NFL: Best and worst of 2007

The NFL season was one of surprise.
After a rocky-at-times regular season,
the Giants defeated the then-undefeated
Patriots in the Super Bowl. While the
’72 Dolphins got to stay in the record
books, the ’07 Dolphins nearly entered
it with one of the worst seasons in
franchise history. Brett Favre re-vamped
his career . again. Here are the sports
editors’ picks for the best and worst of
this year’s action.

Biggest surprises

Eli Manning’s playoff performance:
After a regular season that ended with 10
wins but unflattering statistics, Manning
turned it up in the playoffs and led his
team to three road wins and a Super
Bowl title. Manning showed more poise
and put up better statistics than he could
have dreamed of putting up in the regular
season. Main receiving target Plaxico
Burress came to the rescue by saying his
regular season performances had more
to do with poor weather than poor play
– but winning the Super Bowl overcame
all doubts about the first 16 games.

David Garrard: Anyone who paid
attention to Garrard’s college days at
East Carolina knew he could run a team.
However, Garrard didn’t get a chance to
prove it on a professional level until this
season. Garrard threw for over 2,500
yards and 18 touchdowns in only 12
games (injuries) while tossing only three
interceptions. His performance, along
with Fred Taylor’s resurgence, was key in
taking the Jaguars back to the playoffs.

Green Bay: Quite simply – even Brett
Favre said the Packers wouldn’t be good
before the season. Favre appeared on his
last legs, there was no running game, and
the defense was non-existent. However,
Favre had a great year with the help of
Greg Jennings, Ryan Grant stepped up at
the running back position and the defense
proved its worth. Now the big question:
Can they do it again next season?

Derek Anderson: Stepped up for
Cleveland and lifted coach Romeo
Crennel from the hot seat. Anderson
silenced doubters who thought Brady
Quinn should start in his rookie season.
The Browns surpassed expectations with
a 10-6 finish and Anderson threw for
3,787 yards, earning a Pro Bowl roster
spot.

Bobby Petrino: After enduring
Michael Vick’s plight and dissention
among his own players, Petrino caved
under the pressure and walked away
from the Falcons 13 games into his first
NFL season. Petrino went 3-10, leaving
the team in shambles and in a state
so damaged it will now have trouble
courting high-profile personnel.

Biggest losses

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals had it
all: a strong-armed quarterback in Carson
Palmer, solid targets in Chad Johnson
and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a quality
running back in Rudi Johnson. The
receivers did what they could, but Palmer
threw nearly as many interceptions (20)
as touchdowns (26), and Rudi Johnson
got hurt early and recovered too late.
The defense showed
up at times, but
giving up 20
points doesn’t
help when the
offense only
scores 13.

Jason Campbell:
Campbell
was supposed
to break out in
his first season as
a full-time starter.
Instead, he didn’t
find a wide receiver
for a touchdown until
he hit Santana Moss
in Week 11. When an
injury forced backup Todd
Collins into action, Collins
made plays and made the Redskins’
offense go. Collins isn’t going
to be in the Pro Bowl any time soon.
After this season, Campbell might not
even be the starter next year.

NFC South: The Falcons weren’t
supposed to do anything great, but the
Panthers and Saints sure were. Both
teams were labeled as contenders to not
only win the division but also contend
for the Super Bowl. Instead, both teams
went 7-9 and Tampa Bay won the division
at 9-7.

Baltimore Ravens: Brian Billick is the
subheading for the Ravens’ troubles this
season. The man behind the juggernaut
1998 Minnesota Vikings’ offense could
never bring Baltimore’s offense to
prominence. Despite having the league’s
sixth-best defense in 2007, the Ravens
won just five games, eight fewer than
the previous season.

Detroit Lions: The team’s season was
reminiscent of a typical Giants season,
except it didn’t end in a playoff berth for
the Lions. The team started 6-2 but was
a woeful 1-7 in the latter portion of the
season. Detroit had a 4,000-yard passer
in Jon Kitna but boasted the league’s
worst defense.

It’s your turn! Send us your
thoughts on the best and worst of
this season by sending an e-mail to
sports@commonwealthtimes.com
or by commenting on the story at
www.commonwealthtimes.com.
The NFL season was one of surprise.
After a rocky-at-times regular season,
the Giants defeated the then-undefeated
Patriots in the Super Bowl. While the
’72 Dolphins got to stay in the record
books, the ’07 Dolphins nearly entered
it with one of the worst seasons in
franchise history. Brett Favre re-vamped
his career . again. Here are the sports
editors’ picks for the best and worst of
this year’s action.

Biggest surprises

Eli Manning’s playoff performance:
After a regular season that ended with 10
wins but unflattering statistics, Manning
turned it up in the playoffs and led his
team to three road wins and a Super
Bowl title. Manning showed more poise
and put up better statistics than he could
have dreamed of putting up in the regular
season. Main receiving target Plaxico
Burress came to the rescue by saying his
regular season performances had more
to do with poor weather than poor play
– but winning the Super Bowl overcame
all doubts about the first 16 games.

David Garrard: Anyone who paid
attention to Garrard’s college days at
East Carolina knew he could run a team.
However, Garrard didn’t get a chance to
prove it on a professional level until this
season. Garrard threw for over 2,500
yards and 18 touchdowns in only 12
games (injuries) while tossing only three
interceptions. His performance, along
with Fred Taylor’s resurgence, was key in
taking the Jaguars back to the playoffs.

Green Bay: Quite simply – even Brett
Favre said the Packers wouldn’t be good
before the season. Favre appeared on his
last legs, there was no running game, and
the defense was non-existent. However,
Favre had a great year with the help of
Greg Jennings, Ryan Grant stepped up at
the running back position and the defense
proved its worth. Now the big question:
Can they do it again next season?

Derek Anderson: Stepped up for
Cleveland and lifted coach Romeo
Crennel from the hot seat. Anderson
silenced doubters who thought Brady
Quinn should start in his rookie season.
The Browns surpassed expectations with
a 10-6 finish and Anderson threw for
3,787 yards, earning a Pro Bowl roster
spot.

Bobby Petrino: After enduring
Michael Vick’s plight and dissention
among his own players, Petrino caved
under the pressure and walked away
from the Falcons 13 games into his first
NFL season. Petrino went 3-10, leaving
the team in shambles and in a state
so damaged it will now have trouble
courting high-profile personnel.

Biggest losses

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals had it
all: a strong-armed quarterback in Carson
Palmer, solid targets in Chad Johnson
and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a quality
running back in Rudi Johnson. The
receivers did what they could, but Palmer
threw nearly as many interceptions (20)
as touchdowns (26), and Rudi Johnson
got hurt early and recovered too late.
The defense showed
up at times, but
giving up 20
points doesn’t
help when the
offense only
scores 13.

Jason Campbell:
Campbell
was supposed
to break out in
his first season as
a full-time starter.
Instead, he didn’t
find a wide receiver
for a touchdown until
he hit Santana Moss
in Week 11. When an
injury forced backup Todd
Collins into action, Collins
made plays and made the Redskins’
offense go. Collins isn’t going
to be in the Pro Bowl any time soon.
After this season, Campbell might not
even be the starter next year.

NFC South: The Falcons weren’t
supposed to do anything great, but the
Panthers and Saints sure were. Both
teams were labeled as contenders to not
only win the division but also contend
for the Super Bowl. Instead, both teams
went 7-9 and Tampa Bay won the division
at 9-7.

Baltimore Ravens: Brian Billick is the
subheading for the Ravens’ troubles this
season. The man behind the juggernaut
1998 Minnesota Vikings’ offense could
never bring Baltimore’s offense to
prominence. Despite having the league’s
sixth-best defense in 2007, the Ravens
won just five games, eight fewer than
the previous season.

Detroit Lions: The team’s season was
reminiscent of a typical Giants season,
except it didn’t end in a playoff berth for
the Lions. The team started 6-2 but was
a woeful 1-7 in the latter portion of the
season. Detroit had a 4,000-yard passer
in Jon Kitna but boasted the league’s
worst defense.

It’s your turn! Send us your
thoughts on the best and worst of
this season by sending an e-mail to
sports@commonwealthtimes.com
or by commenting on the story at
www.commonwealthtimes.com.