Something had to be wrong with Seau mentally. Especially since the manner in which he killed himself was similar to Dave Duerson, who shot himself in the chest so as to save his brain for research.

The fact that this happened to someone who played in the league very recently is shocking.

there definitely was, but it's still sad to see this happen to yet another NFL player

While I'll agree that the Giants get to the QB better than any other team with their front line, I will most definitely argue that other teams get the job done just as well with their LB's, CB's, and Safeties. Just off the top of my head, I'd put 3 of the 4 teams in the AFC North alone in that category. Cleveland isn't far behind either.

I'd also go as far to say as their approach to pressuring the QB is better than the Giants as well, seeing how all 4 teams placed in the top 10 for yards allowed per game. Meanwhile, the Giants were one of the worst teams in the league. Yes, the Giants outplayed teams in the playoffs, but I don't even think they win that division this year. They could win it obviously, but they could easily be second or third in the division depending how the season plays out.

the steelers are the only team who came close to the giants pressure last season, the ravens and bengals don't come close

the giants had a bad defense last year because of all the injuries we had, we had like 6 corners injured to start the year and were picking guys up off the street, our MLB was injured and our d-ends were injured all the time minus JPP, once the defense got healthy, we dominated

we had more injuries than the packers had during their super bowl run, and more of the giants injuries were to starters

eli was the only reason the team didn't have a losing record, especially with what we had to call a running game, and JPP was our defense for a good 4 week stretch

they should win the division this year, the redskins are starting a rookie QB, the cowboys don't have the giants talent and the eagles are still QB'd by vick, remember, 2 seasons ago the giants were 1 stupid ****ing eagles miracle away from being the 2nd seed in the NFC

the giants just only rush the passer with the front 4, they don't need to blitz anyone else, ever, the steelers run a 3-4 so they can afford to rush a linebacker, same with the ravens, the bengals don't rush the QB like they do but they're not bad at it

but to say on they are on the same level as the giants when i'm fairly certain the giants have the most sacks among all teams since 2004 is stretching it a little

Actually Mood, last year the Ravens tied the Giants for third in the league with 48 sacks. Only the Eagles and Ravens (50 each) had more than the Giants and Ravens. The Steelers weren't close. 17th at 35 sacks. The Bengals and Browns were further back.

I wish I had stats on QB hurries and hits, which would help get a clearer picture. Hurries and hits figure into the equation, but I haven't been able to find any listing for those from last year. Relying on one statistic is not a good idea.

On the Giants winning the division..........I'm picking them by default just because they're the defending champs (and I always give the defending champion that), but their schedule is BRUTAL. Week 5 onward, there's no rest or relief. I do think the Eagles will be better than last year. Yeah, Michael Vick was subpar last year, but he wasn't the sole reason the Eagles were so bad. Blaming JUST Vick is shortsighted. There was more than Vick turning the ball over, and I'll tell you what it was:

Five times, the Eagles blew fourth-quarter leads because the defense coughed them up. And the Eagles' run defense was so porous that teams could run at will against them. I'm hoping that with the additions the Eagles made through free agency and the draft, as well as a change in philosophy with letting players do what they're best at (Nnamdi WON'T be asked to play zone, thank God), the Eagle defense will tighten up and hold leads better. If the Eagles win just two of the games they blew leads, they would've been 10-6 and won the division.

The Redskins finally have a QB, and I think he'll do fine, but there's still a lot of work for the Redskins to do in improving the team. The Cowboys started well drafting Morris Claiborne, but then the rest of their draft was confusing. I will not question Tony Romo's drive (end of last season, he was the only one on the Cowboys that gave a damn), but the rest of the team, I will.

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You must be joking.

Also, Sryche, Sacks aren't the only stat that goes into pressure.

i always thought the steelers got sacks

Riddle:

I said that going off of sacks alone isn't very helpful. I tried to find the stats for QB hits and hurries (which go along with sacks), but I couldn't find them. Sacks, hits, and hurries altogether say how well a team rushes the passer. My statement was going off of sacks alone, but I DID say up there that relying on one stat (in this case, QB sacks) is not a good idea. I just wish there was somewhere else that would list overall pass rush statistics and not just sacks. On total defense, the AFC North easily outclasses the NFC East.

And Mood: that's the reputation the Steelers have. But they're getting older as a whole and not what they once were.

they were also injured a bit last year

Citing injuries for poor performance always seems like an excuse. The good teams make it work, because they have depth. The Steelers had all sorts of injuries on defense, and still placed in the top 5 in each category if I remember correctly. I'd even go as far to say that the Ravens would've beat the Giants if they would have met.

Yeah, they're the defending champions going into this season, but it just doesn't feel like they've earned that same respect most other teams get when the next season starts. They BARELY beat a bunch of bad teams in their division just to make it to the playoffs. If anything, they should have been sending thank you cards to Dallas' defense after the season, because they're the only reason the Giants made it into the playoffs.

I've never liked the Cowboys, but it's hard not to like Romo. The guy put up ridiculous stats on a team that couldn't play defense to save their lives last season. Maybe partially due to the new defense put in place with a short offseason. I completely expect Rob Ryan to have that defense in shape for year two. Just look what the guy did with Cleveland.

Not that I'm a Giants fan by any stretch, but almost no one cares who the Giants beat to get to the playoffs or win the Super Bowl. All that matters is that they did get there and did win it. That is what people will remember the most.

Of course it does. I won't argue that. They can win big games, but they can just as easily lose easy ones. You never know what team is going to show up when they take the field. Actually.. that whole division is like that.

Well, that was quick.

LeSean McCoy gets 5 years, $45 million, with $20 million guaranteed. Surprised the Eagles got a deal done so quickly and so suddenly.

I'd say Matt Forte should seek a similar amount. But considering the Bears front office, he'll probably need to hold out before he gets anything.

matt forte might need another team before he gets a deal from the bears

seriously, the club needs like, 1 or 2 more pieces to be the most complete team in the NFL and they still screw it up somehow, the club needs a new GM or something

GIVE THE MAN HIS ****ING MONEY AND THEN REBUILD THAT JOKE OF AN O-LINE

No, more like they need a new owner. Virginia McMichael is much like her father, George Halas, in that she throws nickels around like manhole covers.