Ordinary Bo

The Perfect Storm

2011-10-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

If I was a Tennessee Titan fan, I think I would be getting a little worried about the Colts coming to town on Sunday. This is starting to look like a perfect storm on the horizon.

The Colts have looked flat all season. But, Sunday night's debacle against New Orleans might have been just the adrenaline shot the boys from Indy needed. If getting thoroughly embarrassed in prime time wasn't bad enough, the ensuing feeding frenzy by the media and the bloggers (including myself) has probably stirred up the hornet's nest on 56th street. I think the wagons are being circled. I don't know why, but I have a feeling we are going to see some vicious hitting this Sunday.

And I guarantee you that Pat Angerer is going to be leading the charge. Pat has been a hitting machine all season and this week he is going to have a little extra bounce in his step. Pat's wife gave birth to "Cael Patrick Angerer" yesterday. Congratulations to Pat and his wife.

The Mr. Obvious Show

2011-10-25T04:31:00.000-07:00

"Welcome back to the Mr. Obvious Show, I am your host, Mr. Obvious. It appears we have a new caller on the line, so let's take the call."

Mr. Obvious: "Hello, this is Mr. Obvious, welcome to the show."

Caller: "Hello, Mr. Obvious. Long time listener, first time caller."

Mr. Obvious: "Caller, what can I help you with today?"

Caller: "Well, Mr. Obvious, my name is Jim and I am the coach of a professional football team in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our team has been pretty good for a long time and now all of the sudden we can't win a game. In fact, we have lost every game we have played this season. My friend, Tony, used to coach the team and then I took over as coach in 2009. I have been doing everything just like Tony did since I took over the coaching duties, but all of the sudden things just aren't working any more."

Mr. Obvious: "I see. So, what you are saying is that the team won a lot of games with Tony as the coach, but now that you are the coach the team just isn't winning any more? And nothing else has changed except that you are now the coach?"

Caller: "Well, Mr. Obvious, one of our players did have surgery this past off season and he is out for the year. But, that is just one player."

Mr. Obvious: "OK, Caller. So the team changed coaches in 2009 and lost one player for this season and now you can't win a game. And, you are telling me that you are doing everything exactly like Tony did?"

Caller: "Yes, Mr. Obvious. Just like Tony did. I kept meticulous notes of everything Tony did and said while he was the coach. We come out every game and try to throw the ball down the field on offense to build up a big lead, just like Tony did. And then on defense we drop drop back into a soft Cover 2 zone coverage on every play and try to keep everything in front of us, just like Tony did. In the past, it always worked. We used to be able to score points by the bucket load on offense and then our defense would bend but not break. But, this year is suddenly different for some reason and I just don't know why. We are constantly going three and out on offense and our defense suddenly can't stop anybody from scoring."

Mr. Obvious: "Caller, I was wondering. Was this player you lost to surgery a good player?"

Caller: "Why yes, Mr. Obvious. It is almost like you are a psychic, or something. He is probably the greatest quarterback that has ever played professional football. Why do you ask?"

Mr. Obvious: "It was just a hunch. Let me ask you a question, Jim. Is there any chance that your backup quarterback is the 2nd greatest quarterback that has ever played professional football?"

Caller: "No, Mr. Obvious. Our backup quarterback, his name is Curtis, he is doing OK but he isn't near as good as our injured quarterback."

Mr. Obvious: "Jim, are you still trying to run the same offense with Curtis as the quarterback that you were running with the previous quarterback?"

Caller: "Pretty much. We have changed a couple of things to make it a little easier for Curtis, but you know what they say, If it ain't broke don't fix it."

Mr Obvious: "But Jim, it appears to me that it is broke. You just told me earlier that you haven't won a game all season."

Caller: "Well, that's true Mr Obvious, we haven't won a game all season. But this offense has always worked flawlessly in the past with our other quarterback, why should we change now?"

Mr. Obvious: "We'll get to that in a minute, Jim. Let's talk about this defense of yours. You said earlier that your defense drops back into a Cover 2 zone coverage on every play and tries to keep everything in front of them. Is that correct?"

Caller: "That is correct, Mr. Obvious. It has always worked in the past, but it just doesn't seem to be working this year for some reason."

Mr. Obvious: "Jim, I am going to make an assumption here, and I want you to tell me if I am correct."

Caller: "OK."

Mr. Obvious: "In the past, when this Cover 2 zone defense of yours was working so well, were you usually playing with a big lead?"

Caller: "Wow, there you go with that psychic stuff again! Yeah, we always seemed to have a big lead before."

Mr. Obvious: "That is what I thought. And now that your 'Greatest Quarterback of All Time' is hurt, you aren't jumping out to big leads any more, are you?"

Caller: "It is like you can read my mind, Mr. Obvious. No, we aren't jumping out to big leads any more. And, our soft zone defense just doesn't seem to work any more because of it."

Mr. Obvious: "But yet, you are still doing everything exactly the same way that Tony did it?"

Caller: "Why wouldn't I, Mr. Obvious? You know what they say, If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Mr. Obvious: "Umm, I'm not sure you really understand what that saying means, Jim."

Caller: "I don't understand what you saying, Mr. Obvious."

Mr. Obvious: "Of course you don't, Jim. It appears to me that there is a lot of stuff out there that you probably do not understand."

Caller: "You are probably right, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Mr. Obvious: "I think I can help you here, Jim. Before you say anything else, just hear me out. First off, it is broke. You don't need to take just my word for that, if you would bother to turn on the TV or radio I am sure you would hear that same thing from anybody with a brain in their head. You just lost the 'Greatest Quarterback of All Time' to injury for the whole season. And yet, you don't appear to be bright enough to realize that you should probably change the offense a little bit more to play to the strengths of your back up quarterback and his surrounding cast. As a result, your offense is struggling to even get first downs because Curtis just isn't as good as the 'Greatest Quarterback of All Time.' Perhaps you could try to run the ball a little more instead of passing so much. Maybe you could mix up the play calling a little more and try to run some shorter patterns when you do throw the ball. Maybe you could try to be a little less predictable in your play calling. Maybe mix in some West Coast offense that might be a little more suited to Curtis' strengths. And dammit Jim, everybody knows you can't run the Cover 2 with your defense on every single play of a football game. Especially if you are playing from behind. If you ever tried to do something that stupid against a really good offense you might get torched for 62 points in one game."

Caller: "Wow, there you go with that psychic thing again."

Mr. Obvious: "Shut up, Jim. Let me finish. The Cover 2 defense works best when you are up by several scores and you can then force your opponent into obvious passing situations that your defense can take advantage of. If you are falling behind early in a game, you are going to need to mix some things with your defense. Have you ever thought about watching films of your opponent's previous games and then looking for their tendencies, strengths and weaknesses and then designing your defensive game plans to try to take advantage?"

Caller: "We always watch the game films of our opponent's previous games just like Tony did. But, I guess I never realized we were supposed to be designing game plans based on what we were seeing. I thought Tony always watched those game films just because he was too cheap to go to Blockbuster and rent a real movie. But now it is all starting to make sense. I bet that little notebook he was always scribbling in was probably full of game plan ideas. I always thought he was just writing movie reviews for the local paper."

Mr. Obvious: "Of course you did, Jim."

Caller: "But, if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Mr. Obvious: "Jim, do you consider yourself to be an intelligent man?"

Caller: ............................

Mr. Obvious: "Jim, are you still there? Is everything OK?"

Caller: "I'm sorry Mr. Obvious. Everything is OK. I was just looking through my notes to see if I could figure out how Tony would have answered that question about whether I consider myself to be an intelligent man."

Mr. Obvious: "I think your response has pretty much answered that question, Jim."

Caller: "So, can you help me with my problem, or not. I am doing everything just exactly like Tony did and for some reason it just doesn't seem to be working for me. Do you think I should try growing a beard or something?"

Mr. Obvious: "I'm sorry, Jim. After talking with you for a few minutes and asking you a few questions I am just not sure that I can help you. But, the good news is that I think I can probably help your team and the good City of Indianapolis."

Caller: "Wow, that would be great. How are you going to do that?"

Mr. Obvious: "Well, Jim, I am going to ask you for your bosses phone number. Do you know what your bosses phone number is?"

Caller: " Of course I know what my bosses phone number is. But, I don't see how that is going to help the team."

Mr Obvious: "Let's see if I can explain this to you in a way that you might understand. First, you are going to give me your bosses phone number. Then, I am going to call your boss and give him Jeff Fisher's phone number. Do you understand now, Jim?"

Caller: "I'm sorry, Mr. Obvious. I just don't understand how giving my boss Jeff Fisher's phone number is possibly going to help my team or the City of Indianapolis."

Mr. Obvious: "Of course you don't, Jim. And that, is the problem."

Is It Still Preseason?!?

2011-10-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, a 62-7 loss is pretty hard to swallow no matter what the circumstances.

Last night the Colts looked to be in week 1 preseason form. Stupid mistakes, blown coverages, missed blocks, and missed tackles abounded all over the field. Unfortunately, the Colts were not playing a preseason game. They were playing their seventh game of the regular season. Yes, they were facing a very good team last night. And yes, they probably would have lost the game even without their sloppy play. But, it really bothered me just how easily it appeared the Colts players accepted their fate last night.

I'm not saying the Colts quit before the game was over, but I do think some players clearly had defeat in their eyes long before the half time whistle blew. And that is something that cannot be accepted. It takes a very long time to build a winning culture and a very short time to collapse into a losing culture. The Colts appear to be on the verge of collapsing into a losing culture. The organization needs to take some drastic steps immediately to put a stop to the snowball that is rapidly gaining momentum on its downhill path.

There is an old saying in sports, "You play like you practice."

I have not seen the Colts practice, but I would have to imagine there is room for improvement in that regard. The Colts looked totally helpless and unprepared last night (again). They were soundly beaten in every aspect of the game. It looked like the Colts brought wiffle bats to a gun fight. I place this blame solely on the coaching staff. Anybody that thinks coaches don't make a difference has never played for a good coach.

Get rid of Jim Caldwell now. It is not like bringing in a new coach in the middle of the season is going to make the Colts any worse. Jim Caldwell is not Tony Dungy, and he never will be. Teams tend to be a reflection of their coaches when they take the field on game day. Jim Caldwell is a losing coach. And now, the Colts are a losing team. This is a situation that needs to be fixed now before there is a lasting change of culture and a drastic loss of fan interest.

My Take On The Colts, 2011

2011-10-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

I basically shut down this blog down about two years ago. It wasn't that I no longer had any interest in continuing the blog, it was simply a matter of time management for me. But, with the Colts' 0-6 start this season I suddenly find myself thinking way too much about what I would do if I was Bill Polian or Jim Irsay. In fact, I have been thinking about it so much that I just couldn't stay away from this blog any longer. So, here it goes.

First off, all of you Colts fans out there need to take a deep breath. It is not the end of the world. And, stop blaming Bill Polian for the 0-6 start. Bill has done exactly what he was brought in to do. He built a team around Peyton Manning and a few other highly paid players (Wayne, Mathis, Freeney, Diem, Bethea, Clark, Saturday). Bill's hands are tied with the salary cap just like every other NFL GM out there. If you want to keep several high priced players, you suffer the consequences when it comes to the rest of your roster. I think Bill has done a remarkable job playing the hand he has been dealt, with a few exceptions which I will discuss below. I am also getting a little tired of hearing about all the failed drafts the Colts have had recently. Bill Polian's drafts have not been that bad. True, he has missed on a few high draft picks in recent years (Jerry Hughes, Donald Brown, Anthony Gonzalez, Tony Ugoh), but he has made some exceptional picks in those recent drafts as well (Pat Angerer, Kavell Connor, Anthony Castonzo, Delone Carter, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Clint Session, Antoine Bethea, Dallas Clark, Robert Mathis).

Where I believe the Colts management have made a their mistakes over the last few years is when it came to deciding which players to keep and which to let go. I don't claim to have any inside knowledge on player personalities or locker room compatibility, and I am basing my opinion totally on the talent and effort I see on the field. Obviously, a player's personality and ability to get along with his teammates has to play an important part of any personnel decisions the Colts or any other team has to make. I feel that Bill Polian has done enough over the years to earn my trust and respect when it comes to making personnel decisions. Bill knows a lot more more about salary caps and what goes on in the Colts locker room than I will ever know. But, that will not stop me from playing Monday morning GM and pointing out a few moves that I think he should not have made. Here goes.

I love Gary Brackett as a person, but I think he falls woefully short as a starting middle linebacker in the NFL. And his $4.4 million hit on the Colts 2011 salary cap seems more than a little excessive to me. I guarantee you if Gary were allowed to hit the free agent market he wouldn't get anywhere near that amount from any other team out there. Gary has put up some impressive tackling numbers over the years, but too many of his tackles have been 5 yards down field. To me, a good middle linebacker needs to make his reads quickly and attack the line of scrimmage as soon as he sees the hole develop. Gary tends to wait until he sees the running back emerge from the hole and too often ends up getting run over in the process by the running back or a blocking lineman. I used to think Gary was just playing the way the coaches wanted him to play, but I have now seen too many other Colts linebackers step into Gary's position and do a much better job attacking the play. After seeing Pat Angerer play middle linebacker this season, there is no way I would ever put Gary back into the starting lineup as the middle linebacker. If I was Bill Polian, I would have made an effort to keep Clint Session instead of Gary Brackett. But, Bill Polian has made it a point over the years to let promising young linebackers move on in free agency while he clings to the underachieving Brackett. Bill has definitely been very consistent when it comes to linebackers and I think this approach has been detrimental to the Colts defense over the years. Cato June, David Thornton, Clint Session, Marcus Washington, and Mike Peterson are the most notable linebackers that Bill Polian has let go to free agency in recent years.

I honestly haven't thought too highly of Ryan Diem since he has been in Indianapolis. I just don't see whatever it is the Colts coaching staff sees in the guy. But, the Colts have kept him year in and year out while they continue to let other lineman go (Jake Scott, Ryan Lilja, Charlie Johnson). Ryan Diem has killed many Colts drives over the years with his pathetic attempts at pass blocking and his incessant knack for penalties on important downs. If I was an opposing Defensive Coordinator I would focus my defensive attack on Ryan Diem every time I played the Colts. It seems like 75% of the pressure on Peyton Manning every season comes from the players that line up across from Diem. I have to give Jim Caldwell a little credit this season for moving Diem from right tackle to the right guard position. That is a move that should have been made years ago. Moving Diem inside greatly limits his ability to totally whiff on an outside speed rush by players like Mario Williams. I haven't seen enough of Diem at right guard yet to form an opinion as to his talent at that position, but I do think the Colts would have been wiser to have kept Jake Scott at right guard and let Ryan Diem go years ago. Jake Scott still starts for the Titans and currently hits Tennessee's salary cap for about $500,000 less than what Diem is costing the Colts. I personally would have kept Charlie Johnson instead of Ryan Diem this last off season. Charlie is now the starting left tackle for Minnesota and is currently costing the Vikings a little over $4 million less against the cap than what Diem is costing the Colts. Ryan Lilja starts for the Chiefs and currently hits Kansas City's cap for less than half of what Diem is costing the Colts. Only time will tell if Diem is worth his salary at right guard. I personally do not think he is worth it and Bill Polian would have been smarter to have kept Lilja, Scott or Johnson. I am also still upset that Bill Polian picked Jerry Hughes at #28 in the 2010 draft instead of Rodger Saffold (OT). How good would the offensive line look right now with Saffold and Castonzo as the bookends?

Anthony Gonzalez was brilliant at Ohio State. I was ecstatic when the Colts drafted the guy. I have emphatically changed my opinion on Gonzalez since he has been a Colt. His ability to drop important catches when he is wide open is only surpassed by Pierre Garcon. But, Pierre's speed and knack for making the incredible catches makes Pierre worth the occasional drops in my opinion. Gonzalez is a different story. I am tired of seeing Gonzalez run his routes two yards short of the first down marker, tired of seeing him drop the third down passes, and tired of seeing him stand on the sidelines in street clothes. In my opinion, Gonzalez is a player that must be let go after this season. The Colts are not getting enough of a return on his $1.76 million hit against the salary cap. Especially when you consider that Garcon only costs the Colts $577,000 against the cap, and Collie only costs the Colts $589,000 against the cap. Hell, Blair White only costs the Colts $405,000 against the cap and I would much rather see White on the field on third down than Anthony Gonzalez.

I am not even going to discuss the Kerry Collins signing for $4 million. I don't blame the Colts for freaking out about the prospect of Curtis Painter having to lead the team this season. But, in hindsight, it doesn't look like such an intelligent decision now. And, I know a lot of people are done with Donald Brown but the guy really doesn't cost the Colts that much against the cap ($1.1 million). I think I would strongly consider keeping Brown unless Carter continues to impress me the way he has so far. Addai is a no brainer for me. I keep Addai as long as I can. Addai may not always be the best runner, but he is fantastic as a receiver and a blocker.

No, I would not trade Mathis or Wayne. They are both at the point in their careers where the Colts simply wouldn't get enough in return for either one of them. Those guys are much too valuable on the field to even consider trading them at this point. Unless, of course, there is no chance that Peyton Manning will ever be able to play at a high level again. If Peyton is unable to fully recover from his injury, then it would make sense to start the rebuilding process now. But, I do not believe that Peyton's career is over just yet. It would not surprise me if Peyton never plays at the level again that we have been accustomed to seeing from him, but even at 90% the guy is still better than almost every other QB out there. But, what if Peyton is unable to return and is ultimately forced to retire? I hate "what ifs," but I already know what I would do if that turns out to be the case. And, it is probably not what you think.

Let's face it, if Peyton doesn't return this season there is a very good chance the Colts will be looking at one of the top three draft picks. In my opinion, they have to take Andrew Luck if he is available for them. But, if they do take Luck they are going to have to make some very difficult salary cap decisions. That would mean they may end up losing Reggie Wayne and/or Robert Mathis. And, there is no guarantee that Luck wouldn't pull some kind of John Elway move and refuse to come to Indy. Especially with the possibility of maybe starting as a rookie in someplace like Miami. But, the Colts have to try to get Luck if they can. The Colts are in uncharted territory right now with Peyton's health, and even if Peyton comes back full strength he probably only has 4 or 5 good years left. Bring Luck in and see what he can do. If he is anywhere close to being as good as everybody thinks he is going to be then the Colts could always sit him for a couple of years and then do the unthinkable by seeing what kind of interest other teams might have in trading for Peyton. Trading Manning would be extremely unpopular in Indianapolis, but ultimately the NFL is a business. And, it doesn't make a lot of business sense to sacrifice 10 years of financial success for 4 years of financial success.

If Luck is not available for the Colts in next year's draft, then I think the Colts still need to start thinking about their long term future anyway. Let's face it, if this year has proven anything it has proven the Indy model doesn't work if Peyton isn't playing. I think it is high time the Colts seriously look at scrapping the "Tampa 2" defense and start spending some more money on the defense. Finding some DB's that are capable of playing man coverage would be a good place to start. Whether that means using some high draft picks to select some DB's or trading some high draft picks to get some DB's doesn't matter to me. The Colts defense will be a hell of a lot less predictable if they can occasionally blitz with the confidence that their DB's won't get beat deep every time they play man coverage. I don't blame Larry Coyer for the weak Colts pass defense this season. I firmly believe Coyer is doing the best he can with what he has to work with. Just like any other defense out there, the Tampa 2 is only as good as the players on the field. For the record, I don't like the Tampa 2. I would much rather the Colts be playing a 3-4, but they just don't have the personnel to pull it off.

The biggest change I would make is with the head coach. I like Jim Caldwell as a person, but the guy simply doesn't impress me as a head coach. I could be totally wrong here and I am man enough to admit it. But, I just don't think Caldwell is the guy to lead the Colts into the future. I am not just now jumping on that bandwagon after the 0-6 start, either. I didn't want him to get the job in the first place. And, I haven't seen anything yet to change my mind. If I was Bill Polian I would already be weighing my options and seeing what kind of interest might be out there from other coaches. I personally would like to see the Colts bring in more of a defensive minded coach, especially if he had experience with something other than a Cover 2. The first guy I would call would be Jeff Fisher. I know Fisher's resume isn't exactly fantastic, but the guy did have some success against the Peyton Manning led Colts over the years. Fisher was a head coach for a long time with the same team, which means that he is capable of playing well with others. Even if he is often viewed as being difficult to get along with. And, I don't care about his overall head coaching record. If past coaching records were that important to the Colts they never would have hired Jim Caldwell in the first place. Caldwell's record at Wake Forest wasn't just bad, it was downright embarrassing. Caldwell's conference records for 1993 to 2000 when he was at Wake Forest were 1-7, 1-7, 0-8, 1-7, 3-5, 2-6, 3-5, 1-7. I know it is probably very difficult to be successful at Wake Forest, but Jim Grobe has done a decent job there since he replaced Jim Caldwell. Look it up for yourself if you want.

Of all the things I mentioned above, getting rid of Jim Caldwell would be my first move. But, only if there is someone better out there. Right now there is Jeff Fisher and Bill Cowher. I consider both guys to be better options than Caldwell. And, there may be an up and comer out there somewhere that hasn't been discovered yet. Who knows? But, sitting back and watching the Colts get out coached every week is starting to get old really fast. If the Colts wait until after the season is over to make a coaching move it may be too late to get the guy they really want. I think it is time to shit or get off the pot. Get the guy you want NOW before somebody else gets him. I am pretty sure the Dolphins will be looking for a new coach in the very near future. Jeff Fisher will not be unemployed for long.

After the season I would part ways with Brackett, Gonzalez, Collins, Hughes and Diem. If Carter works out as well as I think he might, I would also seriously consider letting Donald Brown go. And if I could find some man cover capable DB's I would seriously think about starting completely over with my defensive backfield. Bethea and Bullit are the only two guys that I think have proven their ability in the defensive backfield for the Colts. And, Bullit's ability to stay healthy is starting to make me nervous. It is also high time the Colts seriously consider trying to keep the good linebackers. Pat Angerer looks like a good linebacker to me. Invest some money in Angerer and keep him for awhile. Reggie Wayne may be too expensive to keep, but his numbers have dropped significantly this season without Manning and that might actually help the Colts keep Reggie in the long run. I am sure there are a lot of other teams out there right now wondering if guys like Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are really as good as Peyton Manning has made them look over the years.

I could go on forever with this topic, but I am tired of typing.

NFL Week 9 Predictions

2009-11-07T18:01:00.000-08:00

I went 7-6 last week and now stand at 73-43 on the season. That's not very good, even by my standards.

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Washington at Atlanta: The Falcons should win this one easily. Winner = Atlanta

Arizona at Chicago: These two teams confuse the hell out of me. Winner = Arizona

Baltimore at Cincinnati: This one should be interesting. Winner = Baltimore

Houston at Indianapolis: The Colts are banged up on defense. Sanders, Jackson, and Hagler are all out for the remainder of the season. If I was a betting man, I would take the Texans. But I'm not a betting man. Winner = Indianapolis

Miami at New England: Can the Patriots stop the run? Can the Dolphins defend against the pass? Winner = New England

Green Bay at Tampa Bay: The only question here is how many points can the Packers put on the board? Winner = Green Bay

Kansas City at Jacksonville: The Jags have to win this one to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Winner = Jacksonville

Carolina at New Orleans: I absolutely hate the NFC South. Every bone in my body is telling me the Saints should win this one without even breaking a sweat. Winner = Carolina

Detroit at Seattle: I don't see any way the Lions could win this game. Winner = Seattle

Tennessee at San Francisco: I think this game could go either way. I just have a gut feeling that Vince Young is going to screw this up somehow for the Titans. Winner = San Francisco

San Diego at NY Giants: I think this game could go either way. My gut tells me to take the Chargers. Winner = San Diego

Dallas at Philadelphia: This is another game that I think could go either way. I think I just like the way the Eagles have been looking a little better than I do the Cowboys. Winner = Philadelphia

Pittsburgh at Denver: I just was starting to think the Broncos were a good football team, and then they get their asses handed to them up in Baltimore last week. I think the Steelers are pretty similar to the Ravens. Winner = Pittsburgh

The Browns

2009-11-01T18:45:00.000-08:00

They are painful to watch, aren't they?

It has gotten so bad that there was actually a Randy Lerner sighting today.

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I have to think the fact that Randy Lerner actually talked to the media today must be a signal that something is about to happen in Berea. I also don't think it is a coincidence that Mr. Lerner made his appearance at the precise moment the Browns unceremoniously entered their bye week. Historically, owners of bad teams make difficult decisions (changes) when their team has a week off.

No, I don't think the Browns are going to fire Eric Mangini (yet), but I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Brian Daboll maybe sees his play calling duties curtailed. I also wouldn't be surprised if the League's lowest rated QB suddenly finds himself spending a little more time on the bench. I'm not saying all the Browns' troubles should be blamed solely on Daboll and Anderson. But, I think we have seen enough of both of these guys this season to get a pretty good idea of what they are both capable of doing (or not doing).

Instead, I think we all need to just accept that the 2009 Cleveland Browns are a bad football team from the top on down. Everybody knew coming into this season that it was going to be rebuiding year. From now on, I think this season should be viewed as a "tryout session" for the 2010 season. Let Brady Quinn and Bret Ratliff handle the QB duties for the remainder of the year. Quinn and Ratliff may not be any better than Anderson, but I don't see how the Browns offense could get any worse than it already is. I wouldn't even be opposed to letting Joshua Cribbs take some snaps under center.

I think it is quite obvious the Browns are going to have a high draft pick next year no matter what they do for the remainder of the this season. So, they might as well find out if they need to start seriously scouting the top QB prospects in college. Unfortunately, I'm just not sure any of the top rated QB's in next year's draft are going to be any better than what the Browns already have. Bradford looks to be the most skilled in my opinion, but it would be mighty difficult to waste a high draft pick on a QB that is coming off major shoulder surgery. Tim Tebow has the kind of grit the Browns need, but he just doesn't look like he has the required skill set to be an NFL quarterback. Colt McCoy? Jimmy Clausen? Jevan Snead? Jake Locker?

If I were Mangini/Kokinis, I would get on the phone to Bill Polian (Colts) to inquire about the possibility of acquiring Curtis Painter. I know Painter hasn't done anything in the NFL yet, but the guy does come from the same college system that produced Drew Brees and Kyle Orton. And, Painter has also had the luxury of spending some quality time with Peyton Manning. Perhaps the Colts might be willing to part with Painter for a few of Cleveland's 11 picks in next year's draft. Painter may turn out to be a total bust, but I don't see how he could be any worse than the lowest rated QB in the NFL.

NFL Week 8 Predictions

2009-10-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

There were six games last week where the winning team won by at least 28 points. I can't remember the last time that happened. And, I'm pretty sure that isn't going to happen again this week. In fact, it looks like there should be some pretty competitive games this week.

I went 8-5 last week and improved to 66-37 on the season.

This week's picks:
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Houston at Buffalo: Matt Shaub and the Texans look like they are starting to find their rhythm. Winner = Houston

Cleveland at Chicago: Derek Anderson is the kind of QB that will "show up" once every five or six games. The Bears look like the kind of team that Anderson might perform well against. So, don't be surprised if the Browns pull this one out. But, I would have to be an idiot to pick the Browns the way they have been playing. Winner = Chicago

Seattle at Dallas: I really don't know what to think about either of these teams. Winner = Dallas

St. Louis at Detroit: I wouldn't watch this game if it was the only thing on TV. Winner = Detroit

Denver at Baltimore: My brain is telling me to take the Ravens at home. But, my gut is telling me the Broncos have enough weapons on offense to put some points on the board. Winner = Denver

San Francisco at Indianapolis: If the 49ers want to have any chance, they need to just give the ball to Frank Gore over and over again. But, this Indy team doesn't look like the same old Tony Dungy team. Winner = Indianapolis

Miami at NY Jets: I think this game could go either way. Winner = NY Jets

NY Giants at Philadelphia: This should be a good game even if Brian Westbrook doesn't play. Winner = NY Giants

Jacksonville at Tennessee: The Titans are probably the best 0-6 team I have ever seen. I'm just not sure that Vince Young is good enough to break them out of their funk. Winner = Jacksonville

Oakland at San Diego: This is going to be another ugly week for the Raiders. Winner = San Diego

Carolina at Arizona: This isn't going to be pretty for Jake Delhomme. Winner = Arizona

Minnesota at Green Bay: This is the game of the week for obvious reasons. I just can't pick against Favre in a game of this magnitude. Winner = Minnesota

Atlanta at New Orleans: It is not easy to go into New Orleans and come out with a win. Winner = New Orleans

NFL Week 7 Predictions

2009-10-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

Whew! I went 8-6 last week. I'm now 58-32 on the season. Not great, but not too bad.

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Green Bay at Cleveland: Derek Anderson has a QB Rating of 41.7. That is even worse than his QB Rating of 66.5 last season. Winner = Green Bay

San Diego at Kansas City: I seriously think the Chiefs have a chance of winning this one. But, I just don't think they will. Winner = San Diego

Indianapolis at St. Louis: This is the kind of game where the Colts would have struggled in the past under Dungy. Let's see if Jim Caldwell can get Indy fired up for a "gimme" game. Winner = Indianapolis

Minnesota at Pittsburgh: This should be an awesome game. I just haven't seen the consistency from the Steelers this season that I have seen in the past. Winner = Minnesota

New England at Tampa Bay: This one will be over shortly after the opening kick-off. Who am I kidding? This one is already over. Winner = New England

San Francisco at Houston: San Fran is getting better, but Houston is better now. Winner = Houston

Buffalo at Carolina: Yawn. Winner = Carolina

NY Jets at Oakland: The battle of the 34th and 35th ranked quarterbacks in the NFL! Betcha we see a couple of INT's in this one. Winner = NY Jets

Atlanta at Dallas: This one is a tough one to call. Winner = Atlanta

Chicago at Cincinnati: I may have jumped on the Bengal bandwagon a little early. This game is going to tell us a lot about both teams. Winner = Chicago

New Orleans at Miami: The Dolphins will probably be able to keep this one interesting for a while. Winner = New Orleans

Arizona at NY Giants: The Cards are coming off a big win, and the G-Men are coming off an embarrassing loss. Winner = NY Giants

Philadelphia at Washington: I'm not sure what to think about the Eagles humiliating loss to the Raiders last week. But, these are the Redskins. Winner = Philadelphia

NFL Week 6 Predictions

2009-10-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

I went 9-5 last week, which brings my season total to 50-26.

Man, Week 6 is going to be a tough week to make picks. This week has it all. Good teams playing good teams. Bad teams playing bad teams. Questionable teams playing questionable teams. I suppose this is the week that we are going to find out which teams might just be pretenders.

On to the picks.
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Houston at Cincinnati: After last week I think I am finally going to jump on the Bengal bandwagon. I still don't think Marvin Lewis is a great coach, but he definitely has the Bengals playing well. Winner = Cincinnati

Detroit at Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers holds the ball too long and gets hit a lot. But, I still think he will have a big day against the Lions. Winner = Green Bay

Baltimore at Minnesota: This has the potential to be a great game. But, I think the Vikings have enough weapons offensively to keep the Raven defense off balance. Winner = Minnesota

NY Giants at New Orleans: This is the game of the week. I am going with my gut on this one. But, I won't be surprised if the Saints win it. Winner = NY Giants

Cleveland at Pittsburgh: I think the fact that Derek Anderson's 2 for 17 for 23 yards and an interception performance last week earned him the starting QB job says everything we need to know about Eric Mangini's Cleveland Browns. Winner = Pittsburgh

Carolina at Tampa Bay: I absolutely hate the NFC South. I can honestly say that I never have any clue which team from the NFC South is going to show up on any given Sunday. Winner = Carolina

Kansas City at Washington: Yawner of the week. I'm not sure why anyone even cares who wins this game. Winner = Washington

St. Louis at Jacksonville: The Rams have a small chance of winning this game. The Jags are starting to unravel from the inside out. But, I'm going with the favorite. Winner = Jacksonville

Arizona at Seattle: Which Seattle team is going to show up? For that matter, which Arizona team is going to show up? Winner = Seattle

Philadelphia at Oakland: This is the easiest pick of the week. Winner = Philadelphia

Tennessee at New England: I have a strong feeling that Tennessee isn't as bad as everyone seems to think they are. And, I have a strong feeling that New England isn't as good as everyone thinks they are. This game could be closer than anyone thinks. Winner = New England

Buffalo at NY Jets: I still can't believe the Bills lost to the Browns last week. I am so glad I'm not a Bills fan. Winner = NY Jets

Chicago at Atlanta: This could be a good game. I'm just not on the Bears bandwagon yet. Winner = Atlanta

Denver at San Diego: I really want to believe the Broncos are for real. Denver surprised me the last two weeks with wins over Dallas and New England. I'm just not sure if that means that Denver is good, or that Dallas and New England aren't as good as I thought. I'm not buying Denver yet, but I think they will go into San Diego and come out with a victory. Winner = Denver

NFL Week 5 Predictions

2009-10-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

I went 10-4 last week and improved to 41-21 on the season. There are some interesting match-ups this week.

On to Week 5
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Cleveland at Buffalo: Derek Anderson is like a box of chocolates. You just never know what you are "gonna" get. The Bills come in ranked 28th in total defense, and the Browns come in ranked 32nd. This one has ugly written all over it. Winner = Buffalo

Dallas at Kansas City: I'm not sure if I overestimated Dallas last week or if I underestimated Denver last week. It doesn't make a difference in this game. Winner = Dallas

Minnesota at St. Louis: The Vikings are pretty good. The Rams are not. Winner = Minnesota

Oakland at NY Giants: Is Eli going to play? Does it really matter? Winner = NY Giants

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia: Rumor has it that McNabb is going to play this week, but he still isn't 100%. It doesn't really matter. Winner = Philadelphia

Pittsburgh at Detroit: Detroit looks better this season. But, they don't look as good as Pittsburgh. Winner = Pittsburgh

Washington at Carolina: Yawn. Neither one of these teams excites me at all. Winner = Carolina

Cincinnati at Baltimore: I just can't see the Bengals even keeping this game close. Winner = Baltimore

Atlanta at San Francisco: I find this game to be pretty interesting. I'm not on the 49er bandwagon yet, but if San Fran wins this one I will start watching them a little closer. Winner = San Francisco

Jacksonville at Seattle: This game looks too close to call. If in doubt, go with the home team. Especially if the visiting team has to travel all the way across the Country. Winner = Seattle

Houston at Arizona: This is another intriguing game for me. On paper, the Cards should win this one easily. But, if Mario Williams is healthy enough to play this week he will be all over Kurt Warner. Winner = Arizona

New England at Denver: I would like to think that Denver is a good team, but I haven't seen enough from them yet. Winner = New England

Indianapolis at Tennessee: Indy is 4-0. Tennessee is 0-4. This game looks like a mismatch, but Jeff Fisher's Titans always play Indy tough. If Tony Dungy were still the Colt's coach I would pick the Titans. But, Jim Caldwell is in charge now and I like what I am seeing so far. Winner = Indianapolis

NY Jets at Miami: I am really looking forward to watching this game. I thought Miami would be done once Pennington went down, but they looked very impressive last week. I still think the Jets may have just a little more. Winner = NY Jets

NFL Week 4 Predictions

2009-10-01T04:31:00.000-07:00

I went 11-5 last week and improved to 31 -17 on the season. I'd be doing pretty good right now if I hadn't totally flopped on my Week 2 predictions.

On to Week 4.

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Detroit at Chicago: I'm still not on the Bears bandwagon, but there hasn't been a bandwagon in Detroit in several years. The Lions played well last week, but can they do it two weeks in a row? I don't think so. Winner = Chicago

Cincinnati at Cleveland: If you think you have two good quarterbacks on your roster, that probably means you don't have any. Winner = Cincinnati

Seattle at Indianapolis: The Colts defense is banged up, but they still have Peyton Manning. Winner = Indianapolis

NY Giants at Kansas City: This is going to be ugly if you are a Chiefs fan. Winner = NY Giants

Baltimore at New England: Its now time to find out if Baltimore is any good. Victories over Cleveland, Kansas City, and a notoriously slow starting Charger team hasn't proven anything to me yet. I'm still buying, though. Winner = Baltimore

Tampa Bay at Washington: The award for this week's ugliest game goes to................. I think I would rather watch "The View" than be forced to watch this one. Winner = Washington

Tennessee at Jacksonville: I just can't see the Titans dropping this one, even though it is at Jacksonville. One more loss this early and Tennessee is in serious trouble. Jeff Fisher will get them back on course. Winner = Tennessee

Oakland at Houston: The Texans have Matt Schaub, the Raiders have Jamarcus Russell. Nuff said. Winner = Houston

NY Jets at New Orleans: I'm pretty excited about this game. Both of these teams come in looking very impressive. To me, this game is too close to call. I'm going with the home team. Winner = New Orleans

Buffalo at Miami: I just don't think the Dolphins have much chance without Pennington. Winner = Buffalo

Saint Louis at San Francisco: Its only going to get worse for the Rams. The 49ers should make this one look easy. Winner = San Francisco

Dallas at Denver: Bronco fans can say goodbye to their undefeated record. Denver's next five opponents are Dallas, New England, San Diego, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. This will be just the start of a very long month and a half for Denver. Winner = Dallas

San Diego at Pittsburgh: The Steelers need this game a lot more than San Diego does, and it is in the Steel City. Winner = Pittsburgh

Green Bay at Minnesota: We've all been waiting on this one. The Vikes should win, unless Favre tries to do too much. I think the coaching staff will keep #4 in check and the Viking defense and running game will pull this one out. Winner = Minnesota

NFL Week 3 Predictions

2009-09-24T04:30:00.000-07:00

I have been soooo busy this Fall that I haven't been able to keep this blog updated. But, I have continued to make my weekly NFL picks. I just haven't had the time to post them.

I started the 2009 NFL season with a very strong set of picks, going 13-3 in Week 1. I will admit that I got a little bit of a big head after that very impressive showing. But, Week 2 brought me crashing back down to Earth with a 7-9 record. If you're keeping track, that puts me at 20-12 after two weeks.

WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS
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Washington at Detroit: I honestly think the Lions have a chance to win this game. The Redskins offense has been less than impressive scoring only 26 points in two games. But, I truly feel the Redskins are the better team. Winner = Washington

Green Bay at St. Louis: The Rams have scored a total of 7 points in two games. Winner = Green Bay

San Francisco at Minnesota: OK, I admit. I like what Mike Singletary has accomplished so far in San Francisco. The 49ers appear to have some Mojo. But, I think the Vikings are a Super Bowl contender with Favre under center. This should be a good game. Winner = Minnesota

Atlanta at New England: Wow, this one is tough to call. The Falcons two wins this season aren't really anything to hang their hat on. The Patriots have struggled against two pretty decent football teams and should consider themselves lucky to be sitting at 1-1. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that Atlanta's pass rush will keep Tom Brady from getting comfortable in the pocket. I think if Wes Welker plays this game will be a toss up. If Welker can't go or isn't healthy enough to be productive the Falcons will win. Winner= Atlanta

Tennessee at NY Jets: Another tough one to pick. The Jets defense has looked pretty tough through two games against two strong offenses. I think Jeff Fisher will have some surprises for rookie Mark Sanchez. I honestly expect this to be a low scoring smash mouth football game. I'm taking the home team. Winner = NY Jets

Kansas City at Philadelphia: It doesn't look like Donovan is going to play. But, nobody outside of Kansas City thinks the Chiefs have any shot in this game. Winner = Philadelphia

NY Giants at Tampa Bay: The Giants are rolling, the Bucs are not. Winner = NY Giants

Cleveland at Baltimore: I feel sorry for Brady Quinn. This is going to be another tough week for him. Winner = Baltimore

Jacksonville at Houston: Colin Cowherd said it best when he said, " you don't draft as well as the Texans have and not eventually get better." These Texans are no longer a joke. Winner = Houston

New Orleans at Buffalo: I'm not on the Saints band wagon yet. They've beaten the Lions and the Eagles without McNabb. That just doesn't impress me. But, I do think the Saints offense is going to put more points on the board than the Bills offense this week. Winner = New Orleans

Chicago at Seattle: Nope, I'm not buying the Seahawks either. I think Jay Cutler is way overrated as a QB, but I also think the Seahawks just aren't very good. Winner = Chicago

Miami at San Diego: This could be interesting. I'm pretty sure the Dolphin defense will shut down the Charger's running game, especially if LT doesn't play. And, I doubt very much the Charger "D" will be able to slow down the Wildcat. But, the Chargers have Philip Rivers and I think there is a high probability that he is going to pass for a ton of yardage. Winner = San Diego

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: The Bengals looked pretty good against the Packers. But, the Steelers have a chip on their shoulder after last week's embarrassing loss to the Bears. This one will be physical, just the way the Steelers like it. Winner = Pittsburgh

Denver at Oakland: It is really hard to tell if Denver is any good, or just the beneficiary of a very easy early season schedule. I don't think it matters. Denver's schedule doesn't get any harder this week against Oakland. Winner = Denver

Indianapolis at Arizona: I think this one will come down to which team can get the most pressure on the opponent's quarterback. My heart tells me to go with Indy, but my gut tells me that the Cards will have a better game plan. Winner = Arizona

Carolina at Dallas: It will be an epic battle between two inconsistent quarterbacks who both seem to fall apart when times get tough. I absolutely have no idea who is going to win this one. It has the potential to be a very good game and it has the potential to set an NFL record for the most combined turnovers in a single game. I'm taking Dallas at home. Winner = Dallas

Colts Re-sign Ed Johnson

2009-05-06T18:40:00.000-07:00

The Indianapolis Colts announced yesterday the re-signing of DT Ed Johnson.

The Colts originally signed Johnson in 2007 as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State. Johnson then earned a starting DT position when Booger McFarland went down with an injury. From there, Johnson went on to start 16 games during the 2007 season for Indy. Johnson then started the first game of the 2008 season for Indy before he was arrested for marijuana possession. The Colts then decided to waive Johnson as a result of his arrest.

In the 17 games that Johnson played for Indy he collected 73 tackles, including 10 against the Chicago Bears in the 2008 opener which turned out to be his best and last game for Indy.

For whatever reason, the Colts have apparently decided to give Johnson a second chance. I don't know if Johnson will remain on the straight and narrow this time around, but I do know that the Colts will have a better run defense with Ed on the field. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him play during his first stint, and I am hoping that he will provide the same toughness in 2009 that he exhibited in 2007.

Colts Sign Tauiliili

2009-05-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Indianapolis Colts today announced they have waived LB Rufus Alexander and P Mike Dragosavich. Indianapolis also added former Boston College QB Chris Crane and former Duke LB Michael Tauiliili.

The signing of Chris Crane probably doesn't amount to much, but I think Tauiliili might have a chance of making it in the NFL.

Tauliili was a four year starter at Duke and amassed 141 tackles as a Senior. Tauiliili, a 2008 Duke captain from Houston, Texas, was a second team Walter Camp All-America selection this past season after recording 140 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, five pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, three caused fumbles and one fumble recovery. He led the ACC in tackles and ranked third nationally to garner first team All-ACC honors.

You can check out what Sports Illustrated has to say about Tauiliili by clicking here.

Keiaho Re-signs With Colts!

2009-04-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Colts announced today that they have re-signed fourth year veteran LB Freddy Keiaho.

This re-signing is a load off of my mind. The Colts looked very thin at linebacker both before and after this year's draft. I kind of figured they might be looking to bring Freddy back after they passed on all the linebacker talent in the draft. But, I was more than a little worried that somebody else might sneak in and snatch him up. Freddy was the second leading tackler last year for the Colts, even though he only played in 14 games.

Welcome back, Freddy.

2009 Browns Draft Review

2009-04-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

I think we can now officially say the Doug Heffernan (Eric Mangini) era has begun in Cleveland. Over the last few days I have read both good and bad reviews of the 2009 Cleveland Browns draft. I have scoured the internet in an effort to find out everything I can about all the players the Browns drafted and received via trade, and I can honestly say that I have come to the conclusion that Mangini and Kokinis have done a pretty decent job since taking over, and that includes the 2009 draft. Twenty-one different players are on the roster since free agency began two months ago.

On to the draft:

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(21) Alex Mack (C) CALIFORNIA
Over the last few days I have read a lot of "draft reviews" that are highly critical of the Browns' decision to take Mack with the 21st overall pick. I will admit that my initial reaction to the Browns trading down was total shock and confusion. But, after doing some research on Alex Mack I can honestly say that I think the Browns did pretty good with their first round pick. Not only did the Browns get arguably the best Center to come out of college in the last 10 years, they also managed to obtain 2 defensive starters in Abram Elam (S) and Kenyon Coleman (DE). Neither Elam or Coleman will probably ever reach All Pro status, but there is no doubt they are both upgrades for a defense that needed a serious overhaul. Mack, on the other hand, could turn out to be this year's Joe Thomas. If you don't think the Center position is important, go take a look at what the Colts offense did last year when Jeff Saturday was out with an injury.

(36) Brian Robiskie (WR) OHIO STATE
I am really excited about this pick. Robiskie wasn't the biggest or fastest Wide Receiver available in this year's draft, but he may be the most ready to play right now. And, he is a homegrown product which virtually ensures that he will be a fan favorite. The guy is an exceptional route runner and usually catches anything that is thrown anywhere close to him. Unfortunately if Derek Anderson wins the starting quarterback job again this season there may not be too many passes actually thrown anywhere close to Robiskie. The knock on Robiskie is that he doesn't like to block. But, I think that is something that can be corrected. The Browns may have drafted him a little high, but I definitely think he fills a need as a potential slot receiver. And he comes from good blood lines, which I think is very underrated.

(50) Mohamed Massaquoi (WR) GEORGIA
If the Browns were looking for a replacement for Braylon Edwards, I think they may have found him. And, I don't mean that in a good way. This really is the only pick the Browns made that left me scratching my head. Massaquoi is a big (6'2" 198 lb.) receiver that possesses great speed and quickness. He put up impressive numbers as a Senior (58 catches, 920 yards, 8 TDs), but his previous three seasons weren't that impressive. In fact, many scouts believe his numbers only increased during his Senior season because opposing defenses were doubling up on freshman phenom A.J. Green. The knocks on Massaquoi are that he drops a LOT of passes, and that he isn't a very polished route runner. It just stuns me that the Browns would draft a receiver that has issues with dropping passes after all they have been through with Braylon Edwards. That said, Massaquoi does show the potential to be a very gifted receiver in the NFL if he ever stops dropping passes.

(52) David Veikune (DL) HAWAII
I think this has the potential to be an interesting pick for the Browns. Veikune played as an undersized DL at Hawaii. At 6'3" and 250 pounds, Veikune is obviously too small to play DL in the NFL. So, the Browns are probably looking at his potential to adjust to the OLB position. The question remains as to whether Veikune is athletic enough to play OLB out in the open field. The guy has the speed and agility that would be required to make a successful switch, but we'll just have to wait and see how it all works out. I like Veikune because he is a maximum effort player. He doesn't stop motoring until the whistle blows. I look for him to be a special teams performer this year, and then possibly work his way into the LB corps for next season.

(104) Kaluka Maiava (LB) USC
I really like this pick for the Browns. Maiava only started one year at USC, but he did play at all four linebacking positions while in college and he was a special teams regular throughout his college career. He didn't garner as much attention as his linebacker teammates at USC, but Maiava always performed well in the games that really mattered. Maiava has the skills required to be an every down linebacker in the NFL. He is quick and decisive, and his pursuit angles are considered to be very good. Most of the scouts were also impressed with his ability to play in the open field both against the run and in pass coverage. The knock on Maiava is that he sometimes has difficulty disengaging from OL if they get into his body. I think this weakness should improve as he physically matures and gains some more core strength. And from the useless information file, I will also tell you that Kaluka is the nephew of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Maybe we'll get to see the Rock at a few Browns games. It appears to me that the Browns found a guy in Maiava that will contribute immediately on special teams, and will probably work his way into the linebacking rotation before the season is over.

(177) Don Carey (CB) NORFOLK STATE
I would like to be able to tell everybody that I have seen this guy play several times, but to be honest I'm not even sure I knew Norfolk State had a football team. The general consensus on Carey seems to be that he has the skills to play in the NFL, but that he probably isn't physically ready yet. This translates into "Don Carey is going to be a project." So, don't expect to see Carey on the field in the near future. But, Carey was a four year starter in college, and apparently he turned quite a few heads during his time at the East-West Shrine game. The biggest asset that most scouts believe Cary has is "potential." The Browns need help at CB, and I think this was a decent value pick even if Carey only becomes a marginal NFL player.

(191) Coye Francies (CB) SAN JOSE STATE
Pretty much everybody seems to agree that Francies has the physical ability to be successful in the NFL. The knock on Francies is that he had some "off the field" issues at Oregon State that eventually led to him transferring to San Jose State. As a result, he only has two years of actual playing time in college. But, he performed very well in postseason all star games and zoomed up many draft boards as a result. Francies has good height at 6'1", but he is considered to be a little light at 185 pounds. Still, Francies has the reputation of being a physical player and a very good tackler. If he can add some muscle weight without losing his speed and quickness, Francies could possibly end up being the shut down corner that Coach Heffernan (Mangini) is looking for. I like this pick, but I don't think we will see Coye on the field this season.

(195) James Davis (RB) CLEMSON
This could be the steal of the draft for the Browns. Davis is a strong character guy that was considered to be a locker room leader in college. If I had to describe his running style, I would call him a poor man's version of a young Jamal Lewis. He is not fast, but he is quick to the hole and has great balance and power. He is also a very good receiver out of the backfield and was quite impressive in college at picking up the blitz when he was asked to stay in the backfield and block. He doesn't have much experience when it comes to playing in bad weather (snow), but it looks on paper like Davis might be exactly the kind of ground and pound back that is needed in the AFC North. I think this was a very high value pick for the Browns, especially if Jamal Lewis starts slowing down.

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I really like what the Browns did in the draft this year, and what they have done since Mangini/Kokinis have taken over the reigns. I know that not everybody thinks the Browns draft was very good this year, but I think they may have potentially added four opening day starters (Elam, Coleman, Mack, and Robiskie). And, I think Maiava, Veikune, Francies, Davis, and Massaquoi could possibly all see the field on special teams and in spot situations throughout the season. I don't see how anybody could call that an unsuccessful draft. If I had to give the Browns a grade, I would give them an A-. They managed to draft for several need positions, and I would have given them an A if I thought they had selected a CB that was ready to play now. But, I think they made some very nice selections considering how awful they have done in the past. I've also been very impressed with some of the free agent rookies the Browns have already invited to rookie camp this year.

I'm not saying the Browns are going to make the playoffs this year. But, I think they will definitely show improvement over last season. The biggest issue that needs to be addressed is the quarterback position. I personally think that all the Brady Quinn trade rumors this offseason were just rumors. I'm not saying that I don't think Quinn will be traded before the season starts, but I think Mangini is the kind of coach that wants to make sure who his quarterback is before he trades "the other guy." And, I'm pretty sure that Mangini is also the kind of coach that won't base any major decisions on the flip of a coin. No, he is going to give Brady Quinn a chance to prove his worth, which is something that Romeo Crennel apparently never did.

2009 Colts Draft Review

2009-04-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

Last season the Colts finished with a record of 12-4, but another early exit from the playoffs took a little luster off the strong regular season. I am beginning to think the departure of Tony Dungy is starting to look like a good thing for 2009. I have always been a big fan of Tony Dungy the person, and a big fan of Tony Dungy the talent evaluator. But, I have never been a big fan of Tony Dungy the coach. At first, I wasn't too happy with the Colts hiring Jim Caldwell to replace Tony. But, I have to admit that I have been super happy with what I have seen from Jim Caldwell so far. This year's draft is no exception.

It looks to me like Jim Caldwell may be leaning toward changing a few of the basic philosophies that Dungy brought to Indy. And in my opinion, the things Caldwell is changing are long overdue. So, let's take a look at their draft.

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(27) Donald Brown (RB) UCONN
Brown led the nation in rushing last season as a Junior with 2083 yards. A lot of the scouts think of Brown as being a little undersized, but at 5'10" and 208 pounds he is a quick and powerful running back. He is a great route runner and an exceptional blocker. Brown also has the ability to return kicks and punts, which is something the Colts could definitely use. Most importantly to me, Brown is a strong character guy. I think this was strong pick for the Colts. I will admit that I was hoping they would draft a linebacker with their first pick, but if I was going to pick a running back, Donald Brown is the guy I would have gone after. I look for Brown to contribute immediately, although he will initially probably do most of his work on special teams. It has been a long time since the Colts had a running back with this kind of speed.

(56) Fili Moala (DT) USC
This is the first pick where I thought Jim Caldwell appeared to be taking a different route than Tony Dungy would have taken. Moala tips the scales at 305 pounds, which looks like a bit of a departure from the Tony Dungy style of defense. Moala's weight, however, is a little misleading. Most scouts agree that Moala does not play like a 300 pound DT. The strength of Moala's game is his quickness and perpetual motor. This guy does not take any play off. He is considered a bit of a project because his technique is not considered to be ready for the NFL. Moala is a slasher and a dasher and I think his selection signals that Jim Caldwell was looking for a guy who could get into the opponents backfield to make some plays. Moala should figure into the defensive line rotation this year, but I am not sure he is the run stopper that many people are probably hoping he would be. But, his size and quickness should allow him to play at either DE or DT positions. I think this was a decent value pick.

(92) Jerraud Powers (CB) AUBURN
This pick also seems to stray a little bit from the Tony Dungy defensive philosophy. Tony always seemed to like the big hard hitting CB's that could play the Cover 2 and come up and hit a running back out of the backfield. While Powers is considered to be a physical CB, he is also a bit undersized at 5'9" and 188 pounds. I'm sure Powers could excel in the Cover 2, but he made a name for himself in the SEC by covering a lot of quick receivers one on one. To me, this pick signifies that Jim Caldwell may be a little more aggressive with his defensive schemes than what Tony Dungy was. Powers looks like a guy that could lock up a wide receiver long enough for the Colts to bring a blitz, which is something that Tony Dungy and Ron Meeks didn't do as often as I would have liked. I really like the selection of Powers, but I'm not sure he is far enough along to be a contributor this season.

(127) Austin Collie (WR) BYU
This was a home run as far as I am concerned. Collie led the nation in receiving yards last year as a Junior. He is a great route runner with exceptionally soft hands. In my opinion, he could be the second coming of Brandon Stokely. He is the prototypical slot receiver and I expect him to get playing time almost immediately. He is smart enough to grasp the Colts offense and he is another strong character guy. The knock on Collie is his speed. I don't expect his speed to hurt him too much because I think most of the opposing defenses are going to have to focus on Wayne and Gonzalez. This means that Collie is probably going to be facing Safeties and Linebackers most of the time he is running routes. I like this pick and I think it was steal at 127.

(136) Terrance Taylor (DT) MICHIGAN
This may turn out to be the best pick of the draft for the Colts. At 6'0" and 320 pounds, Taylor is a massive run stopping DT. This guy had one speed in college, and that speed was full throttle. Taylor is the type of guy that will almost always demand a double team if the opponent runs the ball anywhere near him. He is quick and strong with a background in power lifting. Taylor is not known as a pass rusher, but his presence on the field will undoubtedly create situational nightmares for teams that like to double team Freeney and Mathis. I like this pick, and I fully expect to see Taylor on the field a lot this season. To me, this is the only pick the Colts made that really addresses the issues they had last season trying to stop the run.

(201) Curtis Painter (QB) PURDUE
I found this pick to probably be the most interesting the Colts made this year. If you have followed this blog in the past, you know that I am not a fan of Jim Sorgi. Jim always plays well in pre season games, and when there is nothing on the line. But, when the opponents put a little pressure on him he tends to fold like a cheap piece of copy paper. I find it very telling that Jim Caldwell, formerly the Colts quarterback coach, would spend a draft pick on another quarterback in his first draft as the Colts head coach. This pick tells me that Jim Caldwell may not be as infatuated with Jim Sorgi as Tony Dungy seemed to be. I know Curtis Painter didn't have a great Senior year at Purdue, but let's not forget that Painter comes out of the same system that produced Drew Brees and Kyle Orton. Painter has NFL caliber arm strength, decent size (6'4"), and a decent 40 time (4.87). If Painter's injured shoulder has healed sufficiently, and he turns out to be smart enough to learn the Colts complex offensive scheme, I could honestly see him eventually supplanting Jim Sorgi as the Colts official clip board holder.

(222) Pat McAfee (K) WEST VIRGINIA
A lot of people have questioned this pick because the Colts obviously already have a pretty decent kicker on the roster. But, I don't believe the Colts drafted McAfee to be a kicker. Instead, I think the Colts intend on McAfee replacing the recently departed Hunter Smith as the team's punter and occasional kick-off man. McAfee averaged 43.7 yards per punt in his college career and was one of three finalists for the Ray Guy award during his Senior season. I think this pick obviously fills a need and also provides the Colts with a back-up kicker in case Vinatieri would happen to get hurt again. To me, this is a decent value pick and I can't complain.

(236) Jaimie Thomas (OL) Maryland
I don't know a whole lot about Thomas, but Bill Polian always seems to do extremely well finding serviceable offensive lineman in the later rounds. Thomas has decent size at 6'4" and 330 pounds, but most scouting reports knock him for not being too agile in the open field. On paper he doesn't seem like a good fit for the Colts offensive line, but he has the credentials to end up being a decent stopgap in case someone were to get injured. I don't ever see Thomas becoming a regular starter for the Colts, but you never know what Howard Mudd might be able to accomplish with this kid. I would have rather seen the Colts take a linebacker with this pick.

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My Take:

The Colts draft this year is a tough one for me to rate. Overall, I am very happy with the players that Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell were able to get. But, I have the same complaint with this draft that I have every year with the Colts. To me, the most important position in a Cover 2 dominant defense is that of the linebacker. And again, the Colts seemed to have overlooked some very obvious linebacker talent in the draft. Unfortunately, it looks to me like the Colts are in worse shape at linebacker right now than any year I can remember in recent history.

According to the Colts official roster, which was updated on 4-26-09, the Colts currently have the following linebackers in fold: Rufus Alexander, Gary Brackett, TyJuan Hagler, Michael Okwo, Jordan Senn, Clint Session, Adam Seward, and Philip Wheeler. Of those players, only Brackett, Hagler, and Session have significant experience in the NFL. And, let's be honest, none of them are guys that you would want to build a Cover 2 defense around. So, unless one of the other 5 linebackers on the roster suddenly emerges as a superstar it looks to me like the Colts defense will probably remain weak up the middle for another year. In this aspect, I would have to say the Colts failed to fill a definite need in the draft.

The only logic I can see in the Colts bypassing such obvious linebacker talent in the draft is that the coaching staff may feel like beefing up the D-line will help keep the opponents O-line off of the Colts linebackers. Thus, allowing the linebackers to flow more easily to the ball. Unfortunately, I just don't feel that Hagler or Brackett really excel on their pursuit angles even when they go unblocked. So, beefing up the D-line may not have as big an effect on the Colts run defense as what many people might think. I guess time will tell.

I would rate the Colts draft this year as a B. I think they made a significant upgrade on the defensive line and I think they may have found a very nice slot receiver with Austin Collie. The selection of McAfee looks like a good one in that it gives the Colts a replacement for Hunter Smith and also gives them a back-up kicker. The selection of Donald Brown should give the Colts running game a very nice boost. But, I just couldn't give them an A because I feel their most pressing need was at linebacker and they failed to address that position (again).

Colts Look Flat Again!

2009-01-03T20:54:00.000-08:00

Well, the favored Indianapolis Colts went in to San Diego and fell flat on their playoff face again. Tonight's loss marks the 6th time that a Tony Dungy led team has lost their first game of the playoffs. Tony has led his teams to the playoffs 11 times in his career, so that means that 55% of the time his teams have failed to advance past their first playoff game.

The guy is great at evaluating talent, and he wins a lot of games in the regular season. But, he does not excel when it comes playoff time. Tony Dungy's postseason record now stands at 9-10.

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Take a look at how some other current and former NFL coaches have done in the playoffs.

Bill Belichick's playoff record is 15-4.
Bill Cowher's playoff record is 12-9.
Mike Holmgren's playoff record is 13-11.
Bill Parcells' playoff record is 11-8.
Marv Levy's playoff record is 11-8.
Dan Reeves' playoff record is 11-9.
Bill Walsh's playoff record is 10-4.
Jimmy Johnson's playoff record is 9-4.
Mike Shanahan's playoff record is 8-5.
Tom Coughlin's playoff record is 8-6.
Andy Reid's playoff record is 8-6.
John Fox's playoff record is 5-2.
Norv Turner's playoff record is 4-2.
Jon Gruden's playoff record is 5-4.
Brian Billick's playoff record is 5-3.
Jef Fisher's playoff record is 5-5.
Lovie Smith's playoff record is 2-2.

NFL Playoff Preview

2008-12-29T04:45:00.000-08:00

I went 11-5 on my predictions for Week 17. That puts me at 157-99 on the season. I had been missing a game in my totals for almost the whole season. I finally realized today that I was missing the Houston/Baltimore game that had been originally scheduled for Week 2 but was then rescheduled to November 9th because of Hurricane Ike.

WILD-CARD WEEKEND
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Saturday, January 3rd (4:30 PM)

Atlanta Falcons (11-5) vs Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

A strong running game and a stout defense is a must when it comes time for the playoffs. Neither the Falcons or the Cardinals have impressed me with their defenses this year, but the Falcons did suit up the number 2 ranked rushing offense in the NFL this season. Whereas, the Cardinals ranked dead last in the NFL on the ground.

Kurt Warner and the Arizona offense have put up some impressive statistics through the air, but the Cards have struggled offensively when the opposing defense has been able to pressure Warner. I think Atlanta's John Abraham (16.5 sacks) will probably be wearing Kurt Warner's uniform by halftime. This doesn't bode well for Arizona.

I look for Warner to have a couple of turnovers and for Michael Turner to have somewhere around 150 yards rushing.

My Prediction: Atlanta 24 Arizona 17
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Saturday, January 3rd (8:00 PM)

Indianapolis Colts (12-4) vs San Diego Chargers (8-8)

This game is a toss-up as far as I am concerned. Both teams have a lot of talent and speed on both sides of the ball. But, both teams have had the tendency in the past to look unprepared and totally flat when they reach the playoffs. In my opinion, this is because neither team has had a coaching staff that excelled at scouting or game planning for their opponents. Instead, both teams relied heavily on their established systems and the individual talent on their respective rosters.

The last 3 meetings between these 2 teams have been decided by a total of 9 points, and I don't think this game will be any different. I think the keys to this game will be turnovers and quarterback play. Last year, Peyton Manning had 9 interceptions in his 2 games against the Chargers (The Colts lost both games).

Offensively, the Chargers need to keep their 3rd downs manageable. The last thing Phillip Rivers wants is to have Freeney and Mathis rushing full speed on 3rd and long. I look for the Chargers to run the ball a lot on first down, throw short routes underneath Indy's zone coverage, and take some deep shots off of play action. On defense, the Chargers will probably look to throw a lot of disguised blitzes against Indy's shaky offensive line.

I look for the Colts to do what they always do. On offense, Peyton will try to read the Charger defense at the line of scrimmage and decide between pass or run. Hopefully, the Colts will realize that attempting to run the stretch play against a fast Charger defense isn't going to work. The Colts need to pound the ball between the tackles on quick hitting dive plays and avoid any delayed running plays. The Chargers are probably going to blitz a lot, so I would expect to see some man to man on Indy's wide outs. Indy should be able to take advantage of the man to man by running a lot of crossing routes underneath. On defense, the Colts will sit back in their soft zone coverages and allow the Chargers to move the ball at will up and down the field.

In the end, I'm going with the Chargers. I just think that Ron Riviera will have something special up his sleeve that will totally confuse the Indianapolis coaching staff. I think San Diego will jump out to an early lead and hang on for the victory.

My Prediction: San Diego 31 Indianapolis 21
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Sunday January 4th (1:00 PM)

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-5)

These two teams met in Week 7 with the Ravens winning 27-13. But, statistically the game was pretty even.

The guy to watch in this game is going to be Joe Flacco. Joe turned in a 17-23 for 232 yards with 1 touchdown and zero interceptions performance in Week 7. Can he do it again?

The other aspect of this game that interests me is the Miami offense versus the Raven defense. These two teams rank 1st (Miami) and 3rd (Baltimore) in the AFC only this season in turnover differential. Miami finished first in this category because their offense turned the ball over 13 times all season. Baltimore finished third in this category because their defense created 34 takeaways this season. Something has to give.

I expect this game to go pretty much like it did in Week 7. I think Joe Flacco will have a decent game and the Raven defense will make the Dolphin offense settle for field goals instead of touchdowns.

My Prediction: Baltimore 21 Miami 9
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Sunday January 4th (4:30 PM)

Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

Did you know the Philadelphia Eagles have the 3rd ranked defense in the NFL? That same defense ranks 4th against the rush and 3rd against the pass.

Did you know the Minnesota Viking defense ranks 6th in the NFL? The Viking defense ranks 1st against the rush, but only 18th against the pass. That 18th ranked pass defense is a major "uh-oh" for the Vikes.

I think the defenses on both sides are going to control their opponent's running games. Yeah, Peterson will probably be somewhere around 100 yards rushing for the game. But, I just don't think Tarvaris Jackson will play well enough at QB to put more than 14 points on the board for the Vikes.

I look for Eagles to dink and dunk the Viking defense up and down the field. Philly will run the ball just enough to keep their offense balanced, but the majority of the Eagles' yards will come through the air. There will be lots of short passes with the occasional deep ball to keep everybody honest.

Look out for the Eagles. Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb have enormous chips on their shoulders right now.

My Prediction: Philadelphia 28 Minnesota 10

NFL Week 17 Predictions

2008-12-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

I stumbled again last week with a 9-7 record. That puts me at 145-94 on the season. That's not too bad, I guess.

The picks this week are going to be a little tougher because there are quite a few teams that have no reason to play hard.

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1) St. Louis vs. Atlanta: No contest. Winner = Atlanta

2) New England vs. Buffalo: Windy!! The Pats will win this one easily. Winner = New England

3) Kansas City vs. Cincinnati: There won't be too many people watching this one. Winner = Cincinnati

4) Detroit vs. Green Bay: 0-16. Ouch!! Winner = Green Bay

5) Tennessee vs. Indianapolis: History tells us that Tony Dungy never plays his starters too long in meaningless games at the end of the season. History also tells us the Colts do not perform well in the playoffs after Coach Dungy rests his starters at the end of the regular season. History will repeat. Winner = Tennessee

6) NY Giants vs. Minnesota: The Giants are going to rest some starters today, but Tarvaris Jackson is still listed as the starter for the Vikings. Winner = NY Giants

7) Carolina vs. New Orleans: The Panthers are capable of being a dominant football team, but they just can't seem to get it all together. Winner = New Orleans

8) Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh: Seriously, what is the point of even playing this game? Winner = Pittsburgh

9) Oakland vs. Tampa Bay: The Bucs should win this one. Winner = Tampa Bay

10) Chicago vs. Houston: The Bears are a decent football team, but the Texans play good football at home. Winner = Houston

11) Jacksonville vs. Baltimore: The Ravens will use this game as a momentum builder heading into the playoffs. Winner = Baltimore

12) Washington vs. San Francisco: The Redskins just aren't a very good football team right now. Winner = San Francisco

13) Miami vs. NY Jets: The Jets have lost their Mojo and Favre is playing hurt. Chad has something to prove and I think he will have a nice game. Winner = Miami

14) Dallas vs. Philadelphia: I look for the Eagles to play hard, but I just don't think they have enough to beat Dallas right now. But, the Cowboy offense is vulnerable and Jim Johnson is a defensive genius. Winner = Dallas

15) Seattle vs. Arizona: I'm not going to be surprised if the Seahawks win this one, but the Cards are the better team. Winner = Arizona

16) Denver vs. San Diego: Redemption. Winner = San Diego

NFL Week 16 Predictions

2008-12-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

Hey, Hey, Hey!!! I went 10-6 last week which isn't too bad. I could have gone 12-4 if I had actually trusted my instincts and picked the Texans and the Bengals. I'm 136 -87 on the season.

We've got some big games this week, so let's get down to the predictions.

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1) Indianapolis vs. Jacksonville: The Jags have had a bad year and the Colts are on a roll and can clinch a playoff spot with a victory. Indy should win this one, but I guarantee you the Jags will game plan and show a new wrinkle to the Colts. Del Rio will win the coaching battle (as usual), but the Colts will win the game based on superior athletic talent. Winner = Indianapolis

2) Baltimore vs. Dallas: I have a feeling this is going to be a low scoring ugly game. Tony Romo surprised me and came up big last week. Can he do it again? Nope. Winner = Baltimore

3) Cincinnati vs. Cleveland: Yawn!! Winner = Cincinnati

4) San Francisco vs. St. Louis: The 49ers have shown drastic improvement since Singletary took over and I expect more of the same this week. Winner = San Francisco

5) New Orleans vs. Detroit: I will be surprised if the Saints don't win this one. Winner = New Orleans

6) Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee: The Big Bully is going to march into Nashville, punch the "poser" right in the face, and then walk away with the "poser's" lunch money and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Winner = Pittsburgh

7) Miami vs. Kansas City: The Chiefs aren't as bad a football team as their record indicates, and the Dolphins aren't as good as their record indicates. The Dolphins have a better coach, though. Winner = Miami

8) Arizona vs. New England: The Cards mailed it in last week. Their season is officially over. They probably won't win another game (playoffs included). Winner = New England

9) San Diego vs. Tampa Bay: This is a tough one to call. The Bucs haven't lost a game at home all season. Winner = Tampa Bay

10) Houston vs. Oakland: Houston is playing for respect. Oakland is playing for a draft pick. Winner = Houston

11) Buffalo vs. Denver: I know Trent Edwards is coming back this week, but the Bills just look like a team that is already planning their winter vacations. Winner = Denver

12) NY Jets vs. Seattle: This could be a tough game for the Jets. But, I have to believe they will find a way to pull this one out just like they did last week. Winner = NY Jets

13) Atlanta vs. Minnesota: The Vikings have the #1 rated defense against the run in the NFL, and they also have Adrian Peterson which should give the Vikes a nice advantage. But, I just read that Tarvaris Jackson is going to start the game at QB for Minnesota so any advantage the Vikes have elsewhere on the field could very easily be offset by Tarvaris' pathetic quarterback play. I'm going to give TJ the benefit of the doubt this week, though. Winner = Minnesota

14) Philadelphia vs. Washington: If the Eagles keep their offensive play calling balanced, they should win this game. But, if Andy starts calling all pass plays this could be a long day for Donovan. Winner = Philadelphia

15) Carolina vs. NY Giants: I'm just not convinced the Panthers are that good. Sure, they win at home. But, they are only 3-3 on the road this year. Winner = NY Giants

16) Green Bay vs. Chicago: I've given up on the Packers. Winner = Chicago

NFL Week 15 Predictions

2008-12-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

I did a little better last week with a record of 11-5. That makes me 126- 81 on the season.

I don't feel too bad about the 11-5 mark last week. I figure just about everybody missed the Philly/NY Giants game and the NY Jets/San Fran game. I also missed the Houston/Green Bay game, which I probably would have gotten correct if I'd known Matt Schaub was going to play for the Texans. The other two games I missed were the two NFC SOUTH match-ups. I can't explain it, but I just completely suck at predicting what the NFC SOUTH teams are going to do from week to week.

The only part about last week's predictions that I am actually embarrassed about was the fact that I didn't research the Miami/Buffalo game enough to know the game was being played indoors up in Toronto. Looking back on it now, I do remember hearing the ESPN guys talking about it. I still picked the game correctly, but for the wrong reasons.

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1) New Orleans vs. Chicago: This game has already started and I know Chicago is up 21-7 at the half. But, I have to be honest and admit that I picked New Orleans to win this game. So, I'm sticking with my original pick and hoping for a dramatic comeback. Winner = New Orleans

2) Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta: Damn, another one of those dreaded NFC SOUTH match-ups. I'm sure I will probably miss this one because I always screw the NFC SOUTH games up. Winner = Atlanta

3) Washington vs. Cincinnati: You'd have to be an idiot to pick the Bungles in this one, so I'm not going to do it. But, don't be surprised if Cincy makes a game of this. The Bungles may actually have a few match-up advantages. Winner = Washington

4) Detroit vs. Indianapolis: The Colts looked a lot better last week and this week should be no different. Winner = Indianapolis

5) San Diego vs. Kansas City: This was a close one the first time these two teams met this season. I think the Chargers will win, but its too little too late for San Diego. Winner = San Diego

6) Seattle vs. St. Louis: I hate to even pick this game. Winner = Seattle

7) San Francisco vs. Miami: The 49ers definitely look better under Singletary, but the Fins should take this one at home. Winner = Miami

8) Buffalo vs. NY Jets: I thought the Bills were pretty good, and then they were not. I thought the Jets were pretty good, and then they were not. I'm taking the home team. Winner = NY Jets

9) Tennessee vs. Houston: I've got to tell you that I think this game could be difficult for the Titans. The Texans aren't as bad as everybody seems to think, and the Titans may get caught looking ahead to their next game against the Steelers. I'm picking the Titans, but I wouldn't be surprised if Houston pulled the upset. Winner = Tennessee

10) Green Bay vs. Jacksonville: This is a difficult game to pick. Both teams have massively underachieved this season. My gut tells me to pick the Packers, though. Winner = Green Bay

11) Minnesota vs. Arizona: Frerotte is out and I just have no confidence in Tarvaris Jackson. Winner = Arizona

12) Denver vs. Carolina: I must admit that I have no idea what Carolina is going to do from week to week. They seem to play better at home, though. Winner = Carolina

13) Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore: This is the game of the week. I expect to see a defensive struggle with a few turnovers and some big time collisions. This one is a toss up, but I'm going with the team that has been there before. Winner = Pittsburgh

14) New England vs. Oakland: Oakland is too dysfunctional to beat a well coached team like the Patriots. Winner = New England

15) NY Giants vs. Dallas: This one should be interesting. The Giants are coming off an embarrassing loss to Philly. The Cowboys have their backs against the wall and T.O. is starting to unravel (again). In the end, I think it will come down to the fact that the Giants are a good road team and Tony Romo seems to fall apart in big games. Winner = NY Giants

16) Cleveland vs. Philadelphia: The bad news is that Cleveland is down to their third string quarterback. The good news is that Dorsey didn't look any worse than Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn. But, that isn't saying much. Winner = Philadelphia

NFL Week 14 Predictions

2008-12-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

I turned in another less than impressive 9-7 record last week. Its a good thing I'm not actually betting any money on these predictions. If you're keeping track, that now puts me at 115-76 on the season.

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1) Oakland vs. San Diego: The Chargers haven't been impressive this year, but this game probably won't even be close. Winner = San Diego

2) Jacksonville vs. Chicago: If this game was in Jacksonville I might give the Jags a chance. But, its being played in Chicago. Winner = Chicago

3) Minnesota vs. Detroit: The Lions will remain winless. Winner = Minnesota

4) Houston vs. Green Bay: The Packers have been a huge disappointment this year and the Texans have played remarkably well without Matt Schaub. I'm still taking the Pack at home. Winner = Green Bay

5) Cleveland vs. Tennessee: Wouldn't it be funny if Ken Dorsey turned in the game of his life and the Browns actually beat the mighty Titans? It would be, but it ain't gonna happen. Winner = Tennessee

6) Cincinnati vs. Indianapolis: Last week the Colts continued their their streak of playing down to their opponents level. I figure that trend will probably continue again this week and the Colts will undoubtedly struggle against the pathetic Bungles. Winner = Indianapolis

7) Atlanta vs. New Orleans: This has the potential to be a very interesting game. Both offenses are pretty good, and both defenses are below average. I'm going out on a limb and taking the Falcons because of their strong running game. Winner = Atlanta

8) Philadelphia vs. NY Giants: I really like Donovan McNabb, but I think he is going to have a tough time against that Giants defense. Winner = NY Giants

9) Kansas City vs. Denver: Unless Hell freezes over between now and Sunday I just don't see how the Chiefs could possibly win this game. Winner = Denver

10) Miami vs. Buffalo: One would think that a warm weather team like Miami would have a difficult time playing a game in Buffalo in December. But, Chad Pennington is built for this kind of weather. Winner = Miami

11) NY Jets vs. San Francisco: I am really starting to question just how good the Jets really are. But, I know they are better than the 49ers. Winner = NY Jets

12) New England vs. Seattle: This one probably won't even be close. Winner = New England

13) St Louis vs. Arizona: The Rams rank 28th in total offense and 29th in total defense. Winner = Arizona

14) Dallas vs. Pittsburgh: This is the game of the week. Unfortunately for Dallas, the Steeler defense is on a roll. Winner = Pittsburgh

15) Washington vs. Baltimore: I've been underestimating the Ravens and overestimating the Redskins all season. I've decided that only one of these teams will make the playoffs and it isn't Washington. Winner = Baltimore

16) Tampa Bay vs. Carolina: It wasn't even a contest when these two teams met back in October and I think Sunday will be more of the same. Winner = Tampa Bay

We Play Green

2008-12-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not usually one to get up on my soap box and rave about anything. But, I came across a story the other day about Cincinnati Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson and his effort to raise awareness about waste reduction and recycling.

Those of you who know me in real life know that I care deeply about our planet and the environment that we all live in. I'm not one of those "the sky is falling" environmentalists like Al Gore. But, I do believe we need to take care of the planet that we all call home. I'll stop there on my personal beliefs and let you read the story about Chris Dickerson for yourselves. You can read it here.

Then, after you've read the story, you can check out the We Play Green web site here. The web site isn't up yet, but it is scheduled to be online sometime this week.

Bravo, Chris!

NFL Week 13 Predictions

2008-11-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

After last week's less than impressive 9-7 showing, I now stand at 106-69 for the season. I knew last week was going to be tough. Let's see if I can do better this week.
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Thanksgiving Day Match-ups (yawn). I don't know who chose these games for holiday viewing, but whoever did should be fired.

1) Tennessee vs. Detroit: Stick a fork in the Lions, I'm pretty sure this one is already over. Winner = Tennessee

2) Seattle vs. Dallas: I'm sure I'll be running the channels by the second quarter. I can only wonder if TBS will be running their "Christmas Story" marathon yet. Winner = Dallas

3) Arizona vs. Philadelphia: This has the potential to be the game of the day, but that isn't saying much. Winner = Arizona

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Sunday Games

4) San Francisco vs. Buffalo: The 49ers are a better football team than the Chiefs, but I still think the Bills should win this one at home. Winner = Buffalo

5) Baltimore vs. Cincinnati: The Ravens 'D" should wreak havoc in this one. Winner = Baltimore

6) Indianapolis vs. Cleveland: This could be an interesting game if the weather turns nasty. Indy tends to play to level of their competition so don't be surprised if the Brownies make a game of this. Winner = Indianapolis

7) Carolina vs. Green Bay: I just don't understand what happened to the Packers. But, I'm not sold on the Panthers. I'm taking the Pack at home. Winner = Green Bay

8) Miami vs. St. Louis: I just don't see any way the Rams can win this one. Winner = Miami

9) New Orleans vs. Tampa Bay: I think this one could go either way. The Saints won in their Week 1 match-up (24-20). My gut tells me to go with the home team. Winner = Tampa Bay

10) NY Giants vs. Washington: Anything can happen in this NFC EAST rivalry, but the Giants look to be firing on all cylinders right now. Winner = NY Giants

11) Atlanta vs. San Diego: The triumphant return of Michael Turner. This should be a good game. Winner = Atlanta

12) Pittsburgh vs. New England: This is the game of the week as far as I'm concerned. I just don't think the Steelers will score as many points as the Patriots. Winner = New England

13) Denver vs. NY Jets: Should be a fun game to watch. I like the Jets at home. Winner = NY Jets

14) Kansas City vs. Oakland: Both offenses suck. Both defenses suck. I wonder if anybody will even watch this game. Winner = Oakland

15) Chicago vs. Minnesota: First place in the NFC NORTH is on the line. I look for the Bears to employ the same kind of defensive strategy in this game they used against the Titans. In case you forgot, the Bears held the Titans to 20 yards rushing on 29 carries. Gus Frerotte will need to have a good game if the Vikings want to have any chance of winning. Winner = Chicago

16) Jacksonville vs. Houston: This is the Monday Night game? Last place in the AFC SOUTH is on the line. Their first meeting this season went to OT with Jacksonville winning. I like the Texans in this one. Winner = Houston

Return Of My NFL Power Rankings

2008-11-24T18:17:00.000-08:00

I dropped my power rankings several weeks ago because they seemed absolutely useless. This has been one of the weirdest NFL seasons I can ever remember. It almost seems like nobody wants to win. But, after 12 weeks I decided I would bring back my top ten.

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1) NY Giants (10-1) : The G-Men rank #5 in total offense and #5 in total defense. They can run the ball on anybody. It looks like the only way they can lose is if Eli has a bad game, and he isn't having very many of those lately.

2) NY Jets (8-3) : The Jets rank #2 in points scored per game and they look like they are getting better as the season progresses. They have a really good chance of finishing 13-3 behind a resurgent Brett Favre.

3) Tennessee Titans (10-1) : The Titans are built for the playoffs. Their offense isn't that impressive now, but their strong running game and #2 ranked scoring defense will give them a decided advantage when the weather turns nasty.

4) Indianapolis Colts (7-4) : The Colts haven't looked pretty, but they are suddenly winning games against some decent competition. Let's not forget the Colts didn't look very good during the regular season two years ago and we all know that ended. I guarantee you this is an Indy team nobody wants to face in the playoffs. Especially if Bob Sanders ever gets healthy.

5) New England Patriots (7-4) : Speaking of a team nobody wants to face in the playoffs. The Pats record is clearly the result of them facing a pathetically easy schedule this season, but don't overlook them come playoff time. This team is well coached and has a lot of veteran leadership. Oh, and Matt Cassell is getting better every week.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) : The next four weeks are going to tell us a lot about the Pittsburgh Steelers (Pats, Cowboys, Ravens, and Titans). The Steelers are well coached and they have the #1 ranked defense in the NFL.

7) Baltimore Ravens (7-4) : The Ravens haven't convinced me they are a Super Bowl contender yet, but their #2 ranked defense is good enough to win them some games in January.

8) Arizona Cardinals (7-4) : Their schedule hasn't been that tough, but they do have the #2 ranked offense and #10 ranked defense in the NFL.

9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3) : The Bucs have the #4 ranked defense in the NFL. I have no idea just how good they really are, but I wouldn't want to face them in the playoffs.

10) Dallas Cowboys (7-4) : You could just as easily put the Redskins in this spot. Both teams could beat you on any given day, but both of them could also just as easily lay an egg. The Cowboys still have three tough games remaining (Steelers, Giants, and Ravens), while the Redskins only have two tough games left (Giants and Ravens). I still think the Cowboys are a better team than the Redskins, though.

NFL Week 12 Predictions

2008-11-21T04:25:00.001-08:00

Last week I correctly picked 11 games and missed 4, with the Cincinnati/Philadelphia game ending in a tie. I have decided not to count the tie in either category, so my record for the season now stands at 97-62. This week looks like a tough one.
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1) Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati: No Mucho Stinko and no Carson Palmer equal no chance for the Bungles. Winner = Pittsburgh

2) Tampa Bay vs. Detroit: I seriously think the Lions could make this one interesting, but I've learned my lesson picking against the Bucs. Winner = Tampa Bay

3) NY Jets vs. Tennessee: Conventional wisdom tells me to pick the Titans, but they are the worst 10-0 team I have ever seen. Winner = NY Jets

4) Buffalo vs. Kansas City: The Chiefs aren't as bad as their record indicates, but I have to go with the Bills in this contest. Winner = Buffalo

5) Chicago vs. St. Louis: The Monsters of the Midway should show up for this game. Winner = Chicago

6) New England vs. Miami: Miami is an up and coming team. I just don't think they have come up enough to beat the Pats in November. Winner = New England

7) Minnesota vs. Jacksonville: This is a tough one for me to call. I'm taking the home team. Winner = Jacksonville

8) Philadelphia vs. Baltimore: I'm just not sold on Baltimore. Winner = Philadelphia

9) Houston vs. Cleveland: I'm going with Cleveland in this game, but I'm not overly confident about it. The Browns' defense tackles like a bunch of middle school girls. Winner = Cleveland

10) San Francisco vs. Dallas: This isn't the match up it used to be. Winner = Dallas

11) Oakland vs. Denver: Jay Cutler will have his Thanksgiving feast a few days early. Winner = Denver

12) Washington vs. Seattle: The Seahawks have been such a disappointment this year. Winner = Washington

13) NY Giants vs. Arizona: The only way the Giants lose is if Eli has a horrendous game. I look for Warner to produce multiple turnovers under pressure. Winner = NY Giants

14) Carolina vs. Atlanta: I hate to do it, but I'm going with Carolina. Winner = Carolina

15) Indianapolis vs. San Diego: Neither team is as bad as everybody thinks. But, the Chargers always have a nice game plan for Indy. Winner = San Diego

16) Green Bay vs. New Orleans: I have to go with the Pack. Winner = Green Bay

NFL Week 11 Predictions

2008-11-15T21:03:00.000-08:00

Denver vs. Atlanta: The Broncos have been erratic on defense and Atlanta will run the ball. Winner = Atlanta

Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati: The Bengals suck. Winner = Philadelphia

Chicago vs. Green Bay: These NFC North contests are hard to pick. I'm taking the home team. Winner = Green Bay

Houston vs. Indianapolis: The Colts have won two big games in a row, but I'm not sold on them. Houston will give them a game. Winner = Indianapolis

New Orleans vs. Kansas City: The Saints should win this game, but Kansas City is showing improvement and may make this a close game. Winner = New Orleans

Oakland vs. Miami: The Dolphins JV schedule continues. Winner = Miami

Baltimore vs. NY Giants: I think the Giants will win this game, but I wouldn't be surprised if Baltimore wins. Winner = NY Giants

Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay: This game is a toss up. When I'm in doubt I usually go with the home team. Winner = Tampa Bay

Detroit vs. Carolina: This probably won't be much of a game. Winner = Carolina

St. Louis vs. San Francisco: St. Louis could make this interesting, but I'd be crazy to pick the Rams. Winner = San Francisco

Arizona vs. Seattle: I believe Matt Hasselback is supposed to return to the lineup, but Arizona is going to score some points. Winner = Arizona

San Diego vs. Pittsburgh: I don't believe for a second that Pittsburgh will lose two in a row at home. Winner = Pittsburgh

Tennessee vs. Jacksonville: This game has upset written all over it. Winner = Jacksonville

Dallas vs. Washington: I think Dallas is starting to hemorrhage and I just don't think even Tony Romo can stop the bleeding. Winner = Washington

Cleveland vs. Buffalo: My head is telling me to go with Buffalo, but my gut is telling me that Brady Quinn will carry the Browns to victory. Winner = Cleveland

Week 11, Thursday Night Prediction

2008-11-13T04:28:00.000-08:00

I had a good week last week (11-3), and my record now stands at 86-58 for the season. Here is the Thursday Night skinny.

NY Jets vs. New England: Statistically, these two teams are almost mirror images of each other. The Pats won the Week 2 meeting between these two teams 19-10. But, both of these teams have changed quite a bit since then. I expect a different kind of game this week from the Jets, but I think the result will probably be the same. Winner = New England

Early AFC Playoff Picture

2008-11-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

I noticed yesterday during my marathon day of football watching that several of the NFL commentators were mentioning how easy the Indianapolis Colts' remaining schedule seems to be. These commentators were obviously implying that after the Colts' recent victories over the Steelers and the Patriots, Indy was well on their way to earning one of the two AFC wild card berths. This seemed a little presumptuous to me, so I thought I would take a look for myself at the developing AFC playoff picture.

If you know anything about the NFL, you already know the four Divisional winners in the AFC will all get automatic berths into the playoffs. Then the two "non-Division winning" AFC teams with the best records will also earn a playoff berth as wild cards. If you do the math you will see that there are 6 playoff berths available in the AFC.

The way I see it, there are still probably 11 teams left that have a reasonable chance of making the playoffs in the AFC. Let's take a look at those 11 teams, the Divisions in which they play, and their remaining schedules.

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AFC SOUTH

Tennessee Titans: The Titans are 9-0 and a lock to win the AFC SOUTH Division. They are definitely in the playoffs. They have the following games remaining: @ Jacksonville (4-5), NY Jets (6-3), @ Detroit (0-9), Cleveland (3-6), @ Houston (3-6), Pittsburgh (6-3), Indianapolis (5-4).

Total Offense: 313 ypg (21st) PTS/Game: 24.4 (10th)
Total Defense: 284.6 ypg (5th) PTS/Game: 13.0 (1st)
Quality wins outside the AFC South: Minnesota, Baltimore, Chicago

The Titans have caught a couple of lucky breaks so far this year. I think they will lose 2 or 3 games before the regular season is over, especially if they decide to rest some players down the stretch. They should have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They're in!

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts currently sit at 5-4 with the following games remaining: Houston (3-6), @ San Diego (4-5), @ Cleveland (3-6), Cincinnati (1-8), Detroit (0-9), @ Jacksonville (4-5), Tennessee (9-0).

Total Offense: 310.8 ypg (22nd) PTS/Game: 21.2 (22nd)
Total Defense: 324.8 ypg (15th) PTS/Game: 21.9 (17th)
Quality wins outside the AFC South: Minnesota, New England, Pittsburgh

The Colts haven't looked too good on offense so far, but did you know they have faced the #1, #2, #5, and #6 ranked defenses in the NFL this season. And they went 3-1 in those games, losing only to Tennessee. On paper their remaining schedule looks pretty easy, but Houston, San Diego, and Jacksonville always play Indy tough. I think they need to go 5-2 in their remaining games to have a shot at a wild card berth.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags currently sit at 4-5 with the following games remaining: Tennessee (9-0), Minnesota (5-4), @ Houston (3-6), @ Chicago (5-4), Green Bay (4-5), Indianapolis (5-4), @ Baltimore (6-3).

Total Offense: 320.6 ypg (18th) PTS/Game 22.0 (17th)
Total Defense: 326.4 ypg (16th) PTS/Game: 20.7 (12th)
Quality wins outside the AFC South: Denver

The Jags just look lifeless this season. I don't know what happened, but I think they are on the outside looking in as far as the playoffs are concerned. They're out!

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers currently sit in first place in the AFC NORTH with a record of 6-3. They have the following games remaining: San Diego (4-5), Cincinnati (1-8), @ New England (6-3), Dallas (5-4), @ Baltimore (6-3), @ Tennessee (9-0), Cleveland (3-6).

Total Offense: 288 ypg (26th) PTS/Game: 22.0 (17th)
Total Defense: 240.3 ypg (1st) PTS/Game: 15.6 (3rd)
Quality wins outside the AFC NORTH: Washington

Pittsburgh's defense has really surprised me this season. Pittsburgh will win the AFC NORTH, but I'm not sure they will go very far in the playoffs. They have played 4 quality teams this year and they lost to 3 of them (Indy, Philly, NY Giants). They're in!

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens currently sit at 6-3, but their remaining schedule is a BITCH! Here it is: @ NY Giants (8-1), Philadelphia (5-4), @ Cincinnati (1-8), Washington (6-3), Pittsburgh (6-3), @ Dallas (5-4), Jacksonville (4-5).

Total Offense: 323.7 ypg (16th) PTS/Game: 23.6 (12th)
Total Defense: 258.4 ypg (2nd) PTS/Game: 16.7 (5th)
Quality wins outside the AFC NORTH: none

The Ravens are about to find out just how good they really are. They have 7 games remaining and I will be surprised if they win more than two. I think the Ravens finish 8-8 on the year and miss the playoffs. They're out!

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos: The Broncos currently have a record of 5-4 with the following games remaining: @ Atlanta (6-3), Oakland (2-7), @ NY Jets (6-3), Kansas City (1-8), @ Carolina (7-2), Buffalo (5-4), @ San Diego (4-5).

Total Offense: 395.1 ypg (2nd) PTS/Game: 24.9 (9th)
Total Defense: 389.1 ypg (29th) PTS/Game: 27.9 (28th)
Quality wins outside the AFC WEST: Tampa Bay

I think the Broncos will win the AFC WEST, but only because their schedule is easier than San Diego's. The Broncos can score some points, but their defense isn't good enough to do anything once they get into the playoffs. They're in!

San Diego Chargers: The Chargers currently have a record of 4-5 with the following games remaining: Pittsburgh (6-3), Indianapolis (5-4), Atlanta (6-3), Oakland (2-7), @ Kansas City (1-8), @ Tampa Bay (6-3), Denver (5-4).

Total Offense: 349.3 ypg (10th) PTS/Game: 27.1 (5th)
Total Defense: 368.0 ypg (26th) PTS/Game: 24.2 (21st)
Quality wins outside the AFC WEST: NY Jets, New England

The Chargers are hard to predict. They have beaten some good teams, and they have lost to some bad teams. The next 3 weeks will decide San Diego's playoff fate. Pittsburgh, Indy, and Atlanta all come to town. I think if the Chargers lose 2/3 of those games they will be eliminated from the playoff hunt. They're out!

AFC EAST

New England Patriots: The Pats currently sit in first place in the AFC EAST with a record of 6-3. They have the following games remaining: NY Jets (6-3), @ Miami (5-4), Pittsburgh (6-3), @ Seattle (2-7), @ Oakland (2-7), Arizona (5-3), @ Buffalo (5-4).

Total Offense: 328.1 ypg (15th) PTS/Game: 20.9 (24th)
Total Defense: 301.0 ypg (12th) PTS/Game: 17.8 (6th)
Quality wins outside the AFC EAST: Denver

The Pats have benefited greatly from a weak schedule. I'm just not sure how good they really are. I think the Pats will make the playoffs either by winning the AFC East outright or by claiming one of the wild card spots. They're in!

NY Jets: The Jets currently have a record of 6-3 and have the following games remaining: @ New England (6-3), @ Tennessee (9-0), Denver (5-4), @ San Francisco (2-6), Buffalo (5-4), @ Seattle (2-7), Miami (5-4).

Total Offense: 332.2 ypg (14th) PTS/Game: 28.3 (3rd)
Total Defense: 299.9 ypg (10th) PTS/Game: 21.1 (14th)
Quality wins outside the AFC EAST: Arizona

The Jets have two tough games coming up against the Patriots and the Titans. They have to win one of those games to stay in the playoff hunt. They're in!

Buffalo Bills: The Bills currently sit with a record of 5-4 and have the following games remaining: Cleveland (3-6), @ Kansas City (1-8), San Francisco (2-6), Miami (5-4), @ NY Jets (6-3), @ Denver (5-4), New England (6-3).

Total Offense: 303.8 ypg (24th) PTS/Game: 21.3 (20th)
Total Defense: 309.2 ypg (14th) PTS/Game: 21.0 (13th)
Quality wins outside the AFC EAST: San Diego

I'm sorry Buffalo fans, but I think the Bills are on the outside looking in. They should get some confidence by winning their next 3 games, but I don't see them making the playoffs. They're out!

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins currently have a record of 5-4 and have the following games remaining: Oakland (2-7), New England (6-3), @ St. Louis (2-7), @ Buffalo (5-4), San Francisco (2-6), @ Kansas City (1-8), @ NY Jets (6-3).

Total Offense: 350.3 ypg (8th) PTS/Game: 21.3 (20th)
Total Defense: 328.1 ypg (18th) PTS/Game: 20.2 (11th)
Quality wins outside of AFC EAST: Denver, San Diego

The Dolphins just might sneak into the playoffs. It is going to come down to how well the Fins do against their Division rivals down the stretch. Miami should beat Oakland (2-7), St. Louis (2-7), San Francisco (2-6), and Kansas City (1-8). If Miami can somehow win 2/3 against New England, Buffalo, and the NY Jets I think they will take the final wild card spot with a record of 11-5.

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So there you have it. I think the Titans, Steelers, Patriots, and Broncos will probably win their Divisions. I think the fight for the two wild card berths will probably come down to a fight between the Colts, Jets, and Dolphins. My money is on the Colts and Jets. But, I have been wrong before. I predict it will take at least 10 wins to earn a wild card in the AFC this year.

NFL Week 10 Predictions (2)

2008-11-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

I missed the winner of the Broncos/Browns game last night to make me 0-1 already for this week, but I did go 9-5 again last week. As of today, I have a record of 75-56 on the season.

Now, for the rest of my Week 10 predictions.

1) New Orleans vs. Atlanta: Did you know Atlanta has the 7th ranked offense in the NFL and New Orleans has the 1st ranked offense in the NFL? But, the Falcon's have a better defense. Winner = Atlanta

2) Tennessee vs. Chicago: I think this game will be close. If Orton was healthy I would pick the Bears. But, it looks like Grossman will be under center for Chicago. Winner = Tennessee

3) Jacksonville vs. Detroit: The Jaguars haven't shown me much this year, but the Lions are awful. Winner = Jacksonville

4) Seattle vs. Miami: I have to go with the Fins at home. Winner = Miami

5) Green Bay vs. Minnesota: There is nothing like an NFC North rivalry game. This game should be close. Winner = Green Bay

6) Buffalo vs. New England: The Pats let one slip away last week. I don't think they will lose two in a row. Winner = New England

7) St. Louis vs. NY Jets: I don't think the Jets are as good as everyone seems to think they are, but I just can't see them losing to the Rams. Winner = NY Jets

8) Baltimore vs. Houston: The Texans are tough at home, but Rosenfels will probably fold under the Ravens' defensive pressure. Winner = Baltimore

9) Carolina vs. Oakland: The Raiders are a joke. Winner = Carolina

10) Indianapolis vs. Pittsburgh: The Steeler defense is just too good. The Colt defense is just too bad. Winner = Pittsburgh

11) Kansas City vs. San Diego: The Chargers haven't looked too good, but I'm taking them at home. Winner = San Diego

12) NY Giants vs. Philadelphia: This is the game of the week. It should be close, but the G-Men will be up for this game. Winner = NY Giants

13) San Francisco vs. Arizona: I just don't see how the 49ers could possibly win this game. Winner = Arizona

NFL Week 10 Predictions (part 1)

2008-11-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

I usually don't do my picks until Thursday night or Friday. But, since this week sees the return of Thursday Night Football I will go ahead and give you my pick for tonight's game. Then, sometime tomorrow I will follow up with my picks for the rest of this weekend's NFL schedule.

1) Denver vs. Cleveland: There are going to be a lot of eyes watching this one. On paper the Broncos seem to have an advantage. Denver brings in the NFL's 3rd rated offense and 29th ranked defense against Cleveland's 28th ranked offense and 25th ranked defense. I'm going with the kid, though. I think Quinn will be more consistent than Anderson and put together some long drives that will help keep Denver's offense off the field. Winner = Cleveland

The Quinn Era Begins

2008-11-03T18:37:00.000-08:00

For better, or worse.......

The Cleveland Browns announced today that Brady Quinn will replace Derek Anderson at the starting quarterback position for the upcoming game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. It's about time!

I'm not sure if Brady Quinn will be any better than Derek Anderson, but giving Quinn some playing time is the only way we'll ever find out. Now let's just hope that Chef (Romeo Crennel) will show the same kind of patience with Quinn that he has shown with Anderson. I say let the kid start the remaining games this season so that we can get an idea of just how good, or bad, he is.

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My Take On The Benching Of Anderson

Unlike Trent Dilfer, I do not think benching Derek Anderson was a bad idea. Dilfer seems to think that benching DA was a "knee jerk" reaction based on "public opinion." I tend to think it was decision that came far too late to save this season for the Browns, but it may have been in time to give the Browns management a fair idea of what they may have for next season.

Trent Dilfer needs to take a hard look at what Derek Anderson has actually accomplished in Cleveland this season (and for his career).

1) Anderson currently ranks 31st out of 35 significantly relevant QBs in the NFL with a QB rating of 68.9. The only QBs that rank below DA in this category are Tyler Thigpen (67.6), Ryan Fitzpatrick (66.6), Brian Griese (64.6), and Matt Hasselback (57.7).

2) Anderson ranks 33rd out of 35 QBs in completion percentage at 49.8 percent. The only two QBs who rank below DA in this category are Matt Hasselback (49.2) and JaMarcus Russell (48.6).

3) In 29 games for the Cleveland Browns, DA now has a career completion percentage of 54.7 with 43 touchdown passes and 34 interceptions. That all adds up to a career QB rating of 76.2.

To put Anderson's career numbers in perspective, I took the liberty of collecting some other former Cleveland Brown QB career statistics.

Kelly Holcomb: In 37 career games, Holcomb has a completion percentage of 63.3 with 39 touchdown passes and 38 interceptions and a QB rating of 79.2.

Charlie Frye: In 22 career games, Frye has a completion percentage of 62.0 with 16 touchdowns and 25 interceptions with a QB rating of 70.4.

Tim Couch: In 62 career games, Couch has a completion percentage of 59.8 with 64 touchdowns and 67 interceptions with a QB rating of 75.1.

Trent Dilfer: In 130 games, Dilfer has a completion percentage of 55.5 with 113 touchdowns and 129 interceptions with a QB rating of 70.2.

The one thing all four of the above quarterbacks have in common is they all SUCK. And if you compare their career statistics with those of Derek Anderson I think everybody will agree they are statistically similar. And yes, the statistics seem to indicate that Trent Dilfer may have been the worst of all five of the QBs mentioned. Trent does have a Super Bowl ring, but I think anybody who knows anything about football will tell you that the Ravens won that Championship in spite of Trent Dilfer, not because of him.

The Cleveland Browns decided to give Brady Quinn a chance to start this week because they need to know just how good (or bad) he really is so that they can begin planning for next season. Derek Anderson is a proven commodity. The Browns already know that Anderson will probably always have a sub 60 percent completion percentage. The Browns already know that Anderson is capable of doing great things on the field, and that he is capable of completely falling apart mentally at the drop of a hat. They already know that he has a rocket arm and that the only consistent thing about his performance is his inconsistency.

The only thing the Browns know about Brady Quinn is how he practices and that they gave up a lot to get him.

I don't know if Quinn is an NFL quarterback, but I do know that he was a four year starter at Notre Dame. And, the kid was phenomenal during his Junior and Senior seasons throwing for over 7,000 yards with a completion percentage of 63.3 with 69 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions during those two seasons.

Derek Anderson played his college ball at Oregon State. During his final two years of college he threw for over 7,500 yards with a completion percentage of 52.7 with 53 touchdowns and 41 interceptions. Anderson's college statistics are remarkably similar to what he has done in the NFL.

I think it is time to find out if Quinn's NFL statistics will be anywhere near what he accomplished in college. Time will tell. Let's just hope that Romeo will show the kid the same kind of patience that he afforded Anderson.

NFL Week 9 Predictions

2008-10-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

OK. I went 9-5 last week and my overall for the season is now 66-50.

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1) NY Jets vs. Buffalo: This should be an exciting game. I'm going with the home team. Winner = Buffalo

2) Detroit vs. Chicago: The Lions are just a bad football team right now. Winner = Chicago

3) Jacksonville vs. Cincinnati: I don't understand how Marvin Lewis still has a job. Winner = Jacksonville

4) Baltimore vs. Cleveland: This game is a tough one for me to call. I think it will be a defensive struggle with several turnovers. Winner = Cleveland

5) Green Bay vs. Tennessee: The Titans didn't impress me last week against the Colts. I'm going out on a limb here and picking the Packers. Winner = Green Bay

6) Arizona vs. St. Louis: The Rams have been playing better football since Jim Haslett took over the helm, but I have to go with Kurt Warner and the Cards. Winner = Arizona

7) Houston vs. Minnesota: My gut tells me this will be an interesting game, but I am going with the home team. Winner = Minnesota

8) Tampa Bay vs. Kansas City: This is a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. Winner = Tampa Bay

9) Miami vs. Denver: The Dolphins have surprised me a couple of times this season. Still, I have to go with the Broncos at home. Winner = Denver

10) Atlanta vs. Oakland: I think the Raiders will keep this one close, but the Falcons should take it. Winner = Atlanta

11) Dallas vs. NY Giants: The Cowboys won't even be competitive in this game with Brad Johnson under center. Winner = NY Giants

12) Philadelphia vs. Seattle: I think the Eagles will destroy the Seahawks. Winner = Philadelphia

13) New England vs. Indianapolis: The Colts' backs are against the wall. If Indy loses this game they will have no chance of making the playoffs. I think Peyton and company will circle the wagons. Winner = Indianapolis

14) Pittsburgh vs. Washington: I could honestly see this game going either way. The Steeler defense impressed me last week, though. Winner = Pittsburgh

NFL Week 8 Predictions

2008-10-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

Man, it doesn't seem like there is any consistency in the NFL this year. Usually by Week 8 you have a pretty good idea who is for real and who is not. I dropped my Power Rankings a few weeks ago because it was starting to seem like there was the Tennessee Titans and then everybody else. I went 7-7 on my predictions again last week and I now sit at 57-45.
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1) Tampa Bay vs. Dallas: No Tony Romo equals no offense for Dallas. Winner = Tampa Bay

2) Washington vs. Detroit: The Redskins have been unpredictable, but the Lions have been very predictable. Winner = Washington

3) Buffalo vs. Miami: I like what Tony Sparano has done in Miami, but I think Buffalo should win this game easily. Winner = Buffalo

4) St. Louis vs. New England: This game actually intrigues me. Both teams have been playing above their heads lately and this could be an interesting game. Winner = New England

5) San Diego vs. New Orleans: Again, we have two teams that have been very unpredictable. My gut tells me to go with the Chargers. Winner = San Diego

6) Kansas City vs. NY Jets: I'm not drinking the Jets' Kool Aid any longer, but I still feel like Brett and the boys are better than the lowly Chiefs. Winner = NY Jets

7) Atlanta vs. Philadelphia: Jeez, again with the unpredictable teams playing each other this week. I'm taking the Eagles at home. Winner = Philadelphia

8) Oakland vs. Baltimore: This could be an interesting game. My gut tells me that the Raven defense is going to make Russell look even worse than he really is. Winner = Baltimore

9) Arizona vs. Carolina: Here we have two more teams that perform like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The difference in this game will probably be the performance of Kurt Warner. I'm taking the Panthers at home. Winner = Carolina

10) Cleveland vs. Jacksonville: The Browns' defense has been impressive in every facet of the game this year except in run defense. The Jaguars like to run the ball and they do it pretty well. Winner = Jacksonville

11) Cincinnati vs. Houston: History tells us that it is pretty difficult to go 0-16 on the season. But, I'm starting to think the Bungles have a real shot at making history. Winner = Houston

12) NY Giants vs. Pittsburgh: The Giants play their best when they can get pressure on the opposing quarterback, and the Steelers offensive line hasn't been very good this season. I'm going against the experts and picking the Giants. Winner = NY Giants

13) Seattle vs. San Francisco: The battle of the underachievers! I'm taking the 49ers at home. Winner = San Francisco

14) Indianapolis vs. Tennessee: The talent level in Indy has dropped off dramatically this year, and the Titans are starting to believe in themselves. The difference in this game will come down to coaching and Tennessee has a humongous advantage in that department. Winner = Tennessee

NFL Week 7 Predictions

2008-10-17T04:24:00.000-07:00

Wow! Week 6 was another rough one for me as I barely broke even with a record of 7-7. That now puts me at a dismal 50-38 on the season.

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1) San Diego vs. Buffalo: It looks like the Chargers have it rolling now. Winner = San Diego

2) Minnesota vs. Chicago: The Bears are at home and I'm betting they are a little ticked off after last week's fiasco against the Falcons. Winner = Chicago

3) Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati: The Bungles will keep stumbling along. Winner = Pittsburgh.

4) Tennessee vs. Kansas City: The Titans should take care of business. Winner = Tennessee

5) Dallas vs. St. Louis: The Rams shocked me last week with their victory over Washington, but I don't think the Rams are good enough to do it two weeks in a row. Winner = Dallas

6) Baltimore vs. Miami: The Dolphins are at home and I think they will find a way to take advantage of Baltimore's inept offense. Winner = Miami

7) San Francisco vs. NY Giants: We saw last week that the G-men have some weaknesses, but they are still too good for the 49ers. Winner = NY Giants

8) New Orleans vs. Carolina: I have decided that the Panthers are pretenders (again). Winner = New Orleans

9) Detroit vs. Houston: Just when I didn't think the Lions couldn't get any worse they went and traded Roy Williams to Dallas. Winner = Houston

10) NY Jets vs. Oakland: This game will probably be closer than what people think, but I can't pick against Brett Favre in this game. Winner = NY Jets

11) Indianapolis vs. Green Bay: I'm not sure what to think of Indy at this point in the season. The Colts looked like they found their fire last week so I am going to ride the momentum wave and pick them again. Winner = Indianapolis

12) Cleveland vs. Washington: I don't think Derek Anderson is capable of playing two good games in a row. Winner = Washington

13) Seattle vs. Tampa Bay: I have underestimated the Bucs all year and I am not going to do it again this week. Winner = Tampa Bay

14) Denver vs. New England: I just think the Broncos have too much on offense for the aging Patriot defense. Winner = Denver

NFL Week 6 Predictions

2008-10-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

43-31 for the season so far. Now for the Week 6 predictions.
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1) Chicago vs. Atlanta: I believe the Bears' defense will be too much for the Falcons offense. Winner = Chicago

2) Baltimore vs. Indianapolis: I think this will be a low scoring game and that favors the Ravens. Winner = Baltimore

3) Detroit vs. Minnesota: I'm not really sure what kind of team Minnesota has, but I am pretty sure they are better than the Lions. Winner = Minnesota

4) Oakland vs. New Orleans: The Raiders are probably going to be fired up for the new coach, but the Saints are a better team and they are at home. Winner = New Orleans

5) Cincinnati vs. NY Jets: The Bengals couldn't even beat the Browns, and Carson Palmer isn't playing again this week. Winner = NY Jets

6) Carolina vs. Tampa Bay: I have underestimated the Bucs all year and I am going to pick against them again this week. Winner = Carolina

7) St. Louis vs. Washington: Jim Zorn and the Redskins have been impressive so far this season. The Rams have not. Winner = Washington

8) Miami vs. Houston: This is a tough one for me to call. I'm going with the home team. Winner = Houston

9) Jacksonville vs. Denver: I think this one is a toss up. Jacksonville is a better team than they have shown this season and I don't think Denver is as good as they appear. I'm going with the home team. Winner = Denver

10) Dallas vs. Arizona: I want to pick the Cardinals, but I just can't. Winner = Dallas

11) Philadelphia vs. San Francisco: The Eagles are really banged up this week. The 49ers aren't very good. Winner = Philadelphia

12) Green Bay vs. Seattle: The Seahawks are not the same team they used to be. Winner = Green Bay

13) New England vs. San Diego: The Chargers aren't a very good team right now, but neither are the Patriots. Winner = San Diego

14) NY Giants vs. Cleveland: The only chance the Browns have is if Derek Anderson gets hurt in warm-ups and is unable to play. Winner = NY Giants

Week 5 Predictions

2008-10-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

I went 8-5 last week, but I strongly feel I would have gone 9-4 if Carson Palmer had played for Cincinnati. I am now 35-25 on the season. Now for my Week 5 Predictions:

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1) Kansas City vs. Carolina: The Chiefs looked much improved last week, but I'm still going with the Panthers. Winner = Carolina

2) Chicago vs. Detroit: Don't look now, but the Bears are starting to look like a contender in the NFC North. Winner = Chicago

3) Atlanta vs. Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers is hurt, but it looks like he should play. Winner = Green Bay

4) San Diego vs. Miami: San Diego should win this game, but don't be surprised if the Dolphins make a game of it coming of their bye. Winner = San Diego

5) Seattle vs. NY Giants: The Seahawks are starting to get healthy, but I look for the G-Men to look refreshed after their bye week. Winner = NY Giants

6) Washington vs. Philadelphia: This game could be a tough one for the Eagles, but I'm taking Philly at home. Winner = Philadelphia

7) Tennessee vs. Baltimore: This will be a smash mouth football game that will tell us a lot about the Titans. Winner = Tennessee

8) Indianapolis vs. Houston: The Colts' offensive line is starting to get healthy. It looks like Ugoh and Pollak will return this week. Winner = Indianapolis

9) Tampa Bay vs. Denver: I lost a lot of confidence in Denver last week. My head tells me to go with the Bucs, but my gut tells me to take the Broncos. Winner = Denver

10) Buffalo vs. Arizona: The Cards are turning the ball over too much for my taste. Winner = Buffalo

11) New England vs. San Fransisco: The Patriots had a week off to think about their embarrassing loss. Winner = New England

12) Cincinnati vs. Dallas: This is a no-brainer. Winner = Dallas

13) Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville: The Steelers are banged up and the Jags are starting to find their mojo. Winner = Jacksonville

14) Minnesota vs. New Orleans: The Vikings aren't a horrible team, but I have to go with the Saints at home. Winner = New Orleans

15) Cleveland Browns: The Browns don't play a game this week, but I have a feeling they will find some way to lose to themselves in practice during their bye week. Their pathetic win last week against a "Carson Palmer-less" Bengals team was probably the worst thing that has happened to the Browns since they signed Derek Anderson to that huge contract. Now it looks like Anderson will hold on to the starting QB job for the foreseeable future. I just don't know how many more 10-25 for 125 yards with 3 interceptions and 1 touchdown games I can stomach.

NFL Week 4 Predictions

2008-09-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

I'm 27-20 on my picks after the first three weeks of the season. Its not too bad, but its not real good either. Let's see if I can improve on my record.
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1) Cleveland vs Cincinnati: The Great American Suck-Off! This is a tough one to call because Derek Anderson is starting but may not finish the game. If Brady Quinn comes in early the Browns may have a chance. Since Romeo is the Browns' coach I am going to guess that Quinn doesn't come in soon enough or maybe not at all. Winner = Cincinnati

2) Minnesota vs Tennessee: I think the Titan defense will be too much for the Vikings. Winner = Tennessee

3) Denver vs Kansas City: The Broncos are gonna score a lot of points and the Chiefs will not. Winner = Denver

4) San Francisco vs New Orleans: I'm going with the Saints even without Shockey. Winner = New Orleans

5) Arizona vs NY Jets: This one has me scratching my head. The Cards may be better than I thought, and the Jets may be worse than I thought. I'm going with the home team. Winner = NY Jets

6) Green Bay vs Tampa Bay: I just think the Packers are a better team. Winner = Green Bay

7) Atlanta vs Carolina: The Panthers should win this one easily. Winner = Carolina

8) Houston vs Jacksonville: The Jags have their swagger back. Winner = Jacksonville

9) San Diego vs Oakland: This won't even be close. Winner = San Diego

10) Buffalo vs St. Louis: The Rams may go 0-16. Winner = Buffalo

11) Washington vs Dallas: I think the Redskins will make a game of this, but Washington just doesn't have enough. Winner = Dallas

12) Philadelphia vs Chicago: The Eagles should blow Chicago off the field. Winner = Philadelphia

13) Baltimore vs Pittsburgh: Big Ben will have a long day without Willie Parker, but in the end I think the Steelers will pull out a low scoring affair. Winner = Pittsburgh

9/25/08: My Power Rankings

2008-09-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

1) Dallas Cowboys: They're winning, but I'm still a little suspicious of their defense.

2) NY Giants: Everybody is entitled to a bad game every once in awhile. Luckily for the G-Men they were playing against the Bungles.

3) Philadelphia Eagles: Philly beat a pretty good Steeler team and played the Cowboys very tough in Dallas.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers: I know they lost last weekend, but perhaps Philly is just that good.

5) Tennessee Titans: We won't find out what they really have until Week 8 when they play the Colts. But, the Titans definitely look better with Collins under center.

6) Denver Broncos: They can score some points.

7) Buffalo Bills: Narrowly escaping with a win against the Raiders didn't impress me much.

8) Green Bay Packers: They lost to Dallas, but they still look like a playoff team to me.

9) San Diego Chargers: Could it be?

10) Indianapolis Colts: Poor officiating cost the Colts the game against Jacksonville, otherwise they would be 2-1 right now heading in to their Bye Week.

The Cleveland Clowns

2008-09-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Did anybody else read the great AP story about the Browns/Ravens game? The first sentence of the story actually made me laugh out loud, "The Baltimore Ravens were struggling to score, and then Derek Anderson came to the rescue.
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How much longer is Romeo Crennel going to stick with Anderson? After 3 games, Derek Anderson's stat line for the season reads like this:

43 completions in 93 attempts with 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Oh yeah, it also reads that he has zero wins and three losses.
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DA now has a whopping 46% completion percentage through three games and he looks absolutely putrid on the field. The NFL's QB ratings after week 3 haven't come out yet, but I think it is safe to say that Anderson will rank near the bottom in every significant category once they do. Say what you want about Charlie Frye, but even Charlie completed over 62% of his passes in the 21 games he played for the Browns.

And don't give me any of that crap about the Browns facing tough defenses in their first three games. Matt Schaub completed 25-33 for 202 yards against the Steelers in Week 1 and Donovan McNabb completed 24-35 for 196 yards against Pittsburgh in Week 3. Donovan McNabb also went 25-37 for 281 yards against Dallas in Week 2. As I am writing this I'm watching Aaron Rodgers put up some decent numbers against Dallas in the Sunday night game. Sure, the Packers are losing, but Rodgers is currently 10-17 for 153 yards.

Anderson has now played in 24 games for the Browns and sits at a career completion percentage of a measly 55%. And, the argument can be made that Anderson has had a much better receiving corps (and team) to work with than Charlie ever had.
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I think it is time we get to see what Brady Quinn can do. Lord knows he can't possibly do any worse than what Derek Anderson has done so far this season. Of course, Quinn seeing any real playing time would mean that Romeo Crennel would have to make an actual coaching decision. And, based on Romeo's "decision making" over the past couple of season's I'm guessing that we probably won't be seeing Brady Quinn until it is entirely too late.

Forget about Derek Anderson, maybe somebody needs to fire Romeo Crennel. I don't know about you, but I am getting sick and tired of the Cleveland Clowns.
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UPDATE

I've gotten two emails this morning from Cleveland fans trying to tell me that DA is struggling because his receivers are dropping passes that they should be catching. Are you FU$@ING kidding me?

The reason the receivers aren't making an extreme effort to catch the ball this season is because they are scared to death that they are going to get their heads taken off when they try to make the circus catches that are required to catch a pass from Derek Anderson. The receivers made those types of catches last year, but I am guessing they are starting to get a little tired of Anderson throwing them balls that leave them totally exposed over the middle with Ray Lewis running at them with a full head of steam. That pass to Winslow yesterday was a prime example of what I am talking about. Anderson should have thrown that ball low and slightly behind Winslow so that K2 had to go to the ground to catch it. That way Winslow wouldn't have been de-cleated by a 250 pound freight train. How much longer do you honestly think Winslow is going to keep trying to catch those balls before he just shuts it down like Edwards?

Give me a break, people. Anderson is the same QB he has always been. He's not getting worse. He has always been this bad. He will continue to be this bad as long as Romeo keeps playing him. Its time for a change, for better or worse.

NFL Week 3 Predictions

2008-09-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

I don't think there is any way I can do worse than I did last week, so here goes.
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1) Kansas City vs. Atlanta: This is a tough one to call. Winner = Atlanta

2) Oakland vs. Buffalo: I think the Bills should win this one fairly easily. Winner = Buffalo

3) Tampa Bay vs. Chicago: The Bears have surprised me with their toughness so far this season. Winner = Chicago

4) Houston vs. Tennessee: Anything can happen in the AFC South, but I think the Titans have too much for the Texans. Winner = Tennessee

5) Carolina vs. Minnesota: The Vikings have played hard nosed football in their first two games but I don't think the upgrade at QB will be enough to help them against the Panthers. Winner = Carolina

6) Miami vs. New England: No contest. Winner = New England

7) Cincinnati vs. NY Giants: That sound you hear off in the distance is the moving truck pulling up in front of Marvin Lewis' house. Winner = NY Giants

8) Arizona vs. Washington: My head is telling me to go with the Redskins, but my gut tells me the Cards are gonna take it. Winner = Arizona

9) Detroit vs. San Francisco: This one is a toss up. I'm going with the home team. Winner = San Francisco

10) St. Louis vs. Seattle: Another tough one to call. Winner = Seattle

11) New Orleans vs. Denver: My crystal ball tells me the Broncos are going to score a lot of points. Winner = Denver

12) Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia: Another tough one to call. When I think it is close, I always go with the home team. Winner = Philadelphia

13) Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis: The better defense wins the game between two teams struggling with injuries on offense. Winner = Jacksonville

14) Cleveland vs. Baltimore: The last I checked Derek Anderson was still listed as the starting QB for Cleveland. Winner = Baltimore

15) Dallas vs. Green Bay: The game of the week as far as I'm concerned. I'm going out on a limb. Winner = Green Bay

16) NY Jets vs San Diego: I think the Jets will make a game of this, but the Chargers are going to play pissed off after last week's debacle. Winner = San Diego

Kornheiser Comment On MNF

2008-09-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

Did Tony Kornheiser step over the line on MNF with his not so funny comment about our friends south of the border? Check out what he said here.

I must admit that I totally missed the comment during the broadcast. I didn't miss the comment because I wasn't paying attention. I missed it because I had the TV on mute. I have been muting all the MNF games since Tony was added to the cast. I can't stand the guy and I don't think he is funny at all. I want to watch the football games and not be bothered by some idiot who knows nothing about the game jabbering away non-stop about worthless crap that I care nothing about.

Week 2 Wrap Up & Power Rankings

2008-09-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! I am now officially in last place in our "pick 'em" tournament. This week was just awful for me. I was embarrassed when I went 9-7 in Week 1, but I actually went sub .500 for Week 2. Ouch!!
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Before I get to my power rankings I have a few random thoughts I would like to share.

1) I am so glad I'm not a San Diego Charger fan. Talk about getting screwed by the referees. Not only did the call probably cost the Chargers the game, it also put them 2 games behind Denver in the AFC West standings. And, it may have cost them any chance they had at a home playoff game this season. But, at least Ed was a big enough man to admit he made a mistake. I know that doesn't make up for the call, but I honestly can't remember the last time a referee screwed up this bad and admitted he was wrong.

2) The Colts offensive line looks absolutely pathetic. All the "so called experts" have been blaming Peyton Manning for the Colts offensive struggles, but the problem is clearly with the offensive line. Peyton simply doesn't have the time he needs to make the throws. The fact that the Colts rank dead last in the NFL in rushing offense should be a clue that the offensive line is to blame for the offensive problems. Manning is actually performing remarkably well compared to the rest of the Indianapolis offense. Have I mentioned lately that I think Ryan Diem is the worst offensive tackle in football?

3) Romeo Crennel is his own worst enemy. I know the Browns have all kinds of injuries on offense and defense. I know the Browns have faced arguably the two best teams in the NFL to start the season. But, Romeo's continued clock mismanagement and ridiculous decision making has me completely baffled. I can't help but wonder what a "good" coach might be able to accomplish with all that talent up in Cleveland.

4) Speaking of the Browns, how much longer is Romeo going to stick with Derek Anderson? Sure, DA shows flashes of competence now and then. But, his continued inconsistency, inaccuracy, and poor decision making is driving me freaking nuts! Brady Quinn might not be any better, but we'll never know for sure if he doesn't get to see any playing time.

5) 21 carries for 164 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. I told you before the season started that Darren McFadden was a guy to watch.
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Week 2 Power Rankings

1) NY Giants: They are playing like the defending Super Bowl Champs.

2) Dallas Cowboys: The offense looks good, but the defense looks a little shaky.

3) Green Bay Packers: I know they've only beat the Vikings and the Lions, but they looked damn good doing it.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers: Ho Hum, the Steelers keep rolling along. Their win over the Browns wasn't impressive, but the weather has a way of leveling the playing field.

5) Denver Broncos: They probably didn't deserve to beat the Chargers, but they did. And that's all that matters in the end.

6) Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan is back, but the defense is going to have to do better.

7) New England Patriots: Brady Schmady! It is certainly starting to look like even Jim Sorgi could step in and run that offense efficiently. A good defense probably has something to do with it too.

8) Buffalo Bills: On paper, their two wins over Seattle and Jacksonville look pretty good. But, I can't help wondering if maybe they just didn't catch the 'Hawks and the Jags at the right time.

9) Carolina Panthers: They're 2-0, but I'm still not convinced they are a contender. I thought they should have beaten the Bears a little more convincingly.

10) Tennessee Titans: The defense is tough and they recently upgraded at the quarterback position.

NFL Week 2 Predictions

2008-09-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't do too well with my predictions for Week 1. I went 9-7 last week and I hope I didn't cause anybody to lose any money because of my apparent ignorance. Let's see if I can do better this week.
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Tennessee vs. Cincinnati: I think the Bengals will play better this week but I really like the Titan defense. Kerry Collins will be playing for an injured Vince Young which may actually help the Titan offense as well. Winner = Titans

Green Bay vs. Detroit: I look for Aaron Rodgers to have a huge game. The Lions defense looked awfully bad against Atlanta. Winner = Green Bay

Oakland vs. Kansas City: This is a tough one for me to call. Oakland isn't a very good football team, but KC is playing without Brodie Croyle. I think Damon Huard has enough to win this game for KC. Winner = Kansas City

NY Giants vs. St. Louis: Not even a contest. Winner = NY Giants

Indianapolis vs. Minnesota: It pains me to say this, but I think the Colts defense isn't good enough to win this game. Winner = Minnesota

New Orleans vs. Washington: I think this is a close game because of the Redskin defense and Colston being out for New Orleans. Ultimately, I think Washington doesn't have enough on offense. Winner = New Orleans

Chicago vs. Carolina: Chicago looked good against the Colts, but Carolina looked good against San Diego. Winner = Carolina

Buffalo vs. Jacksonville: The game is in Jacksonville and I don't think the Jag offense will have two bad games in a row. Winner = Jacksonville

San Francisco vs. Seattle: The Seahawks are a better team than they showed in Week 1. The 49ers are not. Winner = Seattle

Atlanta vs Tampa Bay: If Jeff Garcia was playing I would feel better about the Bucs chances. But, Gruden says Brian Griese will start so I am going with the Falcons in a low scoring game. Winner = Atlanta

New England vs. NY Jets: This another tough one for me to call. I figure Mangini has a game plan for the Pats, but I think the Pats defense will get a few turnovers from Favre. I'm going with the Jets because they are at home. Winner = NY Jets

Miami vs Arizona: This is another tough one to call. Miami isn't as bad as people think. I'm going out on a limb here and picking the Dolphins only because I think they will get pressure on Warner and we all know that Kurt plays poorly if he gets pressured. Winner = Miami

San Diego vs Denver: The Chargers are banged up on both sides of the ball and I'm just not sure the San Diego defense is good enough without Merriman. I'll probably miss this one but I am going with Denver at home. Winner = Denver

Baltimore vs. Houston: I look for Matt Schaub to have a long day. This one will be low scoring just like the Ravens like it. Winner = Ravens

Piitsburgh vs. Cleveland: I look for Derek Anderson to turn in another pitiful performance. Willie Parker will have a huge day and the Steelers win this one without breaking a sweat. Winner = Pittsburgh

Philadelphia vs. Dallas: The Cowboys are not the Rams. Winner = Dallas

My Week 1 NFL Power Rankings

2008-09-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

I know it is ridiculous to put up power rankings after one week, but its my blog and I will do it anyway. I'm sure it will change dramatically next week.

1) Dallas Cowboys: They looked good against Cleveland and I can't wait to see how they do against Philadelphia next week and then Green Bay the week after.

2) Pittsburgh Steelers: I know they only played the Texans, but it was still impressive.

3) New York Giants: Hey, they're the defending Super Bowl Champs. I look for the Giants to easily walk through their next 6 games.

4) Green Bay Packers: The Vikings played them tough but the Packers held serve.

5) Carolina Panthers: They went into San Diego and beat the Chargers. That has to be worth something.

6) San Diego Chargers: The Chargers were playing hurt and still almost won the game. I look for San Diego to get better as the season progresses and they start getting healthy.

7) Philadelphia Eagles: I know they were playing the Rams, but Donovan looked like Donovan again. If McNabb returns to Pro Bowl form the Eagles will be a contender.

8) New England Patriots: I know Tom Brady is lost for the season, but Matt Cassell didn't look that bad. The Pats have enough talent without Brady to win 10 games this season.

9) New York Jets: Their next 2 games are against the Patriots and then the Chargers. I guess we'll find out soon enough just how good they are with Brett Favre under center.

10) Buffalo Bills: They destroyed the Seahawks so I felt obligated to put them in my top ten. Next week's game against Jacksonville won't be so easy.

Week 1 Predictions

2008-09-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

I joined a "pick 'em" contest this season and I thought it would be fun to share my picks on the blog. We're just picking winners and we are not worrying about point spreads. So, here it goes.

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Giants vs. Redskins: I know this game has already been played so you'll just have to trust me. I picked the Giants before the game was played. Winner = Giants.

Lions vs. Falcons: The Falcons are still a mess. Winner = Lions.

Seahawks vs. Bills: I like the Bills, but I think the Seahawks are a better team.
Winner = Seahawks.

Jaguars vs. Titans: This will probably be a close game. In the end, I think Vince Young will find some way to screw this up for the Titans. Winner = Jaguars.

Jets vs. Dolphins: I think the Dolphins will show improvement this year, but I think the Jets will show more. Winner = Jets.

Chiefs vs. Patriots: This is no contest. Winner = Patriots.

Bucs vs. Saints: I think the Saints will improve from last year, but I'm on the Bucs bandwagon. Winner = Bucs.

Rams vs. Eagles: My money is on the Eagles. Winner = Eagles.

Texans vs. Steelers: The Texans may make a game of this, but the game is in Pittsburgh. Winner = Steelers.

Bengals vs. Ravens: The Bengals should win this one but I think it will be a close game. Winner = Bengals.

Panthers vs. Chargers: i think the Panthers will be tough to beat this year. But even with all the injuries the Chargers are still a better team. Winner = Chargers.

Cardinals vs. 49ers: The 49ers suck worse. Winner = Cardinals.

Cowboys vs. Browns: Derek Anderson will probably throw 3 or 4 interceptions. The Cowboys take this one in a blowout. Winner = Cowboys.

Bears vs. Colts: This one will be closer than people think. The Colts' offensive line is a mess and Manning will look rusty. Winner = Colts.

Vikings vs. Packers: Tarvaris Jackson will stink up Lambeau Field and the Packer defense will hold Peterson to around 100 yards. Winner = Packers.

Broncos vs Raiders: I think we are going to learn a lot about the 2008 version of the Oakland Raiders in this game. I still haven't seen anything from JaMarcus Russell to make me think he is an NFL quarterback. But, Darren McFadden may take some pressure off of Russell this year. The Raiders should show some improvement this season, but this is the first game of the season. Winner = Broncos.

Early NFL Predictions

2008-08-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, its been over a month since I last posted here. My apologies. It just seems like I don't have any free time anymore. Both of my kids are now playing organized sports and I also recently agreed to volunteer what little free time I have left with one of our local non-profit agencies that works with local kids. I'd like to say I will start posting more once football season kicks in, but I can't make any promises. :(

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Now for my 2008 NFL Predictions. I'm not going to cover every team here, but I will give you some of my thoughts on a few teams and some players. I will also give you my playoff predictions.

COLTS in 2008: I'm a Colts fan so obviously the Colts are going to get the most discussion. I think the Colts should win the AFC South again this year. But, the Jaguars and Titans are rapidly catching up with the Colts and should push Indianapolis all the way to the finish line this year. The biggest problem for the Colts is their depth. If they suffer any key injuries at the wrong positions they could be in a lot of trouble.

The Colts Keys to Success:
1) Peyton Manning has to stay healthy. If the Colts have to hand the offense over to Jim
Sorgi this team won't even win half their games. Sorgi sucks and everybody seems to
know it except the Colts coaching staff.
2) Marvin Harrison. The Colts offense is much more effective with Marvin on the field regardless of whether he is catching any passes.
3) Tony Ugoh has to be able to pass protect one on one. Tony got better as the season wore on last year, but the Colt offense is heavily dependent on a left tackle that can hold his
own (no pun intended).
4) The rest of the offensive line. I think the Colt offensive line has been extremely overrated for the last several years. But, having Peyton Manning under center can make almost
any O-line look good. I am especially worried this year about the Colt's right offensive side. Ryan Diem (LT) and Charlie Johnson (RG) are both below average pass blockers. If these guys can show even modest improvement from last year the Colts offense should look a lot better this year. Any serious injuries on the O-line could spell trouble.
5) The development of Jacob Tamme as an effective second tight end. Tamme is a better pass receiver than Ben Utecht, but the question remains as to whether Tamme is anywhere close to being as effective a blocker as Utecht. If Tamme can block, the Colts offense will really open up.
6) Dwight Freeney. If Dwight comes back healthy he will make everyone around him better. Without a healthy Dwight Freeney, the Colts have zero pass rush. Without a pass rush, the Colts favored Cover-2 is pretty much worthless.
7) The linebackers. If the Colts linebackers can stay healthy for the whole season the defense should be stout. If they suffer injuries here they could be in a lot of trouble.
8) Bob Sanders needs to stay healthy and be Bob Sanders. 'Nuff said.

I think the Colts should finish the season 11-5 and win the AFC South.
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The Rest Of The NFL

AFC East: The Patriots easily win the AFC East again and have a very good chance of going 16-0 with a very easy schedule. I think the Jets will improve greatly from last year and finish second in the AFC East. The Bills should finish third with the Dolphins sucking again and finishing last.
AFC North: The AFC North teams have a brutal schedule this year. I think the winner of this Division should be Cleveland or Pittsburgh. My guess is a record of 8-8 will probably win it. Cincinnati should finish third with Baltimore staying in the cellar.
AFC West: The Chargers should win the West. I could easily see San Diego winning 13 games. Denver should finish second followed by Kansas City and then Oakland.
AFC South: The Colts should win 11 games and win the Division. I think Jacksonville wins 10 and Tennessee wins 9. Houston will finish last with a record of 7-9 or 8-8.
NFC East: The Cowboys should go 12-4 and win the Division. The Giants will be right on their heels with a record of 10-6. The Eagles will be somewhere around .500 to finish third and the Redskins will struggle and be lucky to win 7 games.
NFC North: Everybody will forget about Brett Favre as the Packers win the Division and go 13-3 to take the North. The rest of the Division is a toss-up, unless the Vikings finally decide to give up on Tarvaris Jackson. If Minnesota gets a quarterback they could finish second and challenge for a Wild Card spot. Otherwise, the Vikes will join the Lions and
the Bears with records below .500.
NFC West: The Seahawks win the West with 10 wins. The Cardinals finish second with 8 wins
for the second straight year and the Rams improve to finish third. The 49ers struggles will continue.
NFC South: I see Carolina rebounding and taking the South with a record of 11-5. Tampa finishes second followed by New Orleans and Atlanta.

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NFL Playoff Predictions:

AFC East Winner: New England Patriots (15-1)
AFC North Winner: Cleveland Browns (8-8)
AFC West Winner: San Diego Chargers (13-3)
AFC South Winner: Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
AFC Wild Cards: Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6) and New York Jets (10-6)
AFC Wild Card Sleeper: Tennessee Titans -- The Titans are a good football team that plays in a tough Division. If they get a few breaks along the way they could easily earn a Wild Card spot.

NFC East Winner: Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
NFC North Winner: Green Bay Packers (13-3)
NFC West Winner: Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
NFC South Winner: Carolina Panthers (11-5)
NFC Wild Cards: New York Giants (10-6) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
NFC Wild Card Sleeper: Minnesota Vikings -- The Vikings have put together a pretty good team. If their quarterback situation shows even a hint of improvement they could sneak into a Wild Card slot.

Super Bowl: New England 31 Dallas 21

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Things To Watch This Season:

1) The quarterback controversy in Cleveland. The Browns play a brutal schedule and I think Derek Anderson will struggle. DA takes a lot of chances, especially when the Browns are behind, and I think he will throw a lot of interceptions this year. Look for Brady Quinn to get his chance by Week 6. I predict that once Quinn gets his chance he won't be second string again. Anderson's trade value will drop significantly after he loses his starting role and the Browns will be facing some tough decisions.
2) Tom Brady may throw more touchdown passes this year than he did last year. Go look at the Patriots' schedule and you'll see why I am saying this.
3) The Bengals will implode and Marvin Lewis will be fired. Cincinnati has a rough schedule and Carson Palmer will struggle to stay on his feet. Chad Johnson will again open his mouth too much and the franchise will crumble around him. Same old story.
4) Brett Favre will get more credit than he deserves for the Jets miraculous turnaround and then New York will get hammered in their first playoff game with Favre throwing 4 interceptions.
5) I believe David Garrard will turn in another outstanding year in Jacksonville. I love watching this guy play football. If the Jags are on TV you owe it to yourself to tune in and watch. Garrard is a complete quarterback.
6) Darren McFadden in Oakland should put up some decent numbers. The Raiders' offensive line is a mess and I haven't seen anything from JaMarcus Russell to convince me he is an NFL caliber quarterback. So, I figure Lane Kiffin is going to ride the best offensive player he has on the team and that guy is named Darren McFadden.
7) The New York Giants. The G-men got hot at the right time last season and rode their wave to the Super Bowl title. Can they carry their momentum over to this season?
8) Can the San Diego Chargers win the games that truly matter? The Chargers may be the best team in the NFL, but they won't get any respect until they prove it. Injuries diminished their chances in the playoffs last year and it looks like Antonio Gates may still be suffering ill effects from his toe injury. The San Diego offense needs Gates in order to make a serious run.
9) The Chicago Bears' quarterback situation. The Bears have a great defense and a spectacular return game. They would be a legitimate contender if they had a quarterback who could throw the ball to the right team. I think Kyle Orton will probably win the starting job for Week 1, but I'm not sure he is any better than Rex Grossman. The Bears need to give up on Rex and Kyle and look for a veteran who won't turn the ball over.

Its About Time!!!!

2008-07-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Miami Herald is reporting that Billy Packer has been FIRED!!!!!!

Its going to be so weird watching a basketball game on CBS without having to use the mute button. The firing of Billy Packer was looooooooonnnnnnngggggg overdue if you ask me!!! Packer might have been one of the worst game analysts I have ever seen. The guy was such a "homer" for the ACC it wasn't even funny. He was constantly screwing up players names, criticizing players from non ACC schools, and running his mouth incessantly about trivial things. If he was only half as smart as he obviously thought he was he would still be employed.

Hey Billy, do you still think Larry Bird isn't good enough to carry Phil Ford's gym bag?

This Just In......

2008-07-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Reds suck (again).

I guess that really isn't news, huh?
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Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker had a "one on one" meeting with team owner Bob Castellini after Wednesday night's embarrassing loss to the Pirates. There is no word yet as to what was discussed in that meeting, but Dusty's job is said to still be safe (darn). The Reds currently have a record of 39-47 and sit firmly in last place of the NL Central, 12.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs.

Those of you that follow MLB probably know that Dusty used to be the manager of the Cubs. Baker's last season with Chicago was 2006, when the Cubs finished the season in last place of the NL Central with a record of 66-96. Lou Piniella replaced Dusty as the manager of the Cubs in 2007 and led the club to a first place finish in the Central with a record of 85-77. Lou is still the manager in Chicago and the Cubs are again in first place of the NL Central with a record of 51-34 this season. Coincidence???

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It was announced yesterday that Cincinnati Reds SS Alex Gonzalez will undergo season ending knee surgery on Monday.

Danica Is A "Menace!"

2008-06-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

You know I am really bored when I do a post on bicycle racing and IRL in the same day.

ESPN did a story today where they quoted former IRL champion and current IRL points leader Scott Dixon as saying that Danica Patrick "is a menace." The story also went on to say that several other drivers have privately expressed concern over Danica's blocking tactics and inconsistent lines on the track. These unnamed drivers also apparently expressed the belief that Danica gets special treatment from the IRL officials during races. The drivers feel the IRL is often slow in blue flagging Danica (telling her to move over and let faster cars pass) because they believe the League officials want to give Danica every chance possible to stay in contention. The feeling is that other drivers get the blue flag much quicker when they use the same kind of dangerous tactics that Danica is rapidly becoming famous (or infamous) for making.

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First off, I'd like to say that I don't watch a whole lot of IRL racing. But, I do feel that I have watched enough of it to form an opinion of Danica and her racing abilities. And I have to honestly say that I do not have very much respect for her as a driver, or as a person for that matter. In case you haven't noticed, nothing is ever her fault. There is no doubt in my mind that she is capable of driving her car very fast. But, she does appear to be pretty reckless at times. There is a difference between being a good driver and being a fast driver. Danica is fast, but she isn't very good. Open wheel racing is about more than just speed. The drivers have to trust each other and know that the idiot beside them is competent enough behind the wheel not to send them both into the wall at 200 mph. That trust has to be earned, and so far I don't think Danica has earned anybody's trust. I'm starting to think that she will never earn it.

You could make the argument that the other drivers in IRL just don't like Danica because they feel she gets more attention than the rest of them get. But if you actually watch the races you will see that there is a lot of truth in what the other drivers are saying about her driving. She consistently drives her car into the corners too fast and drifts up the track. She constantly pulls down on the track to block faster cars that are attempting to pass. You very seldom ever see the IRL officials wave the blue flag at her when she does that manoeuvre. And I don't think I have ever watched an IRL race where Danica ran any kind of a consistent line around the track. But I can hardly blame the League for trying to give her a competitive advantage. Let's face it, Danica is the best thing the IRL has going. Is there anybody out there that really thinks the IRL and CART merged for any other reason than both racing leagues were slowly dying? Having an attractive young female driver is good for business. And its even better for business if she just happens to win a race or two along the way.

I think the other drivers in the IRL are just going to have to get used to racing with Danica, whether they like it or not. She's not going anywhere anytime soon. I have to laugh every time I hear somebody say that Danica will soon be making the jump to NASCAR. All you have to do is look at the limited success that other former IRL drivers are having in NASCAR to see that there is no place for Danica on the "big boys" circuit. If guys like Montoya, Hornish, and Franchitti can't win in NASCAR there is no way that Danica could even come close.

No NASCAR owner in his/her right mind would offer Danica a ride because they know she is nothing more than a novelty that sells tickets. NASCAR doesn't need the novelty of having a female driver to sell tickets, but the IRL certainly does need all the help they can get to sell tickets. So, the IRL is where Danica will stay (at least until she kills somebody with her erratic driving).

Landis Finds Out On Monday

2008-06-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

Floyd Landis will find out just how far the conspiracy against him goes on Monday, June 30th. That is when the Court of Arbitration for Sport will announce their decision regarding Floyd's appeal hearing that was held back in March. The Arbitration Panel apparently heard 35 hours of testimony from 24 different witnesses during the hearing.
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I honestly don't know if Floyd Landis is guilty or innocent. But, I do know the French lab (LNDD) that performed the tests on Floyd's samples appears to be completely incompetent. Failure to follow accepted procedures and huge gaps of time in chain of custody appear to be the norm for LNDD. I guarantee you that if this was a criminal trial being conducted in the American legal system all of the evidence that was processed at LNDD would have already been thrown out of court. From what I have read, LNDD broke virtually every rule and regulation regarding drug testing on an international level when they handled Floyd's samples for the Tour de Farce.

Whether Floyd is found guilty or innocent, I hope the arbitration panel finds some way to make mention of the phenomenal ineptitude that was exhibited by the French laboratory (LNDD) who conducted the testing. The Lab's blatant disregard for chain of custody requirements alone should have voided any testing results in this case. What is the point of having certified labs if the labs don't follow any of the rules required for certification? In my opinion, LNDD should be publicly reprimanded and monetarily fined for their misconduct. If the panel does rule in Floyd's favor, then I think it would only be fair for LNDD to pay for ALL of Floyd's legal expenses to date.

The Tour de Farce is (and always will be) a complete joke.

Sean Woods Named Head Coach

2008-06-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

The unforgettable Sean Woods was named Head Basketball Coach at Mississippi Valley State yesterday. Sean had previously spent one year as an assistant at Texas A & M Corpus Christi and then two years as an assistant at TCU.

Congratulations to Sean. I'm sure he will do just fine.

Its good to see the "Unforgettables" doing so well. John Pelphrey is now the Head Basketball Coach at Arkansas, Richie Farmer is the current Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Deron Feldhaus is the Co-Owner/Golf Professional at Kenton Station Golf Course in Maysville, KY.

If I Were Bob Castellini

2008-06-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

Well Reds fans, here we are 78 games into the season and the Cincinnati Reds are in last place (again). I have to admit that I didn't see this coming. I honestly thought the Reds had done enough in the off season to be a legitimate contender in the NL Central. But, I'm now convinced that the Reds are now playing for next season.

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So, where did the Reds go wrong?
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I think the Reds first mistake was replacing Pete Mackanin with Dusty Baker. I'm not sure why Castellini decided to get rid of Mackanin, but Dusty has obviously been a failure. I predicted Dusty would be a failure in Cincinnati right after the Reds hired him. Unfortunately it looks like I was right. In my opinion Mackanin earned the right to manage the team this year. From what I've read, Pete might have lost his job because he had some personality conflicts with some people in the Reds front office. I guess that is reasonable, but if I was Bob Castellini I would have given Mackanin one more year. Pete did an amazing job last year with a very fragile pitching staff. And if you are gonna get rid of Mackanin, at least look for a guy who has a decent reputation of handling a pitching staff.

Which brings us to Castellini's second mistake. Getting rid of Wayne Krivsky as the General Manager in favor of Walt Jocketty doesn't make any sense to me. Wayne may have made some mistakes in his tenure with the Reds (hiring Dusty Baker), but he hit some real home runs as well. Let's not forget that Krivsky is the guy that brought in Brandon Phillips, Alex Gonzalez, Jerry Hairston JR, Scott Hatteberg, Jared Burton, Francisco Cordero, Josh Hamilton, Jeff Keppinger, and Edinson Volquez. Not too shabby if you ask me. If I were Bob Castellini, I would have given Wayne at least one more year. Four GMs in six years is never a good thing. I'm just hoping that Jocketty doesn't give away Cincinnati's farm system like he did in St. Louis.

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So, where do the Reds go from here?
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First off, I think it is time to start shopping Ken Griffey JR. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Griffey fan. But, you have to ask yourself, "What has Griffey done for the Reds lately?" Ken is definitely starting to slow down in the field and at the plate. Even in a best case scenario the guy only has a few semi productive seasons left on his engine. I say it is time to put Jay Bruce in right field on an everyday basis and see what we can get for Griffey. Ultimately, I just think there is a better way to spend the $8 million per season that Castellini is currently paying Junior.

Next, I would get rid of Corey Patterson. I never understood signing this guy in the first place. And at $3 million dollars? Corey started off kind of hot at the plate this season, but then he came back down to reality. I do not understand why Dusty keeps putting this guy in the lineup. I would take Norris Hopper or Ryan Freel over this guy in a heartbeat. Give me a break.

Next up, I'd start shopping Bronson Arroyo. From what I've been reading, there might be some interest out there. Bronson started out great in Cincinnati, but he has steadily declined since he has been here. The guy has good stuff and every once in awhile he turns in a fantastic outing, but those starts seem to be getting farther and farther apart. I'm not sure if it is mental or physical, but I'm done with the guy. Trade him and get what you can. Surely somebody will want a guy who can give you mega innings of work.

Next, I'd test the market for Alex Gonzalez. I wouldn't be upset if the Reds end up keeping Alex, but I think $4.6 million might be a little too much to pay for the guy. Especially when you think about how well his replacements have done this year while Alex was on the DL. Keppinger may not be a long term replacement for Gonzalez at SS, but Jeff has given the Reds more this year than Alex did all of last year. And Keppinger has done it at a fraction of the cost. Keppinger only makes around $400,000 per year.

Next, I'd do my best to re sign Adam Dunn. I know a lot of people think Dunn is overrated, but Adam is the only consistent big bat the Reds currently have on the roster. Say what you want to about him, but his last 4 years look like this: 46 HR 102 RBI, 40 HR 101 RBI, 40 HR 92 RBI, and 40 HR 106 RBI. I just don't think it will be too easy to replace those kinds of numbers. He may be a bit of a liability in the outfield, but the guy is still under 30 years old and has a lot of baseball left in him. I can live with his lumbering around in the field as long as he consistently gives me 40 HR a year at the plate.

Next, I would do everything in my power to keep Brandon Phillips on the team. This guy is one of the top two or three second baseman at the plate in baseball. And, I think he is the best fielding second baseman in all of baseball. Brandon is the type of player that you build a team around. So, start building. If Jockety gets rid of Phillips I swear I will switch my 30 odd years of fan allegiance over to the Cleveland Indians or Chicago Cubs. I'm not just saying that.

Along with Brandon Phillips, I would also try my best to keep Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, and Jerry Hairston JR. I know it is still early in the careers of Votto and Bruce, but I just have a good feeling about them. I think Bruce will develop into a consistent .300 and 25 HR guy if he gets to play everyday. Votto has been solid at first base and looks to probably be a .280, 25 HR guy. I think Hairston has been playing above his head this season, but I think he is the Reds best option in center field and in the lead-off position. Jerry has brought an energy with him to Cincinnati that nobody else seems to have. But, we all need to remember that Jerry has been around the Majors for 10 years and has never been much more than a backup. That's why I keep Hopper and Freel on the roster just in case.

I've gone back and forth on Edwin Encarnacion since he has been with the Reds. His inconsistency has absolutely driven me nuts. But, I still lean toward keeping him. He is decent in the field and he seems to have a knack for getting the big hit when the Reds need it. Plus, he is another of those low salary guys ($450,000 per year). I just don't see how the Reds could upgrade at 3rd base without spending a fortune.

Besides the pitching staff, I think the catcher position might be where the Reds need the most improvement. David Ross is a fine defensive catcher, but I don't think Ross will ever be more than a .250 hitter at the plate. Paul Bako has been in the Bigs for 10 years and has never been anything more than a backup. And although Javier Valentin has shown some improvement at the plate over the last few years, he may be the worst defensive catcher I have ever seen. Nope, I think it is time to start looking for a new catcher. Preferably a switch or right handed hitting guy. Cincinnati already has too many left handed bats in the lineup.

And now to the pitching staff.

I honestly think Wayne Krivsky did a fairly decent job putting together the bullpen over the last 2 years. He didn't have a lot of money to spend, but he still managed to make some decent upgrades. Wayne is pretty much responsible for every relief pitcher the Reds currently have on the roster. I could be wrong, but I think Weathers and Mercker are the only 2 guys currently in the bullpen that Wayne didn't bring to Cincy. I know the bullpen isn't fantastic from top to bottom, but its certainly better than what Krivsky inherited when he took over from Jim Bowden. I feel pretty good about Cordero, Weathers, Burton, and Bray.

I'm not sure what to think about the Reds starting rotation. The only guys I feel pretty good about are Harang and Volquez. And I think it is still too early to determine if this season has just been some kind of an anomaly for Volquez, or if this is what we can expect to see from him next season as well. This is Edinson's 4th year in the Bigs and he has never put up numbers anywhere close to what he is doing for the Reds this season. Harang's numbers have slipped this year, but he is still a horse. He is giving the Reds his best effort game in and game out, but for some reason the Reds simply can't score any runs when Aaron is on the mound.

I think Harang, Volquez, and Cueto will probably be in the rotation next season. If the Reds don't come to their senses and get rid of Arroyo, he too will probably make the rotation. So then the question becomes, "Will the Reds make a trade or add a free agent pitcher to the roster?" If they get rid of Griffey and/or Arroyo they should have some money available to pay a starting pitcher. But will they pull the trigger if they get the chance? If Jocketty does pull the trigger, will he give away the Reds future like he did in St. Louis?

If they don't make any changes, they should still have Matt Belisle, Josh Fogg, Bobby Livingston, Homer Bailey, and Daryl Thompson around to compete for any remaining spots in the rotation next season.

Maybe the Reds will just stay put and enter next season with basically the same roster they have now. Let's face it, I thought this roster was good enough to compete this year. If it hadn't been for Dusty Baker, the Reds might be in first place right now. You never know. Which brings me back to what I would do if I was Bob Castellini.

I would start by firing Dusty Baker. Now!

I'm Back!

2008-06-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Those of you that know me in real life know that my one true love (besides my wife) is fishing. And, if you have been wondering where I have been lately, the answer to that question is Canada!

I just got back from my annual fishing trip to the Great White North. If you like to fish, and you have never been to Canada, you are really missing out. My friends and I do a fly-in every year for a little rest and relaxation. We always go to an outpost cabin up in the middle of nowhere and do nothing but fish and drink for a solid week. I look forward to it every year, and this year was one of the best trips we have ever had. The walleye fishing was a little slow, but we caught tons of smallies and quite a few really nice Northerns.

The picture you see above is the 44 inch, 20 pound monster I caught this year. I pulled her out just below a beautiful little waterfall. She was up there feeding on the suckers that were trying to work their way upstream. I had been throwing various crankbaits up in the falls for about an hour before I finally switched over to a little Chatter Shad. She chased the lure down on my third cast and the fight was on. My buddy Chris managed to net the behemoth the third time I brought her past the boat. But, that was just the beginning of the fight.

Once we got her in the boat she was none too happy. She started rolling like an alligator in the bottom of the boat and wrapped my line so tight around her head that she actually snapped the tip off my Pro Qualifier rod. It was my own fault for laying the rod down over the benches in the 16 foot Aquamarine. I should have known better, but I was trying to secure the fish before she managed to wriggle free of the net. A 44 inch Northern doesn't fit too well in a net! In the end, I won the fight.

In case you were wondering, the Northern is now sitting in the freezer at the taxidermist and the rod has been sent to Bass Pro for repair. It was all worth it as far as I'm concerned.

Where Is Jay Bruce??

2008-05-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

He is at the top of most of the important batting statistic categories in the International League.

Bruce is currently leading the International League in batting average (.366), and in hits (50). He also ranks 2nd in RBI's (33), 4th in runs scored (27), 4th in triples (5), 5th in home runs (8), 2nd in total bases (96), 7th in on base percentage (.398), 2nd in slugging percentage (.662), and 2nd in on base plus slugging percentage (1.060). The most phenomenal of Jay's statistics may be the fact that he has hit 22-36 (.611) in his last 10 games.

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I cannot understand why the Reds haven't called this kid up yet. I thought for sure when Keppinger went down the other night that Bruce would be the guy that got called up to fill his roster spot. Instead, the Reds decided to call up Paul Janish. Of course, Janish got the game winning hit last night in the bottom of the 10th inning so I am not complaining too much.

I can sort of understand why Janish got called up because he is a shortstop and he was brought up to fill the roster spot created when Keppinger (SS) went down with a broken knee cap. But, I think the argument could also be made that Hairston JR has been doing a pretty decent job at SS when he has been given the chance. And, I'm pretty sure that Freel could also do a passable job at shortstop if the Reds got in a pinch.

I just don't understand what Bruce has to do to get a chance at the Bigs. The guy performed well in spring training and he is lighting it up in AAA ball. You would think that a Big League team that has been struggling to score runs and win games would be looking everywhere they can to find a guy that could help them get runners across the plate. I just don't understand what the Reds are doing.
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Pete Mackanin went 29-19 in his first 48 games as the Reds manager last season. He ended up finishing the season with a 41-39 record, but let's not forget that the last month of the season he found himself managing a lot of Minor League players that the organization brought up to evaluate. Its hard to tell what kind of record Pete would have had if he could have played who he wanted. Oh, and the Reds ended up firing Pete Mackanin.

I wonder if Dusty will be on as short of a leash as Pete was last season. The Reds currently have a record of 18-23 in Dusty's first 41 games which puts them dead last in the NL Central.

Gillespie Is At It Again!!

2008-05-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

The Muncie Star Press is reporting today that University of Kentucky Head Coach Billy Gillespie has made a scholarship offer to Muncie Central freshman Jeremiah Davis. The Star Press is also reporting that Davis has also seen some interest from Indiana, Ohio State, Syracuse, and Tennessee.

Davis is a 6'2" point guard who averaged 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during his freshman season. Davis plays on the same AAU team (Indiana Elite) as Vinny Zollo , who has already verbally committed to UK.

Davis has said that he will not rush into any decisions, but he is intrigued by Kentucky's offer.

05/10/08 - Kentucky Basketball

2008-05-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

John Clay is reporting that Mike Williams has officially asked to be released from his scholarship and that Derrick Jasper "will most likely" transfer as well.

This latest news comes from Billy Gillespie's press conference today, which John attended.

I hate to see Mike Williams leave the program and I am really saddened to hear that Jasper is most likely leaving as well. But, I'm not surprised by either players' desire to leave.

Jon Hood Verbally Commits To UK

2008-05-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

Kentucky Sports Radio is reporting that Madisonville's Jon Hood has verbally committed to Kentucky. Jon is a 6'6" small forward from Madisonville North Hopkins High School. Scout.com lists Jon as a 4 Star recruit.

Billy Gillespie is on fire!

Here is a list of Kentucky's commitments:

Class of 2008
DeAndre Liggins, 6'6" SF/SG, 5 Star Recruit
Darius Miller, 6'6" SF/PF, 4 Star Recruit
Kevin Galloway, 6'6" SF/PG, 4 Star Recruit, JUCO
Josh Harrelson, 6'9", PF/C, 1 Star Recruit, JUCO
Class of 2009
Jon Hood, 6'6", SF/SG, 4 Star Recruit
GJ Vilarino, 5'9", PG, 3 Star Recruit
Class of 2010
Dominique Ferguson, 6'9", PF/SF, 5 Star Recruit
Dakotah Euton, 6'7", PF, 3 Star Recruit
KC Miller, 6'1", PG, 3 Star Recruit
Class of 2011
Vinny Zollo, 6'8", PF, 1 Star Recruit
Class of 2012
Michael Avery, 6'4", SG/SF, Not Rated yet

David Stern Test Post

2008-05-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who aren't already aware, I use statcounter to keep track of the visitors who come to this blog. Statcounter is a neat little program that keeps track of all sorts of statistics relating to who visits this site, where they came from, how often they visit, etc.

I think the most interesting statistic that gets collected by statcounter is the number of people who come to my blog looking for the contact information for NBA Commissioner David Stern. Roughly 20% of my total visitor count comes to Ordinary Bo's Ordinary World via different search engines looking for ways to contact David Stern. Another 5% or so come here after searching for different variations of "David Stern Sucks," or "David Stern is an idiot," or "David Stern is arrogant."

Those of you who have followed this blog for very long know of my distaste for David Stern. The man has completely driven me away from the NBA over the last couple of years with his uncontrolled arrogance and patronizing press conferences.

So, today I have decided to run a little experiment.

In this paragraph I am going to use words like "email contact information" and mention the names of Bud Selig, Roger Goodell, Myles Brand, and Gary Bettman. I'm going to also use the words arrogant, idiot, ass, pompous, moron, fired, asshole, and patronizing.

I'm just a little curious to find out how many people will find their way to Ordinary Bo's looking for the contact info for these "other" Commissioners. To be fair, I'm going to collect this information over a prolonged period of time. I haven't decided on a time frame as of yet, but I feel that I should probably wait at least a year to compile the statistics so that every League has the chance to complete a regular season during my experiment. I'll let you know what I find out.

Michael Avery Verbally Commits to UK

2008-05-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Reports are now circulating on the internet that Billy Clyde has secured a verbal commitment from 6'4" combo guard Michael Avery. I would like to put a link to Avery's profile from Scout.com at this point in the story, but apparently Scout.com doesn't have profiles for players who are still in the eighth grade. I'm not knocking Coach Gillespie for recruiting eighth graders because there are no rules that say he can't do it, but it is my opinion that there is something seriously wrong with an NCAA system that allows recruitment of kids before they even reach high school age.

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I am so happy the departure of Tubby Smith from Kentucky didn't lead to the kind of mess that Indiana University is now dealing with up in Bloomington. Of course, Tubby didn't exactly leave UK under the same kind of circumstances that Kelvin Sampson created up at IU. But still, it is difficult not to feel sorry for a Hoosier basketball program with such a strong tradition.

In case you missed it, ESPN is reporting that IU will hold a press conference this afternoon where they will officially announce the departure of four more scholarship basketball players from the Hoosier program. Armon Bassett, Jamarcus Ellis, Eli Holman, and DeAndre Thomas are all apparently leaving the program for various reasons. These recent departures will leave the Hoosier program with only three returning scholarship players next season. The three returning players are Jordan Crawford (younger brother of Joe), Brandon McGee, and Kyle Taber.

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Harrellson To Kentucky

2008-04-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

It is now being reported by just about everybody who is anybody that 6'9" PF Josh Harrellson has committed to UK basketball for next season. Harrellson averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds last season for Southwestern Illinois Junior College. Josh will be a huge addition to UK's low post game.

Kentucky Sports Radio is now also reporting that Class of 2010 recruit Dominique Ferguson has also committed to UK. Ferguson is a 6'9" big man from Indianapolis Lawrence North High School. Scout.com lists Ferguson as a 5 Star recruit You can check out Scout.com's profile of Dominique here. KSR is saying that this kid is listed as a Top 10 recruit nationally!

There have also been some reports that Madisonville's Jon Hood may be starting to lean toward UK. I haven't seen anything definitive yet, but Hood would definitely be a great addition to Kentucky's basketball team. Jon has already received offers from Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Western Kentucky. There have also been some reports that Duke is heavily recruiting Jon. Jon is another of those 6'6" guys that Coach Gillespie seems to love and he is listed as a 4 Star recruit. Plus, he is home grown.

Billy Clyde is on FIRE!!!

What's Wrong With The Reds?

2008-04-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

With Friday night's loss to the Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds fell to 7-10 on the season. Bronson Arroyo got shelled again, and the Reds looked anemic at the plate until the ninth inning when they finally managed to plate 2 runs.

So, what is the problem? Well, it beats the hell out of me. I think it is too early to start placing the blame on Dusty Baker, but some of his lineup moves have been puzzling to say the least.

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There are obviously some players on the Reds that are struggling at the plate right now. Adam Dunn, Edwin Encarnacion, Scott Hatteberg, and now even Corey Patterson are all struggling to put the ball into play.

Bronson Arroyo, Todd Coffey, and Josh Fogg are all having rough starts on the mound this spring. I'm hoping that Arroyo and Fogg will be able to show some improvement when David Ross returns to the team, hopefully sometime next week. Ross is Arroyo's favorite catcher and I believe that Ross will do a better job handling the pitching staff than Valentin or Bako have been doing. Ross, however, has been struggling at the plate so far this season down in Louisville during his rehab. So, Ross might help the team's pitching, but there is also a chance that his hitting might cause the Reds more problems on offense. Valentin hasn't exactly been lighting it up at the plate (.238), but Bako is currently leading the Reds with a .351 batting average.

I am not a fan of Todd Coffey. I lost all confidence in the guy last year and he has done nothing this year to change my opinion of him. Todd has lost his "Mojo" as far as I am concerned. If I was Dusty Baker, Coffey would never step foot on the mound for the Cincinnati Reds again.

In addition to the probable return of Ross behind the plate, the Reds may also see the return of Matt Belisle. Matt has been looking fantastic down at Louisville and will probably return to the Bigs next week. Belisle is currently 3-0 at Louisville with a 1.09 ERA and is coming off an impressive 6 inning start this last Tuesday. I think there is a chance we might see Belisle take Josh Fogg's place in the rotation next week. Fogg's next scheduled start is Monday against the Dodgers.
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So, what would I do if I was Dusty Baker? I think it is time to start tinkering with the batting order.

I don't think it would be wise to alter the lead-off position any. The only real option that Dusty has at the top of the batting order is whomever is starting in center field. The choices would obviously be Patterson, Hopper, or Freel.

Adam Dunn is currently only hitting .182, but he is leading the Reds "regulars" in On Base Percentage (.413) because he has already drawn 18 walks. I would strongly consider moving Dunn up to the #2 spot in the batting order. He will see a lot more pitches in the #2 slot and his high OBP should give the always reliable Griffey and Phillips more opportunities to hit with runners on base.

If I moved Dunn up to the #2 slot I think I would probably move Phillips up to #3 and Griffey down to #4. Then, I would slide the hot hitting Keppinger down into the #5 slot.

Edwin Encarnacion is also struggling at the plate. I'm not sure what I would do with Edwin. But, I think I would give Freel a few more starts at 3rd base to see if he could maybe ignite the offense a little bit with his hustle and enthusiasm. Whichever guy starts at third base, I think I would move them to the #7 spot in the batting order.

Moving the 3rd baseman to the #7 slot would allow me to put the hot hitting Joey Votto (.351) in the #6 position behind Keppinger. If I decided to start Hatteberg at 1st base instead of Votto, I would still leave Hatteberg in the #7 slot.

So, the #8 slot in the batting order would be for the catcher. I think Ross is going to get a lot of at bats when he returns simply because he handles the pitching staff so well.

UK News And Other Happenings

2008-04-18T04:40:00.000-07:00

Whew! I know I can't be the only one that was a little worried about the head coaching position at Oklahoma State. I didn't really think that Billy Gillespie would leave Kentucky, but stranger things have happened in the past (Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith). I think Oklahoma State ultimately got a nice hire in Travis Ford.

Well, it is starting to look like there may be some truth to the "Derrick Jasper is transferring from UK" rumors. Billy Gillespie briefly discussed the Jasper situation in yesterday's press conference. It appears that Derrick is still homesick for California and has been seriously considering transferring somewhere closer to home. Gillespie said it had nothing to do with playing time, but you have to wonder if Jasper feels at least a little threatened by the types of players that Billy Clyde has been recruiting. For now at least, it appears that Jasper may be leaning more towards leaving. But, I think we should take a wait and see attitude on this one. It will be depressing if Jasper decides to leave because I think he may be the key player next season on the the UK squad.

It looks like Morakinyo Williams probably will be leaving the UK basketball team. Billy Gillespie also discussed this at yesterday's press conference. Williams is a good kid, but I don't think he will ever significantly contribute at UK. It would probably be best for both parties involved if he finds another University to play ball. And, it would open up another scholarship if he leaves.

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I recently heard a rumor about Peyton Manning that was a little disturbing. I'm not going to say what the rumor is because it didn't come from what I consider to be a reliable source. It was one of those friend of a friend kind of things. But, I will say the rumor has been gaining steam in the Indy area and I am starting to think there may be some truth to it. I will say that if this rumor is true, it may tarnish his "All-American" image a little bit. If you're a Colts fan you have no reason to worry about his availability or performance next year. The rumor had nothing to do with injury or anything criminal. If the rumor is true, however, I would expect that the story could break any day and probably before the NFL season is scheduled to start.

Non Sports Related Rant

2008-04-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

OK. I know I have been doing a piss poor job of keeping up this blog lately. Aaron has been calling and emailing the crap out of me to complain about my recent laziness. But, I assure you it has nothing to do with me being lazy. I have just been really busy at work which sometimes carries over into my family life.

I'd like to sit here and tell you that I will try to do a better job of keeping this blog updated, but soccer season just started again and I now have 2 kids participating in the sport. And, both kids play on different teams which both practice on different nights. Throw in the fact that I am an avid fisherman and there just hasn't been too much time left for blogging recently.
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And now for the rant that I promised you.

I went to a BP gas station the other day and was greeted at the gas pump by an extremely annoying video playing on an LCD screen mounted on top of the gas pump I was using. The video was basically a commercial for items that could be purchased inside the BP store itself. (You can get an idea of what I am talking about here.) I found the video to be so egregious that I changed my mind about filling the tank and stopped at $10.00 worth of fuel just so I could get away from the video screen before I developed one of those "all day" headaches. In all fairness, I must admit that it wasn't the actual video that I found to be so offensive, it was the blaring audio that accompanied the video.

Americans are constantly being bombarded with advertisements for everything from soft drinks to adult diapers, so I guess it was just a matter of time before someone figured out a way to nab us at the gas pump as well. Advertising at the gas pump is really a good idea if you think about it. There we are, just standing there with our thumbs up our asses waiting for the precious nectar that we call gasoline to pump into our massive SUVs. Oh sure, some little busy bodies might occasionally take the opportunity to check their oil, or wash their windows. But, most lazy Americans just stand there at the gas pump for about three and a half minutes doing their best not to look stupid.

I'm not totally against the idea of advertising at the gas pumps, I just think there has to be a better way to do it. So, I am going to offer some suggestions below that I hope someone in upper management at BP might be willing to take into consideration.

1) This isn't a suggestion as much as it is a question. The advertisement that was playing at the BP I visited appeared to be only for items available inside the BP convenience store itself. Has anyone at BP considered selling ad time on the video screens to other companies not affiliated with BP? Perhaps a lucrative advertisement deal with a third party could offset fuel costs enough to allow BP to sell gasoline for a penny or two cheaper per gallon than BP's competitors across the street. Most people would probably be willing to put up with the annoying advertisement if it meant cheaper gas prices.

2) Lower the volume on the commercials a little bit. My ears were practically bleeding after about 10 seconds. The volume was so loud that I'm pretty sure my grandmother could have even heard it, and she's been dead for five years.

3) Give customers the option of adjusting the audio level themselves, or perhaps even the option of shutting the damn thing off altogether. I would have gladly paid another penny or two a gallon just to be able to shut the damn thing off during my recent visit.

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I am sure there are plenty of other ways that BP's new "gas pump" advertising campaign could be improved. The three things I mentioned above were the ideas that immediately popped into my head this morning as I drove past the BP station on my way to the Speedway station to buy my fuel. You see, the Speedway station has better coffee in my opinion, and my ears don't hurt after pumping ten gallons of gas.

Catching Up

2008-03-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Man, have I been busy at work. Its been 2 weeks since I have posted anything on here (not that anybody probably even noticed).
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Well, the Kentucky Wildcats lost to Marquette on Thursday and thus ended the college careers of Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley. It was a tough game to watch but I felt that the Wildcats put forth a valiant effort. Especially Joe Crawford. I'll miss you Joe.
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Speaking of Kentucky basketball, Thursday's game has me a little worried about where the scoring is going to come from next season. You would think that with Marquette focusing so much attention on stopping Crawford and Bradley that somebody else would have scored some points for the Wildcats. Crawford played out of his mind and scored 35 and Bradley added his usual 19. Perry Stevenson is the only other Cat that even scored a field goal in the game against Marquette. Porter hit 2 free throws and that was it for the rest of the team. Nobody else scored a point. Hell, there were only 5 shots taken by Wildcats who weren't named Crawford, Bradley, or Stevenson.

With Crawford and Bradley graduating, it looks like there will be a lot of pressure on Patterson and Meeks to score the majority of the points next season. I'm hoping the Cats will be able to rely on Stevenson for double digit points around the basket every game next season, but Perry's range is limited. I'm also hoping that Jasper, Harris, and Porter will take some more shots next year. Those three are all capable of scoring if they would just take a few more shots. Miller and Liggins (if he is academically eligible) will probably also get a chance to contribute.

Another concern I have about UK next season is who's going to be the point guard? I think the most logical answer to that question would have to be Jasper or Porter, but I'm just not sure either is a good enough ball handler to be really successful in the SEC. Jodie Meeks could be a possibility at the point, but I think he makes more sense at the 2 guard because he is the best shooter UK will have from the perimeter. I've also read that Galloway and Liggins are both decent with the ball. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
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The Cincinnati Reds start their season on March 31st against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It sure looks like Wayne Krivsky's moves to improve the pitching staff in the off season may just pay off this year. I think there will be a lot of new faces on the mound for the Reds this year.

Right now it looks like the starting rotation will be Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, Josh Fogg, and Edinson Volquez. Cueto and Volquez have had some impressive outings this spring. Matt Belisle has been hurt, but may end up back in the rotation before long.

The stars in the bullpen this spring have been Francisco Cordero, David Weathers, Jeremy Affeldt, Todd Coffey, and Mike Stanton. Jared Burton has had a poor spring, but I think he will probably make the opening day roster because of the way he pitched last season. Todd Coffey has looked great this spring by all accounts, but I personally am not sure I will ever feel confidant with him on the mound ever again after the season he had last year.

Galloway Commits To UK

2008-03-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Louisville Courier Journal is reporting this morning that 6'6" guard/forward Kevin Galloway has verbally committed to Kentucky. You can read Jody Demling's story here.

Galloway is a 2006 graduate of Sacramento High School in California. He averaged 17.4 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior in high school. Kevin was a 4 Star recruit coming out of high school and originally committed to the University of Southern California. He played in 13 games for the Trojans his freshman year and then went to the College of Southern Idaho (JUCO). At Southern Idaho this season he averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.

Kevin is considered to be a very athletic "slasher" with "high major potential."

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While I would have liked to see Gillespie bring in another big man, I think Galloway looks like a perfect fit for Gillespie's system. And at 2.5 steals per game in JUCO it looks like Kevin may be a pretty good defender as well.

Date For The Dance?

2008-03-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling all year to think of who it is that Nick Calathes of the Florida Gators reminds me of. It suddenly hit me during today's game that Nick reminds me of the character Chuck Sherman from the American Pie movies. Does anybody else see a resemblance between Nick Calathes of the Florida Gators and the character Chuck Sherman, aka The Shermanator, from the American Pie Movies? Take a look at the above picture. The face on the left is Nick Calathes, the face on the right is the Shermanator. Sherman is played by actor Chris Owen. I guess if Calathes' basketball career doesn't work out he may have a future on the big screen.

Of course, I make this comparison with all due respect to Nick Calathes. That guy is one heck of a basketball player who will haunt UK until he moves on to the NBA or runs out of eligibility at Florida.

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The University of Kentucky Wildcats finished an unbelievable regular season today with a 75-70 victory over the Florida Gators. The win gave Kentucky an SEC regular season record of 12-4 in Conference and an overall record of 18-11 on the season. Next up is the SEC Tournament.

The Wildcats' 12-4 conference record earned them a a second place finish in the SEC East and a first round bye in the SEC Tournament. They will face the winner of the Mississippi/Georgia game on Friday, March 14th. You can check out the SEC Tournament bracket here.
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My thoughts on the Florida/Kentucky game:

1) It was proven today that Bradley and Crawford don't have to both play great games in order for Kentucky to win. Crawford had a rough day from the field, only hitting 7 of his 17 shots. Joe did, however, continue to play great defense. Ramel only hit 5-12 from the field and uncharacteristically struggled at the free throw line missing 3 of his 5 charity tosses. Still, Joe finished with 16 points and Ramel finished with 14 points.

2) Jasper, Harris, and Stevenson really stepped up. Jasper didn't miss a shot from the field and went 4-4 from behind the arc. Harris played stellar defense and knocked down 2 big 3 pointers en route to a 9 point outing. Stevenson looked like an All-American going 6-6 from the field, 6-8 from the free throw line, and grabbing 10 rebounds with 5 blocked shots. My hat is also off to Stevenson for making the 2 big free throws at the end of the game that sealed the victory.

3) Stewart and Porter deserve a lot of credit for turning in some valuable minutes as well. Porter didn't score any points and Stewart only had 4 points, but they both played extremely well while they were on the floor.

4) I thought Kentucky played pretty well overall, but I was a bit concerned by the Wildcats' sudden failure to produce at the free throw line. The Cats only hit 9-20 from the charity stripe. This game wouldn't have been as close as it was down the stretch if Kentucky had shot their season average from the stripe.

5) My other concern was Kentucky's difficulty handling Florida's press. I'm sure Kentucky will see the press again in the NCAA Tournament if they are lucky enough to get there. I personally think the Wildcats will be Dancing.

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Has Kentucky already done enough to guarantee a date for the Big Dance? I think they have, but I also think it would be a good idea for the Wildcats to win their Quarterfinal Game in the SEC Tournament just to make sure.

Go Big Blue!!

Joe, Joe, And More Joe!!!

2008-03-06T04:50:00.000-08:00

My good friend Aaron made the comment to me at the beginning of the season that he thought Joe Crawford would be the key to Kentucky's success this season. I must admit that I wasn't as optimistic about Kentucky's success this season as Aaron seemed to be. I just didn't think UK was returning enough proven players in the low post to pose a serious threat in the Southeastern Conference or even to make the NCAA Tournament.

When Kentucky lost to Gardner-Webb in their second game of the season, I feared that my prediction for a tough year was going to be proven true. The Wildcats struggled with Coach Gillespie's new system early in the year and seemed completely doomed when they started their conference season. Injuries plagued the team and it seemed like every week the Wildcats had to depend on someone else to help carry the load. The only constant through it all seemed to be Patrick Patterson. The true freshman showed up every night and continued to put up consistent numbers no matter the competition.

Then, an interesting thing happened. The Wildcats, as a team, suddenly seemed to understand what Billy Gillespie wanted them to do. Joe Crawford, who started the season in Coach Gillespie's dog house, suddenly became the team's best all around player. Joe played through injuries and started leading by example with his stellar defensive efforts and his uncanny ability to make a basket when the team really needed it. Ramel Bradley suddenly realized that he was playing a team sport and quit trying to do it all by himself. Perry Stevenson became a reliable shot blocking and rebounding machine, and Ramon Harris suddenly became a consistent player off the bench. Derrick Jasper, although hobbled by injury all season, started making more than just cameo appearances. Jodie Meeks, also injured all season, has played through the pain on more than one occasion to provide some much needed minutes when coach Gillespie had no where else to turn. And even much maligned Michael Porter has given nothing short of maximum effort every time he has been on the floor.

Maximum team effort is what I think has turned this Kentucky team around this year. I know the comparisons have been tossed around by just about everybody, but I'm going to go ahead and say it as well. I've seen a lot of effort put in by a lot of guys wearing Kentucky Blue over the last 10 years, but I don't know that I have seen this kind of effort by an entire team wearing Kentucky Blue since back in the days of the "Unforgettables." I know it is almost sacrilegious to think that any team should be compared to the likes of Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus, and Sean Woods. But, I can't think of any other Kentucky team in recent history who has overcome and persevered on the same level as this years version of the Boys in Blue. I don't think there is any chance that we will ever see Joe Crawford's or Ramel Bradley's jerseys ever hanging in Rupp Arena, but I know they have already earned a special place in my blue blooded heart.
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The latest setback for the Wildcats has been the loss of Patrick Patterson for the remainder of the season. When I first heard the news about Patterson, my initial thought was that any hope Kentucky had for making the NCAA Tournament was surely gone. But, within minutes of hearing the news of Patterson's injury I came to the realization that there was no way this team would give up on their season. They simply had too much grit and too much heart. I knew they might lose all their remaining games, but I also knew they wouldn't give up without a fight. Those guys then went down to Knoxville on Sunday and almost knocked off the number one team in the country without the aforementioned Patterson on the floor. I don't know about anybody else, but I thought for sure that Crawford's jumper was going in as soon as he let it fly. Joe's jumper didn't find its mark and Kentucky didn't win the game, but these "Alley Cats," as they have come to be called, sent a clear message to the rest of the Southeastern Conference and to the NCAA Selection Committee as well.

The 'Cats are back, and win or lose, they're going to leave it all on the floor no matter who the competition happens to be.
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South Carolina was the latest victim of the "Alley Cats" last night. Joe Crawford stole the show with a career high 35 points. I was listening to the game on the radio and actually found myself silently chanting, "Joe, Joe, Joe!" every time Kentucky had the ball. Ramel Bradley chipped in with 20 points as well. But, the Wildcats' team defense again stole the show. The victory over the Gamecocks improved the Wildcats' record to 11-4 in Conference and 17-11 overall. If Kentucky wins their final regular season game against Florida on Sunday afternoon they will finish the Conference schedule as the 2nd place team in the SEC East.

A 2nd place finish in the East would earn the Wildcats a bye in the 1st round of the Conference Tournament. The Wildcats would then have to play the winner of the 1st round SEC Tournament game between the West's #3 team (currently Ole Miss) and the East's #6 team (currently Georgia) in the 2nd round. You can check out the SEC Tournament schedule here.
I'm not sure if the Wildcats have done enough to play themselves into the NCAA Tournament yet, but I think a victory over Florida in their regular season finale and at least one victory in the SEC Tournament should guarantee them a date for the Big Dance. How many people would have predicted that after the Gardner-Webb game? I know I didn't.

When you play as team it doesn't matter what name is on the back of your jersey, all that matters is what name is on the front.

Go Big Blue!

UK's Patterson Done For Season

2008-02-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

University of Kentucky freshman forward Patrick Patterson will be out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his ankle. Read the ESPN story here.
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As disappointed as I am to read this story, I have to admit that I am probably just as curious to see how the Wildcats will perform the rest of this season without Patterson. I know that Patterson's injury will probably kill any chance Kentucky would have had at making the NCAA Tournament at season's end. But, sometimes adversity brings out the best in people. So, I'm not going to write off this year's version of the Wildcats just yet. Especially since Billy Gillespie is still calling the shots and Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley are still running up and down the court.

This will be a Kentucky basketball season that I will always remember for the rest of my life, regardless of how the Cats perform from here on out. But, can you imagine the pedestal that Joe Crawford and/or Ramel Bradley will be placed on in Kentucky basketball lore if they somehow manage to lead the Wildcats on a memorable post season run without Patterson? I know I am probably just dreaming, but after what I have seen this team accomplish this year I would not be surprised if it happened.

Go Big Blue!

02/27/08: UK Basketball Update

2008-02-27T04:37:00.000-08:00

With Tennessee's loss last night to Vanderbilt, the University of Kentucky Wildcats now find themselves only one game out of first place in the SEC East behind Tennessee. The Wildcats face a struggling Ole Miss team (losers of 7 of their last 10 games) tonight at 8:00 PM in Lexington, then they travel to Knoxville on Sunday for a game with the Volunteers that suddenly has the potential to decide a #1 seed in the SEC Tournament. If you can't get a local feed for tonight's game, don't panic. The game is scheduled to be shown on ESPN 360. Sunday's matchup with the Volunteers is scheduled to be aired on CBS.

In other UK basketball news:

Seth Davis, of SI.com, is reporting that he is hearing rumors that Patrick Patterson is considering turning pro after this season. While I think Patrick Patterson will someday be successful in the NBA, I'm not sure he is ready yet. But, its just a rumor at this point.

UK recruit Tyrone Appleton has verbally committed to Kansas. Appleton is a 6'3" junior college player from Midland Community College in Texas. Its a shame he didn't choose UK, but I can't say I blame him. Appleton would have had some pretty stiff competition for playing time at UK next season.

Patrick Patterson was named Freshman of the Week in the SEC for the third time this season. Patrick averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds in Kentucky's victories over Arkansas and Georgia last week.

The Courier-Journal reported on Monday that UK assistant coach Tracy Webster has been in contact with former Ballard High's Twany Beckham. Beckham is currently enrolled at New Hampton Prep School in New Hampshire. Kentucky hasn't offered Beckham a scholarship, but it looks like Twany would be interested if UK made the offer.

I still haven't heard anything new on Jodie Meeks. Jerry Tipton reported on Monday that Jodie's father still thinks Jodie could return to the court this season.

More JUCO's considering UK? The Courier-Journal reported in their Sunday edition that 6'6" Kevin Galloway of Southern Idaho has UK on his list of schools that he is considering. Galloway had originally committed to Southern California. The newspaper also reported that North Texas' Roderick Flemings is also interested in UK. Flemings had originally committed to Oklahoma State.

Did you guys see this? Kentucky received 3 votes from sportswriters in this weeks AP Top 25 poll and 4 votes in the ESPN/USA Today poll.

Reds Sign Fogg

2008-02-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

The Cincinnati Reds have announced the signing of 31 year old Josh Fogg to a one year contract reportedly worth $1 million dollars.

The free agent right hander has been a starting pitcher in the Major Leagues for 7 years, most recently with the Colorado Rockies. It is being reported that Fogg recently turned down a 1 year contract worth $5 million dollars that was offered for him to remain with the Rockies. Fogg has started 179 games in his career and has an overall record of 60-60 with a 4.90 ERA.
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While Josh Fogg certainly isn't the greatest pitcher to ever put on a Major League uniform, I think this was another great signing by Wayne Krivsky. Fogg has 7 years of big league pitching under his belt and is a proven commodity. I think it would be fair to assume that the Reds have now found their #3 starter behind Harang and Arroyo. I'm not sure if Krivsky is done dealing for pitchers yet, but I think the Reds are definitely looking better on the mound now than they were at any time last year.

Matt Belisle, Homer Bailey, Jeremy Affeldt, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Matt Maloney will probably be competing for the final 2 spots in the Reds starting rotation. If I were a betting man, I'd probably place my money on Belisle and Affeldt to at least start the season as the #4 and #5 starters for the Reds. But, I'm sure Volquez will get a strong shot to make the rotation as well. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Kentucky Recruiting

2008-02-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

I got an email this morning asking me a few questions about the current status of Billy Gillespie's recruiting efforts and about which players he has already offered scholarships. Below is a list of players that Billy Gillespie has offered scholarships according to Scout.com.

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Class of 2008

DeAndre Liggins ***** (Henderson, NV), 6'6" 180 pounds, verbally committed to UK
Darius Miller **** (Maysville, KY), 6'6" 185 pounds, verbally committed to UK
Scotty Hopson ***** (Hopkinsville, KY), 6'5" 180 pounds, still undecided
Wesley Witherspoon **** (Lilburn, GA), 6'7" 185 pounds, still undecided
Atur Majok **** (Carlingfoed, AU), 6'9" 215 pounds, still undecided
Tyrone Appleton *** (Midland, TX) Junior College, 6'3" 200 pounds, still undecided
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Class of 2009

John Wall ***** (Raleigh, NC), 6'3" 170 pounds, still undecided
Demarcus Cousins ***** (Mobile, AL), 6'10" 245 pounds, still undecided
Shawn Williams **** (Duncanville, TX), 6'6" 185 pounds, still undecided
Stephan Van Treese **** (Indianapolis, IN), 6'9" 220 pounds, still undecided
AJ Walton *** (Little Rock, AR), 6'0" 175 pounds, still undecided
GJ Vilarino *** (McKinney, TX), 5'9" Unknown, verbally committed to UK
Junior Cadougan *** (Houston, TX), 6'1" 190 pounds, still undecided
Jon Hood *** (Madisonville, KY), 6'6" 180 pounds, still undecided
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Class of 2010

Dakotah Euton *** (Ashland, KY), 6'7" 200 pounds, verbally committed to UK
KC Miller *** (Dallas, TX), 6'1" 170 pounds, verbally committed to UK

Making The Argument

2008-02-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

Here it is, February 19th, and my beloved Kentucky Wildcats have an overall record of 13-10. All the so-called basketball experts have already written off the Wildcats' chances of making the Big Dance, especially after Big Blue's recent humiliating loss to Vanderbilt. But, I think there should still be some hope in the Bluegrass State. Sure, Kentucky has had some embarrassing losses this year. But, has anybody even bothered to look at how the opponents that beat UK this season are doing against everybody else?

There is still no excuse for the losses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego, but I think it is easy to make the argument that none of Kentucky's other losses are looking so bad anymore. If you throw out the losses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego, Kentucky's other 8 losses were to pretty respectable teams:

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North Carolina is 24-2 and currently ranked #3 in the nation. The Tar Heels only beat Kentucky by 9 points. Pretty respectable loss if you ask me.

Indiana is 21-4 and ranked #15 in the nation. The Hoosiers are also 10-2 this season in Big Ten play. UK lost to Indiana by 19 points, but the game was in Bloomington which is a tough place to play.

UAB is 17-8 and sitting in 3rd place in Conference USA behind only Memphis and Houston. Kentucky only lost to UAB by 3 points on a day when Robert Vaden was absolutely on fire scoring 33 points in the game. Maybe somebody should go ask John Calipari and his undefeated and #1 ranked Memphis Tigers if UAB is any good this year.

Did I say Houston? Yes I did. Houston is currently 19-5 and sitting in 2nd place in Conference USA behind only Memphis, who happens to be the #1 ranked team in the country right now.

Louisville currently has a record of 20-6 and is ranked #18 in the nation. The Cardinals have also beaten Marquette, Georgetown, and West Virginia this season.

Mississippi State is sitting at 17-7 overall and currently leads the SEC West with an 8-2 conference record. The Wildcats only lost to the Bulldogs by 5 points in a game that was played at Starkville.

Florida is sitting at 19-7 overall and 6-5 in conference play. The Wildcats may have lost the game, but they did manage to take the Gators into overtime down in Gainesville.

Vanderbilt has a record of 22-4 and is currently ranked #20 in the nation. Yes, Kentucky's loss to Vanderbilt was embarrassing, but let's not forget that Kentucky beat the Commodores in their first meeting of the season. Surely that has to count for something.

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Kentucky has 6 games remaining on their regular season schedule. Those games are against Georgia (12-11) at home, Arkansas (17-7) at home, Mississippi (17-7) at home, Tennessee (23-2) at Knoxville, South Carolina (12-12) at Columbia, and Florida (19-7) at home.

I think it is very conceivable that the Wildcats could win 4 of their last 6 regular season games. In fact, I think it is imperative that Kentucky win 4 of those last 6 games. If the Wildcats fail to win 4 of their last 6 regular season games, I think their only chance of making the NCAA tournament would be to win the SEC tournament.

But if the Wildcats win 4 of their last 6 games, that would give Kentucky an overall record of 17-12 and a conference record of 11-5 entering the SEC tournament. I would think that if the Wildcats finish conference play with 11 wins they should draw a first round opponent in the SEC tournament that they have a fairly decent chance of beating. Even if Kentucky were to lose in the second round of the SEC tournament, they would still finish the season with an overall record of 18-13 and have 12 wins inside the SEC. Kentucky had some bad losses (San Diego and Gardner-Webb), but they also had some good wins (Tennessee and Vanderbilt). I think it would be awfully hard for the "Committee" to leave an 18 win Kentucky team out of the Big Dance. Especially if the Committee takes into consideration the number of injuries that Kentucky had to battle through this season.

There may be more riding on Kentucky's last 6 regular season games than you might think. Tennessee and Vanderbilt are probably the only 2 teams in the SEC that are already locks to make the NCAA tournament. I think it would be fair to assume that Mississippi State will probably also be Dancing. That would make only 3 teams from the SEC. History tells us that the SEC usually gets more than 3 teams into the tournament. So, the next logical SEC teams that the NCAA Selection Committee would be considering for inclusion in the tournament would probably be Kentucky (13-10, 7-3) , Arkansas (17-7, 6-4), Florida (19-7, 6-5), and Mississippi (17-7, 3-7). As I mentioned earlier, 3 of Kentucky's last 6 games are against Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi. All 3 of those games will be in Lexington, and I think it would benefit Kentucky greatly to win all 3 in order to separate themselves from those teams in the eyes of the Selection Committee.

Let's just hope the Wildcats take care of business the rest of the way and win the SEC tournament. But if they don't, let's hope they win at least 18 games and force the Committee to make a tough decision.

Go Big Blue!

02/12/08: Reds News

2008-02-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

I've been pretty impressed with the off season moves that Wayne Krivsky has made so far this year. But, the latest Reds rumors have me scratching my head.

Foxsports.com apparently reported Sunday night that the Reds might be interested in acquiring 40 year old center fielder Kenny Lofton. I know that Kenny has a bit of a history with Dusty Baker, but I just don't see the need to acquire another center fielder. The Reds already have Norris Hopper and Ryan Freel on the roster, and the highly touted Jay Bruce will surely battle for playing time as well.

On top of the Reds reported interest in Lofton, the Reds also signed outfielder/ first baseman Craig Wilson to a minor league contract last week. Wilson's deal reportedly comes with an automatic invitation to the Reds' big league camp this spring. Wilson is 31 years old and has plenty of major league experience. He is a career .262 hitter in 698 games with 99 home runs. Craig was plagued with shoulder problems last season and was released by Atlanta in May.

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I can only think that if Krivsky signs Lofton that would be a pretty good indication that Wayne may not be done dealing yet. The Reds could still use a few more arms and the addition of Lofton would give the Reds an abundance of center fielders. So, maybe Krivsky is planning on signing Lofton as an insurance policy to give Bruce another year or 2 to fully develop. That might indicate that Hopper and/or Freel may be on their way out via trade for another arm or two.

02/11/08: Kentucky Basketball

2008-02-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

The University of Kentucky men's basketball team improved to 6-2 in Southeastern Conference play and 12-9 overall with their 62-52 victory over Alabama on Saturday. One of the local television channels actually carried the game up here so I was able to watch the Wildcats live, for a change.

I don't know if anybody else read the Associated Press' recap of the game, but the AP article made it almost sound like the only reason UK won was because of the fact that Alabama's Richard Hendrix missed the game because of the flu. The article failed to mention the fact that UK's Jodie Meeks missed the game as well. I don't know who wrote the article for the AP, but it sure looked like it was written by an Alabama grad.

Kentucky won the game and I guess that's all that matters. Ramel Bradley turned in another good performance with 19 points on 4-8 shooting from the field. Patterson had a bit of an off night in my opinion, but still finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds. Perry Stevenson continued to impress me scoring 8 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. If you ask me, Perry's continued improvement on both ends of the floor has been a big reason why the Wildcats have now won 5 games in a row.

Kentucky's next game is tomorrow night at Vanderbilt. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 PM start. The game is scheduled to be aired on ESPN.
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Did you see this??

According to WDSU in New Orleans, Travis Ford is considered one of the three leading candidates for the now vacant head coaching position at LSU. I'm happy for Travis that he has been so successful at Umass, but I'm not sure how I would handle him being the coach at LSU. Its been hard enough for me watching John Pelphrey roam the Arkansas sidelines. Pelphrey has the Razorbacks looking pretty good this season with a 6-2 record in SEC play and an overall record of 17-5.

2008 Pro Bowl

2008-02-11T04:45:00.001-08:00

I'm probably one of the few people out there that actually watches the Pro Bowl. Its not that I think it is great football, but I know it will be the last football that I'm going to see for awhile. So, I sat down yesterday and watched the game. There wasn't anything special about the game, but there were a few things that stood out to me.
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1) Did anybody else notice the dramatic drop-off in the AFC offensive production once Peyton Manning left the game? I'm not sure if the NFC defense just got settled down after the first quarter, but the AFC didn't do much on offense after Peyton left the game.

2) Ben Roethlisberger didn't look great ( 5-9 for 42 yards and a TD), but at least he didn't look as bad as Derek Anderson. Anderson finished the game 10-26 for 103 yards and a interception. It wasn't just Derek's completion percentage that stunk. He was missing receivers by a mile and there was no consistency to his misses. Some passes were short, some were long, and some weren't even in the neighborhood. Maybe it was just nerves, but Derek Anderson definitely looked like he didn't belong in Hawaii.

3) Was Brian Westbrook hurt or something? I can't remember ever watching a Pro Bowl game where one running back was "featured" in the offense as much as Adrian Peterson was featured yesterday. Don't get me wrong, Peterson was the best player on the field. But, how mad would you be if you were Brian Westbrook and you traveled all the way to Hawaii to watch Peterson play almost the entire game? Peterson won the MVP award with 16 carries for 129 yards. Westbrook got 1 carry for 4 yards.

4) Can you imagine how good Terrell Owens could have been in his career if he wasn't a mental basket case and he didn't drop so many passes? He ended up with 8 catches yesterday for 101 yards but he was actually getting booed early in the game when he dropped a couple of easy passes. That guy drops more passes than any receiver I have ever seen.

5) It was nice to see so many Browns in the game. My hat is off to Phil Savage. He has done a great job of drafting up in Cleveland. I thought Joe Thomas, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow looked pretty good yesterday. Especially Joe Thomas.

Chad Johnson, Shaq Trade, Etc.

2008-02-08T04:37:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year that I dread, because all I have to follow is college basketball. Luckily for me, it looks like Billy Gillespie has started to get things turned around in Lexington.

I've been busy at with work the past few weeks and as a result I haven't had much time to post to this blog. So, I've decided to make a short post this morning that covers a few sports related items that have caught my attention over the last few days.

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1) The Super Bowl. The Patriots would probably beat the Giants 9 out of 10 times, but the Giants won the game that counts. Poetic justice if you ask me. But don't count the Patriots out next year. New England only has 4 teams on next year's regular season schedule that finished '07 with a winning record. That means there is a pretty good chance that we will see the Pats finish the regular season undefeated again next year.

2) Chad Johnson. I think Chad Johnson is a really talented guy that just doesn't see the big picture. Chad is apparently upset with the Bengals because he thinks some people within the organization have been "speaking out against him." I don't know if Chad's accusations are true, but I imagine they probably are. The Bengals finished the '07 season with a record of 7-9. I'm sure Chad's self promotion is starting to wear thin on a team that needs all the breaks it can get. All of Johnson's excessive celebration penalties are not helping the cause. In a recent interview with the NFL Network Chad says, "I get out of line at times, but what great one doesn't?" Oh I don't know, let me see if I can name a few: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Emmit Smith, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Tim Duncan, Joe Montana, and Larry Bird. The list goes on and on. Chad seems like a smart guy. I am sure he can find another way to promote himself that doesn't lead to poor field position for the Bengals during their games. Its time Chad grows up and stops being selfish. He will never be considered among the great players of all time until he starts acting like a grown up..

3) Shaquille O'Neal. I understand why the Suns made a trade, I just don't understand why the Suns made this trade. Shaq turns 36 years old next month. The big man missed 42 games last season because of injury, and he has already missed 17 games this season due to injury. He is averaging a career low 14 points a game and the 7'1" behemoth is only getting a little over 7 rebounds a game this season. The Suns needed to get rid of a disgruntled Shawn Marion, but I'm not sure Shaq is going to "fit in" to the Suns' offense. In fact, I'm not sure Shaq will make it past half court when the Suns have the ball on offense. The only things that make sense to me are that Shaq will add a strong defensive presence to the middle for the Suns, and that the Suns weren't going to win the NBA Championship if they didn't make some kind of trade. I'm sure Steve Kerr realized that the window for a Championship was closing with Steve Nash getting older, and this trade was an attempt by Kerr to get a guy who might be able to shut down Tim Duncan in the playoffs this year or next. So, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if Kerr made a wise decision. I think he could have gotten a better deal and obtained a guy who fit in to the Suns' offense a little better, but maybe that isn't what he was looking for.

4) Bob Knight. I'm not a Bob Knight fan, but I don't think he is half the "raving lunatic" that most people seem to think he is. The reason that Bob gave for his sudden departure at Texas Tech makes sense to me. If he was planning on leaving after this season anyway, what's the difference? I think it will give Pat a head start on his coaching career. And from what I hear, Pat may need the biggest head start he can get.

5) Roger Clemens/Brian McNamee. I still haven't decided if I believe Roger Clemens is innocent yet, but if McNamee's only evidence is photos and some needles with Roger's DNA on them then I think Roger has nothing to worry about. That kind of evidence can be easily faked. Perhaps it is Brian McNamee who is suddenly worried about going to jail for perjury. Does anybody else think it is strange that these photos and needles didn't show up sooner?

01/29/08: Kentucky Basketball

2008-01-29T11:36:00.000-08:00

Well, Kentucky improved to 9-9 on Saturday with their win over South Carolina and people are starting to take notice. The Wildcats next game will be this Saturday at Georgia in a game that is scheduled to be televised on CBS.

Ramel Bradley and Patrick Patterson were named SEC's Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week after the Wildcats' wins over Tennessee and South Carolina. It was the first time in Bradley's career that he has been named SEC Player of the Week and it was Patterson's second time to be named Freshman of the Week this season.

In recruiting news, Kentucky Sports Radio's Matt Jones is reporting that Billy Gillespie has begun speaking to Chicago Curie's Steve Goins. Goins is a 6'10", 250 pound high school senior that is averaging 12 points and 15 rebounds per game this season. Scout.com lists Goins as a 3 Star recruit who has already been offered scholarships by Chicago State, Illinois Chicago, and South Florida. Depaul and Minnesota are also reportedly showing some interest. Goins doesn't appear to be much of an offensive threat yet, but the guy apparently has quite a motor and is a maniac on the boards. He might be exactly what Kentucky needs to take some defensive pressure off of Patrick Patterson. Gillespie hasn't offered Goins a scholarship yet, so we'll just have to wait and see if anything develops.

ESPN's Jacobson Suspended

2008-01-23T17:20:00.000-08:00

Not that we'll ever get to actually see it, but apparently ESPN's Dana Jacobson got a little drunk at ESPN's recent "Mike & Mike" roast. The reports are coming out that Dana got up in front of the microphone with a bottle of vodka in hand and said:

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"f... Notre dame"
"f....touchdown Jesus"
and - the step-aside-because-lightning-is-about-to-strike... "f.... Jesus."
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I don't know Dana Jacobson personally, but I have a feeling that her speech may not have come out exactly the way she intended. Vodka has a funny way of making people say and do stupid things. Dana is a University of Michigan graduate and I think it is quite obvious that she was just trying to get under Mike Golic's skin with her speech. Mike Golic is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

In case you missed it, ESPN has decided to suspend Dana for one week as a result of her drunken mistake. That's right, I said one week!
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Honestly, I'm not that upset about what Dana said. In fact, I'll even admit that I kind of enjoy listening to her when she does guest appearances on ESPN Radio from time to time. But, I do think that if the reports about what she said are true she should have had her employment terminated instead only getting a one week suspension. Its not that I don't like Dana or that I think the one week suspension isn't sufficient. What upsets me is that there appears to be a double standard in this country. What do you think would happen to Colin Cowherd if he got drunk at an ESPN sanctioned event, then got behind a microphone and started making fun of a Muslim athlete and then threw in a "F**k Muhammed" joke for good measure? Yeah, I think Colin would have gotten more than a one week suspension.
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We will never defeat racism and/or bigotry in this country until we actually start treating everyone equally. Equal punishment for equal crimes would be a good place to start. A black man that commits a robbery will get twice the jail sentence that a white man would get for committing the same crime. That is just not right! Its the same crime and it deserves the same punishment.

A white man that makes a racially insensitive remark gets fired from his job, while a black man that makes a racially insensitive remark gets a pat on the back and an apology from the white community. Although its not as bad as the "double jail sentence," it is still not right. A racially insensitive remark is still a racially insensitive remark no matter who makes it.

In the Dana Jacobson situation, it was a religiously insensitive remark. She said it, and she should have been fired.
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I know Dana Jacobson isn't a black man and what she said wasn't about race, but I'm pretty sure you get my point. The recent poor choice of words by Kelly Tilghman about Tiger Woods is yet another example of what I'm talking about. I'm sure Kelly didn't intend for her "lynching" comment to come out quite the way it did, but she still said it and she can't take it back. And, what she said is about as racially insensitive as you can get. Kelly (who is a female like Dana Jacobson) only got suspended for two weeks for her racially insensitive remark.

Last week, Golfweek magazine decided to follow-up on Tilghman's poor choice of words by putting a noose on the cover of its January 19th edition. Dave Seanor, who is the editor responsible for the cover of the magazine, got fired over the incident. Dave, of course, is a white male. Don't get me wrong, I think Dave deserved to get fired. But, I also think Kelly Tilghman should have been fired as well.

Why didn't Dana Jacobson or Kelly Tilghman get fired for what they said? Double standards, that's why.

01/23/08: Kentucky Basketball

2008-01-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

Last night's win against Tennessee was nothing short of impressive. The Wildcats shot the ball well, played good defense, and owned the boards. The Big Blue defense held Tennessee to 38.6% shooting from the floor and 26.9% from behind the arc. And, a couple of those made 3 pointers came from Lofton at the end of the game when Kentucky was trying not to foul anybody. The Wildcats also outrebounded Tennessee 36-27. The most impressive stat for me though, was the fact that Kentucky made 24-28 from the free throw line. The Wildcats also shot 48.9% from the floor, thanks mostly to the fact that they didn't take too many bad shots.

All eight players that coach Gillespie played last night performed very well. But, I think Patrick Patterson and Perry Stevenson deserve special mention. Patterson finished the game with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 assists. Stevenson just flat out looked like a man possessed. Stevenson finished the game with 14 points on 6-7 shooting, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocked shots. The usual suspects were there as well. Ramel Bradley finished with 16 points and went 10-10 from the free throw line, Joe Crawford had 10 points in only 24 minutes of play, and Jodie Meeks contributed 8 points in only 18 minutes of play. Both Crawford and Meeks played limited minutes because they were apparently nursing injuries.
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I don't know if anybody outside of the Big Blue Nation has noticed yet, but Billy Gillespie and the Kentucky basketball team look like they may be starting to get better. The Wildcats are only 2-2 in their last 4 games, but they have at least been competitive in all 4 games against some pretty good competition.

I still think the Wildcats only hope of making the NCAA Tournament this year will be if they win the SEC Tournament for the automatic bid, but I least I can now say that in public with a straight face.

Reds Sign Affeldt

2008-01-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

It was announced today that the Cincinnati Reds have reached a one year deal with 28 year old left handed pitcher Jeremy Affeldt. Foxsports.com is reporting the deal is for $3 million. It is being reported that the Reds plan to give Affeldt a chance to earn a spot in the starting rotation next season. The Reds have already projected Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, and Matt Belisle as starters for next season. The remaining two spots in the rotation will be up for grabs, with the obvious potential candidates for the final two spots being Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Affeldt.

Affeldt appeared in 75 games last season for the Colorado Rockies entirely as a relief pitcher. Affeldt finished the 2007 season with a 4-3 record with a 3.51 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 59 innings. Affeldt started his Major League career as a starting pitcher with the Kansas City Royals in 2002. He started 42 games for the Royals between '02 and July 2006 when the Royals dealt him to Colorado. In 216 1/3 innings as a starter with the Royals Affeldt compiled a record of 8-17 with a 5.41 ERA.

I think this is another questionable signing by the Reds, but I'm happy they are at least being proactive this off season. There is no doubt the Reds need help on the pitching staff and this signing along with the recent signings of Francisco Cordero and Edinson Volquez has at least given the Reds some more options for the bullpen.

Colts' Embarrassing Loss

2008-01-13T13:20:00.001-08:00

I know you're not supposed to blog when you're angry. But, I'm going to do it anyway. It has been a long time since I have been this embarrassed to be a Colts fan. The highly favored Indianapolis Colts just lost at home to the San Diego Chargers. This game was supposed to be a cake walk for the Colts.

If you're a Colts fan there a lot of things you can blame this loss on. The 3 turnovers, some dropped passes, injuries, the lack of any kind of pass rush, the mysterious disappearance of the 3rd rated defense in the NFL, or some very obvious "no calls" by the referees. But, I'm not going to blame this loss on any of those things.

I'm going to blame this loss solely on Tony Dungy and the rest if the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff. Once again, the Indianapolis Colts found themselves favored to win a huge game and once again they looked totally unprepared. With all due respect to the San Diego Chargers, there is just simply no excuse for the way the Colts played today. The part that makes me sick is that this isn't the first time a Tony Dungy led Colts team has looked ill prepared in the playoffs ( not to mention the regular season). I don't claim to know what the problem is, but there very obviously is a problem. The Colts have repeatedly just looked "flat" come playoff time.

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In 2003, the Colts lost their first playoff game under Tony Dungy 41-0 to the NY Jets.

In 2004, the Colts fell behind the Patriots 15-0 in the AFC Championship game before the Colts even managed to score a point. The Colts ended up losing that game 24-14.

In 2005, the Colts again lost to the Patriots, this time in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The final score was 20-3. This was the year that Peyton Manning set just about every single regular season passing record known to man, but the Colts could only manage 3 points against the Patriots defense in a playoff game.

In 2006, the Dungy led Colts laid one of the biggest eggs of all time with their 21-18 loss at home in the Divisional round of the playoffs to the wild card Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were up 14-0 in the 1st quarter before the Colts knew what hit them. The Colts played so bad in that game that I still can't watch the tape, even today.

In 2008, well, it was more of the same. The Colts defense looked so bad against the Chargers that I think even Jim Sorgi could have led the Charger offense to the end zone.
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I know Tony Dungy really is a nice guy. And I think Tony has done a fantastic job, along with Bill Polian, of drafting talented players into the Colts organization. It has taken me awhile, but I have finally begun to like the philosophy behind the Cover 2. I just can't remember the last time I thought the Colts coaching staff actually out coached anybody on a Sunday.

This past Sunday, the Colts defensive plan to start the game was obviously to bring Bob Sanders up into the box in order to stop Tomlinson. I thought it was a great call on Dungy's part. The problem with this decision soon became apparent, however, when the Chargers were so successful in the passing game. The Colts couldn't get any kind of pass rush without Dwight Freeney on the field, and the Colt DBs were simply over matched in coverage. The Colts chose to blitz in obvious passing situations and the Charger offensive line did a magnificent job of protection against the Colts' blitzes. I would have liked to have seen the Colts use a little more Cover 2 in the second half, but I don't know that it would have worked any better. But, at least I would have tried something different.
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There are rumors circulating out there that Tony Dungy is planning to announce his retirement within the next couple weeks. I have to say that I don't think I will be too upset if Tony does decide to retire. Don't get me wrong, I really do like Tony and I would really like to see him stay. Tony has put a very strong foundation in place in Indianapolis. There are a lot of good people and good football players on the Colts roster. I just think maybe the Colts have achieved all they can under the leadership of this coaching staff.

The Colts won the Super Bowl last year and I will forever be thankful for that. Tony Dungy deserves most of the credit for last year's championship. But, maybe it is time to let somebody else take over the reins. Or, at the very least bring in some different assistant coaches to gain some new perspective.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in the first year after Jon Gruden was brought in to replace Tony Dungy as the head coach for the Bucs. The players that won the Super Bowl for Jon Gruden that year were pretty much the same guys that Tony had on the team the year before when the Bucs came out "flat" and lost to the Eagles 31-9 in an NFC wild card game.

Maybe it is time the Colts go out and find their own "Jon Gruden."

NFL Divisional Round Breakdown

2008-01-11T18:30:00.000-08:00

I correctly predicted 3 out of 4 games last week. So, I thought I would give it a go for this week's games as well. The Divisional Round of the playoffs is always a little tougher to decipher. All of these games have the potential to be very interesting, but I think the higher seeds will prevail in every game.

1) Seattle at Green Bay: I think this game has the biggest potential for an upset. Seattle coach Mike Holmgren knows the Packers and Brett Favre very well. The Seahawks have a pretty good quarterback in Hasselback and a very fast defense. But, the Seahawks don't have any running game. I think the Packers are too well balanced on offense and defense and will eventually wear down the Seahawks offensive and defensive lines. I think the Packers will pull away and win this game in the 4th quarter. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the Seahawks might be able to win in a high scoring shootout. I just don't think that will happen.
Winner = Green Bay

2) NY Giants at Dallas: I think the Cowboys will jump up early in the passing game. I see Jason Witten and Terrell Owens both having huge games. Tony Romo's agility will negate the Giants pass rush and the Cowboy running game will take over in the 2nd half. Eli Manning will come back down to earth once the Giants fall behind early and will probably throw a couple interceptions that will seal the Giants fate. Winner = Dallas

3) Jacksonville at New England: Jacksonville is a very good football team. But, I think their injuries on the defensive line will be too much for the Jags to overcome. If the Jags were healthy, I think this would be a good football game. But, the Jags aren't healthy and Belichick has had too much time to develop a game plan. I think the Jag defense will shut down the Patriots running game, but I think Tom Brady will come up huge in the passing game. I think this game will be close early with Jacksonville maybe even having the lead into the 2nd half. Jones-Drew and Taylor will probably have big yards on the ground, but in the end I think the Jags will turn the ball over and the Patriots will pull away. Unless, of course, the weather turns nasty. Then, I think the Jags might have the advantage in inclimate weather.
Winner = New England

4) San Diego at Indianapolis: I know the Chargers beat Indy earlier this season in San Diego, but I don't think this game will even be close. The Colts were missing a lot of key players in the 1st game and they still almost won. Now, the Colts are as healthy as they have been all season. The Chargers have the speed on defense to compete with the Colts, but I think the Colts will fire up the running game and then live off of the play action pass. I look for the Colts to focus their defensive effort on stopping LT and forcing Philip Rivers into throwing the ball more than he wants. Joseph Addai should have a huge game both running and receiving. I also look for Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez to both have good games underneath.
Winner = Indianapolis

01/10/08: Kentucky Basketball

2008-01-10T10:21:00.000-08:00

I have been getting some emails wondering why I haven't been posting anything lately about Kentucky basketball. The answer is pretty simple.

If you read my last post related to Kentucky basketball on December 20th, then you can probably figure out why I haven't been posting anything relating to the team. If you didn't read it, then I'll take the time to give you a short explanation. I haven't been posting anything because I don't see how saying anything negative about Billy Gillespie or this year's version of the Kentucky Wildcats could in any way be productive. So, I have decided that I would rather not post anything about the guys in Lexington until I have something positive to write.

I have come to realize that coach Gillespie is in a bit of a "rebuilding year," and I am OK with that. On Saturday, the'Cats will open the SEC season with a game against 13th ranked Vanderbilt. It doesn't look like it will be pretty. Coach Gillespie announced yesterday that the injury bug has returned to the Lexington campus. Check out the story here.

My 1st Round Playoff Breakdown

2008-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

I got a few phone calls from friends this week asking about my opinions on the first round of the playoffs. So, I thought I would share some of my thoughts with everybody on the topic.

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1) Titans at Chargers: This game is a tough one to call. In case you forgot, this a rematch of an overtime game that was played in Week 14. San Diego won that game in Tennessee 23-17. That game got very physical and as a result these teams don't like each other very much. The Titans enter the rematch this week missing TE Bo Scaife and WR Roydell Williams due to injuries. I think these injuries will have a huge impact on Tennessee's already suspect passing game and will make the Titans offense mostly one dimensional. I have utmost respect for Tennessee's defense, but I just don't think the Titan's offense will be up to the task without Scaife and Williams. As result of that fact, I am going with San Diego.

2) Jacksonville at Pittsburgh: This is a rematch of a game that was played in Week 15. The Jags won that game 29-22 in Pittsburgh, but don't be fooled by the score. The Jags dominated that game in every aspect (except the score) from start to finish. To me, this is the biggest lock of the first round. In the first game between these 2, Jacksonville had 25 first downs and 421 total yards of offense and the Jag defense sacked Big Ben 5 times. The Steelers only managed 13 first downs and 217 yards of total offense and never touched Garrard. Now, the Steelers enter this game without Willie Parker and may also be forced to play without an injured Troy Polamalu. I'm going with Jacksonville in a game that might not even be close.

3) Washington at Seattle: Finally, 2 teams that haven't seen each other in awhile. These 2 teams are virtually unknown at this point in the season. Seattle hasn't been faced with a playoff caliber team since they lost to Pittsburgh 21-0 back in Week 5. The Redskins played a much tougher schedule this year than the Seahawks, but managed to only win 2 games out of the 7 they faced against teams in this year's playoffs. But, the Redskins did win their last 4 games of the regular season with QB Todd Collins at the helm after starter Jason Campbell got injured. I think this game is a tossup. Todd Collins has played great in the last 4 games of the season, but let's not forget that Todd has been a backup for most of his career for a reason. My gut tells me to go with the hot team in Washington, but I'm going with Seattle because they are playing at home and they have more playoff experience.

4) Gaints at Buccaneers: This is another game that makes me scratch my head. Tampa went 2-3 against playoff teams this year and the Giants went 1-5 against playoff teams. I think this will be a battle of defensive strengths. The Giants are going to get after Jeff Garcia on every snap and the Bucs are gonna sit back in Cover 2 and wait for Eli to implode. The thing that stands out to me in this game is the fact that New York will be playing without TE Jeremy Shockey. Shockey's presence in the passing game against Tampa's cover 2 scheme will be sorely missed by Eli Manning. As a result, I think Eli will rely more heavily on his WR's and I think Eli will probably make a few bad throws. I think Tampa will win a close game because of turnovers.

Chudzinski To Interview With Ravens

2008-01-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

ESPN.com is reporting that Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski will interview for the Baltimore Ravens vacant head coaching position. Phil Savage confirmed yesterday that the Ravens have been granted permission to speak with Chudzinski.

The Ravens are also reportedly interested in speaking with Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Indy's assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Cowboys' assistant head coach Tony Sparano, Cowboys' offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, and Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. However, McDaniels has already announced that he will not pursuing any head coaching opportunities at this time.

My Thoughts On The Browns For '08

2008-01-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

I know the NFL season just ended a couple days ago, but I thought I would go ahead and give my early opinion of the Cleveland Browns for the 2008 season.

First of all, I'd like to say that I don't think there is any way the Browns will be able to win 10 games again next season. I'm not saying I think the Browns will get worse next year. I'm saying they have a bitch of a schedule in '08 and I think they will be lucky to win 8 games next season.

The good news for the Browns is that the Steelers have a tougher schedule than Cleveland.

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Here is a look at the teams on Cleveland's schedule for '08. Each opponent's '07 record is in parenthesis after their name. In addition to Cleveland's Divisional foes, the Browns also face every team in the AFC South and NFC East, along with the 2nd place team from the AFC West (Denver) and the 2nd place team from the AFC East (Buffalo):

Cleveland's Home Games: Houston (8-8), Indy (13-3), Dallas (13-3), Giants (10-6), Denver (7-9), Pittsburgh (10-6), Cincinnati (7-9), and Baltimore (5-11).

Cleveland's Away Games: Jacksonville (11-5), Tennessee (10-6), Philadelphia (8-8), Washington (9-7), Buffalo (7-9), Pittsburgh (10-6), Cincinnati (7-9), and Baltimore (5-11).

Those are the 16 games that Cleveland will play in '08. All that remains to be determined is the exact dates the Browns will face each of their opponents.
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OK, now that I have covered how difficult the Browns schedule is going to be next season I would like to move on to the next issue I see facing the Browns. The quarterback position.

I've been saying most of the season that I think the Browns should keep both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn for one more year. But, after looking at the Browns schedule for next season I think it might be wise for Phil Savage to at least listen to what other teams might be willing to offer for either Quinn or Anderson. The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Browns are in fact willing to listen to trade offers for Derek Anderson. The thing I find most interesting about the Plain Dealer's story is that there is no mention of the Browns possibly trading Brady Quinn. Does that mean the Browns have already made up their mind who the long term quarterback in Cleveland will be? If so, I wonder what information they are basing their decision on?

You would think that a team that might be considering trading their starting quarterback in the offseason would have at least given their untested backup QB a few meaningful snaps during the regular season. But, the Browns didn't do any such thing. Even in the Browns' last game of the season against San Francisco, which was a completely meaningless game, coach Romeo Crennel stuck with Derek Anderson throughout. Quinn did actually get to see some action on one drive late in the 2nd quarter of the 49er game when Anderson got hurt and had to leave the game, but Crennel put Anderson right back in to start the 2nd half. Quinn finished the game 3 for 8 and led the Browns to a field goal. Edwards and Winslow both dropped Quinn passes in the end zone on that drive that should have been caught for a touchdown. All in all, I thought Quinn looked pretty decent on his only drive of the entire NFL season. That's right, that is the only action Brady Quinn saw all season.

Wouldn't you think the Browns would want to see how Brady Quinn performed in actual games before they even entertained thoughts of trading away Derek Anderson?

I'm not defending Derek Anderson. I think DA may be the most overrated quarterback in the NFL. Sure, Derek threw 29 TD passes this year, but he also threw 19 interceptions and only completed 56.5% of his passes. And any knowledgeable Cleveland fan will tell you that DA always threw his INTs at the worst possible time. But, at least DA is a known quantity. And all things considered, I think Derek did a pretty decent job in his first season as a starter in the NFL.

Now, Cleveland finds themselves in a difficult situation. They are without a 1st round draft pick this year, they have a defense that needs a lot help, and they have a schedule next season that will make it difficult for either of their quarterbacks to achieve the kind of success that Derek Anderson achieved this year. So, if they decide to keep Anderson as the starter there is a good chance that he will suffer a sophomore slump and his trade value will drop. If they bench Anderson and decide to go with Quinn, they will be entering the season with an unproven starting quarterback who will probably struggle against a much tougher schedule than the one Anderson faced this season.

I'm sorry, but I think if the Browns don't trade one of these guys this offseason they will be facing the mother of all quarterback controversies next year. And, if they decide to keep both of these guys for one more year and either of them looks bad next year, the Browns will lose the ability to get something of value in a trade for the loser of their quarterback controversy.

So, if Cleveland is even thinking about trading either one of these guys then they better do it now. I know it will be a tough decision, but that is the kind of decision that Crennel and Savage get paid the proverbial "big bucks" to make.
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Next, the Browns need to find a way to resign Jamal Lewis or find a decent replacement for him. Jamal is 29 years old and probably doesn't have a lot of miles left on his engine, but there is no doubt that he was an integral part of the Browns' success this year. Lewis put up over 1300 yards rushing this year, averaged 4.4 yards per carry, had 30 receptions, and scored 11 touchdowns. That kind of production is hard to replace.
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The Browns need to talk Joe Jurevicius into returning for at least one more year. All indications are that Joe will return next year, but he has mentioned the possibility of hanging up his cleats. Joe was a nice 3rd option this year with 50 receptions and his productivity would be sorely missed next year if he chooses to retire.
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Cleveland also needs to try and do something to get a first round draft pick this year. Their defense needs a lot of help and they need to move up in the draft where they can get somebody that will make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. There are some Free Agents available in this year's market, but I think the high impact players will probably get the franchise tags from their respective teams. So, Cleveland's best bet will probably be to try and get better in the draft. I think Cleveland's most desperate need for next year is on the defensive line, and there are some quality defensive lineman who should still be available in the middle of this year's first round. You can check out some of this year's defensive line prospects here.
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So what do I think will happen in Cleveland?

I think the Browns will resign Jamal Lewis and talk Jurevicius into at least one more year. Then, I think the Browns will try to sign and trade Derek Anderson for draft picks. The only question being to which team they try to trade DA, and what kind of draft picks they ask for in return. I think the Browns will probably try to get a 1st and 3rd round pick for Anderson. I'm just not sure which team they will try to trade him to. I think the most obvious teams that will show interest in DA would be the Vikings, Bears, Falcons, Dolphins, 49ers, Jets, Ravens, and Chiefs.

All of those teams except the Bears and Falcons have a young quarterback on their roster who has shown some promise. The Vikings have Tarvaris Jackson, the Dolphins have John Beck, the 49ers have Alex Smith, the Jets have Kellen Clemens, the Ravens have Troy Smith, and the Chiefs have Brody Croyle. I think the argument can easily be made that DA is a better quarterback than all of those guys. But, all those teams have young QBs with potential on their roster and probably won't be willing to pay the high price for DA. But, you never know.

I don't think Bill Parcells in Miami will be willing to give up the first overall pick for Anderson, so I don't think Miami will be in the running at all.

That leaves the Bears and the Falcons. I think there is a pretty good chance the Bears and Falcons will both probably draft a quarterback (Matt Ryan from BC or Andre Woodson from Kentucky). But, I think the Bears are closer to being a playoff team than the Falcons and might consider trading for a QB instead of drafting and developing one. So, if any team is willing to pay the price that Cleveland will be asking for DA, I think it will be the Bears. Unless, of course, the Bears somehow manage to acquire Donovan McNabb. Then, all bets are off.

NFL End Of Regular Season

2007-12-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

I am not going to do my weekly Power Rankings this week. The week 17 games were mostly meaningless and so I decided my Power Rankings would remain the same as they were in Week 16. I would like to make some week 17 observations, though.
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1) I just don't know what to think of Vince Young. I see some really nice talent there, and I also see some really good decision making occasionally. But, his inconsistency is incredible and it isn't getting better. I honestly think the Titans looked better this year with Kerry Collins in the backfield. I'm not ready to give up on Vince yet, but I'm not holding my breath.

2) I'm not sure what to think of Derek Anderson, either. He is the AFC Pro Bowl alternate at the quarterback position, but his numbers aren't actually that great. He did pass for 29 touchdowns this season, but he also had 19 interceptions and only completed 56.5% of his passes. His 19 interceptions rank him 29th out of the 33 statistically relevant NFL quarterbacks and his 56.5 % completion percentage ranks him 28th. Plus, his numbers actually got worse in the 2nd half of the season. I'm not convinced he is the long term solution in Cleveland. I hope the Browns decide to keep both Anderson and Quinn for at least 1 more year.

3) Jim Sorgi may be the worst quarterback I have ever seen in an NFL uniform. And yes, I am old enough to remember the strike year when the "Scabs" played. The Colts would be lucky to win 3 games during a 16 game season with Sorgi at the helm. I honestly don't know what Dungy and Polian see in Jim. The Colts will be totally screwed if anything ever happens to Peyton Manning.

4) Brian Billick deserved to get the axe in Baltimore, but not based solely on this season. The guy is supposed to be some kind of offensive guru, but he has had something like 13 different starting quarterbacks in 9 years and the defense is still the strongest part of that team. The Ravens are getting old on defense and I think their window is closing. I applaud the ownership for making a very difficult decision that needed to be made.

5) The Dolphins fired GM Randy Mueller today. I guess we're about to find out if Bill Parcells really is as good as advertised. The Dolphins are a complete mess on offense as far as talent is concerned, and their defense is getting really old. Don't be surprised if you see a lot of new faces on the roster next year.

6) I really don't see any major upsets in this year's playoffs. But, you never know. I think New England has the best shot at winning the Super Bowl, with Indy as the 2nd strongest team, Jacksonville as #3, Dallas as #4, and Green Bay as #5.

7) There are more than a few teams in the NFL who will probably be looking to improve their quarterback situation next year. And, there doesn't appear to be any real strong quarterbacks available in this year's draft. Check out Scout.com's NFL draft rankings. It could be an interesting offseason.

8) OK, remember you heard this here first. I am going to go out on a limb and predict that the New England Patriots will become the first team in NFL history to go undefeated in back to back seasons. I just checked out their preliminary schedule for next season and it looks like it will be easier than the one they faced this year. The teams in the AFC East are scheduled to face the AFC West and the NFC West next season. In addition, the Patriots will also have to play Indy and Pittsburgh. So, New England's schedule for next season will include these games:

Patriots Home Games: Denver (7-9), Kansas City (4-12), Arizona (8-8), St. Louis (3-13), Pittsburgh (10-6), Miami (1-15), Buffalo (7-9), and the Jets (4-12).

Patriots Away Games: Oakland (4-12), San Diego (11-5), San Francisco (5-11), Seattle (10-6), Indy (13-3), Miami (1-15), Buffalo (7-9), and the Jets (4-12).

As you can see, the Patriots will only be facing 4 teams next season that finished the '07 season with winning records. Like I said, I think the Patriots have a pretty decent shot at becoming the only team in NFL history to go undefeated in back to back seasons.

Week 16 Observations

2007-12-23T19:04:00.000-08:00

1) Derek Anderson's 4 interceptions may have totally screwed the Browns' chances of making the playoffs. The Browns will miss the playoffs if the Titans beat the Colts next week, and Tony Dungy has already stated that he is planning on resting a lot of his players next Sunday. The Browns looked like a lock for the playoffs a couple of weeks ago, but I think the Titans will beat the Colts and take the final AFC wild card spot.

2) I have decided that I do not understand the new definition of "control" when a receiver catches a ball. I have seen too many instances this year when I thought a player didn't exhibit control only to have the referees review the play in question and declare the receiver had "control." I wasn't a big fan of the old rule, but at least I understood it.

3) I think Donovan McNabb won't be in Philadelphia next season. The only question for me is where will he end up. I think there are a lot of teams that will make a play for him, but my money is on Chicago. I think whoever gets McNabb will instantly become a better team. I still think Donovan is one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the League.

4) I just can't help thinking the Browns are gonna trade Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson this off season. There are just too many teams that need quarterbacks and the Browns need a lot of help on defense. I'm just not sure which guy they should trade. Derek Anderson has looked good for most of the season, but Brady Quinn might turn out to be a better quarterback in the long run. I'd like to see the Browns keep them both for one more year but I think both Anderson and Quinn might be at the peak of their trade value this off season.

5) I'm still not sold on the San Diego Chargers. I really want to believe they have a legitimate shot at getting to the Super Bowl, but I don't think they have what it takes to beat New England or Indianapolis. I know they beat the Colts earlier in the year, but I think they just got lucky and caught the Colts at the right time.

6) I only asked Santa for one thing this year. I begged the jolly old man to please find a decent replacement for Tony Kornheiser on Monday Night Football for next season. Listening to Kornheiser in the MNF booth might be the most painful thing I've ever had to endure in my entire life.

Week 16 Power Rankings

2007-12-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

This will probably be the last meaningful week for power rankings. The top seeds in the playoffs have already been determined.
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1) New England Patriots: Is anybody really surprised?

2) Indianapolis Colts: Look for the Colts to rest a lot of players next week against the Titans.

3) Jacksonville Jaguars: I moved them ahead of the Cowboys and the Packers because I honestly believe they would beat both of those teams.

4) Dallas Cowboys: They just look like they are wearing down.

5) Green Bay Packers: How do they lose to the Bears that badly?

6) Pittsburgh Steelers: I still don't think they are a Super Bowl contender, but I think they are better than all the teams I have ranked below them.

7) San Diego Chargers: They look like they are starting to get the ball rolling. But, they haven't exactly been beating quality opponents.

8) Seattle Seahawks: They have the talent to be a threat in the NFC playoffs. I wouldn't rule them out of winning the NFC Championship.

9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They have a good defense, but I don't think they can compete with the top 5 teams in the NFL.

10) Tennessee Titans: Don't look now but the Titans are sneaking up on the playoffs. Don't forget that Vince Young is a "big game" quarterback.

Reds Trade Hamilton To Texas

2007-12-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

The Cincinnati reds announced today that they have traded center fielder Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera.

I hated to see Hamilton go, but I guess you have to give up something in order to get something. My concern in giving up Hamilton via trade is that Griffey isn't getting any younger and Dunn will be in the last year of his contract this season. I was beginning to think that Hamilton might be the bat that eventually replaced one of those guys in the lineup. But, maybe the Reds organization thinks that Jay Bruce will be ready by the time they need to replace Griffey or Dunn. Bruce certainly has looked capable. Jay was recently listed by MiLB.com as the top prospect in all of the minor leagues.

Volquez is an interesting prospect, but he has only pitched a total of 20 games in the majors over the last 3 years. He has a career record of 3 wins and 11 losses with an ERA of 7.20. Edinson has apparently struggled with his control over the last 3 years, but he has been improving. Texas gave him a shot in spring training last season to be their #5 starter but elected to send him back down to the minors instead. He eventually made it back up with Texas last season and pitched in 6 games with a record of 2-1 and an ERA of 4.50. I think the Reds will definitely give a shot to Volquez to compete for either the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation. Harang, Arroyo, and Belisle should be the Reds first 3 in the rotation next season. I think Volquez will probably be competing with Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto to see who will fill the final 2 spots in the rotation.

There isn't a lot of info available on 23 year old Danny Herrera. In February of this year Scout.com listed Herrera as the #18 prospect in the Rangers organization. Danny posted a 5-2 record with a 3.80 ERA with Double A Frisco this last season.

12/20/07: Kentucky Basketball

2007-12-20T19:04:00.000-08:00

OK. So the Kentucky men's basketball team isn't looking very good so far this season. If you're a Kentucky fan what did you honestly expect?

The biggest gripe that everybody seemed to have with Tubby Smith was his recruiting. So, why is everyone complaining about the Wildcats substandard performance on the floor this season? Let's face it, Billy Gillespie didn't exactly inherit a talent rich team when he came to Lexington. The cupboards were pretty bare, even by Tubby's standards. Don't get me wrong, there are some talented players on this year's roster. But, the only developed talent that Tubby left in Lexington was at the guard position. Tubby didn't leave any big men on the roster that had any meaningful experience.

Billy Gillespie came to town, and now finds himself in the unenviable position of having too many talented back court players and not enough developed front court players. As a result, Billy has had to rely heavily on a talented freshman (Patrick Patterson) and a walk-on (Mark Coury) to do most of the heavy lifting in the low post. Add to that the injuries to Meeks and Jasper in the back court at the start of the season, and Billy Gillespie's unenviable position suddenly became an unenviable mess.

I'm actually impressed that the Wildcats have, at times, looked as good as they have. They haven't yet impressed me with their defense or rebounding, but it is honestly about what I expected when I saw the lineup that Gillespie has been forced to put on the floor. When the season started I made a note to myself that I thought Kentucky would be lucky to finish the season at .500. And that was before Meeks got injured and Legion left the program.

I understand Kentucky fans being upset, but what does everybody honestly expect to gain by bashing Gillespie and the players this early in the season? I'm afraid that if the bashing continues it might have a negative impact on Gillespie's recruiting. If you were a highly sought after recruit would you want to go to a school where the fans were constantly criticizing the players and coach? Billy will never be able to resurrect the program if he can't convince the big name recruits that his job is safe in Lexington.

If you are truly a Kentucky fan I am begging you to have a little patience. Rome wasn't built in a day. Yes, Billy does things a little differently from what we are all used to. But, that doesn't necessarily mean what he is doing is wrong.

I think Gillespie is a good enough recruiter to bring in the required talent to return the Wildcats to greatness. The guy just needs some more time and a little faith from the fan base. I'm not saying that we as Kentucky fans don't have the right to be critical, all I'm suggesting is that we should think about the possible ramifications of what we say before we say it.

Ball State Apologizes to Thompson

2007-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

Ball State University has issued an apology to former basketball coach Ronny Thompson after an outside review found "unprofessional behavior" in the University's Athletic Department. The review was conducted by former Supreme Court Justice Myra Selby at the request of the University.

The fact that Ball State felt the need to apologize to Thompson tells me that somebody in the Athletic Department must have done or said something pretty bad. If that is the case, then I truly hope the guilty parties have been punished.

I have not been able to read any of the findings of former Supreme Court Justice Selby's report. I have a feeling that since this was a personnel issue that we may never know the full findings of the report. I can only hope that Selby's report was all-inclusive and that it also addressed some of the "unprofessional behavior" that was reportedly exhibited by coach Thompson. I think it would be an injustice to everyone involved on both sides of the issue if the independent review didn't investigate some of the claims that have been made about coach Thompson's behavior while he was at the University.

If you followed the link above to the Muncie Star Press article, I hope you took the time to read the user comments at the end of the story. If you didn't, you may want to go back and take a look at them. I found them to be very interesting. After reading the comments on the story I think it is pretty obvious that Ronny Thompson doesn't have too many fans in Muncie.

I'll follow up on this issue if anything further develops.

Week 15 Observations

2007-12-16T17:09:00.000-08:00

1) Bill Belichick stated after Sunday's game against the Jets that the Patriots aren't going to do anything different in their last 2 games. I assume that means he is planning on playing his starters in those last 2 games. I hope Belichick is doing it for the right reasons because I would hate to see the backlash if somebody like Tom Brady were to get seriously hurt in a meaningless game because Belichick wanted to finish the season undefeated.

2) The Colts clinched the AFC South and a 1st round bye with their win over Oakland. I can't believe how well they've played this season with so many injuries. This is the best coaching job that Tony Dungy has ever done. Let's not forget that if it wasn't for 1 missed "chip shot" field goal against San Diego and a dropped pass by the normally reliable Reggie Wayne against the Pats, this Colts team would probably be 14-0 right now.

3) Go look at the box score of the Steelers/Jaguars game. I don't see how the final score could have been so close. The Jags had 25 first downs and 421 total yards of offense. The Steelers only had 13 first downs and 217 total yards of offense. The Jaguars rushed for 224 yards against the Steelers defense which came into the game ranked #2 against the run in the entire NFL. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "The Jags are for real!" I sure hope we get to see the Jags play against New England in the playoffs.

4) The Colts clinching the #2 seed could actually hurt the Browns. If the Browns win 1 more game or the Titans lose 1 more game, the Browns will earn the final wild card spot in the AFC. The problem for the Browns is that the Titans last 2 games are against the pathetic New York Jets and against Indianapolis. The Titans will probably win both of those games because the Jets suck and the Colts probably won't even make an effort to win their final 2 games. So, the Browns are gonna have to win 1 of their 2 final games to take that wild card spot. For the record, the Browns final 2 games are against the Bengals and the 49ers. I think the Browns will win 1 of those games but I hate the fact that Indy resting players in their final 2 games could potentially affect another teams' chances of making the playoffs.

5) The Dolphins finally won a game in Week 15. How bad do you think the Ravens feel right now? They almost beat New England in Week 13, then get pummeled by the Colts in Week 14 and then lose to the winless Dolphins in Week 15. I know coach Brian Billick has been given a vote of confidence by the team owner, but I think the Ravens have underachieved this season.

6) Jeremy Shockey broke his left leg in Sunday night's game against the Redskins. I think his injury killed any chance the Giants had of winning a playoff game.

7) The Browns/Bills game is scheduled for replay on the NFL Network on Tuesday night at 10:30 pm. I love snow games!

Week 15 Power Rankings

2007-12-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

1) New England Patriots: The Patriots are fun to watch. I just wish their fans weren't such jerks.

2) Indianapolis Colts: They clinched the AFC South and a 1st round bye with the win at Oakland. Look for the Colts to shut it down and try to get healthy for the playoffs.

3) Dallas Cowboys: They haven't looked too sharp the last couple weeks, but they beat the Packers in Week 13 and that will be important come playoff time.

4) Green Bay Packers: The Packers look like the best team in the NFC right now. It still looks like they are gonna have to go back to Dallas, though.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars: Don't let the score fool you. The Jaguars outplayed the Steelers in every facet of the game.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers: I'm ranking them #6 because they have already beaten Cleveland and Seattle. Make no mistake though, this Steelers team isn't close to being good enough to contend for the Super Bowl this year.

7) Cleveland Browns: They control their own destiny. I think they make the playoffs as the final wild card team.

8) San Diego Chargers: They're baaaack!

9) Seattle Seahawks: The 'Hawks have played 3 teams this season that are currently in the playoff mix. The only one of those "playoff" teams the 'Hawks beat was the Buccaneers.

10a) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs have also played 3 teams this season that are currently in the playoff mix. Unfortunately, the Bucs lost all 3 of those games.

10b) Minnesota Vikings: They might sneak up on somebody if they can make it to the playoffs.

10c) NY Giants: In case you missed it last night, Jeremy Shockey broke his leg and is probably done for the year. The Giants are going to the playoffs, but they are toast without Shockey.

12/14/07: UK Basketball Update

2007-12-14T10:49:00.000-08:00

1) Derrick Jasper's return to the UK lineup might have suffered a setback yesterday. It is being reported that Jasper left practice yesterday with "sharp pain" in his surgically repaired left knee. His status for Saturday's game against UAB is uncertain.

2) The Detroit News is reporting that Alex Legion will transfer from UK and is considering going to Notre Dame, Arkansas, Illinois, or Michigan. Alex told the Detroit News that despite what UK coach Gillespie said in recent interviews, Alex never considered returning to UK after the initial reports of his desire to transfer had surfaced.

3) Former Kentucky Wildcat Rekalin Sims has been dismissed from the Fresno State basketball team.

4) UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart has signed a 5 year extension to remain at the University of Kentucky through 2012. There had been rumors that the University of Washington was interested in Barnhart to fill its currently vacant AD position.

UPDATE: Legion To Transfer

2007-12-12T04:42:00.000-08:00

12/11/07

Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald-Leader is reporting that Alex Legion's godfather/AAU coach has confirmed that Alex will be transferring from the University of Kentucky.

Read Jerry's article here.