_2.gif "Time.com 50 Best Websites 2008")
During a prior item for SportingNews.com, I took a look at the six 2007 playoffs teams that might not make it back to the postseason in 2008, based on the reality that there’s a 50-percent turnover rate when it comes to qualifying for the Super Bowl tournament.
Recognizing an opportunity to milk two more columns from this particular cow, I persuaded the powers-that-be to allow me to expand the concept into a three-part series. Part 2 looks at six non-playoff teams that won’t fill the spots on the dance card to be vacated by half of the 2007 field. Part 3 will try to peg the half-dozen teams that didn’t make it in 2007, but that will do so in 2008.
Thanks to an apparently ssssssslow news Sunday, Yahoo! has picked up Part 2, and plopped it onto the front page of the site. The proof appears below.
Though we appreciate the exposure, the fine folks at Yahoo! have now guaranteed that I’ll spend the rest of the day sifting through angry e-mails from the fans of the six teams listed in the article.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
So you have Pittsburgh out, Cleveland out, who the heck do you have winning the north? Baltimore has too many questions at qb, not to mention the fact that the D is old. Cinci? Right…….Sorry Cleveland or Pittsburgh will be in the playoffs, it may only be one of them, but they are the only 2 teams with a chance to win the division
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 13 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I read it before you posted it here actually. Yahoo! has the link to it. I have to say its pretty cool reading this site’s filth through Yahoo! courtesy of the Sporting News.
Don’t go getting too legit on us Florio. You made some really vanilla picks in that article. Detroit, Kansas City, New York Jets, the Arizona Cardinals?
Cue the Debber downer music, Florio just ruined everyone’s dark horse pools.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Florio loves playing the desperation card with the Jets. They may in face be desperate….but guess what? When they weren’t desperate, they had below average talent. Now? They have better players.
Maybe the Lions, Texans, and Dolphins should show such desperation…
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
you’re DAMN SKIPPY! you bad-mouthed the team as well as the fans! here’s a “no-brainer” you wont ever be welcome in arrowhead stadium..i hope if you show up, KC wolf sacks you on the concrete! but on a serious note..you really shouldnt comment on any team based on the highlights you watch on espn! espn doesnt show you the emotions of the fans you are putting down!! we are the most dedicated fans in the entire NFL. you wanna put down some fans? try the colts! half thier fans only like them because they won the superbowl not too long ago and half of them dont even live in Indiana! go slam THOSE kinds of fans! they wont care..they’ll just switch teams again when the colts start losing!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I disagree with your comment that the Panthers didn’t add any receiving help. Not that Muhsin Muhammad is a star, but if he’s going to be modestly productive anywhere, it’s in Carolina. They also added DJ Hackett, who I think can provide some explosion. Again, he’s not a star or a big name, but the Panthers know they’re a running team and making a large investment into another receiver just doesn’t fit what John Fox wants to do.
I do agree that they won’t make the playoffs… I just wanted to point out the inaccurate comment.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Cardinals. Lions, Chiefs and Jets don’t make the playoffs next year? How can you be so bold? What’s next? The sun will rise in the East in the morning?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I don’t know. Someone out of the AFC North has to win that puppy. I do not see it being the Bungles. I don’t think it will be the Ratbirds either. I would think it would have to be either the Browns or my Steelers. I think my Giants would be able to just make the playoffs knowing them, but of course, they are sort of like the cardiact kids and they were like that last year, and they got hot at the right time so I could see a scenario where they would miss the playoffs (Super Bowl Hangover) like the 2006 Steelers did.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Im going to have to agree with Matt2517. Ciny and Baltimore have no chance of winning the AFC North. The Steelers are always competitors for the division title and the Browns only got better from last year. I will be very surprised if Cincy and Baltimore improve their losing records from last year.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I can’t believe you left out my Bears.
Would basically substitute the Bears for… oh… the Panthers.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
June 1st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Dammit, Florio, you did it again. Kitna did NOT predict 10 wins. He did not say “we WILL win 10 games”. He said he EXPECTED to be DISAPPOINTED if they don’t win 10 games. He didn’t make a bold (and stupid) prediction; he made a limp-wristed statement. He should have at least said he WILL be disappointed if they don’t win 10. While that is still short of being a prediction, he left open the possibility that they might not even disappointed if they notch more than 6 losses. That’s pretty weak.
You are usually good on calling other writers out on that kind of misrepresentation, so stop doing it yourself.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
If the NFL has showed anything, it’s that fans shouldn’t realistically be surprised by any team either making or not making the playoffs. Some would be a little less anticipated than others, but overall, did anyone outside NY pick the Giants in ANY of their three playoff games after TB? No.
Hell, I barely read anyone who thought they would even go to the playoffs after the Vikings kicked their ass, and not too many more who thought they would get in at the beginning of the season.
Anything can happen. And on a slow news day, anything can happen, even Florio getting the jump on the only NFL-related column written by anyone in June and early July (no disrespect, Mike, you said it yourself, you’re just milking the cow before everyone else gets a crack at it).
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Thank you Florio for helping spread the misconception that the NY Giants were just hot at the right time. The longer it takes for people to recognize that the talent on the team the longer they can fly below the radar. And the Giants always work better when no one believes they can win.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 4:47 pm
THE SEAHAWKS LOSING THE DEVISION TO THE CARDINALS HUH, HAVEN’T YOU LEARNED FROM THE LAST FIVE SEASONS THAT YOU DON’T PICK THE CARDS TO DO ANYTHING, BECAUSE YOU JUST END UP LOOKING LIKE AN IDIOT. SEAHAWKS WIN THERE 5TH STRAIGHT NFC WEST TITLE.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 4:52 pm
What a dumb article. You gonna predict that the Colts, Chargers and Pats make the playoffs next?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I’m not going to mention the Giants because that’s just too easy. They’re going to win more regular season games in 2008 than they did in 2007, period. The reasons are endless.
The real glaring mistake on Florio’s list is the Panthers. “But Carolina GM Marty Hurney still hasn’t done anything to establish a receiving threat across from Steve Smith” What??? Have you been in a coma Florio? Did you miss the signings of Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett? If Dwayne Jarrett can pull his head out of his butt they should have a very deep receiving corps. I’m not saying these guys are the best in the league, but compared to what they’ve had this is a HUGE improvement. I still don’t think they make the playoffs, but it won’t be due to their passing game.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 5:09 pm
This means the Raiders still have a chance…
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
People who question the Ravens’ QB situation are in for a surprise with Troy Smith.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 5:42 pm
As for the NFC West:
No Seahawks, no Cardinals.
The Rams/49ers? Seriously?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Have you given any thought to the idea that the Giants have exposed the vulnerabilities of the Patriots that in the coming season, other teams will take advantage off and very possibly keep the Patriots out of the play offs?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I agree with pac-eddy7, the Panthers won’t make the playoffs, but it has nothing to do with the offense. The D-line that has fallen apart has not been put back together again. No depth at any of the positions, and not very good starters. Teams will run all over them, and have no problem sitting back waiting on open receivers. And I will pay $8 per beer to sit there and watch them from my seats tht went up 4.5% again this year.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I think the Fins should be on this list instead of one of the AFC North teams you chose.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
June 1st, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Uh, ignore my post above. I read this wrong.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
June 1st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
AFC North is a coin flip between the Steelers and Bengals.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
How can a team that gave Damien Woody $25 million and allows its other players to blackmail the front office into trading them or giving them a huge payday be accused of being reckless and desparate?
Oh wait - I think I just answered my own question. Of course Jets fans probably think this is part of the master plan of their MangIdiot - er I mean, Mangenius.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 1st, 2008 at 7:39 pm
What the #*@$ are you talking about with this “hubris” coming from Kansas City? Who? What? Where? They waved the white flag and traded one of their best players for draft picks, and you’re saying their too confident? Who on the Chiefs is pulling a Jon Kitna and talking 10 wins?
Make some sense.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated