All of this talk about Randy Moss leaving the Vikings is a daily conversation amongst all NFL fans. Every team would love to have Moss as he could elevate any team by an unaccountable amount. Though his attitude problems and focus are in doubt, it still doesn?t concern coaches because of his talent. With his carefree attitude, who?s to say that Moss wouldn?t just quit football like Ricky Williams? With all the off the wall things Moss has done, it wouldn?t be shocking to see Moss exit the game sooner than expected if he continues to have frustrating experiences on the football field.

Moss has plenty of money already, and has before stated that he plays when he wants to. It shows on the field, as there are times when he looks as if he is running with minimal effort, and than there are the times where he?ll point at a cornerback and throw his hands up for Culpepper to throw him the ball and score a touchdown. It really is that simple for Moss, but will he adjust as his body slows down or will he just give up? There is going to come a time when Moss will need to use his mental skills over his physical skills to be successful.

In 2005 he?ll be going into his ninth season, and a decline in production is inevitable. If he can stay away from injury that will likely not happen for a good six to seven years for Moss, but last year showed that he might struggle in that department. He missed a big stretch of the regular season with a nagging hamstring injury, and than struggled with an ankle injury in the playoffs that limited him completely against the Eagles.

If Moss is demanding a trade, now is the time for the Vikings to deal him. His value is high right now, and if he mopes around another year in Minnesota teams inquiring about him might open their eyes. Also rumors about Culpepper not being able to be successful without Moss can be shutdown. With Moss out of the lineup for a long period last season, Culpepper still carried the Vikings with receivers Marcus Robinson and Nate Burelson stepping up.

If it weren?t for Manning?s incredible year, Culpepper would be getting astounding accolades for how he has been able to mature quickly. His numbers don?t lie as he threw for 39 touchdowns, 4700 yards, and only 11 interceptions. His quarterback rating of 110.9 showcases how flawless his year was.

With all the draft picks or talented players the Vikings could get for Moss, it?d be more than enough compromise for Moss. Culpepper doesn?t need Moss if he doesn?t want to be there, and will be fine without him. If Moss doesn?t want to grow up as a human being than he is going to eventually run himself out of the league. He is too great of an athlete and is in position to break numerous receiving records if he just focuses. If he?d wake up he?d realize he is in the best position he could be in with Daunte Culpepper. There are a handful of other quarterbacks that could do throw the ball like Culpepper, but Moss?s ratio of being involved would suffer. Mike Tice is man enough to give Moss what he wants in plays to him, but most coaches aren?t going to evolve their game plan around Moss.

Drew Brees is in the ultimate position even though his destination will be in limbo for the next several months. Either way Brees has capitalized on his great year, and will have a contract that puts him a top with other quarterbacks in the NFL.

With the Chargers already designating the franchise tag on Brees, it means that it is going to be a difficult process for Brees to land elsewhere. There are a lot of teams that would love Brees?s talents, but having to give up draft picks and pay him an excessive amount of dollars might be too much of a risk. Lets not forget that Brees is coming off one great year, not five. Still his four to one touchdown to interception ratio isn?t a figure of deception.

He has really evolved as a quarterback, and besides having Antonio Gates he did it with a fairly average supporting cast. Eric Parker is showing great signs of becoming a number one receiver but is still learning. Tomlinson is still their best threat as a runner after the catch, and that?s where Brees is able to alleviate a lot of his throws with short dump offs and screens.

If David Boston would have came in to San Diego and played the way he should have the Chargers would be set at receiver. Keenan McCardell was brought in during the season to boost the Chargers receiving core, but after a couple solid games was non existent. It?ll be interesting to see if the Chargers keep him or deal with his aging like the Raiders did with Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.

For Brees he?ll likely have to sign a one year tender with the Chargers for over 8 million dollars. It sounds great, but he is in the same position as he was before, and that is minimal job security. If he even shows a little bit of a downfall from his Pro Bowl year, than the Chargers will let him go and bring along Philip Rivers. It?s doubtful that?ll happen because Brees is a confident player, and feels that he should be a Charger for the rest of his career.

As for Philip Rivers he has to be patient, and still prepare himself in case Brees gets hurt. There is no reason too pout or have an attitude, as his time will eventually come. It has to be frustrating to see Eli Manning and Ben Roeslithberger get the spot light, but if he has to come in and is unprepared it will only make him look worse. He already has negativity around him for holding out as long as he did last summer.

The Chargers organization isn?t stupid, as they do want Drew Brees. They just want to further evaluate his talents before deciding where to go with their team the next five years. If they have to disregard Philip Rivers some people will say their pick was wasted. For the Chargers at the time they thought they needed to get a quarterback. Well they have one, and just because it wasn?t Rivers doesn?t mean they lost out. Sure they could have used the pick for Roy Williams or another top flight receiver, but everything happens for a reason. Maybe the pick they end up getting for Rivers becomes a gem, and they come full circle with that pick.

By Zack Cimini

The rumors of JP Losman taking over Drew Bledsoe?s job without a competition will be over as soon as tomorrow. It is expected that Drew Bledsoe will be released, and put an end to his brief two year campaign with the Buffalo Bills. You could say that the Bills used Bledsoe wrongly for a transition period, but the NFL is strictly business more than ever before.

The Bills organization does deserve some credit for pulling the strings quickly, instead of letting the situation drag deep into the off season. Having Bledsoe around would?ve more than likely just hurt Losman?s development in the off-season as a starter. Now that he strongly knows that it is his team, he doesn?t have to look over his shoulder with tremendous pressure. On the other hand if he isn?t ready for the responsibility, time will soon show.

Certainly the Bills wouldn?t have been contemplating about bringing Losman in during the Bills late season win streak, if they didn?t seriously think he was ready. Obviously this kid is showing strong signs or they wouldn?t have put off Bledsoe.

For Bledsoe you just have to take it like a man and keep your head high above your shoulders. It wasn?t necessarily that Losman was better than he was, it?s just that the Bills needed to go in another direction. Bledsoe is a testament of how having a great career as a youth in the NFL doesn?t mean that your career will sustain the same greatness. It?s all about timing and being in the right position with a solid nucleus.

Bledsoe still possesses the same skills that he has always had, and needs to go to a team that will let him take the reigns in firm control for the rest of his career. He is not the type of veteran that should be passed like a baton to be a yearly option for a team. This is not a Trent Dilfer or Jeff Blake and would be a shame to see Bledsoe land on a team that doesn?t have serious plans in utilizing his skills.

That?s probably one of the reasons why Bledsoe decided that he?d rather be released than traded. He can analyze all the situations that are proposed to him, and make sure that he isn?t being given a shady or misleading offer. It still looks like the best place for Bledsoe to go to would be Dallas. His best success came with Bill Parcells, and the Cowboys definitely need a quarterback to complement their talented receivers and Julius Jones.

There is no guarantee that Bill Parcells would be willing to stick around if the Cowboys have another losing situation. That could quickly end a marriage with Bledsoe and the Cowboys, since Jerry Jones would be quick to appoint a coach that would give Drew Henson the job. It?s crazy thinking, but needs to be done by Bledsoe to consider where he can finish a career without any derailment.

Another place that would be a wise idea for Bledsoe is Arizona. They have three talented young wide receivers in Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Bryant Johnson. They all stretch the field extremely well, and even made Josh McCown look solid last year. With Bledsoe?s long ball, and Dennis Green?s trust in veterans (Randall Cunningham) it is an agreement that could happen. Arizona is looking for that one quarterback to help lead them, and try to get them to the 2008 Super Bowl in which they?re hosting.

For JP Losman his year on the bench as a learner will never be forgotten. If Bledsoe can revitalize his legacy it could make Losman?s learning days even more appreciative.

At least the Bills don?t have another controversy like they did when Rob Johnson was a youngster, and Doug Flutie an old veteran.

By Zack Cimini

Could the Pro Bowl be looking at its final days when their contract is over in 2009? According to Troy Aikman there shouldn?t be a Pro Bowl at all, as it is just an extra week from resting for veterans. Peyton Manning argued that opinion by stating that he still enjoys the Pro Bowl. With the rate of players dropping out every year it sways in the direction that Aikman states. So what can the NFL do to get the attention back to their distinguished All Star game?

One thing that is drastically different with the NFL is that their All Star game is at the end of the season. Baseball, basketball, and even hockey have their All Star game at the midway point of the season. With those three sports though their seasons are long with numerous games, so a midway point is going to represent the best athletes that will continue that pattern after that stretch. In the NFL every four weeks is a carousel ride, and by no means could there be an All Star game after week eight or nine.

First of all the injury factor would be the first no-no in trying that. Coaches don?t like anything that threatens their regular season, and is why every year teams go into the regular season rusty. They are unprepared as a result of minimal playing time in the preseason.

Still the Pro Bowl is supposed to be a celebration and carefree game before athletes get their couple months away from football. Every Pro Bowl it seems like everyone is having fun, so does every athlete deserve to get their own Grammy?

The new skills challenge that the NFL has been doing is quickly drawing a yearly craze, and may be the new route. This year they mixed it up with some strength and speed competitions that were unique yet intriguing. An athlete spends so much time training and conditioning but when they are on the field we don?t see any of that. It?s a nice competition to see which athletes are separating themselves with hard work ethic off the football field. Even though it?s an individual competition, it should quickly become a main attracter to the annual event.

Maybe they?ll forgo the game and just list the best player?s without a game. College basketball and football always have a first team, second team, third team, or a compiled list of All-American athletes. It is enough for those athletes when they get their award. No game is needed, yet it?d be nice to happen.

Sooner or later the NFL is going to need to reevaluate what they have to do before they lose the hype that is drawn in every year. It also doesn?t help when athletes are coming out with negative statements. The Pro Bowl isn?t going anywhere because the greatness of youth is always growing in sports. So there will always be plenty of hungry young athletes that shoot for that day in February to shine for their hard work.

Jay Fiedler?s days in Miami may be numbered, but he has made a respectable name for himself around the league. Since Dan Marino?s departure nearly five years ago, Fiedler has been able to stable himself in Miami with little support from the coaching staff. Each year they seem to want to head in a different direction but the ultimate solution ends up being Jay Fiedler. Whether he had to fight through the distraction of Brian Griese or AJ Feeley, he was able to overcome both and get himself back in the starting lineup.

In fact this season he was given absolutely no chance by former head coach Dave Wannstedt. He abandoned Jay Fiedler with no intentions of letting him back in, until the fans and media started getting on him. AJ Feeley was playing horrible, and Fiedler deserved another shot rightfully so. He came in and battled his heart out, and played his way into a new contract this off-season. Even though that won?t be on the Dolphins, because they have decided to go in the AJ Feeley direction.

Before Miami?s fall off this year, Jay Fiedler had one of the best records over the previous four seasons for starting quarterbacks. He never did anything flashy but knew his strengths and limitations, and that complemented with Lamar Smith and Ricky Williams perfectly. The results still didn?t keep Miami from late season collapses or early playoff exits, but instilled the concept that they could be a player or two away from serious contention. So when Miami signed David Boston, it looked like they?d have the perfect piece to the puzzle.

Well Williams retired, Boston got hurt for the year, and the rest is history. Miami is also on the verge of losing a lot of star players, because they are seventeen to eighteen million dollars over the anticipated salary cap for next season. So serious cuts will be made, and they?ll need to readjust their whole nucleus.

Jay Fiedler may not land as a starter elsewhere, but there isn?t a team in the NFL that wouldn?t want him as a backup. There is no worry if he were to have to step in, and the cost of signing him will likely be a low expense. Either way he shouldn?t be forgotten for how long he lasted from the transition days of Dan Marino. No one and I mean no one thought he?d do what he did or last as long as he did. His quarterback savvy and ability to take tough hits in the pocket, is up with the best of them in the league. For teams looking to add serious depth behind a solid capable starter, will find a gem with Fiedler.

Isn?t it great when the athlete gets to make a mockery of an organization? One year ago Drew Brees practically had his walking papers handed to him, when the Chargers drafted Philip Rivers. How quickly the tide can turn in ones favor though. Rivers decided to holdout, and Brees knew this was his chance to show his worth as a Charger. In all likelihood if Rivers didn?t holdout, there would have been a competitive battle between the two, and for the future of the team Rivers more than likely would have been named the starter.

Never once have I seen a quarterback not get the attention he deserves for a turnaround more than Brees. He did get elected to his first Pro Bowl, but much of the talk all year was on Ladainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. That?s respectable because both had record breaking years, but the transformation of Brees was incredible. It seemed at points in the year that he was a Peyton Manning duplicate with his reads, and is definitely one of the best quarterbacks at reading a defense. Brees is a perfect example on why to be patient with a quarterback, and let him learn from his mistakes. Too many teams are jumping the gun if they don?t get immediate results from a contributor, and passing off their talents to others. Whatever happened to the development stage in the NFL?

The pressure is completely off of Brees for now, as he is one of the hottest quarterback free agency commodities. Instead of the Chargers agreeing to a deal with Brees in the past, they opted not to and now will either hurt in their pockets, or lose a rising star. For Brees he is in the perfect situation. Lots of free agents have to promote their own work to get signed and actually make their agent of use. Instead, Brees can just sit back and have people come to him with no worries. More than likely he?ll take his time in signing, and look for the best option for his immediate future, and who wouldn?t?

It?d likely be best for Brees to take his skills elsewhere, as Philip Rivers isn?t going anywhere. He has a huge contract until 2010, and Brees has made it known if he is going to be a Charger he wants a long term deal. There is no way that Brees would be able to look over his shoulder for four or five years with Rivers behind him.

With that in mind the Chargers will likely franchise Brees and make it even more difficult for him. Why spoil something that?s going in the right direction? If Philip Rivers comes in, he is going to go through growing pains and hurt his team?s progression. Chances at succeeding with the right nucleus are slim, and the Chargers have the talent to do it right now. They?re a young team meshing at all positions, and shouldn?t adjust their mold.

If the Chargers can somehow get away with signing Brees to a two to three year deal, they can reevaluate on what to do after next season. If Brees comes in and has another Pro Bowl year, than it?s a no brainer in the off-season. They would have to trade Rivers and get respectable value before he depreciates. That Disneyland thinking doesn?t happen in the NFL though, and the Chargers will need to make a tough business decision. Whatever way they decide to go, it?ll likely be a no win solution. If they trade Rivers he could become the star the Chargers envisioned, and if they let Brees goes he could continue to excel. This is going to be a long process that could get ugly with a franchise tag.