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NFC East Capsules
Compiled by Gene Wang
Coach: Dave McGinnis, 1-8 after taking over last season. Key acquisitions: G Pete Kendall (Seahawks), G Leonard Davis (Texas). Key losses: CB Aeneas Williams (Rams), DE Simeon Rice (Buccaneers), DT Mark Smith (Browns), G Lester Holmes (released), G Matt Joyce (Lions). Outlook: The future seemed bright for the Cardinals after a victory in the playoffs in 1998. Since then, Arizona has had nine victories and all kinds of misfortune. WR Rob Moore missed last season with a torn Achilles’ tendon, and rookie RB Thomas Jones lost his starting job to Michael Pittman. Defensively, the Cardinals figured they had one of the best lines in the league at the start of last season when McGinnis was still defensive coordinator. But with the loss of Rice and Smith, Larry Marmie and his staff are still searching for four legitimate starters. One to watch: Called “The Next Joe Montana” in the desert, Jake Plummer—the hometown hero from Arizona State—has flopped since 1998. In his past two seasons, the mistake-prone starter has thrown more than twice as many interceptions (45) as touchdowns (22). Another poor season may send him to the bench.
Coach: Dave Campo, 5-11 in first season. Key acquisition: QB Quincy Carter (second-round pick, Georgia). Key losses: QB Troy Aikman (retired), T Erik Williams (Ravens), QB Randall Cunningham (Ravens), long snapper Dale Hellestrae (released), DT Chad Hennings (released), WR James McKnight (Dolphins), LB Barron Wortham (released), TE David LaFleur (released), DT Leon Lett (Broncos), CB Ryan McNeil (Chargers), S Phillippi Sparks (retired). Outlook: The Cowboys are a long way from the glory days of the early and mid-1990s, as shown by the move to start rookie Carter at quarterback. Dallas’s run defense yielded three 200-yard rushers last season; in the franchise’s first 40 years, the Cowboys gave up two. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has changed the scheme to try to allow LB Dexter Coakley more freedom, but the line remains suspect without a proven run-stopper in the middle. One to watch: The Cowboys gave away two first-round draft picks and $42 million over seven years in hopes that wide receiver Joey Galloway would help open up the offense. Instead, he missed all but one game last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Galloway must be a factor for the offense to be productive.
Coach: Jim Fassel, 37-26-1 in four seasons (first in division in 2000, lost to Baltimore in Super Bowl XXXV). Key acquisitions: DE Kenny Holmes (Titans), K Morten Andersen (Falcons), CB Will Allen (first-round pick, Syracuse). Key losses: DE Cedric Jones (released), TE Pete Mitchell (Lions), DT Christian Peter (Colts), LB Ryan Phillips (Raiders), RB Sean Bennett (released), K Brad Daluiso (released), P Brad Maynard (Bears). Outlook: The Giants prided themselves on proving critics wrong last season, and judging by their relative inactivity in free agency, they believe the same personnel can carry the team to another Super Bowl. Injuries to RB Tiki Barber (hand) and WR Ike Hilliard (foot) have slowed the offense, but the team’s trademark under Fassel has been defense, which has back all but two starters from last season’s No. 2 unit against the run. One to watch: QB Kerry Collins has had a wild ride over his six seasons, which have included two NFC championship games, a Super Bowl, alcoholism and charges of racist remarks. His psyche after a 34-7 loss to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV gets tested during a tough first month, including the Monday night opener at Denver’s new stadium.
Coach: Andy Reid, 16-16 in two seasons (lost to Giants in second round of playoffs in 2000). Key acquisitions: WR James Thrash (Redskins), DE Ndukwe Kalu (Redskins), WR Freddie Mitchell (first-round pick, UCLA). Key losses: C Bubba Miller (out for season with torn ACL), WR Charles Johnson (Patriots), WR Torrance Small (Patriots), RB Darnell Autry (released), RB Stanley Pritchett (released), LB James Darling (Jets). Outlook: QB Donovan McNabb proved he was worth the second overall pick in 1999, leading the Eagles to the biggest turnaround in franchise history (from 5-11 to 11-5). This season, McNabb has a new set of wide receivers and a running game that gets back Duce Staley, who missed most of last season with a foot injury. If those pieces fall into place behind the punishing defense, the Eagles could supplant the Giants as division, and perhaps conference, champions. One to watch: Reid scrapped both starting wide receivers from last season, meaning Todd Pinkston moves into the No. 2 spot behind Thrash. A big target at 6 feet 2, Pinkston’s thin frame (170 pounds) sometimes prevented him from shedding bump-and-run coverage at the line of scrimmage.
Coach: Marty Schottenheimer, first season with Redskins (145-85-1 in 15 seasons overall). Key acquisitions: QB Tony Banks (Cowboys), RB Donnell Bennett (Chiefs), WR Rod Gardner (first-round draft pick, Clemson), CB Donovan Greer (Bills), WR Kevin Lockett (Chiefs), CB Fred Smoot (second-round draft pick, Mississippi State), G Dave Szott (free agency). Key losses: S Mark Carrier (free agency), FB Larry Centers (Bills), WR Irving Fryar (retired), QB Brad Johnson (Buccaneers), G Tre Johnson (Browns), CB Deion Sanders (retired), DT Dana Stubblefield (49ers), WR James Thrash (Eagles). Outlook: Schottenheimer brings discipline — and seemingly half of Kansas City — with him to his new job. An offseason housecleaning leaves him with fewer egos and a leaner payroll, but less talent. There are whispers that QB Jeff George’s shoulder is in worse shape than the Redskins have publicly let on, but he is the starter. One to watch: Owner Daniel Snyder promised not to be as visible in day-to-day operations with Schottenheimer as he was in previous seasons, and he has been remarkably low-key so far. Will things change if the Redskins struggle in the regular season as they did in the preseason? |
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Preview
