Offense

The low rankings – 30^th in scoring, 28^th in yards, 27^th on third down, etc. – can be chalked up to instability at quarterback. Byron Leftwich is not a good fit in any offense – this one included. Josh Johnson scrambled well but displayed shoddy fundamentals in the pocket. Rookie Josh Freeman’s mental struggles prevented him from exhibiting the tools that made him a first-round pick. In a way, it’s too bad, because the rest of this offense was respectable. The front five was solid (guards Jeremy Zuttah and Davin Joseph were particularly impressive as run-blockers, regularly getting to the second level). Cadillac Williams ran with a burst that two patella tendon injuries should never allow. He was head-and-shoulders above the mechanical Derrick Ward. WR Sammie Stroughter showed promise. Maurice Stovall and Michael Clayton showed nothing. Antonio Bryant was a stud when his quarterback found him. Kellen Winslow proved he’s still the most fluid route running TE in football.

Defense

Inconsistent linebackers headlined the league’s 32^nd-ranked run defense. Second-year WLB Geno Hayes jumped out as a playmaker at times but, like Quincy Black and Barrett Ruud, Hayes didn’t play with physicality. Far too many of Ruud’s tackles came downfield; he was an average MLB at best.

The criticism of the linebackers can be applied to the safeties. Tanard Jackson wasn’t as effective outside the Cover 2 scheme; Sabby Piscitelli only started because Jermaine Phillips got hurt. Ronde Barber was savvy in zone coverage but struggled in man. If not for some early season man-to-man gaffes, ’08 undrafted rookie Elbert Mack would have had a stellar campaign (but not as stellar as lanky Aqib Talib, of course).

Tampa had an abundance of “energy guys” along the defensive line, but they needed a genuine pass-rusher. The only player who consistently stood out was DT Ryan Sims. He played with power and showed surprising quickness off the snap.

Top 5 Needs

1. Wide Receiver

Per their cost-cutting and youth movement, the Bucs let soon-to-be-29-year-old free agent Antonio Bryant walk away. (The team didn’t seem thrilled with his knee problems, and in reading between the lines, Bryant’s old attitude issues may have reappeared.) Problem is, Bryant was their only dangerous wideout. Second-year pro Sammie Stroughter is precocious but not ready to be a No. 1 (especially if irrelevant vets Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall are the No. 2 and 3).

2. Defensive End

Jimmy Wilkerson must prove he can still play with a motor after injuring his ACL. Even if Wilkerson is 100 percent, he’s a backup talent anyway. Same goes for Stylez White.

3. Defensive Tackle

The need at DE is much greater, but after giving up a league-worst 158.2 yards rushing per game, you can’t blame the Bucs if they look for a superstar inside. It’s probably time to replace Chris Hovan anyway.

4. Defensive Back

Ronde Barber is 34. Elbert Mack got better as the season progressed, but it’d be a gamble to start him. Good NFL defenses these days all seem to have a playmaking safety. The Bucs are solid with Tanard Jackson, but they need to replace injury-prone Jermaine Phillips.

5. Linebacker

They should take anyone who is willing to hit opponents in the mouth. (Ruud, Hayes and Black would all rather flick an opponents’ ear and run off.)

Cleveland continues to sign solid veterans. With the signing of linebacker Scott Fujita, right tackle Tony Pashos,  Watson, and the trade for Seneca Wallace, the Browns are filling holes with quality veterans. Maybe they aren’t marque names but they are an upgrade none the less.

Last year Eric Mangini started building the Browns with smart, selfless, high charactor players.  Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert seem to be doing more of the same this year.

Disclaimer: Usually journalist and especially good journalist don’t usually use “I” in articles and recently I’ve been trying to improve on that and just stick with reporting. However I’ve decided to try a little experiment and create a new series of articles titled “In my opinion” which will include players, coaches and other aspects of the NFL an give my opinion on those topics. So articles titled “In my opinion” will be the only time I use “I” in an article, but when it comes to reporting on the Seahawks and the draft, “I” won’t be included. Just needed to clear that with this disclaimer.

Matthew Hasselbeck has come a long way since growing up in Boulder Colorado. Hasselbeck, now 34-years old went from receiving honorable mention All-American in high school to being selected in the sixth round in the 1999 draft by the Green Bay Packers all the way to being a starting quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks for eight years and counting.

Hasselbeck became a part of the NFL in 1999 when Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid (Packers QB coach at the time) selected the Boston College quarterback in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL draft. At the time Reid was pressing harder for Hasselbeck then Holmgren was but neither coach really saw Hasselbeck as a franchise quarterback.

For the first two years (99-01) Hasselbeck was holding field goal kicks and a clip board as he sat behind future hall-of-famer Brett Favre.

In 1999, a year after the Packers selected Matt Hasselbeck; his head coach Mike Holmgren left the Green Bay Packers organization for a lucrative offer from Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen to become the team’s head coach and general manager.

Holmgren did not forget about Hasselbeck and two years later, on March 2nd 2001 Mike Holmgren traded the Seahawks 10th overall pick and two third round draft picks in exchange for the young Hasselbeck as well as the Packers 17th overall pick and a seventh round pick in the 2001 NFL draft.

What came of that trade?

The Seahawks landed their franchise quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck as well as a future cornerstone of their offensive line, Steve Hutchinson with the 17th overall pick.

The Packers selected Florida State defensive end Jamal Reynolds who totaled 18 tackles and three sacks from 2001-2004 before his NFL career was over. Reynolds was plagued by injuries that ultimately ended his NFL career when he failed his physical with the Indianapolis Colts which voided a potential trade. He was released and signed by the Cleveland Browns but failed to make the teams regular season roster in 2004 and has not played in the NFL since.

In his first two seasons with the Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck battled with veteran quarterback Trent Dilfer for the starting quarterback job. However with an excellent finish to the 2002 season Hasselbeck became the teams’ full-time starter in 2003.

Hasselbeck did not disappoint in his first full season as a starting quarterback in the NFL. He compiled 3,841 yards passing and 26 touchdowns while only throwing fifteen interceptions. Hasselbeck also led the Seahawks to a 10-6 regular season record and a wildcard berth for the first time since 1998.

He continued his success in 2004 by leading the Seahawks to their first division title since the team joined the NFC in the alignment in 2002. Hasselbeck missed two games during the regular season and his touchdown total dropped from 26 to 22.

However Hasselbeck’s mouth got caught in the divisional round of the 04 playoffs against the Green Bay Packers. Hasselbeck went out in overtime to call the coin toss and once the referee announced Seattle had won the toss the question came “do you want the ball?”

Hasselbeck’s famous response was “We want the ball, and we’re gonna score!” Shortly thereafter Hasselbeck threw a pick-six to Packers corner back Al Harris which sealed the Seahawks playoff fiat.

In 2005 Matt Hasselbeck made up for his prediction in the 2004 playoffs by leading the Seahawks to a 13-3 regular season record, the most wins in franchise history as well as the franchises’ first trip to the Super Bowl. Hasselbeck received his first all-pro award in 2005 and led what was arguably the best single season Seahawks team in franchise history.

2006 Hasselbeck took a step back after starting the season 4-1 he went down in week seven with a sprained right MCL, caused by Minnesota linebacker E.J Henderson. He came back to lead the Seahawks to a 9-7 record and made it back to the playoffs after losing the Super Bowl the previous year.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo stole the show in the closing seconds in what fans will remember the most about the wildcard game between the Seahawks and Cowboys. Romo botched a 19-yard field goal snap with 1:19 left in the game.

The Seahawks lost in overtime to the Chicago Bears in the divisional round of the playoffs after Robbie Gold kicked the game winning field goal.

2007 became Matt Hasselbeck’s “comeback” year when the Seahawks, led by Mike Holmgren’s decision to become a pass first and pass only offense with the absence of a starting running back. Hasselbeck had his best statistical season in 2007 when he put up 28 touchdowns while only throwing twelve interceptions. He also posted a career best 91.4 quarterback rating.

However since his great season in 2007, Matt Hasselbeck’s career has continued to degrade with each snap that he takes, which hasn’t been that often.

In 2008 Hasselbeck played only seven games due to several injuries that would devastate any quarterback. He suffered a severe back injury that effected nerves in his lower back, which causes him to lose power in his legs and ultimately led to a knee injury.

Hasselbeck suffered a bulging disk in the pre-season, a knee injury against the Giants on October 5th and a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Arizona Cardinals.

The loss of Hasselbeck, along with several other key players on the Seahawks led to the Seahawks finishing with a 4-12 record and the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

2009 started out questionable under new head coach Jim Mora Jr. Hasselbeck threw two interceptions in the first quarter against the St. Louis Rams in week one before bouncing back to finish with three touchdowns and 276 yards passing and a 28-0 win over the St. Louis Rams at home.

However in week two he suffered two broken ribs when he attempted to dive into the end zone with under two minutes left in the half. Patrick Willis went helmet first into the back of Hasselbeck and he went downhill from there. He missed the next three games before coming back in week five against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hasselbeck threw four touchdowns in a 42-0 win which seemed to be a good sign for Hasselbeck and the Seahawks coming off three straight loses.

However in week six at home against the Arizona Cardinals the Seahawks had the franchises worst game flat out. Hasselbeck finished the game completing only ten passes and a completion percentage of only 34.

Hasselbeck would go on to finish the 2009 season with seventeen touchdowns and seventeen interceptions while crossing the 3000 yard mark for the sixth time in his NFL career.

So going through Matt Hasselbeck’s career what you find is one of toughest, grinding and competitive quarterbacks in NFL history. Hasselbeck has been the face of the Seattle Seahawks franchise for nine seasons out of the ten that he’s been with the organization.

He’s gone to three Pro Bowls in his 12 years in the NFL (03,05,07) and also led the Seahawks to five straight playoff appearances from 2003-2008. He led the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history in 2005 and emerged as one of the league’s top quarterbacks from 2004-2007 before injuries took away his playing time.

Hasselbeck is arguably the best quarterback in Seahawks history alongside Dave Krieg who finished his Seahawks career with a record of 70-49 while Hasselbeck sits at 58-45.

So In my opinion Matt Hasselbeck is the best quarterback in Seattle Seahawks history for many reasons and even though he does not have hall-of-fame numbers Matt Hasselbeck’s career is not over just yet. If Hasselbeck has three great seasons left in the tank and if he can still get the Seahawks to win their first Lombardi trophy then Hasselbeck could be mentioned in the hall-of-fame but not until then.

However in my opinion if Hasselbeck had not suffered the amount of injuries he has gone through in his career I think his success rate might be just a little bit higher over the past two seasons. Now it’s up to the new era of Seahawks football, John Schneider and Pete Carroll to revive Matt Hasselbeck’s career.

You can follow Lars at Twitter http://twitter.com/larshanson

Check out Lars’ sports blog: http://hansonsportsblog.blogspot.com/

First lets discuss Pool, I like this pick-up. Although he has been plagued by injuries the past couple of years, he has produced when he was healthy. He had four interceptions, a sack and 50 tackles in the 10 games he started last year.

In comparison, Kerry Rhodes had 63 tackles, 3 interceptions and no sacks in the 14 games he started.

I also like this pick-up because it reduces the need for safety, originally I thought Eric Smith could handle the job just fine, Pool gives us a security net. Also because of pool, Jets now get to focus on other things in the draft such as a defensive end.

Also, the Jets don’t need to give up a draft pick since Pool was supposed to become a RFA but the Browns didn’t put a tender on him. So their isn’t much risk to this signing. It will be interesting though who will get Kerry Rhodes old job.

Now lets get to L.T., he is meeting with the Jets Friday since he was not able to hammer out a deal with the Vikings.

At this moment, this does not make sense to me. The only really good quality L.T. has right now is pass catching. But current Jets running back (as of right now) Leon Washington is already a great pass catcher and almost four years younger.

Also Leon is a great third down back. If the Jets do keep Leon, Tomlinson would probably get like five to 10 carries a game. But you do have to take into consideration that It’s hard to tell though if Washington will be the same he was in the 2008 season because of his knee injury.

The only way a possible move for L.T. makes sense to me is if Leon is going, so it’s not looking good for Leon wearing a Jet jersey next year.

I think this deal with L.T. will happen, mainly because of Mike Tennanbaum.

Tennenbaum loves the big names, and will do anything to get them, note Mark Sanchez and Brett Favre. I think he is drooling over the fact of having L.T. right now, not so much for his skill, but because he is L.T. Also, the current final eight rules are keeping Tennenbaum on a leash so I think he is dying to break free.

If the Jets are not going to get Leon back I think this is a good move to find a temporary replacement for Washington.

We got lucky with Thomas Jones going to the Pats, hopefully Leon won’t be a Patriot next year.

So what do you think? Was Brodney Pool a good pick-up? Will LT be a Jet? Will Leon? Would you prefer Leon or L.T.?

Let me know down below!

-Cole

Numerous teams have already made significant upgrades at positions of need.

Unfortunately, the San Francisco 49ers are not one of them.

Despite having multiple starting positions in need of an upgrade, the 49ers have made only one minor signing so far this season. By signing quarterback David Carr to back up Alex Smith, San Francisco’s lone free agent pickup thus far has come at a position quite low on the needs list.

In fact, quarterback wasn’t really a need at all considering the direction the 49ers are heading in with continuity being of the utmost importance.

Now fans and analysts may argue the order of the top four biggest needs for the 49ers, but there really is no arguing against what those top four needs are.

In any given order, the 49ers need to upgrade in the following areas:

1) Pass rush

2) Offensive line

3) Secondary

4) Return game

Granted the 49ers have two first round draft choices in the upcoming NFL draft, but by addressing some of their needs in free agency, the team would then be able to narrow the list of positional needs in the draft.

For example, there are various NFL “mock drafts” which have the 49ers taking two offensive lineman in the first round, as well as some that have them addressing the return game and the pass rush in the first round.

With varying opinions from both fans and experts alike on how the 49ers should utilize their two first round picks, it is clear that the 49ers need a handful of positional upgrades.

In order for the 49ers to become stronger players come draft day, they should look to address some of the areas of need in free agency.

The pass rush, offensive line and secondary should all be upgraded in one way or another through free agency.

First of all, the pass rush can be significantly upgraded on the cheap. Just recently, the incredibly flamboyant but immensely talented pass rushing outside linebacker Joey Porter was released by the Miami Dolphins.

Soon to be 33, Porter’s age and brash style will probably prohibit the four-time Pro Bowler from getting a long term deal.

By adding Porter to the mix, San Francisco would bolster a pass rush that has been incredibly mediocre over the last few seasons and signing him isn’t likely to break the bank.

Upgrading the secondary can be done by going after veteran free agent safety Darren Sharper to fill in at free safety while then moving the up and coming Dashon Goldson over to strong safety.

Sharper may be turning 35 next season but he still tied a career high with nine interceptions last year, helping the Saints to their first ever Super Bowl victory.

Clearly, a Sharper-Goldson combo would be a much better duo than a Goldson and concussion prone Michael Lewis tandem. Sharper would be a great veteran presence on an otherwise young 49er defense and at his age, he won’t require a lengthy contract.

As for the offensive line, names such as Langston Walker, Levi Jones, Mike Gandy and Damion McIntosh are all free agent tackles that could fill in the gap the 49ers currently have at right tackle.

Of course, the 49ers would need to proceed with caution before signing Jones if they also plan on signing Joey Porter at outside linebacker. These two have some severe issues with one another going back to the days when Porter played for the Steelers and Jones was on the Bengals.

Either way, whether the 49ers want to go after Jones or another free agent tackle, there are a number of talented stop-gaps available to play opposite Joe Staley that shouldn’t require more than 1-year deals.

If the 49ers were able to pickup a safety, pass rusher, and offensive tackle in free agency, that would give them much more flexibility with their first round draft choices.

Taking Clemson running back C. J. Spiller at No. 13 overall would be much wiser of a move if the 49ers were to have added an offensive tackle in free agency.

Spiller would be a great fit in the return game, an area where the 49ers desperately need to improve and he could also suffice as an ideal change of pace back for Frank Gore.

Four picks later, the 49ers would then have the luxury in going in many different directions.

Essentially, at pick No.17, the 49ers could take the best player available. They could still take the best tackle on the board to add depth to the offensive line or they could also look to draft an offensive guard (perhaps Mike Iupati is available). Even inside linebacker Rolando McClain (if he falls) could be an option at this point in the draft.

However, if the 49ers don’t add quality players at their positions of need via free agency, they will then be limited in what they should do with their first round draft choices.

San Francisco will almost assuredly have to take an offensive tackle with one of their first round selections and improving either the secondary or pass rush will end up being more critical than drafting return specialist. Therefore, the 49ers would probably have to pass up on drafting the explosive C. J. Spiller.

But drafting Spiller would be a huge addition to this squad. And in order to make his selection at No. 13 an ideal move, the 49ers will need to have added some new talent through free agency.

Unfortunately, 49er management has been steadfast in not making a “splash” in free agency.

However, the good news is that with the amount of free agents available, “splashes” don’t necessarily have to be expensive long term deals.

The 49ers can improve in free agency by signing a couple of proven veteran players to cheap, short term deals.

If the management realizes this  and picks up some of these veteran free agents, then the 49ers will be able to snatch up a play maker like Spiller come draft day.

In 2003, Anquan Boldin was a draft-eligible receiver out of Florida State, where he caught 65 passes for 1,011 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season under the legendary Bobby Bowden. However, Boldin isn’t the biggest of receivers, at 6′1″, 217. On top of that, he ran a 40 time at 4.71, and while nobody knows of Boldin as a “burner”, so to speak, even that time is shocking. For that reason and that reason alone, he slipped to the second round of the draft, where the Cardinals, a team who went 5-11 the previous season, snatched him. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome has admitted that he made a mistake (which is rare), saying he looked at Anquan’s measurables (size, speed) instead of Anquan is a player, and I feel confident in saying it’s a mistake The Wizard of Oz has learned from.

As I mentioned, Boldin’s career has been great. His rookie year was one of the most dominant in the history of professional football, as he had 101 catches and 1,377 yards for a 4-12 team, which makes it even more jaw-dropping. Through 2007, Anquan continued his steady dominance despite playing second-fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald, who is arguably the greatest wide receiver in the NFL today. After the 2007 season, Fitz was given his much-deserved contract extension, signing the Minnesota native to a four-year, $40M deal. So, it’s obvious the Cardinals were willing to dish out the big bucks to a huge part of the franchise, which both Fitz and Boldin are - rather, were. As training camp began in 2008, Boldin privately sought a trade, claiming the Cards had recognized Fitz’ production, but not Anquan’s, which is an indisputable fact.

After all, Boldin became the fastest in NFL history to 400 catches and fifth fastest to 7,000 yards. He’s handled his “up-in-the-air” future with professionalism. While he clearly didn’t want to be a Cardinal any longer, he made a point of risking himself for his team each Sunday, and in 2008, made his third Pro Bowl, with 89 catches (eighth in NFL), 1,038 yards,and 11 touchdowns (third).

While such a magical season had potential to change Boldin’s mind about leaving Arizona, his stance remained the same. With that said, the Cardinals didn’t appear too desperate to move him. They did what all smart teams should do - when trading a marquee player, ask for too much. That way, maybe one foolish team will bite, and if not, then it’s not a huge loss. Arizona was quite stubborn throughout the proccess, demanding a first and third round pick for his services. While Boldin is likely a top ten receiver, a first and third for him is ridiculous. Clearly, Arizona wasn’t interested in moving Boldin as Boldin was moving out of Arizona.

This year, he posted similar production, with 84 catches, 1,024 yards, and four touchdowns. It’s worth noting that the Cardinals passing offense wasn’t nearly as prolific this year. It was still dynamic, but Kurt Warner had 770 fewer yards this year, four fewer touchdown passes, and the Cardinals were a little more balanced. Even with that, Boldin still put up his fifth 1,000 yard season in seven years, but numbers don’t always tell the story. Every great player has a “legend”, or something that made them special. Joe Montana had his comebacks, Johnny Unitas invented them, Brett Favre had risky decisions, Barry Sanders had mesmerizing runs, and Anquan Boldin has toughness.

That was on full display in a 56-35 loss to the Jets in Week 4 of the 2008 NFL season.

Overall, it was a lost game for the Cards. The defense was atrocious, allowing six touchdowns to Brett Favre, and Kurt Warner, one of the most accurate passers in NFL history and then the Cards quarterback, had three interceptions. Down 56-35 with 34 seconds left, Warner took the snap in shotgun from the Jets 31, dropped back, and found Boldin running a post in the end zone. He zipped it in, and it looked as if Boldin was going to catch his second touchdown pass of the game. However, he was hit from behind by Kerry Rhodes and took a helmet-to-face shot from Eric Smith. He lay motionless on the field, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt announced he’d miss time indefinitely with fractured paranasal sinuses.

Usually, when that happens, a receiver misses significant time. You wouldn’t even blame Boldin for retiring after taking such a vicious hit. However, he missed no more than two games, and in his first game back, he had nine catches and two scores. Boldin is likely the second toughest receiver to bring down 1-on-1 - trailing only Denver’s Brandon Marshall. While some Ravens fans can point to Boldin’s injury past as a “concern”, a receiver who goes over the middle as much as Boldin does will miss time. Regardless of how good he is, that’s going to happen. And the way Boldin came back from that and was able to come back and dominate like he did speaks volumes about how tough a player he is.

If any Ravens fans remember (or, at least, if they want to remember), the last time the Ravens traded for a big-time wide receiver was in 2004. Terrell Owens, a San Francisco 49ers receiver, with an ego about the size of his backyard, just finished another good season in San Fran, with 80 catches for 1,102 yards. But it was clear that he wasn’t coming back. After that 2003 season, he was definitely the No. 1 commodity, and rumor had it that he was traded to Baltimore for a second round pick. The Ravens were a famous smashmouth team. The previous year, Jamal Lewis ran for over 2,000 yards, and came just 39 short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season record of 2,105. Kyle Boller, a rookie quarterback at the time, showed signs of promise; which is just like Boller - flashes of dominance, lighting bolts of erratic play.

Owens refused to play for Baltimore, and was then traded to Philadelphia, where he spent two of the most up-and-down years in sports history. In Year 1, he had 77 catches, 1,200 yards, and 14 touchdowns, and led the Eagles to the Super Bowl. In Year 2, he got in two of the biggest feuds in NFL history: 1) Terrell Owens vs. Donovan McNabb, 2) Terrell Owens vs. Philadelphia Eagles. When matters got out of hand, he was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. Can you blame T.O. for not signing in Baltimore? Not really. T.O. was a playmaker in his prime in 2004, and proved that in Philly. It’s obvious he wouldn’t have been nearly as good in Baltimore as he was in Philadelphia, but when you hear the newest Raven, Anquan Boldin, talk about why he wants to play in Baltimore, it’s apparent that, while the Ravens bad offense had something to do with T.O. not donning the purple and black, it had a lot to do with his ego.

While T.O. never said it publicly, it’s blatantly obvious that not coming to Baltimore had a lot to do with not getting the personal accolades. In his introductory presser on Monday, Boldin was asked what his thoughts were on being the No. 1 in Baltimore. Boldin made no hints at catching 100 passes, making All Pro, making his fourth Pro Bowl, and cementing his legacy as one of the best receivers of the last eight years. He said he wanted to go to a place that had a chance to finish the year in Dallas hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for Super Bowl XLV, plays great defense, and runs the ball well. They have that now, and for most of their 14-year history, it’s been the Ravens foundation - power running and stout defense. And the Ravens have consistently been in contention for the Super Bowl. Heck, they won it all in 2000.

Boldin will make an already great running game even better with his famously good blocking. He’ll make an already tough team even tougher. Will Boldin put up the personal accolades? Of course. That’s why the Ravens brought him in. They didn’t trade two picks and make a move hours after the deadline to get a receiver to block well. Boldin will be the Ravens No. 1, and if he’s healthy, you can expect he’ll cross the 1,000 yard plateau. That’s exactly it though - Boldin couldn’t care less about how many 100 yard games he has, or how many touchdowns he scores.

He just wants to help the team win. Those characteristics have defined the Ravens over the last couple years - toughness, unselfishness, and the willingness to sacrifice glory for wins. Those three characterize Boldin’s career, and that, ladies and gentleman, is why Boldin fits the Baltimore Ravens - to a T. 

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed safety Marlin Jackson to a two-year deal. Jackson was just recently released by the Colts after this continuous runs of injuries throughout the season.

Jackson’s last good year was in 2007 when he put up 87 tackles. His most important contribution to the team’s franchise was during the 2006 AFC Championship, ending the game with an interception on Tom Brady. Jackson will be entering his sixth year next season and looks to be battling for the starting spot in Phily.

I see Jackson winning if stops with the injuries. The Eagles may have made a good decision with him. Maybe.

     First of all, Larry Johnson is not a premier back anymore.  He hasn’t played a full season since 2006, which is also his last 1,000 yard season.  That was also his last pro bowl.  I think Al Davis is just pursuing Johnson as a slap in the face to the Chiefs.  Maybe this is getting even for the Chiefs signing Marcus Allen after the Raiders released him.  If L.J. had anything left, why would the Bengals have allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent.

     Second, Larry Johnson has personality issues.  Not the good kind.  Not the personality issues that the Raiders are famous for, but the kind that Terrell Owens is famous for: complaining.  Johnson , who was on pace to pass Priest Holmes as K.C.’s all-time rushing leader, was released after hundreds of Chiefs fans petitioned the Chiefs front office saying that they didn’t want his name to be in the Chiefs’ record books.  That’s how bad he was. 

     Number 3, the Raiders have had success in their youth movement.  Players like:  Tyvon Branch, Zach Miller, Louis Murphy, Matt Shaugnessy, Trevor Scott, Chaz Schilens and Johnie Lee Higgins have started a movement that has the Raiders going young.  Javon Walker and Greg Ellis were also released with Justin Fargas.  With the young players stepping up all over the field, it’s time to let Michael Bush and Darren McFadden have a chance to be the premier back.  Signing Larry Johnson would only continue the negligence of Michael Bush who has proven his value. 

     Larry Johnson would not be all bad though.  If he signed a cheap  one year contract he could be a mentor to Bush and McFadden while they get the majority of the playing time and Larry could be a blocking fullback.  The Raiders are thin at fullback.  Luke Lawton is suspended for the first two games and Oren O’Neal has been injured for about 90% of his career.  Plus, Gary Russell was not tendered a contract as a restricted free agent.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Yes, the first few days of free agency was a mixed bag for Green Bay Packers fans.

While Packer nation breathed a collective sigh of relief that Chad Clifton would be back to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blind side, there is also a sadness that permeates the Packer faithful.

Aaron Kampman, a favorite son, has left behind the bitter winds of Green Bay for the balmy breezes of Jacksonville, Florida.

Re-signing Clifton was as close to a “must-do” as Ted Thompson has ever faced as Packers GM. With the Packers now a playoff-caliber team, leaving the left tackle position to unproven TJ Lang or a rookie draft pick would have endangered the welfare of their Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That could be a sure-fire way to sabotage a season.

The man known as “Cliffy” will be back.

One could smirk and say Thompson went against form and signed the best unrestricted free agent offensive tackle on the market, but by doing so, Thompson spared himself the angst of having to consider dipping into the restricted free agent market. That, I’m sure, would have been painful for him to even think about.

As Clifton returns, Kampman heads for greener pastures. When the move was made to a 3-4 defense, I wanted so badly to believe that he could make the adjustment to linebacker. I wanted to believe it, but I just didn’t.

Many tried to convince me.

They pointed out that he had played LB his first two years at the University of Iowa. Others said that a good football player is a good football player, regardless of what position he is asked to play. Personally, I don’t subscribe to that theory.

I anxiously watched the Packers exhibition games. What I saw was not promising.

Kampman was clearly a little lost and over-matched in coverage. Unable to fluidly change direction on the run, he did not look comfortable in the defensive backfield. But it was only preseason, I told myself, again hoping…

As the season wore on, however, I didn’t see much improvement. Even rushing the passer did not come easily to Kampman. Starting from a standing position, he lacked the low power base and leverage he used to depend on to beat the hulking offensive tackles that often outweighed him by 50 pounds.

Kampman was often stood up, breaking the momentum he would normally generate on the way to the quarterback. To his credit, he never stopped or gave up, resulting in a good number of quarterback “hurries,” but not many sacks.

Unfortunately, when Kampman’s season came to an early end, the book closed on his career as a Green Bay Packer. With free agency looming, and his obvious unease with the positional change, fleeing the Packers for a team with a 4-3 defense was a foregone conclusion.

Nobody can blame him.

The Packers would say all the right things, claiming to want to keep Aaron and offer him a contract. Whether they ever did or didn’t is unknown, but if they did, it was surely an offer they knew would be easily surpassed by other teams.

Aaron Kampman was a great Green Bay Packer, but not just on the field. A man of faith, he is committed to a life of service. Whether helping AIDS babies in Africa or people in the tornado-ravaged towns of his home state of Iowa, Kampman has always been there for others. He was a leader, a great role model, and the epitome of “Packer People.”

As Nick Barnett wrote in a Twitter message, Kampman would be sorely missed in the Packers locker room.

The unfortunate reality is that through no fault of his own, he won’t be missed as much on the field. When a rookie seventh-round draft choice can come in and do a good enough job replacing you, in the all-business NFL you won’t last long for that position, or that team.

The day Mike McCarthy made the decision to move to a 3-4 defense was the day that Kampman’s Packers legacy came to an end. I don’t believe anybody wanted it to work out that way, and both Kampman and the coaches did everything they could to forge a successful transition, but some things just can’t be forced by will alone.

Much like Sydney Carton in Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities was willing to sacrifice his own life to bring happiness to someone he loved, so Kampman was willing to sacrifice his All-Pro career as a defensive end for the benefit of the Green Bay Packers.

Thinking about what he is about to do, Carton declares, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.”

When he agreed to move to linebacker, Aaron Kampman could easily have been thinking the same thing.

Best of Luck, Aaron. We’ll see you in the Packers Hall of Fame one day.

———————

You can  follow Jersey Al on Facebook and Twitter .

Jersey Al Bracco is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com. You can find more of Jersey Al ’s articles on several sports web sites: NFL Touchdown , Packers Lounge , Packer Chatters & Bleacher Report .

I’m part of that “everybody,” but rather than take on the whole league, I’m going to focus on the good old NFC North.

What follows is a team-by-team breakdown of each team’s projected 2010 needs, and how they will choose to fill them in rounds one and two (sorry, Bears fans).

Minnesota Vikings

It’s no secret that the old Black and Blue Division has been looking decidedly purple in recent years.

For the last two years, the Minnesota Vikings have not only owned the NFC North on the field, but on draft day as well. The Vikings’ 2009 draft resulted in Percy Harvin, who made the Pro Bowl in his rookie year, and Phil Loadholt, who will be an anchor in the Vikings’ offensive line for years (and like kicker Ryan Longwell, has a perfect name for his position).

The Vikings had only five picks in the 2008 draft, but that didn’t matter as they sent their first rounder and both third-rounders to Kansas City for defensive wrecking ball Jared Allen. Those picks ultimately resulted in Kansas City drafting OT Branden Albert, RB Jamaal Charles, and S DaJuan Morgan, so I’ll let you decide who won that trade.

Still, the Vikings owe much of their success (and ultimately, their demise) in 2009 to the right arm of Brett Favre, which is problematic. What will Favre do this year? Until he joins a team, or the first week of the regular season actually begins, nobody in their right mind is going to believe a single word he says about his retirement, or lack thereof.

So do the Vikings key on a quarterback in this year’s draft? And if they do, do they still pursue Favre, giving their new rookie a year to learn the offense from the bench and Favre a chance to replicate last year’s success? Or do they address one of their other needs?

The Vikings have no other glaring holes, so any non-quarterback pick would be to add youth, depth, and perhaps a little more skill to an already decent position.

Projected Draft Picks

Round 1 (Pick No. 30 overall): Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

By all accounts, the Vikings have one of the league’s better offensive lines, but Adrian Peterson was stuffed at the line of scrimmage a little more often than Brad Childress would like. Pouncey is the consensus top interior lineman in the draft, and will help the run game at either center or guard.

Steve Hutchinson has been one of the league’s top guards for years, but he’s going to be 33 this year, and won’t be top-tier for long. Pouncey provides insurance for that impending reality.

Round 2 (Pick No. 62 overall): Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest

Ghee is a physical corner with good size who is at his best mixing it up with larger wideouts. He boasts good straight-line speed, but tends to be more interested in the big hit than the big interception/deflection.

There is speculation that his tackling production and aggressive run support skills make him a better hard-hitting safety prospect than a corner, but the Vikings have the luxury of playing him wherever he’s comfortable, since neither position is an urgent need.

Ultimately, the Vikings will neglect the quarterback position once again, banking on either getting Favre for another year or getting acceptable production out of either Tavaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels.

Green Bay Packers

Speaking of Favre issues, the Green Bay Packers have been creeping up on the Vikings in recent years, seemingly completing the transformation from their own Favre years. The Packers would have been the best team in the division, if not for losing that pair of grudge matches against their arch-rivals and fallen angel (the Vikings and Brett Favre).

Aaron Rodgers is the only quarterback in the NFC North who regularly started for his team in both 2008 and 2009, and put up stellar, if underrated, performances in both years. The only knocks on Rodgers were the ones doled out by the opposing defense, as Rodgers hit the turf an NFL-high 51 times.

Clearly, the Packers are not done yet. Their transformation to Dom Capers’ 3-4 defensive scheme was mostly successful (as much as a transformed defense can be in its first year), and even produced a rookie Pro Bowler in linebacker Clay Matthews.

But even though reigning Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson and fellow star cornerback Al Harris will be returning to the defense, both are aging, and one or both will soon make the inevitable move to safety, opening a spot on the wing.

The Packers will also need to find a replacement for pass-rush specialist Aaron Kampman, who left for Jacksonville in free agency, and figure out if Ryan Grant is a sufficient long-term answer for the team at running back. In addition, the Pack’s offensive line, once a team hallmark, is now porous, allowing multiple sacks a game even to teams with poor pass rushes.

Projected Draft Picks

Round 1 (Pick No. 22 overall): Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

A weak combine performance is the only reason the monstrous Scarlet Knights left tackle falls this far.

Davis’ work ethic and athleticism have come into question since he entered the draft class, but at pick 22, Davis is by far the most gifted left tackle still on the board (widely considered a top 15 talent), and the Packers will rely on a top-notch coaching staff to light a fire under the kid and improve his already rather refined technique.

If he resists the temptation to be lazy with his footwork, Davis will dominate, and the Pack will come away with a steal here.

Round 2 (Pick No. 54 overall): Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee

Hardesty is a major injury concern heading into the draft, as a downhill runner who has already undergone three knee surgeries. Regardless, the man is a first-round talent, relegated to late-second round status by his injury history.

Remember, the Vikings took a similar gamble on a running back with injury problems, and ended up with Adrian Peterson. Hardesty isn’t even on the same planet as Peterson, but should provide the Packers with one of the league’s better one-two punch ground attacks, if Ryan Grant can return to his early-career form.

Chicago Bears

Running back and protection issues are not unique to the Packers. The Chicago Bears have recently been faced with questions about one-time phenom Matt Forte and the amount of pocket time given to Jay Cutler.

Unfortunately, the Bears don’t fit into the first two rounds of this draft. The Denver Broncos’ price for disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler was the top part of both the Bears’ 2009 and 2010 drafts, so the Bears won’t appear in the draft until the third round.

In response to this, the Bears have tried shoring up their biggest needs through free agency, nabbing former Viking running back Chester Taylor and defensive end extraordinaire Julius Peppers before 24 hours of free agency passed.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and head coach Lovie Smith have been walking around Chicago with targets on their backs since Super Bowl XLI, and a string of disappointing seasons since have only raised the heat in their respective hot seats.

The signings of Taylor and Peppers smell of desperation by a coach and GM who know that if they don’t win now, they may not get a next season.

Projected Draft Picks

None. Trading back into the top two rounds is possible, but not worth the potential cost, especially to management looking to win now.

The Bears will likely try to steal more assistance for Jay Cutler (read: offensive line and wide receiver help) in the later rounds, and next year, begin the long and arduous process of replacing the rapidly aging and slowing veterans on the defense.

Detroit Lions

As an example of the polar opposite in fan expectations, the Detroit Lions might be the only team capable of going 2-14 in a season and maintaining mostly positive sentiments about the coaching staff and management team.

Despite a solid 2009 draft and busy 2010 free agency period, the Lions still have no lack of needs to fill in the draft. The Lions are poised to make the most conspicuous pick in the division, with the No. 2 overall pick, which could result in, among others, Nebraska standout Ndamukong Suh.

Detroit’s pick is hard to project because there is so much talent at the top of the draft, and every player projected in the top 10 (aside from the quarterbacks) would fill a demonstrable need.

Of course, head coach Jim Schwartz and GM Martin Mayhew will tell you a hundred times that they’re drafting on talent, not need. If that’s the case, then only the St. Louis Rams and their top overall draft pick will stand between the Lions and Suh.

Projected Draft Picks

Round 1 (Pick No. 2 Overall): Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

He’ll never admit it, but Jim Schwartz is salivating over the prospect of getting Suh into his defense.

Today’s primary argument against this pick is the Lions’ acquisition of Corey Williams in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. What is overlooked in this argument is that Schwartz’s defensive philosophy, historically, has been to cycle in fresh defensive linemen to wear down the opposing offensive line, and thus only having two decent linemen isn’t enough.

Suh provides him the ability to do that (with improving second-year man Sammie Hill coming in a close third on the depth chart), as well as the opportunity to develop his very own, brand-new Albert Haynesworth in Detroit.

All signs point to the Rams taking Sam Bradford with the top pick, so Suh should remain on the board, and the Lions will be unable to resist.

Round 2 (Pick No. 34 overall): Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State

A potential home-run pick for the Lions, Robinson has the size, ability, and all the physical skills to be a Pro Bowl cornerback for years.

However, he also has the intangibles and inconsistent play of a major bust candidate.

A cover corner at heart with ideal size and speed, draft boards carry him anywhere from best cornerback in the draft to outside the top 10 corners as a result of his lack of starting experience and involvement (and resulting four-game suspension) with the Florida State academic scandal.

His early development will be key in seeing which direction he takes, but the Lions are absolutely desperate for help in the secondary, and after last year’s draft success will be willing and confident enough to take a gamble on a potential shutdown corner in the second round.