J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!

Just when we thought we could write off the Jets and Brett Favre's brilliance following last weeks horrible performance against the Chargers, Favre complete a feat he had never accomplished before - throw six touchdown passes. (photo from cbsnews.com).

Although this is something nobody has seen out of Favre before, nobody should be surprised. He has a history of being very streaky, albeit he is predominantly streaky in a favorable way, he is still streaky. So following his performance against the Chargers, it wasn't fair for anybody to completely call the Jets' season a bust.

After all, the Jets were only 4-12 last season, and going into the season most experts said that this season would be a success if they improved their record. With that in mind, I don't think everybody's expectations should been raised following their week 1 win against the Dolphins.

Again with that said, everybody should still sit tight and not expect too much out of the Jets and Favre following this weeks win against the Cardinals. As impressed as we are with their performance, everybody should remember that this team is probably not a playoff team, so anything over 4-12 will be a success.

Iowa Football and the Chicago Bears

I really wanted to write about how comparable the Iowa Hawkeyes were to the Chicago Bears, but unfortunately, and fortunately, I shouldn't because of their moderately impressive win last night. However, I couldn't refuse. Despite the Bears' victory, both teams are eerily similar.

(images from stuckiniowa.com and canyouseethesunset.com).

Lets start with the Coaching Staff:

Both the Bears and Iowa have very unpersonable, generic and for the most part boring head coaches.

-We can always expect them to say the right thing but it's never what anybody really wants to hear.

-They both speak in a very monotonistic manner and don't really show any personality.

-You pretty much know what each is going to say prior to their press conferences. I'm willing to bet that reporters that have been around both for a while could answer the questions for both of them with close to 100% accuracy.

-Neither could make a decision on a quarterback for the longest time, and neither was really willing to talk about it.

-This is an old one, but doesn't Ken O'Keefe and his play calling remind anybody of John Schoop? I mean both coaches would call for a three-yard slant when it's 3 and 13.

Defense

-Both defenses are supposed to be the trademark for each team, but when it matters most, they seem to be non-existent.(except in last night's game for the Bears).

-Both teams have blown leads in the second half in two games this year, which accounted for each teams two losses.

Offense

-The obvious, each team had quarterback controversies with nothing close to that great of quarterbacks.

-I don't trust either team to score when you need them too.

-Both teams have running backs that have potential.

-Both teams have a bunch of no name receivers, yet fans of each team will tell you, to steal a line from Tony the Tiger, "They're GREAT!!!"

-They both manage to score quickly yet are non-existent late in the games.

-Neither offense knows how to run the two minute offense.

-They look really good sometimes, and for the most part you're left wondering what they were thinking.

-Despite winning a few games, you wouldn't be surprised if they don't accomplish much more from here on out.

Feel free to add anything else that I may have forgotten...

Fantasy pick up of the week

Ray Rice: RB Baltimore (photo from the washingtonpost.com).



1) With the current status of Willis McGahee and how seriously he has been effected by the gouging of his eyes in last weeks game against Cleveland, it's not completely sure what type of role McGahee will play. He has been hampered with vision problems throughout the week of practice and if they continue will limit his touches and productivity in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. This should increase Rice's touches throughout the game and increase his yardage.



2) Le'ron McClain, the starting FB for the Ravens, has not participated in practice all week. He is the leading rusher for Baltimore and has the most TD's with two. With his status and production also unknown, the goal line offense where he is a feature back will need to call on somebody else. With the goal line back out, Rice will become the feature goal line back.



3) The Ravens play against the Steelers, who although look good, are not that solid on defense. They rank in the lower half statistically in every defensive category including rushing. Poor defense=more yards.

Weekly Post

For all you fantasy buffs out there...I'll give you a surprise guy each week that I think is going to explode. I'll do this every Friday, and unlike the sportscenter advice they give you to sit Peyton Manning for Donovan McNabb, (because who actually owns both), I'll give you guys that will more then likely be on the free agents list that you might want to consider picking up.

Its time to step up Aaron

Although he hasn't thrown a pick on the year, and only committed one turnover, a la a fumble, I'm calling for Aaron Rogers to start performing. After watching the Packer loss to the Cowboys, 27-16, I started to realize how unintimidating Rogers is. At no point during the game was I, depending on how you were watching the game, scared or confident, that he was going to get it done.

His numbers weren't bad, 22-39 for 290 yards with one rushing touchdown. But his inability to get the ball into the endzone is what cost Green Bay the game. They had three red zone drives stalled and came away with only nine points. Its been a trend on the year as he's only thrown four TD passes, with three coming against the lowly lions.

Mason Crosby, the field goal kicker for the cheeseheads, is 6-7 on field goals for the year, with his longest coming off of a 42 yard strike. Meaning that Rogers has gotten the ball within the 25 yard line at least six times this year and failed to come away with more then three points. (picture below from greenbaypackersticket.net)

Now I know he's replaced a legend, and nobody expects him to turn into Brett Favre over night, but at some point the team is going to need him to do more than just run the offense. When he first stepped in, all he was asked to do was run the offense and not lose the game. While doing that, most people agreed that the rest of the team would pick up the slack and lead the Packers to an 11-5 or 12-4 record. To which I still think it can be done, but they clearly will not get more then that.

And based off of tonights game, all they'll be is an above average team. Because they clearly showed that when they compete against the upper echelon of teams, they just can't pull it through. So in order for the Packers to be a real contender in the league, they need Aaron Rogers to completely embrace the role that the Packers need to win, and not the role that is comfortable for him right now.

The One Man Show

Although it might not seem like it, I really don't particularly enjoy writing about the Patriots, I'm more indifferent then anything. However since the majority of my posts are on the Patriots, I apologize in advance for those of you who really don't enjoy following the Patriots regardless if it's negative.

Despite having proclaimed this already as a Patriots post, it's probably more proper to claim it as a Ronnie Brown fan zone then anything else. For those of you where under a rock and didn't realize what happened, the Dolphins beat the Patriots. Let me say that again, the Dolphins beat the Patriots, no joke, 38-13.

Brown, the main catalyst in the Dolphins upset had five total touchdowns, four of the rushing variety and one passing. They weren't just your boring punch it in from the goal line kind either, four of the five touchdowns were direct snaps. The play calling and the execution had the Pats looking like Ohio State last week against USC. (picture from espn.com)

But as far as Brown is concerned, this is hands down the biggest game of his career. Coming into the game he had only one game in which he scored more then two touchdowns, last year against the Jets. Now obviously this type of production won't happen every game, but hopefully for Brown he can use this as a stepping stone for his marginal career thus far.

Now although I was never too high on the Patriots, so-called analysts diagnosed that the only supposed problem with the Patriots was their offense. Without Tom Brady it's an obvious problem. But what about the defense? Prior the game, the same analysts have been using the word "experienced" to describe the Patriots defense, but now it's official, that "experience" word was just a cover up for old and aged. But thanks to Brown and his heroics, he exploited what they really are, old.

Top 10 Sports Moments

10) 2008 Summer Olympics - Usain Bolt: The fastest man ever showboating his way to the triple crown of sprints (100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100 meter).(Photo from http://www.thesun.co.uk/)

9) 2003 Illinois High School Girls Basketball Sectional Final - Naperville Central vs. Neuqua Valley: En route to her first of two state championships, Candice Parker and her Naperville Central team escapes a controversial victory over Neuqua Valley.

A last second shot that was called off prevents Neuqua Valley from handing Central what would have been their first and only lose of the season.



8) 2007 Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs. Oklahoma: The "hook and ladder" followed by the "statue of liberty" make up college footballs greatest game. (photo from http://www.usatoday.com/).

7) 1999 Women's World Cup - U.S.A. vs. China: 0-0 after regulation and overtime, Brandi Chastain knocks home the game winning penalty kick. (photo from http://www.enquirer.com/).

6) 2005 Illinois High School Girls Soccer State Championship - Neuqua Valley vs. New Trier: Neuqua Valley upset New Trier 6-3 after trailing 3-0 in the first half. New Trier, the heavy won two consecutive state championships and had not lost a game in three seasons prior to their state championship loss.

5) 2007 Super Bowl - Colts vs. Bears: The first time ever any African-American made it to the Super Bowl as well as the first victory for an African-American in the Super Bowl. Colts win easily after Bears start strong.

4) 2000 Slam Dunk Contest - Vince Carter: For the first time in a long time the Slam Dunk Contest was more then just an over hyped comedy act, thanks to Vincanity!(photo from http://www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/).

3)2008 Men's Wimbledon Final - Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer: The greatest tennis match of all-time, No. 2 Nadal defeats No. 1 Federer and 5-time defending Wimbledon Champion in five sets.

2) 2005 World Series - Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros: The White Sox Sweep the Astros in four games and end an 88 year World Series drought. (photo from http://www.bestsportsphotos.com/).

1) 2008 NBA Draft Lottery: The Chicago Bulls earn the rights to the Number 1 pick in the NBA draft. The Bulls had a 1.7 percent chance of landing the pick. (photo from http://www.theonion.com/).

John Kitna's Guarantee

Prior to last season, John Kitna, the quarterback for the Lions, guaranteed that his team would win 10 games. Unfortunately, they fell short with an 8-8 record. But for the first eight weeks of the season it looked like anything was possible, starting 6-2. And anybody that can do math will be able to tell you that they finished 2-6, and short of the playoffs.

However with the beginning of this year, came a new, almost guarantee. Kitna said during training camp, somewhere along the lines of, "We have a really good chance of winning 10 games." Now I know this isn't the same thing as using the most unnecessary and overused positive thinking in sports, the guarantee, but it might as well have been. (picture from http://images.prideofdetroit.com/images/admin/KitnaPatsGame.jpg)

To which I ask:

What do you see in your team now that makes you think you actually can win 10 games?

Is this still the team that uses four underachieving receivers that were drafted in the first round?

Aren't you, John Kitna, still the starting quarterback?

So following today's game, in which Kitna literally threw away the game against the Packers by giving up two 'Pick 6's' in the final three minutes, it appears as if the Lions will once again be insignificant in the NFC. I'm not trying to hate on the Lions, rather, Kitna.

Kitna is not a legitimate starting quarterback in this league, and I don't understand why he is given the permission to run his mouth. He is a bad player on a bad team. It's almost humorous, of all people who should be talking, it shouldn't be him. I "guarantee" you that by the end of this season he'll have lost more games for the Lions, then he will have won.

Lay off Vince Young

In the storyline that is Vince Young, it's hard to not be interested. But at the same time, if he is dealing with physcological issues it's probably in our best interest to leave him alone.

After his breakout rookie season, Young commented that he may retire sooner rather than later, to which we all shrugged it off as nothing. However, recent events have made that statement seem a lot more realistic.

During Sunday's game against the Texans, Young threw his second pick of the game in the fourth quarter, and walked off to an attack of boos from the Titan "fans." It was said that while he was on the bench he either requested or showed that he did not want to go back into the game. Despite his alleged pleas, he went back into the game and four plays later left again, this time with a sprained ligament in his left knee.(picture from sportinglife.com).

What happened after the game however is the most shocking. The short and short of it is, that Young could not be reached on Monday and many people close to him feared that he was not in a good state of mind, and a potential hazard to himself. The authorities were informed as well as the Titan organization about the situation.

Eventually Young was found, and he dismissed the claims and said he had merely left his phone at home while he was out. However the following day, his mother came public and admitted that her son was not mentally right.

I never believed the thought that injuries only make you stronger when you come back, but maybe for Young, he needs this time away from the game to re-evaluate what's important for him. I think it's bad timing however because he's already had an entire off-season to think about the situation, this just might be his boiling point.

For a person in his situation I can't imagine that having this all public is the best for him either. Which is why I'm saying, Lay off, and give him the time he needs. And if he wants to walk away from the game let him and don't get in his way. The only thing important in this situation is his health, and if his health mentally is not where it needs to be, let him move on.

If you didn't believe me before about the Post-Patriot's Era, well...

Obviously the biggest story line coming from week one is the shocking season ending knee injury to Patriots QB, and boyfriend of Victoria's Secret supermodel Giselle Bundchen, Tom Brady. Brady left the game in the first quarter after getting hit by Kansas City Chief safety Bernard Pollard, (The photo above is the hit that took out Brady, from the AP.)

This is obviously a big blow to the Patriots, who many picked to have a similar season to last year, but an even bigger blow to the NFL. The NFL is losing the reigning MVP and one of the most marketed players and arguably the face of the NFL. I would argue that this is comparable to having lost Michael Jordan when he retired in the highlight of his career. However similar to the NBA at the time, the NFL has other superstars that will carry the league and continue to rack in millions and millions of viewers.

It will be interesting to see how well the Patriots can recover throughout the season and if Matt Cassel can pull an Aaron Rogers and replace a superstar, which we still don't know if it will work. Obviously the situation is different, but he will be put in a very similar role as Rogers to not blow the game but manage it. Based of his performance in the first game it looks possible but then again it was against the Chiefs. But what can we really expect from a quarterback who hasn't been a starter since high school? (Cassel was a back-up for both Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and drafted by the Patriots as a back-up.)

With all the drama following the Patriots, a story line to follow throughout the rest of the season will be the AFC East. Since it appears the Patriots are not the clear cut favorites any longer, a larger focus will be on the Brett Farve J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets and the Buffalo Bills to see if they can actually compete with a down New England team. With that said the Bills looked good in their schlacking of the Rams and the Jets looked like another Brett Farve run team pulling out circus plays in order to get the win.

The Post-Patriots Era Begins!

Now you're all probably wondering, 'how can you actually claim that we're entering the post-Patriots Era?' It's simple, their window of opportunity has closed. To just get straight to the point, they missed their golden opportunity and unfortunately for them, this year will not result in anything similar to last years spectacular run.
Not necessarily because they don't have the talent or team to provide a threat to the rest of the league, rather because they had one year and one shot to do something never before done.
Several other teams in recent memory have missed out on claiming the grand prize, and the following season never recovered. Similarly, there are teams that did capitalize on winning it all and then the following years had meaningless season - similar to the season the Patriots will have.
Case # 1; The 2004 Auburn Tigers
In an unfortunate event, Auburn did not make the national championship game and finished the season ranked at No. 2, despite their perfect 13-0 record. It's a shame they didn't get to play for the national championship, but that's not the point. The point is that each of the following as well as the preceding seasons were nothing in comparison to their team in 2004. The window of opportunity for Auburn was 2004, and they didn't win.
Case # 2; The 2005-2006 Dallas Mavericks
Unlike the previous point, Dallas actually had an opportunity to play for the championship. However in a similar situation lost to the Heat in six games. What makes this more compelling is the Mavericks won the first two games before collapsing in the last four. The next season the Mavericks actually had a better team in the regular season but lost in the first round and again in the following season lost in the first round. The Dallas Mavericks' window of opportunity was 2006, and they missed it.
Case # 3; The 1997 and 2003 Florida Marlins
The only difference between this team and the previously mentioned, is that the Marlins capitalized on their one year. Leading up to the 1997 season, the Marlins never had a winning record, but in 1997 magic struck and they won in their only good season. Again in 2003, having only had one winning season prior, the 1997 season, the Marlins did not have a competitive team until 2003 where they took advantage of their one good season by winning it all. The seasons that followed were similar to all the other non World Series title years.
Case # 4; Super Bowl Losers of the previous decade
Six of the past seven Super Bowl losers have not made the playoffs(New York Giants 2001, St. Louis Rams 2002, Oakland Raiders 2003, Carolina Panthers 2004, Philadelphia Eagles 2005 and the Chicago Bears 2007.) This clearly shows how each of these teams' window of opportunity was the year in which they made the Super Bowl.
With all that said, I'm not convinced the Patriots will not make the playoffs. I think they'll end that trend, but they will not have the same dominating team that missed out in 2008.
Besides the scenarios provided above, they simply do not have as good of a team. The Patriots aren't getting younger, and the old guys that make up the core of their defense(Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison) are slowing down. Not only that but this years Patriots lost a lot more in the off-season then in previous years.
Most notably, they'll miss the presence of their two standout cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Randall Gay. Both corners opted to test the markets in free agency and signed with different teams; Samuel with the Philadelphia Eagles and Gay with the New Orleans Saints.
They will, however, bring back a similar offense from last year which set all kinds of records; but don't expect it to be as dominating again this year. By the end of the season several teams had started to figure them out but couldn't come away with a victory. Both the Eagles and the Ravens provided the Patriots with scares despite coming up short in the end. The Giants also came close in week 17, and proved that they only needed one more go around before they could beat them. I'll look for this as a main reason why the Patriots won't be as strong in their year following the Super Bowl.
The Patriots will play six teams that they played last year again in the 2008 schedule. Excluding the division opponents, who helped created arguably the easiest division in football with the Jets, Dolphins and Bills, they'll be playing Chargers, Colts and Steelers all over again. I look for these teams to really hand it to the Patriots in their second go around (third for the Chargers.)