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 president Bruce Allen and senior vice president/executive producer of media Larry Michael for connecting us to Fugett. Now, let’s let Jean take over.
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Offensive Player of the Week: Mike Evans, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Defensive Player of the Week: Dwight Lowery, safety, San Diego Chargers Coach of the Week: Mike Smith, defensive coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Goat of the Week: Gary Kubiak, head coach, Denver Broncos The games on Thanksgiving were interesting. All three favorites won but still it was interesting. Now, let’s digest what happened: Dallas and Washington showed how they are helping to make the NFL relevant again with that shootout in Dallas. The Steelers were the only team that won on the road over the Colts. Pittsburgh had a big advantage with the Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck being out with a concussion. However, the Steelers also had a big advantage because of the woeful secondary that Indianapolis fields. Any team that does not have a lock down corner will have difficulty stopping the Steelers from scoring points. It seems like a lot of people have forgotten that J.J. Watt is out for the year and the massive loss to the the Texans. Any team that loses their best player is greatly diminished. The fact they have been able to overcome that and win for most of the season and now in first place with only five games remaining speaks to a good coaching job down by Bill O’Brien and his staff. The question is how long can Houston keep their finger in the dike? They are not winning the way they had planned with a controlling defense that creates turnovers, short fields, and easy offensive opportunities. Now, scoring on long drives and winning is something only the best NFL teams do consistently. Elimination List |
Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X. |
AFC North
Who will win between the Steelers and Ravens?
Pittsburgh capitalized on a Luck-less Colts team. Baltimore will have a tough time winning this division over the Steelers. I favor the Steelers because they are the better team with an easier schedule. Pittsburgh plays the NY Giants this week at home; then the Bills and the Bengals before closing out the season at home against the Ravens and the Browns. The Ravens have the Dolphins at home this week, then go to New England, face the Eagles at home, then close out the seasons at the Steelers and at the Bengals, Ouch!
The Baltimore-Cincinnati game last Sunday was one of the worst games seen this year in a tear of really bad games. This game ended with an officiating atrocity that ridiculed both the league and the rules.
At the end of the game, the Ravens were leading by seven, in punting formation with 13 seconds on the clock. At the snap, the Ravens’ punt team held every player on the Bengals’ punt-rush team for seven seconds while the punter ran around until the clock finally expired, ending the game.
All you need to know is that in the NFL a game can end on an offensive penalty – but not on a defensive penalty. So, to see the farce, watch the two officials looking at each other wondering who should throw a flag. When you take that into account the officiating a week ago in Mexico City where the Texans were robbed by a blown out-of-bounds call. Call it the breaks of the game.
With the Bengals loss, we added Cincinnati to our Elimination List. Too many things went wrong for the Bengals this year. The Browns will not go winless, and now with a bye, they have two weeks to prepare for their next opponent, but I can’t tell you who Cleveland will beat to avoid 0-16. Perhaps RG3 coming back will give the Browns a jolt. I hope they give Hue Jackson another year because he inherited a terrible team and deserves at least one more year. After the bye, the Browns have the Bengals at home, go to the Bills, the see the Chargers at home before finishing the season at the Steelers. Good Luck, Cleveland, it has been your year in sports!
AFC South
Who are the favorites in a three-team race?
I cannot count the Titans out despite the youth on their roster. They had an easy schedule with a road trip to Chicago last Sunday. They now have a bye to get healthy before the final four games. The Texans have to play at Green Bay next week, and they could easily be 6-6 while flying back to Houston. The Colts could beat the Jets on Monday night, and then we would have three 6-6 teams in the AFC South.
AFC East
Are the Patriots declining?
New England is starting to look worn down, and you could see that with how close a game it was against the Jets. The Patriots are not the favorites they were earlier, but they did hold on to beat the hapless Jets. The Patriots get a break this week with Jared Goff and the Rams coming to New England. The Dolphins were pressed by San Francisco at home, but they wanted that win and they got it. The Bills had to come back, but they got a win they had to have over the Jaguars. How long will the Jets let Ryan Fitzpatrick take snaps? It should be time to give some experience to one of their young quarterbacks.
AFC West
Three teams are holding pace, but Oakland has the lead.
In one of the oldest AFL rivalries, we thought Kansas City could beat the Broncos in Denver, but we didn’t think one coach would give the game away by trying a 62-yard field goal that had no chance of being made. That gave Kansas City the ball inside the Denver 50, in overtime, where only a field goal would win it.
That is what happened, but who knew the winning field goal would then bounce off the left upright for even more drama. That was a crazy win, and now some are saying that Kansas City has a chance to be a Super Bowl team. We said that at the very beginning of the season.
Oakland took another step although was really pressed by Carolina. Hope Derek Carr’s finger is okay. San Diego showed the strength of the division by going on the road and beating a division leader.
NFC East
Three could teams remain in control.
Barring a huge unimaginable collapse, I would say so. Dallas shouldn’t start the parade yet because the Giants can still catch the Cowboys. If the Cowboys win two more games, they are a lock for the playoffs, while the Giants would have to pretty much win out to leap the Cowboys. Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has passing records without winning games, but that is the new-age NFL for you.
All we can say about Dallas, is what Jerry Jones said, “it’s a miracle named Dak Prescott.” But the Cowboys’ rushing attack led by a great offensive line and Ezekiel Elliot proves that running the ball leads to winning games. The Redskins remain a leader for a wild-card spot. The Giants have a defense that will keep them in games. I think the Eagles will not get into the playoffs, but are an improving team with Carson Wentz.
NFC North
Are the Vikings on the edge of being eliminated?
Yes, they are now out. Detroit may have eliminated Minnesota in the midst of an injured, dysfunctional season. The Lions grabbed a hold of the division with their narrow win on Thanksgiving. The Bears put up some yards and points, but ultimately lost to the Titans, and now Jay Cutler is reported out again. Good luck, Matt Barkley. The Packers have to basically win out.
NFC South
Are the Buccaneers for real?
Having beaten the Chiefs and Seahawks in back-to-back games, you would have to say, “Yes.” It was shocking the way the Bucs beat Seattle last week. The Seahawks were clearly a team that was out of gas. Was it the 5-hour flight from Seattle? Notice the growth of Jameis Winston and Mike Evans? Tampa Bay is well-coached and flys under the radar in a non-media market in a non-media capital in a non-media division in the NFL, so take notice, Tampa Bay is impressive.
The Saints can still win this division, so they are not on our elimination list, but their wild-card chances are nil considering the strength of the NFC East teams and two teams ahead of the Saints in the NFC South. The Panthers managed to be competitive by putting up 32 points and had a chance to win in Oakland. They have fought hard despite being essentially eliminated weeks ago. Interesting.
NFC West
Seattle had a let down?
The Seahawks are still not where they need to be, but this is the only team going to the playoffs from this division. The Seahawks were ready for a dip because they are comfortable in their lead in the division. Arizona losing in Atlanta put the Cardinals on our elimination list.
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