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 Player of the Week: Mike Evans, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Defensive Player of the Week: Joe Haden, cornerback, Cleveland Browns
Coach of the Week: Jeff Fisher, head coach, St. Louis Rams
Goat of the Week: Jay Gruden, head coach, Washington D.C.
Looking at some games this week, we have some good ones with Cincinnati going to Houston. Houston, trying to keep pace with the Colts, while Cincinnati tries to stay on top of the Steelers and the Ravens. The Bengals are the better team, but can they win again on the road as they did last week against New Orleans? Also can Andy Dalton finally get the past the Texans? They’ve bounced him around in the past, and that was before Jadeveon Clowney came to town. Clowney could have a breakout game at Dalton’s expense.
What will happen when an indoor team like Detroit goes to New England? Detroit is trying to prove something, while Gronk and New England are in that new gear; this will be one to watch. Could it be a Super Bowl preview? I don’t know, but both teams are in my top five in their conferences. |
Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X. |
WalterFootball.com NFL Elimination List: by Jean Fugett and Charlie Campbell
Oakland Raiders
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New York Jets
Washington Redskins
New York Giants
Tennessee Titans
Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings
WalterFootball.com NFL Elimination List Trending:
Carolina Panthers 3-7-1
Now that we have established our WalterFootball.com Elimination List, we will weekly list our top-five NFL teams in each conference.
Our Top-Five in the AFC
New England
Cincinnati
Kansas City
Denver
Indianapolis
Our Top-Five in the NFC
Arizona
Detroit
Philadlephia
Green Bay
Dallas
Last Week in the AFC –
In the AFC North, we now have Cincinnati on top. Pittsburgh, in second place, has seven wins and enjoys a half-game lead over Baltimore with Cleveland going from the top to the bottom in one week!
Baltimore had the week off and needed a break. The winner of his division could end up in the AFC Championship game against New England, and that team could be Cleveland. The Pats are a team going into another gear the way they played in last week’s victory over the Colts.
The AFC West is where the challenge was supposed to come from, but did not materialize as New England blew the Broncos out two weeks ago, sending Denver into a spiral. This division will be wonderful to watch as the season continues. Just look at the standings in that division. How many teams will come out of his division into the playoffs remains to be seen. Three of the four contend and can win with only six games to play. Can Miami surprise in Denver the way the Broncos have been playing?
In the AFC South, Houston is only one game back with the Colts playing well. The teams will play on Dec. 14 at Indy. That game could eliminate the loser from playoff contention. Jacksonville at Indianapolis is always a dangerous game for the Colts, so take Jacksonville and the points.
The Jets and Buffalo would not be one to watch, but it will be interesting now that the game will be played on a neutral site in Detroit. How will the Bills respond?
New England reigns supreme in the AFC East and would have to be considered the team to beat for all the marbles in the AFC. Looking at the rest of the AFC, we are reminded it is a long season, we said earlier that it was a marathon and not a sprint, so the teams that are overcoming injuries such as Kansas City, or teams staying healthy, will be the teams to watch for a run in January.
Last Week in the NFC –
While in the pitiful NFC South, Atlanta and New Orleans are battling both at 4-6 with Carolina clinging to life and Tampa Bay once assumed to be eliminated. Who can believe that Atlanta is trying to stay competitive and claim the division lead in the NFC South? They were just in danger of being added to our elimination list, and now they’re in first place. That tells you right there this is another very interesting division race with a .500 or losing record team still alive.
St. Louis going to San Diego; again a game the Chargers really need, but certainly don’t want to play St. Louis. The Rams have beaten both Super Bowl teams from last year, and they play so well in games like this, who knows; they could well be in this race to the end.
In the NFC East standings, Philadelphia and Dallas are tied. Which team is the best? You have to favor Dallas because, clearly, Dallas has the best quarterback in Tony Romo, which makes a big difference. Although Sanchez could surprise, no one is ready to believe it. The Giants, already eliminated, should be looking for a new coach.
Two races to watch: the NFC North, with Detroit and Green Bay tied in that race, and the NFC West. Let’s give it to Arizona; San Francisco and Seattle are for fighting for a wild-card position. Hope your favorite teams win.
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
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4