NFL - Week 12 Picks

NFL - Week 12 Picks

Ind (-3.5) @ Hou O/U 48

The Texans are coming off a disappointing loss to the Titans on Monday night and the Colts are savoring a fresh victory over the Ravens. Taking the points against a shaky Indy secondary would be a wise move considering Dwight Freeney is out of today’s contest. Matt Schaub should take advantage of the extra time in the pocket and lead the Texans to a much needed victory over the rival Colts. Pick – Hou by 7 and UNDER

Cle (+14) @ Cin O/U 39.5

Both teams are coming back from devastating last-second road losses. Cincinnati appears to be prematurely anointed as a contender after their loss to the lowly Raiders. Two touchdowns are a lot of points for the Bengals to lay considering they’ve scored 17, 18, 17, 45, and 17 in their last 5 games. Pick – Cin by 9 and OVER

Wash (+10) @ Phi O/U 40.5

The Redskins are pathetic. These are the same banged up Redskins that came into Dallas and played their best game of the year and still only managed 6 measly points. Their number one ranked pass-defense shouldn’t scare the Eagles into throwing less and I expect LeSean McCoy to have a career day. This one could be close until halftime. Pick – Phi by 13 and OVER

Mia (-3.5) @ Buf O/U 39

The Bills would appear to have the deck stacked against them this week. Miami is coming off a quasi bye-week after playing last Thursday night, they’ve fired their head coach, Dick Jauron, and they lost a heartbreaker to Jacksonville last Sunday. That all equals one HUGE win for the Bills. Last Sunday, Terrell Owens had the breakout game that Buffalo fans had been yearning for all season. He should parlay that performance into another huge game today. Pick – Buf by 10 and UNDER

Sea (-4) @ Stl O/U 42.5

This game is just plain ugly. Nothing about this game interests me at all. Steven Jackson is having a remarkable season for the Rams, but he can’t find the end-zone unless he scampers for a 50 yarder. The Seahawks have a decent pass defense and should keep this low scoring. Pick – Stl by 3 and UNDER

TB (+13) @ Atl O/U 46

The Falcons have been looking forward to this game for quite some time now. They’ve gone 1-4 in their last 5 games against the Giants, Panthers, Redskins, Saints, and Cowboys. Atlanta should be able to pull everything back together and get back in the playoff picture with a BIG win over the Bucs. Pick – Atl by 20 and OVER

Car (+3) @ NYJ O/U 41.5

I’m running out of time here on my picks, I’m just going to keep this short and sweet. Sanchez is terrible at home. Pick – Car by 7 and UNDER

Jax (+3.5) @ SF O/U 42.5

Gore vs. Jones-Drew and over 1000 miles of traveling after Thanksgiving….Pick – SF by 10 and OVER

KC (+14) @ SD O/U 45

I need SD to blow the Chiefs out today in order to stay relevant in my Fantasy leagues…Pick – SD by 17 and UNDER

CHI (+11) @ Min O/U 47

Favre and his league leading passer rating are playing at home for what seems like the 37^th time this season. Pick – Min by 14 and OVER

Ari (+3) @ Ten O/U 45

Arizona plays better on the road than at home and Vince Young still hasn’t convinced me to jump on the bandwagon. Pick – Ari by 10 and OVER

Pit (NL) @ Bal O/U NL

Ben R. isn’t playing this weekend, so that makes for an interesting matchup of the Ravens defense against the stick figure the Steelers are starting at QB, Dennis Dixon. Pick – Bal wins a close and entertaining game.

NE (+3) @ NO O/U 56.5

I have to take the Pats in this one because the torch hasn’t officially been passed down to the Saints and the Pats aren’t just going to roll over. Pick – NE by 10 and UNDER

Week 12 Picks

First off, I just want to thank everyone that's been following my blog for the past few weeks. Surprisingly, these blogs are way harder to promote than you can imagine.

Next, I wanted to give a shout out to the men and women overseas that don't have the luxury of being with friends and family this holiday season. Their sacrifice and commitment is second to none and I dare anyone to tell them otherwise. The blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed since 9/11 will certainly be remembered by my family this Thanksgiving and I would venture to say that many other families out there can say the same.

Before we get started here with picks, I'd like to mention that my record last week was 10-6 against the spread, 14-2 straight up, and 8-7-1 on the over/unders. So let's get those tickets ready to Vegas....I'm on a roll!

Now, on with the picks!

Green Bay (-12) @ Detroit O/U 48

This game just reeks. Detroit is coming off of a huge win against the Browns and will be playing without their starting QB (I stand corrected...Adam Schefter just tweeted that Stafford will start this week...Gutsy.). This was a no-brainer during the Brett Favre days in Packerland, but now that Dr. Aaron and Mr. Rodgers are playing QB for the Pack...anything's possible! My brain tells me Green Bay should enjoy a nice feast of tenderlions this Thanksgiving, but my gut tells me never to listen to my brain when it comes to the NFL. So....GB by 10 and UNDER

Oakland (+14) @ Dallas O/U 40

The Cowboys defense is just plain nasty. So nasty that Redskins QB, Jason Campbell, completed 13 of 13 passes on 3rd down for 150 yards and the Skins could only manage 6 points. This week the Cowboys offense was stripped by the local media of whatever shred of manhood they were clinging on to. I look for them to put the naysayers to bed and go looking for dinner against the lowly Raiders. Dallas by 17 and OVER.

NYG (-7) @ Denver O/U 42.5

Both teams are 1-4 in their last 5 games and have been written off by many so-called experts. Everyone had assumed that the "old" Giants were back after they jumped out to a commanding lead against the bandwagon Falcons. However, the Giants were outscored 24-14 in the second-half, but held on to win by a FG in OT. I believe this game will be low scoring and the Giants should be able to edge the overachieving Broncos with a late FG. Giants by 3 and UNDER

Week 12 Picks will be continued tomorrow! I hope everyone enjoys family, friends, football, turkey, stuffing, and dessert, in that specific order, this Thanksgiving. Best wishes!

All we could put together was one lousy TD?

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys – 11/22/09

Running Game Time Diary

12:03 – Just settled into the IKEA chair that was given to us by my wife’s sister and husband. Thanks guys for making football Sunday so comfortable. Felix with an excellent return out to the 35 yard line. It looks like his legs are back for the first time since coming back from injury a couple of weeks ago. That’s a good sign.

12:05 – Fox just zoomed in on Big Albert Haynesworth on the sideline….wearing street clothes…what a relief.

12:06 – In typical Tony Romo fashion, he over throws Witten on 3^rd and 5 and is fortunate that it wasn’t picked off.

12:08 – Huge 3^rd and 1 stand by the Cowboys D. Keith Brooking has been the biggest acquisition for the Cowboys this season. Brooking looks like he should’ve been a character in the movie Gladiator. He just reminds me of this burly warrior that feasts on huge turkey legs and then snatches up a couple of women when it’s time for bed.

12:14 – RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN….I like where Garrett is going with his play calling.

12:15 – Just as I wrote the previous line…Barber fumbles and Romo injures himself making the tackle after. Maybe I should stop writing. Cue the eerie Kay Jewelers commercial…the one where the guy makes a comment about how bad the storm is and his wife says something cheesy and he follows it with up with “I’m right here, and I always will be.” I still have no idea how he got from the storm to opening up that flashy necklace.

12:19 – Jason Campbell makes his one and only highlight reel play of the season. He spins out the grasp of THREE Cowboys and converts a 3^rd and 13.

12:24 – Great shot of Dave Campo (yeah the former head-coach) manning up to Terrence Newman (the most overrated player on the Cowboys). I would to run see Campo sucker punch Newman like Buddy Ryan did to Kevin Gilbride.

12:26 – Martellus Bennett just made his first significant catch of the season…in week 11. Remember all the talk about “Double Dynamite” before the season started? Maybe, they just wanted to ease into it.

12:28 – The Redskins have exactly one running back left in the game. So, Jason Campbell will have to throw the ball 40-50 times today...(smiling).

12:31 – Back-to-back weeks with scoreless first quarters for Dallas, yuck. It’s sad when our most valuable player after the first quarter is Tony Romo and it’s not for his passing ability. He saved a sure fire touchdown when he made the tackle after Barber’s fumble.

12:34 – Brooking CRUSHES Campbell for a 6 yard sack! I can’t say enough about him…Uh oh, Newman kills us again with an illegal hands to the face penalty….HOW CAN YOU PUT YOUR HANDS IN SOMEONE’S FACE WHEN YOU KNOW IT’S ILLEGAL?

12:39 – Rock Cartwright makes his one and only highlight reel play of the year to convert a 3^rd and 2. (Shaking my head)

12:42 – Campbell get CRUSHED by Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Spencer…but guess what? He completes an 18 yard pass to Santana Moss to convert ANOTHER 3^rd and 8 situation.

12:46 – Redskins run a draw on 3^rd and 15 and settle for a FG. I sometimes wish the Cowboys would implement the FG strategy. FG’s are highly underrated in the NFL.

12:50 – The new Mastercard commercial with Peyton Manning is hilarious. I hope that he goes into acting full-time after retirement from the NFL. I’m afraid he’ll end up coaching some poor franchise that’s in an impossible situation for a few seasons, compiling an awful record and thus tarnishing is image forever with the younger generation. PLEASE PEYTON….DO NOT TRY TO COACH!

12:54 – Fox just cut to a highlight from the Vikings-Seahawks game. Favre to Harvin...what a combo.

12:55 – Roy Williams makes his presence felt with a key DROP on 3^rd down, again. Fool me once….shame on you? Fool me twice…shame on…you’re not gonna fool me again! Roy, please just take off your pads and give them to the equipment manager and turn in your pass to Valley Ranch before you leave the stadium. Thanks.

1:12 – Just noticed a graphic showing the Cowboys were about to be shut out in the first half of consecutive games for the first time since 2002. If we don’t get a FG soon, I might have to take a lap around my apartment complex to calm myself down.

1:16 – 2^nd and 23 from the Washington 43 yard line….pass complete to Bennett (3^rd big catch of the game) for 12 yards. Field Goal Range!!!

1:19 – 3^rd down: Romo to Williams….DROP. FOLK misses a FG from 40 yards. I’m depressed.

1:20 – Side note: I just checked in on the all-important Lions-Browns game and this is how bad those defenses stink: 24-24 with 5:01 left to play in the first half. Matt Stafford has thrown for 270 yards and 3 scores. Brady Quinn has thrown for 163 yards and 3 scores. They are terrible.

1:26 – Another one of those crazy challenges/ booth replays that happens in EVERY Dallas game. This one spurned from a play in which Campbell was running for his life and just ho-hum tossed the ball out of bounds as he stepped on the sideline. How can the Refs drop the ball on so many calls? How many zebras are out on the field? This game is still depressing.

1:30 – Troy and Joe are still rambling on and on about this booth replay and the repercussions of overturning the delay of game penalty. If I can sit here in my chair and know exactly what the call should be and where the ball should be spotted, but all of the refs on the field cannot even figure out how to clear this up, the NFL has a way bigger problem than Rush Limbaugh.

1:33 – Skins missed FG after all of that hoopla. I now understand why everyone in Washington and Dallas are fed up with their respective head-coaches: Washington 3 - Dallas 0 at the half. Break time! (Lunch, beer, laundry, and some more beer)

1:48 – Second half starts off just like it left off. Washington’s Devin Thomas has his career-best kickoff return out to the Wash 44 yard line.

1:58 – Campbell is 8-8 for 90 yards on 3^rd down so far this game. Unacceptable.

2:02 – It’s always nice to see Romo throwing out of his own end-zone. It’s kind of like running into your girlfriend at the movies and she happens to be with her “best” friend...who's a guy. It’s a little threatening, probably harmless, but you’re just waiting for her to screw it up.

2:07 – Campbell to Cartwright for 29 yards. We’re getting carved up by Washington’s scrubs. I feel helpless. I wish I had that “guy” that could take care of things like this. You always see them in those CIA/FBI thrillers, where they need some “specialist” to take out an impossible target. Target = Jerry Jones

2:14 – Romo airmails Williams on a 3^rd down play deep in their own territory. Our defense needs to make a BIG play. They’ve played their asses off up to this point, holding Washington to 3 points, and it’s about time that Campbell makes a critical mistake.

2:18 – Great pressure on Campbell again on 3^rd down…he completes ANOTHER 3^rd down pass for a first down. I’m glad Campbell saved his best game of the season for the Cowboys. The Redskins have cost me exactly 2 weeks worth of wins in my pick’em league because of Campbell’s ineptitude at QB.

2:22 – Campbell is now 11-11 passing on 3^rd down for 145 yards. Luckily, his last completion was short of the sticks. Field goal is good: Washington 6 – Dallas 0

2:27 – Romo rolls right and hits Miles Austin for a big gain! Why haven’t we thrown deep to Austin this game? Oh I forgot, we keep throwing the ball to Roy Williams.

2:29 – Following up the big play to Austin, Romo is sacked for a 5 yard loss.

2:31 – Back-to-back 1^st down passing plays for the Cowboys for a combined -5 yards. RUN the ball.

2:32 – Both 2^nd down plays have combined for 23 yards after those abysmal pass plays.

2:34 – 4^th and 2 for the Cowboys and Romo was in the grasp of the rookie, Brian Orakpo, and he forces a throw that’s picked off. Now I want throw something. Only in sports can you fail so many times at doing your job and still keep your job. Amazing.

2:36 – I’m almost certain the NFL instructed the Offensive coordinators in this game to keep the score low. I haven’t seen a single pass over 15 yards the entire game.

2:43 – Missed FG for Washington again! Wow, there’s no reason we should be in this game.

2:46 – Joe Buck just announced Romo’s QB rating – 35. Ouch. I think Chris Simms had a higher rating last week.

2:49 – Amazingly, Romo has hit Austin twice and Witten twice during their 5 play 50 yard drive. Who’s name wasn’t mentioned in that sentence? Roy E. Williams. Sit down, Roy.

2:52 – TOUCHDOWN Boys! Romo finds Patrick Crayton after buying some time and the Cowboys take a one point lead. Come on Defense it’s time to unleash DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff!

2:58 – Mike Jenkins goes to the ground for what seems to be the 8^th time in the past two weeks. Get out of the game. Where are the doctors in situations like this? If he keeps this up next week, I’m writing a letter to the head trainer of the Cowboys. Not only does it SLOW the game way down, it also makes Dallas appear to be desperate that Jenkins remain in the game.

3:02 – FINALLY! Spencer comes up with a huge interception after Bowen got a hand on Campbell’s pass. The Cowboys are kneeling it to clinch their 7^th win of the season. Ugly, horrific, boring, anticlimactic….insert your own negative adjective here to describe what everyone just witnessed.

A few thoughts about the game:

• There’s no reason Dallas should have won this game. The game-ball should go to Suisam who went 2 for 4 on field goals for Washington and unintentionally saved Wade Phillips from the media this week.
• If this is the same Dallas team that knocked off the Eagles in Philly earlier this month, I’m not looking forward to see how far we regress when December rolls around.
• Wade, oh Wade. You’re hanging by a thread big guy. He may be safe for now, but his team is seriously under-performing against inferior opponents. Nine times out of ten, that comes down to poor preparation and poor coaching.

NFL - Week 11 Picks

NFL Week 11 Breakdown

Lines are courtesy of www.bodog.com

Miami (+3) @ Carolina Over/Under 42.5

Ronnie Brown has been ruled out of this matchup between 4-5 teams with a foot injury he suffered last week against the Bucs. Not to be out done, Carolina’s one-two punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are both questionable. This game is a wife’s dream because both teams run the ball so much that the clock NEVER stops. It’s like watching Greg Maddux go eight innings without breaking a sweat and you haven’t even finished your hot dog yet. My gut tells me not to bet against Jake the Great and not to overlook Carolina’s record last year. Pick - Carolina by 7 and OVER

Cleveland (+3.5) @ Detroit O/U 38

(Shaking my head) If Brady Quinn can’t throw for 300 yards against this defense…he never will. Detroit’s pass defense is dead last in the league and they’ve given up 20 touchdown passes and a staggering 107 QB rating. I’m still not buying into the Browns. Pick – Detroit by 10 and UNDER

Buffalo (+9) @ Jacksonville O/U 43

I tend to like Buffalo when they’re matched up against a team that really has no identity on offense. Jacksonville appears to be a run first team by averaging over 140 yards rushing, but they’ve won three of their past four games relying on David Garrard and the passing game. This doesn’t bode well for the Jags considering they’re up against league’s leading ball-hawk. Look for the Jags to pull off a close victory, but the Bills will cover the 9 point spread. Pick – Jags by 4 and UNDER

Pittsburgh (-10) @ Kansas City O/U 40

Sunday’s game against the Steelers caps off a terrible week for the Chiefs. First they released their franchise running back, Larry Johnson, due to off the field issues and lack of production. Next, Dwayne Bowe was suspended for the next four games for using a diuretic during training camp. Now, they’re facing a Pittsburgh team that would love nothing more than to tear them apart this Sunday and leave no doubt that they belong in the Super Bowl discussion. Pick – Pittsburgh by 17 and OVER

Indianapolis (-1) @ Baltimore O/U 44

In their first game since they matched up against “Cleveland Browns Era” Bill Belichick, Indy looks to remain undefeated against Ray Lewis and a furious Ravens squad (See Brady Quinn here). Who am I to pick against General Manning? I’m pretty sure he radios in the defensive audibles to Gary Brackett while he’s shooting commercials between possessions. Pick – Indy by 3 and UNDER

Atlanta (+7) @ NY Giants O/U 46

Atlanta’s offensive line has been labeled as “soft” after the New England game earlier this year. When you pair that with the fact that New York is coming off a bye week and their defensive front is as good as any in the NFL, the magic 8-ball says the “outlook not so good”. Pick – NY by 13 and UNDER

49ers (+7) @ Green Bay O/U 42

If Coach Singletary can stick to the ground game and keep Green Bay’s offense off the field, the 49ers have a good chance to keep this close. The 49ers are coming off of a quasi bye-week since they played Chicago last Thursday. I think the 49ers will cover the spread and possibly win straight up. Pick – GB by 3 and OVER

Seattle (+11) @ Minnesota O/U 46.5

Brett Favre’s home passer rating is a torrid 113…Pick – Min by 17 or more and UNDER

Washington (+11) @ Dallas O/U 41.5

Last week, Jason Campbell was given enough time in the pocket due to Denver’s undersized defensive line and their 4-3 scheme. That luxury is now gone and the Redskins face two of the fiercest pass rushers in the NFL in DeMarcus Ware (7 sacks) and Jay Ratliff (4 sacks). Look for the Dallas offense to rebound and try to open up the passing game by establishing the run early on. Pick – Dallas by 13 and OVER

New Orleans (-11) @ Tampa Bay O/U 51

Drew Brees is going up against a mediocre pass defense in Tampa Bay, but the number that jumps out is 19. That’s how many touchdown passes the Bucs have given up this season, the third most in the league. The one drawback to this matchup is in the last 10 meetings, the margin of victory was more than 10 only three times. New Orleans is also 4-6 on grass in their last 10 games. The Bucs cover the spread but the Saints pull away late. Pick – New Orleans by 10 and OVER

Arizona (-9) @ St. Louis O/U 47

Kurt Warner makes his return to St. Louis and he brings along the best Arizona Cardinal team that’s ever taken the field. No joke. Warner is 3-0 all-time, as a Cardinal, when he makes the trip to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. He’s also thrown for over 800 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions in those contests. Pick – Arizona by 20 and UNDER

NY Jets (+10.5) @ New England O/U 45

Rex Ryan has the least enviable job in sports this week. Back in Week 2, his Jets pulled off an unexpected victory against a timid Tom Brady. They were full of swagger and the trash talking was hardly at a premium. Since that game, Brady has thrown for 17 TD’s and only 4 INT’s and the Jets have won just 2 of their last seven games. Add that to the fire Coach Bill Belichick was under during the course of the week and the final product should go something like this…Pick – Patriots by 21 and OVER

Cincinnati (-10) @ Oakland O/U 36

UPSET of the week alert! My gut tells me that these three things will happen on Sunday for the Raiders: Chad Ocho Cinco will have exactly 3 heated conversations with Carson Palmer due to the play of Oakland’s shut-down corner, Nnamdi Asomugha. Cincinnati’s offense will look lost and the commentators will automatically discredit everything they’ve done this season. Sebastian Janikowski will hit four field goals of 40 yards or more and the Raiders will pull off another upset at home. Pick – Oak by 3 and UNDER

San Diego (NL) @ Denver O/U – N/A

Will Kyle Orton play? Does it matter? San Diego has put together an impressive four-game winning streak including wins against the Giants and Eagles. Denver, on the other hand, has lost three straight. I’m sure if Orton plays, the line will be something like DEN -3. It doesn’t matter to me if John Elway comes out of retirement to suit up this Sunday…Pick – SD by 9 and UNDER 44

Philadelphia (-3) @ Chicago O/U 45

Andy Reid has to prove these four things before the Eagles can make me a believer: A.) Stick to one QB and drop the whole Mike Vick/wildcat formation B.) Fire the guy that convinces him to challenge the most ridiculous plays and lose timeouts C.) Figure out how to manage the clock at the end of games D.) STOP throwing the ball 50 times and start letting your defense win some games, instead of having them bail your offense out. Pick – Phi by 3 and OVER

Tennessee (+4.5) @ Houston O/U 48

Texans fans aren’t going to like this, but the loss of Owen Daniels was WAAYY bigger than most people thought. Daniels was the safety valve to the high-powered Texans passing attack. He also provided over the middle routes that opened up the outside for Andre Johnson. Now, the Titans can clampdown the outside routes and really rush the passer. Controversy at the running back position doesn’t give me any confidence in the Texans heading into Monday Night. This looks like a classic 24-21 game and it will be another happy homecoming for Vince Young. Pick – Tennessee by 3 and UNDER

I hope everyone enjoys the games on Sunday. Please remember our troops overseas during next week’s holiday festivities.

Shout Outs to the NBA

Now that basketball season has officially begun, I've decided to add some posts about the NBA and maybe some college-hoops (Mostly regarding prospects). Here are just a few of my views on the NBA just 12 games into the season.

A few rants and raves about the NBA:

• How did Brandon Jennings slip to the number 10 pick in the draft? Every scout apparently fell asleep on this guy after his season-long charade in Italy last year. I believe they're realizing this kid has the ceiling of Isaiah Thomas and the floor of Allen Iverson, in terms of potential. I’m not kidding. He’s really that impressive. Check out the following link to some highlights of his 55 point barrage of Golden State here
  
• 2. The Oklahoma City Thunder at 6-6, are the second most surprising team this far into the season. They have notched victories against Orlando, Detroit, San Antonio, and Miami. Not to mention, they lost by 3 in over-time to the defending champs. Their nucleus of Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook seem to have found their identities and have settled into roles that bring out the best of their abilities night in and night out. Now if only this trend could catch on with the Clippers…
• 3. Mavs Fan Alert! Dirk Nowitzki is averaging career-bests in points, blocks, turnovers, and minutes this season for an overachieving Mavs team filled with dead weight. Dirk has been needed to carry the likes of Drew Gooden, Tim Thomas, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, and Shawn Marion. Each of whom have such fatal basketball flaws that it’s a surprise that Nowitzki hasn’t gone ballistic and just walked off the court. Instead, he’s single-handedly turned the Mavs into contenders again and making his best case for MVP since his 2006-07 campaign. (To all of you Dirk haters: Please comeback and read this in June)
• 4. The LeBron James free agency saga is, um, how can I put this….He’s going to New York. Just look at his facial expressions during the game. The raised eyebrows and piercing stares that Lebron dishes out every time Side Show Bob gets dunked on while attempting to take a charge, leave zero doubt that he’s already contacted a real estate agent. He’s leaving that circus behind in Cleveland for an ever bigger circus in New York. What we don’t know at this point is if he’s going to the Knicks or the Nets. I’d like to lean more towards the Nets because of his ties to Jay-Z and the upside of their current roster.
• 5. Continuing with LeBron…ESPN’s recent attempt to coax readers into believing that James is actually contemplating a jump to the NFL was quite comical. First of all, Lebron doesn't even begin to tip the scales at his listed weight of 250 lbs. If you don’t believe me, compare him to stockier and thicker players in the NBA: Carmelo Anthony – 230 lbs., Al Horford – 245 lbs., Brian Cook – 250 lbs. Incredibly, just as I was typing this post, Jeremy Shockey just tweeted "Trust me everyone, LeBron James can not play in the NFL.". Marshall Faulk responded by saying "The first time he catches one over the middle, gets hit, and the official doesn't throw the flag and give him two shots...he'll quit.".Enough said.
  

NBA games of note this weekend:

Friday - 11/20

Houston (7-5) @ Atlanta (10-2) – Calvin Murphy is torn when rooting during this game because of his tutorship of Josh Smith and guess what…I love it. I’m all for any sort of mental anguish the Murph is subjected to. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of accidents this man’s radio show has caused in Houston rush hour traffic.

Orlando (9-3) @ Boston (9-3) – A rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals should surely entertain, and so should the commercials. One should expect to see many male enhancement spots and a handful of prostate relief advertisements during any Celtic game this season. We haven’t seen a collection of past-their-prime-but-not-yet-over-the-hill stars that were under this much pressure since Oceans 13.

Saturday - 11/21

New York (2-9) @ New Jersey (0-12) – The NFL equivalent would be the Browns @ Lions...what did sports fans do to get so lucky this weekend? They could pit the winner of this game against the loser of the NCAA Tournament play-in game and Vegas still might consider giving it a pick’em status.

Chicago (6-4) @ Denver (8-3) – This should be an interesting match up Chicago’s stingy defense and Denver’s high octane offense. This game could also mark the beginning of an intriguing weird hair rivalry between Joakim Noah and Chris Andersen.

Sunday – 11/22

New Orleans (4-8) @ Miami (7-4) – Record wise, this match up won’t jump out at you. Star wise, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul make any game a little more interesting. This game is also brings together two of the top 25 Crime Infested Cities in the US (#8 N.O. vs. #19 Mia). I believe Miami could make a strong case for the top 10 with a victory over the Sodomesque city from the bayou.

Oklahoma City (6-6) @ LA Lakers (8-3) – Kevin Durant and the Thunder look to avenge a previous overtime loss to the Lakers. If Durant could notch a win on the road against the league’s best player, immediate respect will soon follow.

NFL - hitting it's stride in Week 10

Stunned. Shocked. Flabbergasted. Those were my reactions to the end of the Colts - Pats game, the most anticipated game of the season. Indy's improbable comback was the icing on an NFL cake that even the Cake Boss could appreciate.

The NFL couldn't have scripted yesterdays contests with any more drama. It felt like every game was another installment to the Jason Bourne trilogy.

Quick recap of the televised games:

NE 34 @ IND 35

By far the most entertaining match up on Sunday's slate. The two best QB's in the league put on an aerial display that included a combined 680 yards and 7 TD passes. What people will remember most about this instant classic, is Bill Belichik's decision to go for it on 4th and 2 from his own 28 yard line with 2:00 left in the game. Peyton Manning should consider endorsing hypnotic products and services, because there's no way Belichik goes for it if Chad Henne is standing on the other sideline.

(If Chuck Norris didn't wear Peyton Manning pajamas before last nights game, he certainly will be now.)

DAL 7 @ GB 17

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Dallas games are painful to watch. Not just because I'm a fan, but because there seems to be at a minimum 8 coaches challenges, 26 TV timeouts, 5 two-minute warnings, 3 players carted off, 37 holding penalties, and 4 shots of Wade Phillips celebrating like the fat guy from Teenwolf when he hits his free throws. Sloppy play, poor play calling, and a lack of discipline proved to be more than the Cowboys could overcome. Green Bay's defense looked solid and Clay Matthews, along with A.J. Hawk will be a talented core of LB's for years to come.

Side Note: Is anyone else as sick of the Bud Light "Too light, Too Heavy" commercials as I am? The lady using the nail gun to pin on her beau's boutonniere was pretty funny, but I get it already...Bud Light's not too light and it's not too heavy. One last thing...give it up on the Bud Light Lime already...if we want lime in our beer, we'll do it ourselves...with actual lime juice, thanks.

CIN 18 @ PIT 12

First place in the NFC North was decided by the boot of Shayne Graham and the stifling defense of Cincinnati. Graham's four second-half field goals were too much for the hometown Steelers to overcome. Cincinnati held the Steelers to a paltry 3.6 yards per play and sacked Big Ben four times. Pittsburgh finds itself in unfamiliar territory after losing both games to the Bengals this season. They're now two games behind the Bengals heading into Week 11.

DET 10 @ MIN 27

I mentioned Lions Rookie Matthew Stafford in an earlier blog post and brought up a few numbers that might relate to the Lions poor record this year. In an encore performance, Stafford attempted over 50 passes for the second straight week. So let me get this straight...it's Favre vs. Stafford, Good vs. Bad, no one believes you can win, and you want to lay the game on the shoulders of a baby-faced, 21 year-old rookie QB? They pay Coach Schwartz a considerable amount of money to make decisions like that. Run the ball, play defense, kick field goals, keep it close, and most of all keep yourself out of 3rd and Lake Michigan.

That's all for the recap! Enjoy tonight's scintillating contest between the Old Browns from Baltimore against the New Browns from Cleveland.

This week's picks will be posted on Thursday afternoon prior to the game.

2009 Rookie Report - Part I

As we head into week 10 of the NFL season we can easily assess the performance of each team with just a quick glance at the standings. On the surface that measurement only indicates their performances during the months of September, October, and thus far into November. That assessment leaves out one of the most important months of the season, April.

Many teams over the past three decades have transformed themselves into dynasties, or crumbled into ruins by means of the draft. Whether you’re searching for a cornerstone left tackle or in desperate need of a ball hawking safety, the draft is where hope can become reality and visions of Super Bowl glory can cloud even the best of judgements.

Let’s take a look at how the top 15 picks of the first round of last April’s draft have performed through the midway point of the season.

Top 15

Pick Team Player Pos College

1. Lions Matthew Stafford QB Georgia

In Week 3 against the Redskins, Stafford led Detroit to their first win since Dec. 23, 2007. His progress during the early part of the season was offset by a knee injury he suffered against Chicago in Week 4. The injury kept him out of two straight contests and he’s thrown for 2 TDs and 6 INTs since his return. Look for Stafford to continue to progress as soon as he becomes 100% healthy.

2. Rams Jason Smith OT Baylor

Early injuries have slowed the emergence of this former Baylor Bear in 2009 and have only allowed him to start 3 out of 6 games. Steven Jackson’s yards-per-carry is up from 4.1 last season, to 4.8 this season and during Smith’s 3 starts, Jackson has averaged 108 rushing yards a game. Smith should expect to get more reps and more starts due to issues involving former 2005 first round pick Alex Barron.

3. Chiefs Tyson Jackson DE LSU

Jackson’s performance this season cannot be defined by statistics. He has 12 total tackles this season, with seven coming in a Week 9 loss to Jacksonville. He has yet to register a sack this season, but he was brought in primarily to shore up a Chiefs run defense that ranked 30^th in the league in 2008. They are currently 28^th against the run this season. Jackson’s impact as a top 5 pick remains to be seen.

4. Seahawks Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest

If there has been one bright spot in 2009 for the Seahawks, it would have to be the addition of Aaron Curry. He’s tallied 44 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles through the first half of 2009. He’s played a critical role in transforming a Seattle defense which ranked 30^th in total defense in 2008, into the 13^th ranked defense this season.

5. Jets Mark Sanchez QB USC

The headline of the draft hit the ground running by producing victories in each of his first three starts. The most impressive of which, was against the Patriots and an upright Tom Brady. Sanchez followed his impressive start to the season by losing three games in row and tossing one TD and 8 INTs in those contests. It seems as though the jury is still out on Sanchez. He has yet to play in the cold and windy climate of Giants Stadium, which we know can affect even the greatest of QBs (Brett Favre).

6. Bengals Andre Smith OT Alabama

Where to begin with the troubled, yet talented kid out of Alabama? You can trace it all the way back to the February NFL combine, and then find your way back to the broken foot he suffered on the second day after ending his training camp holdout. No matter which way you slice it, this pick stinks.

7. Raiders Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland

The most criticized pick of the top 15 has yet to silence his critics. His QB hasn’t provided much support in terms of accuracy and to make matters worse, fellow rookie, Louis Murphy, has more than tripled Heyward-Bey’s production this year. Oh, the Raiders drafted Murphy in the 3^rd round at number 124. If you’re a GM in this league, you have to love Al Davis in April, because by November, your draft looks amazing compared to his. I can see GMs schmoozing with Raiders brass nights before the draft, so they can find out which players to remove from their own big boards.

8. Jaguars Eugene Monroe OT Virginia

The tackle from Virginia spent a few weeks in Coach Del Rio’s dog house after holding out to begin training-camp. Monroe proceeded to lose his starting job early on this season to the longtime vet, Tra Thomas. It was reported this week that Monroe had taken back his spot as starting left tackle. Jacksonville coaches and fans have to consider his rookie campaign to be disappointment.

9. Packers B.J. Raji DT Boston College

Raji’s season was delayed a couple of weeks due to an ankle injury during Green Bay’s final preseason game. Much like Tyson Jackson at Kansas City, Raji has tallied 11 tackles and has failed to register a sack in six games. Green Bay lacked depth on their defensive line going into last April’s draft and addressed that issue with the addition of Raji. Their run defense has improved from 26^th in the league to 9^th since last season.

10. 49ers Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech

Hands down, the most controversial pick of the NFL Draft. Crabtree may be recognized more for his 71-day holdout than his record breaking college career. Portrayed by many to be the next “diva” WR in San Francisco, Crabtree was the only sure bet at WR leading up to the draft and hasn’t disappointed since signing his 6-year contract. His 14 catches already rank him ahead of Heyward-Bey, and he’s played in only 3 games.

11. Bills Aaron Maybin DE Penn St.

Buffalo drafted Maybin to add speed and depth to their defensive line. He’s been playing behind Chris Kelsay and only seeing the field during third-down situations. Buffalo coaches have indicated that Maybin will see more reps and opportunities in the second-half of 2009.

12. Broncos Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia

Moreno’s playing time this season has been somewhat of a rollercoaster of sorts. The Denver coaching staff has been monitoring his touches this season as if he were on some sort of a pitch count. At times he’s shown that quick burst that turned him into a one-man highlight reel at Georgia, and at times he’s proven to be very mediocre. He leads all rookies with 423 yards rushing, but his 3.7 yards-per-carry is about a yard less than expected.

13. Redskins Brian Orakpo DE Texas

This year’s pass-rush specialist has been nothing short of phenomenal. He was brought in to disrupt the pass and make opposing QB’s look for him on every play. His six sacks are the most among rookies this season and it’s twice as many as fellow Redskin, Albert Haynesworth. Too bad Washington can’t translate this Rookie’s play into some much needed victories.

14. Saints Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio St.

The Saints have used Jenkins in many nickel and dime situations, but Jenkins has made a name for himself with his special teams play. He’s forced two fumbles on special teams plays and has earned a lot of respect with the veterans for his work ethic. The Saints have the luxury of assigning their first-round pick to kick coverage duties because of their depth at DB.

15. Texans Brian Cushing OLB USC

Following the footsteps of Willie McGinest, Lofa Tatupu, and Troy Polamalu, Cushing is another defensive player from USC that has made an immediate impact in the NFL. He leads all rookies with 78 total tackles and has also recorded 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 INT’s. The Texans look to have another major building block to go alongside Mario Williams, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, and Steve Slaton.

Look for Part II coming Saturday, November 14th