Kyle Orton and Brandon Stokely conjured up the play of the day (and luckiest) in the NFL on Sunday. If you were unlucky enough to actually watch the game in its entirety likes yours truly, its painfully obvious that the Broncos and Bangels are NFL nonfactors this year. Disjointed offenses and boring broken drives were the theme of day. Thankfully with 30 seconds left Gus Johnson was able to save the day with his call.
Tag Archives: NFL
Richard Seymour Gets Blindsided
Richard Seymour was traded to the Raiders on September 8th for Oakland’s first round draft pick in 2011. I thought it seemed like a good deal for the Patriots since they seemed to be stalling to give him a contract extension, and they also probably got themselves a top ten pick for a possibly aging star. I was happy to see the Raiders make a move to get a solid locker room and field leader as well. He seems to be a more vocal leader than Asomugha is. The Raiders gave Seymour a deadline to report to the Raiders, and today he ended his five day long silence letting everyone know what was up. This type of complication seems standard for anything the Raiders do, but his quotes were somewhat concerning to me even though he said he was happy to go to Oakland. His statements today reported by the Boston Herald.
He learned of the trade when Bill Belichick called him and simply said, We traded your rights to Oakland.
“First of all, I was blindsided by this whole event,” Seymour, the five-time Pro Bowler, told Borges. “When you get blindsided, you should take a moment to gather your thoughts. I have a lot of personal issues more pressing than football.”
Seymour said if you want to watch for him with his new team, he’ll be wearing No. 92 on Monday Night. “I’ll be the guy on top of the quarterback,” he said.
Well, Seymour has four children, plus, he is the guardian of his 15-year-old cousin whose mother has passed. The 15-year-old had been in school in South Carolina until this year, at which point he was starting in North Attleboro… until the trade.
Now, Seymour’s wife and family are moving back to South Carolina (where they are from) and Richard will head to Oakland by himself.
“There are a lot of different emotions,” Seymour said. “Football was not my main concern at that point. I have had discussions with the Raiders… I’m excited and happy with the way they’re looking at me.”
I really don’t buy the whole blindsided argument. It’s pretty lame for a 30 year old veteran to not know that the NFL is a business, and you can be traded at pretty much anytime of your career. He was around when the Patriots stalled on contract negotiations for Ty Law and Deion Branch as they were asking for too much money, and what happened? Law and Branch left, shocking!?! The NFL is a business more than it has been loyal to players, and he ultimately shouldn’t need five freaking days to make a statement. If he really was somewhat happy with the trade, he would have said something whether he has a family problem or not.
Being blindsided isn’t a good enough excuse in my book. He should have said something within a couple of days.
Either way I’m glad he sucked it up, and is ready to join the Raiders. I really hope he does well. I think moving to a 4-3 defense will ultimately make him more effective, and the Raiders can use all the help with the pass rush possible. They already have one side of the locked down with Namadi roaming. I and Raider Nation are hoping that Seymour can have a Reggie White type change the same way he did when he went to Green Bay. I just hope he doesn’t give up on the team the way that Sapp did a few years ago. I’m sure that losing wears on anybody after awhile, but hopefully he can be a instigator in changing that seemingly normal SOP over the last few years. If you think about it further, it’s a pretty good deal for the Raiders since they like to blow draft picks anyways. This off season there were two trades between the teams as gave the Patriots traded for Burgess for a third and fourth round pick in 2010. The Pats traded Seymour to the Raiders for a first rounder. I think I’d rather have Seymour than Burgess! Now Oakland won’t have to waste money on a first round pick in 2011 that will probably be an overpaid nobody. I can’t wait to see him on top of River’s whiny ass Monday night! Even though I picked the Raiders to lose, maybe with Seymour the can cover!
Doin Lines Week 1
Throughout the season I will be try to predict the outcomes of the NFL spreads. I used to gamble quite a bit, and had good and bad times with it. I think I would’ve done better if I hadn’t gone for so many parlays, but that makes it more exciting. Anyways, I’ve never kept track over a whole season, so this should be interesting. The home teams are in bold, and the first team listed is the favorite. I will also be giving a confidence rating on my picks with a scale of 1-5. A one would be “I like me betting on the Raiders, because they’re my favorite team”, and a 5 would be “Parlay this one with any other 5 on the board” Without further ado here is the predictions.
Pittsburgh (-6) Tennessee
3, It’s going to be tough for everyone going to Pittsburgh, but Tennessee proved last season that they are for real with their 12-4 mark, but are a fairly big underdog against the Steelers. The Titans have pretty much the same look as last year minus Haynesworth. They should be ready to at least cover in this one, since I feel like this line should be around -3. Plus, I have a feeling the Titans will want to pull out everything they have to get a win off the newly crowned champs.
Atlanta (-4) Miami
4, I felt like the Dolphins were huge overachievers last season. They would
probably do fine in the AFC West, but in their division I think it’ll be a long tough road for them. Their first game is going to be in hostile territory against a team looking to see improvement through acquisitions and growth from their young QB. The Falcons should cover this spread with all the offensive firepower they have.
Baltimore (-13) Kansas City
2, It’s always hard to tell how crappy a team is going to be. I doubt that KC will win this, but can you really give a guy named Flacco enough confidence in covering a two TD spread? I didn’t think so. KC will kill a few bettors at the end of this game scoring some points in garbage time. They seemed to do that well last year even with Thigpen.
Philadelphia (-1.5) Carolina
2, this is a tough one. I don’t like it when the home team isn’t favored, but in this one I can’t argue. Carolina’s often stalling offense is always a roller coaster that I wouldn’t bet a replica ring on.
McNabb has two weeks to prove he is the undisputed starter, so I like Philly taking this one either by a good offensive effort or Jake Delhomme choking it away.
Cincinnati (-4.5) Denver
3, With all the drama in Denver this off-season it’s hard to tell what is going to come out of the once proud franchise. Saying they are dysfunctional is an understatement, but saying Cincinatti hasn’t had it’s problems isn’t fair either. I don’t like any team coming off as many problems and changes as Denver had this off-season, and they won’t figure it out until it’s too late.
Minnesota (-4) Cleveland
5, Like I said before I don’t like road teams being favored, but I really can’t bet on a franchise that just named it’s starter today, Quinn. Cleveland didn’t make any upgrades and sorely needed to over the off-season. Minnesota should run away with this one. We could even see a chunk of playing time for Tavaris or a tryout from Anderson if Quinn struggles…
Houston (-4.5) NY Jets
4, it’s Mark Sanchez’s first start as a pro, and I have a feeling that he’s going to get acquainted with Mario Williams early and often.
If the Jets had a solid running game or receivers that didn’t disappear, I’d give them a chance. Schaub is expected to go today, so as long as that stays the same I’m taking the Texans.
Indianapolis (-7) Jacksonville
3, I think it would be impossible to pick anyone but Indy at home. Jacksonville usually gives them a good fight, but in a home opener it’s going to be hard for the Jaguars to pull it out especially with their disappointing 5 win campaign last season. I think the Colts will start the season as they usually do undefeated with a convincing win.
New Orleans (-13) Detroit
5, The question is when will the Saints be up by 13? First half? First quarter? Watch the bottom line or your stat tracker to see just how many they can put up. I don’t see the Lions 20 game losing streak ending in week 1 especially in a tough environment.
Dallas (-6) Tampa Bay
4, Tampa Bay is in shambles after barely missing the playoffs last year. They are doing an overhaul with minimal talent, so it’s pretty hard not to like the Cowboys in this one. Dallas will probably run a little more smoothly with TO out of the way. Look for the Buccaneers fans to be one of the blackout teams soon.
Arizona (-6.5) San Francisco
2, I really don’t know what to expect from this one. I’ll loosely pick the Niners to cover.
Arizona had an incredible season last year, but I don’t see lightning striking twice. It was kind of funny watching Kurt Warner fall to late rounds in nearly all my fantasy drafts. That has to say something about their chances.
NY Giants (-6.5) Washington
2, it seems like the Giants start off strong and slowly fade away as the season wears on. If Eli had one good receiver, I’d probably bump up my confidence rating, but in this rivalry game it’s always tough to give a team nearly a TD. Washington just ends up being disappointing every season, and this year doesn’t look much brighter, as I see the Giants taking this one.
Seattle (-8.5) St. Louis
3, One rule I have is never to bet on crappy teams, because you never know what you’ll get. Seattle vs. St. Louis definitely fits that mold, and I can’t really give more than a TD to any team I deem crappy. St. Louis should make this competitive while they cover the spread.
Green Bay (-3.5) Chicago
4, I like the way the Packers look this year.
Rodgers has a lot of guys to throw to, and proved that he is going to be a good starter for years to come. The Bears have issues on defense especially against the passing game. I like the Pack to set the division tone with a convincing win.
New England (-11) Buffalo
4, If Brady is indeed back to 07′ form, we could see the stats that only a QB on Madden puts up. I don’t really see the impact of TO on the field overshadowing the gaping hole left by Lynch in the backfield. I think Buffalo is a decent team, but they are no match for the Pats in Foxboro on opening night. There could be two Monday night blowouts.
San Diego (-9.5) Oakland
2, it’s never easy picking against your team especially when they are giving a TD plus, but the Raiders are starting to mirror the Timberwolves as their franchise spirals out of control. They have talent, but no direction. On a side note, I hope Gruden calls this game on ESPN, it would be nice to hear what he has to say about his former employer! Plus I caught him during a pre-season game and he was pretty funny.
Labor Day Weekend Sports Notes
I just wanted to throw my two cents on the fun stuff that happened over this past Labor Day Weekend.
Shawne Merriman doing his Lights Out Dance all over Tila Tequila after giving her the Undertaker choke slam!
Well, that’s not exactly how TMZ reported it, and I guess he’s saying he was innocent. Which could be believable seeing how she was drunk, and he was ordering water towards the end of the night. I don’t really buy that he wasn’t drinking even if he was ordering water at the end of the night, because I do the same thing when I’m too drunk. If there was any question to why the AFC West is arguably the worst division in the league, all you have to do is look at the summer of fun it produced. You have a head coach hitting his other coach causing a broken jaw. There are Broncos star players (Cutler and Marshall) whining about every conceivable thing, and then taking it back then ripping on fans, and not practicing. Now we have Shawne Merriman beating down Tila Tequila. Keeping it classy down there in San Diego!
The Deutche Bank Classic. I caught the end of this battle, and it wasn’t even Tiger related which always instantly turns a tournament into only watch able for true golf fans. That actually makes me more interested than when Tiger is in the running. Anyways Steve Stricker ended up with dramatic come from behind win with a birdie on 18 to seal the deal.
Although I was hoping that there would be a playoff, I would have rooted for him once the playoff began, so it was good to see him win and take the top spot on the FedEx points leader board. I think this third victory of the season firmly plants him behind Tiger in the PGA Player of the year race, who I’d previously given to Y.E. Yang. If he can somehow pull out a victory next weekend in the BMW, voters would definitely have to consider giving it to him over Tiger. Especially since winning the FedEx playoffs is almost as good as a major, since the field is so strong! So far, I’m really happy with the way these playoffs have been going the past couple years. It makes golf relevant after the last major. It’s a great way to keep the top players going to events.
Shocker of the Weekend, Matthew Stafford will be the starting quarterback for the Lions, and be throwing the ball exclusively to Megatron when the season starts. This is about as shocking as Joaquin Phoenix selling out one of his rap concerts.
Tennis US Open. Melanie Oudin’s improbable run is still going as the 17 year old has advanced to the quarter finals. It’s a cool story, but I’m not really that into it…
With Isner getting defeated by Verdasco, it’s the first time there isn’t an American in the quarter finals on the men’s side for eight decades. It’s a shame that men’s US tennis hasn’t been good in nearly a decade. Roddick has tried, but he is more Stiffler from American Pie than Aggasi, Sampras, or even Jim Courier. It looks as though Federer should be winning another grand slam title. Hopefully Nadal can meet him along the way for one of their epic matches. Has anyone else noticed how much more relevant Nadal has made Federer? It’s really his first and only rival since he started dominating, and it feels like he’s made Rodger a bigger icon than he was before the two were consistently squaring off. I guess it’s hard to have a rival when you beat everyone, but Nadal’s emergence only makes Rodger’s legacy greater!
I’ll skip the College Football, because it’s been documented by Mceezy already!
Can the NFL Survive a Blow From the Recession?
I wrote my plea for the NFL to change the Blackout rule, because it’s robbing the fans of seeing the home teams play, and further detaches the fair weather fans and people that happen to move to a new area that features a franchise. The NFL is holding it’s cards close as they insist they aren’t in bad shape financially, and are recession proof. A report from Forbes came out today that showed the NFL was telling a half truth, as they are okay, but the future is fairly uncertain. Their $1 billion in equity plus debt average among the teams has not changed. The bad part of the report was that eight franchises declined in value for the first time in 10 years! Not surprisingly my Raiders were the worst on the list decreasing 7% from last season, and as of now the Lions are even worth more than them. There were good playoff teams on the list that declined as well including the Colts(-5%), Dolphins(-3%), and Falcons (-2%). The factors that the findings were derived from were; the decline in people who could afford to purchase or invest a franchise, lowered revenues and lower revenue expectations, and the tightened credit markets.
The all powerful NFL isn’t too worried that a quarter of their franchises that have dropped in value as they get huge revenues in the $7 ½ billion range for all their assets. Their TV deals with ESPN, NBC, CBS, FOX, and Sunday Ticket on DirecTV alone give teams a whopping $116 million per year. Facing obvious challenges in the near future the NFL extended their TV contracts recently for two more years through 2013. The drawback to the agreement was that there was a very low 2% increase per season. The real problem for the NFL looks to be the new collective bargaining agreement that was supposed to go through 2012, but the owners voted unanimously to opt out at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Many owners have complained that they’ve had to spend over half their revenues to pay the players, and when there are jackass’s like Michael Crabtree out there squabbling over his contract it all becomes clear why their gripes are justified. Who knows by the time Crabtree gets a contract there could be a lockout, one more bad reason for players to holdout. I still can’t fathom how players are worth millions before they take one snap as a pro. Next year for the first time since 1993, the NFL will play without a salary cap.
This sounds like an instant lockout by the owners, if this is allowed to happen. I doubt too many owners will be thrilled to compete for players against teams that turn the most profit like the Redskins ($90 million), Patriots ($70 million), and Buccaneers ($68 million). I guess Tampa might fall off this list as they are due to be one of the teams this season that could not sell a home game out, and fall under the retarded blackout rule. They once had a 100,000 person waiting list to get season tickets, but those days are long gone as they hope to fill up the stadium for eight weeks out of the year.
We will see what happens, but you can bet that the NFL isn’t ready for what is coming. I have a feeling that they are under estimating their worst case scenario, and shouldn’t be telling the public that everything is all good and happy times. Goodell is good at doing the PR through as his sleazy car salesman act has fooled me from time to time. I hope it doesn’t stoop to the NBA’s depths, which I wrote about a couple months back. If teams are close to bankruptcy, and are having to borrow money I’ll be the first to say I told you so. I know with the recession comes cutbacks by everyone feeling the wrath of the mighty economy, and that translates to a lot more empty seats, which keeps snowballing as a lot less concessions are being bought. I’m sure that in these unforgiving times less people are willing to pony up the money for that ridiculous DirecTV Sunday Ticket package. If people can’t afford tickets, then we can’t even watch our favorite teams on TV from the blackouts. Looks like we’ll have to suffer as we watch the Giants, Jets, Patriots, Redskins, and Cowboys during our blacked out games. I’m already depressed thinking about having to watch Romo and Eli more than they were regularly scheduled!
Spreading the Gospel of Brett Favre Hate
We here at Doin-Work would like to spread the word of the gospel. No, this isn’t religious website; we didn’t sell out and join a Christian blog network overnight. The greater gospel that we speak of is sports, and divine right to hate the notorious d-bags who play the GAMES we love. With that in mind we would like to post Brett Favre’s serious p**sy chop block last night in the Vikings PRESEASON game against the Texans. You’ve probably already seen this by now, but this post is intended to make sure the gospel of Brett Favre’s “douchieness” is spread far and wide.
Finally, Rice Speaks Out
Back in the first week of August, I wrote my piece about the Michael Crabtree holdout. I honestly didn’t expect it to still be going on nearly a month later. I spoke of the comparison between Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, and now Michael Crabtree. I ultimately concluded that Crabtree isn’t worthy of lining up on the same hash mark as Rice. I couldn’t help but wonder, WWJS? Today, the greatest wide receiver in the history of the game spoke out, largely about Brandon Marshall’s shenanigans, but also about Crabtree ridiculous holdout, and even went on about the sad state of the wide receiver population in general.
Check out Rice’s sentiments on Fox Sports.
I’m glad Rice said something about this subject. The idea of rookie holdouts is still preposterous to me, and I often wonder where the retired greats are to keep these kids in line. Problem is, I’m sure Crabtree will go on thinking he’s in the right, and Jerry Rice doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I’d even go so far as to guess that Crabtree – if he does ever sign with the 49ers – will approach Rice about wearing his #80. I hope it does happen, so Jerry can tell him not in a million years.
The NFL Really Cares… About Making Money!
It’s looking like the NFL is about to see some hard times of their own due to the economy. Everybody knew it was coming, and we are seeing the first signs of it as there are 10 to 12 teams that may not sell out every game. This would mean mass local blackouts on TV broadcasts for many supportive fans.
Last season there were only three teams that didn’t sell out games and not surprisingly the list was Oakland, Detroit, and St. Louis. They combined for a total of nine blacked out games last season. I can’t blame any of the fans for not going to those games though, especially since I’m a Raiders fan and value paying to see them as much as going to see “Thunder from Down Under” for a bachelor party in Vegas. Despite the fact that there are about one third of teams finding it difficult to sell out, the blackout rule will stay in effect for it’s 37th straight year. The Jaguars have stated that they may not even sell out one home game all season. Sorry Jacksonville fans, you have to sign up for Direct TV and pay an extra $200 just to watch your local team for those eight games.
Tim Keown explored the reasons why the blackouts are out dated, and only hurt the league. I fully agree, as it deters possible fans that would have to watch the locally televised games. Many times a casual fan that lives in the area is exposed to the local team to the point where they start to follow them. I’ve had that transformation since my move to Southern California about three years ago. I used to root mildly for the Giants as a Northern California resident, but without being able to watch them, I now root for the Dodgers since I see them on TV nearly every day. I definitely never thought that I’d say four years ago when I was living in Northern California surrounded by that media market.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fair weather fan, I’ll always be a fan of the A’s, Raiders, and Warriors which sholuld say enough looking at their track records this past decade. I’ll root for all the Oakland teams no matter where I live, but every sports fan has “other teams” or man crushes on a certain players so we follow them. If they’re in the local media market, they are certainly going to be watched. That won’t happen if eight of a teams games are being blacked out. How can anyone get attached to a player or team that isn’t shoved down your throat? It won’t happen, and that’s why this rule that’s older than Al Davis needs to be changed.
Sometimes we’ve been saved from these blackouts by local companies that will buy up the rest of the tickets, so that the game can be televised. In these uncertain economic times it’s much less likely that companies are going to open up their wallets to get a game televised. Teams that have had no problem selling out all their tickets in the past like the Cheifs, Dolphins, and Jets are struggling to sell tickets, and have noticeably ramped up the promotions to get people out to the games. San Diego, Miami, and Minnesota are on the list of teams that might not sell out all their tickets, and they were all playoff teams last season. If I was jobless, and couldn’t watch my team play on their way to a playoff run I’d be mad. The NFL is still in great shape either way financially, so why not give the fans a break. It’s bad enough that the fans are asked to spend taxpayer money on the ridiculously large stadiums, and they expect people to be okay with them not being on their local programming!
Goodell is too smooth of a talker to be able to trust!
This quote pretty much sums up how much Goodell and the NFL care about the fans that support the game and teams of their home towns.
Sean McManus, president of CBS Sports and CBS News, said last week that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told him that “he is not going to make any major adjustment to a rule that has lasted a long time just because of a short-term economic problem.”
When asked if CBS had concerns about blacked-out games, McManus said, “I don’t think there is any way they are going to change it, so it is pointless to talk to them about it.”
The Raiders Outlook May be Bleak, but there’s Always a Silver Lining Before the Season Starts
With Raiders Camp concluding on the 27th, I thought I’d take a look at our chances this season. I usually try to talk myself into believing that we will do good, and keep a positive attitude. This year, in all honesty an 8-8 season would feel like we made the playoffs. I’m not saying we’ll win that many, but I hope that we play good enough to at least cover the Vegas lines!
This off-season has been highlighted by Cable’s haymaker, but I’d say that last season’s Jevon Walker saga was much more dysfunctional. At least this season, it was football related. Plus, I really like that he did it. It makes me feel like he really cares. Whatever happens, I’m glad we have a coach that gets fired up enough to sock someone. If I was a player, he’d have my respect instantly. Anyways, if we’re going to win a significant amount of games this season it all falls on Jemarcus and his ability to lead this offense.
Entering his third season, he really needs to show the team something or their contingency plan (Garcia) will kick into effect. One thing about Russell, is he’s good at not turning it over, but on the same notion he doesn’t throw many TD passes and completes only %53 of his passes. I’m not a big fan of the pre-season telling you much since both teams are working out the kinks on both sides of the ball. I did catch some of the Raiders vs. Niners game, and was surprised to see Russell play pretty well with the exception of one wild over throw. He looked more comfortable than I’ve ever seen him. I’m not saying he won’t make bad decisions when the season starts, but at least he looks more comfortable/calm on the field.
As for their receivers, it’s definitely not completely figured out. I’ve read that #7 pick Darius Heywood-Bey (DHB), has seemed to be getting into a rhythm, and has made a memorable catch in mini camps.
Jevon Walker made his first appearance at yesterday’s practice since last November after repairing his knee. He’s probably going to disappear more often than not whether he’s injured or on the field. Chaz Schillins, is not a # 1 receiver. Tight End Zach Miller, Russell’s favorite target last season, should be seeing just as much action. I just hope he’s not leading the team in receiving yards again, because we really need to get our receivers involved. If DHB is the highest rated receiver on the Raiders in Madden 2010 with an 81, then it’s definitely an area that needs a lot of improvement.
Our running game has been the one strong part of our offense for the past couple years, but we need some passing too. Having a clog in the backfield with Fargas, Mcfadden, and Bush, might be one to many backs. Not that they won’t be a great combo to put out there to force teams to stop, but why wouldn’t you try to shop Fargas and Bush around?
They could address a number of needs and still have a two headed monster that teams covet in the backfield. They don’t even need to go for a receiver that I stated they need so desperately. They could upgrade the offensive or defensive line. In this scenario, I’d much rather see Fargas go as he runs into his own linemen more than tacklers, but if it takes Bush to make a drastic improvement in any of the above mentioned areas, I’m all for it. I’m not saying that Mr. Davis would make a sensible move such as this one, but we can hope. I’m ready for the Chargers on the Monday edition of season openers!
Favre Less Than Impressive
Brett Favre made his “comeback” Friday night in Minneapolis and left much to be desired. Favre completed just one of four pass attempts, a four yard completion to rookie Percy Harvin. I know often times a box score doesn’t tell the whole story, but did anyone in Minnesota or Kansas City catch the game? Was their any silver lining in this performance? Was their a lack of protection? Or did Favre simply complete another phase in the decline of a legend? Post a comment if you watched the game.
Did the Vikings get Favre or Farva?
There has been way too much hoopla over Favre for a third straight summer. I’m not surprised he came out of retirement again, but since there are so many people talking about it I guess I need to weigh in with my thoughts on Farve. At the end of his Green Bay tenure he ended their playoff run by throwing a crucial interception in his NFC Championship game. This was when he entered the Farva era. Everthing he’s touched since that game has crumbled. He has been hurting organizations by doing the ol: I’m going to retire, and ended up un-retiring to play again. Wait, no I’m going to be retired, no wait I want to play. Okay, I’ll play again. He had a crappy season in New York, and I was pretty sure that would show him that he wasn’t what he used to be. He’s covered in grey hair now, and he doesn’t bring the same arm or legs to the game.
Personally I don’t really care about Minnesota or Favre all that much. He’s been an outstanding player, but this has disaster written all over it.
Visions of Jordan playing on the Wizards are crossing my mind. They have AP in the lineup, so that might save his body some blows, but in the end car ramrod will probably run the Vikings fans to the depths of the Love Boat days. It just feels like it’s a panic move for Minnesota, since they already were trying to figure out who their QB of the future is in Tavaris and Sage. Childress should have taken a nice firm stance like Mike Singletary has taken with Crabtree. Once he made him decide by a certain date, he should have closed the door once that day passed. Childress should have moved on. Why not just see how the duo does for the first half of the season? If they are struggling during a very favorable first five weeks of the season, and the QB position is a weak spot, give Favre a call. Instead they’ll have Farva running around in their locker room on his path to find out if this is his final year. I predict that it will finally be the year we see that he has nothing left…
The Michael Vick Roundtable
Andre: Well worth the attention and media that will surround the Eagles in my opinion. There are killers playing in the NFL, ie. Leonard Little, so why not Vick? He’s very likely to play another 6 or 7 years in the NFL as a passing QB alone, so someone was going to take the gamble and the Eagles are a strongest franchise to take this on. Their own coach has had two wayward sons arrested and he seems to have dealt with that drama just fine. Anyone who argues the two year layoff was too long, it’s as if he was injured for those two years really, he won’t be too far behind by week 6. It’s also been talked about that Goodell could shorten the suspension if there are no hiccups along the way, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out.
Chappy: I like the deal. It gives them a lot of leeway since Westbrook and Mcnabb usually get hurt for a couple of games during the season. Plus, Westbrook just hit the normal declining age of 30 for running backs, and if anyone can be as illusive for the Eagles as Westbrook is, then Vick has to be that guy. Now they have four playmakers on offense with Mcnabb, Vick, Westbrook, and Jackson! This addition might help soften the blow they suffered on defense losing Dawkins. It seems like a win win situation for the Eagles!
MCeezy: I’m probably the least excited about this move. It’s not because I think it’ll hurt the Eagles, they have virtually nothing to lose here. In fact, I think a lot of the guys will be happy to welcome Vick, since he was sort of a martyr in the whole dog fighting scandal, but that’s another story for another time. However, on the field, I just don’t see him having much impact. I think the rust will show and I’d be surprised to see him ever regain his previous form. Nonetheless, he’s yet another weapon for a team that already has McNabb, Westbrook, Desean Jackson, Lesean McCoy, and Kendra Wilkinson.
Tony: So what’s the downside here for the Eagles? They are always in need of moving the needle both on the road and in Philly, and on the larger NFL stage as well. This move accomplishes that in a big way! On the field itself, the Eagles have added one of the most dynamic athletes we’ve ever seen, and have the luxury of 6 weeks to break him in on the practice field with no pressure, because of his suspension. With the Wildcat offense and its offshoots the hot new scheme in the NFL, adding Vick makes the Eagles lethal. The NFL is a crazy game, so the true impact can’t be told just yet, but on the face of things the Eagles made a bold move…let’s watch and see how it plays out.
Crabtreetment
The San Francisco 49ers were blessed with one of the easiest, no-brainer draft decisions when Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree fell in their laps at the 10th slot. Problem is, in Crabtree’s mind, it didn’t happen that way. He was the highest rated WR in the draft, so he should be paid like one. If you haven’t heard the story, here’s Niners Nation’s in-depth account.
Michael Crabtree is continuing the much-maligned tradition of rookies holding out in training camp in attempt to earn more money despite the fact that they have never taken an NFL snap. I often wonder how fans ever forgive these players after pulling such shenanigans. The Oakland Raiders had to deal with this recently with Jamarcus Russell, and now, the nightmare has shifted across the Bay to Santa Clara / San Francisco where what the Niners once thought was a gift, has now turned into a disaster. While I’d like to root for the 49ers to hold a firm position, they don’t have much leverage here. Gaining much publicity this year in Niners camp is Alex Smith’s attempt to reclaim the starting spot that he should’ve been holding down for the last two full seasons. The concequence is a constant reminder of the franchise’s shortcomings in the draft which they held the #1 overall pick. It wasn’t considered by anyone to be a deep draft, but with #24 pick Aaron Rodgers succeeding Brett Favre in Green Bay, the scarlet and gold are publicly relegated to the short end of the stick. So, with the Alex Smith debacle playing in the background, the Michael Crabtree situation makes things that much more urgent. No one expects him to be a superstar, but at the same time, he’s as close to a sure-fire WR prospect as we’ve seen in the last few years. Adding to the burden is the lack of the depth at the wideout spot. Sure, there are a handful of capable receivers on the roster, but Brandon Jones, Isaac Bruce, and Josh Morgan doesn’t exactly have playoff receiving corps written on it. Crabtree, unfortunately, is needed.
Douchebag
I will give that the 49ers fan base is a faithful one. The franchise has been driven into the ground over the course of the last decade by the York family, but the fan support has been unwavering. SF fans are dying to clutch on to a franchise player and cheer on his every move. The problem is, they can’t find anyone to fill that role. Alex Smith has blown his chances, Vernon Davis was practically handed the badge of fan-favorite, but has failed repeatedly to win over the faithful. Frank Gore and Patrick Willis have helped carry the torch, but for a fan base who has grown up with Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, who didn’t start to wear on nerves until he had actually earned his stripes, Crabtree is in a unique position to be the man for years to come with one of the most storied NFL franchises. However, because the franchise is what it is, I don’t believe they should bend for Crabtree. Let him walk. This move on his part only is a preview of what is to come throughout his career. Though it may be a PR nightmare for the time being, time will ultimately prove it to be the right decision. Let’s face it, Crabtree isn’t worthy of lining up on the same hash mark as the great Jerry Rice. He belongs somewhere like Kansas City or Minnesota anyway.
Anybody know the logistics of whether SF could work out a Crabtree for Boldin swap with the Cardinals?
Go For Broke!
In these tough economic times, when it feels like your money isn’t going all that far, just remember that there are plenty of people that are worse off than you. USA today had a study on athletes, and it found that 78% of retired NFL players are bankrupt within 2 years, and 60% retired NBA players are broke within 5 years. So congratulations to all the rookies out there! They’re usually thrown into the glamorous filled lifestyle of the rich and famous, but that life is usually abruptly ended, and they end up being just an anecdote in one of my pointless posts! Far too many times we see athletes blow off hundreds of millions of dollars, but there should be no reason to be surprised. They have to realize they just can’t blow through cash like Joey Chestnut powers down hot dogs! Here is a list of things that some players didn’t realize weren’t within their means.
Taking the Lil Wayne approach. This guy already has two kids and is about to have two more with two different ladies on very close due dates.
Travis and six of his eleven kids
I’m not saying don’t have kids, but he could easily go broke down the line just like Travis Henry who has 11 kids with 10 different women. In March of this year he was pulled over and arrested for failing to pay $16,600 in child support. He is currently in jail for trafficking cocaine. Shawn Kemp ran into similar problems having at least 7 kids with 6 different women.
Buy cars, actually buy many many cars! Jack “the Ripper” Clark owned 18 cars at the time he filed for bankruptcy, and 17 were not paid for in full including a 1990 Ferrari that he owed $300K on. In 1992 he owed $11,459,305, and had only $4,781,780 in assets. He was still in the second year of a three year $8.7 million contract from the Red Sox while filing for bankruptcy.
Buy a private jet. Burn money like it’s going out of style! Scottie Pippen borrowed $4.375 million to get himself a personal jet. Did you know that it costs about $50K to fix a windshield on one of those!?! I’m sure that insurance, fuel, and a personal pilor are good investments to ride in style to the next stop on the road trip. Apparently, he still owes the airplane company $5 million. 
You could go by sea if you don’t like flying. Latrell Sprewell tried to hide his 70 foot yacht in storage, until the bank foreclosed on his house and yacht. He famously turned down a 3 year $30 million contract stating “I’ve got a family to feed”.
Ballin out of control. Most players fall into this trap. They don’t drive their own cars. They don’t write their own checks. They don’t raise their own kids. They just play their sport and let others pick off their carcass like vultures. Just look at how Vick turned out, as his friends ran his life outside football helping lead to his dog fighting ring. For some reason most athletes set up a large support system behind them, and because they are the only ones supporting it they go broke! LaTroy Hawkins offers his advice to teammates “When I was a young buck, I was trying to spend all my money. Now I try to preach to young guys in the clubhouse who are like that. I’ve got all this stuff from 10 years ago — jewelry, rims — that I think, Why the f— did I even buy this?”
Screw up, deny everything, and fight it with all the lawyers and cash you have. Rodger Clemens sold his Bentley last year to none other than Bret Michaels. The sale of the car was reportedly to pay for legal fees. 
Kareem signed over his power of attorney, and then let an agent named Tom Collins have his power of attorney. It cost Kareem about $9 million before he figured it out. Mark Jackson was taken by one of his business managers who forged about $2.6 million worth of his checks to get his gambling fix. Barry Bonds seems like he’s well on his way to this dilemma.
So in the end, athletes are just like many of our own friends and people we know. Maybe our friends aren’t going bankrupt or quite as extravagant as these athletes, but we all know people living out of their means. A recent study suggests that if you make $35K a year you will never retire. I myself think I could contain my own spending if I hit the lotto, but then again I am a sucker for a friend in need and I can think of a lot of them that would probably hit me up.
NFL Over/Under Wins Predictions… Doin Work Edition
We’ve taken the Vegas win total over/unders for each and gave them the ol’ Doin Work twist. ….
Arizona 8 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. I don’t see Warner having as good a year as he had last year. He has amazing receivers, but losing Boldin isn’t going to help them.
Matt: Under. The much-maligned running game won’t get any better in Beanie Wells’ first year.
Andre : Over. Let’s see here… SF, SEA, and STL are a given 6 wins this year, if they lose 1 of those I’ll be really surprised. Cardinals will come back strong, I’m actually very intrigued to see what Beanie/Hightower combo can do in year 1.
Atlanta 8 Wins
Brian: Over. They look like a team on the rise, and are banking on Ryan to get better in his second year of action.
Matt: Over. Matt Ryan and Michael Turner should be a postseason staple for years to come.
Andre : Over. The Falcons brilliant recovery from disaster in 2008 was story book really, and they only got stronger this offseason. I think they can get to 10 wins in the NFC South, with the addition of a HoF security blanket at TE and The Burner and Roddy White entering their primes.
Baltimore 8 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. This is a tough one, but I thought they overachieved a little last year.
Matt: Under. Gone are Steve McNair and Derrick Mason. Terrell Suggs’ 6-year deal has trouble written all over it.
Andre : Under. Not enough at WR to work with, lack of #1 RB at this point, and an aging CB corp and MLB (sorry Ray) will slow the D and keep that O off the field to begin with.
Buffalo 7 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. I’m not sold that Trent Edwards can have a healthy season, and any team with two trouble makers TO and Marshawn is bound for disaster.
Matt: Over. I think they’ll be the same old Buffalo team, finishing 8-8 on the outside looking in.
Andre : Over. I’m gonna gamble and say the addition of TO pays off for Lee Evans and opens up the passing game, and once Marshawn comes back from his suspension he’ll be fresh and ready to go for the heart of the schedule.
Carolina 8 ½ Wins
Brian: Over. With the running game they have, they can control the clock every game, which goes a long way in winning games.
Matt: Under. Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith aren’t getting any younger.
Andre : Over. Love that running game, they will definitely shorten the game and keep their O on the field. And that D is nasty at times but needs to show up every week. Re-signing Peppers needs to be a priority, but for now he’s playing for a contract so that means big year ahead.
Chicago 8 ½ Wins
Brian: Over. We’ll see what Mr. Insulin is made of now that he’ll have a defense. Problem is he doesn’t really have anyone except a former returner to throw to.
Matt: Under. The addition of Jay Cutler should give fans reason for optimism, but I don’t see the Bears hanging with Minnesota and Green Bay
Andre : Under. The Bears have no leader on Offense. Haven’t had a leader on offense for a long time, and didn’t acquire one in any big trades this offseason (I’m looking at you Jay, can you handle that??). Guessing the Bears look much like the Broncos did last year, big arm and nothing else, doing just enough to fall short
Cincinnati 6 Wins
Brian: Under. Ask a Cincinnati fan why you should bet on the under, oh wait, never mind, there aren’t any…
Matt: Over. This is a crapshoot, but I’m banking on an up year for Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. Do they have any running backs yet?
Andre : Over. But not by much. I’d be willing to bet they have the strongest D in many years, but in the AFC North that’s just not good enough. Palmer and *% should come back strong, but Benson at RB? Really?? Are there any lakes to party on in Ohio? Just curious…
Cleveland 7 Wins
Brian: Under. Braylon leads the league in drops over the last two years, which exemplifies their lack of discipline.
Matt: Over. If anyone’s due for a playoff appearance it’s the Browns. Hopefully they can decide on a QB and trade the other for some help in other areas.
Andre : Under. Just a no go all around. They need to pick one of their young strong arm QBs and go with him, for good. Use the bargaining chip while he’s still young with little wear and tear, then go pick up a vet to back-up. After that they can start working on revamping the D, as that side was fairly miserable last year and not getting any better.
Dallas 9 Wins
Brian: Under. With TO and Jessica out of Romo’s life, the love fest between him and Witten will reign supreme in Dallas, but not in a good way.
Matt: Over. Dallas isn’t as good as the teams they’ve fielded in recent years, but the new digs oughta boost them to a solid finish.
Andre : How can you go wrong here? Talent everywhere, especially at RB with two great back-ups with game changing speed in Jones and Choice. The D comes back strong, and most likely less drama for yo baby’s mamma. Ok, no more TO.
Denver 7 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. They may get first in the AFC West with under 8 wins! Their defense was a disaster, Brandon Marshall is complaining, and they lost Cutler.
Matt: Under. I have high hopes for Knowshon Moreno, but I don’t see a Kyle Orton-led offense winning the AFC West.
Andre : Under. Way too easy here. Question marks at QB, RB, WR (is Marshall going to play??), the Defense was atrocious last year. They might not get to 6 wins.
Detroit 5 Wins
Brian: Under. I’m more sure on this bet than any of my others so far!
Matt: Under. The Lions did a major overhaul on their roster – er, no they didn’t. Stafford isn’t going to be working any miracles.
Andre : Under. Do we even know if Stafford will play this year? Are they really rolling out Culpepper?? Could be another scary year in Motown, and look forward to seeing them at the top of the draft again next year.
Green Bay 9 Wins
Brian: Over. They need a better year from Ryan Grant, and their secondary is getting older. We’ll see I’m wishy washy on this one.
Matt: Over. The Packers, with their core of Rodgers, Grant, Jennings, and Barnett, might be the class of the NFC this year.
Andre : Under. I truly believe Minny has the inside track in the North, QB or no QB. GB might challenge to make it a 2 team race, the definitely Bears won’t and the Lions who? I think Rodgers will have a hard time if Ryan Grant can’t come back stronger than he did last year, even with strong weapons at receiver. I think 8-8 might be a good season this year for the Pack.
Houston 8 Wins
Brian: Over. I like the core they have on offense and defense. I think they are going to be playoff bound this year.
Matt: Push. The Texans seemed destined for another 8-8 season. Their division schedule is a killer.
Andre – Under. The Texans are doing good things, and Schaub to A Johnson will be a great combo all season. RBs are small and might not be able to gain the physical yards, while the D is not quite a strong as it needs to be against the run to be successful.
Indianapolis 10 Wins
Brian: Over. They’ve won at least 12 games every year since 2003, so I see them finding some way to make it over 10.
Matt: Over. The Colts have found a way to get it done in the regular season this whole decade. Shouldn’t be any different this year.
Andre : Under. I was very close to a push, but settled back to 9 wins. Will Addai come back strong? We know Wayne will get his, but then what? Clark is injury prone, Gonzales still making his name. The defense really gelled at the end of the regular season, but fell apart in the playoffs.
Jacksonville 8 Wins
Brian: Under. I really have no idea what to expect from this team. It’s a surprise every week seeing what team will show up.
Matt: Under. Brian’s right. The Jaguars really do have a lot of question marks.
Andre : Under. I’m not sure MJD can carry a full load, and the WR corp was thin to begin with. Last season was a big step back, and I believe we could see more of the same this year. The defense has been overhauled in the last two years, not quite a scary as it used to be.
Kansas City 6 Wins
Brian: Over. This is a toss up, the race to six or seven wins may win the AFC West!
Matt: Under. KC has put all their proverbial eggs in one basket with Matt Cassel. I still think they’re another year or two away.
Andre : Push. Six wins sounds just about right for a team gambling on a brand new QB with 1 year under his belt. First year growing pains will be rough while he builds a relationship with his WRs, and the loss of Tony Gonzalez doesn’t make it any easier, as well as a question mark at RB. The defense is a work in progress, but looked to be advancing.
Miami 7 Wins
Brian: Over. They need to try and sign Vick! I could only imagine the damage he could do in that Wildcat offense!
Matt: Over. Barely. If they can build on last year’s success, they should challenge Buffalo for 2nd in the AFC East.
Andre : Under. Sorry Miami, I haven’t seen enough improvement to warrant a 7 win season. No receivers, half a QB, and a great running game means all kinds of blitzes and run stopping schemes. Good luck with that. Defensively they might be ok, but they’ll be on the field way too much.
Minnesota 9 Wins
Brian: Under. All Day can only carry them so far. I don’t see their defense leading the league in turnovers again.
Matt: Under. They’re still a franchise QB away from contending. But, if they bring in Favre? Nah, still a .500 team at best.
Andre : Over. As I mentioned earlier, I’m high on Minny winning that ugly North division. Minny was a great all-around team without a true QB last year, so whether they go with Favre or someone else I don’t think it matters too much. Great running game, the D is fast and physical, special teams are strong. AP better step it up and his 3rd year as a true leader of that franchise..
New England 11 ½ Wins
Brian: Over. I’ve bet against Brady too many times in spite. I guess I’ll try to jinx the Pats by putting them in the playoffs.
Matt: Under. I don’t think they’ll reach 12 wins, but 11-5 or 10-6 will be enough to win the division.
Andre : Under. Actually, UNDER. As in Under .500. I think this is the year the Pats just don’t get the bounces and calls going their way, all good things must come to an end. This team’s core is only getting older, and unlike a nice bottle of wine it’s not tasting any better. Last year Cassel stepped in admirably, but again with no running game and an aging D there will be a lot of pressure on Brady’s pretty little shoulders.
New Orleans 8 ½ Wins
Brian: Over. Their defense has to stop the other team a few times this year, right!?! Well in either case, I think Brees can orchestrate 9 wins.
Matt: Over. I’m torn, but I think a healthy Colston and Bush can put this team over the .500 mark.
Andre : Under. We’re all in love with Brees and Bush and Colston (or am I the only one?), but this team will once again need to prove they can win high-scoring shootouts with their less than mediocre D. The NFS South will be very competitive this year, and I can see all 4 teams finishing between 9-7 and 7-9. Unfortunately, I see the NO as the 7-9 team.
NY Giants 10 Wins
Brian: Under. Do they have any receivers yet?
Matt: Under. The NFC East is going to be a killer this year, and Manning to Steve Smith doesn’t seem that potent.
Andre : Under. With no passing game and defenses only getting stronger in their Division (aka Albert Haynesworth), they won’t be able to rely on their horse Jacobs quite as much. Where will they go for 3 and long?? Who knows, but Manning could look more like the Eli of his first 2 years rather than the last 3.
NY Jets 7 Wins
Brian: Under. Too tough of a division, and the Dolphins pushed them down even further.
Matt: Under. A rookie QB and an aging, though effective, running back won’t be enough to contend with the Pats, Dolphins, and Bills.
Andre : Over. With the Pats slowing down, and the Dolphins making no big moves, I think the Jets are primed to take advantage even with a rookie QB if Sanchez does start. They are loaded in the running game with Jones, Washington and Greene to help ease the load, and their D is set to be a top ranked unit next year. 9-7 is definitely not a stretch.
Oakland 5 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. I can’t jinx them yet, but I’d gladly lose this bet. 8-8 would feel like a championship these days.
Matt: Over. This is ridiculous, I know. But I see Jeff Garcia winning the starting spot, and they have plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball.
Andre : Under. Can you have negative wins in a season? Just curious. And who is faster in a foot race, Garcia or Russell? Only because that’s how they make all of their other personnel decisions. This might be McFadden’s time to shine if he can stay healthy, cause they will be behind a lot and just wanting to hold onto the ball.
Philadelphia 9 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. Westbrook turns the dreaded 30 for a running back. McNabb will probably miss a few games now that he signed his extension.
Matt: Under. The Eagles are giving the impression that they won’t persevere through the loss of the heart and soul of the team, Brian Dawkins.
Andre : Under. I wish I could say push, since they did have a tie last year and finish with 9 wins and that tie. Anyways, all told I think the Eagles will be the Eagles and finish just above 500 and either sneak in or somehow miss by a hair. Seems like the same story every year recently. And don’t count on seeing Kolb start for this team any time soon.
San Diego 9 ½ wins
Brian: Under. I foresee another 8-8 year, but then again they do get to play a bunch of games against their weak division.
Matt: Over. The Chargers have been inconsistent of late, but anything less than a 5-1 division record would be a surprise.
Andre : Over. With a healthy LT, Merriman and Cromartie, this team will be back to ‘07 form. Franchising Sproles made great sense as insurance, all Philip Rivers does is win (and through injuries), and the Chargers are guaranteed several wins in their own division this year as usual. After several years of difficult and grueling schedules, this year’s softer line-up bodes well.
San Francisco 7 Wins
Brian: Over. I think Singletary will put the 49ers back to respectability mark.
Matt: Over. The Cardinals should regress a bit, and the Rams and Seahawks haven’t gotten any better.
Andre : Under. Unlike the Vikings, having no QB in this situation really does matter. In no way is this 9er team talented enough all around to carry the team past their ongoing search for a passer. Gore will wear the brunt, and it will wear on him. No thanks in part to a terrible Oline. The defense is iffy at best, but could be strengthened if Singletary dresses on Sundays.
Seattle 7 ½ Wins
Brian: Over. They can’t have as many injuries as last year. A healthy Hasselbeck will make them competitive again.
Matt: Under. But not by much. TJ should prove to be a great addition to the offense.
Andre : Under. With the exception of AZ, the NFC West looks like it might be a vacation for opponents this year. Hass is coming back from an injury, and Seattle decided not to draft a youthful replacement for down the road. No WR help, no RBs at this point, and a porous D will be very hard to overcome this year.
St. Louis 5 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. I didn’t think they were going to win one game for awhile there last year, and this year their roster looks even worse this year.
Matt: Under. The Rams should challenge the Lions for the bottom spot in the NFC this year.
Andre : Under. Who farted? Oh, that’s just the stench coming out of STL. Could have addressed the QB issue, didn’t. Could have gotten WR help, didn’t. Did help the Dline, but didn’t address LBs. This could be brutal, they should start clearing cap space for signing top 3 picks over the next few years.
Tampa Bay 6 ½ Wins
Brian: Under. Too much turnover in the organization to be competitive this year.
Matt: Over. No matter what happens, the Bucs usually find a way to contend. They won’t make the playoffs, but they’ll finish better than 6-10
Andre : Over. I see TB getting to at least .500 this year, if not a game better. They seem to have made the right moves based on necessity that many teams did not this year. If Cadillac can rebound from a slow year coming back from injury, the running game should be their strength along with Winslow as a solid addition and safety net at TE.
Tennessee 9 Wins
Brian: Over. They showed they have a lot of good pieces on defense and in the running game.
Matt: Over. The Titans might’ve been the best team in the NFL for a majority of the year last season. Lendale White has decided to show up this year.
Andre : Push. I see the Titans fighting for 9 wins and a playoff berth with the Colts, as it appears there will be only one team coming out of this division. The running game will remain a strength with LenDale coming in 20 pounds lighter, but the loss of Haynesworth in the middle of the Dline will leave them scrambling. A 4 man rotation will be nowhere near as effective.
Washington 8 Wins
Brian: Under. Lots of talent, but they like to give away games.
Matt: Under. If Clinton Portis holds up this year, they’ll be alright, but the QB situation may hold them back.
Andre : Over. The NFC East will be a two horse race between the Cowboys and Indians, sorry, Redskins. The offense should continue to improve with Campbell at the helm and Portis back at full strength. The biggest off-season move by any team, the signing of Haynesworth to clog the Dline, will pay off huge dividends quickly. This WILL be the top D in the league this year.
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