2009 NFC East Predictions Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I'm gonna post, along with some comments, my predicted finishes for all eight NFL divisions over the next couple weeks. Today: The NFC East.

The NFC East is arguably the best division in pro football, and unquestionably the division that gets the most media coverage. With Vick added to the fold in Philadelphia, the media coverage will only increase (but at least Jessica Simpson is out of the picture). Everyone in the division is playing the NFC South and the AFC West.

1. Philadelphia Eagles - The Vick acquisition may make a small positive difference, although it's the aggregate number of skill position players that compounds to make this offense very exciting. The death of D-Coor Jim Johnson won't help, although I'm assuming whoever has been promoted will be able to keep Johnson's train running for at least one season. Reid is a great coach and the Eagles are always in it at the end of the season.
2. Washington Redskins - Haynesworth was certainly overpaid but a great defensive tackle is as much a sure thing in free agency as any. He's sure to make a difference. I do think head coach Jim Zorn is underrated (as long as he stays on Clinton Portis' good side) and Jason Campbell at least can steer the ship competently.
3. New York Giants - The conventional wisdom is that Eli crumbled last season without premiere wide-out Plaxico to throw to, and the conventional wisdom was 100% correct. Eli will regress back to the mediocre QB his was. I'm expecting the Giants to fall to 6-8 wins. (Although Brandon Jacobs is still a beast.)
4. Dallas Cowboys - I know this looks like standard Cowboy-hate coming from a Steeler fan, but it's year three of the Wade Phillips Hang-On-For-Dear-Life-Rickety-Roller-Coaster-That-Will-Inevitably-Crash ride. Owens' presence was an excuse, and a mature locker room with actual leaders would simply ignore him (or threaten him). The Cowboys will not be better without him, and will finish last in what could still be the NFL's top divison.

Vick to Eagles Friday, August 14, 2009

Didn't watch the Steeler preseason game last night on ESPN. Instead, I was playing a game of Acquire. In the meantime, though, it was apparently announced that Michael Vick will play for the Eagles. I'm impressed that this was not leaked a couple days ago. There were, in fact, many speculating that there were no interested teams, and Vick was just waiting for a starting QB to get injured to have a chance.

In some corners of the internet, folks are speculating about Andy Reid's troubled sons, pointing out that he would be more likely to give someone a second chance. Not a bad point.

It makes sense from a football standpoint, way more than it does for the Steelers, since we just won the Super Bowl and don't need any distractions, and have Dennis Dixon if we want to do "wildcat" stuff.

Personally, I'm still wary about the NFL giving a guy a paycheck whose principal use of his paycheck in the past was to run a sophisticated yet illegal and cruel gambling ring for seven years. But from a non-business standpoint I have no problem forgiving him and I hope he succeeds.

My guess is the few mandatory weeks off will be helpful, as he will be extremely rusty at first, with some questioning whether he should have been signed at this time once he gets some practice in. But he'll come around. He's an incredible athlete.