Conventional wisdom.I've tried to avoid it in my 26 years of reporting on the NFL. Yet I find myself following the herd when I search for the NFL's most pleasant 2009 surprise. How can I not say it's Denver at 5-0 after the offseason chaos following Josh McDaniels' arrival?
Look at Brandon Marshall hugging McDaniels, who suspended him for the final two weeks of the preseason after Brandon acted like a child; Kyle Orton, the quarterback the Broncos got when Jay Cutler demanded to be traded, has a passer rating eight points higher than Cutler; and a defense that allowed 28 points per game in 2008, third worst in the league, is allowing just 8.6 in 2009.
So like everyone else, I have to go with the Broncos as the most pleasant surprise.
As for the rest ...
This week's Dirty Dozen includes what I consider the six most pleasant surprises and the six biggest disappointments of the season.
Top 6
1. The Broncos: They beat the Bengals on a fluke play. Then they beat Cleveland and Oakland, two Triple A sides. But they came from behind to beat overrated Dallas and then New England. So yes, they are legit. Give a lot of credit to Mike Nolan, whose level of competence clearly is as defensive coordinator -- he proved that in Denver 20 years ago, in New York with the Giants, and with Washington and Baltimore. McDaniels seems to be the Belichick clone who might come close to being as good as the mentor. Surviving the Cutler/Marshall fiascoes is tribute enough.
2. Kyle Orton: This goes beyond the Broncos as a team. Orton' was tabbed early as a career backup -- or, at best a caretaker, as he was last season with the Bears. Tags like that get applied unfairly all the time and even football people believe them. After all, he was a fourth-round pick who got forced into action as a rookie when Rex Grossman (who HAS become a career backup) got hurt and lost three of his first four starts. Guess what? Since then, he's 25-9 as a starter -- not flashy but he wins, as he did Sunday by driving the Broncos the length of the field to send their game with the Patriots into overtime. You want Jay Cutler and his athletic ability? I'll take Orton and his "game management" -- "GM" is considered a pejorative. It's not.
3. The Bengals: The most touching pictures of the season came from the Bengals locker room last Sunday after they went into Baltimore and upset the Ravens. It was a celebration around defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, whose wife had died unexpectedly three days before. More touching because this is a team known for its off-field troubles and the me-first attitude of some of its stars (we mean you, Chad). Cedric Benson, a high pick who washed out of Chicago, leads the league in rushing, six yards ahead of Adrian Peterson. Antwan Odom is tied for the league lead in sacks with Denver's Elvis Dumervil, and rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga has solidified a defense that was pretty good last season. And there's Roy Williams (the safety), who Zimmer had in Dallas and has re-energized into the solid run-stopper he's always been. .
4. The other Steve Smith: That's the third-year receiver with the Giants, not the ninth-year guy with the Panthers. Meadowlands Steve leads the NFL with 37 receptions and 481 yards and is tied at the top with four receiving TDs. That's 17 more catches and 226 more yards than Carolina Steve. The Giants' Smith was the No. 2 receiver at Southern Cal behind Dwayne Jarrett, who was taken six picks ahead of him by those same Panthers in the second round of the 2007 draft. In his third season, Jarrett has 18 career catches for 211 yards. Smith has 102 catches for 1,118 yards. He had another 14 catches in the Giants' run to Super Bowl XLII, including five in the big game.
5. The New Orleans defense: Thank you Gregg Williams, like Nolan a less-than-successful head coach but an outstanding coordinator. The Saints are giving up 16.5 points a game this season after allowing 24.6 in 2008, the reason they were 8-8 despite a near-record season by Drew Brees. Both Brees and the offense are still among the NFL's bests, but credit the defense for the 4-0 record. Also, give an assist to the court in Minneapolis that has been holding up the four-game suspension of the Vikings' Kevin and Pat Williams for nearly a year. The Saints' two defensive ends, Charles Grant and Will Smith, were suspended in the same case and commissioner Roger Goodell has also stayed their suspensions pending the final outcome. That probably won't come this year, a major plus for New Orleans.
6. Brett Favre: Everyone wanted him to go away. Was it five years or six that he waffled about retiring or unretiring? Whoops!. Now that he's joined the Vikings, his arm looks as strong as ever. He made the play of the year to beat the 49ers in the final seconds. He's 40 and playing like 30 for a 5-0 team, which means he'll probably put us through the same Hamlet act next summer.
Latest NFL Images
Defensive player Junior Seau answers a reporter's question after the New England Patriots announced they re-signed the 40-year-old linebacker during a media availability at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
AP
Defensive player Junior Seau stands in front of his new locker after the New England Patriots announced they re-signed the 40-year-old linebacker at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
AP
Defensive player Junior Seau answers a reporter's question after the New England Patriots announced they re-signed the 40-year-old linebacker during a media availability at the NFL football team's facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
AP
This photo provided by Rush Limbaugh shows Limbaugh in his Palm Beach, Fla. radio studio, the last week of Sept., 2009. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he would not tolerate "divisive" comments from an NFL owner like the ones the talk show host made about Donovan McNabb in 2003. And Colts owner Jim Irsay says he would vote to bar Limbaugh if he tries to buy the St. Louis Rams. (AP Photo/Photo courtesy of Rush Limbaugh)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, accompanied by his wife Peggy, lead the delegation arriving by charter bus to attend the visitation for Vikki Zimmer, wife of the Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. Vikki Zimmer died last week. The Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, then gave the game ball to Zimmer in the locker room. (AP Photo/The Cincinnati Enquirer, Michael E. Keating) ** NO SALES **
AP
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, left, consoles his daughter Marki outside Holy Cross Church of the Immaculate in Cincinnati, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. Visitation was held at the church for Zimmer's wife, Vikki Zimmer, who died last week. The Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, then gave the game ball to Zimmer in the locker room. (AP Photo/The Cincinnati Enquirer, Michael E. Keating) ** NO SALES **
AP
Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, center, pats defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer on the shoulder during visitation for Zimmer's wife, Vikki, in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. Adam Zimmer, son of Mike Zimmer, is shown in the greeting line to the left. Vikki Zimmer died last week. The Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, then gave the game ball to Zimmer in the locker room. (AP Photo/The Cincinnati Enquirer, Michael E. Keating) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo taken on Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne (7) signals at the line of scrimmage as center Jake Grove and guard Justin Smiley (65) get set during an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Miami. With two wins in a row over division rivals, the Dolphins have climbed back into the AFC East race. And they're unbeaten since Henne became their starting quarterback. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
AP
This photo provided by Rush Limbaugh shows Limbaugh in his Palm Beach, Fla. radio studio, the last week of Sept., 2009. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he would not tolerate "divisive" comments from an NFL owner like the ones the talk show host made about Donovan McNabb in 2003. And Colts owner Jim Irsay says he would vote to bar Limbaugh if he tries to buy the St. Louis Rams. (AP Photo/Photo courtesy of Rush Limbaugh)
AP
New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17) walks off the field after the Jets lost to the Miami Dolphins 31-27 during an NFL football game in Miami Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
AP
Bottom 6
27. Cincinnati fans: The Bengals have won four straight and they still haven't bought enough tickets yet to avoid a blackout for Sunday's game against Houston. Even in a down economy ...
28. The Green Bay offensive line: Aaron Rodgers is one of the top 10 QBs in the league. He might be even better if his OL protected him. Rodgers has gone down 20 times in four games, a pace that would hit a record 80 for the season, worse than David Carr's 76 in his rookie season with expansion Houston. Left tackle Chad Clifton has been in and out of the lineup because of injuries and right tackle Alan Barbre has allowed 5 1/2 sacks in four games. That's worse than four TEAMS -- the Colts, Giants, Saints and Falcons. Now Mark Tauscher has been re-signed, 10 months removed from knee surgery. Desperation time.
29. The other Roy Williams: Roy Williams the wideout's biggest contribution to the Cowboys this season was sitting out last week with bruised ribs. That allowed Miles Austin to get his first start and grab 10 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. So maybe Austin is the No. 1 receiver the Cowboys need. Roy was dumped on Dallas after Martin Mayhew succeeded Matt Millen as the Lions' GM. He looks like a No.3 receiver, not the No. 1 the Cowboys thought they were getting. If his injury allowed the Cowboys to find their No. 1, it might be worth it.
30. Eric Mangini: He has to be a mole for the Jets, the team that fired him after last season. He got hired immediately by the Browns (why?) and immediately began to rebuild his old team. First, he traded them the draft pick they used to take Mark Sanchez. Last week he traded them Braylon Edwards for the equivalent of wilting lettuce. Cleveland is 1-4 and the one win was an ugly 6-3 game in which its QB was 2 of 17. But Derek Anderson remains Mangini's QB and Brady Quinn is persona non grata. Mangini is a Belichick clone who can't emulate the master. Or maybe he's doing it: BB was a dud in Cleveland, too.
31. Tennessee: Started 10-0 last season. Now 0-5. It may be less about losing Albert Haynesworth than losing Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator. The defense under Chuck Cecil is leaking everywhere; Kerry Collins looks like the Oakland Kerry -- when he's under pressure, he turns it over. Always has. Jeff Fisher says Collins starts in New England this week. But Vince Young has to get a shot soon.
32. Terrell Owens: Yes, he's behaved relatively well in Buffalo. But 12 catches for 202 yards and one TD is not what the Bills expected (the 1-4 Bills are not what the Bills expected, either, but that's another story.) Owens generated some excitement in camp but it went away quickly when he and the team both performed badly. Realize this: T.O .turns 36 on December 7. Almost all the wonderful wideouts in the class of '96 are either out of football or nearing the end. Out: Marvin Harrison, Keyshawn Johnson, Eddie Kennison, Terry Glenn, Eric Moulds, Amani Toomer. Still left: Owens, Muhsin Muhammad and Bobby Engram. Sorry, but you can't run away from the aging process.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-14-2009 @ 6:12PM
joe j said...
McDummy is lucky so far. If it wasn't for Nolan they would be 0-5, period! The Broncos have been my team for over 30 years but McDummy is not the answer. They could lose 5 straight just as easy. Don't fall in love with 5 wins Bronco fans, he will not be good for us in the long haul.
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10-14-2009 @ 10:32PM
ogkush007 said...
@ JOE J. Your the only dummy I see. If it wasn't for Nolan they would be 0-5 eh? No kidding! That's why they went out and signed him you moron. You can say that if it wasn't for this or if it wasn't for that for any team in the nfl. Your obviously just a idiot that doesn't know anything about sports so i'll let you slide with that stupid comment you made. But the reality is your just a stupid idiot that doesn't know anything about sports.
10-14-2009 @ 11:19PM
williewunderlich said...
Good article, Goldberg. I agree with almost everything here, with one footnote. The Denver Broncos did not beat Cincinnati on one mere play. One play does not a game make, as the saying goes. Denver played great defense against the Bengals' menacing offense for four quarters, and Cincinnati scored exactly zero points against Denver until the final minute of that game...
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10-15-2009 @ 12:21AM
James said...
williewund.....you are exactly right. A game is not determined on 'one play.' Not in any sport. There is so much that goes on from the 1st second of any team sport to the final second.
Why does the sports media have such little understanding about sports. Answer: They need a scape-goat. The dirtier these 'reporters' can make it sound the more they love it.
They don't interview the 'winners' first...they love to interview the losers with the camera in their faces asking the most idiotice questions.
Their negativity is a real turn-off. Thank god for the 'mute button' on my T.V.
10-15-2009 @ 7:27AM
Tom said...
Goldberg - I agree with many of your comments, but you shouldn't be slamming the Cincinnati fans for low ticket sales. Do you know anything about Cincinnati?
The unemployment rate is 8.3% with a job-growth rate of -5.1%. The median household income is $33,300 per year.
The state sales tax is 7.00%; income tax is 7.09%.
What is the cost of a Bengals ticket (high and low)? How much does it cost to park? What are the concession prices?
Not everyone has a posh job like yours.
You should do some research and write a column comparing all these prices across the teams in the league. Also include stats on city population, stadium seating capacity, average attendance this year, and ticket sales required to prevent a blackout.
You might learn something in the process.
BTW, I'm a Steelers fan.
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10-15-2009 @ 7:29AM
roy0851 said...
dave goldberg how can you forget the raiders they are the joke of the whole nfl and just think of where we will be at the end of the season dead last in all parts of the game so how can you for get them the olnly thing we have is the winner of the coaches fight club lol gee if only we could get somone to teach them team work then they may win more than 5 games a year oh yea and send j russ back to the pee wee leauge to play maybe he can learn to qb. i think you need to look how they had hope in the raider nation and now they are being left down buy a over weight and over paid qb who shouldn't be playing in the nfl at all did you miss this team well take another look and see if you can find anything good on the teams offense they are a joke
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10-15-2009 @ 7:39AM
Tom said...
The posting editor appears to have muddled the employment stats I presented above for Cincinnati.
The job-growth rate is -5.1% per year (That's MINUS).
And, for clarification, I have never lived in Cincinnati. I just don't think you should be slamming the fans from your ivory tower.
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10-15-2009 @ 7:46AM
Sam said...
Roy - Do the "caps" and punctuation keys on your keyboard not work? Do you not know how to use them? Or, are you just too drunk?
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10-15-2009 @ 8:25AM
daveenlakwood said...
The team of Eric Mangini (lil hitler) and Randy Lerner (The Cleveland football Grinch) have literally ruined football for the fans of Cleveland Ohio. A once storied franchise is now a laughing stock movie like Nation Lampoon for the whole country to laugh and tell jokes. Randy Lerner sells crap on a football for a decade and refuses to put his mug to his own product. Then there is the suspicious Jet connection entangled by the evil Ryan brothers. Of course the city of Cleveland has the smuck brother and New York has the smart one. Rob Ryan is giving his brother first dibs on the bone-picking graveyard of talent in the vacant football fields of the dysfunctional Browns. Mangini has handed them a franchise QB and a top flight receiver for some bargain basement bottom rung players such as Coleman, Elam, the Ratliff, Stuckey, and some linebacker on special teams, and low draft choices. Talking about having a food cupboard in a soup kitchen fleeced for the few crumbs of talent left. As the drama turns in Mangini's little power world of controlling athletes, a generation of potential new Browns fans have converted to Steeler supporters. As far as the Lerner family goes, the late Al 'the bum' Lerner sold out the loyal fans and helped rip the city of its storied franchise. Lerner no doubt is keeping the fire pit warm for Art Model and his god awful stupid son that is a snobby Londonite. Clevelanders are revolted at the fact that Mangini thinks his 6-3 win over the hapless Buffalo Bills was progress. Clevelanders are asking and sending letters to Santa for a new owner. As son as Rob Ryan picks over the rummage sell of talent here, we expect him to pack his bags for the 1st train to New York to join his blood twin Rex...... The Browns will stay with Mangini 3 years and again the dysfunctional cycle of the cupboards bare for a new coaching staff will emerge as Browns fans will be in rebuild mode for the rest of their lives under the Lerner ownership. Randy Lerner is the Football grinch who stole football on the field of dreams and in the living rooms for Browns fans for the last decade running.
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10-15-2009 @ 10:03AM
divot31 said...
Uhg. Seriously. You're going to bash fans for not spending money when they perhaps don't have the money to spend? As stated above NFL games are expensive, some people just don't have that kind of money OR don't put it that high on their list of priority list. Maybe that's how it should be.
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10-15-2009 @ 12:17PM
richrokosz said...
Owens is still good. It's just that Buffalo has the most un-imaginative offense in all of football (including college). There are ways to set up a "quick pass / quick release" to Owens or Evans if Jauron, Van Pelt, and the power's that be had any b-a-l-l-s...any offensive imagination.
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10-15-2009 @ 5:42PM
russrpm said...
So, since New England let Denver come from behind and beat them, just like Dallas, that means that they are the second most overrated team in the NFL, right?
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10-15-2009 @ 2:15PM
jim said...
THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A FEW SURPRIZES SO FAR THIS YEAR AND I AM SURE THERE WILL BE EVEN MORE. THE TEAMS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO WIN AREN'T AND THE ONES THAT WERE EXPECTED TO LOSE AREN'T. ITS KIND OF NEAT TO SEE SOMEWHAT OF A CHANGE, IT MAKES THE POWER HOUSES PLAY A LTTLE HARDER. I THINK A FEW OF THE DIVISION RACES WILL END UP FAIRLY CLOSE AT THE END. I AM A VIKING FAN, WENT TO SCHOOL @ MINNESOTA IN THE TARK ERA. I WAS IN PROF. SPORTS FOR 16 YEARS AND I AM GLAD TO SEE FAVRE HAVE A GREAT ENDING TO HIS CAREER. IT MAKES THE FOOTBALL SEASON A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING ID YOU THINK ABOUT IT. ITS DIFFERENT ROOTING FOR YOUR FAVORITE TEAM ANYMORE BECAUSE EVERY YEAR THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF NEW PLAYERS, ITS A BUSINESS, NOT A SPORT ANYMORE. ITS KIND OF MISSING SOMETHING NOWADAYS, ITS NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE. TEAMS ARE LEAVING THEIR FANS FOR MORE MONEY, STRIKES, GETTING INTO TROUBLE-SERVING TIME !!! I HAVE ACTUALLY FOUND MYSELF WATCHING MORE COLLEGE BALL ANYMORE-WENT TO ARKANSAS, MINNESOTA & UTAH ST, BROTHER WENT TO PENN ST. OTHER FAV'S: FLORIDA, AUBURN, LSU, OKLA ST,BOISE ST,SYRACUSE,ALABAMA & WEST VIRGINIA.THESE KIDS PLAY W/ THEIR HEARTS & UNLIKE THE PRO'S, THEY DON'T GIVE UP.
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10-15-2009 @ 2:45PM
djones528 said...
How about the 2 and 3 Jaguars that got blown out by Seattle and Arizona?
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10-15-2009 @ 10:39PM
Elsquare said...
Dave Goldberg,I think a case can be made that you have been opining for 26 years--not reporting. That's OK, unless BarackO decides it is not cost effective. Josh McDaniel has a good owner, good coaches and good players. The only thing working against Denver is their "throw-back" uniforms. We will know much more about Denver in another five games. Until then, please report, not opine.
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10-15-2009 @ 6:17PM
NewEnglandVal said...
whoa, whoa, whoa, before you go handing over the Lombardi to the Denver Broncos let's just go ahead and play the rest of the season ...just for kicks. If not for some HORRIBLE denver would have lost that game to the Pats!
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10-16-2009 @ 12:14PM
Glenn said...
You stated, "...they came from behind to beat an overrated Cowboys team..." when discussing the Broncos. This seems to be a commen sentiment...that the Cowboys are "overrated." By whom? Before the season began, there was not one "expert" who picked them to even win their division. Most picked the 'Boys to finish 3rd or 4th in the NFC East and miss the playoffs once again, which is likely what they'll do. So, they were not and are not overrated....they are what they've been predicted to be - a mediocre team that will not finish any better than 8-8 this year. Calling them overrated is giving them too much credit because it assumes that someone actually thinks that they are good.
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