NFL row resolved

Stateside, the NFL was finally launched with a match-up of the past two Super Bowl winners after 183 days of dispute-ridden inactivity.

Many feared that the 2011 campaign might never happen when club owners locked out players in March. The fight on how to divide $9.3 billion in annual revenues was settled in July after a shutdown.

Squabbles between the players and owners as to how to divide the fortune hogged the headlines and caused the sport’s first work stoppage since 1987. In the end, all that was sacrificed was the traditional pre-season curtain raiser, the Hall of Fame game.

Elsewhere, the lockout meant that the window for teams to sign free agents, and re-sign their own, was truncated causing a mad dash as players hawked themselves around for the best possible deal.

Nnamdi Asomugha proved to be the most-wanted player during free agency, and the Pro Bowl cornerback signed a five-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, who also snapped up Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The most notable absentee will be Brett Favre, who will be absent from the season’s start for the first time in 20 years, finally retiring after promising to do so for years! Favre holds the NFL records for most career passing yards (71,838) and passing touchdowns (508). His retirement leaves the door open for Peyton Manning to continue his charge to overtake Favre.

Unfortunately for Manning, who signed a five-year contract this summer worth $90 million, recent neck surgery means a break in his streak of 227 consecutive matches – a run second only to Favre. His team, the Indianapolis Colts, fear that he may miss the entire season, damaging their own chances.

The new season brings a number of rule changes. The most notable – and controversial – is that the kick-off will now occur on the 35-yard line. All scoring plays will be subject to video replay while the league disciplinary committee will increase penalties on players found guilty of making illegal hits.

Despite the first round of matches producing results detrimental to my predictions for the divisional winners, I am sticking to my belief that the winners will not be decided in the first round of matches!

AFC North – Pittsburgh Steelers: All the talk is about the ageing defence and how the Steelers will cope with defeat in last season’s Super Bowl.  However, I expect their defence, led by Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, to continue to suffocate opposing attacks. Their squad contains solid replacements in most positions while quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, is expected to have a big season. Mike Wallace, having been installed as the Steeler’s main receiver, must improve.

AFC East – New England Patriots: Last year the Patriots won 14 games while rebuilding the roster. Tom Brady, the much vaunted quarterback, will continue to be effective in their offence this season while the defence should be less vulnerable, although much will depend on Albert Haynesworth returning to past form.

AFC South – Houston Texans: Aiming to take advantage of the loss of Manning, this could be the year that the Texans finally take the title from the Colts in a weaker division. The defence remains a work in progress but should improve with the addition of linebacker DeMeco Ryans. They will also be looking to Jonathan Joseph to make key interceptions.

AFC West – San Diego Chargers: The offence of the Chargers will rely heavily on TE Antonio Gates because he opens up the field for a lot of other players. However, Vincent Jackson is expected to be another key performer while the San Diego fans hope to see Ryan Matthews at his dynamic best. In defence, Larry English is hoping to produce the sacks he promised when drafted.

NFC South – Atlanta Falcons: The league’s most disciplined team should repeat its steady performance, especially considering the NFC South faces the far weaker AFC South. But, Michael Turner has to stay healthy for the Falcons to soar. Ditto John Abraham.

The Falcons are capable of winning the division on the strength of an explosive offence that features a franchise quarterback (Matt Ryan) and a pair of big-time receivers in Roddy White and Julio Jones.

Edwards gives the Falcons a proven pass rusher opposite John Abraham. His frenetic style is ideally suited for the Georgia Dome, and he could finally post double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.

NFC North – Green Bay Packers: MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to return even better numbers due to the improving running options that should enhance his play-action game. However, it is their defence, forcing a high number of turnovers, that makes them so difficult to beat. The Packers won the Super Bowl last season without key players Ryan Grant, Jermichael Finley (who could be their most dynamic playmaker) and Morgan Burnett. Their return gives the Packers a legitimate shot to repeat as champions.

NFC South – New Orleans Saints: The opener aside, the Saints face a relatively easy early season that should allow them to build form and confidence as the league progresses.  Payton should benefit from a new running dimension to the offence, particularly with the versatile Darren Sproles. The greater muscle in the defence should create more pressure on the opposition and makes the Saints one of the most complete teams in the league.

NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles accountant has been busy in the off-season acquiring plenty of star players in what many are now calling a Dream Team, assuming you have forgiven quarterback Michael Vick for his involvement in dog-fighting. Next week should be interesting with his return to the Falcons, the team he was playing for at the time of his conviction. Their most notable acquisition is that of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie whose talents should blend with Asante Samuel.

NFC West – St Louis Rams: The NFC West was universally considered the weakest division in the NFL last season. The Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers and Rams played so poorly that there was discussion at the league level that a division winner with a losing record (Seattle ‘won’ the West at 7-9) might not automatically get a home play-off game.

The one team with the manpower to break the ugly cycle of misfortune in the NFC West appears to be the Rams. In the first four weeks of the season, the Rams get three relatively easy home games, which they will need to win. They boast the best quarterback in the division in Sam Bradford who should be helped by the addition of Mike Sims-Walker.  The defence will rely on Chris Long to dominate.

SURPRISE PACKAGES
In the NFC East, the Washington Redskins have a relatively easy schedule which should allow them to improve on the six games they lost last season by less than four points.

In the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans could push the Texans. Despite numerous problems at quarterback last season they averaged only two points per game less than the Texans. Having acquired a proven quarterback in Matthew Hasselbeck they are sure to improve.

OVERALL TIP FOR THE SUPER BOWL

The Green Bay Packers’ superb opening performance against the New Orleans Saints demonstrates why I think they will be the first team for a decade to win back-to-back titles. Aaron Rodgers became the first quarterback since 1964 to throw three touchdowns in an opening quarter while the 42 points scored overall was more than any defending champion in history.

IT’S also worth mentioning the exciting finish to the English Country Cricket Championship. Again the title will be decided on the final game of the season, writes Abu George.

Warwickshire moved into pole position with an emphatic innings victory against Nottinghamshire, although face a tricky away fixture against Hampshire at the spin-friendly Rose Bowl.
 
Three points behind them lurk an improved Lancashire team that is perhaps better placed to secure victory in their final match, away at Somerset, who could be distracted by the forthcoming trip to India for the Champions League T20 finals.

The outside bet is Durham who face relegation-threatened Worcestershire, although they need to win and both teams above them to lose to secure an unlikely title. 

I’m predicting the trophy will find its way back to Old Trafford to complete an amazing transformation for a team managed by former England coach, Peter Moores!