Dan Shonka, NFL Opinions As We Head Towards Training Camp

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:36:50 GMT

Dan Shonka, NFL Opinions As We Head Towards Training Camp

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Onan's Opinion

We'll begin in Minnesota, where Coach Mike Tice was recently leveled with a $100,000 fine for scalping his Super Bowl tickets. Well, can you really blame the guy? Tice is the lowest paid coach in the league at around $1 Million a year. I won't even get into the "everybody does it" excuse. But, it would be "interesting" to see who else would've been exposed if Tice lost his job over this. The bigger issue with Tice will come on the field; he will be fired if this team goes into the tank in the second half of the season once again. If the Vikings didn't defeat Green Bay in the Playoffs last season, he may have well been gone.

As I reported earlier, those Terrell Owens for Jerry Porter trade rumors are just that, rumors. First off, the move would put Oakland in "salary cap hell". Porter just signed a huge extension. And, yes, Owens looked healthy when he returned for the Eagles' Super Bowl loss, but there are still uncertainties about T.O.'s ankle. He hasn't been on the field because of his holdout to show if he's 100 % or not. And even Al Davis wouldn't want to mix oil and water (Owens and Randy Moss), would he?

As the preseason approaches, one of the intriqing things to keep an eye on is Ben Rothlisberger. Which Quarterback should we expect to this year? Will it be an efficient second year man who guides the team like an all pro, or could he look as he did in the playoffs, a rookie who can't read defenses? Plaxico Burress' departure won't help matters any, either.

Speaking of young QB's , this may be the coming out parties for the Texans David Carr and the Bengals Carson Palmer. Both guys have some nice pieces around them on offense, but their postseason aspirations rest on their respective defenses.

If the Packers struggle this season, you can blame one person, Drew Rosenhaus. It would be a real shame if Brett Favre's career has to close out this way. Rosenhaus represents Javon Walker, who has already participated in a spitting match with management. And now Grady Jackson is unhappy. How long before Najeh Davenport (who also wants a new deal, but isn't holding out), becomes discontented because he doesn't get enough touches playing behind Ahman Green? Maybe Favre's biggest fan, John Madden, will step in and put a foot in Rosenhaus' butt.

But, that's just Onan's opinion. I could be wrong.

John Onan (aka ego74) is sports writer/moderator at the online players union forum and a football contributor at

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