Pure Steel
Doc's NFL Notebook
By James Santelli

Buffalo Soldier

After the initial shock of Terrell Owens signing with the Buffalo Bills, mixed reactions followed. Many questioned throwing T.O. into a rebuilding situation on a one-year contract, especially on a team with a work-in-progress young quarterback in Trent Edwards. However, the goal for the 2009 Bills seems to be that of a team that is going for a playoff run at any cost. Owens played fantastically in his first seasons in Philadelphia and San Francisco, gaining over 75 catches, 1100 yards, and 12 TDs in both seasons.

Really, No Relation to John

If you want to talk about bad years in the NFL, just look at the past twelve months for Browns WR Donte Stallworth. After signing a seven-year contract with the Browns last March, things have certainly gone downhill for the University of Tennessee alum. Stallworth missed five games last season with a quadriceps injury, and only racked up 170 receiving yards in the eleven games he did play in. Then on March 14, a Miami man was killed by Stallworth's Bentley in Florida. The only good news for the Browns is that their 28-year-old is participating in the team's offseason conditioning program. The fatal car accident remains under investigation by Miami Beach police, and Stallworth has yet to be charged with any crime.

Houshmandzadeh Spells Success

The Browns weren't the only AFC North team experiencing a tumultuous offseason with a receiver, though. Former Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh is headed to Seattle after signing a 5-year, $40 million contract with the Seahawks. Cincinnati was already ranked 30th in the league in pass offense before losing their top receiver (92 catches, 904 yards in '08), but should actually see their throwing stats rebound if Carson Palmer plays without further injury. Still, the move does make the Bengals desperate for a receiver opposite Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson. Expect the team to go shopping for one on the first day of the draft.

Great Oden's Raven!

Baltimore added a new weapon this offseason to a passing offense ranked 28th in the NFL in 2008: tight end L.J. Smith, who was signed to a one-year deal. The ex-Philadelphia Eagle caught 37 passes for 298 yards in twelve starts last season. Smith not only gives Joe Flacco another experienced pass catcher, but will also help push a struggling Todd Heap for a starting job. Despite playing all sixteen games in 2008, Heap only totaled 35 catches and 403 yards, a far cry from his 70+ catch seasons of '05 and '06.

Donovan McNabb is Confused Enough

Despite the pleas from many fans, changes to the overtime format were not discussed by the NFL's competition committee. Since 2002, over 60-percent of the teams that win the initial overtime coin toss ultimately came out on top in the game. And in 2008, 43-percent of teams that won the coin toss went down the field and scored on the first drive. Despite the mathematical unfairness of the system, neither the players union nor the owners are dying for change. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson told the Associated Press that the players were "pretty adamant an extended playing time would expose you to injury risk. If you can't win it in regulation, you take your chances in overtime."

Coming Soon to a City Near You

The new United Football League will attempt to accomplish what leagues like the XFL and USFL have failed to, compete as second fiddle to the National Football League. The UFL will debut this October with four teams featuring ex-NFL coaches at the helm. On March 12, it was announced that Jim Fassel (Las Vegas), Jim Haslett (Orlando), Dennis Green (San Francisco), and former defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell (New York) would be leading the expansion teams. The league expects to pick up players who are left off NFL rosters following training camps.

Fire Chiefs

Many experts expect Kansas City to be one of the most improved teams in 2009, and for good reason. The Chiefs' first big offseason change was new GM Scott Pioli's firing of head coach Herman Edwards on January 23, who was eventually replaced by Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Then on February 28 came a groundbreaking trade with the New England Patriots. Kansas City acquired QB Matt Cassel and veteran LB Mike Vrabel for a second-round pick. The Chiefs hope that these moves, plus drafting an impact player with the #3 overall pick, will give their franchise a complete turnaround from its struggles in 2007 and 2008.