shoulda known that was coming

i understand.. every little victory helps when you don't have these.

The 9ers are in the NFC West....but I guess your point still stands WRT to West...don't know if you were trying to show me up though when you don't know conferences.

im sure he meant nfc

Technically it was true, but I did mean NFC.

Hard to win DPOY as 3rd best player on the defense imo. Steelers defense is ridic

I am rofling at how people are giving the rams 0% shot of winning their division in a 16 game season in a heavy-injury sport, forgetting the atlanta was on the 2-3 team shortlist as worst team in the nfl last preseason. Variance happens, team strengths radically change, etc.

And if you believe FO, 10-1 division still gives you a bit of an edge. FO wants to fade AZ a ton and SF a little bit.

Woodley for DPOY seems a bit much, am I underrating him?

He's really good and could win it but James Harrison and Troy Polumalu are quite a bit better right now. But like I said it's sick the Steelers have 3 of say the top 20 defensive players in the league.

Aaron Smith, Farrior, and Hampton aren't that far behind either. Sick D.

To be fair, they are getting older as well. Hampton is probably slightly passed his prime, although I'm not sure that matters for a run-stuffing, block-eating nose tackle. Smith is also up there as well. But the LB's, which make that D run, are either in their prime or getting ready to enter their prime. (Farrior is older, but I think you can get away with that from an interior backer. Plus, it seems like he relies on his football smarts more than athleticism anyway) I'm hoping that Ziggy Hood becomes a vital cog in the d-line rotation soon.

Casey Hampton is actually not that good. If I had to rank the Steelers' starters on defense he would be at the bottom of my list but yeah Farrior and Aaron Smith are two guys that deserved pro bowl nods last year.

Woodley and Timmons are both entering their 3rd year. Farrior probably only has about 2 more seasons left but Harrison doesn't have the wear and tear of a typical 6th year player. I think Woodley, Timmons, Harrison will be here for at least the next 6-7 years so I don't think there should be any worry regarding the LB corps.

hampton is starting to get up there in age, no doubt the reason why they took hood. hes still prob got a year or 2 of being able to take on double teams though

harrison is 31, at least another 6-7 years sounds pretty excessive

the rams are obviously not 0% to win the division. but its tough to think that they'll be able to do much with no OL, no receivers, and pretty much no defense. spags will make the defense better im sure but the giants had a wealth of front 7 guys for him to play with, so im pretty skeptical as to whether theyd get out of the bottom 10 there.

Harrison will fall of a cliff at around 34 methinks.

Hood isn't going to play nose in the 3-4, which the Steelers run. He will play DE.

As I said before, Harrison doesn't have the wear and tear of a typical 6 year player. He also did just sign a 6 year deal with the Steelers in April so I think he will be around for those 6 years and finish his career in Pittsburgh barring injury.

Why?

Sweet Harrison segue - Is Marvin Harrison officially done? Some team has to have a need for him as a 3rd or 4th WR.

so you dont think he will eventually take over that role once they let go of hampton? i dont know, i just assumed this was the case

he may not have that wear and tear, but hes also incredibly undersized for the OLB position (only 6'0 242). since hes 31 already, i was really surprised at the the length of that deal, i thought it was terrible. there arent many rush OLB's at all who keep producing past the age of 34, and the few who did were in clear declines. however we dont know the details of that contract, it could easily end up being only 4-5 years

Contracts are non-guaranteed in the NFL.......hardly anyone makes it to the end of their contract, thinking they will is being nieve. Normally contracts are backloaded, that it's almost required for the team to waive the player or restructure the deal no matter how good he is.

ya the question is how long the deal "really is." ideally i would hope its no more than 3

No, Hood was drafted to play DE in the 3-4.

Harrison isn't that small for a Steelers' OLB as far as a height/weight ratio. He is short but a very, very solid 242 if that is what he is listed at. Porter was 6'3" 250, Clark Haggans was 6'4" 240, Gildon was 6'4" 255 when they played OLB in this system. Like I said before, whether he plays the entire length of the contract is pretty dependent on how healthy he stays but I would not be surprised if he stayed around for the entire 6 years (possibly having the last year or two restructured) and produced at an above average level.

Also Steelers are the best run organization in NFL history, or atleast during the SB era. They cut and remove their players normally when they should.

I agree. I guess my whole point was not that I think Harrison will play out the entire 6 year contract but just that he will be around in 6 years. My guess is he plays these next 4 years under this new deal and then is restructured.

My Season Predictions

MVP: Tom Brady
DPOY: Troy Polamalu
DROY: Aaron Curry
OROY: Knowshon Moreno

AFC East:
1. Patriots 11-5
2. Dolphins 8-8
3. Bills 7-9
4. Jets 5-11

AFC North:
1. Steelers 13-3
2. Ravens 11-5
3. Bengals 7-9
4. Browns 5-11

AFC South:
1. Titans 11-5
2. Colts 10-6
3. Texans 9-7
4. Jaguars 5-11

AFC West:
1. Chargers 11-5
2. Chiefs 6-10
3. Broncos 6-10
4. Raiders 4-12

NFC East:
1. Giants 11-5
2. Eagles 10-6
3. Cowboys 9-7
4. Redskins 7-9

NFC North:
1. Packers 11-5
2. Bears 10-6
3. Vikings 7-9
4. Lions 2-14

NFC South:
1. Panthers 10-6
2. Saints 9-7
3. Falcons 8-8
4. Bucs 5-11

NFC West:
1. Cardinals 9-7
2. Seahawks 8-8
3. 49ers 7-9
4. Rams 6-10

AFC Wild Card round:
(3)Chargers over (5)Ravens
(4)Titans over (6)Colts

NFC Wild Card round:
(3)Panthers over (5)Eagles
(6)Bears over (4)Cardinals

AFC Divisional round:
(1)Steelers over (4)Titans
(2) Patriots over (3) Chargers

NFC Divisional Round:
(1) Packers over (6) Bears
(3) Panthers over (2) Giants

AFC Title Game:
(1) Steelers over (2) Patriots

NFC Title Game:
(3) Panthers over (1) Packers

Super Bowl:
Steelers 23 Panthers 13

Panthers still have Delhomme right?