4 More Shown The Door

As promised, this week I'm cutting 4 teams (to make up for missing a couple along they way). There may be more and more cuts as we go here, as time is closing in on the end of the season. So here is this team's Bottom 10, of which only 6 teams will be safe:

Baltimore Ravens - 50
New York Jets - 44
Chicago Bears - 44
Buffalo Bills - 44
Indianapolis Colts - 43
Kansas City Chiefs - 43
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 40
San Diego Chargers - 38
Houston Texans - 35
Minnesota Vikings - 35

So who is gone?

Houston Texans - One of the tougher calls yet. The Texans seem like a logical pick. Here is a fan looking for his first NFL team, and here is the newest, somewhat up and coming NFL team. While no one would make the mistake of accusing that as a "bandwagon" pick, there's just a little too much unknown. In the hood, we call this a small sample size. Do I want to hang my next 70 years on a team that's only been around for 7? Is that really enough time to develop a team's identity? I just can't pull the trigger here...

Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings have a lot going for them, one of the best young running backs in the NFL, a competitive (but not overly dominant) history, and as a Laker fan I have no qualms with wearing the color purple. Here's my hang-up on the Vikings - they play in one of hte coldest climates in the NFL, but give all that up to play in a Dome? I realize I am from Alabama, so I have no idea about how cold these winters are, but isn't that a huge home field advantage? Then there's the question of will they get a new stadium or will the look to relocate? I'm going to let them work that one out themselves...

Chicago Bears - Chicago fans are passionate, I'll give you that. They're also a touch angry from time to time. Don't get me wrong, they're not Philadelphia, but those Chicago winters have made them a tough crowd to please. I kind of look at Chicago in the same light as I did New York with the Giants. That's a big city with a big personality to attach myself to if I'm not just passionate about the team. Right now, I can't say I've got that fire for the Bears. Don't hate'em, don't love'em. Chicago is a great city to visit, but I need a little more than apathy if I'm going to jump on board with their team.

New York Jets - Sorry Broadway Joe. I think that autographed picture will be the only piece of Jets memorabilia I own for a while. The Jets are a historically tortured fanbase, mostly having their hearts broken over the years and struggling to overcome being the second fiddle in the Big Apple. I have a ton of respect for Jets fans, I really do. They sit out in the cold winters to watch a team that almost always breaks their hearts. Still, I don't know if I want to sign up for a big-time city with a big-time fanbase with a big-time personality if I'm mainly signing up to be heartbroken. I can handle it from time to time, but I need a a little bit to keep me attached. Keep fighting the good fight, Jets fans. I just won't be joining you.