The NFCN just gets weaker

[Fritz]

addition by subtraction, homey.

I looked at this picture and it made me sick.

[pbmax]

Just to put a bow on it, its probably more likely the Colts become a power next year than the Cards, based on the position their aging players are at (QB versus WR and a couple guys on D) And if I am honest, I think I remember now that while the Cardinals were beating everyone in sight, they weren't Top 6 at Football Outsiders. So their trajectory might not be sky high.

But that still leaves Seahawks, the Packers and Cowboys at the top of the NFC. Next tier might be Cardinals and it gets weird after that. Lions (retooling D, must sustain O), Philly (rebuild), Bears (new coach, QB issues), Giants (Eli in WCO, good receivers, rebuilt D), San Fran (demolition), Saints (retooling a sometimes awful, sometimes good team) and Carolina (needs an offense/weapons).

Compared to the Patriots, Ravens and Colts. Outside of the Cardinals, the next tier in the AFC might have fewer questions. Bills (need an O), Steelers (rebuild D, though they know how to do that), Kansas City still looking for offense, Denver (two very disappointing season endings and hurt QB).

[Patler]

Agree. But there is also the matter of QB health.

Agreed; but, I have a growing feeling that QB health might be a recurring issue with GB. What I am looking forward to is seeing if the changes required in his play because of the injury become an ongoing change is style, which would be a good thing as he gets into the second half of his career.

[Tony Oday]

But the Vikings still suck and their fans were praying AP was back this year to help improve on their dumpster fire of a team, he won't be. The Vikes also think Bridgewater is something special, he is not and never will be a top 10 QB, their elite TE is an injury waiting to happen and their #1 WR is a cast off, this team is 5 years away from relevance. The Bears are just flat out not good because their offensive line must be pissed at Cutler with how bad they are and the Lions lose their soul on Defense, we hate Donkey Kong but he was their grit and fire on that side of the ball. The Lions also have Baby Huey at QB who would be a terrible QB if not for Megatron and he is just getting older and I do not see him turning into Galvatron anytime soon.

[Pugger]

If the girls lose Murray are they still one of the elite teams in the NFC? It sounds like he might end up in Philly with the Iggles.

[pbmax]

If the girls lose Murray are they still one of the elite teams in the NFC? It sounds like he might end up in Philly with the Iggles.

There are some decent backs left but if they rely on the run as much as last year, might need committee. O line is still there.

[pbmax]

Agreed; but, I have a growing feeling that QB health might be a recurring issue with GB. What I am looking forward to is seeing if the changes required in his play because of the injury become an ongoing change is style, which would be a good thing as he gets into the second half of his career.

He said on his radio show that he has had trouble with that leg ever since he had surgery on his knee back in college. I wonder if he gets it re-evaluated, looking to alleviate whatever seems to be out of whack.

[Tony Oday]

If the girls lose Murray are they still one of the elite teams in the NFC? It sounds like he might end up in Philly with the Iggles.

When they lose oft injured Murray they will trade a 2nd and a 6th for AP.

[smuggler]

I think any decent RB can be successful behind the Dallas Oline. Maybe not 1900 yards successful, but they should still be dangerous. I take Dallas before Indy or Denver, really.

[Rastak]

But the Vikings still suck and their fans were praying AP was back this year to help improve on their dumpster fire of a team, he won't be. The Vikes also think Bridgewater is something special, he is not and never will be a top 10 QB, their elite TE is an injury waiting to happen and their #1 WR is a cast off, this team is 5 years away from relevance. The Bears are just flat out not good because their offensive line must be pissed at Cutler with how bad they are and the Lions lose their soul on Defense, we hate Donkey Kong but he was their grit and fire on that side of the ball. The Lions also have Baby Huey at QB who would be a terrible QB if not for Megatron and he is just getting older and I do not see him turning into Galvatron anytime soon.

I have a counterpoint:

Jane you ignorant slut.

Nice rant though.....I'd worry if you knew your ass from a hole in the ground. You're facts are consistently fucked up and you're conclusions similar to that of a five year old almost every time I read them. Never well thought out or accurate.

There, what an intelligent exchange of ideas.

[denverYooper]

I might be alone, but I did not walk away from the Seattle playoff game muttering about how the Seahawks are still the better team. I walked away mad the better team didn't win after stomping them on their home turf.

This.

Plus the Seahawks have to fix their OL and/or figure out when to pay Wilson. What is it? Some kind of test for him? Here, we'll give away the best player on your OL and make you really sing for your supper!

People are all awestruck by the trade for Jimmy Graham but it seems like they might have some fundamental structural issues to deal with on offense and a potential chemistry problem on their hands. But then maybe that's how they roll, de-stabilize to re-stabilize... I don't know, but like Public Enemy said, "Can't truss it".

[Tony Oday]

I have a counterpoint:

Jane you ignorant slut.

Nice rant though.....I'd worry if you knew your ass from a hole in the ground. You're facts are consistently fucked up and you're conclusions similar to that of a five year old almost every time I read them. Never well thought out or accurate.

There, what an intelligent exchange of ideas.

lol I like it

Ras the Vikings have an inept offense and you know it. Listening to PA every day leads me to believe that the Vikings think a guy that threw 14 TDs is the next Fran Tarkington is a bit of a stretch.

Now if the Vikes can fix their secondary they have a chance of being a decent 9-7 team if Asiata can be a good back and Teddy reduces his Td to Int ratio from 7:6 to more of a 3:1 ratio. Otherwise it makes the defense have to work way to hard.

[esoxx]

It wouldn't surprise me if you got punched in the face before the game even started.

Ha! Not even.

My Blood Fever resides with the choking dogs that was the Packers the last five minutes of that game. I have nothing against Seahawk fans, nor any fans for that matter.

The exorcism of the Blood Fever will occur only when the Packers curb stomp the 'hawks on the field. Much like the game I witnessed in '97 against Dallas. It was a cleansing.

[mraynrand]

Much like the game I witnessed in '97 against Dallas. It was a cleansing.

Ahhhh...sweet memories!

[Fritz]

Except the Packers. Vikes will lose AP and still don't have a decent WR, the Lions lost Donkey Kong and the Bears lose Marshall. I'm not saying that these aren't good long term moves but they all but assure a division Championship again in the short term

For the Lions, I think it's more than just that move. Here's a quote summing up the situation from today's Detroit Free Press:

"[The Lions] have in the neighborhood of $7 million in salary-cap money left, unless Calvin Johnson or Matthew Stafford restructures his contract.

That is not a lot of money, obviously, because you still have several positions of need: offensive line, cornerback and defensive tackle.

So, are you looking for second-tier guys? And I don't want to bring up a sore topic, but your upcoming draft won't have much depth because you gave up two picks to get Ngata."

$7 mill left, and that has to cover the cost of your draft, which is estimated at about four or five million. And as the article mentions, you just traded away two of your mid-round picks.

Suh's still on the books for the Lions this year, to the tune of, I think, 6.5 mill. Ngata's costing 8.5 mill this year. Johnson's deal is gigantic yet he's on the downside of his career. Stafford's already signed his mega contract and so it would be very expensive down the road if you restructure him to clear more space for this year.

Their best player just walked away.

They're fucked, in my humble opinion.

For all our complaining about the Packers' 2011 draft, the Lions have nobody left from either their 2010 OR 2011 draft classes. No. body.