Offseason Improvements: AFC teams most improved and trending up

It's getting to that point where we can taste training camp. Teams begin reporting next week and fans get a first look at their favorite teams roster. Camp signals the end of the offseason. All the work by general managers and scouts putting their teams together through free agency and the draft are now complete. It's hard to make wholesale changes to a team during the regular season. The NFL is not like baseball where teams can make multiple moves at the trading deadline to drastically get better (you can blame the salary cap for that).

Two AFC teams that I think had a great offseason were the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins.  Let's start with the Chiefs, who after a 2-14 season were bound to make several changes. Perhaps the biggest change came off the field. The hiring of John Dorsey as general manager and Andy Reid as head coach is a great foundation that the team can build on for years. Reid is a proven winner and won several NFC East division's with Eagles teams that had good, but not great talent. His presence alone on the sideline should provide the team with an extra 2-3 wins this season. Trading for quarterback Alex Smith in exchange for a second round draft pick was good value. Smith, although not a top 10 QB, is a solid professional that can manage a west coast offense. He does not have the strongest arm but is intelligent with ball decisions. He has a myriad of offensive talent to spread the ball to. Jamal Charles is a pro-bowl caliber running back. The team re-signed number one receiver Dwayne Bowe to a multi year contract. Drafting Eric Fisher with the first overall pick is not sexy but the right choice. Fisher will be a pillar of their offensive line for a decade. Teaming him with left tackle Brandon Albert will provide the team with strong bookend tackles to protect Smith and to help run the ball. The teams defense has some good players like linebacker Derrick Johnson and budding star Eric Berry at safety.

The Dolphins rebounded nicely with a 7-9 season after a disastrous 2011. First year coach Joe Philbin was a good hire, and has developed a winning culture in Miami (something its lacked since the Marino era). Quarterback Ryan Tannehill did not get the same amount of exposure that Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russel Wilson received (most likely because his team was not a playoff team), but had a formidable rookie season considering he had very little weapons on offense. He should improve in his second year as a starter. The team chose not to resign left tackle Jake Long (which I think was a mistake) and have yet to replace him with another player of his caliber. But they have improved the offense by re-signing last years leading receiver Brian Hartline and pairing him with pro-bowler Mike Wallace (formerly of the Steelers). Wallace is a burner that will provide Tannehill  with a deep threat down the field. They also signed wide receiver Brandon Gibson, a productive player for the St. Louis Rams the past few seasons. Miami stole tight end Dustin Keller away from the division rival Jets by signing him to a one year contract. These additions should make their passing attack fairly potent. On defense they signed Dannell Ellerbe from the super bowl champion Ravens to play linebacker. Cameron Wake is still on the roster and I believe one of the best pass rushers in the league. They will pair him with first round pick Dion Jordan out of Oregon, who the team expects to contribute on defense right away. They lost corner back Sean Smith in free agency to the Chiefs and have not replaced him.

Overall, the AFC conference is a lot weaker than the NFC conference (a conversation for an article that is coming soon). The Broncos, Patriots, Ravens (although weaker) and the Texans are the class of the conference, with the Colts, Steelers and Bengals also in the mix for playoff contention. But the improvements made by the Dolphins and Chiefs put them right in the thick of things. I think one of these two teams could surprise and win a wild card spot. Right now my money is on the Chiefs who play in a weaker division than the Dolphins (they play the Raiders twice). Either way both teams futures look bright and their stock is trending upward.

Most successful nfl franchises

This is the dreaded down time before training camp that die hard nfl fans like myself hate. To fulfill my fix I've watched a lot nfl network. Over the holiday weekend they showed a marathon of "America's Game", a documentary series about superbowl winning teams. It's amazing that out of 47 Super Bowls played, half have been won by the same 5 teams, the Cowboys, Packers, Giants, 49ers, and Steelers.
Each team has won at least 4 championships.

To put this in perspective, four teams, the Browns, Lions, Jaguars and Texans have never even played in a Super Bowl. The Bills went to the game four times and lost every time ( including twice to the cowboys and once to the giants).

Watching this marathon made me think of why these teams have been so successful. It starts with good ownership. Each one of these franchises is lead by strong ownership teams; say what you want about Jerry Jones but he always is willing to spend on his team! They all have drafted well which is a testament to their front offices. Names like Montana, Rice, Smith, Aikman, Swan, Manning, Simms, Bradshaw, Rodgers, and Roethlisburger are just some of the names drafted by these teams. Most, if not all of them will be hall of famers one day. And the coaching staffs have been legendary from Chuck Knoll's steelers, to Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys, to Bill Parcels Giants.

The best thing about these franchises is that they continue to stay competitive. A missed playoff appearance is made up for by a successful season the following year. Yes, the 49ers were dreadful for a decade and the Cowboys have not won a playoff game since the 90s,  but recently they have provided their fans with competitive play until the end of the season. The 49ers literally were a catch away from winning the Super Bowl in February.

I don't see much changing this season. I think all five are playoff teams, with the Packers, 49ers and Steelers being the closest to play for a Super Bowl ( I believe in Big Ben and coach Mike Tomlin to have a bounce back season.) I'd love to see another team join these 5 in the leagues elite. One more Super Bowl win for the patriots might do it for them.

Who do you want to join the NFL elite franchises? Do you think I missed anyone? Chime in!

Elevator Pitch First Draft

Money Talks. This is true in both cooperate America and in the National Football League. For almost two decades the NFL has not had a team in the second largest media market in the country, Los Angeles. Many argue that a city like LA is too busy and not a pure sports town. Teams like the Dodgers, Kings, and Angels struggle to draw consistent attendance when their product on the field/ ice isn't championship caliber. But the NFL is different. It's the most popular American sport and their are only eight home games played a year. Based off fan success and interest in college football programs such as USC and UCLA, I believe a professional team would thrive in a city like Los Angeles. There are already 32 teams in the league, which creates an even balance for divisions and conferences. I don't believe adding an expansion team is the correct course of action. Instead, relocation of an NFL team is necessary for Los Angeles to have a team. I propose that the St. Louis Rams of the NFC be the franchise relocated to a new stadium in LA. Recently the Rams were denied a grant of $700 million dollars that would go towards repairs to their current stadium in St. Louis. Since the grant was denied the Rams have the ability to break their lease with the Edward Jones dome after the 2014 season. This is a young team that is on the improve. In two years from now they will be competing for a division title and potentially an NFL championship. If moved into a brand new stadium in Los Angeles they would be sure to draw interest and pack their building (something they are not doing in St. Louis). The Rams already play in the NFC West division and moving the team to LA would not mean division reorganization for the NFL. Also, the Rams franchise already has a history of playing in Los Angeles. Returning the team to the city would reignite the former Los Angeles Rams fan base and encourage a new, younger fan base.

Elevator Pitches

Pitch One: Moving the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles
- The NFL has not had a team in LA since the Rams left after the 1994 season and the Raiders moved back to Oakland after the 1995 season. The NFL is both a game and a business. Not having a team in the second largest media market is costing them dollars. The league could sell merchandise and stadium sponsorships for a Los Angeles based team. An LA stadium could also serve as a venue to a future Superbowl site, which would boost the local economy.

-This week the St. Louis Rams were denied public funding for 700 million dollars in repairs to the Edward Jones Dome (their home stadium). This allows the Rams to get out of their stadium lease after the 2014 season. It makes perfect sense for the Rams to relocate back to Los Angeles for the 2015 season. The Rams already play in the NFC West division with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals, all western time zone teams. Moving to LA provides a better travel plan for all four teams when they play within the division.

- If the league were to pick a team to relocate to LA, the Rams would be a good choice. The team is on the rise, rebuilding its roster with many talented young players after some very lean years. They have a coach in Jeff Fisher who is a proven winner and a quarterback in Sam Bradford who is a budding star. Their defense is young and aggressive lead by Chris Long and second year defensive back Jenoris Jenkins. If kept intact, this is a team that will be competitive for a number of years. If the league plans to relocate a team to Los Angeles its smart to move a successful team then a rebuilding team. A successful team immediately attracts fans. An passionate fan base means more advertising and merchandise opportunities and greater television exposure. This means more money for the league and the team.

Pitch Two: Creating a Tuesday Night Football Television Package for the last five weeks of the season
-This pitch can be both profitable for the league and the networks. We have Sunday night football, Monday night football, and now Thursday night football. Why not Tuesday night football? After December 1st the college football regular season ends. The NBA and NHL seasons are in their beginning stages. Weather in the northeast after Thanksgiving Day is cold, dreary and dark. Most people spend their nights watching television. I am confident a Tuesday night game would do well for ratings.

-The positives are that it creates greater exposure for the league during its most crucial portion of the schedule, the last five games. If the Tuesday night schedule adapted the same rules as the sunday night schedule then the league could "flex" important games into the time slot. It also introduces fair weather fans to more teams. Thanksgiving Day normally has good game ratings because people who normally don't watch the NFL have the game on (because of tradition). A Tuesday night game could potentially have the same effect during the winter months.

- A network would have to bid for the rights to this abbreviated schedule. That's a positive for the league because its an additional revenue source to the already established television contracts. In return, the network who gets the bid is guaranteed viewership and can sell advertising premiums at a high rate (most likely higher than what they would be getting for a spot on a typical tuesday night during the holiday season).

Got Jersey's??

I'll admit, i'm frugal with money. But when it comes to spending on the NFL I like to splurge. I try to attend at least 1-2 games a season. Although the sport is made for TV (and I have that covered with my 46 inch flat screen in my man cave) there is something about attending a game that makes fans feel alive. Going to a game is like going to a prom, you must dress in the proper attire. Winter games call for sweatshirts and knit caps. Summer games call for t-shirts and headbands. However, you can't go wrong with a team jersey. Although expensive, I believe they are the best way to show off your team pride.

I have one jersey, a Hakeem Nicks #88 home NY Giants jersey. This is normally what I wear on game day. I'm thinking about getting another jersey this upcoming season but i'm torn. First, the price of the jerseys are usually $100 (authentic ones). Second, is it weird to wear a jersey if you're not attending a live game?? I've heard women complain that it's stupid guys wear jerseys to the bar. "Why waste your money?? You're not a player...thats not even your name on the back of it." Five years ago I would have disregarded a statement like this. Now that I have other expenses its hard to at least not think about it. 

Should I buy a second jersey for the season? This is my summer debate. What are your thoughts? Are you a jersey wearer?? 

The Backup QB: An alternative publishing plan

Over the past six weeks I have been able to explore some thought compelling topics related to the national football league. One of my favorite pieces on this blog is my post about the death of the linebacker. If you have not yet read the piece here is a link . This piece is not a summary article. It doesn't talk about stats. It is not focused on one particular player or team. The reason I like this piece is because it's thought provoking. It examines an issue in the league that is not being discussed. Obviously, I think it is an important topic to breach.

I've always been a fan on sports journalism. More so, I've been a fan of sports storytelling. I love watching programs such as HBO's Real Sports or ESPN's Outside the Lines, because the examine the game as more than just highlights. A criticism that I have of sports programs is that they are obsessed with highlights and care more about the sizzle than the substance. That is not my style and you wont see it in my writing. My piece on the death of the linebacker was meant to have a feel similar to what you would see on a 60 minutes sports addition or an E60 episode. 

Focusing back on NFL literature, I've always been a fan of the traditional sites like NFL.com and CBSSports.com/NFL. But my favorite places to read articles on the NFL are on larger editorial sites such as Pro Football Talk.com or Bleacher Report. If my work were being published elsewhere, a site like these would be the target location. I've structured my style to mimic those publications. 

Bleacher Report has an entire application process for getting your work published on their site. Although they do not require you to be a professional writer they do encourage blogger to have some experience and samples of work to submit for review. Their process seems inviting for a young aspiring sports writer. 

PFT and the other television avenues mentioned above are usually contributed to by staff or freelance writers that work for either Disney, Turner, CBS, or NBC. To contribute to these sites you will need years of experience mixed with strong examples of writing. Maybe if I write long enough I could work at one of these corporations one day (although I already work for one of them...not telling though)

Proposal: My Voice and My Promises

Six weeks ago I started this blog. I was asked to write a bio, make a case for why I should be writing about the NFL, and post a resume of my credentials. Everything was rough. I was relearning how to write. I was trying to discover my voice. I was hoping to develop an audience. I was too passive. Six weeks has gone by and I know progress has been made. I'm writing with less fluff. I'm proof reading better. I'm writing and then re-writing sentences. I'm trying not to waste the readers time.

I now have a foundation. I'm confident that I can build on what I have learned. So here is my relaunch, my proposal, my guarantee for the next six weeks. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Paul James and this is "The Kick Is Good Blog".

My voice is opinionated. I'm not afraid to criticize the league I love. I'm not afraid to admit I root for a particular team or player. I'm not afraid of the audience not liking what I have to say.

My voice is insightful. I'm a passionate fan of this league for almost two decades. The game has brought me happiness in victory and sorrow in defeat. I've seen moments that will stick with me forever. I've cried over losses and jumped for joy over victories. I have a relationship with the sport that is incredibly personal. When things are going well I feel great. When things are going bad (like last weeks events) I feel anger.

My voice is thought provoking. When you read my work I want you to internalize it. I want you to think before commenting. I welcome arguments to my theories. I love discussion about my topics. I would not be writing about this if I wasn't interested in debate. That is what makes sport fun after all isn't it?

My voice is knowledgeable. Anyone can memorize stats, but I am interested in how those stats fit in a context. I can make a case for why a team's defensive stats are misleading because of the division they are playing in, why a quarterbacks completion percentage is less important than being able to make the big throw in a big spot, and why a specific division is going to have 3 playoff teams based off their strength of schedule.

These are all traits of my writing that you have been getting to know over the past six weeks. Hopefully you have enjoyed to this point. But as an author I owe you more. Here is my promise to you over the next six weeks. Since we are a fan of lists, let's format my proposal in such a way.

- I propose creating a more consistent voice.  A voice that stays opinionated, insightful, knowledgeable and thought provoking. A voice that communicates with its readers more than once a week. Look for more than one league related post from here forward.

- One reason why I have not written more than one post a week is because I put so much effort into one long post for my readers. That is going to change. Look for shorter posts but at a greater quantity. I will try my best not to sacrifice quantity over quality.

- I will make a better presence know on twitter. I admit, I am not a big fan of the "twitter sphere". Maybe it is because I have not given it a chance and don't realize its power. Look for more posts from"@pj_thekickisgood" in the next 6 weeks.

-I have always loved video. I've debated doing a video blog post. Yes, this is a writing medium, but I'm naive' to think the future of online communication is through just written text. Video supports the written and vice versa. Look for at least one video blog in the next 6 weeks.

- Look for posts with thought provoking questions. Part of this job is to be a fire starter. I love creating a dialogue, especially about this league that I care so deeply for. I want to engage my audience and to evoke emotion (both good or bad).

- I want to continue to write for the informed audience. I owe it to the educated fan to continue writing passionately. But, I am also going to make an effort to write for the un-informed audience. I feel this will be my biggest challenge. How can I write for someone un-informed and keep it concise enough that they won't leave the page? That is a major goal.

My work is cut out for me. I know I am better prepared then when I started. Progress is important. Advances each week will help me get this blog to where it needs to be. I'm going to use a simile and say that this blog is like the NFL season. The first 6 weeks were similar to the offseason. Now we have approached training camp (which is beginning at the end of July). By the end of this course I will be ready for the start of the season.

Hopefully by the end of this course the kick will indeed be good...