JD's Chronicle

Passer Rating

2006-11-06T21:15:00.000-05:00

The NFL rates its passers for statistical purposes against a fixed performance standard based on statistical achievements of all qualified pro passers since 1960. The current system replaced one that rated passers in relation to their position in a total group based on various criteria.

The current system, which was adopted in 1973, removes inequities that existed in the former method and, at the same time, provides a means of comparing passing performances from one season to the next.

It is important to remember that the system is used to rate pass-ers, not quarterbacks. Statistics do not reflect leadership, play-calling, and other intangible factors that go into making a successful professional quarterback.

Four categories are used as a basis for compiling a rating:
• Percentage of completions per attempt
• Average yards gained per attempt
• Percentage of touchdown passes per attempt
• Percentage of interceptions per attempt

The average standard, is 1.000. The bottom is .000. To earn a 2.000 rating, a passer must perform at exceptional levels, i.e., 70 percent in completions, 10 percent in touchdowns, 1.5 percent in interceptions, and 11 yards average gain per pass attempt. The maximum a passer can receive in any category is 2.375.

For example, to gain a 2.375 in completion percentage, a passer would have to complete 77.5 percent of his passes. The NFL record is 70.55 by Ken Anderson (Cincinnati, 1982).
To earn a 2.375 in percentage of touchdowns, a passer would have to achieve a percentage of 11.9. The record is 13.9 by Sid Luckman (Chicago, 1943).

To gain 2.375 in percentage of interceptions, a passer would have to go the entire season without an interception. The 2.375 figure in average yards is 12.50, compared with the NFL record of 11.17 by Tommy O'Connell (Cleveland, 1957).

In order to make the rating more understandable, the point rating is then converted into a scale of 100. In rare cases, where statistical performance has been superior, it is possible for a passer to surpass a 100 rating.

For example, take Steve Young's record-setting season in 1994 when he completed 324 of 461 passes for 3,969 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

The four calculations would be:
• Percentage of Completions — 324 of 461 is 70.28 percent. Subtract 30 from the completion percentage (40.28) and multiply the result by 0.05. The result is a point rating of 2.014.Note: If the result is less than zero (Comp. Pct. less than 30.0), award zero points. If the results are greater than 2.375 (Comp. Pct. greater than 77.5), award 2.375.

• Average Yards Gained Per Attempt — 3,969 yards divided by 461 attempts is 8.61. Subtract three yards from yards-per-attempt (5.61) and multiply the result by 0.25. The result is 1.403.Note: If the result is less than zero (yards per attempt less than 3.0), award zero points. If the result is greater than 2.375 (yards per attempt greater than 12.5), award 2.375 points.

• Percentage of Touchdown Passes — 35 touchdowns in 461 attempts is 7.59 percent. Multiply the touchdown percentage by 0.2. The result is 1.518.Note: If the result is greater than 2.375 (touchdown percentage greater than 11.875), award 2.375.

• Percentage of Interceptions — 10 interceptions in 461 attempts is 2.17 percent. Multiply the interception percentage by 0.25 (0.542) and subtract the number from 2.375. The result is 1.833.Note: If the result is less than zero (interception percentage greater than 9.5), award zero points.

The sum of the four steps is (2.014 + 1.403 + 1.518 + 1.833) 6.768. The sum is then divided by six (1.128) and multiplied by 100. In this case, the result is 112.8. This same formula can be used to determine a passer rating for any player who attempts at least one pass.

*Information "borrowed" from NFL.com

Week 4 Picks

2006-10-01T12:47:00.000-04:00

Once again I have to get in all of my picks for the week before the week actually starts, so here they are:

The Atlanta dome is unstopable, Atlanta takes it against Arizona.
Dallas wins in Tennessee with a healthy Owens.
Indy beats The Jets in New York.
Miami comes up with a win in Houston.
Buffalo wins a slim victory at home against Minnesota.
Carolina has Smith, New Orleans has Bush, Carolina wins.
Baltimore wins a huge upset in San Diego.
Kansas City will walk all over San Fran.
St. Louis wins at home against Detroit.
Oakland is awful, Cleveland wins in Oakland.
The Jaguars will take advantage of a weak Washington offense, Jacksonville wins.
Cincinnati takes out New England.
Seattle upsets Chicago in Chicago.
And on Monday night--Brian Westbrook leads Philadelphia to victory against Green Bay.

Last week: 10-6 (63%) Season:33-15 (69%)

Week 3 Picks

2006-09-24T10:55:00.000-04:00

I have to get in all of my picks for the week before the week actually starts, so here they are:

Tampa Bay upsets and wins at home against the struggling Carolina Panthers.
Chicago takes out Minnesota in Minnesota.
Another upset in Pittsburgh when Cincinnati comes home with a win.
Detroit's defense will win the game on it's own against Green Bay.
Jacksonville took down The Steelers and they have what it takes to upset Indy at home.
Buffalo will win at home against The Jets.
Tennessee will lose in Miami.
Washington will win in Houston.
Baltimore will win on the road in Cleveland.
The Giants will upset Seattle.
Philadelphia still has enough in them to beat San Fran.
Arizona will lose in their own house against St. Louis.
Atlanta will beat New Orleans
And last but not least... New England will upset Denver at home.

Last week: 11-5 (69%) Season:23-9 (72%)

Addition by Subtraction

2006-09-14T21:41:00.001-04:00

Sunday night football has made a metamorphosis of sorts; it has changed for better or for worse. Thirty-five years ago, Monday night football started and became one of the greatest things in sports today, but in the last eight years ABC has lost about $150 million a year on Monday nights. Ratings for this sports phenomenon have been slowly sloping downwards and viewers have one by one dropped off. Does ESPN really have what it takes to get the ball rolling again on Monday nights?

I think that they have already made a bad choice. John Madden has been the voice of Monday Night football since 2002, but has he begun to age a bit past his prime? More and more he has shown traits that arenÂt to be shown in NFL announcers yet he gets away with it. Last week in the Colts game against the Giants it was more than obvious that Madden was blatantly pulling Peyton Manning and his team. He couldnÂt stop crediting Peyton and his 'perfect passing', not once did he credit Eli for completions, first downs, not even touchdowns.

Although Madden is and forever will be one of the greatest announcers that ever lived, maybe it's about time that he sat a few plays out. As Al Michaels announces the game John Madden commentates about action on the sideline and criticizes or praises plays in which there is no need. The supply of John Maddens in this world are limited in quantity, but don't let that take away from judgment decisions upstairs in terms of quality. And hey, if they really need someone to fill in, I'm opne on Mondays.

Monday Night Madness

2006-09-11T17:41:00.000-04:00

It's finally that time of year again. This is no regular Monday, oh no, far from it. It is a Monday unlike any other Monday in the last 259 days. No, we have been deprived of Monday Night Football for too long. It is our turn to rise, as football spectators of America, and stand for our respective teams--or sometimes just teams with hotter cheerleaders or less flamboyant receivers--it is time for us to stand and cheer on this opening night. However with great power comes great responsibility, that is of cleaning out the chips between the couch cushions, to stock the fridge in case of an overtime scenario, and of course to perform your pre-game rituals. Don't forget the last time you forgot your pre-game routine. Yea I'm talking about that one field goal kick that was so bad, it was returned for a touchdown. Or remember that time that your kicker pulled a muscle celebrating. Yea, I remember it. It was your own fault though, you shouldn't have washed your jersey after a win, you shouldn't have allowed your friends to put their grimy fingers on your life size Coach Ditka poster, and you forgot to water your Randy Moss Chia Pet. Well you had better strap on those boots, and fix that satalite dish because Monday Night Football is a' commin'.

Why Im Done Reading About Steroids

2006-08-30T23:05:00.000-04:00

Why is it that all of a sudden heavy press is being put on heavy hitters and record breakers? Why does press all of the sudden assault any player that does well in sports? It is because steroids is the only logical explanation for the homerun boom in baseball for the past couple of decades—or is it? Baseball, whether you like it or not, has changed drastically over the past 3-4 decades. For the homerun boom in the past years, I blame Bo Jackson, umpires, pitchers, The MLB, team management, and technology; but I don’t blame steroids. As to the collapse in the credibility of baseball, that falls completely on the press’s shoulders.

The first domino in the long chain of events that led to the evolution of baseball was Bo Jackson. Yes, I’m referring the football and baseball iron man. In the mid 80’s Bo started a trend that would forever change the way baseball played. Up until Jackson, no baseball players ever worked out. In fact, working out was a big no-no. But when players saw Bo Jackson working out in the weight room and then hitting bombs out of the park, it started to catch on, and so came the change of baseball.

Now of course, I can’t pin the start of the entire home run era on just one player, so I’m going to pin it on umpires next. There is indisputable evidence that since the days of Hank Aaron, the strike zone has almost been shrunk to half the size. The umpires leave the pitcher with no room for error. When the pitcher has to put the ball in such a select location, not only does that slow down a pitch, but it also provides for a very easy target to a hitter. And to even further the shrinking of the strike zone, players wear body armor. Ever since the creation of baseball, the pitcher owned the inside of the plate. No matter what hitter, or what pitcher; if they threw on the inside of the plate, they were on the money. Now batters simply have to put on an elbow pad, lean over the plate a bit, and whammy! That forces pitchers to pitch right to the batter’s sweet spot, or end up w/ a ball or walk.

Next up on the wall of blame is pitching. During the 1997 MLB expansion, there obviously came to be more teams, and with more teams came a more spread out array of pitching. Teams could no longer be picky with their pitching roster because there were to many teams to share the great few. Teams ended up desperately pulling pitchers out of the minor league and pitching them whether or not they were ready. The result—well, it’s still orbiting the earth.

The old guys running the MLB actually had a lot to do with the increase in home runs as well. They claim that the balls they used in the 1950’s and 60’s were the same they use today, but why do they even bother to cover up what is such an obvious lie. All you have to do is split open a new ball and an old ball to see that the MLB is administering new balls that are strung much tighter and have a much larger rubbery core, causing them to fly much further.

In the 1980’s there came a huge stadium shift where it seemed like every team in the MLB got a new stadium. These stadiums weren’t regular stadiums though, and in some cases the only reason for new stadiums were to shrink the field. Because the MLB had very loose regulations on field size, teams decided to draw in fans by shrinking the ballpark and allowing for more home runs. In some stadiums, all it took was a good pop fly to end up in the parking lot.

My last complaint is something that was inevitable and will happen in any sport. That is the development of new technology. In this case, I’m talking about bats. Bats now are made of maple and are dipped and coated so many times they may as well be made of metal. That with a combination of a little extra spring in the core of a bat can be a deadly combination. Don’t believe me? Just watch as a broken bat sends a ball straight out of the ballpark. How many times did that happen twenty years ago?

It isn’t just Barry Bonds on the juice that allowed for all of these home runs; and if the press had just kept their noses out of it than maybe baseball would still be one of America’s greatest pastimes. The press threw baseball into the dirt like a finished cigarette, they stomped out an ember that was once a huge flame—the press kicked it when it was down. Now baseball is no longer one of America’s greatest pastimes. No, baseball has turned into one of America’s greatest tragedies, or maybe America’s greatest embarrassment, not because of steroids, not because of shrinking ball fields, or bad pitchers, but because of unnecessary negative and relentless press.

The reason I wrote this article about steroids in baseball was to stress that there really is no need for the press to be covering steroids in football. The monstrous media organizations put America’s utmost supreme sports dynasty to shame; and I have no doubt that they have the ability to do it to football when the media is on the cutting edge of technology and the audience is crying out for blood. Although steroids, in my opinion, has no place in professional sports, the only thing worse than America’s role models being on steroids is the people who look up to these athletes, and work hard to be like these athletes knowing about it. The NFL has a drug testing policy, and it is up to the NFL to keep steroids out of the football—not the press. Sports bind people all over the country, sports are what brings complete strangers together in joy and in sorrow. Why should the press desolate and demoralize this country’s all stars, this country’s heroes.

First-Year-Fifty

2006-08-16T15:39:00.000-04:00

What is it that all football players do after the season is over? Well Marcus Vick goes to court, Chad Johnson does his best to look like Dennis Rodman, Peyton Manning jumps into Direct TV commercials to remind everyone how much he loves himself, and The Bus becomes a football commentator. Now think, if all that chaos happened within a 4½-month period of time, how in gods name do these football players survive after they retire?

Well for one, they don’t ever have to work out in their lives if they choose not to, and on top of that, they aren’t restricted by any contract. So ride without a helmet Roethlisberger, and for God’s sakes Ricky Williams, move to Jamaica and smoke pot, if the entire team of the Minnesota Vikings wanted to, they could hop on a boat and do whatever it is that they want to do, but not until the season is over and not until retirement. Whatever makes them happy, they can do. Which is exactly why first-year-fifty is so predictable.

First-year-fifty is the weight gained by every single NFL athlete after retirement. With all the duties and responsibilities relieved from the past 10 years of their life, they eat, and eat, and definitely not work the extra poundage back off. First-year-fifty affects all, and although you don’t see it on The Bus quite yet, it’s coming. It happened to the great John Elway, it happened to O.J., and it certainly happened to John Madden.

You might be asking yourself—What is the root of the first-year-fifty? Well the answer to that is simple, but first you have to face the facts. Football fans are fat, they are fat because they like to eat and watch the games, and if you’re not fat, than you can’t have the full experience of a number one fan. Fans don’t play the sport, but they love it with their entire hearts. Football fans have assorted jobs, they live all over the world, but when it comes to game time, they are all united. These first year retirees may be a bazillion times richer, and may have washboard abs, but when they quit the sport, they become the same as another football fan, and if they truly love the sport as much as their admirers it will show when they gain their first-year-fifty.

Make Your Fantasy (Football) Come True

2006-08-13T21:21:00.000-04:00

Just for your benifit, I have put together a fantasy football list that will put ESPN to shame, if you don't win your league with this list, than i'll give you a full refund.

Rank	Players Names & Teams	Team	Position
1	Larry Johnson	Chiefs	RB
2	Shaun Alexander	Seahawks	RB
3	LaDainian Tomlinson	Chargers	RB
4	Tiki Baer	Giants	RB
5	Clinton Portis	Redskins	RB
6	Edgerrin James	Cardinals	RB
7	Rudi Johnson	Bengals	RB
8	LaMont Jordan	Raiders	RB
9	Steven Jackson	Rams	RB
10	Cadillac Williams	Buccaneers	RB
11	Peyton Manning	Colts	QB
12	Steve Smith	Panthers	WR
13	Chad Johnson	Bengals	WR
14	Ronnie Brown	Dolphins	RB
15	Terrell Owens	Cowboys	WR
16	Larry Fitzgerald	Cardinals	WR
17	Brian Westbrook	Eagles	RB
18	Torry Holt	Rams	WR
19	Domanick Davis	Texans	RB
20	Marvin Harrison	Colts	WR
21	Willis McGahee	Bills	RB
22	Randy Moss	Raiders	WR
23	Anquan Boldin	Cardinals	WR
24	Julius Jones	Cowboys	RB
25	Tom Brady	Patriots	QB
26	Carson Palmer	Bengals	QB
27	Hines Ward	Steelers	WR
28	Antonio Gates TE	Chargers	TE
29	Reggie Bush	Saints	RB
30	Reggie Wayne	Colts	WR
31	Chris Chambers	Dolphins	WR
32	Santana Moss	Redskins	WR
33	Reuben Droughns	Browns	RB
34	Kevin Jones	Lions	RB
35	Matt Hasselbeck	Seahawks	QB
36	Darrell Jackson	Seahawks	WR
37	Jamal Lewis	Ravens	RB
38	Roy Williams	Lions	WR
39	Warrick Dunn	Falcons	RB
40	Willie Parker	Steelers	RB
41	Eli Manning	Giants	QB
42	Donovan McNabb	Eagles	QB
43	Corey Dillon	Patriots	RB
44	Plaxico Burress	Giants	WR
45	Joey Galloway	Buccaneers	WR
46	Chester Taylor	Vikings	RB
47	Marc Bulger	Rams	QB
48	Jeremy Shockey TE	Giants	TE
49	Donald Driver	Packers	WR
50	DeShaun Foster	Panthers	RB
51	Tony Gonzalez TE	Chiefs	TE
52	Andre Johnson	Texans	WR
53	Javon Walker	Broncos	WR
54	Daunte Culpepper	Dolphins	QB
55	Deuce McAllister	Saints	RB
56	Joe Horn	Saints	WR
57	Tatum Bell	Broncos	RB
58	TJ Houshmandzadeh	Bengals	WR
59	Todd Heap TE	Ravens	TE
60	Joseph Addai	Colts	RB
61	Derrick Mason	Ravens	WR
62	Jake Delhomme	Panthers	QB
63	Fred Taylor	Jaguars	RB
64	Deion Branch	Patriots	WR
65	Drew Bledsoe	Cowboys	QB
66	Kurt Warner	Cardinals	QB
67	Ahman Green	Packers	RB
68	Trent Green	Chiefs	QB
69	Thomas Jones	Bears	RB
70	Rod Smith	Broncos	WR
71	Eddie Kennison	Chiefs	WR
72	Lee Evans	Bills	WR
73	Cedric Benson	Bears	RB
74	Chris Brown	Titans	RB
75	Jake Plummer	Broncos	QB
76	Ben Roethlisberger	Steelers	QB
77	Alge Crumpler TE	Falcons	TE
78	Jason Witten TE	Cowboys	TE
79	Drew Brees	Saints	QB
80	Terry Glenn	Cowboys	WR
81	Donte' Stallworth	Saints	WR
82	Frank Gore	49ers	RB
83	Chris Cooley TE	Redskins	TE
84	Nate Burleson	Seahawks	WR
85	Michael Vick	Falcons	QB
86	Ron Dayne	Broncos	RB
87	Dominic Rhodes	Colts	RB
88	Brett Favre	Packers	QB
89	Muhsin Muhammad	Bears	WR
90	Curtis Martin	Jets	RB
91	Jerry Porter	Raiders	WR
92	Randy McMichael TE	Dolphins	TE
93	Laveranues Coles	Jets	WR
94	Keenan McCardell	Chargers	WR
95	Drew Bennett	Titans	WR
96	Keyshawn Johnson	Panthers	WR
97	DeAngelo Williams	Panthers	RB
98	Chicago D/ST	Bears	D/ST
99	LenDale White	Titans	RB
100	Aaron Brooks	Raiders	QB
101	Byron Leftwich	Jaguars	QB
102	Reggie Brown	Eagles	WR
103	Carolina D/ST	Panthers	D/ST
104	LJ Smith TE	Eagles	TE
105	Laurence Maroney	Patriots	RB
106	Heath Miller TE	Steelers	TE
107	Eric Moulds	Texans	WR
108	David Givens	Titans	WR
109	Pittsburgh D/ST	Steelers	D/ST
110	Isaac Bruce	Rams	WR
111	Koren Robinson	Vikings	WR
112	Kevan Barlow	49ers	RB
113	Indianapolis D/ST	Colts	D/ST
114	Steve McNair	Titans	QB
115	Neil Rackers	Cardinals	K
116	Ben Troupe TE	Titans	TE
117	Jerramy Stevens TE	Seahawks	TE
118	Samkon Gado	Packers	RB
119	Matt Jones	Jaguars	WR
120	Brandon Lloyd	Redskins	WR
121	Tampa Bay D/ST	Buccaneers	D/ST
122	Joe Jurevicius	Browns	WR
123	Mark Brunell	Redskins	QB
124	Ernest Wilford	Jaguars	WR
125	Ben Watson TE	Patriots	TE
126	Antonio Bryant	49ers	WR
127	Adam Vinatieri	Colts	K
128	New York D/ST	Giants	D/ST
129	Vernon Davis TE	49ers	TE
130	Marion Barber	Cowboys	RB
131	Michael Clayton	Buccaneers	WR
132	Dallas Clark TE	Colts	TE
133	Greg Jones	Jaguars	RB
134	Mike Anderson	Ravens	RB
135	Seattle D/ST	Seahawks	D/ST
136	Mark Clayton	Ravens	WR
137	Mike Bell	Broncos	RB
138	Baltimore D/ST	Ravens	D/ST
139	TJ Duckett	Falcons	RB
140	Amani Toomer	Giants	WR
141	Shayne Graham	Bengals	K
142	Jacksonville D/ST	Jaguars	D/ST
143	Kevin Curtis	Rams	WR
144	Roddy White	Falcons	WR
145	Braylon Edwards	Browns	WR
146	Mike Vanderjagt	Cowboys	K
147	Cedric Houston	Jets	RB
148	Priest Holmes	Chiefs	RB
149	Jermaine Wiggins TE	Vikings	TE
150	Billy Volek	Titans	QB
151	Samie Parker	Chiefs	WR
152	Antwaan Randle El	Redskins	WR
153	Michael Bennett	Saints	RB
154	Marty Booker	Bears	WR
155	Troy Williamson	Vikings	WR
156	Ashley Lelie	Broncos	WR
157	Mike Williams	Lions	WR
158	Santonio Holmes	Steelers	WR
159	Bobby Engram	Seahawks	WR
160	Chris Henry	Bengals	WR

JD's Draft (11-16)

2006-04-13T17:38:00.000-04:00

As the St. Louis Rams begin to build their defense up, I think that Jim Haslett will insist on shipping in a new DB. Michael Huff is one of the strongest DB’s in the league and I think that he will work well with the new defensive coordinator. He is one of the fastest and one of the hardest hitting backs in the league. Huff will add some much needed toughness to the Ram’s defensive backfield and make Haslett a happy man.

The Browns need four things next year in order to… well... not lose. First is a run stopper, they had an awful time stopping the run last year and if it continues to be that way next year, they will continue to lose. The second position is a pass rusher; the opponents of the browns sat in the pocket all day last year and got way too many yards in the air every game. Third is a veteran wide receiver, which they obviously can’t pick up in the draft. And last, is a running back to compliment Reuben Droughns. When the Browns signed Willie McGinest, Joe Jurevicius, and Ted Washington; they filled three out of four needs. Now all they need is a solid running back. DeAngelo Williams from Memphis will be a perfect player to compliment the talents of Droughns, and will probably be drafted by the Browns at pick number twelve.

The Baltimore Ravens have one of the strongest defenses in the league, and after the loss of their DT, Ma’ake Kemoeatu, I think that they will be looking to fill that position. Brodrick Bunkley is one of the strongest and roundest tackles out there. He weighs over 300 lbs of shear muscle, and not only can he stuff the run, but he can crush the quarterback. Although the Ravens have to look out for their offensive line, I think that if Bunkley is still on the boards at pick number thirteen, than the Ravens will take him.

Aside from losing T.O. in the offseason, The Philadelphia Eagles have a big position to fill. They have had problems running the ball for years, and it is about time that they drafted a decent running back. I think that McNabb ran for more yards than Westbrook last year. Not to say that they aren’t great players, but they aren’t. LenDale White of USC would be a great addition to the Eagle’s new predominantly offensive team. Who the Eagles pick in the first round is up for grabs this year, but I think that McNabb would love to see a running back getting some of his yards for him.

As Rod Smith becomes a member of AARP, and Ashley Lelie continues to only catch deep balls, the Broncos need to keep up their offensive efforts and keep their playoff hopes alive with some younger players. Chad Jackson (not Chad Johnson) seems like he’ll be a perfect fit for the Denver Broncos as one of the best route runners in the draft. If Jackson is still around when Denver gets to pick, (in round 15 due to the John Abraham trade) Denver will have a step up into next season.

Personally, if I were the Dolphins I would draft a new QB, I’m not sure why they picked up Culpepper in the first place. Unfortunately for them, they will probably end up drafting a DB. (Their loss.) The team has gone through a lot of drug charges… I mean drastic changes, and they need someone to fill in that huge gap where Howard and Madison seemed to let receivers roam free. Jimmy Williams is a versatile back that is physical enough to play safety, and fast enough to play defensive back. He will make a great Dolphin if they decide not to fire Culpepper and grab a new quarterback.

JD's Draft (6-10)

2006-04-10T21:06:00.000-04:00

How many tight ends do you know that can run the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, carrying six feet, four inches, and 256 pounds? I know one—Vernon Davis. He won the hearts of all the scouts at the combine where he displayed the best of his Abilities. Eric Johnson has missed two seasons due to injury. San Francisco needs to pick up a new tight end to give Alex Smith a new target and essentially strengthen his skills as a quarterback. Davis is the perfect pick for the 49ers at number 6.

Oakland doesn’t have a respectable defense by any means. That’s precisely why they will pick up the best defensive back in the league, Michael Huff. Plenty of teams want him, only one can have him. Plus, if the raiders fail to score on offense for say, the entire season, maybe their defense will be able to hold up. I vote Huff for number 7.

The Bills have allowed running backs to break through their lines all of last season. They allowed and average of 137.8 yards on the ground per game in 2005, and they need someone rock solid to stop the running attack at pick number 8. I think that Buffalo will pick up Haloti Ngata for what may be the easiest draft prediction in the entire draft. The 6 foot 5 inch 340 pound DT is one of the best at stopping the run, and will certainly be a good addition to the Bills in ’06.

The Lions have had trouble with their QB situation for years. And now that Joey Harrington is gone, and Jon Kitna is the only one to fill in, they are in deep need of a quarterback. Many people think that Jay Cutler could be the best QB in the draft, and the way he is flying up the draft boards, I wouldn’t be surprised. But if he survives the draft chaos until round 9, I suspect Detroit will pick him up.

A writer once said that anyone could win games with a great running game. (I wonder what dummy would have said that) Now the Cardinals have a chance to prove that statement. They picked up Edgerrin James in the offseason, and now all they have to do is pave the way for their new running back. Winston Justice, sitting at OT from USC, is one of the most powerful blockers and has a pair of the quickest feet in the draft. With a little help from Justice, the cardinals just might have what it takes to rise to the top of the NFC West—well at least bump in front of St. Louis.

JD's Draft (1-5)

2006-04-07T16:02:00.000-04:00

Every year, rumors go around about who will get first pick in the draft. I personally don’t think that this will be a big decision for Texas. The Texans are a team that are really rebuilding and as we know, all successful teams are built around a running back. Reggie Bush, from USC, will be the Texans First pick. I guarantee it.

New Orleans really needs a team to get their team moving. After Katrina, and a loss of much of their fan base I think that they will need to pick up a big name. There have been talks that the saints will pick Jay Cutler, but I think that The Saints will go For Matt Leinart from USC. He is an explosive quarterback, and he will be a perfect player for new coach, Sean Payton, to mold.

At pick number three, The Titans obviously have a position to fill. Their quarterback has been booted from the club, and they will look with someone who has potential as an NFL quarterback. Vince Young, who has a playing style quite similar to Michael Vick’s, might fit the ticket. He was very successful playing with Texas, and he might be just what the Titans need to get their franchise back to the top.

The Jets have, in my mind, made the decision that they are going to keep Pennington. With that assumption in mind, I think that the obvious pick for the Jets is to keep Pennington healthy—Draft a linebacker. And judging from that train of thought, there is only one man for the job: D’Brickashaw Ferguson. He is the best lineman going into the draft, and certainly the best passer protector.

The last one for the day, Green Bay Packers is going to be another easy choice. They drafted a quarterback last year, and when Favre retires, he will take the spot. The Packers haven’t had trouble performing on offence, but it is on the other side that is killing them. I think that Mario Williams, NC State’s Defensive End, will go to the pack on pick number 5.

That’s all that I’ve got for ya, stay tuned for more picks, (probably coming Sunday or Monday)

Beware The Draft

2006-04-05T19:24:00.000-04:00

As more of this action packed offseason develops, I find myself struggling more and more trying to find stories to post. I was going to write this article about Steve McNair and how he got bagged, but no one wants to hear about the worst quarterback in the league getting fired. After thinking and scanning the Internet for anything else remotely interesting, I found another skeptic remarking on how Brett Favre still hadn’t decided whether to return. It was then that it hit me—no one cares about an aging quarterback either.

I continue searching ESPN… Ravens are looking to put up record losses next season… The draft… Texans think first choice in draft will help their playoff hopes… Steelers continue to gain bandwagon support… The draft… The Buffalo Bills are concerned about where their team is going (about time)… The draft… Vikings continue to deny relation to the boat-party… Blah Blah. Blah. Blah.

I search more… The Packers decide to give Favre one last extension…for the ninth time. Ravens might pick up McNair. The draft. What about the good teams, and the good players, don’t they have any drama? No? Oh, ok. I guess I’ll give up on that then. The draft is coming soon. The NFL releases its schedule this Thursday the 6th. The draft. Fine! I give in… I’ll cover the draft like every other sports site known to man. (Coming soon)

The Offseason Kickoff

2006-03-30T15:48:00.000-05:00

Well I hadn’t written for a little bit, and if it weren’t for Cutthroat Pirates, this blog would still be empty. So much has gone on since I had last written; the Steelers won the Super Bowl. That was nice; the first 6th seed to go to the Super Bowl, much less win it since the AFL—NFL merger. The patriots lost a couple players… well a lot of players. Edgerrin James leaves the Colts for the Cardinals. T.O. moves to the Cowboys, Bills look to trade Moulds, and plenty more.

I got an e-mail from Cutthroat Pirates the other day, and along with scolding me for not writing he mentioned that he is changing his website from just Pirates stuff, and is now going to encompass the entire NFL. (Click the link on the right side of the page to view his site.) That e-mail inspired me to not only to get of my fat ass and write, but also to change my site a bit. Now JD’s Chronicle is going to be more devoted to the Patriots. Don’t worry though, I wont’ go overboard. So in honor of the change, here is my first “Patriots Today” (and yesterday, and last week etc.)

Yes I know, bye bye Vinatieri, but I think that he deserves to get whatever he wants, even if that is in Indy. He won three Super Bowls off of the laces of his shoes, and for the love of God, he deserves the money the Colts have for him. That’s all I’ll say about that, and I’m moving on. David Givens is now gone, and I have to be totally honest, his departure is a little over due. He was over paid since the day he stepped on to Patriot’s turf, and his riddance will make room for us to sign better players. I briefly thought that Ty Law might consider coming back to the pats after a year away from home. I woke up the other day to the realization that he is only in it for the money. Now that the patriots have sold all their players for draft picks, and practically own the first round, I don’t suppose that they will be Super Bowl contending next year, but anything is possible. Also, rest in peace Tyrone Pool, Chad Brown, Ryan Krug, Willie McGinest, and Ross Tucker.

Now that wasn’t so bad was it? Next up is Edgerrin James. I’m not sure what to think about his departure from the Colts, other than that with out him, the Colts have that much more use for Vinatieri. Without James to take it out of the red zone and put it in the end zone, they will send a lot more soaring though the uprights. The Cardinals on the other hand, will definitely make more wins, but a playoff birth is still doubtful.

Terrell Owens, what am I going to do with you? The Cowboys might not see it, but I see though you just like every other team in the NFL did. You can play the innocent game all day, but when mid-season comes, and you are pointing fingers at Bledsoe, I won’t be surprised. On the other side however, Terrell Owens might find the ball coming his way a bit more while playing under the pass-heavy coaching of ‘Air Parcells’.

The NFL also looks to make it a lot more difficult for people like Chad Johnson, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens to continue with their outrageous touchdown celebrations. The NFL has issued a fifteen-yard penalty enforced before the kick to any team that breaks the new touchdown regulations. Chad Johnson has responded with a claim that he has already, “Put together a committee that will find other creative ways to celebrate.” Also, the NFL has passed a new rule that will allow challenges on ‘down by contact’ plays. Kansas City proposed that two additional teams should be added to the current 12-team playoffs, but it doesn’t look like it will pass. Lastly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have proposed that all penalties can be challengeable, but it was nearly unanimously turned down.

That’s all I’ve got to say, and hopefully I will be writing more in the future.

Move Over And Let Me Coach

2006-01-23T18:45:00.000-05:00

Dear Mike Shanahan,
I noticed the other day, when you played against the Steelers that you had a little bit of trouble on third downs. I also noticed that when it was third and long you couldn't seem to stop them. Well, I was t hinking about it, and maybe if you stopped running the same frickin' formation every time, they might not have been able to get 15 yards every third down. All I saw on those situations was dime and nickel, I’ve got another coin for you, it's called quarter, you use it when the other team needs allot of yards. Ooooh, that’s why Ben Roethlisberger was able to toss the ball off to receivers between the zone coverage. His second year in the NFL and he can already read your defensive front... Now, unfortunately the same strategy doesn't work for red zone and goal to go situations. Stop pushing all your men to the middle/back of the field, and run some plays to prevent the screen. Also I’m not sure which was worse, the two fumbles that you lost or the two interceptions, but maybe you should tell your guys to only give the ball to your guys. Because including your fourth down conversion screw up, you guys turned the ball over a solid 5 times. Good luck next year, and tell Mistake Jake to get a haircut.

Dear John Fox,
Good work on your valiant loss on Sunday, and send on my congratulations to your quarterback who managed a jaw dropping 1.7 quarterback ratting late in the 3rd. Before I wrote this article I had written one about all the mistakes you made running your offense--and defense; but unfortunately it wouldn't all fit on one page. This time I’ll try to summarize a little better: first off, you let up 27 first downs when you only moved the chain 11 times your way. You got one third down conversion--out of nine, and no fourth down conversions. You allowed Delhomme to throw a beautiful 3 int's and only one TD. You lost a fumble, and held onto the ball for less than 20 minutes (1/3 of the game). You rushed for a total of 36 yards and with the exception of the lucky touchdown run on special teams, you didn't score until the Seahawks had pulled all their starters in the fourth. Despite your despicable performance calling plays on the field, you did quite a good job calling Steve Smith off the field to calm down. Even though you didn't even take one red zone visit the entire game, I congratulate you on scoring on two freak end zone visits. So what if the Seahawks doubled your first downs, touchdowns, and your time of possession. Who cares if they more than quadrupled your rushing yards and third down conversions. All that matters is what you come out with at the end. That would be three interceptions and a loss by your very own Jake the Mistake.

A Tribute to a Fallen Dynasty

2006-01-19T22:00:00.000-05:00

For some reason, though out history, the big guys always fall the hardest. After three Super Bowl wins they are starting to fade away. Don’t think that the Patriots aren’t a threat; but without Law and Harrison on defense, and injuries stacking up, they are getting old. They’re line up is like the one in the movie “The Replacements” with Keanu Reeves—but don’t worry the Pats aren’t playing nearly as bad as that movie did. Don’t get me wrong, they had a great dynasty; one that will be remembered though the history of football.

It all started with a man named Bledsoe; he led the Patriots dynasty in every statistic. In the 8 years Bledsoe played for the pats, he threw for 2,544 completions; 29,657 passing yards; 168 touchdowns; and is seen in many people eyes as the greatest Quarterback in the history of the patriots. When he was injured in 2001, everyone thought that New England, the team with the best playoff hopes, was done for. That year the quarterback fresh out of Michigan, with no NFL experience under his belt, Tom Brady, stepped onto the field. He completed an amazing 64% of his 413 pass attempts, throwing for 2843 yards. This was a miracle for the Patriots; he put the patriots back in the drivers seat on the road to Super Bowl XXVI.

That Super Bowl, Brady didn’t throw a single interception against the Rams, and went on to be the Super Bowl MVP. The next year Tom Brady got a new weapon: Deion Branch. That year he ran for a huge 11½ yards a carry. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to even get the patriots into the postseason. That year was productive for the offense however. They picked up a new tight end, Daniel Graham, and another wider receiver, David Givens. With this new dream team, the patriots managed to take it back into the postseason. Brady threw for 201 passing yards against the Titans, 237 yards in Foxboro Stadium against Indy, and finally against the Carolina Panthers he threw 354 biggies to win their second Super Bowl in 3 years. Up until the Patriots’ Super Bowl appearances, only one Super Bowl had been determined by a field goal. After Adam Vinatieri (Pats’ kicker) was done with that statistic, he had added 3 Super Bowl game winning field goals to that stat.

Last season Tom Brady led his team to seed one in the postseason. He had an NFL record breaking 21 straight wins; and if it wasn’t for the stealers stopping that streak in their one honest lost of the season, they would have been the only team since the ’72 Dolphins to go an entire season undefeated. Even with the patriots best season in their trails Brady still had what could have been the toughest postseason schedules in his playoff history. Fist they whipped out the Super Bowl contending Colts in a 20-3 victory. Their next game they took on Bill Cowher, and despite sending heavy blitzes, Brady managed 207 yards in the air, and a 41-27 victory. At that point in the season the Patriots were the best they had ever been. With out a bench filled with injury reserve players, the Patriots Managed to make it to Super Bowl XXIX. The Terrell Owens controversy took a lot of press off of the Patriots and they were able to win the Super Bowl with yet another Adam Vinatieri field goal. The patriots had now had the longest postseason winning streak in the history of the NFL (10 straight wins) and the longest season winning streak (21 straight wins). The Patriots had conquered every team in the NFL in their 3-year reign, and it all trickled down from the little guy. With the touch of a kicker a dynasty was born.

The Eighth Wonder of Football

2006-01-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

I got a whomping, one comment last week. Not that I don't appreciate that comment, but come on guys, you need to up your game. What am I supposed to write about without any comments or questions? Either way to help get some comments out of you guys, and because I'm tired as hell, I'm just going to write a short article asking you guys something for a change. Now I pretty much know everything about everything. As a matter of a fact I think I could be the smartest person in the world. So when I ask these questions I really know the answer I just won’t tell you. Ok I’m just kidding, I have no idea what the answer is. Well I’m done jabbering on, here are the questions.

Question One: Here is the situation, you just scored a TD, and it was a really nice one by the way—good work, and your going back onto the field to attempt the extra two points. However you have Kerry Collins is your quarterback and he throws another INT. The other team runs it all the way back and scores a TD. What happens? Is it no good? Is it 2 points? Is it seven? Tell me what you think.

Question Two: Ok your back down into your territory, attempting a 52-yard kick. You snap the ball and kick it, but as you kick it, it just nicks the other team's lineman. It goes all the way to the field goal and comes short by like a foot. Fortunately, you are so quick that you are already there and you jump up and knock it through the uprights before it hits the ground. Is it a field goal? What do you think?

Question Three: Your kicking the same field goal, except this time it hits the post of the field goal and bounces into the arms of someone on either team. Is the ball still fair? Who can receive it? I don't know, do you?

Ok, for God's sake, answer these questions so I don't have to come home to an empty blog at night.

Postseason McFlurry

2006-01-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

This post will be short and to the point, so I apologize for that beforehand. I am going on a trip to Vermont as of tomorrow and I hadn’t started to pack yet. As you can tell from the title, this article is about the upcoming playoffs. First game on the list: Cinci vs. Pittsburgh. I think that this will be a good game, and I highly recommend that you watch it, as it will probably be the game of the week. Either way, Pittsburgh hasn't been looking too hot recently; and by recently I mean this season; and because they are so bad in high-pressure situations (like last years postseason), I think that Cincinnati will win. Or rather Pittsburgh will lose.

Next up is New England, this game won't be one for the record books, but New England will have a win against Jacksonville. Then in the NFC, the Washington Tampa game will be good, but every time I bet against Washington they win, so here you go: Washington takes it. And the last game of the week, the New York Giants game against the Carolina Panthers. I know I'm going to make everyone around me mad about this one (seeing as I live in Carolina), but I'm going to pick New York for the win either way.

I'm looking far ahead now; this way if I’m right, I earn ultimate bragging rights,. Cincinnati is going to have to play Denver; which is also going to be an excellent game; but that’s what the playoffs are about right? Well this is a toughie and I’m going against my better will, but Denver judgment win it because not only is their defense better (in my eyes) but they have a guy named Ashley on their team. (That never gets old) Next is New England against Indy. Even though I am a strong Pats fan, as you know, I think it’s time I face the facts, so against my will I will say that Indy is going to take it.

On the other side of the league, I can't think of a good upset, I apologize, Washington will lose to Seattle, and New York will lose to Chicago. And when Chicago Plays Seattle in the next week Seattle will take it to go onto the Super Bowl, and play the winner of the Indy—Denver game. Now who wudda thunk it, but I choose Denver to beat Indy by a small margin, and go to the Super Bowl as well. Now here it is, the bottom line: Denver will win it even though Seattle has the better running game. I think Denver is a stronger team and a little more balanced than Seattle. It will be an epic battle of great proportions; but Denver will be the last man/team standing. Ok, that wasn't so short—sue me.

Seeding the Playoffs

2006-01-03T20:25:00.000-05:00

The playoffs are here and the season is coming to an end. I set up my scrappy NFL post-season chart, I made bets against some of the bad spreads, and of course, I selected my post-season wins--which I will probably share with you on Thursday. But before anything. I would like to explain as simply as possible how the post season works.

Anyone familiar with tournaments should know that a 'seed' is basically a spot or position in the tournament. The lower the number of the seed, the better your position is. How the seeds are determined in the NFL are based on several different factors. The first thing you need to know is that the NFL is split into two different conferences, the NFC and the AFC. The Super Bowl is the best of the NFC vs. the best of the AFC. But until the Super Bowl, the two conferences don't play each other in the post season. Within each of those conferences are four different divisions. Seeds one through four are the division champions in each conference and are ordered by their record. The last two seeds are the teams with the best records not already seeded. Incase you didn’t catch that, that’s six seeds in each conference.

Now that you have the seeds down you might be asking yourself, "What the heck is JD talking about?" or maybe you are asking, "What is the purpose of these seeds?" If you were someone who was asking the first question, I suggest you read that previous paragraph over again before continuing. However if you are ready to hear about what the purpose of the seeds are, please continue. First off, seeds one and two get to take the first week of the post season off. The next four seeds however have to play the first week. Seed 3 plays seed 6 and seed 4 plays seed 5. Now this is where it gets complicated, after those games are played, seed one plays the winning team with the highest number seed and seed two plays the other winning team. For example if seed 3 and 5 won, than seed 1 would play seed 5 and seed 2 would play seed 3. Next the winners of those two games play to win their conference. Lastly the final team left alive is sent to the Super Bowl and the rest is history.

Christmas Surprises

2005-12-30T12:27:00.000-05:00

I hope that everyone had a Happy Holliday, and I apologize for not writing for a long time; I have been in Vail, Colorado for a week. So what did I miss? Chad Johnson misplaced his reindeer, the colts lost again, the pats are still on fire, and of coarse Tony Dungy's son tragically passed away. I know I'm late on this, but I hadn't been able to write for a while. I'd just like to say that as much as I don't like the Colts, and as much as I love to see them lose, no one deserves to lose a son, and my heart is with Dungy until he gets through this. Now with that out of the way, lets look at what's going to happen next week in the NFL, it's the last week and I’m already starting to miss regular season football.

Denver has been looking good in the past couple of weeks, and they have only lost one out of the past 8 games. San Diego has also been looking pretty good this season but LaDainian Tomlinson is injured so you might not see as much playing time from him. I pick San Diego to win this one because all 3 of the Denver’s losses have been on the road, and even though Tatum Bell’s running game is so strong; the chargers know how to stop it. This game will truly be based on the defense, and the team that turns the ball over the most will lose.

It seems like no one can stop Clinton Portis or Santana Moss, so Washington gets the win over the broken down Eagles. Whoever picked the spread on the Green Bay game is crazy, Seattle will pull and upset in Green Bay because they have one of the strongest running attacks in the NFL, and we know how important that is. I don’t want to encourage you to spend all your money betting, but you should on this crazy 4½ point spread, Seattle will win by much more than that. No one cares about the Tennessee, Jacksonville game, but I’ll give Tennessee the upset anyway. New England will spank Miami out of Foxboro on Sunday. Kansas City will take a close win in Cinci moving the Bangles down a play-off seed. Chicago will steal an upset in Minnesota, and they would lose even if Moss and Culpepper were playing. Indy will rid themselves of their slump and smother the Cards on Indy’s own home field. That’s it on next week’s football games have a happy and save New Year.

JD's Rundown

2005-12-20T18:24:00.000-05:00

I wrote an article several weeks ago about how the NFL is based totally on running. This week, I would like to turn that opinion into a fact. I made sure to watch the San Diego game because I knew that they might be the only team good enough in this league to stop the Indy run. Well my theory was correct, and I doubt I’m the only one to notice, but Indy's running game sucked, and Manning looked like a fool. They ran for a whomping 24 yards with about 1.6 yards per carry. That’s right, 5 feet. So this article goes out there to all of those Colts fans who are tired of hearing about the loss, and of course any of you critics who still aren’t convinced that I am the all knowing. (Yea, there still are a few out there.) Also while we are on the Indy game I would also like to note that Peyton completed just over half of his passes and was intercepted twice. (And he was nearly picked of an additional 3) Oh and by the way I don't know if any of you knew this, but the Colts do in fact have a punter; although usually he is rarely used, he came on to the field a whopping 6 times Saturday. Well that’s enough for them, lets look at some other running failures last week.

The patriots have been big news lately so lets look at their stats on their 28-point shutout against Tampa. Yes, the patriots stopped Cadillac Williams, who only got 23 rushing yards, and of course no TD's, giving patriots what some may call a ‘gimme’. The Vikings had a big 53 yard rushing game and lost to the Stealers who had about 3 times as many yards on the ground. All across the NFL teams are loosing because they are getting their run stuffed. As a matter of fact, only two teams that won last week and didn't have the most rushing yards, they were Cleveland (who won by 2) and Philadelphia (who won by 1).

Now of course there is another side to that argument: teams with good passing games win games too, it's not all in the running game. Now if you’re someone who was reading my article thinking that, I give you a pat on the back. However, you’re still wrong. Almost every single team that had more passing yards last week lost. That’s right, you heard correctly. Only in cases like the Giants' 10-point victory did the winning team have more passing yards, and even so they only had about 35 less. Well I think you all know the moral of the story, but for some of you rookies out there I'll state it flat up: run the ball on offence, stop the run on defense, and most importantly, Peyton’s got nothin’ on the ’72 dolphins.

The Patriots' Future

2005-12-15T20:20:00.000-05:00

What’s in the future for the 3 time Super Bowl champions? When I got this question, I was baffled. I get this question all the time, but for some reason this time it really got to me. I might have said that they were on their way out, just as quick as Dallas did after their reign. I may have used their mounting injury list as an excuse, but I sat and revised this article enough times that I realized that there isn't a single answer to that question. What is going to happen to the Pats? I say they will always rein supreme, they lost their entire defensive line, but they still hold teams down in the red zone. They lost both defensive coaches, but Belichick caries the team on his shoulders, his quarterback gets injured in his throwing shoulder and his leg, but Sports Illustrated still gives him an award? So they lost 3 more games than they did last season. So they don't have Ty Law to save them on defense. So Vinatieri missed a few. I don't care.

Pats will still go all the way, and their injuries will just make them stronger. The Pats are one of the best clutch teams in the NFL and when you tell me that they won't make it in the post season I think back. I think back to when Adam Vinatieri kicked the most important and kick of his career, 3 times. I remember when the rookie out of Michigan carried a team, with an injured quarterback, to the Super Bowl, 3 times. I remember when the pats lost to the Stealers in the season, but held their head up high, because they knew that even though the Stealers had stopped their record-breaking 21 game winning streak (still the best today) they were the big dawgs. Now when Peyton Manning is attempting a perfect season, and I mean attempt, the pats look at him in pity because he lacks something the pats always had, the will to win.

The patriots have so many records, that Peyton Manning quivers in the shadows. Bill Belichick has won more Super Bowls than any other NFL coach. Ever. He also happens to have the best post season winning record. Ever. The Patriots are 41-5 since 2001 when they run down more of the clock than the other guys. And with their running back, Cory Dillon looking healthier than ever, stealing the clock just might be achievable. Now that winter is coming around, the Patriots’ short passing and running game will really pay off against the rude winds and chilling cold. Last week against Buffalo, six different receivers all got the ball at least 3 times. So what if New England doesn’t have big names like Edgerrin James, or Marvin Harrison, it’s hard to defend an offense when every single receiver has potential with the football, especially with Brown and Givens back in the lineup. New England is getting healthy and they have run out of excuses to loose, so they won’t.

The Patriots have a tough road ahead of them, but they always have. Everyone has lost confidence in them, but it only makes them stronger. So when you ask, “What is in the patriots future this post season?” I have to ask you, “Do you really still doubt them?”

San Diego's Tragic Flaw

2005-12-12T19:27:00.001-05:00

Last week, there was a game in which almost all football critics were certain on the same outcome. During the game Team A completed 35 passes, Team B completed less than half as many. Team A had 27 first downs; Team B had a mere 14. Team A's 3rd down efficiency was almost 3 times as good, and ran almost twice as many plays as Team B. Yet who ended up winning the game? Believe it or not, Team B, the Dolphins. I'm referring to the amazingly pitiful game in San Diego against Miami.

Wasn't it San Diego just two weeks ago who were begging to have a chance to strike down the undefeated Colts? I thought it was the Chargers with what many consider the most powerful running back in the NFL. What about the dolphins? What can they boast about? They picked a good running back in the 2005 draft, and they have a halfback still going through rehab running the ball on the other side of the clock. Why then did this powerhouse team loose to Miami? Maybe it's because Miami finally got their defense in order, or maybe because San Diego's didn't think their defense needed order. Maybe Miami just wanted to win more, they wanted to win so badly that they threw an average of 16.4 yards a pass. San Diego only threw 3 passes over 16.4 yards the entire game. So is cockiness the Chargers' tragic flaw? Not at all, but I know it played a huge roll in last weeks game.

San Diego put up 7 points in the first 2 quarters and Miami only put up 3. San Diego figured they would play the game with runs and short completions, killing the clock. Miami knew they had to out score the chargers, and put it to the air to score 17 points in the 3rd quarter. San Diego didn't snap out of their slow play mind set until the last 10 minutes in the game when some smart man on the San Diego sidelines noticed the scoreboard wasn't reading in their favor. Drew Brees finally puts it to the air and squeezes in 14 points in the final minutes of the game, but it wasn't good enough. Miami isn't a very good team, but they sure as hell looked like one last Sunday.

Top 10 Reasons to Watch Week 13 Football

2005-12-03T15:25:00.000-05:00

10-Mike Holgren may be able to out weigh Andy Reid
9-Dallas Cheerleaders
8-To see who looks older, Brett Farve or Chris Bermen
7-Is Ashley Lelie a guy?
6-To see who looks prettier, Tom Brady or Chad Pennington
5-Ricky Williams might shave
4-To see if you can stay awake through the entire Seattle game.
3-Madden is making up more nicknames for Adam Vinietari and Tom Brady as we speak
2-Baltimores offense might score
1-To see if LaDanian Thomlison can throw more TD's than Kerry Collins INT's

Week 13 Matchups

2005-12-01T16:57:00.001-05:00

How about them Carolina Panthers? Going 8 and 3, and with the exception of the loss to Chicago, they hadn't lost one since the end of September. Good for them, but they hadn't played one Superbowl contending team this season with the exception of the crippled New England Patriots, and as we both know now, they are no longer Superbowl Contending. So does the NFL rig the schedules to make better games? I don't know, but with the defending champs(New England) with the hardest schedule of all time and the 2003 Super Bowl losers (Carolina) only playing 4 teams with winning records, and still managing to loose 3 games, this football league can be seen as unfair as the NFL's new salary cap.

Well, when you ask me who will win the Atlanta--Carolina game, I think you already know what I'm going to tell you. The Atlanta Falcons will pull and upset in Carolina on Sunday, even with a quarterback with a passer rating of 81.2 (that's pretty bad for all you rookie football spectators out there). I'll tell you why too, it's because the Atlanta Falcons have been fighting close battles all season, and the Carolina Panthers don't even know what a winning team smells like. (Probably pretty musty, but I'll never know that either)

As for the other games, LaDainian Thomlison and the Chargers will rock the house with home court against Oakland. The New England Patriots will pull themselves together for a win in New York against the Jets. Minnesota has been on a roll, I'll give them a win in Baltimore. Brett Farve is getting way too old to run his offence, so I'll give the win to the Bears. The Buffalo Bills beat Miami the first time around, but they one by less than a touchdown, Miami gets the win next week. And finally, for my Monday Nighter, I'll give the win to Philadelphia because it just might shut T.O. up.

The New NFL

2005-11-30T16:48:00.000-05:00

These days all the teams in the NFL rely on the same basic system: Run the ball, and then give the quarterback the credit. You know why? Because fans only remember the ball in the air. It moves the game along and makes big plays. Even as much as you complain about T.O.'s attitude on and off the field, and Randy Moss stirring up trouble in Green Bay, (Yes, I’m referring to him "mooning" the crowd) you love to see the receivers causing trouble. But what most people don't see is why the running game is really the backbone of most NFL teams.

The colts are the greatest example for that. Sure, Peyton Manning, he's so good; he no one can run an offence quite like him! Bull. I give Peyton loads of credit, but the only reason he has the opportunity to put it to the air is because Edgerrin James allows him to. No, Edgerrin doesn't give him permission to run all his plays, but without the threat on the ground, Peyton is nothing. It takes two guys to take down Edgerrin, and with Manning's linebackers so tough, it takes more than the usual four up front to stop the run. Making the corners and safeties play a little shorter makes them a lot more committed to the running attack, and if Manning ever decides to go play action fake, forget about it; the ball is in the air and the corners are still watching the run. You take away Edgerrin James, and Manning is nothing. So is Peyton Manning a good quarterback? Of course he is, and will continue to be. But is it really Peyton fueling this offence? I know I’d look out for the beast with 4.5 yards a carry if I were on defence.