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Charles raised a dead franchise, walked all over the Denver Broncos. Charles smashed the Chiefs’ single-game rushing record, darting and dancing for 259 yards in 25 carries, leading Kansas City to a shocking 44-24 victory knocking the Broncos out the playoffs. When it was over — after he’d eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier in just half a season as a starter and after he’d surpassed Haley’s goal of 200 yards for the game. When it comes to inspiring hope, faith and a belief in miracles, Charles credited the Hall of Fame savior in the sky. The emergence of Charles as a potential superstar makes me believe next season might be significantly better. They have a home-run hitter in the backfield, a guy who will make the opposition respect the play-action pass on first down. Charles can make Cassel a better quarterback.
With Michael Crabtree missing the first five games of the regular season to a protracted contract, so-called experts said that the wide receiver's rookie season with the 49ers would be a washout, that there was no way he could contribute to their 2009 campaign. Definitely not true as he went on to be tied for fifth among rookie wideouts with 45 receptions, for 567 yards and two touchdowns. That averages out to 4.5 receptions for 56.7 yards per game, the second-best yardage average per game among first-year receivers. His play, though, has been excellent, marred only by seven dropped passes (according to Stats, Inc.). On the field, Crabtree is a fine route-runner with a knack for snatching passes out of the air where other receivers extend their arms in anticipation of the ball.
The Giants. I have no idea what to say about them after they started the season 5-0. And then on Sunday you would think they would end the season on a positive. I mean Eli Manning had just finished his best statistical season as a Giant, but it didn't mean anything after they lost 44-7 loss to the Vikings. For the second straight week, the Giants were blown out. Mostly though the defense deserves its share of the blame for allowing 85 points over the final two games, the offense wasn't there scoring only 16. Manning, who completed 17 of 23 passes for 141 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Manning said he was "embarrassed" by the Giants' performance, and hopes there will be some soul-searching after the team's first non-playoff season in five years. The only thing I know is there will be some changes somewhere on this team. For one the offensive line figures to be revamped. Also due is an upgrade at running back. The receiving corps has gotten better as the season went on thanks to the emergence of Steve Smith.
Well I have some sad news for you Panthers fan, Jake Delhomme said Monday he doesn't expect to be anywhere else but with the Carolina Panthers next season. I mean he only threw 18 interceptions in 11 games before missing the last five games with a broken finger. Replacement Matt Moore helped the Panthers to four victories in those five games, throwing one interception. But the thing is the Panthers trapped themselves in this marriage with Delhomme because he is owed more than $12 million guaranteed as part of the contract extension he signed during last offseason. In that respect, it makes very little financial sense to cut ties with him. So I guess you can't count him out but he will compete for the starting spot next season. Personally, I feel that they should draft a quarterback because there are to be some good ones that are proven winners but what do I know.For you that are worried though, he said the injury is healing well and he should be fine for next season.
Adrian Peterson did not touch the ball on the Vikings' first two series Sunday, but the Pro Bowl running back wasn't being punished for his critical fumble last week. I mean they really didn't need him after playing the Giants (who I can't remember if they showed up or not). Vikings coach Brad Childress described it as a product of the game plan, but Peterson had a relatively light workload in a 44-7 victory over the New York Giants at the Metrodome. Peterson rushed for only 54 yards and one touchdown on nine carries, which tied for the fewest carries in his career. Peterson had vowed to bounce back after his fumble in overtime last Monday. I am sure he will get his chance seeing as the playoffs are coming up and all. He should just be focused on making up for that in a game that means something unlike this past weekend.
In what might have been his final performance with the Steelers, the former two-time Pro Bowler rushed for 91 yards on only 12 carries -- his second-highest total of a season in which he lost his starting job to Rashard Mendenhall. But Parker, who will be a free agent, had 74 yards on nine carries on the final 83-yard drive, including a 34-yarder to the Miami 8 to set up Jeff Reed's final FG. "If that was my last game, I had six great years here," Parker said. "I'm a starter and I've always looked at myself as a starter."
Wow! How impressive is Jimmy Clausen. He played his final 10 games at Notre Dame with torn ligaments in his right big toe and has told ESPN.com that he will undergo surgery Tuesday morning. I mean think about it, at the time, Clausen had completed 50 of his first 70 passes on the season (71.4 percent), and he managed to finish the Michigan State game, going 22-of-31 for 300 yards in the 33-30 Irish victory. Shocker I know right but he is expected to be sidelined for two to three months, but intends to throw for pro scouts in early April. But this should help his stock on the toughness scale. A few league executives claimed the injury makes Clausen even more appealing now. St. Louis and Washington -- two teams picking in the top 4 -- are known to be interested in Clausen. I still wouldn't draft this guy over Sam Bradford though.
UNC's Marvin Austin will return for his senior season at North Carolina according to his Twitter account (@LIFEofMA). Austin, a 6-3, 305-pound defensive tackle, finished his junior season with 42 tackles and a career-best four sacks. He's ranked by ESPN as one of the top juniors at his position, but this draft class is considered top-heavy at DT, including the projected No. 1 overall pick Nebraska's Ndmukong Suh.
Austin followed up his initial announcement by tweeting:
"Its officially..official..hahahahaha...yea I could go get paid but in some things it aint all about the money...I love carolina point blank!"
And then some fighting words for the Wolfpack:
"Im bout to be ice cold next year...so I may as well givem helll...hahahaha....oh yea.. Go to Hell state!!!
Man when I was getting my new radio put in, I had the pleasure to watch the first ugly college football game of the day. Oklahoma State turned the ball over as many times as it had points (final score 21-7). The score was 7-7 up until 4 minutes left of the game. On the flip side I did get to see one of the best performances from McCluster. He ran 34 times for 184 yards and two touchdowns and also caught five passes for 45 yards to earn offensive MVP honors. His performance Saturdaywas more than the Cowboys had allowed to any team all season. He got 86 of those in a nice run and display of speed. Lucky for Ole Miss that he came to play because Jevan Snead didn't and showed why he should come back. OSU forced Snead into 3 INTs and was knocked out of the game after his second interception during the second quarter and didn’t resume full-time duties until the second drive of the second half. He finished 13-of-23 for 168 yards in what could have been his last game at Ole Miss. He finished the season with 20 TD passes and 20 interceptions. Back to Dexter McCluster though, He finished the season with 1,167 rushing yards — second-most in school history — and became the SEC's first player to have 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season.
Star tailback Jahvid Best announced that he will skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft after a disappointing final college season cut short by injury. I do not know why he left but after what happened to him I would come back and get my stock up because those injuries I'm sure scare some GMs. Best missed the final four games of the season after a frightening fall knocked him out and sent him to the hospital with a concussion and sore back. Best said the injury played only a small role in his decision and actually made it more likely that he would have stayed so he could have ended his career on a high note. Best said he has heard projections that have him going as high as the first round and as low as the third round in April's draft. Best said he's still not fully healed from the injury that when he fell on the back of his head while leaping into the end zone for a touchdown. Best wishes to Best. [Ha ha].
