Lunch Break Stories

NFL coaches that would gotten the axe for going for it on 4th and 2 on their own 28.

2009-11-17T07:19:00.000-05:00

Bill Belichick is the talk of the sports world after his daredevil play calling in the fourth quarter of sunday night’s New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts game. To quickly recap Belichick went for it on fourth and two at his own 28 and Peyton Manning easily led his team down the short field capping it of with a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne to win the game 35-34. Belichick happens to be the most successful active coach in the NFL and has more job security than anyone. The same cannot be said for a majority of the other head coaches in the league. Lets take a look at some jobs that might be in jeopardy if the same events occurred with a different coach.

Wade Phillips: He would never have the authority to pull a move like that, but if he did Jerry Jones would have fired him by the time the Cowboys got to the locker room.

Jim Zorn: In this case Zorn would have defiantly been fired on the spot. Then again he would have been fired if the Redskins punted. Although the Skins did show some life in their upset of the Falcons.

Dick Jauron: The scary thing is that he would probably keep his job. In this case the Bills would have probably just run the ball up the middle three times , but if this happened to the Bills you would have to think he would finally be out leaving behind his legacy of 7-9 seasons.

Tom Cable: He would almost certainly get the boot, but for that to happen the Raiders would actually have to have a six point lead with two minutes to go.

John Fox: Considering that a loss like this would put the final nail in the coffin for the Panther playoff hopes It would be very difficuly for Fox to survive the backlash.

Raheem Morris: There have been reports that he may be on the hot seat. Despite the fact that the Bucs have not played a meaningful game since last season’s finally a 33 year-old coach making a move like that could pressure the owner Malcolm Glazer to make a move and fast.

Gary Kubiak: Considering that this may be a make or break season for Kubiak with the Houston Texans a move like this would likely ensure the break. However, if the team could survive it and make the playoffs he would probably survive regardless.

Norv Turner: I think we should give him a chance to actually try this. He’s always found a way to mess up yet he keeps getting work , but you would have to think that with the annual expectations for the San Diego Chargers that General Manager A.J. Smith might pull the plug onTurner.

Eric Mangini: With the recent firing of General Manager George Kokinis it has already been speculated that the former Mangenius will not make it past this season. After the disasterous season that he has had the Browns might cut ties on the spot.

Jack Del Rio: There have been rumblings that Del Rio is on the hot seat, but the Jaguars have recently gotten themselves back into the playoff hunt. With that said if he pulled a Belichick, which would severely damage Jacksonville’s playoff hopes that hot seat would be scorching.

You would have to think that the rest of the first year coaches would be safe along with the remaining coaches in the league. However if this were to happen in a playoff situation then it could end the tenure of a long time coach who has never quite reached the pinnacle such as: Andy Reed, Lovie Smith, and Brad Childress.

The message here is if you are an NFL head coach do not do anything too crazy.

Why History Is Not On The New Orleans Saints Side

2009-11-12T07:11:00.000-05:00

The New Orleans Saints have stormed out to an impressive 8-0 start and a three game lead in the NFC South. The team has a favorable schedule and has an excellent chance to get home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. On the offensive end Drew Brees has been outstanding and the passing game has been unstoppable during the first half of the season. The team’s three headed running attack of Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, and Mike Bell have given the Saints offense a balanced attack. The defense has improved under new defensive coordinator Greg Williams forcing turnovers and getting a good rush, but you have to be concerned with the amount of points they are giving up. This side of the ball has to be a major concern for the team heading into the playoffs especially when you consider the solid running game possessed by a Minnesota or Dallas, which could potentially keep the New Orleans offense of the field. Unfortunately for the Saints recent history has shown us that high octane offensive teams with questionable defenses with questionable defenses are no strangers to great starts but often burnout in the playoffs.

Historically, scoring a ton of points in the regular season has not always translated to post-season success. The 2005 Colts took the NFL by storm. They started the season with 13 straight wins and finished 14-2, heavily favored to go the Super Bowl. Their offense could not be stopped. However, they were upset in the first round by the #6 seed Steelers, who ended up going on to win the Super Bowl. The same is true for the '03 Chiefs. They started the year with a franchise best 9-0 start and finished 13-3. The tandem of Trent Green and Priest Holmes led the Chiefs to the AFC West championship and a first round bye. Holmes ended up breaking Marshall Faulk's single season rushing record. However, the post-season loomed and they ended up losing a shootout in the AFC Divisional Playoffs to the aforementioned Colts in which their defense could not come close to stopping the Colts. In 1998 the Minnesota Vikings tore through the NFL led by league MVP quarterback Randall Cunningham, and the electrifying rookie Randy Moss. This team also featured the legendary Chris Carter and Robert Smith who helped the Vikings offense set what was at that time the scoring record for points in a season and a 15-1 record. However, despite all the accolades Minnesota lost a heart breaking NFC Championship game to the Atlanta Falcons 30-27 in overtime bringing their record breaking season to a stunning end. Finally, lets look at the '07 Patriots. This may be the best example of all. Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and company were a historic offensive force. Welker led the league in receptions while Moss set an NFL record with 23 touchdown grabs. It seemed like every week the Pats would put up 50 and not think twice. Even though some teams came close, the Pats went undefeated in the regular season and beat the Jaguars and Chargers to advance to the Super Bowl. Deemed by some to be the best team of all time, they were double digit favorites against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. However, once again Defense prevailed. The Giants put tremendous pressure on Tom Brady and the offensive juggernaut was held to only 14 points, in what some people call the biggest upset in football history. The Pats ended the season 18-1, leaving the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated champions in NFL History.

What will the future hold for the New Orleans Saints only time will tell.

What does the future hold for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

2009-10-28T22:03:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not another NBA campaign is upon us, but this year there is added drama as the biggest free agent free for all in NBA history will immediately follow the season in the summer of 2010. There is no team that knows this better than the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their franchise Lebron James is in entering his free agent season and has chosen not to sign an extension with the team. It certainly looks as though James is weighing his options and wants to see what direction the club is heading in before committing to a contract.

In the 2008-2009 the Cavs roared through the regular season with a 66-16 record and earned home court throughout the playoffs. They made quick work of the Pistons and Hawks before being ousted by the Orlando Magic 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry has already made some significant changes bringing in Shaquille O'Neal, Anthony Parker,Jamario Moon, and giving forward Anderson Varejao a new deal 6 year 50 million dollar contract. The Varejao signing seems very questionable because Cleveland not only overpaid, but locked up cap space going into the 2010 campaign if Lebron decides to stay. Moon and Parker are good role players, but quite a downgrade when you consider that Ferry was eying Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza during the off season. That leaves the big man who may once again hold the future of a franchise in his bigger than life hands. The 37 year old center will enter his eighteenth season, and his level of play may determine what the Cavs can accomplish this season, and the fate of Lebron James.

Should Cleveland flourish and give Lebron James his first championship it would greatly increase the odds of James resigning and cement the team's place among the NBA elite. Should they falter it will just bring about more questions. Will Lebron leave for New York or another franchise? If he does leave will the Cavs be able to make any roster with their lack of young talent? Will Danny Ferry lose his job? Stay tuned it's time to get some answers.

All Things NFL

2009-10-20T07:14:00.001-04:00

All things NFL

1. Lets start in Washington where lame duck coach Jim Zorn has been stripped of his play calling duties. Lets get to the root of this problem and that is owner Dan Snyder. You have consistantly led this franchise in the wrong direction and as a result the Redskins are a lost franchise that is paying Albert Haynesworth 100 million dollars. It is time for Snyder to hire someone that has a clue about developing a team, and more importantly lay of. Sign the checks and get out of the way. What you have proven is that you can run a franchise into the ground.

2. New Orleans was the sight of this week's marquee matchup where Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints laid whooping Loiusiana style on the previously undefeated New York Giants. The Saints got their respect and look like the class of the NFC while the Giants now have some legitimate concerns on the defensive side. However, let me be the first to point out that championships are not won in October. It will be interesting to see how the Saints perform against the very tricky wildcat of the Miami Dolphins. Stay Tuned.

3. Brett Favre led another Viking Comeback after Joe Flacco and Ray Rice made a furious comeback in the fourth quarter. The Vikings keep finding a way to win and the Ravens are sinking fast. The most concerning issue for Baltimore is that their defense has really struggled recently. The Ravens have a bye this week and then a huge game in week 8 when they host the now 6-0 Denver Broncos. The Viking will travel to Pittsburgh this week in what should be the game of the week. Could this be a preview of Superbowl 44. Oh wait it's still October.

4. Breaking news the Patriot Titan game has just hit the two minute mark. Looks like Tom Brady and company are starting to figure things out. It also looks like they will be taking full control of the division in the near future. On the other side of the ball can the Titans really be this bad? This franchise has gone from first to worst and fast. There is no excuse for the way they have played this season. They have clearly quit after the Jet game a few weeks ago. It is definitely time to play Vince Young. Kerry Collins has been a warrior and a solid quarterback, but there is no reason for him to start. This team is going nowhere and its time to see if Young has any chance to lead this team.

5. The bonehead play of the week goes to Philly quarterback Donovan McNabb calling a timeout that he did not have at the end of the first half of the Eagles game against the Raiders. I am still trying to figure out how in the world the Eagles managed to lose to the Raiders. On the other side the Oakland Raiders have confirmed that they are still in the NFL and that their defense has the ability to play pretty well. Should be very interesting to see how they fair this week against the slumping New York Jets, or maybe exruciating is a better word.

6. Speaking of the Jets rumor has it that CBS has demanded the NFL no longer require them to carry any Bills or Jets games for the rest of the season. This was easily the longest and ugliest game of the day. Lets start with the Jets who blew a 10 point lead and inexpicably put the ball in the air despite the fact that they were running the ball down Buffalo's throaght and Trent Edwards was knocked out of the game. Mark Sanchez threw 5 picks and you have to wonder why the coaching staff put him in that position. He is a rookie and he should not be treated like a five-year veteran. You have to hide him and protect him. There was also no reason to take any chances. Did they really believe that Ryan Fitzpatrick was going to lead a 10 point comeback. If the Jets would have played more conservative they would have easily won the game. Now you have a team coming of three straight losses, a shaken rookie quarterback, and to add insult to injury, arguably there most important defensive player defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is lost for the season with a torn ACL. More proof of just how fast things can change in the National Football League.

7. How awful is Dick Jauron? If you were unlucky enough to witness the previously mentioned contest then you have to wonder how Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron is still employed. Late in the fourth quarter the Bills were in the mist of a potential game winning drive that was haulted by... head coach Dick Jauron? That's right after the Bills reached the Jets 29 and on second down with over 30 seconds left plus a timeout Mr. 7 and 9 decided to let the clock run all the way down and let place kicker Ryan Lindell kick a 46 yard field goal in the extremely windy Giants Stadium. The result was overtime and more angry Buffalo Bills fans. Lucky for Jauron, the Bills pulled it out, but his "play not to lose" attitude has to be one of the main reason the Bills have lost so many heart breaking games during his tenure.

8 The Denver Broncos have all but clinched the AFC West with a huge win in San Diego. 6-0 who would have imagined. Kyle Orton playing at a high level. Josh McDaniels coach of the year. What would you have thought if I read that to you in August? As for the Chargers they are in a world of trouble, and Phillip Rivers may be running for his life the rest of the season.

NFL Team Status!!!

2009-10-16T01:17:00.001-04:00

NFL Contenders, Pretenders, and Just Enders October 2009

AFC

Contenders

1. Indianapolis Colts - The Colts have jumped out to a 5-0 mark and should easily hit 6-0 after the bye when they visit the woeful Rams. They have already set themselves up wonderfully for the postseason with a three game lead in the division, and it looks like the road to the Super Bowl is likely to go through Indianapolis. There are questions on the defensive end namely stopping the run. However, the Colts have shutdown Arizona and Tennessee recently, and are likely to get their defensive MVP Bob Sanders back after the bye week. Of course we can not forget the best player in football Peyton Manning who has looked as good as ever and gives the team a chance to win any game they are in. He has helped the rookies Donald Brown and Austin Collie, as well as second year player Pierre Garcon make a seamless transition into the offense to the tune of 27.4 points per game even after losing number two receiver Anthony Gonzales in the season opener. Watch out for the Colts they have six home games remaining and have an excellent chance to get home field advantage throughout.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers - I will be the first to admit that this team has not looked great at the start of the season especially on the defensive end. However, this may all change when they get Troy Polumalu back in the next few weeks. Roethlisberger and the offense have looked good in recent weeks , and if they can run the ball with Rashard Mendenhall you have to like their chances. They are only one game back of Cincinnati in the AFC North and have managed to keep pace in the division despite a rough start. The Steelers bring a championship pedigree to the table along with a clutch Super Bowl winning Quarterback, which will give them a huge advantage going forward. Their November 15 game against the Bengals will be a must win in the AFC North division race.

3. Denver Broncos- Is it safe to say that this has been the biggest surprise of the young NFL season? Josh McDaniels and the Broncos continue to surprise us including one nameless person that predicted that they would win no more than four games this year. The Broncos solid ball control offense led by surprisingly turnover free Kyle Orton, stud wide receiver Brandon Marshal, and the duo of Knowshan Moreno and Correll Buckhalter have done the job especially in the clutch. However, the story of this team has been their defensive turnaround from a year ago. The addition of new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and free agent Brian Dawkins have given this defense a new attitude, and they have had a dramatic turnaround. A huge comeback win and a 5-0 mark give the Broncos great positioning in the AFC west. They have a huge game in San Diego on monday night where a win would give them a 3.5 game lead in the division. A loss and they will be staring at the Ravens and Steelers. Where the Broncos really rank in the AFC will be decided shortly.

4. Cincinati Bengals- The Bengals have been one of the truly feel good stories this year with huge division comeback wins against the Steelers and in Baltimore. They have raced to a 3-0 start in their division and a defense that has played very well. Carson Palmer has returned to form along with Esteban Ocho cinco. What is most impressive for the Bengals is that they are 3-0 away from home. If they can hold serve a in their upcoming three game home stand against some tough but winnable opponents the Bengals may actually have a shot at a division title and a bye. Remember they still have Oakland, Detroit, Cleveland, and Kansas City on the schedule.

5. New England Patriots- There are a lot of questions surrounding the Patriots, but the biggest one is the health of Matt Light. If he misses significant time how does that bode for the Patriots offense? The Patriots defense has also been suspect at times. They have lost a lot of personal and have failed to make key stops. This includes two fortunate wins where Buffalo scored in the late fourth quarter then self destructed and Mark Clayton dropped an easy catch on fourth down in the red zone. On the other hand as long as Bill Belichek and Tom Brady are on that sideline you have to give them a shot. They always find a way and a division title would mean a home game. Never count out the Pats.

6. Baltimore Ravens – What a difference a few weeks make. After a 3-0 start the Ravens have lost two tough games, which came down to the last two minutes. This includes a brutal home loss to division rival Cincinnati, which may prove to hurt them in a playoff tiebreaker down the road. The Ravens still have a top defense but it seems like it has not been quite the same this year. On the other side of the ball Joe Flaco and the offense have looked good this season putting up 28 points per game. However, they only managed seven points in a loss to the Bengals. There is no question this team is still very dangerous, but they have to get things back on track and fast. They enter a crucial stretch in their season where they play in Minnesota, host Denver then visit Cincinnati in their next three games. The Ravens season may be decided after that stretch and that Bengal game looks like a must win.

7. New York Jets- The Jets make this list by the skin of their teeth. The loss in Miami exposed some major issues with their so- called elite Defense. They have not been able to stop the run in their last three games, which must be corrected if the Jets have aspirations of a playoff berth. They also need to get more pressure on the quarterback from their defensive line. The offense played very well in Miami and it looks like Braylan Edwards may be a great addition for Mark Sanchez. However, they have to do a better job of running the football. This may mean more Leon Washington and even the rookie Shonn Green. The Jets schedule is also likely to keep them on this list with games against the woeful Bills and Raiders next on tap. The major question is whether rookie Mark Sanchez will keep up his stellar play. If the Jets don’t slip up against the teams they are supposed to beat they will set themselves up nicely for a run at the division title.

Pretenders

1. Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins win against the Jets has gotten them back into the division race and on the cusp of division contention. Chad Henne looked nothing short of fantastic on Monday and the Wild Cat was in full effect. The problem is the next three games pose a tremendous challenge for Miami as they host the Saints then visit the Jets and Pats. If they make it through that stretch they will have a legitimate shot at the division. We should have a pretty good idea of where the Dolphins stand after the next three games..

2. San Diego Chargers- The Chargers are 2-2 and have already suffered some major injuries. They have an elite quarterback in Phillip Rivers and a very good offense with some big playmakers. The problem is that on the defensive end they can't stop anything or anyone at any time. On top of that they are already 2.5 games behind AFC West leading Denver who they host this Monday night. The Chargers still have the whole NFC East to deal with that does not leave a lot of wiggle room.

3 Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans- They are in the same boat. They look decent some weeks but have not shown the consistency or defensive play necessary to make a run. On top of that both already trail the division leading Colts by three games. If either team does not make a playoff push it could be curtains for their respective head coaches.

Just Enders

1. Oakland Raiders- Is it safe to say Jamarcus Russell has no business in the NFL? This team looks absolutely awful. What I don't understand is how they managed to play decent ball during the first two weeks of the season. They have quit on Tom Cable, Al Davis is lost, and this team needs an overall more than any team in the league.

2. Kansas City Chiefs- While it is true that the Chiefs have not won a game at least they have shown some fight the last two weeks. More importantly they have some direction in the organization with Scott Pioli making the calls. Believe it or not things will get better in Kansas City but it will be a long year. Matt Cassell is coming of a good game and their is some young talent on this team. Chiefs fans need to be patient.

3. Cleveland Browns- The Mangini era has been a complete disaster thus far. The players hate him, the fans hate him, and the team has looked absolutely pathetic. A 6-3 win against the equally dismal Bills will not turn too many heads. I would say Derek Anderson is reason for optimism, but then he goes two for seven. Just not pretty in the dog pound these days. They have to find out if either Anderson or Quinn is their quarterback of the future.

4. Buffalo Bills- The Bills are better than this. A 6-3 loss to the hapless Browns at home? The Bills showed some promise in the first few weeks, but since then have looked as bad as anyone. Yes, they have been decimated by injuries but if the Lions can compete the Bills should be able to. How is Dick Jauron still employed? He has not even had a winning season. You can count on 7-9 with Dick. This team needs a new coach, system, and attitude. I believe Trent Edwards can be a good NFL starter but it sure has not looked that way recently. This team has some good talent, but it is just not going to happen under this regime. They might want to consider trading T.O. and maybe one of their backs to stock pile picks.

5 Tennessee Titans- What is their excuse? 0-5 ? Really? They lost some close games to start the year, lost a tough one to the Jets, and we have not heard from them since. I get it Albert Haynesworth was a big loss, but this team has more than enough talent to be competitive especially in their own building. Poor Kerry Collins has dealt with quite the inept group of receivers. It is amazing to see professional football wide receivers drop this many balls. Just an ugly situation down in Tennessee. They might as well give Vince Young a chance at this point.

NFC

Contenders

1. New York Giants- The Giants have already overcome major injuries to start their season 5-0 They have played very well and taken care of business against teams they should beat. The receivers which were a major question have performed at an elite level led by Steve Smith who may be heading to Miami in January. Eli Manning has enjoyed his best start as a pro showing accuracy and limiting mistakes. The defense has played very well led by Justin Tuck although they will face their toughest challenge of the young season in New Orleans on Sunday. The Giants have the experience, talent, and championship pedigree that will give them a chance to return to the promise land, but they will have to beat Philadelphia along the way.

2. Minnesota Vikings- Brett Favre has been a perfect fit in Minnesota sparking their passing game. Percy Harvin adds a new element to the Viking offense, which already has the best running back in the league. Their defense is one of the NFL's best and the team has taken care of business against teams they should beat. We will learn a lot about the Vikings during their next three games when they play the Ravens then head to Pittsburgh and Green Bay. This team should win the NFC Central but Brett Favre is going to have to hold up physically in order for them to make a run at the Super Bowl.

3. New Orleans Saints- Drew Brees has shown why he is arguably the best Quarterback in the NFC. He has led the prolific Saints offense to a 4-0 start. The Saints can score points with the best of them and it looks like the combination of Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell has given the Saints a legitimate ground game. However, the major question on this team is the defense. They handled the Eagles without Donovan McNabb in week two and looked good against Mark Sanchez in week four. If this unit can play well opposite the offense then this team will have limitless potential. They will face a major test this week when they play the Giants. After this game their schedule is very favorable and the Saints should rack up a lot of wins and have to be odds on favorite for at least a first round bye. .

4. Philadelphia Eagles -The Eagles have survived the early season injuries to Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. Their offense may be as good as anyone in the league and they have been impressive in their last two outings, which was magnified with the huge game from rookie Jeremy Maclin. They are as dangerous as anyone and can win anywhere, which they have proven in the past. However, there are some questions with this club on the defensive end. We have to see if the loss of Brian Dawkins, the tragic passing of long time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, and the season ending injury to signal calling middle linebacker Stewart Bradley will affect the Eagles defense when they play stiffer competition. Expect the Eagles to challenge the Giants for the NFC East title for the rest of the season.

5. Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons kept pace with the Saints in the NFC South with a complete annihilation of the San Francisco 49ers. The Falcons are loaded on the offensive end led by the stellar play of second year quarterback Matt Ryan. Tony Gonzales has blended right in and continued right where he left of in Kansas City. If their defense can play as well as it did in San Francisco they will have a good shot to win the NFC South and maybe more. How great a job has Mike Smith done with this team thus far? Remember where this team was just a year and a half ago? They will face of with New Orleans on November 2 in the first of two huge division matchups that may decide the AFC South. .

6. Chicago Bears- Jay Cutler has certainly delivered in the Bears first four games and the emergence of receiver and special teams stud Mike Knox has certainly helped. The Bears Defense has managed without their leader linebacker Brian Urlacher. However, they have given up a lot of points and will have to play better as the competition gets tougher in the next few weeks. We will see how Chicago responds. The Bears have to at least be considered as a contender because they have won playoff games and even made it to a super bowl in recent history under the Lovie Smith regime

7. Arizona Cardinals- The Cardinals have gotten of to an uninspiring 2-2 start. They barely crack this list except for the fact that they still have Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, which gives them a shot. They did it last year and their division may be the worst in the conference even though the NFC South is giving them a run for their money. The Cardinal offense showed signs of life last week against the Texans, but their running game has been non existent. They have to get rookie Chris Beanie Wells more involved if they want to have a chance to win their division. The defense has also not impressed and has not resembled the good play they got in their NFC championship run. This is a huge week for them when they visit the Seattle Seahawks. If they fail they will fall under 500 with the Giants looming. The Cardinals will have a shot to win the NFC West but I would not count on them going any further than that.

Pretenders

1. Dallas Cowboys- This team has the talent to be a major contender. They have a good quarterback even though many question his big game ability. Their passing game has struggled while their running game remains strong. They have some major players on the defense, which has performed well this season, but not when it counts. However, the biggest problem in Dallas is not on the field. Wade Phillips has not proven to be a good enough coach at the top level, and Jerry Jones has been so worried about the new super stadium that he has dropped the ball time and time again in recent years including the awful trade that landed him Roy Williams for most of his 2009 draft class. This team is always a threat but is likely to be on the outside looking in. They are just mentally weak and playing in the tough NFC East does not help.

2. San Francisco 49ers- Mike Singletary has added his signature to this team and they are much improved. Their defense is solid and they have a good running game. They should win there share of games the rest of the season and maybe they will win the division. However, I just can't consider them a contender while Shaun Hill is taking the snaps. He is a decent quarterback, but when you are competing with Drew Brees, Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning, and Brett Favre just a game manager is not going to get you over the hump. They are certainly headed in the right direction, but if they want to be a major contender in this improving conference they will h have to upgrade that position.

3. Green Bay Packers- The Packers were a major favorite heading into 2009, but things have not gotten of to a very good start. Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback and Greg Jennings is an elite receiver. The Packer offense can put up points even though their offensive line was mad handled by the Vikings a few weeks ago. The biggest problem this team has is its defense. They have not been able to get stops or play any level of good defense this season. They have a favorable schedule in three of their next four games with Detroit, Cleveland and Tampa Bay. If they lose any of these games it could be lights out for the Pack.

4 Seattle Seahawks- The Seahawks will have a shot to move back into the contender group but they will have to keep pace with Arizona and San Francisco. Matt Horseblock's return obviously makes this offense a threat and will give Seattle a decent shot to win games, which is a nice upgrade from the no shot that Seneca Wallace gave them. However, when you break down this team their running game is not scaring anyone with Julius Jones. Their defense has been very up and down, but they have posted two shutouts and if hey can match last weeks and get some stops that offense will definitely be able to put up points.

5. Carolina Panthers- This team could not have gotten of to a worse start, which is represented by their struggling quarterback Jake Welcome. Their defense has looked shaky and their running game has been a far cry from the formidable numbers they put up in 2008. However, a big comeback against Washington h as given them signs of life and they might be able to get something going if they can take care of Tampa Bay and Buffalo in their next two outings. I can not stick the fork in a team with Dingell Williams, Steve Smith, and Julius Peppers. Not yet at least.

Just Enders

1. St Louis Rams- This is flat out one of the worst teams that I have ever seen. There is a legitimate chance that they will give the 2008 Lions a run for their money. Steve Spangle has a whole lot of work ahead of him with this disaster and poor Steven Jackson is stuck in no man’s land. The season can not end soon enough for the sorry Rams.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- This team has managed to be somewhat competitive but it has been ugly for the Bucks overall. Raceme Morris has many challenges ahead of him with this young team. The one thing they can hang their hat on is that they do play hard and hopefully they can get a win in the next few weeks, and build some confidence. With that said this is going to be a very long year in Tampa.

3. Washington Redskins- Washington is of to a 2-3 start and they have already played the Lions, Bucks, and Rams. It is not happening for Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn looks like he is on his way out sooner rather than later. Dan Snyder doesn’t get that money ball is not how you build a winner in the NFL. Things are likely to get worse in Washington with the team heading into the meat of their schedule. The major question is how long Zorn will last.

4. Detroit Lions- The Lions have given their fans great effort and a never give up spirit for the first few games of this season. They have come out and fought every week and you have to like what you see with Mathew Stafford. I love the job that Jim Schwartz is doing with this young but still undermanned team. The Lions are not going to win many games this year, but they may walk away with a few upsets. If Detroit fans a re patient they can see this young team take the first step toward development. That has to sound pretty good after last year

Lady of the Day!!!

2009-10-13T23:31:00.003-04:00

I know what you're thinking.....And I completely agree with you.

Giant Fans Stop Your Whining!!

2009-10-12T13:42:00.003-04:00

As a 17 year die hard New York Giants fan I have to take issue with a portion of the fan base. Now I want to make it clear that there are a large number of Giants fans out there that live and breathe big blue, and take the good with the bad. This article in no way applies to them. However, there are a number of Giant fans out there that expect nothing short of absolute perfection, and sometimes a near perfect win will be overshadowed by any negative aspect, be it large or small. It seems like every time you turn on New York sports radio, countless Giants fans are complaining about what is wrong with the team. Whether it is an unproven receiving core, Brandon Jacobs, or the team’s lack of conversion on third downs, the team's accomplishments seem like an afterthought. This negative outlook comes in spite of the team's strong 5-0 start in which they have overcome a rash of injuries. In addition the Giants are enjoying a period of great prosperity where they have become one of the NFL’s elite franchises. The Giants have made the postseason four straight seasons and during that stretch the team has amassed an impressive 41-23 record highlighted by a remarkable Super bowl run two seasons ago.

Let us flash back to a little more than a decade ago when Dan Reeves led an unimpressive roster led by a mediocre quarterback named Dave Brown who mastered the art of the pick 6, and had fans questioning whether general manager George Young had lost the magic touch that helped the Giants of the 80's rise to NFL prominence. Brown led the Giants to 5-11 and 6-10 seasons in 1995 and 1996, which led to both he and Reeves being replaced the following season. The next seven years of Giants’ football was tremendously inconsistent with the high point coming on January 14, 2001 when the Giants shutout the Vikings 41-0 in the NFC championship game at Giants stadium. Unfortunately there were plenty of lows including one of the low points in franchise history, which occurred on January 5th 2003 when the Giants blew a 24 point second half lead to the San Francisco 49ers, which was followed by a dismal 4-12 2003 campaign were the team lost their final eight games by an average of 17.6 points per game. A season where the Giants were favored to make the playoffs, but ended up quitting on the season ultimately costing Fassel his job. This season included an absolutely disastrous loss to former Giant head coach Bill Parcells and his Dallas Cowboys when Fassel inexplicably left 10 seconds on the clock when Matt Bryant kicked an apparent game winning field goal. Amazingly the following kickoff went out of bounds and one completion and two field goals later the Giants and their fans were left in shock. Another gem was a heartbreaking 23-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the 1997 NFC wild card round after the team blew a 19-3 lead, and gave up 10 points in the final 90 seconds. The disappointment and heartbreak often overshadowed the team's success during this tumultuous period. The Giants were never able to maintain any consistent stretch of success which had fans yearning for the days where Bill Parcells was roaming the sidelines and Lawrence Taylor was striking fear into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks.

This leads us back to the present where winning and consistency have become the norm and the team is a perennial NFC powerhouse. Not to mention a quarterback named Eli Manning, which already has a Super Bowl MVP trophy in his showcase and has a record which currently reads 46 wins and 29 loses since he took over for Kurt Warner in 2004. The franchise also has one of the elite front offices in the NFL lead by General Manager Jerry Reece who has helped build a talented roster and one of the NFL's premier organizations. Not lost in the shuffle is Coach Tom Coughlin who has brought discipline and consistency to the team, and overcome a great deal of adversity in his time as head coach.

This is New York and there is always going to be more scrutiny here. There are certainly issues with the team, and not every day is going to be rosy. However, in spite of any problems the team may have it looks as though this group is set up to be very competitive for the foreseeable future, so Giants fans these are your glory days so you better enjoy it while it lasts. Instead of focusing on the negative try to bask in the team's success, because every franchise experiences ups and downs. Maybe just maybe you can allow yourselves to enjoy a win without critiquing every flaw or mistake that the team made the previous Sunday. Or accept the fact that the team played well even though they beat the Bucs or the Chiefs. A win is a win and this team has been stock piling them over the past few seasons. The New York Giants are in a period of consistent prosperity and in these days of parity and free agency, that is a tremendous accomplishment. Take a minute to ponder what you will be telling your children and grandchildren somewhere down the line. Perhaps one day when the team is going through a tough period you will tell stories of the glory days of Manning, Jacobs, Tuck, and Coughlin. How the New York Giants were a consistent winner and a team that New York could be proud of.