The NFL has a due process problem.

Due process is important, but so is respect for it. As a fan of professional sports, it’s sad to see athletes and their employers hiding behind legal due process rights. We do need to pump the brakes on clamoring for suspensions every time a professional athlete is accused of a crime. But at the same time, we don’t need to pretend as though evidence of a disturbing incident doesn’t exist.

Roger Goodell made his first public appearance in weeks yesterday, admitting that the NFL did not have a consistent approach in place to deal with personal conduct violations by its players1. Contrary to Mr. Goodell’s contrived comments, I’d argue the league’s approach was astonishingly consistent. In the cases of Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s reaction was inaction. The league either waited for the legal process to exhaust itself before imposing punishment that served only to insult and anger large segments of the league’s fan base, or desired to do nothing until public opinion and, more importantly, corporate sponsors demanded different.

1. Conveniently, Goodell did not mention the league’s dissatisfying treatment of Jim Irsay’s criminal behavior this year.

There’s nothing wrong with showing patience and prudence when such situations occur. An accusation does not automatically equate to guilt, and high profile athletes and executives are targets for false accusations. But in the cases highlighted in the media in recent weeks, there is known and documented evidence that the awful events alleged are not a product of fabrication2.

2. This is definitely true with regards to Peterson, Rice, Hardy and now Jonathan Dwyer. Ray McDonald’s domestic violence case remains under investigation.

Thus, by delaying its action and taking a passive stance, the NFL has opted for cowardice under the guise of due process. As Mike Greenberg said last week on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike, “the NFL and the league owners3 have shown a vacuum of leadership when handling personal conduct issues.” Moreover, the league’s approach of inaction has allowed the players accused and the teams they play for to attempt to use due process to maintain their eligibility. It’s a gross act that defies the intent of the law and shows enormous disrespect to the victims of these acts and the millions of fans who love football and want to cheer on their favorite players and teams on Sundays.

3. And don’t forget, the distinction between the NFL league office and the ownership is a thin, blurred line at best.

Ultimately, the NFL did find a moderate, sensible approach by placing players on an exempt list, upon which they are deactivated and not playing but still maintain their salaries and place on their teams. This shows respect for due process of law, while not hiding behind it. It’s the direction the league and the teams affected should have gone from the start. Furthermore, it encourages players facing charges to attempt to resolve their cases swiftly, rather than relying on the slow hands of justice to keep them activated and on the field.

The NFL is examining its policies regarding personal conduct and especially domestic violence. Hopefully the NFL will understand that the “wait and see” approach doesn’t work. Hopefully the league recognizes the failings of its leadership, and puts new leaders in place who will treat such matters with the appropriate sensitivity and severity.

NFL’s Failings Don’t End with Goodell

Roger Goodell’s tenure as NFL Commissioner is heading towards an abrupt end. It has to be. Since 2006, the NFL has experienced unparalleled growth in revenues, TV ratings, media attention and more. The league boasts the capability to dominate the sports news cycle 52 weeks a year. Yet during this time, the NFL’s reputation and public perception has taken numerous hits on numerous fronts, and Roger Goodell has been at fault every time.

This is the public perception of course, and as with most perceptions, there is a degree of truth to it. Mr. Goodell’s incompetence during his eight year tenure as NFL Commissioner is both gross and well-documented. His mishandling of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident in a way that became hurtful and deceitful will likely be the final chapter in his dubious legacy.

But to view Roger Goodell as being solely responsible, or the leader of an organization independent of its membership that shoulders the burden of responsibility, is a departure from the reality of his position. Mr. Goodell’s job is to be held responsible for the decisions and actions of the NFL owners. “The NFL” is the 321 men and women who own its franchises. Mr. Goodell is their public face when they don’t want to show face themselves. His job is to absorb the public backlash when the league acts in a way that is unpopular with its fans, and he’s good at it, despite how bad he is at actually being the NFL Commissioner.

1. 31 men and women, and the Packers shareholders.

Of course, the NFL Commissioner is more than a spokesperson. Mr. Goodell is more akin to a 33rd owner in the league, the chairman of the board of NFL ownership. The point is that Mr. Goodell does not act independent of the rest of the NFL ownership.

"Roger Goodell doesn't set the culture of the NFL, he only reflects it. Getting rid of him will not fix the problem." - @katefagan3 on SC
— David Scott (@ESPNprDScott) September 10, 2014

The policies and decisions that Roger Goodell announces to the public are carefully sourced from and counseled by the NFL’s owners. When Ray Rice is suspended for two games, or the NFL decides to obfuscate the truth regarding how much it knew or saw of Rice and Janay Palmer’s casino elevator ride, no one person or organization is acting alone. No team’s fans have the luxury of righteousness. Every team is part of a league that has shamed itself, and every owner and organization are part of that shame.

The saddest part of all of this is that I love football! I grew up in Central Pennsylvania, where Friday nights are synonymous with football the same way they are in Texas. I loved going to those games as a child and an adolescent, and I love watching football as an adult. No sport is more engrossing and fascinating. It’s one of my biggest regrets in life that I never played organized football. I don’t even think I would have been good - I just wish I played! Because that's the emotion I experience every Sunday, September through early February.

Last week, I felt embarrassed to be a football fan. Programs on ESPN and the NFL network I typically enjoy watching, podcasts and sports radio I typically enjoy listening to, made me feel uncomfortable. I felt like I was perpetrating something wrong. There’s danger in being a passionate supporter of anything in that passion can easily become blind devotion.

I don’t expect NFL players, or NFL coaches, owners and league officials, to be perfect. But being an NFL player, coach, owner or league official marks a significant level of success in life. And with that success comes a heightened level of responsibility. Far too often, talent and money prevail over ethics and humanity. The NFL has been reactive in its approach to personal conduct. It sets penalties rather than set standards. Owners worry about one thing and one thing only - money. I get that - their teams are their businesses, and as a league the profitability of one franchise helps the other 31. But I don't get the total willingness to compromise what is right for what will make the most money, or cause the least backlash.

If Robert Kraft, Art Rooney, John Mara and the rest of the NFL owners remove Mr. Goodell from his post, they’ll likely be viewed as the heroes, as the good guys. But they’re not the heroes. They’re not the good guys. They’re just guys. And they’re as responsible for the mess the NFL finds itself in as much and probably more than Roger Goodell.

NFL 2014: More of the same

It seems both surprising and expected that I have written very little in this space since delivering my picks for the 2013 NFL season...

In a league that prides itself on parity, it feels strange to be entering a new NFL season that appears to be a sequel of the old. But no matter how you view it, the trailer for the NFL in 2014 features many of the same names and stories as it did in 2013.

Some teams are poised for improvement - Atlanta will be Atlanta again, Green Bay almost has to be healthier, Houston will dominate enough on defense to make up for a questionable offense, and Miami may try to steal a little of the Chip Kelly magic from Philly. And of course, some teams are suspects for regression - Kansas City will find it difficult to repeat last year's results, the luck in Indianapolis has to run out at some point (even if Luck continues to excel), Carolina's fortunes will return to normalcy as well, and something seems amiss in San Francisco.

With that said, here are the teams I predict will be playing postseason football in January...

AFC

Division Winners: New England, Denver, Cincinnati, Indianapolis
Wildcards: San Diego, Miami

AFC Champion: San Diego

I'm torn between San Diego and New England. It's sad to write, but I believe Philip Rivers can carry a team through to the Super Bowl, while part of me doubts that Tom Brady can still do so - the same part of me that's always doubted Peyton Manning's ability to do so.

NFC

Division Winners: Seattle, Green Bay, Philadelphia, New Orleans
Wildcards: Atlanta, Chicago

NFC Champion: Seattle

Teams like Green Bay and New Orleans are capable of unseating Seattle, but right now the Seahawks are just playing a different game than the rest of the league. I expect they'll win 14ish games and march back to the Super Bowl. San Francisco and Arizona will still be good teams in 2014, but I believe a return to form for Atlanta and an improved defense in Chicago will carry those teams to the postseason. Meanwhile, Philadelphia is the team capable of making a bigger leap than anyone expects.

Super Bowl Champion: Seattle Seahawks

Get used to this prediction - it doesn't look like Seattle is leaving the championship picture anytime soon.

NFL Preview, 2013 Style - The Picks

Having identified the postseason participants for the AFC and NFC, it's time to predict which teams will emerge to play in the Super Bowl and which players and coaches will outperform their peers this season.

Super Bowl
There are almost too many good teams in the NFC, and too few in the AFC. The trendy picks would be either the Broncos or the Patriots against either the 49ers or the Seahawks. Sometimes trends are good, and sometimes trends are to be avoided.

Reaching the Super Bowl is, above all else, about toughness. It takes extreme mental and physical toughness to advance through the NFL playoffs to the marque sports event of the year. Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos may finish with the best record in the league this year, but history suggests that he and they will lack the toughness to advance in the postseason. Tom Brady and the Patriots will likely win their division and be a formidable team by season's end, but recent outcomes cast doubt that they have the toughness to make noise in January. Instead, there will be a tougher, less flashy team representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

In the NFC, there are no such reasons to go against the trends. The Seahawks and 49ers are the two toughest teams in the league, and will likely be so for the foreseeable future. It's conceivable that they alternate representing their conference in the championship game for the next 5-7 years, which means that this year is Seattle's turn.

photo by Kevin Casey/Getty Images

Super Bowl XLVIII: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Seattle Seahawks
Winner: Seattle

Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll is revolutionizing professional football in the same vein as Chip Kelley, just without the frenetic pace. His approach has instituted an air of positivity, energy, and success in the Seahawks' organization. The team rallies around and supports each other in a manner not often seen in professional sports, and that will pay off this year with a Super Bowl championship.

The Bengals may fly under the radar during the regular season. But once the postseason begins, they possess the strongest combination of talent and toughness in the AFC, and that will carry them through the playoffs.

MVP: Peyton Manning
Offensive Player of the Year: LeSean McCoy
Defensive Player of the Year: Richard Sherman
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyle Long
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Alec Ogletree
Coach of the Year: Marc Trestman

NFL Preview, 2013 Style - NFC

Posting this later than anticipated - it happens - but nothing witnessed in the first two weeks of the season has altered my opinion of how the season will play out...

After the rather straightforward process of lending thought to the division winners and wildcard contenders in the AFC yesterday, today's look at the NFC is far more laborious. It is definitely the more talented and competitive conference, and picking the playoff teams promises to be a challenge...

NFC East
Who knows. How many games will Robert Griffin III play? How many games will Michael Vick play? Will the Eagles' defense be able to stop anyone? Will enough Giants stay healthy to field a competitive team? Will the Cowboys' performance ever catch up to the potential of their talent? There are too many questions to be able to make a confident prediction on this division. All four teams could and likely will finish with between 7 and 9 wins, but I guess if one is going to get to 10, it'll be the Cowboys.

Winner: Cowboys
Wildcard: none

NFC North
The Packers are still the class of the division, but could be challenged by either the Bears or Lions. The Vikings are the NFC's version of the Colts - a team that drastically overperformed its potential last year and is due for regression this year. The Bears are the best bet to earn a wildcard birth, while the Lions will likely remain an enigma. There is a ton of talent in Detroit, but both collectively and individually, it just doesn't seem like it's coming together.

Winner: Green Bay Packers
Wildcard: Chicago Bears

NFC South
The Falcons are still loaded and the Saints could be resurgent. Tampa Bay has acquired significant talent through free agency and trades the last two years, but none of that will matter if Josh Freeman doesn't play better and if their offensive line doesn't stay healthy. Carolina has potential to be competitive with Cam Newton at QB and Luke Kuechly on defense, but poor coaching will continue to hinder their ability to learn how to win.

Winner: Atlanta Falcons
Wildcard: none

NFC West
For all the talk of the NFC West being the best division in the NFL, it's really a two-horse race. The 49ers and the Seahawks are the two most formidable teams in the league, with physically tough and imposing defenses and offenses that have the ability to be explosive. The Rams keep adding weapons for Sam Bradford to play with, but losing Steven Jackson will hurt more than most people think as it places more of the offensive burden on Bradford, which is not a likely recipe for success. The Cardinals will again have a tough defense and have some talent on offense. Carson Palmer will help them be better than last year, and maybe better than the Rams.

Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Wildcard: San Francisco 49ers

NFL Preview, 2013 Style - AFC

With the 2013 NFL season kicking off tonight (as soon as the threat of lightning passes) with a rematch of last year's AFC Divisional classic between Baltimore and Denver, let's have some fun and pick the six teams who will progress to the postseason from the conference...

AFC East
The Dolphins will be competitive and the Bills may be better than most expect. The Jets will continue to be a tough defensive team, but here is possibly less offensive talent on that roster this year than last year, and with diminished leadership in the locker room, I sense an epic implosion on the horizon. Despite all the offseason turmoil and the integration of new players on offense, the Patriots will continue to churn out 11 or 12 wins and win a sweat-free division title.

Winner: New England Patriots
Wildcard: none

AFC North
In many ways, it's business as usual in the AFC North - three viable playoff teams... and the Cleveland Browns. But there may be a changing of the guard happening. The Bengals are on the way up, the Steelers may be on the way down, and the Ravens are doing their best to retool to defend their Super Bowl Championship season. Quietly, Cincinnati has built one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. Don't expect them to be quiet on the field this season.

Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
Wildcard: Baltimore Ravens

AFC South
The conversation starts and stops with the Texans. Jacksonville continues to be a listless franchise, and nothing short of a move to London is likely to change that. Tennessee has some promise, but still has too many deficiencies to be competitive. Indianapolis was a great story for the league last year, and their future is bright with Andrew Luck, but I fear he still commits a lot of turnovers this year and the Colts' record will be a more true-to-form 6-10 or 7-9.

Winner: Houston Texans
Wildcard: none

AFC West
Denver figures to be the class of this division again this year, but may face a bit more opposition from Kansas City. While Andy Reid will continue to be a bad head coach - a poor game manager who abandons the run far too often - he can scheme a passing offense, and the Chiefs have enough talent on both sides of the ball to be in the playoff hunt. The Chargers will continue to be admirable on defense, but hiring an offensive coach who can't coach offense was not a step in the right direction for the franchise. And Oakland's only competition comes from Houston - the Astros - for who can be the worst franchise in professional sports this year.

Winner: Denver Broncos
Wildcard: Kansas City Chiefs

It feels lame to pick only one change in the playoff teams from last year, but it also feels right looking at the conference and who can be expected to win 9-10 games or more this year. I imagine this process will be much more difficult for the NFC - more on that to come later...

Tebow's lament

After a disappointing season of false promises and myopic misuse in New York, Tim Tebow will likely be searching for new employment in the spring, and at the moment his options to continue playing professional football appear limited.

Reportedly, the Jets will either trade or release Tebow once the NFL offseason officially begins, and questions, rumors and suppositions of where he might play next are running as wild as Rex Ryan boasted Tebow would this season. Jacksonville was once considered the assumed destination for Tebow, either by trade or free agent signing, but that appears unlikely based on comments by new Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell. At this point, sadly, it would be shocking to see any NFL offer the Jets any compensation to acquire Tebow.

If When Tebow is released, a team will take a chance and sign him, despite any current speculation to the contrary. And the intended role to which a team sings Tebow, and to which Tebow signs, will likely dictate the future of his NFL career far beyond the next season.

Tim Tebow wants to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, and with good reason given the results he produced last year in Denver. If a team without an answer to their quarterback situation has interest in signing him, such as Arizona, Cleveland, Kansas City or even Philadelphia, Tebow could compete for a starting job in the NFL in 2013. Or if Tebow is willing to switch positions - to play fullback, H-back or a hybrid tight end position - NFL interest in him will soar.

Yet, the best possible scenario for Tebow may be to remain a backup quarterback and take the Steve Young route - sit behind an elite quarterback, out of the spotlight, while developing his skills and knowledge of the pro passing game. The toxicity of his fame will dissuade many teams from considering his services, but behind a bright enough star*, Tebow can let Tebowmania run its course while biding his time until an opportunity to start again in the NFL presents itself. If he is serious about being an NFL quarterback, this may be his best bet.

*The ideal situation is, of course, New England - reunite Tebow with the coach who drafted him and allow him to watch and learn from Tom Brady. Pittsburgh is also an intriguing destination - at his best, Tebow does a lot of what Roethlisberger does at his best, yet there's really no plausible questioning that Ben should start over Tebow. Green Bay, New Orleans, or even walking down the hall to the Giants' locker room are also excellent options.

Conversely, Tebow needs to avoid situations similar to that which he found himself this season - he must avoid any situation in which the media fascination with his popularity will overshadow the team's success. Having Tebow back up Mark Sanchez didn't work - though not to any fault of Tebow or even much fault of Sanchez. No team with a quarterback whose performance or popularity/approval with the fans should consider Tebow, and it's in his best interest to dismiss such situations as well.

Tim Tebow is a unique football talent with a unique following. He has incredible passion and has found ways to succeed in the face of doubters his entire football career. I can't help but expect he'll find a way again.

the "situation"

I've kept silent on the NFL season thus far, and on much of anything else for that matter.* I've been watching week after week, absorbing the individual and team performances, hoping to garner an informed sense of how the 2012-13 season will play out. And now in week 8 of said season, I remain largely clueless. Truth is, this is an abnormal and unpredictable season, making it simultaneously one of the most maddening and entertaining I can recall.

*Through a very hectic summer that concluded with an unexpected yet welcome job change, the time to write about football, TV, wrestling, anything at all absolutely eluded me.

Nothing about the current NFL season is more maddening to me than the Jets' illogical use of Tim Tebow. I believe in Tebow, which is to say that I believe he should be a starting quarterback in the league. I believe that, if placed with a creative coach willing to develop an offensive system that spreads the field horizontally in order to attack the defense vertically, he can be a successfully quarterback in the NFL, one that wins a lot of games in both the regular and postseasons.

Despite my disappointment that Tebow did not enter the season as the Jets' starting QB, I was still excited about the prospect of his situational usage on the team's offense and special teams. Based on the rhetoric supplied by Rex Ryan and the rest of the Jets organization, I envisioned something similar to his role as a freshman on Florida's national championship team, led by an oft-undervalued Chris Leak, similar to the role Blake Bell currently fills for the Oklahoma Sooners. Sanchez would be the quarterback, but the offense would be bolstered by Tebow's presence in the redzone and short-yardage situations. Additionally, Tebow would be a weapon for the Jets to deploy during "Tebow Time" - situations in which the outcome of a game hangs in the balance, and Tebow's ability to perform at his highest level in the most crucial moments shows its awesome value.

But neither of those wishes have come true. Gaining possession of the ball down six points with a little over three minutes left in a Monday Night Football game against the Houston Texans, the Jets sent Mark Sanchez back out on to the field. Down by a field goal in overtime last week against the New England Patriots, the Jets again sent Mark Sanchez back out on the field. The Jets have the quarterback on their roster who was inarguably** the best in the league in similar situations last season, but they refuse to play him when he can make the greatest impact - just as they refuse to play him when Mark Sanchez appears completely overwhelmed facing a pass rush, as he did today against the Dolphins.

**Okay, maybe it is arguable, but that argument is between Tebow and Eli Manning, and no one else.

At this point, Jets fans are angry - angry that their favorite team is struggling mightily on offensive, angry that the team is wasting a remarkable effort by its defense, and angry that they're being lied to about how the team is making progress and going to find new, creative ways to surprise its opponents. And Jets fans have every right to be angry.

As a Tebow fan, I'm just disappointed.

Other notes:

• The Patriots are as few as three plays away from being 8-0. They're also as few as two plays away from being 3-5.
• Peyton Manning's arm strength looked awful at the start of the season, but is progressively getting better.
• The Rams and Rams' fans have to be kicking themselves for trading away the opportunity to draft Robert Griffin III to the Redskins.
• Cam Newton's regression should not be so shocking to the "experts" considering that aside from a handful of games featuring large accumulations of passing yards last season, he was a oft-inaccurate quarterback who produced turnovers at an alarming rate.
• The Bears are giving life to the notion that the best offense is a good defense.
• Ben Roethlisberger is heralded as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, yet continues to be under-appreciated.
• The Cowboys must be the most frustrating team to watch in the history of sports (okay not really, but they're in the top five).

In Review: The Good, Bad and Ugly from the 2012 NFL Draft

Last weekend - if you include Thursday in the weekend - was the 2012 NFL Draft, annually my favorite weekend of the year. And following the Draft this week is the endless parade of grades given to teams for selected players who have yet to play a down of professional football. It's an inane yet intoxicating practice. At least three years must pass before anyone can accurately or fairly evaluate a team's draft class*, but just one week removed from the Colts beginning the Andrew Luck era, it's not too early to identify which teams executed the draft well, which teams did not, and which teams opened the door to disaster. That said, here is my good, bad and ugly from the 2012 NFL Draft:

*Consider Denver's 2010 draft class. After the first year, in which Demaryius Thomas barely played and Josh McDaniels was fired, his final draft looked suspect. But after Tim Tebow and Thomas played key roles in leading the Broncos to the playoffs and upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening round, McDaniels and General Manager Brian Xander's selections looked stellar. Now, having foolishly given up on Tebow and brought in a precision passer not likely to mesh well with Thomas' skill set, the Broncos' 2010 draft looks like a mistake once again.

Good

Patriots: The New England Patriots and Head Coach Bill Belichick have established themselves as simultaneously one of the best and worst drafting teams in the NFL. The Patriots routinely trade down out of the 1st round to accumulate more "value" picks in rounds 2-4. This strategy has been decidedly hit or miss through the years. But this year, the Patriots made waves in the 1st round of the draft by trading up, twice! In doing so, they addressed their deficiencies on defense. It's questionable whether Chandler Jones is the impact athlete a team hopes to get with the 21st overall pick, but his toughness and versatility will fit in well in New England. Dont'a Hightower is the impact athlete the Patriots need. He lacks a position as he played all over the defense at Alabama, but that versatility and flexibility will be an asset to Belichick.

Bengals: The Bengals always seemed to be drafting, and when they weren't drafting they always seemed to be next to draft. They made the most of their opportunities acquiring players who can contribute right away - Dre Kirkpatrick, Devon Still, Mohammed Sanu - as well as much needed depth, especially at the skill positions, as they build around Andy Dalton.

Colts: In the absence of Peyton Manning, the Colts need to build their entire offense. That was clearly their mindset heading into the draft as eight of the ten selections they made were offensive. In addition to using the first pick on Manning's replacement, Andrew Luck, the Colts selected two of the best TEs in the draft, a speedy WR who will also help in the return game, and added depth at the skill positions and offensive line.

Chargers: Just as the Colts approached the draft with the intention of addressing their offensive needs, the Chargers used their picks to address defense. Even without Vincent Jackson, Philip Rivers will move the ball and score points, especially if Ryan Mathews continues to develop. But unless San Diego added depth and talent to its defense, it had little hope of competing for an AFC West title. With its first three picks, the Chargers secured three likely starters. They then used their remaining picks to add depth at need areas on offense. Overall, a smart and well-executed draft strategy.

Rams: The Rams didn't draft particularly well or poor, but they did two things to earn a good distinction. First, the selection of former Florida CB Janoris Jenkins in the 2nd round is risky, especially given Head Coach Jeff Fisher's complicated history with Adam Jones, but if Jenkins has righted himself he could be the steal of the draft. Second, the Rams did a poor job of using the draft to build around Sam Bradford, and that's a good thing. Bradford has some skill, but not enough and just doesn't have the "it" factor needed to be a successful quarterback at the NFL level. Not investing picks in putting talent around him for the sake of putting talent around him was a wise course of action for the organization given that they'll likely be thinking QB with their high 1st round choice next year.

Bad

Patriots: New England is going to get a lot of play in this post. While the Patriots did well in the 1st round, their 2nd round pick earns the team a bad. This is not an indictment of Tavon Wilson, FS out of Illinois. But the Patriots lack quality depth, and they could have converted the pick into additional picks and still taken Wilson in rounds 4, 5 or 6, or even as an undrafted free-agent.

Redskins: The Redskins payed a huge price to move up to the second pick in the draft and acquire Robert Griffin III. Discussion of the wisdom of that move can and should wait for a later date. Presently, the remainder of the Redskins' draft left much to be desired. They failed to add potential impact players (at least as they're viewed now) and used their third pick, a 4th rounder, on a second QB, Kirk Cousins. Puzzling.

Bears: The Bears land on this list for the selection of WR Ashlon Jeffrey in the 2nd round. After trading a 3rd round pick to the Dolphins** for Brandon Marshall, WR was not a high need area for the Bears, and if it was they would have done better to select a WR without character questions to pair with the enigmatic Marshall. Both have incredible talent but there are viable concerns related to each's motivation and ethic. Tempting fate in sports, particularly the NFL, is often disastrous.

**The Dolphins could easily be on this list as well. While QB was a need for them and I like Tannehill's upside, the 1st round was too high for him to be selected. The rest of the Dolphins' draft failed to impress as well, but I resist officially putting them on this list until a fair evaluation of Tannehill can be made.

Broncos: The Broncos mortgaged their future, Tim Tebow, to win now with whatever is left of Peyton Manning's neck, then proceeded to trade out of the 1st round, costing themselves the chance to select one of a number of impact defensive players still available, and selected a solid DT with little upside in round 2. Denver also selected a QB in the 2nd round, Brock Osweiler. Drafting a QB was smart, but in round 2? And Osweiler? They added needed depth with later picks, but the Broncos and John Elway did not have the same quality draft this year as they did last.

Ugly

Patriots: New England's identity problems were on full display in the 2012 NFL Draft. After #winning in the 1st round, and losing in the second, they rebounded with solid pick in the 3rd, DE Jake Bequette from Arkansas. But things would unravel at the end of the draft as the Patriots looked like the Bengals circa 2002, selecting a CB facing a serious felony charge and gimmick special teams players when the team needed more depth on defense and the offensive line.

Jaguars: Clemson DE Andre Branch was a good pick in the 2nd round, but the positives stop their for Jacksonville. The organization appears to be a mess right now. They traded up to select WR Justin Blackmon in round 1. Let's look beyond the fact that there's not a QB on the team's roster who can be relied on to get Blackmon the ball, there's been a lot of talk leading up to the draft that the Oklahoma State receiver is overrated. To me, he's rated - he is a strong, athletic receiver with good hands, is a good route-runner, and plays bigger and faster than he actually is. But that should make him a mid-to-late 1st rounder, not the 5th pick in the draft.

Jacksonville is bringing in a new head coach after Jack Del Rio was let go. The change makes sense, but it doesn't make sense for the organization to keep the front office in tact. This team is poorly constructed, and decisions such as taking a punter in round 3 when there is a dearth of talent on the roster is a prime example why.

Seahawks: I like and want to root for Pete Carrol in the NFL. His success in his first season and the Seahawks' surprising upset of the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints were a great story. But Carrol's personnel moves have been questionable at best. Bruce Irvin fits an area of need for Seattle, but there were better picks to be made at 15. Drafting Russell Wilson in the 3rd round after signing Matt Flynn via free agency is baffling, and the rest of the draft produced a low degree of upside for Seattle. They look almost as lost as the Jaguars in the whole process.

Saints: The Saints entered the draft lacking picks, having traded their 1st rounder to New England the year prior and been stripped of their 2nd round pick by the NFL as part of the organization's discipline in the bounty scandal. Thus, it was imperative that they grab a solid defense contributor with their first selection in the 3rd round, especially given the looming suspension of players on their defensive unit. Instead, the Saints drafted project defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, who flamed out in the NCAA before transferring to Canada and dominating lesser competition. New Orleans rebounded with Nick Toon in the 4th round - a solid WR who could work well with Drew Brees when/if his contract situation works itself out - but the rest of their draft underwhelmed. The team is seemingly going in the wrong direction - not the direction they need to go if they want their star QB to sign a contract that would allow him to retire as a Saint.

plot twist

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter are reporting the the San Francisco 49ers have entered the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. In fact, Peyton has already worked out for 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and taken a physical for the team! This certainly adds an interesting wrinkle to the NFL offseason's most fascinating subplot.

Personally, I'm of course most interested in how this impacts Tim Tebow. As I wrote last week, my ideal scenario is Manning signing with the Broncos, Alex Smith signing somewhere other than San Francisco, and the 49ers turning to Tebow as a better option than what they have/what's left on the free agent market. Manning to San Francisco makes sense in terms of the team being a contender and the offensive pieces already being in place, but it's hard to imagine Manning being, well... Manning, on what is a muddy, sloppy field in the Bay area. On the other hand, if ever there was an NFL quarterback who could be considered a mudder, it's Tebow.

Here's to hoping...

Oh where oh where will my Tim Tebow go?

It's being reported that Peyton Manning flew from Miami to Denver on Friday and had a productive meeting with Broncos' President John Elway, General Manager Brian Xanders and Head Coach John Fox. The triad, known as EFX, were attending the Oklahoma State pro day on Friday when Manning departed, to scout their quarterback, Brandon Weeden.

I wouldn't bet money on Peyton Manning signing with the Broncos - though I never expected them to be considered a contender to do so either - and I understand they're scouting Weeden in the interest of adding depth to the QB position through the draft, perhaps in the second or third round*. Yet, it's an interesting, developing story that begs all sorts of questions: If the Broncos sign Manning, do they keep Tim Tebow? If not, where does he go? Will Broncos fans accept Manning as a replacement to Tebow?

*The 2nd round is too early for Denver to consider using a pick on a QB, but the 3rd would be rational.

The first and third questions are related - would Manning agree to play in Denver if Tebow is still there, and would hometown fans be able to get over the breakup with Tebow as starting QB if he's still on their bench? Manning is good enough that he shouldn't be threatened by having Tebow as an understudy, but those questions that have always haunted him regarding his performance in big moments of big games make that proposition suspect. Manning doesn't handle pressure well**, and having Tebow behind him would place a lot of pressure on Manning to perform.

**Manning's struggles to play well and emerge victorious in important games date back to the University of Tennessee, where he continually struggled to defeat the Florida Gators, alma mater of Tim Tebow. The irony abounds!

My first instinct is to predict that Broncos fans stage a mutiny the likes of which the modern world has not seen if their team signs Manning to replace Tebow - and I'm sure a few will try. But I think that's reactionary of me. Many fans will be excited that the team signed the most lauded free agent in NFL history and will rally around him. Though, the rallying will be a lot easier if Tebow is playing elsewhere.

If in this doomsday scenario for Tebow fans***, what might happen to the young captivating star if his team signs the enigma that is Peyton Manning to be their starter? The easy impulse is to suggest Jacksonville as a willing trade partner with the Broncos, but all Jaguar fans are not Gator fans, and while Tebow would no doubt be a wise business decision for the franchise, Jacksonville is not in the dire predicament in which it found itself in 2009. I still think it would be a good fit and think Tebow could handle the pressure of performing in his hometown, but it's not the slam dunk most assume.

***If Denver is not committed to Tebow, perhaps an exit is in his best interests.

There are other intriguing options out there is Tebow is placed on the trading block. Certainly other teams pursuing Manning would be in the mix, including the Cardinals and Dolphins. Perhaps even teh Chiefs or the Browns, who thanks to Washington**** are no longer going to be able to trade their way up to the second pick in this year's draft to acquire Robert Griffin III. The Seahawks, who have been denied an opportunity to woo Manning would be an interesting landing spot for Tebow.

****I'm taking up the pledge of only referring to the Washington football team by its location from now on.

But my personal favorite potential landing spot is San Francisco. First, it's my favorite city. Second, the 49ers are currently balking at Alex Smith's demand in their ongoing contract negotiations. If they can't reach an agreement and Smith receives what he's asking for in free agency somewhere else, Tebow becomes a viable option. Third, the 49ers are in need of a new stadium, and hope to build south of the city. Tebow offers the economic incentive in additional revenue to make that happen. And fourth, I think Tim Tebow and John Harbaugh would be a great match. He could thrive in Harbaugh's run-dominated offensive system, and Harbaugh has demonstrated the creativity in his coaching career to properly utilize Tebow's unique skills in both the running and passing games - Denver Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy succeeded at the former last season, but routinely failed at the latter.

Personally, I would like to see Tebow stay in Denver. The city and the Broncos fit him well, and as a fan I'm willing to give the coaching staff a chance to see if they can mold an effective passing attack to his skills. But if the Broncos are successful in their pursuit of Peyton Manning - however misguided I feel it may be - I hope they do explore options to allow Tebow the opportunity to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. I hope they match him to both a coach and front office who will support him, whether that be in Jacksonville, Seattle, San Francisco or elsewhere (For the record, I'm not convinced Arizona fits that description and I wouldn't with Cleveland or Miami upon any player I liked).

In the meantime, follow Desktop Tim Tebow (@DesktopTimTebow) for some laughs during the Manning sweepstakes.

Who's the Man-ning?

New England sports fans went to bed somber last night, and woke up in disbelief over the Patriots defeat at the hands of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. Despite the noted weaknesses of the Patriots defense, and despite the majority of TV and radio analysts picking the Giants to win, Patriots fans believed they would prevail riding the right arm of their star quarterback, Tom Brady. What is interesting to me as I reflect on last night's game is not that the Patriots lost - I was rooting for them and if pressed picking them to win, but my confidence in that pick was low - but how.

Yes, the Patriots were out-muscled last night - the Giants are the more physical team so that's not surprising - but New England's offensive line and defense played up to the challenge. Brady had ample time to throw and the defense stopped the Giants often enough and limited them to 19 points. However, the Patriots made uncharacteristic mistakes, and Brady offered another mediocre performance in a big game. There was a costly 12-men-on-the-field penalty, several devastating dropped passes, and a quarterback who looked tentative and was just off the mark with throws he usually completes effortlessly.

Maybe none of this should be surprising. Including the Patriots loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, they have lost four of six postseason games and Brady has been outplayed by the opposing quarterback four out of six times. The Patriots have amassed staggering offensive statistics and posted an unreal winning percentage since 2007. But they've faltered in the postseason, and Tom Brady, one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL and often considered one of the most clutch performers in professional sports, has appeared overwhelmed and out-of-sync in five of six postseason games.

The New England Patriots of 2011-12 are not the New England Patriots of 2003-4. They are no longer a gritty team that grinds out games with timely playmaking, tough defense, impeccable special teams and superior coaching. Today's Patriots boast a prolific passing offense with a good-enough defense and above average special teams. They proved this season that, combined with mental toughness, that would be enough to win a championship. But when it mattered most, this Patriots team, and especially its star player, were anything but mentally tough.

To the chagrin of Patriots fans across New England, over the course of five seasons their team has become the Indianapolis Colts, and Tom Brady has become Peyton Manning, when the they need him to be Eli.

Here we go again...

Thanks to their improbable victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Denver Broncos will travel to Foxboro to challenge the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs on Saturday. In week 15 of the regular season, the Patriots defeated the Broncos in Denver 41-23. The loss snapped the Broncos remarkable six game winning streak during which the team pulled off one fourth quarter comeback victory after another, and led to their three game losing streak on the heels of which the team backed into the postseason.

In the first matchup, the Broncos dominated the game early before the Patriots took control late in the first half and spread the margin of victory down the stretch. Who will win the rematch? How will it play out? Will Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow be able to make plays in the passing game as he was against the Steelers? Obviously I don't know the answers to these questions, and neither does anyone else. But as I am already salivating for Saturday night to arrive, I thought I'd explore some of my musings about what might happen.

Who should win?
The Patriots are a heavy favorite, and they should be. They are the more talented, experienced team. They've been running the same offensive system for years while Denver's offense is still very much a work in progress. New England has a chance to jump on the Broncos early, stick their feet on their throats and push until the game is over. Tom Brady showed in the first matchup that he can manipulate the Broncos' defense, especially with his two elite weapons at the tight end position.

In the first matchup, the Broncos showed that they can dominate New England's defense with their running game, and Tebow had one of his more impressive performances throwing the football, though neither proved to be enough. Their defense held strong early in the game, but couldn't make stops as it progressed. For the Broncos to have a chance, plays will need to be made on both sides of the ball, from start to finish. They'll need to play clean - without turnovers and limiting penalties - and they'll likely need a few breaks/bounces of the ball to go their way - though it is worth noting that the Broncos beat the Steelers without catching any breaks and despite being on the receiving end of poor officiating.

Who's feeling the pressure?
Emotion may be an integral factor in this game. The Broncos come in riding high from last week's upset victory. Some might caution against this, but I think carrying over that emotion is exactly what they need to do. They need to play frenzied, as if they're foaming at the mouth - use that fire to overwhelm the typically cool and collected Patriots. And no player needs to be fired up more than Tim Tebow. I've been watching Tebow religously - pun intended - since his freshman year at Florida. He's at his best when he's jacked up, when he's angry - the Patriots won't like him when he's angry.

Conversely, the Patriots enter the game carrying the weight of embarrassing playoff losses in back-to-back seasons. They need to forget their past failures and be the cool assassins that they are. They can't allow the pressure to overwhelm them and deflect their focus from the team across the field - the Broncos are at their most dangerous when they're being overlooked. Fans and radio hosts in New England are a little too arrogant about this game being a lock - clearly overcompensating for their lack of confidence. The Patriots need to make sure that attitude remains in the media and not in the locker room.

What must each team do?
From a schematic standpoint, the Patriots need to do what they do offensively. The should try to run up the middle on occassion, where the Broncos have played well but are undersized. And they should use their short passing game to spread the field horizontally, creating windows for Welker, Gronkowski and Hernandez. In the second half of the previous matchup the Patriots controlled the pace of the game doing just that, and there's no reason they can't do the same.

Defensively, New England should scheme to give Tebow and the Broncos multiple looks. Settling into one defense allows Tebow to feel comfortable and make plays freely. Keeping him guessing keeps the offense guessing, negating both big plays and sustained drives. Much has been said of Tebow's low completion percentage this season, but the primary reason for it is his lack of experience throwing many of the routes the Broncos run. It's not that he's missing his receivers or his spots, it's that he throws to different spots than his receivers run to at times.

While seemingly every football analyst discusses what opposing teams need to do to defend the Broncos' option game at length, the truth is that Denver only runs option plays four or fives times a game. Opposing defensive ends need to be disciplined, but beyond that, it's far more important for New England to be able to stop the Broncos' traditional runs, including designed runs for Tebow.

For the Broncos, their defense needs to get stops and force mistakes. To do so, it must generate a pass rush and bring pressure up the middle at Tom Brady. It must disrupt his rhythm much the same way Baltimore and New York have disrupted his rhythm in the Patriots' prior playoff defeats. They cannot allow New England's receivers to run free in the middle of the field. They must be physical and knock guys off their routes at the line of scrimmage. Denver does have a significant advantage in athleticism in this contest, and it needs to use that advantage for force a turnover or make a play in the return game.

On offense, it's not all about Tebow but it is. What that means is that the Broncos' coaches must call plays that allow the offense to be successful. They need to use WR screens to pick up short gains to supplement the run game. Tebow needs to complete intermediate passes, especially over the middle of the field, to back off New England's linebackers and pull up New England's safeties, opening up both running lanes and deep passes simultaneously.

The Broncos cannot make mistakes offensively. There's no harm in punting, but they need to avoid three-and-out possessions and keep the Patriots' defense on the field. They need to score enough points to keep the game within a score or two throughout - if they fall behind by more than that New England will have forced them out of character.

Who do I want to win?
I like the Patriots. I am a Tom Brady fan and a Bill Belichick fan. I admire some of their players, especially Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez and Vince Wilfork. I enjoy that Belichick finds ways to get the most out of his players, even if that means putting a wide receiver at defensive back. But not since I was a kid and first fell in love with sports have I enjoyed watching an athlete perform as much as I enjoy watching Tim Tebow. I am rooting for him to be a success in the NFL and I'll be rooting for his season to continue on Saturday night. I like the character of this Broncos team and am excited by their young talent, such as Von Miller and Demaryius Thomas, and I prefer not to wait for next fall to watch them play more.

Who will win?
Ultimately, I think the Broncos can hang with the Patriots and keep the game within reach. But I think New England is too good and too experienced to be upset again in the postseason, this way and by this team. This is a matchup we can look forward to seeing again in the coming years. New England will surely remain among the league's best, and Tebow and the Broncos aren't going away - they've found their quarterback, he's good and he's going to be really good.

The Broncos have been a great story - the best in the NFL this year - but this year, in this chapter, midnight looms. Still, part of me is hesitant to doubt this team, and especially its star quarterback. Despite what I think and what I know, there's a part of me that believes Tebow and the Broncos can stop time, delay the strike of midnight once more. It's a part of me that sports has not evoked in quite some time, and it's a part of me I'm glad has returned. Regardless of the outcome on Saturday night, Tim Tebow has brought an element of faith back into my life, and for that reason this season will forever be a success for the Denver Broncos.

Patriots v. Broncos; Brady v. Tebow

Following the New England Patriots upset victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, I like many others began paying much more attention to Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and company. I grew an enormous amount of respect for the team and organization. By 2008, when I moved to Boston, I was thrilled to be a Patriots fan in Patriots land, and I remain to this day a Patriots fan...

In 2006, I started to hear about a freshman quarterback at the University of Florida by the name of Tim Tebow. I watched Gators' coach Urban Meyer use his first-year future star situationally and couldn't help but be enamored with his unconventional skill set. He was fun to watch and added an unseen element to the game when he was on the field.

Over the next three years I watched Tebow lead the Florida Gators religously - pun intended - on Saturdays. I quickly noticed that he was far more than just unconventional - he was simply astonishing. I've never enjoyed watching an athlete compete more than I enjoy watching Tebow. Thus, when the Denver Broncos selected him with the 25th pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, part of me became a Broncos fan.

And that brings me to today, when the New England Patriots square off against Denver Broncos in the mile high city. As I sit here awaiting the game to begin, I do feel my loyalties torn. But I've loved rooting for the Broncos since Tebow took over as their starting quarterback this season more than I recall loving a team since watching the Philadelphia Phillies every summer night growing up. That love has me rooting for Tebow and the Broncos this Sunday afternoon.

Watching will surely be an emotional experience, and one that I am going to attempt to share. Without further delay, here is my live-blog of the New England Patriots versus the Denver Broncos...

Pregame: Due to contractual obligations, CBS now leaves the Dolphins/Bills snow bowl to go to commercial before the Patriots/Broncos - can't miss that pregame shot of Tim Tebow singing Christian rock songs out of tune.

Let's check the weather - sunny and 60 in Denver. What?! It's 26 degrees in Boston right now - geography fail.

Kickoff: New England won the toss and kicked to Denver - wouldn't it be great to see the Broncos go right down the field for a touchdown?! For the record, I expect the Patriots to win this game comfortably.

13:12 1st: Broncos start with two straight first downs - running of course. The Broncos receivers are outstanding run blockers - which is good cause they're somewhat less than outstanding at route running and catching.

11:53 1st: Tebow completes his first pass! And it was more or less a checkdown pattern, which is nice to see - I'm not sure they game him checkdown patterns to throw to more than once in the first 56 minutes of the game last week against Chicago.

10:45 1st: Phil Simms discusses how the Patriots are being caught off guard because they practiced to stop the option - guess it's news to him that the Broncos haven't run more than five option plays either of the last two games.

9:49 1st: TOUCHDOWN TEBOW! That was a great start to the game for the Broncos - not so much for the New England Patriots' tackling efforts.

9:49 1st: So about that clutch special teams the Broncos have displayed lately...

8:?? 1st: Big time catch and run by Hernandez - 3rd downs could be the deciding factor in this game - another reason I expect the Patriots to win.

7:24 1st: TOUCHDOWN OCHOCINCO! Strong answer to Denver's opening drive by New England.

5:20 1st: FANTASY! I'm starting both Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas in the semifinals of my fantasy football league today and am in good position to claim victory this weekend - thanks in large part to my opponent's team having what one might term abysmal day.

Also, the Broncos ran a slant pattern! With a WR! In what has already been a wild and wacky NFL Sunday, that was one of the more unbelievable occurrences thus far.

5:01 1st: We have ourselves a shootout! Lance Ball runs it in for a TD. Patriots' tackling woes continue - their defense is getting blown off the ball in the early goings. Meanwhile, the Broncos manage to successfully kick an extra point before the 4th quarter - not something they have much experience doing this season.

By the way, the many typos that I'm sure currently exist in this post will be fixed later.

4:10 1st: Weak holding call on Denver saves us from the game's first three-and-out - correct call but a weak call.

Watching the replay, I'm impressed with the Patriots' pass blocking early in the game.

3:21 1st: And we have our first defensive stop of the game - great throw by Brady though.

3:01 1st: Yeah, Tebow is not an accurate QB, not at all (sarcasm alert).

0:58 1st: Nope, he's not accurate (lack-of-sarcasm alert). Actually, that was a good example of how smart Tebow is as a young quarterback. Decker was bracketed with coverage so Tebow threw it low, where only his guy would have a chance to catch the ball - he just threw it too low.

0:03 1st: Tough loss for the Patriots as Andre Carter, their best pass rusher, is carted off the field with an injury.

End 1st: And tough break for football fans everywhere as CBS goes commercial, guy getting carted off the field, commercial. After the first frame, I'm really impressed with how the Broncos have started and controlled the game, yet also terrified by how explosive the Patriots passing offense has the potential to be before this one is over.

14:52 2nd: I love that option shovel pass the Broncos just ran! I don't care that it only earned them 2 yards, those are the type of easy completions the Broncos don't give Tebow often enough.

13:47 2nd: 16-7 Broncos lead. Simms and Jim Nance say these decisions to kick field goals are easy for John Fox. I suppose, though I wouldn't mind him taking a chance just once. Especially with Tebow, a fourth and short could be an ideal opportunity to catch the defense off guard with a big pass play.

12:51 2nd: Patriots try no-huddle for the first time today. Can they do that consistently at this altitude? I expect they can - Patriots are sneakily one of the better conditioned teams in the league, I think in part because they practice outside in the summer months while most teams take to air-conditioned facilities and bubbles.

12:01 2nd: Another huge 3rd down conversion by Hernandez - must be nice to have a TE you can use as a WR or RB when needed.

9:18 2nd: Welker down one foot from the endzone, apparently - one foot from fantasy points for me!

8:43 2nd: TOUCHDOWN HERNANDEZ! So far, Tebow's former TE has been the star of this game.

Quick aside: Live-blogging is an exhausting way to watch a football game - I feel so much pressure to keep up with everything without annoying my sister and girlfriend, watching with me, by hitting pause on the DVR after every other play - how does Simmons do it? I may have to take some breaks...

8:30 2nd: Lance Ball loses it. The Patriots' defense makes a play and now gives their offense a chance to take back control.

7:04 2nd: I still fail to understand why the Broncos never run plays like that quick screen pass to Hernandez in the slot.

4:32 2nd: That's a couple games in a row the pitch-option plays haven't worked well for the Broncos. That's also the second great play by the Patriots' defense in the last few minutes.

2:00 2nd: Patriots have flipped the script in the 2nd quarter, using their passing game to control the clock and keep Tebow off the field - Broncos haven't done themselves any favors turning the ball either. But this is huge for New England's defense if it wants to be able to contain Tebow Time later on.

1:12 2nd: Brady touchdown! Brady spike! Tebow looks angry - will they like him when he's angry?

1:08 2nd: The new NFL kickoff rule may need to be modified for games played in Denver.

0:03 2nd: In the words of Jim Nance, "Another miscue by Denver!"

Halftime: Broncos came out and played well in the first quarter, but New England roared back and dominated the second. Denver needs to regroup at the half and get back to knocking the Patriots off the ball when play resumes.

13:00 3rd: Broncos' defense starts the second half hot, but also shows its inexperience with a costly penalty on 3rd and long. I'm not sure I get the reasoning behind having illegal hands to the face result in a first down - shouldn't there be a distinction between that and a personal foul facemask?

9:43 3rd: Very, very happy to see Eddie Royal on the field to fair catch the punt - a la Kevin Faulk/Wes Welker.

8:23 3rd: Nice throw by Tebow off of play action - went to his 3rd read and threw it wide of double coverage to hit his receiver in the numbers. Again, those who say he can't throw or is too inaccurate are ignorant. Tebow's weakness throwing the ball is consistency - and it's a weakness that's been eroding right before our eyes the past several weeks. Over time, the Broncos will be able to expand their passing offense and become a much more dynamic offensive team if they commit to Tebow.

0:39 3rd: Touchdown Woodhead. The Patriots offense is flexing its muscle and exerting its will on this game, which is precisely why they are a great team despite the weaknesses of their defense - the offense can play whatever style it needs to win a game.

13:13 4th: Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil have been non-factors to this poi...

12:45 4th: Dumervil just went Goldberg on Tom Brady! The crowd gets back into the game for the moment.

10:39 4th: Lost in what has so far been a dominating performance by the Patriots is that Tim Tebow has looked very good throwing the football.

9:52 4th: However, Tebow must get better at recognizing disguised/delayed blitzes.

8:41 4th: Touchdown Tebow! Nice drive for Denver to keep them in the game, but I'm not expecting the stars to align today...

However, with Tebow and Thomas connecting several times on that drive and Tebow finishing it off with a TD, my fantasy team has taken a commanding 17 point lead.

4:24 4th: Killer drive here by the Patriots to put the game on ice. It's amazing how they can control pace and clock with their passing game. Brady paints the field like Picasso.

3:00 4th: What's been overlooked since the Broncos took to a run-dominated offense is that doing so was largely a response to their offensive line's struggles with pass blocking.

2:17 4th: Tebow run for 30 yards - Tebow gets sacked for 30 yards.

Final: Patriots 41-Broncos 23. The Broncos simply were not ready to win this game. They made too many mental errors and allowed the Patriots to dominate the second and third quarters. But, Denver kept their compete level high and showed that they're not that far away from being in a game against the New Englands of the NFL. In particular, Tebow played well and threw the ball very well*. While he continues to keep some plays alive longer than he should, overall he makes outstanding decisions on the football field.

*I'm sure there will be many who cite his completion percentage when dissecting his performance on radio and tv tomorrow, but those who do suffer from the aforementioned ignorance and clearly did not watch the game.

Denver continues to lead the AFC West - thanks in large part to Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit Lions - and are a team that has the ability to make noise if they do indeed make it into the postseason. As a Broncos fan, it's a tough loss to take, but not a discouraging one.

The Patriots don't know who they are.

What an incredible day to live in the Boston area. After the third straight game in which their offense has appeared less than superhuman, and second straight game in which their defense has been maligned, sports radio in the Northeast is buzzing over what is wrong with the New England Patriots. One would think that the team is 3-5 and in last place instead of 5-3 and in the thick of what will be an exciting AFC playoff race. Still, the Patriots, who often seem invulnerable, have exposed numerous vulnerabilities this season, and Felger and Mazz and Gresh and Zo and the like cannot say enough about what is wrong with the team, what is wrong with the organization, and what needs to be done to fix it all, now and in the future.

Bill Belichick is under fire. His strategy of trading down in the draft to acquire more picks in order to trade down in the draft to acquire more picks, is failing. There's a perceived lack of talent on the roster, and a lack of experience and pedigree among coaches not named William. Schemes on both sides of the ball are being questioned - commonplace for the defense in recent seasons and now alarming for an offense thought to be among the NFL's elite. For a decade the New England Patriots have been considered the smartest organization in football, maybe all of professional sports. As of Monday morning, that is no longer the case.

All these issues boil down to one truth: the Patriots lack an identity. They're no longer the team that can resign players and sign free agents below market value because they want to be part of a successful, team-oriented organization. But they're not the Red Sox or Yankees either - teams that spend above market value on free agents to eliminate the competition. They want to be a team that builds through value in the draft, but they rarely cash in their assets to acquire a blue chip prospect and often give up on their young players too quickly. They've transitioned from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense with the intent of pressuring the QB with their front four and playing man defense, but their lack of talent in the secondary has caused them to rely on a soft, bend-but-don't-break zone scheme. Offensively, they spread the field in order to let Brady pick apart the defense, but they've failed to find a second or third WR to play with Welker*. They have an abundance of young RBs with many different talents, but are reluctant to incorporate the run into their offense consistently.

*The Patriots did succeed in drafting a couple of stud TEs in 2010 who should be the foundation of their passing offense for years to come.

Bill Belichick is considered the best coach in football, and rightly so. But it seems that he is trying to solve all of these problems himself, and he alone cannot get the job done. He needs to pick a direction for this team and franchise, hire assistant coaches and sign and draft players who can take them there, and give his team the identity it lacks, the identity it had when it won three Superbowls in four years. And if he can't or won't, then Mr. Kraft needs to find someone who can**.

**I'm not advocating that the Patriots fire Belichick, but rather that he may need someone to work with when it comes to personnel decisions, both on the roster and the coaching staff.

he can build on this

I an effort to prove (mostly to myself) that I am not a blind Tim Tebow fanboy, here is my take on the Broncos' 38-24 win over the Oakland Raiders yesterday...

John Fox and Denver's offensive coaching staff, after seemingly taking an extra two weeks off of work after the bye, showed up to do their jobs this week. Resulting, Tebow looked much improved quarterbacking his team in Sunday's division clash in Oakland. The scheme made sense - something it did not do, especially last week against the Lions - and they put Tebow in positions to make plays.

Tebow played well, but was still inconsistent. His 10-21 stat line should have been better as there were two or three passes he threw that his receivers should have caught. There were also two or three passes he threw that were wildly inaccurate. He has struggled throwing the 15-yard corner route to his left, missing a wide-open Julius Thomas on one such route Sunday. But he also threw some nice passes over the middle and on the move, and the offense made an effective and intelligent use of his unique skill set.

The offensive line was awful, and Tebow was hit on almost every pass attempt. But unlike prior weeks, he was able to get the ball out of his hands and avoid taking a ton of sacks. He was also able to take care of the ball, not fumbling and not throwing any interceptions. However, he failed to manage the play clock on several occasions.

Currently, Tebow is a quarterback who can manage a game and make plays when he needs to. If he is able to build on the success of yesterday and start completing a higher percentage of his pass attempts and increase his awareness of the play clock, he can be a winning quarterback in the NFL. The key for him is consistency - to limit his poor throws and make positive plays, both with his arm and legs, on a more consistent basis. It's a challenge both Tebow and Denver coaches need to face together. Regardless of whether or not he is able, there's no doubt Tebow will commit himself to improving. After yesterday, I'm less suspicious that the Broncos coaches will give less than their best efforts.

Just win, baby!

Tim Tebow had a dreadful day as starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos in their 18-15 overtime victory over the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium in South Beach*. At times, he was woefully inaccurate and took too long to deliver the football, leading to numerous sacks and continued criticism from the likes of Trent Dilfer and Merril Hoge. But as the dust settles on an NFL Sunday that featured a handful of ugly games, Tebow did what Tebow does - he emerged as a winner.

*I have no idea if the stadium is actually in or near South Beach, but LeBron has made "South Beach" an enjoyably ironic part of our lexicon.

Tebow was magical in the final five minutes of regulation, showing the poise and playmaking ability that typified his legacy as one of the best college football players in history while at the University of Florida. Leading up to that point, he made far more good decisions than bad, and his presence in the offense seemed to open up running lanes for the Broncos backs. But his execution as a passer was putrid - and that part of his game will need to improve moving forward.

I credit the coaching staffs for Tebow's performance in the first 55 minutes of the game. While the Dolphins are better than their 0-6 record, they are not a good team and at best an average defense. But their scheme coming off of a short week was brilliant. Bringing delayed pressure at Tebow and defending the Broncos screen and short passing game, they looked prepared to defend the Gator hero. Meanwhile, the Broncos' offensive coaches kept the passing attack too simple, ran too many one-read plays and limited their signal caller's performance. Still, Tebow must take the bulk of the blame for his performance, and it's on him to improve going forward.

Unlike Dilfer and Hoge, I do expect Tebow to improve and I expect the Broncos to find an offensive identity moving forward. It will take time and the journey to consistency may not be pretty. But along the way, Tebow inspires confidence in fans and teammates because of his innate ability to find a way to win - a refreshing change from Kyle Orton's ability to find a way to lose.

play of the day

LeGarrette Blount's game-winning 35-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter of last night's victory against the Colts was a clutch performance and arguably the most important play of the NFL's fourth week. The play kept Tampa Bay tied atop the NFC South with New Orleans and on solid footing in what looks to be a competitive NFC playoff picture, it kept Indianapolis atop the Andrew Luck sweepstakes and, most importantly, it won me my fantasy football matchup.

Okay, clearly my fantasy football team is of the least importance, but I'm off to a 4-0 start in a very competitive 16 team league despite using my first round draft choice - 4th overall - on Jamaal Charles, and I feel like a little bragging is justified*. Also, I wanted to share the link to Grantland.com's analysis of the play, which is both cool and informative. I'm enjoying their efforts to break down one play a week and diagram it at the line of scrimmage.

*I'm sure I'm now dooming my team to a 4-9 record for the season.

Football is such a complex game requiring 11 players to all be on the same page, moving at the same tempo in order to execute a plan correctly. Features like this help fans like me appreciate just how true that is.

What in the Broncos is going on out there?

I didn't get to watch the Broncos travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans this afternoon - I'm away from home and thus away from my DirectTV Sunday Ticket - but I don't need to have seen the game to read the recap, examine the box score and know that the Broncos' offense is anemic*.

*To be fair, the Titans' offense likewise suffers from an iron deficiency.

The best playmaker the Broncos have on the offensive side of the ball is backup (or third string) quarterback Tim Tebow. The Broncos need to find a way to get Tebow in the game and get the ball in his hands. It's clear to me that he should be their starting quarterback, but even if that isn't clear to their coaching and personnel staffs, they need to find creative ways of getting their best player on the field, putting the ball in his hands, and allowing him to make plays. The Broncos will continue to struggle on third downs and in the red zone until they do.

Tebow is a unique athlete at the quarterback position and needs to be utilized as a run/pass threat in short yardage and scoring situations. He's hard to gameplan and prepare for - Kyle Orton is not. John Fox and company need to go back and watch some Pittsburgh game film from the early/mid 1990s. They need to study how the Steelers were able to involve then backup quarterback Kordell Stewart as a wide receiver and part-time QB in order to make their offense more explosive. Tebow is different from Stewart and has a different skill set, but he can be used in similar ways in similar situations as Stewart was early in his career.

I understand why the Broncos' brass is reluctant to put Tebow on the field - using him periodically in games will only fan the flames of fan outrage over him not being the teams' starting QB. But not using him and allowing their offense to stagnate isn't going to douse any fires either. Tebow is a gamer and Sundays are gamedays. If you want to win, you need to play your best - it's time Denver started doing that.

FANTASY!!!

Since 2002, I've participated in a fantasy football league with friends from college. It started as a 10 team league and has grown over to the years to include 12, 14, 16, 18 and now 16 members again. Most people in the league (we've had male and female owners), are savvy, and the league is always competitive. I'm yet to win the league, but over the years I do feel that I've managed one of the most successful teams in the league - aside 2008, when I spent my first pick on Tom Brady, who played all of one quarter of that season.

We had our draft - an online snake draft - on Wednesday night, and I came away more than satisfied with my team. In order of round selected, here are my guys:

1. Jamal Charles
2. LeGarrette Blount
3. Matt Schaub
4. Wes Welker
5. Ryan Mathews
6. Johnny Knox
7. Kellen Winslow
8. Thomas Jones
9. Montario Hardesty
10. Matt Cassel
11. San Deigo D/ST
12. Todd Heap
13. Toby Gerhart
14. Nick Folk
15. Eric Decker

I enjoyed that we have just 15 selections - makes sense given the depth of the league not to have the extra bench slot. I'm psyched I was able to get both Charles and Blount - two RBs who should be highly productive - as well as Mathews - who I like more this season than most - while still getting one of the top 7 or 8 QBs. My WRs are thin, but I know I can count on Welker, Decker may be a huge sleeper, and there are always receivers on the waiver wire. I wish I had passed on Winslow to take another high grade backup RB - there were TEs available later I could have snatched instead after selecting Cassel.

This may be false hope, but I'm entering the season with as much confidence as I can remember in my fantasy team*, which of course means that I'm destined for the consolation playoff bracket.

*That's probably not true. I had LaDanian Tomlinson two years in a row in his prime - and of course my teams fell apart each of those times too.