VanFulpen's NFL Week 5 Winners

Jacksonville at Buffalo 1:00 PM CBS – Jacksonville is coming off a huge win against the Colts and gets two in a row.

Winner: JAGUARS

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati 1:00 PM FOX – The Bengals won’t lose two in a row.

Winner: BENGALS

Atlanta at Cleveland 1:00 PM FOX – The Falcons are on a role winning close games at the end, but this game won’t be that close.

Winner: FALCONS

St. Louis at Detroit 1:00 PM FOX – The Rams got their first win of the season last year against the Lions, the Lions do the same this year.

Winner: Lions

Kansas City at Indianapolis 1:00 PM CBS – After this week there is no unbeaten teams as the Colts won’t lose two in a row.

Winner: COLTS

Green Bay at Washington 1:00 PM FOX - The Redskins are coming off a huge win against the Eagles and ride that with an upset over the Packers.

Winner: REDSKINS

Chicago at Carolina 1:00 PM FOX – Even without Jay Culter at quarterback the Bears are able to come in to Carolina and get a win.

Winner: BEARS

Denver at Baltimore 1:00 PM CBS - The Ravens are coming off a last second win against the Steelers and keep things rolling this week.

WINNER: RAVENS

NY Giants at Houston 1:00 PM FOX - The Giants defensive line look great against the Bears last Sunday night but don’t think it will have the same effect this week.

WINNER: TEXANS

New Orleans at Arizona 4:05 PM FOX - Arizona is starting Max Hall at quarterback an undrafted rookie free-agent, the Saints defense will get off the bus blitzing.

Winner: SAINTS

San Diego at Oakland 4:15 PM CBS – The Chargers are trying to get things turned around and it helps that they are going against the Raiders.

Winner: CHARGERS

Tennessee at Dallas 4:15 PM CBS – The Cowboys have to stop running back Chris Johnson if they can do that they get to 2-2 on the season.

Winner: COWBOYS

Philadelphia at San Francisco 8:20 PM NBC – The 49ers are trying to get their first win of the season and they don’t have to face Michael Vick.

Winner: 49ers

Minnesota at NY Jets 8:30 PM ESPN (Monday Night) – I beat you anything that Randy Moss has more catches this Monday Night then last, since he didn’t have any in his last game as a Patriot.

Winner: VIKINGS

Last week: 9- 5


Overall: 36- 26

VanFulpen’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 2

1. New Orleans Saints (2-0) – The Saints are the best team in the NFL and proved it on Monday Night Football traveling to San Francisco and being able to win with a field goal on the final play.

2. Green Bay Packers (2-0) – Quarterback Aaron Rogers looks like he is the leader for the NFL MVP award and their defense is great as well.

3. Houston Texans (2-0) – Overtime win against the Redskins and now they are at home against the Cowboys if they can beat their in state rivals will go along for their confidence.

4. Miami Dolphins (2-0) – Great win against the Vikings on the road now they take on the Jets.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) – No Big Ben no problem in the first two weeks.

6. Chicago Bears (2-0) – Jay Cutler has looked like the Pro Bowl player the Bears thought they traded for in the first two weeks.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) – On of the surprise teams of the early season so far but can they keep it up.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) – The other surprise team and they have a good young quarterback leading them.

9. Indianapolis Colts (1-1) – The Colts looked they are ready to roll again this season.

10. San Diego Chargers (1-1) – Maybe the early season lost to the Chiefs was a good thing for them.

11. New York Jets (1-1) – They have to go play Miami this week, who last season they where 0-2 against.

12. New England Patriots (1-1) – Patriots didn’t look like themselves in the second half against the Jets.

13. New York Giants (1-1) – Eli and the Giants got beat by his older brother Peyton but still look like the team to beat in the NFC East.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) – The Bengals need to get their offense going and score touchdowns and not kick field goals.

15. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) – The Ravens can’t wait to get Ed Reed back because then their defense will be even better.

16. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) – The Falcons can’t afford running back Michael Turner to be hurt and miss too much time.

17. Tennessee Titans (1-1) – Vince Young will be back as the starter, but they need to open more holes for running back Chris Johnson then what they did on Sunday against the Steelers.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) – Michael Vick has played well but they are going back to quarterback Kevin Kolb, might not be the right move.

19. Washington Redskins (1-1) – Donovan McNabb should have this team right around a late season wild card push.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) – The Jaguars have to get better play out of their quarterback or will be looking for a new quarterback and new head coach in the off-season.

21. Denver Broncos (1-1) – The beat the Seahawks this past Sunday but don’t look like a playoff type team.

22. Oakland Raiders (1-1) – The Raiders might be looking for another quarterback this off-season as Jason Campbell was benched in the first half Sunday.

23. Seattle Seahawks (1-1) – The great opening day win didn’t look so great after getting beat by the Broncos.

24. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) – Derrick Anderson is not the answer at quarterback and they could be draft one in the first round again.

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-2) – Brett Farve came back for this? Life isn’t looking good, but just what the doctor ordered the Detroit Lions and Shaun Hill this Sunday.

26. Dallas Cowboys (0-2) – The Cowboys have to go on the road and beat the Texans this week.

27. San Francisco 49ers (0-2) – The 49ers play in the worst division in the NFL, the NFC West so an 8-8 record might win the division.

28. Detroit Lions (0-2) – Lions fans can’t wait to get quarterback Matthew Stafford back.

29. Carolina Panthers (0-2) – The Jimmy Clausen era has started in Carolina.

30. Cleveland Browns (0-2) – The Browns are hoping the quarterback Andrew Luck falls to them next April.

31. St. Louis Rams (0-2) – The Rams need offensive weapons and should trade for Vincent Jackson.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-2) – The Bills have benched quarterback Trent Edwards after week two.

Power Ranking Number 26: Detroit Lions

Two years ago this team didn’t win a game, but it seems like with the last two drafts and the off-season moves this team is head on its way up. Many people feel that quarterback Matthew Stafford is on his way to being a franchise quarterback and the Lions have surrounded him with offensive weapons, adding the like of rookie running back Jahvid Best, wide receiver Nate Burleson and tight end Tony Scheffler to go along with one of the league’s best wide receivers in Calvin Johnson. Stafford missed some games last season because of injury and the Lions hope that by adding offensive guard Rob Simms to the offensive line that will help. The Lions offensive line hasn’t been one of the league’s best in recent history and that is why many thought that they would draft an offensive tackle in the first round this season.

With the number two overall pick in this year’s draft they drafted Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh who many believe was the best overall player in the 2010 NFL draft. Bring in the likes of defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and defensive tackle Corey Williams will be a huge help on the defensive line. The Lions secondary is still a question mark but they did trade for cornerback Chris Houston and brought back veteran cornerback Dre Bly to go along with second year player Louis Delmas.

So will the Lions win the Super Bowl, I highly doubt that, but could they be one of the most improved teams in the NFL, that is more likely.

Southern Illinois Karim not a sleeper anymore

Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim came into the NFL Draft process without a lot of fan fare, but he is one of the fast rising players as we lead up to the NFL Draft. He was one of the NFL Draft sleepers when he first arrived in El Paso, TX for the Texas vs. the Nation game, but he is a sleeper no more.

Karim this past season rushed for 1,694 yard and 18 touchdowns averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He also caught 17 passes for 212 yards and 1 touchdown averaging 12.5 per reception. He was invited to play in the Texas vs. the Nation game, but was given an invite to the NFL Combine.

“At first it was a disappointment (not to get invited to the NFL Combine), but I knew I had to do something at my Pro Day to open their (NFL scouts) eyes,” said Karim.

Karim did just that at his Pro Day, where he, out jumped the best running back in Indianapolis by two inches in the vertical jump (43 inches). Karim measured in at 5-8 1/2, 209 pounds and ran the 40 yard dash in 4.40 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.33 seconds, and the three-cone drill in 6.95 seconds. He measured a 10-foot-3 inch broad jump and did 19 reps of 225 pounds.

“I start training down in Florida even before the Texas vs. the Nation game, and it really helped me their and also get everything out of my ability to have a great Pro Day,” said Karim.

After his performance at the Texas vs. the Nation game and his Pro Day, people started to take notice of him and he end up having personal visiting with a number of teams including the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Indianapolis Colts.

But despite all the post season success that Karim is having he knows he can still improve.

“I need to work on my blocking, I have the effort but I need to improve on my technique,” said Karim. “I also need to work on my vision at the second level when I’m running the ball.”

With Karim being one of the fast risers on every teams draft board soon we will all find out what team he goes to.

NFL Free-Agent News & Notes

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with fullback Leonard Weaver.

The Indianapolis Colts and free agent linebacker Gary Brackett agreed on a five-year contract.

The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Titans) on a four-year deal.

The Miami Dolphins will release FS Gibril Wilson.

It appears a deal between the Chicago Bears and free-agent DE Julius Peppers (Panthers) is close to being completed.

The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent TE Brandon Manumaleuna (Chargers) on a five-year deal

2010 Senior Bowl - Wednesday Practices

2010 Senior Bowl Mid-Way Risers & Faller

Senior Bowl: Players to watch this week

Here are some of the players to watch is this years Senior Bowl.

QB Tim Tebow, Florida – Tebow has a lot to prove and can do a lot to his draft stock this week.

QB Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan – LeFevour with a good week of practice and the game can get up in the 2nd round.

QB Jarrett Brown, West Virginia – NFL Scouts want to know if he is a one year wonder, and can he be an NFL quarterback.

QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati – Pike with a good week of practice and good game could solidify himself as the number four quarterback in this years draft.

RB Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State – Dixon is a battle to see who will be the next senior running back drafted after CJ Spiller.

RB Dexter McCluster, Mississippi – McCluster is a do it all type of player, but his size is a big question mark and how his small frame can handle the pounding against much bigger players will go a long way to see where he will get drafted.

RB Montario Hardesty, Tennessee – Hardesty had a very good senior season, but teams want to find out did he just turn it on this season because he knew the NFL was his next stop. He can answer a lot of questions this week.

WR Brandon LaFell, LSU – With a good week of practice and a good game, LaFell can show NFL teams that he belongs in the 1st round of the draft and he is the best senior wide receiver.

WR Mardy Gillyard, Cincinnati – NFL scouts want to see Gillyard route running improve and he can do a lot to cement his draft grade this week.

OL Vladimir DuCasse, UMass – I have heard one NFL team has him rated as a late first round pick, DuCasse will have to answer a lot of questions this week going against the higher level of competition.

DE Jerry Hughes, TCU – Scouts will work out Hughes as a linebacker and defensive end this week to see what his true NFL position is.

DE Antonio Coleman, Auburn – Coleman with a good week of practice and game can move his draft stock up since it has slipped this entire season.

DE Brandon Graham, Michigan – Graham doesn’t have great height but is a good overall football player, some team have him graded as a late 1st round pick while other have him more in the late 2nd round, this is a big week for him.

DT Terrence Cody, Alabama – If he has a good week of practices he can lock in a 1st round grade from NFL teams.

LB Eric Norwood, South Carolina – Norwood is a good overall football player, the question is, what defensive does he fit best in a 3-4 defense or a 4-3 defense. NFL scouts hope to have that question answered after this week.

CB Javier Arenas, Alabama – Arenas can separate himself from the other second group of cornerbacks with a good week.

S Taylor Mays, USC – Mays came into the season with a high first round grade but inconsistencies with his ability in coverage and reading the plays this season has drop his stock will need a big week to raise that back up.