The NFL season ended yesterday with as many disappointing performances in week 17 as there was the rest of the season. Numerous teams lost games yesterday that could have put them in the playoffs and a few teams simply continued to underachieve as they had all year. The playoffs are set and it is time to make predictions who will meet in the super bowl. I did not document my preseason playoff picks but I assure you they did not include the Falcons, Ravens or Dolphins but I did expect the Giants, Colts, Titans, Chargers and Panthers. Nothing surprises me in the NFL. Week to week and year to year anything can happen in the salary cap era of the NFL.
A few thoughts on the NFL season and week 17:
* How can the Bears and Bucs both lose to teams with nothing to play for and cost themselves playoff positions? The Bucs lost their last 4 games?!? Yesterday they lost to an awful Raider team…horrendous performance by an old team that should under go wholesale changes. The Bears are a poorly run team as well, especially offensively but I don’t think they need to make as many changes as the Bucs but how about a reasonable game plan on offense? These two teams’ failures allowed the Eagles to sneak into the playoffs.
* I hate all things from Philadelphia and Eagles more than most but I think I can fairly criticize this team. The Eagles are not clutch and not a team to be feared in the playoffs. They were lucky to get in the playoffs at all. The Cowboys are spineless and heartless, the Bears and Bucs choked and even the Redskins or Saints could have pushed the Eagles out of the playoffs. I do expect the Eagles to beat the Vikings but only because I think even less of Minnesota. Childress is even more clueless than his mentor and Jackson is prone to more mistakes than McNabb but that does not make the Eagles a good team. Philly was 3-4-1 on the road and their victory over the Giants was their only quality road win all year and that comes with the disclaimer of it being the first post Plaxico game. The eagles will not play at home again until next year and this team will not duplicate the recent road warrior playoff runs of the Giants and Steelers. Andy Reid is a fat bastard and he can’t even manage his children let alone a football team. He refuses to run the ball and also declines to invest in wide receivers, in spite of passing the ball more than any other team in the league…for a decade! I know I will have to endure listening to Eagle fans for a few more weeks but…
*…Cowboy fans can not say a word! I will not listen to a single word from anyone about the Cowboys or Romo or T.O. or any other over rated players on this horribly coached team. I don’t not want to hear from Jerry Jones or any of the other low-self esteem front running loser Cowboy fans. Just shut up! The Cowboys suck.
* As I mentioned in my last blog, the Jets suck. They fired Mangini today and I think they were right to do so but I have no confidence they will hire a better coach this time. The GM should probably be fired as well, for all the money they spent this past off season the Jets looked very old and slow the last 4 games of the year. They received nothing from the number 6 pick in the draft, nothing at all; I don’t think he even played 10 snaps this year. Tannenbaum hired Mangini, traded for Favre and signed the slow old men in the off season and did anyone notice that the Jets WR’s blow? Why does this guy keep his job?
* The Bronco’s collapsed like they are the Met’s of the NFL. I know the Chargers were robbed in week 2 but it seems unfair that anyone from the west goes to the playoffs while the 11-5 Pats stay home. I would be far more upset if it was any team other than the Pats…fuck ‘em, they have it coming anyway. It is difficult to feel badly for Belichick but New England had an impressive season considering all of the injuries they endured.
* Did anyone do a worse coaching job than Jacksonville’s Jack Del Rio this year? This team under preformed all year and never seemed to recover from Jones’ coke bust or the back up’s shooting incidents. Maybe Del Rio will be fired and he can be the next disappointing Jets coach.
* I know everyone will be talking about the Texan’s all off season, they will be the team to surprise next year after their strong finish this year but I do not buy it. I am going on record right now that they will start 1-4 again next year. They only win games when they do not matter.
* My AFC picks: Colts over Chargers. Ravens over Dolphins. Colts over Steelers. Titans over Ravens. Colts over Titans. I have been high on the Colts the second half and they should be 2 seed but they are in the same division as the Titans so they end up 5 seed. I picked Payton for MVP about 7 weeks ago and I will stick with the Colts in the playoffs even though they will play 3 road games.
* My NFC picks: Eagles over Vikes. Falcons over Cards. Giants over Eagles. Panthers over Falcons. Giants over Panthers. I may be a homer but the Giants will be a tough out in the playoffs. They know how to win close games and they have displayed the “heart of a champion” many times. They should be healthy after taking week 17 off and the bye this week. I can’t wait for the Manning brother super bowl and all of the commercials that will bring.
The playoffs never seem to go as planned and I am not sure I picked enough upsets. I will not be surprised to be wrong on all the games. Anything can happen in the NFL.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
A Few Thoughts
A few thoughts I would like to share in no particular order of importance; Merry Christmas as well.
*I am feeling good about my blog, the Giants won and the Yankees agreed with me and found another 200 million for Texeria. I am off to a fine start but this will only help to further my belief that I am always right.
*Great win by the Giants on Sunday. A classic game by this team, the Eli/Coughlin era, far from perfect but they find ways to win. Over this great run in the last year they look awful at times, how bad did the Defense look in the first half Sunday?, but they hang around and make plays when they need to make them. How many third down conversions do they convert or key scores before the end of a half? This is possibly the greatest run in the team’s long history and certainly the finest consecutive seasons of my lifetime.
*The Jets suck and it doesn’t matter who is coaching or who the players are, they just blow. It is difficult to believe that the Jets won the most important game in the history of the league.
*I am waiting for the Jet fans to start begging for Cower to be hired, it can’t be long now. Mangini let this season slip away and should be fired. It doesn’t matter if Favre comes back or not. The Jets will sign Matt Cassel or some other hot free agent that will ultimately disappoint.
*Enough of the Chad Pennington revenge talk. I know the Dolphins will probably win the division on Sunday but the Jets knew Chad could take a team to the playoffs; they also know he can’t win many games once he gets there. The Dolphins and Chad will not win a game if they get to the playoffs but I guess it is a matter of perspective, being 1-15 last year a loss in the wildcard game is wonderful. I still do not believe the Jets made a mistake letting him go.
*Texeria goes to the Yankees for 8 years and 180 million…where do I begin? I like Texeria as a player. He is a solid player; he hits for average and power, plays a slick first base and seems like a decent guy but 8 years?!? I know he is not old but I am not comfortable with that long a contract. Is he that good? Arod signed a couple of 10 year deals but he puts up the best numbers ever! I know they are usually empty numbers but they are unreal. Texeria is a nice player but he is not a lock for the Hall of Fame, all-time great, super clutch deserves the second highest contract of all-time kind of player. The Red Sox and Angels are the two most successful franchises of the last 6 or 7 years and both teams passed on signing Texeria. I have to believe length of contract was the issue. The Nats offered him the same deal a month ago, so I don’t think it was money. I love the way both of those teams are run. If only the Mets would emulate them.
*I love that the only other signing of note this off-season is the Mets signing Krod at a bargain price, while the Yankees spend record amounts. Who exactly are they bidding against? Was this really the year to sign all the expensive free agents? After years of passing on center fielders and other positions of need the Yankees decide to sign every expensive guy they can to a record deal. Ha! Why stop now? They better sign Lowe for 5/75, just in case he has a good year in ’09. Can the rest of baseball be wrong? Is every other team worrying about the economy affecting them next year crazy? I know the Yankees have the most money but didn’t foolish spending cost them last year? They are the only team that pays fines each and every year, 26 million this year. Detroit also paid 1 million this season and that’s it, no one else. At some point all the money is gone and with it the flexibility to improve your team.
*I think there will be an amazing amount of players available this July as teams struggle to make ends meet. I am hoping the Mets can steal some guys from Toronto or Houston. The mid level teams will be hit hardest; the teams that try and spend with the big boys but just don’t have the revenue. The Red Sox, Angels and Mets should be able to pick up some great players for relatively nothing if they can afford to take on more payroll.
*How great is baseball? Merry Christmas
*I am feeling good about my blog, the Giants won and the Yankees agreed with me and found another 200 million for Texeria. I am off to a fine start but this will only help to further my belief that I am always right.
*Great win by the Giants on Sunday. A classic game by this team, the Eli/Coughlin era, far from perfect but they find ways to win. Over this great run in the last year they look awful at times, how bad did the Defense look in the first half Sunday?, but they hang around and make plays when they need to make them. How many third down conversions do they convert or key scores before the end of a half? This is possibly the greatest run in the team’s long history and certainly the finest consecutive seasons of my lifetime.
*The Jets suck and it doesn’t matter who is coaching or who the players are, they just blow. It is difficult to believe that the Jets won the most important game in the history of the league.
*I am waiting for the Jet fans to start begging for Cower to be hired, it can’t be long now. Mangini let this season slip away and should be fired. It doesn’t matter if Favre comes back or not. The Jets will sign Matt Cassel or some other hot free agent that will ultimately disappoint.
*Enough of the Chad Pennington revenge talk. I know the Dolphins will probably win the division on Sunday but the Jets knew Chad could take a team to the playoffs; they also know he can’t win many games once he gets there. The Dolphins and Chad will not win a game if they get to the playoffs but I guess it is a matter of perspective, being 1-15 last year a loss in the wildcard game is wonderful. I still do not believe the Jets made a mistake letting him go.
*Texeria goes to the Yankees for 8 years and 180 million…where do I begin? I like Texeria as a player. He is a solid player; he hits for average and power, plays a slick first base and seems like a decent guy but 8 years?!? I know he is not old but I am not comfortable with that long a contract. Is he that good? Arod signed a couple of 10 year deals but he puts up the best numbers ever! I know they are usually empty numbers but they are unreal. Texeria is a nice player but he is not a lock for the Hall of Fame, all-time great, super clutch deserves the second highest contract of all-time kind of player. The Red Sox and Angels are the two most successful franchises of the last 6 or 7 years and both teams passed on signing Texeria. I have to believe length of contract was the issue. The Nats offered him the same deal a month ago, so I don’t think it was money. I love the way both of those teams are run. If only the Mets would emulate them.
*I love that the only other signing of note this off-season is the Mets signing Krod at a bargain price, while the Yankees spend record amounts. Who exactly are they bidding against? Was this really the year to sign all the expensive free agents? After years of passing on center fielders and other positions of need the Yankees decide to sign every expensive guy they can to a record deal. Ha! Why stop now? They better sign Lowe for 5/75, just in case he has a good year in ’09. Can the rest of baseball be wrong? Is every other team worrying about the economy affecting them next year crazy? I know the Yankees have the most money but didn’t foolish spending cost them last year? They are the only team that pays fines each and every year, 26 million this year. Detroit also paid 1 million this season and that’s it, no one else. At some point all the money is gone and with it the flexibility to improve your team.
*I think there will be an amazing amount of players available this July as teams struggle to make ends meet. I am hoping the Mets can steal some guys from Toronto or Houston. The mid level teams will be hit hardest; the teams that try and spend with the big boys but just don’t have the revenue. The Red Sox, Angels and Mets should be able to pick up some great players for relatively nothing if they can afford to take on more payroll.
*How great is baseball? Merry Christmas
Friday, December 19, 2008
Baseball's made of snow
It is the middle of December, snowing, Christmas is fast approaching, the Giants are playing for home field on Sunday and what is on my mind? Baseball, of course. This is not unusual for any hard core fan but I am not even pondering the fate of my favorite team. I am a Mets fan but it’s the Yankee’s that are monopolizing my attention. The Yankee’s have dominated media coverage this week as they introduced 250 million dollars worth of pitchers in the persons of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.
The general feeling amongst Yankee fan’s and the local media is the Yankees have secured a position in the post season with their recent acquisitions. I have read numerous articles claiming that the Red Sox need to make a big move to answer the Yankee changes. Some have hinted that anything less than procuring Mark Teixeira will leave the Sox without hope of claiming the division in ’09. I could not disagree more. If the season started today, snow not withstanding, I would consider the Red Sox favorites to win the AL East.
The Red Sox won the wild card last season with 95 wins. They accomplished this even though many of their best players suffered through long battles with injuries. The list of players that missed significant time includes: Popi, Becket, Drew, Lowe and that doesn’t even take into consideration the disaster that was Manny being Manny, his last in Boston. If the Sox can stay even close to healthy they might dominate the entire league. I expect the many young players on Boston to improve with last years experience and Jason Bay to show everyone just how complete and talented a player he is and none of this requires Texeria or anyone else not already on the Red Sox roster. I realize that health is serious concern for the Red Sox but the Yankees are not without their own issues of wellbeing.
How much of the upcoming season depends on Posada returning to catch on a daily basis for New York? Posada could not throw at all last year and although Molina is a fine defensive back stop, he can not bat his weight. The Yankee batting order could include Molina, Swisher and Gardner, not exactly murder’s row. What if Cano continues to struggle and Damon and Jeter continue to show their age and drop off just a little? Doesn’t leave much protection for ARod, does it? They could go out and sign Manny but they already have Damon and Matsui in left and they should both play DH. Posada might have to see considerable time at DH, so I question if signing another horrible outfielder that should be a DH, is wise. Maybe the Yankees need to find another 200 million for Texeria.
I suppose an overly optimistic Yankee fan would tell me: CC will win the Cy Young, Burnett will be in good physical shape, Wang’s foot and fragile shoulder will be fine, Jaba will stay healthy and sober, Hugh’s will pitch more than 80 innings, Petite wont rat on anyone, Posada will catch, Swisher will find his power stroke from his steroid days in Oakland, Cano will fulfill his promise, Damon, Jeter and Matsui will turn back the clock and ARod will win the MVP because it is an odd year. Boston’s youth improving and their veteran’s missing fewer games, seem more likely. I can’t wait for opening day.
I have to go shovel.
The general feeling amongst Yankee fan’s and the local media is the Yankees have secured a position in the post season with their recent acquisitions. I have read numerous articles claiming that the Red Sox need to make a big move to answer the Yankee changes. Some have hinted that anything less than procuring Mark Teixeira will leave the Sox without hope of claiming the division in ’09. I could not disagree more. If the season started today, snow not withstanding, I would consider the Red Sox favorites to win the AL East.
The Red Sox won the wild card last season with 95 wins. They accomplished this even though many of their best players suffered through long battles with injuries. The list of players that missed significant time includes: Popi, Becket, Drew, Lowe and that doesn’t even take into consideration the disaster that was Manny being Manny, his last in Boston. If the Sox can stay even close to healthy they might dominate the entire league. I expect the many young players on Boston to improve with last years experience and Jason Bay to show everyone just how complete and talented a player he is and none of this requires Texeria or anyone else not already on the Red Sox roster. I realize that health is serious concern for the Red Sox but the Yankees are not without their own issues of wellbeing.
How much of the upcoming season depends on Posada returning to catch on a daily basis for New York? Posada could not throw at all last year and although Molina is a fine defensive back stop, he can not bat his weight. The Yankee batting order could include Molina, Swisher and Gardner, not exactly murder’s row. What if Cano continues to struggle and Damon and Jeter continue to show their age and drop off just a little? Doesn’t leave much protection for ARod, does it? They could go out and sign Manny but they already have Damon and Matsui in left and they should both play DH. Posada might have to see considerable time at DH, so I question if signing another horrible outfielder that should be a DH, is wise. Maybe the Yankees need to find another 200 million for Texeria.
I suppose an overly optimistic Yankee fan would tell me: CC will win the Cy Young, Burnett will be in good physical shape, Wang’s foot and fragile shoulder will be fine, Jaba will stay healthy and sober, Hugh’s will pitch more than 80 innings, Petite wont rat on anyone, Posada will catch, Swisher will find his power stroke from his steroid days in Oakland, Cano will fulfill his promise, Damon, Jeter and Matsui will turn back the clock and ARod will win the MVP because it is an odd year. Boston’s youth improving and their veteran’s missing fewer games, seem more likely. I can’t wait for opening day.
I have to go shovel.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I am a Giants fan
I am a Giants fan. I am also a Mets and Knick fan but it is December and the Giants have already won the NFC east, the playoffs loom so the other two can wait. I believe a passionate fan must prioritize his attention and devotion and the Giants need all the help they can get.
My Giants appear to be letting an amazing season slip away. A few weeks ago they seemed a lock for the one seed in the NFC and another trip to the super bowl. No one could stop them until they shot themselves in the foot…literally. The loss of Plaxico has exposed their offense as very stoppable. Put 8 men in the box and they can not run and they do not possess the receivers to beat single coverage with any consistency. The defense has been good all season but not great and recently the linebackers and secondary have looked very average. This has caused many to predict that the Giants are doomed. Some have even stated the Giants will not win another game this year.
I must admit that I was feeling very negative during the 4th quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cowboys but as my emotions subsided I remembered how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL. Just last season the Giants were embarrassed at home in week 15 by the Redskins in a game the Giants could have secured a playoff spot. They were awful that day and that forced them to come up big in buffalo the next week to make the playoffs. They ran for almost 300 yards against the Bills and played well in the season finale against the Patriots and the rest is history. History repeats its self and maybe this year the Giants will again bounce back from an awful loss week15 to a division opponent and secure their place in the playoff picture the following game.
This week the Giants can lock up the one seed and with it a week off and home field throughout the playoffs and to be honest, anything but is a disappointment. The Giants began the season 11-1, 4-0 in the best division in the NFL and won the super bowl last year, they have to be the number one seed! A loss to the Panthers and then the Vikings and the Giants will not even have a bye. That would be an unbelievable occurrence and a collapse that will make the Mets feel empathy. But the Mets are not champions and the Giants need to display the heart that made them champions a year ago. The Panthers historically have their number and are playing their best football the last few weeks but Giants play best when their backs are against the wall.
I think my Giants will win this week. The Panthers are not the same team that beat the piss out of the Giants a few years ago in the playoffs. They do not have the overpowering front 7 that gave the Giants fits and they do not pass the ball as well either but they run the ball well, still have Steve Smith and their secondary is probably better. No one runs on the Giants and we can’t pass anyway; I would like to see a few screens to Ward and a few more looks to Boss. The Giants own Steve Smith needs to stay in the slot to maximize his effectiveness and if I see all of this I expect the Giant coaching staff to see it too.
Win this game and make Plaxico an after thought just like Shockey and Tiki, even if the latter deserves to be remembered in a better light, not to mention the likes of Strahan and Usi or even Wilson and Mitchell. The Giants are greater than the sum of their parts and would hate to see Plaxico become over valued because the Giants let the season slip away.
My Giants appear to be letting an amazing season slip away. A few weeks ago they seemed a lock for the one seed in the NFC and another trip to the super bowl. No one could stop them until they shot themselves in the foot…literally. The loss of Plaxico has exposed their offense as very stoppable. Put 8 men in the box and they can not run and they do not possess the receivers to beat single coverage with any consistency. The defense has been good all season but not great and recently the linebackers and secondary have looked very average. This has caused many to predict that the Giants are doomed. Some have even stated the Giants will not win another game this year.
I must admit that I was feeling very negative during the 4th quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cowboys but as my emotions subsided I remembered how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL. Just last season the Giants were embarrassed at home in week 15 by the Redskins in a game the Giants could have secured a playoff spot. They were awful that day and that forced them to come up big in buffalo the next week to make the playoffs. They ran for almost 300 yards against the Bills and played well in the season finale against the Patriots and the rest is history. History repeats its self and maybe this year the Giants will again bounce back from an awful loss week15 to a division opponent and secure their place in the playoff picture the following game.
This week the Giants can lock up the one seed and with it a week off and home field throughout the playoffs and to be honest, anything but is a disappointment. The Giants began the season 11-1, 4-0 in the best division in the NFL and won the super bowl last year, they have to be the number one seed! A loss to the Panthers and then the Vikings and the Giants will not even have a bye. That would be an unbelievable occurrence and a collapse that will make the Mets feel empathy. But the Mets are not champions and the Giants need to display the heart that made them champions a year ago. The Panthers historically have their number and are playing their best football the last few weeks but Giants play best when their backs are against the wall.
I think my Giants will win this week. The Panthers are not the same team that beat the piss out of the Giants a few years ago in the playoffs. They do not have the overpowering front 7 that gave the Giants fits and they do not pass the ball as well either but they run the ball well, still have Steve Smith and their secondary is probably better. No one runs on the Giants and we can’t pass anyway; I would like to see a few screens to Ward and a few more looks to Boss. The Giants own Steve Smith needs to stay in the slot to maximize his effectiveness and if I see all of this I expect the Giant coaching staff to see it too.
Win this game and make Plaxico an after thought just like Shockey and Tiki, even if the latter deserves to be remembered in a better light, not to mention the likes of Strahan and Usi or even Wilson and Mitchell. The Giants are greater than the sum of their parts and would hate to see Plaxico become over valued because the Giants let the season slip away.
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