So we've reached the end of this special with the final 2 divisions
Regular Season blew a 28-3 lead vs Falcons
On this multiverse of madness called SFL, the Atlanta Falcons, yeah im not lying the Atlanta Falcons made the opposite to blew a lead, and went from a 0-5 start to Playoffs. Im not sure if something like that have happened before and personally i doubt it, as have mention with the other 0-5 2 teams, to be in a huge disvantadge that early is almost equal to feel closer the 1.1 than the playoffs, but GM. Nic St. Marie never gave up and he remain calm knewing it was just a bad streak and trusting his team, he made a bold move trading veteran HB Steven Jackson, paying a pick that had a high % of top 10 pick, at the end not only the pick fall, but Sjax was the kind of player this team needed for that final push that took the team to the big party. The falcons season gotta be a reminder to all the teams that even if the start is not easy, never give up.
Phil Mellon acquire QB Drew Stanton
The young of Mellons is building his own philosophy and growing up as a GM, last offseason he made a powerful move, and one that in my opinion going to define his time as Panthers GM, he went and offered a huge contract to QB Drew Stanton, the former Dolphins and Cardinals QB, have showed up what he’s capable of and the Panthers made a great job adding a talent as his for 0 draft capital, that’ll allow the team to keep building at other positions. The short time results might be hard as depend of the growing of Stanton as QB and if he’s capable of take the next step. One thing is sure for him, lynch and the whole offense. The priority at the agenda of Phil is to build a probowl Offensive lineman that helps his young QB and make Lynch to be on the MVP talks.
Deuce era is over, Leshoure arrives
The New Orleans Saints and GM Nathan Jones had one of the best pick of the 1st round, a player that flew under the radar at draft mocks, and other league articles, a player that wasn’t considered a steam during draft night but that skewed to be one of the best young HB of the league, Leshoure have become a home-run specialist, most of his most succesful plays came with him breaking a tackle or two and taking it all the way home for the touchdown. The saints found his more sucessful time when Deuce McCallister won the MVP and placed an historic season, now i think they have the chance to repeat a similar success with an elite runningback as leshoure. Sophomore years are often a test for succesful rookies or the definitive sign if a player is a hall of fame quality. So even if they ran out short on the goal to make playoffs. The 2011 season was a success for the finding of HB Leshoure
Fire the cannons! Buccs win division for the first time
3 times champions GM Bryan Mellon have put together one of the best rosters of the league, he have excelled at trades, free agency and draft. The result is his buccaneers won th NFC South for the first time and even won a playoffs game vs divisional rivals Atlanta Falcons. Something impressive about the success in Tampa Bay is how Bryan have adapted his strategy, around the league situation, current regression and other factors. And took out of his comfort zone of play around veterans, to start developing solid rookies, and acquire other young talented players. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers is one of those teams that should be considered as contenders for the title sooner than ever. It’ll be interesting to see if GM Mellon carry the same playoffs magic he had at Washington.
The Cohen era starts with the right foot
The Cardinals had a change of GM last season, as GM Shapiro decided it was time for a new experience, the team added an experienced quality GM as replacement or might i say, upgrade as he was able to take the Titans to the SB previous season. Arizona have a roster most GM of the league like, with multiple top players at different positions, with Cohen under control the team won the division, makes plaoffs for 5th straight season and reached the conference final for 3rd straight time. But what also happened for 3rd straight time was the injury of starter QB Rex Grossman, T-Rex have becoming one of the most reliable QB at regular season but he always miss the important game. It’s hard to know how would the season have ended without that injury, but what is certain is the team going in the right direction.
The Superbowl Hangover
The 2010 season champions St.Louis Rams, had a difficult season that was mark by the injury of ther franchise player and leader, QB Drew Brees. GM Justin Walstead made all the movements trying to be there at playoffs again and fight for defend the crown, but a hard schedule and the injuries didn’t allow the Rams to do it. The another highlight news about this team is the decision to acquire QB John David Booty, that looks to be the present and future for them. Justin always is a competitive and winner GM mentality so it’s still unsure how the Brees-Booty situation going to look as.
The league have voted
For the first time ever we saw the improbable QB Save by league votes as 5 GM lost their jobs at previous season, almost with all the votes, the league decided GM Peter Fenger deserved a 2nd chance as 49ers for complete the team build plan he had. In my opinion the GM Save was more than deserved, Peter have done an incredible work at 49ers, being one of the best drafters of the league. I had the privilege to play him twice per year and can say that team is extremely dangerous and will only become better, outside the field, Peter is a gentleman and classy guy. Now going back to the 2011, with the roster 49ers have and the quality of their players it was expected to see them at playoffs. For another season they’ll be at the hot seat, so for the 2012 season is necesary they make some adjustments that takes them to playoffs.
Am i on the hot seat?
Those were the words said by GM Rock Hewko moments after been notified the Seattle Seahawks put him on the hot seat. GM Rock has one of the most unique and special personalities of the league, so is impossible to know if he was joking or not, but given the success he had for some years and the talent he have on his roster, i wouldn’t expect to see Hewko on the hot seat. A very stacked division with Cardinals and Rams leading, and the 49ers becoming a potential juggernaut, makes the Seahawks to fall 1 slot behind them. But as was obvious with the ammount of weapons they had at offense the Seahawks were able to win 8 games and were very close to make playoffs. The goal for the 2012 won’t be easy but i think we’ll see Rock at seattle for a long time.
That was the 2011 memory haul, wasn’t a content done with research or with a plan, but mainly a diary of things came to my mind and as mentioned a part 1, the intention of post like this ones is to keep a memory of the notable events, initially advertised a 5 parts articles, it’ll end being a 4 parts as excluding the playoffs. Thanks for read it, hope it was an enjoyable read, and see you again at league articles as soon as Bizarro - Superman picks their teams. Good luck at final day of draft
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