Week 14 Picks: Monogamy Just Doesn't Make Sense For Everyone

Also, Jessica Simpson is now dating Billy Corgan. It's weird because even though I know this is hands down the most badass dude she's dated, it feels as if she's hit rock bottom because he's so old. Good for him though, she's way hotter than any of Tiger's mistresses. I guess there are some barriers that not even Tiger can break: chicks will always take rock stars over golfers. I think the world is a happier place that way.





Anyways, the picks:


INDIANAPOLIS -7 over Denver: I'll be shocked if Indy doesn't finish 16-0.

Cincinnati +6.5 over MINNESOTA: I don't want to be hopping on the "this is where Favre totally self destructs" bandwagon, but I can only go by what I see. I said in our pre-season podcast that even if Favre started well, it wouldn't last. It certainly lasted longer than I thought, but now it seems to be coming to an end. 19 yards last week: Adrian Peterson is not healthy.


TAMPA BAY +3 over NY Jets: I'm going with Josh Freeman over Kellen Clemens because he's at home and he threw five picks last week, which means he's going to be extra careful with the ball this week.


KANSAS CITY PK over Buffalo: The Chiefs were embarrassed by a division rival last week. I like them to bounce back a home here.


GREEN BAY -3.5 over Chicago: Two teams on totally opposite paths here. Despite all the fuss over Jay Cutler this off-season, it will be very apparent that he is the inferior quarterback in this matchup.


NEW ORLEANS -10 over Atlanta: The Saints have had some close calls lately, but this Falcons team is done.


Detroit +13.5 over BALTIMORE: Two touchdowns seems a little steep to me. These Lions play hard, and the Ravens are not so intimidating this year.


Miami +2.5 over JACKSONVILLE: Miami has the right kind of swagger. Jacksonville's win over Houston last week only came with Schaub missing time. They are the ultimate "blah" team.


NEW ENGLAND -13 over Carolina: As long as Randy Moss is on time.


HOUSTON -6.5 over Seattle: This Texans team is so much better than their record. I have a feeling they are going to be like the Cardinals. We heard for years and years about how the Cardinals were going to be a surprise team. They'd show flashes, but wouldn't be able to put it together. Then, last season, after we'd all written them off, they finally prove us right. Not this year for the Texans, but they're getting there.


TENNESSEE -13 over St. Louis: Vince Young is questionable, but I don't really know if it even matters. Yeah, he's been great. But it isn't just him. This is a talented team, and they will all benefit from this momentum.


OAKLAND +1 over Washington: Wow, is this tough. The Raiders have to be taken seriously when they play at home. But, the Skins have been playing way over their heads. Still on the West Coast, I'll go with the West Coast team.


San Diego +3 over DALLAS: It will feel strange to be this happy about the Chargers winning.......


NY GIANTS -1 over Philadelphia: The stakes don't get much higher here. I can't talk about it.


Arizona -3.5 over SAN FRANCISCO: The Cardinals are better than the Saints, and they just spanked the Vikings. Assuming they won't have to play a postseason game outdoors in the cold, don't be surprised to see this team in the Super Bowl.


Again, good for you Billy:

Foil in the Oven: The Greg Lloyd Edition: Week 1 Picks

Well, just like last season, we missed the kickoff spectacular. However, there was no way I could let this week pass without getting up the rest of my week 1 picks. Generally, these will be up by Thursday night.

Miami +4 over Atlanta: I was originally inclined to go with Atlanta. I feel great about the Matt Ryan era, and Tony Gonzalez brings more (tangibles and intangibles) than just about anybody they could have brought in. On top of that, the Falcons are at home. But, I hate their defense, and I can't get that out of my head. Miami is the more balanced team, so I'm taking them. However, they say you should always stick with your first instinct, so we'll see how it works out.



Baltimore -12.5 over Kansas City: Steep line here, but how can you not take it. Even if things were going smoothly in Chiefs camp, I'd like the Ravens. The fact that things have been disastrous makes it a no-brainer.



Carolina +2.5 over Philadelphia: This line infuriates me. Carolina is the lock of the week.



Bengals -4 over Broncos: This Bengals team is very intriguing. Cedric Benson could be primed for a huge year. Laverneus Coles is a nice piece to put with Ocho Cinco and a supposedly refocused Chris Henry. Tank Johnson and Roy Williams have come over from Dallas. If they weren't in the AFC North, I'd give them a fighting chance to be a playoff team. The Broncos, on the other hand, have been spiraling out of control ever since Mike Shanahan was fired at the end of 2008.






Cleveland +4 over Minnesota: Now that TO outed the Browns QB situation, is it really necessary to leave the QB section of their depth chart completely blank? The Browns are well built on both sides of the line, and I like them at home here. The Vikings are pretenders.



Jets +4.5 over Texans: The Texans seem to be this season's "it" team. I was shocked to log on to espn.com earlier this week to see them listed with the Steelers, Patriots, and Giants as favorites. That's a tough division that they play in, and in my opinion they are nowhere near as good as Tennessee. The Jets are better than you think.



Indy -7 over Jacksonville: Each week this season, I will pick one game that I would prefer to not discuss. This is it for week 1.



Detroit +13 over New Orleans: Maybe I'm crazy, but 13 just feels like a lot. Great teaser potential here.



Dallas -6 over Tampa Bay: This will be a tough year in Tampa, but I'd say the reconstruction is off to a good start.





Arizona -6.5 over San Francisco: Kill me please. NFC west matchups are the only thing keeping me thinking that maybe I really don't need to bother getting Sunday Ticket.



Giants -6.5 over Washington: The Giants are, in this one incredibly biased fan's eyes, the unquestioned favorite in the NFC. Their defensive line is going to set a new standard for dominance this season.

The Redskins, on the other hand, are as uninspiring a group as I can imagine. They've made it clear that they have no confidence in their quarterback. Clinton Portis will be worn down by week 8. The offensive line is old, and struggled mightily last season. Albert Haynesworth is the most dominant player at his position, but frankly not even he could help this group. Throwing 100 million dollars at one great defensive lineman and surrounding him with bums does not work. Haynesworth was able to make such an impact in Tennessee because he was surrounded by other good players (did you even notice that Tennessee didn't have him last night? No. That defense didn't miss a beat). The Redskins are starting Phillip Daniels at defensive end. He's 36 and coming off knee surgery. Guys like this make Haynesworth less effective.



Seattle -8 over St. Louis: Don't let the monochromatic turquoise uniforms fool you. Seattle has a lot of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Everyone is talking about the addition of TJ Houshmandzadeh, but I'm really more interested to see if Edgerrin James will be rejuvenated by the change of scenery.



Green Bay -3.5 over Chicago: The Packers, in my mind, are the clear favorite in this division.



New England -11 over Buffalo: The Patriots are not fucking around right now, and I'm excited to watch their offense operate. I'd be more excited if I wasn't constantly surrounded by their insufferable fans.





San Diego -9.5 over Oakland: Oakland doesn't deserve to play on Monday night. In fact, they don't deserve to ever be on television outside of the Bay Area. They are an absolute black eye on this league, and they should be treated as such. Oakland had the highest payroll in the league last season (over 152 million). This is a very puzzling fact when you consider the 5-11 record they compiled and the fact that a recent Forbes article lists them as the least valuable franchise in the entire NFL. So, really, it would seem impossible for things to get worse. But then, at the end of last week, they did.

Really stop and think about this most recent deal. Richard Seymour is a guy who many feel has been on the decline over the past few seasons. He's a guy who many believe, despite playing for an extremely competitive team, lost motivation after signing his last contract. Already, he doesn't sound like the type of guy you want to give up too much for. His momentum's going the wrong way. On top of that, he's up for free agency at the end of this season, and there is NO FUCKING WAY he would ever consider signing with the Raiders (why would anybody) as a free agent unless Oakland just blew away all the other bidders. So, on top of being on the decline, he's a guy that will only help you for one season.

There is no way in the world I can ever imagine giving up a first round pick for this guy. That, in itself, is ridiculous. What's equally ridiculous is that the Raiders never talked to Seymour before making the deal. If you're going to give up something as valuable as a first round pick, you'd better make sure the guy you're getting is motivated and start negotiating long-term before the ink dries. There are rumors that the Raiders requested contact with Seymour and the Patriots refused. If that is true, then it should have been a dealbreaker for Oakland. Now they've given up a first round pick, most likely a top ten pick, for nothing.

I understand that Davis (and I blame only him, because he's the only name you can click on when you go to the Raiders administrative page) has the right to do whatever he wants with his team. I also understand that he's not a bad guy and that he's been extremely influential in this league. However, it is unacceptable. The NFL needs to start pushing for a change of hands, and that starts with refusing to put this team in a prime time slot. At some point, Raider fans are going to lose interest in professional football.






Son Volt, Windfall:



and Uncle Tupelo, Gun, from 1992:

The Podcast Returns: NFL Preview, Part 1

It's been over six months since our last podcast, and our rust certainly shows in this shaky return to action. Babcock and I called each other this afternoon to vent our mutual anger that Brett Favre was back in the news, and somehow this resulted in an impromptu podcast. We begin by bashing Brett Favre for about 20 minutes before we move on to discuss the impressive preseason debuts of the Giants and Patriots. We then break down the AFC and NFC East and make our Heisman Trophy pick. Finally, I try (unsuccessfully, although I did give him a huge hint) to stump Babcock in celebrity trivia. Here's your hint: "if you lie with dogs, you're bound to get fleas". Informative? Definitely not. But, I'd say it's certainly entertaining.

We will be back with part 2, and will bring the rest of the staff in to the fold.

(it might take a few seconds to load. If you haven't heard anything after 30 seconds, close and come back to the site and try again. This should do the trick. If that doesn't work, click below and it will feed you the episode straight from gcast).


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Check out this single from the new Baroness album (set to drop in October). It's called Bullhead's Psalm/The Sweetest Curse, and it kicks a lot of ass. It's comforting to know that soon enough (November or December according to their website), I'll be back at the Middle East and they'll be fucking blowing my face off again.





UPDATE: These are actually the first two songs of the new album. Bullhead's Psalm is the intro and leads in to track 2, which is the Sweetest Curse.

Chris Cooley Makes Fun of Jason Witten and Tony Romo

From the Cooley Zone:

Here is Chris Cooley playing the role of Jason Witten in his own take on the NFL Fantasy Files commercials:

Fantasy Files from Tanner Cooley on Vimeo.

classic.

If you don't know the commercials, here is the Braylon Edwards one referenced in the video:

Weekend Predictions...

Obviously, what I say here means nothing. There is no way to predict this NFL season, which has been one crazy twist after another. I would just say that I am looking forward to enjoying all four games as an impartial observer (I am even going to work hard not to root against the Eagles in the NFC Championship). I have a lot to say about one game, and not much to say about the other.


First....



That still happened, and I need to keep reminding myself of that in order to keep a healthy perspective on things.




Here we go:


NFC: Cardinals (+3) over Eagles: It's becoming more and more clear that the Cardinals started leaving their playbook at home on Sundays after they clinched. We thought they had abandoned the run. Teams were blowing them out because they knew exactly what to expect and Arizona wasn't showing anything new. I've heard them scorned by a lot of people for this over the past week, and I can't understand why. They play in a shitty division. That's not their fault. Every little edge counts in the NFL, and this was a brilliant move.

I love the type of momentum that Arizona has heading into this weekend. Larry Fitzgerald has looked like Spiderman. Even with Anquan Boldin out of the lineup, Fitzgerald has elevated the level of his play (which I didn't think was possible given the great year that he had) in the playoffs. Boldin will be back this week, and frankly I don't see how the Eagles secondary can stop these guys.

Don't get me wrong, the Philly secondary has been good for a long time. But, you can beat them with size. That's always been the case. That's why Plaxico Burress was such a big signing for the Giants in 2005 (and such a huge loss in 2008). Fitzgerald and Boldin are mutants. Remember the receivers that Warner had with the greatest show on turf? These guys are bigger and better.

On the other side, the Arizona defense has been underrated all season long. They were among the top units in the entire NFL in takeaways. They already have 7 interceptions so far in the postseason (although I'd be shocked if Donovan McNabb helped them out the same way Jake DelHomme did). I love the way they play, and every time I watch them I'm shocked at how underrated they are (Dansby, Okeafor, Berry, Wilson, DR-C).

Finally, the Cardinals always play well at home. This game sold out fast, so it should be loud. We all know that Kurt Warner requires near-artificial conditions, completely free of any wind, cold, or precipitation to throw the ball well. There could not be a more perfect place for this game to be taking place than in Arizona.

The Cards offense looks unstoppable. They will be playing at home. They'll be getting one of their superstars back. I just don't understand how they could be underdogs in this one.


Pittsburgh (-1) over Baltimore: I hate to say it, but I just don't see Baltimore winning this one. You could talk to me all day about the Raven's defense (which I respect a great deal), and you will not convince me that they are better than this Pittsburgh defense. Joe Flacco has a bright future, but he will not move the chains against these guys. That Baltimore defense looks beat up. I get the sense that Baltimore has proven their point. People were ignoring them. Now they have their respect. In a snowy, frigid night game in Pittsburgh, I'm taking the Steelers. I hope I'm wrong.

Deadskins...

I remember ridiculing the Eagles for tying the lowly Bengals two weeks ago. McNabb's comments after the game prompted the mockery, but after losing to the Bengals and the Lions, I can't talk trash about the Eagles. The Rams and the Bengals, apart from the Lions, are probably the two worst teams in football and they share one thing in common: they beat a team that was supposed to be a lock for the playoffs 4-5 weeks ago.

Thinking about yesterday's loss is like watching the stock-market these days -- you will see signs of recovery or optimism only to have them crushed by a broad sell-off or hedge-fund redemption. At the start of the season, Redskins' fans were fired up about their road wins at Dallas and Philly speculating that late season games at home would be favorable for the Skins. The Redskins would have a cakewalk with Detroit, St. Louis, Seattle, and Cincy and then leave room for a few losses against NFC East teams at home. Win one against Dallas or Philly, lose to New York, beat the teams you're supposed to beat, and you're playoff bound.

So now casual fans may ask, "how could the Redskins lose this game?"

1. The Bengals have the second-worst offense in the league

2. Cincy's star player and QB is injured (Palmer)

3. There was no home field advantage at the Bengals stadium

4. The 'Skins still had a chance to make the playoffs -- one loss by Dallas or Carolina would have put them right back into the hunt!

5. The Skins have one of the best running backs in football.

A lot was one the line for the Redskins and next to nothing was on the line for the Bengals (it's not like Cincy could even get the number one draft pick this year!). Yet the Redskins still lost this game and lost it badly. What gives?

My analysis suggests that Coach Zorn's play-calling suffers from a recent lack of creativity which makes the Redskins very predictable on offense. Couple bad play-calling with key injuries on the offensive line and you have a recipe for players getting frustrated with a rookie coach who can't seem to adjust his game-plans against defensive coordinators around the league. Zorn admitted this yesterday when he said, "I feel like the worst coach in football." Fans like me agree: you are close to the worst coach in football right now.

The result of Zorn's bad coaching is that popular players speak out, locker rooms turn against their coaches, and teams lose what could have been positive momentum to close the season or a final, desperate push to the playoffs. Morale, like morale on any team sport, is devastated after losses and public questioning makes everything worse and diminishes the collective respect for coaches on teams. (And respect for coaches, arguably, is even more important in the NFL where players make more than their coaches!)

Take the recent spat with Clinton Portis. Everyone in DC knows that Dan Snyder, the Redskin's owner, has a long-lasting and fond relationship with the All-pro running back which predates the Coach Zorn era (thanks for the phraseology Bill Simmons). Clinton knows he'll have zero repercussions for speaking out against the Coach and he took last week's loss as an opportunity to rip Coach Zorn's play calling. Portis called the coach and the play-calling "genius." And Watching Zorn give Mike Sellers the ball not once, but twice on the 1 yard line yesterday makes me agree with Clinton, although I hate it when players speak out against their coaches.

So maybe there is something to Coach Zorn’s recent decline in play-calling abilities. Maybe defenses know how to adjust now and Zorn isn’t ahead of the curve in his game-plans? Either way, players are unhappy and what could have been an excellent season just 5 weeks ago is now a disaster unfolding in sl0w-motion. What should be obvious is that offensive play-calling, like the expectations of players and their offensive duties, should increase as the season progresses. Good teams do this and make the playoffs (the Eagles, potentially) and bad teams (the Redskins) drop the ball.

Patriots fans – this is like seeing Tom Brady’s knee slowly tear over the course of the season. But instead of having it happen at once, it happens slowly and painfully while you watch with horror.

Week 14 Picks

We recorded a podcast with our picks for this week. However, we sound like slow-talking robots. We're going to try and get this fixed by next week. Rather than go without picks, I thought I'd post our picks for this week so that we can have an accurate tally on the roomofzen picks for the entire season.

Before we start:

"Like everyone else, I'm still disappointed that a receiver didn't honor Plaxico Burress last weekend by catching a touchdown, then pretending to shoot himself in the leg with the football and limping around. This never would have not happened if Chad Johnson was still alive."
--Bill Simmons, in his week 14 picks column. Quotes like these are why he makes the big bucks.



We were 13-3 last week


Bears (-6) over Jaguars: I like the Bears to cover here.

Minnesota (-7.5) over Detroit: When we podcasted, I took a leap of faith on Detroit. But, with Pat and Kevin Williams now set to play, I have to take the Vikings to cruise in this one.


Houston (+7.5) over Green Bay: The Texans seem to be hitting their stride. I can't stress enough each week how much I love what Aaron Rodgers and his crew of receivers are doing. But, that Green Bay defense is shotty. 7.5 is too much for Green Bay to be giving.


Tennessee (-10) over Cleveland: I just imagine Romeo Crennel sitting in his office all day watching funny youtube videos and playing computer solatiaire to make the time before he is fired go more quickly. This strategy will not translate well on the field. Shaun Rogers and that defensive line may slow the Titans running game, but I expect Kerry Collins to outdeul Ken Dorsey.


Indy (-13) over the Bengals: 13 is a lot, especially against a Bengals team that seems to keep their losses closely (last weeks game notwithstanding). But, Indy looked as bad as I've ever seen last week. They will come out with a sense of urgency today to prove their worth.


Atlanta (+1) over New Orleans: Even with Will Smith, this Saints defense is too thin to stop this surprising Falcons offense.


Giants (-7.5) over Philadelphia: Assuming nobody else shoots themself in the leg by accident, I like the G-Men to roll and clinch the division here.


Miami (-1) over Buffalo: Miami needs to keep their head above water.


Denver (-7.5) over KC: We have seen two different Denver teams this season. The bad one should win this game by ten.



Jets (-4) over San Francisco: The Jets got smacked back in to reality last week. This is a tough test on the West Coast, but if they are for real then they need to win.



Patriots (-7) over Seattle: "Seattle really sucks" has been one of the more overlooked storylines of this season.



Arizona (-14) over St. Louis: ...........14 points is a lot.......14 points is a lot........but, the Cards are at home and they should get back on track. I think they cover.



Pittsburgh (-3.5) over Dallas: When we originally podcasted, I took Dallas. But, with Marion Barber out, Pittsburgh's defense should have their way with Tony Romo. With DeMarcus Ware out, the Cowboys won't be able to take advantage of the Steelers' shitty offensive line.


Baltimore (-5.5) over Washington: Stop Clinton Portis, stop the Redskins.


Carolina (even) over Tampa Bay: Carolina is undefeated at home and DeAngelo Williams is a machine.

Foil in the Oven: Week 13 Picks

It's looking more and more like there may not be a week 13 picks podcast. There are no rifts or disputes. Things are just as harmonious as ever here at the roomofzen. But, we've all got to hit the road for Thanksgiving.

I was a pathetic 9-7 last week, but I always bounce back:


Tennessee over Detroit: I really like this Detroit team in the same way I liked the '06-'07 Celtics. I watched that Celtics team every night, even though I knew the odds of them winning were very slim each time (especially once they started trying to lose on purpose). But, they were fun to watch. They worked really hard. I was watching Rajon Rondo and Al Jefferson come of age. Anybody who watched that spring was probably not surprised to see Leon Powe come on strong in the playoffs last year. Their effort and potential made me feel a lot better about watching them lose constantly. I assume Detroit fans feel the same way. There is nothing shameful about the way this Lions team is losing. They play hard. Calvin Johnson is turning out highlight reel caliber catches every week. Daunte Culpepper is making a lot of mistakes, but it's an exciting change and at least he's airing it out. I appreciate the way they've been able to go 0-11, and I actually look forward to watching them on Thanksgiving. That being said, they can't stop the run and that does not bode well. The Titans are giving 11 here and I like them to cover.


Dallas over Seattle: Dallas finally got back to business last week. I expect them to hold form on Thanksgiving. Don't be deceived, though, by two straight lopsided home wins against NFC West teams. I don't think they can do this against everyone, and I expect them to continue underachieving. Dallas giving 10.5, and I expect them to cover. I'd like to thank the NFL for these riveting Thanksgiving Day matchups.



Philadelphia over Arizona: You need to separate yourself from everything you see on ESPN. Think for yourself please. Look, the Eagles have the 6th best defense and the 9th best offense in the NFL. They are not a bad team. The Cardinals, despite everything that we see and hear, are flawed. Their run game is weak. They have also turned in piss poor performances on the East coast. Kurt Warner is having a great year, but he does have a tendency to cough the ball up against pressure. The Eagles are at home. They've been listening all week to experts discussing them as if they are no better than the Rams or Lions. Jim Johnson will bring heavy pressure against the Cards. I like Philly here.

This is an NFL Network game, which is too bad. It's tough to leave the family to go to a bar to watch football.

One more thought here: I would like nothing more than to see Donovan McNabb go somewhere new after this season, win a super bowl, and rub it in the faces of Philadelphia fans. They booed him on the way in. All he did was make the Eagles one of the NFL's top teams for over half a decade despite being surrounded, for most of the time, by receivers that are not good enough to start for anybody else (James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, Freddie Mitchell.....). The one good receiver his organization brought in is a cancer. McNabb has gotten no help from this organization. He's laid his body on the line time and time again. People seemed to turn a negative eye on him after the Rush Limbaugh situation, over which he had no control. And now, because this team is not good enough or healthy enough to compete in the NFC East, Philly fans are disrespecting him on the way out. This guy has done a great job. If you want to point the finger, point it at Andy Reid. He pulled McNabb at halftime of a 3 point game! In doing so, he put a young Kevin Colb out there against the Baltimore Ravens defense! In doing so, he ensured a loss for his team.



Buffalo over San Francisco: Marcus Stroud will stuff Frank Gore. Marshawn Lynch will go for over 100, and the Bills will control this one throughout. Mike Singletary dropping his pants on the sideline to reveal a pair of long johns would be priceless.



Indy over Cleveland: Brady Quinn is done for the year, which means Derek Anderson and his sub-50% completion rate are back. The Colts are starting to look like one of those teams that could go from the wildcard spot to the super bowl.



Baltimore over Cincinnati: The Bengals have 10 days rest, which means absolutely nothing here but I think I should mention it. The Ravens are giving 7 here and they should cover. They have been playing very sound football, and I expect them to keep Cincy out of the end zone.

Another note here: Ocho Cinco was benched last week because he refused his assistant coaches orders to sit up straight in his chair during a team meeting. This went on until Chad walked out. Now, I'm not condoning Chad's actions. He does make millions to do his job. BUT, this story makes me very curious to learn more about the priorities of the Bengals coaching staff. We've got guys breaking the law left and right. Chris Henry never missed any more time than what the NFL mandated despite numerous brushes with the law. We've got guys arguing with each other on the sidelines constantly. We've had guys publicly scorning their front office and coaches. Really, this team has NEVER taken action against one of their players unless the NFL mandated it. And yet, Chad Ocho Cinco finds himself suspended for refusing to sit up straight. I can't believe they even asked him to sit up straight. It's like trying to fill the grand canyon with a garden hose.



Carolina over Green Bay: The Panthers are pretenders. There's no question. We saw their true colors last week. However, they can run the ball, and Green Bay's run defense has been VERY shotty. My gut tells me to go with the Packers at home here, but my head says Carolina stuffs it down their throats.



Miami over St. Louis: There is no line for this game. From what I hear, it's because people are waiting to hear some injury news for the Rams (I think Marc Bulger). Rather than delve into it, I'll handicapp it. Miami is on the road, and I like them -8.5 .



Tampa Bay over New Orleans: The Saints are back on the road, and this has let down written all over it. Drew Brees is, in my opinion, the MVP right now. This team would not have won a single game without his brilliant play. They've been incredibly banged up, and his play has not faltered. Brees will play well in this one, but it won't be enough.



Giants over Washington: I've had this game pegged for a Giants loss for the past month. However, the play of the Redskins has really declined since then. Big Blue will keep the Skins' running game in check, and that means trouble for the Washington offense. The wildcard factor here is Sean Taylor being inducted into the Redskins Ring of Fame and how that will affect the emotions of the game.


San Diego over Atlanta: I hate to do this. Atlanta looks great, and San Diego is never going to come around. But, this game is on the West Coast, and I think the Chargers will be looking to bounce back. They could overtake Denver in the AFC West, not that it matters. Whoever wins the AFC West will get dumped by a wild card team (potentially Indy).



Pittsburgh over New England: This will be a great game. Matt Cassell has looked outstanding, but I don't think he can replicate those numbers in this one. The Steelers defense is just too good. At the same time, Pittsburgh can't run the ball and they do not do a good job protecting Big Ben. Pittsburgh wins this one in the final minutes.



Broncos over Jets: This is a bad pick, but I can't take this media lovefest with the Jets anymore. I can't stand people on ESPN comparing the Jets and Packers. You'd have to literally know nothing about football to say that the Jets are in a better position than the Packers right now. Favre was a temporary solution. Where do they go after this season? Aaron Rodgers and those young Packers receivers have a bright, bright future. I hate the Jets. The Broncos have a horrible defense, but they can put up a lot of points. I guess I'm picking that Cutler outslings Favre.



Oakland over Kansas City: Oakland is better than you think. They are undeniably better than Kansas City.



Vikings over Bears: I like the Vikings at home. Kyle Orton doesn't look totally healthy and I don't think Matt Forte has a big day against the Vikings run defense.



Houston over Jacksonville: This game sucks. I feel like everyone overestimates the Jags because, like the Chargers, we all expect them to come around eventually. They won't. They're not good. Houston is not good either, but I think they are more likely to come up with some big plays from Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton.

Release McNabb, Fire Andy Reid

As a Redskins fan, what could make you happier than seeing the Eagles implode before your very eyes?

Off the top of my head, not a whole lot.

Maybe a Dallas loss would put the icing on the cake, but watching McNabb on the bench is like getting an early Christmas present.

McNabb already made himself look like a total fool when he claimed that he was "unaware of the tie rule in professional football." Eight interceptions later, he's sitting on the bench after his assistant coach broke the bad news.

Andy Reid could have at least given him the courtesy of a face-to-face benching, but instead he was too busy coaching himself out of a job (or ordering take-out from Denny's).

McNabb should have quit last year when had the chance. But now, breaking down the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles is like taking a walk down mediocre boulevard. (And as a lifelong Redskins fan, I feel highly qualified to perform this analysis; long-time readers of the roomofzen and Patriots fans would agree I think)

Simply put, the Eagles lost their best receiver when they released Terrell Owens three years ago. Releasing TO was the right move at the time, but they should have signed someone to take his place.

Instead the Eagles put their faith in a Quarterback well past his prime and thanks to his injury last year, the organization had a convenient excuse to fall back on when they lost 8 games. Fake comment from the Eagles GM:

"We don't need more offense than LJ or Westbrook. We can always draft a few guys and have Donovan mentor them. What we need is defense and game-changing turnovers. Get me Rosenhaus on the line. (P.S we're terrible even with McNabb)"

Instead of realizing the need for a deep-threat like TO, they signed Asante Samuel chosing to address their supposed weakness in defense and turnover production. This was a mistake of epic proportions, as much as I like Asante Samuel as a player and person.

Why? Lito Shepherd, Sheldon Brown and B-Dawkins were getting the job done without Asante Samuel. And since the Eagles had no offense last year, their defense was constantly on their heels and getting creamed.

I know they have Westbrook and I agree with everyone who says he's one of the best running backs in football. But when is the guy healthy? Unlike Clinton Portis, whose actually smaller than Westbrook, the guy is always injured and complaining about some ailment. One day it's ribs, the next day it's his tampon.

So combine an injury prone McNabb with a running back who never plays, and now you have the Philadelphia Eagles. Even their tight-end, LJ Smith, can't go two plays without an injury so who is McNabb supposed to throw to right now?

The Eagles made the mistake of being irrationally attached to an injury-prone QB well beyond his prime. It was as if Reid and McNabb made the agreement to go down in flames together instead of quitting or letting Kolb get PT....that is until now, when Reid let his boy McNabb out to dry.

Maybe those Reid legal bills are piling up?

Fly, Eagles Fly!

Roomofzen Podcast Episode #5: Week 12 Picks

Babcock and I briefly touch on Kevin Garnett's suspension, and then delve into what we expect in Week 12. If we had a gun to our head and we had to hire Marvin Lewis or Andy Reid as our head coach, who would we pick? Are either of us taking the Lions to pick up their first win? The Titans to pick up their first loss? Who is living the better life right now, Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart? Has Matt Leinart slept with Kurt Warner's wife? We have all your answers here. Enjoy.....



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Uncle Tupelo: New Madrid

NFC East

As the roomofzen.com predicted, the NFC East is now the dominant division in professional football. The Giants are kicking-ass, the Redskins are about to beat the Steelers, and both the Cowboys and Eagles remain dangerous football teams despite their recent fortunes. And after suffering through years of AFC dominance, I am enjoying every minute of this return to greatness. It feels especially good to see the Patriots suffer while Brady cries on the sidelines. Maybe he's hanging out in that new sports-bar by the Patriots stadium, drinking away his sorrows? Or maybe his supermodel girlfriend left him for Eli Manning in the Big Apple?

Tonight's game against the Steelers will put the Redskins on the map if they win. But if they lose, the media will start comparing Jim Zorn to Norv Turner, which is bad. Turner, during his Redskins tenure, went 7-1 and 6-2 and then allowed his teams to finish 9-7 and 8-8 during the 1996 and 2000 campaigns. Mark my words: ESPN will have a field-day with Coach Zorn if they lose to the same team which just lost to the Eagles and Giants. Tonight's game is therefore a must win situation for the Redskins. (Note: I will be at tonight's game, ensuring a successful outcome)

The Giants looked downright scary in their win over Dallas yesterday:

- Manning was efficient with the football and avoided costly turnovers
- Six-foot five Brandon Jacobs destroyed the Dallas linebacking corps
- Toomer and Boss started contributing to the offense
- The Giants O-line continued their solid pass-pro
- And the Giants pass-rush was just relentless in their harassment of Brad Johnson

While I am happy for Nick, why do the Giants have to be nasty this year when the Redskins finally put together a decent season? The only good thing I can say about the Giants is that we have them at home at the end of the regular season. By that time, assuming the Giants continue kicking-ass, we may not have to beat them for playoff standing or the Giants might be resting their starters. One can only hope for such an outcome, but I doubt it will happen.

As for Dallas, I've never seen a team implode so quickly or fail to live up to it's potential like the Boys have done this year. In retrospect, this isn't surprising because they have Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones, but the media always gives Jerry Jones the benefit of the doubt ("Hey, he did it before with Irvin and Newton, so why can't he do it again?"). Prediction: Wade Phillips loses his job if the Cowboys don't make the playoffs. If you look at their roster, they are simply too good to be playing this badly.

As for Philly, McNabb is getting old, but he still has a few good seasons left in the tank. Maybe the Eagles can play spoiler this year in the NFC East if they don't make a serious playoff run. Or maybe they will finish dead-last and have everyone laugh at them? I'm comfortable with either outcome.

As for their offense, I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Eagles should have signed a big-name receiver instead of bolstering their secondary. Yes, Samuels gives them turnovers, but who does McNabb have as a deep threat or consistent weapon at receiver? Nobody. If the Redskin's problem is a GM who spends too much money, then the Eagle's problem is a GM who doesn't spend any money.

I will say this, however: if there is one thing that makes me happier than seeing Dallas falter, it's Philly playing mediocre or borderline terrible football. With or without TO, the Eagles are probably the one team I could do without in the National Football League. When they demolished the Vet, for example, they should have thrown away the franchise with it.

From here on out, expect the Giants and Redskins to continue dominating the National Football League. I expect the Redskins to disappoint at least once or twice before the season is over, but realistically speaking, we should be able to beat Cincy, Seattle, San Fran, and and Baltimore. And assuming we lose to the Steelers, Giants, Cowboys and Eagles, that would still put us at 10-6 and into the playoffs. Or, if we beat the Steelers tonight, then we would be 11-5 and well on our way to a first-round bye.

Sick.

Roomofzen Podcast #1

We've been dreaming of doing podcasts for a long time. Babcock and I stumbled upon some technical information this week, and figured we'd go ahead and try to pump one out in about 2 hours. Well, as it turns out, it was two hours before we could even figure out how to record. We finished recording at about 10:45 last night. It is now 7:13 AM, and I can finally publish this post with some confidence that the file we created will actually play.

Is it good? Not really. But, we had a blast. I definitely say "real fast" 3 times in the first 20 seconds. We say that Dan Orlovsky stepped out of bounds last week when it was really 3 weeks ago. I also utter the phrase "Leon Powe has the ability to score at will." But, those things aside, it's not bad. We discuss the Celtics opener on Tuesday, the prospects of the Cavaliers this season, week 9 in the NFL, and Mike Singletary as the 49ers new coach. Babcock loves Singletary in that role, and how could you not after reading this story about his motivational techniques at halftime last week. All in all, it's 69 full minutes of fun. Please enjoy.....

Boomp3.com


If the player shits out on you, here is the link to listen to it in a different window. It works a lot better.


We've got a long way to go if we ever want to approach the level of the BS Report or the Basketball Jones (TBJ in my mind is the sickest podcast out there). But, we've been successfully improving the site all along. Next week: look for us to get more of the staff involved, we will work on a musical intro, we will do some more scripting so we don't ramble as much, and we will answer our podcast e-mail question sent in from Matt in Seattle (sorry Matt, we were rambling, and then suddenly we were well over an hour. We'll get you next week).

Winslow-Browns Controversy

We know that Kellen Winslow has a "public speaking problem" going all the way back to college:



Apparently playing for the U is like joining the military and fighting a war. Instead of avoiding roadside bombs or insurgents, you're avoiding linebackers and safeties! (And if you don't like my analogy, I really don't give a "hell"! My readers don't freaking care about you! It's a war out there on the blogosphere! And you write this down: I'm pissed!) Fast forward a few years, and now Winslow is complaining about his GM, the same guy who writes his paycheck each week:

"There's obviously a problem [with staph], and we have to fix it," said Winslow. "Just look at the history around here. It's unfortunate, because it happens time and time again...A big reason I'm upset right now has to do with [the staph infection]...I heard from Romeo Crenell, and I heard from my position coach [Alfredo Roberts] when I was in the Clinic. I heard from my teammates. But I never heard from the main man - Phil Savage - and that really disappoints me. Sometimes I don't even feel a part of this team."

Where do you even start with comments like these?

1) Winslow may have a point about the Staph infections, but he should keep it within the team or just keep his mouth shut. How hard is it to have a private meeting with Savage or Crennell? I see no good reason, aside from just pure emotion, to call out his team like this. What good comes of it? The media pays further attention to the Brown's staph infection problem? The Browns decide to trade an injury-prone tight end who has an enormous contract? Winslow has very little upside with comments like these.

2) Staph infections are awful, and I've actually seen someone almost pass away because of one, but they're usually very hard to deal with around the locker-room. And since the Browns pay their players so much money, Winslow should give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they're doing everything they can to combat the problem. Player's health, if common sense holds here, is paramount to a team's success in the NFL. So don't you think the Browns are trying their hardest to fix the problem?

3) Winslow should keep the big picture in mind. He was treated very well by the Browns after his motorcycle accident and they could have very easily cut his ass after the broken leg. Winslow also seems to forget that him riding the motorcycle was a breach of contract and that by almost killing himself, the Browns were well within their rights to dump him on the corner. Maybe if Winslow's dad wasn't so famous, they would have done that?

4) Some advice to Kellen: Don't complain about the GM because it looks weak and he's the guy whose determining whether or not you stay on the Browns. If you want a trade, ask for it, but don't go public and cause discontent. It's bad for the team and morale. And it's incredibly selfish.

5) The Browns were right to punish him because he's undermining the team leadership. What are they supposed to do? Let this one fly? If I was the owner, I would be royally pissed to hear our star player complain like this and call out the entire franchise. Who the hell does he think he is?

6) The Brown's GM explained why they suspended Winslow here (and I think this a very good set of reasons):

"After all of us had been through since 2005, the comments really called into question the integrity of our medical staff and the organization as a whole," Savage said. "To compromise that trust after the Browns had stood by Kellen through the motorcycle episode and knowing without question we had done everything in our power to combat this staph infection problem, it just showed a lack of professional restraint. The Browns are bigger than one person, bigger than Randy Lerner, bigger than Romeo Crennell, bigger than me and bigger than any player on this team. We couldn't and won't allow one person to tear down the organization, so we had to do something."

Bottom-line: don't call out your GM because you look like a pansy. And don't call out your employer because you look like an asshole and your teammates will suffer.

Embrace the Weekend.......

We've got a great lineup of college and pro football, the Red Sox playing to keep their season alive tonight, and the whole time we will all be anxiously waiting for the association to tip off in 10 days. I love this time of year.

Here are my week 7 picks

Here is Babcock's Take 5

Here are some sick Michael Jordan highlights:

Take 5: The Guru Returns

What a wild week in the NFL. If any one needed proof that it is ridiculously difficult to bet and win consistently on NFL games last week was the perfect example. As a fan, I have to agree with LaRocque: the parity of the National Football league is miles beyond any other professional sport and this makes things interesting every week. As for beating the spread, if it was easy it wouldn't be fun right? After a sorry 2/5 last week I remain above .500 at 14-11 on the year. SO here goes...

Buffalo PK vs San Diego

This may contradict the age old saying "bet with your head, not with your heart". The Chargers donned their baby-blue jerseys and dismembered the Patriots on Sunday Night, so at first I found myself liking the Chargers in this one. But, there is that west coast to east coast thing going on here. AND, most importantly I hate San Diego's players, so rooting for them in any way shape or form nauseates me. I haven't been able to track down any statistics on whether or not west to east travel effects the hotness of a teams dancers, or if anomalies such as "Cheerleaders traveling from west to east are 76% more likely to apply too much makeup", or even worse "wear turtlenecks 84% of the time". This is information that the Guru must have.

Denver +3 @ New England

A little reverse Psychology here maybe? This is what its come to. New England is straight up frustrating to watch. Rivers had a field day with the secondary and I'm expecting much of the same with Cutler slinging the pill in Foxboro this weekend. Either way I win here.

Indianapolis -1.5 @ Green Bay

Indy finally had its breakout game against a very solid Baltimore team. Rodgers is banged up and I don't think that the Packers have a running game to take advantage of the Indy defense. That's saying something. When will analogies between loose women and the middle of Idianapolis' run defense become a permanent fixture in the American lexicon? Not soon enough if you ask me. How many times will I use the word "analogies" in a single post? Looks like 3.

New York Jets -3 @ Oakland

Farve must be due for another 5 TD game, I'm thinking they cover 3 points no problem.

***Upset Of The Week***

Cleveland +7 @ Washington

The Browns will be riding a wave of momentum while the Redskins look to bounce back. I don't necessarily think the Browns win this but it should be a close game. Take the points.

Now for the real money makers...I hit 13/15 College Teasers last week which isn't too bad at all. As always spreads are adjusted for the tease...

1) Virginia Tech + 12 @ BC

2) Wisconsin +13 @ Iowa

3) Northwestern +5 vs Purdue

4) Oklahoma -11 vs Kansas

5) Mississippi St + 16.5 @ Tennessee

6) Alabama -3.5 vs Ole Miss

7) Vanderbilt + 23.5 @ Georgia

8) Washington St +51 vs USC

9) Michigan St +12.5 vs Ohio St.

10) Texas +4.5 vs Missouri

11) UNC +4.5 @ Virginia

12) Arkansas + 17 @ Kentucky

13) LSU +6.5 @ South Carolina

14) Arkansas St +12 @ ULa Lafayette

15) Troy -0.5 vs Florida International U

Booyah.

Foil in the Oven: Week 7 Picks

I was 6-8 last week, compiling a losing weekend record for the first time. Unlike Ocho Cinco, I will not offer any excuses. And, as embarrassing as it is to fall below .500, I couldn't be happier with what is currently happening in the league.

There are many who are opposed to parity, preferring instead to watch a handful of dominant teams. I prefer what we currently have, because it means that you have to watch every game. You can't take any outcomes for granted. Even more importantly, it means that we can look forward to lots of meaningful end of season games as the playoff picture shakes itself out. Finally, we have been seeing incredibly exciting games. If NFL games were one minute shorter, I would have been right about 4 more of my picks. Sure, I'd love to have those wins, but I can't help being excited.

Over the past two years, we've been able to predict at least one of the Super Bowl teams without difficulty. That's not the case now. I have no idea who will win this week, never mind February. I have never been less confident in my picks, and that's the way it should be...........


Buffalo over San Diego: There is huge potential for the Chargers to win big in this one. I just want to get that out there. Either Buffalo is going to win a tight game or San Diego is going to roll, and I feel like both are equally likely. But, I'm basing my pick on two trends that have been pretty reliable so far this season. The first trend is that teams playing on opposite coasts have not looked good. In fact, I don't believe that a west coast team has won on the east coast yet this season. The second trend is that teams coming off a bye week have looked rejuvenated and extra-prepared.



SIDENOTE: I will remember last week's Sunday night game as the night the Charger Girls put themselves on the map. Dallas and Oakland obviously have great traditions, and recently my understanding has been that the Redskins cheerleaders were the league's best. However, the Charger girls really made a statement against New England. I'm not somebody who usually notices or spends time discussing the cheerleaders, but how could you not notice them last week? There were times when the camera was focused on a clear cleavage shot for 15 seconds straight (possibly because the game was a sleeper). I can't say enough in support of this production decision. I checked with Babcock before writing this to make sure I wasn't the only one and he said he definitely noticed too.



Chicago over Minnesota: The Vikings are not good. I've been saying it all season, and I don't think anybody can argue with me after last week. They had the Lions at home, and were it not for Dan Orlovsky accidentally taking a safety that game would have gone into OT. Their other two wins were the result of seemingly flukey defensive and special teams plays (although the win over Carolina was more legit than the win over New Orleans). In a way, they're sort of like a poor man's Chicago Bears.



Pittsburgh over Cincinnati: Thank god the Falcons/Bears game ended up being great last week because I nearly choked on my own vomit watching the Bengals and Jets (and the Jets throwback uniforms weren't helping). The downgrade from Carson Palmer to Ryan Fitzpatrick has rendered the Bengals unwatchable. On the flip side, the Steelers just had a week off to do some healing.




Tennessee over Kansas City: I don't think this Tennessee undefeated run is going to last much longer. In fact, earlier this week I was going to take Kansas City. They have been a tough out at home. But, the combination of the bad karma that is due to them after refusing to free Tony Gonzalez and the fact that they will be without Larry Johnson this weekend was enough to change my mind.



Dallas over St. Louis: It will take a lot more injuries and distractions than this to make Dallas as bad as the Rams.






Miami over Baltimore: The Dolphins are dangerous and I can't figure out why John Harbaugh would want to rile them up. I like the fish at home.



Giants over 49ers: I said two weeks ago that I was uncomfortable with the Giants being at the top of the power rankings. As upset as I was with Sunday night's loss, I feel much better about the rest of the season. The Giants weren't good enough for the kind of expectations that were being laid out for them by the media. That doesn't mean I don't think they're good enough to win the Super Bowl. They are. But, they're not just going to cruise through the regular season like the dominant Patriots and Colts teams of the past few seasons. There just aren't any teams like that out there this year. They will however, cruise past the Niners at the Meadowlands this weekend.



New Orleans over Carolina: I've been a little too high on both of these teams so far. I expect this to be high scoring, and I give the Saints the edge in a shootout.



Houston over Detroit: Kill me.



Raiders over Jets: I have a feeling that Favre throws at least two INTs here. I'm going with the opposite coast trend again.



Indy over Green Bay: Close one here. I really like this Packers team, but I can't get that ass-whooping the Colts put on the Ravens out of my head.



Washington over Cleveland: That Browns game on Monday night reminded me of the Bills Monday night home game against Dallas last season (except that obviously Dallas came back to beat the Bills). They were at home on prime time, which has not been the norm for the past few years. The fans were outstanding. There was just a feel throughout the entire game that this was going to be Cleveland's night. For that reason, I need to see how they do this weekend before I can know whether or not they have really turned things around.



Tampa Bay over Seattle: With Matt Hasselbeck out and this game being played in Tampa, there is absolutely no way the Seahawks win this game. It's a lock.



Denver over New England: I can't take the Patriots. How could I after last week?




College Pick of the Week:

Missouri (+6) over Texas: This is really more wishful thinking than anything. A win for the Tigers would totally shake up the college football world. And, it could definitely happen. The burnt orange played great last week, but that secondary is still very concerning. We know that Mizzou is lethal through the air. Texas is coming off a big win that for many associated with the program already makes this season a successful one. Missouri is coming off a frustrating loss and is looking to prove that they are still one of the nation's best teams. Put these factors together, and you've got the recipe for an upset in Austin.

Did you see the Dow?

For those of you who read the Wall Street Journal, you will enjoy their article on sports and the economy found here. My favorite part of the article is the following quote:

"We're not just competing for people's entertainment dollars anymore," said Brett Yormark, chief executive of the National Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets. "We're going up against milk and orange juice."

Now maybe this soundbite is an exaggeration, but I think it has some merit considering how the Dow hit 8,000 last week and nearly wiped out 2 trillion dollars in stockholder value. Here is what I would add to the WSJ article:

1) I've noticed that Redskins fans have taken out loans against the value of their homes to pay for season tickets. Now, with housing prices in decline and foreclosure rates on the rise, fans might struggle not only to make payments on their homes, but also to pay off additional expenditures linked to the declining value of their homes. But then again foreclosure rates are pretty low around the DC area and both Vegas and LA, two of the hardest hit areas in terms of foreclosures, do not have football teams. So maybe this downturn won't hit the NFL or Redskins in the short-term, assuming the markets and values of homes stabilize. But then again, it's going to be harder to obtain credit in the future so how will fans finance these purchases? Maybe it will get easier to get season tickets in the future...

2) Corporations now own a majority of Redskins season tickets. And I think it's safe to assume that they also own the majority of season tickets in other major cities. So with the credit crisis hitting Wall Street and soon to hit Main Street, how are business going to justify season tickets when their firms are laying people off or cutting back on marketing costs? I know the cost of tickets isn't a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, but it still seems like a bad thing to have around if you're laying off workers, at least symbolically. But then again, is the incremental amount of happiness clients get from attending sports events worth the investment for companies trying to win deals or contracts?

3) Entertainment usually thrives during economic downturns. Why? People need a distraction to make them feel good while their jobs or money are going down the toilet. It's same reason why Hollywood thrived during the Great Depression.

4) I've thought this for a long time, but you can't deny how expensive it is to attend professional sporting events. Frankly I don't understand how regular families of four, probably making close to the average household income of 40-50k per year, can afford to pay Dan Snyder $400 for tickets, $100 for food, and $50 for parking. And honestly, considering how badly Snyder has managed our team, who in their right mind would pay that much money to see the stinking Redskins?

5) The state of California's economy will almost certainly preclude the NFL from moving there in the next few years. That's not say it won't happen, but I think that the recent spate of foreclosures and rising unemployment will probably make the investment difficult to justify for a potential owner. For example, how will they pay for the new stadium when no one is lending on Wall Street? Or, how will they sell tickets when the price of everyone's home is underwater?

6) I'm worried about the NHL, despite their recent comments suggesting that the league is not in trouble due to the economic crisis. Aside from individual franchise ticket and advertising sales, the league does not have a major TV contract which bolsters the weaker teams in the league. And many leagues, like the NBA and NFL, rely on these types of contracts to keep less profitable teams like the Bills in business. So will the NHL be able to keep it's weaker teams afloat and continue paying lucrative contracts to their budding stars? I hope so. I plan on enjoying the Caps this year...

The NFL After 5 Weeks...

So where do we stand after five weeks of NFL action? In no particular order, we have:

- 2 undefeated teams

- 3 or 4 teams doing better than expected; 3-4 teams doing worse than expected

- The NFC East dominating professional football (of course, the roomofzen.com predicted this domination, so everyone who reads this blog is not surprised, right?)

- Off-the-field trouble in Big D, Cincy, St. Louis, and Oakland

- Al Davis looking like a Zombie from Night of the Living Dead

- Two of last year's best teams returning mediocrity (Pats and Indy)

- The Redskins with a legitimate shot to go 7-1

- TO about to combust

- Plaxico Burress acting like a damn fool

- Chad Johnson dating Pacman Jones' cousin

- Tony Gonzalez complaining about his reception record while his team is losing

Although I follow the NFC East rather closely, I do take notes on the rest of the NFL. Here are some of my notes after five weeks of action:

1) Big Ben is really showing some toughness this year. I know that sounds Madden-esque, but the guy has a sprained shoulder and a crappy offensive line. Instead of taking a few games off, Big Ben has played through the injury, led his team to victories, and not complained once. Furthermore, the guy went from being able to complete only five passes in practice to throwing for 300 yards in their victory over Baltimore. You also have to take into account how badly his offensive line has played. Big Ben gets sacked or hit at least five times a game. That makes Big Ben a badass in my mind.

2) I watched a Raven's press conference yesterday and their new coach, Jim Harbough, is awesome. Anyone who gives the media crap like Jim Harbough has my vote.

3) Miami is still not getting the credit they deserve. They beat the Pats and everyone called it an upset. Most commentators blamed it on Brady being injured. Then they beat the Chargers, and ESPN still calls it an upset. When will people realize that this team is legit, especially with Joey Porter anchoring their defense? He is like Zach Thomas in his prime -- aka nasty. They also have Parcells and we all know he's an evil genius.

4) Is there anyone more predictable than TO? Does it surprise you that he’s talking trash about his team despite being thrown at 18 times? It shouldn’t. The guy is a cancer. What a Bassbowl, as Simmons wrote in his column this week.

5) I said it once, and I'll say it again: what was Brad Childress thinking with Tavaris Jackson and now Gus Frerotte? For those of you who follow the NFL in the off-season, you will remember Childress gushing over Jackson during press-conferences. Childress was adamant about how Jackson would start and would be the player of the future for the Vikings. But anyone with half a brain could tell you otherwise. The guy is not very good. So now they have Frerotte and Childress is saying the same crap about “his confidence in Gus." I know they have AP and that takes stress off their passing game, but Gus Frerotte is not very good. In fact, if you like the Vikings, I promise you he’ll disappoint sooner rather than later; it's only a matter of time, Vikings fans. Take it from someone whose watched him over the years: there is a very good reason Gus is a backup and not a starter (until now). He will start losing games for the Vikings, just like he did for the Redskins.

6) The Titans are a huge surprise, but they have Jeff Fisher, so they'll continue to be consistently good like the Steelers were under Cowher. Again, you can’t underestimate the value of consistently good coaching in the NFL, even with teams that look average on paper. I know this is cliché, but no one seems to give their Coach credit for making a very average team play above their ability level.

7) The Redskins & Giants are playing better than expected. I would actually argue they’re the two best teams in football right now. For example, the Giants lose their best receiver, replace him with an average back-up, and still trounce the Seahawks while making the back-up look like Jerry Rice. The Redskins go on the road twice, handily beat division rivals, and then avoid turnovers for five straight weeks. Translation: I can’t wait until these teams play each other again.

8) Speaking of the Giants, what the heck is wrong with Plaxico Burress? First we go through the drama of Plax not getting his contract during the off-season. Then he gets his contract and gets injured. I know that’s not his fault, but soon after getting his contract, he shows up late to work and we find out that he’s been fined fifty times (!) by the Giants for breaking the rules. Of course you have to ask the question, “why did the Giants give this guy a contract extension?” And of course the answer is, “he is a top-tier, NFL receiver.” But now, according to footballguys.com, we learn about this:

"WR Plaxico Burress (NYG) has apparently been avoiding calls from Khoury Alternative Claims Management, a San Antonio-based third-party administrator trying to catch up with the Giants receiver about some damage he did to a rental car. Burress returned a Suburban on June 2 to Epic Car and Truck Rental in Clifton, N.J., with scratches and dents in the bumper. He paid $996.95 for the rental but owed another $1,759 in damages. Burress dropped the car off after hours and never informed anyone of the damages."

Anyone care to explain this behavior to me? Nick?

9) I know everyone in the media is writing off the Pats, but similar to the Titans, the Patriots will still benefit from world-class coaching. I know this is stating the obvious, but even without Brady, Bill Belichek will make this team competitive week after week. Then again, if they keep losing to the likes of the Dolphins, that theory may have to be modified. Maybe Tom Brady was the next incarnation of Joe Montana? Either way, I still hate the Pats and I'm glad they're back to average...where they belong!

Foil in the Oven: Week 5 Picks

How can I possibly show my face here again after last week's picks. I stand by my reasoning, as it has served me well in other weeks, and I will continue to pick games the way I always have. There's no way anybody could have predicted what went down in Week 4. Overall, it will probably be remembered more as a crazy college football weekend that marked the true beginning of the Rich Rodriguez and Houston Nutt eras. But, things were equally as crazy in the NFL. I got it wrong on many counts. Here's my shot at redemption....

Giants over Seahawks: It makes me really uncomfortable to see the Giants currently sitting atop the power rankings. Don't get me wrong, I think they're very good. And, as a Giants fan, I'm happy to see them finally getting the respect that they were denied in the offseason. But, I don't really feel like they've earned it yet. Two of their three wins have been against bottom feeders, the Bengals took them to overtime, and they didn't even play last week. I do have high hopes for this team, and I think the Bengals will give a lot of teams trouble on their way to 0-16. I just think the Giants have a lot more to prove. That being said, they're a lock to beat Seattle at home on Sunday.


Chargers over Dolphins: 2007 aside, the Dolphins split with the Patriots every year. That was a nice win for them in week 3, but we can't read too much into it. They can't throw the ball at all and their running game has been inconsistent. I think the Bolts win this one easily.


Panthers over Chiefs: The Chiefs finally showed some signs of life last week, making me look foolish for picking so definitively against them. I was particularly impressed with the play of Derrick Johnson. But, I'm still not convinced that they're anywhere near even being considered a middle of the road team.

Redskins over Eagles: I love what the Redskins are doing. They've looked great for the past three weeks. This game is really a draw for me. But, with Brian Westbrook's status still uncertain, I have to lean towards Washington.

Colts over Texans: Both of these teams have been extremely disappointing thus far. Fresh off their bye week, I expect the Colts to start turning things around.

Bears over Lions: One thing I took away from Chicago's Sunday night victory is that Kyle Orton isn't as bad as people think. He's not a game changer, but he's an accurate passer and he can move the chains. Watching him made me realize that I may haven't been giving this Bears' offense enough credit.


Packers over Falcons: Despite this lopsided loss, I'm sure Matt Ryan will always remember his first time playing at Lambeau Field.


Titans over Ravens: This should be a great game. I'd love to pick Baltimore, but I can't. The Ravens won't be able to run against the NFL's best defensive front. Joe Flacco has looked good, but I don't think he's ready to shoulder the load in this one.


Broncos over Buccaneers: I've never been the biggest Mike Shanahan fan. In the post-Clinton Portis era, he's always killed me in fantasy by refusing to indicate where he's leaning in terms of running backs. And, he's never really seemed to have any personality. But this press conference, in which he stated that Al Davis must like Lane Kiffin more than him, was awesome. Anybody who publicly mocks Al Davis is ok by me.


Cowboys over Bengals: I'm an Ocho Cinco fan, so I just need to acknowledge something here. People have been criticizing him for his poor play, and blaming his lack of production on his antics. Remember that he tore his labrum right before the season started. That injury, not his antics or namechange or anything else, is really what's affecting his play. This week, Chad told reporters in Dallas that he'd like nothing more than to team up with TO in Dallas. I think this would be great for the NFL and for me, as it would turn the Cowboys into even more of a circus. And, Jerry Jones might just be crazy enough to do it.

Note: Chad also said he would score, and then kiss the star in Dallas to show his respect for the Cowboys organization. He may do this, and the Bengals may give the Cowboys all they can handle (but I doubt it.....Dallas is too strong up front), but they won't win. They won't win next week either, or the week after that. I don't know why I'm so certain they will be 0-16. They just have that feel to them.


Bills over Cardinals: Last week I acknowledged that I thought the Cardinals might lose because they were on the East Coast, but that I was still picking them despite this reasoning. Obviously that was a mistake. So, maybe I should pick them this week since they are back in Arizona. But, I think the Bills are good enough to win on the West Coast. And, I think the loss of Anquan Boldin this week is too significant for the Cards to overcome.


49ers over Patriots: The Niners are at home, and I think Frank Gore will have a big day against this New England defense. Eventually I'll stop picking San Francisco to win every week. It hardly seems like an effective strategy. But, I like them over the Pats here.


Jaguars over Steelers: With the Steelers ground game being reduced to what it is, I can't pick them this week. A team that pass protects as poorly as Pittsburgh has this year needs to be able to run the ball. This could be a long day for Big Ben. But, look for this one to be close as I still love that Pittsburgh defense.


Saints over Vikings: I drafted Drew Brees early in all my fantasy leagues for a reason. He will tear apart the Vikings secondary to the tune of 400 yards (a number that has become somewhat common for him).




College Pick of the Week:


Wisconsin (+2.5) over Ohio State:

I love the 08 Badgers, and I think they will be out for blood after blowing a comfortable lead in Ann Arbor last week. Wisconsin's defense is the best in the nation at forcing turnovers (5 in one half against Michigan), and that means trouble for the young Terrell Pryor. The Badgers are without question the better team. And, this game is in Madison, which makes it a lock.