Two housekeeping notes...first off, Peter King is back and Gregg Easterbrook is back. Summer will be over, which means I will hopefully be able to get the post rate up to 5 per week. Also, I'm still filling spaces in the fantasy football league and will give it a few more days. Otherwise, there may be as many as five spaces open in the league for those that want to join. I will post the information once I make sure those who played last year don't want to participate this year.
Peter King has returned from his month long hibernation/coffee binge to continue writing MMQB and do a tour of NFL training camps. He did come back for one week during his vacation to do an all-CFL edition of MMQB, which I didn't cover here, mostly because I don't know enough about the CFL to refute anything Peter wrote. It also prevented me from using the "Canadian issues" tag on a post, which is always a sad state of affairs. This week Peter talks about the Buffalo Bills, all this hope NFL teams have, inexplicably ranks the NFL teams before training camp begins and continues to write the Adieu Haiku much to my chagrin. What I find interesting is Peter used the tag "Cam Newton" for this MMQB. Being a Panthers fan I was interested to see what he wrote about Newton thinking it had something to do with his new Drakkar Noir fragrance or anything else of interest. Well, there's really nothing. He has a sentence about how Newton is recovering from surgery and that's pretty much it. Not sure I understand his use of that tag since he doesn't really talk about Newton. Peter also tagged "Chris Snee," and doesn't have much of a discussion on Snee. He has at least more than one sentence about Snee though.
Let's dive back into the world of caffeinated and turkey burger eating world of Peter King!
Sunday night was precisely what the NFL wants out of the preseason. The
night of the first practice of the NFL summer simply couldn’t have gone
better. Hope was for sale everywhere on the St. John Fisher campus here,
the same way it will be in 31 other camps starting with the Giants
today in New Jersey, and there were thousands of consumers, happy to buy
that hope.
Fools! They are all fools! They will spend their money, waste their time, and lose their voices cheering for a team that will go 6-10. Meanwhile Roger Goodell counts his money.
One guy called me over to show me the Ralph Wilson tattoo he just had
etched on his arm this off-season, in tribute to the late Hall of Fame
owner of the team.
Oh, so the Ralph Wilson tattoo wasn't a tribute to Joe Montana?
There was the promising quarterback (the Bills hope), Manuel, getting
the benefit of the doubt from the adoring crowd. He’d missed six games
last year due to injury, and never played as well as the Bills had
hoped, and he enters this summer with a giant question mark over his
head.
This is as opposed to the vast array of rookie quarterbacks who enter the NFL, get injured for almost half the season, and then still manage to prove there are no questions about their ability.
Speaking of Watkins, he’s the belle of the football here.
SEE WHAT PETER DID THERE?
WARNING: THIS IS REAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS WRITING, AMATEURS WHO CAN'T HANDLE THE USE OF PUNS NEED NOT APPLY.
And they love GM Doug Whaley for overpaying to move up to get Watkins in
the first round last May. To move up five spots in the first round,
from nine to four, Whaley paid next year’s first-round and fourth-round
picks to Cleveland.
No, they love Dough Whaley for moving up and getting Watkins. They don't love that Whaley went and overpaid for Sammy Watkins. Besides, who is to say it was an overpay? I don't know that I recall Peter calling the Falcons moving up to get Julio Jones as an overpay. It's certainly worked out pretty well for the Falcons.
The Bills, following the lead of the Super Bowl champion Seahawks,
played loud tunes—U2, Macklemore, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, House of
Pain—for more than half the practice.
Were the Seahawks the first team to play practice with loud music or something? I feel like I recall other NFL teams practicing with loud music, but Peter is obsessed with the fact Pete Carroll plays loud music while his Seahawks team practices. Peter seems to think this is some magic elixir that helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. And quite frankly, I would be very de-motivated to practice hard if I heard some U2 or Black Eyed Peas coming from the sound system. Still, I remember other teams practicing with loud music prior to the Seahawks. I feel like Peter is trying to tie the loud music into winning football games.
There were other reasons to be excited. Running back Bryce Brown,
supposedly a spare part acquired in a trade with Philadelphia, ran like
he had rockets in his shoes.
Who the hell said that Bryce Brown was a spare part? Peter is doing a lot of editorializing early in his return to writing MMQB. Bryce Brown has played pretty well in the games where he was actually given a shot to get more than five carries. It's not easy backing up LeSean McCoy. Where does the idea Brown was a spare part come from?
The Bills haven’t made the playoffs in this century. They’ve had nine
straight losing seasons. Imagine not winning 10 games in the past 14
years. Fourteen!
They never should have fired Wade Phillips. Huge mistake.
This is a better team than most if not all of the teams the Bills have
fielded since their last playoff season, 1999. It’s a group that can win
now if the quarterback plays at a B-plus level.
Considering Peter just got done telling us that the Bills haven't won 10 games in 14 years, (Fourteen!) it may not be saying much that this is the best Bills team since 1999. It just may mean this team could win 9 games this season.
In other words, Dareus is a total mess.
Asked how troubling it is that Dareus didn’t report to camp in shape
given how many strikes he already has against him, Marrone would say
only: “He’ll be in shape, ready to play.”
Got that rookie contract coming up soon. Gotta pull a Trevor Ariza and bust your ass for a season to get a long-term deal, then Operation Shutdown/Smokey and the Dareus Bandit can continue.
Manuel feels it.
“At Florida State, we were so used to winning, it was customary. When I
got here, you could just feel it, how much they want it. First day of
camp, a Sunday night, you see the stands packed, you hear them for over
two hours … People say Buffalo’s this, Buffalo’s that, Buffalo’s cold.
To me, if you win, it’s the best place on earth. Like Tallahassee. It’s a
college-town atmosphere here.
I think Peter King would say that the Bills have been playing as an NFL team at a college football-level over the past 14 years.
All you have here is the Bills.
Well, and the Buffalo Sabres.
Obviously the Sabres too.
You just said (looks back at transcript), "All you have here is the Bills" and then said "obviously" there are the Sabres too. It must be not that obvious the Sabres are there too, because you just completely forgot about them. That's like saying all the Broncos have his Peyton Manning, then saying obviously there is Demaryius Thomas and Von Miller too. It makes not of sense.
But if the Bills win, it’s a whole different city.’’
Football is more popular than hockey. Got it. I'm going to need to move on before I make an FSU joke.
So we’ll see if Manuel and Watkins can hit the ground running together. The first team period was a start. Said Manuel:...So on draft day, I’m out at a restaurant with my father in south
Florida, and when I saw on TV that we made that trade and drafted him, I
jumped out of my chair. C.J. Spiller calls me right away and says, ‘We
got our boy! We got our boy!’ Because we’d been talking about it since
January. My phone went almost dead, because 18,000 people called me at
one time.
That must be a hell of a call waiting backup. I get irritated when one person tries to call me and I'm already on the phone.
(Note: This hasn't happened since approximately 2003)
It’s going to be great to watch him grow.”
And he is going to need to grow, because the history of sub-6'2" wide receivers drafted in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft isn't illustrious.
Standing in the end zone, Whaley smiled. “They love me now,” he said.
And tomorrow? They’ll still love him. It’s hope season for seven more
weeks, for 31 other franchises. Just the way the NFL wants it.
(Roger Goodell rubs his hands together excitedly, then doesn't suspend an NFL owner after he confesses to stabbing a woman to death while drunk because "we will wait for all the facts to come out"...then Goodell hands out a one game suspension to a player for repeatedly violating the dress code)
The Fine 15, Pre-Camp Edition
Now this is odd. A Fine 15 some 46 days before the season starts. But there’s nothing like a little controversy to sell papers.
I guess it's nice to see Peter is at least being upfront about putting a pre-Camp Edition of the Fine 15 (and is it "Fine 15" this year and not "Fine Fifteen"?...I ask because "Fine 15" sounds like a movie Marvel will make in 2025 with every single one of their licensed superheroes in it) in MMQB to get some feedback, positive or negative, and get eyes to read MMQB. I can imagine the dip in readership from when Peter writes MMQB to when he has guest writers is pretty vast.
1. Seattle. I like the approach of the coach and the defense
Well, that and they just won the Super Bowl with an absolutely stifling defense and lost almost zero key players on that defense.
3. San Francisco. If I trusted Colin Kaepernick as much as I trust Russell Wilson, 1 and 3 would be reversed.
It's the backwards hat and tattoos isn't it? Hey, Russell Wilson is getting divorced. That shows he makes commitments that he won't work hard to uphold and once he's achieved something he takes it for granted. I mean, doesn't that sound like a sentence that is going to be in an article written later in the Fall if the Seahawks start out 2-4?
4. New Orleans. The rich get obscenely richer, and Brandin Cooks wins offensive rookie of the year, and the defense stays stout.
Hey, maybe they will even manage to win their division this year or will eventually earn this #4 ranking as opposed to having it handed to them! Welp, guess there's a bounty on my head now.
(There is a statute of limitations on bounty jokes. I think we are about at that point. Just wanted to check though.)
5. Indianapolis. I’m buying the Luck hype,
No fucking way, Peter! YOU? You buy the Luck hype? I can't believe it. It's not like you have been up his ass since he was drafted in the NFL. You know what, it's not even hype. He's the real thing. My snark aside, it's unfair to call it hype at this point.
plus he gets back one of the great young tight ends in the game—Dwayne Allen.
Let's slow the roll here. Luck has hype, but Dwayne Allen is one of the best tight ends in the game? Let's see how he does after missing nearly the entire last season before going back to his 2012 season (his only season in the NFL) to issue "great, young" proclamations.
6. Denver. Having a hard time getting That Game out of my head.
Don't worry, it will be out of Peter's head when the Broncos are 10-1 and Peter writes a story about how Peyton Manning feels even better than he did last year and the sky is the limit for this Broncos team.
9. Chicago. Marc Trestman’s acing chemistry class.
He’s got Jay Cutler kumbaya-ing in the cafeteria at Halas Hall. And
who’s covering those Olajuwon-sized receivers and tight end Martellus
Bennett?
Hey! Only Joel Embiid can be compared to Hakeem Olajuwon these days. I'm sure there is a copyright somewhere regarding this.
10. St. Louis.
Presented without comment. I'M JUST KIDDING!
#10, huh? I'm not saying it won't happen, but these writers have been drinking this Jeff "8-8" Fisher Juice for so long I'm not sure they even know how to stop. The Rams are fantastic on defense and they have an offense that could be very good if Bradford is healthy. Maybe they are the #10th best team in the NFL, but they are in a very tough division.
Might not show up in the record, but the Rams are going to be hell to
play, and they’ll be a playoff team if Sam Bradford plays the way he was
drafted to play.
Read that sentence and try to tell me Peter's relationship with Marvin Demoff doesn't come into play when he discusses the Rams. "It may not show in the record." He's already making excuses even if Fisher doesn't make the playoffs this year. For what Jeff "8-8" Fisher gets paid to coach the Rams, the team's talent sure as shit better show up in the record. Fisher gets paid enough for that to happen.
I don't dislike Sam Bradford, but as many times as Peter has bashed QB's like Andy Dalton, E.J. Manuel, and Geno Smith (and they weren't even #1 overall picks), how many years has the "IF Bradford can play well" dance been written? It's been since he's been in the league. Yes, he could play great, or he may not. At what point will it be known if Bradford is going to play like a #1 overall pick? I can see the Rams making the playoffs, but I don't believe they will make it in 2015. That's not what Jeff Fisher does as a coach, despite the media's constant talking him up. He's simply not the coach that his reputation and salary claims him to be. It drives me crazy and my distaste for how Peter talks about the Rams over the past three years as a sleeping juggernaut frustrates me. I don't hate the Rams, but Jeff Fisher is a more dressed-up Wade Phillips when it comes to making the playoffs.
11. Arizona. Might not show up in the record, but the Cards are going to be hell to play,
(Looks back up at his previous rant) Ummm....my point still stands about Marvin Demoff and Peter King though.
and they’ll be a playoff team if Carson Palmer plays close to the way he played in his prime.
And when will that be again?
13. Cincinnati. Deep and talented, but let me be the 4,672nd guru to say in the last six months, “It all comes down to Dalton.”
Everyone who reads this blog knows I understand a team wins games and it can't be thrown on the shoulders (positively or negatively) of the quarterback. I do think it's important to know Andy Dalton has more playoff appearances than Sam Bradford and Carson Palmer combined and he's only been in the NFL for three years. I think it's important to think about this while reading Peter's unbridled hope for the Cardinals and Rams, while throwing the Bengals season entirely on Dalton's shoulders and ranking the Bengals lower than Palmer and Bradford's team.
Speaking of media favorites...how about some Chris Kluwe discussion? I agree with Kluwe's crusade while also finding some hypocrisy in his actions and justification for his actions. They don't make him a bad person, but it does make me question the messenger a bit.
Now, Kluwe has written for the site in the past, and he is a smart and
engaging person, and he fiercely defends the rights of the oppressed.
But I do not see how he justifies poking fun at strength coach Tom
Kanavy, who formerly worked at Penn State, by cutting out the seat of
his pants and, in an apparent joking way, saying he was a Penn State
victim and telling Kanavy to stay away from him while his buttocks were
exposed. Kluwe said on Twitter, in justification, that “over half the
team” chided Kanavy about the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia, some of them
cruelly. That makes no sense to me. It’s justifying what you did the
same way gang members do—everybody else was doing it, so why single me
out?
(Vomits into a trash can) Peter is 100% correct about this. Kluwe is suing the Vikings because of comments he disagreed with that his special teams coach made and he thinks his opposition to the special teams coach's position meant Kluwe was released by the Vikings. The same mob mentality that he is accusing the Vikings of participating in is being used by him as an excuse for why he made a fairly inappropriate joke in the locker room. The whole "everyone was doing it" mentality is a justification for homophobia in the locker room. Yet this is the same excuse Kluwe used to explain why he pretended he was a Penn State victim with his butt exposed. And no, this isn't highlighting the Penn State programs for their failures, this is pretending to be a victim of pedophilia. Everyone has said/done things they regret or can be taken in the wrong context. It's just if you are going to throw stones, be sure you don't use the same justification explaining your actions those you are throwing stones at are using as well.
Kluwe so stridently fought for the right side on other issues, like gay
marriage, and it’s just so sordid to join the crowd in making fun of a
pedophile.
Peter King with this fucking editorializing. There is no "right side" of gay marriage. The "right side" is a complete opinion and I don't like it's being classified as "right" or "wrong." That's Peter though. Once a tidal wave of momentum arrives on a social issue he's willing to catch that wave and ride it in like he's been there all along. He did it with the Redskins name too. Once there was a backlash, then he made his stand and stop using the Redskins name. I hate the use of "right" or "wrong" on social issues. Peter needs to stop it and talk football. This discussion can be had without using such subjective terms.
In 2012, Kluwe had the best net punting average (39.7 yards per punt) in
his eight-year Viking career, and his third-best gross average, at 45.0
yards. He wasn’t a bad outdoor punter, as the investigation suggested.
In fact, over his last two seasons, he had a better punting
average—45.83 yards per punt—than when he punted indoors (45.30). So, at
the end of the day, this is a story that’s not going to paint anyone
with a glory brush.
But Kluwe was expensive and he was a punter. NFL players get released for money reasons all the time, especially when they play a position like punter where a replacement making 50% of the previous player's money with 85% of the production can be found. Kluwe very well could have been cut for valid, football-related reasons.
“They need to change the name. In this day and age, it’s just not right.”
—Jordan Wright, the granddaughter of the late Washington owner
George Preston Marshall, who named the team the “Redskins” when he moved
the franchise from Boston to Washington in 1937, to longtime football
writer Len Shapiro, in a piece he wrote for Leesburg (Va.) Today. Thanks to Pro Football Talk for pointing out this piece by Shapiro.
Again, more of Peter presenting points of view that he agrees with in an effort to make a social change related to football. It's not the end of the world he does this, but two years ago (one year ago) Peter didn't seem to have a strong opinion on the Redskins name that he spoke about in print. Now, he's fervently against the use of the Redskins name. "Leading from behind" is what they call it I believe.
Tony Gwynn died while I was away.
Peter wasn't away when Tony Gwynn died. No, not at all. Tony Gwynn died while Peter was away. Gwynn's death must be framed around Peter's absence in writing MMQB.
My favorite Gwynn stat:
Lifetime at-bats versus Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez: 143.
Strikeouts versus Maddux and Martinez: 0.
Batting average versus Maddux and Martinez: .350.
And yes, I know Maddux wasn’t a feared strikeout pitcher. But the man is 10th on the all-time strikeout list and averaged 6.1 K’s per nine innings.
I love Peter King. He looks at a stat that shows Gwynn hit .350 against two Hall of Fame pitchers and he focuses on the fact Gwynn didn't strike out against either pitcher during his entire career. Sure, that's impressive, but why waste time defending Maddux as a strikeout pitcher rather than focus on the fact Gwynn hit .350 against Pedro Martinez and Greg Maddux? That's the impressive statistic.
I saw the Pirates play in Pittsburgh, with my wife and my brother-in-law
and his boys, at beautiful PNC Park (“beautiful” or “breathtaking”
should be the mandatory adjective every time PNC Park is discussed) in
June. The day of the game, I was in line at a Starbucks in downtown
Pittsburgh,
There's a shock. I wonder how Peter's sort-of-nutritionist feels about his drinking habits at Starbucks these days?
And who do you think is in front of me in line?
Well, there are billions of people in the world, so I should get this one...was it Carrot Top?
Andrew McCutchen. With his fiancé, Maria Hanslovan, in line with him, McCutchen ordered his drink. I didn’t hear what it was.
BUT DID YOU WRITE DOWN MCCUTCHEN'S ENTIRE CONVERSATION AND THEN TRY TO TRANSCRIBE IT HERE IN MMQB?
I can picture Peter rubbernecking around in line trying in vain to hear what Andrew McCutchen ordered.
"Name for the cup?” the man on the register said.
“Andrew,” McCutchen said.
What? McCutchen didn't say, "Don't you know who I am?" to the man on the register? Peter finds that is an excellent way to get a free cup of coffee.
We ordered, then went to wait for ours next to the reigning National
League Most Valuable Player. In cases like this, I always think the
famous person should be left alone, because the famous person I assume
gets so few chances to be left alone. Thirty, 40, 50 seconds pass.
You know the whole time Peter is standing there he's thinking, "Man, I hope McCutchen recognizes who I am so we can start up a conversation that I can brag about in MMQB."
“Andrew,” the barista called. His drink was ready. He claimed it, and
his fiancé claimed hers, and they went over to sit down on a couch in
the store. One fellow came over and said hi and shook his hand, and
McCutchen was pleasant enough, and that was that, and the MVP of the
National League went to sit down and enjoy some private time—
Oh, so that's it? So the summary of these five paragraphs could be thus, "I saw Andrew McCutchen at Starbucks where he ordered a coffee and wasn't bothered by but one man the entire time." I guess that would seem a lot less interesting of a story. I thought this story was going somewhere a little more...umm...colorful, maybe? That's as opposed to "He ordered coffee and then drank it."
1. I think I’d like my four Guest MMQB writers to take a collective bow. Thanks, Marc Trestman, for education us heathens about the CFL. Thanks, Vernon Davis, for taking us into the world of a holdout. Thanks, Khalil Mack, for telling us how you got from unknown high school player to being a high first-round pick. And thank you, Rich Eisen, for educating us about the Silly Season. I
couldn’t have said it better, because there is so, so, so much wasted
time and energy spent on the month off from football, which should be a
month off from football because nothing at all happens in the month
before camps open.
Of course, while talking about how nothing happens during the month off from football, Peter still takes the time to have NFL-related content posted to THE MMQB and still wants visitors to read his site everyday. So he wants there to be a break from football, but also wants there to not be a break from football so his advertisers stay content during the NFL offseason. Nothing happens, but read THE MMQB everyday about this nothing.
4. I think one of the most interesting teams this preseason will be Carolina. Lots of moving pieces there.
This is as opposed to the other NFL teams who didn't have a lot of changes to their roster in the offseason.
A grab-bag of discarded vets (Jerricho Cotchery, Tiquan Underwood, Jason
Avant) plus rookie Kelvin Benjamin forming an all-new receiving corps.
I HAVEN'T HEARD THE PANTHERS HAVE SHITTY RECEIVERS! THIS IS NEW INFORMATION TO ME!
The team is in salary cap hell and are actively trying to get out of salary cap hell because in the next 2-3 years they have to re-sign Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, and Star Lotulelei. It's a tough process right now. So there's no money to spend on long-term contracts for free agent receivers who want long-term contracts.
Cam Newton trying to do two important things in the next seven weeks:
get his surgically repaired ankle in football shape and bonding with a
bunch of guys not names Steve Smith. And finding a new left tackle.
It's funny how the whole "new left tackle" thing gets constantly thrown into the end of any evaluation of the Panthers team as a sort of afterthought. The wide receivers aren't a problem. The fact 4 of the 5 offensive linemen who started in the playoff game last year will either be retired or playing new positions on the line is by far the team's biggest issue. Cam Newton is going to die. The projected right/left tackle is a guy who was playing defensive tackle two years ago. Carolina Medical Center already has a room on standby from September to December with surgeons waiting for Newton's eventual arrival.
7. I think the Washington franchise will have a new team name by 2016.
That name? Daniel Snyder will choose to name them the Washington Indians just to put the onus on the Cleveland Indians to change their team name. Once this backlash died down, then Daniel Snyder will name George W. Bush as the General Manager and talk about changing the team name to the Conservatives, at which point Peter will still refuse to call the franchise by it's team name.
9. I think Jay Glazer will be great at introducing Michael Strahan for
the Pro Football Hall of Fame in two weeks, because no one on this earth
knows Strahan better than Glazer. It’s cool to see a media person named
for this honor.
Is it though? Maybe. Jay Glazer's business relationships with the players he has covered has consistently vexed me. I would say it doesn't affect his coverage, but given his Richie Incognito interview last year I'm not entirely sure that's true. The guy can break NFL news though. I just don't know if it's "cool" to see a media person named for this honor. Granted, he knows Strahan well, but his job is also to be an impartial observer and reporter.
10. I think these are my non-football thoughts of the week:
b. The World Cup should happen every two years, not four.
c. I agree with Rich Eisen: Ian Darke needs to do an NFL game on TV, for somebody.
Skills at calling one sport doesn't always translate to another sport. There are plenty of examples of this being true.
j. Hey Ed Bouchette: Congrats on winning the McCann Award, emblematic of
great writing and great contributions to football journalism, given by
the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You are one of the best people in our
business, and I know scores echo my sentiments. So pleased for you, and I
hope all who have learned so much about the Steelers from your writing
in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette take a moment to thank you in the coming weeks.
(Bengoodfella opens up his Yahoo email account, copies and pastes this text into a blank email and then confirms these words would indeed fit into the format of an email to Bouchette rather than being placed in a national column where they are less personal and slightly more pretentious)
l. Dustin Pedroia’s just not the same as he was. Either he overachieved
when he first came up (I am not a big “overachieving’’ and
“underachieving’’ person, because how are you significantly better or
worse than the norm over 1,000 at-bats) but, really, the numbers don’t lie. He’s an excellent fielder and absolutely average hitter.
What the hell? So much to discuss here.
1. Dustin Pedroia had 4,029 at-bats in the majors prior to this year. He has been very, very good during the time he had those at-bats.
2. This is the first season during his entire career that Pedroia could be known as a player who "underachieved." He was 7th in the MVP race last year and had a really good season.
3. Peter writes "Either..." but doesn't name another option outside of Pedroia overachieving when he first came up.
4. What is this "first came up" crap? Dustin Pedroia has been great for seven full MLB seasons now. He's 30 and can't be expected to be great every single season. This is some epic writing-off that Peter has done to Pedroia. It's not like Pedroia has been terrible this season, he's just not up to his own standard, which is pretty high.
5. Quit being a drama queen about this. Pedroia isn't having a great year. This happens and it's never happened to him on this level. Don't act like his entire career has been a facade because he's having one season that isn't up to his usual standard.
m. And after watching the World Series last year, in which David Ortiz
was un-retireable, how is he hitting .250-ish and getting waylaid by the
Danny Duffys of the world?
Well, he is 38 years old. He is getting on-base at a near .350 clip and has 20 home runs. Sure, Danny Duffy maybe struck him out, but he's just not hitting for a high average. Let's calm the sadness down just a little bit.
o. Coffeenerdness: I’m not very good at keeping my Macchiato agreement,
drinking three a week. Now that I’m going on this camp trip, I see more
Macchiatos and fewer iced coffees in my next month.
Oh no, Peter's sort-of nutritionist is going to be pissed off.
p. Beernerdness: My three favorite beers from vacation: Starr Hill
Brewery (Charlottesville, Va.) Northern Lights IPA, one of the most
flavorful IPAs I have ever tasted. Had it with a turkey burger at
Boylan’s in Charlottesville, Va., on a warm June day, my first-ever trip
to the Virginia campus …
This is a really good beer. I'm not sure I would have it with a turkey burger though. I'm not sure how it pairs with a turkey burger. That's like having a darker beer while eating a salad. Seems wrong to me.
q. If we don’t act against the Russian separatists for the downing of
the Malaysian airliner full of innocents, when exactly would we act
against anyone for anything?
Peter is very socially aware this week. He's like an 18 year old during his first semester of college. If Peter continues along this track he'll be protesting the treatment of cattle and boycotting big companies (except Starbucks of course) because they turn the American public into mindless idiots who only want to purchase products that show just how addicted to our comforts we are.
t. Good to be back. You’ll have me for the next 47 weeks, and I hope I
can give you more than 10 things to think about this season.
Every single week you give me more than 10 things that I think about. Granted, probably not in the way that you think you intend, but I do think about a lot of what you write and it makes me wonder.
The Adieu Haiku
NFL camp time.
So optimistic out here.
League of hopes and dreams.
I'm still waiting newly socially aware Peter King's response to his BFF Tony Dungy's comment that he wouldn't have taken Michael Sam in the draft because "...things will happen." It's a test of Peter's new social awareness against his love of treating his friends kindly whether they deserve it or not.
I still don't see the purpose of the "Adieu Haiku" but at least Peter didn't link the Bruce Springsteen song "Land of Hopes and Dreams."
Showing posts with label buffalo bills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buffalo bills. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
4 comments MMQB Review: Baseball Season Preview Edition
Peter King talked (yet again) about how big of a bust Josh Freeman is last week in MMQB. He also made a slightly snide comment about Teddy Bridgewater claiming to be a "servant-leader" without actually looking the term up to see what it meant and gave Starbucks some advice on how their vanilla drink is too sweet. Because the one thing Starbucks needs is better advice on how to sell their products. This week Peter brings it down a little by talking about Jim Kelly's latest cancer battle and Peter's brother (the one he visited in England a few weeks ago) passed away over the weekend as well. So as much of a pretentious person Peter can be, that still sucks and has to be difficult to deal with. In fact, it's sort of bullshit he has to write his MMQB for next week, but I guess it's his job so he will do it. This week Peter also talks about the DeSean Jackson saga, Ralph Wilson's dying wish just so happens to also be a pet project for change in the NFL that Peter supports, and makes his predictions for the baseball season.
The family will need those moments in the coming weeks. Today, provided a slight fever is under control by this morning, Kelly begins a regimen of treatment—chemotherapy Monday and Tuesday, radiation Wednesday, Thursday and Friday—designed to stop the cancer that is dangerously close to the carotid artery in his head. It’s too perilous to operate now, even if the cancer that has spread up his infraorbital nerve can be neutralized, because there’s no guarantee all of it can be found and removed.
It’s a complex cancer.
I guess this is as opposed to a non-complex cancer. You know, the easy cancer to figure out.
At times, the support system has him feeling a little guilty. He walks the halls here and sees patients, some very seriously ill, alone. “There’s a lady down the hall,” he said to his brothers the other day. “Anybody visit her? I never see anyone. We should bring her some of my flowers.”
The Kelly family follows that Christian message now. Sometimes, their message and belief is so strong it sounds like a gospel tent in the room.
All this preaching about God and belief in a higher power is really offending Peter's liberal senses. What would Bono do? He'd have faith, but not talk about it unless he wanted a camera crew to follow him as he made a pilgrimage to Africa in order to show everyone what a good and caring person he was. Talk about faith and have a Christian message when in public, but all of this beliefs and faith in private just sounds like something you would hear in a revival tent to Peter.
On Friday night, I put out a message on Twitter to my followers. I asked if any of them had a message to send to Kelly, whose illness has been reported far and wide. I wanted to see what the level of compassion and concern was.
Peter wondered, "Do people give a shit if Jim Kelly has cancer" and the answer may surprise you. People DO care. Perhaps Peter should hit up his Twitter followers for an experimental, expensive treatment to help Kelly and then never update his Twitter followers on whether their donations for the treatment ended up working. I'm still waiting for Peter to announce in MMQB how the experimental treatment for Dr. Z up in Michigan worked out, mostly because a few years ago Peter spent quite a bit of time in MMQB hitting up his readers for money to fund these experimental treatments.
Wrote Rich Gannon (yes, that Rich Gannon): “Please know brother that you remain in our thoughts and prayers. No hill is too tough for a climber like you.”
THAT Rich Gannon? Thanks for telling us it was THAT Rich Gannon, because otherwise if it was just a Rich Gannon who was a normal person these words of encouragement would have meant jackshit. These words obviously mean more coming from a famous ex-athlete.
I read a 15 or 20 of them to Kelly and to the room of Kellys. He took a moment to compose himself.
“Humbling,” said. “Humbling. I had no idea. I mean, I don’t do Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, whatever. But they tell me about it. There’s a lot of ‘Get well, Jim Kelly,’ out there, and I am so appreciative of that. I really don’t know what to say.”
Say anything, but just don't say anything about God because it makes Peter feel uncomfortable. It's like a gospel tent up in here when the Kelly family using faith and their Christian beliefs to get through the cancer diagnosis of Jim Kelly.
After a while, a doctor came in and said she had to clear the room to examine Jim. Camryn and Jill’s mom went to get a bite to eat. The brothers went to relax downstairs in a waiting room. Jill and Erin adjourned to a waiting room down the hall that they’ve filled with inspirational Bible verses
(Peter rolls his eyes)
(“The Lord is my helper … I will not be afraid”).
Peter believes those are lyrics to a U2 song, but he can't remember right now which one.
Earlier this month, when Jim and Jill Kelly had a moment alone, and they were digesting the news that the insidious cancer inside Jim’s face and head had returned with a vengeance, they began reflecting. When they reflect, the subject is often their late son Hunter, who died at 8 of a rare nervous system disease in 2005.
“Well,” Jim said, “I know where my son is, in heaven. And I’ll probably see him before you.”
Boy, Peter really brought the tone down in this MMQB. Rick Reilly should be embarrassed that he can't do personal interest stories like this one anymore.
But the thought is unavoidable. The reality of their lives, all of their lives, is that Jim Kelly is fighting for his. He’s in the best hands he can be, and all they all can do is hope, and pray, that modern science works, and these microscopic cancer cells don’t continue the march to Jim Kelly’s brain.
Snark aside, best wishes to Jim Kelly. I'd like to get back to mocking Peter King for what he writes in MMQB though. I'm here to be snarky and it's impossible to be snarky about cancer.
A very busy week, and weekend, in the life of the NFL, and a sad Sunday for me. My brother Ken died suddenly of a heart attack in a small village in England, and I’ll tell you a bit about him in a few paragraphs. Most of the following was written before I got the phone call, so here it is.
Man, Ralph Wilson hasn't even been brought up yet. This is quite the downer of a MMQB. By the way, this is the second King brother who has died of a heart attack. I mean, Peter needs to skip the colonoscopy exam and make sure he's getting his heart checked every six months.
If history is a judge, I would expect owner Dan Snyder and GM Bruce Allen to put on the hard sell to sign Jackson when he arrives in Virginia late today—or at least sometime before he leaves for his second meeting somewhere in the NFL. Snyder is a gambler.
Which is why Snyder is so sensitive to the needs and wants of the Native American community. He loves to visit their casinos, being the gambler that he is.
He does not like to lose players he wants, and why would he not be aggressive in pursuing Jackson? Washington is $7 million under the cap—not a lot of dough, but consider that its three best offensive weapons now (Pierre Garçon, Alfred Morris and newly signed wideout Andre Roberts) count for a reasonable $12.55 million on the cap this year.
That's good news. And I know Morris isn't going to want a new contract soon, so his cap figure is sure to never go up. Plus, the benefit of trading that first round pick for Robert Griffin is the Redskins don't have to pay a first round draft pick. What a wonderful situation for them to be in!
This is contingent, of course, on Allen and coach Jay Gruden and Washington assistants asking around about Jackson’s attitude, work ethic and off-field stuff.
Well, it is Dan Snyder so I'm not entirely sure he will ask important questions like:
1. Should we do research on Jackson's attitude and work ethic?
2. What are the salary cap ramifications?
3. Does he fit the offense Jay Gruden wants to run?
4. Does Jay Gruden or Bruce Allen want Jackson?
I can see Allen, as good a contract-writer as there is in the business, putting in enough insurance to protect Washington—and I also think Allen will be the calming influence on Snyder so the owner doesn’t throw so much money at Jackson to prevent him from seeking other options. And there will be more suitors.
You have to love it when the General Manager of a team has to be the calming influence to prevent the owner from wildly spending money.
So what happened in Philadelphia? I don’t think there was one specific event. I think there was a feeling internally in Philadelphia that Jackson should have been one of the team leaders, and an argument on the sideline would crop up, and he wasn’t the best work ethic guy, and I always got the feeling that old and new administrations weren’t crazy about Jackson being in position to influence some of the younger players on the team.
So a story that DeSean Jackson may have been a part of a gang just happened to coincide with Jackson being released, which made it seem as if these two events were related in some way. Couldn't the Eagles have at least just released Jackson without a good reason like the Panthers did Steve Smith? That worked out so much better for Carolina in the Charlotte area with picketing and immature idiots saying they wouldn't ever support the team again. Why attempt to defame Jackson when you can just release Jackson and then have everyone freak out no reason was given?
But I want to stress that I don’t think this was a Kelly decision alone. I think this was organizational, brought on some by the negative publicity that came with the damaging NJ.com article released Friday.
The Eagles definitely had bad timing to release Jackson so soon after the article about his gang ties was read by so much of the Interwebs.
Just my feeling, because neither Kelly nor GM Howie Roseman were talking over the weekend, but I’d bet a lot that the Eagles, once the NJ.com story got out, didn’t know if there was going to be more bad stuff coming out on Jackson, and didn’t want any team coming back to them saying, “What were you hiding?” Plus, no team would have given anything for Jackson after that story hit the internet Friday—even though there was nothing damning in it, just a lot of smoke.
I personally find it hard to believe that no NFL teams would have given something, anything for DeSean Jackson after that story broke over the Internet. I could be wrong, but considering how quickly teams were on Jackson after he was released I can't imagine the smoke around him (without any real hard proof) wouldn't have deterred a team from giving up even a late-round draft choice for him.
More than a few people at the NFL meetings in Orlando took note of how engaged New England coach Bill Belichick—not normally a big speaker at league meetings—acted in the discussion on instant replay. Belichick believes every call should be replay review-able, and I’m told he gave a reasoned, cogent explanation of his position to the league when the matter was discussed last week. “Let’s open it up,” he said—meaning let’s allow any call to be reviewed.
More plays would be reviewable, which means coaches would have to be more judicious with when they throw the challenge flag, though this would also mean there are more reviews. So as long as the NFL is fine with more reviews occurring I see no issue with any play being eligible for review.
There were 1.65 replay reviews per game last season. Even if that were to go up to, say, 2.65 per game with the Belichick initiative, I don’t see much time being added to the average length of games, because most of the reviews (65 percent last year, officiating czar Dean Blandino said) can be done in conjunction with TV timeouts.
Well, this is assuming the new replay system where two guys in the league office are able to review the play during the TV timeout really does decrease the amount of time needed to ensure the proper call was made. Reviews can be done under the old system during TV timeouts as well, but it often took more time than just a TV timeout to review the play. I do see time being added to the average length of games because if the replay reviews are going to increase by one replay review per game then for no time to be added to the average length of the game the replay review time will almost have to be halved. Even with the league office reviewing replays I'm not sure I can see this happening.
And some movement on the PAT too. Good idea by Competition Committee member and noted conservative-football guy Mike Brown of the Bengals: Put all conversion tries at the one-yard line. The kick would be a piece of cake, of course, but the shorter distance would motivate more teams to go for a two-point conversion. A team with a power running attack or a great spread scheme might be emboldened to go for two consistently.
I don't believe moving the two-point conversion up one yard is going to make a huge difference in the number of teams that choose to go for two. I could be wrong, but head coaches are going to get an easy PAT attempt which will tempt them to be conservative. I find it hard to believe the same coaches who are currently too conservative to go for a two-point conversion on the two-yard line would suddenly start going for it on the one-yard line. The distance is only shorter by three feet anyway.
Denver coach John Fox said “high on his list,” when his team gets back together in April, will be talking to the group about locker-room inclusiveness. “I thought [Davis’ talk] was the most incredible thing I’ve seen here [at a league meeting], and I’ve been coming to these a long time.”
I think a lecture on inclusiveness will immediately convert those people who don't believe homosexuals have a place in an NFL locker room. Of course years of believing in excluding a certain group of people can be immediately changed by a lecture about how inclusiveness is the best way to succeed.
Divining the Draft. The five teams that intrigue me—for movement possibilities and volume—in the wake of the release of the official draft order the other day:
Cleveland. With eight picks in the top 150 (4, 26, 35, 71, 83, 106, 127 and 145), Browns GM Ray Farmer can surely move around with that fourth overall pick if there’s one player he can’t do without. If Farmer wants Sammy Watkins or Jadeveon Clowney or one of the two great tackles, no question he has the draft-pick currency to do it.
Because I think the Browns need to be moving up in the draft to get Clowney or Watkins, rather than using this "currency" to get a quarterback to throw the ball to Watkins. Also, if I'm the Browns I'm not entirely sure I'm spending draft picks as opposed to using these draft picks to improve the team at multiple positions.
St. Louis.
This is your weekly reminder the Rams have a wonderful draft strategy yet again that will immediately lead to Jeff "8-8" Fisher turning this team around. Just give him 2-3 more years and the Rams are going to be built for success.
The Rams are open for business,
Much like how Peter used his affiliation with Marvin Demoff, he's trying to help Marvin's son out by getting some action on that #2 overall pick. Really, it's part of Peter's job to drum up some business for the Rams when he can. But don't worry, Peter plays it coy. The Rams are open for business, but they totally have an eye on a player or two in that #2 overall spot, so better make those trade offers to St. Louis quick because they are open to trading the pick but want to keep it also.
I get the feeling we are going to get a lot of Peter trying to drum up business for that #2 overall pick of the Rams over the next month.
with an extra first-round pick again (they pick at 2, 13, 44 and 75 on the first two days), but this might be the year they sit and take one of the two top tackles and be thankful that Washington (from whom they got the No. 2 pick) was so bad last fall.
Yeah, the Rams might use that pick. So NFL teams looking to trade up better make your best offer now rather than wait. Let's get a bidding war going so the Rams can get better value ou---I mean, let's have Peter convey this information to his readers and the NFL executives who read MMQB without any type of bias or ulterior motive.
Kenny King, 1949-2014.
My brother died Sunday, doing what he absolutely loved to do. He was 64, recently retired, a walkaholic, and he and his wife, Jane, were walking in a small village in England—where they lived—and he stumbled and fell. He said he didn’t feel well. An ambulance was called. On the way to the hospital his heart stopped, and the medics in the ambulance couldn’t make it start again.
Sad face for Peter. His brother was a Yankees fan and did not like coffee. I'm not entirely sure Kenny King was really Peter's brother. I wonder if Kenny King loved to travel and enjoyed meeting quirky people? If so, I think a DNA test would be required to prove he and Peter were related.
“I like tradition. But the extra point is so boring.”
—The late Bills owner Ralph Wilson, to club CEO Russ Brandon not long before he died.
OMG! That's exactly how Peter King feels about the extra point too! Ralph Wilson is a traditionalist who doesn't think the extra point is great. A traditionalist agrees with Peter, so this means getting rid of the extra point is completely the right choice for the NFL to make, even if no other acceptable alternative seems to have been proposed at this point outside of "Move the two-point conversion up one yard and then this will definitely make a huge difference in how many teams choose to go for two."
One of the reasons the NFL knows it has to do something about the ease of kicking is the man Pittsburgh has kicking: Shaun Suisham. Take a look:
Suisham made 96.3 percent of all kicks (131-136) over the past two years. The breakdown: 73 of 73 extra points and 58 of 63 field goals.
He is perfect in 29 of his last 32 games.
Suisham is no one’s choice as the best kicker in football.
It's really irrelevant who would choose Suisham as the best kicker in football.
The point is, if Shaun Suisham is a 92-percent field-goal kicker over two seasons, and has to boot his home kicks in an unfriendly stadium for kickers (Heinz Field, Pittsburgh), you know kickers are getting so good the league has to do something to try to make it tougher for them, either on extra points or field goals or both.
Part of me wonders why it is such a bad thing that NFL kickers are getting better at their job? If quarterbacks or receivers get better at their job then would the NFL make it harder to complete passes? Actually, through the defensive rule changes the NFL has done the opposite. I understand the PAT is boring, but I think it's sort of counter intuitive to narrow the goal posts because kickers are getting better at their job. No other position is being made more difficult in response to modern NFL players becoming better at increasing their percentage of success at that position.
From the Football Guy Till The End Dept.:
Five days before he died, Ralph Wilson called club CEO Russ Brandon to be briefed on the bylaws and rules proposals due to be discussed at the NFL meetings in Florida.
Considering Ralph Wilson was still the owner and couldn't have predicted he would die five days later I'm not sure how shocking this is. Wilson probably assumed he would have to know something about the bylaws and rule proposals, because he assumed he would still be alive for them to affect his team. Maybe Peter thought Ralph Wilson was going to predict his date of death?
“Miguel Cabrera will earn $49,423 PER AT BAT over the next decade. Median annual income of a household in Michigan: $48,471.”
—@darrenrovell, the ESPN sports business reporter, after Cabrera signed a new deal with the Tigers last week.
Yeah, but can the media household in Michigan hit a home run off professional pitching?
Ten Things I Think I Think
1. I think much has been made of the decline of Jared Allen as a pass-rusher,
I believe Peter has made mention of others seeing Jared Allen as declining, but I haven't seen where "much" has been made of his abilities as a pass rusher declining. Perhaps I'm not reading the right articles, but all I've read is that it wouldn't hurt to have Allen's snaps cut back a little bit. I'm just not sure who Peter believes is making a lot of Jared Allen's decline, because I just haven't read much of it.
2. I think the more I think about Devin Hester on the carpet of Atlanta for eight games (with a ninth at arch-rival New Orleans) the more I think the Falcons made a good signing. His 14.2-yards per punt return last year, when he turned 31, was fourth-best in his career, and only once has he had a better kick-return mark than his 27.6-yards per runback in 2013. If the Falcons limit his touches, he should be a big factor in 2014.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF HESTER'S DECLINE BUT HE HAD HIS SECOND-BEST KICK-RETURN AVERAGE OVER HIS CAREER LAST YEAR!
4. I think I would not be shopping All-Pro guard Evan Mathis if I were Eagles GM Howie Roseman. I’d be shopping for his groceries to convince him to stay for the rest of his career.
Yeah, but what if he has a bad attitude and is reportedly a member of the Dixie Mafia? I think a Philly newspaper needs to start investigating to see if Mathis has a gang affiliation or not.
5. I think Tom Coughlin might be 68, but he talks like a man who wants to coach multiple seasons. “There is no number,” he said when asked how much longer he wants to coach. “I don’t have a number.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see Coughlin, if he wins, coach five more years.
If Coughlin is still the head coach of the Giants in three years, then up and dies during the offseason, Peter will write about how Coughlin was a football guy to the end because he was still watching tape on draft prospects five days before he passed away.
7. I think the oddest thing that came out of the month of March was news that the Saints will spend the first three weeks of training camp this year (except for travel to the first two games) at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The place will install two natural grass fields and one artificial-turf field for the Saints, along with a 55,000-square-foot building for offices, weight room, meetings and locker room. That’s an amazing investment to make, one the Greenbrier probably doesn’t make if it’s only for one season.
Well, if an NFL team wants their players to stay out of trouble then sending their asses to West Virginia isn't a bad idea. They may pass away from boredom or an over-sized pickup truck with mud on the wheels may run them off road, but they won't have a way of getting in trouble. Coal, it's what keeps the lights on you know.
9. I think John Schneider, the real GM, and Kevin Costner, who plays one in a movie coming out April 11, are close to the same guy from what I’ve heard about Draft Day. Costner doesn’t care if he is liked. Sounds familiar.
The family will need those moments in the coming weeks. Today, provided a slight fever is under control by this morning, Kelly begins a regimen of treatment—chemotherapy Monday and Tuesday, radiation Wednesday, Thursday and Friday—designed to stop the cancer that is dangerously close to the carotid artery in his head. It’s too perilous to operate now, even if the cancer that has spread up his infraorbital nerve can be neutralized, because there’s no guarantee all of it can be found and removed.
It’s a complex cancer.
I guess this is as opposed to a non-complex cancer. You know, the easy cancer to figure out.
At times, the support system has him feeling a little guilty. He walks the halls here and sees patients, some very seriously ill, alone. “There’s a lady down the hall,” he said to his brothers the other day. “Anybody visit her? I never see anyone. We should bring her some of my flowers.”
The Kelly family follows that Christian message now. Sometimes, their message and belief is so strong it sounds like a gospel tent in the room.
All this preaching about God and belief in a higher power is really offending Peter's liberal senses. What would Bono do? He'd have faith, but not talk about it unless he wanted a camera crew to follow him as he made a pilgrimage to Africa in order to show everyone what a good and caring person he was. Talk about faith and have a Christian message when in public, but all of this beliefs and faith in private just sounds like something you would hear in a revival tent to Peter.
On Friday night, I put out a message on Twitter to my followers. I asked if any of them had a message to send to Kelly, whose illness has been reported far and wide. I wanted to see what the level of compassion and concern was.
Peter wondered, "Do people give a shit if Jim Kelly has cancer" and the answer may surprise you. People DO care. Perhaps Peter should hit up his Twitter followers for an experimental, expensive treatment to help Kelly and then never update his Twitter followers on whether their donations for the treatment ended up working. I'm still waiting for Peter to announce in MMQB how the experimental treatment for Dr. Z up in Michigan worked out, mostly because a few years ago Peter spent quite a bit of time in MMQB hitting up his readers for money to fund these experimental treatments.
Wrote Rich Gannon (yes, that Rich Gannon): “Please know brother that you remain in our thoughts and prayers. No hill is too tough for a climber like you.”
THAT Rich Gannon? Thanks for telling us it was THAT Rich Gannon, because otherwise if it was just a Rich Gannon who was a normal person these words of encouragement would have meant jackshit. These words obviously mean more coming from a famous ex-athlete.
I read a 15 or 20 of them to Kelly and to the room of Kellys. He took a moment to compose himself.
“Humbling,” said. “Humbling. I had no idea. I mean, I don’t do Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, whatever. But they tell me about it. There’s a lot of ‘Get well, Jim Kelly,’ out there, and I am so appreciative of that. I really don’t know what to say.”
Say anything, but just don't say anything about God because it makes Peter feel uncomfortable. It's like a gospel tent up in here when the Kelly family using faith and their Christian beliefs to get through the cancer diagnosis of Jim Kelly.
After a while, a doctor came in and said she had to clear the room to examine Jim. Camryn and Jill’s mom went to get a bite to eat. The brothers went to relax downstairs in a waiting room. Jill and Erin adjourned to a waiting room down the hall that they’ve filled with inspirational Bible verses
(Peter rolls his eyes)
(“The Lord is my helper … I will not be afraid”).
Peter believes those are lyrics to a U2 song, but he can't remember right now which one.
Earlier this month, when Jim and Jill Kelly had a moment alone, and they were digesting the news that the insidious cancer inside Jim’s face and head had returned with a vengeance, they began reflecting. When they reflect, the subject is often their late son Hunter, who died at 8 of a rare nervous system disease in 2005.
“Well,” Jim said, “I know where my son is, in heaven. And I’ll probably see him before you.”
Boy, Peter really brought the tone down in this MMQB. Rick Reilly should be embarrassed that he can't do personal interest stories like this one anymore.
But the thought is unavoidable. The reality of their lives, all of their lives, is that Jim Kelly is fighting for his. He’s in the best hands he can be, and all they all can do is hope, and pray, that modern science works, and these microscopic cancer cells don’t continue the march to Jim Kelly’s brain.
Snark aside, best wishes to Jim Kelly. I'd like to get back to mocking Peter King for what he writes in MMQB though. I'm here to be snarky and it's impossible to be snarky about cancer.
A very busy week, and weekend, in the life of the NFL, and a sad Sunday for me. My brother Ken died suddenly of a heart attack in a small village in England, and I’ll tell you a bit about him in a few paragraphs. Most of the following was written before I got the phone call, so here it is.
Man, Ralph Wilson hasn't even been brought up yet. This is quite the downer of a MMQB. By the way, this is the second King brother who has died of a heart attack. I mean, Peter needs to skip the colonoscopy exam and make sure he's getting his heart checked every six months.
If history is a judge, I would expect owner Dan Snyder and GM Bruce Allen to put on the hard sell to sign Jackson when he arrives in Virginia late today—or at least sometime before he leaves for his second meeting somewhere in the NFL. Snyder is a gambler.
Which is why Snyder is so sensitive to the needs and wants of the Native American community. He loves to visit their casinos, being the gambler that he is.
He does not like to lose players he wants, and why would he not be aggressive in pursuing Jackson? Washington is $7 million under the cap—not a lot of dough, but consider that its three best offensive weapons now (Pierre Garçon, Alfred Morris and newly signed wideout Andre Roberts) count for a reasonable $12.55 million on the cap this year.
That's good news. And I know Morris isn't going to want a new contract soon, so his cap figure is sure to never go up. Plus, the benefit of trading that first round pick for Robert Griffin is the Redskins don't have to pay a first round draft pick. What a wonderful situation for them to be in!
This is contingent, of course, on Allen and coach Jay Gruden and Washington assistants asking around about Jackson’s attitude, work ethic and off-field stuff.
Well, it is Dan Snyder so I'm not entirely sure he will ask important questions like:
1. Should we do research on Jackson's attitude and work ethic?
2. What are the salary cap ramifications?
3. Does he fit the offense Jay Gruden wants to run?
4. Does Jay Gruden or Bruce Allen want Jackson?
I can see Allen, as good a contract-writer as there is in the business, putting in enough insurance to protect Washington—and I also think Allen will be the calming influence on Snyder so the owner doesn’t throw so much money at Jackson to prevent him from seeking other options. And there will be more suitors.
You have to love it when the General Manager of a team has to be the calming influence to prevent the owner from wildly spending money.
So what happened in Philadelphia? I don’t think there was one specific event. I think there was a feeling internally in Philadelphia that Jackson should have been one of the team leaders, and an argument on the sideline would crop up, and he wasn’t the best work ethic guy, and I always got the feeling that old and new administrations weren’t crazy about Jackson being in position to influence some of the younger players on the team.
So a story that DeSean Jackson may have been a part of a gang just happened to coincide with Jackson being released, which made it seem as if these two events were related in some way. Couldn't the Eagles have at least just released Jackson without a good reason like the Panthers did Steve Smith? That worked out so much better for Carolina in the Charlotte area with picketing and immature idiots saying they wouldn't ever support the team again. Why attempt to defame Jackson when you can just release Jackson and then have everyone freak out no reason was given?
But I want to stress that I don’t think this was a Kelly decision alone. I think this was organizational, brought on some by the negative publicity that came with the damaging NJ.com article released Friday.
The Eagles definitely had bad timing to release Jackson so soon after the article about his gang ties was read by so much of the Interwebs.
Just my feeling, because neither Kelly nor GM Howie Roseman were talking over the weekend, but I’d bet a lot that the Eagles, once the NJ.com story got out, didn’t know if there was going to be more bad stuff coming out on Jackson, and didn’t want any team coming back to them saying, “What were you hiding?” Plus, no team would have given anything for Jackson after that story hit the internet Friday—even though there was nothing damning in it, just a lot of smoke.
I personally find it hard to believe that no NFL teams would have given something, anything for DeSean Jackson after that story broke over the Internet. I could be wrong, but considering how quickly teams were on Jackson after he was released I can't imagine the smoke around him (without any real hard proof) wouldn't have deterred a team from giving up even a late-round draft choice for him.
More than a few people at the NFL meetings in Orlando took note of how engaged New England coach Bill Belichick—not normally a big speaker at league meetings—acted in the discussion on instant replay. Belichick believes every call should be replay review-able, and I’m told he gave a reasoned, cogent explanation of his position to the league when the matter was discussed last week. “Let’s open it up,” he said—meaning let’s allow any call to be reviewed.
More plays would be reviewable, which means coaches would have to be more judicious with when they throw the challenge flag, though this would also mean there are more reviews. So as long as the NFL is fine with more reviews occurring I see no issue with any play being eligible for review.
There were 1.65 replay reviews per game last season. Even if that were to go up to, say, 2.65 per game with the Belichick initiative, I don’t see much time being added to the average length of games, because most of the reviews (65 percent last year, officiating czar Dean Blandino said) can be done in conjunction with TV timeouts.
Well, this is assuming the new replay system where two guys in the league office are able to review the play during the TV timeout really does decrease the amount of time needed to ensure the proper call was made. Reviews can be done under the old system during TV timeouts as well, but it often took more time than just a TV timeout to review the play. I do see time being added to the average length of games because if the replay reviews are going to increase by one replay review per game then for no time to be added to the average length of the game the replay review time will almost have to be halved. Even with the league office reviewing replays I'm not sure I can see this happening.
And some movement on the PAT too. Good idea by Competition Committee member and noted conservative-football guy Mike Brown of the Bengals: Put all conversion tries at the one-yard line. The kick would be a piece of cake, of course, but the shorter distance would motivate more teams to go for a two-point conversion. A team with a power running attack or a great spread scheme might be emboldened to go for two consistently.
I don't believe moving the two-point conversion up one yard is going to make a huge difference in the number of teams that choose to go for two. I could be wrong, but head coaches are going to get an easy PAT attempt which will tempt them to be conservative. I find it hard to believe the same coaches who are currently too conservative to go for a two-point conversion on the two-yard line would suddenly start going for it on the one-yard line. The distance is only shorter by three feet anyway.
Denver coach John Fox said “high on his list,” when his team gets back together in April, will be talking to the group about locker-room inclusiveness. “I thought [Davis’ talk] was the most incredible thing I’ve seen here [at a league meeting], and I’ve been coming to these a long time.”
I think a lecture on inclusiveness will immediately convert those people who don't believe homosexuals have a place in an NFL locker room. Of course years of believing in excluding a certain group of people can be immediately changed by a lecture about how inclusiveness is the best way to succeed.
Divining the Draft. The five teams that intrigue me—for movement possibilities and volume—in the wake of the release of the official draft order the other day:
Cleveland. With eight picks in the top 150 (4, 26, 35, 71, 83, 106, 127 and 145), Browns GM Ray Farmer can surely move around with that fourth overall pick if there’s one player he can’t do without. If Farmer wants Sammy Watkins or Jadeveon Clowney or one of the two great tackles, no question he has the draft-pick currency to do it.
Because I think the Browns need to be moving up in the draft to get Clowney or Watkins, rather than using this "currency" to get a quarterback to throw the ball to Watkins. Also, if I'm the Browns I'm not entirely sure I'm spending draft picks as opposed to using these draft picks to improve the team at multiple positions.
St. Louis.
This is your weekly reminder the Rams have a wonderful draft strategy yet again that will immediately lead to Jeff "8-8" Fisher turning this team around. Just give him 2-3 more years and the Rams are going to be built for success.
The Rams are open for business,
Much like how Peter used his affiliation with Marvin Demoff, he's trying to help Marvin's son out by getting some action on that #2 overall pick. Really, it's part of Peter's job to drum up some business for the Rams when he can. But don't worry, Peter plays it coy. The Rams are open for business, but they totally have an eye on a player or two in that #2 overall spot, so better make those trade offers to St. Louis quick because they are open to trading the pick but want to keep it also.
I get the feeling we are going to get a lot of Peter trying to drum up business for that #2 overall pick of the Rams over the next month.
with an extra first-round pick again (they pick at 2, 13, 44 and 75 on the first two days), but this might be the year they sit and take one of the two top tackles and be thankful that Washington (from whom they got the No. 2 pick) was so bad last fall.
Yeah, the Rams might use that pick. So NFL teams looking to trade up better make your best offer now rather than wait. Let's get a bidding war going so the Rams can get better value ou---I mean, let's have Peter convey this information to his readers and the NFL executives who read MMQB without any type of bias or ulterior motive.
Kenny King, 1949-2014.
My brother died Sunday, doing what he absolutely loved to do. He was 64, recently retired, a walkaholic, and he and his wife, Jane, were walking in a small village in England—where they lived—and he stumbled and fell. He said he didn’t feel well. An ambulance was called. On the way to the hospital his heart stopped, and the medics in the ambulance couldn’t make it start again.
Sad face for Peter. His brother was a Yankees fan and did not like coffee. I'm not entirely sure Kenny King was really Peter's brother. I wonder if Kenny King loved to travel and enjoyed meeting quirky people? If so, I think a DNA test would be required to prove he and Peter were related.
“I like tradition. But the extra point is so boring.”
—The late Bills owner Ralph Wilson, to club CEO Russ Brandon not long before he died.
OMG! That's exactly how Peter King feels about the extra point too! Ralph Wilson is a traditionalist who doesn't think the extra point is great. A traditionalist agrees with Peter, so this means getting rid of the extra point is completely the right choice for the NFL to make, even if no other acceptable alternative seems to have been proposed at this point outside of "Move the two-point conversion up one yard and then this will definitely make a huge difference in how many teams choose to go for two."
One of the reasons the NFL knows it has to do something about the ease of kicking is the man Pittsburgh has kicking: Shaun Suisham. Take a look:
Suisham made 96.3 percent of all kicks (131-136) over the past two years. The breakdown: 73 of 73 extra points and 58 of 63 field goals.
He is perfect in 29 of his last 32 games.
Suisham is no one’s choice as the best kicker in football.
It's really irrelevant who would choose Suisham as the best kicker in football.
The point is, if Shaun Suisham is a 92-percent field-goal kicker over two seasons, and has to boot his home kicks in an unfriendly stadium for kickers (Heinz Field, Pittsburgh), you know kickers are getting so good the league has to do something to try to make it tougher for them, either on extra points or field goals or both.
Part of me wonders why it is such a bad thing that NFL kickers are getting better at their job? If quarterbacks or receivers get better at their job then would the NFL make it harder to complete passes? Actually, through the defensive rule changes the NFL has done the opposite. I understand the PAT is boring, but I think it's sort of counter intuitive to narrow the goal posts because kickers are getting better at their job. No other position is being made more difficult in response to modern NFL players becoming better at increasing their percentage of success at that position.
From the Football Guy Till The End Dept.:
Five days before he died, Ralph Wilson called club CEO Russ Brandon to be briefed on the bylaws and rules proposals due to be discussed at the NFL meetings in Florida.
Considering Ralph Wilson was still the owner and couldn't have predicted he would die five days later I'm not sure how shocking this is. Wilson probably assumed he would have to know something about the bylaws and rule proposals, because he assumed he would still be alive for them to affect his team. Maybe Peter thought Ralph Wilson was going to predict his date of death?
“Miguel Cabrera will earn $49,423 PER AT BAT over the next decade. Median annual income of a household in Michigan: $48,471.”
—@darrenrovell, the ESPN sports business reporter, after Cabrera signed a new deal with the Tigers last week.
Yeah, but can the media household in Michigan hit a home run off professional pitching?
Ten Things I Think I Think
1. I think much has been made of the decline of Jared Allen as a pass-rusher,
I believe Peter has made mention of others seeing Jared Allen as declining, but I haven't seen where "much" has been made of his abilities as a pass rusher declining. Perhaps I'm not reading the right articles, but all I've read is that it wouldn't hurt to have Allen's snaps cut back a little bit. I'm just not sure who Peter believes is making a lot of Jared Allen's decline, because I just haven't read much of it.
2. I think the more I think about Devin Hester on the carpet of Atlanta for eight games (with a ninth at arch-rival New Orleans) the more I think the Falcons made a good signing. His 14.2-yards per punt return last year, when he turned 31, was fourth-best in his career, and only once has he had a better kick-return mark than his 27.6-yards per runback in 2013. If the Falcons limit his touches, he should be a big factor in 2014.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF HESTER'S DECLINE BUT HE HAD HIS SECOND-BEST KICK-RETURN AVERAGE OVER HIS CAREER LAST YEAR!
4. I think I would not be shopping All-Pro guard Evan Mathis if I were Eagles GM Howie Roseman. I’d be shopping for his groceries to convince him to stay for the rest of his career.
Yeah, but what if he has a bad attitude and is reportedly a member of the Dixie Mafia? I think a Philly newspaper needs to start investigating to see if Mathis has a gang affiliation or not.
5. I think Tom Coughlin might be 68, but he talks like a man who wants to coach multiple seasons. “There is no number,” he said when asked how much longer he wants to coach. “I don’t have a number.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see Coughlin, if he wins, coach five more years.
If Coughlin is still the head coach of the Giants in three years, then up and dies during the offseason, Peter will write about how Coughlin was a football guy to the end because he was still watching tape on draft prospects five days before he passed away.
7. I think the oddest thing that came out of the month of March was news that the Saints will spend the first three weeks of training camp this year (except for travel to the first two games) at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The place will install two natural grass fields and one artificial-turf field for the Saints, along with a 55,000-square-foot building for offices, weight room, meetings and locker room. That’s an amazing investment to make, one the Greenbrier probably doesn’t make if it’s only for one season.
Well, if an NFL team wants their players to stay out of trouble then sending their asses to West Virginia isn't a bad idea. They may pass away from boredom or an over-sized pickup truck with mud on the wheels may run them off road, but they won't have a way of getting in trouble. Coal, it's what keeps the lights on you know.
9. I think John Schneider, the real GM, and Kevin Costner, who plays one in a movie coming out April 11, are close to the same guy from what I’ve heard about Draft Day. Costner doesn’t care if he is liked. Sounds familiar.
"Draft Day," and I'm going to avoid mincing words here, looks absolutely fucking terrible and cheesy. It's a love story AND a fairy tale version of an NFL front office. You mean Kevin Costner is in the movie and it's not the early 90's? How quickly can I stand in line to see it?
10. I think these are my non-football thoughts of the week:
a. Hooray! Baseball starts in full today!
Oh good, baseball thoughts from Peter King. Yippee!
b. What other player could have made $144 million by age 29 and then hit
free agency in his prime? Mike Trout’s going to do that, if his health
cooperates.
Miguel Cabrera signed an 8 year deal in 2008 when he was 24 years old for $153 million. He would have been a free agent at the age of 32. Freddie Freeman also signed an 8 year deal for $135 million and will be a free agent at the age of 32. Clayton Kershaw will have made $215 million from his current contract when he is a free agent at the age of 32. So the answer is nobody that I can think of right now. Of course, if Trout keeps eating 36 ounce steaks then he has a better chance of being 144 pounds overweight at his 29th birthday than he has of getting another huge payday in free agency.
c. My picks: American League division winners: Tampa Bay, Detroit,
Oakland. Wild Cards: Boston, Cleveland. AL champ: Oakland … National
League division winners: Atlanta, St. Louis, Arizona. Wild Cards: Los
Angeles, Cincinnati. NL champs: St. Louis. World Series champ: Oakland.
So feel free to pick the exact opposite teams that Peter has picked here. I'm not sure what the exact opposite of these teams are, so maybe just guessing a winner from the remaining teams in each division is a better choice if you want to choose the division winners from each league correctly.
d. MVPs: Dustin Pedroia, Boston; Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona … Cy Young: Masahiro Tanaka, New York; Alex Wood, Atlanta
I can't believe Peter picked a Red Sox to win the MVP. Shocking. More importantly, Alex Wood to win the Cy Young award. That's interesting to say the least.
e. Grady Sizemore starts in center field today for Boston in the opener
at Camden Yards. Amazing story. Sizemore’s last baseball game: Sept. 22,
2011. That’s 30 months ago.
This is Peter naively getting overly-excited about Grady Sizemore playing center field for his beloved Red Sox. It does make sense that a person who thinks Alex Wood is going to win the NL Cy Young award would also get very excited and be let down if Grady Sizemore doesn't crack 100 games played.
g. Just wanted you to recall how great Sizemore once was. Not Pujols great, of course, but pretty good. He’s still just 31.
He's still just 31 years old and has had seven somewhat major injuries during his career and hasn't played a game in over two years. So being "just" 31 years old also means Sizemore has suffered quite a few injuries without the injuries traditionally attributed to age.
(And of course I write this and Sizemore had a great opening day. He can play, I just wonder if he can stay healthy)
(And of course I write this and Sizemore had a great opening day. He can play, I just wonder if he can stay healthy)
h. Houston manager Bo Porter is an interesting story. He played
cornerback at Iowa under Hayden Fry. He once got a hit off Dwight
Gooden. He’s a Newark guy who loves Bill Parcells.
God, he sounds riveting.
I hope I didn't offend Peter by writing "God." Don't worry there's no gospel tent revival happening over here or anything.
i. The Dodgers will begin their fourth game of the season Tuesday at
3:40 p.m. in San Diego. At that time, the Yankees and Astros will not
have played a regular-season game.
Thanks Gregg Easterbrook.
m. The 5.5-minute delay at the end of Arizona-Wisconsin? Intolerable.
You don’t delay a game for that length of time to look at replays. You
just don’t.
But they did. They just did.
n. Coffeenerdness: Gotta do better on the coffee, McDonald’s. Tried you two times in Florida last week. Way, way too weak.
Yeah, fuck you McDonald's. Good luck making profit without having Peter's business.
q. With regard to Jerry Remy’s job status as the color man in the TV
booth for the Red Sox, he should not lose his job because his son is a
psychopath who is charged with murdering the mother of their child. Even
if Jerry Remy is somehow at fault for his son’s wayward life, you don’t
fire an announcer because his son’s an idiot, even a murderous idiot.
But it's okay to fire a football player because he has a friend who is a murderous idiot, yet wasn't convicted of murder.
The Adieu Haiku
Who wants ex-Eagle?
DeSean, Decker and the Jets:
Perfect together.
With Mike Vick throwing them the football, what could go wrong?
Who wants ex-Eagle?
DeSean, Decker and the Jets:
Perfect together.
With Mike Vick throwing them the football, what could go wrong?
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
4 comments J.S.' NFL Power Rankings: Week Sixteen
LOL, I just watched a show where Skip Bayless and Jemele Hill were debating sports. If that's not the definition of LOL I don't know what is. He's here saying Brian Dawkins was the engine of those wins, fucking Brian Dawkins! 38 year old Brian Dawkins! Has he not watched football in four years? And it's just so disingenuous. This is the Tebow guy! God I hate my life.
1 - GREEN BAY (-)
14-1, 1st NFC NORTH
W 35-21 vCHI, next vDET
Their defense, while not good, is not New England level bad, and they do generate turnovers (2 in this game, 34 this year, second in the NFL). It's their offense I'm more concerned about. Obviously it's still excellent (five passing TDs) but it hasn't looked quite as invincible the last few weeks. The 14 points against Kansas City, for much of the first half here they were mortal, the first half against Detroit, the Tampa game. Green Bay need to be almost perfect on offense to be the presumptive favourite that they have been all year, and I am not sure their offense is playing perfectly. They are still clearly #1, but they are closer to the field than they were after Week Ten.
2 - NEW ORLEANS (-)
12-3, 1st NFC SOUTH
W 45-16 vATL, next vCAR
Honestly, I think turnovers are all that keeps New Orleans out of the number one slot. They are clearly the best offensive team in the league. And really, it is all about the offensive line. Brees is great, but he has a fucking age behind Nicks and Evans. All the backs, how do you deal with everyone? Yes, the receivers aren't as good as Green Bay, but the extra offensive support is all that's stopping Brees from MVP this year for me. New Orleans had 7.1 YPC against one of the best run defenses in the NFL this year.
3 - BALTIMORE (-)
11-4, T-1st AFC NORTH
W 20-14 vCLE, next @CIN
Joe Flacco is getting worse and worse. Was reduced to 11/24 for 132 yards here, albeit with 2TDs and a pick. The AFC will be a question of what is better to have in the playoffs - a bad quarterback or a bad defense? That seems something of an obvious question but...
4 - NEW ENGLAND (-)
12-3, 1st AFC EAST
W 27-24 vMIA, next vBUF
It's amazing this team could be the #1 seed in the AFC with that defense...it's really, really bad.
5 - SAN FRANCISCO (+1)
12-3, 1st NFC WEST
W 19-17 @SEA, next @STL
The danger of San Francisco's slowpoke offense was on display in this game - they take so long to move the ball they just don't get a lot of possessions, and they don't get many points even when they move the ball because of their abysmal red zone offense. They had the ball just four times in the first half and got just three points out of it. Despite scoring on four of their last six drives, they were only just able to sneak by the Seahawks thanks to a fumble. If they turn the ball over at all in the playoffs they are toast - their margin for error is paper thin.
6 - PITTSBURGH (+1)
11-4, T-1st AFC NORTH
W 27-0 vSTL, next @CLE
Have held their opponents to single figures in four of their last five games. Conceded an impossibly low 68 yards passing in this game. It's taken them a while, but they are at least a fringe contender.
7 - HOUSTON (-2)
10-5, 1st AFC SOUTH
L 16-19 @IND, next vTEN
Well, if you're looking for the reason why they lost this game, look at the second half defense. Indy ran 38 plays in the second half for 204 yards. I feel for Houston without so many of their best players but there's just not enough offense here to rely on a good but not great defense, particulary in the pass rush. It does seem like they are first round fodder.
8 - DETROIT (+2)
10-5, 2nd NFC NORTH
W 38-10 vSD, next @GB
Matt Stafford (29/36 ! for 373 yards and three touchdowns) is on fucking fire of late. He has thrown for 9 TDs and no INTs in his last three matches, with 991 yards of passing. He's completed 69% or more of his passes in six of his last eight games, and with Calvin (4 catches for 102 yards and a TD) looking back to himself and Detroit putting together a rare complete game, they are an intriguing proposition in a stacked NFC.
9 - ATLANTA (-1)
9-6, 2nd NFC SOUTH
L 16-45 @NO, next vTB
A good, solid NFL team that has negative 20% chance of winning the NFC. That fact was exposed Monday night. Appeared to have regressed since their last meeting against New Orleans, but then again, that was in Georgia. They are 4-4 on the road this year where they will be playing all their playoff games.
10 - GIANTS (+2)
8-7, T-1st NFC EAST
W 29-14 @NYJ, next vDAL
Got away with one here, as the NFC East took yet another sharp turn to the left in its turbulent recent history. Didn't particulary play well, Manning completed just 33% of his throws (9/27 for 225 yards, that included a quick out to Victor Cruz who broke two tackles to take it 99 yards) but unlike previous trysts, that was not a death sentence to them. Exchanged 18 punts in total with the Jets in a game that was frequently difficult to watch. Will need to play better next week against the Cowboys to win the division.
11 - DALLAS (-1)
8-7, T-1st NFC EAST
L 7-20 vPHI, next @NYG
These teams in the NFC East seem to hate success. Both the Giants and Cowboys could have put this division to bed, but all the better for us as we have a pure elimination game to end the season. This will be fucking cool. Both of these teams are very flawed, as basically everyone knows, but after watching them play fifteen games, I feel the Giants are a much better team, who have dealt with a far more challenging schedule. Doesn't mean they will win, but a banged up Romo (again) doesn't help Dallas' chances.
12 - JETS (-3)
8-7, 2nd AFC EAST
L 14-29 vNYG, next @MIA
The Jets ran 89 offensive plays in this game. 89! No shit! Their 331 yards doesn't look nearly as impressive in that light (3.72 yards per play) and was actually less than the Giants had (by a symbolic single yard). They actually had a decent game rushing (105 yards on 25 carries) so the finger of accusation will again be pointed at Sanchez (30/59 for just 226 yards, two TDs, one rushing and two picks). From what I saw, it should be directed instead at the receivers. I know they have the names and reputations of being good, but Holmes and Burress (who I have defended on this blog before and generally a big fan) both were terrible, dropping passes left and right and doing their QB no favours. I found myself asking for someone, anyone, to make a play receiving the ball, this was not all on Sanchez. Their lack of playmaking at receiver may cost them a playoff spot. They need both Oakland, Tennessee and Cincinnati to lose next week, and they obviously need to win themselves. Doesn't seem likely.
13 - CINCINNATI (+4)
9-6, 3rd AFC NORTH
W 23-16 vARI, next vBAL
Cincy have shown that you can make the playoffs in the AFC simply by not losing games you have no business losing. They have beaten Cleveland (twice), Buffalo, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Arizona for seven of their nine wins. The other two are hardly major scalps either in Seattle and Tennessee. They have lost in every test of their being anything more than an average team - Houston, San Francisco, Pittsburgh twice and Baltimore. If they can prove they are something more than what they have seemed over sixteen weeks and beat Baltimore, they will have earned their playoff position.
14 - SEATTLE (+1)
7-8, T-2nd NFC WEST
L 17-19 vSF, next @ARI
Special teams continues to be a strength for this team, with a key blocked punt nearly powering an upset victory. Marshawn Lynch not only continued his revival with 107 yards on 21 carries, but also broke San Francisco's season long shutout on rushing touchdowns.
15 - OAKLAND (+8)
8-7, T-1st AFC WEST
W 16-13 (OT) @KC, next vSD
I will say this about the Raiders, they know who they are. Palmer (16/26 for 237 yards, a TD and 2 picks) completed passes of 61 and 53 yards, the former leading to their only TD of the game. They have speed outside and live or die by it, as their running game (2.8 YPC against the Chiefs) is a shadow of its former self without McFadden.
16 - DENVER (-2)
8-7, T-1st AFC WEST
L 14-40 @BUF, next vKC
Say what you want, but Tim Tebow just wins games in the fourth quarter. With the game in the balance at 23-14 in the fourth, Tebow (7/17 104 yards with two interceptions) stepped up and drove Buffalo to victory.
17 - SAN DIEGO (-4)
7-8, 3rd AFC WEST
L 10-38 @DET, next @OAK
Choked.
18 - TENNESSEE (-)
8-7, 2nd AFC SOUTH
W 23-17 vJAX, next @HOU
Where did this Jared Cook come from? He has 17 receptions for 272 yards in his last two games. Tennessee's ability to remain competitive in the passing game without Kenny Britt has really been one of the more surprising things about this season.
19 - CAROLINA (+1)
6-9, 3rd NFC SOUTH
W 48-16 vTB, next @NO
The only rookie quarterbacks I could find with a higher passer rating than Newton (85.0) were Roethlisberger, Marino and Ryan. And none, quite obviously, rushed for nearly 700 yards and 14 (yes, fourteen) touchdowns. Just sayin'.
20 - PHILADELPHIA (+1)
7-8, 3rd NFC EAST
W 20-7 @DAL, next vWAS
A healthy Mike Vick (18/32 for 293 yards and a TD) might have been enough this year, but it's not like injuries to him were unforeseeable five months ago. This defense did what it promised to do - get the the quarterback (49 sacks, tops in the NFL). Sure the run defense (18th) was below average and even the general pass defense wasn't that good, but the idea was big plays on both sides of the ball. The defense did their bit, and even their yardage numbers are skewed by how often they were put on the field by turnovers. Philadelphia's 36 was worst in the league and that and Vick's spotty health are the true culprits for this most dissapointing season.
21 - ARIZONA (-5)
7-8, T-2nd NFC WEST
L 16-23 @CIN, next vSEA
The John Skelton experience finally ran out of steam. Arizona were beaten by a bigger margin than the score suggests; Cincinnati scored the first 23 points straight and the Cardinals did not get on the board until the fourth quarter. Their offensive line allowed five sacks and fifteen total hits in all.
22 - WASHINGTON (-3)
5-10, 4th NFC EAST
L 26-33 vMIN, next @PHI
Quite an entertaining game of football, considering the quality of the two teams. Let's just be glad the John Beck era is behind us, as Grossman (26/41 for 284 yards and 2TDs, 1INT) has proven this year that he is probably the bare minimum standard of quarterbacking to even give the illusion of running a real offense. Brandon Banks leads the league in kicking return yards.
23 - MIAMI (-1)
5-10, 4th AFC EAST
L 24-27 @NE, next vNYJ
Held the Patriots offense to 0 points, 4 first downs and 102 yards in the first half. They were unable to maintain the intensity as the Patriots piled on 298 second half yards, 50 plays and an unbelievable 22 first downs. The Patriots scored on every second half possession until the end of the game.
24 - BUFFALO (+3)
6-9, 3rd AFC EAST
W 40-14 vDEN, next @NE
C.J. Spiller (111 yards on just 16 carries) is having a strong run at the end of the season. I'm not sure I believe in the Jackson hype, but if he can run with anything like the strength he showed at the start of this season, the Bills will have a two headed monster at running back. God knows they won't have a quarterback (Fitzpatrick 15/27 for 196 yards, no TDs). Seeing Buffalo come up with four picks made me nostalgic for those September days when they were intecepting anyone who dared have the temerity to throw. Buffalo also enjoyed a banner day on special teams, McKelvin returned a punt for a TD and two others for a combined 55 yards. They averaged 33.7 yards on kick returns and Brian Moorman averaged over 50 yards a punt.
25 - KANSAS CITY(-1)
6-9, 4th AFC WEST
L 13-16 (OT) vOAK, next @DEN
In a game spotted by 21 penalties and incredibly, not a single sack, Kyle Orton looked much more human (21/36 for 300 yards a TD and two interceptions) than last week. Even solid rushing support (over fifty yards each from Jones and Battle at over 4YPC) was not enough to generate the necessary offense.
26 - MINNESOTA (+2)
3-12, 4th NFC NORTH
W 33-26 @WAS, next vCHI
This is pretty amazing; Minnesota had 241 rushing yards on 38 attempts, not surprising in itself, but it's fucking incredible when you consider Adrian Peterson was the weak link, accruing just 38 on 12 carries. He then missed the rest of the game (ACL) and is doubtful for the start of next season. Minnesota have a potentially fascinating decision to make early next year. While I have defended Ponder and he is likely to keep the job, a Joe Webb (4/5 for 84 yards and 2TDs, 5 rushes for 34 yards) offense could be an enthralling experiment. Could they even try a platoon long term next year?
27 - CHICAGO (-2)
7-8, 3rd NFC NORTH
L 21-35 @GB, next @MIN
McCown (19/28 for 242 yards, a late touchdown and two interceptions) was better than Hanie, but only just. The receivers still can't get seperation consistently. That's priority number one for the Bears this offseason, now that their offensive line problems are more or less behind them. The Bears conceded no sacks and only two hits against a ferocious pass rushing team. They have shut a few teams out sack wise this year and are up to below average and getting better. Get Forte and Cutler back, add a decent receiver (I'm still confused by the Olsen trade) and this is a playoff team.
28 - JACKSONVILLE (-2)
4-11, 3rd AFC SOUTH
L 17-23 @TEN, next vIND
Blaine Gabbert (21/42 for 198 yards and a pick) threw for 20 completions for just the second time this year. Think about that. Also, his one defense, that he didn't throw interceptions, no longer applies, he has thrown at least one in each of his last five starts.
29 - CLEVELAND (-)
4-11, 4th AFC NORTH
L 14-20 @BAL, next vPIT
Still Cleveland.
30 - TAMPA BAY (-)
4-11, 4th NFC SOUTH
L 16-48 @CAR, next @ATL
Tampa have conceded 31 points or more in six of their last seven contests. They have 24 turnovers in those games. If that was the total for the entire year, it would rank 11th highest in the NFL.
31 - INDIANAPOLIS (+1)
2-13, 4th AFC SOUTH
W 19-16 vHOU, next @JAX
I have been doing my homework on draft order tiebreakers, and the bad news for the Colts is that they have had a harder schedule than the Rams (even when factoring in the Rams have the Niners next week and the Colts just the Jaguars). Again, this may be a blessing in disguise (as is Barkley's staying in school), as they may not waste a pick on a player who plays the same position as the greatest player ever at the position, who is also on the roster.
32 - ST. LOUIS (-1)
2-13, 4th NFC WEST
L 0-27 @PIT, next vSF
What are they going to do with the first pick?
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
6 comments J.S.' NFL Power Rankings: Week Thirteen
After a frustrating first three quarters of the season, where only Green Bay looked remotely elite, the cream is beginning to rise to the top in the NFL. Green Bay have obviously been good from start to finish (if anything, the undefeated pressure seems to be wearing on them slightly recently in games against Tampa and the Giants), but the second tier is firming.
New Orleans and New England have won four in a row. Pittsburgh have won seven of their past eight and Houston has won six in a row. Those four teams once sported mediocre records of 5-3, 2-2 and 3-3.
Meanwhile, teams such as Buffalo (once 4-1), Cincinnati (6-2), Detroit (5-0) and yes, the Giants (6-2) have not coped well at all with the increasing difficulty in their schedule.
Penalties were the theme of Week Thirteen in the NFL, here's a closer look.
1 - GREEN BAY (-)
12-0, 1st NFC NORTH
W 38-35 @NYG, next vOAK
What do you have to do to beat these guys? The Giants had an astronomical 7.33 yards per play and still Green Bay won - on the road.
2 - NEW ORLEANS (-)
9-3, 1st NFC NORTH
W 31-17 vDET, next @TEN
After the Saints led 10-0, you honestly could feel them taking this game over. A Lions defense missing Suh, Delmas and Houston was just powerless to stop them from scoring whenever they wanted.
3 - NEW ENGLAND (-)
9-3, 1st AFC EAST
W 31-24 vIND, next @WAS
New England's secondary allowed Indianapolis to pass for 338 yards and a 113.1 QB rating. That's 80 more yards than the Colts had thrown for in any game all year (the QB rating was bested by Painter against the Chiefs, but otherwise, no Colt had got within 13 of it). The secondary is that bad folks.
4 - BALTIMORE (-)
9-3, T-1st AFC NORTH
W 21-10 @CLE, next vIND
Joe Flacco, still having a terrible season. Baltimore had less than half first downs passing (7) as rushing (16) and Flacco was 10/23 for 166 yards for a 66.9 rating - and lost a fumble. His QB rating this season is 78.3 - down more than 15 points from last year.
5 - PITTSBURGH (-)
9-3, T-1st AFC NORTH
W 35-7 vCIN, next vCLE
Slowly, at times frustratingly slowly, but surely, Pittsburgh have fixed their problems from a horror start. First it was run defense, which they have gotten down to 4.0 YPC after giving up 4.8YPC through their first four games. Then it was the turnovers. After a criminally low three in their first eight games, they have nine in their last four. Now it's the running game, with Mendenhall and Redman helping the Steelers to 136 yards here against the #3 rushing defense (3.6YPC). The special teams had a just about perfect game, blocking a kick, forcing a turnover and Brown returned a punt for a TD. By the way, when Antonio Brown is not returning punts for TDs, he's leading the Steelers in receiving, something he has done in four straight games. As I've said before, I am an enormous fan. My concerns come from their 1-3 record against top ten teams (and that doesn't include the Saints or Packers, clearly the best two in the NFL through 13 weeks IMO), and the San Fran tussle will be telling for both teams, but the Steelers are looming on the horizon for the rest of the NFL.
6 - HOUSTON (+1)
9-3, 1st AFC SOUTH
W 17-10 vATL, next @CIN
At some point, I feel you need to buy into this Texans' defense. I have, absolutely - it's top five. It closes on the ball better than anyone, and I mean any defense in the NFL. That's a good Atlanta offense they held to ten points. Houston are 2nd in YPA (6.0), 2nd in INTs (17), 2nd in sacks (35), 1st in completion percentage (50.2%), 1st in QB rating (62.1, 5.5 better than #2 Baltimore). Their ranks in those categories last year - 31st, 23rd, 23rd, 27th, 32nd (32nd to 1st in opposing QB rating!!!). It's astonishing they are able to do this without Williams. Andre Johnson looked great here with 97 yards on four catches...and then went down. T.J. Yates was...well... If nothing else, you have to admire these guys toughness.
7 - SAN FRANCISCO (+1)
10-2, 1st NFC WEST
W 26-0 vSTL, next @ARI
Woah! Look at Alex Smith throwing like a real QB, connecting on TD throws of 52 and 56 yards, stunningly. Sure, St. Louis is not the gold standard of pass defense, but even so - Alex Smith! Holding Steven Jackson to 19 yards on ten carries is impressive - period.
8 - ATLANTA (-2)
7-5, 2nd NFC SOUTH
L 10-17 @HOU, next @CAR
The Texans are tied for second in the league in terms of conceding sacks (16), and their elite offensive line was always going to seriously challenge the Falcons much maligned pass rush. Houston won that battle (5 total hits) and consequently the war. Yates committed only one turnover, on a terrible call as a "fumble" on what was clearly an incomplete pass. Credit also goes to the Texans crowd who were super loud here, Ryan was barking all day trying to work out plays at the line of scrimmage, causing false starts and delay of game penalties. Atlanta once again proving their critics right in their inability to win consistently outside the Georgia Dome.
9 - JETS (+1)
7-5, 2nd AFC EAST
W 34-19 @WAS, next vKC
Obviously the Eagles run away with the most dissapointing trophy, but the Jets have only gone backwards in the last four weeks, despite a 2-2 record. The wins are against the Skins and Bills, who collectively are 3-13 in their last 8 combined. The scoreline here was grossly misleading - it was 16-13 to the Skins with 5 minutes left. They lost to a Denver team who can't throw the ball and were slaughtered by the Patriots. Losses by the Bills and Cincy, both of whom are fading, means they need only elbow their way past Tennessee. The Titans still must play New Orleans and Houston. Mind you, the Jets still have Miami on the schedule - does anyone really believe the Jets are better than the Fins right now? I am officially off the bandwagon, playoffs or otherwise. I was wrong, they just aren't good.
10 - GIANTS (+3)
6-6, 2nd NFC EAST
L 35-38 vGB, next @DAL
Dallas' loss gives them new life, and they have nothing to be ashamed of here. I thought their secondary in particular did a nice job, as the pass rush only got to Rodgers 8 times (2 sacks). They held Rodgers to his lowest QB rating all season (106.2) and tore it up offensively (Manning 347 yards on just 40 throws, killed them, especially deep, and even Brandon Jacobs came to the party with 59 yards on 8 carries) but, when you give Rodgers the ball last...
11 - DALLAS (-2)
7-5, 1st NFC EAST
L 13-19 (OT) @ARI, next vNYG
Blew it.
12 - DETROIT (-1)
7-5, T-2nd NFC NORTH
L 17-31 @NO, next vMIN
A coverage on Johnson (press with two defensive backs at the line of scrimmage) at first and goal epitomised the second half of his season, and how frustrating and claustrophobic his world has been of late. He has 288 yards in his last four games - excellent for most receivers, but not a single 100 yard game amongst them, and more importantly, just one TD. In his previous four he had four straight 100 yard games, 483 yards and 3 TDs. Detroit are 29th in penalties conceded and this game was no exception, with 11 for 107 yards. Can't beat the Saints doing that. At some point Jim Schwarz has to take responsibility for the lack of discipline on this team - it might cost them a playoff berth.
13 - TENNESSEE (+2)
7-5, 2nd AFC SOUTH
W 23-17 @BUF, next vNO
Do you like atrocious run defense? Boy did the NFL have the game for you here. Tennessee and Buffalo combined for 284 yards of rushing, and Chris Johnson (153 yards on 23 carries) got the lion's share. He did show some of that trademark patience in many of his runs and may be rounding back to his best. Still, don't get too excited, Buffalo and Tampa sport the 26th and 27th ranked run defenses in terms of YPC respectively.
14 - DENVER (+4)
7-5, T-1st AFC WEST
W 35-32 @MIN, next vCHI
I think I would go postal if I was a member of this Denver defense. WhatI dislike about Tebow (or the coverage of Tebow I suppose), is how unfair it is he is praised to the lack of attention to others. Here is the Denver offense in the first half - 1 first down, negative six points. The defense produced three turnovers that directly led to 17 points, including the winning field goal. And they did it without the impressive Von Miller. By the way, Von Miller has not missed a tackle all season. Or, to put another way, Tebow has not Tebowed a Tebow all Tebow.
15 - MIAMI (+4)
4-8, 4th AFC EAST
W 34-14 vOAK, next vPHI
A story of two offensive lines this one. Miami put in the most dominant performance of an offensive line I have seen since Houston played the Steelers. Even so, Reggie Bush (100 yards on 22 carries) is playing better and I really like what I've seen from Daniel Thomas (73 yards on 13) at times this season. Led 34-0 by the end of the third and dominated time of possession to the tune of 38:20 to 21:40. Miami have been one of the best teams in the NFL the last five weeks. They have outscored their opponents 139-54.
16 - CINCINNATI (-2)
7-5, 3rd AFC NORTH
L 7-35 @PIT, next vHOU
Never really recovered after a Gresham TD (and then a Nugent FG) was negated by penalty; a drive that ended with a blocked field goal. It's hard to imagine a more traumatic end to an opening drive. Cincy gained 23 on their next drive and then 130 yards over the final three quarters of the game. Like the first game against the Steelers when they overpursued and lacked discipline, Cincy's immaturity killed them, giving up over 100 yards on 10 penalties.
17 - CHICAGO (-5)
7-5, T-2nd NFC NORTH
L 3-10 @KC, next @DEN
This makes me a sad panda.
18 - OAKLAND (-1)
7-5, T-1st AFC WEST
L 14-34 @MIA, next @GB
While Miami's offensive line was putting on a clinic, Oakland's gave Palmer no time whatsoever to throw (2 sacks and 5 hits, but looked much worse) and no hope whatsoever for a running game (46 yards on 13 carries and only 28 by the end of the third - the Raiders!). They also threw in a few crippling penalties for good measure (what would an Oakland game be without the penalties - 10 for 91 yards, Oakland are last in the league in penalties). While receivers were dropping passes like they were fireballs, Palmer (20/41 for 273 yards, 2TDs and a pick) actually looked OK with absolutely no help. He is definitely the best QB in the AFC West, which is like me saying I am the best Madden player in my bedroom.
19 - SEATTLE (+1)
5-7, T-2nd NFC WEST
W 31-14 vPHI, next vSTL
Seattle are not a particulary good team. But they play hard, are committed on every play, and are disciplined. They are tough. Philadelphia are none of those things. Taravis Jackson not only beat them, but beat them with a torn pectorial - while Vick sat on the bench I might add. I'm not saying that was unjustified, just that it was apt. The Marshawn Lynch TD run in the first quarter was emblematic of the difference between the teams.
20 - SAN DIEGO (+5)
5-7, T-3rd AFC WEST
W 38-14 @JAX, next vBUF
The once mighty San Diego vertical game seemed to have been humbled and become a matter of screens and pitches in a desperate attempt to avoid Rivers and the passing game destroying the Chargers hopes with turnovers. Then something happened; towards the end of the first half, the Chargers seemed to find themselves again, and began to connect with several of the bombs that made Rivers (22/28 for 294 yards and 3TDs) famous. Watching Jacksonville's "receivers" against San Diego's "secondary", trying to play football, was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. A desperately needed victory, and the AFC West is not yet out of reach.
21 - CAROLINA (-)
4-8, T-3rd NFC SOUTH
W 38-19 @TB, next vATL
Here's a weird little quirk for you - four of Carolina's five TDs were 1 yard runs. Carolina leads the league in rushing TDs with 19 - 4 more than second place (Houston, in yet another thing they are among the best in the league at). The takeover of the #1 back role continues, as Stewart (80 yards on 14 carries) outdid Williams (29 on 11) easily in this game, by over 3 yards a carry...Williams signed a five year, 43 million dollar contract in July this year. While Newton has cooled off after a hot start, give him credit for taking care of the ball at the very least - which is more than you can say for most rookie QBs. After throwing nine INTs in his first six games, he has thrown just five in his past six, which includes 4 at Detroit. He's going to be a high quality player.
22 - TAMPA BAY (-6)
4-8, T-3rd NFC SOUTH
L 19-38 vCAR, next @JAX
Man, that's a terrible defense (30th in total D, 26th in pass, 29th in run, 30th in scoring).
23 - ARIZONA (+6)
5-7, T-2nd NFC WEST
W 19-13 (OT) vDAL, next vSF
Chalk this one up to the pass rush, who sacked one of the most mobile QBs in the game five times and got to him 10 times in total. Kolb, under pressure constantly (5 sacks and ten hits of his own) was good, there is potential next year for a solid season if he can avoid injury. He had an efficient 247 yards on 25 throws, including the winning TD (albeit a 52 yard screen). Arizona have won four of their last five.
24 - BUFFALO (-2)
5-7, 3rd AFC EAST
L 17-23 vTEN, next @SD
Buffalo have receivers who can't catch, a line that can't block (their season numbers look great, conceding just 15 sacks, but seven have been in their last four games, and they have looked worse than that, also negated a Spiller TD with a hold here) a defense that can't stop...anything really (28th in PPG, and 157 points in their last five games) and their best running back is done for the season. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the biggest problem though - he's been awful. His 88 QB rating here was misleading, he had about a million tipped balls, two dropped INT's and down the stretch threw three short checkdowns (two of which were with goal to go) within three minutes. The last was forgivable but the two goal to go ones should have been thrown away and killed at least a minute of clock time. Even counting the Jets game where he threw for 3TDs (which now screams anomoly), he's had 6TDs and 7 picks in his last five games and has not averaged 7 yards a throw in any of them.
25 - WASHINGTON (+2)
4-8, T-3rd NFC EAST
L 19-34 vNYJ, next vNE
Seriously, I'm not even playing this for laughs, but literally just before Grossman threw a pick that was nullifed due to penalty (early in the second), I was thinking "you know, maybe I've been hard on Rex, he is playing fucking great at the moment and has the last few contests". No one does that hilarious, almost ironic, interception like Rexy. As it was, he threw a pick (his 14th game straight with one) in the fourth, following a sack fumble. He also went 16/41 for 150 yards (on 41 throws!) after starting in the first quarter 3/5 for 71. There was 570 yards of offense in this game and just 240 (!) in the second half. At one point, twelve drives (not including an end of half kneel down) produced...three points. There were two first downs combined in the third quarter and ten in the entire second half. Brutal.
26 - KANSAS CITY (+4)
5-7, T-3rd AFC WEST
W 10-3 vCHI, next @NYJ
Palko's completion to McCluster to end the first half with a TD (and what was ultimately the difference between the two teams) represented 25% of his total yards on the day. Nevertheless, he deserves credit for keeping the ball out of the Bears hands, and winning that battle with Hanie (3INTs) was essentially enough to close this game out.
27 - PHILADELPHIA (-4)
4-8, T-3rd NFC EAST
L 14-31 @SEA, next @MIA
Ugh.
28 - MINNESOTA (-4)
2-10, 4th NFC NORTH
L 32-35 vDEN, next @DET
Christian Ponder (29/47 for 381 yards and a mixed day to say the least with 3TDs and a pick) was pretty great once he settled down, with plenty of havoc around him and against what is suddenly a very good pass defense. Yes, he threw the fatal INT, but I think he's shown more than Andy Dalton this year - I really do. Percy Harvin (8 receptions for 156 yards and 2TDs) was at his electrifying best, something we have not seen much of at all the last two years. Jared Allen has only one sack in his last three games.
29 - CLEVELAND (-3)
4-8, 4th AFC NORTH
L 10-21 vBAL, next @PIT
Called run just 13 times in this game. I know Baltimore has the second best run defense in the league (3.4YPC) but they have a pretty good pass rush too. They got to McCoy seven times for three sacks and just 192 yards on 35 throws with a pick.
30 - JACKSONVILLE (-2)
3-9, 3rd AFC SOUTH
L 14-38 vSD, next vTB
The myth of the good Jacksonville defense I hope has now been exposed, San Diego had 433 total yards. Please enjoy this week's "Jacksonville are awful" video. I love how ESPN had the foresight to schedule not one, but two Jacksonville games on Monday night - well done boys.
31 - ST. LOUIS
2-10, 4th NFC WEST
L 0-26 @SF, next @SEA
Were held to 157 yards. For the game. That's not a misprint.
32 - INDIANAPOLIS
0-12, 4th AFC SOUTH
L 24-31 @NE, next @BAL
"People can say what they want about not playing hard, but I think that comeback shut that up right there" - the immortal words of Jacob Tamme. Shut the fuck up Jacob. When you win a game, perhaps then you can be self righteous about slamming your critics.
New Orleans and New England have won four in a row. Pittsburgh have won seven of their past eight and Houston has won six in a row. Those four teams once sported mediocre records of 5-3, 2-2 and 3-3.
Meanwhile, teams such as Buffalo (once 4-1), Cincinnati (6-2), Detroit (5-0) and yes, the Giants (6-2) have not coped well at all with the increasing difficulty in their schedule.
Penalties were the theme of Week Thirteen in the NFL, here's a closer look.
1 - GREEN BAY (-)
12-0, 1st NFC NORTH
W 38-35 @NYG, next vOAK
What do you have to do to beat these guys? The Giants had an astronomical 7.33 yards per play and still Green Bay won - on the road.
2 - NEW ORLEANS (-)
9-3, 1st NFC NORTH
W 31-17 vDET, next @TEN
After the Saints led 10-0, you honestly could feel them taking this game over. A Lions defense missing Suh, Delmas and Houston was just powerless to stop them from scoring whenever they wanted.
3 - NEW ENGLAND (-)
9-3, 1st AFC EAST
W 31-24 vIND, next @WAS
New England's secondary allowed Indianapolis to pass for 338 yards and a 113.1 QB rating. That's 80 more yards than the Colts had thrown for in any game all year (the QB rating was bested by Painter against the Chiefs, but otherwise, no Colt had got within 13 of it). The secondary is that bad folks.
4 - BALTIMORE (-)
9-3, T-1st AFC NORTH
W 21-10 @CLE, next vIND
Joe Flacco, still having a terrible season. Baltimore had less than half first downs passing (7) as rushing (16) and Flacco was 10/23 for 166 yards for a 66.9 rating - and lost a fumble. His QB rating this season is 78.3 - down more than 15 points from last year.
5 - PITTSBURGH (-)
9-3, T-1st AFC NORTH
W 35-7 vCIN, next vCLE
Slowly, at times frustratingly slowly, but surely, Pittsburgh have fixed their problems from a horror start. First it was run defense, which they have gotten down to 4.0 YPC after giving up 4.8YPC through their first four games. Then it was the turnovers. After a criminally low three in their first eight games, they have nine in their last four. Now it's the running game, with Mendenhall and Redman helping the Steelers to 136 yards here against the #3 rushing defense (3.6YPC). The special teams had a just about perfect game, blocking a kick, forcing a turnover and Brown returned a punt for a TD. By the way, when Antonio Brown is not returning punts for TDs, he's leading the Steelers in receiving, something he has done in four straight games. As I've said before, I am an enormous fan. My concerns come from their 1-3 record against top ten teams (and that doesn't include the Saints or Packers, clearly the best two in the NFL through 13 weeks IMO), and the San Fran tussle will be telling for both teams, but the Steelers are looming on the horizon for the rest of the NFL.
6 - HOUSTON (+1)
9-3, 1st AFC SOUTH
W 17-10 vATL, next @CIN
At some point, I feel you need to buy into this Texans' defense. I have, absolutely - it's top five. It closes on the ball better than anyone, and I mean any defense in the NFL. That's a good Atlanta offense they held to ten points. Houston are 2nd in YPA (6.0), 2nd in INTs (17), 2nd in sacks (35), 1st in completion percentage (50.2%), 1st in QB rating (62.1, 5.5 better than #2 Baltimore). Their ranks in those categories last year - 31st, 23rd, 23rd, 27th, 32nd (32nd to 1st in opposing QB rating!!!). It's astonishing they are able to do this without Williams. Andre Johnson looked great here with 97 yards on four catches...and then went down. T.J. Yates was...well... If nothing else, you have to admire these guys toughness.
7 - SAN FRANCISCO (+1)
10-2, 1st NFC WEST
W 26-0 vSTL, next @ARI
Woah! Look at Alex Smith throwing like a real QB, connecting on TD throws of 52 and 56 yards, stunningly. Sure, St. Louis is not the gold standard of pass defense, but even so - Alex Smith! Holding Steven Jackson to 19 yards on ten carries is impressive - period.
8 - ATLANTA (-2)
7-5, 2nd NFC SOUTH
L 10-17 @HOU, next @CAR
The Texans are tied for second in the league in terms of conceding sacks (16), and their elite offensive line was always going to seriously challenge the Falcons much maligned pass rush. Houston won that battle (5 total hits) and consequently the war. Yates committed only one turnover, on a terrible call as a "fumble" on what was clearly an incomplete pass. Credit also goes to the Texans crowd who were super loud here, Ryan was barking all day trying to work out plays at the line of scrimmage, causing false starts and delay of game penalties. Atlanta once again proving their critics right in their inability to win consistently outside the Georgia Dome.
9 - JETS (+1)
7-5, 2nd AFC EAST
W 34-19 @WAS, next vKC
Obviously the Eagles run away with the most dissapointing trophy, but the Jets have only gone backwards in the last four weeks, despite a 2-2 record. The wins are against the Skins and Bills, who collectively are 3-13 in their last 8 combined. The scoreline here was grossly misleading - it was 16-13 to the Skins with 5 minutes left. They lost to a Denver team who can't throw the ball and were slaughtered by the Patriots. Losses by the Bills and Cincy, both of whom are fading, means they need only elbow their way past Tennessee. The Titans still must play New Orleans and Houston. Mind you, the Jets still have Miami on the schedule - does anyone really believe the Jets are better than the Fins right now? I am officially off the bandwagon, playoffs or otherwise. I was wrong, they just aren't good.
10 - GIANTS (+3)
6-6, 2nd NFC EAST
L 35-38 vGB, next @DAL
Dallas' loss gives them new life, and they have nothing to be ashamed of here. I thought their secondary in particular did a nice job, as the pass rush only got to Rodgers 8 times (2 sacks). They held Rodgers to his lowest QB rating all season (106.2) and tore it up offensively (Manning 347 yards on just 40 throws, killed them, especially deep, and even Brandon Jacobs came to the party with 59 yards on 8 carries) but, when you give Rodgers the ball last...
11 - DALLAS (-2)
7-5, 1st NFC EAST
L 13-19 (OT) @ARI, next vNYG
Blew it.
12 - DETROIT (-1)
7-5, T-2nd NFC NORTH
L 17-31 @NO, next vMIN
A coverage on Johnson (press with two defensive backs at the line of scrimmage) at first and goal epitomised the second half of his season, and how frustrating and claustrophobic his world has been of late. He has 288 yards in his last four games - excellent for most receivers, but not a single 100 yard game amongst them, and more importantly, just one TD. In his previous four he had four straight 100 yard games, 483 yards and 3 TDs. Detroit are 29th in penalties conceded and this game was no exception, with 11 for 107 yards. Can't beat the Saints doing that. At some point Jim Schwarz has to take responsibility for the lack of discipline on this team - it might cost them a playoff berth.
13 - TENNESSEE (+2)
7-5, 2nd AFC SOUTH
W 23-17 @BUF, next vNO
Do you like atrocious run defense? Boy did the NFL have the game for you here. Tennessee and Buffalo combined for 284 yards of rushing, and Chris Johnson (153 yards on 23 carries) got the lion's share. He did show some of that trademark patience in many of his runs and may be rounding back to his best. Still, don't get too excited, Buffalo and Tampa sport the 26th and 27th ranked run defenses in terms of YPC respectively.
14 - DENVER (+4)
7-5, T-1st AFC WEST
W 35-32 @MIN, next vCHI
I think I would go postal if I was a member of this Denver defense. WhatI dislike about Tebow (or the coverage of Tebow I suppose), is how unfair it is he is praised to the lack of attention to others. Here is the Denver offense in the first half - 1 first down, negative six points. The defense produced three turnovers that directly led to 17 points, including the winning field goal. And they did it without the impressive Von Miller. By the way, Von Miller has not missed a tackle all season. Or, to put another way, Tebow has not Tebowed a Tebow all Tebow.
15 - MIAMI (+4)
4-8, 4th AFC EAST
W 34-14 vOAK, next vPHI
A story of two offensive lines this one. Miami put in the most dominant performance of an offensive line I have seen since Houston played the Steelers. Even so, Reggie Bush (100 yards on 22 carries) is playing better and I really like what I've seen from Daniel Thomas (73 yards on 13) at times this season. Led 34-0 by the end of the third and dominated time of possession to the tune of 38:20 to 21:40. Miami have been one of the best teams in the NFL the last five weeks. They have outscored their opponents 139-54.
16 - CINCINNATI (-2)
7-5, 3rd AFC NORTH
L 7-35 @PIT, next vHOU
Never really recovered after a Gresham TD (and then a Nugent FG) was negated by penalty; a drive that ended with a blocked field goal. It's hard to imagine a more traumatic end to an opening drive. Cincy gained 23 on their next drive and then 130 yards over the final three quarters of the game. Like the first game against the Steelers when they overpursued and lacked discipline, Cincy's immaturity killed them, giving up over 100 yards on 10 penalties.
17 - CHICAGO (-5)
7-5, T-2nd NFC NORTH
L 3-10 @KC, next @DEN
This makes me a sad panda.
18 - OAKLAND (-1)
7-5, T-1st AFC WEST
L 14-34 @MIA, next @GB
While Miami's offensive line was putting on a clinic, Oakland's gave Palmer no time whatsoever to throw (2 sacks and 5 hits, but looked much worse) and no hope whatsoever for a running game (46 yards on 13 carries and only 28 by the end of the third - the Raiders!). They also threw in a few crippling penalties for good measure (what would an Oakland game be without the penalties - 10 for 91 yards, Oakland are last in the league in penalties). While receivers were dropping passes like they were fireballs, Palmer (20/41 for 273 yards, 2TDs and a pick) actually looked OK with absolutely no help. He is definitely the best QB in the AFC West, which is like me saying I am the best Madden player in my bedroom.
19 - SEATTLE (+1)
5-7, T-2nd NFC WEST
W 31-14 vPHI, next vSTL
Seattle are not a particulary good team. But they play hard, are committed on every play, and are disciplined. They are tough. Philadelphia are none of those things. Taravis Jackson not only beat them, but beat them with a torn pectorial - while Vick sat on the bench I might add. I'm not saying that was unjustified, just that it was apt. The Marshawn Lynch TD run in the first quarter was emblematic of the difference between the teams.
20 - SAN DIEGO (+5)
5-7, T-3rd AFC WEST
W 38-14 @JAX, next vBUF
The once mighty San Diego vertical game seemed to have been humbled and become a matter of screens and pitches in a desperate attempt to avoid Rivers and the passing game destroying the Chargers hopes with turnovers. Then something happened; towards the end of the first half, the Chargers seemed to find themselves again, and began to connect with several of the bombs that made Rivers (22/28 for 294 yards and 3TDs) famous. Watching Jacksonville's "receivers" against San Diego's "secondary", trying to play football, was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. A desperately needed victory, and the AFC West is not yet out of reach.
21 - CAROLINA (-)
4-8, T-3rd NFC SOUTH
W 38-19 @TB, next vATL
Here's a weird little quirk for you - four of Carolina's five TDs were 1 yard runs. Carolina leads the league in rushing TDs with 19 - 4 more than second place (Houston, in yet another thing they are among the best in the league at). The takeover of the #1 back role continues, as Stewart (80 yards on 14 carries) outdid Williams (29 on 11) easily in this game, by over 3 yards a carry...Williams signed a five year, 43 million dollar contract in July this year. While Newton has cooled off after a hot start, give him credit for taking care of the ball at the very least - which is more than you can say for most rookie QBs. After throwing nine INTs in his first six games, he has thrown just five in his past six, which includes 4 at Detroit. He's going to be a high quality player.
22 - TAMPA BAY (-6)
4-8, T-3rd NFC SOUTH
L 19-38 vCAR, next @JAX
Man, that's a terrible defense (30th in total D, 26th in pass, 29th in run, 30th in scoring).
23 - ARIZONA (+6)
5-7, T-2nd NFC WEST
W 19-13 (OT) vDAL, next vSF
Chalk this one up to the pass rush, who sacked one of the most mobile QBs in the game five times and got to him 10 times in total. Kolb, under pressure constantly (5 sacks and ten hits of his own) was good, there is potential next year for a solid season if he can avoid injury. He had an efficient 247 yards on 25 throws, including the winning TD (albeit a 52 yard screen). Arizona have won four of their last five.
24 - BUFFALO (-2)
5-7, 3rd AFC EAST
L 17-23 vTEN, next @SD
Buffalo have receivers who can't catch, a line that can't block (their season numbers look great, conceding just 15 sacks, but seven have been in their last four games, and they have looked worse than that, also negated a Spiller TD with a hold here) a defense that can't stop...anything really (28th in PPG, and 157 points in their last five games) and their best running back is done for the season. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the biggest problem though - he's been awful. His 88 QB rating here was misleading, he had about a million tipped balls, two dropped INT's and down the stretch threw three short checkdowns (two of which were with goal to go) within three minutes. The last was forgivable but the two goal to go ones should have been thrown away and killed at least a minute of clock time. Even counting the Jets game where he threw for 3TDs (which now screams anomoly), he's had 6TDs and 7 picks in his last five games and has not averaged 7 yards a throw in any of them.
25 - WASHINGTON (+2)
4-8, T-3rd NFC EAST
L 19-34 vNYJ, next vNE
Seriously, I'm not even playing this for laughs, but literally just before Grossman threw a pick that was nullifed due to penalty (early in the second), I was thinking "you know, maybe I've been hard on Rex, he is playing fucking great at the moment and has the last few contests". No one does that hilarious, almost ironic, interception like Rexy. As it was, he threw a pick (his 14th game straight with one) in the fourth, following a sack fumble. He also went 16/41 for 150 yards (on 41 throws!) after starting in the first quarter 3/5 for 71. There was 570 yards of offense in this game and just 240 (!) in the second half. At one point, twelve drives (not including an end of half kneel down) produced...three points. There were two first downs combined in the third quarter and ten in the entire second half. Brutal.
26 - KANSAS CITY (+4)
5-7, T-3rd AFC WEST
W 10-3 vCHI, next @NYJ
Palko's completion to McCluster to end the first half with a TD (and what was ultimately the difference between the two teams) represented 25% of his total yards on the day. Nevertheless, he deserves credit for keeping the ball out of the Bears hands, and winning that battle with Hanie (3INTs) was essentially enough to close this game out.
27 - PHILADELPHIA (-4)
4-8, T-3rd NFC EAST
L 14-31 @SEA, next @MIA
Ugh.
28 - MINNESOTA (-4)
2-10, 4th NFC NORTH
L 32-35 vDEN, next @DET
Christian Ponder (29/47 for 381 yards and a mixed day to say the least with 3TDs and a pick) was pretty great once he settled down, with plenty of havoc around him and against what is suddenly a very good pass defense. Yes, he threw the fatal INT, but I think he's shown more than Andy Dalton this year - I really do. Percy Harvin (8 receptions for 156 yards and 2TDs) was at his electrifying best, something we have not seen much of at all the last two years. Jared Allen has only one sack in his last three games.
29 - CLEVELAND (-3)
4-8, 4th AFC NORTH
L 10-21 vBAL, next @PIT
Called run just 13 times in this game. I know Baltimore has the second best run defense in the league (3.4YPC) but they have a pretty good pass rush too. They got to McCoy seven times for three sacks and just 192 yards on 35 throws with a pick.
30 - JACKSONVILLE (-2)
3-9, 3rd AFC SOUTH
L 14-38 vSD, next vTB
The myth of the good Jacksonville defense I hope has now been exposed, San Diego had 433 total yards. Please enjoy this week's "Jacksonville are awful" video. I love how ESPN had the foresight to schedule not one, but two Jacksonville games on Monday night - well done boys.
31 - ST. LOUIS
2-10, 4th NFC WEST
L 0-26 @SF, next @SEA
Were held to 157 yards. For the game. That's not a misprint.
32 - INDIANAPOLIS
0-12, 4th AFC SOUTH
L 24-31 @NE, next @BAL
"People can say what they want about not playing hard, but I think that comeback shut that up right there" - the immortal words of Jacob Tamme. Shut the fuck up Jacob. When you win a game, perhaps then you can be self righteous about slamming your critics.
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