Players to Watch Next Year - NFL Wide

[Partial]

Who is poised to make a huge jump in performance this upcoming year? I will start things off with a Packer

Nick Collins - Safety, GB
Has everything you want from a perennial pro-bowl safety in a league that is continually shifting from toughness to speed and finess

Byron Leftwich - Quarterback, Jax
If he could only stay healthy, he'd be really great. He is one tough mofo. I've never seen a man stand in the pockets and take the hits like he does. I don't know if that is necessarily a good thing, but it is what it is. He will be a pro-bowler next year. Marcedes Lewis is underrated and will contribute as a rookie.

Derek Johnson - OLB, KC
Very, very good player at outside linebacker. Took a year to learn the system and the speed of the game. This year he will be a candidate for defensive player of the year. If only they had some good players around him.

Odell Thurman - MLB, CIN
Tough mofo but dumb as a box of rocks. He let his instincts for the game guide him last year. Now that he will have a great feel for how the system works, his game will go to the next level. He is this generations Ray Lewis. How this guy went to the second round in the world's biggest mystery (just ask Bretsky)

Phillip Rivers - QB, SD
San Diego has to know something we don't. You do not let a pro-bowl QB walk. Simple as that. This kid obviously has shown plenty in practice or Brees would still be the starter. I think he has a big year. I don't know why, I just think he does.

[Partial]

I am tempted to add Ahmad Carroll to the list. He will be 22 now and in his third year. I think he is going to realize the best way to make money in the league is longevity. The best way to do that is workout with the team and be a team player. I think he becomes one of the premier nickelbacks in the league next year, and is a starter by 2007-2008 at one of the two corner spots.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Good thread. Don't add Ahmad Carroll.

I'll add a couple of more:

CB Antrel Rolle
LB Thomas Davis
LB David Pollack
WR Braylon Edwards

FYI - It's Derrick Johnson.

[RashanGary]

I liked Carroll to make a big step as well but after his run in with the law I wonder if he's one of those guys who is not taking his oppertunity seriously.

He was horrible in his first year. He was a ton better last year but still below average IMO. I was thinking he could be an average starter in his 3rd year which would have been pretty impressive considering where he started. I don't know if that is going to happen anymore and Thompson has been quoted as looking for good ball skills in his DB's. That makes me think they're not too high on Carroll. *big surprise*

[Murphy37]

The whole Phillip Rivers, Drew Brees thing is puzzling to me also. I'm gonna take the opposite stance. I say this deal comes back to bite them in the rectum. The fans in San Diego must be pulling the hair outta their heads. Brees has been very good the last two years in a very tough AFC. He also seems to have a very solid attitude. What more do you want from a guy? Rivers must have shit that smells like roses and fresh baked chocholate chip cookies. If the SanDiego brass is right on this gamble, more power to em'. I'm leaning the other direction.

[Partial]

I don't think they would have done it unless they knew they would come out ahead. It is suicide for a team to take a risk like that. I mean look at how much the Randy Moss trade is criticized today. It will be like that if it doesn't work out. Dumb Dumb Dumb move either way. They should have kept him and traded him for something atleast!!

[oregonpackfan]

The whole Phillip Rivers, Drew Brees thing is puzzling to me also. I'm gonna take the opposite stance. I say this deal comes back to bite them in the rectum. The fans in San Diego must be pulling the hair outta their heads. Brees has been very good the last two years in a very tough AFC. He also seems to have a very solid attitude. What more do you want from a guy? Rivers must have shit that smells like roses and fresh baked chocholate chip cookies. If the SanDiego brass is right on this gamble, more power to em'. I'm leaning the other direction.

Murphy,

I have to agree with you about my surprise with the Chargers letting Brees to the Saints. I have been very impressed with Brees since he was with Purdue. He is a quality QB.

Oregonpackfan

[GoPackGo]

.::.

Good thread. Don't add Ahmad Carroll.

I'll add a couple of more:

CB Antrel Rolle
LB Thomas Davis
LB David Pollack
WR Braylon Edwards

FYI - It's Derrick Johnson.

I heard Antrell Rolle might be looking at more surgery

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: .::.

Good thread. Don't add Ahmad Carroll.

I'll add a couple of more:

CB Antrel Rolle
LB Thomas Davis
LB David Pollack
WR Braylon Edwards

FYI - It's Derrick Johnson.

I heard Antrell Rolle might be looking at more surgery

Routine artho surgery though. Players rebound in 2-3 weeks nowadays from that. I like the Cards this year, but they need Rolle in there.

[Guiness]

The Brees thing is weird, no two ways about it.

It reminds me of what the Bills did with Flutie and Johnson a few years back. Flutie was the starter, and playing not too badly, but apparently Johnson was tearing it up in practice.

They put Johnson in for the final (meaningless) game of the season, and he played very well. That was all the excuse the Bills coach (Wade Phillips, I think) needed. He started Johnson in the playoff game, and let Flutie go in the offseason!

Flutie at that point in his career was no Brees, but Johnson didn't exactly light 'em up after being handed the starting job.

At least the Bills had someone with a couple of starts under his belt when they released the incumbent starter. That's what makes NO's decision so much stupider - they let a Pro Bowler get away, and have a question mark left!

[Deputy Nutz]

I have to agree with Derrick Johnson, he is going to be awesome.

I think I will go with a reciever,

Larry Fitzgerald from Arizona, he already had a great rookie year, and with a healthy Kurt Warner(hee hee) or a NFL ready Leinart throwing him passes, he will have 95 catches for 1400 yards adn 12 touchdowns.


Look for a Lamont Jordan to have a big year in Oakland.

And also look for the the New York Manning to have a pro bowl year based on numbers and not his name.

[Tarlam!]

I hope you're wrong about Manning - I have this hate thing going for him since he was drafted and acted like a wuss.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Larry Fitzgerald from Arizona, he already had a great rookie year, and with a healthy Kurt Warner(hee hee) or a NFL ready Leinart throwing him passes, he will have 95 catches for 1400 yards adn 12 touchdowns.

Nutz, Fitzgerald's in his third year, and he had 102 catches for 1409 yards, and 10 TDs last year. This would have been a great prediction if it was made a year ago.

[Charles Woodson]

I hope you're wrong about Manning - I have this hate thing going for him since he was drafted and acted like a wuss.

I agree big time.


Also I am going to make a big prediction and say the Cardinals make the playoffs

[Chevelle2]

I am tempted to add Ahmad Carroll to the list. He will be 22 now and in his third year. I think he is going to realize the best way to make money in the league is longevity. The best way to do that is workout with the team and be a team player. I think he becomes one of the premier nickelbacks in the league next year, and is a starter by 2007-2008 at one of the two corner spots.