With millions of dollars, free agency, and the draft for most teams their wish lists becomes a reality more often than not. This is an examination of what each team would like waiting under the proverbial tree.
1. Arizona Cardinals - Quarterback that doesn’t joke around. After watching Kurt Warner light defenses up and lead their teams for five years now the Cardinals have had to endure a season of Derek Anderson, Max Hall, and for a brief stint Matt Lienart. We all knew coming into the season Lienart didn’t have what it took. I haven’t and don’t expect to see Derek Anderson return to the year of greatness he had in Cleveland.
2. Atlanta Falcons - Dome Field Advantage. Two wins in the final three weeks can lock up home field advantage for a team that could us it the most.
3. Baltimore Ravens - Anti-Aging Cream. This defense is old, a really good defense, but about as old as I’ve seen in a while. They’re going to have to play a lot younger down the stretch. On Monday night they gave up two 90+ yard drives to Houston, both resulting in touchdowns.
4. Buffalo Bills - Divisional Win. They’ll get their chance this weekend against Miami, if they can’t beat the Dolphins it gets harder facing the Patriots and the Jets to close out the season. A divisional win would be big to build on for 2011, though a running back would help out more.
5. Carolina Panthers - Bill Cowher. With the Cats unlikely to resign John Fox they can only hope that Cowher is ready to return to coaching close to hope and leave Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, and the rest of CBS behind. John Gruden would be a nice option as well, especially with the ability to face his former Bucs twice a year, but Cowher should be their first choice.
6. Chicago Bears - Deluxe Sideline heaters. After facing the Patriots in a blizzard last week you would think anything would be better. Now they’re going to have to play Monday Night Football against the Vikings at TFC Bank Stadium, a stadium that has been covered in snow for three weeks and will be colder than Soldier Field was. After playing their last game of the season at Lambeau they might be looking forward to traveling for the playoffs.
7. Cincinnati Bengals - Anyone at QB but a Palmer. I used to believe in Carson Palmer, but after his knee injury two years ago he’s getting progressively worse. To add insult to injury Carson’s back up is his little brother Jordan. They could also benefit from a Carolina win against Arizona that could help them get the first pick in the draft and Andrew Luck.
8. Cleveland Browns - 3 wins to finish 2010. Not only would ending the season on this streak get them to .500 it could also end the playoff hopes for one of their divisional foes the Steelers or Ravens. They could also benefit from a top notch receiver through the draft or free agency there will be plenty available from both.
9. Dallas Cowboys - Jason Garrett. I think their best move would be to take the interim title off their coaches name plate. He already knows the players, staff, and can create a smooth transition into the next chapter for America’s team. Hiring Garrett without interviewing others can also help alleviate the media madhouse that would be sure to follow.
10. Denver Broncos - Veteran Leadership. Whether it’s through their new head coach or free agency, this team needs a veteran voice. The Broncos are a young and very talented team and the youth has shown in multiple blow out loses in which they were not at a talent disadvantage.
11. Detroit Lions - Resigning Megatron. If the NFL teams lined up to see Santa, the Lions would be the annoying kid with a two page list. They’re not nearly the worse-off team in the league, but with their history they want badly to turn the tables. They could use better luck, between injuries and losing 6 of their 10 losses by 5 points or less. I think signing Calvin Johnson is the most important. He has already come out and voiced his displeasure of losing, something that has become synonymous with Detroit. By resigning him before the last two years are up they can secure the Stafford-Johnson tandem and guarantee their core.
12. Green Bay Packers - Good Health. No team in recent history has been as hit so hard by injuries. The Pack hasn’t been bitten by the short term bug either placing 15 players on IR and losing others for various lengths of time.
13. Houston Texans - Secondary Help. No team has been worse at defending the pass than this group. Whether through the draft or free agency or both they have to improve this unit that’s giving up more than 275 yards a game through the air.
14. Indianapolis Colts - Return of the real Peyton. Like the Packers, they could benefit from better health, but Peyton hasn’t been Peyton lately. They could greatly benefit from a solid running back in the draft, but with the playoffs still very much in play for Indy, they need a solution for the rest of this season.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars - Return to the Postseason. A divisional championship is within reach and could lead to the Jaguars first playoff game since 2007. The odds increase with a win against the Colts on Sunday. Making the playoffs would be huge for first year GM Gene Smith and allow for instant gratification.
16.Kansas City Chiefs - Patience. Not only are the Chiefs currently leading the AFC West, but they’re doing it with an experienced coaching staff and a large crop of young talent. If the Chiefs fall early in the postseason or fail to make the playoffs, with the Chargers making their usual December run, the entire Kansas City family must realize they’re built for the long haul and not a one-year playoff run.
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| Rendering of the New Marlins Stadium |
18. Minnesota Vikings - A New Roof. Having to move one game to Detroit and playing another outside and across town the Vikings will have the entire offseason to not only fix the roof, but to leverage local officials for a new stadium. They could also stand to erase any history of the Brett Favre debacle.
19. New England Patriots - Breakfast in Bed. What could the Patriots possibly ask for, they’re everyone’s early Super Bowl favorites, they have a stockpile of draft picks in 2011 (2 draft picks in each of the first four rounds), and all the pressure has shifted to the Jets.
20. New Orleans Saints - A loss to Atlanta on MNF. Nothing could be better for the Saints than a “L” in ATL…..right? Keeping their current coaching staff intact with all the likely head coaching position opening up would be big moving forward.
21. New York Giants - A Gameplan for Vick. A win against Philly on Sunday would keep the Giants’ hopes for a first round bye alive. It’s no secret to stop the Eagles, they must stop Vick. The Cowboys and Bears have slowed down number 7 and the Giants have the defensive speed to generate pressure.
22. New York Jets - A Delorean. From week 2 up to their bye in week seven New York was playing great football on both sides of the ball. Since their loss to Green Bay at home their offense has been anemic and their defense has gotten progressively worse thanks in large part to injuries. I’m not sure what during their week off, but it seems to be the root of their problems. They need Doc Brown to strap them in and take them back to mid-September.
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| Rex Ryan's Possible New Whip |
23. Oakland Raiders - Quality Quarterback Play. Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski were serviceable this year, but are nowhere close to long term solutions. Would it surprise anyone if Al Davis went after Cam Newton in the draft or made a play at McNabb?
24. Philadelphia Eagles - Retaining Vick. Michael Vick will have suitor lining up to talk to him after the season, that could include, Minnesota, Tennessee, Oakland, Washington, Denver, Miami, and possibly others. With piles of debt and even more talent Vick should be looking for the best situation in terms of surrounding talent, money, and length of contract. You would figure that he will listen to Philly before all others for giving him a chance. Vick is also most likely to succeed in offenses with a wealth of speed…sounds like the Eagles to me.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - Clone Polamalu. Hey, if anyone can do it its Santa right? You can’t have what you don’t ask for. Runner-up would have to be a quite postseason for Big Ben.
26. San Diego Chargers - An Entire Season Played in December. Under Norv Turner this team routinely comes slow out of the gate, but seems to always make a late run for the playoffs. Short of the firing, retiring, or resigning of Turner, this is their best shot of putting together a solid season.
27. San Francisco 49ers - Answers. The 49ers are going to be loaded with questions this offseason. Whether to keep Singletary, stick with either or both Smith’s at QB-both will be free agents in 2010, plan for the future at running back. Frank Gore will be a free agent in 2012, so they need to judge the likelihood of resigning him to plan for the draft. I don’t think management wants to answer any of these questions.
28. Seattle Seahawks - An Actual 12th Man. The Seahawks are known for their loud fan base, known as the 12th man, but they’d be better off with an actual twelfth man on offense and defense playing Atlanta this week.
29. St. Louis Rams - Extra Football. Making the playoffs this year would be at least a year ahead of schedule for St. Louis. Not only would they have an extra game to get better for next year, but likely an additional home game to help pay for all the high draft picks they’ve gotten recently.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Return of the Fans. The Pewter Pirates have played great this year, but even an increasing level of play couldn’t prevent blackouts when Pittsburgh and Atlanta came to town.
31. Tennessee Titans - Larry Hayes, Jr. “Larry Hayes, Jr. is a family law attorney in Nashville, Tennessee who focuses on divorce cases involving large estates or complex issues at the trial and appellate levels.” Clearly this is where the Titans are headed with Vince Young and Jeff Fisher.
32. Washington Redskins - A New Owner. Let’s not kid ourselves by thinking Daniel Snyder is anything more than one of the worst NFL owner in the league in terms of putting out a quality product. Constantly overpaying for mediocre and aging talent, constant coaching changes, putting personalities that have no chance of messing together. Redskin fans have to be tired of this.
Agree or disagree with your team's wish? Let us know in the comments.
That silver and blue Megatron outline is off the hook! Where did you get that image from? A shirt like that would make me a very happy man.
ReplyDeleteCasey