In Depth look - Dropped Passes around the NFL in 2012

By Dave Brown | dave@nflen.com | Tweet #NFLEN

Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin drops a pass...

It's a passing league, I keep hearing that. Well, we could look at that the other way too, and it might be the dropped ball league. Some passes will be thrown away, some will be knocked down, some thrown badly, and some are just flat out dropped.

That's what I want to look at, the dropped passes.

The table on the left is just a basic dropped passes table. Maybe you have seen this around the net before, maybe not. It's a basic indicator of dropped passes, but I think we need to look much deeper to get a clear idea of what dropped passes really mean.

There were 945 passes that were dropped by receivers in the NFL in the 2012 regular season, an average of 29.53 drops per team.

Ranking NFL teams by penalties

By Dave Brown | dave@nflen.com | Tweet #NFLEN



Believe it or not, the St. Louis Rams lead the NFL in penalties in the 2012 regular season, by a wide margin. Maybe if we look back prior to the season and see that the Rams were the youngest team in the NFL, with the youngest offense and the seventh youngest defense, those penalty numbers begin to make more sense. Don't be too worried about these high numbers, Rams fans, at least not yet. As the Rams grow as a team, the penalties should begin to decline.


The Atlanta Falcons had the fewest penalties in the NFL during the 2012 season, and have experience on both sides of the ball. The fundamentals and execution are in place, and the 13-3 record is proof, along with an NFC championship game appearance.

The scourge of the NFL and the new bad boys, those Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders had 10 teams record more penalties than they did for the 2012 regular season. The Lions recorded 147 penalties in 2011 and 123 in 2012, an improvement overlooked by fans caught up in the after school soap opera some players became involved in.

The Raiders recorded a rather high 189 penalties in 2011 and probably had the largest improvement in execution and discipline on the field in 2012. I know it's hard to swallow this, but that is a positive sign for Raiders fans moving forward.

The entire list is below. This information was gathered from NFL Game Statistics Information Systems.

NFL to review Suh kick, red flag challenge rule

By Dave Brown | dave@nflen.com

The NFL regularly reviews game film every week, and hands out fines, suspensions, takes away sacks or tackles, and can also award sacks or tackles, and they will review the Thanksgiving Day incident involving Ndamukong Suh on Monday, a top league executive told USA Today.

Turkey leg?

At about 6:49 in the first quarter, with the Detroit Lions leading seven to nothing, the Texans had a first down on their 21 yard line. Texans offensive lineman Derek Newton is the one responsible for blocking Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on this play. The result is an incomplete pass, but that's not what drew attention in the national media.

Was the Suh kick deliberate? You'll have to watch and decide for yourself. Continue reading to see the video...

Replacement officials working hard

By Dave Brown | dave@nflen.com


The NFL sent out a memo to the replacement officials outlining the problems they had in week one, and what the NFL wanted these officials to work on for the coming weeks.

Surprises in 2012 preseason

By Dave Brown | dave@nflen.com

Through two weeks of the NFL preseason, there have been lots of stories hitting the internet. I have been taking these stories in, and working hard in the background to do something not done before on the internet.

What I have come up with is the listing of weekly team statistics. Sure, that has been done before, but the sites that keep track of these stats overwrite the previous week. By the end of this season, I will have the statistics for all 17 weeks for all 32 teams in total offense, passing offense, rushing offense, total defense, passing defense, and rushing defense.

These stats will also be in sortable tables, also something new here at NFL-EN.

Back in June, I wrote an article on the Detroit Lions defense, and how I thought they could be a pleasant surprise in 2012 for Lions fans. The basis of that article was the Lions defense from 2011, and where they were ranked before injuries hit the secondary.

I rapidly found out that information I needed for this article wasn't there. Where were the Lions ranked in passing defense in week two? Passing yards allowed per game?

Well, that is going to get corrected this season.

While keeping track of the statistics for this preseason, one thing that jumped out at me was the Detroit Lions and the Maurice Jones-Drew story.

Maurice Jones-Drew lead the NFL in rushing last season, and while he has two years remaining on his contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is currently holding out for a bigger contract. He has indicated that he is open to a trade.

Lions fans jumped all over this news.

After an off-season that lead to a two game suspension for Lions running back Mikel Leshoure to start the season, and with Jahvid Best not yet cleared for contact, I can understand where the fans are coming from with their opinions.

This is a Lions team that finished 29th in average yards per carry, 29th in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game, and 31st in rushing attempts in the 2011 regular season.

Free agency review

by Ryan Ebert

Sometimes it can be hard to follow where a player signs with in the offseason, and once they do sign we can forget they signed with another team.  Here is a list of the free agent signings of every team made so far this offseason.  This list is not entirely accurate as players may have been traded or cut or something else, but it is about 99% dependable.

Antwaan Randle El to retire after nine seasons

by Ryan Ebert

Veteran wide receiver Antwaan Randal El decides to retire as his brother said in an email.  He was a quarterback at Indiana University before being drafted in the second round by Pittsburgh and moving to wide receiver.  In his nine years he has racked up 370 receptions  for 4,467 yards and 15 touchdowns.  He averaged 22.3 yards on 79 kick returns with a touchdown and 8.2 yards on 311 punt returns with 5 touchdowns.

Pittsburgh did utilize his passing skills from time to time.  Randle El in his career threw 16-18 for 170 yards and 4 of his 6 touchdowns came with the Steelers.  In the playoffs he completed one of three passes with a 43 yard touchdow strike to Hines Ward in the Steelers Super Bowl XL win over the Seattle Seahawks.  He became the only WR to throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl when that happened.

After that Super Bowl Randle El signed a $31 million contract for 7 years with the Washington Redskins.  Randle-El started 48 of 63 games catching 186 passes for 2,202 yards and 8 of his career 15 touchdowns.

The Redskins released him in 2010, and he returned to the Steelers one more time.  After last year's lockout the team terminated his contract.

On November 4, 2011 he worked out with the Detroit Lions, but did not get signed has been out of football since.

The most prolific rushing teams in the NFL since 2000

By Dave Brown

Pass, pass, pass, it's all we hear about anymore.

I bet the vast majority of football fans could not tell me how many players have rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season since the year 2000. Well, I can answer that for you.

There have been 87 players that have rushed for over 1,000 yards 210 times since the start of the year 2000. 

Running back by committee seems to be a popular concept in the NFL now, and that might detract yards from a running back that would carry the load. Three teams have had two players gain over 1,000 yards on the ground in the same year since the start of 2000, The New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers.

In 2009, the Panthers had DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart both gain over 1,000 yards. In 2008 the Giants had Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs both break the 1,000 yard barrier, and in 2006, the Falcons had Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick do it.

Michael Vick is the only quarterback in the NFL to rush for over 1,000 yards since the start of the 2000 season, and only once, in 2006.


Look for Cam Newton in the future. In his rookie year last season, he ran for 706 yards and 14 TDs on 126 attempts, an average of 5.6 yards per carry. I think the only way Newton doesn't break the 1,000 yard barrier in the future is if the Panthers tell him not to run as much. In 2006, when Vick ran for over 1,000 yards, he only carried the ball 123 times and had a rushing average of 8.4 yards per carry.

On the bottom of the spectrum, there are a few teams that stand out. The Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions have all had players with over 1,000 yards rushing three times since the start of the 2000 season, and each team has had two different players eclipse the 1,000 yard mark.

I didn't have to look hard to see the tie-breaker here, the Detroit Lions are the only team in the NFL without a 1,000 yard rusher since the start of the 2005 season.

All of those are cool facts, but not what this is about.

Burleson calls Randy Moss and Megatron "freaks of nature"

by Ryan Ebert

Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burleson calls not only teammate Calvin Johnson Jr. a freak of nature, but also former teammate Randy Moss a freak of nature too. 

"Very similar," Burleson said. "Calvin might be slightly stronger. Moss might be slightly faster. They can go back and forth on the attributes, physically. They both have a high IQ for the game. Both (have) extremely strong hands. And they're freaks of nature.

"These are guys that could have easily not only played a different position on the football field -- gained 20 pounds and be the best D-end in the game, or best tight end -- but they could also have been premier athletes in other sports," Burleson added. "You talk about a couple of guys who could have played Major League Baseball, obviously basketball was something they could have done."

Burleson in his rookie year was a teammate with Moss back in 2003 when Moss was at his peak at 26 years old and just before his tumultuous years in Oakland. In 2003 Moss racked up with 111 receptions for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns. Calvin Johnson Jr. last season had 96 receptions for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

Could Lions players be facing suspensions from the team?

The Detroit Lions lead the NFL in player arrests this off season, and I break down the latest incident on Aaron Berry and exactly what the Lions can and can't do to send a message. I'll give you all a hint, there could be suspensions coming for Berry and Johnny Culbreath from the team.



The Evidence and the Lions: Aaron Berry arrested, Lions need to send message

Free agency and green grass explained

By Dave Brown

In less than five weeks, training camps will open around the league. Well, that's a ways off yet, and coaches are looking at their 90 man rosters and working towards what they want their final roster to look like.

Teams are going to have more of this or more of that on their rosters right now, it's the nature of the NFL. If you say a team can look at 120 players, you had better bet that in most cases, that team is going to look at 120 different players. Well, 90 players on a roster does seem to be a big enough number for now, and this is that time of year after most of the big name free agents are gone that the fans start to notice the little things, like that receiver the team just picked up, or that defensive end.

NFCN: Four UDFAs to Watch

By Kent Lee Platte

Image Source

Every year during OTAs and minicamps, there are usually one or two Undrafted Free Agents that really stand out on any given team.  Sometimes those players really pan out, for instance Victor Cruz was a huge standout after going undrafted in 2011 though injuries delayed his breakout season.  Sam Shields and Aaron Berry both went undrafted, but went on to start for NFCN teams.  Other times, they look like they'll make a splash only to fizzle out such as Lions standout Ricardo Silva last season.  Today I'll be addressing Undrafted Free Agents in the NFCN that have either stood out in some way or have a great chance to make the roster based on the team's present needs.  Universally these players had dropped in the draft for one reason or another, be it questionable injury history or a poor showing at the Combine, but in the end NFL teams have excellent scouting departments who are able to identify traits in these players that makes them a fit for the team that signs them.  The NFCN is a tough division, boasting multiple playoff teams nearly every year and all four NFCN teams having made an appearance in the past few years.  The players that I name here have a good chance to shine or be swallowed up by one of the NFC's powerhouse divisions.

Featured article - The Evidence and the Lions: A Decade In Review

Featured Article: 

Take a look at the Detroits Lions drafts, all the way back to the year 2000, and see how far they have come, and why the Lions of now are no longer the Lions of old.

Kent breaks down what happened to every player picked, going back over a decade. This one is a can't miss for Lions fans.



The Evidence and the Lions: A Decade In Review: The Drafts

Does Terrell Owens have anything left?

By Dave Brown


Well, one of the writers here at NFL-EN does think Terrell Owens can contribute to an NFL team, and whats more, that writer thinks Owens is the missing piece that means Super Bowl ring.

What team am I talking about?

Tim Tebow continuing to show his Christian faith

by Ryan Ebert

Jets quarterback Tim Tebow hed an Easter service down in Austin, Texas where 15,000 people were listening on his every word. Tebow didn't sermonize as some people expected, but had a twenty minute question-and-answer session with Celebration Church pastor Joe Champion.

Lions trade Stafford to the Colts for #1 pick

By Dave Brown

Detroit Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sources not even remotely close to the league have confirmed that the Detroit Lions have traded starting quarterback Matthew Stafford and three first round draft picks to the Indianapolis Colts for the #1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

Stafford was drafted #1 overall in 2009, and had a rough first two years with the Lions. In 2011, Stafford started all 16 games, leading the Lions to 10 wins and the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. He threw for 5,038 yards with 41 touchdowns and a 97.2 quarterback rating.

Erik Winston Leaving the Texans

By Kent Lee Platte

Image Source: Getty Images

Widely considered to be the best Right Tackle in the NFL, Erik Winston has quietly had a fantastic career on what was one of the best offensive lines in football last season.  At the end of the day, his $5.5 million salary became prohibitive for a team looking to sign some big name Free Agents of their own while also allegedly pursuing Peyton Manning.

NFL releases salary cap, franchise numbers

By Dave Brown

The salary cap for next season has been set at $120.6 million, according to league sources. It's only a small increase over the $120 million figure from last season, and is expected to jump more next season.

From NFL.com:

The values for restricted free agent designations and franchise tenders have also been set. The regular restricted free-agent tender is $1.26 million, while a second-round tender is $1.927 million. The first-round tender amount is $2.742 million.

Franchise tags (in millions):
Quarterback: $14.436
Running back: $7.742
Wide receiver: $9.515
Tight end: $5.446
Offensive line: $9.383
Defensive end: $10.605
Defensive tackle: $7.96
Linebacker: $8.856
Cornerback: $10.281
Safety: $6.212
Kicker/Punter: $2.654


That means Cliff Avril now has a number attached to his non-exclusive franchise tag value, one I was about $.05 million off earlier when I posted preliminary values.

Other reports have the Lions over the salary cap between $4 million and $11 million, depending on where one gets the information. All NFL teams over the salary cap have until Tuesday, March 13th to come into compliance with the cap.

Related articles

• Cliff Avril worth the franchise tag (lions.nflen.com)
• Cliff's Tag Dooms Lions (For a minute) (lions.nflen.com)
• Mike Wallace Doesn't Get Franchise Tag From Steelers (pittsburgh.sbnation.com)

Detroit Lions tag Cliff Avril

Tag, you're it Cliff. That's what the Detroit Lions did today, according to a report from ESPN.com news services. The Lions have been working on a long term contract with Cliff Avril, but were not going to get it done by the franchise tag deadline later today, also meaning that if the Lions did not use the tag, they no longer had the right to exclusive contract negotiations with Avril, starting later today. The deadline is at 4:00 P.M. Eastern time.

I have to believe this tag buys the Lions more time to get a long term deal done with Avril, but it could cost the Lions around $11 million this season. With 30 sacks in just 57 games, the Lions were not about to let Avril hit the open market, because they are in no position for a bidding war with any other teams that have cap room.

This also means Lions fans can expect more moves before the March 13th with the roster, as the Lions must now find a way to comply with the salary cap by that date.

Related articles

• Cliff Avril's Franchise Tag From Lions Is Coming Soon (sbnation.com)
• Lions Free Agency 2012: Detroit Reportedly Working On Deal For Cliff Avril, But May Use Franchise Tag (detroit.sbnation.com)

Detroit Lions use Franchise Tag on DE Cliff Avril

By Kent Lee Platte

The Detroit Lions have used their Franchise Tag on Defensive End Cliff Avril.  This is the first time the Lions have used their Franchise Tag since they used it in 2007 on Cory Redding.

Avril will count for approximately $10.6 Million against the cap in 2012 unless a long term deal can be reached.