San Francisco 49ers 18/1
Here's your breakout team of 2007, not solely because of the light and fluffy, angel food cake schedule. This has been building for a while and, with a handful of great signings in the offseason, enough pieces have fallen into place that the Niners should reach the upper echelon. The D-line is the weak spot, but it is no weaker than any other weak spot in the NFC Worst.
Something tells me Frank Gore is really looking forward to playing the newly suspect Seahawks D-Line twice this year.
Seattle Seahawks 20/1
The offseason strategy of the Seahawks amounted to "Let's do nothing and hope for fewer injuries." That already failed with Marcus Tubbs going out for the season. Shaun Alexander may or may not be healed, but he is certainly a year older. Walter Jones is still in decline and Steve Hutchison is still gone. That means much more emphasis is going to go to the passing game, which in itself is little more than serviceable. The defense is merely average — the line will suffer without Tubbs and the secondary is on the weak side. Figure these guys to slug it out with the Niners all year long and a potential last gasp in the playoffs. Next year, the rebuild should begin.
St. Louis Rams 38/1
It's the same old story with the Rams: good quality offense, abysmal defense. They went D-line happy during the draft, which may have been needed, but there is no way they reach the playoffs with this defense. Meanwhile, they better hope the fountain of youth is located somewhere in the greater St. Louis area because Orlando Pace needs to stop aging if they have any hope of a .500 season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 50/1
My, how time flies. A few years back Coach Chuckie strolled into the Sunshine State and was heralded for riding Tony Dungy's team to a Super Bowl victory. Dungy didn't complain or get bitter, he simply picked himself up, took over a different team, and got his ring with them. Meanwhile, in the same space of time, Coach Chuckie finds himself mired in losses and fighting for his job. Sometimes justice is served.
Jeff Garcia (spleen) is superior to Chris Simms (no spleen), but every other area of the team screams mediocrity. Maybe all the screaming is what scared Jake Plummer away.
Article comments
1 - The Haze
Is Michael Strahan's act that transparent or is it just me? Bet money on this: real soon the NFL shortens or does away/ modify the preseason. not so as to lose money now,thank you very much, but to insure the safety of our product to bring you the fan the full enjoyment that you so richly deserve.Oh yeah,don't forget that dumbass pro bowl. now there's a game that we would miss,huh? too much money involved now though. tell me how many people can toss 500,000 dollars out the window because they don't feel like working? God, I love America!
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
"All Calvin Johnson is going to learn this year is how to tell when he can quit on his route by the sound of the fan's boos."
If he does it that way, he'll never leave from his set position on the line of scrimmage.
3 - david mazzotta
Haze, I think I see what you're getting at. It amazes me that no one in the press takes a deeper look at this. Older, "wiser" players are always finding ways to cruise during the pre-season. I am completely convinced that T.O. does this all the time. And though they don't say so, I'm sure the coaches are cool with it.
Push the philosophy to it's limit and you get Roger Clemens signing contracts for half the year so he can keep playing well into middle age.
4 - alessandro Nicolo
"Have I mentioned you shouldn't be betting on futures?"
You bet. Just penny stocks and options. Duh.
The Iggles give me the giggles. They will hunt and kill the inefficient and the weak - like the Cowgirls. Giggle.
5 - The Haze
To a certain degree David,I see their(older players)point,to an extent. The "way" the game is played today is different than how it was "back in the day"(remember when it was a game?),everything is so f**king skilled that it kills me sometimes,but yet,it is. On the other hand though,what was gained in skill and art form,disguised as entertainment,a certain degree of character and loyalty was just shucked out the proverbial window in the name of....what?,money? I don't know. It seems sometimes that sports individuals thrive on adulation like a junkie thrives for his next hit. and don't forget,"and the crowd goes wild!" The fans of sports in this country has changed more than the athletes themselves!! I swear the violent tendencies of the sports base in this country has reached new lows.Their lust for more,more,more is comical at times but yet,under the surface there is a fine line that is being trampled under foot. This behavior + time is gaining ground on the way we as a society functions. I fear the future looks bleak.Where have you gone?
6 - themurph544
Hey David, it's week 7, where are you?? I enjoy your column ever week and always hate waiting until week 6 to read it... are you throwing in the towel this year?
7 - david mazzotta
Not throwing in the towel. First set of picks should come roughly Wednesday-ish. In few weeks you'll be sick of me. ;-)
8 - Diesel
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