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.
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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. |
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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.
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Offensive Player of the Week: Le’Veon Bell, running back, Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive Players of the Week: Vic Beasley, defensive end, Atlanta Falcons and Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end, Houston Texans Coach of the Week: Dom Capers, defensive coordinator, Green Bay Packers Goats of the Week: Ryan Grigson, general manager, and Chuck Pagano, head coach, Indianapolis Colts Happy holidays, everyone. Now that they are in the holiday season, some teams will get gifts and some teams that have been naughty will not take a look at the mailbag. Indianapolis appears to be squandering Andrew Luck. The Colts’ offensive line and their lack of talent on defense is striking; should the general manager and head coach be fired? This is that time of the year when teams begin to evaluate their personnel from the front office all the way down to the equipment manager and look at who is helping the team be successful and who needs to be replaced. In the case of the Indianapolis Colts, now eliminated at 6-7, this is a team certainly underperforming. Many thought the Colts would be better than the Tennessee Titans in this AFC South division, a team that is 7-6 and tied with the Houston Texans for first place. Who knew what would happen with the Houston quarterback situation and that J.J. Watt would miss the season, yet the Texans found a way to be in first place in mid-December. Looking at this division, we have to conclude that Bill O’Brien is the best coach with his team in first place, and as a result, maybe there needs to be a change in Indianapolis. If you cannot protect the quarterback, especially one as good as Andrew Luck, you cannot hope to win in the National Football League, so good luck to the front office and management in Indianapolis. Next question. Should Rex Ryan be fired? This is a good question because it’s a question that comes up every season. Rex Ryan is a coach with a big reputation. All football coaches have reputations for good or for bad. Sometimes it becomes bigger than a coach and can become a problem when the team is not winning, but fortunately for Ryan, Buffalo is not a major media market, so he continues to fly under the radar, unlike the Giants and the Jets who also play in the state of New York but get a lot more pressure from the media. Ryan has taken on a team that wins without a traditional passing NFL quarterback. He has been able to cobble together a defense that has made his team competitive in the AFC East, however, a 6-7 record will not get you to the playoffs in this division, and therefore one has to wonder. A look at the rest of the division will show that the New York Jets at 4-9, and a team previously coached by Ryan, have not improved to be in the playoffs, while the Bills have a chance to get to 9-7 if they can run the table. With Cleveland and Miami coming to Buffalo in December and the final game at the New York Jets, the Buffalo Bills indeed could end up at 9-7. Miami is the surprise because many had the Dolphins written off because of their poor performance last year. But, Ryan Tannehill has proved this season to be an NFL quarterback. The question now becomes is he done for the season due to injury. Miami finishes the year at New York Jets, then at Buffalo, and finally a game in probably at a very cold New England, which is now at 11-2 and the beast of the AFC East. Will the Browns go winless? The Browns go to Buffalo this week then they are home versus San Diego and finish at Pittsburgh on January 1, where the Steelers will probably be fighting for a playoff spot. So, of the final three games, which will be the one that the Cleveland Browns will win? At Buffalo certainly is possible. There could be some lake-effect snow, and we just talked about the Bills above, who will probably not score a lot of points, but will Cleveland? San Diego at home is a good possibility for the Browns with the warm-weather team coming into what could be a freezing Cleveland. San Diego will be eliminated officially from the playoffs by then with nothing much to play for. For a Cleveland win, that might be the game you might want to circle on Christmas Eve. The following game is at Pittsburgh and I don’t give Cleveland much of a chance. Pittsburgh will certainly need a win to go to the playoffs or get in better playoff position. Elimination List |
Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X. |
AFC North
After the Ravens loss to New England, are the Steelers ready to beat Baltimore on Christmas to secure the North?
Pittsburgh clearly has the easiest path to the to the division championship. This week at Cincinnati, then Baltimore at home on Christmas, and then to start the new year, Cleveland at home. A win against the Ravens should clinch the division for the Steelers, and the way the Ravens looked against the Patriots last week would make one think the chances are good for Pittsburgh. The Ravens have the Eagles at home this week and then was to go to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati for their final two. The Ravens have a much tougher road.
AFC South
The Texans eliminated the Colts. Who do you like to win the division with Houston vs Tennessee?
This is difficult to call. Houston has really been up and down the season. The Texans will be looking to lock it up with Jacksonville at home then Cincinnati on the road. Houston’s final game, which could be the division championship game, is at Tennessee on January 1. Tennessee has very tough Kansas City this week on the road. Next, the Titans travel to Jacksonville and then, for the last game, have Houston at home. Some believe Tennessee is the best team in the AFC South but Houston has the best schedule.
AFC East
New England looks back on track. Are the Dolphins done with Tannehill injured?
As we noted above, Tannehill has been one of the keys to the Dolphins’ success this season, and without him, their playoff pursuit will be over. Adam Gase contends it is not a season-ending injury. We will see this week.
AFC West
Three teams in position for the postseason. Which ones can win in January?
All three from the Broncos, the Chiefs and the Raider can win, except of course when they play against each other. Denver has the toughest task playing New England, at Kansas City, in Oakland for its final three games. Oakland travels to San Diego, has Indianapolis at home, and then travels to Denver for its final game. Perhaps Kansas City has the easiest road with Tennessee at home, Denver at home, and finishing at San Diego. Every team in the AFC West other than the Chargers is still projected to make the playoffs.
NFC East
Does Dallas need to go back to Tony Romo for the playoffs?
No! Enough said.
NFC North
Should the Vikings be on the elimination list? Should the Packers come off the elimination list?
No, the Vikings are eliminated and so are the Packers. Green Bay could run the table, but still would be 10-6 and probably not ahead of Detroit, which is two games ahead with four losses on the season and only three games remaining. The Packers are also behind in the wild-card race and 10-6 may not be enough to make the playoffs.
NFC South
Are the Buccaneers going to roll through Atlanta to win the NFC South?
No, I don’t think so. The Buccaneers face a very tough test this week playing the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas on a national TV game. After that the Bucs play two wounded teams both capable of beating them, New Orleans and Carolina. The young team will learn a lot in these last three games.
NFC West
The Seahawks are backing into the postseason. Are they a candidate to be one and done in January?
You can never count out a great coach, a great team, and a great quarterback out in the playoffs.
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