NFL Hall of Fame names 26 semifinalists

by | Nov 22, 2011 | Hall of Fame

Will Shields and Bill Parcells are the two first-time semifinalists among the 26 candidates still alive and awaiting word of their potential enshrinement in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Parcells had been a finalist before in 2001 and 2002, but the Hall is not counting those in its announcement because the rules have since changed, requiring coaches to be retired for five seasons.

Normally the list would have been whittled down to 25 at this point, but the Hall’s bylaws allow for more when votes result in ties. (more…)

Hester aims to be Hall’s first returner

by | Nov 15, 2011 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts

Is Devin Hester Hall of Fame worthy?

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I almost always read Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback column. Sports Illustrated’s top football guy always has some interesting nuggets.

This week I was struck by a quote King got from Chicago return man Devin Hester, who lit up the Detroit Lions this weekend with an 82-yard punt return touchdown and numerous other long returns.

Hester told King he wants to be the first returner in the league to get voted into the Hall of Fame. I thought the comment was interesting for a couple reasons. First, it’s an acknowledgement on the part of Hester that he is known almost solely for his return work, as his play at wide receiver has been average, at best.

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Packers perfect season in 2011? Part two

by | Nov 6, 2011 | NFL Random Thoughts

Somewhere along the end of the early games and the start of the late ones on Sunday, the 2011 NFL season will hit its halfway point. And without question so far the Green Bay Packers have looked like the league’s most dominant team so far.

Are they a shoo-in for another Super Bowl Championship? Absolutely not. When St. Louis kicked all kinds of dog crap out of New Orleans last Sunday it only served to prove once again that on any given Sunday anyone can beat anyone else. And once the playoffs start it’s one-and-done.

But they are the best thing going so far. And if they run the table in the regular season, they have a good chance at accomplishing what New England could not: 19-0.

So who are the NFC’s biggest playoff threats to Green Bay between now and the awarding of another Lombardi Trophy? Here are our guesses:

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Suck-for-Luck candidates start to separate

by | Oct 10, 2011 | NFL Draft, NFL Random Thoughts

The Seattle Seahawks and particularly the San Francisco 49ers have proven to be more competitive than I expected they would, already virtually eliminating themselves from competing for the number one pick in the April 2012 NFL Draft, from which Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is the biggest prize and by a wide margin.

Kansas City is bad enough to warrant earning the Luck pick but they’ve foolishly gone and found balance on offense the last two weeks, which has allowed them to at least temporarily remove themselves from the discussions.

But several teams are starting to separate from the pack, some sucking well worse than expected. Here are my latest thoughts on who the top contenders are for the Luck pick: (more…)

Fantasy Advice: Week 5

by | Oct 9, 2011 | Fantasy Football

I’m going to keep doing this even though I’m not really certain this format is really providing much of a service. I’m thinking of moving more in the direction of just searching for sleepers, which may be of more value — particularly during byes, which start this week.

But in the meantime: (more…)