Parity Reigns Supreme in the NFL

You wouldn't know it by looking at the NFL scoreboard this past weekend, but the two favourites to meet at the Super Bowl in New Orleans this February are the Houston Texans and the San Francisco 49ers.

This might not make sense to you since both of those teams were humiliated on Sunday, at home! The Texans were the victim of the Green Bay Packers. The Packers were the favourites to bring Lombardi home when the season started, but inconsistent performance from the MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a defense that was vulnerable and injured made the first 5 weeks of the season unbearable for cheeseheads. On Sunday though, the offense came to life and the defense, although still fighting through injuries, shut down the Texans running game.

The 49ers who were within a field goal of going to the Super Bowl last season were trying to avenge that playoff loss against the Giants. The New York Football Giants can't seem to get respect from the critics or bettors, despite being the defending champs. They went West and absolutely destroyed the 49ers. Jumping out to an early lead, forcing 49ers quarterback Alex Smith to play from behind and forcing him into turnovers. Then being relentless on offensive. Eli Manning keeps finding ways to hold his offense together finding a new receiver each week to star and a running game that grinds up the clock.

After reading those two paragraphs you might presume that the Packers and Giants should be 1 and 2 as Super Bowl favourites, but that's not how the league works this year. There are no teams that will challenge the unbeaten record of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, but each week there will be at least one team that looks like it belongs in the same breath. Usually you can narrow down the championship field to 4 or 5 teams, this year though, we are looking at 8 to 10. From that list we have to decide, the team with the least amount of faults.

8. Baltimore Ravens - Going through terrible injury crisis on defense but Joe Flacco has turned the corner as an elite quarterback

7. Denver Broncos - One word, Peyton. Although they seem to fall behind in each contest, they have the great equalizer in Peyton Manning.

6. Green Bay Packers - They seem to lack focus this season, Rodgers can't seem to stay focused for a full game (excluding Sunday) and the defense still needs to create turnovers.

5. New York Giants - As they have proven time and again, don't count them out. Playmakers like Victor Cruz and a defense that puts pressure on opponents. They also seem to play better on the road, bodes well for the playoffs.

4. Atlanta Falcons - Despite being the only undefeated team left, they have had some unimpressive wins and often play to the level of their competition. Matt Ryan has developed into an elite quarterback, but the running game which was reliable with Michael Turner has disappeared.

3a Houston Texans - Exposed by the Packers on Sunday, the Texans are still one of the elite AFC teams. Matt Schaub and Arian Foster lead an normally potent offense, but losing Brian Cushing for the season to an ACL tear puts some stress on the defense, JJ Watt will try to fill his big play shoes.

3b San Francisco 49ers - The major concern with the 49ers is how they would play if they fall behind. On Sunday they folded. The blame for the loss will fall squarely on the shoulders of Alex Smith since he is known as a game manager instead of a playmaker. They need him to be a playmaker to have a chance in February.

2. Chicago Bears - No team with Jay Cutler at quarterback will ever be ranked number one in one of my power polls.

1. New England Patriots - Did they lose on Sunday? Are they 3-3? Have they lost 3 games they should have won? Does Tom Brady look human again? The answer to all questions, yes. Do you still trust Brady and Coach Belichick in a meaningful January football game? YES

Super Bowl Preview - Packers vs. Steelers

With the Super Bowl only one day away (or today, depending on when you read this) we can now break down the game confidently knowing nothing will change between now and gametime.

Whether you are a fan that has been watching since training camp in August or you are going to a Super Bowl party and you really want to sound knowledgeable in front of your boyfriends friends, these are the hot topics for you to consider;

1. Defense vs. Defense
This Super Bowl matches the number 1 and number 2 defenses of the league. Steelers took the top spot, while the Packers were #2. The Steelers are great against the run, and average against the pass, while the Packers are top 5 against both the run and the pass. Both defenses have to worry about containing the opposing QB breaking out of the pocket and gaining yards on the ground. The key to the Steelers defensive success will be containing the fast Packers wide receivers and can Harrison and Woodley put enough pressure on Aaron Rodgers to force mistakes. The key to the Packers defensive success will be to take advantage of the injuries on the Steelers offensive line. If they can put pressure on with their defensive line and contain the run, it will force Big Ben to throw into coverage with the ball hawking Packers secondary.
ADVANTAGE: PACKERS

2. QB Battle
Both these quarterbacks have had great seasons. Big Ben obviously had 4 less games at the start of the year, but he has proven once again that he is a top tier NFL QB. If he wins this Super Bowl, he will have 3 rings before the age of 30 putting him in the same company as Tom Brady and Joe Montana. Aaron Rodgers has been red hot with his play in the last 4 weeks of the season. He has made the leap into the discussion of a top QB. These guys have similar skills, but what we have seen from Big Ben in the past is that he can still get the win even if his team plays poorly. Rodgers hasn't really proven this yet, and has shown a lack of killer instinct going down the stretch of games. It will be a battle of who makes the fewest mistakes.
ADVANTAGE: Ben Roethlisberger

3. Injuries
The Packers led the league in games missed due to injury, but luckily for them they were all in the first few of games of the season which let them recover and fill the holes. Injuries to Ryan Grant, Jeremichael Finley and Nick Barnett were tough to swallow at first, but they have managed to fill the voids. The Steelers have caught the injury bug in the last couple of weeks. The offensive line has been decimated by injuries. Both starting tackles and starting centre Maurkice Pouncey are all likely to miss the big game. The other injury concern for the Steelers is all-pro and defensive player of the year Troy Polamalu. He has battled an Achilles injury all season long. Polamalu will definitely play on Sunday, but he will have to be on top of his game to keep the Packers wide receivers from breaking big yards.
ADVANTAGE: Packers

4. Intangibles
This is the area that will probably decide the game. The first is penalties. The Packers had a couple of really bad games with lots of penalties (vs. the Bears they had 18 penalties), but overall they weren't as bad as the Steelers in terms of penalty yards. The Steelers with the depleted offensive line have to be careful that they don't get holding and illegal motion penalties. The other side of the ball, everyone knows James Harrison is good for one unnecessary roughness penalty.
The Steelers also have the experience of being in the big game. 26 players on the Steelers roster have Super Bowl experience, while only 1 Packer has been to a championship game. The Steelers should be more relaxed and ready for all the delays and distractions that come with playing in the Super Bowl.
Although the QB's are the stars of the show, the running game might decide the outcome. The Steelers feature a back (Rashard Mendenhall) that could easily gain 100 yards. The Packers on the other hand have a practice squad runner in James Starks who has made a splash, but no one is really sure what he will deliver from game to game. If either player can keep the chains moving and put their team in second and medium, and convert third and short yardage situations it will dramatically help the teams success.
ADVANTAGE: Packers

5. MVP Candidates
The obvious MVP candidates are the two QB's. If there teams win Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers will obviously have played well and will be prime candidates to win the MVP. Other players to watch as MVP candidates will be Steelers tight end Heath Miller. The Packers give up big yards to TE's all season and if Miller has a big game, he could get himself some hardware. As mentioned earlier, the Steelers defense is ranked number one for a reason. Troy Polamalu, James Harrison or LaMarr Woodley could all make cases for themselves as MVP with an interception or a couple of sacks or a fumble recovery. On the Packers side of the ball wide receiver Greg Jennings could be on the receiving end of lots of Rodgers passes which could give him an MVP trophy. The other players to look out for might be Sam Shields. The Packers corner plays opposite Charles Woodson so might get picked on a little more, opening up for him to make some big plays. Packers defensive tackle BJ Raji also gets to work against the back-up centre which might allow him to make some impact plays and get his hands on some hardware.
ADVANTAGE: Steelers

It will come as no shock what my pick for the game is;
Packers 28 vs. Steelers 13

GO PACK GO!!!

Super Bowl Week

It's Super Bowl week and it didn't take long for the headlines to develop. The Packers caused a media frenzy over a botched team photo, the Steelers touched down waving terrible towels and an ice storm hit Dallas giving everyone a taste of what the Super Bowl in Indianapolis and NY are going to be like.

Adding to the hype machine is Pepsi. For each round of the playoffs they have a quick music video to promote the game. Usually it involved rappers from the hometown team (Big Boi of Outkast did the Atlanta vs. Green Bay game), but this one features Snoop Dogg, representing LA, ughh?



You should know by now that I will be cheering for the Packers on Sunday, but we still need to break this game down. In the coming days, we'll examine the story lines;
1. Defense vs. Defense
2. QB Battle
3. Injuries
4. Intangibles
5. MVP Candidates

Down Goes Favre!

On Sunday afternoon the Green Bay Packers put the nail in the coffin of another team (dropping the Vikings to 3-7) and coach (Wade Phillips and now Brad Childress). The bigger question is if they were able to put an end to the career of a player - Brett Favre.

Favre threw one interception on Sunday to bring his season total to 17 and looked pretty awful in the process. Favre was booed by the hometown Vikings fans (would probably have been cheered for his efforts in Wisconsin) and Rodney Harrison of NBC thought that coach Childress should have pulled Favre for Tavaris Jackson. Childress didn't have the guts to do it, so that ended his tenure as Vikings coach on Monday morning.

Favre said after the game that he will need to "re-evaluate" his football future. Many people have taken this to mean that he might call it quits mid-season. If this happens it would only be a mild shock to the NFL and Vikings since Favre has been such an attention seeking media whore the last three seasons.

Everyone knows that Favre will retire either after week 12 with an "injury" or after the season, so the biggest question won't be if he goes into the Hall of Fame or not, but it will be if Green Bay Packers fans can forgive the gunslinger that gave the team 16 mighty seasons. The answer will be yes - eventually. No cheese head can forget the Super Bowl trophy, consecutive game streak, passing records, and the list goes on...

Favre sullied his reputation by leaving Green Bay in a huff for the NY Jets. Then, it got worse when he went to play for the rival Vikings. With all his indecision and flip flopping, Packers fans resented their former franchise player. That resentment was partially due to the fact that he was still good. Now that his career is winding down on a sour note, Packers fans don't have to resent him anymore, we can just remember the good times when number 4 was behind center.

By the time Favre puts on the mustard colored jacket on the Canton stage, my guess is that the crowd will be filled with Packers fans cheering him on.

5 Big Things

With all the major sporting events this year the start of the National Football League and all the off season moves have been a little overshadowed. With the season just under a week away, there is still time to get all caught up on the five biggest story lines going into the season that I am looking forward to.

1. Fantasy Football
Fantasy football has taken over the NFL. With over 29 million people playing fantasy football and spending almost nine hours a week online checking their teams, adjusting rosters, picking up and dropping players and proposing trades. Many fans do not even have favourite teams anymore, they have their favourite player as long as he is on their roster. NFL players now get cheered for their performance based on how many fantasy points they have accumulated. Even the NFL players are now involved in fantasy football. Last season, their was a youtube video of some Washington Redskins teammates sitting around and drafting their teams. This season, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew will publish a fantasy football column every week at Sports Illustrated.com. His first order of business was to draft a team and of course, made some big trades to be able to draft himself. At least now he can only blame himself for losing, unlike the rest of us.

2. QB Moves - McNabb, Kolb, Jason Campbell, Matt Leinart
The quarterback position is so important in the National Football League. You can look back at the franchises that won Super Bowl’s and almost all of them had a super star under center. Whether it was the Steelers and Cowboys in the 70’s with Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach, the 80’s 49ers with Joe Montana or Cowboys with Troy Aikman, and most recently the Colts with Peyton Manning or the Patriots with Tom Brady. So, when big name quarterbacks moved around this off season, it opened the door for a couple of new teams to challenge for the Lombardi trophy. The biggest name to move was former Philadelphia Eagle Donovan McNabb, who is now a Washington Redskin. This is not only news because it gives the Redskins a experienced quarterback, but it was also a trade within their division. Taking over for McNabb in Philadelphia is Kevin Kolb. The fourth year quarterback has only started in 2 games in his previous years, so although those two games last season where good, it will interesting to see if he can keep it up for 16 games and take the Eagles back to the playoffs. Since McNabb moved to Washington, their starter – Jason Campbell needed to find a new home. He has packed his bags and moved to Oakland. The Raiders have been in need of a serviceable quarterback for the past 20 years, so hopefully Campbell can give them something to cheer about. One franchise (unfortunately, not the Minnesota Vikings), the Arizona Cardinals had their quarterback retire. Kurt Warner decided to hang up the cleats and has been replaced by Matt Leinart. The “pretty boy” from USC in his fifth season will finally get the ball to himself. Every year, he has gone into training camp as the starter, only to lose the job. This season, without much competition behind him, he should be able to blossom. Although, these were the big moves, some other teams did get new pivots. The Browns acquired Jake Delhomme from the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers then replaced Delhomme with young Matt Moore.

3. Labour Issues - 18 game schedule, concussions, salary cap, draft age (rookie salary cap)
Although, this is not exactly an issue for this season, it will begin to dominate the headlines. The NFL and NFL players association need to agree on a new labour agreement before next season, so there is a next season. Some of the big questions that need to be agreed upon are a salary cap and especially a rookie salary cap. The veterans are unhappy each year when first round draft picks become the highest paid players in the league without playing a snap. There are also health concerns, such as what an expanded 18 game schedule (instead of the current 16) would do to a players body and how they would be compensated for those extra games. Also, head injuries have become more common and a bigger concern for players. In the light of some recent deaths of ex-NFL players, and the on-going study of their brains has shown that playing football causes long-term damage. The NFL and its players need to address how to help the current players from doing damage to themselves and how to assist the retired players if they have sustained long-term damage. Unfortunately, this will be a topic many casual fans (those playing fantasy football) won’t care too deeply about until it affects them next September.

4. NFC East - could all the teams go 8-8 or better?
In the NFL getting to the playoffs is the goal and usually 9 wins will get you there. Once you are in the playoffs anything can happen. For the best division in football, nine wins will probably not do the trick this season. The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins all have the talent to make the playoffs and contend for the Super Bowl. Every conference game will be an event this season. Whether it is the Eagles welcoming back McNabb, the Cowboys going into the New Meadowlands for the first time or the Cowboys trying to go to the Super Bowl in their own stadium, it should be the game of the week every time they hook up.

5. How will the players act this year? (arrests, twitter)
As we have seen, not all the news is on the field this year. Between the potential labour stoppage and fantasy football, just as much is happening off the field as on. The other topics to be on the look out for are how players are getting into trouble. Whether it is DUI, drug possession or assault, NFL players seem to be getting themselves in hot water constantly. Popular football blog site profootballtalk.com even has a “days since last arrest” counter on their website. Since commissioner Roger Goodell has been notoriously tough on offenders, suspending players for almost every incident, it is especially important for players to keep their noses clean. One player who actively searches out fines is Chad OchoCinco of the Cincinnati Bengals. OchoCinco was recently fined $25 000 for tweeting during a pre-season game. Many NFL players use the popular social networking site Twitter to communicate with fans, but the last thing coaches and fans need is a player so distracted with what to tweet next that they cannot concentrate while on the field.

NFL Preview and Predictions - NFC East

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

NFC East
This is BY FAR the toughest division in the NFL at the moment, my prediction could be right or it could go totally the other direction. No idea.

Dallas Cowboys
America's team is hoping to make owner Jerry Jones's dream come true - host a Super Bowl in his own stadium. They definitely have the talent to go all the way, but as always, will they be able to pull it together in the playoffs. QB Tony Romo will be the key to the offense as always and since he is not dating Jessica Simpson the curse might have warn off. As in years past, he is surrounded by offensive talent at wide receiver. Miles Austin returns after his breakout year and is joined by Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton and rookie Dez Bryant. In the backfield a trio of running backs will get the ball (not good for fantasy), Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice. The defense is good but not spectacular. Led by DeMarcus Ware who will put pressure on qb's all day and he will be supported by some great talent at linebackers James Hardie and Keith Brooking. This team has the talent, but can they make it out of the tough division.


Washington Redskins
A new era has dawned in Washington. A new QB, a new coach and lots of new running backs have led to optimism, but can everyone come together fast enough to win this year. The new coach is former Broncos boss Mike Shanahan, the new QB is former Eagle Donovan McNabb, and they have added Larry Johnson and Willie Parker in the backfield with Clinton Portis. All of them are aging, but together they might be one good running back. McNabb never really had great talent at wide receiver until last season, so the mix of young and old receivers shouldn't bother McNabb. Santana Moss leads the receiver group, and this season will get help from youngster Devin Thomas and off course tight end Chris Cooley will be a great escape valve for McNabb. The defense features some head cases, but that isn't always a bad thing when your job is to run over people. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth seems to be over his training camp conditioning and headaches, DeAngelo Hall is a shut down corner and Brian Orakpo is starting to come into his own off the end. The Redskins have put together the roster, it is now a question of working together and executing - all that with a very tough schedule.

New York Football Giants
Two years removed from a Super Bowl title and the New York Football Giants have a great shot to make it an all Manning Super Bowl. QB Eli Manning leads the Giants into battle and he has proven to be a great leader for his team. Behind him is the too headed monster of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Although they will share lots of workload, Bradshaw should be the primary back by the end of the season. The ball in the air will be picked out by wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith. The wide receiver group is deep as evidenced by the forced retirement to David Tyree. The defense is quick and should be able to put lots of pressure on the quarterback, which will make the secondary look good. Anytime you can put a front four on the field of Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Pierre-Paul Thomas and Mathias Kiwanuka the opposing quarterback will be on his back.


Philadelphia Eagles
A new era in Philadelphia, the Donovan McNabb era is over and his inability to win in the playoffs are packed away. He is replaced by Kevin Kolb and his 3 career starts. Everyone seems to think that Kolb will be just fine, but with the pressure that comes with playing in Philly it will be interesting to see if he can make it through the season. Longtime standout Brian Westbrook is gone replaced by second year man LeSean McCoy and ex-Bronco Mike Bell. The wide receiver group is led by DeSean Jackson and tight end Brent Celek. The defense has always been good and this group will be no exception. The secondary stands-out with Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs. If at first these Eagles don't succeed, look out for flying objects from the stands!

NFL Preview and Predictions - NFC North

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers
The Packers could not overcome the ghost of Brett Favre last season, losing both games to the Vikings. If the Packers want to win the division and the conference, beating Favre would go along way. At quarterback, Favre's replacement Aaron Rodgers has developed extremely well. Last season was great statistically and this season there shouldn't be any drop off considering the weapons at his disposal. Veteran wide receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings are big play threats and sure handed which makes Rodgers job somewhat easier. The tight end position which has always featured a stand-out in Green Bay gets the heir apparent in Jeremichael Finley. Finley should be featured prominently in the red zone and this could be his break-out year. The one problem on the offense is the o-line. Rodgers was sacked 50 times last season and if they can't figure out how to slow the opposing pass rush, Rodgers might not be the starter for all 16 games. The defense is coming off a great season as well that featured defensive player of the year, Charles Woodson. The defense created turnovers and points and this years unit should be no different. The age of the secondary (Woodson and Bigby) is a concern, but shouldn't threaten to derail this season.

Minnesota Vikings
We can finally write this preview because we finally know that Brett Favre will play again. The old warrior returns to the purple and gold to the promised land. Favre took a beating last year, especially in the NFC Championship gave vs. the Saints. Look for more teams to use that game plan to pressure the pivot. If Favre is hurting, he can always just hand the ball off to the best running back in the game in Adrian Peterson. Peterson can tear through defenses, eat up the clock and take the pressure off Favre. If he solves his fumble-itis, and stays injury free, just give him the 2000 yards and 10-15 touchdowns. The defense still has some injury concerns going into the season including middle linebacker EJ Henderson, but it won't be defense that wins this team a Super Bowl.

Detroit Lions
There is always a couple of teams that come out of the group of mediocre to poor teams and surprises and I believe it might be the Lions this season. They have finally landed a draft pick that produced (QB Matt Stafford) and this year's picks look solid as well. With the QB position solidified, the Lions have begun to develop the talent around him. Running back Kevin Smith is joined by draft pick from Cal Jahvid Best. Best is a big play threat and Lions fans will be reminded of the times when Barry Sanders would break off 80 yard runs. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson is joined by free agent Nate Burleson and tight end Tony Scheffler. These weapons will give Stafford the confidence to get the ball downfield. The defense has only been slowly building and with coach Jim Schwartz being defensive minded, it will be a shock to no one when the Lions produce a stingy defense similar to what the Titans had when Schwartz was there.

Chicago Bears
Last season the Bears made a big splash acquiring Jay Cutler, but that ended with a belly flop because Cutler liked passing to the guys in opposing jerseys better. This season will not only be a referendum on Cutler but also on the coaching staff led by Lovie Smith. If Lovie can lead than the Bears have a chance at .500 if not, they could find themselves with a long road to regain a foot hold in the conference. For the Bears to have a chance, running back Matt Forte needs to regain his 2008 form. In case he doesn't, the Bears have brought in Chester Taylor as an expensive every down, but hopefully just third down back. Cutler still doesn't have have targets on the outside, but will need to get Devin Hester the ball as often as possible and hope for the big play. The defense is ageing and will hope that Brian Urlacher can bounce back from injury. The secondary will face the biggest challenge going up against the three top quarterbacks within the division. It will be a long season at Soldier

NFL Preview and Predictions - AFC North

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens
Many peoples favourite to be contender to be playing in the Super Bowl, but they will have to get through one of the toughest divisions. The Ravens made lots of bold moves in the off-season, one of the biggest being Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals and the other is Donte Stallworth. Quarterback Joe Flacco adds these two targets to the consistent Derrick Mason. This gives Flacco the options he never had before which will only make him and the Ravens better. Flacco still has the option to check down to his running back, Ray Rice. One of the best all around running backs in the league with the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, but also break free for the home run style run. The new look offense will be a relief to the defense who have been carrying the flag for the Ravens for the past decade. The Ravens defense is ferocious led by Ray Lewis, Terrel Suggs and Ed Reed. You can't overlook the defensive line that can put four guys on the field who are 350lbs or more. The Ravens will be an AFC to be reckoned with this season and a real Super Bowl contender.

Cincinnati Bengals
One of my favourite teams because the cheerleaders are named the "Ben-Gals". The Bengals made headlines and will continue to make headlines because they have two of the biggest news makers in the NFL in Chad OchoCinco and Terrell Owens. The acquisition of Owens will delay the growth of players like Andre Caldwell and rookie Jordan Shipley from Texas. Quarterback Carson Palmer will have to find a way to spread the ball around and also include running back Cedric Benson. Benson had a very productive year in 2009 and will look to repeat his year. The defense has a great secondary with Leon Hall and Jonathan Jospeh, plus the ageless Roy Williams at safety. If the rest of the team can keep themselves out of jail, these Bengals just might challenge the division - a division they went unbeaten in last year.

Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are going the wrong way. There star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for the first 4-6 games of the season and they shipped out Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes because of his off-field actions. Without Big Ben for the first month and a half of the season they will need a major contribution for veteran Byron Leftwhich or young inexperienced Dennis Dixon. Coach Mike Tomlin hasn't made it clear which QB will fill the void. Last year Fast Willie Parker lost his 5th gear and the clear number 1 running back this season will be Rashard Mendenhall. Whoever is still at QB will have the reliable Hines Ward to throw to (just don't expect him healthy for every game) and the improving Mike Wallace. The defense is counting on the return of Troy Polamalu and more kick ass seasons from LaMarr Woodley, James Harrsion and Ryan Clark. The Steelers will be fun to follow all season because you will never be certain what team will take the field. In this division they better come prepared every week though.

Cleveland Browns
Oh the Brownies! With their iconic Orange uniforms, I just want them to be good. A Browns game on TV always looks so good. Unfortunately, this season I think the uniforms will be much better than the team. The Browns are the proud new owners of Jake Delhomme's rubber arm. Delhomme lands in Cleveland with lots to prove after imploding in Carolina. The Browns have gotten rid of Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson so the team is Delhomme's to run with. If he does falter, they still have Seneca Wallace and rookie Colt McCoy to fall back on. Running back James Harrison will carry the bulk of the work load, although it will be interesting to see how Peyton Hillis (formerly of the Denver Broncos) is after missing time with injury. Josh Cribbs is the Browns loan threat at wide receiver and he is actually more dangerous on special teams. The Browns risk throwing him off his game like the Bears did with Devin Hester a few years ago, and then they would be left without a wide receiver or a special teams player. The defense isn't that exciting, but the player to look for his rookie Joe Haden, the rookie corner from Florida. The Browns will struggle in 2010+, I just hope that the Cleveland fans can take it.

NFL Review and Predictions - NFC South

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have done everything right since Michael Vick tore their team apart by getting suspended. They have built through the draft, made some key signings and are now poised to contend. The Falcons are flying under the radar (no pun intended) due to the fact quarterback Matt Ryan had a less than spectacular second season, but he still has all his weapons and they will assist in bringing him back to form. The two headed running tandem of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood will shoulder most of the load, while TE Tony Gonzalez, WR’s Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran and Harry Douglas look to be on the receiving end of many Ryan passes. The defense is decent with one of the best young middle linebackers in Curtis Lofton and young pass rusher Kroy Biermann. This is a team that will challenge and make some noise in the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints
The defending Super Bowl Champions. They deserve lots of credit for last season. They were a middle of the pack team (NFL.com had them ranked 15th at the start of the season) and used good fortune and timely plays to win the Lombardi Trophy. Some of that fortune is bound to wear off this season and it is normally the case where one Super Bowl team has a “hang over” from the year before and does not perform as well. I believe it will be the Saints, not the Colts. Drew Brees is still an MVP type quarterback and everyone still wants to see Reggie Bush be an every down back. How will he perform without his Kardashian good luck charm? Marques Colston leads the receiver group that also features Devery Henderson and Lance Moore (that is why Brees is an MVP candidate). The defense which seemed to be always in the right spot last year will have to be that again if the Saints have a chance. Darren Sharper and Jonathan Vilma lead the defense which will have a lot of people gunning for them.

Carolina Panthers
Jake Delhomme is gone and it’s about time. After miserable playoff performances the reigns are handed over to Matt Moore who finished 2009 with three excellent games. It will be hard for him to keep the momentum when fans will keep clamouring for rookie Jimmy Clausen to get reps. Whichever quarterback is on site, just better learn to hand the ball off well. The Panthers were third in rushing last season and Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are both back to carry the rock again. It’s a good thing they have a running game, because Steve Smith is there only receiving threat and he has been beat-up (broke his arm in the off-season). The defense is good but not great. Jon Beason is a rock solid linebacker, but he doesn’t have enough around him, especially with Thomas Davis out for the year after tearing his ACL and being replaced with unheralded Dan Connor. The Panthers are hoping one of their quarterbacks pan out and a defense can step up, so they can return to the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The rebuilding division continues in Tampa. The Bucs have been on a consistent slide downward ever since winning the Super Bowl in 2002. The highlight of last season was a win wearing their throwback creamsicle uniforms. This season might be more of the same. The Bucs are counting on 2009 first round draft pick Josh Freeman to be poised under centre and for their young wide receivers (Sammie Sloughter and Arnelius Benn). Kellan Winslow (SOLDIER) provides the veteran leadership with Cadillac Williams still getting the majority of the carries. He will be challenged by former Giants running back Derrick Ward. The defense in Tampa has never really been a question. They get a boost from this year’s first round pick Gerald McCoy. He joins all-pro linebacker Barrett Rudd and veteran Ronde Barber. Tampa could surprise this year is the offense can click, but expect them to need at least one more draft before making an impact.

NFL Review and Predictions - AFC South

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

AFC South


Indianapolis Colts
It's the Tom Brandstater show! Just kidding Colts fans, but it is true that if something happened to your Manning that the Colts might just end up .500 or worse instead of with 13 or 14 wins. The Colts have been able to keep talent around Manning for the better part of his career and thus they will be a contender again this season. Running back will be "by committee" but look for Donald Brown to contribute much more this season than Joseph Addai. Reggie Wayne is still a superstar number one receiver but he has help with tight end Dallas Clark and young receivers in Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez. The defense is strong led by a playmaking safety (when healthy) in Bob Sanders. When he isn't healthy Melvin Bullitt will play and is more than adequate. The Colts will be contenders, there is no doubt about it.

Houston Texans
Every year we wait for the Texans to make the leap from 8-8 pretenders to the contenders. Matt Schaub will take the explosive offense into battle each week and will have one of the best receivers in football to throw to in Andre Johnson. Steve Slaton anchors the running back group and will get breathers from rookie out of Auburn Ben Tate and veteran Chris Perry. The defense is strong and not just because of the PED's that Brian Cushing was taking. Mario Williams and Ryan Demeco have come into their own and will only get better. It is said every year about the Texans but I really believe this will be their year to make the playoffs.

Tennessee Titans
The Titans realized what they had in running back Chris Johnson and gave him the new contract extension that he wanted so he wouldn't hold out. The fastest man in the league will be the workhouse back and should most of the load for the Titans. It is a Chris Johnson or bust type of year for the Titans. Behind centre is the redeemed Vince Young. Just incase he gets into another fight at a strip club, the Titans still have Kerry Collins on the roster. The defense is solid but not spectacular. Although the Titans have been good the last couple of seasons, I see them struggling in 2010.

Jacksonville Jaguars
The team that really needed to draft Tim Tebow, just so some of Gator-nation would attend games. The Jags have some talent but a tough schedule (they have to play the NFC East), should make it difficult for them this season. David Gerrard returns under centre and this could be a make it or break it year for him. The Jags will rely on their running game featuring Maurice Jones-Drew, but will probably not be able to give him the carries he needs because they'll be behind late in games. The wide receivers are young and the emerging star of the group is Mike Sims-Walker. The defense will be on the field alot so Kirk Morrison, signed from Oakland and first round draft pick (instead of Tebow) DE Tyson Alualu will have to shine. The Jags need another couple of drafts before they shine in the south again.

NFL Review and Predictions - AFC West

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers
For the past couple seasons the Chargers have been a trendy pick to make the Super Bowl if not win the big game. This season is no different. They are one of the most talented teams on paper, the question is now can they put it all together to make a playoff run. They will be challenged early in the season without number one receiver Vincent Jackson who is suspended. Also missing at the moment is pro bowl defensive end Shawn Merriman who is holding out for a new contract. Also gone are the familiar faces of LaDanian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie (both with the Jets). Even without these star players, quarterback Philip Rivers commands a look as the MVP and the Chargers demand you look at them as a Super Bowl contender. Now if only Nate Keading could hit a field goal in the playoffs....

Kansas City Chiefs
The Patriots 2.0 - A young team built through the draft, sprinkled with veterans and the odd value free agent added for good measure, the Chiefs are finally set to challenge for the division title again. Matt Cassel is reunited with his ex. Patriots coaching staff and given more offensive talent to work with in Jamaal Charles, Dexter McCluster and Thomas Jones at running back, Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers at wide receiver who will definitely give him options. The defensive has loaded up on lineman for the past couple of seasons and it is time for Glenn Dorsey to live up to his contract and rookie defensive back Eric Berry has been brought in to add the finishing touches. The Chiefs will make Arrowhead a fun stadium again.

Denver Broncos
TIM TEBOW! TIM TEBOW! TIM TEBOW! Although he is a third string quarterback at this point, will probably only get some snaps in the "wildcat" offense, it seems like all of the Broncos press revolves around him. This is probably a good thing as the Broncos will struggle this season. Kyle Orton is the quarterback for the moment and at running back is a revolving door because of injury. They traded away their best wide receiver in Brandon Marshall to the Dolphins and just lost their best defensive player (Elvis Dummervil) to a torn pectoral muscle for 8 weeks. There is a black cloud hanging over Denver at the moment, maybe Tebow was the right pick.

Oakland Raiders
"Just Win Baby" - that saying is old news in Oakland and it has been almost a decade since the Raiders and there maniacal fans could claim a good squad. This year the hope of the #1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell is gone, he is replaced by Jason Campbell and it can only be an improvement. Campbell does have some weapons to work with at running back with Darren McFadden and sophomore wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey should have a better year with a quarterback that can throw the ball. Defense is solid but not spectacular. The Raiders have over paid some talent in corner Nnamdi Asomugha and safety Michael Huff. Rookie linebacker Rolando McLain should also make an immediate impact and although they might not make the playoffs, they are starting to get their swagger back.

NFL Review and Predictions - NFC West

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals
A lot has changed in the desert since the end of last season. Team leader, all around good guy and starting QB Kurt Warner has retired, wide receiver Anquan Boldin was moved to Baltimore and defensive standout Karlos Dansby is no longer with the team. So what do they have? At QB Matt Leinart will take the lessons learned from being on the bench and try to turn them into on-field success like the Packers Aaron Rodgers did behind Brett Favre. Leinart still has the chance to throw to Larry Fitzgerald which should help his accuracy. On defense they will fly to the ball, lead by SS Adrian Wilson. Rookie DT Dan Williams from Tennessee will also contribute. The Cards are still clearly the class of the division, but will struggle to win a playoff game.


San Francisco 49ers
Coach Mike Singletary wants to be the best to ever walk the sidelines. This team might just challenge him enough to see if that can true. The 49ers have built a decent team through the draft and with wide receiver Michael Crabtree, two rookie olineman that will start this seasons. These draft picks join the Pro Bowl talents of running back Frank Gore, linebacker Patrick Willis and safety Dashon Goldson. The big question remains under centre - can Alex Smith live up to the his first overall selection. Smith will be given all the opportunity to take the job and run, but if he can't succeed with the talent around him, it will interesting to see how Singletary reacts.



Seattle Seahawks
A new coach and a new look (no more lime green uniforms) the Seahawks will try hard to make sure the home field advantage at Qwest Field doesn't go to waste. The Seahawks have to cross their fingers that QB Matt Hasselbeck stays healthy for a whole season, something he hasn't been able to do lately. If he doesn't the options are weak - Charlie Whitehurst and JP Losman. Eww...IF Hasselbeck does stay healthy he will have some offensive weapons. Rookie wide receiver Golden Tate joins veterans Deion Brance and TJ Houszmanzadah (sp?). In the backfield he has Julius Jones and Leon Washington. Defense is what will keep the Seahawks in games though. A young fast linebacking core can make up for a lot of mistakes. Led by Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatufu and Leroy Hill will all have big years.



St. Louis Rams
The Rams only have one direction to go, thank goodness. After a terrible season last year which saw them go 1-15, they have some hope with the arrival of first overall pick and $50 million dollar man, quarterback Sam Bradford. He joins one of the most underrated players - running back Steven Jackson. Jackson is one of the best all-around running backs. Unfortunately, he hasn't had any support and teams are able to key on him. The Rams haven't upgraded their wide receivers much, although Donnie Avery will be improved. Their defense isn't spectacular and will get beat up because they will be on the field for extended periods of time. Three wins will be great for the Rams.

Not For Long

There is a classic NFL Films clip where Jerry Glanville, then coach of the Atlanta Falcons is berating an official after a blown call and he asks him "Do you know what NFL stands for?" Glanville answers for the official "Not For Long if you keep making calls like that".

Well, apparently there are other ways to have a short career in the National Football League and many players seem to be doing their best to end their stint. With the average career being only 3.5 years, and contracts not being guaranteed, you would think players would try their best to stay around as long as possible.

Well, this year alone we've had a bunch of interesting incidents that have affected players and therefore their teams...

- Steve Smith, wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers broke his arm in a flag football game. He will be out until the first week of the season, hampering his chances to build chemistry with the new starting quarterback Matt Moore.

- Johnny Jolly, defensive lineman for the Packers was charged because he "bought, sold, funded, transported and aided in the buying, selling, funding and transportation of illegal narcotics including cocaine and marijuana" in Texas from 2006 through May 2008. Jolly was arrested in Houston in July 2008 allegedly for illegally possessing at least 200 grams of codeine. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Since this all violates the leagues substance abuse policy, Jolly has been suspended for the entire season.

- Santonio Holmes, wide receiver for the Jets was suspended for the first 4 games of the season for violating the substance abuse policy. Not only was it enough to get him suspended, but this also got him traded from Pittsburgh to the Jets.

- Albert Haynesworth, defensive lineman with the Washington Redskins is still not participating in training camp because he can't pass the teams conditioning test. Haynesworth is the only player in camp who has to pass the test because he didn't participate in half of the teams off-season workouts. Way to go fatty!

- Another player with similar problems was Terrence Cody a rookie defensive lineman with the Baltimore Ravens. Cody who tips the scales at 380 lbs took 3 tries to pass the Ravens conditioning test, but if you are getting paid to play professional sports don't you come prepared to pass that test the first time? Why jeopardize your chance of making thousands if not millions of dollars.

- We have a slew of first round picks who still have haven't signed their contracts. This is a negotiation tactic, but with NFL rookies basically getting slotted into a dollar amount based upon where they were picked, they need to get their name on a contract and get into camp so they don't stunt their growth.

There you have it, just a few of the reasons that players are screwing themselves out of longer careers.

Can you guys remember other ways careers were cut short...

Batman and Robin

I bet NFL Network is wishing they could change their minds on which team to cover for their Hard Knocks training camp series. No matter how good a quote Jets head coach Rex Ryan is, he has nothing on what will happen in Cincinnati this August.

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Bengals signed 36-year-old free agent Terrell Owens to a contract. He will join forces with probably the other most flamboyant wide receiver in the game in Chad OchoCinco (ne Johnson). The two paired together would have given defensive backs fits only 4 seasons earlier, now it will be interesting to see how they produce.

What do the Bengals get with Owens? As mentioned, he is 36 years old and near the tail end of a great career. He was a game changer in his time with the 49ers, Cowboys and Eagles. Last season after signing with the Bills it was obvious that Owens had lost a step and wasn’t able to break free of tight coverage and couldn’t outrun defensive backs like he had in the past. Owens did show signs of greatness, running an end around for a touchdown against the Texans and catching a long touchdown pass against the Colts in the regular season finale. The one thing that everyone expected in Buffalo last season, was the thing Owens didn’t deliver on – sizzle. Many fans in Buffalo were excited about the arrival of Owens because he would bring some cache to the Bills, which they haven’t had since the mid-nineties. The popcorn chugging, sit up in the driveway and sharpie in the sock Owens never showed up.

Will that same lame Owens show up in Cincinnati? Probably not. In Cincinnati, Owens will have Chad OchoCinco on the opposite side of the field as his running mate. Chad OchoCinco has been a prolific the last couple of seasons. First with TJ Whosyourmomma on the other side of the field, and then for the last couple of seasons without a real number two wide receiver. OchoCinco has talent and often that is overlooked amongst all his antics. With a second option in Owens, third in the other free agent signing Antonio Bryant and fourth, rookie TE Jermaine Gresham from Oklahoma, the Bengals have some offensive talent to challenge defenses.

The man that has to keep all the talent in line and distribute the ball is quarterback Carson Palmer. He is going to either have lots of fun throwing the ball or be stressed out every Sunday trying to get the ball to all his options and not have them bite his head off.

The fun now starts in Cincinnati. Will we get choreographed first down celebrations, lots of fines and the best press conferences ever? Probably, and maybe, just maybe a playoff team in Cincinnati.

If I Were A Free Agent

Being a free agent in the regular world is kind of crappy. It basically means you are unemployed and looking for work. In the sports world it is usually the best thing to happen to an athlete.

A pro athlete looks forward to free agency because it is normally the time that they are at the peak of their careers and can demand the most money. Being a free agent also means there are no restrictions on how much they can make, unlike when they are a rookie or when a team exercises an option.

Free agency is all the talk right now. NFL free agency started on Friday and there have already been a few big signings. Some top players have moved teams including Julius Peppers who goes from Carolina to Chicago, Kyle Vanden Bosch goes from Tennessee to Detroit and Karlos Dansby goes from Arizona to Miami. These are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more player moves to come.

In about four months, NBA free agency will be the talk everywhere with perhaps the biggest free agent class ever. It includes many of the marquee names in the NBA right now, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Also, some supporting stars are going to be looking for new homes Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer. Depending on where these players sign, it could change the fate of franchises (just look at Toronto without Bosh for the past week 0-4).

If you were a free agent what factors would you look for when trying to decide where to go. Here is my list;

1. Money - Don't kid yourself - the biggest factor is the benjamins. This will be the main reason that LeBron, Wade and Bosh stay put. They can get the most money from the teams they are currently with.

2. Location - Do I want to play in a cold city like Toronto or Detroit? Nope...I would rather spend my off days in Miami or LA thank you very much. This section also includes other amenities like shopping, restaurants and nightlife. You are young with a high income, give me something good to do on days off or in the off-season.

3. Friends - Who do I know on the team? Did I play with any guys at University or on a summer league team? Is someone on the team that I can create my own hand shake with? Who will I go out to dinner with on the road 50 times a year?

4. Winning - Does the franchise have a chance to win or a history of winning? All players want a championship ring. Also, awards like MVP and all-star nominations come easier to players on winning teams.

5. Fans - Are the fans passionate? Will they show up to the arena every night or only when the team wins?


Those would be my big five...what would you guys look for when signing a free agent deal?

My NFL Combine

The National Football League is now a 12 month a year endeavor. Fans get the pre-season, regular season, and the play-offs that culminate in the Super Bowl. After the Super Bowl you would think you get a break until August. Not the case anymore. We now have the NFL Combine, the NFL Draft, optional team workouts (which aren't that optional) and before you know it, we are back to training camp and the pre-season.

The details of the off-season, once reserved for the NFL insider and media are now free to follow for anyone with the NFL network or the internet. One of the most entertaining parts of the off-season is the NFL Combine. This is where we get to watch the future of the NFL participate in drills to prove their future worth. Now, this is all televised of course.

I figured what better way to get involved then to participate in the NFL Combine myself. Since the NFL didn't offer me an invitation to test my skills, I thought I would do this on my own and document for you.

Here are my NFL Combine details.

Name: Benjamin Trattner
School: Acadia University (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Height: 6 feet 1.5 inch
Weight: 261 lbs

Overview:
Benjamin arrived at Acadia as a versatile lineman. Able to play on both the offensive and defensive line in High School. He joined the Axeman defensive line where he progressed slowly his freshman year. Week 6 of his freshman season, he injured his knee in practice. After rehab alone was not successful, arthroscopic surgery repaired meniscus damage. An MRI later that year revealed a tear of the ACL and he had reconstruction surgery in July before his sophomore season. This ended the dream of being a lineman, but not before two more surgeries to repair damage to the knee, re-injured in comeback attempts. Benjamin became the the kicker and punter at Acadia during his junior and senior seasons. Retiring from competitive football in 2001.

Analysis:
Strengths - A strong leg, evidenced by his career long field goal of 57 yards. High football IQ. Tremendous upside potential.

Weaknesses - Slow footed. One scout described being able to time him "with a sun dial". Needs more focus when lining up for short to middle distance field goal attempts.

Test Results

40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.

40yd - not applicable
10yd - 1.91 seconds

Bench press
The bench press is a test of strength -- 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance.

225 lbs for 5 repetitions

Vertical
The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach.

Attempt 1 - 12.25 inches
Attempt 2 - 13.25 inches


Broad jump
The broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can.

Attempt 1 - 73.25 inches
Attempt 2 - 77.25 inches

Well Rich Eisen, am I at least a day 3 prospect?

Tecmo Bowl - Super Bowl 44

The defining moment of Super Bowl 44 from Sunday night was Tracey Porter intercepting Peyton Manning. It is now immortalized in Tecmo Bowl form. Enjoy.

Top 5 Sports Stories of 2009

Honorable Mention:
-Canada's World Junior Hockey team wins a 5th straight championship.
-Alex Rodriguez overcoming PED scandal and going on to play well and win the World Series. A 27th in the history of the Yankees franchise.
-Roger Federer wins the French Open, the only asterisk is he didn't beat Nadal.
-Detroit Lions go winless (0-17) in an NFL season.
-UCONN women's basketball goes undefeated, 39-0, and win their 6th national title.
-Lance Armstrong returns to cycling, but can't win the Tour de France.
-Jimmie Johnson wins his 4th straight NASCAR title.


5. Steelers win 6th Super Bowl.
The Pittsburgh Steelers went to Tampa to face the upstart Arizona Cardinals. The Cards had turned around decades of frustration to finally make it to a Super Bowl. The Steelers would not roll over and hand them the victory. In an amazing game that featured the longest play in Super Bowl history (a 99 yard interception return by James Harrison), Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals then had an unbelievable 64 yd touchdown reception that split the Steelers defence, gave the Cards their first lead and gave them a great chance to win if the defence could hold. Big Ben wasn't having any of it though. He drove the length of the field, finally threading the needle to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds who tippy-toed in the back of the endzone to seal the victory for the black and gold. For his 135 yd performance, Holmes was given the MVP and Big Ben got his second Super Bowl ring.

4. Roughriders lose Grey Cup.
Your typical Canadian football game. Back and forth scoring, some timely defense and special teams that actually mean something. This game, unlike the Super Bowl won't be remembered for who won (Montreal Alouettes) as it will for who lost (Saskatchewan Roughriders). In a very pro-Roughriders environment in Calgary, the Als had a field goal attempt on the final play of the game for the win. The field goal attempt sails wide and it looked for the moment that the Green Riders would take home the Grey Cup. Unfortunately, the 13th man, which throughout most of the game was the fans, in this case was an actual player and the penalty on Saskatchewan allowed the Als to retry their field goal from 5 yards closer and this time kicker David Duval was true and split the uprights for the Montreal win.

3. Usain Bolt is fastest man alive.
Have to say this one quickly. Jamaica's Usain Bolt who came to prominence during the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 had another world stage to showcase his personality and quick twitch muscles. This time the venue was Berlin and the World Track and Field Championships. Bolt quickly (and I mean quickly) brought the world to its feet by running a blistering 9.58 in the 100m and then ran a 19.19 in the 200m to cement himself as the fastest human being ever.

2. Barcelona FC wins 6 championships.
This amazing event flies under the radar because it happened over the whole year and not in one game or under 20 seconds. FC Barcelona became the first football team ever to win six out of six competitions in a single year thus completing the sextuple, comprising the 2008–09 La Liga, 2008–09 Copa del Rey, 2009 Supercopa de España, 2008–09 UEFA Champions League, 2009 UEFA Super Cup and 2009 FIFA Club World Cup. Similar to American sports where trades or transfers are now becoming more common and dynasties are less likely this will probably never happen again.

1. Tiger Woods.
Where to start with this one. Is it Tiger winning Golfer of the Year, Athlete of the Decade or 6 tournaments this year on the PGA tour. Perhaps it is the other side of the coin, maybe the biggest story is Tiger LOSING to YE Yang in the PGA Championship, after leading on a Sunday Woods did something he hadn't done before, gave up the lead. The real story of the year in this one though is Tiger Woods's fall from grace. That link pretty much says it all.


What was your top sports story of the year?

What If...

In his recent book, ESPN.com writer Bill Simmons dedicates a chapter of his Book of Basketball to "what if's". For example, what if the Portland Trail Blazers had drafted Michael Jordan instead of Sam Bowie or what if this or that trade didn't happen, where would players be, how would have championships been handed out differently.

This is a small take on that. What if players could come home again? For some players this happens - look at Allen Iverson this week. After struggling last season with the Pistons and appearing in only three game for the Memphis Grizzlies this season, he was signed by the team he started his career with - the Philadelphia Sixers. Philadelphia has embraced him again and he will work his derriere off for the fans to show his appreciation.

On the flip side of the coin is someone like Roger Clemens. After Clemens worked his way out of favor with Red Sox nation, there was no way the fans at Fenway would ever accept him back, even if a World Series was at stake.

A couple of other examples, you let me know in the comments below if you think they would be welcomed home;

- Barry Bonds: Bonds the home run king was run out of baseball after all the steroid allegations. His original team the Pittsburgh Pirates are in dire straits. They need to attract fans to the ball park and bringing back Bonds would be one way to do this. The fans in San Francisco loved Bonds because he was there bad guy, would fans in Pittsburgh feel the same, I think they would.

- Brett Favre: Favre retired a Packer. Then he retired a NY Jet. Now he is a Minnesota Viking. Although the Packers aren't his original team - the Atlanta Falcons are, many people consider the Packers and Favre inseparable. After all that has transpired with Favre even a one day press conference so he can "retire" a Packer seems to be out of the question.

- Matt Sundin: Had to throw a former Toronto Maple Leaf in the mix. Sundin is another player who retired only to figure out that he still had some juice left in his legs and played his final season with the Vancouver Canucks. Again, the Leafs weren't his original team, but the Quebec Nordiques don't exist anymore. If the Leafs needed someone for a playoff push would they welcome the captain back? With open arms, I say. The blue and white jerseys with number 13 would be all you would see.

- Vince Carter: Do I even have to write this paragraph? After being traded in 2004 to the New Jersey Nets for a bag of pucks, Carter made comments that he didn't give his all while a Raptor and has repeatedly smiled, laughed and "doesn't understand" why Raptors fan boo him whenever he returns to the Air Canada Centre. If a Toronto Raptors General Manager EVER tried to bring him back, he would be punted onto Bay Street faster than you can say "Vincent Lemar Carter"

- Joe Montana and Jerry Rice: Although both are now retired, they finished there storied careers with teams other than the one they made their biggest splash, the San Francisco 49ers. Montana went on to play two seasons with the KC Chiefs, while Rice played bounced around to the Raiders and Seahawks before going to training camp with the Broncos. He never played in a game and then retired (and I guess we have our answer to my quesion) on August 19, 2006 the San Francisco 49ers announced that Rice would sign a contract with them, allowing him to retire as a member of the team where his career began. On August 24, he officially retired as a 49er, signing a one-day contract for $1,985,806.49. The number represented the year Rice was drafted (1985), his number (80), the year he retired (2006), and the 49ers (49). The figure was ceremonial, and Rice received no money. Obviously, Montana and Rice meant alot to the 49ers franchise and both would have been welcomed back at the end of their playing days.

Who else can you think of and would they be welcomed home?

Put Me In Coach...

It isn't easy being a coach.

Whether you are a volunteer parent coaching kids or a well paid man coaching 53 professional football players there are many stresses, hand holding and decisions that have to be made. Some are better than others, and right now we seem to have very few good ones.

Two situations highlighted this over the weekend;
Les Miles at LSU Tigers vs. Ole Miss Rebels. LSU was considered a national title contender but have already lost twice and were trying to continue almost a decade worth of winning vs. Ole Miss. The Rebels played a spirited game and took the lead into the last minute of the game - 35-34, but LSU had the ball and were threatening, just needing a field goal to win. After making a couple of bad plays on first and second down the LSU QB took a sack on 3rd down to set up a 4th and 26 with just under 30 seconds left, but for some inexplicable reason, they don't call a timeout until there were 9 seconds, they let 21 seconds expire. Hail Mary play and miraculously the receiver pulls it down with one second on the clock (think they could have used those extra seconds?). At this point Coach Les Miles had to run out his field goal unit for a chip shot to win the game. The players aren't ready, so the offense stays on the field for the final play and with only one second on the clock the QB for some unexplainable reason, spikes the ball, the clock expires and the LSU Tigers lose. With one second left, don't you just throw the ball in the endzone if you aren't going to kick the field goal to win.

After the game Coach Miles said that there wasn't time to get the field goal unit on the field. I disagree. Last year, the Denver Broncos pulled off something similar at the end of the first half of a game versus the Buffalo Bills. Later, it was shown that Coach Miles was actually yelling at his QB to down the ball. The player was so confused he just did what his coach told him.

Coaches need to be in control and understand the game situations, getting paid as much as Coach Miles does, he needs to know how to handle this and WIN the game.

The other coaching situation that put the lack of coaching skills on display was in the NFL. Brand new Buffalo Bills interim coach Perry Fewell had a brain cramp at the end of the first half with five seconds left and the ball at the Jacksonville 7 yard line. With a timeout remaining, the Bills had a chance to take one shot at the endzone to try for a touchdown. If they succeed, they go into the half with a commanding lead, if they fail, call your last timeout and kick the field goal. Coach Fewell by choosing a running play allowed the clock to expire. The Jags looked to have a victory, but one of the referees took pity on the first time coach and granted him his timeout. The Bills kicked the field goal and ended up losing the game by 3 points - think they could have used the extra 4 points a touchdown would have given them?

Other more seasoned NFL coaches are notorious for mis-managing clock, from Andy Reid to Norv Turner. Why can't these guys get it right? When every fan at home is screaming at the TV for a coach to call a timeout or run a play into the endzone and then they do the complete opposite...ESPN's Bill Simmons has been calling for teams to hire 16 year old kids that play Madden to help with clock management at the end of games. Better yet, why not just hire another coach? They have too many as it is and it is the one thing that isn't capped (like player salaries). If it helps you win a game, that coach could be more valuable than you Assistant Long Snapping Coach.