No time to write, so here's the picks:
Buffalo (+3.5) over Jets
Raiders (+4) over Dolphins
Ravens (-4) over Browns
Texans (-2.5) over Falcons
Lions (+3) over Bears
Packers (-2) over Vikings
Cowboys (-13) over Rams
Panthers (-3) over Bucs
Niners (+2) over Seahawks
Steelers (-6) over Cards
Chargers (-12) over Chiefs
Broncos (+9.5) over Colts
Eagles (-3) over Giants
Patriots (-7.5) over Bengals
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Week 3
Last week's picks: 3-9-3
Overall: 20-19-6
Yikes, that was an ugly week for picks. I didn't realize I had done that bad until I was tallying it up. Ah well, gotta love NFL parity.
I'm going to have to get back to studying for a couple months again, so my posting will go back to being sporadic at best. My goal is to at least get my picks up each week.
Just a couple comments on the Niners game...I'm going to just get the obvious out of the way first: they got absolutely hosed by the refs in 3 critical situations that I can think of right now
1. The "incomplete" pass to Davis that would have put them inside the 15
2. The phantom holding call by Clements that gave the Steelers 1st down on 2nd and long, leading to their TD drive.
3. Not calling intentional grounding on Roethlisburger, leaving them in field goal range late in the game.
Having said that, it's no excuse for losing, and I'm glad Nolan recognizes this. The offense continued to be putrid, and the defense played okay, although for the second straight game the corners often played 10+ yards off of the WRs, leaving them wide open. I don't know if this is a common practice in the NFL, but it makes no sense to this fan.
I am getting very frustrated with Hostler. While his play calling is slowly getting more creative on the passing end of things, every single time Gore's number is called, it's between the tackles...and even the bonehead announcers could recognize that this was a bad idea considering the Steelers' front 3. You have to switch up your playcalling during a game, otherwise Gore won't end up with 600 yards on the season. It is horribly frustrating to watch them not use their tools properly, and it is particularly disappointing to see Smith regress to pre-2006 form. He seemed to be so comfortable in Norv Turner's system, and losing him has really, really set Smith back. After Turner gets fired at the end of this season, I'd do everything in my power to get him back in the play-calling booth if I was in the 49ers front office.
On a brighter note, the Giants decided to play spoiler, and have almost knocked the Padres out of the Wild Card lead. Way to go, guys.
Overall: 20-19-6
Yikes, that was an ugly week for picks. I didn't realize I had done that bad until I was tallying it up. Ah well, gotta love NFL parity.
I'm going to have to get back to studying for a couple months again, so my posting will go back to being sporadic at best. My goal is to at least get my picks up each week.
Just a couple comments on the Niners game...I'm going to just get the obvious out of the way first: they got absolutely hosed by the refs in 3 critical situations that I can think of right now
1. The "incomplete" pass to Davis that would have put them inside the 15
2. The phantom holding call by Clements that gave the Steelers 1st down on 2nd and long, leading to their TD drive.
3. Not calling intentional grounding on Roethlisburger, leaving them in field goal range late in the game.
Having said that, it's no excuse for losing, and I'm glad Nolan recognizes this. The offense continued to be putrid, and the defense played okay, although for the second straight game the corners often played 10+ yards off of the WRs, leaving them wide open. I don't know if this is a common practice in the NFL, but it makes no sense to this fan.
I am getting very frustrated with Hostler. While his play calling is slowly getting more creative on the passing end of things, every single time Gore's number is called, it's between the tackles...and even the bonehead announcers could recognize that this was a bad idea considering the Steelers' front 3. You have to switch up your playcalling during a game, otherwise Gore won't end up with 600 yards on the season. It is horribly frustrating to watch them not use their tools properly, and it is particularly disappointing to see Smith regress to pre-2006 form. He seemed to be so comfortable in Norv Turner's system, and losing him has really, really set Smith back. After Turner gets fired at the end of this season, I'd do everything in my power to get him back in the play-calling booth if I was in the 49ers front office.
On a brighter note, the Giants decided to play spoiler, and have almost knocked the Padres out of the Wild Card lead. Way to go, guys.
Friday, September 21, 2007
We'll miss you, big guy.
According to Barry Bonds' web site, he will not be returning as a Giant next year.
Granted, we've heard a lot of false things come out of Barry's mouth in the past, but my heart and head is telling me that this isn't a misleading rumor. It's one thing if he makes an offhand comment in a press conference, but it's another if he publishes it on his website.
Many good times have been had in the Barry Era in San Francisco. He was larger than life as I grew up and started paying attention to baseball, and the ride that he gave us in the first couple years of this century were like nothing that has ever happened, and probably won't happen again. As I gather my thoughts about Barry not being a Giant in the coming days I will post a little more on this, but for now, I must say...thank you, Barry. You have given us so many reasons to stay up in the late hours of the night listening to the game on the radio or watching your intimidating presence on TV. You will always be remembered by this fan as the greatest ever.
Just shut up, McLoser
A recent upswing in people playing the race card has really started to tick me off. For the record, I'm sure there is still racism in some parts of the country and that people do suffer from it. Even white people suffer from racism these days in the form of colleges filling quotas of students of other ethnicities...yes, that is racism, and it can't be argued. That, however, is not the point of this post.
Donovan McNabb is now claiming that he's criticized more than white QBs because he's black. In that same article, Vince Young responds as I would:
"I really feel like myself, black or white quarterbacks, we all go through something because that is the life of a quarterback." Young said. "You have to be able to handle all the pressure and you have to be able to handle the losses and you have to be able to handle the media saying this about you … If you can't handle it, then you have to get off that position and go play something else."
Listen, McNabb...there are a number of reasons you are criticized, none of which include being black:
1) You play in Philly. The fans there aren't exactly Mother Theresa.
2) You are a QB, the most integral part of an offense. The game centers around you. If you are going to suck, people are going to notice it more and talk more about it.
3) You have, in fact, not been that good of a QB.
You even deterred your own point when you said this:
"No, I didn't say that," he answered. "For instance, Vince Young, he came in and didn't throw for 300 yards or 200, he might have averaged 175 passing, but did whatever it took to win football games. … It's about winning football games here. That's what it's all about. It doesn't matter if you're black, white, red, green, yellow. It's about winning football games."
Yes, Donovan. It is about winning football games. You haven't done this. In big game after big game you have choked over and over again, whether it be to the Bucs or the Patriots. You are inaccurate, and aren't even that great of a runner anymore, so drop the whole "I'm a running QB, so stop criticizing me for it." Oh, and by the way, Steve Young actually was criticized quite a bit earlier in his career for running so much. And he was more accurate than you. And he lived in the shadow of the greatest QB ever. And he won despite all these things. Of course, you could have won a bit more had you been able to get along with TO, one of the better WRs of our generation, so you don't even have the excuse of not having the personnel around you to win.
I realize back East that racism still exists, and is more prevalent there than the world that I live in. That being said, it is still no excuse for the way you are playing while being given millions of dollars to do it. If you can't handle the criticism after the game, then just go away.
Here's this week's picks:
Colts (-6) over Texans
Packers (+5) over Chargers
Vikings (+2.5) over Chiefs
Bills (+16.5) over Patriots (how can you give 16.5 points?)
Rams (+3.5) over Bucs
Lions (+6.5) over Eagles
49ers (+9) over Steelers
Jets (-3) over Dolphins
Cardinals (+8) over Ravens
Bengals (+3) over Seahawks
Redskins (-3.5) over Giants
Browns (+3) over Raiders
Broncos (-3) over Jags
Falcons (+4) over Panthers
Cowboys (+3) over Bears
Saints (-4.5) over Titans
Donovan McNabb is now claiming that he's criticized more than white QBs because he's black. In that same article, Vince Young responds as I would:
"I really feel like myself, black or white quarterbacks, we all go through something because that is the life of a quarterback." Young said. "You have to be able to handle all the pressure and you have to be able to handle the losses and you have to be able to handle the media saying this about you … If you can't handle it, then you have to get off that position and go play something else."
Listen, McNabb...there are a number of reasons you are criticized, none of which include being black:
1) You play in Philly. The fans there aren't exactly Mother Theresa.
2) You are a QB, the most integral part of an offense. The game centers around you. If you are going to suck, people are going to notice it more and talk more about it.
3) You have, in fact, not been that good of a QB.
You even deterred your own point when you said this:
"No, I didn't say that," he answered. "For instance, Vince Young, he came in and didn't throw for 300 yards or 200, he might have averaged 175 passing, but did whatever it took to win football games. … It's about winning football games here. That's what it's all about. It doesn't matter if you're black, white, red, green, yellow. It's about winning football games."
Yes, Donovan. It is about winning football games. You haven't done this. In big game after big game you have choked over and over again, whether it be to the Bucs or the Patriots. You are inaccurate, and aren't even that great of a runner anymore, so drop the whole "I'm a running QB, so stop criticizing me for it." Oh, and by the way, Steve Young actually was criticized quite a bit earlier in his career for running so much. And he was more accurate than you. And he lived in the shadow of the greatest QB ever. And he won despite all these things. Of course, you could have won a bit more had you been able to get along with TO, one of the better WRs of our generation, so you don't even have the excuse of not having the personnel around you to win.
I realize back East that racism still exists, and is more prevalent there than the world that I live in. That being said, it is still no excuse for the way you are playing while being given millions of dollars to do it. If you can't handle the criticism after the game, then just go away.
Here's this week's picks:
Colts (-6) over Texans
Packers (+5) over Chargers
Vikings (+2.5) over Chiefs
Bills (+16.5) over Patriots (how can you give 16.5 points?)
Rams (+3.5) over Bucs
Lions (+6.5) over Eagles
49ers (+9) over Steelers
Jets (-3) over Dolphins
Cardinals (+8) over Ravens
Bengals (+3) over Seahawks
Redskins (-3.5) over Giants
Browns (+3) over Raiders
Broncos (-3) over Jags
Falcons (+4) over Panthers
Cowboys (+3) over Bears
Saints (-4.5) over Titans
Monday, September 17, 2007
C'mon people, that's enough already.
This week's picks: 9-5-1
Overall: 17-10-3
Bold Week 2 Prediction: The Pats will finally ruin the '72 Dolphins' party.
The Patriots showed up this week, plain and simple. Not only did they show up to play some pure, unadulterated dominant football against one of the top 3 teams in the NFL, but they shoved it in the faces of everyone calling them "cheaters."
While watching this game, I came to the realization that we could be in the midst of the greatest football team of all time (and trust me, I am one of the last people to claim recent accomplishments are "the best ever" or eclipse other historic moments). Tom Brady has put on a clinic for future QB's everywhere, putting up the following mind-boggling stats over 2 weeks: 79.7% pass accuracy, 576 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT. Even more, he didn't put this up against patsies...one game came against probably a league-average team in the Jets, and the other came against, as mentioned before, one of the best teams in football. Oh, and by the way, they put up the bigger game against the Chargers, whilst the NFL devoted every resource to making sure they weren't cheating. In essence, as they kept scoring TDs late in the game as many a Madden fan would do, they gave a big middle finger to the sporting world that is getting ready to write off their accomplishments over the past decade.
Are we so sure that the Patriots wouldn't have won their recent Super Bowls without their cameras? First, let's remember that this is the same league where most every coach hides his mouth with his play sheet--they realize the risks involved and surely take every precaution possible. Second, say the Pats did steal signs and knew exactly what the defense was running--then explain how it is that in each Super Bowl they came out strong and just barely held out to win the game? Normally you'd do better as the game went on if you knew their signals, right?
This goes deeper than just the Patriots taping a few games and the slight advantage they may have gained. This is a reflection of the problem most of the sporting world has succumbed to, and that is a desire to see great people or teams fall, whilst throwing logic to the wind at times. This is most evident in the steroid scandal in baseball. Let's use everyone's favorite punching bag, Barry Bonds, as an example. Amidst all the unknown, there are a few facts: (1) There is no proof that he did steroids, (2) He admitted to using a "cream-like substance", and (3) he is constantly booed everywhere but SF, despite any substantial evidence supporting steroid usage. All this crap about him getting bigger and better with age can be applied in the exact same way to Roger Clemens, and even to MJ (well, minus the getting better part). Even assuming he did use steroids tells us nothing, for we have much evidence that using steroids in and of itself does not make you a better baseball player (see: Neifi Perez, Alex Sanchez, Jeremy Giambi), and HGH has credible studies that show it does not help a baseball player improve his play. And the whole double-standard he is held to because he broke the most hallowed record is ridiculous...Ankiel was proven to have received HGH and no one's even talking about it anymore, less than a month after the story broke. Glaus, one of the more prolific AL hitters, has been linked to HGH as much as Bonds, but you have to search real hard to find any kind of media coverage about that. Just because you aren't going after a record doesn't make it any less cheatful.
Apologies for going off on the Bonds tangent, but he's just a very good example of how people are becoming less and less likely to sit back and enjoy something historically great when it is right in front of them. Are people so naive to believe the great teams of the past did not cheat or use everything at their disposition to win, even if it was borderline legal? Heck, NFL players get shots of cortisone before each game--how is that not "performance enhancing"? And don't give me the moral angle of "oh, but cortisone is legal!" Well, so was whatever Bonds allegedly took when he took it.
So, please, enough of tarnishing today's great players. Don't listen to the onslaught of media telling you "facts" about how certain people or teams cheated and the "proof" they say they have. Think before you form an opinion, and logically decide if your denouncement of a certain player or team is warranted. While you do that, I am going to enjoy watching some of the greatest sporting moments we'll ever live to see.
Overall: 17-10-3
Bold Week 2 Prediction: The Pats will finally ruin the '72 Dolphins' party.
The Patriots showed up this week, plain and simple. Not only did they show up to play some pure, unadulterated dominant football against one of the top 3 teams in the NFL, but they shoved it in the faces of everyone calling them "cheaters."
While watching this game, I came to the realization that we could be in the midst of the greatest football team of all time (and trust me, I am one of the last people to claim recent accomplishments are "the best ever" or eclipse other historic moments). Tom Brady has put on a clinic for future QB's everywhere, putting up the following mind-boggling stats over 2 weeks: 79.7% pass accuracy, 576 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT. Even more, he didn't put this up against patsies...one game came against probably a league-average team in the Jets, and the other came against, as mentioned before, one of the best teams in football. Oh, and by the way, they put up the bigger game against the Chargers, whilst the NFL devoted every resource to making sure they weren't cheating. In essence, as they kept scoring TDs late in the game as many a Madden fan would do, they gave a big middle finger to the sporting world that is getting ready to write off their accomplishments over the past decade.
Are we so sure that the Patriots wouldn't have won their recent Super Bowls without their cameras? First, let's remember that this is the same league where most every coach hides his mouth with his play sheet--they realize the risks involved and surely take every precaution possible. Second, say the Pats did steal signs and knew exactly what the defense was running--then explain how it is that in each Super Bowl they came out strong and just barely held out to win the game? Normally you'd do better as the game went on if you knew their signals, right?
This goes deeper than just the Patriots taping a few games and the slight advantage they may have gained. This is a reflection of the problem most of the sporting world has succumbed to, and that is a desire to see great people or teams fall, whilst throwing logic to the wind at times. This is most evident in the steroid scandal in baseball. Let's use everyone's favorite punching bag, Barry Bonds, as an example. Amidst all the unknown, there are a few facts: (1) There is no proof that he did steroids, (2) He admitted to using a "cream-like substance", and (3) he is constantly booed everywhere but SF, despite any substantial evidence supporting steroid usage. All this crap about him getting bigger and better with age can be applied in the exact same way to Roger Clemens, and even to MJ (well, minus the getting better part). Even assuming he did use steroids tells us nothing, for we have much evidence that using steroids in and of itself does not make you a better baseball player (see: Neifi Perez, Alex Sanchez, Jeremy Giambi), and HGH has credible studies that show it does not help a baseball player improve his play. And the whole double-standard he is held to because he broke the most hallowed record is ridiculous...Ankiel was proven to have received HGH and no one's even talking about it anymore, less than a month after the story broke. Glaus, one of the more prolific AL hitters, has been linked to HGH as much as Bonds, but you have to search real hard to find any kind of media coverage about that. Just because you aren't going after a record doesn't make it any less cheatful.
Apologies for going off on the Bonds tangent, but he's just a very good example of how people are becoming less and less likely to sit back and enjoy something historically great when it is right in front of them. Are people so naive to believe the great teams of the past did not cheat or use everything at their disposition to win, even if it was borderline legal? Heck, NFL players get shots of cortisone before each game--how is that not "performance enhancing"? And don't give me the moral angle of "oh, but cortisone is legal!" Well, so was whatever Bonds allegedly took when he took it.
So, please, enough of tarnishing today's great players. Don't listen to the onslaught of media telling you "facts" about how certain people or teams cheated and the "proof" they say they have. Think before you form an opinion, and logically decide if your denouncement of a certain player or team is warranted. While you do that, I am going to enjoy watching some of the greatest sporting moments we'll ever live to see.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Week 2 picks
Whoo! Almost forgot this week's picks, and just remembered as the Niners are about to kickoff. I'm looking for a huge game from Gore today, as they face a flimsy Rams D and he comes off the passing of his mother this week. So, without further adieu...
Falcons (+10) over Jags
Steelers (-10) over Bills
Bengals (-7) over Browns
Giants (-1.5) over Packers
Colts (-7) over Titans
Texans (+6.5) over Panthers
Saints (-3) over Bucs
Niners (+3) over Rams
Cowboys (-3.5) over Dolphins
Lions (-3) over Vikings
Chiefs (+12) over Bears
Jets (+10) over Ravens
Seahawks (-2.5) over Cards
Broncos (-9.5) over Raiders
Redskins (+7) over Eagles
Patriots (-3) over Chargers
Falcons (+10) over Jags
Steelers (-10) over Bills
Bengals (-7) over Browns
Giants (-1.5) over Packers
Colts (-7) over Titans
Texans (+6.5) over Panthers
Saints (-3) over Bucs
Niners (+3) over Rams
Cowboys (-3.5) over Dolphins
Lions (-3) over Vikings
Chiefs (+12) over Bears
Jets (+10) over Ravens
Seahawks (-2.5) over Cards
Broncos (-9.5) over Raiders
Redskins (+7) over Eagles
Patriots (-3) over Chargers
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Greg Oden the new Sam Bowie?
I saw this blurb on ESPN.com and thought it was interesting. Sure would validate Durant supporters everywhere...
"Greg Oden's impending season on the sidelines immediately brings to mind the case of another Portland center who was a first-round draft pick: Sam Bowie. The Trail Blazers, picking second in the 1984 NBA draft, took Bowie, a collegiate All-America at Kentucky. The pick before him was Hakeem Olajuwon. The pick after him was Michael Jordan. Bowie played four injury-marred seasons in Portland -- he played in just 139 games due to a series of leg injuries that required five surgeries -- averaging 10.5 points per game. He was traded to New Jersey after the 1989 season, and played four more years with the Nets, averaging 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He also played two years with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring in 1995. Bowie's career numbers: 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.78 blocks per game. Jordan went on to win six NBA titles and five MVP awards. Olajuwon won two titles and one MVP award. Both were named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996. -- ESPN.com "
"Greg Oden's impending season on the sidelines immediately brings to mind the case of another Portland center who was a first-round draft pick: Sam Bowie. The Trail Blazers, picking second in the 1984 NBA draft, took Bowie, a collegiate All-America at Kentucky. The pick before him was Hakeem Olajuwon. The pick after him was Michael Jordan. Bowie played four injury-marred seasons in Portland -- he played in just 139 games due to a series of leg injuries that required five surgeries -- averaging 10.5 points per game. He was traded to New Jersey after the 1989 season, and played four more years with the Nets, averaging 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He also played two years with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring in 1995. Bowie's career numbers: 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.78 blocks per game. Jordan went on to win six NBA titles and five MVP awards. Olajuwon won two titles and one MVP award. Both were named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team list in 1996. -- ESPN.com "
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