Peter Schrager should lay off the sauce...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6897650

Ravens fans, read these preseason power rankings and tell me that doesn't make your blood boil. Schrager listed the Ravens 7th behind the Seahawks, Saints, and Broncos. What a slap in the face to a team that went 13-3 last season. Is he high? Hey Pete, I didn't know you and Ricky Williams liked to hang out so much!

This is just shocking because I like Schrager, I just think he was way off the mark here.

The Colts were listed as #1. No argument there. They are the defending champs.

The Patriots came in at #2 on the list. Again, no argument. They picked up Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss, and Donte Stallworth among others...and of course, they still have Tom Brady...this team has a legitimate shot at going undefeated this year. I think the Pats tried to put together a team like this so Belichick can make a final charge to the Super Bowl before he hangs it up (at least for a few years). They succeeded.

The Chargers were listed at #3. Can't argue with that one, either. They have the best player in football in LaDanian Tomlinson and a young, fast, ball-hawking defense. As long as Merriman lays off the juice, these guys have a shot at repeating as the #1 seed in the AFC.

By the way, doesn't that speak to how dominant the AFC really is when you have teams of that caliber playing in this conference?

But the Ravens belong at the #4 spot, hands down. Yeah we lost AD, but the combo of Jarret Johnson and Bart Scott are going to fill in pretty well. Johnson is a better run-stuffer than AD was, and Bart Scott will fill the void in the pass coverage. We will lose a little bit in the pass rush, but with Terrell Suggs, Scott, and if Trevor Pryce has another Pro Bowl caliber season, then what do we really have to worry about? Oh yeah...we still have Ed Reed.

He makes the case that losing Jamal Lewis will hurt this team in some way. Did you ACTUALLY watch any of the games last year? A lot of experts don't like the McGahee acquisition...I've made this case before, but it's worth repeating. He's not the bowling ball type running back who is going to run people over like Jamal USED to do, but he is more explosive, can get to the edge faster, has better hands, and has the ability to break off a 50 or 60 yard run. Also, unlike Jamal, when he gets to the second level he has the ability to make defensive backs miss tackles. McGahee is exactly what we need, and he's young. If that knee holds up, he could be here for awhile.

I'm not even going to point out the obvious in how ludicrous it is to list the Seattle Seahawks, a team that went 9-7 in the lowly NFC West last season, above the Ravens...a pop warner team could win that division! Not to mention what have they done to make the team better this year in the offseason besides sign Patrick Kerney? They didn't even have a first round draft pick!

The Saints? No way...in case you missed it last year, Petey, we beat the Saints pretty soundly in their own house. With all the emotion swirling around the Superdome, I think that speaks volumes about who is the better team. They have done nothing to suggest that they have made the team better in free agency and their draft was par at best.

The one that cracks me up the most is the Broncos. According to Schrager, the addition of Sam Adams will add to an already revamped d-line. Adams' best days were left here in Baltimore. That's why he's been floating from team to team since the 2000 season. That's laughable, but I'm not finished. This is the kicker. He calls Jay Cutler an MVP candidate. When I read that, I laughed so hard I started to cry. How much did Jay pay you to write that? Are you two dating? How could you possibly make the case for league MVP when guys like Manning (the older one), Brady, Tomlinson, and Palmer still in their prime? Unbelievable...

Granted, Travis Henry should give the Broncos running game automatic credibility coming off of a 1,500 yard season. But, this is Mike Shanahan we're talking about here! When was the last time he stuck with just ONE tailback all year? Oh yeah, I think that was back in the late 90's...what was his name again? He ran behind Elway? I dunno...Terrell something...and I think he was a little better than Travis Henry.

Pete Schrager needs to have his head examined or his urine tested.

Your thoughts, email me athomas3@washcoll.edu