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 Player of the Week: Derek Carr, quarterback, Oakland Raiders
Defensive Player of the Week: Elvis Dumervil, outside linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
Coach of the Week: Gregg Williams, defensive coordinator, St. Louis Rams
Goat of the Week: Jim Harbaugh, head coach, San Francisco
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All year and every year, we write that the NFL’s 16-game season is not a sprint, but a marathon, and we are now entering the final phase that suddenly becomes a three-day sprint to the finish line. Only three regular-season games remain before the playoffs – time flies. All teams are on equal footing now with no more bye weeks; now is the time to take off the marathon shoes and go for the sprinter’s cleats to make the “dash for the cash,” a phrase I coined in D.C. circa 1976 with George Allen and the “over the hill gang” when I painted this phrase, along with multiple dollar signs, on my practice sweatpants. At this time of year, the winning teams win because of better coaching staffs coaching up veteran players who know how to win in crunch time. It is very difficult for the young and inexperienced to be successful in the NFL during this time of the year. You might see more blowouts instead of close games in the final weeks as winning teams will play harder as the losing teams begin to check out and think about next season. In theory, Atlanta or New Orleans now sitting at 5-8 could end up playing in the Super Bowl this season. Imagine if the NFL had a committee to pick playoff teams like in college football and the top-four teams in each conference would play in the tournament. The NFC would be easy to pick: Dallas or Philadelphia; Green Bay; Seattle; and Arizona, or maybe Detroit. No one would give any consideration to Atlanta or New Orleans. In the AFC, it would be easier to pick four teams with New England, Denver, Indianapolis and the winner of the AFC North. Are all the teams in the AFC North that good, or just equally mediocre? |
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
Carolina Panthers
St. Louis Rams
Minnesota Vikings
WalterFootball.com NFL Elimination List Trending:
San Francisco 49ers
Baltimore Ravens
Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Now that we have established our WalterFootball.com Elimination List, we will weekly list our top-five NFL teams in each conference.
LAST WEEK
Our Top-Five in the AFC
New England Patriots
Denver Broncos
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Diego Chargers
Our Top-Five in the NFC
Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers
Seattle Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals
THIS WEEK
Our Top-Five in the AFC
New England Patriots
Denver Broncos
Cincinnati Bengals
San Diego Chargers
Indianapolis Colts
Our Top-Five in the NFC
Green Bay Packers
Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions
Dallas Cowboys
Last Week in the AFC –
If Cincinnati loses in Cleveland this week, the Bengals could be done. Cincinnati is trending downward. The Steelers, on the other hand, are trending up, and the Ravens are right behind them with their big victory in Miami. The Browns’ defense gave quite a performance versus the Colts, and Cleveland’s secondary is very talented, but the offense failed; so hello Johnny Football this week.
The Jets fought hard but, predictably, lost again. The Dolphins found every way to lose after jumping out to a lead. Miami is desperate while New England doesn’t need the game to make the playoffs, but the Patriots will probably make a statement in a revenge win over Miami this week. If the Dolphins lose in New England next Sunday, the Fish are pretty much done for the postseason.
Same goes for Houston at Indianapolis. A loss to the Colts will seal the fate of the Texans. The Jaguars gave a lot of fight, but were not good enough to beat Houston. Can Jacksonville beat the Ravens this week? The Texans showed that they can be tough to beat. Although not considered in the top rung of teams in the AFC today, they are not far away. Houston just needs some consistent quarterback play and already has great players in Arian Foster on offense and that Superman J.J. Watt on defense who also contributes to the offense.
The Chargers have a must-win game this week at Denver to ensure they make the playoffs. For all you bettors out there who like to pick teams that are desperate and in must-win games, you have to give strong consideration to games played this week, especially the Chargers’ game since it is must-win for them, and not a must-win for the Broncos.
The Broncos showed that they can win even when Peyton Manning stinks up the joint. The Bills’ secondary is good, but not that good to hold Manning to 14-of-20 for 173 yards. The Broncos at home will always be tough and the defense, well, the Bills scored 14 in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders found a way to win the Bay Area championship. You have to be excited about seeing the Silver and Black get in the win column.
Last Week in the NFC –
The Lions are a team to respect. Other than a new coaching staff led by Jim Caldwell, the team has the same cast of characters as last season, but Caldwell is getting more out of them. If Detroit continues to get a healthy with Calvin Johnson producing 150 yards per game, it will be no surprise that the Lions go deep in the playoffs.
Can Tony Romo’s back hold up?
Atlanta or New Orleans will make the postseason, but neither deserves it. The Saints had never lost four games in a row at home, and the way they lost? My goodness. Shame on Cam Newton for the celebration and rubbing it in, but hey, why not? Carolina has not had much to cheer about this year. Hopefully he is feeling better after his car accident. Will Superman play?
The 49ers are in a must-win game going to Seattle, but with the way the Seahawks are playing, do not have high hopes for a victory for San Francisco. That loss to the Raiders may have sealed the fate for Jim Harbaugh. Arizona stayed alive with a win over the Chiefs, and as we have said all year, nobody wants to play the Rams.
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
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
