Category Archives: Lists

NFL Picks Week 4: Indianapolis Colts Among 3 Teams That Don’t Stand a Chance

Every week the NFL features great games that go down to the wire. Week 3 was no exception as 12 of the 16 games were decided by seven points or less.

I’m sure there will be plenty of games like that in Week 4, but I’m not here to talk about that. What I’m interested in is the games that will be blowouts. Games where one team doesn’t stand a chance.

Looking at the Week 4 schedule, there are quite a few potential teams that fit that bill.

Read on to find out which three teams don’t stand a chance of winning in Week 4.

1. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts put together a great effort at on Sunday night, nearly shocking the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, don’t expect to see a repeat of that performance this week.

Last week was the Colts’ “Super Bowl.” With their backs against the wall at 0-2, the Colts knew another loss would all but put an end to any slim playoff chances they had. So the Colts gave it their all, playing in front of their fans and on national television. They nearly pulled off the upset, but came up just short.

You have to imagine the Colts will be deflated after that loss. They’re now 0-3 and with the news that Peyton Manning is unlikely to play this season, that just about ends their season.

Expect to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take advantage of that and dominate the Colts on Monday Night Football.

2. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos face a tough task this week as they travel to Lambeau Field to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

The Broncos have looked pedestrian in their first three games, struggling on both offense and defense. On the offensive side, they haven’t gotten much out of the running game and Kyle Orton is turning the ball over too much. On defense, they are still adapting to John Fox’s 4-3 defense and could be without one of their best defenders, Champ Bailey.

The Packers are one of only three teams that are still undefeated and yet, they haven’t really dominated any team. That will change this week as they pummel the Broncos at home.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars somehow managed to squeak out a win in Week 1, but have looked putrid in their past two games and now the New Orleans Saints come to town on Sunday.

The Jaguars haven’t played pretty football the past two games. They surrendered a safety in both games and their only touchdown came off a Hail Mary pass at the end of the half.

Blaine Gabbert might be a good quarterback one day, but that day isn’t now. The Saints have scored at least 30 points in all three of their games and I don’t envision the Jaguars defense keeping them in check.

With the Saints offense hitting on all cylinders, expect this game to get out of hand early.

NFL Power Rankings: 10 NFL Players Who May Be Sinking on the Depth Chart

The NFL is a cruel league. One week, a player looks like they are the next best thing and then before you know it, they are yesterday’s news and someone else has taken their place.

This can happen for a variety of reasons including injuries, age, ineffectiveness or a combination of things.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for players, but it comes with the game. Take for example Arian Foster.

Foster burst onto the NFL landscape last season thanks to injuries by guys ahead of him on the depth chart, mainly Ben Tate. Now this season, the tables have turned and Tate is the primary back as Foster is battling injuries.

Now, that’s not to say Foster won’t reclaim his starting spot, but it wouldn’t be the most outrageous thing if it happened and I think it would be fair to say Tate has earned himself a share of the backfield workload.

That’s the way of life in the NFL.

Here are 10 players who could find themselves sinking down the depth chart sooner than later.

1. Arian Foster

It’s been a frustrating start to the season for Arian Foster.

He injured his hamstring on the first day of training camp only to return in the second preseason game, where he ran for two touchdowns. He re-injured himself in the third preseason game, causing him to miss Week 1.

He made his season debut only to re-injure his hamstring again in the second half. Foster didn’t play in Week 3 and it’s not yet known if he will be available next week.

In his absence, Ben Tate has been taking full advantage, running for over 300 yards with an average of 4.6 yards per carry. Hamstring injuries have a tendency to linger and this could be a season-long problem Foster may have to fight.

Remember, Tate was going to be the starter last year before suffering a season-ending injury in training camp so you know the coaching staff has high hopes for him.

2. Donovan McNabb

The Minnesota Vikings acquired another veteran quarterback this offseason in Donovan McNabb.

McNabb was coming off a rough stint with the Washington Redskins, but there was no way he could be worse than Brett Favre was last year, right?

Not so fast. McNabb was putrid in the season opener, throwing for a miserable 39 yards. He has rebounded somewhat in the past two games, but there was really nowhere to go but up.

McNabb has shown no mobility in the pocket and hasn’t been accurate with his passes. With the Vikings at 0-3, it’s looks like we will be seeing Christian Ponder sooner than many people expected.

3. Hines Ward

Hines Ward has been a valuable member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 13 seasons. Now in his 14th year, the 35-year-old might be better off playing a reduced role.

Ward is still an efficient receiver and a devastating blocker, but he is not the target he once was.

The Steelers have two young pass catchers who are oozing with potential in Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown. Both have flashed greatness at times, but don’t get enough playing time as they are low on the totem pole.

Don’t be surprised to see these two players get more playing time at the expense of Ward as the season progresses, showing what they are capable of.

4. Shonn Greene

“This is finally the week Shonn Greene is going to break out.” I feel like I’ve heard someone utter that phrase a hundred times. It’s now three games into his third season and we’re still waiting.

Greene was supposed to be the lead back last season, but has been overshadowed by LaDainian Tomlinson. Going into this season, the coaching staff made it clear Greene was going to be the bell cow and even Tomlinson admitted he was accepting a reduced role.

Greene, however, has failed to rise to the occasion.

He had a great opportunity this past Sunday in Oakland, but looked slow hitting the hole and showed no explosiveness. Once again, he is being outplayed by the 32-year-old Tomlinson.

Many questioned the Jets when they drafted Bilal Powell, a running back, in the fourth round of April’s draft, but it makes a lot more sense now with Greene struggling. Don’t forget they also have Joe McKnight in reserve as well.

If Green continues to falter, expect to see the other backs get some playing time.

5. Kerry Collins

The Indianapolis Colts brought in Kerry Collins during training camp as veteran insurance in case Peyton Manning couldn’t make a full recovery. They weren’t expecting him to be Manning, but hoped he could lead a playoff team from last year to a decent season.

The results have been ugly so far. Collins has completed less than 50 percent of his passes and is averaging under 5.0 yards per attempt.

Collins suffered a concussion during Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and coach Jim Caldwell admitted he is considering a quarterback change even if Collins is cleared to play.

With this season looking all but over for the Colts, it makes sense to give backup Curtis Painter a shot.

6. Rashard Mendenhall

Rashard Mendenhall’s inclusion on this list might surprise you, but if you take a deeper look, it won’t.

Mendenhall has struggled this season, failing to average more than four yards per carry in any game.He hasn’t faced a murderers row of defenses either.

Looking back at the end of season, it has been five games since Mendenhall has averaged over four yards per carry and his last 100-yard game in the regular season came in Week 12 of 2010.

Mendenhall isn’t going to benched right now and probably won’t be anytime soon. However, the numbers are discouraging to see. The schedule does look brighter looking forward so Mendenhall has a chance to get back on track.

7. Reggie Bush

The Miami Dolphins made a splash in the offseason when they traded for Reggie Bush. The running back had his ups and downs with the New Orleans Saints, but now had a chance at a fresh start with the Dolphins.

The season got off to a rocky start and has gotten even worse since then. Bush is now averaging under three yards per carry. He is being completely outplayed by rookie Daniel Thomas, who has put together two straight games of over 100 total yards.

Bush is supposed to, at his best, catch the ball out of the backfield, but has only caught two passes in the last two games. He fumbled twice on Sunday, losing one of them.

Bush will be continued to be phased out of the offense as the Dolphins feature Thomas.

8. Lee Evans

Lee Evans picked the wrong week to be injured.

Playing in place of Evans on Sunday was rookie second-round pick Torrey Smith and to say he played well would be an understatement. Smith went off for 152 yards and three touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams.

The Baltimore Ravens brought Evans in to be a deep threat, but they already one on their roster. Smith toasted the Rams secondary for touchdowns of 71 and 41 yards in the first quarter.

Evans only managed two catches in his first two games with the Ravens. By the time Evans is fully healed, his starting job might be gone.

9. Ryan Grant

Ryan Grant turned back the clock on Sunday, rushing for 92 yards on just 17 carries against the Chicago Bears. Even with that performance, the arrow isn’t pointing up for Grant.

Through the first two weeks James Starks more than doubled Grant’s snap count and outproduced him in yards per touch. The tables turned in Week 3, but don’t expect that to be the norm.

Starks is more explosive, powerful and younger than Grant. The Green Bay Packers know this and will continue to give Starks more of the workload going forward. Consider this past week to be more of an aberration.

10. Nate Burleson

Nate Burleson has been a key cog on the Detroit Lions offense that has propelled the team to a 3-0 start.

The self proclaimed “Black Wes Welker” has been a nice complement to Calvin Johnson, averaging 55 yards per game. While Burleson isn’t playing bad by any stretch, his playing time might shrink going forward.

Fantasy Football Week 1: 7 Stars Guaranteed to Deliver Week 1

In fantasy football you expect your stars to produce every week for you, especially in Week 1. They can set the tone for a strong season with an impressive Week 1 performance.

However, a high draft position doesn’t guarantee elite production. Often times, high picks will fail to live up to expectations.

In the first week, you’re still counting on your stars, so a dominant performance is even more important.

Here are seven stars guaranteed to deliver in Week 1.

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots take on the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football to kick off the season.

The Dolphins have historically given the Brady some trouble, but don’t expect much this time. Brady ended last season on a sour note, and I’m sure he’s eager to take out his frustration and unfortunately the Dolphins stand in the way.

Brady will have plenty of time to throw in the pocket and find the now 100 percent healed Wes Welker, his new toy, Chad Ochocinco and the other multitude of weapons the Patriots have.

2. Larry Fitzgerald

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots take on the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football to kick off the season.

The Dolphins have historically given the Brady some trouble, but don’t expect much this time. Brady ended last season on a sour note, and I’m sure he’s eager to take out his frustration and unfortunately the Dolphins stand in the way.

Brady will have plenty of time to throw in the pocket and find the now 100 percent healed Wes Welker, his new toy, Chad Ochocinco and the other multitude of weapons the Patriots have.

3. Jamaal Charles

There isn’t a juicer on paper matchup in Week 1 than Jamaal Charles versus the Buffalo Bills run defense.

The Bills run defense ranked dead last last season, while Charles nearly set a record for yards per carry.

With Matt Cassel nursing a rib injury, the Chiefs will rely on Charles. Don’t be surprised to see him eclipse 150 rushing yards.

4. Hakeem Nicks

Hakeem Nicks is primed for an outstanding season and he should get it started in a big way in Week 1.

Nicks is now 100 percent healthy and is clearly the No. 1 target in the offense now that Steve Smith is gone.

Nicks should see plenty of DeAngelo Hall in the opening week, and while Hall intercepts a lot of passes, he also allows as many big plays as any corner in the league.

5. Arian Foster

It was this exact same matchup last season when Arian Foster exploded onto the fantasy scene scoring the Indianapolis Colts for 231 yards and three touchdowns.

While I wouldn’t expect a repeat of those numbers, I do foresee big things for Foster against a porous Colts run defense.

With Peyton Manning not playing, the Houston Texans should be able to build up a big lead and then pound the ball with Foster all the way to victory.

6. Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers had a banner year last season, doing it mainly without Vincent Jackson and at times Antonio Gates.

Jackson returns to action from the start of the season this year giving Rivers one of the best deep threats in the game, and Gates will now have even more room to operate over the middle.

The Minnesota Vikings defensive line only returns one starter from a year ago and will struggle to pressure Rivers, giving him all day to throw and find Jackson and Gates.

7. Darren McFadden

In Darren McFadden’s breakout campaign last season, two of his best games came against the Denver Broncos, who the Oakland Raiders happen to face in Week 1.

The Broncos had the second worst run defense last year and didn’t add any significant bodies at the defensive tackle position in the offseason.

Expect Run DMC to run wild in Denver on opening day.

2011 NFL Week 1: 9 Best Games You Need to See

With the 2011 NFL Season kicking off this week, here are the 9 best game that are must watch television.

Sunday has a great slate of games including the always contentious game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Eagles versus the St. Louis Rams and the day concludes with the Dallas Cowboys taking on the New York Jets.

The fun doesn’t stop there though, as there is a great double header on Monday night to conclude the week.

Get your remote ready and be prepared to flip back and forth between these 9 games that you have to see on opening weekend.

Atlanta Falcons at the Chicago Bears

The Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears both had a bye in the first round of the playoffs last year and now they meet in the opening week.

The Falcons have emerged as a popular Super Bowl pick and they will be put to the test from the get-go by a tough Bears team.

Many are predicting a letdown on the Bears’ part this season, but don’t take them lightly. No one was high on them last year and they made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

Philadelphia Eagles at the St. Louis Rams

The “Dream Team” makes its debut against the St. Louis Rams.

Everyone will be anxiously waiting to see Michael Vick and the dynamic Philadelphia Eagles offense. Don’t sleep on the Rams though. This team has a great defense and will make things tougher on the Eagles than most people think.

We will also get to see all of the Eagles’ free agent additions—mainly Nnamdi Asomugha—take the field for the first time.

Detroit Lions at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This Week 1 matchup between the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers features two teams that many people expect to have a breakthrough year and reach the playoffs.

Matthew Stafford was nothing short of awesome in the preseason and now must produce like that—while staying healthy—in the regular season.

The Buccaneers came out of nowhere last year and won 10 games, missing out on the playoffs on a tiebreaker. As the youngest team in the league, will they take the next step or experience a drop off? We could get get a good idea in Week 1.

Pittsburgh Steelers at the Baltimore Ravens

It doesn’t get much better than when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens square off. They usually don’t play until later in the year, but this year we get a treat as they play the first week.

The games between the two teams are always close and usually come down to a key play late in the fourth quarter. The two teams generally play stifling defense, much to the joy of football purists.

The Ravens will be out for revenge after the Steelers came back from a 14 point deficit to eliminate the Ravens from the playoffs last season. This could very well be the best game of the week.

Indianapolis Colts at the Houston Texans

This matchup has lost of little of its luster now that Peyton Manning has been ruled out, but it still remains one of the top games of the week.

The Houston Texans finally got over the hurdle of defeating the Indianapolis Colts last season after countless heart-wrenching defeats.

Now with Manning out, they are expected to take care of business. Will they be able to handle the pressure, and how much fight do the Cols have without their field general?

Dallas Cowboys at the New York Jets

The New York Jets play the Dallas Cowboys in the nightcap on Sunday in what should be a great game.

The game could be called the Ryan Bowl as it pits brothers Rex and Rob (Ryan) against one another. There should be plenty of talk leading up to this game by these two men. Rob already got it started by bringing up Rex’s foot fetish the other day.

The on-field action isn’t lacking either. These are two of the most talented teams in the league and it should be great to watch them square off Sunday night.

New England Patriots at the Miami Dolphins

On paper this game looks like it could be a blowout, but that’s hardly the case when these two AFC East rivals meet on the gridiron.

For all of the New England Patriots dominance over the years, the Miami Dolphins have beaten them at least once in five of the past seven seasons.

In this game we’ll also get to see Reggie Bush make his South Beach debut and Chad Ochocinco catching passes from Tom Brady for the first time.

Oakland Raiders at the Denver Broncos

All bets are off when these two divisional opponents face off. It doesn’t matter what the records are, anything can happen when these two teams meet.

Even though neither of these teams are playoff-caliber, the game should still be entertaining.

ESPN realized this and is airing this game as part of its Monday night doubleheader. This is a great game to put to bed the return of the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings at the San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers and Minnesota Vikings game is one of only two out of conference games in Week 1 and it should be a good one.

The Chargers look primed for a Super Bowl run, but will their propensity for poor starts cripple them again?

As for the Vikings, its their first game A.F. (After Favre) and also the beginning of the Donovan McNabb era. Will McNabb play like he did when he was in Philadelphia or will he be the washed up quarterback we saw with the Washington Redskins last season?

Randy Moss: 5 Reasons New England Patriots Should Bring Him Back

Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots should bring Randy Moss out of retirement.

Moss filed his retirement papers with the league office in August, putting an end to a remarkable 13-year career.

At the time, many people speculated that this wouldn’t be the end of Randy Moss—that one team would bring him out of retirement.

The most likely destination for a Moss return is with the New England Patriots, a team that he broke records with and nearly won a Super Bowl.

With the NFL season kicking off this week, the clock is ticking for Moss to make a return. Here are five reasons why the Patriots should bring him back.

1. Tom Brady Wants Him Back

The star and face of the New England Patriots, Tom Brady, was on with WEEI radio in Boston doing an interview when the subject of Randy Moss came up. Brady seemed very open to Moss returning to the Patriots.

“I love the guy, he’s a great friend of mine. And if he ever did come back and play, I’d welcome him with open arms,” Brady said.

Ultimately the decision isn’t up to Brady, but what every franchise wants is to please its starting quarterback, especially when it’s Tom Brady.

2. He Wants to Play for the Patriots

It’s no surprise that Moss would love to come back and play for the New England Patriots. Moss was devastated when he was traded from New England during the middle of last season.

However, he had nothing but good things to say about Bill Belichick and the Patriots after being traded. Then in the offseason, he again professed his love for the Patriots saying his heart was in New England and he loved playing with Tom Brady and being coached by Belichick.

3. To Block Him form the Jets

The rivalry between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets has greatly intensified in the last few years. The teams are constantly trying to one-up each other.

The Jets haven’t been shy about their interest in Randy Moss and likely would have made a run at him if they had not signed Plaxico Burress.

If Burress or one of the other Jets top receivers suffered an injury, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them try and coax Moss out of retirement. If the Patriots sign him now, it would improve their team while also denying their archrival.

4. Chad Ochocinco Insurance

he New England Patriots made a splash when they traded for outspoken wide receiver Chad Ochocinco during the offseason. The trade was universally praised by all members of the media.

However, it has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start. There are reports that Ochocinco has struggled to pick up the Patriots offense and has been ineffecitve in the preseason.

If the Patriots signed Moss, he would provide great insurance and give the Patriots a reliable target on the outside behind Ochocinco, in case he doesn’t adjust or just has nothing left in the tank.

5. He Can Still Play When Motivated

We all thought Randy Moss was done once before, then he went on to smash records with the New England Patriots. He is four years older now, but if Moss is motivated there is no doubt he could produce.

In his first game with the Minnesota Vikings last year, Moss looked like the Moss of old beating cornerbacks deep. His tenure in Minnesota crashed and burned however, and at that point he gave up.

If he came back to the Patriots, a team he clearly wants to play for, he could be a valuable weapon.

Channing Crowder Retires: Top 5 Quotes From His Career

Channing Crowder, who was released by the Miami Dolphins just days ago, decided to retire at the age of 27 after just six seasons in the NFL.

“I woke up, saw my pregnant wife, and all the teams talking to me are way up North, and I said, ‘I don’t want to do it,’ ” Crowder said on the Sid Rosenberg Show. “I looked at my wife and said, ‘Nah, I’m going to be a family man now.’

Crowder said Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he still had a spot in the league, but he called the free agency process “emotionally draining.”

“I’ve got plenty of money saved,” he said. “It’s just not worth it.”

Another classic quote from a guy who was never short on words. The NFL will miss Crowder and his quirkiness. To honor Crowder, here are the 5 best quotes from his all too short career.

5. “They’re undefeated, they’re probably smelling themselves, rubbing each other’s balls.”

- On the undefeated New Orleans Saints in 2009.

4. “If they’re going to keep making us go more and more and more like a feminine sport, we’re going to wear pink every game, not just on the breast cancer months. If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I’m going to knock them out and take what they give me. They give me a helmet, I’m going to use it.”

- On the NFL crackdown on helmet-to-helmet hits

3. “Oh, Lord have mercy. What’s wrong with him? Now he’s talking about preparation? We play them twice this year. If he wants to be prepared, shouldn’t he know the starting middle linebackers of his division rival?

“He says he’d take care of me if he was younger? I’d have beat the hell out of that big old joker. Or if he really wants to get retro, my daddy or my uncle could have handled him.

“Let’s see if he can top this one. I’ve walked over tougher guys going to a fight. He can send himself and his father after me.”

- Part of a back-and-forth with New York Jets coach Rex Ryan.

2. “Le’Ron McClain spit in my face. That’s some real ho’ s—, so if you talk to him tell him he’s a ho’. If he ever comes to Miami, he’s got to see me.”

“They (the officials) said they didn’t see it. Then they said something about they let Karlos Dansby get away with a facemask before. Who the f— cares? I just got spit in my face. I don’t give a damn about Karlos pulling somebody’s facemask.”

“Like they didn’t see Chad Henne get hit twice when he slid. No, no, they say, “Aaah.” Stevie Wonder and Anne Frank. Who’s the blind girl? Helen Keller, then. I don’t know who Anne Frank is. I’m mad right now. I’m not as swift as I usually am.”

- Venting after a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2010

1. “I couldn’t find London on a map if they didn’t have the names of the countries. I swear to God. I don’t know what nothing is. I know Italy looks like a boot. I learned that. I know London Fletcher. We did a football camp together. So I know him. That’s the closest thing I know to London. He’s black, so I’m sure he’s not from London. I’m sure that’s a coincidental name.”

- On the NFL hosting a game in London in 2007.

We’ll miss you Channing.

Plaxico Burress: 5 Teams That Might Sign the WR

Plaxico Burress: 5 Teams That Might Sign the WR

Plaxico Burress, fresh out of jail after serving a two-year prison sentence is the talk of the NFL this week in the midst of the NFL Lockout. Burress, 33, last played in the NFL in 2008 with the New York Giants. After being out of the league for so long, does Burress have anything left in the tank? That will be up to 32 NFL teams vying for his services. Here are 5 teams that look like the early frontrunners for the services of Burress.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

He was wearing a Phillies hat as he walked out of prison; of course he is going to sign with the Eagles! Probably not. Not with a team that already has DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, not to mention Jason Avant and Riley Cooper. At best, he would the third option and you don’t want an unhappy Plax on your team. So much for the Con Air connection (Vick to Burress).

2. Washington Redskins

We all know the Redskins love their free agents. And could you imagine the John Beck to Burress connection. The new Theisman to Monk! Also don’t count out the chance to play and piss off his old mates (the Giants) twice.

3. San Diego Chargers

Plax looks like he could be fit with the ‘Bolts. Malcolm Floyd is a free agent and Vincent Jackson might not be there as well. Plax is a similar type of player and could bridge the gap for a year or so. They have shown interest in Steve Smith, so they’re looking for a wide receiver.

4. New York Jets

Because you can’t mention a veteran, big name free agent wide receiver without throwing the Jets in the conversation. But actually, the Jets could be a good fit. The question is does Plax want the Jets? Would he really want to stay and play in the state that just made an example out of him and put him in prison for two years? Unfortunately, he might not have his choice of teams.

5. St. Louis Rams

The connection between Burress and the Rams is that Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo was the Giants defensive coordinator where Burress was on the team. I’m not sold on the connection though. How much, if any, interaction did Buress really have with Spags back in their Giant days? Plax doesn’t seem like the most coachable player so why would he befriend a defensive coach? However, there is a need and Plax would give them the tall, playmaker they lack.

So there you have it. Which team will sign Burress? If I had a gun to my head, at this point I would say the Rams. They can give Plax the most playing time and he gets to play with a young and up and coming quarterback. Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @cippinonsports for more news and insights.  Also, I’m sorry about the lack of posting recently. That’s what a combination of finals and NFL Lockout blues will do to you.

Why You Should Feel Good, Yet Bad About Your NFL Team (NFC Edition)

I started things off earlier with the AFC and now it’s time for the NFC. Find out why your favorite NFL team should feel good and bad heading into next season. You know, if there is a next season.

What do the Green Bay Packers have to be worried about? Is there anything the Panthers can be excited about?

Philadelphia Eagles

Good: They get Michael Vick for a full season.

Bad: He took a beating last season and they seem intent on trading Kevin Kolb, leaving Mike Kafka as the backup.

New York Giants

Good: Hakeem Nicks looks like he will be one of the best WRs in the NFL.

Bad: Eli Manning turned it over 30 times last season.

Washington Redskins

Good: They appear to be getting rid of overpriced veterans (Portis, Haynesworth, McNabb)

Bad: Daniel Snyder is still the owner.

Dallas Cowboys

Good: Wade Phillips is long gone and not coming back.

Bad: Did Jon Kitna outplay Tony Romo?

Chicago Bears

Good: They hosted the NFC Championship Game.

Bad: That same day, their QB was humiliated by his fellow peers and the media.

Green Bay Packers

Good: Obviously they just won the Super Bowl, plus Aaron Rodgers is hitting his prime.

Bad: In the future, can they afford to keep all of their young studs.

Detroit Lions

Good: They ended the season on a 4 game winning streak.

Bad: Matthew Stafford is more fragile than peace between Israel and Palestine.

Minnesota Vikings

Good: The old gunslinger will not throw any more interceptions.

Bad: Their o-line is in fast decline. Not good when your best player is Adrian Peterson.

Atlanta Falcons

Good: Their triplets (Ryan,Turner,White) is as good as it gets in the NFL.

Bad: Matt Ryan is 0-2 in the playoffs and hasn’t looked great in either start.

New Orleans Saints

Good: The foundation of the Super Bowl winning team is still in place.

Bad: Can they overcome that embarrassing loss to the Seahawks?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Good: They went 10-6 with as many as 12 rookies having a role on the team.

Bad: Only 1 of their 10 wins came against a team with a winning record.

Carolina Panthers

Good: They have the #1 pick in a very strong draft class.

Bad: This list could go on and on, but I’ll stick with the draft. They traded what is now the 33rd pick for Armanti Edwards, who was active for only 3 games last season.

Seattle Seahawks

Good: They won a playoff game against the defending world champs.

Bad: They had no business being there.

St. Louis Rams

Good: Sam Bradford and Josh McDaniels working together has great potential.

Bad: It could also be a complete disaster (see Cutler, Jay).

San Francisco 49ers

Good: Jim Harbaugh worked magic at Stanford, grooming Andrew Luck into a potential #1 pick.

Bad: They have Alex Smith, not Andrew Luck.

Arizona Cardinals

Good: They still have Larry Fitzgerald.

Bad: Fitzgerald might want out.

Have any other ideas? Share them in the comments section.

Why You Should Feel Good, Yet Bad About Your NFL Team (AFC Edition)

With ongoing NFL labor talks, the odds of there being a season next year is up in the air. The ongoing dispute has disrupted the offseason and has every fan worrying that there won’t be any football on Sunday’s come September.

In the end though, they will agree to a deal and there will be football this fall and fans can go back to worrying about their actual team. I’ve taken it a step further and done it for you, listing a reason why you should feel good about your team heading into next year, but also why you should have your concerns.

New England Patriots

Good: They went 14-2 and Tom Brady had perhaps his best season ever.

Bad: They are 0-3 in their last 3 playoff games and haven’t won a  playoff game since 2007.

New York Jets

Good: In their first two seasons their coach/quarterback combo (Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez) have been to back-to-back AFC Championship Games.

Bad: Mark Sanchez had 15 dropped interceptions. No other quarterback had more than 8.

Miami Dolphins

Good: The Dolphins went 6-2 on the road, winning in tough places like Green Bay and New York.

Bad: After using a second round pick on a quarterback in 4 of the past 5 years, the Dolphins are still searching for a franchise quarterback.

Buffalo Bills

Good: In Kyle Williams the Bills have an elite nose tackle, the hardest position to fill in a 3-4.

Bad: They haven’t made the playoffs since 1999.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Good: They have made the Super Bowl in 3 out of the past 6 seasons and their QB us in his prime.

Bad: After each of the past two Super Bowl appearances, they missed the playoffs the next year.

Baltimore Ravens:

Good: The Harbaugh/Flacco combo has been to and won at least one game in their three seasons together.

Bad: Age is starting to creep up on a lot of key players (Lewis, Reed, Mason, Birk).

Cincinnati Bengals

Good: They might finally be ridding themselves of Carson Palmer and his back breaking interceptions.

Bad: If they get rid of Palmer, their backup is Jordan Palmer, his brother.

Cleveland Browns

Good: No more Eric Mangini

Bad: Mike Holmgren is still running the draft and he doesn’t have a great track record.

Indianapolis Colts

Good: Despite a ton of injuries and a rough stretch from Peyton Manning, they still won the division.

Bad: Peyton Manning now has a 9-10 career playoff record.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Good: With three games left in the regular season, the Jaguars controlled their own destiny.

Bad: They still haven’t gotten over the hump that is the Colts in the South.

Tennessee Titans

Good: Chirs Johnson, arguably the best running back in the league, is only 25.

Bad: Their new head coach, Mike Munchak, has never been a head coach at any level.

Houston Texans

Good: Wade Phillips has a great track record as a defensive coordinator.

Bad: If you think Wade Phillips is going to save you, your in trouble.

Kansas City Chiefs

Good: They were one of the surprise teams of the year, going 10-6 and winning the division.

Bad: Their offense went into the tank after Charlie Weiss announced he was leaving.

San Diego Chargers

Good: They have the most talented team in the division.

Bad: Phillip Rivers has yet to show he can deliver consistently in the clutch.

Oakland Raiders

Good: They won the most games (8) since they went to the Super Bowl in 2002.

Bad: They’re still wildly overspending for players.

Denver Broncos

Good: Josh McDaniels is out of town and can’t alienate any more star players.

Bad: It looks like their 2010 1st round picks (Tebow, Demaryius Thomas) won’t make much of an impact for them.

Can you guys think of any more? Share yours in the comments section.

Top 10 Plays of the 2010 NFL Season

So this is how its going to be from now on.

No Sunday Football.

I knew there wasn’t going to be any football, yet still on Sunday I turned on my TV at 1:00…nothing. 4:15, same result. Ok, what about 6:30? Nada. As I finally came to the realization that the season was over, I pondered what am I going to do on Sunday for the next gasp … 7 months, at least, if not more.

On this first Sunday, I went to Youtube and started looking at clips from the 2010 NFL Season. After watching all of the great moments, I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be a great idea to compile a list of the Top 10 Plays of the 2010 NFL Season. And so I did. And now you have this great list of the best plays of this past NFL season. Enjoy.

Also, if you have any ideas on what to do on Sunday’s now, I’m all ears.

I present to you, the Top 10 Plays of the 2010 NFL Season.

10. Dan Connolly Makes History

Dan Connolly just became a pariah of the offensive lineman brotherhood with that return. As great as it was, how you do not finish that off Connolly? Your five yards away from glory and going down in NFL galore, only to be tackled from behind. If he finishes off that run, that goes down as an all timer. Now were never going to see an o-lineman take one to the house. At this rate, all o-linemen will be 500 pounds in 20 years. ThEy won’t be able to chase down the ice cream truck, let alone outrun 11 defenders who I’m assuming will all run 3.8 40′s at that point.

9. Randy Moss is Better With 1 Hand than You Are With 2

Back when Randy Moss wasn’t a dead corpse wasting away in Tennessee, he was making plays like this for the Patriots. I don’t get how you can go from making a sick one handed grab against the league’s best cornerback to catching just 2 passes total in the final five game of the season, but that’s Randy Moss for you. One of the most polarizing athletes of his generation.

8. LeGarrette Blount Can Do More Than Throw a Right Hook

How did all 32 teams really pass on this 7 times? Did that really happen? Before the punching incident if you asked talent evaluators who would you rather have, LeGarrette Blount or Ryan Matthews, you would have at worst a 50-50 split. Yet, Matthews went 12th overall while Blount had to see 255 names called before he got his shot. It’s times like this when you wonder how these front offices guys made the kind of money they do yet make mistakes like this. All Blount did was rush for over 1000 yards despite not really playing until Week 7 and produce highlight reel runs like this and this, in addition to the one below.

7. Kroy Bierrmann Pick 6

Before this season started, Kroy Biermann was probably more well known for dating someone from Real Housewives of Atlanta than playing football. Now, he can say he returned a Jake Delhomme pass for a touchdown. But then again, so can half of the league. Regardless of who threw it, it was still one heck of a play.

6. Tony Moeaki … Not Bad for a Rookie

During my research for this piece, I came across this ridiculous catch by Tony Moeaki and couldn’t remember ever seeing it during the regular season. I have one question…why? This is hands down the catch of the year, yet I don’t remember SportCenter or anywhere else hyping this play up. Perhaps, it’s because it was made by a rookie tight end playing for a team that most people think still have Tony Gonzalez on the team. I’ll guarantee you if that was Tony Gonzalez making that play, it would have been shoved down your throat all season long.

5. Troy Polamalu is a Freak of Nature

This is just one reason why he was the defensive player of the year. Who else in the NFL Makes this play? Who even attempts this play? Can you name 5 guys? How about 3? You can’t, that’s what I thought. That’s what makes Polamlau such a special player. Too bad he was at less than 100 percent in the Super Bowl.

4. Chris Johnson is Pretty Good

If you thought he had a down year in 2010 look again. Most of the blame for his drop in production can be blamed on his offensive line as he had roughly the same yards after contact per carry as he did in 2009. CJ2K still has the sizzle, no one can doubt that. The announcer said it looked like something in a video game. That run was beyond video status. I’ve been playing Madden for 10 years and have never come close to pulling off anything remotely close to that. If I did, that would be all over Youtube. If someone has actually done this, please post it to Youtube.

3. David Garrard Hail Mary as Time Expires

Glover Quinn watched NFL Primetime a few too many times. I wonder what Tom Jackson was thinking as he was watching that play? As the ball was is the air was he screaming “KNOCK IT DOWN, KNOCK IT DOWN?” Then when Quinn did knock it down, right into the hands of Mike Thomas what was his reaction? Were Keyshawn Johnson and Cris Carter mercilessly ripping on him because they better have been. We need to know these answers!

2. DeSean Jackson Takes it to the House

If you thought losing on the play before was rough, you better look away now. Imagine being up 31-10 with 8 minutes left in the game and losing in regulation. Not even overtime, REGULATION! Too make matters worse, this play also killed the Giants season as after this game they curled up into a little ball and proceeded to get steamrolled by the Packers in their own stadium. As weird as it sounds, it also killed the Eagles too, who drained all their energy in that one game or something along those lines as they lost their next three games en route to getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs by guess who, the Packers.

1. Marshawn Lynch… Beast Mode

Was this the best postseason run in NFL history? Or was it the worst display of tackling? Let’s say it was somewhere in the middle. I bet Bills fans watching this were screaming, “where the hell was that the past two years?” Also, watching this video just makes you feel bad for Tracy Porter. Last year he was a hero, picking off Peyton Manning and sealing the Super Bowl and now this year he’s getting shoved to the turf by a Marshawn Lynch stiff arm. Now that’s a sentence you’d never think you’d see last year.

That wraps up the countdown. Hope you enjoyed it. Tell me what you thought of it below in the comments section.