King's Power Rankings

[BJShan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/05/10/may11/index.html?bcnn=yes


10. Tennessee
Second team in the top 10 that should have tried harder and offered more to get Torry Holt. Still, Tennessee is good enough to win the South without anyone better than Justin Gage outside. And by the way, he played well enough last year (19.1 yards per catch) to merit a shot at being Kerry Collins' go-to-guy downfield and will benefit from the Titans' acquisition of ex-Steeler Nate Washington. I don't worry much about Collins, except about him surviving 16 games; he turns 37 this year and the team is up the creek without a paddle without him playing well.

Things are starting to feel a bit more normal, we're slipping down the polls already.

[Sect309Fan]

It really makes me feel better to know Peter King has about zero credibility anymore. What an idiotic top 10. :lolhit

[Titanico]

Has anybody told King that we were a 10-0 team last season and that we knew who the ratbirds were but we left them off the hook?

[Sect309Fan]

The Patriot love is annoying. Putting them at #1 in these offseason polls seems a bit premature.

[Titanico]

It's a trend that has been unstoppable since the 2001-02 season. Unless N.E. starts having bad seasons or until Brady retires, the media will be in love with them, IMO.

I still wonder why they show the Brady's poster at a so important place on NFLN Total Access...doesn't Joe Montana deserve that place?

[Toronto]

The Patriot love is annoying. Putting them at #1 in these offseason polls seems a bit premature.

He lives in Boston now - gotta drink their tonic.

[gnarl]

im still trying to figure out why we are such a bad time with young under center?
dont get me wrong, kerry is the better choice so it seems.

but we did go 10-6 with a playoff birth with him playing QB for us, even with those awful numbers he put up.

and i would like to think we would never see him put up numbers like that again

[Nintova]

Us being 10 on his list is an improvement over years past. I think he has us there for good reason. We do well, "I had the Titans in my top ten !!" We don't, "They were on the outside looking in !" Same article he says "I don't have much to say on the whole Brett Fahv-ra thing" then writes 3 paragraphs on him .. THEN mentions him in bit lower on his "list". He's a tool.

[TRUTitan]

Ok here is the TRUPower Rankings.

1. Tennessee: Yes I will continue to wear these two-tone blue lens.

2. Philladelphia: It hard not to like a team that you know is about to torch up the scoreboards through the air. Losing Dawkins may take the emotional "umph" out of this defense and this would be their downfall.

3. Pittsburgh: Lost some people to FA, still not running the ball well enough to be number one. Defense depends on Polamalu staying healthy.

4. Chicago: What is not to like about Chi-town's defense with a reliable QB plus an up and coming back. Just need a few recievers and they are number one. Even ahead of our beloved Titans.

5. NY Giants: Same team only without Burress. And how well have they played without Burress last year.

6. Houston: They are always a couple plays away from Pwning other teams. Could actually put it all together and well....... I am not comfortable facing them twice this year.

7. Denver: They did a lot in FA to improve this team. But losing Cutler could be their downfall.

8. Dallas: Can Roy garner the attention that TO did on the field and allow the other recievers to be open all day. Let's see.

9. New England: How many QBs can make a comeback after knee injuries? How many QBs can make a comeback coming off a knee injury and having a new Offensive coordinator?

10. Indianapolis: Defense will suffer without Dungy. Will this be the year Peyton starts to show his age?

[315]

It really makes me feel better to know Peter King has about zero credibility anymore. What an idiotic top 10. :lolhit

At least you now know why is Mother named him "Peter".

[Rolltide14TOMB]

i quit reading at
Second team in the top 10 that should have tried harder and offered more to get Torry Holt

that sentence has absolutely nothing to do with our football team and means nothing to me...we do not want jaguars on our team....

King's analysis of us is about as vanilla has it gets...Well the QB...well the WR....what about our O-line? CJ? secondary?

[zonian]

Off season rankings are even more ridiculous than the nonsense these clowns print during the regular season.

As my friend Bugs would say:

"What a maroon!"

[TRUTitan]

The hating continues......

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810536b4&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

[ChrisJohnson'sdreads]

I agree with those saying that having New England at #1 already seems a bit premature. Sure they have added a few weapons on the defensive side of the ball which was much needed as their players weren't getting any younger but the statement that stands out to me was about their offense. “New England was seventh in the league in scoring with Brady playing one quarter in 2008; it'll be in the top three, easily, with him back.” Need I remind them that Josh McDaniels isn’t there anymore?

Ric Flair (Former Wrestler), always said “To be the man, you got to beat the man!” So although it kills me inside to do this I have to hand it to the Steelers for now

But our Titans did beat them last season and get a chance to do it again this time around in game 1 :thumbsup

[TitansGiantsBears]

The hating continues......

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810536b4&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

How does that article classify as "hating"? I thought it was quite complimentary to the Titans.

[TRUTitan]

How does that article classify as "hating"? I thought it was quite complimentary to the Titans.


I think placeing a team that had the best record in football last season in 10th place just because they lost one guy is hating. Especially when they move one team that didn't even make the playoffs, lost their offensive coordinator, lost their GM and have their franchise QB coming back off the worst injury of his career ( an injury that most QBs do not fully recover from) to number 2. :doh

[Fairweather Fan]

Lets not forget about the team that is in fifth with a new head coach.

[Fairweather Fan]

Ok here is the TRUPower Rankings.

1. Tennessee: Yes I will continue to wear these two-tone blue lens.

2. Philladelphia: It hard not to like a team that you know is about to torch up the scoreboards through the air. Losing Dawkins may take the emotional "umph" out of this defense and this would be their downfall.

3. Pittsburgh: Lost some people to FA, still not running the ball well enough to be number one. Defense depends on Polamalu staying healthy.

4. Chicago: What is not to like about Chi-town's defense with a reliable QB plus an up and coming back. Just need a few recievers and they are number one. Even ahead of our beloved Titans.

5. NY Giants: Same team only without Burress. And how well have they played without Burress last year.

6. Houston: They are always a couple plays away from Pwning other teams. Could actually put it all together and well....... I am not comfortable facing them twice this year.

7. Denver: They did a lot in FA to improve this team. But losing Cutler could be their downfall.

8. Dallas: Can Roy garner the attention that TO did on the field and allow the other recievers to be open all day. Let's see.

9. New England: How many QBs can make a comeback after knee injuries? How many QBs can make a comeback coming off a knee injury and having a new Offensive coordinator?

10. Indianapolis: Defense will suffer without Dungy. Will this be the year Peyton starts to show his age?

Everything is reasonable except Denver at 8. Denver sucked with Cutler and now they will suck witout Cutler.

[TRUTitan]

Everything is reasonable except Denver at 8. Denver sucked with Cutler and now they will suck witout Cutler.

They sucked because of the defense was garbage. They did alot in FA, but, now that I think about it, I think they should be lower because of a DumbA$$ head coach.

I would like to replace them with Miami.

8. Miami Dolphins.... Caught alot of teams by surprise last year with the wild cat, but won the games they needed to make it in the playoffs. The Tuna bringing back Jason Taylor does nothing but improve a very stingy defense. Drafted Pat White who can prove to be deadly if they run the WildCat again.

[Aceonline]

under the radar we know helps other teams claim they didn't game plan for us, when we win. no probs

[GoPats]

The hating continues......

"Hi Pot... my name is Kettle. You're black." :lmao

[Rolltide14TOMB]

well i wish we could abolish one stereotype of the titans this year and that is, "we play better as the underdogs" can we PLEASE PLEASE get over that hump...if we are going to be a champion this does not need to be a characteristic....we should play the same regardless of what anyone thinks or predicts

[shadowboxin']

The "underdog" and "hungry" tags are played out. Every team plays with a chip on their shoulder. Every team wants the Lombardi as bad as the next. And every fanbase feels their team was cheated in the power rankings if they're not #1.

That said, these rankings are off.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

And every fanbase feels their team was cheated in the power rankings if they're not #1.


not I


Every team plays with a chip on their shoulder
disagree...indianapolis in my opinion does not....they did when they won the title because they were sick of hearing that they were the worst ever at stopping the run...after that game where the jags rang up like 350 rushing THEN they played with a chip..
just one team that i do not believe plays with a chip on their shoudler


That said, these rankings are off
agree but they were pretty predictable and NOone will get them exact

[shadowboxin']

not I


As a whole.




disagree...indianapolis in my opinion does not....they did when they won the title because they were sick of hearing that they were the worst ever at stopping the run...after that game where the jags rang up like 350 rushing THEN they played with a chip..
just one team that i do not believe plays with a chip on their shoudler


Every team in the league will come up with something as a reason to play with a chip on their shoulder. (Ex. this coming season, Indy is going to have a chip because they feel everyone is writing them off due to the coaching staff changes). Every harsh word said and every critical article written about a team is taken and put up on the bulletin board.



agree but they were pretty predictable and NOone will get them exact

If anything, the rankings at this point should be how the teams finished the season. The Bears didn't even make the playoffs but now that they've got Cutler they're automatically 2nd best in the NFC? Wait until the season starts to play itself out before jumping to those types of conclusions.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

i dont think the coaching changes is as much of an incentive to play with a "chip" on their shoulder as was the challenging of their manhood in being unable to stop the run...unless it is constantly and constantly brought up as the season progresses....

i think rankings are meant to be "how they look on paper" i mean there really is no other way of doing it at this point because i dont think "last season" has much to do with this year (except in our case of course) lol
In making pre-season rankings i think you have to assume things....assuming Brady is as good as he has been there is no reason to think that they are not the number 1 team in the league....
from an assuming standpoint those who do not closely follow us logically would think that we wont be as good losing a 100 million dollar lineman...(even though WE all know/think that we can manage without)

when you "assume" that the bears (who have a great defense) will have an even better defense assuming that they play better and more motivated knowing they have potential on offense makes them appear to be a top team...throw in forte, olsen, and hester to go along with cutler's arm i dont see anything wrong with "projecting" them as a super bowl contender...even though it would appear philly is the best in the NFC

that said NFL "rankings" are even more irrevelant than college football pre-season rankings which is hard to fathom...lol

[Pastorini]

im still trying to figure out why we are such a bad time with young under center?
dont get me wrong, kerry is the better choice so it seems.

but we did go 10-6 with a playoff birth with him playing QB for us, even with those awful numbers he put up.

and i would like to think we would never see him put up numbers like that again

He actually went 9-6. Collins played the full game vs the Texans that season and was 1-0.

[TRUTitan]

"Hi Pot... my name is Kettle. You're black." :lmao

Yea well your a Pats fan anyways your used to the hating. (At least you ought to be from fans of other teams.) The media loves your team something great though, to use a double standard way of evaluating a teams potential. Whereas Joe Sportswriter says team A will not be successful because they had a coaching staff change, a star player injured or a star player left. But the Pats can have all of the problems above and still be voted number 1 and 2 in their nonrespective polls. :doh

[GoPats]

Yea well your a Pats fan anyways your used to the hating. (At least you ought to be from fans of other teams.) The media loves your team something great though, to use a double standard way of evaluating a teams potential. Whereas Joe Sportswriter says team A will not be successful because they had a coaching staff change, a star player injured or a star player left. But the Pats can have all of the problems above and still be voted number 1 and 2 in their nonrespective polls. :doh

I am... used to the hating, that is. :D

But doesn't Joe Sportswriter have a point?

They lose Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel after the '04 season. They've lost Mangini. Despite these coaching losses, NE is still in the thick of things, year after year.

A star player left? You mean like Ty Law? Or Lawyer Milloy? Or Asante Samuel, or any one of the number of guys who have left in free agency since the Pats began their run in 2001?

OK then, key injuries. But then again, they went 11-5 with their backup QB.

I understand that people hate the Patriots, and as a Sox fan and card-carrying "Yankees Suck" club member I completely get it. Honestly, I do.

Also, it wasn't always like this. When they lost both coordinators, people said they'd struggle. When key players have left in the past, it's been the same negativity. Until those writers and TV hosts ended up being wrong a few times.

But to answer your question... now, the Patriots are picked high in these types of polls because they've shown, year after year after year, that personnel and coaching losses can be overcome if you have: a) A head coach who, despite his lack of like-ability, is a football genius of the n-th degree, and b) A quarterback of Brady's caliber. I don't particularly care for Belichick as a person but, as I've said before, he's a football coach. Not my kid's kindergarten teacher.

Look at the rosters of the '01 team (the one that beat the Rams in the SB) and the '07 team (that lost to the Giants). Almost 100% turnover. You're talking about maybe six guys being on both rosters at this point, and that could be stretching it. In the years in between, they missed the playoffs twice, and that includes last year without #12.

What other team in the NFL has undergone that kind of roster change and remained competative?

The Titans are not being disrespected in these polls. When you ride your defense, and then you lose your biggest (literally and figuratively) impact player on that side of the ball, people will have doubts. The Titans have to prove that they can do what they did last year without Haynesworth. If they can, the "haters" will come around.

Is it a "double standard," like you said? Maybe. But preseason prognostications are 100% subjectively determined. Did someone say it had to be fair?

I'm not trying to make all of you hate me for the Patriot love, but... until they have a really crappy season, or until Brady hangs 'em up, they'll always be picked to do well.

[LiamVengeance]

1. New England: Who says Tom Brady will even be the same player after a year of no playing?

2. Pittsburgh: To much love, To many fans jumping on the bandwagon since 1974.

3. New York Giants: Good Defense, Closely rated team on the list.

4. Chicago: WHAT?!?!?! Just because they got Cutler does not put them in the Top 10

5. Indianapolis: No Dungy, No Moore, Rookie HC, Doubt they deserve this spot

6. Philadelphia: Very Nice Draft, Would put them #4

7. San Diego: Top 10 Team easy, Shoulda Been 5

8. Baltimore: Just because off a blown call by the ref's puts them above Tennessee, I dont think so

9. Dallas: Hahahahahaha, What?! Dallas? Didnt they do pretty bad last year, And Romo is focusing on Golf?

10. Tennessee: Under-rated, We are, We filled the two gaping wholes in the draft and got 2 good players to fill them holes, Then picked up Jared Cook, And got Nate Washington as an FA, Lost Haynesnotworth100million, Oh no, end of the world, Fat Bastard hardly played anyway.

[TRUTitan]

I am... used to the hating, that is. :D

But doesn't Joe Sportswriter have a point?

They lose Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel after the '04 season. They've lost Mangini. Despite these coaching losses, NE is still in the thick of things, year after year.

A star player left? You mean like Ty Law? Or Lawyer Milloy? Or Asante Samuel, or any one of the number of guys who have left in free agency since the Pats began their run in 2001?

OK then, key injuries. But then again, they went 11-5 with their backup QB.

I understand that people hate the Patriots, and as a Sox fan and card-carrying "Yankees Suck" club member I completely get it. Honestly, I do.

Also, it wasn't always like this. When they lost both coordinators, people said they'd struggle. When key players have left in the past, it's been the same negativity. Until those writers and TV hosts ended up being wrong a few times.

But to answer your question... now, the Patriots are picked high in these types of polls because they've shown, year after year after year, that personnel and coaching losses can be overcome if you have: a) A head coach who, despite his lack of like-ability, is a football genius of the n-th degree, and b) A quarterback of Brady's caliber. I don't particularly care for Belichick as a person but, as I've said before, he's a football coach. Not my kid's kindergarten teacher.

Look at the rosters of the '01 team (the one that beat the Rams in the SB) and the '07 team (that lost to the Giants). Almost 100% turnover. You're talking about maybe six guys being on both rosters at this point, and that could be stretching it. In the years in between, they missed the playoffs twice, and that includes last year without #12.

What other team in the NFL has undergone that kind of roster change and remained competative?

The Titans are not being disrespected in these polls. When you ride your defense, and then you lose your biggest (literally and figuratively) impact player on that side of the ball, people will have doubts. The Titans have to prove that they can do what they did last year without Haynesworth. If they can, the "haters" will come around.

Is it a "double standard," like you said? Maybe. But preseason prognostications are 100% subjectively determined. Did someone say it had to be fair?

I'm not trying to make all of you hate me for the Patriot love, but... until they have a really crappy season, or until Brady hangs 'em up, they'll always be picked to do well.


(1) After all of those seasons you had a "off" year. Now you are going to have a QB that has not played in a year try to shrug off the rust and play learn a new system in the process. Nevermind the fact that QBs rarely comeback one hundred percent from an injury of that severity and that is not including how Handsome Tom will be effected mentally by an injury that took a year from his career.

I don't hate you just the media's blind love of your team. You make for good Conversation.:thumbsup

[GoPats]

(1) After all of those seasons you had a "off" year. Now you are going to have a QB that has not played in a year try to shrug off the rust and play learn a new system in the process. Nevermind the fact that QBs rarely comeback one hundred percent from an injury of that severity and that is not including how Handsome Tom will be effected mentally by an injury that took a year from his career.

I don't hate you just the media's blind love of your team. You make for good Conversation.:thumbsup

Thanks man. No bad blood here either... we don't know each other that well but FWIW my wisecracking is never meant to be taken seriously. :D

BTW, no system change... McDaniels is gone, but it's Belichick's system. McDaniels replaced Weis, and even back then it was still BB's system.

You could be right... who knows? But I think that could also go the other way. Brady - 1) Lost a year of his prime, 2) Never got to atone for the way the 18-1 season ended, and 3) is going to be a hungry, hungry hippo. If he has problems, I don't think they'll be in his head. I think they'd be physical, but I also think the Pats will do what they can to protect him early on (more quick routes, pound the run, etc).

[TitansGiantsBears]

I think placeing a team that had the best record in football last season in 10th place just because they lost one guy is hating. Especially when they move one team that didn't even make the playoffs, lost their offensive coordinator, lost their GM and have their franchise QB coming back off the worst injury of his career ( an injury that most QBs do not fully recover from) to number 2. :doh

And having the best record in football got this team where? One in done in the playoffs. They may as well have been a wild-card and lost in week one of the playoffs. Perhaps the "haters" are looking at the fact that this team went 3-4 down the stretch and believe this may be indicative of the real Titans. In that case, putting them anywhere in the Top 10 hardly qualifies as hating. It sounds more like giving them the benefit of the doubt to me. It's fair to say the Titans have question marks beyond losing their best defensive player.