The Detroit Lions may have gotten the steal of day one.

The Detroit Lions may have gotten the steal of day one.

Being that I'm a huge Green Bay Packers fan watching the Detroit Lions pick Nick Fairley with the 13th pick in round one kind of gave me chills. With an already potent defensive line that passed out a lot of pain to NFL quarterbacks last season, ( 44 sacks ) the drafting of Fairley clearly put the teams in the NFC north on notice that their doormat days might be over. Detroit biggest needs Going into this year's draft were on the offensive line, cornerback, and linebacker. However seeing Fairley who was though to be a top 3 pick not to long ago still on the board, had to be very hard to pass on.

The Lions just might be the best place this young man could have landed, with a lot of character issue following him after the combine Fairley had a lot of NFL personnel people questioning his work ethic. But I feel being pair with Detroit's top pick of last year's draft Ndamukong Suh, already one of the best D-linemen in football with great work ethic will Help show him the way. Fairley proved in Auburn's run to the national championship that he can be a tough force to deal with. I don't know what he did or said to bring his stock down in some NFL personnel people minds, but this guy passes the eye test on the field. If Nick Fairley come in to the NFL with the same hunger he showed in helping Auburn win the national championship, the Detroit Lions may have gotten the steal of the draft.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

where will Green Bay go in this year's draft?

Where will Green Bay go in this year's draft?

Linebacker.......offensive linemen.......running back

There's no doubt the Green Bay Packers have one of the most talented teams in the NFL, however even a Super Bowl champ has needs. The three positions Green Bay should address in this year's draft that could fill some glaring needs in my opinion are (outside linebacker, offensive line, and running back) to make an already solid team that much better. With Clay Matthews looking as if he's going to be a superstar pass rushing linebacker for years to come, the Packers could use someone on the other side ( aka the Pittsburgh steelers dynamic duo of Lamarr Woodley and James Harrison )
to take some of the pressure off Matthews being he's the Packers only true pass rusher.

The offensive line which showed some improvement last season, need's some upgrading. Aaron Rodgers Houdini like ability to escape on coming pass rushers made the line look better than they actually played. One only needs to take look at last season playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons to see help on the O-line might be needed. Given all the injuries the line has sustain the last few seasons and the need to keep Rodgers upright, offensive line should be Green Bay's # 1 priority.

I see running back as the easiest of the positions to fill. I know after last season you might wonder why I'm saying that? How much help the Packers need at running back depend's on how Ryan Grant come's back from his ankle injury. James Stark's showed in Green Bay's Super Bowl run last season that he is capable of taking over as the starting feature back in Green Bay's backfield; and Grant looked very strong before his injury. However if any one of theses two go's down it put to much pressure on the passing game, so I can see Packer's GM Ted Thompson looking at a running back early in this year's draft.

There's seem to be a lot of talent in this year's draft at all three position I just mention, so look for Green Bay to load up as this could help answer a lot of the questions surrounding next year's defending Super Bowl champion.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

What does this mean?

What does this mean?

Now that judge Susan Nelson has ruled the lockout unlawful, will the NFL go back to business as usual? I don't see an easy end to this lockout, I think this has been anticipated by the Owners and Rodger Goodell, which means get ready for one hell of a ride. I can't see the Owners rolling over on this issue, they want the money so I think their all in regardless of the damage it may cause. Because this fight has always been about the billion dollars, I find it hard to believe we will see business as usual until the Owners and Players come to some sort of an agreement ( Now ) on how to spit the billion dollars.

Opening doors to the facility's without coaching and training personnel being there mean's nothing. The Players got permission to go into an empty building, not back to work. I'm not trying to be the Grim-Reaper on the Players tiny win in court, I call it tiny because I don't understand what it really mean's. My son see's the Owners as very smart business men who just want a fair deal for both sides; and will see they can't win in court and make a deal. I sure hope he's right, because up to now I've seen no brightness on either side in this hold negotiating process.

Just remember as the Owners, who are trying to appeal the Judges lockout decision and the Players who as of now can go back to their training facility's, it was a victory for the Players but just a small one. I caution fans to not run around giving each other high five's yet,because this is far from over. This is round 4 of a 12 round fight.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

The lost season!!

The lost season!!

With the NFL lockout looking as if it going to hinder the free agent movement going into next season, drafting for future needs seem to be the theme of this year's draft. Unless by some miracle the Owners and Players come to an agreement in the next 48hrs, this may go down as one of the most useless draft's in some time. As teams prepare for the draft without that ability to move players in trades, or the signing of free agents, game planing using rookies next season seem to be a moot point. If the talk that's going around NFL football turn out to be true and there's no free agents period that we have
come to know, a lot of GM's are going into this year's draft with their hands tied behind their back.

There's a lot of good talent in this year's draft that could possibly help some teams next season, however without the ability to get these rookies into the classroom to learn their teams system or on the practice field to see If they have what it takes to play at next level, there will be no Sam Bradford's or Ndamukong Suh's to talk about in this year's draft.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Is anyone thinking about the Coaches in this lockout situation?

Is anyone thinking about the Coaches in this lockout situation?

With NFL fans having to stand and watch like innocence bystanders while the Owners and Players treat theses CBA negotiation like drivers in a car accident fighting over who going to take responsibility for the wreck. Fans must not forget there are head Coaches and their assistant Coaches standing there right beside them on the side of the road, watching with the same anticipation of how this might end and when might they get back to the business of running their teams.

Caught in the middle of this tug-of-war, with a chest containing a billion dollars going to the winner; you have to ask yourself how is this affecting the coaches around the NFL who can't take a side in this argument. With their pay checks being tried directly to both sides of the fight, how can they do anything but sit back and hope for the best. Knowing this CBA deal will get done and regardless of which side claims victory they must stay neutral with any hope of being able to do their jobs. To voice an opinion one way or another could be a career Ender.


p> In my opinion this has to be the toughest position to be in regardless of your standing in the coaching community. From the more establish coaches in the league ( Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers and Mike Tomlin Of the Pittsburgh Steelers ) to the not so establish ( Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys and Mike Munchak of the Tennessee Titans ) Having to take the position that silent's is bliss.

Let us not forget that while the Owners and Players sit at the negotiating table trying to decide how the cash is going to be spit; Coaches along with their assistants are still on the job planing for the draft and how they can help not only Ownership but also their Players make a smooth transition back to the game of football. And all this knowing there's a possibility Their paychecks may take a hit if this lockout go's into late summer. I for one would have a very difficult time concentrating on the job at hand, knowing there's a chance I might not get paid for the hours I'm putting in. ( and not really being in a position to voice my opinion )


As we fans who can voice our displeasure with the lockout on talk radio or in blogs like mine to relieve our frustration regarding this whole lockout mess. Let us not forget, there's a groups of coaches standing silently on the sideline hope-ing when it's over, the damages is minimal so they can get back to to the jobs of trying to win football games.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

How can Green Bay stay ahead of the Pack?

How can Green Bay stay ahead of the Pack?

After making one of the most remarkable runs to a Super Bowl championship in NFL history, the questions surrounding the Green Bay Packers are, how did they pull it off! and can they do it again? The answer to the first is simple personnel.... Personnel....personnel. Without that ability to replace their starters who went down early in the season with a mutable of injuries; with players who were more than capable of playing at a very high level in the NFL, a 500 record would have been very hard to attain. General Manager Ted Thompson who has shown that unique ability to forgo free agency and build his team thought the draft and rookie free agent signings has also shown the rest of the the NFL the blueprint his mentor Ron Wolf laid Before him when he was Wolf's assistant, might be the only way to build a team that is not only playoff but Super Bowl relevant year in and year out in the NFL.
p>With an abundant amount of talented players coming back from the injured reserve, it would be very easy to see why Green Bay would be at the top of everyone's list next season as the team to beat in the race to next year's Super Bowl. But as you know, what we see on paper does not always translate to the football field. After having just won a Super Bowl, the the answer to question two, can only be answer by the Packers. ( Focus ) will they have the focus that's needed to forget yesterday and look to tomorrow? Will they take a hunter's mentality into next season, knowing every team they play will have no problem getting up for what has to be one the biggest game's of their year. I see having to open the season against the previous year's Super Bowl Champs New Orleans Saints as a God sent for Green Bay, focus has to be there from day one of training camp. ( when ever it may begin )

p> One of the biggest obstacles the Green Bay Packers will have to overcome next season, is do they have the ability to handle success. Having one of the youngest teams in the NFL there is alway's the possibility they might take success for-granted. Believing it's something that will always be there and forgetting about all the hard work it took to get it. There's alway's a chance with any young team there might be some sort of let down. But Green Bay has one of the best three headed monster's in the NFL ( Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, and Aaron Rodgers ) with that type of stability leading the way, a let down seem very unlikely. So with Ted Thompson leading the way by laying down a solid foundation, along with Coach Mike McCarthy and Quarterback Aaron Rodgers; there is little doubt in my mind that the Green Bay Packers can stay at the head of the pack for some time to come.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Preparing for the future

Preparing for the future

I've been reading and listening to all the pre-draft talks about who each team should take and why. With this year's draft being highly spotlighted ( with the Players lockout and the Players Union asking draftee to stay home ) and draft picks not knowing how this could impact their lives the days and maybe months after draft day is over. I keep going back to a story I read on the ESPN Webb sight, John Clayton one of the best in the business at getting the inside scoop on what is happening in the NFL; had two opportunities to address the question of the New England Patriots drafting a young Quarterback in the early rounds of this year's draft to have him mentor behind Tom Brady and maybe one day take over.
In my opinion he missed badly on both answers to this question, first he believe's it might upset the veteran QB that a quarterback has been drafted ( IMO a horrible answer ).Given a second shot at the same question he soften his take on the subject, by saying yeah maybe it's ok but don't look for any help from the veteran QB in the mentoring of a guy who might be his replacement one day. He feels the veteran QB may be unwilling or unable to help in the development of the Quarterback who could be drafted as a look to the future for his team. He sighted the Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre situation as a reason it might not work out. I know its has been talked about over and over again about the fact that Brett wanted nothing to do with the mentoring of his replacement.However taking a young QB by the hand and saying here let me show you how to take my job, is neither realistic or what a true team player has or needs to do to help a young Quarterback to grow into an NFL QB.

As I stated in my earlier blog sitting and watching is just as Important to a young QB's development than anything a veteran QB might say. One would hope a veteran Quarterback at the end of his career ( when ever it might be ) should want to see his team in good hands because it's not if, but when that day is going to come. We're not talking about a lot of Quarterbacks here we're talking about the Payton Manning's, Tom Brady's, or the Drew Brees's of the NFL. The hard true about this game is all careers come to an end ( by the Players choice or the team's ) and the team who most prepares for that ending will be the one who will sustain that winning edge.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Which teams in the NFL are poised to take that next step?

Which teams in the NFL are poised to take that next step?

If there was ever a worst time for a lockout in the NFL, I can't think of one for these 5 teams on the rise in the NFL.

Detroit Lions
Oakland Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kansas City Chiefs
ST. Louis Rams

These teams make huge strides last season and show their fans they were ready to again be mention as one of the better teams in the NFL. Only the Chief's out of this group made last season's playoff's, the Rams and Buccaneers were knocking at playoff 's door; while the Lions and Raiders show every team they played last season they were not a win to be just checkoff on their schedules. With the lockout seeming as if it might go a lot longer then even the Owners and the Players union envision when they took such a hard stance on the money issue; and no organize team workouts because of the no contact rule regarding Coaches and Players. The progress of these teams might come to a compete halt. Players working out by them-self's or in small groups in my opinion can't have the same impact as coaches monitoring their team's progress during the off season.

As Owners and Players gather around the negotiating table again to try and get a solution to these CBA proceedings. I see 5 teams and their fan base that should hope the resolution is quick and tidy so NFL football can get back on schedule and they can continue the momentum they gain last season.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Stale Mate

Stale Mate

Now that Owners and Players have gone back to the bargaining table with a court order mediation request, this chess game will play out the way most of us felt it might. Both side doing what should have been done two years ago. Spit the billion dollars and agree to revisit the revenue sharing issue in 3 to 4 years and get back to actually tying to grow the game of NFL football; as has been talked about by Owners and the now decertify Players union from the beginning of this CBA negotiation. I feel the two sides are playing a game that can't be won by either side. Judge Sue Nelson echo millions of fans sentiments by asking Owners and Players to work out their problems at the bargaining table not in a court room.

Hopefully both, the Owners and the Players union will realize this time around, there's a lot of attention being pay to their negotiation and this game of chess they've been playing for two years. And because there's only a king and pawn left on both sides of the board ( Rodger Goodell and the Owners on one side with Demaurice Smith and the Players on the other ) there's only one play left, move their pawn to the middle of the board and call it a stale mate. That way nobody loses and both sides can claim victory for the growth of the game.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Destined For Greatness

Destined For Greatness

( Will Aaron Rodgers take that next step to NFL greatness? )

There is no such thing as a sure bet in pro football, however Aaron Rodgers just may be the closes thing to fast money as you can get. After three seasons as the starting Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers; Rodgers has gone from the guy who replace a Packer's living legend in Brett Favre, to possibly the most dangerous Quarterback in the NFL. With a strong pinpoint laser arm and feet nimble enough to someday get him an invite to appear on dancing with the stars, Rodgers has put the whole national football league on notice that he will be a force to deal with for years to come. After setting a NFL record by recording 4000 yards seasons in his first two years as a starting Quarterback and missing a third by less than a hundred yards. Rodgers did something his predecessor had not accomplished is his Hall Of Fame career ( win a Super Bowl MVP ) with his near perfect performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

One could see how it might easy for Rodgers to get caught up in all the hype that's been coming his way, after having just reach the pentacle of any young Quarterbacks's dreams. No only playing in and winning a Super Bowl Championship, but also taking home an MVP award to boot. However as most of us who tune in and witnessed on draft day 2005, Rodgers had that look and let it be known that he would not let any of the 20 teams who passed on him in the first round ever for get they under valued his talent. So after having in my opinion a Pro Bowl coming out season in 2008, Rodgers even had Chicago Bears fans who were counting the days until # 4 Retired; believing lighting was about to strike twice in Green Bay WI.

Rodgers not only proved to all cheesehead nation but also to a lot of NFL expert na- Sayers that Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy were right to give him the keys to the car. So after what has to now look to him like a small bump in the road on draft day, and after handling a Quarterback controversy that could have turn into an all out turf war with nothing but class. Aaron Rodgers who now has one championship belt around his waist, has put his self in a position to give the fans of Green Bay something they haven't seen in the team's story history, Back to Back Hall of Fame Quarterbacks.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Can our three major sports be saved for our kids?

Can our three major sports be saved for our kids?

With all three of our major sports leagues ( Major league baseball, NFL football, and NBA basketball ) engaged is some sort of controversy. The lockout over a billion dollars in the NFL, the huge steroid problem that's still lingering in major league baseball, and a player deciding it's ok to embarrass his home State team by announcing he's taking his talents to Miami. ( shame on ESPN for helping this guy to make his self look like a young arrogant fool! ) It got me to wondering what will sports look like in 15 years when our kids our starting to rise their kids. You can't pick up a newspaper or turn on a TV without one of the three having a negative story being talk about.

It's very hard having to explain to your kids how lying in court about not taking steroids is a real bad thing to do. Why this great player and that great player won't make it to the Hall of fame, because they played the game the wrong way. How do you tell a kid yes they make over 9 billion dollars a year and I don't know why they can't find a way to spit one of the billion dollars. ( and yes when I'm ask is that a lot of money I just smile ) What can you say to a kid when they ask you if it's ok for players to pick the team they want to play for just because they want to play with their friends. Why a Boss has a right to ask players to dress properly when they go to their press conference. These are the easy conversations you can have with kids under 10 years old, you don't mind talking about these things with them.

No parent should have to talk to their kids about why their favorite players are selling drugs, shooting them self, Sending pictures of there special place to someone other then their wife, why a player locked himself in a bathroom with a woman who didn't want to be there, or why a player would hurt dogs. With sports being one of the special things that bonds parents with their kids at an early age, one could see how these can be tying times in many house holds. This might be a real good time for our three major sports leagues to get their acts together, so 15 years from now our kids can enjoy the idea of sitting back and talking about sports with their kids.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Have the Dallas Cowboys become the Notre Dame of Pro Football?

Have the Dallas Cowboys become the Notre Dame of Pro Football?

Has there ever been a team more beloved in Pro Football than the Dallas Cowboys? Up until 15 years ago the Cowboys had to be one of the most fear teams in Pro Football history. From 1960 when they first enter the National Football League, until the 1995 season when they won they're last Of 5 Super Bowls; they were arguably the best team in the NFL for that 35 year period of time. The Cowboys played in 8 Super Bowls and won 5, only the Pittsburgh Steelers with 5 appearance and 4 wins; or the San Francisco 49s with 5 win in 5 try's can even come close to Dallas's greatness of that time. Now the thing that make's this so remarkable is these teams did all this in the first 30 Super Bowls; 14 wins in 15 of the first 30 Super Bowls played. ( Dallas and Pittsburgh played each other in 3 of those games,Pittsburgh won 2 )Wow!!

Only the Pittsburgh Steelers of the three teams mention have found a way to stay Super Bowl relevant over the last 15 years since Dallas won
a Super Bowl. ( oh by the way, their win was against Pittsburgh ) Over this time Pittsburgh has won 8 division titles, been in the playoff's 9 times and played in 3 Super Bowls and won 2. Dallas on the other hand, has not been really heard of since the 90's. That lead's me to the question of why year after year so called Football experts have them as one of their pick to win it all? when getting into the playoff's seem to have been a chore, ( 4 division titles, 7 playoff's apperencs third best team in their own division in the last 15years! )

This bring me to my Notre Dame theory , how at the beginning of every season people try to put them in the mix without any just cause. Notre Dame has not been a factor in the National Championship picture for a lot longer than Dallas not being a real threat to win a Super Bowl. But they ( by they I mean the Football Media tying to find ways to pull them across the finish line, like that horse with great odds to win ) with nothing more than a name.

I know it might be hard to see the correlation between a College football team and the Dallas Cowboy, it's about perception and reality and how they get in each other's way. Perception, they are the teams they once were, reality they have not been at the top of their's football worlds in a combined 38 years ( 24years since Notre Dame won a National Championship, 15 years since Dallas last held the Super Bowl trophy ). Perception, because of their rich history of winning, that it somehow applies to their recent team's. Reality, there has been little or no reason to believe they are even close to being the team's they once were. Perception they've had the leadership top to bottom to produce a winning team year after year. Reality, there hasn't been stability at the top of either team in many years. Notre Dame has not been the same since Lou Holtz left in ( 1996 ), Jerry Jones though he was smarter then his Coach Jimmy Johnson witch lead to Jimmy's leaving in (1993 ) Dallas has never recovered ( yes they won a Super Bowl with Jimmy Johnson's guys two years later, but have only had one real shot to get back to the Super Bowl since. )

Where as I do believe Dallas is in a lot better position to get to a Super Bowl, than Notre Dame will ever be to a National Championship; they are both not as close as it has been talked about year after year in the media. Both team's have a very strong fan following across the country, they have a great football history, but sports is about what have you done for me lately. The fact is Dallas as it is with Notre Dame has done nothing for years, and how the football media can fall for the hype at the beginning of every season is beyond me.

Www.ajstakeonthenfl.blogspot.com

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Can an " Elite Quarterback " be develop or is he just " that guy "

Can an " Elite Quarterback " be develop or is he just " that guy "

With the game of NFL football at the height of it's popularity and no ceiling in sight, the Quarterback position has become the most debated in football. In my opinion the NFL Quarterback position has to be the hardest to play in all of sports. In a sport that is totally Quarterback driven, you might be hard press to come up with a list of ten QB's ( out of 32 teams )who will hit anyone's Elite list. With such a high premium put on the Quarterback position to carry a team, you have to ask yourself, why there are so few team's in the NFL with the capability to develop a championship caliber QB. The first thing you might hear is players don't work as hard at the game the way they use to. I don't believe that to be true, professional football player probably train harder at their sport than any other. People might say it's all the money players make, it give them no incentive to work at their craft. While I think there might be a case to be made with some players, I think the number is very small. You don't play this game without some love and passion for it.

Where as I don't think money is the reason Quarterbacks fell to make the impact we as fans feel they should. I do feel money is the main reason their development is hinder. NFL Owners and General Managers feel they can't let that kind of money sit on the side line and learn the game at a more gradual pace. The Quarterback position is the one position on any team where a longer learning period is needed. There have been very few exceptions of Quarterback who have started their rookie year and became Elite QB's. ( Troy Aikman, Payton Manning, Dan Marino to name a few ) Theses three guys had that " it factor " the first day they step on the field. Troy and Payton took a pounding their first few years, just tying to stay alive while learning on the job. Dan Marino looked like a polish veteran right from the beginning, one in a million, you may never see this kind of Quarterback again.

Without the time that is needed to sit behind and watch a veteran Quarterback go though the day to day riggers of being an NFL Quarterback, these young QB's are eaten alive. I believe it take a minimum of three years to develop an NFL ready Quarterback, a guy who learn's the position inside and out.This mind you is not an Elite Quarterback, this is a QB who might not lose his team a lot of games. We have seen this type of QB win Super Bowls ( Trent Dilfer, Rob Johnson, Doug William, Mark Ripen ) the one thing these Quarterback have in common, they learn the game from the bench. These were veteran QB's who had the opportunity to develop their skills to the point where they could lead a team to and win the Super Bowl.

The term Elite Quarterback is used to loosely for my taste. The real question is what make's a Quarterback Elite? I know it can't be winning a Super Bowl, Dan Marino was one of the most Elite Quarterback's in NFL history ( no SB ring ) Ben Roethlisberger on the other hand has been to three Super Bowls and won two and there's a lot of so call experts who don't think he's Elite ( I'm not one of them ). My definition of an Elite Quarterback is every time he go's on the field the opposing team know's he can win, Big Ben fits that definition. There are only a few QB's in the NFL today that give me that feeling.They are ( Payton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger ) these are the only QB's I feel have that " it factor " in the NFL.

Aaron Rodgers is the only QB on my list who got the chance to sit and watch the game being played by a veteran for a extended period of time. And if not for Brett's on again off again retirement talk he might still be sitting. I believe sitting helped Rodgers become the Elite Quarterback he is. Time.... Time..... Time is what it take's to develop an NFL ready Quarterback! The approach a majority of Owners and GM's take with the most important part of their team's blow me away. It put to much pressure on coaches, their team's, and most importantly the young Quarterbacks they bring in to lead their team's.

If money is the underline reason for the under development of an NFL Quarterbacks, than money should be the main reason team's take a more diligent approach to this position. Most of the team's in the NFL go though QB after QB tying to find that guy, a ton of money spend hoping there's a diamond in the rough coming out of college football. I read a very amazing take on this subject on the ESPN Webb sight the other day.( and by amazing I don't mean good ) John Clayton had a Q&A on his blog sight, a fan of the New England patriots ask John if the Pats should draft a Quarterback to develop as Tom Brady's successor? John said no because it might upset Tom ( wow! John miss the whole football field on this answer ) if there's a right time to draft a young Quarterback and develop for future it's now for New England. They have a great QB and the time to let a young man sit and watch how it's done.

As we have witness with this lockout, NFL football is a business, so any Quarterback who gets upset about a smart business move has no loyalty to his team. ( he can't play forever ) I believe if more time is taken with the development of young Quarterbacks, we might see 15 to 20 team's with a real shot to win a Super Bowl instead of the 4 to 5 we can count on each year.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Accountability

Accountability

I think as fans prepare for what could be a long and bitter lockout in the NFL, it might give us time to sit back and think of the many reason why the state of football has gotten to this point. With words like greed, selfishness, and arrogance being use to describe owners and players for their part in this fight over who's king of the hill. Both sides tying to hold the other accountable for the negotiation going sideways, fans also need to take some accountability for their part in this getting out of hand.

We as fans spend millions and millions of dollars a year on this sport and wonder how it has gotten so far removed from reality. ( accountability ) I'm not saying fans can't show their full support for their team, I love the game of football and I also support it with my time and money. What I am saying, we can't put that kind of money in the pot and expect greed, selfishness and arrogance won't come into play.

It's not only the money we spend a year that help's promote greed, it is the win at all cost mentality that fan have to see their team win. Yes I read a lot of the comments fans make on blogs, they want their team to pick up this guy or that guy knowing it could cost stupid money to get this guy. This go's on with every team in football, paid the money we want to win. The harsh reality is we are not talking about a few thousand dollars, we're talking millions. I think these guys ( Owners and Players ) have a right to make as much as they can get, that's what this country hang it's hat on free enterprise make as much you can how ever you can.

I'm not telling fans to not spend their money on football, tickets, concussion, parking, pay for view channels, and all the merchandise, (these are the things that has turn the NFL into a Muti billion dollar business.) just remember as we watch these preceding play out in a court room over the next few months, it's just not the Owners and Players who need to be held accountable for having a court decide how to spit a billion dollars ( because regardless of what they are saying on TV or in print, this has always been about the billion dollars ) We as fans need to take some accountability for the greed,selflessness and arrogance that going on in football.

Ajjones

At

Ajstakeonthenfl.blogspot.com

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Top Ten list of Things You Might Do If There's No Football

Top Ten list of Things You Might Do If There's No Football
This Season?

Hey football fans what ten things would you do if there's no
NFL football this season?

Give me your list.

#1, Spend more time with family( I have a family? )

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com

Generational Gap On Lockout Argument

Generational Gap On Lockout Argument

With the Owners and Players engaged In what looks to be a lengthy lockout, and fans clearly being divided on witch side has the claim to the billion dollar prize at the end of the rainbow. The one thing this lockout has proven to me is age defines who's on who's side. It seem to me most of the fans under the age of 40 see the CBA negotiation though the eyes of the Players. Their doing all the hard work, putting their bodies and lives on the line every time they go on the field. I hear younger fans saying if it were not for the Players there would be no money to fight over. Now, I see older fans siding with the Owners, who believe they took the risk of ownership of a NFL franchise. That owners have the right to make as much as they can off their investment, and opening their books to the Players is a joke. The fact Players make way to much money.

While i'm not as surprise there's a huge age gap regarding who's right in this contentious labor dispute. I am left with a shocking feeling of disbelief at how the money has no bearing at all on the younger fans opinion on the CBA dispute. It's hard to believe any fan can think a player is worth anywhere near 20 million dollars a year to play a game. This is where the generation gap can really be seen. Every young fan I talk with has no problem at all with the absurd amounts of money being pay to professional athletes. It's leave's me wondering how did we get to this point where the talk of insane money can be tossed around like it's nothing!?

I personally think the money has gotten way out of line on both sides of this argument. When we have to sit back and watch these two sides fight it out in court on how to spit a billion dollars. It take's much joy out of the game. It looks to me the money has gotten into the way of the game. I'm not a hater, I love the way this game has grown in my life time; ( I am 54 years old ) But at the end of the day it's still just a game, that both sides needs to understand, has gotten financially out of control.

We have players signing franchise tag contracts that in some cases may pay a player 20 million dollars a year. Than there's an owner who single-mindedly destroyed what should have been a tremendous Super Bowl experience for over 2000 fans; with his need and greed to hold a record ( in spite of mother nature's contribution ). Now I know your asking yourself what dose this have to do With the generational gap? Here it is, both sides of the gap see Jerry Jones ask a greedy egotistical owner, out for the money. Young fans see's a player about to make 20 million dollars a year as getting his do. I know, these are the times we live in, but man! how can this not bring a smile to your face.

As life has taught us, there will always be some kind of generational divide on sports issues and how they might be handle. It's my hope, that Owners and Players along with fans young and old will see this as an opportunity to bring common sense to the table on this particular issue. So the game of NFL football is the only thing to debate ( who has the best team, who's the best Quarterback in the NFL, or witch team will win the Super Bowl ) this is something both sides of the gap can agree on.

Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com