| As training camp has emerged creating a vast set of | | | | the season, it seems like Arizona has continued to |
| emotions of both hope for rookies and redundant | | | | propel to achieve such a remark after having one of |
| routines for veterans, it is never to early to began the | | | | the best drafts last April. With a healthy Kurt Warner |
| rampant speculations surrounding the issue of how the | | | | feeding to arguably one of the best young wide |
| teams will look in the standings come season end. | | | | receiver core with Boldin and Fitzgerald, not to mention |
| Through my knowledge of the sport and teams, as | | | | an excellent newly acquired running back in Edgerrin |
| well as careful analysis of recent off-season | | | | James, the Cardinals may have one of the most |
| acquisitions and losses, I have come up with a | | | | respected offenses in the entire league. While such a |
| forecast of how I expect each team to finish in its | | | | situation may be true, and while I am a supporter of |
| respective division. Rounding up the NFC, this update's | | | | Dennis Green, the defense is still questionable in terms |
| focus will be the NFC West. | | | | of leadership and abilities which may cost a few |
| The Seattle Seahawks had a terrific year last season. | | | | games. However, if Green and his staff can convince |
| The Seahawks had an MVP player in Shaun | | | | critics otherwise, the Cardinals, like the Rams may be |
| Alexander, an all-star in Matt Hasselbeck, and a solid | | | | in the hunt for a Super Bowl ring as well. |
| defense which led the team for a chance to compete | | | | Oh boy. After going through these three teams, you |
| for the Lombardi Trophy. Unfortunately Seattle | | | | would have thought this was the best division in the |
| digressed a bit during the off-season, losing key guard | | | | NFL. However, with the 49ers still lingering around there |
| Steve Hutchinson to the Vikings and having the ironic | | | | can only now be a limited amount of laud. Already |
| displeasure of seeing Shaun Alexander on the 2007 | | | | terrible as illustrated by previous records, I look for San |
| Madden game. All negativity aside, the team is still very | | | | Francisco to have even a worse record this season. |
| strong both offensively and defensively (especially with | | | | Yes they did add Vernon Davis who I think will be one |
| star rookie Lofa Tatupu), and should have a similar | | | | of the best tight ends in the game, but for now |
| season juxtaposed to last year. | | | | especially with the losses of Julian Peterson and |
| Causing the most trouble to the Seahawks over the | | | | Brandon Lloyd, the 49ners will go absolutely nowhere. |
| past few years, the St. Louis Rams look for | | | | Trent Dilfer did not turn many heads in Cleveland, and I |
| redemption this season after having a less than stellar | | | | expect the same in San Francisco with that hideous |
| year. With Marc Bulger ready to come back from | | | | offense and sub par defense. Expecting a change in |
| injury and key defensive additions in the off-season | | | | quarter back during midseason, I don't expect Alex |
| such as Will Witherspoon, Tye Hill and Corey Chavous, | | | | Smith to do much better as he has proposed (referring |
| the St. Louis Rams should return to the much | | | | himself to Troy Aikman), as, like Phillip Rivers, I thought |
| acclaimed "greatest show on turf." Adding a new | | | | he was overrated by the media. If I were a 49er fan I |
| coaching staff was also a fresh idea, and my faith in | | | | would start looking forward to the San Jose Shark's |
| the management and players of this team makes me | | | | season rather than this pitiful excuse for a team. |
| want to predict that the Rams will be Super Bowl | | | | Final NFC West Season Standings (*demonstrates |
| contenders come winter. | | | | making the playoffs): |
| The Arizona Cardinals have always been ridiculed as | | | | 1. *St. Louis: 12-4 |
| one of the lowliest teams in the league. Plagued by an | | | | 2. *Seattle: 10-6 |
| inadequate fan base and a stingy market, the | | | | 3. Arizona: 9-7 |
| Cardinals had to do a lot of restructuring to try and | | | | 4. |
| earn a respectable status in the league. Coming into | | | | |