NFL Power Rankings Week 1

2009 Power Rankings: Week 1
	RK (Last Year)	TEAM	REC	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Patriots	11-5-0	I would not want to get in the Pats way this season. Brady with a double chip on his shoulder and Joey Galloway as a 3rd WR, that’s freakin scary
	2 (10)	Steelers	12-4-0	Talk about the run game, talk about Big Ben’s sacks. But he definitely knows how to drive a team down the field in the 4th Q. He did it twice Thursday.
	3 (4)	Giants	12-4-0	Yeah they capitulated a bit, but Eli can’t throw in the wind. They still have an amazing run game and an even better D with Canty.
	4 (17)	Chargers	8-8-0	With Merriman back, that defense will suddenly look a lot lot better while Rivers could well be an MVP possibility
	5 (12)	Eagles	9-6-1	Vick is going to destroy this team. Just wait until McNabb gets unsettled and everyone suddenly remembers Vick hasn’t played in 2 years.
	6 (6)	Colts	12-4-0	One of these days the Colts will slow down. Not this year.
	7 (2)	Cardinals	9-7-0	Everything’s against them – a Superbowl loser, a 38 year old QB, the fact they only finished 9-7, Seattle being back. Maybe Leinart will step up.
	8 (3)	Titans	13-3-0	I’ve never liked the Titans, compounded by going one and done as a no.1 seed. You really think Collins is keeping it up? Bring VY back
	9 (5)	Panthers	12-4-0	The Panthers at 9? You bet, that running game is stilll tremendous while the defense is quiter underrated. Delhomme can still get the job done.
	10 (9)	Falcons	11-5-0	The curse of 370 is going to limit Michael Turner to 1200 max, they may sneak a wildcard spot however.
	11 (24)	Packers	6-10-0	I’ve been saying this since Favre left, Rodgers is a very good QB. Injuries killed them last year and people seems to forget how good Greg Jennings is
	12 (11)	Vikings	10-6-0	I still don’t like the Vikings. Thetalent’s there, but Childress is a terrible coach and Favre will break down again. Better off with TJack.
	13 (19)	Saints	8-8-0	Their D last year was so bad it was actually overrated, and they still went 8-8. Brees is winning MVP on his way to superstardom.
	14 (10)	Ravens	11-5-0	There seems to be a lot of talk about Ray Rice this season, but I’m not so sure they’ll beat the sophomore slump. 7 wins maybe
	15 (15)	Bears	9-7-0	People keep talking about the WR corps. I think Hester especially will surprise a lot of people for this SB dark horse
	16 (14)	Texans	8-8-0	I love the Texans, I just fear they’re being picked by too many people this season. Schaub HAS to stay healthy
	17 (8)	Dolphins	11-5-0	Least amount of injuries in the league last year. That’s not happening again, and neither is 11 wins
	18 (29)	Seahawks	4-12-0	What have Seattle needed for so long? A WR who can hold onto the ball – Is there anyone better in the league at this than TJ?
	19 (25)	Jaguars	5-11-0	It’s amazing how Del Rio still has a job. But then again, there’s no reason this team can’t go back to playoff contention
	20 (13)	Cowboys	9-7-0	Bold prediction – Romo struggles A LOT early on. There’s going to be a lot of questions about him this season.
	21 (20)	Redskins	8-8-0	It’s make or break for Jason Campbell – a playoff QB in any other division. Lets see what happens when Zorn lets him open it up
	22 (27)	Bengals	4-11-1	The defense is much improved, Palmer is back… but they did go on Hard Knocks. Plus, drafting Andre Smith proved the front office is still a mess.
	23 (22)	Bills	7-9-0	Everyone was so worried about TO being a distraction, no-one banked on giving away their two best LTs and firing their OC. Disastrous
	24 (19)	Broncos	8-8-0	McDaniels to be fired by the end of the season. Orton isn’t as bad as everyone thinks/hopes. But that defense is still terrible
	25 (23)	49ers	7-9-0	The NFC West is anybodys, if Seattle don’t step up the Niners could surprise
	26 (28)	Browns	4-12-0	I think Brady Quinn is severely underrated, and 8 wins is within reach of this team. Just Mangini and Jamal Lewis’s rapid decline worry me
	27 (15)	Jets	10-6-0	Sanchez looked very rookie-like in preseason. He’s got a lot to learn. That defense should cause problems though.
	28 (13)	Bucs	7-9-0	Rebuilding mode. Four wins max. None of those QBs are the answer
	29 (30)	Chiefs	4-12-0	I think Brady Quinn is severely underrated, and 8 wins is within reach of this team. Just Mangini and Jamal Lewis’s rapid decline worry me
	30 (26)	Raiders	5-11-0	DHB over Crabtree, HC punching out an assistant and now the Seymour debacle. It’s a non-stop PR disaster in Oakland
	31 (31)	Rams	2-14-0	Look for Donnie Avery to have a break-out season.
	32 (32)	Lions	0-16-0	Stafford is far too erratic to have a Matt Ryan effect. 4 wins maybe this season if they actually run the ball

Ok… Now someone needs to get fired for this…

What’s the shortest ever tenure for a Head Coach?

Ok, obviously in the salary cap era of big contracts, big big contracts, once you’ve hired a coach you’ve made a commitment financially as well as personally, but has there ever been an appointment like Josh McDaniels.

The Denver Broncos were an 8-8 team last year, but an 8-8 team with a lot of upside. Take away those injuries, add a couple of players to that defense and you have a team that could concievably go to the title game. Ok, bring in a new coach to provide a spark, bring some fresh air. Josh McDaniels? Forget the fresh air, he’s been like a wrecking ball flying through this organisation.

Josh McDaniels came into a team that managed to lose their division to a team that was 4-8 in Week 13, but was there a more promising team in the NFL with a head coaching vacancy?  (Indy doesn’t count, retirement) Surely this is a Head Coaches dream. Teams would kill to have a settled offense like the Broncos. Cutler coming off a season that fully established him as a perennial Pro-Bowl, elite QB. Brandon Marshall putting in a case for being the best WR in the NFL, let alone top 3 or 5. A talent in Eddie Royal and a veteran in Stokely, that passing attack was just lethal last year. Think about it now, top 5 QBs that you would want on your team: Brady, Manning, Roethlisberger, Cutler and perhaps Rivers or Romo at a stretch. He had over 4,500 yards through the air. I really don’t buy the temperamental thing, he’s not T.O.  All that let them down was a sub-par defense and a injury list that took outno less than seven running backs. Seven. It was so bad, they had to go find Tatum Bell, working in a Denver mall at a cell-phone kiosk. Regardless, this is a team that didn’t need turning around, it needed building on.

I’ve briefly spoken about this before, but now it’s actually happened, it’s hitting home just how ludicrous this situation is. It’s absolute sheer arrogance on the part of McDaniels, there’s no other explanation for it, just who the hell does he think he is?

He has no experience, of anything. He’s done nothing, he’s 32. He may have risen up the ranks of the Patriots to become Bill Belicheck’s offensive co-ordinator, but I’m sorry, since when did that make you God’s gift to coaching? Lets have a look at Belicheck’s other protegees, Crennel? Fired, Mangini? Fired and now in Cleveland, Charlie Weis? go ask Notre Dame fans about 15 losses in two years. What exactly gives him the right to stroll into an organisation like Denver and decide that every player is expendable. Kansas? Maybe, Detroit? Almost certainly, blow it up, but why on earth would you screw with Denver’s franchise player. It’s hard enough to find a QB that will guarantee you points like Cutler will, let alone have one that’s settled, why would you be so damn arrogant as to feel he’s not as good as “your guy”. That guy being Tom Brady’s backup until he had a good year last year, for the Patriots of all teams, who he’d learnt with for a few years.

My feelings on the whole Cassel situation are known, Denver had absolutely no reason to be involved, Cassel was in no way an upgrade, and they weren’t getting much else to improve other areas. But that fell flat, leaving McDaniels with some serious work to do. He’d gone out on a limb to get his own guy at the potential expense of the entire franchise and it had seriously backfired. Now the team’s biggest strength is pissed, and why wouldn’t you be? You’ve had a fantastic season, if anything the team held Cutler back, and they repay you by trying to trade you? No wait, this nobody has come in and tried to trade you for his own guy?

We knew Cutler would be slightly temperamental, not Phillip Rivers-style temperamental but he wasn’t going to take this lying down. At this point, if you’re McDaniels, you get on your knees and grovel. Ok, you had a connection with Cassel, you thought he’d be easiest to work with, but that didn’t happen. Now you do everything you can to make Cutler happy. You beg and console and reassure until he is happy. I mean, Cassel is now gone, Warner’s already locked up, who else is out there?

But no, rather than actually sort this out, we get awkward back and forths involving text messages and anything that doesn’t involve a face-to-face. Cutler gets more and more alienated and in the end, you trade him for Kyle Orton.

Kyle Orton, are you serious? Now I think this is actually a pretty good deal as it goes, but surely you can’t put a value on Cutler in the first place after the numbers he put up last season? The fact is, there is no way Denver should have gotten to a stage where they pretty much had to trade Cutler, a stage where people were actually guaranteeing Cutler would be gone by the draft, yet here we are. It’s just absolutely astounding. You may have gotten something in the picks, you can build for the future, but this isn’t Kansas City, you don’t need to stockpile them. Cutler was going to be that cornerstone of teh franchise for years to come. Think of all the guys that were touted as cornerstone guys, and how many have actually become them. If anything, I just think they’re lucky to have gotten such an amount in return.

Now I like Orton, I was really happy to see him progress and improve and not just be a weak link in Chicago. Unlike Rex, he actually progressed to a stage where he was a solid QB who could actually take the team down the field at times when they needed it. But Chicago had a great running game, and a great defense, like they always have. The pressure was everywhere else. At least with Cassel you would have been more confident he would be able to slot into that offense and put up some relative numbers. I mean that is the stage we’ve gotten to here, first we were talking about how Cassel was a gamble and a slight downgrade from Cutler in terms of being a sure thing. But now, it’s as if they’ve lost Cassel without ever having him, we’re comparing Orton to Cassel, and it’s even worse, he’s an even bigger gamble. I keep having to give myself a reality check here; “2 months ago, they had a promising settled offense with one of the top 5 passing attacks in the NFL. Now they have Kyle Orton?!”

I hate to rip on Kyle Orton, and who knows, he actually could suprise us, maybe the offense will change back to a run-first style, perhaps they could pick up Knowshon Moreno in the draft, shore up that line, then McDaniels would look like a genius, but this is now, and it looks like a catastrophe. He made this mess, and I expect him to be damn culpable come next season. Forget all this about Cutler being “temperamental”, the fact is they’ve gone from having a cornerstone franchise QB to Kyle Orton care-taking. Put it this way, would they have taken that deal before McDaniels turned up?

The Curious Case of Matt Cassel

It’s perhaps the most intriguing stories of the offseason so far, and not for the usual reasons either. On the face of it, the exchange of Matt Cassel and veteran, former Pro Bowl linebacker Mike Vrabel for the Kansas City Chiefs 34th overall pick in the draft is not all that unfathomable. But throw in Scott Pioli, the Denver Broncos, Jay Cutler, the Detroit Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a plethora of draft picks and you have a lot of people scratching their heads. Since the trade it emerged that a 3-way deal involving Cassel to Denver, Cutler to the Bucs and the 12th overall pick to the Pats. Instead, the Pats wound up with the 34th overall pick. Go figure.

There are numerous explanations, complicated further by the fact that former New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels wound up in Denver, while much-loved former VP of personnel Scott Pioli got his big break in Kansas. So how did we end up with this mess? Why did the Patriots choose to deal with Kansas for a lower pick?

Firstly, it’s no secret that Belicheck loves his assistants… until they fly the nest, then he can’t bare to look them in the eye. So, it’s reasonable to assume he doesn’t want to give Denver anything, but I don’t see how anyone could believe Cassel would be an upgrade over Cutler in the first place. If anything, McDaniels saw a chance to get his own guy in (McDaniels was the QB coach before replacing Charlie Weis) and saw Cutler as some mighty fine trade bait. But thats a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.

Furthermore, it’s interesting to note that Pioli did not deal directly with Matt Cassel. He dealt with the Patriots, and while that gives Cassel the potential for the age-old “I never asked to come here” in the future, it probably was the wise thing to do. What would you do if you were Cassel? Join your old mate Josh McDaniels at a Denver team that was an offensive powerhouse at times last season, especially through the air with one of the few recieving cores that come close to New England, or a 2-14 Chiefs team in an indefinite transition period. Don’t get me wrong, the Chiefs are a sexy sleeper next season with Cassel, stick Aaron Curry on that defense and a bit of a feel-good factor and that team could be over 500. Miami proved a new direction and a proven quarterback can be all thats needed and in that AFC West, 9-7 could be all thats needed. But still, there’s a much bigger question mark over KC. I think Denver would be the obvious choice.

The 34th pick for Mike Vrabel and Matt Cassel. It doesn’t sound right does it, I mean Mike Vrabel as well? He may not have been coming off his most productive year, and at 33, is on the downside but still one of the better linebackers and a huge figure when it comes to the locker room. It makes no sense to actually say it but it really does seem at times that New England were almost giving Pioli a helping hand. Why? I don’t know, why would you even think about helping another team in a league where a 1-15 team can have a turnaround so great that they take your playoff spot. A less shady way of looking at it would be that perhaps Belicheck had an agreement with Pioli that they didn’t want to go back on… But this is the NFL! It’s apparent now that New England franchised tagged Cassel solely so that they could get something in return for him, they had no intention of keeping him. But just a 2nd round pick? And giving away Vrabel as well? The Patriots perhaps not wanting to pay Cassel is a bigger factor than we account for, but he had suitors, multiple suitors. Peerless Price was tagged and traded for a 1st round pick, you tagged Cassel just to get a second?

And of course, that brings us to the fact the Patriots could have had the 12th overall pick. The chances of hitting the jackpot at 12 than 34 is significantly higher. Now many have speculated that the money you now have to pay rookies in the upper first round is too high and that Belicheck values 2nd round picks much more highly blah blah blah, I don’t buy it. The Pats seemed perfectly happy drafting Jerod Mayo last year, and are you telling me you can’t trade down? How about trading down a few picks and picking up a 3rd or 4th rounder as well? It just doesn’t make sense…

There is of course one thing that gets a little overlooked in all of this bemusement at just how the Kansas City Chiefs managed to swipe New England’s latest wonder boy QB and Mike Vrabel for a 2nd round pick, and thats the actual QBs involved themselves. Cassel, Cutler and Tyler Thigpen.

Now I’ll start with Cutler. This guy hasn’t got the attitude Phillip Rivers has, and was simply sensational last season. He’s turning into one of the most effective passers in the game, he had the best season of his fledgling career and that Denver offense looked brilliant in the air. The defense cost them that playoff berth, not to mention how no less than 7 running backs went down at one point forcing them to recall Tatum Bell from his cell-phone stall in a Colorado mall. It’s almost a certainty Correll Buckhalter will be brilliant in the Denver system, why would you give him up for a QB that has had one good season in one of the best offensive systems in the league? I like Cassel, but he has just one year of experience. How many QBs in the league have gotten big contracts or starting jobs off of one good season? Besides, this is Denver. Hands up who wants to remember Brian Griese? or Danny Kanell? or Bubby Brister? Steve Beuerlein? Oh, and Jake Plummer? You really want to give up a guy on the rise like Cutler for a guy who has had one good season?

To be honest, I was kind of surprised at the value that Matt Cassell had accumulated as the Pats slapped on the franchise tag. One season this guy has had. A brilliant season and 11-5 was no mean feat considering an aging Pats defence and a record that had never before not been enough for the playoffs. He practically led them to the playoffs and it was a crime that the Pats were left out. But, it’s one season, remember how good Derek Anderson looked? Anderson isn’t talentless by any means, but not all QBs can fit in different systems. It’s by no means set in stone that Cassel will be the guy in Kansas for years to come.

Then there’s Tyler Thigpen, now I can’t understand why it was decided so early on that the Chiefs needed a QB. This guy came out of nowhere, stuck behind scrubs like Brodie Croyle and actually injected a bit of life into this Chiefs team that was so pitiful. Doesn’t this guy deserve at least a chance with a better supporting cast and a better head coach? Cassel and Vrabel for a 2nd round is obviously something you can’t really turn down if you are the Chiefs but they decided to give up on Thigpen way before then.

It’s a curious business indeed, all the more so when you consider Tampa Bay are willing to go with Luke McCown, inquire about Cutler but ignore Cassel completely. But had they actually made a play for Cassel, would the Pats have even dignified it with an answer? Who knows…

(If that’s unfathomable, just think where we’d be today if Bernard Pollard hadn’t torn Brady’s MCL in the season opener… You know, that Bernard Pollard, Matt Cassel’s new teammate…)

Superbowl XLIII Reaction

Other than the obvious “wow” factor, the four-quarter, 60-minute rollercoaster that was Superbowl XLIII raised such a number of talking points, I know i wasn’t the only one left speechless as Ben Roethlisberger took a knee to hand Pittsburgh a sixth world championship. The referees, the play-calling, the sudden explosion of points in the fourth. The number 1 defense being torched for 16 points in all of 3 minutes. So where do we start? From the beginning of course…

First Blood Pittsburgh
Forget Arizona’s decision to defer the kickoff, forget the fact that Pittsburgh drove all the way to the one yard line on their first drive (well, actually, don’t forget that, that’s kinda relevant), but that first Arizona drive was huge. Much of the talk throughout Arizona’s road to the Superbowl was about Edgerrin James and that running game. How they were surprising everyone but coming into the Superbowl, this was the number 1 defense, and the number 1 rush defense. Furthermore, the Steelers and Dick LeBeau now knew about James potentially being a factor. With two weeks between the championship games and the big one, we were getting into double and triple bluff territory, and that is never a good thing in the NFL. Far too often teams out think themselves. For 16 games, Arizona were a passing team, you planned to stop the pass. But the past 3 games they’d run the ball to set up the pass. So maybe the Steelers were expecting run. So if they expect run, surely you throw the ball? But isn’t that what they expect you to do?

Either way, for me Haley got it wrong and LeBeau got it right, in the early stages at least. Ever since the talk started my stance was the same, you stick to what you know, passing the ball. This is the big one, you can’t afford to start trying these mind games, because you outfox yourself. Yes you’ve had success recently, but that success has still every time been overshadowed by that passing attack. Go out there and find the holes, get off to that quick start. Don’t mess about running to establish the pass. You have Kurt Warner, three 1,000 yard recievers and one of the best recieving backs in recent years. The Steelers first drive was exactly what the Cardinals drive should have been and they really should have gotten 7. But Arizona? Their first drive was:

1st and 10: Rush for no gain
2nd and 10: Pass to Breaston for 10 yards, first down
1st and 10: Offensive Holding on a 2 yard rush.
1st and 20: Rush for no gain after botched handoff
2nd and 20: Rush for 3 yards
3rd and 17: Short pass incomplete
4th and 17: Punt

Just two passing plays called, and the one on 3rd and 17 was out to the flat almost. Now I understand that with Pittsburgh playing the cover 2 and so wary of Fitzgerald the flats were being given up and Arizona went on to have a lot of success there. But on 3rd and 17? Why are you even stuck with 3rd and long in the first place? Pittsburgh went on to punch it to make it 10-0, it should have been 14-0 and at this point it looked as if the game may get out of Arizona’s reach before they’d even got going…

The Zebras
Now, with the risk of the cliche police intervening, the game really was a rollercoaster, but especially during the third quarter I was not particularly impressed with the officiating in this game. Arizona became the most penalized team in Superbowl history in terms of yardage, and I can’t say some of the yards weren’t warranted. James Harrison is probably still giving Mike Gandy nightmares which is something I’ll get to later, but some of the calls were just so ticky-tacky it was unbelievable. The problem is that it may actually be a penalty, but when they’re so incredibly soft, you’re setting a precedent, you have to call every one, and it makes the ones the officials miss all the more damning.

The fact Whisenhunt had to challenge two obviously incorrect calls is a start, he shouldn’t have to waste time challenging those calls, especially the second challenge on the overturned fumble, clearly an incomplete pass. Then of course the ensuing drive where Arizona where hit with 3 personal foul penalties. The first I can live with, you simply can’t touch the face mask and it was a stupid play. But the Dansby roughing the passer call was simply horrible, shades of Terrell Suggs from earlier this season. You have a guy in Roethlisberger (who was absolutely phenomenal in staying alive at times) who is bouncing around the pocket, keeping the play alive, Dansby hit’s him from behind a second after the release and that’s roughing the passer? Please… And then for them to call roughing the holder on a stumbling Adrian Wilson? Yes, it’s in the rulebook but it’s one of those things that never gets called. Rod Woodson claimed that in his 17-year career he’d never seen a flag thrown for that, despite running into the holder numerous times himself. This is the Superbowl, let it be! If you want to call absolutely everything, then actually do it. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who saw Lawrence Timmons clipping on the Harrison run-back, who I’m still not sure even got into the end-zone. There was a soft holding penalty on Rod Hood shortly after and at that time, you thought that Arizona weren’t actually going to get anything going their way. But I’d say there were some questionable calls on the Steelers too, the safety in particular. Ok, maybe, just maybe you call that but damn that seemed soft to me. A make-up call perhaps.

And of course, lastly, you can’t just ignore the final play of the game. If that “sack/fumble” was reviewed and overturned like it should have been, Arizona get the ball at the 29 yard line with 5 seconds left. Yes it probably would have been swatted down, but wouldn’t you have liked to know?

My MVP: Darnell Dockett
Much will be made of Ben Roethlisberger’s 2:02, 88-yard drive that culminated in ring number 6, and I’m sure fingers will be pointed at an Arizona defense who gave up a touchdown to a team merely looking for a field goal. But, without safety Francisco falling down and giving up the 40-yard catch-and-run by Holmes that took them from outside FG range to the Arizona 6, it may have been different. And if it wasn’t for the play of the Arizona front seven for much of the game, it certainly would have been different. Holmes put in a fantastic performance and deserved his MVP honors. Conversely, had Arizona held out I’m sure Kurt Warner or Larry Fitzgerald would be driving home a new cadillac. But for me, Arizona’s MVP at least was Darnell Dockett.

Talk of elite DT’s and I’m sure Dockett’s name wouldn’t come up, but this guy had an absolute monster post-season and was at the heart of a Arizona defense that refused to quit and kept their team in the game while their offense was stuttering. On the first drive, faced with 1st and 1 Arizona held Pittsburgh to a field goal, with Dockett the man bringing down Roethlisberger on his scramble short of the endzone.At 17-7 in the 3rd, he helped stuff Willie Parker on 1st and 4 before Watson snuffed out Big Ben’s QB sneak to keep the score at just 20-7. After a Arizona punt and into the 4th quarter, he dropped Willie Parker for a 4 yard loss on 2nd and 4 before sacking Roethlisberger on the next play to force a punt. Warner finally finds his rhythm again and it’s 20-14 all of a sudden. Next possession, 2nd play and it’s Dockett in the backfield to drop Ben for a 10 yard loss. Punt again, which ultimately led to the Arizona punt which forced the safety. A couple of plays later and Fitzgerald is watching himself hand Arizona a 3 point lead.

Aside from just the sacks, Dockett was superb as the defense held Willie Parker to just 53 yards off 19 carries and his contribution is one that will surely go unrecognised by most. But it’s important to remember that this game would have been over long before had the Arizona defense not held Pittsburgh to field-goals twice inside the five and forced those punts in the second half.

James Harrison…
Another peformance that embodied the nature of this irrepressible affair. On the one hand, he was everything the defensive MVP should be, a constant thorn in the side of Arizona and his mere presence allowed his teammates to have a bigger impact. But on the other, he should have been thrown out of the game on a completely blown call by the officials.

Firstly, his record-setting interception return was an absolutely fantastic play-call from Dick LeBeau who clearly knew what was likely to be called by Todd Haley and just outsmarted Warner. Anticipating a quick slant, and taking advantage of Warner’s wariness of Harrison blitzing, LeBeau had his best pass-rusher show blitz before dropping back into coverage. Warner took the bait and from it being a 10-10 ball game at the very least it was 17-7. Harrison forced four holding penalties on left tackle Mike Gandy, and that’s just the ones that were called. He was held without a sack, literally. At least twice he would have gotten to Warner if Gandy hadn’t illegally stopped him, and likely more.

But the unnecessary roughness call in the fourth, I find it absolutely unfathomable how he was not thrown out of the game. If you see him roughing Francisco, surely you see him punching him in the head while he’s down? It may not have mattered as Harrison didn’t have much of a chance to impact the last minutes of the game, but who knows how it might have gone down. Just an incredibly stupid play from normally such a head-smart player.

The Best Ever?
I’d like to think it’s not the bitterness in me that the hated Steelers won yet another championship but I’m not sure this was the greatest ever, although it’s certainly up there. Few Superbowls come close in terms of ranges of emotion, it had everything, just everything, when it was finally over it left you exhausted. For me, it maybe beats 38 between New England and Arizona, but I just can’t look past St.Louis/Tennessee. That final drive where McNair was almost superhuman was some of the most thrilling football I’ve seen. He seemed unstoppable, he couldn’t be brought down as he just kept making plays. And to have Kevin Dyson hauled down a yard short of the endzone on the final play? It may not have had the scoring that this game did, but that still ranks as the most exciting. One thing to think about though, recent superbowls sure beat the blowouts of yesteryear.

Some have also been crowning the Holmes’ game-winner as better than Tyree’s of last year. Let me be clear, Tyree’s was the most unbelievable, spectacular, clutch play you will ever see in a superbowl. Holmes’ was clutch, technically superb but players make that catch all the time. The fact it won a superbowl makes it great, but the Tyree catch was something that was just out of this world. 3rd and long, Manning somehow escaping a sack, and catching it against his helmet to preserve the drive? No contest…

Still, I have to say I don’t think I’ve seen a Superbowl that’s ever made me go through such a range of different emotions.  And as I hear the cliche police knocking at my door, it really was such a shame one team had to lose

Top 10 Prospective Free Agents to Watch

1. Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth is one of those players that changes the way you play offense. His combination of size and speed at the tackle position is unmatched and should he continue the level of play that we’ve seen the past two seasons, it’s only a matter of time before his name is mentioned alongside the Randles and the Sapps. Furthermore, the effect that Kris Jenkins has had in New York has only added to the stock of an elite Defensive Tackle.
Haynesworth was franchised last season despite the Titans making the playoffs with a 10-6 record and if those in the know are to be believed, Haynesworth’s Pro Bowl berth this season will prevent the Titans from franchising the 27-year-old. The Titan’s Defense have been instrumental in wrapping up the number 1 seed in the AFC, but it’s unlikely that will be enough alone to keep Haynesworth in Tennessee. How far the Titans can go will be crucial.

2. Nnamdi Asomugha
12 players were franchised last season. Only 1 was given the exclusive tag which prevented any negotiation with other teams. That was Asomugha, in many people’s opinion the best shut-down corner in the entire league. A former first round pick, Asomugha’s stock has not stopped rising in the last 3 seasons and was voted a Pro Bowl starter for the second time despite being on a 4-win Oakland team.
Asomugha is a high-character guy and Al Davis committed a huge error in judgement by not giving Asomugha the money he deserves and opting to spend big on DeAngelo Hall who lasted just 8 games. That snub could be the final straw for Asomugha and his resigning will be an absolute priority for Oakland this offseason. The franchise tag is almost certain, but there are a number of teams that would jump at the chance to sign No.21 should he become available.

3. Matt Cassel
The season isn’t over yet, but Matt Cassel looks to be leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record, exactly what Tom Brady did when he filled in for Drew Bledsoe. The playoff odds are against New England but two things are certain: Matt Cassel’s stock has skyrocketed and no matter how much longer the Patriots’ season goes on, Cassel is not going to usurp Tom Brady when healthy.
With Cassel in a contract year, the Pats face a dilemna, especially with concerns over Brady’s health come next September. But Cassel is 26 and the cost of franchising a Quarterback would be well over 10 million, for a backup. Franchising a QB is unheard of, let alone paying that much for a backup. Cassel will want to test the waters, and it’s not as if the Patriots tend to keep costly players around in these situations. Lawyer Milloy and Ty Law were let go without established replacements, with Cassel they have the best QB in the league to replace him. My bet? Tampa Bay

4. Julius Peppers
The Panthers are one of those teams that have one too many player’s on the potential UFA list to keep. Peppers is probably the biggest name and a freakish talent. But with a poor 07 hanging over him, consistency is in question, and that’s something you shouldn’t have to worry about with the league’s best DEs. That may be enough for Carolina to consider letting him go.

5. TJ Houshmandzadeh
TJ is 32 next year, and the life-span of an elite-level WR doesn’t extend much further. He made his first pro-bowl in 07 leading the league in receptions and would be a fantastic target for someone like Donovan McNabb, Matt Ryan, plenty of teams looking to push on. Despite a once-potent offense in Cincy, TJ may feel that the Bengals’ ship sailed in 2006 and his championship ambitions would be better suited elsewhere. It would be quite the coup if Cincinatti could re-ink no.84.

6. Chris Gamble/Jordan Gross
The other two big names on Carolina’s to-do list this season. Gamble is one of the better corners in the league whilst all-pro left tackles are extremely hard to find. Gross making this year’s Pro Bowl has only made the situation more difficult for the Panthers and they could face the prospect of losing both of these players should they splash the cash on Peppers.

7. Terrell Suggs
Many feel that Suggs hasn’t completely fulfilled his potential. His arrival in the league was similar to that of Shawn Merriman; explosive and sack filled. Irregardless of consistency issues, he still has great potential when in the right system with Baltimore choosing to franchise him last year. But with 3 linebacking stars in their contract year, can they afford to keep Suggs?

8. Mike Peterson
For years, Mike Peterson has been the heart and soul of the once prized Jacksonville defence. But after a tumultuous 08 season filled with injury and infighting, Peterson fell out with Head Coach Jack Del Rio and was even internally suspended. Back in the team now, the stint may be brief if the relationship with Del Rio is irreparable. A wily veteran such as Peterson could be a fantastic addition to any number of teams.

9. Bart Scott
Like Suggs, Scott’s stock was at an all-time high in 2006 and it’s on the rise again with the team on the brink of a playoff berth. Scott’s play has been as solid as ever but Baltimore will struggle to keep all of it’s linebackers this off-season. Perhaps slightly in the shadow of Ray Lewis, Scott may be keen to move on to pastures new.

10. Jeff Garcia
Since Garcia rekindled his career in Philadelphia, he’s had nothing but success in Tampa Bay. Even if they miss out on the playoffs, they will still have a winning record. But the extension Garcia has been lobbying for hasn’t been produced, and Tampa may be looking to the future already. Garcia’s 38, and a late extension would be the most plausible outcome. If Tampa decide to go after someone like, say, Matt Cassel, would Garcia land a starting spot elsewhere? Or just call it a day?

Also keep an eye on…

While many backups flatter to decieve at the RB position after getting a big contract, the sucess of ex-San Diego Charger Michael Turner makes the prospect of Darren Sproles testing the Free Agent waters a lot more interesting. The speedster, like Turner, made a valuable contribution behind the disappointing LaDainian Tomlinson and may be worth a gamble for certain franchises. Kurt Warner’s season is ending with a stutter rather than a bang but has led the Cardinals to their first playoff berth in 10 years. With talks of retirement continuing to crop up, it’s unlikely he’ll leave Arizona should he stay on.
Ray Lewis is likely to be at the top of the Raven’s priority list which could mean the likes of Dawan Landry moving on. Antonio Bryant is coming off an unbelievable season but considering his age and his stint out of the NFL, he may think better of trying to get a deal somewhere other than Tampa Bay. A serious knee injury dealt a large blow to Dunta Robinson’s stock, but the talented corner has quietly looked like returning to his best and the Texans will hope he is still under most team’s radars.
Joey Porter’s sack-filled season has somewhat overshadowed the impressive play of fourth-year pro Channing Crowder and could earn a big contract this summer and Houston’s Owen Daniels will be a restricted free agent after emerging one of the NFL’s better tight ends.

Arrogant to a Fault

As another unpredictable, wild NFL regular season draws to a close, perhaps the biggest surprise is Tennessee. With that impressive win against Pittsburgh yesterday, they wrapped up their 13th win and ensured home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Now any team that locks up a number one seed, let alone with a week to spare, deserves respect and credit, but I’m putting this out there right now; Tennessee will be one and done.

There’s plenty to like about this Titans team. Albert Haynesworth, Kerry Collins’ renaissance, the efficient defense. But for all that technical ability, there’s one thing I don’t like, and that’s this sense of arrogance I get about the franchise. It’s almost as if they’re trying to play with some chip on their shoulder. It’s a relatively young team, and with youth comes a bullishness and a desire to prove something, but it’s starting to spill over into arrogance, and that will get this team absolutely nowhere.

Apparently before the Pittsburgh game, Fisher was using the notion of a “lack of respect” to rally the troops. A lack of respect? You’re 12 and 2, you’ve knocked off some big teams but as big as home field advantage is, this isn’t your superbowl, it’s a stepping stone. The way the Titans celebrated you’d think they’ve already gone the distance.

What really riled me however was the players making a point of kicking the Steeler’s terrible towels in the dirt and making a point of stomping on them. What on earth is clever about doing this? How about you show some dignity and go about your business. You haven’t won anything, the Steelers are going to the playoffs with a bye as well, you could well be seeing them again. Instead of acting like idiots and celebrating garishly in your opponents faces, how about you show some respect and understand that you’ve gotten nowhere yet. And look who was leading those “celebrations”, Lendale White, what a surprise.

As good as White has been this season at fulfilling his role (complementing Johnson), I haven’t like him or Johnson’s attitude all season. Arrogant rookies who are just waiting to be put in their place when it matters, namely the playoffs. The Steelers are a veteran team who had to go through the toughest regular season schedule that’s been seen in quite a while, and they’re still going to be sitting watching during wildcard weekend. Just because you beat them at home they aren’t still dangerous? In the Steeler’s superbowl season, they earned a wildcard after being beaten to the division title by the Bengals. The Bengals made a point of disrespecting the towel in the regular season too. What happened to them? The Steelers came back and punched them square in the jaw as they beat them up in their own stadium.

There’s trash talking, there’s playing with a chip on your shoulder, and there’s being a stupid arrogant kid who hasn’t earned his stripes yet. Joey Porter for example may trash talk, but you know he’s going to bring everything to the field. Lendale White disrespects you, and you’re going to put that fool in his place. I expected more from Keith Bulluck who joined in the antics.

The Titans may have been the most consistent in the regular season, but there are plenty of one season wonders. The Colts started slow but they’re back again. The Steelers are back again, the Patriots probably will be returning. For teams such as these, it doesn’t matter how you get there anymore. Would you honestly bet against the Colts going into Tennesse in the playoffs?

There’s nothing wrong with confidence, but as Tom Landry said; Act like you’ve been there before.

Don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…

The term MVP has pretty much evolved now to mean the standout player, if anything the three words “most valuable player” aren’t even heard that much any more, MVP is almost it’s own word. Still, it’s down to interpretation, interpretation of value. In sports, value, refers to ability or performance, but it surely also involves worth, what with it being synonymous. How can you measure worth then? Perhaps only when you remove that factor you can tell it’s true worth, and that brings us to San Diego Charger’s linebacker/sack machine Shawne “Lights Out” Merriman.

It’s all well and good to estimate value but I think you can only truly see how vital something, or someone was, when it’s taken away. Every season there’s injuries, Tom Brady was the best player in the league by a mile last year and went down in Week 1. Now in my opinion there’s no quarterback as good as Brady, but the Patriots have coped, because, well they’re the Patriots, there’s still 10 other guys on that offense and Matt Cassel is hardly looking out of his depth with his 6-4 record. And with numbers like he put up last night (400 yards, 3 TDs, 0 Ints, 68 rushing yards), he’s looking Brady-esque. There’s other examples, Al Harris rupturing his spleen hit Green Bay hard, while a Bob Sanders-less Colts D is a different proposition to one with him leading it.

But when you take a look at the drop-off in performance from the Chargers D, it’s simply astounding that one player can have such an impact. The defense is ranked dead last against the pass, and 26th overall. Thats a drop off from 14th in both categories last year. Furthermore, while it may have been optimistic to expect a repeat of the 48 turnovers they generated last season, just 10 so far this season is another worrying drop-off.

What Merriman brought to San Diego was enormous. 39.5 sacks in 42 games, he terrorized quaterbacks and made them think differently about how to attack San Diego. It’s no coincidence that without his pass rushing ability, offenses have found it easier to pick apart the Chargers. His presence on the field changed the complexion of a game, one of those special players with the ability to play a a level that few only ever get to reach.

But even with his athletic ability, Merriman was a huge presence in the locker room too. He plays with such an intensity I’ve no doubt it makes his teammates raise their game. Missing a leader, the Chargers D simply hasn’t looked the same, almost lacking in confidence, that arrogance to challenge teams to come and beat them.

The Chargers will likely still make the playoffs, even with Merriman shut down for the year. Rivers has developed into a star and the offense is capable of tearing apart any team. It just remains to be seen whether this team can learn to regain some respect without Merriman patrolling behind the line.
Chargers Defensive Statistics
2008:
26th in yards per game (368)
32nd in passing yards (264)
12th in rushing yards (103)
15th in sacks (18)
6 Ints
4 rec fumbles

2007:
14th in total yards (320)
14th in passing yards (213)
16th in rushing yards (107)
5th in sacks (42)
30 interceptions
18 rec fumbles

Warner leading MVP race

The term MVP has become so distorted. The term Most Valuable Player suggests the, well, most valuable player but of course since the Associated Press took over the responsibility of choosing an MVP only 3 times has a non RB/QB been chosen. While not completely out of the ordinary, the first MVP was actually a center. How times have changed…

With that in mind, I’ve compiled my list of mid-season top 5 MVP candidates, the players I think are playing not just at an exceptional level but also just are the integral part to their team’s season. It’s all well and good putting up the numbers, but is it dragging the team to victories?

Kurt Warner – Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals
I’m just a massive fan of Kurt Warner, show me any underdog story and I’m driving the bandwagon but for him to make another comeback after the New York exile and the Matt Leinart saga, amazing. The old fashioned gunslinger, he makes the Arizona offence. A stuttering run game with an aging Edgerrin James who’s never been able to find his form competing with the raw rookie Tim Hightower, Warner has just been torching defenses, and torching them when it matters. He has 3 recievers in the top 4 of the NFC for passes caught and 3 in the top 9 in terms of yards gained.

Yet… I’m not totally convinced, this is still Arizona, they’re 6-3 and some crunch games, notably New York will determine whether this team can get a first round bye, or face the possibility of a tough wildcard opponent. And to be honest, I’m not totally sure about this team outside of Tempe. Nevertheless, Warner has been superb, and with Brees unable to drag a struggling team to a winning record, he has to be the leader in the conventional MVP race at least. And nothing would make me happier to see this guy prove the critics wrong again and win a 3rd title.

Eli Manning – Quarterback, New York Giants
His numbers aren’t spectacular, then again they weren’t last year. The defense is spectacular still but the fact is, this is the guy that won the Superbowl. Before the season, people were crowning the Cowboys and the Patriots and the Chargers and talking of how this team may have to settle for a wilcard again. Of course things may be different if Brady was healthy but the Giants have ignored the rest of the league and strode out to an 8-1 record. There’s a reason why QB ratings don’t win you games, Manning’s is a meagre 88.8, but he still has 14 TDs to 6 INTs, and of course 8 wins.

He’s calmly led his team past Pittsburgh, Philly, Dallas and the fact is, he has that immeasurable and much sought after quality. He’s a winner. Like last year, he can play terrible for 3 quarters and win in the 4th. This year, he’s playing solid in the first 3 and winning in the 4th, or earlier. He’s been missing Burress for most of the season, yet still uses every reciever. Warner doesn’t have the same talented cast on defense, or a bruising running game so he’s ahead but Manning really cannot be overlooked.

Albert Haynesworth – Defensive Tackle, Tennessee Titans
You know a defensive tackle is good when people talk about him as an MVP and no one batters an eyelid. This guy is the real deal. Tennessee have given up just 117 points in 9 games thus far, 13 points a game while he has racked up 6 sacks. His true contribution however can’t be defined by single stats, the Titans are playing the game the 2000 Ravens played, and Haynesworth is this team’s Ray Lewis.

Last year when he was suspended for 5 games, the Titans visibly suffered and should he fly the nest this summer you can expect a sharp decline in that defense’s efficiency. A very strong candidate for defensive MVP honors although he’ll likely be challenged by Joey Porter, James Harrison and Charles Woodson. If he keeps reaching the quarterback however, you might just see his name mentioned in this race come the end of the season.

Charles Woodson – Cornerback, Green Bay Packers
Like Warner, I’ve always been a huge fan of Woodson. One of the leagues true shutdown corners, many a quarterback has made a handsome living by not throwing his way. So much so his interception numbers were never high in Oakland, paired with Phillip Buchanon for a few years who was simply fodder for trigger happy QBs. But placed in Green Bay opposite Al Harris and he has flourished, and with his Ints already at a league high 5, he’s clearly on the radar. Even when Harris went down, even with a foot injury, he maintained a sensational level of performance, leading an ailing defense. Furthermore, he’s one of the best open field tacklers at cornerback you’ll see in the game. Not a conventional choice, but this guy is invaluable to the Packers D

Drew Brees – Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
I kind of resent picking this guy. Now, I do love the adversity story, and the Saints offense is wonderful to watch, but they’re 4-5, how can you pick an MVP who doesn’t even make the playoffs?

That being said, Brees is on course for a record breaking season. He’s averaging an astouding 331 yards per game, he’s desperately trying to drag this team forward and he was near flawless when I watched him play in London. It’s just a shame this Saints team, well this Saints defense isn’t better.

Honorable mentions

No running backs in my top 5… Well Clinton Portis and Adrian Peterson are on the brink, and are certainly going to be contenders come the end of the season. However, it is a lot easier to run when you have a great o-line in front of you. I’m not saying, i’m just saying…

Joking aside, they’re great players who aren’t far from being the primary reason for their teams records. Certainly Minnesota’s Week 9 win was largely thanks to AP’s heroics on their game winning drive.

Phillip Rivers and Jay Cutler are putting up career numbers, but they’re not consistent enough yet and I feel their records reflect this. Yes the Bronco’s D is horrible and the Charger’s D isn’t exactly pulling up any trees, there can be only one, and there’s simpy guys ahead of them. Joey Porter and James Harrison also get honorable mentions

NFL Power Rankings: Week 8

2008 Power Rankings: Week 8
	RK (Last week)	TEAM	REC	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Giants	6-1-0	That’a why they’re the best team in the league, so what if they’re not undefeated, they just went into Pittsburgh and won
	2 (2)	Titans	7-0-0	Yeah they’re unbeaten, so what? I’m allowed to be not totally convinced, why? Kerry Collins and the total lack of experience come playoff time.
	3 (4)	Redskins	6-2-0	It’s that time of the season where the difference between a win and a loss is huge. Pittsburgh will be a different proposition than Detroit though…
	4 (7)	Panthers	6-2-0	While the rest of the NFC South is dealing with consistency issues, Carolina aren’t looking back.
	5 (3)	Steelers	5-2-0	A tough loss, but they’re still 5-2 and with the shape the AFC is in, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
	6 (5)	Bills	5-2-0	We know Miami are no pushover, but is the momentum in Buffalo slowing down?
	7 (10)	Patriots	5-2-0	You know Tom Brady was *only* 11-5 when he subbed in for Bledsoe. I’m not saying… but i’m just saying….
	8 (11)	Cowboys	5-3-0	How’s that for a nervous unconvincing win. It hardly gets easier from here, hello Giants D.
	9 (9)	Bears	4-3-0	And the Bears get to ease back in to the swing of things with the visit of Detroit. Orton for 400 yards?
	10 (6)	Bucs	5-3-0	I guess they are who we thought they were, inconsistent, and that doesn’t bode well in the ultra-competitive South
	11 (8)	Cardinals	4-3-0	Uh-oh, a loss to the resurgent Rams and their lead’s down to a single game. They don’t travel well either.
	12 (16)	Eagles	4-3-0	Now Westbrooks back, can we talk about this team as a contender? Wait, they’re 4th in the division at 4-3???
	13 (14)	Falcons	4-3-0	Whine all you want about that call, but why had they already burned the 3 timeouts? Should get easier with Oakland
	14 (23)	Ravens	4-3-0	And its Flacco deep! You know confidence is high when the lesser teams give you no trouble.
	15 (18)	Saints	4-3-0	Brees is just unstoppable at times, but they can’t afford many more slip-ups.
	16 (14)	Packers	4-3-0	This team is looking to take a firm grip of the division, but Tennessee is the last place they’ll want to be.
	17 (13)	Broncos	4-3-0	Something tells me the West is going down to the wire. Week 17, Chargers/Broncos
	18 (21)	Browns	3-4-0	Well what do you know, they’re still fighting, and the price of a wildcard is pretty low in the AFC…
	19 (15)	Jaguars	3-4-0	Trips to Cincy and Detroit await, blow that and forget the playoffs
	20 (17)	Chargers	3-4-0	This team seems hellbent on self-destruction. Silly penalties, failing to get the snap off. Yet you wouldn’t bet against them winning the West at 8-8
	21 (19)	Jets	4-3-0	How many interceptions for Favre this week?
	22 (25)	Texans	3-4-0	That’s three straight, and they’re tied for 2nd. This offense is very impressive
	23 (20)	Colts	3-4-0	That’s the division pretty much gone, this team is crumbling.
	24 (22)	Vikings	3-4-0	You can forget any playoff hopes if the Williams twins go down.
	25 (24)	Rams	2-5-0	Yeah a loss but this Rams team is really fighting. I’d have to make them favourites at home to Arizona.
	26 (27)	Dolphins	3-4-0	This team should be 5-2, think about that.
	27 (26)	Raiders	2-5-0	So much for the hope. Russell is so far off the finished article
	28 (29)	Seahawks	2-5-0	Is there really much to say here?
	29 (28)	49ers	6-6-0	And the Niner’s season just got a lot more wacky. This should be interesting.
	30 (30)	Chiefs	1-6-0	They keep showing flashes… Where it’s coming from noone knows.
	31 (31)	Bengals	0-8-0	I’m with TJ, they’re going to win at least a game. When? I don’t know…
	32 (32)	Lions	0-7-0	Is bringing in Daunte Culpepper in Week 9 really going to change anything?

Roll-up roll-up, the circus is in town…

There are few people happier than me to see the NFL coming back to London for another go. Despite the rain, the worst team in the league and the relatively unremarkable game that played out it was quite the success. And now, we get to see a true crunch match-up between two teams that were touted as possible Superbowl opponents come February. With both teams at 3-4 it’s looking unlikely but as long as the pitch holds up, it should be a tremendous game.

But…

While the stadium would sell out numerous times over, is it really all worth it? From a selfish point of view, of course, a couple of years ago I would have given anything to see a proper NFL game, as in a regular season game that actually meant something. Now, I’m preparing to see my fourth (I’ve seen two in America). But think of the furore of the possibility a 39th game for the Premiership. Yes it was a ludicrous proposal (there are 38 games for a reason), but it isn’t a mile away from the NFL. You get 8 home games a season, and in a league where margins are so fine, just think of what New Orleans are losing by uprooting from Louisiana to play a home game 4,500 miles away.

It’s not just a home game they’re losing. They’re losing a game at the Superdome, a place which arguably gives the Saints a home advantage like no other. You’ve got the cold of Green Bay, the altitude of Mile High and the terrible towels in Pittsburgh, but in terms of fan power, no other team compares to New Orleans. 

Instead of that, they’re the designated home team in a stadium of 80,000 fans mostly containing supporters of 31 other teams, so that’s including Carolina, Tampa Bay, Atlanta etc. 

The fans will get behind the Saints, they are the home team but it’s nowhere near the same as a real home game. Furthermore, it’s as if the Chargers only have to play 7 away games, with 1 neutral, surely a major help in the playoff race (and let’s face it, they need it). 

I can’t wait for the game, I just hope it doesn’t spark a home-field advantage debate. Go Saints!

—-

Aside from the obvious, what really gets me about the International series is the bandwagon nature of… well everyone. At first it might sound like I’m acting defiant because “I liked it before it was cool to like it”, but it really is as if the circus is coming through. Condescending news articles, out of date stories and ludicrous interviews for a couple of weeks before the NFL passes through and we hear nothing of it for a year. Case in point, Times2 today featured a double page spread on the Saint’s role in the revival of New Orleans. It’s a fantastic story but this was 2-3 years ago, it should have been a fantastic story then as well. 

I’m not exactly thrilled with the BBC barging in to claim a place on the bandwagon either. Bringing in Mike Carlson was a great move but Jake Humphreys? Please…

If anything, the real praise should go to Sky, and to a lesser extent Five for their brilliant coverage that’s been consistent for years. The International Series will always drum up some interest but it’ll be the likes of Sky and Five that help sustain it. The addition of NFL Gameday to Sky’s programming is what Britain’s needed for years in terms of the NFL, authentic American coverage of the game condensed into a highlights show that anyone can watch. Perhaps it’ll be the catalyst for at least an amateur-level revival, we’ll have to wait and see.