dogfish
07-02-2008, 07:17 PM
Who’s Feeling the Heat?
Take into consideration the massive amounts of cash involved and the transitory nature of NFL careers, and it’s a given that everyone, from first-year special teams assistant coach to established superstar quarterback, is under pressure to perform. But there are a number of factors that can create even greater pressure for certain individuals. Big new contracts, fan expectations and media hype, and the need to atone for past failures are just a few things that can ratchet the tension to an even higher level. You can easily make a case for any number of players, but let’s take a look at some who will undoubtedly be under intense scrutiny as the coming season unfolds.
San Diego Chargers running back Ladainian Tomlinson
It may seem counterintuitive to start with one of the league’s biggest stars, but read on. There’s no question that when Tomlinson’s career is finished he’ll be going straight to Canton—do not pass go, do not collect two-hundred dollars (he’s made more than enough as it is). Nonetheless, his legacy is unfinished. Will he be another John Elway, riding into the sunset covered in glory—or another Dan Marino, fading away with a whimper and without a ring? LT has everything else—the records, rushing titles, scoring titles, All-Pro seasons and Pro Bowl appearances, even a league MVP award. . . but the biggest prize of all continues to elude him.
Certainly the blame for that doesn’t rest entirely on Tomlinson, as football is, after all, a team sport. But time is drawing short for the aging star, and if he doesn’t want to enter the hallowed halls with a measly one playoff victory under his belt, it’s time to step up. The Chargers admittedly have plenty of additional talent, but Tomlinson was the catalyst for this team’s rise from obscurity, and is still their best player. He’s the spark that powers the squad’s offensive engine, a fact that was painfully obvious as he sat glumly on the sidelines while the New England Patriots knocked his Chargers out of last year’s AFC Championship game. That complete lack of contribution in the biggest game of his career left critics questioning Tomlinson’s heart, and that ups the ante for him this season.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson
Vikings owner Ziggy Wylf is looking to secure public assistance in funding a new stadium, and he needs to put a quality product on the FieldTurf to do so. And after opening his wallet to obtain the services of such big names as Steve Hutchinson and Jared Allen, Wylf undoubtedly wants results. From a pure football perspective, the team looks poised to make a deep playoff run, especially coming from a relatively wide open NFC. With a dynamic running game and monstrous defense, the Vikes are starting to resemble the 2000 Baltimore Ravens squad that parlayed similar elements into a Super Bowl title. But you can’t win in this league without solid quarterback play, and the onus will be on Jackson to prove himself worthy of the second round draft pick Minnesota spent to select him. He doesn’t need to be Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he’ll be expected to play smart football, minimize his mistakes and make some plays when the team needs them.
New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush
After finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2006, Bush laid an egg his sophomore season. As his Saints fell from championship contender to also-ran, Bush’s status plummeted from exciting up-and-comer to potential bust. When his backfield partner in crime Deuce McAllister went down with a season-ending injury, Bush was expected to step up and carry a greater portion of the load. He failed in dramatic fashion. An inability to replace the grinding McAllister’s tough inside running may have been excusable, but Bush’s production also tailed off in other areas. In fact, he eventually gave the starting job over to Aaron Stecker. Yes, that Aaron Stecker. And he further legitimized concerns about his size and durability by finishing the season on the sidelines.
To make matters worse, a few of Bush’s teammates did some quiet grumbling, and ugly rumors began to circulate. It was whispered that his flashy lifestyle and the attendant barrage of media attention weren’t greatly appreciated in the locker room, where some thought that he could be showing greater dedication to film study and the weight room. For a player that brought the most hype of the past decade into the league, last year’s results were unacceptable. The number two overall pick has been noticeably out-performed by backs that were taken a full round or more after him, like Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew and Joseph Addai in Indianapolis. The continued success of 2006 seventh-round pick Marques Colston provides an unflattering contrast to Bush’s mediocrity, and the shadow of rookie sensation Adrian Peterson looms large. Bush really needs to take it to another level this year if he wants to justify his reputation and his enormous contract.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young
Young is another rookie sensation from the class of ’06 that stumbled in ’07. VY brought the “project” label into the league, but his performance surprisingly reminded fans of the player that led the Texas Longhorns to consecutive Rose Bowl victories and a National Championship. His passing numbers weren’t stellar, but he came up big in crunch time on several occasions, and took home the Rookie of the Year award. Although the Titans as a team were better in 2007, Young drew a firestorm of criticism as he hobbled through a very pedestrian season. Perhaps his unexpected initial success may have elevated the bar of expectations a bit unrealistically, but Young seems like a lightning rod for the antagonism of fans that have an innate dislike of athletic quarterbacks that lack superlative pocket passing skills. Yes, the dreaded curse of the “running quarterback” strikes again. Though Young has less than twenty-five starts in the league, many have already written him off as “the next Michael Vick,” a one-trick pony that can’t succeed at the quarterback position at this level.
Although Titans management is likely more patient than the ultra-fickle winds of public opinion, Young will still be under pressure to show improvement as a pocket passer this year. And on the football side of things, he’ll need to provide more spark for a sluggish offense that lacks quality receiving options if Tennessee is going to be competitive in the very rugged AFC South.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
All Rodgers has to do this year is try to fill the shoes of the man that holds almost all of the league’s most important records for his position, a three-time MVP and one of the most beloved icons in the game’s history. Yea, no pressure there. Ask other guys who’ve tried following legendary signal callers. Ask Brian Griese or Jay Fiedler. No matter how good Rodger is, he’s never going to be as good as number four, and fans spoiled by the better part of two decades worth of excellence aren’t likely to let him forget it. And the excitement of last year’s playoff run left cheeseheads hungry for more.
What may make his task tougher is that he inherits a potentially championship-caliber team. The Packers have a nasty defense, a quality group of receivers and a running game that emerged down the stretch last year. Of course that talent will make things easier on the field for a young quarterback, but it could also make the fall harder if he can’t lead a squad returning almost all of the starters from last season’s playoff team back to the promised land.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson
2007 was a breakout season for Anderson by pretty much any definition of the term, but now he has to prove that he can do it consistently. Some people have suggested that Anderson was as much the beneficiary of the team’s offensive talent as a dynamic player in his own right, and some of his weaknesses were indeed exposed in an ugly loss to Cincinnati that cost the Browns a playoff berth.
Cleveland brings back all of last year’s offensive firepower with Donte Stallworth thrown in to stretch the field, and they made drastic moves to shore up their porous run defense. Expectations have never been higher since the Browns returned to Cleveland, and hungry fans won’t be satisfied with anything less than a trip to the playoffs. Anderson received a hefty contract extension in the offseason, and will be counted on to take the squad to the second season. He can’t falter too badly with first rounder Brady Quinn waiting for his chance.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson
Johnson drew an exceptional amount of negative attention for his antics over the past few months with a threatened holdout and an aborted attempt to force a trade. He claimed that he’d retire rather than play for the Bengals again, but when team management called his bluff he slunk back into camp and tried to play it off as a joke. Unfortunately, no one is laughing. Johnson has always been a bit of a clown, but in the past many have defended him as being relatively harmless compared to the likes of troublemakers Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. Now Johnson has firmly established himself as a turd of equal magnitude.
It doesn’t help that he was outplayed on the field last season by number two receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and now the pressure will be on Johnson to make amends for the massive distraction he caused by performing between the lines. With a questionable running game plus the departure of dangerous third option Chris Henry, the team needs Johnson to play better than last year if they want to have any chance of competing in the AFC North. Cincy fans have been tolerant of Johnson’s nonsense in the past, but even their patience has evaporated recently. It will take a monster season for him to get back into their good graces, and he is on the verge of blowing a ton of easy post-football money in the form of endorsements and possible television appearances, if he hasn’t done so already.
Take into consideration the massive amounts of cash involved and the transitory nature of NFL careers, and it’s a given that everyone, from first-year special teams assistant coach to established superstar quarterback, is under pressure to perform. But there are a number of factors that can create even greater pressure for certain individuals. Big new contracts, fan expectations and media hype, and the need to atone for past failures are just a few things that can ratchet the tension to an even higher level. You can easily make a case for any number of players, but let’s take a look at some who will undoubtedly be under intense scrutiny as the coming season unfolds.
San Diego Chargers running back Ladainian Tomlinson
It may seem counterintuitive to start with one of the league’s biggest stars, but read on. There’s no question that when Tomlinson’s career is finished he’ll be going straight to Canton—do not pass go, do not collect two-hundred dollars (he’s made more than enough as it is). Nonetheless, his legacy is unfinished. Will he be another John Elway, riding into the sunset covered in glory—or another Dan Marino, fading away with a whimper and without a ring? LT has everything else—the records, rushing titles, scoring titles, All-Pro seasons and Pro Bowl appearances, even a league MVP award. . . but the biggest prize of all continues to elude him.
Certainly the blame for that doesn’t rest entirely on Tomlinson, as football is, after all, a team sport. But time is drawing short for the aging star, and if he doesn’t want to enter the hallowed halls with a measly one playoff victory under his belt, it’s time to step up. The Chargers admittedly have plenty of additional talent, but Tomlinson was the catalyst for this team’s rise from obscurity, and is still their best player. He’s the spark that powers the squad’s offensive engine, a fact that was painfully obvious as he sat glumly on the sidelines while the New England Patriots knocked his Chargers out of last year’s AFC Championship game. That complete lack of contribution in the biggest game of his career left critics questioning Tomlinson’s heart, and that ups the ante for him this season.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson
Vikings owner Ziggy Wylf is looking to secure public assistance in funding a new stadium, and he needs to put a quality product on the FieldTurf to do so. And after opening his wallet to obtain the services of such big names as Steve Hutchinson and Jared Allen, Wylf undoubtedly wants results. From a pure football perspective, the team looks poised to make a deep playoff run, especially coming from a relatively wide open NFC. With a dynamic running game and monstrous defense, the Vikes are starting to resemble the 2000 Baltimore Ravens squad that parlayed similar elements into a Super Bowl title. But you can’t win in this league without solid quarterback play, and the onus will be on Jackson to prove himself worthy of the second round draft pick Minnesota spent to select him. He doesn’t need to be Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he’ll be expected to play smart football, minimize his mistakes and make some plays when the team needs them.
New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush
After finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2006, Bush laid an egg his sophomore season. As his Saints fell from championship contender to also-ran, Bush’s status plummeted from exciting up-and-comer to potential bust. When his backfield partner in crime Deuce McAllister went down with a season-ending injury, Bush was expected to step up and carry a greater portion of the load. He failed in dramatic fashion. An inability to replace the grinding McAllister’s tough inside running may have been excusable, but Bush’s production also tailed off in other areas. In fact, he eventually gave the starting job over to Aaron Stecker. Yes, that Aaron Stecker. And he further legitimized concerns about his size and durability by finishing the season on the sidelines.
To make matters worse, a few of Bush’s teammates did some quiet grumbling, and ugly rumors began to circulate. It was whispered that his flashy lifestyle and the attendant barrage of media attention weren’t greatly appreciated in the locker room, where some thought that he could be showing greater dedication to film study and the weight room. For a player that brought the most hype of the past decade into the league, last year’s results were unacceptable. The number two overall pick has been noticeably out-performed by backs that were taken a full round or more after him, like Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew and Joseph Addai in Indianapolis. The continued success of 2006 seventh-round pick Marques Colston provides an unflattering contrast to Bush’s mediocrity, and the shadow of rookie sensation Adrian Peterson looms large. Bush really needs to take it to another level this year if he wants to justify his reputation and his enormous contract.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young
Young is another rookie sensation from the class of ’06 that stumbled in ’07. VY brought the “project” label into the league, but his performance surprisingly reminded fans of the player that led the Texas Longhorns to consecutive Rose Bowl victories and a National Championship. His passing numbers weren’t stellar, but he came up big in crunch time on several occasions, and took home the Rookie of the Year award. Although the Titans as a team were better in 2007, Young drew a firestorm of criticism as he hobbled through a very pedestrian season. Perhaps his unexpected initial success may have elevated the bar of expectations a bit unrealistically, but Young seems like a lightning rod for the antagonism of fans that have an innate dislike of athletic quarterbacks that lack superlative pocket passing skills. Yes, the dreaded curse of the “running quarterback” strikes again. Though Young has less than twenty-five starts in the league, many have already written him off as “the next Michael Vick,” a one-trick pony that can’t succeed at the quarterback position at this level.
Although Titans management is likely more patient than the ultra-fickle winds of public opinion, Young will still be under pressure to show improvement as a pocket passer this year. And on the football side of things, he’ll need to provide more spark for a sluggish offense that lacks quality receiving options if Tennessee is going to be competitive in the very rugged AFC South.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
All Rodgers has to do this year is try to fill the shoes of the man that holds almost all of the league’s most important records for his position, a three-time MVP and one of the most beloved icons in the game’s history. Yea, no pressure there. Ask other guys who’ve tried following legendary signal callers. Ask Brian Griese or Jay Fiedler. No matter how good Rodger is, he’s never going to be as good as number four, and fans spoiled by the better part of two decades worth of excellence aren’t likely to let him forget it. And the excitement of last year’s playoff run left cheeseheads hungry for more.
What may make his task tougher is that he inherits a potentially championship-caliber team. The Packers have a nasty defense, a quality group of receivers and a running game that emerged down the stretch last year. Of course that talent will make things easier on the field for a young quarterback, but it could also make the fall harder if he can’t lead a squad returning almost all of the starters from last season’s playoff team back to the promised land.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson
2007 was a breakout season for Anderson by pretty much any definition of the term, but now he has to prove that he can do it consistently. Some people have suggested that Anderson was as much the beneficiary of the team’s offensive talent as a dynamic player in his own right, and some of his weaknesses were indeed exposed in an ugly loss to Cincinnati that cost the Browns a playoff berth.
Cleveland brings back all of last year’s offensive firepower with Donte Stallworth thrown in to stretch the field, and they made drastic moves to shore up their porous run defense. Expectations have never been higher since the Browns returned to Cleveland, and hungry fans won’t be satisfied with anything less than a trip to the playoffs. Anderson received a hefty contract extension in the offseason, and will be counted on to take the squad to the second season. He can’t falter too badly with first rounder Brady Quinn waiting for his chance.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson
Johnson drew an exceptional amount of negative attention for his antics over the past few months with a threatened holdout and an aborted attempt to force a trade. He claimed that he’d retire rather than play for the Bengals again, but when team management called his bluff he slunk back into camp and tried to play it off as a joke. Unfortunately, no one is laughing. Johnson has always been a bit of a clown, but in the past many have defended him as being relatively harmless compared to the likes of troublemakers Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. Now Johnson has firmly established himself as a turd of equal magnitude.
It doesn’t help that he was outplayed on the field last season by number two receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and now the pressure will be on Johnson to make amends for the massive distraction he caused by performing between the lines. With a questionable running game plus the departure of dangerous third option Chris Henry, the team needs Johnson to play better than last year if they want to have any chance of competing in the AFC North. Cincy fans have been tolerant of Johnson’s nonsense in the past, but even their patience has evaporated recently. It will take a monster season for him to get back into their good graces, and he is on the verge of blowing a ton of easy post-football money in the form of endorsements and possible television appearances, if he hasn’t done so already.