Like the Phoenix, he will rise again...

It's a little late to be Monday morning but better late than never...I wanted to write about those that I think many thought would not amount to much this year but so far have come out to prove something.

I think that I am kinda making the first one unfairly. Most thought this player would struggle more this year than in his past glory...Tom Brady. After last year's season ending injury many thought that his adjustment to full speed play would be difficult. There were a few (very few) doubters out there who wondered if he still had it after ACL surgery at the age of 32. Well he has thrown for 4 touchdowns and 1100 yards. I know that this is not the 50 TDs of two years ago but this is more on the track of the high 20s that he is expected to throw. Brady is one of the most consistent tossers in the league; and it is why he is considered one of the best today. Oh and by the way, with that knee injury he still has a rushing touchdown.

The second player to rise from the ashes is also pretty recognizable, not because he is a great player or because everyone is a big fan. He is recognizable because of his preseason antics...Brandon Marshall of the Denver Broncos. In the preseason, Marshall showed his dislike for his contract and his ownership by not practicing and acting up in workouts (including punting balls and batting others down). But this weekend Marshall tried to win over the Denver fans with his play. He had 4 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. This TD came with less than 3 minutes to play in the game and to go ahead of the Cowboys. After the catch, Marshall ran up the sideline and hugged coach Josh McDaniels (whom he would not speak to in the first few weeks of the preseason). It looks like he has the opportunity to turn it around and be a valuable part of the Bronco offense.

The third person I will not talk about too much because he is the news enough. But it does seem that Brett Favre has risen again from the retirement ashes. Stats: 4-0, 8 TD passes and QB rating of 104. Enough said.

The last person may be rising but may fall in the end because he chose to rise too late. Final rookie hold out Michael Crabtree signed with the 49ers this week. After months of holding out, I guess Crabtree realized that the Niners were winning and that he would not get any better offers next year after more than 12 months without football. So for now I am going to say that the top of his Niners helmet is poking out of the ashes and we will see how things go the next two weeks of practice and his first games in the NFL.

There are also those who seem to be falling away...

Matt Cassel was the savior for the Patriots last year and many thought he would challenge Brady for his job this season, until the Pats looked to trade him away and then many thought he would be their team's savior (ie the Washington Redskins). Well the Chiefs are 0-4, Cassel playing in 3 of those games. They have not had the easiest schedule to start but have not managed more than 16 points under Cassel. Luckily games against Washington, Cleveland and Jacksonville could mean wins but the rest of the schedule doesn't look good.

The Cleveland Browns and their quarterback competition have become a dreadful story this season. Their lack of consistency under center and lack of offense have put them at the bottom with very little hope of coming up for air. This could be a long season for them.

And lastly, the Madden Curse continues and puts people in the ashes. This year it is my beloved Troy Polamalu. One of the fiercest competitors in all of football, a Tazmanian devil on the field, and a smart player has been the latest of the players to fall victim to this curse. Polamalu is starting to practice again but his knee injury could change his game a little for the next couple of weeks after being out for a couple. The Steelers would love him back to firm up their pass rush and overall defense. Let's look at the past players on the cover for Madden and tell me why anyone would want to be the cover man for this game...
2003: Marshall Faulk--his career began to slide in '03 leading to his eventual retirement.
2004: Michael Vick--broke his leg in preseason.
2005: Ray Lewis--injury held him to only 6 games...he did not make the Pro-Bowl (only season he did not).
2007: Shaun Alexander--fractured his toe, has been marred with injuries ever since.
2008: Vince Young--started season suspended and has since struggled emotionally.

We will see who rises more this year and who begins to fall...