Midway through the season, it’s time to see what we’ve learned. I took a look at Ted Thompson, Eric Mangini, Vince Young, Roy Williams (of the Cowboys), Tom Coughlin and, last but not least, Drew Brees, on Saturday’s NFL Total Access on NFL Network. But here’s the bit: I did it Twitter-style, offering my thoughts in 140 characters or less.

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. THERE WILL NOT BE A PLAYERS WALKOUT BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS! Let me repeat: THERE WILL NOT BE A PLAYER WALKOUT BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS. There are rumors being floated around from sources who have no credibility. All they have is access to the Internet. I have talked to high-ranking officials in the NFLPA, and they are infuriated by these erroneous reports.

Catch me on Twitter @jamiedukes

Expectations were high in Tennessee this season, but it’s been an awful year for Jeff Fisher and the Titans. The Titans are mired in an impossible hole.

What has been the problem? Is it because they lost their best player, Albert Haynesworth, in free agency? Is it because QB Kerry Collins is playing his age? Is it because they lost defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz? Or because of injuries?

No, history shows us that when you disrespect the Terrible Towel, bad luck comes your way. Check out my Put Up Your Dukes segment from NFL Total Access, where I explore the illustrious history of the Terrible Towel. It might be a good idea to show the Terrible Towel some love.

While I didn’t expect the Vikings to be undefeated at this point in the season, I did expect Brett Favre to be playing well as long as his arm held up. The reason is as simple as A-B-C. Teams are rightfully locked in to Adrian Peterson in the form of eight-man fronts. Therefore, it is easier for Favre to recognize in his pre-snap surveillance which receiver has man coverage.

Some teams have tried to keep the safety in the middle of the field to mask the coverage, but that’s not working, either. Favre still has a lot of arm strength and that’s why he’s hitting Sidney Rice on the deep slant. Watching the tapes, you will also see Favre manipulate the safety by looking to one side, which causes the safety to drift in the direction of his eyes, and then he throws back to the backside.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter @jamiedukes

All of the juicy soap opera scenarios appear to be coming from one place this season — the NFC East.

In Dallas, Wade Phillips seems to be the fall guy for Tony Romo’s shortcomings. But it’s not his fault. In Washington, Jim Zorn sounds like he’s a beaten man. But his players need to play better. Then there’s Brandon Jacobs in New York, who was kind of right, but really more wrong in his comments this week, on a few different levels. Last but not least, it’s back to the drawing board for Andy Reid in Philly. The Wildcat and Michael Vick didn’t make much of an impact last week. 

Check out the video above from Saturday’s Total Access for my latest.

For some teams the Wildcat is a trend or trinket. Consequently, these teams make a cursory attempt at executing the Wildcat offense. Just like any other aspect of life, if you give a half-hearted attempt it will yield little or no fruit. If you are going to be successful with this or any other offense, it requires execution.

The reason the Wildcat is working so well for the Dolphins is because the players are committed to executing the play. More importantly, the players recognize the Wildcat is a vital part of their offense. I’ve heard recent criticism of Andy Reid and his utilization of Michael Vick, but Reid is in a precarious position. His starting QB is insulted because the team is utilizing “gimmicks.”

If the team looks at these plays as gimmicks, they will execute them like they are gimmicks.  Reid has to be as meticulous and demanding of perfect execution as he is with other plays.  Players are fickle and if Reid puts some players on blast after a poorly executed Wildcat play, the results will be better.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter @jamiedukes

I was one of the loudest critics of Ted Thompson’s decision not to welcome Brett Favre back after the QB decided to unretire. Thompson is right in his assessment that Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback. I just didn’t like the timing, considering they were a missed field goal away from the Super Bowl. But at this point, that’s water under the bridge.

Thompson’s second big mistake was not drafting a young tackle, especially since the Packers didn’t re-sign veteran Mark Tauscher. The offensive line was already suspect after last year’s performance. As much as I like rookie DT B.J. Raji, you have to draft a franchise caliber tackle. And before you say all the good ones were gone by the ninth overall pick, most of the teams in the top 10 were trying to trade out, so the opportunity to move up was there.

I’ve always said when it comes to quarterbacks … they’re like the fine family china. You don’t let everyone eat off the china. You put it in a cabinet to protect it.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter: @jamiedukes

In my latest edition of Put Up Your Dukes, I “talk” with Terrell Owens about the state of the Bills’ offense as well as his relationship with Cowboys QB Tony Romo. I also take T.O. to task for his attitude following the Bills’ loss to the Saints last weekend.

I don’t want to say NFL coaches are lying, but when you listen to what some of them are saying, it’s neither here nor there. On Friday’s NFL Total Access, I broke down some tape to translate for you.

Week 3 was filled with sensational finishes and as each game passes, the words of Patriots QB Tom Brady from a few weeks ago shine through. Brady said — and I’m paraphrasing here — no one is bigger than the game and this game goes on without you. Such is the case for former Giants WR Plaxico Burress, who recently began a two-year prison sentence for a weapons conviction stemming from his self-inflicted gunshot wound last November.

I have been extremely critical of Burress over the years because of the other self-inflicted wounds he continues to sustain. But I must confess, seeing the images of him in front of the judge last week with those bloodshot eyes gave me a genuine sense of grief. As a father, it was tough watching Plax with his son, Elijah.

I know there are many who say that Plax deserves what he gets for being stupid and they might be right. My issue is that I know bad people and Plaxico is going to jail for doing something stupid as opposed to being a real criminal, which by my definition is someone seeking to do harm.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter @jamiedukes

In my latest edition of Put Up Your Dukes, I examine buyer’s and seller’s remorse among NFL teams. Championships in the league are won and lost during the offseason, when key pieces are added and subtracted. It’s time to take a look back at the best and worst moves. Check out the video above.

Every year the NFL has what I like to refer to Jekyll-and-Hyde teams. As an analyst, it is particularly frustrating and for fans it has to be impossible to handle. Here’s a list of the 2009 teams:

• Cincinnati Bengals — The Bengals had finally started making all the right moves coming into this season. The improved defense got more weapons for coordinator Mike Zimmer. The defense has been good (outside of one fluke play to the Broncos) but QB Carson Palmer and the offense laid a big egg versus the Broncos in Week 1. The offense looked good in pulling off arguably the biggest upset of Week 2 by beating the Packers. (Though the Jets might claim that title with a huge win over the Patriots.)

• Houston Texans — QB Matt Schaub and the Texans were pathetic versus the Jets in Week 1 on offense, which is not a reach considering Rex Ryan is one of the premiere defensive minds in the league. There is no way that rookie QB Mark Sanchez should have carved you up with such a pedestrian receiving crew. The Texans go on the road and win a shootout over the Titans and their vaunted defense in Week 2, but the defense remains a concern allowing 31 points and some huge plays to RB Chris Johnson.

• Green Bay Packers — The Pack was the talk of preseason as they literally dismantled all comers. The offense got off to a rocky start but did enough to win versus the Bears in Week 1. Aaron Rodgers and the Pack aerial attack don’t appear to be as sharp, losing to the Bengals. The defense looked great against Bears QB Jay Cutler and RB Matt Forte but allowed but allowed Bengals RB Cedric Benson to rush for 147 yards in Week 2.

It’s early to panic, but I had high expectations for these teams.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter @jamiedukes

I’m always amazed at the ridiculous emphasis placed on “trash talking.”

The media wait with bated breath on every Rex Ryan word, as if the Patriots are going to play harder. It’s silly and in many cases, the media outrage is contrived. As I’ve always said, shame on any player who plays harder because someone talked trash. Fans pay their hard earned dollars, television networks pay billions of dollars to the league and it is a reasonable expectation that players give their all, whether or not another player or coach says something prior to the game.

The truth of the matter is talking a little smack is the norm and some players thrive off yakking.

Case in point, Tom Brady… A few seasons ago, one of the Steelers’ safeties gave some bulletin board material prior to the game against the Patriots. After scoring a TD, Brady got in the kid’s grill. Once again, Tom Terrific has taken the bait by responding to comments made by Ryan, head coach of the Jets. Brady stated, “Talk is cheap”. Na … Na … Na … Na … Na …

From Babe Ruth calling his shot to Deion Sanders calling his shot to return a punt for a TD, trash talking has been a part of the fabric of sports. I direct my ire at the media, who make such comments out to be a violation of some sacred trust of civility. In actuality, trash talking is a time-honored tradition whose sanctity has been violated by players being forced to talk to the media.

What say you?

Catch me on Twitter @jamiedukes

Every week we will highlight the great performances that didn’t make NFL Total Access.  I.E. these are the guys who do the grunt work.

• Richard Seymour, fresh off the plane, put on a show with two sacks Monday night as his team fell short to the San Diego Chargers.

• John Abraham took second-year tackle Jake Long to school as the Falcons’ defense dominated the Miami Dolphins.  Abraham recorded two sacks, including a spectacular bull-rush that will be on the highlights for some time.

• Buccaneers OT Donald Penn shut Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware out for the second consecutive meeting. Ware was my NFL MVP last year and Penn did a great job of keeping him from sacking the statuesque Byron Leftwich.

• Tully Banta-Cain had two sacks as the New England Patriots pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback win over the Buffalo Bills. This was a glass half empty, glass half full selection given the problems on the Bills’ offensive line.

• Jets OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson kept Super Mario Williams in check as New York pulled off the upset win over the Houston Texans.  Ferguson’s performance was the main reason rookie Mark Sanchez had time to do his thing.

• Cowboys OT Flozell Adams still has a little something left in the tank.  He controlled DE Gaines Adams throughout the Cowboys’ domination of the Buccaneers.

Who did I miss?

Catch Me On Twitter @jamiedukes

It’s a concern to me that current NFL players are so big and explosive. It’s an issue, not necessarily with current players, but with retired players. In my latest Put Up Your Dukes segment on NFL Total Access, I shared my story about fighting the battle with obesity.