside, so no reason to make him THE slot receiver. Dez has always shown great athletic ability, so his talent can be used all over the field. And lets not forget about Patrick Crayton, he does have reliable hands, and on an important third down, he might be the guy to go to.

Jason Garrett has shown he can exploit mismatches, and he must be a kid in a candy store with as many offensive weapons he has. Look for him to exploit defenses with his variety of playmakers this season.

Disagree? I do welcome comments and criticism.

What You Should and Shouldn't Worry About: Redskins

You sit at the bar with your buddies, most of them are just like you, they love the same shows you watch, the same hobbies, and of course, the same football franchise. It’s then when you realize, since you’re all on the same side of the argument, you can candidly speak about the things that you worry about for your team, and also the things that you know are rock solid. I’m going to help you with that conversation.

By the way, what I like to do here at the NFC Beast Blog is give you what I call Big Boy Fantalk I’m not from the era of “everybody’s a winner” or “everyone gets a trophy for just trying”. I give it to you like I see it, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’m not here to sugarcoat it in any way shape or form. Yes, one of these NFC East teams I’ve followed and cheered for my whole life, but as an adult, I am realistic and even know my team’s weaknesses and opportunities. You want sugarcoating? Go listen to your local radio show, I’m sure they’re going to be able to tell you exactly why you’re team will win the Super Bowl. Come to me when you want the truth.

I live here in the DC area where the fans are buzzing and gaining confidence as the day goes on, and understandably so. On paper, they made some intelligent moves this offseason. They’ve done everything from GMs, coaches, and probably the most important, quarterback changes. With training camp about a month away, I’m going to let you know what you should and shouldn’t worry about Redskin fan.

No Worries Here

Running Back by Committee

Unlike most people, I actually have faith in the trio of halfbacks that the Skins have assembled. Sure, on paper they just look like the Pro Bowl class of 2006, but combine that with the always successful Mike Shanahan running game, and you have a real threat in that backfield. Donavan McNabb is no John Elway, Coach Shanahan does not want him flinging the ball 40+ times a game. He’d rather get a comfortable lead (lets say 14 points) and then let his halfback trio run right down the seam for the rest of the game. Each of their three (and maybe four if they sign Brian Westbrook) backs have unique skills that differentiate them from each other, and Coach Shanahan knows how to use multiple backs. Just ask Mike Bell and Tatum Bell.

Emerging Young Talent

Due to their lack of wins, not many fans around the league got a chance to realize that the ‘Skins have some emerging talent on their roster. A lot of attention was rather drawn to the sudden emergence of another NFC East team, of course I’m speaking of Miles Austin of the Dallas Cowboys. Brian Orakpo’s 11 sacks (albeit, four of them were against the Raiders) can not be overlooked, and most fans know that name. But players like Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, and Rocky McIntosh give fans hope that this team has potential in the years to come.

Get the Panic Button Ready

Switching to a 3-4 Defense

Out of all the offseason decisions that made sense, there’s one still has me scratching my head. The Redskins’ defense in 2009 was the only thing steady in this team. I’m not saying they had jaw-dropping stats or numbers, but they were at least in the middle of the pack for most major defensive stats across the league, and that’s saying a lot when you’re in the same division with some of the best offenses in the NFL today. So to not build on that, but rather change up completely still confuses me. And the most essential part to a 3-4 defense is the nose tackle…the Skins don’t have one. They were hoping that Albert Haynesworth would fill that role, but he has declined to play a position that doesn’t constantly attack the quarterback. With an undersized middle linebacking core, you need a big body in front of them so that you’re 245lb linebacker is being blocked by an offensive guard that will outweigh him by 60+ pounds.

McNabb’s Durability

Donavan McNabb might arguably be the best quarterback in the division, if nothing else, a close second to Tony Romo. Both players actually play very similarly. They’re threats to run the ball, roll out of the pocket, and can drill the ball downfield with some pretty good accuracy. But McNabb rarely finishes an entire season without some sort of injury. Now he will be put behind one of the league’s worst performing offensive lines from 2009. Washington fans got really excited when they acquired McNabb, but quickly forgot that he is far from the NFL’s iron man, he has a big durability problem.

News and Notes from Philly's OTAs

Source: Espn.com

PHILADELPHIA -- How much can one man overreact to a single OTA session? Well, we're about to find out. I've spent the past several hours observing and talking to Eagles players and administrators. You can read about my conversation with quarterback Kevin Kolb in Thursday's column. I also spent time with first-round pick Brandon Graham and general manager Howie Roseman. Tight end Brent Celek is next on the agenda. Now, here are some quick-hit observations after a day with the Eagles:

• It doesn't take long to realize which team the Eagles are gunning for in the NFC East. On one wall in his new office, Roseman has the Dallas Cowboys' depth chart posted. (Looks like Doug Free and Alex Barron are co-starters). Roseman says the Eagles aren't obsessing with the Cowboys, but those last two losses aren't far from his mind. For the record, he has the Saints' and Colts' depth charts posted next to the Cowboys'. "That's who we have to go through based on last season," said Roseman.
• Rookie safety Nate Allen looks a lot bigger than what I imagined. He's listed at 6-1, 210 pounds. And I'm told that he's beefing up as we speak. Roseman and coach Andy Reid love the fact that Allen played quarterback in high school and they believe he has the aptitude to make an immediate impact. Roseman expressed disappointment over Marlin Jackson's season-ending injury, but he added, "We didn't take a guy at No. 37 to be on the sideline. We drafted him there so that he could play immediately." Still, Roseman was watching film of a veteran safety who's currently on the street when I entered his office. The Eagles aren't planning to sign anyone immediately, but they'll be ready if someone else is injured.
• Former Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram, who is returning from an ACL tear, is an impressive looking player. He's been a little shaky with his hands, but he could be an enormous target for Kevin Kolb. When he opened up on one play down the seam, he appeared to have pretty good speed. I think having a second tight end to go along with the talented Celek would help the Eagles. Right now, the Redskins appear to have the best tandem in the division with Chris Cooley and Fred Davis.
• Former Florida standout Riley Cooper doesn't look like a fifth-round pick. He was plucking throws from Kolb no matter where he put them, and he and Hank Baskett had excellent days. I'm told, though, that Jeremy Maclin put on a show Monday. He's added some muscle to his lanky frame and people within the organization believe he's about to make a similar leap to what DeSean Jackson did in his second season.
• Roseman headed me off at the pass before I could ask about Jackson's absence. He would only say that Jackson's had an excellent offseason and that this week's workouts were "voluntary." Kevin Kolb was very complimentary of Jackson, but he did note that his absence allowed a couple other receivers to flash this week. I asked Kolb if he knew Jackson was planning to skip this week. He paused and said, "I had an inclination." He added that he was sure Jackson had "a good explanation." ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Jackson's absence wasn't related to concerns about his contract. But we haven't been given any other explanation.
• I had no clue it was this gorgeous in Philly in early June. If Reid could've guranteed Jackson this 78-degree weather, perhaps he wouldn't have retreated to Southern California, where's he reportedly spending the week.
• Baskett was the MVP of today's session. He made several tough catches in traffic, including an acrobatic play along the sideline with three defensive backs in the area. Kolb simply threw it up high and Baskett made a play.
• Speaking of Kolb, he's been remarkably sharp this week. He and Celek are close friends, and they've brought that chemistry to the field. He fired a pass down the middle of the field that Celek collected without ever having to break stride. There are going to be throws that Kolb doesn't make as well as Donovan McNabb, but he's showing excellent touch on passes in the middle of the field. And the fact that he's hitting his targets in stride will give them an opportunity to make plays. Kolb said he's never been a position before in which he had this many reliable targets. By the way, Jason Avant might be one of the most underrated players in the game. He catches everything, and he's capable of making the spectacular play as well.
• Former LSU running back Charles Scott has good quickness, but he'll have to work on his concentration. On a screen pass, he was looking upfield and dropped the ball.
• I still have my doubts about Moise Fokou as a starter at linebacker, but he was excellent in coverage Tuesday. He raced down the center of the field and broke up a pass to Celek 25 yards from the line of scrimmage. It was a big-time play and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was the first to rush over and congratulate him. Keep your eye on seventh-round pick Jamar Chaney out of Mississippi State. That's the one guy Roseman kept bringing up. The Eagles couldn't believe they were able to get him at that point in the draft. And so far, he looks like he belongs.
• The Eagles have made first-round pick Brandon Graham a highlight tape of some of the top defensive ends in the league who share his relatively small frame. He's become a big fan of Denver's Elvis Dumervil and he's trying to take some of his moves to the practice field. Graham already knows how to get leverage, but he's used to offensive tackles taking angles against him. He said it's been adjustment to face tackles who are dropping straight back. It's made it more difficult to turn the corner, so he's trying to refine his inside moves. Graham's calling his new move the "chop, dip and rip."
• With Asante Samuel absent this week and Ellis Hobbs sitting out team drills because of a neck injury, Dimitri Patterson and Joselio Hanson were the starting cornerbacks. Macho Harris also received plenty of reps at cornerback. And if you're looking for a darkhorse in training camp, check out the redemption of safety Quintin Demps. He was in the dog house with Reid last season, in part, because of his mouth. Now, he's taking a much more mature approach and I think he could earn some playing time. Former secondary coach Brian Stewart told me last season that Demps had immense potential, but he didn't take advantage of his opportunities. At this point, he's saying all the right things. And Roseman and Reid have both taken notice.
• This is my first time to attend an Eagles practice when Donovan McNabb wasn't present. Very strange to look out there and see Kolb running the show with the first team. But he doesn't seem fazed by all the hoopla surrounding the trade. You can sense how much respect he has from his teammates as he walks around the facility. Some of the rookies actually seem a little nervous around him, which is a bit odd given his lack of experience. But he sort of has a swagger to him that suggests he's ready for this challenge. I'll have a lot more on Kolb in Thursday's column. His college coach, Art Briles, dropped by to see him last week and gave him a few pointers on throwing to his right. Much, much more to come.

Why are the Cowboys So Comfortable with Beuhler?

I can't for the life of me figure out why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and coach Wade Phillips feel so comfortable heading into training camp with unproven kicker David Buehler as the presumed starter. The Cowboys know what it's like to be held hostage at that position, because it hasn't been that long since Mike Vanderjagt flopped in Dallas.

Bill Parcells had a terrible time deciding on a kicker as he went through the likes of Billy Cundiff, Jose Cortez and Martin Gramatica. In '09, Buehler had tremendous value as a kickoff specialist. He led the league in touchbacks and he also played a role on the kickoff return and punt coverage units. Now, the Cowboys are asking Buehler to take over place-kicking duties, which doesn't appear to be his strength. At a recent workout inside Cowboys Stadium, Buehler missed badly on a couple of attempts.

Former Cowboys kicker Chris Boniol has signed on as a consultant, but apparently his advice hasn't sunk in yet. I think Buehler is a remarkable talent who will eventually have success as a kicker in this league, but it's unwise to hand him the job without serious competition.

It almost seems like Jones and Phillips are trying to build Buehler's confidence with positive quotes to the media, but those will only get him so far. Buehler still seems like a developmental kicker at this point in his career. A team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations can't leave the kicking game to chance. Yet the Cowboys seem completely at ease with Buehler. Surely special-teams coach Joe DeCamillis has someone else in mind if Buehler's not ready for prime time.

The Cowboys watched the talented Nick Folk have a meltdown last season, and former Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham was not the answer. With that in mind, it's hard to believe Dallas is placing so much trust in Buehler. Nothing against blind faith, but that's not the approach I'd take in a season that holds such promise.

Both the Cowboys and Redskins are likely to begin the 2010 season with unproven kickers. And I think that's a recipe for failure. You can get by at times with a shaky place-kicker, but at some point it could become a problem. Now I'm curious to see what you think. Am I wrong to think that Buehler's a huge question mark heading into training camp? Should I go at least two weeks without writing about this issue?

I'm OK with that.

from: espn.com

Perry Fewell sits in NY's hotseat

Around this time last year, we were talking about Plaxico Burress and how his absence would ultimately lead to the Giants not making a playoff run in 2009.

Five weeks into the season, that talk all minimized after the Giants went 5-0, including division wins over Washington and Dallas to kick off the ’09 season.

But a defensive meltdown is what lead the G-Men to sitting at home come January, allowing five different teams score 40+ points on their defense (and Philly did it twice). The 8-8 record does nothing but leave a bitter taste of defeat in the mouths of all Giants fans as they were all on high horses in week six, only to be humbled and silent by week nine.

No longer is Eli Manning in the hot seat, having his best season as a pro, throwing 27 touchdowns and ending the season with a 93.1 quarterback rating. But now the attention in NY has shifted to the defense who ranked 30^th in points allowed.

That’s right, the same defense that was once credited for dismantling Tom Brady and Randy Moss in the Super Bowl is now only better than two other teams in the NFL. That’s like someone knocking out Brock Lesnar in the UFC Octagon, only to loose the following week to Screech from Saved by the Bell.

A little exaggerated, I know, what more do you expect from me?

Enter, Perry Fewell. He is the new defensive coordinator in New York (or New Jersey, whatever…) and has been assigned the daunting task of reviving this defense. A defense that benched Osi Umenyiora last season and played musical chairs with their secondary. Fewell comes from Buffalo where he was their defensive coordinator since 2006. Although he may’ve coached in the state of New York, we all know that the North New York media is nowhere near as critical as the city.

In a division with high octane offenses like Dallas and Philly (sorry Washington, you don’t quite cut the mustard just because you have McNabb), Fewell has his work cut out for him. He has to revitalize a defense that looked like they gave up last season. He also has to help Coughlin in the quest to keep the Giants as THE team in New York as the Jets are suddenly making a name for themselves.

So there it is Fewell, turn the defense around or be quickly shipped out of another New York franchise…no pressure though.