Fox Sports Piles On (Preseason 2005)

[RedskinRat]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4842248

Five teams that'll be just awful




1. 49ers — The team was ready to make the first overall pick in this year's draft, Alex Smith, its starting quarterback. That is, until the guy who the 49ers were looking to replace clearly outplayed Smith in the preseason. Now, Smith will have to learn from the sidelines, which isn't an ideal place for a team clearly in rebuilding mode. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are NFL teams. There's a long way to go to repair this once-proud franchise.


2. Dolphins — Given the opportunity to select the best quarterback in the draft besides Alex Smith, Miami opted to pick a running back. With Ricky Williams returning from his bizarre off-season of finding himself (smoking cannabis) and holistic healing, the Dolphins now seem to have an embarrassment of riches at running back. Well, that'll only be the case when Williams is done serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. When Williams comes back, the Dolphins could be 0-4. This is because of the team's complete lack of quality at the quarterback position. Miami continues to struggle to fill that spot with anybody good since the retirement of Dan Marino.


3. Browns — Much of this team's hope vanished when Kellen Winslow went joy-riding on a motorcycle. Romeo Crennel is on board as the new head coach, but it's going to take some time for him to eliminate the garbage that contributed to this team's 4-12 debacle of a year ago. In reality, the Browns are essentially starting over for the third time in the team's new seven-year history. That's a lot of transition, and Browns fans are crossing their fingers hoping that Crennel and Cleveland is the combination that will finally work out.


4. Titans — The days of Tennessee-as-playoff regular are long over. Steve McNair is still chucking passes, but this team has little hope in the loaded AFC South. Unfortunately, the glory days of 1999-2003 have caught up to the Titans, and the team gave into its salary cap woes and came to terms with the league's money management system. This team has clearly entered the dreaded "rebuilding" mode.


5. Redskins — The NFL Joe Gibbs returned to last season is very different from the NFL he left after the 1992 season. Safety Sean Taylor couldn't stay out of trouble and linebacker Lavar Arrington can't stay healthy. Those two are Washington's best players. Elsewhere, Redskins fans long for a day when starting quarterback Patrick Ramsey is carrying a clipboard.

Keep it coming. We'll call you on your BS when you change this mid-season.