Ahhhh...Oooohh NFL post-season continued

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Saturday, January 3, 2009! 4:30 p.m.

Losers of four of their last six to end the season, the Cardinals need the offense to return to form, and make the most of their possessions. Arizona is dead last in the entire NFL in rushing, averaging 73.6 yards per game. That's pitiful. While Tim Hightower has 10 td's, he averages only 2.8 yds a carry. The meat and potatoes of the Cards is the passing game. They have 3 of the top 22 receivers in the game. Larry Fitzgerald ranks number 2, with 96 receptions for 1431 yds and 12tds. At 16, is Anquan Boldin, who was rocked all year by big hits and facials has 89 receptions for 1038 yds and 11 tds's. Steve Breaston ranks 22nd, with 77 rec. for 1006 yds and 3 complimentary touchdowns.
Kurt Warner was unbelievable this year! Although he may be out in the MVP race, he had the third best passer rating. He threw for 4583 yards and had 30td's to 14 int's. One of the better stories in the league full of assholes.
Cardinal defense is about as good as Atlanta's. They rank 22 to Atl's 21.

The Falcons as well are one of the better stories in the NFL. Matt Ryan(rookie) helps take Atlanta to the playoffs, along with Micheal Turner(freak), and Roddy White.
Matt Ryan ranks 13th in the league in passing, completing 61.1 % of his passes. Tony Romo(who missed the playoffs) completed 61.3. Ryan threw for 3443 yds, with 16 td's to 11 int's.
Northern Illinois alum Michael Turner was second in the NFL in rushing. I put this guy in the mix of MVP candidates. 376 carries for 1699 yds, with 17 td's. That's and average of 106.2 a game.
The Falcons have only one receiver, and that's Roddy White, who ranks 4th in the league with 88 receptions for 1382 yds and 12 td's. After him you have Michael Jenkins and others I care not too mention.
This season for the Atlanta fans was maybe the greatest ever for them. Sure, they made the Superbowl under Dan Reeves, but they didn't stand a chance, and Eugene Robinson embarrassed the whole franchise for being arrested for soliciting a prostitute.
Best season ever. In your face Vick! In your face.
So.... who wins
Again tough to predict.
If the Cardinals can stop Turner, they have a shot at this. I'm sure the Falcons game plan is to run it down their throats with Turner and Norwood, control the clock, and limit Matt Ryan mistakes. I'd double Roddy White and takes my chances.
For Arizona, the passing game is fine. They need to RUN THE BALL. I would start Edgerin James, I really would. He has the experience, and should be fresh from being in the doghouse. They get a run game to run some play-action, and I see Arizona running away with this one.
I give the slight edge to Arizona if this happens, and they can play some sort of defense.
Arizona 31, Atlanta 30!

AHHHHHHH, The Post-Season

Thanks to bloggers at I Dislike Your Favorite Sports Team.
I joined their Pro Football pick em and finished 5th out of 19. Not too shabby, but still, look at the winning percentages. Football is one of the hardest to predict winners. The winner of the pick em had a 0.539 winning percentage. I correctly picked 122/256 games. That is a winning percentage of 0.476. Almost fifty %, but not quite. My four year old could probably pick half the games right just by asking her who will win, like Houston or Chicago. MMMmmmmmm.......Houston Daddy!
So thanks again IDYFT! Also, Andrew Wice of IDYFT is now a published author. Check it out. Your book is on my list of many sir.
Now since I'm a .0476 expert at picking NFL games, let's look at the post-season and makes some educated picks!


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Saturday, January 3, 2009! @8:00 p.m.
It doesn't seem right that Indy has to travel, but San Diego is the Division winner? Well, after the Chargers really spanked the Broncos, they took over.
The Colts won nine in a row to end the season, including wins against The Patriots, Steelers, and San Diego. They also have a win versus Baltimore this year.
Joseph Addai, who was the consensus top five picks among fantasy running backs, was a dud riddled with injuries all year. 155 carrries for 544 yds and 5 td's. Dominic Rhodes has virtually the same stats, but with one more td. Rhodes also caught more passes out of the backfield: 45 to Addai's 25. Addai topped 100 yds once versus Houston, and Rhodes has the second higest with 86 yds against lowly Detroit.
So the running game is weak. Let's see if they rest up enough to be a factor.
It's been all Peyton Manning and his Wideouts. All have been sensational(including Marvin Harrsion). Manning ended the regular season with 4000 yds and 27 td's after an awful start, earning him MVP consideration.
The CHARGERS have really had a bad season defensively. They are all about offense.
Phillip Rivers completed 65% of his passes, throwing for over 4000 yds with 34 tds's, passing the great Dan Fouts for all time touchdown thrown by a Charger!
For L.T., it wasn't a bad year at all. 1110 yds rushing with 11 td's. Not his freakish self, but looked very good that last game vs. Denver.
The Charger wideouts have been good as well with a core of Chambers, Jackson(leader),Gates, and Floyd.
The Chargers did not beat any good teams this year, aside from New England, but that was early in the season, before Cassell found his horny.
Charger losses include Cardinals, Buffalo, New England, New Orleans, Pitt, INDY, Atlanta. Wins: Two wins each vs. Oakland and Kansas City, Tampa, Denver.
San Diego ranks 25th in the NFL in Defense, and only avg. 0.57 sacks a game.
Indy ranks 15th, and always seems to show up in big games.
Darren Sproles should be a factor in this game, giving San Diego great field position from kick/punt returns.
Prediction? I see this being a great, great game. Who makes the defensive stop when it's needed seems to be the story here.
I think Manning should pick apart the defense, and Adam Vinatieri kicks a field goal with under ten seconds, winning the game in regulation. Bye Bye Turner.

Tomorrow I will go over Atlanta at Arizona, and Baltimore at Miami.

The Greatest Fans in Sports

It was horribly cold on Sunday. One of those days if you're walking, the wind blows straight through you and you're face is numb instantly. The kind of cold where you walk backwards to avoids the winter gust. My car was stuck in the ice and spent 45 minutes out there. I would like to thank the Saint that pulled over with a metal shovel to get mine out, and then sticking around to help the guy parked in back of me. Again, thank-you. When I got back inside, I could not move my fingers and I had that pins in my heart feeling. My hands, my skin are dry and raw a little earlier this year, as winter has truly come full force this season. Leaving the house sucks, whether if it's to go to work, shop, eat, etc.

That brings us to Monday. Monday Night Football. Green Bay at Chicago Bears.
I was actually fortunate enough to be up for the regulation comeback, and Robbie Gould field goal to seal victory in overtime.

Good for them. A win next week at Texas, coupled with a Vikings loss, will qualify the bears for the playoffs.

Too my point though. Football fans are hard core. I would never imagine going to a game in these conditions. I have never been to a football game, and never will. I hate the cold and refuse to subject myself to that. Take off my shirt and pour liquids over myself. Chicago, Green Bay, Ohio, Pitt, Philly, Buffalo and the like. The fans will show up no matter what, and for that they have to be the greatest fans in the world(all due respect to the crazy soccer fanatics, props to you too).

I couldn't find very good cold weather Bears footage, so i bring you......
FOREIGNER!!!!!!

Someone Has to Say It

Hey man. Yo, T.O. I'm hungry bitch. What are you doing. Don't tell me you're sitting at Starbuck's again, trying to write your way out of Dallas. Do me a favor before you go? Put some food in my dish. Water in my bowl. Jolly my ass.
I called Romo and Witten. They were at IHOP drawing up plays brother. You got no one. Just me. Meow. Just come home and let me lay on you and make you clean up hairballs.
I really wished you turned off the TV. It doesn't soothe me. Thanks for leaving ESPN on. You are tired son!!!
I don't know why no one will come out and say it. They are cowards.
Here's the skinny:
You are a jerk. A low life. You kill every team you have ever played for. You are a cry baby and a sore loser. You are selfish, greedy, and have no idea what football is about. You are a pain in everyone's ass, and don't get me started on the Hall of Fame. Who's gonna vote for you. Meow. You care more about your media coverage than running crisp routes, and waiting for the ball to come your way. You're old too bro. You are getting soooo old. You don't have too much left in the tank. Everyone in the league hates you. Go dance with the stars or some shit. You haven't won a danm thing in your life and never will with your horribly childish attitude. Don't worry, Drew Rosenhaus loves you though. He will defend you to the end. The end of your dough. Meow.
I feel bad for Dallas. I mean, not that bad, they did have one of the best teams in the 90's. The gots lotsa Superbowls and are America's team. You gotta feel for Romo and Witten though. They look like they enjoy what they do. Even if you do have a great game, score a touchdown, and Dallas wins Sunday, it doesn't matter. You're like Dennis Rodman when he played for the Spurs. They'll win when you are gone.

HI!!!! I'm Drew Rosenhaus, and I'm a Dick. I spend too much time on Sportscenter. I'm rich. I don't care. I'm a liar and I'm fine with that. I have no compassion for mankind. Did I mention I'm rich. Richer than you.....asshole. Oh man.. Hawaii kicks ass this time of year. How's that car warming up. Get your Christmas shopping done yet? Ha Ha Ha. Go on with your bad self. I'm getting my people strap ons.

WINTER MEETINGS

AHHHHH. Beautiful. Warm. Home.

Well here we are, 12 months later, deep in a recession that is slowing down activity during the GM meetings in California, and now the winter meetings in Las Vegas.
One story has come out the the agent for Rafael Furcal has been quoted as saying he doesn't believe teams don't have the money to dump on free agents. While that may be true, aside from a few of the big market teams, everyone has to be careful with money, or they may really find themselves in a huge hole if the economy is a slow healer.

That being said C.C. Sabathia reportedly will sign the most lucrative pitching contract in history with who else? The Yankees. 7 years/160 million. It seems ridiculous yes, but I feel it's a great move for them. I mean it does tie up even more money, but Yankee pitching has been terrible for them and everyone is desperate to get back to the World series and compete with the Red Sox again. Sabathia's arm might fall off, and the team could finish last in the great Al East, but it's always worth a shot to the Yanks.
Of the top ten free agents available according to ESPN, only one has signed. The aforementioned C.C. Sabathia.
Teixeira, Manny, A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, Furcal, Adam Dunn(Hendry loves him I think, but too expensive, and too many K's), Milton Bradley, Oliver Perez, and Pat Burrell are still waiting for the dominoes to fall.

On the Cubs front: All indications lead to the conclusion that Jake Peavy is the top priority along with a left-handed hitting outfielder. This trade is even more complicated than the Brian Roberts trade rumors of last off-season. The Cubs will be trading players, prospects and the like for Peavy. A third or forth team is to be included for this deal to happen.
Jake Peavy costs a lot of money. 4 years/63 million with an option in 2013 for 22 million.
Jason Marquis and his 9.875 million needs to go in order for this to go down, or so I've heard all this morning. Padres may seem willing to take him on if the Cubs eat a few million of his salary. The Phillies and Orioles are named as the teams involved in this 3 or 4 way trade. I hate to report what I've been reading, but one of the rumors is Cub favorite and heart breaker Mark DeRosa going to the Phillies. He was arguably one of the best players for the club last year, but it is a cost cutting move to acquire Peavy, and also make room for that left handed bat in right field.
Get it? I don't.
Personally, I would love to have Peavy and a lead off hitter. A couple of lefty's in the line-up would be nice for balance, but with all this chatter the Cubs middle infield would be Theriot and Fontenot. I'm not too hot about that. Offensively, both have been better than expected, but the defense will be shaky.
Have the Cubs soured on Kosuke Fukudome already? Hey, coach him. They spent 40 mill. on a guy who's great defensively, runs the bases well, but has a gaping hole in the swing. Are you telling me he cannot eradicate his mistakes? I don't know why we need a left handed right fielder when we just signed him. Trade him then, find someone who will take him. There's always someone out there.
Besides that, I'd still want Brian Roberts if DeRosa goes.

Long post I know, but I might not right on the Cubs for a while if activity is slow.

Second option for the Cubs is signing Randy Johnson for one year, and I repeat, a left handed hitting right fielder. The Peavy trade is the first order, and I expect this to happen before Christmas, so both teams can look elsewhere and not be left out of the rest of the free agents.
Alright, I'm done with that.

Let's wrap it up, with some trades and free agent signings that have already taken place.

Matt Holiday traded to the A's for Huston Street.
Catcher Gerald Laird traded from Texas to Detroit for prospects.
catcher Ramon Hernandez traded from Baltimore to the Reds for utility man Ryan Freel.
Javier Vasquez traded by the Sox to the Braves for prospects.(I believe I heard this morning that Ozzie said he hoped Javier dies! No kidding!)
SS Edgar Renteria signs with the Giants.
Pitcher Mike Hampton signs with the Astros. Clickety Clack.
Mike Lamb(3B) signs with Brewers. Who cares.
Casey Blake signs with the Dodgers, and Mark Loretta I think as well.
SS Khalil Green traded to the Cardinals from San Diego.
RP Alan Embree signs with the Rockies.
Dustin Pedroia signs six year contract with Boston
Closer Francisco Rodriguez signs 3 year/37 million contract with the Mets. Have fun missing the post-season K-Rod!
Kerry Wood has a deal in place, but no announcement yet with the Indians. 2 years/21 million. Good for you buddy. Good for you.

Hope you come back to read more. If you made it this far, thank-you.

Cuts Like A Knife

A report from the Chicago Sun-Times came out December ninth that Derek Rose needed stitches for his arm, from an injury he sustained in bed by a knife.

This is one of the silliest accidents you can have. Aside from sneezing and throwing out your back ala Sammy Sosa.
My only question? How high was this guy?
Do you cut and prepare food in bed? I don't. I usually leave that to the kitchen, and I almost never eat food in bed. Rose got up to get a bottle of water, and when he went back to bed, forgot the knife was there, thus lacerating himself.
I believe him, I do. I was talking to a friend who made a good point. He's 20 years old. Excited. Lively. A great rookie.
He most likely got that bottle of water, was pretending to dribble it on the way back to his room, and then jumped in bed like he was executing a slam dunk, while saying "I'm so rich bitch!".

He wasn't talking about crosschecks

This is Sean Avery. NHL. Now this will probably be the last time I talk about hockey unless we have a reunioun of sega hockey.(awesome game) I was running on the treadmill yesterday and caught this clip which made me laugh out loud, which made me an even creepier young man at the gym watching all the boobies bounce.
I've seen all the shows(i.e. pti, around the horn, Rome,) and they all hate this guy. The league kinda hates this guy. He's Dennis Rodman essentially.
I don't watch hockey. I like it, but you know....the NFL, MLB, NBA
May I be the first to say it?(although it's sounds like he's jealous and his feeling were hurt) You rock Sean Avery! College kids around the world love if now!


Well that was that. Funny huh? Sloppy seconds is a phrase uttered eternally everywhere. It's embarrasing to hear him say this, but hilarious.
Here is a montage of Avery, with a cover of "I don't wanna grow up", by Tom Waits.

Thank-You Mom!

Beautiful isn't it? The Lombard Falcons. A local Park District team for all age groups and levels. Just look at those colors. I loved them. Purple and white with a falcon on the helmet.
Like many kids my age way back when, I loved Football. I remember waking up on Sunday mornings at my Grandparents, opening up the Trib or Times, and circling all the teams I thought would win that day, while eating my eggs, sauasage and wheat toast. They still do it sometimes today, but it was usually just the helmets of teams going up against each other and some info and stats, and of course the point spread.
I was an active child. I played soccer, baseball, played football in the field all day, tag, you name it. When I saw these kids in these uniforms though, I really wanted to join the Falcons.
NO WAY! UH Uh! NEVER! Those were probaly some of the things my Mom said when I asked to play. My Grandma was in agreement. I may have cried alone somewhere, and I didn't really bother them much after that. I knew when no was no. They talked about the risk of injury, that I wasn't big enough for those other kids, etc..
Who knows if I had gotten hurt, but I do know this: Being 34 years old, my body has general aches and pains and the like. If I had played and maybe worked out like these guys do, played high school football(yeah right, that would never happen, I am tiny, my Mom was right,) I would definitley be in way more pain than I'm in now.
College and into the NFL. My Lord! Many of these players have poor quality in their lives, can't walk, diabetes, heart disease, early death. All for playing the game they love, and I can't blame them. It's awesome! As a child, it produced a lot of great times and memories, whether watching it on the television, or playing with my friends on Jackson Field.
So thank-you Mom for saying No! I love you for that.
I would not have wanted to get hit like this poor fellow.