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Saturday, December 29, 2007

The New England Patriots Have Rewritten The History Books

The New England Patriots have completed a perfect season (16-0) in large part thanks to questionable and poor play calling on the side of the New York Giants.

But whatever the reasons are and whatever excuses I can make, the fact of the matter is the Patriots have gone undefeated and the records poured in.

Tom Brady tied a season record for touchdown passes and Randy Moss for touchdown catches when the two combined on a 4-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter against the New York Giants on Saturday night.

It also gave New England a record for most points by a team in a season -- 561.

The play gave Brady 49 TD passes for the season, tying Peyton Manning's 2004 record. Moss now has 22 touchdown catches, tying Jerry Rice, who did it in 12 games during a strike-marred 1987 season.

The play gave the Patriots a 10-7 lead over the Giants and 561 points for the season. The old mark was 556 by the 1998 Vikings.

On the TD pass, Brady turned to his right and threw the ball high to the right corner of the end zone to Moss, who jumped over the Giants' Aaron Ross to bring it in.


But....there was more to come....

Randy Moss received a 65 Yd Pass From Tom Brady followed by a Laurence Maroney run for A two-point conversion. With this TD pass, Brady passed Manning's record for most touchdown passes in a single season and stands alone with 50 touchdowns. In addition, Moss gained his 23rd touchdown pass, making him stand alone in the record books for most touchdown receptions.

More from ESPN:

With one mighty heave, Tom Brady and Randy Moss took care of the record books. Now it's down to business for the unbeaten New England Patriots: stamping themselves as the greatest team in NFL history.

The Patriots completed a perfect if somewhat joyless journey through the regular season Saturday night, finishing with a remarkable 16-0 record following a thrilling 38-35 comeback victory over the New York Giants.

New England became the first NFL team since the 1972 Dolphins to win every game on the schedule, and that one was only 14-0. This victory required a comeback from a 12-point deficit engineered by the brilliant Brady, and smashed the Patriots' league mark for consecutive victories.

Validation of their inexorable march through the season can only come by adding a Super Bowl championship, their fourth of the decade. Do that and there'll be no challenge to their spot at the top.

The statement above raises an interesting debate. If the Patriots should lose in the playoffs, will their perfect season be in vain? Will they be remembered as the greatest team in history or as the team who went undefeated in the regular season, but then lost in the playoffs? Anyway, I'll discuss this in a later article IF they should happen to lose.


Is Vinny Testaverde Finally Ready To Call It Quits?

The answer is yes. After 21 seasons, Vinny Testaverde has had enough. Sunday will be the public's last chance to see this soon-to-be historic figure in action. The 44-year-old quarterback said Saturday that he'll retire after Carolina's season finale at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Vinny Testaverde

Testaverde

"I just feel like it's time," Testaverde told The Associated Press before boarding the team bus for the airport. "Obviously at 44 it does get a little bit tougher as the weeks go by. I'm glad I'm able to do it on my own terms and walk away from the game not only healthy, but to experience some of the things I've been through."

Testaverde was out of the league until the Panthers, desperate for quarterback help after injuries to Jake Delhomme and David Carr, signed him on Oct. 10. Four days and only three practices later, Testaverde became the oldest starting QB to win a game when he led the Panthers to a victory at Arizona.

"It's going to be, for me, one of my special moments in the NFL," Testaverde said. "To come in with three days of preparation and go out and help a team win a football game and contribute, I'm proud of the fact I was able to do that."

Vinny is just too old to be in the quarterback position in football. His body wore down late in this season, and he was sidelined by back pain and a right Achilles tendon injury that kept him out of games and practices the past month. Testaverde's final game will come where his pro career started.

Testaverde had a remarkable career. As the 1986 Heisman Trophy winner at Miami, Testaverde was the No. 1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 1987 draft. He got off to rocky start, throwing 13 touchdown passes and 35 interceptions in his second season with the Buccaneers, his first as the full-time starter.

Testaverde weathered the criticism for three more seasons before moving to Cleveland. After the franchise moved to Baltimore, Testaverde made his first Pro Bowl in 1996.

Testaverde made the Pro Bowl two years later with the New York Jets, when he had 29 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions. He was the New York Jets savior who came in under Bill Parcells and led his team to the NFC Championship 1 year after a horrible season. They were winning that game at half and if it wasn't for John Elway and the Broncos they would have been in the Super Bowl that year. Late in his career he played with Dallas and New England.

Testaverde ranks sixth in the league for career attempts (6,701), completions (3,787) and yards passing (45,233). Testaverde has thrown 275 touchdown passes and 267 interceptions.

Testaverde also holds the NFL record by throwing at least one touchdown pass in 21 straight seasons.

A Giant Miracle?

Tonight, history will be made. The undefeated New England Patriots will go against the New York Giants in their quest for a perfect season. The Giants, who have already siezed the wildcard for the playoffs, will most likely rest their starters in preparation for the playoffs. The Patriots, on the other hand, have set their sights on making history. By winning tonight, they will be 16-0, an amazing accomplishment even considering the easiness of their schedule and division. Not only this, but numerous records are threatened by the Patriots. Quarterback Tom Brady is within reach of the touchdown record, currently held by Peyton Manning. Randy Moss and Wes Welker are also close to breaking records. Not only are individual player's records at stake, but the Patriots are close to breaking the record for the most points scored by a team in a season. With all this at stake, it is likely that the Patriots will not rest their starters tonight for the playoff battles ahead. Instead, the Patriots will probably play the hardest that they ever have this season.

Should we expect a blowout then tonight? With the Patriots using all their key starters and the Giants giving theirs a rest, it seems as if New England's perfect season is inevitable. Certainly, the odds are in the Patriots' favor. However, there are some elements for tonight's game that could give the Giants the boost they need to make some history of their own: beating a 15-0 team aspiring for perfection in the last game of the season.

The Giants' advantages in tonight's game are small, but together they may prove to be enough to beat New England. Their first advantage is that this historic game will be played at Giants Stadium. As the hometeam, the Giants will have a slight edge over the Patriots. Of course, being a visiting team hasn't stopped the Patriots yet, but this is still an advantage held by New York. The second advantage held by the Giants is the possibility of bad weather. If it rains tonight in New York, Brady will not be effective in passing. He will not be able to make the huge, groundbreaking bombs to his receivers. This will limit Brady to shorter passes thereby giving the Giants the opportunity of containing him. Of course, bad weather affects the Giants' offense as well. However, New York's primary concern in tonight's game should be Brady. Anything that limits Brady will be a huge asset for the Giants, even if it harms their team as well. The third advantage possessed by the Giants is that they have nothing to lose, but the Patriots have so much to lose. The Giants are already in the playoffs. Tonight's game is not a concern for them. They are preparing for their matchup with Tampa Bay. The Patriots are playing for perfection. They are playing for the perfect season as well as the shattering of numerous records. Since the Patriots have so much more to lose than the Giants, there is alot more pressure on them to win. This added pressure could lead to them making some mistakes on the field. One mistake like a dropped pass or an interception has the potential of altering the entire course of the game.

These advantages, although small by themselves, might prove to give New York the edge they need to beat New England. And just imagine what would happen if the Giants do prevail against the Patriots. They will have enormous confidence going into their game with Tampa Bay. They beat the unbeatable Patriots. This confidence boost could be what New York needs to scoot past the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. And also imagine the effect tonight's game would have on New England if they lose. Their confidence would be broken. This could have negative implications for them during the playoffs. Tonight's game, then, has more than just the potential for record-breaking and history-making. It has the potential for determining who will make it to play in the Super Bowl.

Friday, December 28, 2007

The Indianapolis Colts Are Breaking Records Of Their Own

The Indianapolis Colts are dishing out money left and right and its paying off. There is no doubt that the Colts' offense has been near the top of the list every year since Peyton Manning's mastery of the offensive system. However, a major contribution to what made them get to and win the Super Bowl last year was their lightning-fast defensive players who have taken all the criticism over the years and turned it into improvement. The Colts want to make sure they hold onto there players, even if it means dishing out record breaking offers to keep them. Then again, if a team offered more money, why would you want to sell yourself out and leave a huge franchise like the Colts?

After the 2003 season, quarterback Peyton Manning agreed to what was then a record $99.2 million, seven-year contract that contained a still-record $34.5 million signing bonus.

Before the start of training camp, Dwight Freeney signed a $72 million, six-year deal, making him the league's highest-paid defensive end. The contract included a $30 million signing bonus.

Now, Colts safety Bob Sanders has signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with Indianapolis that includes $20 million in guaranteed money, according to NFL sources.

Bob Sanders

Bob Sanders

The contract makes Sanders, 26, the highest-paid safety in the NFL.

The Pro Bowl selection, whose playoff performance sparked the Colts on their run to a Super Bowl victory last season, would have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. Sanders is a strong contender for this year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Jim Leyritz Started A Career In Something Other Than Sports

And that career is alcoholism...and it always has negative results....


Former Major League Baseball player Jim Leyritz was arrested Friday on charges of driving under the influence and killing another driver after his vehicle crashed into hers.

Leyritz, who turned 44 on Thursday, faces charges of DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage, said Detective Kathy Collins, Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman.

Jim Leyritz

Leyritz

He posted the $11,000 bond and was released from the Broward County jail at 2:35 p.m. on Friday, according to Keyla Concepcion, a public information officer for the Broward Sheriff's Office.

It could not be determined whether Leyritz had an attorney.

Fort Lauderdale authorities got a call at 3:20 a.m. that a crash had occurred in the city's entertainment district, Collins said.

She said Leyritz was driving a 2006 Ford Expedition when he collided at an intersection with a 30-year-old woman driving a 2000 Mitsubishi. The woman was ejected from the car. She was critically injured and transported to the Broward General Medical Center, where she died, Collins said. Her identity was not immediately released.

Witnesses told police Leyritz, who lives in Plantation, Fla., had a red light.

Police believe alcohol was involved in the crash, though investigators are waiting for the results of blood alcohol tests, Collins said.

Leyritz refused a breathalyzer test, police said, according to Miami TV station WPLG, which first reported the story.

Leyritz bounced from team to team over his career, which ended in 2000 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he built a reputation as a clutch postseason hitter.

With the New York Yankees trailing the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in the 1996 World Series, Leyritz hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to tie Game 4 at Atlanta. New York won the game and the series, starting a run of four championships in five seasons.

He played an even bigger role for the San Diego Padres in their run to the 1998 World Series, hitting four homers and driving in nine runs in series wins over the Houston Astros in the NLDS and the Braves in the NLCS.

During the 2007 season, Leyritz traveled with the Yankees as a beat reporter for 1050 ESPN New York.

Leyritz, who signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1985, played 11 seasons in the major leagues for six teams including the Yankees, Angels, Rangers, Red Sox, Padres and Dodgers. He was a career .264 hitter with 90 home runs and 387 RBIs in 903 career games, primarily as a catcher and infielder.

Ray Allen's Return To Seattle Was A Memorable One

The Boston Celtics (24-3) of the 2007-2008 season have tied their previous number of wins (24-58) of the 2006-2007 seasons with their victory over the Seattle SuperSonics 104-96. Paul Pierce carried his team to the victory just as he did when he was the only star player on the team last year.

While most of the attention focused on Ray Allen's return to Seattle, it was Pierce who took over for Boston on Thursday night, much as he had to do in past seasons without the type of All-Star help now surrounding him. Pierce scored 26 of his season-high 37 points in the second half, and the Celtics held off the pesky SuperSonics 104-96.

With Kevin Garnett unable to match his strong first half and Allen never finding an offensive groove, it was Pierce who made shot after shot in the second half to help the league's best team avoid an embarrassing loss.

Allen was given two standing ovations before the game, as Seattle fans sold out KeyArena for one of the few times this season, and recognized Allen's efforts in his 4 1/2 seasons in a Sonics' uniform.Allen missed his first two shots badly, missing long on a 15-foot bank shot 26 seconds in and then overshooting a 3-pointer a few minutes later. Two cutting layups got Allen into the offense, but he made just four of 13 shots."Everything I got was tough," Allen said. "They know what I do and tried to take away everything I did."

Indeed, when a player plays against his old team that he's been on for years, the old team knows his style of play and can easily figure him out. This happens everytime.

This game is just another example of how dominant the Celtics are because they have too many options to go to. When one or two players are having poor nights, just about any one of the other players can pick up the slack.....but I think by now with an incredible 24-3 record everyone knows that.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Sports Conspiracies

In light of the New England Patriots going 16-0 this weekend (which I believe to be a conspiracy), I did some research into other sports conspiracies that have gone on throughout the years. I compiled a list of these conspiracies and was amazed at what I found.


The driving force behind these and other conspiracies is money.

On the surface, professional sports leagues serve the purpose of entertaining their viewers with jaw-dropping plays, close competition and fantastic finishes.

But behind every organization is a corporate world focused on accumulating the maximum amount of dollars in order to satisfy fans with dramatic contests, please players with fat contracts and place prized newcomers in major marketing areas for publicity.

Dwyane Wade
The NBA, needing to create a new star after Kobe Bryant’s rape allegations, encourage the refs to do what it takes to make sure the Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks in last year’s NBA Finals, even going so far as giving him more free throws than the Mavs’ entire team one game. In another version of the same conspiracy, David Stern hates Mark Cuban so much that he will never allow his team to win a title.

New England Patriots
After 9/11, the NFL wanted a team called the “Patriots” to win their championship, so they had the refs help them out against the Raiders (in whose case you also have a similar situation to #7 with Art Shell/the NFL) and the heavily favored Rams.

6% of college basketball games are fixed
So says Justin Wolfers, a University of Pennsylvania economist, who studied over 44,000 Division I games and found that the stronger teams win, but do not cover the spread, often enough that it couldn’t be just by chance. Click here for the whole article.

Bret Hart
In wrestling, when stuff is REAL, then it’s a conspiracy. Bret Hart was leaving the WWF and did not want to lose the title to Shawn Michaels, so Vince McMahon told him that he could lose in a disqualification. When the actual match came, he called for the bell when Hart was in a submission hold, ending the match with Michaels the winner. Afterwards, in the locker room, Hart punched McMahon in the face. The movie “Wrestling with Shadows” goesinto this in more detail.

montrealscrewjob

UNLV threw the 1991 Final Four
tarkanianUNLV was seemingly unstoppable in 1991, and their loss to Duke in the national seminfinals was one of the biggest shockers of my lifetime. Three players on that UNLV have been photographed in a hot tub with a convicted points-shaver-arranger guy, whose name was Richie “The Fixer” Perry. Some people believe that the Duke loss was fixed. A heavily favored team who played in Vegas, hung out with a guy NAMED The Fixer,
and lost in a huge game definitely sounds a bit shady.

Michael Jordan
David Stern could have been on this list a few more times (fixed NBA Draft Lotteries, Magic Johnson didn’t really have HIV), but this one is the ultimate, him secretly suspending the greatest player ever for two years for gambling. The Bulls could have had eight titles in a row.

mj


Bill Simmons' 1985 Draft Lottery Conspiracy

ESPN's Bill Simmons has long had his theories that David Stern fixed the 1985 draft lottery so the Knicks would end up with Patrick Ewing. The hired accountant from Ernst & Whinney bangs one of the envelopes around on the rim of the drum, presumably creasing one of the corners. Every other envelope goes in cleanly. Stern reaches in and grabs a handful of envelopes, turns them over to look at them, and then drops all but one of them. The one he picks up is the one with the crease in the corner. That envelope is placed at the #1-spot. Stern announces that the Pacers get the 2nd pick, and thus, the Knicks have the first. Everyone in the building seems surprised but David Stern, who just looks guilty

An Abundance Of Free Throws Helped The Lakers Win

How about the 27 4th quarter free throws the Lakers were awarded in Game 6 against Sacramento in the 2002 playoffs. Their total number of free throws in that game was just 40. The Lakers had also only averaged 22 free throws per game in the first 5 games of the series. I can still remember Mike Bibby getting called for a foul after Kobe elbowed him in the nose. The Lakers of course went on to win the series in 7 games and then 3-peat as NBA champs. I wonder if that made big news for the league..

Did The Referees Ruin The Seahawks' Super Bowl Hopes With Questionable Calls?

Remember when Steeler's line backer Joey Porter was complaining that the NFL wanted the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl? Well, now Seattle Seahawks fans can argue the same conspiracy theory for Pittsburgh.

Sure it was nice to see the "Bus" make his last stop in Detroit, the city where he started his career, and it was cool to see a sixth-seeded team win the Super Bowl. A storybook ending.

Too bad the referees had to rob Seattle blind to get it done.

No offense to the Steelers, they played a great game and they are a great team that deserved to win the championship, but not this way. For Seattle to out-gain the Steelers by 57 yards, win the time of possession battle and have a better turnover ratio, and then have the game ripped away from them by terrible refs is ridiculously unfair.

The two calls that would have helped them out the most were Darrell Jackson's two would-be touchdown catches.

The first catch was questionable at best; sure he pushed off in the end zone-but come on, everybody pushes off.

But the refs really bungled the second call when they said that Jackson stepped out of bounds taking away a touchdown, ignoring the rule that says, according to nfl.com, "[a] player no longer can be ruled out of bounds when he touches a pylon unless he already touched the boundary line," which Jackson didn't.

That, compounded with bad holding calls that prevented the Seahawks from getting within the ten-yard line, professes just how bad the referees were in this game. It is a shame that a great Super Bowl game would ultimately be determined by bad zebras.

Speaking of bad officiating, do you notice how many players this year are lashing out at refs for questionable calls? And do you notice how the NFL responds to these players? By fining them in order to shut them up and protect their referees. This wouldn't concern me so much if it happened to one player once a week. However, every week it seems more and more players are questioning the referees and the NFL is issuing fines left and right. How can that many officials be making bad calls every week and the NFL doesn't do anything except fine the players? Something is up with that.

This commercial I think is hilarious and relevant to what's been going on lately in the world of sports officiating.









And I don't want to make myself sound like a sports fan who cries "fix" everytime something doesn't go my way. That's not my intent of this article. I just want to make sports fans aware that behind every action there is a motive and sometimes if one digs deep enough and looks at the entire background to a situation he can understand why sports players and officials act the way they do in critical moments of games. The media just puts on display what they want to show the public and never shows the entire truth. Of course, I don't blame them either. After all, if everyone knew sports were rigged no one would watch, play for, and bet on games and that would be the end of one of the greatest money making tools ever...... Then they can cry "fix" later.

Patriots-Giants Game Will Be The First Three-Network Simulcast Game In NFL History

Up until Saturday night, only those who had the NFL Network (which is 40% of America) could watch games that were only on the NFL Network. However, this Saturday night's game where the Patriots will attempt to break records and make history against the Giants is so huge that the NFL decided to have this game put on CBS and NBC so everyone who wants to watch this game can do so. Now all of America can see the Patriots' shot at history. The Patriots could become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season.

"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement after the league announced it was reversing course. "What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever."

This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of an NFL game since the inaugural Super Bowl in 1967, when CBS and NBC televised the meeting of the champions of the newly merged National Football League and American Football League.

"We're happy to accommodate the NFL's request for a joint national simulcast of this potentially historic game to make it available to the widest possible audience," said Dick Ebersol, NBC Universal's chairman for sports and Olympics.

NBC was scheduled to air "Dateline NBC" and a repeat of "Law & Order: SVU" during the time slot. CBS was set to broadcast the movie "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "48 Hours: Mysteries." ... Who cares about that, its football!

The NFL claims this is an excellent move to accommodate their fans. This wasn't an easy thing to do either because of the legal issues involved from what I read. This shows the NFL truly cares about its fans and they are willing to take any measure involved to make them happy.....Or do they really care about their fans? That's a cover up. I still believe this has more to do about revenue, ratings, and advertising that the Patriots bring in for the NFL. After all, love em or hate em, everyone watches the Patriots when they are nationally broadcasted to see them either win or for any team to beat them.....

....because this is going to be a nationally broadcast game.....this guarantees the New England Patriots will win. Why would the NFL go to such extreme lengths if they weren't going to win?

Monday, December 24, 2007

It Won't Be A Merry Christmas For Chicago Bulls' Coach Scott Skiles

Scott Skiles was fired Monday as coach of the Chicago Bulls, who have one of the worst records in the Eastern Conference. However, he didn't seem that disappointed about being fired now. Skiles told The Tribune that he wasn't bothered by being fired on Christmas Eve. "The fact that it's Christmas Eve is neither here nor there," Skiles told the newspaper. "The timing doesn't bother me. I'm not destitute."

The underachieving Bulls (9-16) have lost three of their last four and were booed throughout by the home crowd during Saturday night's 116-98 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Skiles' Coaching Record

With the Bulls sitting on the third worst record in the Eastern Conference, Scott Skiles is out of a job. Chicago fired Skiles on Monday, closing the second chapter of his NBA coaching career.

Year
Team
Record
Playoffs
2007-08Chicago9-16?
2006-7Chicago49-336-4
2005-06Chicago41-412-4
2004-05Chicago47-352-4
2003-04Chicago19-47None
2001-02Phoenix25-26None
2000-01Phoenix51-311-3
1999-00Phoenix40-224-5

With three straight playoff appearances after a long postseason drought, the Bulls' expectations were soaring. Then, they dropped 10 of their first 12 games and they've been unable to capture the intensity that catapulted them into the second round of the playoffs last season.

They've lacked a consistent inside scoring threat the past few years, and now, their perimeter players are off target. Chicago is shooting a league-worst 41.3 percent, which partially explains why it hasn't been able to sustain a winning streak.

The Bulls didn't immediately announce a replacement for Skiles, who went 165-172 after replacing Bill Cartwright in November 2003.



History Was Made In Madison Square Garden....But It Wasn't The Knicks

Kobe Bryant enjoyed every minute of his return to Madison Square Garden and making history made his trip that much better. Bryant scored 39 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the New York Knicks 95-90 Sunday. Bryant became the 31st player with 20,000 points.
Player Years-Days
Kobe Bryant 29-122
Wilt Chamberlain 29-134
Michael Jordan 29-326
Oscar Robertson 30-97
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30-342
30 players are in the 20,000-Point Club: 18 are in the Basketball Hall of Fame; 10 are not yet eligible. Only eligible players not in Hall: Tom Chambers, Adrian Dantley.


Bryant added 11 rebounds and eight assists in his first game at the Garden in nearly two years. His 3-pointer in the opening minute of the third quarter allowed him to reach the milestone at 29 years, 122 days.

Kobe Bryant said: "I always like playing here, period," Bryant said. "Last year I didn't have an opportunity to play and I was upset about it. This is my favorite arena to play in so I'm just happy and relieved that I was able to play tonight."

Here that Isiah Thomas? Maybe you should look into acquiring Kobe to revitalize the Knicks and keep the fans happy. A move like that would make the fans happy and you would be likable again in the Garden. Though Bryant told reporters Saturday that the Knicks were one of the four teams he would have accepted a trade to, both coaches downplayed New York's chances. Jackson said there were no serious talks before the season, and Thomas added, "I never sincerely thought that the Lakers would trade him." Well, Isiah, you thought wrong. You didn't even make an effort.

Bryant's last basket came in the final minute after the Knicks had trimmed a 25-point deficit to one. The victory capped a 3-1 road trip for the Lakers, who headed home to host Phoenix on Tuesday. Kobe is also happy his team is finally connecting and playing well together. When Kobe is pleased, thats a good sign.

The Knicks, however, are still a disgrace. After the Knicks fell too far behind to make a comeback likely for the second time in three days, coach Isiah Thomas said there would be lineup changes when the Knicks play their next game, against Orlando on Wednesday."We probably have the wrong guys starting and we'll look to change our lineup and try to get some more energy and defensive guys in the lineup," Thomas said. Hey, with the way things are going for the Knicks, who can really argue with Isiah?

My Interpretation Of Week 16 In The NFL

This week was so important that instead of going through each game, I'm only going to write about the games that are meaningful in some way. There's great debate over which teams played hard and which teams didn't because they either locked up a seed in the playoffs and don't want to hurt their starters or they have nothing to play for anymore.

New York Giants 38 beat Buffalo 21 - This win was incredibly important for the Giants. If they would have lost, they would have lost to the Patriots next week and their chances of making a Wild Card would have been very slim. However, because of this win, they clinched the fifth seed. Neither rain, sleet nor snow -- and not even Bills tight end Kevin Everett's inspirational return to Buffalo -- could prevent the New York Giants from clinching a playoff berth Sunday. A rediscovered running attack and an opportunistic defense carried the Giants past the Bills and the elements in a 38-21 win. I notivced how the Giants, at least for this important game, didn't put their trust in Eli Manning, who only threw for 15 passes and 2 interceptions. He was terrible again. He can't play in cold weather. If the Giants are going to advance in the playoffs, they need to do it through the ground game, which was amazing today. Now, will the Giants play lights out football against the Patriots to try to be the only team to stop them in their final week or will they rest? They should play their hardest and consider next week a trial run for the playoffs.

Chicago 35 beat Green Bay 7 - This was totally unexpected and surprising. The three-time MVP, Brett Favre, was at his worst, and now, Green Bay can forget about the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Brian Urlacher returned an interception for a touchdown for the first time in his career, Adrian Peterson ran for 102 yards, and the Chicago Bears beat the Packers 35-7 on a frigid Sunday afternoon. The loss wiped out the Packers' shot at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Packers needed to win this game, beat Detroit next week and have Dallas lose to Washington to capture the No. 1 seed. Instead, it goes to the Cowboys, with Green Bay locked in at No. 2. Here's what Favre had to say: "I've been playing 17 years, and that was the worst condition I've ever played in." THATS A TERRIBLE Excuse. He's been playing in one of those harshest weather-conditioned stadiums of all time. He should be used to poor weather.

Cincinnati 19 beat Cleveland 14 - Again, this was a shocker to me. What happened to the amazing Browns offense? Anderson threw four interceptions Sunday, two of them setting up rapid-fire touchdowns in a 19-14 victory by the Cincinnati Bengals that left the upstart Browns scrambling for a playoff spot instead of celebrating one. The bottom line is that if the Titans pull off a win against the Colts, who will probably rest their starters most of the game, then the Browns are out regardless if they win.

Indianapolis 38 beat Houston 15 - This was a breeze as the Colts scored 38 unanswered points. Peyton Manning looked sharp, Indy's running game was efficient, the defense forced three turnovers and there was no letdown Sunday in what's likely to be the Colts final postseason tuneup. They are ready for the playoffs, with or without Marvin Harrison. What's wrong with that guy's knee anyway? Is it decapitated or something?

San Fransisco 21 beat Tampa Bay 19 - The only reason why I mention this game is because Tampa Bay is an example of a team who already clinched and could care less if they lose to a less than par team like the 49ers. By resting most of its playmakers, Tampa Bay also got everything it wanted out of a game that only held real meaning for Bryant Young, the 49ers' stalwart defensive tackle.

Tennessee 10 beat New York Jets 6 - The Tennessee Titans have a chance to win their way into their first playoff berth since 2003, thanks to help from Cincinnati. Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch had three of Tennessee's six sacks and Chris Brown ran for a touchdown as the Titans beat the New York Jets 10-6 on Sunday for their third victory in four games and their first winning season since 2003. The Titans (9-6) knew the Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns 19-14, giving them the edge in tiebreakers if tied at 10-6 for the AFC's final wild-card berth once the regular season ends. It gave them a boost, but they still had to beat the Jets (3-12), which they did. Now, if they beat the Colts next week, they are automatically in. Now, if I was the Colts I would be asking myself whether I would let the Titans win or have the Browns in the playoffs. Since the Colts own the Titans and beat them all the time, I'd let them win and beat them in the playoffs.

New England 28 beat Miami 7 - Bill Belichick and the Patriots are complete liars when they say they don't care about the records. You know they want to break every record they can. They already have 3 Super Bowl wins, so now they want the records too.

Washington 32 beat Minnesota 21 - Playing the kind of hard-nosed, harder-hitting defense that fallen teammate Sean Taylor was famous for, the Washington Redskins shut down Adrian Peterson and set up two early touchdowns with interceptions to take control of their playoff fate with a 32-21 victory over the sloppy Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. Peterson had nowhere to go all night, gaining just 27 yards on nine carries. Tarvaris Jackson's rebound from a disastrous start came too little, too late for the Vikings (8-7), who could have clinched a playoff berth with a win. The Vikings don't impressive me anymore and they are simple to beat. If you shut down the running game, which hasn't been so hard lately, they have nothing else going for them. Now, if Minnesota and Washington lose next week, and the Saints win next week, the Saints are automatically in. Right now, the Vikings and Redskins are tied for the last seed.

Dallas 20 beat Carolina 13 - Its official now. The Cowboys are statistically the #1 team in the NFC.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Terrell Owens' Injury Is Hopefully Not As Bad As It Sounds

With Terrell Owens watching the second half from the locker room, the Dallas Cowboys had to depend on their running game and their defense to avoid a second straight upset loss.

Tony Romo threw for 257 yards and a touchdown and the Cowboys overcame the loss of Owens to a left ankle injury in a 20-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night.

While Dallas (13-2) moved a step closer to clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Cowboys were dealing with another injury to a key offensive player.

Last week it was Romo, who bruised his right thumb and was ineffective in a loss to Philadelphia. Now it's Owens, who left in the second quarter after his left leg got caught underneath him after a catch.

The Cowboys made it 14-0 a play after Owens left, but failed to score another touchdown.

Dallas receiver Terrell Owens left the Cowboys' game Saturday night against Carolina because of a left ankle injury.

The team said at halftime that he would miss the rest of the game.

Owens' leg got caught underneath him when he was tackled by Jon Beason on a 4-yard catch in the second quarter. After limping around on the sideline for several minutes, Owens walked to the locker room.

A television camera later caught Owens walking near the locker room without a shoe on his left foot, accompanied by a trainer and agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Owens had five catches for 48 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown catch, before he was injured. The TD was Owens' team record 15th of the season.

I can not confirm how badly he was injured or what the estimated time of injury will be, but the commentators played it off as if it won't be severe. X-Rays were negative and its only a sprain. If Green Bay loses tom, then Dallas can rest in their final week. They will automatically have a first round bye, so Terrell Owens can rest for another week. Hopefully, its only a sprain and nothing broke and he will return in time for the start of the Cowboys' first playoff game.

Cowboys At Panthers: Where's Jessica Simpson When You Need Her?

Milwaukeeworld Publishing, http://www.milwaukeeworld.com, is currently offering a free Jessica Simpson cutout mask, for Panthers and Packers fans alike. This Saturday, December 22nd at 8 p.m. (EST) the 12-2 Dallas cowboys travel to the Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, N.C. to take on the 6-8 Carolina Panthers. The game will be aired on the NFL Network.

"After Tony Romo's dismal display in Dallas' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week, Terrell Owens seemingly blamed his quarterback's 22.2 passer rating on a particular blonde in the crowd. Now Milwaukeeworld Publishing is giving people the chance to be that blonde at the Cowboys next game against the Carolina Panthers this weekend," said Craig Peterson, owner and founder of Milwaukeeworld Publishing.

Visit Milwaukeeworld.com to print, snip and sport a Jessica face when the game starts this Saturday at 8 p.m. (EST).

Milwaukeeworld created the mask after the Cowboys second defeat of the season this past Sunday at Texas Stadium, which was surrounded in controversy by Simpson's appearance at the game. Outspoken wide receiver Terrell Owens said, "Right now Jessica Simpson is not a fan favorite in this locker room or in Texas Stadium."

"Romo has a recent history of going down in front of blondes. In the 2006/07 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys lost to Philadelphia at home 23-7, resulting in Romo's second worst game to date. At that game was then-girlfriend and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood," said Peterson.

Coincidentally, Romo's first ever start in the NFL was at the Panthers on October 29th, 2006, with Dallas recording a 35-14 victory. The 6-8 Panthers need a win this time around to keep its playoff hopes alive, so if you are a Carolina fan, why not visit Milwaukeeworld.com and obtain your free Jessica Simpson mask.

Also......

A new website is taking aim at Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. RuinRomo.com is a site, where fans of opponents playing the Cowboys, can download and print out a stick mask of Romo’s love interest Jessica Simpson.


There are numerous other sites offering free heads of Jessica Simpson as well. So, apparently this issue of Romo and Simpson is not dying down. In fact, its only going to get worse. The Cowboys really need home field advantage throughout the playoffs now. I guarantee that in any away games they play, there will be waves of thousands of Jessica Simpson faces in the crowds. Its rather annoying, especially since she isn't responsible for Romo's poor performance and Terrell Owens wanted attention by making a joke like that. Also, their are better looking girls than Jessica Simpson I'd rather see the faces of multiplied in the crowds.

After the remarks Terrell Owens made about Jessica Simpson in which he later said he was joking, I wonder how many times Tony Romo is going to throw the ball to him this week.

The Portland Trailblazers Win Their 10th Straight In Dramatic Fashion

Martell Webster scored 19 points while Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge each added 18 to help the Portland Trail Blazers extend their winning streak to 10 games with a 99-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

With the game tied at 94, James Jones made the second of two free throws with 36.2 seconds left.After Roy blocked Anthony's try, Travis Outlaw made a pair of free throws to give the Blazers a 97-94 lead. Iverson's driving layup with 6.9 seconds left narrowed the deficit to one.Jarrett Jack made a pair of free throws to extend the lead back to three before Linas Kleiza's 3-pointer was blocked by Outlaw for the final margin.

Portland, which has the longest current winning streak in the NBA, has not won as many consecutive games since the Blazers were victorious in 12 straight in the 2001-02 season. Portland started the streak with a win Dec. 3 at Memphis, after going 5-12 to start the season. Seven of the 10 wins have come at home, where the Blazers are 12-3.

The Trail Blazers beat some pretty decent teams as well in their streak, including Denver twice, Utah Twice, New Orleans, and Toronto. They also pulled ahead of Utah for second in their division and are a mere half game behind Denver for the lead.

The Chicago Bulls Are Really That Bad And The Boston Celtics Are Really That Good

Friday evening's Chicago Bulls At Boston Celtics contest really helped clarify for me which direction these teams are going. Bill Walton explained before the game how bad the Bulls were, but I couldn't believe it. They have Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace, and other players who performed well last year. That's just it. Last year they were amazing. This year, these players are just names not living up to their standards. Ben Wallace just stands around the court or sits on the bench half the time. They can't shoot well at all. They take random, forced shots and miss them. They are near to last in all shooting categories, and watching them Friday night helped prove that.

Meanwhile, coming off a 1 game losing streak, the Boston Celtics were fired up. Paul Pierce scored 15 of his 22 points in the third quarter, going 4-for-4 from 3-point range in the period as the Celtics pulled away. Boston recovered quickly from Wednesday's last-second loss to Detroit, taking an early lead against the Bulls, never trailing and never surrendering its double-digit lead after scoring 10 consecutive points to make it 40-22 with 7:50 left in the first half. Boston led by as many as 22 points in the first half and ended up crushing the Bulls 107-82.

How To Calculate A QB's Passer Rating

After hearing that Ben Roethlisberger passed for a perfect game last Thursday against the Rams, I was curious if their was a mathematical formula behind figuring out a Quarterback's ratings. Sure enough, there is.

There are online calculators that make figuring quarterback ratings simple, but if you want to know exactly how a QB's statistics translate into this number, this formula will take you through it step by step.

  1. Divide a quarterback's completed passes by pass attempts.
  2. Subtract 0.3.
  3. Divide by 0.2 and record the total. The sum cannot be greater than 2.375 or less than zero.
  4. Divide passing yards by pass attempts.
  5. Subtract 3.
  6. Divide by 4 and record the total. The sum cannot be greater than 2.375 or less than zero.
  7. Divide touchdown passes by pass attempts.
  8. Divide by 0.05 and record the total. The sum cannot be greater than 2.375 or less than zero.
  9. Divide interceptions by pass attempts.
  10. Subtract that number from 0.095.
  11. Divide that product by 0.04 and record the total. The sum cannot be greater than 2.375 or less than zero.
  12. Add the four totals you recorded.
  13. Multiply that total by 100.
  14. Divide by 6.
  15. The final number is your quarterback rating.
So let's try this formula with Big Ben. His numbers on Thursday were

Passes Attempted - 20
Passes Completed - 16
Total Yards Passing - 261
Touchdowns - 3
Interceptions - 0

1. 16 / 20 = .80
2. .80 - 0.3 = .50
3. .50 / 2 = 2.5 (because the sum can not be greater than 2.375, the answer is actually 2.375)

4. 261 / 20 = 13.05
5. 13.05 - 3 = 10.05
6. 10.05 / 4 = 2.5125 (because the sum can not be greater than 2.375, the answer is actually 2.375)

7. 3 / 20 = .15
8. .15 / 0.05 = 3 (because the sum can not be greater than 2.375, the answer is actually 2.375)

9. 0 / 20 = 0
10. 0 - 0.095 = -.095
11. -.095 / 0.04 = -2.375

12. 2.375 + 2.375 + 2.375 + 2.375 = 9.5

13. 9.5 x 100 = 950

14. 950 / 6 = 158.3

Wow. I want to meet the guys that are able to keep up with this math throughout a whole game.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Willie Parker Is Out For The Season (Which Is Only 1 More Game)

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 41-24 victory over the St. Louis Rams was overshadowed by the injury sustained by leading rusher Willie Parker. Willie Parker's season ended after his first carry, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will miss the NFL's leading rusher if they get to the playoffs. But they don't miss him yet.

Najeh Davenport, a career backup running back with typical non-descript statistics, has two huge games since entering the league as a fourth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2002. Both have come against the St. Louis Rams, with Davenport's three-touchdown, 123-yard rushing effort pacing a 41-24 victory on Thursday night.

Parker, who has 1,316 yards, limped off the field with a broken bone in his lower right leg in the first quarter after only one carry for minus-1 yard. Davenport eased any worries with a game that rivaled his 178-yard effort for the Packers against the Rams, in a 45-17 Monday Night victory in 2004. He was filling in for Ahman Green at the time. The Steelers are lucky to have such a good backup running back, as Willie Parker's injury could really effect them in the playoffs, if they make it in.

The Steelers, 8-8 last season, can clinch the division with a Cleveland loss at Cincinnati on Sunday. They also can clinch a playoff berth if the Titans lose to the Jets.

It must be a curse to be a leading rusher this season. First, Ronnie Brown gets injured very early in the season and was out for the rest of the year. Then Adrian Peterson, who was the hottest running back in the league at one point, was injured and has produced mediocre numbers the past few weeks. Now, Willie Parker, who entered the game leading the league in rushing yards, will be out if the Steelers make the playoffs.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

How Many Years Until Bill Parcells And The Dolphins Make The Playoffs?

According to ESPN:

Bill Parcells signed a four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to become the team's executive vice president of football operations on Thursday.

Parcells faxed the contract to the team, less than a day after turning down an offer to join the Atlanta Falcons.

"He has a proven track record of success everywhere he has been in the National Football League," Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said Thursday afternoon. "And his football acumen will help put the Miami Dolphins franchise back among the elite of the NFL."

The two-time Super Bowl champion coach will report directly to Huizenga, whose affinity for big-name help now has led him to Parcells -- a 66-year-old former coach of four NFL clubs who owns a home in South Florida and now has a job there, too.

On Wednesday, the expectation around the league was that Parcells would take over in Atlanta. By the afternoon, however, the deal had fallen apart, and the Dolphins moved quickly to get Parcells to sign a contract.

"I'm honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga," Parcells said. "He shares my same commitment to winning, and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team's fortunes."

Bill Parcells' Coaching Record

Bill Parcells says he won't coach for the Dolphins, but he's been a winner wherever he's been. Parcells is 172-130-1 in his NFL career as a head coach, with an 11-8 record in the playoffs and two Super Bowl wins.

Year Team Record Playoffs
1983 Giants 3-12-1 None
1984 Giants 9-7 1-1
1985 Giants 10-6 1-1
1986 Giants 14-2 3-0 *
1987 Giants 6-9 None
1988 Giants 10-6 None
1989 Giants 12-4 0-1
1990 Giants 13-3 3-0 *
1993 Patriots 5-11 None
1994 Patriots 10-6 0-1
1995 Patriots 6-10 None
1996 Patriots 11-5 2-1
1997 Jets 9-7 None
1998 Jets 12-4 1-1
1999 Jets 8-8 None
2003 Cowboys 10-6 0-1
2004 Cowboys 6-10 None
2005 Cowboys 9-7 None
2006 Cowboys 9-7 0-1
* = Won Super Bowl

The team made the announcement shortly after the locker room was closed for the day, and roughly 45 minutes after Dolphins coach Cam Cameron sidestepped at least a half-dozen questions about Parcells -- even refusing to say if he's ever met the coach.

"There will potentially be a time to have that discussion," Cameron said. "Today, I don't see it as being that day or this time."

Parcells will be formally introduced next Thursday, the team said.

His arrival has taken nearly all the attention off the Dolphins' game at New England on Sunday. But even as it appeared certain Parcells was coming, players didn't say much on the hot topic.

"The guy's a legend," running back Lorenzo Booker said. "There's no doubt about it. He knows what he's doing. Obviously, his resume is a mile long. But I'm a new guy in this league, so I don't even know what a vice president does, to be honest with you, so I'm waiting to find out as much as you guys."

Televisions were off in the locker room after practice Thursday; that wasn't the case 24 hours earlier, when Parcells' face was splashed across the screens as news broke he was weighing Huizenga's offer.

Few players wanted to speak about Parcells, and those who did generally offered the company line, that the Dolphins are only thinking about Sunday's game at New England.

"Any more questions about New England?" defensive back Jason Allen asked.

Miami started 0-13 before beating Baltimore last weekend. The roster already seemed certain for an offseason overhaul. The Dolphins likely will have the No. 1 pick in next year's draft, and the franchise is in the midst of its longest postseason drought, now six years and counting.

Parcells insisted that he will not coach in Miami -- but could see himself helping the coach, whomever it is.

"It's a young man's game in terms of coaching, and I know it's time for someone else to be doing those things," Parcells said on ESPN. "If I can assist that person in any manner of speaking with my experience or even in the technical aspect and he would seek out that, then I'm happy to contribute."

So now, let the questions begin.

What happens to Cameron?

What happens to general manger Randy Mueller?

"Well, I'm not going to be doing either one of those jobs," Parcells said. "So when I get down there, I'm going to just have to look at the situation and speak with those fellas and evaluate things and see where we go from there."

Last Friday, Huizenga had been in talks about selling the team for about $1.1 billion. Now it seems that deal has since unraveled and there's no immediate plans to sell even a portion of the franchise.

Parcells will finish his duties as an ESPN analyst this week, appearing on ESPN Radio Primetime Friday at 7 p.m. ET. His final work for the network will be as part of Monday night's Denver-San Diego coverage.

Parcells' return didn't seem to be a surprise in Dallas, where he retired as coach after last season.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, the son of Dallas owner Jerry Jones, said Parcells was always intrigued "not just in the coaching part, but putting the team together, running the organization, trainers to fields to scouting department. It was always a huge interest to him."

Huizenga has been known in the recent past to try to make a big splash by hiring a big name.

In January 2004, he hired Miami's greatest player, Dan Marino, as senior vice president of football operations, a job created just for him. Marino resigned from the loosely defined role 22 days later, saying he didn't want to change his lifestyle.

Later that year, Huizenga hired coach Nick Saban away from LSU; he lasted only two seasons in Miami before bolting after the 2006 campaign to return to college football at Alabama.


Now that Parcells is in, the question next is what can he do to improve the Dolphins? He certainly can't do worse. First, he must make the proper draft choice since the Dolphins have the #1 pick. At 1-13, the Dolphins clearly aren't one player away from the playoffs, so trade options will entice him. Next, he must decide on the future of his position players on offense and defense, especially QB John Beck. Is John Beck really the future quarterback of Miami? Bill Parcells is excellent at identifying the potential of future players. Saban let the defense get too old, which is one of the reasons the team has fallen to 1-13. If there is a way to get first- and third-round draft choices for Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, Parcells might be willing to give them up. If healthy, Brown would be the ideal back to handle a ball-control offense. Before the injury, Brown had breakaway speed and great hands to catch passes out of the backfield. He was developing into a workhorse. But he's coming off a knee reconstruction, so Parcells has to project what Brown can do.

Basically, I have complete faith that Bill Parcells will assemble a playoff contending team in Miami just as he did with the Dallas Cowboys. He assembled the Cowboys to where they are now with players like Julius Jones, Marion Barber, T.O, and Tony Romo. He will do the same for the Dolphins, just give him a few years. All he has to do is win 4-7 games next year and he'll be considered a genius.

Jonathan Papelbon's Dog Was Hungry For A Piece Of History

Here's a short story I found different and comical.

The baseball from the final out of the 2007 World Series is, or rather, was at Jonathan Papelbon's home in Hattiesburg, Miss, according to the Hattiesburg American.

Jonathan Papelbon's dog, "Boss" likes to play with baseballs and Boss found the baseball that Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek gave the closer after he struck out the Rockies' Seth Smith to clinch Boston's second World Series title in four years.

"My dog ate it," Papelbon told the newspaper. "He plays with baseballs like they are his toys. His name is Boss. He jumped up one day on the counter and snatched it. He likes rawhide. He tore that thing to pieces.

"I'll keep what's left of it," he told the paper.

The common excuse for not doing one's homework does not go over well in school...and I don't think it goes over well for a professional MLB player.

MLB Steroid Users Refuse To Testify In Front of Congress

Don't expect Roger Clemens to make his first on-camera statements about accusations of his steroid use before a Congressional hearing next month. Or any other player for that matter.

None of the 86 players mentioned in the Mitchell report released last week are expected to speak at a Jan. 15 hearing on steroids before the House Government Reform Committee, according to a published report.

"We don't want to turn this into a circus," Rep. Tom Davis told USA Today. "We just want to know what Major League Baseball plans to do about their problems. We understand the collective bargaining agreement complicates matters, but we'd like to see if they agree with Senator George Mitchell's recommendations, and move on."

Davis reiterated those comments Thursday on the Stephen A. Smith Show on ESPN radio, saying "no" to whether Clemens would come to Capitol Hill.

A few of the faces likely to grace Capitol Hill for January's hearings are Commissioner Bud Selig, MLB players union executive director Don Fehr, and Mitchell.

"If players believe they are wrongfully accused in the report," Davis told the paper, "they are welcome to volunteer and we'll take it under consideration. But as I understand it, all these players had a chance to cooperate [with Mitchell], and everyone declined to cooperate.

"So, to an extent, that's what they get."

Davis cautioned players about testifying, pointing out that they would be under oath and could face perjury charges if they are caught lying.

I don't blame the players for not wanting to testify. They'll end up with the same fate as Barry Bonds. However, by these players not wanting to testify, it leads me to believe that every one of them is a steroid user (not that I care or am against it). If you stand before Congress, you MUST tell the truth. If these players have nothing to hide, then they shouldn't have a problem testifying before Congress. None of the players want to admit that they used steroids because that will blemish their names and careers.

My Predictions For Week 16 Of The NFL

Thursday

Pittsburgh At St. Louis - This is a very big game for the Steelers, who have the Browns breathing down their necks in the AFC North. Jacksonville pushed the Steelers around Heinz Field on Sunday. If not for Ben Roethlisberger's heroics, the game would not have gone down to the wire. While St. Louis isn't nearly as big and physical as the Jaguars, Pittsburgh will be on the road with little preparation or healing time for Thursday night's contest. Despite these facts, I still like the Steelers to pull out a victory in this one. Look for the league leading rusher Willie Parker to have a good game.

Saturday

Dallas At Carolina - I seriously doubt Jessica Simpson's global positioning on this Earth had any kind of gravitational effect on Tony Romo's poor performance last week. That's one of the greatest excuses I've heard though. The Cowboys need to rebound after a terrible outing against the Eagles last week. They need to win in order to hold onto home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Carolina was impressive last week, but can they make it two weeks in a row? I think not.

Sunday

New York Giants At Buffalo - Is anyone aware that the Giants may not make the playoffs. They play the Patriots next week (thats an automatic loss), so if they don't win this week and the teams behind the Giants win their last 2 games, then the Giants are out. Buffalo is scratching for a Wild Card with the Browns and Titans. This has the makings of a very good inter-state game and I like the Bills to upset the Giants.

Green Bay At Chicago - With the Cowboys stumbling a week ago, the Packers are breathing down their neck to position themselves for the No. 1 playoff spot. After last week's disappointing loss for the Bears, they have nothing to play for. Just give the win to the Packs.

Cleveland At Cincinnati - The Bengals were utterly unimpressive in their Saturday night loss in San Francisco, but now they get an extra day to prepare for this home game. In a crucial game for the AFC wild-card picture, Cleveland defeated the Bills last week in nasty Cleveland weather. Cincinnati was officially eliminated from the postseason after Week 14, making this season a major disappointment. The Browns have stayed remarkably healthy and are battling Pittsburgh for the lead in the AFC North. While the Browns have put together a very impressive season, they are just 3-4 on the road. In Week 2, these teams combined for a whopping 96 points and 1,085 offensive yards in a narrow Cleveland victory. Look for Cleveland to win again.

Kansas City At Detroit - I must stick with my theme (despite all stats and facts) and pick the Chiefs just because Kitna promised 10 wins. This loss will make loss #9....with 1 more week to go.

Houston At Indianapolis - The Texans are coming off two impressive wins and still have a mathematical chance to make the postseason. They would like to finish the season out with a four game winning streak, which would give them their best record since the franchise started. The Colts have wrapped up a bye for the first week of the playoffs and home field advantage until they possibly meet the Patriots for the AFC championship. This is actually tough to pick. Immediately I would choose the Colts to win, but unlike a team like the Patriots, the Colts are actually respectful and would bench their starters this late in the season if they got out to a big lead. Even still, Sorgi is a great player and I like the Colts regardless of who's playing.

Philadelphia At New Orleans - These two teams met in the playoffs last season and the Saints won to advance to the NFC championship game. Right now the Saints are just trying to fight for their playoff lives and the Eagles were eliminated once the Vikings won on Monday night. New Orleans QB Drew Brees to WR Marques Colston has been one of the most lethal combinations in the NFL over the second half of the season, but I like the Eagles secondary to shut them down and get the win.

Atlanta At Arizona - There aren't many easy wins in the NFL, but the hard-luck Falcons might be one. Atlanta is beyond struggling right now and it's to a point where it is just trying to find any and all competitiveness left to finish the season strong. Even though the shots of the Cardinals making the playoffs are next to none, they will still get this win because they would like to finish on a good note.

Oakland At Jacksonville - Based on the way Oakland has been playing and based on the way the Jags have been playing (one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now), its a no brainer to pick the Jags.

Tampa Bay At San Fransisco - The Buccaneers have clinched a divisional title but are hoping to fine tune their offense as QB Jeff Garcia returned last weekend after missing two games with a back injury. This is also a return to the city where he led the 49ers from 2000 through 2003 and went to the Pro Bowl three times. I think this is a game where the Bucs, having already clinched, will fall asleep and let the 49ers win.

New York Jets At Tennessee - The Titans must win in order to stay in the playoff hunt, while the Jets are looking to build on a strong outing against the Patriots. Under head coach Eric Mangini the Jets have played their best football in the second half of the season, while Titans head coach Jeff Fisher continues to have his players playing at a high level. Expect the Titans to come out pounding the ball against a Jets run defense that has struggled all season. The Titans should win this and Vince Young should be entertaining as the Jets try to contain him.

Baltimore At Seattle - The Ravens have lost seven games in a row. They are beat up on the defensive side of the ball especially at the CB position where they may once again be without starters Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle. How will they deal with Seattle's passing attack this week after giving up 315 passing yards last week to Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon? The Seahawks are coming off an extremely ugly road loss last week and this is the week they bounce back at home.

Miami At New England - Wouldn't it be so ironic if the only team to go undefeated stops the Patriots from doing so and preserving their record. If the winter conditions in the Northeast continue through the weekend, it could make the passing game take a back seat to the ground game, which would serve as an equalizer to an underdog, especially since the Patriots lack a running game. I will pick the Patriots to win, but I will be cheering on Miami to perform the biggest upset in decades.

Washington At Minnesota - The Vikings and the Redskins are both still in the hunt for the last Wild Card playoff spot in the NFC. Peterson and Taylor are running behind the best offensive line in football right now. Despite how poorly the Vikings have been playing (I wrote an article about this), I still like them over the Redskins.

Denver At San Diego - Forget the records these teams bring into the final Monday night game of the season, because this is an intense divisional rivlary no matter what and both teams are sure to play hard on this stage. Expected this game too be heated and close, but expect LT and the Chargers to pull out a win. San Diego is a very dangerous team heading into the playoffs with a dominating running game behind LaDainian Tomlinson and a defense that is attacking offenses much more in recent weeks.












Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Some Comments on the 2008 Pro Bowl Voting

NFC

-It's very nice to see the public give Favre (possibly) another farewell game after the season is over. I agree with voting him in as QB over Tony Romo, especially this year.

-Terrell Owens and Larry Fitzgerald should bring out the best in Favre, who isn't used to throwing to receivers of this caliber.

-The public really loves the new guy Adrian Peterson. Based on his inconsistency, I wouldn't have picked him over Westbrook, who you can always rely on.

-Did anyone not see Al Harris get burned repeatedly when he played the Cowboys. He's terrible. Good thing Terrell Owens is on his side this game. It doesn't matter though, if not T.O, then Randy Moss will exploit Al Harris.

-Watching Devin Hester return kicks is the only exciting aspect of the Bears. There isn't anybody who can do it better.

AFC

-As a Manning fan, I think he is more of a team player who would do a better job managing his team, the time, and get the overall win. However, the Pro Bowl isn't really about who wins. It's not like baseball where a win determines home field advantage. The Pro Bowl is all about flash and showing off. So in that regard, I can see why Brady would be voted the starter. This year, a Brady pass to Randy Moss is more exciting than a Manning pass to Wayne.

-How can you go wrong with the #1 receiver in the league (Moss) and the #1 receiver (Wayne) on the second best team in the league? You can't possibly lose with Moss. He'll push off the defender every time and never get flagged for it.

-How can you go wrong with the #1 tight end in the league (Anotonio Gates)

-LaDainian Tomlinson is becoming more like the LT of last year more and more and if he keeps this up he'll put Adrian Peterson in his place.

-Ed Reed and Bob Sanders is a good duo at safetys. As is Champ Bailey and Asante Samuel at cornerbacks.

The AFC Pro Bowl Team Unleashed

AFC Offense
Pos. Name Team
WR Randy Moss* New England
WR Reggie Wayne* Indianapolis
WR Braylon Edwards Cleveland
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh Cincinnati
OT Matt Light* New England
OT Jason Peters* Buffalo
OT Jonathan Ogden Baltimore
OG Alan Faneca* Pittsburgh
OG Logan Mankins* New England
OG Kris Dielman San Diego
C Jeff Saturday* Indianapolis
C Dan Koppen New England
TE Antonio Gates* San Diego
TE Tony Gonzalez Kansas City
QB Tom Brady* New England
QB Peyton Manning Indianapolis
QB Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh
RB LaDainian Tomlinson* San Diego
RB Joseph Addai Indianapolis
RB Willie Parker Pittsburgh
FB Lorenzo Neal* San Diego

AFC Defense
Pos. Name Team
DE Jared Allen* Kansas City
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch* Tennessee
DE Jason Taylor Miami
DT Albert Haynesworth* Tennessee
DT Vince Wilfork* New England
DT Jamal Williams San Diego
OLB James Harrison* Pittsburgh
OLB Mike Vrabel* New England
OLB Shawne Merriman San Diego
ILB DeMeco Ryans* Houston
ILB Ray Lewis Baltimore
CB Champ Bailey* Denver
CB Asante Samuel* New England
CB Antonio Cromartie San Diego
FS Ed Reed* Baltimore
SS Bob Sanders* Indianapolis
SS Troy Polamalu Pittsburgh

AFC Special Teams
Pos. Name Team
Punter Shane Lechler Oakland
Kicker Rob Bironas Tennessee
Kick returner Josh Cribbs Cleveland
Special Teamer Kassim Osgood San Diego

* = Starter

The NFC Pro Bowl Team Unleashed

NFC Offense
Pos. Name Team
WR Terrell Owens* Dallas
WR Larry Fitzgerald* Arizona
WR Donald Driver Green Bay
WR Torry Holt St. Louis
OT Flozell Adams* Dallas
OT Walter Jones* Seattle
OT Chris Samuels Washington
OG Leonard Davis* Dallas
OG Steve Hutchinson* Minnesota
OG Shawn Andrews Philadelphia
C Andre Gurode* Dallas
C Matt Birk Minnesota
TE Jason Witten* Dallas
TE Chris Cooley Washington
QB Brett Favre* Green Bay
QB Matt Hasselbeck Seattle
QB Tony Romo Dallas
RB Adrian Peterson* Minnesota
RB Marion Barber Dallas
RB Brian Westbrook Philadelphia
FB Tony Richardson* Minnesota

NFC Defense
Pos. Name Team
DE Aaron Kampman* Green Bay
DE Patrick Kerney* Seattle
DE Osi Umenyiora N.Y. Giants
DT Kevin Williams* Minnesota
DT Pat Williams* Minnesota
DT Tommie Harris Chicago
OLB Julian Peterson* Seattle
OLB DeMarcus Ware* Dallas
OLB Lance Briggs Chicago
ILB Lofa Tatupu* Seattle
ILB Patrick Willis San Francisco
CB Al Harris* Green Bay
CB Marcus Trufant* Seattle
CB Terence Newman Dallas
FS Sean Taylor* Washington
FS Ken Hamlin Dallas
SS Darren Sharper* Minnesota

NFC Special Teams
Pos. Name Team
Punter Andy Lee San Francisco
Kicker Nick Folk Dallas
Kick returner Devin Hester Chicago
Special Teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo Chicago

* = Starter