FOX: Guaranteed to happen this season... sort of

[bubba9497]

Guaranteed to happen this season... sort of

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4824606?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5

Here's the beauty of competitive balance: There's a very good chance I am going to be wrong.

Take the 2004 NFL season for example.

When I was asked if the San Diego Chargers could win eight games, I smugly replied that there was a better chance of Jessica Simpson leaving Nick Lachey for me.

The Chargers won a division title.

I'm still waiting for Jessica's call.

It's the NFL circa 2005. Almost anything can happen.

Except San Francisco making the playoffs.

Think about last year's shockers:

Reuben Droughns rushes for more than 1,000 yards last year?

Big Ben leads the Steelers to a 15-1 mark?

The Cowboys take a step back in 2004?

Never saw it coming.

Oh, but that buzz word that they hate at the NFL office (shhhhh, "parity") won't stop me from dusting off the crystal ball, and making a few concrete declarations for a year that should be more wild and wonderful than any we've seen in the NFL.

10 bold predictions for 2005

1. The Broncos will finish in the cellar in the AFC West

So let me get this straight: The Browns give up chunks of yards on the ground in 2004 and the Broncos go out and get their defensive line for this season. Unreal.

I don't trust Denver quarterback Jake Plummer. Never have. Never will. I'm still having visions of that left-handed throw dancing in my head. Sure he can make the impossible possible, but what concerns me is the interception he throws in the second quarter that gives the opposition an easy seven points.

Or as TV analyst and former 49ers great Randy Cross says, "Plummer is the Billy Graham of the NFL. He can make 70,000 people say 'Jesus' in unison."

Ron Dayne has also the ball well in August before, only to disappear from September to December.

Champ Bailey has a bad hamstring. That makes me very concerned when I look at the rest of the Broncos' cover corners.

And you can make the case Denver plays in the best division in the NFL this year.

The Chiefs beefed up their defense significantly with Derrick Johnson, Pat Surtain, Sammy Knight, Kendrell Bell, and the underrated Carlos Hall.

San Diego might just be the most balanced team in the AFC.

Oakland's offense will challenge the Colts for being the greatest in the NFL. Kerry Collins is going to succeed in Norv Turner's high-powered attack. Randy Moss will have a fantastic season. Jerry Porter is a perfect No. 2 wideout. And Lamont Jordan is the perfect Turner-style back, and his ability to control the game will aid the Raiders defense. Expect Jordan to have a Pro Bowl-caliber season.

7-9 can easily be last place in the division. That's what I see for the Broncos.

2. The Redskins will be a last-place team

Say it isn't so Joe. The NFC East clearly belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles. The next two slots will go to the Cowboys and Giants, both coming off of very good off-seasons, leaving Joe Gibbs' boys in the basement.

There's no way you can tell me the 'Skins have better talent now than one year ago. Right after Gibbs called linebacker Antonio Pierce and cornerback Fred Smoot "Core Redskins," owner Dan Snyder forgot where his checkbook was and let them walk to the Giants and Vikings respectively.

Wide receiver Santana Moss isn't as good as Laveranues Coles, whom the Redskins traded to get Moss. And while you certainly can sell me on the fact that wide receiver Rod Gardner needed a change of venue, you can't convince me David Patten is a go-to option as his replacement. The Patriots didn't even try to bring Patten back. Have New England's Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli ever been wrong?

It's obvious that Gibbs doesn't endorse Patrick Ramsey at quarterback. The coach proved that by drafting Jason Campbell with the team's second first-round pick and by keeping 2004 disaster Mark Brunell around. As a result, Ramsey plays looking over his shoulder.

Clinton Portis isn't comfortable running Gibbs' style of offense. Last year, he complained that the offense was too predictable. Portis wants the offensive line to block more like it did in Denver. Running backs coach Ernest Byner says he talked with former Denver offensive line coach Alex Gibbs about making adjustments. I talked to team executive Vinny Cerrato, who says nothing has changed. Chaos still rules at Redskins Park.

In the secondary, rookie cornerback Carlos Rogers is banged up. Walt Harris has to play way too much. And Sean Taylor has a legal mess hanging over his head.

3. Julius Jones will lead the NFL in rushing

Bill Parcells is going back to his roots. The Tuna is going to rely on defense, a strong running game, a great tight end, intelligence and toughness to win this season. And Jones is at the heart of it all.

After a broken shoulder caused Jones to be inactive for the first half of the 2004 season, the former Norte Dame star dominated the rest of the way with 819 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Jones is strong, physical, and speedy rolled into one package. And Parcells is going to let him carry the mail at least 25 times every Sunday.

4. The Jets will miss the playoffs

The AFC is loaded with teams that are truly postseason ready. The Jets just have too many question marks to ultimately get it done.

Can Chad Pennington stay healthy for an entire season?

How will Pennington respond to off-season rotator cuff surgery?

Is Pennington thinking too much, like he did with two picks vs. the Giants last weekend, to succeed in Mike Heimerdinger's new aggressive offense?

Will Curtis Martin rush for over 1,600 yards again?

Will the team miss favorite Lamont Jordan?

Is Adrian Jones the answer at right tackle?

Can John Abraham stay healthy for 16 games?

Is there enough depth at safety?

Will Dewayne Robertson be able to play with a broken hand?

Who steps up next to Robertson at defensive tackle?

Does Herm Edwards know how to use a clock?

5. The Bills will play the second weekend in January

I love this defense.

You can even make the case that the combination of Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher and Jeff Posey make up the best linebacker core in the NFL.

Nate Clements changes the game at the cover corner position.

Lawyer Milloy and Troy Vincent bring experience and attitude at the safety position.

Sam Adams, Chris Kelsay and Aaron Schobel are beasts up front.

Jerry Gray is a great defensive coordinator and deserves to be a head coach.

Willis McGahee is a star.

And enough with this talk about the opposition stacking the box with JP Losman at quarterback. Did teams fear Drew Bledsoe last year?

Losman is fearless and smart. He's a tremendous athlete who can escape from potential tacklers, just like Big Ben in Pittsburgh last year. And coach Mike Mularkey can run his entire playbook, filled with rollouts, something he couldn't so with the backfield statue that was Bledsoe last year.

Eric Moulds and Lee Evans make for an explosive pair at wide receiver.

And I loved how this team came from the dead last year.

They will finally reach the playoffs in the Tom Donohue reign in lovely Western New York.

6. Kyle Boller to the postseason; Ben Roethlisberger to the Bahamas

OK, so Boller has looked miserable during the preseason.

But let's remember this: no Jamal Lewis and no Todd Heap.

I really think as the season rolls along Boller can find his groove with Jim Fassel calling plays and Derrick Mason as his new favorite receiver.

The Ravens defense will make more game-changing plays this season than any other defense with Samari Rolle joining the AFC's best defender Ed Reed, Chris McAlister and Will Demps in the defensive backfield. Ray Lewis still anchors a very potent front seven.

And it's not as if Roethlisberger is having a good August.

The Steelers running backs are falling apart. Duce Staley is out for the first month. Jerome Bettis is missing for at least the first game. When Willie Parker opens your season at running back and you base so much of your attack off the run, you are going to struggle. Pittsburgh ran the ball 61 percent of the time last year. And think of how much of Big Ben's success was built off of the play-action pass.

I think this team will miss Plaxico Burress. And the Steelers have to pay Hines Ward at some point, right?

By the way, just for the sake of asking, which coach, Brian Billick or Bill Cowher, has the Super Bowl ring?

7. Kyle Orton wins more games than Brett Favre

Packers fans just love me.

I really like this Bears defense. As a unit, they collectively have a great knack for creating turnovers. Tommie Harris is about to become a star. Alex Brown knows how to get to the quarterback. Look for big things from defensive end Adewale Ogunleye in Year 2 in Chicago. Brian Urlacher is healthy. Lovie Smith is a great coach and teacher.

Maybe the Packers would have been better off selecting Kyle Orton rather than Aaron Rodgers in the draft. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)

Yes, Orton's a rookie and he scares me, but not nearly as much as Chad Hutchinson did.

And more important, I really think Green Bay is taking a major step back.

The offensive line is in transition without Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle.

The defense is a disaster.

Brett Favre is a year older.

Ahman Green fumbles too much.

I know I am going to get many more wonderful emails, following up from this and last week's column.

And here's the deal — if the Packers win the division — I'll take a picture wearing a cheese head for my FOX photo.

8. J.J. Arrington and Derrick Johnson win Rookie of the Year

If I really had guts I'd pick Saints tackle Jamal Brown, as I do think the mistake-free offensive lineman was a fantastic pick by New Orleans.

Yes, Arrington has struggled in the preseason. But you know Cardinals coach Dennis Green will stick with him, and Arrington's backup, Marcel Shipp, isn't exactly Barry Sanders. Arrington is blessed with great speed, and Green isn't afraid to play newbies in big spots.

Cadillac Williams from Tampa Bay will finish second.

There are going to be a lot of general managers league-wide explaining how on earth they let Johnson fall to pick No. 15 in the first round Forget the combines. Forget the 40 times. Forget the angle Johnson takes toward the ball. Derrick Johnson makes game-changing plays, turns the opposition over, and will be an instant star at linebacker in Kansas City.

Arizona corner Antrel Rolle will be the runner-up.

9. Corey Dillon is the league MVP; Patriots go back to the Super Bowl

Dillon didn't get anywhere close to the credit he deserved for his spectacular play and tremendous attitude last year in New England. He's a great running back.

Dillon should more than duplicate last year's superb first season with the Patriots by topping 2004's numbers of 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns. Remember, it actually took the former Bengals back a game or two to become acclimated to New England. Dillon is a big, physical bull, and still possesses breakaway speed. And with New England scoring first in so many games, Dillon becomes the ultimate game-controller and clock eater. Dillon's the ultimate balance for Tom Brady in the regular season.

I can't believe how many people are writing off the Pats. I understand Tedy Bruschi isn't playing, Weis is coaching college, and Romeo Crennel is the top dog in Cleveland. But Brady's Brady. Belichick is still a genius. And personnel guru Scott Pioli made up for key losses with Logan Mankins, Andre Davis, Monty Beisel and Chad Brown.

It's the Patriots world, and we are simply living in it.

10. Carolina will win the Super Bowl

They say that to win in this great game you have to be strong in the trenches.

Every defensive lineman is healthy now for Carolina, meaning you can once again call this unit the best defensive line in the NFL, led by the best defensive player in football, Julius Peppers. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins coming back will aid Mike Rucker.

The signing of Mike Wahle from Green Bay was a brilliant free-agent pickup, adding stability, toughness, and greatness to the Panthers.

I can't even begin to describe how much I respect this organization, from general manger Marty Hurney to coach John Fox.

Jake Delhomme is healthy. Maybe you don't realize how much his thumb bothered him last year, and Delhomme has the "it" quality you see in other great and clutch quarterbacks.

Steve Smith is 100 percent healthy and ready to not only be a game-changing wideout, but also a burner on special teams.

Keary Colbert will be even better than his very solid rookie season at wide receiver last year.

And ex-Redskin Rod Gardner gets that change of venue where there is no pressure on him.

The running back position is deep with DeShaun Foster (in a contract year), second-round pick Eric Shelton, and maybe Stephen Davis. But with these aforementioned backs, plus Nick Goings and Rod Smart, Carolina doesn't have to bank on Davis' health.

I loved the pickup of Ken Lucas, to go along with Chris Gamble and Ricky Manning Jr. in the defensive backfield. These defensive backs are going to drive the opposition batty.

Dan Morgan is healthy, and the Pro Bowl linebacker just got a new deal.

And I love how Carolina showed heart and determination last year, coming back after a plethora of injuries doomed them to a 1-7 start.

This team has the character, the coaching, and the talent.

Count on it: Carolina wins the Super Bowl.

[stoney26]

laugh out loud...thats the only response to this nonsense.

[MikeB]

Wow, this guy managed to take every bit of negative press we got this offseason (and there was a bunch) and cram it into one concise paragraph of hatred.

Satan himself couldn't have done a better job!

:puke:

[SkinsTillIDie]

Well, it's not really a bold prediction if every media outlet is predicting it.

Kind of like how now everyone is suddenly on the Carolina bandwagon, (EDIT: I didn't even read the whole article, but I notice after writing this that the last sentence in the article says 'Carolina wins the Super Bowl'. How oh so bold) it seems like its the "in" thing for everyone to poke at the Skins to finish last.

[Walking Deadman]

So He's still waiting for that call from Jessica Simpson.....guess he'll be waiting for a long time coming.....

[SamSneed36]

Is this an old article or is this guy just way behind? Rogers hasnt been banged up in 2 weeks and Moss and Patten are lookin fantastic. The running game is also amazing and what the hell does vinney cerato know about what is being coached and schemed, he doesnt do on the field stuff man, do you even know who your sources ARE? This dudes a totally cluseless tool

[Dirk Diggler]

I didn't know Michael Irvin was literate.

[bubba9497]

There's no way you can tell me

enough said

:laugh:

[PCS]

Really? Okay. Well.

:yawnee:

That about covers it.

[DieselPwr44]

. The Redskins will be a last-place team

Say it isn't so Joe. The NFC East clearly belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles. The next two slots will go to the Cowboys and Giants, both coming off of very good off-seasons, leaving Joe Gibbs' boys in the basement.

There's no way you can tell me the 'Skins have better talent now than one year ago. Right after Gibbs called linebacker Antonio Pierce and cornerback Fred Smoot "Core Redskins," owner Dan Snyder forgot where his checkbook was and let them walk to the Giants and Vikings respectively.

Wide receiver Santana Moss isn't as good as Laveranues Coles, whom the Redskins traded to get Moss. And while you certainly can sell me on the fact that wide receiver Rod Gardner needed a change of venue, you can't convince me David Patten is a go-to option as his replacement. The Patriots didn't even try to bring Patten back. Have New England's Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli ever been wrong?

It's obvious that Gibbs doesn't endorse Patrick Ramsey at quarterback. The coach proved that by drafting Jason Campbell with the team's second first-round pick and by keeping 2004 disaster Mark Brunell around. As a result, Ramsey plays looking over his shoulder.

Clinton Portis isn't comfortable running Gibbs' style of offense. Last year, he complained that the offense was too predictable. Portis wants the offensive line to block more like it did in Denver. Running backs coach Ernest Byner says he talked with former Denver offensive line coach Alex Gibbs about making adjustments. I talked to team executive Vinny Cerrato, who says nothing has changed. Chaos still rules at Redskins Park.

In the secondary, rookie cornerback Carlos Rogers is banged up. Walt Harris has to play way too much. And Sean Taylor has a legal mess hanging over his head.

Keep underestimating Joe Gibbs.......

[FBChick]

Is this an old article or is this guy just way behind? Rogers hasnt been banged up in 2 weeks and Moss and Patten are lookin fantastic. The running game is also amazing and what the hell does vinney cerato know about what is being coached and schemed, he doesnt do on the field stuff man, do you even know who your sources ARE? This dudes a totally cluseless tool

I was thinking the exact same thing. I love when you can read an article and actually wonder if the guy watches any football watch so ever, or just reads headlines from other papers and rolls it all up into some "BOLD" prediction article!

Give me a break

[NoCalMike]

How is that a bold prediction? All he did was cut & paste what every other mediot has blabbered.

He did see Portis run all over the Steelers in a "system that he hates" no?

This along with all the other hate, is going to make this season fun to watch....

Oh and "Julius Jones will lead the NFL in rushing" ? LOL, he won't even lead the NFC East in rushing.

I love how "Portis is too small to be a bruising back, and hates the system" yet Jones is just as small and also in a running scheme that takes a toll on the body, yet he is just A-Ok....

[redman]

Monkey with a typewriter.

[skinsfan999]

Yea..... it's the same blah blah, Redskins suck, blah blah. And how exactly is this a bold prediction when every writer has said this?

:eaglesuck :gaintsuck :dallasuck

Edit: Just a hint, but whenever you plan on making more bold predictions, don't predict for a team that has been bad for a long time to finish in last. You lose the "bold" part of it.

[Flowtrain]

4. The Jets will miss the playoffs

The AFC is loaded with teams that are truly postseason ready. The Jets just have too many question marks to ultimately get it done.

Can Chad Pennington stay healthy for an entire season?

He didn't stay healthy last year and the Jets still made the playoffs. The only difference is that this year, the backup QB is much better.

Will Curtis Martin rush for over 1,600 yards again?

Since when is having the NFL's leading rusher in the previous season considered a liability the next season? Odd.

Will the team miss favorite Lamont Jordan?

Jordan had 93 touches with 2 TDs. He's replaced by another backup who had 118 touches with 8 TDs.

Can John Abraham stay healthy for 16 games?

Again, Abe only played 12 games and the Jets still made the playoffs, and also won in the playoffs without him. Again, the only difference now is that backup Brian Thomas has substantially more experience.

Does Herm Edwards know how to use a clock?

Is this the same coach that put the Jets in the playoffs 3 of the last 4 seasons? Or has something changed of which I'm unaware?

5. The Bills will play the second weekend in January

Losman is fearless and smart. He's a tremendous athlete who can escape from potential tacklers, just like Big Ben in Pittsburgh last year.

Ahh, this explains it. We're dealing with a Bills fan.

The unproven Losman is the sure-fire reason the Bills make the playoffs, yet the playoff proven Pennington is the reason the Jets won't.

Now it all makes sense.

[mookie0720]

I didn't know Michael Irvin was literate.

Michael Irvin is actually fairly supportive of the Redskins.

[themurf]

He says he thinks Kyle Boller will "find his groove" and be a good quarterback. That alone makes everything he said total B.S.

[jwsleep]

I love articles like this. I sincerely think we are going to win games because of the negative press we're getting. All it takes is a little let-down, and you lose in the NFL. Teams are going to pencil in wins against us, and phone it in. Then we'll hear the post-game interviews: "Oh, we beat ourselves, we came out flat, we're a better team than this, it's nothing the skins did, etc..." And suddenly people will look up, and we'll be "quietly" having a great year.

I realize that pro-atheletes are supposed to be above this sort of thing, but I'm telling you: the game really is mental. It's about momentum, desire, and attitude, mostly. Mark my words: This is going to help us.

Thanks Adam! Soon you'll be up there with Pasta-the-whale and Dr. Zoolander.

[Darth Tater]

6 and 7 are the only truely bold predictions. Maybe 3. 2 would only be bold if all his compadres were predicting that the Skins would be this years sleeper and I've only seen one or two, and they could be dismissed as homers.

[bleedbng86]

:gus: :gus: :gus: :gus:

what a joke lol.... god i hope we can become a force this season, that would make me smile so much that the media has to backtrack somehow on what they said today. :logo:

[chickenlipper]

I feel better now.Just puked in the trash can.

[jwebst1]

I'm sick and tired of everyone bashing the Skins, but I have to keep reminding myself that this team has finished out of the playoffs in 15 of the last 16, right?

The only thing that is going to stop this nonsense is for them to go out and prove everyone wrong, starting with Chicago then Dallas... man, I would love to hear what people have to say, like SI who says they will be 4-12 or this clown, when the Skins are sitting in the bye week at 2-0

1 1/2 more weeks!!!!!

[autographcollector]

:notworthy

I'm sick and tired of everyone bashing the Skins, but I have to keep reminding myself that this team has finished out of the playoffs in 15 of the last 16, right?

The only thing that is going to stop this nonsense is for them to go out and prove everyone wrong, starting with Chicago then Dallas... man, I would love to hear what people have to say, like SI who says they will be 4-12 or this clown, when the Skins are sitting in the bye week at 2-0

1 1/2 more weeks!!!!!

:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

If you want media to say nice things, you gottaa show something better than 6-10!!!!!!

[Epistopheles]

This article looks like one of my old papers from high school. My man did just enough research (esp. on the Skins) to fill up the space.

[Commander PK]

Well, the Eagles may still be a tough obstacle to overcome, but I believe our team will give them a run for their money this year.

and the Redskins, WILL NOT finish in last place this year. I'd bet the house on that one.