Redskins GM Bruce Allen calls the NFC East the 'SEC of the NFL'

The NFC East has probably been the most competitive division in the NFL since the mid 1980's. There might have been a few to come close but none that come to mind immediately. Bill Parcells, Joe Gibbs, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Andy Reid and Buddy Ryan had a lot to do with that run of excellence.  

Maybe that's why Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen  called the division the 'SEC of the NFL. During a recent interview with Chris Russell and Rich Campbell on ESPN 980, Allen explained why the NFC East has always been the top division in the league.

“There’s so many changes in the playoff teams each year — I think half of them change each year anyway,” the GM noted. “And in our division, you know, we’re in the SEC of the NFL. This is the big leagues. I think when the Giants last won the Super Bowl, they won it with a 9-7 record. So we have to keep competing in our division, and that’s what our focus is.

“And if we can hold our ground in the division, we’re going to be ok, because they are elite teams in our division,” Allen continue. “That’s where our focus has to remain. We were successful [last year] — 5-1 in the division — and that leads to good things. I think once again the young talent that we have on the team, they tasted success. As long as they’re not spoiled by that little bit of success, then it bodes well for our future.”

Sounds like SEC-speak to me. But Allen's words do ring true. You win the division, you get in the playoffs. From that point on anything can happen. Save for Donovan McNabb's meltdowns in NFC title games and the Dallas Cowboys not being able to win a playoff game in forever, the division has done well for itself in the playoffs.

Despite pasting New England, the Lions shouldn't be too high on themselves

The Detroit Lions beat the New England Patriots handily, 40-9, in both teams' third preseason game.

The third preseason game is usually a good indicator of how a team will play in the regular season. Even though the Lions beat down the Patriots, I'm not buying it. I think it was possibly the worse thing that could happen. It's always good to get that winning mindset but I think Lions players might get a little full of themselves.

True the defense played with a lot of fire and the defensive line showed that if everything is clicking they are a force to reckoned with. But as always the old bugaboo came back to haunt the Lions. Personal fouls. And coach Jim Schwarz has seen enough. After the first two against Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley, Schwartz benched defensive end Willie Young for the rest of the game for taunting Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and drawing a flag in the process.

Defensive end Jason Jones was impressive with two sacks and three tackles for loss. Jones said the defensive line was trying to send a message and their mission was accomplished.

"Everyone's eye was on the Patriots, not us," he said. "But it's cool. We did our thing.

"Watching the game, people can see what kind of talent we have on the defensive line. And man, we're not even playing with (safety Louis) Delmas right now. He's going to add another dimension to our team."

While the offense has struggled somewhat in the preseason it's good to see the defense have a game like last night. But instead of using words like mission accomplished, they should just realize that when it all comes together they can be good, because their mission is far from accomplished. If the Lions players think so, they're in for a rude awakening. Just check out last season. I think the players felt that since they made the playoffs in 2011 that they arrived.

I have a feeling that they're starting to think too highly of themselves after a preseason win.  

Coaches that could be in trouble this season

The college football season is fast approaching. While some teams are in clear rebuilding mode, some teams are forever rebuilding. Or there are some that have plateaued or underachieved. That normally lands a coach in hot water. I have an opinion on who might be in trouble this year if their team can't catch a lucky break.

Mike London, Virginia- London came to Charlottesville with some impressive credentials after two years at Richmond. He had a 4-8 season his first year but orchestrated an 8-5 turnaround in his second season and won ACC coach of the year, which inflated fans and administrators' expectations. After taking a step back with another 4-8 season the heat is on London's Cavaliers squad to at least make a bowl game. If not London could find himself looking for another job.

Ron English, Eastern Michigan- It doesn't help when you inherit a hopeless situation. It also doesn't help when Sports Illustrated names you as one of the five worst coaches in college football. Two years ago it looked like the Eagles were poised to turn the corner after posting a 6-6 record. After last year's 2-10 record it looks like it was more of a fluke than legit. With Northern Illinois going to a BCS bowl last year, Eastern Michigan needs some dramatic improvement for English to keep his job. That's a steep hill to climb.

Lane Kiffin, USC- This is an obvious choice and everyone knows why. After being hailed as a national championship contender last season and thought of as the team to end the SEC's championship dominance the Trojans failed miserably, finishing at 7-6. Kiffin is more bluster than sideline genius, but he did get a vote of confidence from athletic director Pat Haden. Doesn't make Kiffin secure but the Trojans better be in the Rose Bowl conversation in November and December.    

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa- Even though Ferentz has been at Iowa for 14 years, this is a what have you done for me lately business. Ferentz has twice dragged the Hawkeyes out of mediocrity and into national prominence. He's also been named Big Ten coach of the year three times.  If the Hawkeyes lose to another MAC team or two, and if they finish below .500 in conference play in what appears to be a less-than-stellar Big Ten, it might finally make fiscal sense to get Ferentz out of town. The Hawkeyes were 4-8 last season and finished with six straight losses to end the season.

June Jones, SMU- This might be a little unfair since the Mustangs still haven't fully recovered from the 'death penalty' levied by the NCAA. After his success at Hawaii I'm pretty sure the administrators at SMU were looking forward to seven win seasons and mediocrity. They want to be a BCS buster/playoff contender. I think Jones is secure at SMU but you never know.

Gary Pinkel, Missouri- This also might be unfair since Pinkel will now be judged on what he does in the SEC than for his full body of work. He made the Tigers nationally relevant and achieved a No.1 ranking at one point in 2007 when they finished at No.4. The Tigers suffered some injuries to their main playmakers last season derailed their potent offense but were just a few plays from being bowl eligible. If things don't turn around soon, he might be out as head coach of Missouri. However, no one should ever doubt the amazing job he has done at Missouri.   

Robert Griffin III fined $10,000 for wearing 'Operation Patience' t-shirt

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has ran afoul of the NFL's apparel police once again.

Griffin was fined $10,000 by the NFL for wearing unauthorized apparel during warmups prior to their Monday night preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Players are prohibited from wearing unauthorized apparel during the period on game days when they are visible to the stadium and television audiences, including pregame warmups.

Griffin III was wearing an 'Operation Patience' t-shirt made by Adidas. Nike is the league's official apparel maker which makes wearing Adidas apparel a no-no. This is the second time Griffin III has been fined $10,000 by the league for wearing Adidas apparel.

Even though it seems petty for the NFL to fine Griffin III that much for wearing Adidas gear, they can't have one of the league's young marquee players pimping other apparel other than what the league sponsors.

I also understand that Adidas sponsors Griffin III so they need him to market their apparel whenever possible.

L.J. Rose is granted a waiver to play immediately at Houston

University of Houston sophomore guard L.J. Rose will be eligible to compete for the Cougars during the 2013-14 season after the NCAA recently granted his waiver request.

Rose will have three years of eligibility remaining with the start of the 2013-14 season. He and his Houston teammates return to classes for the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 26.

“We are extremely grateful that the NCAA has granted L.J.’s request. Family is so important, and this gives everyone in L.J.’s family the best opportunity to watch him play,” head coach James Dickey said. “We look forward to the start of the 2013-14 season with L.J. as a member of our program.”

Four members of the 2013-14 Houston Men’s Basketball team were ranked among the nation’s top 100 prospects by ESPN. Sophomore guard Danuel House was ranked No. 15 in 2012, while redshirt freshman guard Danrad Knowles was listed at No. 56 in 2012. Rose came in at No. 63 in 2012, and junior forward TaShawn Thomas stood at No. 92 in 2011.

Rose, who was one of the nation’s top prep players out of Westbury Christian, competed at Baylor during the 2012-13 season. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard played in 33 games for a team that won the NIT championship. He posted career highs with 14 points, 12 assists, three rebounds and two steals in a win against Hardin-Simmons in mid-January and dished out five assists in 16 minutes at Big 12 rival Iowa State in early February.

Rose, who is a Houston native, was ranked among the nation’s top-75 players by Scout.com, ESPN, MaxPreps.com and Rivals.com. As a senior in 2011-12, he led the Wildcats to the TAPPS 4A state championship game, scoring 17 points on the way to All-Tournament honors.

Before attending Westbury Christian, Rose competed for his first three high school seasons at Second Baptist School. There, he earned All-District 4 and Class 4A All-State honors as a freshman and again as a sophomore.

He also owns international experience on his resume. Rose was a member of the U16 National Team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina.

The Rose family is no stranger to the Houston program. His father, Lynden, lettered for the Cougars’ Phi Slama Jama teams from 1980 to 1982 and was a sixth-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982. His father also served on the UH Board of Regents from 2004 to 2009, while his uncle, Cecile Rose, scored more than 1,200 points in 114 games from 1974 to 1978.

This team has the potential to be good, but if leading scorer Joseph Young hadn't transferred to Oregon, the Cougars might've been a dangerous team to play in the new American Athletic Conference.    

Saints cut former No. 2 pick, Jason Smith

The New Orleans Saints released offensive tackle Jason Smith on Wednesday, coach Sean Payton announced.

That means the second pick in the 2009 NFL Draft is currently on the market. Smith was drafted by the St. Louis Rams after Matthew Stafford.

Smith came to the Saints after spending last season with the New York Jets as a backup and blocking tight end. He was brought in by the Saints to compete with for the starting left tackle job. Instead the Saints opted to go with Charles Brown and Terron Armstead.

There is a possibility that Smith will be picked up somewhere down the line, but you have to wonder why three teams have given up on him so quickly.

"It Girl" of the week: Kimmi Kennedy

The "It Girl" of the week is Kimmi Kennedy