Football Extra Points

The Urlacher Career Epitaph - A Bears Great Retires

2013-05-24T06:56:00.001-04:00

Do I have to run down the litany of memorable Chicago Bears who played the middle linebacker position for you? Most football fans know those names. But I'm going to say it - Brian Urlacher was the best of the bunch.

Urlacher woke up Thursday morning as an ex-NFL player for the first time. His 13 years with the Bears were memorable, including the unceremonious split earlier this spring. It doesn't surprise me one bit that he's hung up his cleats. He had a bad season last year and nagging injuries were piling up on his 35-year-old frame. A bad hamstring kept him from playing the last four games of the 2012 season.

The Bears didn't want to pay him, so he split. No doubt he could have landed on a roster somewhere in the league, but he'd be paid peanuts - maybe even a veteran's minimum salary. I know I wouldn't want to get my brains beaten in for a 14th season at a drastic drop in pay.

But Urlacher was a great player, and the vast majority Bears fans will miss watching him play football. Football fans never had seen a freak quite like Urlacher, and time will tell if we see another like him.

At 6'4" and 258 pounds he could deliver a punishing blow, but it was his speed that was the most obvious of his qualities. It really was amazing to see him race from sideline to sideline. He could guess wrong on a play, and where most linebackers would be out of it, Urlacher had the motor to get back into the play and make a tackle. He could keep up with any tight end in the league in man coverage, and few quarterbacks dared challenge him in the middle of the field.

Former head coach Lovie Smith knew what kind of defensive weapon he had, especially in his hallmark Tampa 2 scheme. Smith could have made his defense work with any number of middle linebackers in the NFL, but Urlacher helped make it dominant because of his unusual skills.

Urlacher also did a lot of other fundamental things on the field very well. Not only could he use his speed to get into a play, but he was able to break down his body into a near perfect position to make the tackle from a sprint. It might sound a little wonkish, but it is big deal and a big part of Urlacher's success. You didn't see Brian Urlacher miss too many tackles because of it.

Although he didn't do it often, Urlacher was very good blitzer. He found the holes, or powered his way into the backfield and recorded 41.5 sacks in his career. That's a pretty good number for a middle linebacker whose main assignment was to cover the middle of the field.

His game wasn't perfect. He had his troubles shedding blocks. But he was an incredible talent and a joy to watch play football.

He never won a Super Bowl, but managed to help his team get there in 2006 with Rex Grossman as his quarterback. The offenses he played with were never quite up to the level at which his defenses played. Bears fans know this already, and although he never was a champion I'll guarantee you one thing - Brian Urlacher will never have to pay for a meal in a Chicago restaurant for the rest of his life.

The final line on Urlacher's career: 1,052 tackles, 306 assists, 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, 15 fumbles recovered and three touchdowns scored in 182 games played. He never recorded a safety.

By
Casey Moffitt
@Mrcaseymoffitt

Retirement of Brian Urlacher: Remembering the Face of the Bears theLast 15 Years

2013-05-23T20:21:00.001-04:00

Many teams in the NFL have periods of success defined by elite starting quarterbacks; Montana and the 49ers, Aikman and the Cowboys, Brady and the Patriots etc. However, for Chicago, a team whose history is defined by defense and more specifically middle linebackers (Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus), it is only fitting that BrianUrlacher retire in Chicago, where he spent his entire 13-year career.

Brian Urlacher played his college career at the University of New Mexico, and though he got off to a slow start his first two years, his final two years were something to remember. When Rocky Long was hired for Urlacher’sjunior year, his raw athleticism was realized and he played various positions on the field, including strong safety, wide receiver, and return specialist. In his career, Urlacher had 442 tackles, 11 sacks, 11 forced fumbled, and three interceptions, to go along with his six touchdown receptions and five kick returns for touchdowns. Already considered one of the most talented prospects in the 2000 draft, Urlacher went on to have an impressive combine, running a 4.57 40 and bench pressing 225 pounds 27 times. The Chicago Bears drafted Urlacher with the 9th pick in the draft, hoping to get a defensive playmaker that had been missing from the team since Mike Singletary had left. In his rookie year, Urlacher led the Bears with 124 tackles and eight sacks, which also broke the franchise’s previous rookie records. Urlacher was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and elected to his first of eight Pro Bowls.

As Urlacher’s career progressed, he got better and better for the Bears, leading the Bears to a 13-3 record in 2001 and was named to his first of five All Pro Teams as well as the Pro Bowl. In 2002, thought the Bears had a mediocre season, Urlacher set the Bears single season tackles record with 153 and was again an All Pro and Pro Bowl selection. After coming off an injury plagued 2004 season, Urlacher led the Bears defensive, which was the most disruptive in the NFL. The Bears allowed the fewest points in the league and caused the most turnovers; and as their leader, Urlacher was named 2005 Defensive Player of the Year. The very next year, the Bears were the NFC’s best team, and Urlacher had one of his best years. Urlacherhad one of his best games as a pro when he recorded 25 tackles and also forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, helping the Bears overcome a 20-point deficit against Arizona; a game which will be remembered for Denny Green’s “We are who we thought they were” tirade. The Bears lost in the Super Bowl that year to the Colts, butUrlacher earned his fourth All Pro and fifth Pro Bowl selection. Urlacher missed 15 games in 2009, but came back to record 125 tackles in 2010, his highest total since 2006. Urlacher ended his career as the Bears’ franchise leader in tackles, with 1,353, and also recorded 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, and 12 forced fumbles.

When Urlacher becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame, it will be interesting to see how the writers vote. In his entire 13-year career, Urlacher failed to record 100 tackles in a season only 4 times, 3 of which were shortened by injuries, keeping him out a total of 26 games. However, the NFL didn’t start recording tackles as an official stat until 2001, so linebackers are often judged more by their accolades and their dominance, along with the defense that they led. Unfortunately for Urlacher, the Bears offense never matched the dominance of the defense and he wasn’t able to win a Super Bowl. His Defensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and five All Pro selections will go a long way to getting him in; however, it may be the history of Chicago’s middle linebackers that gets him in. If nothing else, Urlacher has validated himself in the Chicago linebacker lineage, and Bears fans, and all fans of the NFL will miss his play in the years to come.

Bryan Ridall

@Bryanridall

Urban Meyer looks to lead the Buckeyes to the BCS

2013-05-23T20:14:00.001-04:00

Since the inception of the BCS in 1998, it has been no secret that the SEC has ruled the roost. They boast the most championships with 9 as well as the most wins with 17. It seems that, even to the casual fan, that conference stalwarts Alabama and Florida seem to be at least in the mix every single year. However, even with this dominance, the Ohio State University is tied for the most BCS wins and the most appearances. Somehow, despite playing in a weaker conference, they have kept pace with the big boys down south. And with the addition of coach Urban Meyer, look for the Bucks to keep this up.

Unfortunately for the scarlet and grey, the team was on probation last year for the lovingly named Tattoo Gate Scandal that forced Terrell Pryor out of school early and a sub par season out of interim head coach and Adam Sandler look alike Luke Fickell in 2011. The situation in Columbus was such that it coaxed former Florida Gators box out of the broadcast booth and onto the sidelines, despite having suffered from injuries related to coaching stress.

In Meyer’s first season, the Bucks went undefeated. They ran the table in Big Ten play, which is tough regardless of the competition. However, this is the year that will really test Meyer’s mettle in the Big Ten. Judging by his roster, his team is more than capable of a repeat of last year’s performance.

QB Braxton Miller led the team with 3,310 all-purpose yards last season and will be back to lead the Buckeyes in his third season with the squad. Carlos Hyde will join Miller in the backfield. Hyde enjoyed a breakout season with 970 yards in 2012 and will look to put up similar numbers this year. The receiving core keeps their anchor with another breakout star, Corey “Philly” Brown, who had 60 catches for 669 yards and 3 scores last year. Meyer has to be licking his chops with this arsenal of weapons that he can use in his spread, up-tempo style attack.

On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes have two Lott IMPACT pre-season picks in CB Bradley Roby and OLB Ryan Shazier. Despite these two standouts, there are a lot of questions for the Buckeyes on defense. They only return one starter on the front seven and ranked 31st in scoring offense, which is very uncharacteristic for the Buckeyes. The true test of Meyer’s 2013 campaign will be how he will shape and mold his defense to dominate the way that Ohio State fans are used to seeing.

Meyer has inherited a great core of players that he can mold into being his guys, the same way he did with Tim Tebow at Florida. Now that the Bucks are off of probation, they are poised to add to their already impressive BCS record.

Mike O’Keefe is a writer and comedian that can be found at www.themikeokeefe.com and on twitter @themikeokeefe

The Bears Brian Urlacher’s Legacy

2013-05-22T21:03:00.003-04:00

When the Baltimore Ravens won the Superbowl the clichéd quote, “Defense Wins Championships,” ran through my mind. Ray Lewis and his tenacious defense proved that even in a league dominated by high-powered offenses, the defense should never be ignored. In fact, it may be essential to winning a championship. However, to call Super Bowl 47 a defensive standoff would be wrong. With 65 points scored between the two teams this game was the definition of a “shootout.” So, what does that say about today’s game as a whole? Offense dominates.

Today, Brian Urlacher announced his retirement from the NFL after an illustrious thirteen-year career. A surefire first ballot hall of famer, his accomplishments speak for themselves. Selected by the Bears with the 9^th pick in the 2000 NFL draft, Urlacher quickly asserted himself as one of the most feared defenders in the NFL; a title he held throughout his career. However, more important than his on the field play was the meaning he left throughout the NFL. Urlacher taught us all a lesson, about loyalty. He was the face of the Bear’s franchise from day one. In a league dominated by players like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers, Urlacher made sure that defense was not just a thing of the past. Throughout his career with the Bears, they suffered through offensive turmoil. It wasn’t until 2009 that the Bears had a quarterback worthy of mention. Yet this never derailed the franchise largely due to one person, Brian Urlacher. He was the anchor of a team, which contrary to the majority of the NFL, was built on defense.
Although I was mildly surprised by the decision to part ways with Urlacher at the beginning of the 2013 off-season, Urlacher took it in stride. Today he said, as true professionals only can, "I decided I didn't want to play for anybody else.”
Urlacher’s retirement, coupled with the retirement of Ray Lewis following the Super Bowl, means the last of defensive players as the face of their respective franchise. It seems as if the new era of football has been ushered in; in it’s entirety.

BDrez

@brettdresner

The Prodigal Raider

2013-05-22T21:00:00.002-04:00

It’s always great for moral when a fan favorite and proven winner joins a young rebuilding team that lacks veteran leadership. Although Charles Woodson has some miles on his 6’1” 200lb 36 year old body. His veteran leadership and ability to finish plays on defense is a characteristic lacking recent years in Oakland. A fan favorite, having started his career in Oakland, Woodson departed to play in Green Bay in 2006 where he acquired a Super Bowl champion XLV ring. This and his many other accolades contributed to Woodson being listed on the NFL Defensive Team of the 2000’s. Woodson’s stats are misleading in many ways, accept for a few years he has never really put up the interception numbers associated with a high caliber player at his position in this day and age. However, if we dig deeper Woodson has been a playmaker forcing fumbles, having presence and always willing to sacrifice his body for a big play. These characteristics are hard to find in today’s NFL culture. I am sure Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders organization will utilize him in the upcoming 1 year contract to develop their young talent and possibly draw influence for more free agent acquisitions.

N.R.G.

@GuruNRG

What Each NBA Team Needs – Bobcats

2013-05-22T20:57:00.001-04:00

As the field for the NBA Finals is now down to 4 (~~Indiana~~, Miami, SAS, Memphis), the hopes and dreams of the other 26 teams have faded quickly. Some of them (Clippers, Knicks, Nuggets, OKC) left the playoffs too early, some of them (Lakers, Brooklyn) never materialized what they thought was a great team, and others (Minnesota, Philadelphia) were hit by the injury bug and never got to see their team perform at expectations. So as 4 teams compete for the ultimate goal, let’s go over what each team needs, in order to reach the conference finals next year. We’re going to go over a few teams each week as we approach the NBA draft.

Group K – Not really sure what’s going on here…

28 – Bobcats (soon to be known as the Hornets)

Ok, so it’s pretty obvious Michael Jordan was a much better player than he has been owner. But, lucky for him, he’s Michael Jordan, he’s extremely wealthy, and being an owner doesn’t rely on having great knees, so he can literally stick around until this team is good. The past few years they shed their entire team and started again with Kemba Walker. That he is a solid scorer (albeit on a bad team) is a wonderful starting piece to have. Then, this past year they drafted Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who unlike many of MJ’s other picks, is actually a well-rounded NBA type of player. So let’s assume they build around the two of them.

What else do they have? Gerald Henderson, Ramon Sessions, and Byron Mullens. Let’s assume Ben Gordon will not be a Bobcat next year. Do the 5 players I listed make a good team? Absolutely not. Do Henderson, Sessions, and Mullens make a nice trio coming off the bench? Absolutely. So, as is the theme with the bottom teams in this league, they need to move their starters to the bench and find true NBA starter-caliber players. So who can they pick up/draft to help them out?

The bad news for Charlotte is that they will be the Bobcats for one more year (oh, and they ended up with the 4^th pick in the NBA draft when they should’ve ended up with the 2^nd and won’t get Noel on the defensive side or McLemore on the offensive side. The good news for Charlotte, however, is that they fell into the perfect place to select Victor Oladipo who, will form a very tough 2-3 punch with Kidd-Gilchrist (perfectly suited to defend a Lebron/D-Wade tandem…) Now all of a sudden they have their 1 2 and 3. Unfortunately though, that’s all they have (and don't expect too much scoring from Kidd-Gilchrist and Oladipo). Look forward to the Bobcats struggling as usual without a frontcourt, but then becoming the Hornets, and getting a great pick in next year’s draft and finding themselves a true big man, and then… the sky’s the limit with a talented 1-2-3 punch that they’ll have this year.

Needs: True point guard or SG who can handle the ball, front court players

Starters:

Kemba Walker

Victor Oladipo (draft)

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Byron Mullens

Bismak Biyombo

Key Bench Players:

Ramon Sessions

Gerald Henderson

Would this team make it to the Conference Finals? No.

Would this team make it to the Playoffs? No.

Would this team have any Forward/Center? No.

Would it be nice if the lowly Bobcats are the team that gives the Heat issues during the regular season? Yes (Cleveland fans are cheering).

Joe K

@blazersnotajoek

NBA Draft Lottery – an All Around Success

2013-05-21T22:11:00.001-04:00

The 2013 NBA draft lottery was bound to have conspiracy written all over it. David Stern is on his way out and many think he’d want to leave his lasting imprint yet again. Sorry, but I don’t buy into any of that talk. As evidenced by the tons of articles written explaining why Stern might ‘choose’ each one of the teams for the 1^st pick, you can spin the results any way you want, and you’ll always find some ‘conspiracy’. Unfortunately, despite the fact that I don’t buy into them, lots of sports fans do, so I can’t not discuss the conspiracy theories that came out of this draft lotto.

This Draft Lottery, I believe, delivered great conspiracies and great results.

1	Cleveland
2	Orlando
3	Washington
4	Charlotte
5	Phoenix
6	New Orleans
7	Sacramento
8	Detroit
9	Minnesota
10	Portland
11	Philadephia
12	OKC
13	Dallas
14	Utah

Conspiracy 3 – Stern seems like he’s interested in spreading the NBA to all over the globe and loves publicly backing the only Canadian team, the Raptors. But what he says publicly isn’t always the same as how he really feels; the NBA can be in Europe, but please not in Canada. There was no way Toronto was making it into the top 3 to protect their pick.

Conspiracy 2 – MJ is the greatest. But that doesn’t mean he’s a great owner. David Stern wanted to remind everyone about that, so he ensure MJ ended up with another disappointing showing at the Lottery.

Conspiracy 1 – The NBA’s greatest players don’t just pick up and switch teams while they’re still in their prime (with the obvious exception of LeBron…). David Stern loves power, so he made sure Cleveland got this pick so that LeBron might realistically come back in a year… Meaning David Stern might have taken one of the greatest players ever and got him to make the most dramatic return to a city he was once loved in then scorned in.

Great Result 4 – The Orlando Magic would have had a Shaq/Dwight issue in a couple of years from now if they ended up taking Noel. Now that they’re 2^nd pick, they are going to get Ben McLemore (as Cleveland will for sure take Noel) and likely another good player in next year’s draft. So it worked out well that they didn’t win the Nerlens Noel sweepstakes.

Great Result 3 – Remember when OKC drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Jeff Green? If you took their stats last year, they’d average 90 PPG, 21.9 RPG, and 19.4 APG. Bottom Line, they draft well. So even though it’s not the #1 pick, getting Toronto’s 12^th pick, will surely mean they pick up a solid player.

Great Result 2 – Washington was not the 8^thworst team this past year. They are much better than that. Let’s not forget how bad they were without Wall and how good they were with him and Bradley Beal together. Add an Otto Porter or Alex Len, and they are most definitely better than the Bucks next year.

Great Result 1 – The Cavs got the 1^st pick, but what was great was owner Dan Gilbert’s son, Nick, who has Neurofibromatosis (NF), being there for this 1^st pick as well as the one that got them Kyrie Irving. I can imagine wanting to be his friend right now. He deserves all this.

I will put out a mock draft a little closer to the draft, but for now I leave you with the following questions

1 – Is Nerlens Noel a lock for the top pick?

2 – Who will be the best guard of this strong bunch?

3 – Did all of those representatives really fly in to NY just to sit there for a half hour to hear their team’s name?

Joe K

@BlazersnotaJoeK

Army Black knights football program past and future. By: Aaron CordialFacebook

2013-05-21T20:22:00.002-04:00

The college football is upon us, closer than many have expected. As college football fans around the nation prepare to buy their new team gear and fire up the grills, for what is to be an exciting football season, with the all new playoff format setting one year closer. You cannot just sit back and smile, even if your team has not won the national title, or a bowl game, in a decade. You have to jump for joy that the NCAA finally has gotten rid of the huge computer system that even had the President of the United States, spilling his two cents in, on the broken system.

But instead of seeing many old football teams making their name even bigger with a deep run and at the same time you’re going to see a Cinderella team that we all have grown to adore like many of the men’s basketball teams.

Instead I want to cover the Army Black Knights football program. Yes I know they haven’t made a name for their program for they are a military academy and yea their bowl game is the Army Navy game. But instead I know that Army won’t be winning huge national titles with Alabama and the huge SEC power houses constantly owning the series but instead I see the Army football program just getting better within these coming years. With the top fifteen recruiting class that the Army program has seen in decades the fans of the oldest program in America has fans buzzing on their upcoming RB which many have stated will be the running game rather than the Quarterback that we all have seen in last year’s Army Navy game.

The Black Knights will be lacking a line this season with aall-freshman line as well as a sophomore wide receiving core, But this team is supposed to be the fastest and better team that the Army program has ever had in a while the booster club has stated in there paper in upstate NY. I see the program having such young talent and beating up on the teams in their schedule like no tomorrow but do I see them playing top seeded teams in the nations and walking away with the win. Not exactly it’s going to be sometime until we see Army stomping on every team in the nation for one they are just an academy were officers go and better there career to become leaders. But mark my words I see Army winning at least 7 games this season and yes I see them having the upper hand on Navy this year. If they can keep their front core with the Running backs and offense line healthy this season as army has proven has been more work than just stating then the Black Knight football program has shown the sports world and their fans every season.

Now I am not saying that Army is going to be a powerhouse this year but I am saying that they by far have one of there better teams this coming season that any will see in any season, the players are not going to be your farm boys throwing players to the side but instead they are going to be quicker and a little more wiser with their football IQ. So as we all prepare for the upcoming NCAA football season prepare to at less see the Army program grow a little bit more this year.

By
Aaron Cordial
Follow me on Facebook

Signing to a Step-up

2013-05-21T20:19:00.001-04:00

Imagine a small child in over-sized pads running around his front yard barely able to handle the giant football he holds in his hands. This child, like many young athletes, dreams of being a super-star. In reality a small number of athletes make it to the next level; few see this dream come true.

Both National Signing Day, and the highly publicized, NFL Draft occurred not too long ago and out of the over a million athletes in the United States, a maximum of 5,042 high school athletes sign to get the coveted Division 1 college scholarship. 2 percent of the 11,500 Division 1 athletes, including the walk-ons, will get drafted by the NFL. Yes, there are walk-ons and free-agents, but the bigger colleges and universities are only allowed a 105 player roster and if they award 85 scholarships that only leaves room for 20 walk-on players. If a school is smaller, that could mean even less space allotted for walk-ons.In regards to playing in the NFL, rookie undrafted free-agents are scooped up in a mad dash at the last minute by big name pro teams when they see a player that can potentially make a difference in the upcoming season. Then the player has to survive minicamp to even make it on the roster.

Athletes who sign to play the next level are a different kind of athlete. They stand out in the crowd. They don’t have to be the best of the best to begin with though. Take Michael Jordan as an example, he did not make the varsity team, like he intended his sophomore year of high school, but he started on JV and as a result had one of the best seasons of his high school career and his number, 23, is unforgettable among sports fans. The signing athlete doesn’t have to have the best attitude either. I’m sure we all know that one person who is just good at everything, but has a poor attitude or doesn’t really care about what they are doing. An athlete who signs to play has something special; a light inside of them that everyone can see.

Truthfully, I cannot say that it is just skill or just heart that will get you to the net level. It takes both and a lot of other things. There is no formula for the next level. Sports aren’t a math class. If you remember a bunch of “a2 + b2= c2” you will not pass. To get to the next level you will need skill, determination, heart, and a fair amount of luck. I’m not telling anybody to give up on their dreams of being the next Johnny Football or Ray Lewis, because you could be the next big thing. Just think about what you want out of life and if you a willing to give it your all, then let fate decide the rest, you could be participations in next year’s National Signing Day or NFL Draft signing to a step-up.

By
T.Saje

@_FBallChick_

The Steelers, Johnny Unitas, and The Doors

2013-05-21T20:17:00.002-04:00

In 1967 the NFL turned 48, while the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrated 35 years. Pittsburgh started strong on September 17th versus the Chicago Bears. A tight first quarter saw the Bears lead 13 - 10 but Chicago let the game slip away and the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to score 31 unanswered points and close the contest 41 – 13. The highs of victory soon became the sediment that swirled the drain as the Steelers went on to lose the next five games and finish the year with a record of 4 – 9 – 1, and last place in the new Century Division.

1967 was also the year the NFL expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints, who finished last place in the Capitol Division with a record of 3 – 11. Baltimore’s Johnny Unitas was voted the league MVP. The Green Bay Packers bested the Dallas Cowboys on December 31 in a game embossed in legend as the Ice Bowl, and then went on to defeat the Oakland Raiders 33 – 14 in Superbowl II on January 14th1968.

The year earlier the 1966 Pittsburgh Steelers finished somewhat better with a record of 5 – 8- 1. They tied their first game on September 11 versus the Giants 34 – 34, won their second versus Detroit at home 17 – 3, then dropped their next five in a row and were outscored 181 – 82.

The first NFL Superbowl took place on January 15, 1967 between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. That game was played just 11 days after the release of a pop record, a record which forever altered the consciousness of American youth, that album is the self-titled The Doors.

A first of its kind, the record explored darkness and the sufferings of life; the unique music was unheard of in any other pop records of the time. John Densmore was a jazz drummer; Robby Krieger a fluid finger-picking flamenco guitar player. Jim Morrison’s dark poetry was of the same bloodied cloth as Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and Blake. And of course The Doors had no bassist, so Raymond Manzarek played the bass lines on his Fender Rhodes. Their sound was a brooding fusion; it marked the beginning of something new in America. It was a spark that ignited in the youth something different, and of course many of the athletes in the NFL were themselves youth, young men who began to shirk the commonplace conservative ideology, grow out their hair, listen to wild music, wear strange clothes, any means by which to express themselves as independent thinkers.

Johnny Unitas found himself in a San Diego uniform in 1973, just two years after the untimely death of Jim Morrison, 5 years after winning the NFL MVP, and 6 years after the release ofThe Doors. He was culture shocked as he witnessed teammates smoking grass after practice. He knew the game had changed, his era was over; he knew it was time to get out. His last game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers was the only game he ever played in his hometown. He left the game down 31 – 10, Dan Fouts took over, and the Steelers won 38 – 21.

Time changes everything. The Steelers went on to become the most successful post-merger franchise in the NFL. Unitas is remembered not for his final days in San Diego but for his legacy as a Baltimore Colt. And Ray Manzarek who died yesterday May 20, 2013 at the age of 74 will be remembered (and deeply missed) as the founder and captain of one of the most influential American bands of the 20th century. RIP Ray Manzarek.

By
John Thomas Menesini
@TVsCHACHI

What Each NBA Team Needs - Suns

2013-05-21T20:13:00.001-04:00

Group L - Should we hit the restart button?

29 – Suns

Steve Nash had the unprecedented ability of taking decent athletes and making them seem like solid players, and taking good players and making them seem like stars. Is Shawn Marion good? Sure. Is was Amare good? Sure. Joe Johnson? Yep. Quentin Richardson? Nope. Channing Frye? No. The list can go on and on. Unfortunately for the Suns, the Steve Nash era never led to a championship. And unfortunately for the Suns, they still are putting their team together the same way they used to even though Nash is now an injury prone, past his prime - Laker.

Their team is filled with good pieces; more than necessary. They have Goran Dragic, a pesky and solid player. They have Luis Scola, the heart and soul of the Argentinian National team and a solid player. They have a rejuvenated Jermaine O’neal, acting as a solid player. They have Michael Beasely, sometimes (and definitely has the potential to be) a solid player. Marcin Gortat, a very solid player. Shannon Brown, a solid player. Jared Dudley, a solid player. So… what’s wrong with them?

The answer is that thy built a team relying on having a great point guard to run the floor and make all of them go from good players to great players. They don’t have that. They don’t have a star and they don’t have a star in the making, which means the team will not make it to the Conference Finals for a while. Also, the thing that made the Nash-run Suns that good was their plethora of shooting guards/forwards. That’s not who they have anymore. So first thing’s first, they need to get rid of Michael Beasely. Next, find some shooters who can complement a very capable Scola/Gortat front line. Then, they need to realize Dragic can be the NBA’s best PG off the bench, but that doesn’t mean he should be a starter. And finally, they need to draft a strong shooting guard. The consensus is to pick up Victor Oladipo, but we’ll know soon what position they’re in and who knows they might end up #1 and would have to take Noel (and then could trade a big man for some solid pieces…). Anyhow, I think they should take Ben McLemore as he’s more of a scoring threat than Oladipo, and he’s got more star potential than the Tony Allen-like Oladoipo.

Needs: Everything but a big man. Shooting Guard is the most important and preferably one who can score and defend (they are contemplating combining Ben McLemore and Victor Oladipo into one player). And an all-star caliber point guard, as we’ve pointed out, it’s a point guard heavy league nowadays.

Starters:

Goran Dragic

Ben McLemore (Draft)

Trevor Ariza (FA)

Luis Scola

Marcin Gortat

Key Bench Players:

Shannon Brown

Ben Gordon (FA)

Jared Dudley

Would this team make it to the Conference Finals? No.

Would this team make it to the Playoffs? No.

Did I just say the Suns are foolish for building a team that would only work well if they had Nash in his prime? Yes.

Did I just build for them a team that would only do well if they would have Nash in his prime? Yes.

Sorry Suns fans… the only way you’ll get out of this cycle is to hit the restart button.

Joe K

@blazersnotajoek

Steelers Sign 6th Rounder Vince Williams to 4-Year Deal

2013-05-20T22:52:00.000-04:00

Williams is a high-motor ILB who looks to make an immediate impact on special teams and may provide a necessary spark to ignite a furious new-era defense. He is the second athlete signed from the 2013 draft; the first was safety Shamarko Thomas from Syracuse. I see the potential in all picks from the respective 2012 and 2013 drafts, and I am excited about the possibilities of the near future for the

Black & Gold.

Tical.

Go Steelers.

John Thomas Menesini

@TVsCHACHI

Mike Wallace is not an athlete but he plays one on TV

2013-05-20T22:47:00.003-04:00

You can make the sour grapes argument; I will eat that. But also realize that what I say is accurate enough to make such bold proclamations, and that I hold the young Dolphin accountable for self-serving behavior while playing on a team, in a team sport. I have zero respect for any athlete who gives up on a play, fizzles a route, takes a play off, or drops an assignment on purpose. Quite possibly the greatest play in NFL history is due entirely to not having given up until the whistle; The Immaculate Reception by the legendary Franco Harris.

Mike Wallace held out and tried to force the hand of the Pittsburgh Steelers, an unwise move on his part to not recognize they are an organization whose hand is not forced. In a statement move the Steelers went and signed Antonio Brown to a 5yr 42 million dollar contract. Wallace was gone in free agency 2013.

Now he is a celebrity in the sun in Miami. Good Luck Dolphins. I hope for your sake Young Money isn’t a One-Trick Pony as Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin used to chide. I hope he catches with his hands not his body; I hope he plays for the ball and extends himself to get into the best position possible to catch QB Tannehill’s ’better’ bombs. I hope money was the motivation he needed to put the team first and make splash plays with the team’s successes in mind. But I am a skeptic, and I somehow doubt it.

John Thomas Menesini

@TVsCHACHI

So You Won The Cy Young...Big Deal

2013-05-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

The Cleveland Indians have been rather rough this year on reining or former Cy Young award winners, having beaten 7 of them to date. A list of the victims follows.

They started the rein of terror in the first game of the season against reining N.L. winner R.A. Dickey now with the Toronto Blue Jays. Dickey, who won the award last year with the Mets allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, on 5 hits in 6 innings. He also struck out 4 and walked 4.

The Tribe followed that up with a 13-0 win against current A.L. Cy Young winner David Price and Tampa Bay a few days later. Price allowed 8 runs, all earned, on 10 hits in 5 innings pitched. He also walked 3 and struck out 3.

The next Cy Young recipient to fall was 2010 N.L. winner Roy Halladay of Philadelphia. the Indians topped Halladay and the Phillies getting to Halladay for 8 runs, all earned, on 9 hits in 3.2 innings worked. Halladay also struck out 3 and walked 2. The game was also notable for the Indians because they hit 7 home runs, 3 off of Halladay.

The very next night they welcomed 2008 A.L. winner and former Cleveland starter Cliff Lee back to Cleveland with a 6-0 win over the Phillies. Lee allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on 9 hits in six innings pitched. He also struck out 4 and walked 2.

The next victim was another former Indian, Bartolo Colon. Colon now with the A's won the award as a member of the 2005 L.A. Angels. In this game the Indians touched Colon for 6 runs, all earned, on 8 hits in 4 innings worked. He also struck out 4 and walked 0. The Indians defeated the A's to earn a sweep of the series.

Justin Verlander, the 2011 A.L. winner became the next victim in a 7-6 loss to the Tribe in Detroit. in the game Verlander allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, on 6 hits in 5 innings of work. He also struck out 7 and walked 5.

The latest Cy Young winner to fall was Felix Hernandez of Seattle. Hernandez who won the award in the A.L. in 2010 fell to the Tribe 6-0 on May 19th. Hernandez allowed 6 runs, 5 earned, on 8 hits in 5 innings of work. he also struck out 8 and walked 2.

If you add it all up, these 7 pitchers have not pitched like Cy Young winners against the Tribe. in 34.2 innings pitched they allowed 41 runs, 37 earned for a very poor 9.73 ERA. They have given up 55 hits, while striking out 33 and walking 14.

The way the Indians are swinging the bats right now, even Cy Young himself might hesitate at facing them.

By Kevin Clarke
@kcfootballtalk

What Each NBA Team Needs starting with the Kings

2013-05-20T22:42:00.000-04:00

Group L - Should we hit the restart button?

30 - Kings

When your best two players are Demarcus “completely unpredictable yet finally productive” Cousins and Tyreke “you sure he was the Rookie of the Year?” Evans, you might not be in great shape. That being said, they have a few nice pieces, such as Isaiah Thomas (who I would rank somewhere between the original Isaiah Thomas in his prime, and the original Isaiah Thomas as a front-office man on the Knicks – yes, a very wide range) and Marcus Thornton who is a very solid 6^th man in that he can score on his own and in bunches. So what’s going on with them? Why are they so bad?

Well, as we said, their best players aren’t guys you can lean on for a whole season (and often not even a whole game). So let’s start by saying they will not make the Western Conference Finals next year, but if they want to get there eventually, they need to start over. In this recently point-guard heavy league, Isaiah Thomas should be their back-up point guard and Marcus Thornton can stay as the 6^th man. Demarcus Cousins has blossomed this season, so they need him to be able to do any damage in the future. However, they need some veteran presence to mentor him. Tryeke, on the other hand, they need to give up on the Tyreke era and trade him for some nice pieces, such as a veteran big man to mentor/compliment Demarcus (maybe like a Jermaine O’neal who will come cheap), and some young pieces. That coupled with a likely high draft pick could make the Kings team look like this come next year:

We can’t assume we know any trades, so for now, these projections will be using Free Agency and the draft.

Biggest Needs: Point Guard, Veteran Mentor for Demarcus Cousins (preferably a center)

Starters:

Michael Carter-Williams (draft)

Kyle Korver (FA)

Patrick Patterson

Demarcus Cousins

Jermaine O’neal (FA)

Key Bench Players:

Isaiah Thomas

Marcus Thornton

Jimmer Fredette

Would this team make it to the Conference Finals? No.

Would this team make it to the Playoffs? No.

But imagine if Demarcus Cousins was no longer a liability, and that he developed a repertoire with a young point guard and they were flanked by some solid shooters/scoring heavy bench, that’s definitely playoff potential in two years from now.

Joe K

@blazersnotajoek

UFC on FX 8 – Brazil Shines

2013-05-20T22:39:00.003-04:00

UFC fights in Brazil are always high energy, in large part due to the raucous fans and extra hyped Brazilian fighters. UFC on FX 8 was no different. With great fights top to bottom, and an unbelievable finish in the Main Event, the card was another home run for the UFC in Brazil.

Vitor Belfort def. Luke Rockhold (KO, 2:32 Round 1)

If you said you were surprised by the quick finish of Rockhold by Belfort, I would kindly ask where you've been the last decade.I know Rockhold was a very hot fighter and was on a roll coming into Saturdays fight. But c'mon... Belfort is 5-1 in the Middleweight Division, with his sole loss coming to Anderson Silva. No shame there. Also, Belfort is 4-0 fighting in Brazil, where nationals seem to fight on another level. One more fact for you. Vitor Belfort owns the UFC record for first round knockout at 11. So all things considered, consider me not surprised. Impressed? Oh yeah! But not surprised.

“Jacare” Souza def. Chris Camozzi (Sub, 3:37 Round 1)

“Jacare” Souza put on an impressive performance against an overmatched Camozzi en route to his submission victory in hit UFC debut. His grappling was excellent, his control was amazing, and his finish was devastating. Attentive viewers probably noticed how quickly Camozzi was forced in unconsciousness. While an impressive fight, I look forward to seeing “Jacare” in tougher fights against better competition. While I have a soft spot for Camozzi since he fights out of my home town, clearly he was in way over his head against Souza.

Other notes from the nights. Lucas Martins and Jeremy Larsens received the wholly deserved “Fight of the Night” award for there back and forth battle. Ultimately won by Martins in the third round by a beautiful counter punch. “Submission of the Night” went to “Jacare” Souza. And “Knockout of the Night” went to Vitor Belfort. Both well deserved. Brazilian fighters went 9-1 on the night, bringing their total W-L for events in Brazil to 36-10 against fighter from other countries. Reiterating my point about Brazilian fighters stepping it up in Brazil, and another nod to why Belfort's victory was no surprise to yours truly.

By
Tony Chavez
@truth303

Will the Dolphins’ Free Agency Spending Help Ryan Tannehill?

2013-05-20T22:33:00.002-04:00

For the Miami Dolphins, last year started with a lot of excitement, with a new coach in Joe Philbin, a new quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, and a new buzz with the exposure created by HBO’s series Hard Knocks. This year, Philbin and Tannehill will both be entering their secondseason leading this team, and the team will be expected to improve on their 7-9 record last year. To help Tannehill, the Dolphins were the most active team in free agency this offseason, resigning critical team members, as well as bringing in new talent at important skill positions.

In order for Tannehill to improve, the Dolphins needed to focus on two positions: wide receiver and left tackle. The first need that the Dolphins addressed was at receiver, because Miami had one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL, though Brian Hartline started to emerge into a star at the end of the year. The Dolphins rewarded Hartline with a 5-year deal, and then signed one of the best receivers in free agency, Mike Wallace. Signing both receivers was an important step for Tannehill’s development because of their complementary skill sets. Hartline is a big receiver (6’2, 200 pounds), who can spread the field, but is best at finding open spots in the defense. Mike Wallace, on the other hand, is a pure speed receiver, and will be able to give the Dolphins a deep threat for Tannehill to utilize. Wallace will require the opposing safety’s constant attention, which will allow the other Dolphins receivers to stretch the field and take advantage of lapses in coverage. The Dolphins also needed to add an impact tight end, after letting Anthony Fasano go in the offseason. The Dolphins lured Dustin Keller away from the division-rival Jets, who was Mark Sanchez’s favorite target. Keller will provide Tannehill with a solid safety valve in the passing game, but is also a good route runner, and will be used with Wallace and Hartline to open up the field.

Though the Dolphins added weapons on offense, Miami was dealt a huge blow when former first round pick Jake Long signed with the Rams. Long had been Miami’sstarting left tackle since they drafted him #1 in 2008, and was going to protect Tannehill’s blind side for many years. However, by the time Long had signed with the Rams, the top left tackle free agents had been signed by other teams. The Dolphins signed former Atlanta Falcons tackle Tyson Clabo to protect Tannehill. Clabo is no stranger to protecting young up-and-coming quarterbacks, as he has protected Matt Ryan since Ryan’s rookie year. Clabo is a very consistent choice because he has started every game since his debut with the Falcons in 2006. Clabo, like Long, is a big body that has surprisingly quick feet, allowing him to not only take up a lot of space, but also allowing him tohedge defensive ends away from the quarterback. With a solid blind side protector, Tannehill should be able to take his time with his footwork and mechanics, allowing him to be a more consistent passer.

The Miami Dolphins are still probably a year or two from challenging the Patriots for the AFC East title, not to mention challenge the best in the league in the playoffs. In order for them to do this, Ryan Tannehill will need to take the next step in his progression as a quarterback to become more consistent and more aware of opposing defenses. However; with the new receiving options that he has, as well as a solid blind-side protector, Tannehill has the weapons to make the next step, now he just needs to take it.

By
Bryan Ridall
@bryanridall

Has Gabe Carimi Quit on the Bears, or Vice Versa?

2013-05-20T22:29:00.004-04:00

The Chicago Bears have been holding organized team activities this week and every veteran with the team made it, except one - offensive lineman Gabe Carimi.

Gabe Carimi should have been there. With a new head coach, there's new plays, terminology and blocking schemes to learn. Head Coach Marc Trestman has said he believes Carimi would play guard in his offense, however Carimi has more experience at tackle, so add perfecting a new position to the "to do" list.

Instead, Carimi is working out on his own in Arizona.

Before this week's OTAs, Carimi, the Bears first round pick of the 2011 draft, was on the bubble to make the roster, never mind compete for a starting role. With the signing of three veteran offensive linemen and drafting two more, it is a clear sign the coaches hated what they had in offensive linemen. It appeared Carimi was going to battle with James Brown, a second-year undrafted free agent, for the last roster spot. Super bad for a first round pick of just two years ago!

It's a real bummer. Carimi had six good quarters of football in him before he hurt his knee during his rookie season. When former general manager Jerry Angelo drafted Carimi, he had one knee surgery performed already. He wasn't considered a risky selection because of it, and he was the best tackle available in the draft when the Bears picked 29th.

Carimi missed some offseason practice sessions before last year's campaign began, and had himself a tough season. He may not have been fully recovered from surgery, but he played his way out of his starting right tackle assignment regardless. He played at guard out of pure necessity when Lance Louis got hurt.

And now, I'll be surprised if Carimi dons a Bears uniform again.

It's baffling to me that a guy who needs to prove himself for a roster spot with a new coaching staff would elect to miss OTAs. Sure, they're voluntary, but he needed to be there if he were to have any future with the club.

I don't think Carimi has quit on the Bears, however. I think it's the other way around.

Carimi did attend veterans minicamp before the draft. Is it possible somehow he got the message then that the new Bears coaching staff is not interested in keeping him? Did someone have a come to Jesus meeting with Carimi, and say, "this just isn't going to work?"

I have no idea, but to me, it is the only plausible explanation for a guy to miss an OTA session with a new coaching staff while battling for a roster spot.

General Manager Phil Emery said has said the team will welcome Carimi "with open arms" should he return, but I have my doubts he means it.

Casey Moffitt
@MrCaseyMoffitt

Will Larry Foote's anger add fuel or fizzle to the Pittsburgh Steelers?

2013-05-19T20:53:00.001-04:00

Larry Foote’s ire is up. He said as much himself, and he told Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan back in March he doesn’t buy into the locker room turmoil stating, ”That was never an issue. I think that was overblown by the media” then concluding, ”We’ve always been a tight-knit family, and we’re going to remain that way.”

I wouldn’t expect Foote to go to press about any friction that may or may not exist in the locker room. That’s a pretty big no-no from what I’ve gathered, especially within this organization. You don’t air grievances in public and you don’t talk outside of school, you take care of things internally, out of the public eye. Outsiders don’t need to know what goes on so long as it gets fixed.

In a later interview with Josh Newkirk Foote revealed “We’re pissed off we didn’t make the playoffs,” “On top of that, our rival won the Super Bowl. I know guys are taking it personally. It’s just a whole different mindset to the off-season. I know guys are ready to get back where we need to be.”

So what can we gather from Foote’s anger? Is this a rallying point or does it show disharmony? Hotheadedness can lead to sloppy play or penalties. You want the athletes to have a nasty streak but not at the cost of lost yards, downs, or even games. The Steelers should not engage the blame game; the Steelers cannot afford to waste time pointing fingers. The Steelers need to get on the same page soon because the clock is ticking… tic… tic… tic…

John Thomas Menesini

@TVsCHACHI

Browns Quarterback Derby

2013-05-19T20:47:00.001-04:00

The Cleveland Browns signed QB Brian Hoyer this past week to a two year contract, which brings the number of QBs in camp to four. They are building up there QB stable in an effort to push Brandon Weeden to bigger and better things in 2013. What follows is a capsule look at each player.

Contestant number one is Brandon Weeden, last year's starter. Weeden, who was taken at number 22 in the 2012 draft, was basically handed the job because he was a first round draft choice, and nor necessarily because of how well he played in training camp and pre-season games. Weeden went on to lead the Browns to a 5-11 record and another last place finish in the AFC North. In 2012 he completed 297 of 517 passes for 3385 yards and a 57.4 completion percentage. He tossed 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. In my opinion he was not worth the 1st round pick that was used on him, especially when the team had other needs to fill.

Introducing contestant number 2, Mr. Jason Campbell, who last played for the Chicago Bears in 2012. Campbell a first round selection (25th overall) of the Washington Redskins back in 2005 has also spent time with Oakland and Chicago. In 52 games with the Redskins, all starts, he compiled a 20-32 record, completed 1002 of 1637 passes for 10,860 yards, and a 61.2 completion percentage. He also threw 55 TDs and 38 interceptions. In 19 games with the Raiders, 18 starts, he managed an 11-7 record, completed 294 of 494 attempts for 3557 yards and a 59.5 completion percentage. He also threw 19 TDs and 12 picks. In 6 games with the Bears, 1 start, he was 0-1, completed 32 of 51 passes for 265 yards and a 62.7 completion percentage. He also threw 2 TDs and 2 picks. In 77 career games, 71 starts, he has compiled a 31-40 record, completed 1328 of 2182 attempts for 14,682 yards and a 60.9 completion percentage. He has thrown 76

touchdowns to 52 picks. While these numbers are not awe inspiring, they are better than anything we have had in Cleveland in a while. Look for Campbell to be a serious threat for the starting job.

Thaddeus Lewis, last year's number 3 QB is also in the mix, but not seriously. In 2 years with the Browns, he has participated in one regular season game, a start in the final game of 2012 vs Pittsburgh. In that game he completed 22-of 32 attempts for 204 yards and a 68.8 completion percentage, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Even though he has been with the team for two years, I look for him to be expendable.

The final contestant is Brian Hoyer, recently signed to a 2 year contract and a Cleveland native. In his career he has spent time with Arizona, Pittsburgh and New England. In 15 career games, 1 start, he is 0-1, has competed 57 of 96 passes for 616 yards and a 59.4 completion percentage. He has thrown 2 TDs and 3 picks. i feel that Hoyer will displace Lewis as the third stringer, behind Campbell and Weeden in whatever order those two end up.

The QB competition will be the most closely watched battle on the team, again, and although I feel Weeden will probably win the job, look for Campbell to pose a serious threat.

By
Kevin Clarke
@kcfootballtalk

Goon squad picks up Nationals

2013-05-19T20:44:00.003-04:00

In the wee hours of the morning on Saturday, Washington Nationals pinch-hitter Chad Tracy propelled the Nationals to victory against the San Diego Padres with a home run in the top of the tenth inning after a Rafael Soriano blown save in the ninth. Tracy’s homer was the first RBI by a pinch-hitter this season for the Nationals in what was already their 42nd game of the 2013 season.

Friday night’s game against the Padres was a game thatappeared to be wrapped up for the Nationals. In the bottom of the ninth, Chris Denorfia reached base for the Padres with one out on what was called a throwing error by Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Next, Everth Cabrera would fly out to get the Nationals just one out away from a relatively pain-free win. Denorfia would reach second base on defensive indifference. Chase Headley,arguably the Padres best hitter, was someone the Nationals did not want to face with the game on the line. Headleywould then drive in Denorfia to cut the deficit to one. Yonder Alonso singled next to send Headley to third. Kyle Blanks would follow the lead and single and drive in Headley to tie the game at five. This scoring rally all tookplace with two outs. At this point, it seemed that the Nationals had blown a game against an opponent that they should handle easily, but Chad Tracy, also known as“Captain of the Goon Squad”, had other thoughts.

For many, the thoughts of “here we go again” echoed with the blown save. With a win, the Nationals would have onlybeen a half game behind the Atlanta Braves for first place. Roger Bernadina and Denard Span would quickly groundout and pop out respectively in the top of the tenthas the Padres got closer to have their opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the tenth. What happened next was something the Nationals had been waiting for this whole season. Tracy came up to pinch-hit for the closer Soriano and would send a home run to the right field bleachers that felt as if it reached the stands in about two seconds. The dugout erupted as Tracy picked up both Zimmerman and Soriano in what has become a common theme for the Nationals, picking up teammates. It has become clear that if the Nationals want to succeed, their bench will need to step up in big situations, such as Tracy on Friday night.

Former closer Drew Storen came in for the tenth inning for the save and would allow the tying run to get to third base, but would get a strikeout and a groundout to finally seal the victory at 1:30 a.m. on the east coast. Ultimately, the savior would be Chad Tracy and his clutch homer in the top of the tenth. Tracy was able to provide what the Nationals had been lacking all year, clutch hitting off the bench.

Mac Cassells

@M_Cassells8

The Seahawks took a huge step forward last season. Can they keep enoughplayers active to continue moving forward? NFL Predictions 1.0

2013-05-18T21:26:00.001-04:00

The Seahawks surprised a lot of people last season with their play and the play of QB Russell Wilson. There is a great rivalry born with the 49ers and I cannot wait to see them play this season. The Seahawks wont sneak up on anyone this year and they need to be prepared for every opponents best shot.

They need to get this banned substance situation cleared up. Are they being targeted? Is this a conspiracy or coincidence?

Team by team predictions.

AFC East

Patriots 13

Dolphins 7

Jets 3

Bills 1

AFC North

Ravens 12

Bengals 10

Steelers 12

Browns 3

AFC South

Texans 12

Colts 8

Titans 7

Jaguars 2

AFC West

Broncos 10

Chargers 8

Raiders 1

Chiefs 11

NFC East

Redskins 8

Giants 11

Cowboys 9

Eagles 4

NFC North

Packers 10

Vikings 5

Lions 10

Bears 10

NFC South

Falcons 13

Panthers 4

Saints 12

Buccaneers 6

NFC West

49ers 13

Seahawks 12

Rams 4

Cardinals 5

AFC Playoff Teams

Patriots

Ravens

Texans

Chiefs

Steelers

Broncos

NFC Playoff Teams

Giants

Packers

Falcons

49ers

Seahawks

Saints

AFC Championship

Patriots vs Broncos

NFC Championship

Seahawks vs Packers

Superbowl

Broncos vs Packers

Champions - Packers

That's the first pass at my season predictions, I'll update them as we progress through camps.

Scott King
@FootballXPs

Listen to FXP on RF Sports Radio, Mondays at 9pm East.

The Jets franchise is a disaster right now and the fans will suffer for it this season. NFL predictions 1.0.

2013-05-18T21:20:00.000-04:00

The bottom line is the Jets are one of the worst run franchises in the league. They were carrying six quarterbacks following the draft. There is no legitimate strategy for carrying that many. Add to that, they lost two of the better known back-ups for nothing in return.

This team has needs at QB, WR, RB, OL, DL and DB. They tried to address some of them in the draft, but they did not do enough.

This is going to be a long season for Jets fans.

AFC East

Patriots 13

Dolphins 7

Jets 3

Bills 1

AFC North

Ravens 12

Bengals 10

Steelers 12

Browns 3

AFC South

Texans 12

Colts 8

Titans 7

Jaguars 2

AFC West

Broncos 10

Chargers 8

Raiders 1

Chiefs 11

NFC East

Redskins 8

Giants 11

Cowboys 9

Eagles 4

NFC North

Packers 10

Vikings 5

Lions 10

Bears 10

NFC South

Falcons 13

Panthers 4

Saints 12

Buccaneers 6

NFC West

49ers 13

Seahawks 12

Rams 4

Cardinals 5

AFC Playoff Teams

Patriots

Ravens

Texans

Chiefs

Steelers

Broncos

NFC Playoff Teams

Giants

Packers

Falcons

49ers

Seahawks

Saints

AFC Championship

Patriots vs Broncos

NFC Championship

Seahawks vs Packers

Superbowl

Broncos vs Packers

Champions - Packers

That's the first pass at my season predictions, I'll update them as we progress through camps.

Scott King
@FootballXPs

Listen to FXP on RF Sports Radio, Mondays at 9pm East.

The 49ers fell just short of a SB victory last season. Have they made enough changes to their roster to get the win in 2013? NFL Predictions 1.0

2013-05-18T21:16:00.001-04:00

The 49ers changed QBs mid way through the season and almost won the Super Bowl. What will Kaepernick do with a full offseason and regular season at the started? Did they add enough fire power in the draft to get them over the hump? What about the Seahawks?

Here's a look at the win totals for each team.

AFC East

Patriots 13

Dolphins 7

Jets 3

Bills 1

AFC North

Ravens 12

Bengals 10

Steelers 12

Browns 3

AFC South

Texans 12

Colts 8

Titans 7

Jaguars 2

AFC West

Broncos 10

Chargers 8

Raiders 1

Chiefs 11

NFC East

Redskins 8

Giants 11

Cowboys 9

Eagles 4

NFC North

Packers 10

Vikings 5

Lions 10

Bears 10

NFC South

Falcons 13

Panthers 4

Saints 12

Buccaneers 6

NFC West

49ers 13

Seahawks 12

Rams 4

Cardinals 5

AFC Playoff Teams

Patriots

Ravens

Texans

Chiefs

Steelers

Broncos

NFC Playoff Teams

Giants

Packers

Falcons

49ers

Seahawks

Saints

AFC Championship

Patriots vs Broncos

NFC Championship

Seahawks vs Packers

Superbowl

Broncos vs Packers

Champions - Packers

That's the first pass at my season predictions, I'll update them as we progress through camps.

Scott King
@FootballXPs

Listen to FXP on RF Sports Radio, Mondays at 9pm East.

The Ravens were lucky to beat the Broncos last season in the playoffs. Can Joe Flacco lead them back to the Super Bowl this season? NFL predictions 1.0

2013-05-18T21:12:00.001-04:00

The Ravens won it all last year, but this year they will field a very different team. Joe Flacco has a huge contract, which is great for him, but I think he's over paid. His completion percentage is not great and his 3rd down numbers aren't either. With Bolden gone and a new players needed to step-up on defense, what are their chances to repeat?

Here's a look at each teams record.

AFC East

Patriots 13

Dolphins 7

Jets 3

Bills 1

AFC North

Ravens 12

Bengals 10

Steelers 12

Browns 3

AFC South

Texans 12

Colts 8

Titans 7

Jaguars 2

AFC West

Broncos 10

Chargers 8

Raiders 1

Chiefs 11

NFC East

Redskins 8

Giants 11

Cowboys 9

Eagles 4

NFC North

Packers 10

Vikings 5

Lions 10

Bears 10

NFC South

Falcons 13

Panthers 4

Saints 12

Buccaneers 6

NFC West

49ers 13

Seahawks 12

Rams 4

Cardinals 5

AFC Playoff Teams

Patriots

Ravens

Texans

Chiefs

Steelers

Broncos

NFC Playoff Teams

Giants

Packers

Falcons

49ers

Seahawks

Saints

AFC Championship

Patriots vs Broncos

NFC Championship

Seahawks vs Packers

Superbowl

Broncos vs Packers

Champions - Packers

That's the first pass at my season predictions, I'll update them as we progress through camps.

Scott King
@FootballXPs

Listen to FXP on RF Sports Radio, Mondays at 9pm East.