Sunday, October 4, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Hot Off The Presses: Week 4
We are back in business after a 12-4 week and I am going to try to ride this momentum for the rest of the season.
Sunday:
Lions at Bears: Bears. Chicago is at home, its a division game and I think Detroit is still going to be hungover from their first win in over a year. It will probably go down to the wire but I am giving the Bears the edge. Bonus caveat, don't forget that my old defensive line coach, Rod Marinelli, got fired as the Lions coach last year. I expect the Bears D Linemen to play out of their mind for him.
Bengals at Browns: Bengals. The Bengals have made me a believer at this point. Plus the Browns are just a mess. I think Derek Anderson will have a good game but the Browns will find a way to lose the game.
Seahawks at Colts: Colts. No brainer.
Giants at Chiefs: Giants. This shouldn't even be close.
Ravens at Patriots: Patriots. I know a lot of people are picking the Ravens but the Patriots are killer at home and their offense seems to be getting back on track. I was very encouraged by Fred Taylor's running last week and I think if they give him the touches again this week its going to pay off. I also think their defense is finally coming around as well. If the game were being played in Baltimore I would probably pick the Ravens but its not so I'm not.
Bucs at Redskins: Bucs. This is a very intriguing game for me. I don't have a ton of confidence that the Bucs will win but I am still picking them. With the change at quarterback to Josh Johnson I think they might have an X factor in their favor. Add to that the fact that the wide recievers for the Bucs are now getting healthy and that Greg White just might start at right end. The fact that the fans are already turning on the team may work against the Redskins being at home this week too. If they don't get off to a fast start frustration may set in when they hear the boos. This may well be a homer pick but I am riding with the Bucs this week.
Titans at Jaguars: Titans. This team is too good to keep losing and Jack Del Rio seems determined to make his team implode. Taking away his starting quarterback's radio show in such a public and humiliating fashion, as if the guy weren't concerned about winning, may be the straw that broke the camels back. I think its time for new blood in Jacksonville and after they lose this game we may see it.
Raiders at Texans: Texans. As much as the Texans dissappointed me last week by fumbling away a touchdown right at the end of the game, I don't know how anybody picks the Raiders to win a game for the rest of the year.
Bills at Dolphins: Bills. I think people are going to see how much Chad Pennington meant to that Dolphins team starting this week. Buffalo's defense is a lot better than people give it credit and I think they will do just enough to eke out victory this weekend. In related news things won't get much better for TO for those playing fantasy football.
Jets at Saints. Saints. The reason for this win will actually end up being the Saints' defense as much as its offense. It has been frustrating to see teams not get after the Jets' starting rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez but I have a feeling that all of that ends this weekend. Because the Jets will have to throw a lot to keep up with the Saints there will be a lot of opportunities to force Sanchez into making a lot more mistakes.
Cowboys at Broncos: Cowboys. Denver is a fraud and the Cowboys will expose them this weekend.
Rams at 49ers: 49ers. Duh.
Chargers at Steelers: Steelers. I think the Chargers coming east for a game will work against them and the Steelers are due for a break out game. I look for Timmons to have a big day on defense.
Monday:
Packers at Vikings: Vikings. My heart says the Packers can pull of this upset, my head says that's bull. If this was just about Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers I would feel confident in picking the Packers. But its not. The Vikings' defense gets after the quarterback and the Packers offensive line looks like a sieve right now. Not only that but of course the Vikings have Adrian Peterson to go along with Favre and so far nobody has really shut him down. Then you factor in that this is a Monday Night Football game and the Vikings are home in the dome and you just have to go with the Vikings. As a side note I don't think Favre will play well and I would bet that he throws at least one interception but in the end his team will play better than the Packers.
Sunday:
Lions at Bears: Bears. Chicago is at home, its a division game and I think Detroit is still going to be hungover from their first win in over a year. It will probably go down to the wire but I am giving the Bears the edge. Bonus caveat, don't forget that my old defensive line coach, Rod Marinelli, got fired as the Lions coach last year. I expect the Bears D Linemen to play out of their mind for him.
Bengals at Browns: Bengals. The Bengals have made me a believer at this point. Plus the Browns are just a mess. I think Derek Anderson will have a good game but the Browns will find a way to lose the game.
Seahawks at Colts: Colts. No brainer.
Giants at Chiefs: Giants. This shouldn't even be close.
Ravens at Patriots: Patriots. I know a lot of people are picking the Ravens but the Patriots are killer at home and their offense seems to be getting back on track. I was very encouraged by Fred Taylor's running last week and I think if they give him the touches again this week its going to pay off. I also think their defense is finally coming around as well. If the game were being played in Baltimore I would probably pick the Ravens but its not so I'm not.
Bucs at Redskins: Bucs. This is a very intriguing game for me. I don't have a ton of confidence that the Bucs will win but I am still picking them. With the change at quarterback to Josh Johnson I think they might have an X factor in their favor. Add to that the fact that the wide recievers for the Bucs are now getting healthy and that Greg White just might start at right end. The fact that the fans are already turning on the team may work against the Redskins being at home this week too. If they don't get off to a fast start frustration may set in when they hear the boos. This may well be a homer pick but I am riding with the Bucs this week.
Titans at Jaguars: Titans. This team is too good to keep losing and Jack Del Rio seems determined to make his team implode. Taking away his starting quarterback's radio show in such a public and humiliating fashion, as if the guy weren't concerned about winning, may be the straw that broke the camels back. I think its time for new blood in Jacksonville and after they lose this game we may see it.
Raiders at Texans: Texans. As much as the Texans dissappointed me last week by fumbling away a touchdown right at the end of the game, I don't know how anybody picks the Raiders to win a game for the rest of the year.
Bills at Dolphins: Bills. I think people are going to see how much Chad Pennington meant to that Dolphins team starting this week. Buffalo's defense is a lot better than people give it credit and I think they will do just enough to eke out victory this weekend. In related news things won't get much better for TO for those playing fantasy football.
Jets at Saints. Saints. The reason for this win will actually end up being the Saints' defense as much as its offense. It has been frustrating to see teams not get after the Jets' starting rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez but I have a feeling that all of that ends this weekend. Because the Jets will have to throw a lot to keep up with the Saints there will be a lot of opportunities to force Sanchez into making a lot more mistakes.
Cowboys at Broncos: Cowboys. Denver is a fraud and the Cowboys will expose them this weekend.
Rams at 49ers: 49ers. Duh.
Chargers at Steelers: Steelers. I think the Chargers coming east for a game will work against them and the Steelers are due for a break out game. I look for Timmons to have a big day on defense.
Monday:
Packers at Vikings: Vikings. My heart says the Packers can pull of this upset, my head says that's bull. If this was just about Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers I would feel confident in picking the Packers. But its not. The Vikings' defense gets after the quarterback and the Packers offensive line looks like a sieve right now. Not only that but of course the Vikings have Adrian Peterson to go along with Favre and so far nobody has really shut him down. Then you factor in that this is a Monday Night Football game and the Vikings are home in the dome and you just have to go with the Vikings. As a side note I don't think Favre will play well and I would bet that he throws at least one interception but in the end his team will play better than the Packers.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
A Lack Of Accountability
Yesterday a story circulated that Mike Vick had signed a new endorsement deal with Nike. This set off all kinds of hand wringing in the sports media.
Here is how Pro Football Talk characterized it in one of their posts last night:
Words like "stunned" and "eyebrow-raising" served to give the impression that this "deal" for Vick was somewhat unprecedented.
Then came word today from CNBC that there was no "deal" between Nike and Vick.
Somebody has some 'splainin to do!
Going back over to Pro Football Talk here is what they had to say about this new revelation:
POW!
I guess they told Joel Seagal and Mike Principe off for their sneaky ways!
But wait, what exactly was it that Seagal and Principe said anyway to pull off such an elaborate ruse?
Wait, is that seriously all he said? Where are the boasts about a big endorsement deal or some serious cash being thrown Vick's way? You mean to tell me that this whole story was concocted based on Vick's agent saying he is a "part of the Nike team again"?!
That's pretty thin if you ask me.
And you know who agreed with me, at least at first, yesterday?
Why Pro Football Talk, that's who.
Sooooooooooooo to recap, when the story was first reported straight PFT didn't think much of it. They rightly noted that it was likely that Vick's "deal" wasn't a big deal at all. But some how some way as the day progressed, even though no new information came out, the story turned into this ginormous, unprecedented deal Vick was getting. And then today when CNBC basically confirms that Vick's deal is what PFT first opined that it might have been, instead of pointing the fingers at themselves for blowing up a non story based on nothing, PFT starts pointing fingers at Principe and Seagal.
Seriously.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why nobody trusts the media anymore. When you don't have the capacity to admit you are wrong then you lose all credibility with most folks. Everyone makes mistakes, that is not really the issue, but denying it when you make those mistakes shows your dishonesty. And that leads to questions about what else you might be dishonest about.
This isn't meant to be a shot just at PFT because surely they aren't the only ones today patting themselves on the back for debunkinga story that was largely of their own making. But this is just the latest example of this kind of thing happening.
Something about that media culture needs to change and fast or people will just start turning away from all of it.
Here is how Pro Football Talk characterized it in one of their posts last night:
We were stunned -- as were many of you -- by the news that Nike has decided to enter into a new shoe and apparel deal with Eagles quarterback Mike Vick.
Nike previously had a wide-ranging arrangement with Vick, which came to an end not long after he was indicted on federal dogfighting and gambling charges in 2007.
Making the news even more eyebrow-raising is the fact that, in the current economy, shoe deals aren't nearly as plentiful as they used to be.
Indeed, even T.O. doesn't have a shoe deal.
Words like "stunned" and "eyebrow-raising" served to give the impression that this "deal" for Vick was somewhat unprecedented.
Then came word today from CNBC that there was no "deal" between Nike and Vick.
A day after an official with the agency that represents Michael Vick told a crowded conference in New York City that Vick had recently re-signed with Nike [NKE 63.99 -0.71 (-1.1%) ], a Nike spokesman told CNBC that the company has no agreement with the backup Philadelphia Eagles quarterback.
“Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick," Nike spokesman Kejuan Wilkins said, in a statement. "We have agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike.”
Somebody has some 'splainin to do!
Going back over to Pro Football Talk here is what they had to say about this new revelation:
The purpose of the ruse is obvious. Principe and Segal, buoyed by the lack of criticism and/or outcry regarding Vick as he embarks on the second phase of his career, opted to take a liberty with reality, presumably in the hopes that the vague suggestion that Nike has re-embraced Vick might prompt other potential endorsers to follow suit.
But they didn't count on the negative reaction to the impression that Nike was paying Vick in an economic environment where shoe deals have become scarce. And so Nike, which might have initially agreed to stay silent in response to whatever Vick's camp said about the situation, needed to set the record straight.
Bottom line? Vick's camp needs to continue to urge Mike to remain humble. The apparent fact that his arrangement with Nike was deliberately distorted by those around him makes us wonder how hard he's pressing them behind the scenes to shake the trees that previously dropped cash-filled apples onto his feet.
POW!
I guess they told Joel Seagal and Mike Principe off for their sneaky ways!
But wait, what exactly was it that Seagal and Principe said anyway to pull off such an elaborate ruse?
"Mike has had a great relationship with Nike and is excited to be part of the Nike team again," Vick's agent Joel Segal said.
Wait, is that seriously all he said? Where are the boasts about a big endorsement deal or some serious cash being thrown Vick's way? You mean to tell me that this whole story was concocted based on Vick's agent saying he is a "part of the Nike team again"?!
That's pretty thin if you ask me.
And you know who agreed with me, at least at first, yesterday?
Why Pro Football Talk, that's who.
Segal wouldn't discuss the terms, per the agreement between Vick and the shoe company. Vick will wear Nike shoes and apparel. (Perhaps that's all it amounts to.) Now we are hardly sports business experts, but there are "endorsement" deals with players of all statures, even backup/Wildcat quarterbacks
Sooooooooooooo to recap, when the story was first reported straight PFT didn't think much of it. They rightly noted that it was likely that Vick's "deal" wasn't a big deal at all. But some how some way as the day progressed, even though no new information came out, the story turned into this ginormous, unprecedented deal Vick was getting. And then today when CNBC basically confirms that Vick's deal is what PFT first opined that it might have been, instead of pointing the fingers at themselves for blowing up a non story based on nothing, PFT starts pointing fingers at Principe and Seagal.
Seriously.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why nobody trusts the media anymore. When you don't have the capacity to admit you are wrong then you lose all credibility with most folks. Everyone makes mistakes, that is not really the issue, but denying it when you make those mistakes shows your dishonesty. And that leads to questions about what else you might be dishonest about.
This isn't meant to be a shot just at PFT because surely they aren't the only ones today patting themselves on the back for debunkinga story that was largely of their own making. But this is just the latest example of this kind of thing happening.
Something about that media culture needs to change and fast or people will just start turning away from all of it.
Week 3 Picks Revisited
We were back in the money this weekend at 12-4, much more respectable than in week 2.
Sunday:
Redskins at Detroit: Redskins. I know the cute pick this week is for Detroit to get their first win in over a year but its not going to happen. In all honesty it probably hurts Detroit's chances that the Redskins almost lost to the Rams last week on the road. They won't be able to catch them slipping this week and the Redskins simply have more talent than the Lions. Besides.....its still the Lions.
Loss. Who knew the Deadskins were really THAT bad?!
Packers at Rams: Packers. Duh.
Win
49ers at Vikings: Vikings. I swear this is a hard pick because while Adrian Peterson is running like a man possessed, the 49ers' defense is balling this year too. But I have to give the edge to the home team here especially with a west coast team coming to the east to play a 1 o'clock game so the Vikings get the nod.
Win. It came down to the wire but the Vikings pulled it out!
Falcons at Patriots: Patriots. The Patriots are at home and after getting beat up pretty good last week by the Jets they will be looking to rebound. I just have a hunch that the Patriots will play more of their 3-4 package this week and that will help them shore up the defense against the run. The Falcons are not a big blitz team which means Brady should have more time to find his weapons down the field. I also think having Wes Welker back will make their offense a lot more potent.
Win. Patriots got back to running the ball which kept the Falcons honest.
Titans at Jets: Jets. The Jets made me a believer last week and the Titans gave me more reasons to be skeptical. Its obviously not the Titans' offense that is the problem but their defense in the first two games has looked hapless at times. I am beginning to believe that Chuck Cecil is just in over his head. On the flip side the Jets' defense shouldn't be as explosive against a Titans offense that great at picking up 3-4 blitzing style defenses. But they will make life a living hell for Kerry Collins should he find himself in 3rd and long situations. I don't think the score board will reflect it but I think the Titans are in for an asswhupping this weekend.
Win.
Chiefs at Eagles: Eagles. The Eagles unleash Mike Vick on the rest of the league this week and I don't think he will dissappoint. The Chiefs aren't looking good at all right now and they picked the wrong week to have the Eagles on the schedule. Still smarting from the beat down the Saints put on them, I look for the Eagles to bounce back in a major way on Sunday.
Win.
Giants at Bucs: Giants. I can't find a game on the Bucs schedule for the rest of the year that I feel comfortable picking them to win. This might get really ugly really fast.
Win.
Browns at Ravens: Ravens. Duh.
Win.
Jaguars at Texans: Texans. I think their success last week against the Titans may have awakened the beast in the Texans. If they can get this win over the Jags they will set themselves up nicely in their division to start the season off. The Jags need new blood, and I am not talking about the players here.
Loss. Texans fumble on the one yard line to screw me out of an almost perfect weekend.
Saints at Buffalo: Saints. I don't think the Bills have enough bullets in their gun to keep up with the Saints in a blowout.
Win.
Bears at Seahawks: Bears. I am actually a little worried about this pick because honestly I think the Seahawks might be more dangerous with Seneca Wallace as the quarterback. But in the end I think the Bears will pull it out.
Win.
Steelers at Bengals: Steelers. I like the Bengals this year but they aren't ready to beat the Steelers right now.
Loss. I guess I was wrong, the Bengals WERE ready to beat the Steelers this year.
Broncos at Raiders: Broncos. I don't think anybody will enjoy watching this game but I think the Broncos will pull it out at the end. If the Raiders' receivers ever start catching the ball though its going to be hell for their opponents.
Win.
Dolphins at Chargers: Chargers. San Diego is at home and they have big receivers for the Dolphins to contend with and I don't think the Dolphins are going to be completely over that heartbreaking loss to the Colts.
Win. Sucks about Chad getting hurt again.
Colts at Cardinals: Colts. Peyton Manning. Enough said.
Win.
Panthers at Dallas: Dallas. Tony Romo will have a big day after listening to his haters all week.
Win. Suck. On. That. Haters.
Sunday:
Redskins at Detroit: Redskins. I know the cute pick this week is for Detroit to get their first win in over a year but its not going to happen. In all honesty it probably hurts Detroit's chances that the Redskins almost lost to the Rams last week on the road. They won't be able to catch them slipping this week and the Redskins simply have more talent than the Lions. Besides.....its still the Lions.
Loss. Who knew the Deadskins were really THAT bad?!
Packers at Rams: Packers. Duh.
Win
49ers at Vikings: Vikings. I swear this is a hard pick because while Adrian Peterson is running like a man possessed, the 49ers' defense is balling this year too. But I have to give the edge to the home team here especially with a west coast team coming to the east to play a 1 o'clock game so the Vikings get the nod.
Win. It came down to the wire but the Vikings pulled it out!
Falcons at Patriots: Patriots. The Patriots are at home and after getting beat up pretty good last week by the Jets they will be looking to rebound. I just have a hunch that the Patriots will play more of their 3-4 package this week and that will help them shore up the defense against the run. The Falcons are not a big blitz team which means Brady should have more time to find his weapons down the field. I also think having Wes Welker back will make their offense a lot more potent.
Win. Patriots got back to running the ball which kept the Falcons honest.
Titans at Jets: Jets. The Jets made me a believer last week and the Titans gave me more reasons to be skeptical. Its obviously not the Titans' offense that is the problem but their defense in the first two games has looked hapless at times. I am beginning to believe that Chuck Cecil is just in over his head. On the flip side the Jets' defense shouldn't be as explosive against a Titans offense that great at picking up 3-4 blitzing style defenses. But they will make life a living hell for Kerry Collins should he find himself in 3rd and long situations. I don't think the score board will reflect it but I think the Titans are in for an asswhupping this weekend.
Win.
Chiefs at Eagles: Eagles. The Eagles unleash Mike Vick on the rest of the league this week and I don't think he will dissappoint. The Chiefs aren't looking good at all right now and they picked the wrong week to have the Eagles on the schedule. Still smarting from the beat down the Saints put on them, I look for the Eagles to bounce back in a major way on Sunday.
Win.
Giants at Bucs: Giants. I can't find a game on the Bucs schedule for the rest of the year that I feel comfortable picking them to win. This might get really ugly really fast.
Win.
Browns at Ravens: Ravens. Duh.
Win.
Jaguars at Texans: Texans. I think their success last week against the Titans may have awakened the beast in the Texans. If they can get this win over the Jags they will set themselves up nicely in their division to start the season off. The Jags need new blood, and I am not talking about the players here.
Loss. Texans fumble on the one yard line to screw me out of an almost perfect weekend.
Saints at Buffalo: Saints. I don't think the Bills have enough bullets in their gun to keep up with the Saints in a blowout.
Win.
Bears at Seahawks: Bears. I am actually a little worried about this pick because honestly I think the Seahawks might be more dangerous with Seneca Wallace as the quarterback. But in the end I think the Bears will pull it out.
Win.
Steelers at Bengals: Steelers. I like the Bengals this year but they aren't ready to beat the Steelers right now.
Loss. I guess I was wrong, the Bengals WERE ready to beat the Steelers this year.
Broncos at Raiders: Broncos. I don't think anybody will enjoy watching this game but I think the Broncos will pull it out at the end. If the Raiders' receivers ever start catching the ball though its going to be hell for their opponents.
Win.
Dolphins at Chargers: Chargers. San Diego is at home and they have big receivers for the Dolphins to contend with and I don't think the Dolphins are going to be completely over that heartbreaking loss to the Colts.
Win. Sucks about Chad getting hurt again.
Colts at Cardinals: Colts. Peyton Manning. Enough said.
Win.
Panthers at Dallas: Dallas. Tony Romo will have a big day after listening to his haters all week.
Win. Suck. On. That. Haters.
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