Do the Chargers Look at Brees with a Jealous Eye?

What do you think the Chargers are thinking right now? They let Drew Brees go because his shoulder was bothering him a little and they had a young stud in the wings. But they consistenly get bounced out of the playoffs after having a seemingly powerhouse team every year.

Meanwhile, Drew Brees racks up yardage, points, accolades and more importantly - wins. This guy is a winner plain and simple. And now hes' got a Superbowl and an MVP to go along with it. Above all of that he's a class act.

Phillip Rivers will have a great career, but the Chargers have still got to look over their shoulder every once in awhile and wonder - what if?

The Gutsiest Calls Get the Glory

Another Superbowl in the books and it turned out to be a pretty good game. When Peyton Manning lofted that pretty ball into the air over the defenders head for their first touchdown making the score 10-0, it really looked like the game was over already. It looked like the Colts were going to nurse the lead going into the half and then do what they've always done this season, explode in the second half.

But in the second quarter Drew Brees and company started to get their stride again. Even though they only scored 2 FG's, you could tell they were starting to click again. Then we had a very old, traditional, non-controversial half time show (where is Janet and some wardrobe malfunctions when you need them?) and on came a second half that was awesome.

First of all, to me the greatest call of this game was the onside kick to open the second half. Genius. This was even more gutsy than the call to go for it on 4th and goal with another run play. (For the record, I thought it was gutsy but the wrong call..and not just because they didn't convert. At least one of those plays should've been a pass) I remember thinking when the ball was in the air..."genius!". If you're going to do it, that's the time to do it, in a big game when absolutely no one was expecting it. It was only a 4 point game and their defense was playing pretty well and I thought it was worth the shot. I thought all of this while the ball was still unclaimed. You've got to take risks sometimes and I was agreeing with this call before we even found out that it actually worked.

If that was the biggest call, then the biggest play was Tracy Porter's pick 6 while the Colts were threatening to tie the score. That sealed the victory.

The biggest winner here, though, is not Sean Payton or Drew Brees, or even Jeremy Shockey who is a forgotten story (and player) around here. The biggest winner without question is the city of New Orleans and the whole state of Louisiana. Is there anyone who is actually upset that the Saints won? I'm surrounded by true Carolina Panthers fans, a division rival, and they were rooting for the Saints. I don't even think Colts fans are upset that the Saints won. Upset that the Colts lost, yes, but not upset that the Saints won. Good for them. Who Dat?

Who Dat Gonna Win the Superbowl?

The time is finally here. Tomorrow the two juggernauts of the NFL, prematurely crowned many weeks ago as the favorites to represent the NFC and AFC and finally came through after being doubted, second-guessed and taking a few losses, the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts will square off. Who will win?

The fan favorite seems to be the Who Dat nation of Saints fans and the many women who will be watching the game purely to see Reggie Bush...I can't tell you how many young and old women have told me that they are watching just to see him. The analyst favorite seems to be the reliable, offensive powerhouse of the Colts. Not necessarily because of the team, but because Peyton Manning is a savant at his position.

I agree with anything that a Colts fan or analyst will tell me. Yes, the Colts won every game that they actually tried to win. Yes, Peyton Manning is uncanny at figuring out defenses and ripping them to shreds in the second half. Yes, they've played better defenses than the Saints (the Jets for example). Yes, this is the first time the Saints have been in the Superbowl while the Colts have been here before and won. And yes, the Saints barely beat the Vikings and in all honesty should have lost that game.

But here's where I stand with this. I believe that the Saints offense will make for a powerful defense and the Colts will have to play under pressure on both sides of the ball. (Let's not forget that the Saints defense is not shabby at all. Not as good as the Jets, but not shabby) I believe that the Saints really want it and that is an intangible that cannot be overstated. I also believe that the key to this game will come down to 2 players. You're expecting me to say Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, but that's too obvious. Besides, they will probably both play lights out. The two players that will shape this game the most is Dwight Freeney and Reggie Bush.
In all likelihood, Dwight Freeney will not play. That could be huge for the Colts. Freeney is their best pass rusher. They do have some other players that are pretty good, but none can really take his place. Reggie Bush is always an X factor and it seems like he's been showing some glimpses of really adapting to this NFL game over the last few weeks. If the Colts cannot adequately replace Freeney's effect on the defense and if Reggie Bush can make 1 or 2 big plays on special teams and on the run game, it may be hard for the Colts to come back from those early leads they habitually give up. I'm picking the Saints.

Who Dat!?!?!

Who Will be in the Superbowl?

This year's playoffs have been a crazy ride. But when it comes down to it, the 2 teams everyone thought were favored to face each other in the Superbowl still have a chance to make it a reality. Of course, everyone thought they would be facing each other as 2 undefeated teams but looking back that kind of fairy tale is too far fetched and unrealistic.

Tomorrow the Saints will face the Vikings for the NFC championship. The Vikings have a potent passing game, the potential for an explosive running game if they ever actually let Adrian Peterson loose again, what looks to be a rejuvenated defense and did I mention one of the best Quarterbacks to ever play the game? The Saints...well, they're the Saints. Highly potent offense, solid running game, potentially explosive special teams and a defense that plays well when it wants to. By the way, Drew Brees is certainly no slouch at QB either. This is a tough game to call, and I could see it going either way. For the sake of making a pick, I will go with the New Orleans Saints.

In the AFC, the Colts will be facing the Jets. On paper this seems like such an easy pick. But in reality the Jets are playing really good football. They remind me of that Ravens team that won the Superbowl several years ago. Outstanding defense, solid running game and less than stellar at the QB position. That being said, there's no way you can go against the Colts in a game like this. They've won every game this year that they've actually tried to win. Brett Favre may be one of the best (or arguably the best) QB to ever play, but Peyton Manning is the best in the league right now. He will not allow this team to lose. The Colts defense is fast...not necessarily great, but fast...besides the Colts offense is their defense. With the Jets its the opposite. Their defense is their offense. This game is not as easy to call as it seems, but I'm definitely going with the Colts. How could you not?

So that would leave us with The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts in the Superbowl. This was a foregone conclusion about 5 weeks ago, but then the Saints lost some important games and the Colts intentionally lost some games and everyone abandoned hope. Now, if conventional wisdom holds true, they should have a chance to atone for what everyone else saw as "backing into the playoffs."

The Colts and the Saints, yup...sticking to it. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

The Hottest and Coldest Teams Entering the Playoffs

So who would've guessed three weeks ago that the seemingly Super Bowl bound Colts and Saints would end so poorly? Both of these teams were juggernauts heading into week 15. Now they are like tame pussycats. As good as they are, my confidence is now shaken that they can reach the Promised Land this year.

Let's start with the Saints. I was impressed at how many close games and come from behind victories they had throughout the season. I really thought they had a chance of finishing the season 16-0 and go to the big game. But the Cowboys really exposed them. Then they lose to the lowly Bucs. Then they rest their starters and lose to the Panthers. The Saints are good, but the Playoffs are about momentum and theirs is frankly going in the wrong direction. I can't see this team making it to the Super Bowl when the NFC is so wide open now. The Saints are definitely mortal.

On to the Colts. Again, another team that could've and should've gone undefeated and maybe even shut the Dolphins and Mercury Morris up for good. I understand why the coach opted to take Manning out, but I can't agree with it and now we see the results. They've now given rest to their starters for 2 straight weeks, suffered 2 straight losses and have a bye to begin the playoffs. There is no momentum with this team. Will they even remember how to win? There's too many good teams in the AFC to have such a lackidaisical attitude headed into the Playoffs.

So who's hot? In the NFC, there's none hotter than the oft cold in December Dallas Cowboys. They were the first to beat the Saints, then they soundly beat two division rivals to close the season. Their defense looks solid on the line and in the secondary. Their offense seems to finally be clicking on all cylinders. They have the kind of momentum that could be scary if they don't get in their own way.

In the AFC, and perhaps the entire NFL, there is no team with more momentum than the Chargers. They always turn it on in December, but they've actually won their last 11 games. Phillip Rivers is playing some of his best ball right now. San Diego could be a very difficult team to beat.

To recap, the hottest, sexiest teams in the NFL are no longer hot, sexy or even favored in my opinion. Meanwhile, the two teams who typically have playoff misfortune appear to be hot, sexy and primed for action. Of course, these are the playoffs so anything can happen. I'll be watching.

Quarterbacks are not Sissies? Are they?

The Brady rule. This is crazy! It's hard to enjoy a decent game of football when your team is flagged for this ridiculous rule. Its one thing if a guy is deliberately making a dirty hit that could injure a player or place his career in jeopardy. Its a whole different ball game when you flag a guy for touching the QB.

Even though I'm reacting like this based on a few non-hits made on Brady, for who the rule was put in place, this past week against Baltimore, it is spilling over into other games. Namely, teams with star QB's are getting the benefit of lousy calls because the league is afraid that it will lose another superstar for a year like it did with both Brady and Carson Palmer.

These guys get paid to play the game of football. This is a man's sport! You're telling me they have to be untouchable during the whole game? Just my two cents, but I believe in penalties that prevent injury but not penalties that prevent the game from being played.

What's Wrong with the Cowboys? - Start the List

What's wrong with the Dallas Cowboys? On paper they are one of the most if not the most talented rosters in the league. Seriously, who has a better roster the Colts (4-0) or the Cowboys (2-2)?

There's a lot of things to talk about but we can narrow it down to a list of iniquities:

5. Defense - The Boys have not done a consistent job of pressuring the QB. DeMarcus Ware had 20 sacks last year and has exactly 0 by week 4 this season. The result? Their secondary is getting beat for big play. I don't necessarily see good discipline either. Last night I saw Anthony Spencer try to jump a route and intercept a ball meant for Buckhalter instead of batting it down and/or making the hit. The result? A big play for Denver. Did anyone watch that Carolina game? I haven't seen such poor tackling since my son's Middle School game. I'm assuming Wade has not taken over play calling duties from the Defensive Coordinator like he did last year, but he may need to soon. If he is calling the plays, then this really needs to be addressed.

4. Receivers - Romo is getting plenty of time in the pocket. But the fastest guy we have is Miles Austin who is our #3 receiver I believe. Our #1 is Roy Williams and he is big and slow. Patrick Crayton is a good, maybe slightly above average receiver. In a nutshell, Romo gets 4 seconds or so, but no one is getting open consistently. The result? Usually a sack, interception or incompletion because we all know Romo will not just throw the ball away. Jason Witten is the only real receiving threat and every team knows it

3. Tony Romo - Okay, Romo's been taking a lot of heat and most people would probably rank him #1 on this list. I refuse to do that. He is a very, very talented QB with so much potential. He is playing abnormally bad even for his standards. I mean, you don't expect to see him play this bad unless its a playoff game or a late December game. His biggest problems? He relies to much on his talent, he won't throw the ball away if no one's open, he forces the ball too much...all sound like the same problem right? Here's the kicker; he's not a leader. If we haven't seen it before, we're seeing it now. There can't be any leadership there because this team is underachieving, plain and simple. I like Romo, but he needs to toughen up mentally. He CAN be a franchise QB, but he's not playing like it right now.

2. Play Calling/Jason Garrett - I hate to put this at the feet of Jason Garrett, but the offensive play calling is his responsibility right? This team's personnel dictates that it be a run oriented, blitz oriented team. Do they play that way? No. With Barber, Jones and Choice there's no question we should be running, running, play-action, running, play-action...and a few passes sprinkled in. But that's not what's happening. In fact, during the game against the Broncos I saw a fairly successful 1st half of running the football. In the 2nd half they only ran in run situations. The results? Three and outs and an overall ineffective offense. Do you credit the Broncos defense? Somewhat. You can't argue the talents of Champ Bailey. However, look at Denver's defensive roster and then look at the Cowboys' offensive roster. Need I say more?

1. Coaching/Wade Phillips - I've got to start at the top. I don't even know if I need to make this point. Is there anyone who doesn't recognize that Wade Phillips is a very nice guy who runs a very good defense but is a complete push over? I feel like I'm jumping on the poor guy. So instead of listing the reasons why he can no longer be the head coach, I will put out a short wish list for his replacement. Guess what? Jason Garrett is not on the list. He's shown me nothing to suggest he would be a good coach for this team. Another team? Maybe. But not the Dallas Cowboys. Choice #1 would be Bill Cowher..I know, I know - some Cowboys fans would protest because of his Steeler affiliation, and Bill would probably refuse for the same reasons. But you've got to try when it comes to a coach of that caliber. Choice #2 would be Mike Shanahan. With his zone blocking schemes and undisputed success in the running game along with his knack for developing QB's he would be the perfect choice. The problem there, of course, is that Shanahan would want more control than Jerry Jones would be willing to give. Hmmm....maybe problem 1a should be Jerry Jones? That is for another article.

The Best NFL Teams as of Week 4

Who are the best two teams in the NFL right now? Its early in the season, week 4, so this is subject to change. And I'm sure I'll take some flack for this, but I don't care. Its only week 4. I reserve the right to change my opinion later, say around week 8.

I believe the best team in the NFC is the New Orleans Saints. Not because they are 4-0, but because their defense is finally showing up to support the stellar offense they've had for a couple of years now. They look pretty tough. I have the NY Giants as 2nd best in the NFC right now...and in about 2 more weeks I might even be willing to push the Giants into that number 1 spot, it just depends how it goes. But right now, I would not want to face the Saints. Even when Drew Brees is not putting up outrageous numbers (which has happened a couple of times already, I know because he's on my fantasy team) they still put a beat down on their opponents.

I believe the best team in the AFC is the Baltimore Ravens. Yes, I know they lost yesterday to the Patriots. Yes, I know the Colts are 4-0. But its almost the same thing as the Saints in reverse. Now they finally have a great offense to go along with that stellar defense they've had for all these years. I'd probably list the Colts as 2nd best in the AFC right now.

I'm not saying that these 2 teams will meet in the Super Bowl...I'm just saying that as of week 4 these are the 2 teams I would least want to play if I was an opposing coach. We'll see how the rest of the year plays out.

First Time Fantasy Leaguer

Friends have been trying for years to get me into fantasy football and I've been resistant until this weekend. This past Friday, I joined my first ever fantasy football league and experienced my first live draft. I have to admit it felt pretty awesome.
I was able to get some premier players in the early rounds, Drew Brees for example. And in the later rounds I was able to get some solid help, like Kevin Boss, Joe Flacco and Mushin Muhammad. I was also able to take a few calculated chances. For example I picked up LeSean McCoy the Eagles rookie who figures to get some good reps behind Brian Westbrook. I also took a chance and picked up Mike Vick in round 15 instead of picking a backup kicker. Its possible that might haunt me later, but with Vick's talent I figured I could always trade for a kicker later in the year if I really need to. The possibility of getting a potential touchdown machine like Vick in round 15 was too good to pass up.
I'm pretty happy with my fantasy team. I'll post updates on how my team is doing throughout the season. Even though your first year is supposed to be just getting acquainted with the process, I'm planning to take out the other guys in my league. Watch out.

Plaxico Burress - Fair or Foul?

So another career goes up in smoke, gunsmoke if you will. Plaxico was a player with great potential who probably was just starting to consistently live up to some of that potential with the Giants. I could write a thousand articles on players who I feel, like Burress, have the greatest potential but for whatever reason (entitlement issues, coaching, personality, the system) can't consistently maximize that potential. But with the Giants, Plax was a playmaker and a big contributor to their Super Bowl run.

Now for the tough part. Was Plax treated fairly or not? I did a similar article about Goodell's punishment for Mike Vick. The big difference here, though, is that Vick's punishment from the NFL does allow him to play while Plax's punsiment from the judicial system could effectively end his career. By the time his 2 year sentence is served he'll be 34.

I've heard so many debates about this and the chasm between schools of thought on this is vast and surprisingly does not lie along racial lines. At least not solely. On the one hand you have Vick who killed dogs and Stallworth who killed a man. Meawhile, Plax shoots himself and gets 2 years!

On the other hand, if you're a resident of New York you know how tough the gun laws are and how important it is to have a valid registration, not to mention the potential for someone getting hurt.

Here's my take on this, and perhaps it is a harsh stand. But I can't feel too sorry for Plax. I feel bad for him as a person because I don't want the primadona rich men in prison, I want the hardcore thugs who are committing real crimes in prison. But it comes down to this. He knew the laws and he chose to break this one. Although he ended up hurting himself, he could have very easily shot someone else by accident. Also, I can't help but feel a little resentment when I see men who are making millions of dollars from playing sports but can't seem to keep their nose clean. If I were making millions of dollars as an athlete, I would be making sure that I protected that at all cost. Among other things, that means that if I think I will need a gun if I go to a certain club...I won't go that club. Or at the very least I will make sure that my gun is registered...and that the safety is on.

That being said, I do think 2 years under the circumstances is a little much. And considering that he had to plea guilty to get 2 years tells me that he felt he would definitely get more than that in trial. If they're going to make an example out of Plaxico, then they'd better go after the club management because somebody let him in with full knowledge that he had a gun. And if someone at the hospital did not initially report the shooting to the police as has been rumored, then somebody better go after the hospital. I've never subscribed to the theory of administering harsher punishment than usual on someone just to make an example of them. So if they are making an example of Plax, it means nothing if they don't also go after the enablers.

Oh, Brett Favre's back? Ho hum...

So what can you say? You can't say you're surprised that he's back because he's played this game of 'I will, no I won't, yes I will' for the last couple of years. You can't say you wish he would've stayed retired (unless you're a Packers fan) because he's a future hall of famer, one of the best ever to put on a helmet...and hey, if the guy wants to play then let him play. So what can you say? Perhaps you can say what I did - whatever.

I'm so tired of Brett Favre stories I really don't care anymore. And I wasn't surprised that the Vikings made this move despite the denials by coach Childress, mainly because they passed on Vick when they didn't really have a solid option at Quarterback. I feel like the Vikings and Favre led us on a wild goose chase during the whole summer and finally ended up doing the exact opposite of what they said they would do just in time for Favre to miss enough of training camp to rest his body (quite convenient). But then again, I'm numb to the whole thing and don't care anymore. Let's just get the season started.

Are the Vikings better with Favre? Absolutely. Can they do some damage in the playoffs? Definitely. Will they win a SuperBowl? I can't see that happening. The talent pool in the NFC is deep and I expect that Brett will start to wane toward the end of the season again just like last year. And though he signed a 2 year contract, I think its pretty much this season or bust as far as any hope to win a championship.

So what can you expect from the Vikings and Favre? Big plays, an even more potent running attack from Adrian Peterson now that there is a legit deep threat, and for you fantasy leaguers...expect Bernard Berrian to have a really good year. His numbers last year were pretty impressive without a solid QB in the huddle. This year Favre should be dialing up the deep ball plenty.

I'm not going to write a whole lot on this topic right now. Instead I will reserve judgement. Partly because the season hasn't started yet and there's a lot of football to be played. Partly because I know I will end up writing ten thousand articles about Brett before the season is over. But mostly because I'm pretty apathetic to the whole Brett Favre saga right now. In a few weeks when football is coursing strong through my veins and we've had a chance to actually see him play, perhaps I will start caring.

Michael Vick Joins the Eagles - Did Anyone See That Coming?

I'm glad Vick is back in the NFL. That being said, I'm a little disappointed that he's with the Eagles. The first and foremost reason is because I'm a Cowboys fan. But that aside, there were other teams that could've really used a franchise talent QB (Minnesota for example).

The Eagles with a healthy McNabb and Westbrook and the threat of a fully re-acclimated Vick is a nightmare for coaches. From what I hear, DeSean Jackson is ready to have a break-out year. The Defense is usually a nightmare for coaches anyway. If this works out, Philly could go really far...this year.

I applaud Philly for being willing to take such a bold move. I never even figured them to be in the hunt for Vick's services. I would like to take the opportunity to boo the Washington Redskins for even considering it (c'mon, do they dislike Jason Campbell that much?) I would also like to boo the Carolina Panthers for not at least trying to do something...you're telling me its ok to backup a top caliber QB like McNabb but you don't need a backup to Delhomme? Finally, jeers and rotten tomatoes to the Minnesota Vikings. Not only could they have had Vick with AP, but they don't even have a starting caliber quarterback...Vick couldn't back up Rosenfels? (I'm assuming this means that they will be making another run at Favre before the end of the season)

With all the applause for Vick's signing this year comes this. I don't get a good feeling about what happens next year. If Vick is really good, do the Eagles end up trying to dump McNabb?...it's not like they really have been a pillar of support to him in recent years. If he's bad do they use him as a scapegoat for the team's failures?

Either way, this is a win-win for Vick. He's back in the NFL, playing for a playoff-caliber team, playing with one of the better quarterback's in the league, with minimal pressure. When I say minimal pressure I'm referring to the pressure of being expected to carry a team. He'll have plenty of pressure no matter where he plays but at least he doesn't have to be some team's savior. Still, this works out great for Vick. I get an uneasy feeling about what this could potentially mean for McNabb, even though Donovan seems to be the one who clamored for Vick's signing.

If Mike Vick can get himself back into NFL form, and learn from the McNabb and Andy Reid, he can easily be one of the best QB's in the game. Not to long ago he was the highest paid, most electrifying and most talented player in the NFL. Imagine if this year's mentoring and his life experiences shaped him into a better decision-maker and passer! Then the question would not be whether he would be a franchise QB again, it would be whether he would become Philly's franchise QB. For Vick's sake, I hope he is able to put the past behind him and truly live up to his off the charts potential. For Donovan's sake and the Cowboy's sake I hope he reaches that potential with some other team.

The NFL is Back!! Finally!!

I don't know about you, but the months between April and August are torture for me. Don't get me wrong, things are great when you can watch College Football, then NBA Basketball, the MLB Pennant race and World Series, maybe even a little NHL here and there. But once the NBA Finals are over and the only thing on ESPN is baseball and poker...uggghh.

Finally training camp and pre-season football. Something to whet the appetite for all the upcoming Sunday afternoons and Monday nights!

Let's list all the great reasons to watch the NFL instead of reality TV this fall: Mike Vick, TO, Buffalo Bills with TO, Dallas Cowboys without TO, Jay Cutler, Brett Favre (couldn't resist, sorry), Matt Cassell, Plaxico Burress, Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Tony Gonzalez, Tom Brady's return.....need I go on? What reality show could even compare to these storylines?

I don't think there's any question that football (or American Football for those that insist on the distinction) reigns supreme in the United States. At least it does in this house. Now is the time for all the Fantasy Leaguers to make up their draft boards. Now is the time for overweight guys to dust off their favorite jerseys and make a beer run. Now is the time for all the Cowboy haters to start hoping for Tony and Jessica to get back together. Now is the time for Football!

Big Expectations for TO in Buffalo - And More Popcorn!

So the TO show hits the air this season. I guess technically it hit the air already with his narcissistic TV program, but I'm actually referring to his upcoming season with the Buffalo Bills. I thought this was a great move by Buffalo and a perfect fit for Owens. I'm probably most surprised that TO was willing to go to the Bills than anything else.

That being said, let's examine the facts. Buffalo is a some-what mediocre team in a small market that has been on the verge of being good for a few years now. TO immediately makes the team better and just as immediately makes their market seem larger. Just wait and see how many more fans actually claim the Bills this year. Not only that, but I'm pretty sure the Bills make the playoffs this year. TO is that good.

Of course, I recognize that problem will come somewhere around week 7 or so. Sharing the ball with Lee Evans. Controversy with the QB as usual. But overall they should benefit a great deal this season.

Buyer beware for season 2, however. This is usually when things fall apart with Terrell (see Garcia, McNabb, Romo for details). If the Bills are smart, they'll use TO to increase revenue and possibly make the playoffs this season...and then refuse to continue the relationship thereafter. One thing is for sure, there will be plenty of popcorn in Buffalo this year.

If any of you watch the TO show on VH1, you probably saw the multitude of fans reacting positively to his arrival. Completely warranted. What's not warranted is the show itself. I mean, c'mon, all the guy does is walk around with his shirt off and flirt with women the entire show. Even the serious, "dramatic" moments seem scripted. Is this supposed to repair his image? His body is ripped and he's smooth with the ladies...I get it. He's got to wonder the same thing I'm wondering about his career in Buffalo - will there be a season 2?