The
69ers made waves this offseason by trading away
the reigning Player of the Year Drew Brees the same
day backup Kurt Warner announced his retirement.
So after finishing as the leagues highest scoring
team, setting franchise record in points and wins,
winning the first ever division title in franchise
history and ending the season on an incredible record-breaking
11 straight games of 100+ points the 69ers decided
they needed to make changes? Starting with the leagues
premier player? A risky move indeed but lets remember
that the 69ers ultimate goal is a Prestige Championship,
something Brees could not bring them in his two-year
run since being reacquired from United. Instead
the 69ers will look to 2008 Player of the Year as
well as 2009 Free Agent of the Year Miles Austin
to fill-in for the loss of Brees and his 41 points
per game (it should be noted Cutler and Austin averaged
a combined 44 points last year). Bold moves are
what has defined the 69ers franchise and it could
put them back in the Prestige Championship for the
third time in eight years.
Standing
in their way will be tough competitive within their
own division, as the defending Prestige Champions
Tormenta posses one of the league most explosive
rosters. A move from Philadelphia to D.C. could
be just the change needed for an H roster that has
very little weaknesses outside of some unfortunate
situations and underachieving. The 2008 Prestige
Champions Lightning also posses a wide range of
talent and of course the nine-time Division Champions
(O's) can never be counted out. The American League
has not had a repeat division winner since A II
P in 1998. Last year A II P won the division by
a record 5 games. The offseason NFL changes should
make this a much more competitive division in 2010,
and of course it is the American League that the
69ers traded Drew Brees into. Risky or not, the
69ers were clearly thinking on multiple levels when
they made the blockbuster trade. It will be fun
to how the offfseason moves as well as the upcoming
draft will shape the season for the entire league.
>>
Go here for a Team-by-Team 2010 Pre-Draft Preview
