It’s amazing how time flies. We’re already beginning the 2nd half of our beloved NFL season,  So of course, it’s time to see how your favorite team fared midway through the 2011 season. Only, instead of giving actual grades, I’m breaking them up in categories. Same analysis as ESPN, but better because it’s not so formal. So without further ado…. the midseason report cards.

F*ck It, I’m On One!: Green Bay Packers

The Packers deserve a column of their own. As far as NFL class goes, there’s the Packers and then there’s everyone else. No one is touching them right now and to be honest, I don’t know who will. Aaron Rodgers is playing like he’s possessed right about now. I like Green Bay but the little hater in me says they need to sit their bragging asses down somewhere. No reason why I feel that way, I’m just a little green and tired of seeing them win.

They Are Who We Thought They Were:  Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots

The Steelers started out old and slow, but they’ve finally got the ball rolling. They’ve been on fire the past few weeks, and have picked up from last season, thanks to the emergence of guys like Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders. The Patriots make this list because they’re still a team of concern if they’re on your schedule, but they can’t stop a nose bleed (Bart Scott voice) so unless they figure out to stop good teams, they may be in trouble….

Well I’ll Be John Brown (c/o @DragonflyJonez): Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills

I dedicate this category to my Twitter buddy, who always uses this term at the right time and better than anybody I know. Most of us looked at contenders for 2011 and didn’t think about any of these teams, for a lot of reasons. New players, lockout hangover, inconsistent or not good in years past…. for whatever reason, unless you were a fan of these teams, they simply weren’t on your radar. Well I’ll be John Brown if they aren’t now. The Bengals are 5-2 with a Top 5 defense and have shown success with Andy Dalton and AJ Green. The 49ers changed their coaching staff and brought in Jim Harbaugh and have only lost one game so far, even giving Alex Smith some life. And the Bills, who had every bounce against them in 2010 despite playing hard, are finally getting the ball in their court. The Lions are probably the least bit shocking, since they finished 2010 strong. But it’s the Lions…. you still haven’t forgotten about 0-16 and Matt Stafford gets hurt if you blow on him hard enough. Alas, no bad karma and all teams are doing big things

They’re Good, BUT……..: Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons 

These teams have a winning record so they’re good based on record but we really have no idea what to expect for the 2nd half of the season. The Ravens have beaten quality opponents in Pittsburgh, Houston and the Jets, but have crapped the pot against teams they should have beaten in Tennessee and Jacksonville…… The Giants are decent, but their schedule the next 6 weeks is beyond brutal and one has to wonder will the injuries they have finally start to catch up….. The Chargers are actually starting out with a winning record for once, but QB Philip Rivers (my boo!) hasn’t looked like the Rivers of old, and fumbled control of the AFC West away last Monday night……. The Texans are good, but losing Mario Williams for the year and Andre Johnson for some time may hurt them in the long run…..The Jets have seemed to regress a little on defense, and Mark Sanchez not getting much help from his run game is an issue…..The Saints WERE in my “They are who we thought they were” column, but they lost to the Rams, The WINLESS ST. LOUIS RAMS, WITHOUT SAM BRADFORD! Yeah, they go down a notch after that one….. The Bucs have youth on their side, but their lopsided loss to San Francisco puts them in this category….. Atlanta always leaves me scratching my head at the end of their games. With all of the offensive weapons they have, I don’t see how they don’t put up 30 points easily, each week. They have some inexperience on defense that holds them to this category.

Ehhhhh……………..: Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans

It’s not that I don’t think these teams are good or can’t be good… it’s just that I couldn’t add them in the “They’re good but” category because they’ve done something not worthy of that category. The Bears’ offensive line blocks like Cutler stole their girl……The Eagles started out slow, and with the “Dream Team” talk prior to the season, expectations were above normal so their 3-4 record is underachieving at best… The Cowboys need a TV time out with the way they’ve played football lately. I thought they’d be better than this at this point. I haven;t totally written them off, tho. They have talent….. The Chiefs started off rough (remember Matt Cassel’s blow up with HC Todd Haley on the sidelines??), but they’ve rebounded well. It’s the AFC West so it’s hard to be impressed just yet…..The Raiders looked like they were gonna have a good season before Jason Campbell went down. Oakland traded their 2012 #1 pick and a conditional pick to Cincy for Carson Palmer, but all Palmer did was stink it up in his debut. He’s not the same QB he was before 2005 and quite frankly, I wonder if Al Davis came back from the dead to make one last WTF personnel decision… Despite Carolina’s record, I’m gonna put them in this column because I seriously believe they try hard each and every week, yet fall short. This team reminds me a lot of Buffalo’s team last season. They hang in there, but can’t get the “W” in the end. I can’t be mad at that. They should be added in my next group but I love their resilience. The Titans are here by default, because they have a good record. But Chris Johnson got paid and told the Titans, “Fcuk your couch”. He’s still holding out but we didn’t know until now. With Kenny Britt going down, that hurt big time for Tennessee. Good thing is, the AFC South could be a 2-man race, and they’re still in it.

“Insert Comment Here”: Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins

Face it- these teams’ style of play are boring and uninspiring more times than not (minus the Vikings the past 2 weeks. But that’s because Ponder now has the keys). Put yourself in my shoes…. What could you possibly say about any of these teams individually that doesn’t sound like the others in this group? Can’t figure it out? Me neither. So feel free to insert your own comment here.

Bad…. Real Bad Michael Jackson: Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos

I guess this group could be called the “Suck For Luck” lottery, but that’s unoriginal and overused at this point. These 4 teams stink and I’d bet my money on LSU or Alabama if they played any of these teams at this point. Probably the worst team of them all is Indy. Never have I seen a franchise fall so fast from one key player going down. That’s a direct reflection of the GM and ownership and it’s inexcusable. The Rams have some good pieces and aren’t AS bad as Indy (not saying much), but their defense isn’t that good, particularly their secondary (although they did hold NO to one offensive TD in Sunday’s win) and there isn’t a true #1 WR on the team. The Dolphins need a new makeover, period. Not only did you celebrate the FLORIDA GATORS championship in MIAMI HURRICANES-land, you let Tim Tebow beat you in the Final 5 minutes of the same game. Yeah, you suck, Miami…….. Speaking of Tebow, he is getting KILT in the media (yeah, I said it… not killed, but KILT!) on what most of us already knew: Great college player, lots of heart and passion, not going to translate into the NFL. It’s been a while since I’ve seen so much attention lay on one guy like this. Denver officially came into the Top 5 pick race as of Sunday.

Redskins QB Rex Grossman doesn’t think the Redskins are as bad as folks think. In fact, he thinks they are pretty good. Enough to win the NFC East this season.

No, I’m not lying and yes you read that correctly. Grossman did an interview with CSNWashington.com and told a reporter his bold prediction.

“We’re fine being the sleepers right now. We’re just waiting in the wings ready to take over the NFC East.  Nobody’s talking about us, it’s right where we wanna be.  You look at us from top to bottom out here, there’s a bunch of great players.   And we don’t need people saying we’re the best right now.  But when it’s all said and done, I really feel like this team’s gonna win the [NFC] East.”

Wait for it……. wait for it………..

In today’s NFL, it’s hard to write any team off, especially with the lockout hendering teams from gelling early. But the Redskins haven’t done much to make people think they are going to top the Giants, Cowboys and especially the Eagles, who signed every free agent and my momma the past 2 weeks.

Anything can happen in the NFL, but I wouldn’t bet $5 on that prediction (I don’t like giving money away). This tweet from @fauxjohnmadden pretty much says exactly what many probably think regarding Sexy Rexy’s thoughts:

Former Giants WR Plaxico Burress gave his first interview since going to jail nearly 2 years ago due to gun charges. Plax talked to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith about his experience in prison, his feelings behind his sentence, his reputation in the NFL before the prison sentence and why he can return to old form after his stint in jail.

Plax has had a reputation on him thats not too positive. He’s been known to miss practice and has admitted such. Whether or not he becomes a new man in football remains to be seen, but it’s interesting to hear what he has to say, in the least.

I hope Plax has learned all he’s had to while locked up. I hope he goes to a team and does well whenever football returns. Good luck Plax.

Today is the day that Plaxico Burress finally received his walking papers from prison. Burress was spotted leaving the facility and was greeted by agent Drew Rosenhaus as well as his family. Plax was also seen bonding with his daughter who was born during his stint in prison.

Also noted: Plax’s choice of head wear. He was seen rocking a Phillies hat- you know, as in PHILADELPHIA! Mike Vick has publicly stated that he would love to see Plaxico as an Eagle. Fans have taken that and run wild with it, but lets not forget who the head coach of the Eagles is. Andy Reid, who has already had WR issues in the past. If I had to guess, I say Plax isn’t an Eagle, but it will be interesting to see where he lands.

Glad to see him finally come home. S/O to BlackSportsOnline for the vid.

If you haven’t heard, former Giants WR Plaxico Burress is about to be a free man tomorrow. And if he can get to any form of his former self, his talents will be requested by a few NFL teams. The biggest question isn’t if he’ll be picked up, it’s WHO will pick him up. ESPN’s Cris Carter has a few ideas of teams he can possibly help out.

Carter also talks about reasons why teams may think twice about him due to his previous work ethic, before going to prison 2 years ago. Personally, I think Plax can go to Oakland, because Al Davis loves bad asses and they could use his services. While Michael Vick has expressed wanting to play with his hometown buddy, I’m not so sure Andy Reid wants to go there. Remember, he had WR issues in the past with Terrell Owens, so Philly may pass on Burress.

With the NFL Lockout STILL going on, we may not know his whereabouts for a while. So until the players and owners can come to an agreement, we’ll be playing the guessing game until free agency actually opens up.

Welcome home, Plax! (I’m a day early, so what!) Now go and get in football shape and get a job!

Tiki Barber is set to return to the NFL this season once it resumes, and he decided to talk to Sports Illustrated about it. Barber talks about the reasoning behind his comeback to the NFL since retiring in 2007.

I watched the video and heard Barber, but everything he said was translated in my mind as, “I need the money…. I have mouths to feed”. I tried to keep an open mind about it, but it was pretty hard. Maybe you’ll have better luck actually believing his story than I did.

My biggest question is, who actually brings Barber back after a 4-year hiatus?  He was scrutinized by former teammate Antonio Pierce about his chemistry with his teammates and he didn’t get any younger during his time off, so is his reward bigger than his risk?. I guess we’ll find out if anyone’s willing to bring him on their roster.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan hit the David Letterman Show this week. Ryan talks about the NFL lockout, his new book, “Play Like You Mean It”, why American football is the best  sport in the world and playing the Giants and the Patriots this upcoming season.

Ryan is a great coach and even better person to interview. Sometimes I think he talks a bit too much, but his mouth and attitude is nothing short of perfect for the Big Apple. Hopefully the lockout can be over by the time the season starts so the Jets can play my Ravens with no interruptions!

Rasheed Davis, the pimp that solicited the underaged prostitute in the Lawrence Taylor case, pleaded guilty and will likely be sentenced to 7-9 years in prison. According to PFT, Davis has spent most of his adult life in prison, stemming from a manslaughter charge.

Just last week, the former Giants great plead guilty to sexual misconduct and was sentenced to just 6 years probation and has been registered as a sex offender, after admitting he paid a 17-year-old to have sex with him. He also claims the girl told him that she was 19 years old.

So let me get this straight……. Taylor gets 6 years probation for actually having sex with the minor, but the pimp will do 7-9 years in prison?

I don’t know much about the law, but this sounds like LT got off like a fat rat.

After last week’s conviction, Taylor went to Fox News to discuss the new sentence and what happened the night of the events. This is a must see, in case you missed it. This is one of the most candid and possibly ignorant interviews I’ve seen for a while. Maybe the system got this one all wrong, and Taylor should be doing the hard time along with the pimp…..

There was a time when Kansas City Chiefs kick returner Dante Hall was one of the most exciting players in the NFL. A guy known for his playmaking ability on special teams, Hall was the, “X-Factor” for the Chiefs every time he touched the field. Some say that Hall paved the way for guys like  Joshua Cribbs and Devin Hester. Guys who weren’t known for doing a great deal on offense until they excelled with their special teams duty. Careers like Hall, Hester and Cribbs are all in jeopardy, thanks to the NFL Competition Committee’s new proposal.

Although the NFL is currently going through the lockout, business is being handled as usual. Last week, the competition committee submitted a proposal that will change the advantage in kickoffs, moving the kickoff up to the 35-yard line and allowing touchbacks to start at the 25-yard line. The reason they are asking for the changes are to limit the injuries during kickoffs. While I understand the idea of trying to protect the players on the field, I think this is an awful change for many reasons.

It’s no secret the NFL is an offense-driven league. Rules have been implemented and enforced over the years to give offenses the advantage on the field. But giving them 5 more yards closer to the end zone shouldn’t be one more gift. Last year, the NFL enforced helmet hits from defenders and fined them at all-time high amounts. This is yet another swipe against teams who rely heavily on their defenses, such as the Steelers, Ravens, Packers and Giants. Now, giving them 5 more yards they already don’t need could cause a firestorm amongst defenders. With a current lockout going on, adding insult to injury is something the NFL should think about at this point. AT some point you have to wonder what’s the point of having a defense on the field at all. The Peyton Manning’s, Tom Brady’s and Drew Brees’ of the league don’t need 5 spotted yards. So why should other QBs not work hard to get it?

Another reason is the value of having a good place kicker, which no longer becomes a viable need. As a Ravens fan, I am totally against this, mainly because the value that Billy Cundiff adds to my team. In 2010, he tied the league record for touchbacks, but the new changes means there is nothing special about his 2010 fete, because it allows average and subpar kickers to have that same success. Giving kickoffs 5 extra yards means Billy Cundiff is no different the others, which means having a durable kicker is being diluted to simply a guy that can put points on the board.

And lastly, the players that I mentioned in the beginning of my post. Without their special teams play, guys like Cribbs, Hall and Hester may not have been able to get other opportunities on the field, which they have been able to do. All three have been Pro Bowlers due to their great special teams play, but if most kickers have the option of kicking touchbacks to those said guys, you that’s exactly what they will do to keep the ball out of their possession.

People tend tend to look past special teams and the importance of a good one. Plays on special teams are just as important, if not more, than what players on the offense and defense can do. Special teams generate field position, something both the offense and defense rely heavily on once they hit the field. To eliminate players from giving their team that added advantage because touchbacks would be 5 yards easier takes away from great plays, something that the game needs.

I realize the NFL is always looking to make the game better and safer. But there are some things that shouldn’t be touched. The old adage of, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” comes to mind. This is one of them. Taking away a special teamer’s ability to give his team an advantage means the Dante Halls of the world no longer make the cover of magazines. Hopefully the committee shoots this one down. Devin Hester, Joshua Cribbs and others who have used special teams to make a mark surely would agree.

The NFL world was in shock (and possible laughter) when the agent for Tiki Barber confirmed that the former Giants RB will be returning to football. Yesterday, Twitter went into a major uproar about the news, questioning if Barber is returning because he could possibly be broke from an ugly Y&R-like divorce, in which Barber’s relationship went public after he left his pregnant wife for a young blonde intern.

On yesterday’s ESPN NFL Live, former Giants teammates Tim Hasselbeck and Antonio Pierce spoke out about the news. While Tim was a little more diplomatic about his answers, Pierce was not. Saying that Tiki Barber the person is, “not going to do anything for your team.”

OUCH!

Clearly there’s no love lost from Pierce, regarding his former teammate. Personally, I think Tiki is a PR nightmare. Add the fact that he’s about Al Davis’s age in football playing years, and I wouldn’t touch him with a 10 foot pole. But that’s just me. I’m sure some sucke.. I mean, team will pick him up, though.