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.
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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 general manager 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 Players of the Week: Steve Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens and Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Defensive Player of the Week: J.J. Watt, DL, Houston Texans
Coaches of the Week: Lovie Smith, head coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Norv Turner, offensive coordinator Minnesota Vikings
Goat of the Week: Mike Tomlin, head coach Pittsburgh Steelers
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We are now at the quarter point in this 2014 NFL season, and it feels like this season has gone very, very fast. Only 12 games left for some teams … OMG! Most of the teams continue in the playoff race with a chance to play in the Super Bowl. At the quarter pole, two teams already are for all intents and purposes eliminated from any chance to make the playoffs after playing only four games this season. |
Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X. |
The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Oakland Raiders are done for this year. The Raiders look so bad, they were forced to fire Head Coach Dennis Allen this week … after only four games into the season, yikes!
Oakland will not win the AFC West because, after four games, the team is already three games behind both San Diego and Denver. Jacksonville, too, is three games behind in the AFC South. Sadly, the fact that the Jaguars and Raiders, after only four games, have no shot at making the playoffs this year is not shocking in the least. So much for competitive balance.
Meanwhile, every team in the NFC has a chance to make the playoffs. Despite a record of 1-3, Tampa Bay is only one game out of first place in the NFC South. Washington, at 1-3, is two games out in the NFC East as well. So while both teams have struggled, both Tampa and D.C. remain in position to compete for a division title after one quarter of the season.
Last Week in the AFC –
In the AFC North, everybody is still in it – even last place Cleveland at 1-2. Baltimore, at 3-1, trails the undefeated Cincinnati team. The TV production crew did a good job showing the look of defeat on the Pittsburgh sideline after Tampa Bay scored the game winner. How could the Steelers let Tampa Bay do that to them at home? What an embarrassing loss and the biggest upset of the week. I think the Steelers are closer to the level of the Browns than to that of the Ravens or the Bengals.
In the west, San Diego putting down Jacksonville decisively wasn’t a surprise. Denver was off this week, but needs to be concerned about the Chargers.
In the AFC East, Miami winning big in London over the Raiders was not a big surprise. The Jets, at 1-3, are one game out of first place. Buffalo and Miami, both at 2-2, were joined by the Patriots, who were crushed by Kansas City Monday night.
Who predicted that the Texans would be in first place at 3-1 a quarter into the season? Nobody. And no one is surprised that Jacksonville is 0-4. Tennessee is two games out and the Colts, one game out are coming on strong.
Last Week in the NFC –
The NFC North race is wide open with three 2-2 teams all one game behind Detroit. Chicago continues to baffle. With inconsistent Jay Cutler as the head of your offense, it will always be up and down. Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay proved why so many believe they are the best team in the division. Detroit is surprising to many, especially the way the team handled the Jets. Matthew Stafford is showing more temperance, maybe because of the new coach, or maybe NFL maturity. He is making better decisions with his All-Pro ability.
A star was born in Minnesota named Teddy Bridgewater. A coach of the week candidate was Norv Turner. Norv has always known how to get the best out of young quarterbacks dating back to Troy Aikman with the Cowboys. Minnesota will continue to get better as the season progresses as Turner has more time to work with Bridgewater.
Many thought that Atlanta was on its way after that Thursday night explosion, but not against the Vikings. That game was a real stunner. Every picker had Atlanta over Minnesota, but the game wasn’t as close as the score suggests. Still, the Falcons will remain in the division fight until the end.
New Orleans and Carolina are both suffering after losses that looked bad. Nobody would have thought the Saints would be tied for last with Tampa Bay one quarter into the season, but the Saints are still only one game out of first place and anything can happen. The NFC South is completely wide open right now.
One of my Coaches of the Week Lovie Smith and the Buccaneers took care of business in Pittsburgh after the debacle against Atlanta on Thursday night. Mike Glennon validated the belief of some in Tampa Bay who think he can be a good NFL quarterback. Many were impressed with the decisions made by Smith and his coaching staff. That easily was the most exciting game of the week.
Who had Arizona in first place in the NFC West at 3-0 trailed by Seattle, San Francisco, and St Louis after four games?
The Eagles showed they will need to improve on their red-zone offense after their loss to the 49ers. Once Philadelphia got inside the 20, the offense was limited. It looks like Nick Foles, because of the Eagles’ offensive line, may have to roll out more and that will take away half of the on passing plays. It was interesting to hear the TV announcers draw parallels to an Oregon-Stanford game. The jury is still out whether a fast-paced offense can work every play in the NFL.
And finally, as they say in Texas, “How about them Cowboys!” At 3-1, Dallas is in first place. How long can that last?
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Jean Fugett: Around the NFL - 1/8
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 15 Recap - 12/21
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 14 Recap - 12/11
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 13 Recap - 12/4
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 12 Recap - 11/27
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 11 Recap - 11/21
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 10 Recap - 11/13
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 9 Recap - 11/6
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 8 Recap - 10/30
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 7 Recap - 10/23
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 6 Recap - 10/16
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 5 Recap - 10/9
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 4 Recap - 10/1
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 3 Recap - 9/25
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 2 Recap - 9/18
Jean Fugett's Around the NFL Week 1 Recap - 9/10
Jean Fugett's 2014 NFL Season Preview - 9/5
Fantasy Football Rankings - May 9
2025 NFL Mock Draft - May 7
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
