A free agent for the ages

Jacoby Jones outruns the world.

In the wake of the Baltimore Ravens' thrilling Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers, one name everyone's talking about (aside from Joe Flacco, Ray Lewis, and the Harbaughs) is Jacoby Jones. He made the two biggest plays of the game: an NFL-record-tying 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 56-yard, falling, scrambling touchdown reception. Where did such an electric player come from? How did the Ravens have him, and why had no one else jumped on such a gamechanger?

Jones started his career with the Houston Texans as a third-round draft pick in 2007. He didn't do much in his rookie season, playing in 14 games and totaling 149 receiving yards, 78 kickoff return yards, and 286 punt return yards. He never expanded his role beyond special teams and an infrequently used third receiver. His best season with the Texans came in 2009 when he totaled 437 receiving yards with six scores, 638 kickoff return yards with one score, and 426 punt return yards. After the 2011 season, Houston decided he was expendable, letting him go in free agency.

Everything changed when the Ravens picked Jones up. While his role didn't change nominally - he was still the #3 receiver and return man - his impact skyrocketed. His 406 receiving yards and 341 punt return yards were pretty normal, but his 1167 kick return yards blew the league away, with only Joshua Cribbs getting (eleven) more yards. Field position and special teams often get ignored in place of other "big plays," but they are an integral part of any team's success, and Baltimore owes a lot of its success to Jones's abilities.

This impact lasted through the playoffs, making the biggest splash in the biggest game. His 147 receiving yards were only fourth on his team in the playoffs, but he had the longest reception: 70 yards. He gained 362 yards returning kicks, including his amazing Super Bowl touchdown, and 110 on punt returns. For comparison, the 49ers only got 193 kick return yards out of LaMichael James and Ted Ginn Jr. combined, with 52 from Ginn on punts.

Amazingly enough, Jacoby Jones's 108-yard return wasn't even unique to him; in week 6 against Dallas, Jones returned a kickoff 108 yards for a score. He tied the NFL record twice in the same season. He shares the title with only two other men: Ellis Hobbs of the New England Patriots and Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers. It was thought Jones broke the record in the Super Bowl, but the NFL changed the return from 109 to 108 yards upon review. Considering his stellar season, there's a good chance Jones will break his own record before long.

In the meantime, he'll surely be happy with his well-deserved Super Bowl ring.

Why the Ravens will win the Super Bowl

Will Flacco be this happy come Sunday night?

A tough defense rallying around its retiring general. A quarterback who appears to have made the leap into greatness. An offense flying high on its tough, quick receivers. These are what the Baltimoree Ravens can rely on on their way to a Super Bowl victory.

The obvious story is that of Ray Lewis. Long the fierce face of the Ravens' defense, he has declared this his last season in the NFL. When he tore his triceps early in the season, many thought he would go out without even getting to play again. But he's back, and his fellow players want the trophy for him as much, if not more, than for themselves. His injury hasn't slowed him down at all; in the playoffs, he leads his team with 44 tackles (25 solo). This defense shut down Andrew Luck and Tom Brady and withstood the brilliance of Peyton Manning. They're coming into Sunday as prepared and amped up as they could possibly be, and it's easy to see Lewis as the reason for that.

As important as Lewis and the defense are to Baltimore, its the offense that has brought them this far. Ray Rice had his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season along with nine ground scores. He's proven that he can be the mainstay of Baltimore's offense and is a huge reason for their recent success. He didn't quite have the same numbers as his previous seasons, however, and that's because of the improved passing game. Looking at sophomore speedster Torrey Smith and veteran Anquan Boldin's numbers, they're not much better than before. But consider that neither gained over 1,000 yards, and that tight end Dennis Pitta has emerged as another threat with 669 yards and seven scores, and that quarterback Joe Flacco achieved his career-highest passing yardage total with 3,817, and you'll see how this offense has blossomed. The real difference, however, has been in the playoffs. Last year, in which one field goal kept the Ravens out of the Super Bowl, Flacco averaged 241 passing yards (over two games), with four touchdowns and one interception. The offense gained 20 points in each game. In this season's playoffs, Flacco has 284.3 yards per game with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. The Ravens scored 24, 38, and 28 points. Boldin, Smith, and Pitta each have over 100 yards and two touchdowns (Boldin has 3). Ray Rice and rookie Bernard Pierce have combined for 416 rushing yards. This offense has exploded in the playoffs, and it should prove too much to handle even for San Francisco's staunch defense.

Baltimore has long been known for its tough defense. But with a high-powered offense to match, the Ravens are a complete team. They're ready to take the Lombardi Trophy.

Why the 49ers will win the Super Bowl

This man's success will determine the outcome of Super Bowl XLVII

The San Francisco 49ers are the superior team in all areas of the game. They may have an inexperienced quarterback, but he's a dual threat who's been on fire. Their defense has been near or at the top of the league the entire season. They've bounced back from a crushing loss at the end of the regular season to crush their postseason opponents. These are all reasons that the 49ers will be 2013 Super Bowl Champions.

Let's break it down, starting with the offense. The big story, of course, is Colin Kaepernick. When starting quarterback Alex Smith suffered a concussion in week ten against the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick took over and never relinquished the job. Previously featured only in a gimmick role, Kaepernick would end up leading his team with 1,814 passing yards, completing 62.4 percent of his passes, and throwing 10 touchdowns against three interceptions. He also finished with 415 rushing yards and five ground scores, showing the dual threat ability that has made quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and electric rookies Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson so effective. In the postseason, he out-dueled Rodgers and another more experienced quarterback, Matt Ryan. Of course, he didn't do it all by himself. Veteran running back Frank Gore compiled 1,214 rushing yards and eight touchdowns over the regular season and added 209 yards with three scores in the playoffs. Third-year receiver Michael Crabtree had a breakout season with his first 1000+ yard season and nine touchdowns and along with tight end Vernon Davis has been the focal point of San Francisco's aerial attack in the playoffs. This offense is playing out of its mind and looks unstoppable heading into the big game.

Then there's the defense. Over the regular season, San Francisco achieved 38 sacks, tied with Cleveland for 11th in the league. It allowed 259 points, good for third place. Baltimore's defense is no slouch either, amassing only one fewer sack, but it allowed 324 points (10th place). Led by linebacker Aldon Smith, who reached 19.5 sacks, the second-most in the league this season, this defense is ready to dominate the Ravens at the line and keep Joe Flacco running for his life the whole game.

An impressive offense and a smothering defense. These are what San Francisco will use on their way to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Who Do I Cheer For?

A nation divided.

While the most publicized people in NFL culture are the players, the most important ones are the fans. They're the ones buying the tickets, merchandise, and overpriced stadium beer. Players get their fame and fortune from the adoration of the people who cheer them on. But what makes a football fan more than just a lover of the game in general? What makes him support one team above another? How does someone go from "I like football" to "I hate the Patriots"?


Probably the most common reason is geography. You root for the home team; that's standard fan etiquette. True-blooded Minnesotans are going to despise Cheeseheads, and vice versa. Fandom is often inherited or de facto, just a matter of circumstance. But that doesn't have to always determine what team you like. For example, I'm a Floridian, and I have three teams to choose from. I'm not a fan of any of them. But we'll get to my own preference in a moment.

Another reason can be the players. People who love Peyton Manning probably used to be Colts fans and are now Broncos fans. It's possible fans of the Greatest Show on Turf were rooting for Kurt Warner in his Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl appearance. And maybe if you're a huge Beast Mode supporter, you switched allegiance from the Bills to the Seahawks. That's a somewhat facetious example, but certain players do become bigger than the teams they play for, and fans will follow (coughTebowcough).

Those two are probably the biggest causes. From there, it can be almost anything. Maybe you love an underdog so much, you start rooting for a recently or historically unsuccessful team like the Chiefs, Lions, or Browns. Maybe you have familial ties to a team, despite living elsewhere, or maybe you married into it. For me, it was a combination of that player love I mentioned and fantasy football. I only really became a fan of the NFL once I started playing fantasy. In my rookie season, I got the number one draft pick. My franchise player: LaDainian Tomlinson, one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game. That got me following the San Diego Chargers, and I've been a fan ever since, despite living on the opposite coast.

I think the overall point to be made is that it doesn't matter too much how you become a fan of a team. If you enjoy it, who cares how arbitrary it is? It's kind of arbitrary that we enjoy the game at all, much less develop rooting interests. As long as you don't take it too far, as some are wont to do (stabbing opposing fans and whatnot), go right ahead and root for the Bills just because you want the Patriots to lose, or the Browns because it's your favorite color, or the Buccaneers because you like to dress as a pirate.

Stuck in the middle

Last season, eight teams went 8-8, seven of which missed the playoffs (Denver won a three-way tie in its division). These teams find themselves on the cusp of playoff berths, but also on the precipice of regress. Which of these teams will improve and/or reach the playoffs this season? I don't know. But I can guess.

AFC East - New York Jets

The Jets have been talking big ever since Rex Ryan became coach, and they came very close to the Super Bowl dream, reaching the AFC Championship game twice in a row before falling out of playoff contention last year. With the addition of red-zone monstrosity Plaxico Burress, the Jets looked poised to finally push over the top, but it all fell apart. The offense stalled often, and the staunch defense fell apart. The latter part should be fine, as the core of what made them so fearsome over the last few years is still there, and Kyle Wilson should mature as a corner alongside Darrelle Revis. If both Wilson and Cromartie can keep the fouls and mistakes down, opposing offense will have a devil of a time trying to pass against them. It's the offense that has to improve. Burress is gone, leaving Santonio Holmes, who according to some of his teammates, gave up last year, as the big receiving threat. Chaz Schilens, the forever-potential breakout receiver, tops the depth chart on the other side, and rookie Stephen Hill looks like the #3. Mark Sanchez must do better. The receivers aren't the best, but they're not bad either. Tebow looming behind him doesn't help, so Sanchez needs to be locked in from the start and reduce turnovers. Shonn Greene looks like he's being given one last chance to be more than a mediocre back. If he and the rest of the offense improve, the Jets could easily grab a wildcard berth (I don't see them supplanting New England for the division championship anytime soon).

AFC West - Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders

The Broncos won the division last year because of/despite of the Tebow show. Now, that circus has left town, and Peyton Manning mans the controls. That right there looks like enough to crown them best in the West, but it might not be that simple. Manning's still recovering from neck surgery, and there's no guarantee he'll be the same player who made the Colts perennial contenders. Plus, there's those other teams to deal with. The Chargers were a huge disappointment last season, victims of myriad mental errors and unfortunate injuries more than lack of ability. Vincent Jackson is in Tampa Bay now, but Philip Rivers has shown himself capable of playing well with a lesser receiving corps. And Malcolm Floyd and Robert Meachem aren't bad. Ryan Mathews is looking for a breakout season as the primary rusher; Tolbert won't be taking those short yardage carries anymore, so it's all up to him. He ran well last season, so the Chargers could definitely be a potent offensive force. The Oakland Raiders are just looking for some consistency after a tumultuous season that saw the death of owner/dictator Al Davis. Carson Palmer came in and didn't do a terrible job, but he threw too many interceptions while adjusting to the new system and the layoff from his refusal to play for the Bengals. Darren McFadden looked like the best running back in the NFL until he got injured again, and their capable receivers also suffered from injuries. If people can stay healthy, the Raiders will be a team no one wants to play. So which of these teams will take the crown and make the playoffs? My head says Denver, my heart says San Diego, and my gut says Oakland. This division should be fun to watch.

NFC East - Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys

The Eagles' "Dream Team" turned into a nightmare last season, losing their chance at grabbing the division and having to watch the rival Giants go on to win the Super Bowl. However, this could be their time. Michael Vick's a phenomenal talent at quarterback, and if DeSean Jackson keeps his head on straight, this offense will blow people away. The defense was a mess last season, but the presumption is that with a full offseason to learn the scheme, all the talent (Asomugha, Rodgers-Cromartie, Atogwe) in the secondary should gel and shut down opposing offenses. They'll need it against the Cowboys, who are coming at the league with breakout back DeMarco Murray, established veteran Miles Austin, and third-year receiver Dez Bryant. Throw in Jason Witten at tight end, and there's just too much going on for this offense to be stopped by anything but itself. Dallas addressed the defense in the draft, and looks to improve there as well. Both of these teams will be dangerous. The Giants still loom, however, and if they play consistently, should be the favorites to take the division. I give a slight edge to the Eagles to grab a wildcard, but it could go either way, and it's even possible that all three teams (Giants, Eagles, Cowboys) make the playoffs, like what happened in the AFC North last year.

NFC North - Chicago Bears

The big change is that Jay Cutler finally has capable receivers to throw to. They brought in talented headache Brandon Marshall, who succeeded with Cutler in the past, and drafted Alshon Jeffrey to improve their "meh" receiving corps. If the offensive line plays better, and Matt Forte doesn't let his contract issues detract from his stellar play, the Bears will have much more than their always-solid defense going for them. I think they'll grab a playoff spot for sure, and could even challenge Green Bay for the division title (though I think the Packers will ultimately come out on top).

NFC West - Arizona Cardinals

Kevin Kolb. Bottom line. He has to be what they paid for, or that's it. He's shown promise, but just hasn't delivered as a passer, and still has to compete with big-armed but sloppy thrower John Skelton. Rookie Michael Floyd will take some double-teams off of Larry Fitzgerald, who was still one of the most productive receivers in the league despite everything last year. Beanie Wells needs to build on his improved game he showed last year and avoid injury. Ryan Williams, who never got to play because of injury, could take over if Wells struggles. Their defense is pretty good, but was under far too much pressure last season because of offensive failures. Basically, all the pieces are there for the playoffs, but it all falls to Kolb. It doesn't help that there are 11 other teams in the NFC (Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, Lions, Bears, Saints, Falcons, Panthers, 49ers, Seahawks) that could reasonably compete for those six playoff spots. Kolb has to make a huge leap for the Cards to beat out enough of those teams. Personally, I don't see it happening.

Fantasy Football: Why on earth would you do such a thing?

Fantasy season is starting. Yahoo! just opened its game for registration, and I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait to agonize over draft decisions, foolishly predict game outcomes, groan about injuries, scour free agents for golden pickups, and wonder how it all went wrong when I look at my one (or more) last place team. Yeah, fantasy can be stressful. Why does it seem worth the consternation? And does it detract from enjoying watching and following the NFL, or does it enhance it?

I can't speak for anyone else, but I can tell my own story. When I started playing fantasy football, I knew very little about the game. I knew Peyton Manning was a good quarterback; that's about it. So what did I do? I studied. I perused the advice of Yahoo!'s fantasy experts about draft strategy, player rankings, and so on. But once the games started going, I had to learn things the hard way. One: don't drop your starting players that get injured, but still remain listed as "probable" for the next game. Two: don't panic when a player has an off day. Three: never be too confident. It was quite the ride: I only had two defeats and was ranked #1 going into the playoffs, but lost in the first round. Those star players I lucked into (it was an autopick draft, meaning players are picked from a ranking list to fill out your roster) didn't deliver when it most counted, and I had to settle for third. It was disappointing.

But I had a blast. There was something so cool about setting lineups, watching games unfold, reading the numbers, and doing it all over again the next week. It's a brilliant game: there are effective strategies and methods of setting yourself up for success, but in the end, it's luck. That #1 scoring running back going against the league's worst defense? He could get injured on the first play. That random wide receiver you picked up to replace an injury or a bye week? He could go off for 100+ yards and two touchdowns. You're never quite sure in this game, but that's what makes it so fun.

But what about enjoying the NFL itself? Does watching numbers take away from watching players? Does knowledge of the real game get pushed away by knowledge of the fake game? From what I can see, no. If anything, I became a fan of the NFL because of fantasy, not in spite of it. I had to learn who players were, what teams were succeeding and which were failing, how defenses work against different offenses and vice versa. I would never know as much as I do now without fantasy as the incentive; the more I know about Cleveland's pass defense, the more interested I become in Cincinatti's pass offense, and the trends of their receivers, and how other receivers have done against Cleveland, and so on. The search for advantageous information never ends, and it leads you to learn so much you didn't think you cared about.

So, if you don't understand why someone would want to play fantasy football instead of just watching the games, maybe my story offers some insight. Don't knock until you try it.

No Pressure: Rookie Quarterbacks

Seemingly more than ever, quarterbacks are being drafted as franchise saviors, expected to make their teams go from worst to first in a mere seasons, first-year learning curve be damned. It's hard to blame those teams, given the rookie success of quarterbacks like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton, and Cam Newton.


So this upcoming season, what teams are looking to lean on a rookie's arm, and which look like they'll keep their rookies in grooming for at least a year? Here are the teams and their rookie gunslingers, presented in draft order.

Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck (Stanford)
The Colts, after letting the injured Peyton Manning go in free agency, needed a new captain for their sinking ship. Two wins last season, the first pick of the draft, and they got their man. Now they just have to hope for the best; after all, first overall QB picks have failed colossally in the past (JaMarcus Russell, ugh). But no one really expects that from Luck. All reports say he has a fantastic work ethic and understanding of the game, along with all the physical tools he needs to succeed in the NFL. If Luck grows into his perceived potential, the Colts could return to being the cream of the league.

Washington Redskins - Robert Griffin III (Baylor)
In a blockbuster trade with the St. Louis Rams, the 'Skins made sure to get the next best QB in the draft: Robert Griffin III. There was talk before the draft that the Colts might actually consider taking RG3 ahead of Luck; there's a case to be made for each player. RG3 is more mobile and athletic than Luck, which is actually saying a lot, as Luck posted similar combine numbers to Carolina's sensational Cam Newton. Washington hopes they have the franchise player they've lacked for so long, and if all goes as expected, they might consider themselves even luckier than the Colts down the road.

Miami Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M)
The Dolphins took Tannehill higher than he was expected to go (8th overall), but they desperately needed him. Miami, like, Washington, has long been searching for its franchise quarterback. Chad Pennington wasn't him, Chad Henne wasn't, and Matt Moore isn't. Tannehill projects as a good player, but Miami doesn't have the greatest situation in place; Davone Bess is their best receiver, and he is in no way a legitimate #1 threat. Reggie Bush will probably be catching a ton of dumpoffs from whoever starts, be it the incumbent Moore or Tannehill, if the Dolphins decide to play him early.

Cleveland Browns - Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State)
Weeden is an interesting prospect. He's certainly a good player, but he's also 28 years old; quite unusual for a rookie. Many wonder if this leaves him with inadequate time to develop into an above-average starter. Nevertheless, the Browns needed someone to compete with the inconsistent Colt McCoy, and Weeden's big arm seems to have enraptured Cleveland. Like Miami, though, the Browns don't boast much of a receiving corps. Fellow rookie running back Trent Richardson will boost their offense, but Weeden will need weapons if he ends up starting a meaningful number of games.

Denver Broncos - Brock Osweiler (Arizona State)
The first of the sure backup rookies, Osweiler has the opportunity (or perhaps burden) of sitting behind Peyton Manning. Learning behind a great has proven successful for a franchise QB in the past (Aaron Rodgers, anyone?), so it makes sense that the Broncos would want a project for the future while they hope for immediate success with Manning. He's tall for a quarterback--6'8"--which is cause for some concern about wind-up and mobility, things that will have to be overcome with experience. The big x-factor in his development is Manning's health; if Peyton's neck sidelines him, Osweiler might find himself pressed into action sooner than is optimal.

Seattle Seahawks - Russell Wilson (Wisconsin)
A bit of a strange pick, all in all. The Seahawks spent a bunch of money on free agent Matt Flynn, the second-most coveted free agent QB behind Manning. It looked like Flynn would be the starter, with incumbent Tavaris Jackson as the backup in a solidified hierarchy. Then they took Wilson in the third round, and now there's talk of competing for a starting role. Some have chalked this surprise up to coach Pete Carroll's fickle, fleeting love of quarterbacks, which could be a problem. Flynn and Jackson probably don't feel too good about Wilson's drafting. Wilson is a short QB (5'11"), but that hasn't stopped the 6'0" Drew Brees from dominating the league, as so many like to point out. A situation to watch, for sure.

Philadelphia Eagles - Nick Foles (Arizona)
Here's a very solid, traditional rookie situation. Michael Vick is the starter. Foles will learn behind him and compete with Mike Kafka (and to an extent, the forgotten Trent Edwards) for the backup spot. A true pick for the future, as it's apparent Philly doesn't need a savior and doesn't want to press him into action too quickly. There's nothing really special to say about this situation. Foles's success will be determined further down the road.

Washington Redskins - Kirk Cousins (Michigan State)
Wait, the Redskins? Didn't they already... yeah, right up there. Robert Griffin III. Strange. A theory that's cropped up to explain this move is that they want Kirk Cousins to develop and be trade bait; a sort of more deliberate Kevin Kolb situation. But it's still very strange to take another QB three rounds after your supposed franchise man, especially when there are other needs to be addressed. Like, say, receiver depth to help your prime passer revive your stagnant franchise. And who knows how Kirk Cousins feels? It must be hard for him to think he's being given a fair shot. But so it goes.

Arizona Cardinals - Ryan Lindley (San Diego State)
Arizona took Lindley in the 6th round, a clear indicator of his role: backup project. The Cards are overseeing a battle for starting position between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton, and the loser will likely be the #2, leaving third string for Lindley. Maybe he'll see action, maybe he won't. Late round quarterbacks sometimes flourish out of nowhere (Tom Brady), so making a prediction is foolish with such prospects.

Green Bay Packers - B. J. Coleman (Chattanooga)
Aaron Rodgers obviously has an iron grip on the starting role, so Coleman is another project player. After letting Matt Flynn go, the Packers would like to be sure they have another capable backup. Perhaps Coleman will take that role.

Indianapolis Colts - Chandler Harnish (Northern Illinois)
Like the Redskins, the Colts drafted two quarterbacks, but they did it in a way that makes much more sense. Harnish, a round 7 choice, will compete for a backup role. It will interesting to see if he eventually overcomes Drew Stanton, who wasn't awful as a backup for Detroit in 2010.