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: Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens and Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Defensive Player of the Week: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans (Again!)
Coach of the Week: Jason Garrett, head coach Dallas Cowboys (Again!)
Goat of the Week: Mike Tomlin, head coach Pittsburgh Steelers
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WalterFootball.com NFL Elimination List:
by Jean Fugett and Charlie Campbell Oakland Raiders Jacksonville Jaguars Tampa Bay Buccaneers New York Jets Washington Redskins In the NFL, once your team is eliminated from the playoffs, the season is over and all that is left is to play spoiler, try to stay healthy and play for yourself. You play for your stats, your next contract and, in many cases, you play for your next head coach. In the NFL, guaranteed contracts are rare for the average player so individual play is the key to get a good new contract. Teams do not pay players for team success; a good team record does not guarantee a player a raise in pay next season. |
Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X. |
Once eliminated, some teams may play for pride, but, really most teams tend to pack it in and play to avoid injuries. Fortunately, I never played on such a football team during my time in the NFL, but we always looked forward to playing eliminated teams. There are bad teams each season. Now, the Jets could be headed to disaster. They are now finished for the season for intents and purposes, and there will be pressure in New York to have Rex Ryan fired before the end of the year. Other eliminated coaches appear safe for now.
WalterFootball.com NFL Elimination List Trending:
Minnesota Vikings
St. Louis Rams
Last Week in the AFC –
The AFC North: We knew this division would be competitive to the very end. Cincinnati gets a tie; nobody likes a tie, and now the Bengals could lose the division by half a game. Baltimore destroyed Tampa Bay; the same Tampa Bay that beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh, a team that was destroyed last week by the Browns. Yikes!
Some think Mike Tomlin needs to be concerned about his job and believe the Steelers are going to have to blow the whole thing up and start over before long. Pittsburgh does not have a young roster. On the other hand, the Ravens and Bengals both have more young established players. Protecting Roethlisberger remains an issue, when was the last time the Steelers had a good offensive line? Pittsburgh will have high draft slot and must pick wisely to turn this thing around.
The AFC West is in a two-team shootout with San Diego and Denver, while the Chiefs cling to life in the division, hoping to play spoiler. Watching Oakland versus the Chargers last week, I was reminded of John Hadl a Charger quarterback during the 60s who averaged over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns per (14-game) season for four years versus Daryle Lamonica. You have to be over 50 to know what I am talking about.
In the AFC East, the New England Patriots are beginning to look like the team we thought they were. Buffalo will continue to be competitive with its defense. Miami played competitively, but remains a question mark week to week. The Jets need leadership from the quarterback position.
In the AFC South, there appears to be a three-team race with Tennessee clinging to hope only two games out. Houston is a game out and continues to improve. But can either team beat the Colts this season? If not, Indianapolis has an easy path to the AFC South championship.
Last Week in the NFC –
In the NFC East, all that needs to be said is for those who put on a shirt with a big star on it this morning, it probably felt good. Congratulations to DeMarco Murray on becoming only the second player in NFL history to open the season with six consecutive 100-yard games, tying the great Jim Brown. The New York football Giants could be eliminated before long as the Eagles and Cowboys appear to be pulling away in the NFC East.
It already has been a rough season in our nation’s capital. As the Washington Post headlined this week: The Redskins have lost 13 times in their last 14 games. Not a good situation producing more pressure on the team and the rookie head coach.
Minnesota needs a win versus Buffalo this week to keep pace with the Lions, Packers and Bears. The Vikings played poorly last week. Chicago played like a team on the brink; a lost would have had the Bears trending toward the elimination list. Now, with a road victory in Atlanta, Chicago is only a game out of first place. Green Bay snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the last minute to stay in the driver’s seat. Detroit remains a question mark, but continues to win and surprise.
Except for Tampa Bay, the NFC South is still wide open. Atlanta is still in it at 2-4 – only two games out. The key games as usual will be the division matchups, and the team with the best division record will probably be the one that comes out on top. However, it will be something if Carolina’s tie ends up being the difference for the Panthers in making or missing out on the playoffs? In this division, that scenario is very possible.
How about the NFC West; Who had the Arizona Cardinals in first place? Both San Francisco and Seattle, despite the loss to Dallas, remain strong Super Bowl contenders.
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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
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
