| This is not said as a criticism of DE Bruce Smith or the
Redskins’ decision to sign him, but he is not the dominating player he once was. A
year ago, Smith was still viewed as the top defensive end in the NFL. Now he has dropped
down quite a bit on that list. That said, I still think he was worth signing because he is
still capable of making big plays at key times. He may not be able to control a game like
he once could, but he still has it in him to turn the tide of a game when everything is on
the line. I expect that he will still be a very effective pass rusher this season.  The Titans’ Jevon
Kearse gets more hype right now, but I’d rather have Rams’ DE Kevin Carter on my
roster for the 2000 season. Kearse is a spectacularly exciting player, but Carter is a
better all-around player at this time. As Kearse continues to improve he may one day pass
Carter by, but that time is not here at this moment. Nonetheless, Kearse is a devastating
player that every team in the league would love to have now that the Titans have showed
the proper way to use him.
The Rams’
Grant Wistrom will never be a superstar in the NFL, but he is a try-hard type who is very
productive. He is the perfect complement to Carter.
I don’t
understand why Lions DE Robert Porcher continues to get so little attention from the
public and media. The guy plays like a major star.
Look for
Giants DE Michael Strahan to have a big bounce-back year.
The Panthers
really signed a good one when they added DE Chuck Smith.
Look for DE
Andre Wadsworth to have a big year for the Cardinals.
I will be
shocked beyond belief if rookie Courtney Brown is not a standout for the Browns before all
is said and done.
Phillip
Daniels is going to have a very solid season for the Bears. He won’t be a superstar
who makes big headlines, but he will help upgrade their defense.
Marcellus
Wiley won’t make people forget about Bruce Smith, but he will do a very good job
getting after opposing quarterbacks.
I don’t
trust DT Gilbert Brown to stay in shape for one second. Sure he’s lost some weight
now that he’s learned the free-agent market isn’t interested in overweight
players, but I don’t think he can be counted on to keep the weight off over the long
haul. If I were a GM, I’d let someone else roll the dice on Brown.
If you were to
ask me what one player I would most want in my locker room, it would be 49ers’ DT
Bryant Young. There is no better quality in your most talented players than for them to be
overachievers. It is one of the rarest combinations in sports. It is certainly the best
combination in sports. Michael Jordan had it in basketball. Jerry Rice has had it in
football, and so too has Young. That’s a great quality for younger players to see and
emulate. Young is still a premier player on the field and a sensational leader by the
example he sets in terms of work ethic and desire.
I think the
Lions have a very underrated set of defensive tackles in Luther Elliss and James Jones.
When you combine them with Porcher you have the best defensive line hardly anyone ever
talks about.
I do not think
that Buccaneers’ DT Warren Sapp will let last season’s sucecss go to his head.
Look for him to continue to destroy opposing players.
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