Each week, Hall of Fame wide receiver and Westwood One Sunday Night Football analyst James Lofton tells you about the teams, players and trends that are on the way out and those that are on the way up around the NFL.
OUT: Post-play Punching! #1: You can only break your own hand. #2: You get fined and possibly ejected. #3: Only Money Mayweather gets paid to punch and dance.
UP! Traveling fans. I see them every week in airports headed all around the country. The Terrible Towels travel better than any other team – they were 40% of the crowd in Carolina on Sunday night and the Steelers responded by playing like they owned the place.
OUT: With the kickoff return from six or seven yards deep. Sure, your team might break one from time to time, but starting way short of the 20 the other 80% of the time isn’t a good look.
UP! Here come the rookie QBs not named Johnny! Teddy and Blake did a nice job on short notice. Let’s see what they can do with a full week’s practice.
UP! Hats off to David Carr after going toe to toe with Tom Brady. A running game for the Raiders would take a little pressure off Carr.
GOING DEEP: I know it’s early, but with some solid moves so far, it looks like the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals are setting us up for a deep run.
– James Lofton
Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton is the analyst for Westwood One’s coverage of Sunday Night Football. This week he’ll be in Dallas as the Cowboys host the New Orleans Saints. Coverage begins Sunday at 7:30 PM Eastern.
