2. St. Louis Rams (11-2) -- I don't think that there is any question that if my good buddy Dick Vermeil was still coaching in StL, the Rams would be two-time defending champions and quite possibly chasing a perfect season. Martz is just too egotistical. Here's hoping he blows it.
3. Oakland Raiders (10-3) -- Who thought Jerry Rice could still play? Not I. Leave it to Gruden to get the most out of aging veterans. Gannon is the NFL's MVP this season.
4. San Francisco 49ers (10-3) -- The St Louis game two weeks ago was an abberation--this team can play with anyone. The defense, which has two shutouts in its last three games, is among the best in the NFC, and to think last year the D had 8 rookie starters. If they can grab Oklahoma S Roy Williams in the coming draft, this will be a top unit for years to come.
5. Green Bay Packers (9-4) -- Anytime QB Brett Favre is healthy, the Pack are legit Super Bowl contenders...and once LB Nate Wayne gets back, the defense will be fine. It will be either Green Bay or SF against StL in the NFC Title game.
6. Chicago Bears (10-3) -- Sure, the D is great, but that offense...ugh. QB Jim Miller cannot and will not ever take any team to a Super Bowl. They have a shot to be in the NFC Title game, however, with a solid ground attack and if WR David Terrell can catch the freaking ball (fantasy frustration there)...
7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) -- Huge game at San Francisco on Saturday...if they can top the 49ers (unlike other top-flight challenges like StL and Oakland earlier this season) the Eagles will vault into NFC contention. Gotta love LB Jeremiah Trotter (fantasy jubilation there)...
8. Baltimore Ravens (8-5) -- Unlike his musical legend counterpart, Elvis truly blows. Grbac is the biggest reason the Ravens have no chance to repeat...the lack of RB Jamal Lewis is obviously the other...
9. New Orleans Saints (7-6) -- They have only played 2 or 3 games all year well from start to finish. If they could be even just a little more consistent, they'd be near the top of this list. Kudos to Haslett for axing free agent uberbust Albert Connell.
10. Tampa Bay Buccanneers (7-6) -- Playoff elimination game vs. Saints at home this Sunday. If they lose, Dungy goes. If not, well, he's the new Wayne Fontes/Rasputin of the NFL; at least unless he still manages to miss the playoffs.
Most Overrated: Miami Dolphins (9-4) -- Absolutely blitzkrieged by both StL and SF this season. So much for that supposedly great defense.
Most Overrated II: New England Patriots (9-5) -- A barely above-average team, nothing more, nothing less.
Most Overrated III: Fox's Pregame Show -- What a joke these guys are, except maybe Howie Long. But then again, those Radio Shack commercials make me dislike him, too. ESPN is the only one who does it right.
August 20, 2001
2. Oakland A's--Incredible pitching. Tim Hudson should be getting much more consideration for the AL Cy Young than he is and the Jermaine Dye acquisition looks better and better every day. They better win this year, because there will be no Ja.Giambi next season.
3. Cleveland Indians--Best 1-9 lineup in baseball. If their starters can maintain a 5.00 ERA for the rest of the year, the bats will take care of the rest.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks--Lack of star power outside the Unit, Schilling, and Gonzo doesn't matter. The scariest thing is that Albie Lopez is starting to pitch well, going 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in his last 3 starts.
5. Houston Astros--Reynolds goes on the DL, and the team's ability to replace him for the next two weeks will be key. StL is right on their tail, and those laughable Cubs are still hanging around..
6. New York Yankees--Other than the comical Ted Lilly starts, the damn Yanks are still among the best teams in the league. Jeter is starting to hit and El Duque returns just in time to turn it on for October....
7. St. Louis Cardinals--StL is on fire, winning 11 in a row and not slowing down. If Mac could get the avg. above .200 and stop striking out every 3 ABs, they will be in the NLCS...but La Russa will probably keep them out of the World Series. Edmonds is getting hot...and Placido Polanco is one of the most underrated players in baseball.
8. Atlanta Braves--The offense continues to struggle. Then again, they've had quite a turnover in the lineup since Opening Day. Gone are Furcal, Veras, and Brogna, replaced by Sanchez, Giles, and Caminiti. Maddux, Glavine, and new closer (or at least should be) Smoltz will carry the team to their 11th straight division title. If Andruw Jones could hit .280 this year, there would not be a race in the NL East.
9. Boston Red Sox--Once Pedro comes back, they should be able to challenge for the Wild Card and the AL East. The signing of Quilvio Veras will help the bench, but as long as Rod Beck and Derek Lowe come into games, the opponents are always in it.
10. San Francisco Giants--Probably did the best at the deadline, as Schmidt's start Sunday night vs. Atl showed (not to mention a Vander Wal PH HR). Galaragga has been the MVP since his acquisition, and Kent is starting to come around. Felix Rodriguez and Robb Nen make for the best 1-2 punch in NL bullpens. Oh yeah, some stuck up egomaniac LF is playing pretty well.
Jan. 12, 2000
1. Oklahoma (13-0) -- Proved me and millions of others wrong by dismantling the Seminoles' offense in 13-2 whipping, but Miami would surely have provided a better challenge. 2001 Outlook: 9-3. This team loses its two leaders on both sides of the ball: QB Heupel and LB T.Marshall, it won't be able to overcome that and also perhaps the loss of Coach Stoops to the Browns. No Stoops: 7-5
2. Miami (FL) (11-1) -- The Canes could have played better against Florida and they still won easily. Presumptuous title celebration will sting throughout offseason, so expect a determined and focused squad. 2001 Outlook: 11-1/10-2.
Tough schedule with games in Blacksburg and Tallahassee will cost Canes after loss of playmakers WRs Moss & Wayne, RB Jackson, and DT D.Lewis.
3. Washington (11-1) -- Neuheisel has much to be proud of, and if it weren't for the Quack Attack and Outzen Stadium, the Huskies could have easily won the National Title. 2001 Outlook: 10-2/9-3. Loss of QB Tuiasosoppo will be too much to bear for any hopes of a national title run, and a guaranteed loss in Corvallis is on the schedule.
4. Oregon St. (11-1) -- Absolutely blasted the Irish, 41-9. Erickson is an NCAA miracle worker, no questions asked. The Beavers have incredible team speed and almost everyone coming back. 2001 Outlook: 12-0/11-1, National Title(?). If Erickson wins it all next year, he should be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend the day after the title game. Biggest hurdle: Playing in Eugene at Outzen Stadium in the Civil War.
5. Nebraska (10-2) -- Performance in Alamo vs. Northwestern is what us Husker fans expected ALL year long, and we didn't get it. Next year is Solich's judgment day, so to speak. 2001 Outlook: 12-1/11-2/10-3. With QB Crouch back and surgically repaired (again), the Huskers could go all the way, and with all the big games (OU, K-State, and Notre Dame) being played in Lincoln, prospects are bright...but aren't they always. If Huskers can fill some holes in the D and get a playmaking FL/SE to replace Newcombe and Davison, they can do it. If they make it to the title game in Pasedena, they won't lose...it's getting there that will be the hardest part. A defeat at the hands of Texas in the Big XII Title game is a possibility for a season-ruiner.
6. Oregon (10-2) -- Quack Attack was at its best since the 94 Rose Bowl appearance, and they have the weapons (and the home crowd) to compete for a National Title in 2001. QB Harrington will have to put up Heisman-like numbers for them to have a shot... 2001 Outlook: 11-1/10-2. Civil War vs. Beavers will become one of the top 5 games of EVERY college season for the next few years at least.
7. Florida St. (11-2) -- The hated Seminoles folded like an accordion on offense when Oklahoma showed resiliency early in the first half by turning them away after a fumble. Bowden will have to do some coaching to get the Seminoles to the title game for the fourth year in a row...and add a game after Florida to keep his team ready for the bowl game, in which they are 1-2 in the last three after winning 9 in a row. 2001 Outlook: 10-1/9-2. Too much talent to lose more than twice, but the visit to the Swamp is almost a guaranteed loss with no veteran QB or even an on the field leader.
8. Kansas St. (10-3) -- QB Beasley stepped up in the Cotton Bowl...well, actually Tennessee chose not to show up, so it's still hard to tell. It was good to see the Big XII lay a whooping to an SEC team. 2001 Outlook: 10-2/9-3/8-4. Really up in the air as to how this team will perform without Beasley and WR Morgan, as well as a few standouts on defense.
9. Virginia Tech (11-1) -- QB Vick's exit could signal a return to perennial 15-25 final rankings instead of title games and New Year's Day bowls. Beamer surely regrets not leaving for UNC and Alabama. 2001 Outlook: 10-2/9-3. RB Lee Suggs will have to carry this team, and he'll do a fine job, but he can't carry them all the way to a BCS game.
10. Texas (9-3) -- This is the year that Mack Brown has to win, and win it all. The talent on this team is virtually unmatched man-for-man. 2001 Outlook: 13-0/12-1/11-2. National Title(?). The only big hurdles are the visit to College Station and the 12th Man along with Nebraska or Kansas St. in the Big XII Title game, if Texas can survive that, it will be an Oregon St. vs. Texas Rose Bowl for the National Title.