The following quotes are from NFL scouts, coaches and front-office personnel, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“It’s one thing to come off the bench during the season for one series and light it up. It’s another to start the season as the guy and do it again. Tony Romo proved he could do it after being anointed. Give the Cowboys credit for waiting to see that he could handle the pressure of starting the season anointed. That’s when he got paid. Trust me, it will be different for (Derek) Anderson next year going into the season as the starter. I’ve seen it happen with too many guys. The expectation level changes. It’s different after you’ve been anointed (as being) ‘the guy.’ ”
“You hear a lot about Bill Belichick’s coaching tree, but take a look at some of the guys Scott Pioli has hired: (Eagles vice president of player personnel) Jason Licht, (Falcons GM) Thomas Dimitroff, (Patriots WR coach) Nick Caserio, (Patriots offensive coordinator) Josh McDaniels. Every year, they have to reload because their personnel department is getting raided.”
“I don’t understand what the Colts were thinking in preparation for the (Chargers). They got too much rest. They came out looking lethargic and not sharp at all. They got beat by the Chargers’ backups in the RCA Dome — how bad is that? I thought they learned last season after their struggles in the playoffs the previous season. The Giants are proof. They came out to play against New England. They competed their (butts) off. They rolled into the playoffs with confidence.”
“The toughest deal to measure when evaluating quarterbacks is open receivers and time to throw. It’s the reason (the) quarterback (position) is so difficult to play and evaluate. Taking zero away from (Tom) Brady, he had all day to throw (vs. Jacksonville). They never got close to him after the first play of the game. Jacksonville’s (defensive) coordinator said he was never going to blitz him (before the game), so Brady just dinked and dunked them. Matt Leinart led the nation in open receivers as a junior and senior. How hard is it when receivers are wide open?”
“Bill Parcells came out saying he did not want problem children and then he extended Ricky Williams. That threw me for a loop. … He might have some trade value.”
“When Parcells came to Dallas, you can look at his track record. He spent his first two picks on DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. He started to build it up front.”
“(Rams CB) Jonathan Wade starting the season playing very well, but when Fakhir Brown came back, he went into a funk. It took him some time to get back in the saddle. Confidence means so much at that position, and he was playing a lot. I think his took a hit when his playing time was taken away.”
“Cliff Ryan played very well for the Rams at nose tackle, but the Rams need a lot of help on the edges on offense and defense. (DEs) James Hall and Leonard Little are both over 30 and fighting injuries, and you never know anymore how long you’re going to have Orlando Pace.”
“There’s not a whole lot in free agency this year. Next year will be the year when it starts growing. Everyone was signing four- or five-year deals.”
“Green Bay drafted for two years and now they are in the NFC championship. That’s why they are the youngest team in the league.”
“(Giants defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo saved Tom Coughlin’s job. The Philadelphia coaching staff is spreading its wings. Look at John Harbaugh, Leslie Frazier, Ron Rivera, Spagnuolo — these are all guys that trained under (Eagles defensive coordinator) Jim Johnson.”
“Now look at what Tampa Bay’s coaches have done when they moved on. (Lions defensive coordinator) Joe Barry’s defense was 32nd in the league in total defense. Rod Marinelli better get that fixed. It was music to my ears when they said they were going to run the ball because they got all those receivers in there, no one to run it with and no offensive line. Good luck running it. (Marinelli) could be out of there in another year before they ever get anything fixed.”
