Lots of Question Marks For Lots of Teams
Here's what strikes me most about this preseason:
Just about all the presumed top teams in the league will enter the season with a major question mark.
Start with the two Super Bowl teams:
The Giants traded tight end Jeremy Shockey before training camp, lost defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury suffered during a preseason game and failed to lure Michael Strahan out of retirement to replace him.
The Patriots haven't had quarterback Tom Brady on the field because of an ailing right foot. Brady has said it's not the same injury as the one, reportedly a high ankle sprain on his right leg, that plagued him during last season's Super Bowl. But couldn't they be related? And if they are, could that be an ongoing concern?
Move on to the two teams that lost the conference title games:
The Packers... I can't quite remember, but haven't they had some sort of quarterback issue going on?
The Chargers have quarterback Philip Rivers coming back from a knee injury, tight end Antonio Gates coming back from a toe injury and linebacker Shawne Merriman trying to play with two torn knee ligaments.
Throw in a few more would-be contenders:
The Colts haven't had quarterback Peyton Manning throughout the preseason because of the knee surgery he underwent just before training camp.
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been plagued by a balky back.
The Cowboys seem one wide receiver short after cutting Terry Glenn and are doing some patchwork on their offensive line.
These might not be fatal flaws, but no club looks like a no-doubt-about-it superpower entering the season.
By Mark Maske |
August 29, 2008; 11:02 AM ET
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Posted by: cueskilz | August 29, 2008 1:17 PM
I thought about both them, with their issues on the offensive line, and the Steelers, with the juggling at backup quarterback. But you have to end the list at some point, you know.
Posted by: Mark Maske | August 29, 2008 2:07 PM
Injuries not Terry Glenn is Dallas' wide receiver problem. Glenn played in two games last season (the last two) and had no impact (other than taking minutes from younger guys who had contributed during the season). I am worried about our wide outs and o-line. Our backups are suspect.
Posted by: Omar | August 29, 2008 2:16 PM
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There is one team that you don't have in the mix that can be a serious superbowl contender....Jacksonville Jaguars.