The Best Signal Callers I have seen

With Brett Farve calling it a career last week there has been many discussing about the greatest quarterbacks so I am throwing my stinky asshole, I mean opinion, if you don’t get it stop reading and never come to this blog because you are two stupid to get the reference of opinions being like assholes.

Let me create my timeline, I do not want to comment about quarterbacks I have never seen, I don’t know what the NFL was like in the 70’s, Terry Bradshaw had a grand total of four 300 yard passing games in his career and yet is considered one of the best qbs of all time. So to create total symmetry I am starting with the last Giants Super Bowl victory, XXV against The Bills and Jim Kelly, be ready to see his name again.

The criteria, if anyone knows anything about me they would know how overrated quarterbacks. I do not have a formula but there are two thing I think about, do I want them quarterbacking my team and I think a quarterback greatness can be decided by their needlessness, I know that sounds like a made up word but you look at how people talk about quarterback and we always talk about how the quarterback needs a wide receivers (Vick), need a quarterback who can control him (Farve), a running game (Marino), a defense (Marino), I know I mention Marino twice, but since Marino retired he has just bothered me to know end. They should be to utilize the players around them, the difference between the majority of players in the NFL is negligibility, is there huge difference between Reggie Wayne and Braylon Edwards, Donald Driver and Chris Chambers, Steve Smith and Brandon Marshall.

Honorable Mention:

Brett Farve, he is everything that despise about the position, he can not play in the system, he has been giving a ridicules pass over the last ten years, his last two playoff games ended on interceptions he threw in overtime. But he was a tough guy, and no matter what, everybody has to respect the guy who answers the bell every time. The streak in of itself is a greatness leadership a quarterback can offer, what offensive lineman could say its ok for me to sit out while the pretty boy QB is playing with a separated shoulder and broken thumb on his throwing hand. Plus he stole all of Marino’s records, which earns him bonus points in my book.

Warren Moon, this guy is greatest quarterback nobody ever discusses, this put up madden numbers in an era when probrowl quarterbacks throw for 3,200 yards, moon had four seasons passing for over 4,000 yards including two season of 4,700 yards.

Donovan McNabb, listen he is Jim Kelly junior, he went to four straight NFC championship, name any other offensive player from that run, Terrell Owens and Westbrook were only factors in the last year of the run. He is an easy target but when Andy Reid refuses to draft or sign a receiver over six foot tall then your quarterback and defense have to be perfect.

The dishonorable mention:

Dan Marino, this guy clearly is the ultimate tool bag. His attitude and lack of a championship All you need to know is when Brett Farve set one of the records and CBS showed the high light James Brown through to him and said, ”and our own Dan Marino wants to congratulate him,” then you here a deep breath, and Marino mumbled “yeah congrats Brett” in the same way the ex-husband congrats his ex-wife’s new husband. The thing Dan Marino carried about was putting up numbers, I think if he switched places with Troy Aikman and was on that Cowboys team where Jimmy Johnson wanted to run the ball and play defense he would have caused issues hurt the team chemistry. If you offered Dan Marino two super bowl wins or all of his passing records, he would say “just win baby,” wait for it, wait for it, ”just kidding give the records, by the way can we print my name in bold read with stars around it.” 

Steve Young, I don’t know why but I just never was overly impressed with Young. I was shocked at the fact that he was a first ballot hall of famer, I never considered him the best of his era when he was in his prime, I thought Aikman, Farve, Marino, and Kelly were all more impressive. He played in a system that pretty much devalued that Qb rating system, because every quarterback has 30 point swing when the play in that system, look at Brad Johnson and Jeff Garcia numbers. He played with greatest wide receiver of all time and went to the super bowl once. I am usually a big fan of stats but I never said, “I wish the Giants had Young.”

Young and Marino have shown that they have other skills, blowhardyness, stupidity and unnatural ability to kept people to change the channel at the mere sound of their voice.  

The Finalists

5. Jim Kelly, F U all you tool bags who want to use the 0-4 in super bowls against him, who the hell else has ever had a four year run like his.  Go head start rattling off all the hall of fame defensive players besides Bruce Smith. Andre reed and Don Bebe is not a historical wide receiving core. Just watching his hall of fame speech inspired my cynical ass, which made him the leader he needed to be to run the original hurry up offense during the first quarter. Go head and detract but the man has done something no one has, just think how hard it must be go through the pain of losing the biggest game of your life, then you are able to do what it takes to repeat that three more times, that is a leader a man I would want on my team.

4. Troy Aikman, oh how it kills me to through his name on this list. This guy was the ultimate captain of a ship mentality, keep the boat on course. Since he became a broadcaster, it’s clear that his lack of personality was the key to dealing with drug dealing egomaniacs that played on that team. Listening to him during the game can you imagine Leon Lett going to him after the game and saying, “I have a goody bag and a couple of girls at my hotel room, you down Troy?” In all seriousness he has season of 5, 6 and 7 as interception totals for the year, Peyton Manning had six in one game this year.

3. Tom Brady, up to the last three years Tom Brady was my ideal quarterback, played with in a system, allowed controlled a control offense, shown a knack for last second drives, and on the cheap because of his sixth round draft status. He is this generation Joe Montana, he did not have all the tools coming into the league, but he played with the system and won. This year has shown with the right players and system he can through numbers as good as anybody, but the real question is he willing and able to go back to a ball control run offense, because the last three years his teams were pass offense. While it has been a statistical success, the new style offense might have an adverse affect on the defense. Just some rambling thoughts running around the old head.

2. John Elway, Elway is still considered the premiere combination between athleticism and arm strength. The first 6/8, or maybe 12/16, of his careers he was in the Kelly mold of getting to the big game and losing, which is not as bad as all those fat toolbar sports columnist will tell you. But then they find an offensive line with and a great defense and he was able to go out on top. So to go off on a tangent but if you look at my boy Mark Schlereth and realize the evolution he has made, he now is a 210 pretty boy who is a soap actor, back in the day he was 280 pound offensive lineman named stink. Sorry back to Elway he has the nick name I think every man in the world would want, Captain comeback, and may I propose the New Age Captain comeback, or NACC, Eli Manning, that might be a slightly biases opinion though.

1. Peyton Manning, there is no more cerebral player in the history of the league. This can barely through ball better than me. No one can tell me that there are not at least 74 other players in this league that can through a better spiral, including some running backs. So why is he the best because he has evolved the Jim Kelly no huddle offense and he is the engine of most dominate offense over multiyear run, that shows no signs of slowing down, no many how many plays Aaron Moorehead, I do not know which is a batter line the name, Moorehead, or referencing his whitdom as an NFL receiver. And imaging how great Manning’s number would be if the showed the class level of the Boston B’s, Belicheck and Brady, Peyton and Tony Dungy for some reason do not think its cool to be up six touchdowns and thrown for 40-yard tds on fourth and 8. Here’s the deal if Peyton wins another Super Bowl and Brady and stays at three, then their is conversation Manning is the better qb.

Free agency, the way the first weekend should have gone

Clearly nobody can blame players for taking the best offer, but they often forget to take into consideration if its the best move for the player and the team in football sense. So here is where players should have gone to, with a bit of a poetic twist.

Randy Moss, he has yet to sign with a team, but would there be a better football team fit than Eagles. Clearly the demands from Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb for a playmaker on offense fell on deaf years when they blew their load on Asante Samuels. But they do need a big wide receiver that MaNabb can actually see down field. I cannot possible see any reason why the Eagles would not go after a questionable character wide receiver who has been a cancer to a locker room before. Plus I got a parking ticket in Philadelphia, so Randy Moss can drive over some cops and make the locals happy.

Asante Samuels, the Eagles have many wholes to fill, linebackers, wide receivers, safety, so why did they add a high priced corner when they have two above average corners, well I don’t know either. Samuels should have went to the Jets, sure they need a corner, but it would be much more interesting at the Jets press conference when Samuels says that Bill Bellicheck mic’d there opponents locker room, they had a scrambler to intercept the calls to the opposing quarterback, the undercover maid who goes in and takes picture of the playbook, and never mind what Bellicheck does to the opposing teams mascot to get information, three words, “get the gimp.”

Jothan Vilma, sure he was not a true free agent, but when your agent is g, giving permission to seek a trade you just about a free agent. If I was Vilma I would of found away to join the Redskins, where formers Jets head to get their pay day, Laveranues Coles, Santana Moss, Randy Thomas, even kickers like John Hall. 

Zach Thomas, sure he has a good excuse for making a bad decisions because he still asks is anybody going to answer that phone, see he had a concussion and one of the symptoms is hearing a ringing nose, see its funny cause his brain is still swelled, its haha funny. But the real problem is that he is a small middle backer, and Dallas plays a 3-4. Historically small middle linebackers never survive in 3-4. But now Thomas no longer has to see the python between Jason Taylor’s legs that Thomas sister was taking.

    

Madieu Williams, sure you have to be uber-NFL nerd to know who he is but he gets that football is a team game. He left a team that were getting arrested for DUI, by land and by see, stabbings, drugs, a list of offenses to long to mention. Theses Bengals selfishly got arrested on their own. But know that Williams is part of the Vikings he is on a team that gets the team aspect, which is best shown by love boat incident. They went out as team and got arrested as a team, they were not arrested as individuals but as a team. By the way do you realize how bad you have to be in order arrested for things on a boat, I am pretty sure you can have a cock fight on a boat as long as there is a veterinarian on the ship.

 

So for you 2009 free agents please remember sports columnists are the simplest of all of gods creatures, they do not understand when other people want money, or why it makes football sense, so you must sign with teams that will allow them to make easy poetic connections and bad jokes, watch PTI or Around the Horn for examples.

18 and d’oh: Now I Can watch Bill Simmons Die in peace

It is crazy but the Patriots built the gameplan that beat them last night. Last night the 07 Pats lost to the 2001 pats. The similarities between 2002 Super Bowl and last night’s was scary.

 

There are the cosmetic similarties, the score, 17-14, both were double digit underdogs, both underdog lost at home to the favorites at home by a single score, both had retread coaches the favorites were record setting offenses, both teams played in a game that was  defined by weather but it went deeper.

 

That night I heard ESPN’s Tom Jackson say how the Giants reminded him of how the pats were a team in every sense of the world. Then I looked at the Giants and realized they had no superstar who piled up crazy stats, Just a whole bunch of the player playing for one another and having fun, with a underdog quarterback.

Both team relied on their defenses to dominate the game and shutdown the unstoppable force. They forced the favorites to throw the ball over 75 percent of the time. Then they pinned their ears back and dropped the quarterback like he Brady drops his baby’s mama. The favorite also insisted on ignoring what was successful that night, wide receiver were picking up ten yards a clip, and tried to win with style, which allowed the quarterback to be beat into the carpet.

But at the end the supposedly superior team scored late in the fourth quarter and the underdogs were doomed to come up short. But Eli was able to distinguish himself from Brady, by actually scoring the game winning touchdown, instead of playing for the field goal.

There is also one small difference, the Giants did not have to use night vision goggles to watch Brady hump Gisele the day before the game, hoping to figure out what he was going to run on second and five at the 50 yard line in the third quarter.

And more importantly this has hurt the mythic power of Boston sports. Like always said the worst thing Boston could do is win the World Series. they lost the lovable loser tag now they are the Yankees with out 27 championships. Sure that 3-0 comeback was historic,  but a New york team stopped a New England team from becoming the greats team ever. A hundred years from now they would have still bean talking about this Patriot team but now they are just another great.  As I said at kickoff, I don’t know what was more important to me the giants wining the Super Bowl or the Pats Losing.

The weirdest part is I think I am starting to get that QB man crush, thinking that Eli would have been the only quarterback who could have won a Super Bowl. Here is how I place Eli in the QB Hierarchy, Peyton and Brady are the living legends,untouchable, then there is the Mcnabb Hasselbeck who have turned losing franchises in to perennial contenders, but then there is Eli. I think his play is much more similar to Brady’s when he won Super Bowl 2 and three, where is not running a offensive juggernaut, but rather taking his team down the field when it matters. I think you have to put Eli ahead of number guys Like Brees and Palmer because he has always shown the ability to win the game in the fourth quarter, and he has been to the playoffs more times than both of them. And as far as Big Ben and Phillip “Ryan Leaf with LT” Rivers, both of those run the third most important par of their team, defense and running game being a higher priorities, and all they were suppose to do s not screw it up.

P.S. Did any body else notice that Brady had a drinking till sunrise voice on Media day, watch the clip when he talks the Bride reporter.

ELI’S Boot and Rally season

Every notice how many people complain about being hung over the day after the Super Bowl? Now maybe I have a genetic advantage being Irish, but don’t you want to yell at them its time for you to boot and rally. Which brings me to Eli, and I realize that Eli is the ultimate boot and rallier in every aspect. Sure he has shown the ability to rally by more fourth quarter backs than big brother Peyton, but this season symbolize the highs and lows felt when somebody boots and rallies.

 

Clearly Eli had his ups and downs this season. You could compare Eli’s season to a lame Friday night at a local bar filled with townies. Sure he was not accurate, similar to the beer layer in your stomach. Then his wide receivers dropped more balls then any team since the turn of the century, look it up, the equivalent of switching to vodka drinks, the beginning of trouble. Then the media starts making ill-informed cheap shots, basically doing shots of alcohol that you already swore off but who have to drink because your boss insists.  Then the Cowboys win the NFC east, your old girlfriend showing up with some guy who looks like a douche bag quarterback with a an earring, that’s right Tony Romo looks like a douche bag. Then comes the bad weather, basically the guy smoking a cheap cigar and being loud and obnoxious, taking away from the ambiance, it was just a bad time all around and the night could not end fast enough.

Then the cell phone rings and its your buddy wants to go to Atlantic City and take down the house, the 15-0 Patriots are coming to town and you are the last team that can beat them. Everybody says you should sit your starters against the Pats because you might get them hurt, just like all the lame people at the bar are telling you should just go home and save your money. Well Eli said fuck it. The Pats Game was the boot; from there on he had the greatest rally of all time. He started with some slots, the Bucs, and he built up bank by winning some jackpots. Then he moves on to the black Jack table, the cowboys, all he did was played one hand and followed all the blackjack rules, really jacked up his bankroll. Then he decided he wanted to play hold’em, the NFC champions game, but this was no Saints v Bear championship with guys who will be forgotten, but he went against a legend, Brett Favre, with that win he could do the Mike McDermott speech from “Rounders” where he talks about beating Jony Chan and that proved he could sit at the final table, the Super Bowl. But it was time to go home and Eli decided to put all of his winnings on 00 on the roulette wheel facing the undefeated Pats who already beat him, figuring if he lost, nothing gained, nothing lost. Rolling and rolling and rolling, and well all know how it ended. But it would have never happened if Eli Never booted and rallied.

Sleaze Awards

The first ever sleaze awards, these awards recognize the people in sports that have ignored for their low life behavior.  Let the ceremony

MLB

3. John Henry: Does everybody remember the last time baseball had a labor crisis, they wanted to contract teams. The owner or the Florida Marlins complained that his baseball team was losing money and how it was the entire systems fault because it allowed the big market teams spend too much. So what does he do sells his team then buys the Red Sox and gives 100 million dollars to a .500 pitcher with a 4 ERA. Really, Really, Really!!! Slightly hypocritical, don’t you think?

2. Florida Marlins: This pathetic franchise is using the lopeholes in baseball to make money while manning a less than competitive team. They traded their best player and there most recognizable player in the same deal. Yet next year they will be shocked when nobody shows up.  But despite putting out a crappy product on the field they will make more money than most other teams in the league because of the welfare program, sorry I mean luxury tax. This is what’s wrong when you build sealings and fail to build floors.

1. Bud Selig: Clearly any hunch back who decides the best way to save his sport was McCarthyism deserves a spot on the list. He has made the mistake that he works for the worthless columnists and the losers who have time to call into sports talk shows and complain about athletes trying to be their best.

NBA

3. Jason Kidd:  This guy is the stereotypical NBA player but nobody acknowledges it. He has had his coach fired, Byron Scott. He has beat up his wife on multiple times, including once because she feed his son French fries. He has sex assaulted a woman in a club, allegedly. And he refused to show up to a regular season game over a contract dispute, yet he is treated like Gandhi, because he made the Nets competitive.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Sometime sleaze is powered by stupidity and that’s where Cavs come into play. This team had the NBA draft rigged so that they can be handed the most talented player to come out of high school and have failed to make any other good roster moves. Since the Ehlo Price Daugherty Era they have had four solid players, LBJ, Big Z, Andre Miller and Terrell Brandon. That starting team would be a three seed, over 20 years of history and that’s the best you can offer, pathetic.

1. Eddy Curry: Not for showing to camp every year overweight, but for putting on a dress and flirting with Isaiah Thomas. I am angry at the press for not noticing that Anucha Browne-Sanders is none other than Eddy Curry in a dress. Have you ever seen them in the same place at the same time. Curry knows Isaiah is having a tough enough year as it is.

NFL

3. Arthur Blank: Every body speaks about him as the victim of bad luck, but he should look into the mirror in order to prevent any more “bad luck.” First he kissed Michael Vick ass since he showed up to Atlanta instead of treating like an employee, where you produce or your fired, and after each incident Blank said he supports Vick. Then he begs a college coach to be his coach, even though he made it clear that he did not want the job, so blank through so much money that the coach could not turn it down. His neediness forces him to forfeit his position of power, which allows people to take advantage of him.

2. Rodney Harrison: A pretty easy target, late hits, trash talking fans and coaches. Oh yeah he cheated and ruined the integrity of the game by taking medicine to heal an injury.  Asterisk! Asterisk! Asterisk!

1.  Tom Brady: How could anybody complain about Mr. All-American, well here I go, listen that humble pie stuff is great unless you have a smug “I am dating supermodel, and I am really awesome” smirk on your face when you say it. When Bill Belicheck says it you can tell he is just miserable and means it, there is no joy in that man’s life, but Brady has the hugest shit-eating grin ever. Listen I have no problem with him banging hot chicks but you cannot leave a pregnant chick and leave on bad terms like he did.  He has a chance to get off the list by simply saying, “I work harder than everybody else and I will not apologize for all the fruits of my labor.” Then scream Peace out and Drop the Mick and pull a gun out and fire two shots in the air.

Media (This is a collective effort, I wish I had the time to point out each ass in the Media, but there is way to many terrible idiots in the media.)

3. Skip Bayless: I know that this could be any talking head, but he is now on SportsCenter doing the Budweiser Hotseat, which is the last straw on the back for my SportsCenter devotion. He is one of the guys who think there is a correlation between his intensity in his tone and how correct he is. And his lame puns, there suppose to be clever, which mean few can think of them, not that any 5 year-old can think like Tony Romeo.

2. Sean Dinglebberry: Other than yelling into the camera what does he bring to the broadcast. Every topic he talks about is in absolutes, “this guy will be top five running back as soon as he enters the league (Reggie Bush), this team should give his pay check back,” that’s funny from somebody who spent his career as a backup QB who never saw the field, how many weeks did he give his paycheck back. Then he talks about it his job to give his opinion, that may have been what the position has morphed into, but back in the day experts jobs use to be to explain the complexity of the issues and explain it the lay.

1. Tony Kornwhole: This man has ruined Monday Night Football! I could not watch my beloved Giants play the Falcons because he has pea size brain he most over simplify things and make every thing black or white, instead of taking the opportunity understand the complexity of the game and enlightening the audience with it. In fairness to him he never watched regular season football games before he got the gig, or any other sporting event because he had to go to bed. 

AFC Preview

AFC East

New England Patriots

2006 12-4

Key Additions: Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth

Key Losses:

Fantasy Players: Obviously Tom Brady is a top four quarterback who throws for 25 touchdowns and 3500 yards, with 14 picks. I don’t see his numbers varying. I have already labeled Randy Moss as an anchor so if you’re a guy who is saying “I need to come out of my draft with this guy, let me be the first to say good luck in 2009, I am skipping 2008 because if your dumb enough to pick him before other top ten WR like Laveranues Coles you will screw your self next year.  Lawrence Maroney is a running back last year who could not carry a split load and hurt his shoulder, so I think he is a risk that you should not take in the first few picks.

The 411: I really doubt that this team is going to be as good as people are suggesting. The defense is not what it was during the super bowl run. Thomas has been in the league for eight years, how many have you known about, the last three years were good, but last year he only had one forced turnover for how great he was. He played on a defense with at least four players (Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Chris McAllister and Ed Reed) that were ahead of him on the opposing offensive game plan. The offense might be a little better, Moss and Stallsworth, the starting WRs, caught 80 balls last year, 18 Wr had more than that by themselves. I think they will struggle at times this year.

Prediction: 9-7

 

New York Jets

2006 10-6

Key Additions: Thomas Jones, Darelle Revis

Key loses: Pete Kendall

Fantasy Players:  Chad Pennington is an injury risk facing a possible QB controversy, so he should not be your number one quarterback because of that. I have a bad feeling about Thomas Jones, right now he is injured, he played for two teams before the Bears where he was terrible and his first season he rushed for over 1000 yards was 2005. I like Coles, if he is your number two wide receiver, you have a great start.

The 411: The Jets I think are going to have a tough challenge this year. They traded their most consistent lineman last year, Kendall, and putting a lot of faith in a RB who might be a product of a good Chicago offensive line. I think Kellen Clemens will be the starter for a stretch, either due to injury or Chad will be blamed for the team’s ineffectiveness. I really think it is possible for them to finish in the basement.

Prediction: 5-11

 

Buffalo Bills

2006 7-9

Key Additions: Marshawn Lynch, Derrick Dockery, Langston Walker

Key Losses: Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher-Baker

Fantasy Players: All these players are in that high value situations, especially with an improved offensive line. Lee Evans is as fast as any WR in the league and may have matured into a consistent receiver with 82 catches. Losman could benefit from Evans development, a better offensive line and experience. Lynch will mostly likely be the most productive RB in the league just because he is starting, and could have numbers better than Joe Adai last year.

The 411: I think this offense could be very solid, but I have some serious concerns about the defense. They lost their three best players on defense and have not added any stars so we will found out how they have drafted. They will show flashes of brilliance, but hey play in division that has four teams competing.

Prediction: 7-9

 

Miami Dolphins

2006 6-10

Key Additions: Trent Green, Joey Porter, Ted Ginn

Key losses: Dante Culpepper, Randy Mcmichael

The 411: This defense is always top ranked and they added a player that is the definition of a playmaker in Joey Porter. This defense will have games that they score more than they give up. The offense is being ignored, especially one of the most prolific passer of the new millennium Trent Green. In the five seasons prior to last year Green averaged over 4000 yards a season with Eddie Kennison and the rest of nobodies. No with guys like Chris Chamber Marty Booker and Ted Ginn, Green has two receiver better than the best he every had in KC and a freak. As far as his injury, it was his first season he failed to play 16 games and it was a concussion so it’s not going to affect him. I really think this is going to be a good team.

Fantasy Players: If you can’t figure out how I feel about Green you should put your helmet back on and get on the short bus because you need some help. As for the rest of the squad I think Ronnie Brown will have a chance to be a break out back because Cam Cameron learned at the feet of Norv Turner, who makes RB probowlers. Chris Chambers sculpture of an ideal receiver, he has all the tools and now has a top QB so this could be the season he puts it together.

11-5

Prediction: 11-5

 

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

2006 13-3

Key Addition: Willis McGahee

Key Losses: Adalius Thomas, Jamal Lewis

The 411: Same team, different year, their defense is as good as any team in the league. They still have all their key players; Thomas was a product of the system and will be replaced easily. I think the offense will be better, but don’t be fooled it won’t be about Steve McNair it will be about McGahee, he will have to rush for 1500, which will alow the defense to rest so they won’t be beat up for the playoffs. They are the class of the North and will win it but it won’t be a cakewalk like last year.

Fantasy:  Once again, same team, different year. I think every player will have the same year. McNair will miss a couple of games; McGahee had very similar numbers to Jamal Lewis, so I think he will produce the same in Balty.

10-6

 

Cincinnati Bengals

2006 8-8

Key additions:

Key Additions:

The 411: The offense is like a waterfall, powerful destructive and undeniable. Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson, and TJ Houshmandzadeh are as good as any groups of skill players in the league including Peyton’s Place; I would probably not take Houshmandzadeh because I do not know how to spell his name. But the team’s downfall last year was their defense, based on gambling but they busted to often last year, and they did not do a lot to fix it. I do think that they will be more like the 2005 team where they won and got turnovers.

Fantasy Players: All these players are studs, they are low risk, they will cost you, they are not sleepers, but they will produce.

Prediction: 9-7

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

8-8

Key Additions: Lawrence Timmons

Key Losses: Joey Porter, Bill Cowher

The 411: Mike Tomlin will be a good coach, but when a head coach enters an organization lack the most important thing, his guys. As great as Hines Ward is, he will not have the bond with Tomlin as he had with Cowher, because he developed him. Those are Key because they can tell new players about the jungle they are entering, well the whole teams is entering the jungle this. Plus Tomlin is going to transition into a 4-3 defense, which will cause some issues. They also lost the guy who got the defense geeked up no matter how bad the offense was playing. I think Big Ben will have issues again, in his first two seasons he was a caretaker didn’t win games didn’t lose games. Keep the ball in the RBs hands and let the defense control the game. He will face more growing pains this year.

Fantasy Players: Willie Parker is a stud. He will put up 1500 yards again and will give owners their return for a first round pick. Hines Ward is a solid number two receiver who allows you two gamble on your number three receiver. For all the talk of how Ben is healthy and now can return to his form, but that is not great, his first three seasons he had 17, 17, 18 touchdowns, which is in the middle of the pack, he is an all right number two QB.

Prediction: 6-10

 

Cleveland Browns

4-12

Key Additions: Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn

Key Losses:

The 411:  The Browns could be that team that comes out of nowhere; they have good defensive mix of young and old players with guys like Kamerion Wimbley and Willie McGinest. The offense will have a chance to be a very middle of the pack or better.  Fans want to give up on a quarterback if they don’t win every game buy 40 and have a 153.8 QB rating and sometime that still is not good enough, just ask Rex Groosman last year he lead the league with seven games of 100+ QB rating. Charlie Frye could have a very solid season. I think they will beat everybody in their division at least once, and four of their last six opponents had losing records, and three of those games will be in the dog pound.

Fantasy Players: I think that Braylon Edwards is going to be a true value pick, I think his numbers will be in the top ten just do not draft him to early because that would eliminate the value aspect. Kellen Winslow will be a top five TE, he is not going to be a value but he will payoff. I think Jamal Lewis is at the point of his career where he would be an ideal time share guy, but I am afraid he is just going to be beat up to much and he will miss six games with a 3 yard carry average.

9-7

 

AFC south

Indianapolis Colts

2006 12-4

Key Additions: Anthony Gonzalez

Key Losses: Anthony McFarland, Cato June, Corey Simon, Tarik Glenn Jason David, Nick Harper

The 411: Peyton Manning now can spit in the face of the know nothings who questioned, “can he win the big game?” But now he has new wholes that will force the team to struggles at points during the season. The lose of Tarik Glenn is being underrated; you know that because the entire organization has spent the whole preseason begging him to comeback. Did you know that left tackle is the second highest paying position in the NFL and they just lost one of the best? Tony Dungy credits the defense’s turn around in the playoffs because of McFarland, now he is out for the season. With a whole in the offensive line and the defense that got significantly worse they will struggle. But Peyton Manning is the only guy in the entire league that I will guarantee his team will win eight games no matter the players around him.

Fantasy Players: I am not wasting time talking about Mr. death and taxes. The receivers are going to be good but they will cost you. And I love Joseph Adai; he will have better numbers than Ederin James.

10-6

 

Tennessee Titans

2006 8-8

Key Additions: Eric Moulds

Key losses: Drew Bennett, Bobby Wade, Adam Jones

The 411: I was a big fan of Vince Young before everybody knew him, but I have no feel for him or his team. They stole some victories last year and now the league has the opportunity to start a book on him. The defense will have to carry this team, but it can’t carry it to the playoffs.

Fantasy Players: Vince Young is going to be a good value. As bad as Michael Vicks Passing numbers were last year he was the number three scorers in standard scoring leagues, Young is a better passer and they will need Young’s legs to manufactory offense. Chris Brown will be the starter and is very undervalued; he is a starter being drafted behind backups. I also think Eric Moulds will be a good guy to play on your starters bye weeks.

6-10

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

2006 8-8

Key Additions:

Key Losses:

The 411: The defense and running game are as get as it gets in the NFL. The two things holding this team back are consistency and quarterback. I think this team will beat down all of there opponents and David Garrad will play solid enough for this team to be very good. It’s a good thing that they have decided on a quarterback.

Fantasy Player: Maurice Jones-Drew is overrated and Fred Taylor is underrated. Fred Taylor is the starter and will receive most of the carries. He will have another good season. Jones-Drew is still the back up and I think it’s hard to count on touchdown vultures from year to year. No need to talk about the rest of the Jacksonville skill player, because they do not meet the requirement to be known as a skill player.

11-5

 

Houston Texans

2006 6-10

Key Addition: Matt Schuab, Ahmen Green

Key Losses: David Carr, Eric Moulds

The 411:  Defense his how teams improve themselves from team that always pick in the top 10 to a team battling for a playoff spot late in the season. They have spent most of their draft picks adding good defensive players. Now they add a new QB and an underrated running back with a lot miles on tread. I think they will have some streaks this year, wining and losing, and they will shock some teams, they did beat the colts last year with Ron Dayne and David Carr.

Fantasy Players: Andre Johnson is another blue chip player that will cost you a blue chip price, not much of a value player. Ahmen Green will be a great number three RB, because he is a starter who has already produced and it will be a very affordable pick.

7-9

 

AFC West

San Diego Chargers

2006 14-2

Key Additions: Norv Turner

Key Losses: Entire coaching staff, Donnie Edwards

The 411: There is a fishy smell coming from the whale’s vagina and it concerns me. LT is the man, and I have always been a fan, but he is overdue for an injury. Any injury to him will make this team like the Channel 4 News Team without Ron Burgundy, bunch of guys jabbering about tridents, black panthers and a chocolate covered squirrel. It will not be Norv Turner fault when this team comes up short. Phillip Rivers threw the ball to his WR like he wants them to live the field on a stretcher. That defense is built to stop the players behind the line of scrimmage, but teams will protect the quarterbacks better and will be very vulnerable with that secondary.

Fantasy Players: LT is good, I know that’s a crazy statement, but I will put my rep on that and my argument that gravity does exist. Gates is another blue chip guy who will cost you. Rivers is a nice lower end starting QB, but could blow up.

Prediction: 8-8

 

Kansas City

2006 9-7

Key Addition: Donnie Edwards Napoleon Harris

Key Losses: Will Shields, Trent Green

The 411: The lose of Trent Green is huge, but very quietly they are building a great defense. They are a Herm Edwards team and can play some clock ball. They have five pro-bowlers in their back seven. This team will be that team every Sunday people will not know how they won but they beat teams.

Fantasy Players: Larry Johnson is, well Larry Johnson, take him with the third period. I am a little concerned about Tony Gonzalez getting enough touchdowns to by the number two TE. Treat the rest of the Chiefs like a dead bird in the park, because they might give you the killer bird flu.

9-7

 

Denver Broncos

2006 9-7

Key Additions: Travis Henry, Dre Bly

Key Losses: Jake Plummer, Al Wilson, Darrent Williams, Tatum bell

The 411: What is about Super bowl winning coaches that once they change teams (actual franchises, or brought in new players) they have to be completely irrational about their moves. After going to the AFC championship you don’t trade up to get a quarterback when your quarterback is in his early thirties. There are two reasons why you don’t do that, number one you just destroyed your quarterback confidence, number two you just pissed off all of your veterans who are putting their bodies on the line so that Coach can have a good quarterback in a couple of years. I just think Mike Shannhan has shiny toy syndrome, ask Clinton Portis, Jake Plummer and a list of other players that all they did was produce for their franchise. Shannehan will screw this team up some time this year, especially if they start playing well.

Fantasy Players: Most fantasy owners realize season ending surgery is the second worst phrase for one of your players, the worst, Mike Shanahan coached team. Again the shiny toy syndrome is quite apparent in fantasy leagues. Travis Henry will have four games where he leads the league in points, but he will have three weeks where he does not get five carries. Draft any Bronco at your own risk.

Prediction: 9-7

 

Oakland Raiders

2006 2-14

Key Additions: Daunte Culpepper, Mike Williams

Key Losses: Art Shell, Randy Moss, Aaron Brooks

The 411: They have a good defense, but teams that bad usually have good defensive stats because the other teams is up to scores and playing a little three yards and a cloud of dust. They will be better because their offensive coordinator has been on the football field in the last decade. And Al Davis always has good offensive lineman. This team still won’t be good but they will be better.

Fantasy Player: Culpepper is not going back to being pro-bowler, Lamont Jordan is an umpalumpa, who in his six year career has had one good season, and it was not all that great (1025 yards and 9 TDs). Mike Williams might be a good pick up week three if he played well in his first two weeks, ditto for Jerry Porter, but he will be picked up after week one.

Prediction: 6-10

  

Division Winners

East Dolphins

North Ravens

South Jaguars

West Chiefs

Wild Card Colts, Patriots

AFC Champs Ravens

I Got it: USA Basketball

Since 2004, when are team US basketball team was embaarssed, we complain how are team is so poorly constructed and how our superstars do not want to play on the team. Well there is clear evidence that the players who playon the dream teams, come back slower or become injury prone. Injuries have effected Jason Kidd, Ray Allen, Allan Houton and the list goes on and on. And look at Lebron James this year the first three months everybody noticed he lost some quickness and lift because he played last year. The realiy is the NBA players  is playing a nine moth season, to ask themto give up their recover time is asking them ignore their main job, help their team win.

I Got it: A world wide traveling team. Their are so many players who are talented but their game does not fit the NBA game, guys like JJ Redick, Adam Morrison, Rajon Rondo, Channing Frye and the list goes on. So why should they have to struggle to get minutes in a league based on toughness and athleticism and down plays skill sets that goes like this have. So you create a traveling team of former college stars and have them playing exhibiton games against NBA teams, top college programs, NBDL teams, and travel to Europe and play against those teams.

How do you get the players? You go to the college seniors and juniors that want to enter the draft, you offer them a four year contract that is comparable to a middle of the first round pick in the draft. These players will be able to play in one Oylpmics and all the other summer international tournments, after the four years they are free to join the NBA. The team will be inconstant flux do to contract end in differet years, so it will allow the team to stay fresh. The players will have oppurtunity to ramin popular, think back just a year how famous was Reddick and Morrison was, how about Shane Battier, he was as good of a college basketball as any one has been in the last ten years. These players would get better indorsements than a guy like Mike Conely, so it would benefit the indivdualplayer.

How would it work, no real home other than a work out location, they would always be the away team. The pay would come from a T.V. contract, merchandising and cuts from the gates . People would have tried anything to see players like Reddick and Morrison so their popularity would gurantee interest in the team. The real key I think the team would have to be in bed with the NBA wether it be owned directly bby the league or if it was owned by a grooup of owners like Mark Cuban and James Dolan.

Here is what the roster might look like.

G JJ Redick

G Jameer Nelson

G Delonte West

G Chris Duhon

G Marcus Williams

F Adam Morrison

F Hakim Warrick 

F Sheldon Williams

F Sean May

F Joakim Noah

F Wayne Simien

F Channing Frye

F Ryan Gomes

By having a roster like this it would create a hierchy. A coach would not have to play the politic game and wonder if he played a guy enough minutes or if he called enough plays for another. It would be like college, the older you get the more important you become to the team. The coach would be able to create a system and add players who fit that system, instead of having to find a system that fits a linup that has Kobe, Lebron and Carmello. I have now doubt if we have a dedicated team. The team would acually have chemistry, players would cut and acual get the ball. Plays could be run at level of near perfection.

Overation: Michael Vick

So many think that some GM will take a chance and sign Vick in three or four years from now. Everybody seems to think he is this great talent, but is he. He is the ultimate “Sportscenter Jock” big time highlights with different numbers that the morons like Seasn Salisbury wax poetic about his ability. If you don’t remember old Dingleberry proclaimed Vick would be the first QB to throw for 4000 and rush for a 1000, pretty bold statement considering he hase never thrown for 3000 yards, and only once has he trhwon for more 2500.

Vick has always been defnded because he does not have the talent around him. The Falcons brought a running back who has been pretty good in Warrick Dunn , Alge Cumpler, a tight end who has been as good as any the last couple of years, Peerless Price, a probowl widreciever, and a laundry list of first and second round used on widerecievers. He is like a shooting guard on a bad team, he dominates the ball and does not allow other players to succed.

As a Giants fan I have watched Eli Manning who is in a exclusive club of making the playoffs in back to back years, the other three Matt Hasselback, Tom brady and that other Manning. People say that if he does not have a big year this year the Giants need to move on. While Eli has that in first three years, Vick has had six seasons in the league and only seen the playoff twice.

I decided to compare Vick to the other starting quaterbacks and see if their at least comparable. One of two things will make the other quaterbacks comparable to Vick, if he lead his team to the playoffs three or they entered to the after Vick and has lead his team to the playoffs at least twice.

Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb, Brett Farve, Jeff Garcia, Jake Delhomme, Drew Brees, Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselback, Trent Green, Chad Pennington, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Steve McNair, Peyton Manning, Dante Culpepper.

Thats 14 players who play a position that many define by winning who are better at winning. That list did not count guys like Jamarcus Russel, Jay Cutler, Phillip Rivers, Vince Young, Brady Quinn, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Tony Romo. These guys fall into the media darling players who have experinced success already. Thats 22 players right now that coulod be considered better Quaterbacks than Vick, so where is this need for him going to be in three years.

His contract is second only to Peyton Manning  so he is sucking up a large part of the cap that hurts the ability of the Falcons to add a solid free agent. Also who wants to go there atlanta and get three balls get thrown to them.

No team will need a PR nightmare who never showed the ability to career a team to playoffs on a consistent player. There is no reason to bring him back as a widereciever or runningback because there is probaly 100 players who have more athletic ability, its different being a great athlete at quaterback and being a great athlete in the NFL. He is a freak, but the NFl right now is finding the players that fit a system not finding the system to meet the player.

Eli vs. Tiki

There is something wrong in the world of sports when I have attack the greatest offensive player I have seen on on my team. Thats right last season Tiki Baber’s retirement announcement was one of the three reason why the Giants season blew up last season, the other two were not Eli. When the Giants lost their left tackle (Luke Petitgout) and the go to reciever (Amani Toomer) Tiki decided that he was not getting enough attention so he had announce his retirement in the middle of the season.

Tiki loves attention, who am I to judge when I write sports blog about my opinion, but if your a good player and want attention that means you want/have to be a leader. Leaders lead they do not fromulate their own exit stradegy. While Tiki was compared to true leaders like Ray Lewis and Peyton Manning  who give their entire life to the game and their teams, Tiki was doing interviews where he says he no longer had the desire to play. In one interview I saw he said how in years past he would take scouting film home and watch it, he admitted he no longer did that. Thats not a leader. What defines a great leader is making other players believe in themselves, that is usually done by believing in them not finding his leadership amusing.

Tiki is all about Tiki, on his radio show he addressed Eli statement that Tiki lacked heart by suggesting that 16oo yards was enough to prove his heart. He was only concearned about himself not the team. The Giants are better off with out him. I really think Eli will be a better player with out Tiki. Everybody will be on the same page or will be gone.

The sad thing was Tiki has done the same thing before, to a guy who basically made his career great instead of just above medicore. Tom coughlin fixed his fumbling problem and gave him rushing and recieving numbers compreable to any player the last three years.

Tiki has done everything in the last eightteen months to burn every bridge in the Meadowlands. I do not know when it happened but Tiki stopped being part of the Giant and became part of Tiki and the Giants. He stopped seeing himself as one of 53 men, witch is the same things a guy like Terrel Owens does, but at least he wanted to play football. Lets be real here how much of a jerk Tiki must really be if a guy with the name Manning throughs him under the bus.

Fantasy Football, The Anchors

I don’t like the term bust because the reality is that when you get a bust in the first two rounds you your team sinks like an anchor. And if you select a anchor as a number one at his position your strating in a whole.

Anchors are usually not random they usually come from a poor thought process. Most Anchors are choosen by the guy who wants to prove how smart he his. He will take Frank Gore over Larry Johnson. He wants Calvin Johnson over Darrell Jackson. What qualifies you a players as a potential anchor? Pretty much any rookie, yes Adrian Peterson is a talented back but he is playing behind a very productive back already, this is like Chicago, the Bears had a productive back with Thomas Jones then drafted Cedric Benson fouth overall, Benson was not bad but Jones was so good that he kept the job. that is probably what is going to happen. The injury prone players who are healthy for one season and everybody forgot these guys spent more time on the injury list then the field, see Frank Gore. The allmighty backup, Marion Barber is not the starter, he is not a third round pick and Parcells is not going to put him in after Julius Jones drove the field. I would not be surprised if many of these players end up on the same teams in you league.

QB (the Culpepper award)

Phillip Rivers SD

I have a bad feeling about the whales vagina all together. They lost all the decisions makers on 14 -2 team. Norv Turner I just think is in a no win situation. I hate to say it but its getting close to the time that LT might start to slowdown. I remember when Atlanta made the trade with SD I told my brother, who is a huge Charger fan that was great trade, because at that time I would rather have Drew Brees and LT over Vick. I just see the whole team taking a nose dive, especially with that reciveing core.

RB

Frank Gore SF

He is a frist round pick that will sink your team quickly, first off maybe I missed a new NFL rule that allows running backs to but the ball into a napsack and fling over there shoulder, but as far as I know running backs tend to carry the ball in their hand so that the broken hand people are down playing might affect his fumbles and carries, oh yeah do you catch the ball with your hands. This add to the injury history which includes two brand new knees and laundry list of other injuries. Not to mentioned he missed a practice with an ankle injury this week.

Laurence Maroney NE (Cadilac Williams award)

This guy seem to be drafted in the snake pick between the frist and second round. Only one runnig back has had a great season in the Tom Brady era and that was Corey Dillion his frist year in New England. Plus this guy missed serious time last with shoulder a shoulder injury, he played but was ineffective, guys like Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones, Travis Henry and Brandon Jacobs will have similar seasons if he reaches his potential but he offers to much in the first round, I would rather have Fred Taylor, consistent back who if Jones-Drew suffers an injury he will be a topten back because of TD’s. Maroney is the type of back who will play 15 games but will have limited carries and tie up a spot in your lineup and give you 47 yards rushing 23 yards recieving and probably like 6-8 TDs forthe season.

WR (The Randy Moss)

Randy Moss NE

It is a rare athlete that can win an award named after himself but is looking to repeat this year. Two of the last three year he has caught 40 balls, and the other season it was sixty. For all of you guys who think he will return to his double digit TD form your wrong. I think the real reason why Tom Brady became a great quaterback was he kept it simple, through to the open guy, he does not wait for his go to guy to get open, or chuck the ball down field every time, two things that made Moss great. And if you haven’t noticed Bellicheck won’t let Moss play in the preseason games because he is not practicing due to injury, there’s a shock Moss with a hamstring injury, I am no trainer but I am preety sure hamstring injuries hurt a players speed. Mark my words some fool who thinks he knows so much more than everybody will take him before

Marques Colston NO

He had a great rookie season. But if you look at it game by game you see he had four great games and eight games below 50 yards recieving. He had only eight touchdowns. He is being drafted a head of guys Andre Johnson and Anquan Bolidin and list of other players who have produced more than he has and is more of the focal point of their teams. I am about to go out on a limb a gain, they want to find more touchs for Reggie Bush, and they drafted a reciever in the first round. He’s the type of player who can disappear in a game. You will regret not aking a guy like Hines Ward.

Just Remember you do not get extra points by finding a sleeper. How much better of a season is a guy like Calvin Johnson going to have over Ward, so why pick the guy who’s can do it instead of the guy who has done it five years in a row.