After the Broncos finished the first half of their season at 6-2, the national media took notice. A major theme of the week on several television shows and website stories was the potential league MVP candidacy of Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer.
Is Plummer a viable candidate? Well, if he continues to play mistake- free football and captains a controlled offense that wins 12, 13 games, sure. But it’s likely Plummer, who has thrown for 1,644 yards and 12 touchdowns, won’t compile numbers gaudy enough to garner enough support for the award.
MVP winners usually are statistical monsters. Clean, smart play wins games. Fancy numbers win trophies.
So Plummer has to overcome bigger statistical years being enjoyed by quarterbacks Carson Palmer of Cincinnati and Peyton Manning of Indianapolis or running backs Shaun Alexander of Seattle and LaDainian Tomlinson of San Diego.
Still, the Plummer-for-MVP talk shows that his reputation is changing not only locally but nationally as well.
Bears defense means business
Chicago: Perhaps it’s because they play in the NFC North, but many are sleeping on the Bears, who quietly have gone 4-3. With their defense, the Bears have a chance to stay in the playoff hunt all season.
Of course, in the NFC North, that means the Bears can win just three more games and qualify.
Seriously, though, this defense is stacked. The Bears are ranked third overall, fourth against the run and ninth against the pass. They have allowed just seven touchdowns in seven games. Star middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is having another big year and defensive backs Mike Brown and Charles Tillman are stars, too.
Coach Lovie Smith’s defensive background has worked well with this group and it should improve as the season goes on. While the offense still is young, the Bears could be carried to the playoffs by the defense.
Remark about QBs right on
Cleveland: Rookie wide receiver Braylon Edwards was criticized by some media last week for standing up for quarterback Charlie Frye.
Edwards said Frye would give the 2-5 team a spark.
What’s so bad about that? Edwards was supporting Frye. He didn’t directly go after the starter, veteran Trent Dilfer. Sure, it’s clear it was a negative remark about the starter, but it mostly was a show of support for a fellow rookie. Plus, Edwards is right. The Browns need a spark.
The future of this team is Edwards and Frye. Together, they have a chance to be the face of the Browns for years. So give Edwards credit for recognizing the future. And the future of the franchise clearly is not Dilfer.
Furthermore, Edwards isn’t the first person in Cleveland to discuss the possibility of playing Frye. Browns coach Romeo Crennel has said more than once he is considering replacing Dilfer with Frye. Edwards was suggesting a move that will happen soon.
Getting worse by the week
Minnesota: Can the Vikings have any more problems? With all the off- field issues and likely dismantling of the coaching staff and front office, the Vikings’ biggest problem may have developed last week.
Topping the mountain of the Vikings’ problems was the serious knee injury suffered by star quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
Playing against the Panthers, Culpepper tore three ligaments. His recovery could take longer than a calendar year.
There are no guarantees Culpepper will come back. This is a tough situation for Minnesota, which during training camp gave Culpepper a new contract with a lot of guaranteed money.
If Culpepper, who will be 29 in January, has trouble coming back, the Vikings will have to make a change fast. Still, the team will have to go into next season not knowing if Culpepper will be able to return at full strength.
Minnesota is heading toward a high draft pick. What happens if this team has a chance to select Southern California star Matt Leinart? For a team that is rebuilding anyway, finding Culpepper’s replacement suddenly may become a priority.
Bruschi ranks with best
New England: The remarkable return of linebacker Tedy Bruschi from a stroke renews quite a question: Is he Hall of Fame material?
It says here, yes, he is.
First of all, the team that won the Super Bowl three times in a four-year period likely will send several players to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Few are more deserving than Bruschi. He is the undisputed heart of the Patriots and has had his best games in the biggest games even though he was named to his first Pro Bowl team just last season.
His incredibly fast return from a serious medical condition and what it meant to his team are more ammunition: Bruschi is a Hall of Famer.
Haslett deserves free pass
New Orleans: While the wheels have fallen off the Saints’ season, owner Tom Benson seemingly is fighting with everyone and the team isn’t sure where it will play next year. But one thing is becoming clear: Saints coach Jim Haslett will be back.
Word is that Haslett will get a free pass no matter how poorly the Saints finish. And it could get ugly. But think about what he and his team have had to endure in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Haslett was in trouble last year, but a strong finish gave him another year. He should get another year again. He is a good coach who likely would get another chance in the NFL if the Saints let him go. So Benson would be wise to keep him. He has a good relationship with his players and has kept this team together in tough times.
Just passing through
San Francisco: A perfect illustration of Mike Nolan’s problems in his first year as 49ers coach is his team’s issues at quarterback. Nolan never knows who it’s going to be.
Cody Pickett is set to start today against the Giants. Pickett will be the fourth starting quarterback of the season for the 49ers, who will be playing their eighth game.
The 49ers started with Tim Rattay, then went to No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, whom Rattay replaced in the preseason. But Smith got hurt and the 49ers went with Ken Dorsey. He was hurt last week, so it is Pickett’s turn.
San Francisco could even have a fifth quarterback in the hopper. After recently trading Rattay to Tampa Bay, the 49ers signed Jesse Palmer, formerly of the Giants. If Pickett falters and Smith and Dorsey still are shelved, Palmer soon could be behind center.
With this type of instability at the NFL’s most important position, it’s easy to see why the 49ers are a long way from being competitive.
McGinnis on the move?
Tennessee: Titans assistant head coach and linebackers coach Dave McGinnis may get some serious looks from college programs in the next month or two for a head coaching job.
Expect some schools in the West to consider McGinnis for potential openings. McGinnis would be an interesting candidate for a top job in college football. He is known as a great motivator who is good with players, so recruiting likely would be up his alley. And being a former NFL head coach (with the Arizona Cardinals) could help in recruiting as well.
Once a head coach, always a head coach. So if the right job were to open, McGinnis likely would leave the NFL for an NCAA coaching opportunity.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
