Which player would I build and NFL team around?

The other day I came across an article on ESPN.com talking about starting a new NFL franchise and which player to build around. Now the writer went into detail about which owner he would want, which General Manager, and even head coach before picking his player. I'm however skipping right to picking which player I would build an NFL team with.

First off, I know the saying "defense wins championships" holds a lot of truth to it, but I will not be choosing an a defensive player to start my team with. First off, currently there is no defensive player in the NFL that can dominate on a daily basis, they have their weak spots. Second off it is an offensive and pass happy league, therefore not only will I not be choosing a defensive player but I also won't choose a receiver, tight end, offensive lineman, or running back. I don't care how good Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson are, if they don't have a good QB, their stats won't lead their teams to wins. Same thing with a running back. If your team leads the league in rushing yards but you QB can't convert on a 3rd and long play to extend your drive then you also won't be getting many W's. That leaves us with the quarterback position.

In order to have success in the NFL, your team must have solid play from its QB. Now I'm going name my top quarterbacks currently in the league and explain why I would start a team with them or why I wouldn't take the chance.

Lets start with Michael Vick. Vick is possibly the most versatile and athletic player in the NFL today. He is a home run waiting to happen. One play he is throwing a 60 yard bomb for a TD, and the next he is ripping off a 45 yard run and converting a 3rd and long. This guy is dynamic in so many ways, but I would not start my NFL team with Vick. Here is why. Vick comes with a beware sticker on him. Because he is a running quarterback, you risk him getting injured meaning he can miss a few games each year or possibly be out for a season. I love his upside, but I wouldn't take the chance.

Next is Tom Brady, who is arguably the best player in the NFL today. The guy has three super bowl rings and rarely makes a mistake on the field. He is a natural leader on the field, and his teammates respect him and build around him. Again a good player to start your team with but Brady is getting older and he has been injured a few times of late. He is a solid QB to start a team with but he isn't my number one choice.

This is where it gets a little tricky for me. My heart tells me to pick THE Peyton Manning. The guy picks a part defenses as if he were playing against a bunch of high school zone packages. He is without a doubt one of the best QB's to ever play the game and could go down as the best ever if he wins another title or two. Manning is a proven winner and he has done with a sub par running game and defense during his career. Like Brady, Manning is a great leader on and off the field and one of the most respected players in the league today. But again Manning isn't my choice. I don't have a legit reason as to why I wouldn't choose Manning. The only reason I can think of is because the next QB I'm going to talk about is on the rise and has the potential to be great.

That leads me to my decision. Wow, I feel like Lebron James and how he dragged everyone along this bumpy road before announcing his decision to "take his talents south beach (Miami)". The player I would choose is Aaron Rodgers, the QB for the super bowl champion Green Bay Packers. The guy has it all. He is smart, can make any throw on the field, and has the ability to to take off and scramble for big yards. Not to mention he just added a super bowl ring to his resume, and has the coolest TD celebration in the league (the championship belt). Rodgers is young and dynamic, and has all the skills sets of the previous guys I mentioned. I am someone who loves to win and I want to win right away. That is why I didn't take choose Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams. Rodgers gives me everything I want. A young agile QB, who knows how to win in this league and still has a long successful career ahead of him. Not to mention he helped my fantasy football team reach the semis last season. The guy can flat out play the position and knows how to lead a team. In the face of adversity, he rises to the occasion and plays out of his mind.

So, when having a friendly conversation with your buds about who the best player in the NFl is, you don't have say "Aaron Rodgers", but you can say, "boy I would love to start an NFL team with him leading the way".

College Football Preview and the Fighting Irish

When fans and the media believed the NFL players and owners couldn't settle their differences, the fact was that the focus would have to turn to College Football. Now with the NFL back and ready, College football seems to have lost some attention. Today the coaches poll came out with their rankings for the 2011 College football season. The #1 spot was given to the Oklahoma Sooners who know what it's like to be the #1 team in the nation. The Sooners are presented with the challenge of playing Florida State in their second game of the season, a team that was given the #5 ranking in the coaches poll. Other notable tough games for Oklahoma are Oklahoma State and Texas A&M who are also in the AP top 10. Rounding out the top five is Alabama, who won the Championship two years ago, the Oregon ducks who lost in the national title game last season, along with LSU and Florida at #5. Teams like TCU, Auburn, and Wisconsin are also ranked in the top 20 along with the return of Notre Dame, who last season wasn't ranked in the preseason AP Poll. Again just like I mentioned in my NFL post, there lies a lot of questions surrounding the 2011 College season. Will the Big Ten finally earn respect by adding powerhouse Nebraska to their conference? Can Stanford continue their hot streak even with coach Jim Harbough leaving for the NFL? Can the SEC produce yet another BCS Championship winner and Heisman Trophy winner? And finally can coach Brian Kelly return Notre Dame to glory and college football powerhouse? For me this is a big question. For those of you who know me, I am a die hard Irish fan and have been my entire life. The Kelly era to me brings great hope that the Irish are well on their way to being a BCS contender. Led by senior wide receiver Michael Floyd, the Irish are poised to make a run at a big time bowl game. The city of South Bend believes again and Kelly has his players believing its time to win now. When a new head coach is hired, most of the time it is a sign of rebuilding. For Notre Dame and second year coach Kelly, its the exact opposite. Once Kelly arrived in South Bend, he said he wasn't going to install a five year plan, but rather a five minute plan. The time is now and look for the Irish to make huge strides during the 2011 college season.

Fans votes should weigh less

This past week, the NBA introduced the Western and Eastern Conference All-Star starting lineups, but what stole the show was the surprise of Allen Iverson being a starting guard representing the eastern conference. Iverson began the season playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and after not starting and only playing in three games, Iverson made the decision to retire. Just a few weeks later, Iverson would sign a contract with the Sixers. This seemed to be a good fit considering the circumstances, but since he reunited with his original team, he hasn't made a big impact. He is averaging currently less than 15 points per game and the Sixers have a eye popping record of 15 wins and 28 losses. So ask yourself, does Iverson deserve to start in the All-Star game let alone be an All-Star period? The answer in my opinion is no way! How does a man who is having no impact on his team and having his worst statistical season become a starter in the All-Star game? No one and I repeat, no one could make me believe that Iverson deserves that honor. I thought this was the 2010 All-Star game, a game to display those players who have blossomed or dominated this season. Iverson isn't the dominate scorer that he used to be, so why not start someone who deserves the spot. Rajon Rondo, the point guard of the Boston Celtics is having his best season yet in his young career. Averaging almost a double double a game with 14.1 points per game and 9.6 assists per game, he statistically is the best point guard in the Eastern Conference, not to mention he plays on a team who currently has one of the best records in the entire NBA. Why not reward Rondo? This is exactly why the fans shouldn't be the reason someone starts in the All-Star game. Fans should still be able to vote, but their vote needs to count for less. Yes, fans want to see their favorite players in the game, I understand that, but an All-Star team should also be made up of all star players and Iverson is not an All-Star, plain and simple.

Favre returns to a familiar place...+ my predictions

Its January 1996, and Brett Favre and the Packers have just defeated the Patriots and won the Super Bowl.  Now where exactly was that game played?  The answer is the Super Dome in New Orleans.  Favre returns to the Super Dome, for what could possibly be his last NFL game, or he could be given a chance at history as being the oldest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl.  As I look at this game, I just don't see a game between the Saints and Vikings.  I see a legend, a legend trying to leave a lasting impression on this league which he has been apart of for 19 seasons.  I also see a team that represents more than the name on their jersey.  The Saints have been a symbol of hope for the city of New Orleans since Katrina hit. When the Purple and Gold play the Black and Gold, keep in mind the the magnitude and importance of this game but also the fact that the winner heads to Miami for a chance to win the Lombardi trophy.

Now here are my predictions for the AFC and NFC Championship games.

I see the Colts putting a stop to the scrappy and persistent Jets.  Peyton Manny is just too good.  He will be prepared for whatever they throw at him, and so will his offensive line.  They will buy him the protection he needs to get the job done.  And enough talk about Revis and how good the Jets defense is.  Did any one else see the Colts hold the Ravens to 3 points in their divisional playoff game? Their defense is peaking at the right time, just as they did a few years ago when they won the Super Bowl.  Rex Ryan and his Jets had a good run, but thats all it is in my mind.  They caught San Diego on a bad day and who cares if they are playing with a chip on their shoulder.  I will take the best quarterback in the league, along with a lot of talent to go along with him, over a team with a bunch of swagger.   

Now, the NFC game is a little tougher but I see an upset in store as the Vikings go into New Orleans and take down Drew Brees and the high powered Saints.  After both the Vikings and Saints destroyed their opponents last weekend, one could say this game is a toss up.  But what the Vikings have that the Saints don't, is running back looking to get out of a slump.  The last eight games the Vikings have played, Adrian Peterson hasn't gone over a 100 rushing yards, but I say that dry spell ends on Sunday.  The Saints will be focused on a hot Brett Favre which will make them a little more relaxed with the run.  It will be Peterson, not Favre, who is the secret for Minnesota to have success.  Their defense in my mind is the best in the league, and will slow the Saints offense down enough to give the Vikings a chance at a Championship, and the Who Dat Nation crying.