Another Great Blog

I know that on this site we often criticize main stream sports media sighting its elementary nature and pop culture focus, but trust me when we are not so arrogant to believe we have all the best information or that no one else is capable of good analysis. In fact, quite the contrary. There are some really great sights and information out there for True Football Fans.

I know some of you might be wondering, where is it we turn for our information, so as much as I like to bash on other National Football League blogs, sites and analysts, I do still believe that there are a lot of good ones out there. In fact, there are some that we strive to reach the high standards they have set.

One in particular is the Sports Gab Network (www.sportsgabnetwork.com). I thought I would take a moment and promote and congratulate this blog on its excellence. This site is a comprehensive blog dedicated to in depth analysis and new for each team, and the league itself.
This site provides recent information as well as archived data on each team. It addresses everything from rosters, to free agency, to draft analysis, to anything you could imagine would impact your team or the league.

The Sports Gab Network maintains a high level of accuracy, relevance, timeliness and credibility. Their articles are insightful and accurate. The analysis is deep and broad in scope. Their writes are both intelligent and dedicated fans obvious by their writing.

Here at True Football Fans, we would suggest this to all our readers or those of you who just love football.

When You Want the Best Insight

For me, as a True Football Fan, I am always looking for new and objective football information and news. With a plethora of National Football League web sites out there, it is often hard to find reliably good and objective insight and data. So where should you go. For that, I would suggest that you ask yourself a few questions:

What kind of information am I looking for?

Real news and information that impacts my team and league, or gossip about Tom Brady?
What do I want to learn?

Knowledge about important issues facing the NFL and the intricacies or the game, or just how many yards AP had last week.

Who am I getting this information from?

Dedicated fans with a lot of experience, or analysis getting paid to cater to the masses.

You see, there are two types of fans, those who watch their team on Sunday’s (and sometimes Monday’s) during the season. These fans can probably tell you who their quarterback, running back, and maybe even who their coach is. They have no idea if there team runs a 3-4 or a 4-3 or the difference in the two. There not sure who their team got in free agency. They don’t watch when their team is not going to the playoffs. And they have no idea about the rest of the league.

Then there are the True Football Fans. There is no off season for us. It is 24/7/365! We want to know it all. How it works. Who is running it. How it is being done, and much more. We want the latest, most insightful, meaningful, relevant, and encompassing news and information we can get. And for that, there are a few good sights. One of them is For True Football Fans (fortruefootballfans.webs.com). If you are one of these fans, come check them out.

Thank You Seattle!

Let me start by saying that I don’t think there is a single (maybe dozen) moves the Seattle Sea Hawks can make to have an impact on their season. Well, save trading for Peyton Manning. That is about as likely as Terrell Owens going back to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, their trade for the San Diego Chargers quarterback Charlie Whitehurst does have an impact on other teams. In fact, potentially a huge impact. Congratulations Seattle, you have become relevant again… For a minute. Ok, so what do you care about a never has been quarterback?... Two things.

First, The Sea Hawks did give up a third round pick for the guy. They did give him a two year 8 million dollar deal. And oh yeah, they did get a new coach, Pete Carol. Fine a third round pick isn’t huge, but it isn’t chump change. Any good team will tell you how important draft picks are. Second, 4 mill a year isn’t a ton, but it isn’t chump change unless he is the “potential” future. And third, Pete Carol may have not had much success in the NFL in the past, but they guy is SMART. This wasn’t just some random deal they paid too much for.

Second, the mock drafts all just go rewritten! Look there are a lot of teams that are looking for a quarterback this year. It just so happens that there are four or five pretty good ones in this draft. We all assumed that Seattle was going there. Not anymore. Not for the price they paid. Now that means that Bradford or Clausen could keep falling down the board. That means two things, if St. Louis and Washington don’t take quarterback (and with the DT, DE and OL this is possible), these guys could start a trade war!

It’s going to be interesting. Thank you Seattle!

Um...Go Brown's!?!

So I realize that there is much more about the National Football league that I don’t understand, than I do. There are aspects about the NFL that I don’t even know how much I don’t know; talent evaluation, leading, media, play calling, scheming, managing, coaching, drafting, motivating, contracting, fitness, and the list goes on…

However, I also know that there is a lot I don’t know about…Um space. But there are some things you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand. Like the sun makes the planet warm. Sure it would be nice to understand the difference between fusion and fission, and what the spots and flares actually are, but you have no problems intuitively understanding that the sun produces heat that warms the planet detrimental to life’s continuation.

Similarly, I know without a doubt that it takes a good, even great, quarterback for sustained success in this league. It takes that player with something special, and they don’t come along often. Some time you have to find a diamond in the rough (Tom Brady), and sometimes it just takes time (Aaron Rogers). So could someone please tell me what I don’t get about the National Football League? I mean it, someone please respond and tell me how wrong I am. How is it that I can’t look back for a single season without seeing an NFL owners, General Managers or Coaches making some RIDICULOUS quarterback decisions!!! Like, I don’t know, say Denver trading that Jay Cutler loser??? Or how about Oakland’s genius idea to draft that 60 million dollar dude from LSU that is lazy, fat and pretty stupid.

I know that is a little harsh, but im not taking about questionable decision like the Drew Brees to New Orleans trade in 2006. There were good arguments on both sides, and we are not all going to agree on everything. I am taking about STUPID decisions. What am I not getting here?...I was hoping for a moment this might be the year to shut me up. I was wrong thanks to the Browns!

How do you let a second year first round pick (that you traded up to get) go?... And for almost nothing!

First off, Brady Quinn never got a chance to prove himself. If you weren’t going to give him a change, why did you draft him?

Second, apparently no one in Cleveland remembers the first couple seasons of a guy names Brees and a dude name Manning.

Third, Quinn is one of the most fundamentally sound quarterbacks I have ever seen in a draft class, GIVE IT SOME TIME!

Fourth, I am not sure the offspring of Joe Montana and Tom Brady could do anything on a team that bad.

And lastly, why give him up for nothing? It’s not like he was making that much money? I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are too many good Cleveland Brown’s quarterbacks to count right now…WAIT, NO THERE ISNT.

Guess there is just something I don’t understand here.

By: Matthew Walden

Free Agent Wrap Up

Free agency is a time of year for teams and fans to get excited. It is a chance for your team to go out and pick up that missing piece that may put you over the top (Like Bret Favre to the Minnesota Vikings last year). Or maybe a chance to get that once in a life time player to build your franchise around (Like Drew Brees to the New Orleans Saints in 2006). Maybe you even want to go beyond that. Maybe you are a True Football Fans, and want to know how other teams around the league are going to affect things next year and for years to come. Maybe you are a 365 day a year fan that wants to know it all. With so many moves happening right now in free agency, it is hard to keep track of them all. It is hard to find the time to keep up with all the news. So we here at TrueFootballFans.com have went ahead a put the list together for you of all the important moves so far and what we think of them

Chicago Bears – Julius Peppers (Way over paid!!! Awful Move)
Chester Taylor (Cheap insurance, Smart Move)

Jacksonville Jaguars – Aaron Kampman (Depleted line needed the help, Great Move)

Miami Dolphins – Karlos Dansby (This has the Big Tuna written all over it and he knows you need two sides of the ball to be a champion so who am I to judge, Awesome Move)

New York Jets - Antonio Cromartie (3rd round pick? Well worth the role of the dice on his injuries, Great Move)

Baltimore Ravens – Anquan Boldin (He is injured a lot but you didn’t give up much for the only piece you are missing, the only question is he worth the 10 mil a year he is going to want, Good Move)

Atlanta Falcons - Dunta Robinson (Heck yeah I’ll take the guy, but he better be gold plated for that kind of money especially since he only plays two out of three game, Bad Move)

Kansas City Chiefs – Thomas Jones (Wait…2.5 mil…Ill take two, Awesome Move)

Detroit Lions – Lots of Defensive Players (At least some one has finally seen the light in Detroit, cant will if you need 63 points a game to do so, Awesome Moves)

New York Giants - Antrel Rolle (He isn’t cheap, but who is going to even attempt to through the ball against you now, Great Move)

Denver Broncos – Jamal Williams (Fine, I understand the enticement, but the guy hasn’t show up for years now, OK Move)

Cincinnati Bengals – Antonio Bryant (Expensive, poor work ethic, mediocre talent, troublesome and a big enough price tag when you are trying to get TO? Horrible Move)

2010 Free Agent- Defensive Linemen

The 2010 NFL free agent Defensive line class pretty deep, the only issue is that I don’t think many of them are actually going to be available. Good defensive linemen, especially pass rushers and nose tackles are just too hard to come by to let one go, but here are the candidates anyway.

Elvis Dumervil (Denver Broncos) Here is the big prize in this year’s class. This guy has been getting better and better each year he has been in the league, including leading the league in sacks last year. This guy was a key to the Broncos defensive turn around last year, and they would be out of their mind to let this guy go. Most experts believe the Broncos will spend the money to retain this guy, but they may be wrong. The Broncos only slapped a mid level tag on Dumervil and that is going to prompt a lot of teams to make offers. This was either a huge mistake by the Broncos or an attempt to get compensation for the guy, which would also be a big mistake. A good pass rush is essential in todays passing league and guys like this just don’t come along often enough.

Julius Peppers (Carolina Panthers) This maybe one of the most talked about free agents this year, but not in a positive light for Peppers. Everyone has realized that he just isn’t consistent, versatile or young enough to be considered elite anymore. He had the contact on the table from the Panthers last year and turned it down. Peppers has cost himself millions. Don’t get me wrong, they guy is still good, but not elite. His 10ish sacks and ok at best run defense is worth about 5 mill a year, not the 10 he is looking for. If your team ends up with this guy, don’t be excited, you probably over paid!

Aaron Kampman (Green Bay Packers) In my opinion Kampman is one of the most underrated 4-3 defensive ends in the league. The only problems is Green Bay moved him to 3-4 outside linebacker??? I know that Green Bay wanted to make the move to 3-4 and with their personnel, a passing league, and the price tag of good defensive linemen, I don’t blame them. However, they don’t have much of a need or reason to keep Kampman around. This guy should be a steal for a team looking to compliment a pass rusher. I could see Kampman ending up somewhere like St. Louis or Washington.

Adewale Ogunleye (Chicago Bears) Ogunleye still wants to start, but I am not sure there are many teams that are going to give him that chance. They guy is still a great situational pass rushers, but no longer a 3 down player. This is going to depend on how much money he is looking for. If he doesn’t want much, the Bears will retain him. If he wants a lot, look for a team like Pittsburg, who could use that situational pass rusher, to take a look at him.

Ray Edwards (Minnesota Vikings) This guy is being hyped after a good season. Maybe no one noticed, but he is playing on the same line as Pat and Kevin Williams and Jarred Allen? My grandma could make the Pro Bowl playing next to those guys. With the age of Pat and Kevin, I look for Minnesota to try and get a contract worked out, But make no mistake, if that doesn’t happen someone will over pay this guy and be disappointed.

Cromarti?... Nice Try!

So I admit I am a bit emotionally disturbed. To fast a start for you huh? All right, I will ease into this a little slower then.

Antonio Cromartie, who is an absolutely brilliant cornerback was placed on the trading block by Chargers GM A.J. Smith. My first reaction was OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD! (SQUEEEEEEEEEEEAL) ALL HE WANTS IS A FIRST ROUND PICK!! But before you petition your favorite franchise to sell their soul for a shutdown corner via blockbuster trade lets consider the source.

A. J. Smith is a Gm who has a pretty solid track record, not to say that he has been perfect, but I would argue he rivals the best personel guys in the league. My proof? He drafted Eli Manning, then traded him for what would end up being Phillip Rivers, Shawne Merriman and Nate Keading, all of which have made Pro-Bowl appearences. He kicked Marty Shottenhiemer out the door (hey, I like the guy to, but lets be objective for once) to bring in Norv Turner who has not had a great deal more success but certainly has not had any less. He drafted Cromartie in spite of Cromartie having not played football the previous year due to injury. Then Cromartie turned around and had a pro-bowl season in 2007.

A.J. Smith knows how to stock a franchise with the best talent available, to me that says that there must be a serious long term health issue with Cromartie. I doubt it is the knee that needed reconstructed after his college career, rather it is probably the hip he broke in 2008 that has never fully healed. In my mind if A.J. Smith is willing to part with Cromartie, he is off my list of trade worthy players, at least at the price that A.J. is asking and someone will inevitably pay.