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Pro
Football Weekly, TSN Publish Top NFL Previews
By
Randy Williams
New York (AQB)--There are a lot of publications that claim to know
football but only one, Pro
Football Weekly's Preview '99, covers the game well in every
facet.
From team previews to 1998 statistics to rating the NFL's top 300
players, PFW is a notch above the competition. Yes, the publication
hits the stands well before training camp is a gleam in the crustiest
coach's eye, but the information inside is quite unique.
One of the best reasons to plunk down $5.99 for this annual is
talent guru Joel Buchsbaum's analyses of the league's top 63
offensive linemen, 60 defensive linemen, 46 defensive backs, 40
linebackers, 38 wideouts, 35 quarterbacks, 29 running backs, 18
tight ends and 13 kickers and punters.
Buchsbaum is honest in his analysis but quite fair. Take this
evaluation of Seattle's Ricky Watters, who is rated the 13th-best
tailback:
"Everyone criticizes Watters, calls him selfish and can't wait
to get rid of him and now he has lost a step to age. But how many
clubs have fallen off and how many have risen after he left them?
What people don't realize is that, despite his huge ego and knack
for saying the wrong thing, Watters is a warrior who runs with great
determination and heart and is a superb pass catcher. Granted,
he fumbles too much, but 90 percent of his fumbles come when he
is fighting for extra yards." A pretty even-handed assessment.
Fans will also enjoy the team previews, though free agent arrivals
and departures for the past several months aren't accounted for.
Each team's sections includes a 1999 prediction; position-by-position
breakdowns and grades; projected depth charts; and complete 1998
game-by-game statistics.
While PFW's preview is the perfect companion for any Sunday, one
aspect of the publication disappoints me.
In flipping through the 232-page magazine, I found nearly 40
gambling ads with such stomach-churning words as "...the
most respected name in British bookmaking," "World Champion
handicapper Jim Feist, backed by his staff of research experts,
shows you how to pound those preseason lines - and win," and
"The most trusted name in the sports wagering industry."
If I had a young son, would I want him to see that trash? I doubt
it.
Don't get me wrong - I have a lot of respect for the editorial abilities
of editor-in-chief Ron Pollack & Co., who do a fantastic job.
I just wish I could say the same for the advertising department.
A close second and free of gambling ads is The
Sporting News Pro Football, also priced at $5.99.
Like last season,
TSN does its best work with team previews, providing visual depth
charts, unit grades and a look at each team's past five first-round
draft picks.
A couple of interesting bonuses are the "Best in the Business"
player rankings and Dan Pompei's NFL predictions. Yes, Minnesota
is expected to beat Miami in the Super Bowl but you'll have to read
to find Pompei's picks for the coach on the hottest seat, the best
cover linebacker and the best free-agent acquisition.
Next up is Lindy's 1999 Pro Football which includes comments
on each and every player on each team's roster. The preview is well
done and includes a fine Vic Carucci piece on children who inherit
football teams from their parents but can we please, please,
eliminate the cheerleader photos?
There's nothing wrong with a good-looking woman. In fact, I'm married
to one but is it asking too much to keep our sports and our ladies
separate? I guess it is.
In fourth place is Preview Sports Pro Football 99, which
features the smallest type face imaginable. The team previews are
good and the fantasy data is quite informative but it takes a little
too much effort to read print that small. And, as it did last year,
the publication includes the obligatory cheerleader photos. Help!
One note: the projected 1999 lineup's for many teams are off the
mark. Why is Rod Milstead listed as the starting right guard for
the Redskins? What about Tre Johnson, the team's best lineman? In
Tennessee's team preview, below a photo caption reading tight end
Frank Wycheck, the team's starting halfback is listed as...Wycheck.
Guess Eddie George, listed as a running back, ceded his job to ol'
lumbering Frank.
Not to be outdone, Athlon Sports Pro Football also includes
a pictorial of NFL cheerleaders, though the football information
is substantive. Visually, the Athlon preview is the most pleasing,
with large type and position-by-position looks at all 31 teams.
Also included is a look at a century of pro football, with
65 players and eight coaches included on the all-time team. Athlon's
has the best features of any of the previews with a story on the
NFL combine, a look at today's "push-button" quarterbacks
and a column from Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating. Joe
must've taken that title from me when I was asleep.
Bringing up the rear are Street & Smith's Pro Football and
Ultimate Sports Pro
Football 1999. S&S tries hard but delivers team previews
which tell us next to nothing while Ultimate Sports doesn't even
attempt to break down each team.
Ultimate's
preview relies upon anonymous quotes from NFL scouts, who deliver
quotes on each and every key player. One scout's assessment of recent
Vikes' draftee Dimitrius Underwood, who has elected not to play
in the NFL, "...If you give him $1 million, you may never see
him after he cashes his check."
Pretty interesting but the average fan wants to know how his team
is expected to fare, not what is on the mind of NFL scouts. Don't
get me wrong, the quotes are a great feature but it makes no sense
to ignore what fans want to read.
Fortunately, Pro Football
Weekly and The
Sporting News don't.
Consensus
Preview Magazine Picks
AFC East Champion: Miami/NY Jets
AFC Central Champion: Jacksonville
AFC West Champion: Denver
NFC East Champion: Dallas
NFC Central Champion: Minnesota
NFC West Champion: Atlanta
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