macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/top-10-teams-most-affected-by-NFL-lockout-060811 

The lockout started 89 days ago, and the first scheduled NFL Sunday is 95 days away. You talk to teams now, and they are beginning to worry about the on-field product, believing that a negotiated peace could be weeks away and that July training camps won’t happen.

How much time does a team need to get ready? Maybe four good weeks of practice for a veteran team with a known quantity at quarterback. A lot more for a non-playoff caliber team with a rookie quarterback.

I keep hearing that the only coach who was really looking forward to the lockout was New England’s Bill Belichick. The extra days off gave him a chance to escape his daily grind while recharging his football sensibilities. It’s a scary proposition for his opponents, considering what Belichick may have dreamed up football-wise over these past couple of months.

Which teams have been hurt the most by the continued lockout?

1. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers have so much riding on Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who isn’t a prototypical NFL passer, which means he needs the most work to get ready. And if there isn’t a rookie wage scale in the new deal, Newton could be difficult to sign once the lockout is lifted. We all know how much he thinks of himself. There is an entirely new coaching staff in Carolina, so the coaches must get him up to speed quickly with the Panthers' new personnel. Plus, once Newton does arrive, he’s going to want to secure that No. 2 jersey away from holdover quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

2. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are no longer competitive, nor exciting, with Brett Favre retired for good. Knowing that Joe Webb isn’t a long-term solution at quarterback, they drafted Christian Ponder because they believe he’s mentally ready to play. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has the job of getting Ponder up to NFL speed whenever camps open, but I thought it was funny to hear the kid say he’s short on money and that’s why he’s working out in Florida. Based on Chris Weinke's NFL career, it’s kind of scary that he is tutoring Ponder on mechanics. But at least Ponder is honest when he says: “I don’t think the lockout is helping me.”

3. Detroit Lions: After two sensational drafts, the Lions are the “now” team in the NFC after closing last season with four consecutive wins, including one over the champion Packers. Even the Packers view them as their main threat in the NFC North. But to get over the non-playoff hump, they need to keep bonding with their coaching staff and also with oft-injured quarterback Matthew Stafford. It’s difficult to put the necessary ingredients in place if they aren’t practicing.

4. Tennessee Titans: The Titans shocked some by choosing Jake Locker over Blaine Gabbert at quarterback in the draft. With Vince Young ready to be jettisoned, Locker needs as much time in camp with offensive coordinator Chris Palmer as possible. Also, with Jeff Fisher no longer running things in Nashville, the Titans have to get used to an entire new defensive staff, headed up by coordinator Jerry Gray. There’s a lot of work to do here, especially with young receivers such as Lavelle Hawkins.

5. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers are a team every expert wants to anoint as the next champion of the NFC West. But Michael Crabtree said it best the other day when he asked, “Who’s our quarterback?” Failed No. 1 pick Alex Smith, who is unsigned, is throwing in these player-arranged workouts, as is second-round pick Colin Kaepernick. Jim Harbaugh can’t wait to put his mark on this team, and time is a wasting.

6. Denver Broncos: Poor John Fox. He lands a decent job after the disaster in Carolina, and now he’s involved in a quarterback controversy. Is his starter Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow or even Brady Quinn? I don’t believe it is the latter. Tebow is flying his teammates down to Florida for some passing drills. Orton is lot like Jake Delhomme, Fox’s former leader in Carolina, but he could be trade bait. There’s a lot to get straight in Denver on both sides of the ball, and Fox can’t wait to get his new team into pads and start pounding away.

7. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins decided to fortify QB Chad Henne’s protection in the draft, but the coaching staff must get the passing offense clicking. Miami has the talent to be a playoff team, but it needs time to figure out how to beat the Jets and Patriots. This team won’t get over the hump if it is rushed into the season with only minimal practice time.

8. Seattle Seahawks: Coach Pete Carroll has the impossible job of getting the Seahawks back into the playoffs without any positive convictions about Matt Hasselbeck. Yes, they may bring him back, but will the money be enough and what are their plans in free agency? Do they make a deal with Philadelphia for quarterback Kevin Kolb or is Carroll serious about giving Matt Leinart a chance now that USC has surrendered its BCS trophy?

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs made a great run last season. They were the most unlikely 10-6 team in 2010. But an aspiring young team needs constant attention and the young Bucs are missing that right now. Raheem Morris has definitely turned the corner as an NFL head coach, but his greatest value is being around his players, talking football and telling them there is still a lot of work to get done. That’s the biggest fear with a young team; that the players start believing their own press clippings. The longer the lockout lasts, the further the Bucs fall behind the proven commodities in the NFC South, New Orleans and Atlanta.

10. Green Bay Packers: How can I include the champs ahead of clubs like Arizona and Cleveland and others that are still looking for that quarterback leader? It’s simple. This whole lockout is messing with how the Packers play football. It has stopped their personnel department from signing rookie free agents, and no coach likes working in the offseason more than Mike McCarthy. He has always had a young team in Green Bay, and he hates missing all this prep work for the season in order to get his rookies and first-year players up to speed. Yes, Aaron Rodgers is a top-five quarterback these days, but don’t forget that he’s a product of McCarthy’s detailed system. I say the Packers don’t repeat if camp starts in September.

FoxSports.com wrote:

wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago
disagree. even if they can not sign free agents it is not as if they NEED free agents.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (4h) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (4h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (6h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (10h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (10h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (10h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (15h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (16h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (16h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (16h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (16h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (18h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (18h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (18h) : umm... what?
wpr (18h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (18h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (18h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (18h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (18h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (28-Aug) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
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