Angel
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Read and React: Ranklings
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
Somewhere, there is a fan who thinks his or her favorite team has gotten exactly the credit they deserve. Unfortunately for the mailbag, that fan doesn't appear to own a computer.
But the griping masses do, and they didn't waste time complaining about the recent offseason rankings. It's become an offseason staple, really. The AFC and NFC rundown is pieced together and unveiled – and the readers band together like torch-bearing villagers and incinerate the mailbag.
Seemingly nobody was happy this week, whether it was the Seattle Seahawks fans who are once again crying about East Coast bias, or the New York Giants fans who think the No. 1 rating is a preseason curse (I mean, come on people). And, of course, there are the perpetually whiny New England Patriots fans, who watched their team lose key pieces this offseason but can't fathom how New England could possibly be just another good-but-not-great AFC team.
But I'd be lying if I said this wasn't music to my ears. Keep the nasty emails coming. Keep formulating the 10-page diatribes that always begin, "You are an idiot." I'll be more than happy to print them. But remember to include your first and last name and your city and state. And as always, my comments will be in italics.
To the mail …
AFC RANKINGS ("Steel the one," May 10, 2006)
I seriously think you're mistaken. You make no mention of two key Super Bowl pieces missing from the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster in Jerome Bettis and Antwaan Randle El, not to mention the fact that Ben Roethlisberger is overrated.
Justin Matthew Cope
Columbus, Ohio
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So six of your top seven were the AFC playoff teams last year, and you even suggest that with Philip Rivers at the helm in '06, the Bolts may struggle, making the Jags more likely to grab that last wild-card spot. Frankly, you're not exactly going out on a limb here.
V. Allen
Pittsburgh
The day someone explains to me why "going out on a limb" constitutes good analysis is the day I'll make it a staple of the rankings.
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How in the world can you rank the Kansas City Chiefs as the ninth-best team in the AFC? Do you remember how good of a run they were on the latter part of last season? Do you remember how Larry Johnson would have shattered all records if he had played all season at the pace he was when he came in for an injured Priest Holmes?
Chris
Bentonville, Ark.
I said it last year and got killed for it, but I'm going to say it again: The Chiefs are getting old. They are a torn Willie Roaf ACL from going 8-8.
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The Steelers No. 1? You are five months late with this ranking. Keep putting the San Diego Chargers ahead of the Steelers. Your rankings never fail to amuse me for sheer stupidity.
Matthew Domanski
Los Angeles
I can't even begin to comprehend what Matthew is upset about.
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The Chargers at No. 5 with an unproven quarterback? You have got to be kidding.
Michael Coffey
Boston
I think the defense is going to be vastly improved this season. And with LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner getting plenty of carries, Rivers won't have to work miracles – just be efficient and smart with the football.
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Placing the Patriots sixth is an insult. They get a full year of Tedy Bruschi and will get Rodney Harrison back, at the worst, a few games into the season. They get either a healthy Corey Dillon or Laurence Maroney (who is a stud). They get a healthy Matt Light who was out for most of the year. They get Ben (freak of nature) Watson for a full season, and they have one of the best front sevens in football. Anyone who doubts the Pats will be sadly mistaken come playoff time.
Riley
Boston
Frankly, I simply don't think New England did much in free agency to improve the team. If the Patriots are injury-free – and that's highly unlikely – it's hard to believe this defense is going to be a top-10 unit.
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Picking the Buffalo Bills to finish behind the New York Jets, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns? Peerless Price is going to have another 2002 season and show fans what J.P. Losman can really do.
Mark Perrott
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
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Your bias is showing again. At least you're not jumping on the Indianapolis Colts' bandwagon early. Indy is not Indy without Edgerrin James. If anything, this is Jacksonville's year to move up. As for the Denver Broncos, they were a non-playoff team with a weak schedule that made the playoffs. This year will bring them back to life with a much tougher schedule.
Tony
New York
Someone mark it down. The annual "this is Jacksonville's year to move up" email has finally arrived.
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Your picks for the AFC were to say the least crazy! Pittsburgh is definitely No. 1, but Denver is more like No. 4, as the Colts and, yes, the Patriots are VASTLY better than the Broncos. But that isn't the worst. You did NOT put the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 3! A team with great offense but a poor D? How you can rank them ahead of Indy is beyond any logic at all.
Jim B.
Derry, N.H.
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Bengals third in the AFC? Tennessee Titans dead last? You sir, are stupid.
George
New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
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NFC RANKINGS ("East meets best," May 12, 2006)
I'm an East Coast guy, but four of the five top teams all in the NFC East? Come on. Just a hunch, but those teams are likely to beat up on each other a bit, and it's hugely unlikely all four will have a winning record. A little bias there?
Phil Hawken
Arlington, Va.
The rankings aren't based on what teams will win the most games. They are an opinion of strongest to weakest teams.
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There is no way the Philadelphia Eagles are among the top-five NFC teams. Donovan McNabb is overrated and definitely won't produce with second-string receivers. And how can you knock the Minnesota Vikings for having Brad Johnson at 38 running the helm? Look at the 1998 team, with Randall Cunningham leading the charge (who coincidentally was around the 38 mark as well).
Zack Martin
Indianapolis
Randall was 35 in 1998, and he was surrounded by Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Robert Smith and Jake Reed. Brad will be 38 and will be working with Koren Robinson, Travis Taylor, Marcus Robinson and Chester Taylor. See the difference?
To be continued next post......