<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Bay Area teams head class of the hopelessAs training camps approach, optimism abounds. Rookie holdouts are not yet a part of the daily news. The euphoria of the draft lingers. Everybody looked great in mini-camps and organized team activities, partly because nobody had to block or tackle. Fantasy leagues are beginning to form.But soon the short pants and tank tops give way to knee pads and shoulder pads. Sooner than you think, the bubbles will begin to burst. The NFL likes to advertise that anyone can win a Super Bowl. It?s more true in July than in October.Everybody is on vacation dreaming of February in Miami, but the reality is very different. Many teams simply have no chance.Here are the early candidates to let down their fans the hardest.1. Oakland Raiders ? Art Shell was rehired to revive the pride and poise boys. Too bad he can?t play. Aaron Brooks is hardly an upgrade over Kerry Collins at quarterback so Randy Moss is likely to underachieve again, leaving the Raiders looking up from the bottom of the tough AFC West.Their defense was the worst in the division last year and all they added to replace departed Charles Woodson were washed up cornerbacks Tyrone Poole and Duane Starks and rookie safety Michael Huff. They thought LaMont Jordan would jump start their running attack last year, but he averaged only 3.8 yards as the Raiders finished 29th in rushing.2. San Francisco 49ers ? It?s going to be a long year for football fans in the Bay Area. Each team was 4-12 last year and will be fortunate to match it this time around. At least the 49ers reside in a much weaker division, the NFC West, than the Raiders. It?s the only redeeming grace for a team that finished 32d in both offense and defense, a daily double that will require more than one year to correct.Quarterback Alex Smith will be improved, not a difficult task after throwing only one touchdown pass as a rookie. Guard Larry Allen was a good addition but the 49ers are still too young in important spots to make an dramatic moves.3. Buffalo Bills ? With three quarterbacks, J.P. Losman, Kelly Holcomb and Craig Nall, vying for the starting job, new coach Dick Jauron must know he really has no quarterbacks. Not yet anyway, and by midseason in the AFC East, it will be too late to gain ground on the New England Patriots or Miami Dolphins. The Bills? only shot at glory will be to somehow try to edge the New York Jets for last.4. Houston Texans ? With or without Reggie Bush, the two-win Texans were in for a long uphill climb. Top draft choice Mario Williams immediately became the most famous player on a defense that ranked 31st, dead last against the run. Eric Moulds gives quarterback David Carr another viable target, as long as Carr can stay on his feet behind an offensive line that hasn?t been able to protect him yet.New coach Gary Kubiak is supposed to figure out a way to compete with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South. The 2003 expansion team swept the Tennessee Titans last year but are 2-10 against the other two members of the division.5. New Orleans Saints ? Even with Bush and new quarterback Drew Brees, Saints fans are in for another disappointing season. Bush and Brees could make it more exciting than normal, and simply playing at home will provide the city a much-needed lift. But this team can?t compete in the NFC South division with Tampa Bay, Atlanta and Carolina.The defense can?t stop the run and the offensive line will make Bush earn his money, assuming Bush shows up on time. The return of Deuce McAllister will make new coach Sean Payton work overtime figuring out how to get both Bush and McAllister enough touches. Too bad one of them doesn?t play defense. At least Saints fans are used to disappointments.6. Tennessee Titans ? Steve McNair is on the downside of his excellent career, but without him, the Titans will discover how good they had it. Vince Young won?t be ready to step in and Billy Volek is a career backup. They added a good receiver in David Givens and drafted a potentially excellent back in LenDale White. With McNair, they had a chance.The Titans don?t run or stop the run well enough to beat anybody except the Texans in their division. It?s another rebuilding year for coach Jeff Fisher.7. Arizona Cardinals -- Edgerrin James is supposed to turn them into instant contenders. James was a key component of the Indianapolis attack but even the Colts couldn?t get over the hump with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison and a defense that gave up 140 points fewer than Arizona?s. So how exactly is James going to perform miracles in the desert?Coach Dennis Green is likely to get impatient with interim quarterback Kurt Warner and turn to rookie Matt Leinart, which will be a good idea for 2007 or 2008. The offensive line is bad and the defense isn?t as good as their No. 8 ranking. A brand new state-of-the-art stadium will help the Cardinals cope with another sub-par season.8. Detroit Lions ? Two wins, three wins, five wins, six wins, five wins. Over the last five years, the Lions have been the worst team in the league. Coach Rod Marinelli is supposed to change that, but can offensive coordinator Mike Martz suddenly turn Jon Kitna or Josh McCown into a winning quarterback with such an underachieving, young offense?The defense is Marinelli?s specialty. He and new defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson are supposed to change the attitude. But the first result was a complaint they were working too hard. The defense added linebacker Ernie Sims and safety Daniel Bullocks. Young studs couldn?t lead them on offense, but maybe they can on defense. Growing pains loom, even in the weak NFC North.</div>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13717577/
If it was out of 10 teams, Jets and Packers would be the next 2.I don't think the Cardinals are as hopeless as the Jets though.
The Saints, Lions and Cardinals should not be on that list. And I say that as a Lions fan..so thats probably the only flaw in that statement.
No the Lions are one QB away from winning the division... they're solidI think the Jets would be like 14th... they're not that bad. But the Packers would be #9
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sheriff Gonna Getcha @ Jul 7 2006, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No the Lions are one QB away from winning the division... they're solidI think the Jets would be like 14th... they're not that bad. But the Packers would be #9</div>Potential Wise, they're solid...In reality though they have 3 Wide Recievers and a Runningback who were all first round picks and yet to live up to their potential. If they can get their act togeather and turn it around they could be solid, but until then they belong up there IMO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Jul 7 2006, 10:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In reality though they have 3 Wide Recievers and a Runningback who were all first round picks and yet to live up to their potential. If they can get their act togeather and turn it around they could be solid, but until then they belong up there IMO.</div>That's what Mike Martz was brought in for. I think it's finally going to happen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (david81 @ Jul 7 2006, 11:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bitch please. 49ers wont seem too hopeless next season, 6-10 here we come!</div>WOW! lolBut hey, that's something...
What you mean? What there record is going to be?They definitely aren't a hopeless team, they are one of the top 8 teams not the bottom 8.
