Jeremy Hayes
Journal Staff

The 2011 NFL season was expected to have surprises after the end of the NFL lockout, but so far this year, the whole NFL seems like nothing we expected. There are surprises around every corner of the league.
The saying “it’s anyone’s game,” was really infused in the brains of the Bills and Lions. Detroit is 5-2 and Buffalo is 4-2, two teams that are usually ranked at the bottom of their divisions are having some of their best starts. Ndamukong Suh, Matthew Stafford, and Calvin Johnson are trying to begin a new era in Detroit, with a team defense that is fifth in the NFC in giving up the least amount of points, estimated 17 per game. Buffalo has NFL rushing leader Fred Jackson in the backfield and are in third for total offensive points per game.
Michael Vick is not an elite quarterback in the NFL. The 2-4 self-proclaimed “dream team” had all talk and no action in the opening weeks of the season and the always beaten-up Vick is part of the blame. The thing that makes you an elite quarterback is being a winner throughout your career, not an all-pro season, and Vick cannot be put with the true elites,  like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers. Vick is a great quarterback, don’t get me wrong, but his speedy legs are not going to win championships.
The Pack is back! The Green Bay Packers look even better than they did last year, with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. The 7-0 Packers look like they have their eyes on a repeat being the only undefeated team left in the league. This high rated passing offense and tremendous rush defensive team will have to hold their spot against the Bears and Lions twice (They beat Chicago once already). Don’t be surprised to see Green Bay going for two in a row.
Many people say the best wide receiver in the NFL is Andre Johnson or Calvin Johnson, but I think it is Wes Welker. The man has it all, as the leader in receptions and yards with an average of 148 yards a game. He is right now the best wide receiver in the league and if he can play like this for the rest of the year, he may be bound for the Hall of Fame. Yeah, I said it. Welker is the best route runner, slot receiver, and a man you just can’t cover. We have all learned from the past, and now, we know that our two MVP’s on offense are Brady and Welker.
Say goodbye to thrilling kick returns every week. Counting from Sunday, there have been only four kickoff returns for touchdowns. That means less than one per week, and this is because of the rule change of moving the ball spot up ten yards. The reason the rule change was made was to prevent injuries, which it is in fact working. There have not been any severe injuries so far this year on kick returns, so that means to sacrifice amazing “Devin Hester style” of plays, we get to see our teams stay healthy and safe.