By Michelle Jarvis
Contributing Author

Most fans and media of the NFL are already handing the Jets the AFC East title before the season has even started. No one can argue that they had a fantastic off season; beefing up the defense by acquiring Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers and Jason Taylor from the rivaled Dolphins. Not to be outdone by the defensive side of the ball, moves were made to improve the offense; adding veteran playmakers like Steelers 2008 Superbowl MVP Santonio Holmes and Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The Jets appear to be taking a “win now” attitude after having traded away numerous draft picks in 2009 for their young quarterback and the above mentioned veterans. Time will tell if the “no longer a rookie” Mark Sanchez is ready to take the next step or head into a sophomore slump, as many young quarterbacks before him have.

Marshall is one of the many new faces in an improving Division!

Buffalo Bills new head coach Chan Gailey finds himself in a different situation than the rest of the division’s coaches. Coming off of a lousy 6-10 record and missing the play offs for the 10th consecutive season (tied for the longest drought with the Detroit Lions) Buffalo is looking at a rebuilding situation. Starting with the most key position on the field, Gailey has yet to name a quarterback. He describes the position as being an open competition in training camp between Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brian Brohm. The Bills have however added CJ Spiller, who is an electric homerun threat from the running back position. The guys here at Skinnypost feel that the QB position will eventually be Trent Edwards’ but the real burden remains the Offensive Line. They have to protect better in a Division that has very good Defenses and knows how to get after the QB with complex Blitz packages.

The Division title defending New England Patriots are coming off of a post season they would like to quickly forget. Having being dismantled by the Baltimore Ravens in the wild card weekend of the playoffs and criticism over quarterback Tom Brady’s commitment to the team, having relocated to CA during the offseason, Patriots fans are asking themselves a question they haven’t had to in a long time; “Are the glory days behind us?” While the Patriots still have the top quarterback in the division (as well as arguably the league), there are other question marks on the offensive side of the ball. Wes Welker is coming off of a major season ending knee injury, leaving many to wonder how quickly he will return to his playmaking self.

Welker may just hold the key for the entire AFC East race!

While most are ready to hand the Jets the crown…it’s hard to really ever count Belichick, Brady, and company out. My gut is telling me the Patriots do what they always do…get the job done…leaving New York and Miami duking it out come wild-card time. One’s thing is for sure, this Division has added great players especially on the Offensive side of the ball. Anytime you bring in LaDainian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes, Brandon Marshall and CJ Spiller it says one thing, Defenses get ready!

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ESPN’s draft guru Mel Kiper labeled Jimmy Clausen as the most “pro ready” quarterback entering the 2010 draft…even above Rams number one drafted quarterback Sam Bradford. Mock drafts such as his caused shock when he dropped down the draft boards and hung around till the 48th pick in the second round, when he was selected by the Carolina Panthers. This left many fans of quarterback hungry teams wondering why their teams were passing on Clausen; and leaving Panthers fans questioning why if others are passing, are we pulling the trigger?

Fear not Panthers fans, just because Clausen slipped out of the first round doesn’t mean this guy is not ready to take the next step at the pro level. Clausen’s former head coach at Notre Dame, Charlie Weis was the mastermind behind developing young quarterbacks, including Tom Brady during the time he worked for the New England Patriots. Weis went out of his way during the scouting process to let not only the Panthers, but any team interested in his latest quarterback project know that he was more than ready for the pros. Clausen is one of few college quarterbacks who have spent their entire college career working in and running a pro style offense. Under Weis’ direction, Clausen owns the longest streak in Notre Dame History; 132 pass attempts without an interception during the 2008 season.

Another impressive stat to remember is he followed behind only one other Fighting Irish alum’s record, Brady Quinn, with another record of 160 tosses without having a pass picked during the 2009 season. Clausen is well known for his good footwork in the pocket along with his ability to shift in any direction to avoid pass rushers. Whenever he found himself pressured out of the pocket his eyes were always kept downfield, completing well thrown passes while scrambling to his left or right. Impressive stats and qualities for a young quarterback coming from a school so well known for its football program.

Clausen has been told by coaching staff that he will be expected to compete for the starting job in 2010 against Matt Moore in Carolina. Moore started only 7 games for the Panthers in 2009 but threw for an impressive 1,053 yards in his limited appearances. Many consider Moore to be the “safe” decision as the starter in 2010. But with the previous rookie quarterback success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco in 2008, followed up by Mark Sanchez’s run with the Jets to the AFC Championship game during the 2009 season; you can’t blame head coach John Fox for being tempted to give Clausen the reigns right away.

Clausen’s got the brains and the athleticism to become a starter in the National Football League. Carolina Panthers fans will be anxious to see whether it all comes together by the start of the 2010 season.

The 49ers of this decade have been a far cry from the “dynasty” team of old…but don’t tell that to the fans of San Francisco. Many were convinced the 2009 season would be the year they returned to form and reclaimed the title of NFC West Champion. It seemed like a real possibility having defeated (convincingly at that) the eventual division winner, Arizona Cardinals twice during the season. Unfortunately, losing other games that were in the eyes of their fans “give me games” on top of other nail biting close losses ended up being what stopped them from NFC West supremacy.

Inconsistency at the quarterback position seemed to be the root of the problem for the Niners. Despite starting the 2009 season 3-1 the Niners were winning in spite of quarterback Shaun Hill’s performance. Following an embarrassing 45-10 loss week 5 to the Atlanta Falcons Hill was pulled in favor of Alex Smith. Smith, who was a favorite of General Manager Scot McCloughan had been considered the team’s next franchise quarterback since being drafted first overall in 2005. Due to injuries Smith hasn’t been able to begin a season with the starting job locked up.

For Alex Smith - the time is now!!

With the Niners defense the top ranked unit in the NFC West, now it is up to the offense to show that they can be a balanced team and put points on the board. With his starting competition the past two seasons Shaun Hill being traded to the Lions, it’s time for the Alex Smith era to make its 2010 debut. It would sure seem Niners Nation has a lot to look forward to.

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The Cleveland Browns may have lost to the San Diego Chargers in Week 13, but their quarterback Brady Quinn has given all his skeptics in the “Dawg Pound” something to think about.  Quinn’s pursuit for the starting job was nothing short of rocky.  After going through a quarterback battle with Derek Anderson through training camp, it was unclear who would be leading Cleveland’s offense heading into their opening day.

After weeks of competition Quinn ended up landing the starting job out of camp.  Although, after he was named the starter, questions were asked by those around the league: did Quinn have what it takes to help this team bounce back from a 4-12 2008 record? 

The Ravens D' was too tough for the Brady Bunch!!

He started off with a 0-2 record heading into a week 3 divisional match up facing Baltimore’s stingy turn-over happy defense that lead to his benching and Anderson taking over.  Anderson, however, didn’t fare any better for the Browns and Quinn returned to the starting position in week 8. 
               
Cleveland fans had all but given up on their supposed franchise quarterback, when in week 11, facing another struggling franchise in Detroit; he threw for a career high 4 touchdowns and 304 yards.  Many chalked it up to facing a weak Lions’ defense but his performance appears to have helped him connect with his receivers and start to build a bridge of trust with them.  Bringing them into week 13 and hosting the red hot San Diego Chargers, Quinn shocked fans by quickly hitting Mohamed Massaquoi with a 13 yard touchdown to start the Browns on top of the Chargers early in the first quarter.  Quinn showed poise as he held strong in the pocket (something he has struggled with all season long) and scanned all receivers before throwing his first touchdown pass of the day.  Unfortunately the Chargers defense did not continue to bend easily, as the Browns’ offense was unable to score again until the 4th quarter. With the Chargers’ offense holding a 27-7 lead, Quinn propelled his team down the field three times and in the process threw two touchdown passes to Jerome Harrison, with the last attempt resulting in a field goal.
               
An onside kick was attempted but the Browns were unable to recover, resulting in a 30-23 loss.  While it may be yet another disappointing loss for the fans of the struggling Browns, the strides this offense was able to make against a tough San Diego defense ranked 8th against the pass and 12th overall in the league, can be considered something fans of this team can see as an accomplishment.

Quinn has the Browns looking ahead!

The emergence of Quinn, who showed a “never give up” attitude may just be what this team needs to advance to the next level.  With a team of young offensive players developing alongside Quinn, mixed in with the already dynamic Cribbs, and a Rob Ryan defense being built, this team may not be that far off from making a return to form.

It’s the week fans of smashmouth football have been waiting for… the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers first match up of the 2009 season.  The stakes of this game are not what fans had expected them to be.  Instead of the two fighting for possession of the AFC North, as most anticipated, they are in a battle for one of the two AFC Wildcards.  Both teams are coming off heartbreaking week 11 losses where Pittsburgh fell to the previously 2-7 Chiefs, and Baltimore’s loss left the Colts with a perfect 10-0.   The Bengals have surprisingly reigned supreme in the AFC north; knocking both the Steelers and Ravens off twice already this season. With only one divisional game left to play against the Browns, who unexpectedly gave them the closest divisional game, the Bengals have pretty much punched their post season ticket.  Meanwhile, the Ravens continue to fight for theirs while the Steelers try to hold onto their current post season spot.

In three consecutive contests from 2004-2005, the Ravens knocked the Steelers starting quarterback out of the game

While every game for the rest of this season is a fight for the play-offs, this one means more to both sides than any of the other “must-win” games on their schedules.  The history between the two teams has built a rivalry so intense that most fans and players alike have had this game circled on their calendars since the schedule came out during the off-season.  The rivalry between the two teams started back in 2000; not on the field but within press conference exchanges.  The Ravens gave the Steelers their first shutout loss at Three Rivers Stadium since 1989 during the 2000 season, and following the win, then Baltimore tight end Shannon Sharpe went on to criticize Pittsburgh during a post game press conference saying that “The Steelers have some real problems that they need to have addressed. That’s probably the worst in my 11 years I’ve seen a Steelers team look. And I’m sure Bill Cowher is very disappointed, because they’ve got a lot of internal turmoil.” 

Pittsburgh came roaring back later in the season beating Baltimore 9-6 and with Coach Cowher having his own words for Sharpe: “Can you guys please go tell Shannon Sharpe that our problems here are fine?  And I appreciate his concern after the first game about all the internal problems we had.  Tell him we’re fine.  Thanks.”  Although the Steelers went on to a winning season that year, they weren’t as successful as the Ravens whose season ended with the defeat of the New York Giants in the Super bowl with a whopping 34-7 victory.  The Ravens defense of 2000 was compared to the Steelers 1970’s “Steel Curtain,” which had sports media questioning whether they really were the best defensive unit of all time.  From that point on, trash talk became a staple of the two teams’ match-ups every season, with continued battles between them for top defensive rankings and supremacy in the AFC North.
  
That is not to say the trash talking has not escalated to on-the-field and post-game altercations.  In 2002, then Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress and Ravens cornerback James Trap, were ejected from a game for a physical altercation on the field after the end of a play.  Joey Porter, who was once the Steelers most well known trash talker, had his share of mouthing off with Ray Lewis.  Most newsworthy was in 2003 when he confronted Lewis on the Ravens’ bus preparing to leave for the airport after a game in Pittsburgh believing that he had mocked Porter’s sack celebration dance on the field after tackling a Steelers running back for no gain on a run.  At the time, Lewis took Porter’s attack in stride telling the media “People have been kicking sand for years, he ain’t never started that. He just brought it back up.”  That game in Pittsburgh wouldn’t be the only time the Ravens and Steelers faced off in 2003.  The Ravens had already clinched their post season spot at a time that most head coaches were resting their starters.  Not Brian Billick, though. Baltimore’s starters played the entire last game of the season against the Steelers (who had already been shut out of the play offs) and into overtime, defeating them 13-10.  Never one to miss a chance to speak out, Porter once again had something to say post-game. He summed up the hatred between these two teams perfectly: “A smart coach, you don’t play your players that long in a regular-season game that has no meaning…. And he played them all the way to the end in overtime, just to beat us.  That lets you know how serious the rivalry is.”

These teams always bring the heat when facing each other!

For two teams who pride themselves on their defensive units, key members of both teams’ units will be missing for this Sunday night’s match up.  The Ravens Terrell Suggs and Steelers Troy Polamalu are both assumed to be out, although neither team has officially ruled either player out. Adding a further blow to the Ravens defense, they have lost Fabian Washington for the remainder of the season, leaving his starting position to be taken over by rookie Ladarius Webb. On top of injuries to the defensive sides of the ball, the Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a concussion during Sunday’s loss and a decision has yet to be made about him starting for Sunday night’s match-up.  The question being, even if the injured Roethlisberger starts Sunday night, how effective can he be? With both teams being in must-win situations, these glaring absences from Sunday night’s line up may just be what ends up costing one of these teams the game. Whether it’s the Ravens best pass rusher, or the Steelers best ball hawk, is yet to be determined.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was quoted last year before the AFC Championship as saying “Us and the Ravens.  It’d be a big game if it was a scrimmage.”  Well this coming Sunday is certainly not a scrimmage…it’s a showdown between two AFC rivals, both desperately in need of a win.

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Any sports fan will tell you that unless your team is struggling, you could really care less about the ownership.  When your team is winning, the typical sports fan is concerned with what the team is doing on the field, not what is going on behind closed doors.  In Miami this is no longer the case. It is the ownership that is bringing in the buzz, and in a good way.  Sure, the Miami Dolphins and their much talked about wildcat offense made the play off’s last year, but it is the new share holders in the franchise that are all the talk with Miami fans, particularly with us women.

Being involved with sports is nothing new to the Williams sisters!

Music icons, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams have all purchased shares of the Dolphins. In addition, Stacey Ann Ferguson – otherwise known in the music world as “Fergie”, is now rumored to also be in the mix to purchase a share of the Dolphins as well. Each of the above mentioned women have brought along the followers of their music, fashion, movies, and sport to this team.

These iconic female superstars have opened the doors for a new wave of women fans to the sport of football.

From sweet smelling scents to stinky Football players, J-Lo has it covered!

Ladies sports apparel is proving to be big business and it continues to grow. When you walk into a Shenk & Title or any other sports store the amount of women’s apparel has doubled from previous years.  Women now have entire sections with different styles of clothing with our favorite team’s emblems on them to choose from. The sports world is taking notice in the spike of women interested in supporting these teams.  With so many franchises struggling right now, the addition of fans can only help them to build.

If influential women continue to become more involved in football, it can only continue to help the NFL fan base expand.  These five icons are a great start in helping women become more exposed to football and giving women the ability to enjoy it by making it more exposed and relatable to them.

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What’s the deal with the Pink Jersey’s?

Being taken seriously as a girl talking sports with the guys can be tough…trust me, I know.  The old stereotypical quote being “she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”  I’m usually that girl in the sports bar with the men arguing the virtues of my Baltimore Ravens.  The above mentioned quote was one I’ve heard time and time again.  For the longest time I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t being taken seriously in these debates.  Everything I sat there listening to these men discuss were points I had tried to make five minutes before them!  Oh that’s right…because I’m a GIRL.  Men in general seem to not take us women seriously when it comes to talking about or cheering on our favorite team. 

Speaking of not being taken seriously!

I think part of the road block to being taken seriously is quite obvious.  Women…WHY ARE WE WEARING PINK JERSEYS?!?  

Who on earth decided that these pink jerseys were a good idea?  How is any fan (man or woman) supposed to take your love of the Pittsburgh Steelers seriously when you are wearing a bright pink number 86 jersey.  From the front, how can we tell what team you are rooting for?  Are you showing your admiration for Hines Ward or his division rival’s tight end, number 86 of the Baltimore Ravens, Todd Heap? 

Quick, who is this girl a fan of?

Just saying, come on girls…do us all a favor and wear our team’s REAL colors. They may not be as cute but they’ll go a long way in being taken seriously next time you’re asked about your favorite player or team.

What’s the Skinny on the Pink Jersey’s? If you are showing your support for Breast Cancer Awareness than that is fine, but if you’re showing support for your team then stick to clothing that lets people know who your team is!

If you have a question about all things football, this is the forum for you to do it ladies with no worries about the what the guys think! Leave a question in the Comments section and I will get back to you!