The Saga Continues!!!

May 9th, 2012
1 comment

Yep, now it is the players turn to pay for Bountygate. I know lots of fans think that the punishments were too harsh. I disagree, because the game of professional football is getting dangerously close to having massive lawsuits, and not just by the former players.

Let’s take a look at what could happen. The first scenario is that former players are going to be suing like crazy. It seems that those that willing participated in the game would not have a chance, but history tells a different story. If you don’t believe me, ask the tobacco companies. Now, the (smokers) plaintiff’s lawyers argured successfully, that the tobacco industry misled smokers and, therefore, they are liable for damages. That logic carried the day, along with some inside info on the tobacco companies themselves.

Now look at the former players’ position. They are saying that the league knew of violence being used on purpose and did nothing to stop it until recently. Additionally, the equipment used was not up-to-date and, therefore, more injuries occurred than was necessary. I will bet you that there are memos in the NFL’s files that say something that could bring the league down several pegs.

Now, let’s go further. A mom sues becasue her high school son was severally injured by another team’s “hit” squad. She argues that they were just impersonating the NFL. Roll in the wheelchair bound boy and see what the juries do. Mucho trouble ahead for the NFL.

Additionally, we are starting to see that the overwhelming positive NFL public and private opinion starting to move negatively against the NFL. To start with, there are some great NFL players from the past that are saying that they would encourage their sons, if they have any, not to play football. This includes Troy Aikman and Curt Warner.

Another not so good news is the story of another QB, Steve Young, formerly of the 49er’s who quit football over a decade ago because his Doctors told him that another concussion could be very harmful to him. That was over 10 years ago. How can anyone argue that concussions were not a problem back then? No one did anything about them officially in the NFL until recently.

So from this blogger’s perspective, I think the Commissioner must do everything he can to protect the game and the league itself. The mystic of the NFL has not been challenged like this, since instant TV replay was invented and made the game a nearly perfect one for the home viewer.

Go Bears!!!!

Sweetness Uncategorized

Draft Review….The 429th one this week!!!

April 30th, 2012
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Who won in the draft? Who lost? Who knows? No one knows until after next season is over and then for some players two or three seasons. But ignoring this truth, let’s have a review by the great one….. Sweetness.

The Redskins got the most press time as they drafted a QB in both round 1 and 4. Now you could say that is strange, but these are the Redskins. RG III was, of course, number two in the overall draft and the guy that they drafted in the 4th round was considered by the Skins to be right below RGIII. Does that mean he (Cousins) was that good or that RGIII was not as good as projected? The most important thing is now the Skins have two rookie QBs and Grossman who they don’t think can do the job. 5-11 last year, over and under at 6-10 this year?????

The next big “controversy was what the Browns did. They traded a bunch of picks to the Vikings to move up one place in the draft. Now there is a rumor that the Vikes started a rumor that they were going to trade the third choice and the tradee was going to take Richardson. So the Browns took no chances and the made the Vikes look like geniuses. I think that Richardson is a very good runner and will do well, but they gave up a lot for one pick higher. Then they announced to the world that Colt McCoy was not going to make it and drafted a 28 year old rookie (Weedon) to take his place later in the first round. Now if they don’t start Weedon they will look foolish, and if they do start him, the results maybe the same. I would start who can ever hand off the best to Richardson. It is going to be a long season in Cleveland.

My favorite team needs an offensive line very badly or Cutler will be hurt again this year. So far, no offensive linemen have been taken by the Bears. (They are still sitting in New York waiting for round 8 to start.) Strange, but not unusual for a team that over the recent past has consistently ignored their needs and went with a wing and a prayer. 7-3 with Cutler last year and 1-5 without him. It looks like the Packers and Lions are safe. What a shame, though I still love my Bears.

Go Bears!!!!!!

Sweetness Uncategorized

Did The Saints Do It Again…..Before Bountygate? Can You Do It Again, Before ????

April 24th, 2012
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Yep, them Saints maybe in trouble again. Not for what they did last year, but 6 years ago or so. The Feds have been given information that says their suspended GM was listening into the other team’s communication using nefarious means. For those of you who played in the line, nefarious means not on the up and up. Would Mickey Loomis do that? Who knows, maybe the Shadow and whoever made the claim, but he is innocent until proven guilty.

The Saints are threatening legal action against ESPN, claiming that it never happened!!!! Let’s hope that they follow through and have a public trial. The hypothetical questions from the ESPN lawyers might be as shown, and hypothetical answers might be as follows:

Mr. Loomis. “Did you listen in to conversation of your opponents coaches?”

Loomis replies. “I don’t remember, but if I did I think that I might remember it.”

Mr. Loomis. ” What does that mean?”

Loomis replies. “It”, interrupted by Loomis’ attorney who says ” I object, question asked, question answered!!!!”

Judge: “Sustained, I think…” “Where my law clerk when you need her?”

ESPN lawyer. “Did you ever violate the NFL’s policy on electronic eves-drooping?”

Loomis. “I don’t understand the question”

ESPN lawyer. “What don’t you understand?”

Loomis. “If I knew what I didn’t understand, then I would understand it.”

ESPN lawyer to Judge. “Witness is being evasive your honor.” “Please instruct him to answer my questions.”

Judge, seeing that his law clerk has just entered the room. “Gosh Molly, that dress sure makes you look sexy.” “I pick my clerks for their knowledge and potential; Molly has lots and lots of potential!!!”

Judge speaks, “It is already 2:00 and the day is almost over, so I adjourn this court until a week from Tuesday when my wife returns.” “Molly please bring the transcript of today’s proceedings into my very private chamber.” Judge bangs his gavel “Court adjourned!!!!”

That night on Sports Center the lead story is about anything, but the court proceedings, as that would violate “legal ethics.” Isn’t that term an oxymoron?

Have a great weekend and enjoy the draft, its only on TV for 3 days!!!!!!

Braincase Uncategorized

Bits And Pieces, NFL Style

April 19th, 2012
1 comment

With the draft less than a fortnight away, let’s look at some other news from the world of professional football. The emphasis here is on the word professional.

First item is that the Colts say they are going to draft Andrew Luck. Wow!!!! What a surprise. Yep, those Colts sure can fool a laid back San Diegoan like me. Now I wonder when the Redskins are going to announce that they are drafting RG III?

Next item is that the players union is suing the coaches union for $650,000. Now to most of us that is a tidy sum, but to these guys it just pocket change. Wonder why this is happening? It must be a matter of principle, not the money as the pros always say.

The first lawsuits by former players over injuries as a result of management putting a bounty on players has been instituted. Once again, no money grab, just principle. Do you wonder if any of these lawyers have an ounce of truth and justice in them?

The commissioner has told Minnesota that if they (the state of ) don’t ante up, the Vikings will become the Los Angeles Vikings. Remember, you Minnesota dummies, the Lakers used to play in your fair state long ago. So the Commish has spoken and the Vikes have called the moving company, just in case the intimidation doesn’t work. For only a hair less than $500,000,000.00, they can keep their team that they have supported for many decades. Screw the fans NFL, you hot and they are not!!!! Minnesota has about 5.5 million people so it works out to a little less than $100 per person, a small sum to have the mighty NFL grace your state. What can those people be thinking??????

One thing the owners are thinking is that LA is a BIG market and Minnesota is not. Additionally, all law suits are entered into the courts in St. Paul by the union as they think that at least one judge there is very pro union. That alone is a good enough reason for the owners to back a move from the land of 10,000 lakes. Bye, bye Lakers….whoops wrong team!!!

Have a great weekend and remember to pray for the Chargers!!!!

Braincase Uncategorized

8 Days To Draft Time

April 13th, 2012
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Well draft time is approaching very quickly. Let’s look at the latest craziness that is hype to the nth degreeeeeeeee!

The latest hype is for the QB from Texas A & M, Ryan Tannehill. This guy has come out of no where due to films and pro day workouts. Now he is the third rated quarterback and is a potential top six pick. I hope that Ryan is as good as they say, but man I cannot believe that all of a sudden he is so hot. Why does this happen every year?

My theory is that the good teams let the word out on a Trojan horse, like Tannehill and the early drafters, usually the poorer teams grab the guy or guys and the good teams then get the players that they want later in the round. How else do you explain this craziness? For crip sake, take the very good offensive lineman who can anchor you line for the next decade and protect your own QB and give you runners a chance to make more than three yards.

The Browns draft fourth this year and there is talk that they might just take Tannehill. Give McCoy a good line ,a receiver or two who can catch the ball, a runner who doesn’t quit on the team and you have a playoff team. Colt is good, maybe he could become very good. Give him a chance and a tackle (like Kalil) or the running back Richardson. He could be the next A. Petersen. I hope that Mike has not gone over to the stupid side.

Another thing that happens is that teams give away the 3rd, 4th or 5th picks and these guys are very important. You could get real good prospects like LaMichael James the RB from Oregon, or Ron Brooks the CB from LSU or A.Ta’amu the jolly purple giant from Washington. Every one of those guys has a chance to make a big difference on a team. Did you ever notice that after the draft is over, and graded, the middle picks are the key to a great draft?

So here’s hoping that my Bears do well and the Packers goof up. Go Bears!!!!!

Sweetness Uncategorized

Draft Time Approaches

April 4th, 2012
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Once again, the annual we won the Super Bowl before its played will take place with the upcoming NFL draft nearing us . One thing for sure, this years draft caused a lot of excitement before it happened as the Redskins decided that R. Griffin III is the answer to all their problems. The silver bullet franchise never seems to get it right.

I have nothing against RG3, but would point out that the Skins problems are a lot deeper than just the QB. Somehow, this young man is going to solve them all in one or two years. It is a shame to put RG3 into such a losing position. The Skins could have drafted a lot lower and used their high pick to get a lower 1 and another 2. This would have given them two improvements.

Now I know that they need a QB and that QBs are very important, but without the necessary other tools the kid has little chance. This past year, Fig Newton’s brother had one of the best rookie season possible and his team ended up 6-10. Cam is expected to get better this year, but the Panthers need so many fixes on defense that he has no chance of winning big now or in the immediate future.

However, the Panthers seem to be patience enough to build around him. I say the Redskins won’t have the necessary patience to build around RG3, and another silver bullet will be looked for. Sorry RG3, you will be a very rich young man, with little hope of being a winner in the NFL and it will be through no fault of your own.

Other stories this week center around what is New Orleans going to do? There are many rumors, assuming the penalties remain, on who will coach the Saints? Maybe, they can get a Parcells for a year, but I think it would be better to look within the organization say the offensive co-ordinator to try and keep some continuity. On defense, when they get a new top rated co-ordinator, since they have parted ways with Hit Man Williams, they will be better off. The guy is toxic. The Saints are going to have to be exactly that, Saints, and if there is one thing that I know, New Orleans is not a saintly city.

Go Bears!!!!

Sweetness Uncategorized

Peyton Heads To Denver

March 19th, 2012
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Well, its all over, but the signing. Let’s hope that it happens, so we can get back to some semblance of normality in the un-normal world of fantasy football.

This looks like the end of the Tebow era in Denver. That is a shame, not that Peyton isn’t better, but that Tim brought something to the scene that Peyton will not. Tim was exciting in his own way. During the Tebow time in the regular season the Broncos went 7-4 and were 1-1 in the playoffs. I suppose that Peyton could have been 9-2 in the regualr season, but no better than 1-1 in the playoffs.

Assuming this is true, and I said it is, where does this leave the Broncos for next year? The quick answer is a better season and maybe one more playoff win, but no Super Bowl appearance, let alone a championship.

What happens if Manning gets injured? Well, if Timmy is still there, he will once again be called upon to save the day. Here’s hoping that Peyton doesn’t get injured and that Tebow is starting somewhere like Jacksonville or Miami.

I think Tim should go to Jacksonville and save that franchise. they are in need if a big time local hero and this Florida boy fits the bill. Imagine what would happen to season ticket sales and how the combo of Maurice Jones-Drew and Tim Tebow would look like on TV. Its a natural and you cannot beat a natural. Also it would make the move to LA less likely and with a new owner, excitement would reign supreme! I love that supreme stuff!!!!

The Broncos must improve the rest of the team, especially the offensive line from a pass blocking standpoint or Peyton will be roughed up and knocked out. After the “bounty” scandal, does anyone doubt that QB head hunting doesn’t go on? What a mess, no wonder they protect the QB so much. Let’s hope that the NFL commissioner does his thing and ends this right now.

A fun filled season is still many months away, but the mock drafts are now in swing. You want Rodgers, Brady, Brees, Eli before you want Peyton. Nostalgia won’t win fantasy championships; performance will though.

Have a great week and watch the wavier wire to stay in practice.

Braincase Uncategorized

Big Week In NFL

March 7th, 2012
11 comments

Wow!!! This is a big week in the fantasy football world as two major stories in the NFL broke. One is a sad story in some ways and the other one is disgusting.

Let’s start with the parting of ways of the Colts and Peyton Manning. What a magnificent 14 years in Indianapolis with Peyton setting all kind of records and winning a super bowl. The Colts never had the dominant team and did it with good players and a great quarterback. About 30 miles in passing yards and 399 TDs via the air. What a record and what a legacy for Andrew Luck to try and match. Peyton will always be thought of as the greatest QB in Colt history and that includes the great Johnny Unitas. Best of luck to Peyton and from a fantasy football standpoint watch to see where he lands, assuming he is physically OK. He might just have the best year of his career.

The other story is the bounty for injuring opponents, with the story right now focusing on the New Orleans Saints and their attempt to hurt Brett Farve in the game that they won against the Vikes on their way to the Super Bowl. I believe that all of the participants, should be suspended for a long time and the leaders should be banned.

How can a defensive coordinator do this? I will tell you how. He wanted to win a all costs and didn’t care about how he did it. The old ends justify the means. No way Williams should you be allowed to coach again anywhere. You are disgusting. As to the players, what a bunch of sickos. Don’t tell me its a tough game and it goes on all the time. It is a tough game, but it is a game. It is not a war, but a God Damn Football game!!! Too much money and too much false pride.

Let’s hope when the seasons starts next fall, we don’t see the likes of many of these players and coaches. They are not deserving of our cheers,respect and money. They are deserving of our disdain!!!!

Braincase Uncategorized

The Third Weekend Of Nothingness

February 24th, 2012
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Yep, I am down to reading about fantasy mock drafts for the 2012 season, fantasy mock drafts for the upcoming college player selection and seeing if Chad O. becomes Chad J. again.

At least this weekend, we have the start of the Nascar season with the Daytona 500. Additionally, we have the Oscars, the All-star game for the NBA and the watching of the pictures and catchers in Florida and Arizona. As we all know, not much to pick from this Sunday.

What we do know is that next years fantasy selections will start with the QBs, or at least the winners will. No more of the running backs must be picked first. Those days ended at the same time as the famous statement “defense wins championships.” I always thought that was a dumb statement since overall play always wins championships, or the team with the highest score wins football championships, or whatever else you want. I did notice that all winning Super Bowl teams had the highest score, so that must mean something.

In looking back at this year’s big game though, both defenses played better than expected against two offensive juggernauts. So maybe big D stills counts. Automatic safeties also help.

Why are so many writers and announcers always so negative? Maybe it because of their frustrations in describing what others did and not doing it themselves. I get a kick out of former third string QBs saying he should have done this or that. Of course, the ball should have been 3 inches to the back shoulder instead of four, but the guys are only human. Welker lost the game, said one analyst. BS, says I. It would have been a great catch and a better throw would have made it easier. However, Brady was harassed, and Welker had to reach back one extra inch. What about the other 100+ plays. Such nonsense is a result of stressing the negative in a game of superlatives./p>

Another thought is saying the Giants should not have scored the final TD, but fell down and kicked the FG. What if they missed or it was blocked, or their was an penalty on the Giants and the kicker was injured on the play? What if, what if. what if? The Giants had the hottest defense in the game going into the Super Bowl; now we have to play cute so the other team doesn’t score a very late TD and win it at the end. Give me a TD and a good defense and I will win 95+% of the time. Kick and I win what percentage of the time???? Who knows, the goal is to have the highest score and the not the cutest over-coaching.

Enough editorializing, Braincase will return soon and then you will know what the second best blogger has to say. So the number one blogger says…….Go Bears!!!!

Sweetness Uncategorized

Giants Win!!! Giants Win!!!

February 7th, 2012
1 comment

No doubt about it, just as Sweetness predicted the Giants were victorious over the Brady Bunch. It wasn’t quite the route I thought it would be, but never-the-less it was another Super Bowl win.

The Giants were near extinction as every football fan knows, but won all the rest of their games and beat the former world champs, the Falcons and the Patriots. They truly won the game and played a very good team that took them to the last play. However, in the end it was the boys from across the Hudson River that had what it took. Bravo!!!!

The defense played well against a great quarterback and kept the game close until the offense put together a great drive to give them the lead. Then the defense prevented the Pats from scoring the winning TD, but knocking down the last pass into the end zone. What a great finish for the boys in white as they worked tirelessly against the super offense of the New Englanders. A well deserved pat on the back to the big D of New York.

The offense also did what it had to and the winning drive had the Manningham highlight of his career catch, the TD that some said should not have happened, and a great bit of generalship by Eli. Regarding the TD, let’s not get too cerebral and take a knee when 7 points are offered to you. Many things can happen on a field goal try and the sure TD was the right call. After all you have the best defense, why not take the gift?

Both coaches were on their game too. No doubt, Mr. C of the Giants is as good as Mr. B of the Patriots in big games. Tom never quits and either does his team. Great job by the coach of the champs.

Next year, of course, there is no hope for either of these teams as the mighty Bears will go 19-0 to cement the title as the greatest team ever!!! Go Bears!!!!

Sweetness Uncategorized