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 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: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos and Bryan Hoyer, QB, Cleveland Browns
Defensive Player of the Week: C.J. Mosley, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Coach of the Week: Jason Garrett, head coach Dallas Cowboys
Goats of the Week: Rex Ryan, head coach New York Jets and Alex Henery, (now-former) kicker, Detroit Lions
|
Now into the second quarter of the NFL season, we will find out which teams have depth and which teams do not. The Detroit Lions, the Cowboys, and the Titans are teams that come to mind. How will NFL teams cope with key players injured? It happens every week in the NFL; a starter is lost for the season and the team finds a way to go on. This week, there are no teams to add to the WalterFootball.com NFL Elimination List. So far, Jacksonville and Oakland have been eliminated from postseason contention and named to our list, although other teams like the Washington are on the verge of elimination. |
Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X. |
While some teams are on the verge of being ruled out of a chance to play in the Super Bowl, Cleveland and Buffalo both had surprising wins this week and have shown some resolve to make comebacks. Far from elimination, both are still in contention.
Last Week in the AFC –
The AFC North is the most competitive division in the conference. Any team in the AFC North could win that title. Cincinnati losing to New England was really big for the Ravens, who lost, and the Steelers, who picked up a game in the standings.
In the AFC East, the Jets are on the verge of being knocked out. Do not rule them out totally yet – they only two games behind the first-place team – so who knows in that division. However, with a loss next week, the Jets’ playoff hopes probably go down the drain.
In the South, the Colts should have a cake walk now in this division. Houston is playing well, but many wonder if the Texans can continue to play at a winning level. Tennessee is another team really banged up, and the injuries will make it difficult to win.
In the West, Oakland is done while Kansas City is becoming a question mark due to inconsistent play. San Diego and Denver are sure-fire playoff teams, and the winner of this division could be the AFC Super Bowl representative. The Chargers and Broncos are clearly playing the best football in the conference right now.
Last Week in the NFC –
Atlanta continues to be an enigma. Which team will show up each week? The good team or the bad team? Meanwhile, Carolina is really beat up, especially quarterback Cam Newton, but the Panthers find ways to win. Must be good coaching. Tampa Bay has not been eliminated, but will not be competitive for the South crown. The Bucs will now play the role of a spoiler that nobody wants to play.
The Saints and the Bears are two NFC teams that have disappointed their fans with their performances this past week. New Orleans is still in the thick of the NFC South race. The Bears are in the basement in the NFC North, but are still in competition for the division. Despite poor play, anyone can win the NFC North or the NFC South.
Green Bay had a big win over Minnesota, but the Packers should blow teams out when they’re playing third-string quarterbacks. Chicago stinking it up really amazes. The Vikings could make noise in the second half of the year with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback. Mike Zimmer and Norv Turner have done an excellent job of coaching.
Same for Coach Bruce Arians in Arizona. He has done a lot even though the Cardinals lack the best talent in a division with the Seahawks and 49ers. You do not have to look any further than the quarterback position where Arizona is at a big disadvantage, yet this team is a serious contender for the division title.
The NFC West is the toughest division as expected in the conference. The Rams have not been eliminated, so any team could win that division. It will be hard to pick against any of those teams, but one will have to emerge as the winner.
The 49ers have played tough while fighting all the distractions of the Jim Harbaugh rumors, the Ray McDonald controversy and the new stadium – there is so much going on there. I think Harbaugh is doing well keeping the team together and alive in the toughest division.
The NFC East is looking like a three-team race. This division is very competitive, and any team can beat another on any given Sunday. Keep in mind that the Redskins almost knocked off the Eagles a few weeks back. Philadelphia does the most with the least amount of talent on defense. Everyone knows the Giants have traditionally been a second-half squad, and that has to be scary for the other teams considering New York usually has a slow start. Odell Beckham complementing Victor Cruz will make the Giants’ pass offense more consistent.
I admit I have a bias for the Cowboys after playing four years ending in Super Bowl X for them, but I don’t think anybody predicted Dallas would be tied at 4-1 with the Eagles for first place after five weeks.
The Cowboys are playing well, and maybe this is the year they win in the NFC East after two 8-8 seasons. Jason Garrett has beaten down the criticism and kept the team focused. Now executing fundamental football with the running game, Dallas is starting to look like the old winning Cowboys that were America’s team. The win over the Texans was a game that Dallas would have lost last year.
LOADING COMMENTS.
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
