Jean Fugett: Around the NFL

Jean Fugett: Around the NFL

By Jean Fugett; thanks to Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell

WalterFootball.com is proud to partner with former Redskins and Cowboys tight end Jean Fugett, Jr. Esq. Fugett grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Amherst College. He was the last pick of the 13th round in the 1972 NFL Draft. Fugett made the Cowboys as a backup to future Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. Fugett eventually became a starter for Tom Landry’s Cowboys and started in Super Bowl X. He made the Pro Bowl in 1977.

As a free agent, Fugett went from being the lowest-paid starting tight end to the highest-paid with the Washington Redskins. While playing for legendary Redskins coach George Allen, Fugett attended law school at George Washington University at night.

During and after his playing days, Fugett worked with CBS, the Washington Post and other media. He went on to serve as Director and Vice-Chair of the McCall Pattern Company Management Committee, founded a Baltimore law firm and partnered with Fanfone in Europe. After the death of his brother Reginald F. Lewis in 1993, Fugett took over TLC Beatrice International Foods, the largest black-owned and black-managed business in the world at the time. Fugett has served on committees with the NFL Players Association and on the Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association Maryland Chapter.

WalterFootball.com would like to thank Redskins president Bruce Allen and senior vice president/executive producer of media Larry Michael for connecting us to Fugett. Now, let’s let Jean take over.

Offensive Player of the Week: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Defensive Player of the Week: Jacquies Smith, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Goat of the Week: Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills

Coach of the Week: Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals

As a student of history, I like to look at NFL teams’ past performances. I look at the head coaches’ past performance and the past performances of the key players on the team; sometimes, those performances suggests what might happen in the future, but after doing this for a long time, the fact is all it really does suggest is what happened in the past. The past is not necessarily prologue. Always remember, when comparing today with yesterday, you must remember that yesterday had different players and different rules, and really has little to do with what these NFL players and teams will do the next week. So now after just two weeks, who knows what players are injured. Remember, not all injuries get reported to the league, and when players play in the NFL, they get injured, or let’s say some part of their body will hurt for more than a week. In most cases, this will affect the quality of play, but after all, being able to “play when hurt” is what the NFL is all about. Some even believe the true definition of a “Pro” is a player who can make adjustments week after week despite nagging injury and still continue a high quality of play. Perhaps that injury is imperceptible to the naked eye while the player in fact has one ankle sore or a wrist that is swollen. This is a man’s game and let there be no mistake about it. When you see players getting carried or helped off the field, that’s real. Many players were injured last week – only two weeks into the season. We have seen major injuries to Tony Romo and to Terrell Suggs, and there are many other injuries not as publicized that will make you wonder when the team or player does not play so well next week. This talk that about after two games the chances for a team to make it to the Super Bowl is a low percentage is the same kind of thing about what happened in the past. That was the past, and as many are fond of saying, that’s why they play the games. I am not sure that the NFL’s past can predict the NFL’s future with the way the game is today. After a two-game sample, who really knows and can make conclusions. But, two games is enough games for football fans to wonder what will happen this week. Will the 0-2 team become more desperate and play harder because: three is not good. What do they feel in Seattle? Seattle was at the goal line ready to win the Super Bowl last year and now is 0-2! And then the Seahawks are playing in the toughest division in the NFL.

Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X.

AFC

We talked about Tom Brady and the performance, and at some point, we all have to recognize that it doesn’t matter who the New England Patriots have at wide receiver. Tom Brady is the man who makes the difference for that team. And now, even at his age, he continues with record-breaking performances. He was amazing last week.

Todd Bowles can coach. The new Jet coach has a great defensive mind, and Rex Ryan did not leave the cupboard bare with respect to the Jet defense, and with the addition of Revis at cornerback, the Jets can compete with any team defensively. Miami will continue to be a question mark. The Bills can beat any team in the NFL. However, the New England Patriots are far above the other three teams in their division.

In the AFC North, this week’s Bengal-Ravens game could tell the truth about what will happen in this division this year. Can the Bengals can get over the hump? In a way, this is a playoff game for the Bengals; people talk about the Bengals getting to the playoffs and not winning the big game. Well, it is hard to say that game No. 3 in the season is a big game, but I tell you this game is really big to both teams.

If Cincinnati comes to Baltimore and wins, the Ravens are really in trouble. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers not yet at full strength, but may have the best offense in the league and have players who will come back later in the year to make that offense even more formidable. Mike Tomlin is doing a great job coaching, as usual.

In the AFC South, what a surprise with both Houston and Indianapolis; the two teams that were supposed to fight for the division title are now both 0-2. Jacksonville and Tennessee are tied for the division lead at 1-1 – what else can you say?

In AFC West, the Broncos look very powerful leading that division, especially with the other three teams all at one and one. San Diego will struggle this year. Kansas City is still inconsistent, and Oakland has suddenly found offensive weapons who should scare any defense in the National Football League. The win over the Ravens was very impressive. Al Davis would have been proud!



NFC

The NFC East race is nothing but questions. Now, the people in Washington D.C. think that the Redskins can win it all, but we will find out on Thursday night when they play the Giants. Maybe?

The New York Giants are desperate, and many think they could be 2-0 instead of 0-2. Yes, the Giants really must win Thursday night. In Philadelphia, wondering about the Eagles and if Chip Kelly is going to have to go back to college. In Dallas, can the Cowboys prevail with Matt Cassel at quarterback?



In the NFC South, we mentioned Drew Brees and his injuries; the Buccaneers somewhat of a surprise playing better than last week, but the teams that are really on the rise are the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers. Both teams are playing really good defense and finding a way to win, especially the Falcons at New York last week.

The NFC West: can Arizona run away with this division? As strange as it sounds, the Cardinals are playing far and away better than the 49ers, the Seahawks and the Rams. St. Louis will be up and down week to week judging by the way they performed against the Redskins last week. Under Coach Jeff Fisher, the team still has a lot of potential.

In the NFC North, I see the Packers reigning supreme, especially after the way they put the beat down on Seattle. There cannot be much doubt about the Pack. Watching the Bears play now is painful, without any doubt about how bad they are playing right now. The Vikings will be on the rise, getting Adrian Peterson more involved in the running game. It is not good in Detroit with the injuries to quarterback Matt Stafford. This team could already be done for the year – as hard as that sounds.

So looking at the NFC after two weeks, the Packers are looking very strong.





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Jean Fugett: Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 8 Recap - 11/5
Jean Fugett: Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 7 Recap - 10/29
Jean Fugett: Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 5 Recap - 10/15
Jean Fugett: Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 4 Recap - 10/8
Jean Fugett: Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 3 Recap - 9/30
Jean Fugett: Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 2 Recap - 9/23
Jean Fugett: Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 1 Recap - 9/16
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