Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"August 30, 2002
Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"
August
30, 2002
Welcome to Eric’s sports shorts. It’s one of those opinionated football days…
Here’s a final mile-high salute to the Denver Broncos’ great running back, Terrell Davis. The current debate is whether Davis is worthy of NFL Hall of Fame consideration. My answer is yes. Everyone has a varying view as to why he should or shouldn’t be in the Hall, but Terrell should be considered because of his great production in the short time he was healthy.
Why all the fuss about how long you need to be productive in the league, is there a definitive timeline needed to demonstrate Hall of Fame success?
In his first four seasons, Davis rushed for 6,413 yards, an average of 1,603 yards per season, which included his 1998 MVP season when he gained 2,008 yards and had 21 rushing touchdowns. Only three other running backs in the history of the NFL have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season. Of those three, O. J. Simpson is in the Hall of Fame while Barry Sanders and Eric Dickerson will be there in due time.
But, for the most part, Davis was just as special as those three, special in the way that he was big in the big games. He led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl victory over Green Bay in Jan. 1998 with his three-touchdown, MVP performance. You could say that John Elway was the guy who made the coffee, but it was Davis who stirred the drink. Without Davis, Elway could’ve been Dan Marino or Jim Kelly -- a great player without the bling of the championship ring.
In the short-term, he may not get the due credit he deserves because of the Elway factor, a great Bronco offensive line or the simple fact that he only had four healthy, productive years. But in the long run, in terms of running backs, those were probably the four most productive years in the history of the NFL.
If he does or doesn’t get into the Hall, he still should be saluted as one of the game’s best pressure running backs ever.
Just a week away from the 2002 NFL football season and here are my thoughts and predictions for the new season…
* Most overrated team -- Miami Dolphins. Just when you think Ricky Williams will be the savior to the Dolphins weak running game, he comes out and plays some lackluster football during the pre-season. Yes, it’s only pre-season, but the Dolphins’ fans are already harping about the play of Jay Fiedler and Williams can’t take a Sunday off. Williams will most likely get his 1,000 yards, something of a novelty in South Florida, but ask yourself why the Saints gave up on a supposedly great runner in only his fourth season.
With as great a defense that Miami has, it’s a shame for it to go to waste with an offense that can’t hold its own. Miami has the talent to make the playoffs and many football analysts are predicting Super Bowl for the Dolphins, but they will play second fiddle to the New York Jets and end up a wild-card at 10-6.
* Most improved team -- Buffalo Bills. Most improved in the Bills’ case may not mean the playoffs this year. The Bills will have the toughest schedule in the NFL, although they have made some of the best moves during the off-season. The additions of Drew Bledsoe, London Fletcher, Eddie Robinson, Trey Teague, first-round pick Mike Williams and second-round pick Josh Reed gives the Bills a mixture of much-needed veteran leadership and youthful talent upgrade.
With an improved offensive line, Bledsoe, Reed, veteran receivers Eric Moulds and Peerless Price and second-year back Travis Henry; the Bills will make their mark on offense. The Bills’ Achilles heel, though, will be their defense. Not necessarily their linebacking corps or secondary, but their porous defensive line could cost them many games in a division that features Williams, the Jets’ Curtis Martin and the Patriots’ Antowain Smith. Their schedule also includes games against other top rushers like the Packers’ Ahman Green, Kansas City’s Priest Holmes and Cincinnati’s Corey Dillon.
Plain and simple, the Bills will be tough to play and very much improved from last year’s 3-13 record, but their schedule and defensive line will keep them at an 8-8 record.
* Best off-season moves -- Oakland Raiders. Losing Jon Gruden may hurt, but the fact remains he never took them to a Super Bowl. His departure may help the cause though, as the Raiders received first- and second-round picks in both the 2002 and 2003 drafts. The Raiders chose Miami (Fla.) cornerback Phillip Buchanon with the first-round pick and chose Northwestern linebacker Napoleon Harris with their own first. Those moves with the additions of ageless veterans Rod Woodson, Bill Romanowski and prize free agent Sam Adams helps Oakland’s chances at winning their third straight divisional title and playing for the AFC Championship.
* Worst off-season moves -- Kansas City Chiefs. Most experts have given the Chiefs’ high marks and a chance to win the AFC West. But, those chances are growing slimmer as it gets closer to opening day. They remain at odds with All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez and first-round pick Ryan Sims over money. Kansas City’s run defense was 27th in the NFL last season and Sims was their biggest improvement to the defense. So despite all the talk of a division title, with no Gonzalez or Sims in the mix, there will be no title.
* Worst moves by a rookie(s) -- Sims, Vikings’ Bryant McKinnie, Chargers’ Quentin Jammer and the Cardinals’ Wendell Bryant. It amazes me that guys who have never played a down in the NFL can hold out long enough to miss all of training camp and, to this point, all of the pre-season schedule. Problem is, even if they sign, they will probably be a non-factor for most, if not all, of their first season because of the learning curve of the NFL.
* This year’s playoff predictions: AFC playoff teams -- New York Jets (East winner), Miami (East wild-card), Pittsburgh (North winner), Cleveland (North wild-card), Tennessee (South wild-card), Oakland (West winner).
NFC playoff teams -- Philadelphia (East winner), Washington (East wild-card), Green Bay (North winner), Tampa Bay (South winner), St. Louis (West winner) and San Francisco (West wild card).
Championship games -- (AFC) Pittsburgh over Oakland. (NFC) St. Louis over Tampa Bay.
Super Bowl -- St. Louis 27, Pittsburgh 17.