Nipplegate: Seven Years Later, Who Knew?

It’s been seven years now since Justin Timberlake unknowingly (wink, wink) exposed Janet Jackson’s left breast during the half time performance of Super Bowl 38. Who knew that one wardrobe malfunction and an exposed mammary gland, would have such an everlasting effect.

The actual halftime show that year was produced by MTV and intended to help promote MTV’s Rock the Vote campaign to encourage younger people to get out and vote. Unfortunately that message was lost in the ensuing controversy, the loose connection between all the acts of the halftime show and the actions that ensued throughout the show.

Besides Jackson’s “exposure,” the show’s other performances included gestures by the rapper Nelly toward his crotch and musician Kid Rock appearing in a poncho made from a slitted American flag, which he later tossed into the crowd.  Following the incident, the NFL announced that MTV would never be involved in another halftime show.

Which brings me to the situation at hand. Since Nipplegate, we have been subject to such halftime acts as 67-year-old former Beatle Paul McCartney and 66-year-old Mick Jagger and his aging Rolling Stones band mates.

Super Bowl 42 offered us 59-year-old Tom Petty. Bruce Springsteen (60 years old) and his E Street Band rocked us in Super Bowl 43, and now comes news that 65-year-old Roger

Daltry and the Who will Dazzle us with a little Pin Ball Wizardry this year in Miami.

My calculator indicates those five acts are a combined 317 years old—yikes! Don’t get me wrong, I dig a little Dancing in the Dark every now and then and think I’ve even had a 19th Nervous Breakdown once or twice, But come on, can’t we get more current with our choices for halftime entertainment?  

Yes, you are right, I did fail to mention that musician Prince shared the halftime time show with the Florida A&M Marching 100 for the Super Bowl 41 half time, but his royal purpleness was on his best behavior that day.

Mr. Daltry, if you are reading this please take no offense, your music has stood the test of time much like the music of most of your British invasion counterparts, but when I told my teenage son that you and your group were performing at this years Super Bowl halftime, his reply was, WHO?

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NFL Week 17: Picks From New England Patriots Fans’ Perspective

Happy New Year, all.

Week 17 has arrived with a bang, but for some teams, it will end with a whimper. After four months of often futile efforts to predict who will do what, where, and to whom, we finally have arrived at perhaps the least predictable week of all.

Some of the possibilities in the AFC were straightened out last week, but this last round of regular season play comes with plenty of balls left in the air. Feel free to interpret that statement any way you like.

The NFC playoff seeds are almost as uncertain as in the AFC.

Here in Patriot Nation, we know our team is in, so we are sitting back to enjoy a good Sunday of football. Most of the regular crew is here to offer their insights into what shapes up to be one crazy day in the NFL: Doug Baker, Glenn Card, EA, and yours truly. We are only missing Steve Frith, who would be here if he could.

We will continue to post our selections throughout the playoffs, but I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have been kind enough to follow this series through the regular season.

As for the rest of the posse, it has been a pleasure collaborating with you, and I look forward to the postseason.

Now, let’s get to it.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Indianapolis @ Buffalo

DB: The Colts realized that they weren’t going to go 19-0 so they gave up a game in hopes they don’t choke like they usually do in the playoffs. They obviously are not going to be play their starters this week, or hard, so even though Buffalo is awful, I think the Colts lay down for them. And hopefully they lay down in the playoffs too. Buffalo. 

EA: I don’t care who the Colts decide to play in this one, I have a hard time believing they’ll lose.

GC: Unbelievable as it was to see the Colts sit starters and give up on the possibility of an undefeated regular season, I wonder if this tactic really does them any good in the postseason. We’ve seen the Colts do this year in and year out, as great as the team has been this decade this strategy has not served them well.

TR: Sitting starters doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but then, I’m a Patriots fan, stubborn by nature and always looking for the best possible outcome in any game. It’s a dubious tactic anyway, but Caldwell will undoubtedly do it again. He’ll play the starters until they get a good lead, which should take about five minutes. Buffalo just wants to get this mess over with, so those five minutes should be good enough for a Colts win.

New York Giants @ Minnesota

DB: Good bye Eli! And good riddance Giants. Take Minnesota to win at home. 

EA: The Giants are done for the year, while the Vikings are going to the playoffs. Their seed could be anywhere, still, so aside from playing in front of a home crowd there will be some motivation for the Vikes to play their ‘A game’ for this one.

GC: The Giants are done for the year and they can’t even play spoiler against the Vikings. The only thing that might happen is if the Giants win they could possibly help knock the Vikings down to the fourth seed and take away their bye week. Vikings win this home game. 

TR: What happened to the G-Men this year? Whatever it was, it’s still happening, and the Vikes want that coveted second seed, so Minnesota will win this one. Even if Favre sucks.

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay

DB: Wow, Atlanta sure ain’t what they were last year but they should beat Tampa Bay. Falcons will come out on top. 

EA: Both of these teams have been done for awhile, and despite pulling out a ‘W’ against the Saints last week, don’t think the Buccos will fare too well against Atlanta.

GC: The Buccaneers had some surprising wins this year against some of the NFL’s best, but the Falcons are going to be gunning for the winning season to make it back-to-back for the first time in franchise history. The Falcons will put on a show with a commanding win. 

TR: The Falcons are a more talented team than the Bucs, so even though there is nothing on the line here, I have to think Atlanta will take this one.

San Francisco @ St. Louis

DB: The 49ers are an up-and-coming team and it sounds like Steven Jackson isn’t playing this week. The 49ers have pride and are playing a really bad team. San Francisco wins the finale. 

EA: I’ll take the Niners, easy.

GC: The 49ers did a lot to help them get back to their winning ways this year, and I really liked the way they played with heart. The Rams, on the other hand, are going to need that first-round pick next year, as they can use all the help they can get. The 49ers end their season on an up note with a win. 

TR: San Francisco has come a long way toward renewed respectability, and they will just get better next season. As for St. Louis, well…I hope the draft is kind to them.

Pittsburgh @ Miami

DB: Pittsburgh still has something to play for, maybe, long shot, but still…Pittsburgh. 

EA: LaMarr Woodley just came out this week saying to reporters that he thinks the Bengals and Patriots will “lay down” against their opponents this week because they don’t want the Steelers going to the playoffs. Maybe if the Steelers wanted to go so damn bad, they would take care to beat loser teams like the Bears, Chiefs, Raiders, and Browns. They would have secured their spot by now. Hopefully the Dolphins give ’em hell in Miami and send the defending champs home without a chance to repeat.

GC: The defending champions, the Steelers, have been brought low this year, but they could still make the playoffs. Miami wins this home game convincingly, but it’s not going to do them any good either except for prides sake and to avoid a losing season. 

TR: As inconsistent as the Steelers have been this season, it’s reasonable to believe that they will end the season uninspired and on a low note, even when their hopes for a postseason gig depend on it. Miami is full of surprises, and they are playing at home with a slim chance of making the playoffs, so I’m looking for a Dolphins win. Yes, there is one unlikely scenario that would put them at the sixth seed. Can you believe it?

New Orleans @ Carolina

DB: Who knows what to make of this game? It really depends on what the Saints do with their starters. They squeak out a close one against the Panthers to end their season on a high note.  New Orleans. 

EA: This is a pretty meaningless game, although Matt Moore will probably continue showing why he deserves to be starting QB over Jake Delhomme. The surprising thing is, the Panthers, as bad as they have looked at times this year, could still end up 8-8 with a win over their division rival. They almost did it earlier this year, so I’ll take the Panthers in a home-field upset.

GC: The Saints are perfect team on the road in 2009 with a 7-0 record away from the Superdome. They will nail the Panthers to the wall and go into the playoffs on a good note. 

TR: The Saints have nothing to gain by winning at this point, and the Cats did give New Orleans a bit of a fight earlier in the season. Sean Payton will be looking to rest some starters, but if I were in his place, I would be more concerned about regaining some momentum. If Carolina has any pride left at all, and if Julius Peppers wants another fat contract somewhere next season, the Panthers will give the home crowd something to remember them by until next season.

Chicago @ Detroit

DB: Who cares? Chicago. 

EA: Pheeeeeeeeeeyew! This matchup stinks so bad I can smell it all the way over here in the Twin Cities! Jay Cutler did the unthinkable and threw more touchdowns than interceptions against a pretty stout Minnesota defense last week, so he should have a pretty easy (SHOULD being the keyword) time having his way with the Lions.

GC: These two teams are done for the year; they can’t even compete for higher draft choices. Since they are done, I’ll pick the home team. The Lions show the home crowd what they might have to look forward, too. 

TR: The coin is in the air, here it comes, tails it is. Detroit. Well, they are at home, anyway.

New England @ Houston

DB: I have no idea what Bill B will do with the starters. But I think regardless of what happens, we find a way to beat Houston. Take New England. 

EA: Bill wouldn’t give anything away on a conference call this week, but he did give a hint that the regular starters will at least be playing. For how long is the key, however. If the first-stringers stay on the field for the first two and a half quarters or so, it may be enough to win, despite going on the road to play a motivated Texans team seeking its first playoff berth in team history.

GC: The Patriots are in the playoffs either way, but I’m betting they’ll try to put this one away early before they pull any starters. Besides, the Texans have been the bane of my picks all year and I promised myself I wouldn’t pick them to win anymore. 

TR: Houston has picked up the consistency level this year, and they have a good shot at winning this one. Belichick, on the other hand, isn’t going to pull a Caldwell. He will play his starters until he figures the game is put away. He will go for it on fourth-and-two if the situation arises. He is Bill.

Jacksonville @ Cleveland

DB: Browns continue to be pretty awful. Jaguars still have a faint heartbeat left. Pick Jacksonville. 

EA: At 7-8, the Jaguars are still theoretically in the hunt, so expect them to be motivated for that win, just in case many of the other teams in the wild card hunt lose their games this week. Despite their routing at the hands of the Patriots last week, the Jags should pull out a win against a suddenly warm Cleveland Browns team.

GC: The Jaguars have a chance to make it into the playoffs with some help. The only thing they can do to help themselves is win this game. They’re not going to let the Browns get in the way. 

TR: I can’t imagine Jax letting this one get away, even if they are on the road.

Philadelphia @ Dallas

DB: This is going to be the game of the week: A showdown in Dallas for the NFC East.  These two teams have at times, over the past few years, put on a very entertaining game. I find this one hard to call because I think the Eagles are playing well, and Dallas usually goes into a swoon at this point in the season. But I just have a gut feeling that Dallas is going to pull this one out at home. Take the Cowboys. 

EA: I’ll take the Eagles, but this should be a heck of a game.

GC: It’s possible that these two teams could play each other two weeks in a row. If all the stars align Dallas could end up with a bye week. I think the Cowboys help their cause with a home win. 

TR: The Eagles could wind up with any seed from two through six, and unless my vision (and math) is worse than I thought, so could the Cowboys. Every time I predict a “great game,” it isn’t, but this sure looks like a good one to me. The Eagles are playing like winners, so I see a close win for them on the road.

Tennessee @ Seattle

DB: It’s funny how many times this year that I’ve picked the Seahawks to win only because it’s a ho-hum game with no significance. That’s true again this week, and I’ll take the Seahawks again only because they are playing at home. 

EA: Tennessee’s season is all but over after a heartbreaker in San Diego last week, and Seattle didn’t have much of a chance this year to begin with. I’ll take the Titans, though, as they are a far better team than the Seahawks.

GC: It’s funny how many times this year that I’ve picked the Seahawks to win only because it’s a ho-hum game with no significance. That’s true again this week. The Seahawks only because they are playing at home. 

TR: It doesn’t matter who wins this game, but I believe Vince Young still has something to prove. And then there is Chris Johnson, who should run all over the Seahawks, winding up at the top of the Space Needle. I have to go with the Titans.

Washington @ San Diego

DB: The Chargers could start their cheerleaders in this game and still win. Take San Diego. 

EA: The Chargers secured the No. 2 seed with a win over the Titans, so don’t expect their starters to come out for more than a little over a half in this one. If they don’t open a big enough lead before yanking.  

GC: The Redskins have nothing to play for except pride. It’s not going to be enough against this Charger team at home. 

TR: With that two seed firmly in their grasp, the Bolts won’t play their starters for much more than the time it takes the Skins to realize that they are hopelessly overmatched. Oh, wait, they already know.

Baltimore @ Oakland

DB: Will the Ravens finally stick the gun in their mouth and end their misery? Will they find another stupid way to lose a football game? They have a lot to play for but they are playing the Raiders. I think Baltimore pulls this one out and heads to the playoffs.  Baltimore. 

EA: The Ravens are still in the playoffs, but they have a lot of competition. On paper, this looks like an easy win for the Ravens, but the Raiders have done such a good job at playing spoiler this year, I won’t rule anything out.

GC: The Ravens’ only possible way into the playoffs is through the Raiders with a lot of help from other teams. Baltimore keeps its playoff hopes alive with a win. 

TR: Anything can happen in Oakland, but the Ravens will be playing with a lot of heart and praying for a playoff shot. I can’t pick against them, and I don’t want to.

Kansas City @ Denver

DB: The Chiefs would love nothing more than to knock off their rival Broncos, but it won’t happen this week in the Mile High city. Take Denver. 

EA: The Broncos are still in the playoffs after a tough loss to the Eagles, but they could use another win here for extra measure. Should be an easy one at home against Kansas City.

GC:  The Chiefs could play spoiler in this game against the Broncos and knock them right out of the playoffs. Because they are playing in mile high I’ll give this win to the Broncos and keeping their playoff picture clear. 

TR: I don’t see how the Chiefs will put up much of a fight, not at Denver.

Green Bay @ Arizona

DB: What a weird feeling for teams to be playing each other going into the playoffs and really only seeding might be at issue. I like Green Bay in this one, just because I never know what Arizona team is going to show up. Take the Packers. 

EA: As the standings are right now, these two teams are scheduled to play each other  on Wild Card Weekend. With the entire NFC playoff picture in place, do not be surprised if we see the starters play about a quarter or so before getting yanked so as to avoid giving away too much intel to the team they’ll face a week later. The Cards are deadly at home, so I’ll take them, even matched up against a white-hot Packers team.

GC:  This should be a good game and it is possible that these two teams will also be playing each other again next as well depending on the results of the rest of the NFL games. I’m giving the Cardinals the home win in this one. 

TR: The Cardinals could still snatch that second seed in the NFC if they win here and both Minnesota and Philadelphia lose. I don’t see all that happening, but the Cardinals should come to play. Green Bay is looking at a the fifth or sixth seed and have less to lose. Arizona shows up.

Cincinnati @ New York Jets

DB: This will be a close game and it will depend on what the Bengals do with their starters. I just don’t see Cincinnati starting everyone the entire game. Like last week, the Jets will be given the game, and given a playoff berth. That’s not how it’s supposed to be in the NFL, but that’s how it is for the Jets. Take New York. 

EA: As a Patriots fan, my eyes are on this game. As it stands right now, the Pats and Jets are matched up for Wild Card Weekend. If the Jets win, it will stay that way. If the Bengals win, our foe would probably become the Ravens. Despite having a very tough defense, I am more comfortable hosting Mark Sanchez and the Jets for the playoffs than Joe Flacco and the Ravens. So, unfortunately, I find myself having to cheer for the Jets for the second straight week. Yippie.

GC: The Bengals are in but the Jets have to win this one to go to the show. I believe the Jets have enough gas in their tank to make it to the playoffs, but we’ll see where they go from there. 

TR: The Jets need this game to have a shot at the playoffs, and the Bengals don’t. Unfortunately for a couple of other teams, including the Patriots, the outcome of this game has potentially important ramifications in the postseason scenario. The short story is that the Jets must win to stay alive, and the worst that could happen to Cincy is a drop from three seed to four. A motivated Jets should defeat cruise-controlled Bengals.

And that, my friends, is the view from New England.

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Don’t Expect Romo To Choke Versus Eagles

The bullcrap meter needs to go off in every Eagles fan’s head when he hears “Dallas always folds in big games.”

Well, that December swoon didn’t follow the usual script, now did it?

First of all, the past is the past. I never understood the value of certain statistics such as the all-time record of the Eagles versus Dallas, or away versus the spread, yada yada yada. Those are utterly meaningless today. The result of the final regular season game last year is only slightly more relevant.

Eagles fans should run when they hear that Dallas is going to fold. That thought will give them agita by the ‘Boys’ third possession, if not their first, as Romo starts hitting his receivers with lasers and the Eagles’ blitzes fail to get to him in time.

Brace for a long hard struggle, and it might be easier on the stomach. The Eagles will need the ball to bounce their way on Sunday—there’s zero margin for error. That means you, Donovan, and you, Macho, and you, Moses Fokou, and, oh yeah, it means tackling, Asante. Thank you. Macho can show you how.

If the Eagles have momentum, so do the Cowboys, or at least Romo—the key to their team. In December, including their two losses (one to an excellent Chargers team), Tony Romo posted low McNabb-esque (actually Staubach-esque) interception numbers and eye-popping yardage. For the month, he is averaging 310 yards a game. He has thrown one pick and nine touchdowns going back five games (including the last in November), while McNabb is throwing more picks than usual.

Since Romo has been the reason for Cowboy collapses in the past, that suggests these ‘Boys won’t cry like last year. He’ll look like Eli Manning on a good day, not like Manning Junior on an off day. The game could be a shootout like the second Giants game, but Dallas’ secondary is stronger. The Eagles have feasted on quarterback weakness in these two rivalries the past two years, but they’ll be fighting for every morsel on Sunday.

Dallas is a strong all-around team—the Eagles can only hope to get better receiving yards this time than last time. Until it happens, you can’t assume it can or will. The ‘Aints couldn’t score on this Dallas D—of course, neither could they score on the ‘Bucs. Any given Sunday.

The last matchup between these two teams was very close. There’s no question the Eagles can beat the ‘Boys, but they’ll need a break since they lost Jamaal Jackson. How many snaps can you fumble and still win at this level? The linebacking is suspect, if improving (Fokou has real potential). Trot matches well with the ‘Boys’ power running game. But definitely not with Dallas’ standout tight end Jason Witten. (Hat tip to commenter Will Holt.)

The Birds need no bonehead mistakes—that means you, Macho. And Moses—you helped cost your team the first Cowboy game with some slight infraction. What was it? Oh yeah, you nullified an Ellis Hobbs kick return FOR A TOUCHDOWN!! Another penalty called back a 54-yard interception run by Sheldown Brown

In a four. point. game. (Imagine Howard Cosell or John Facenda saying that.)

Basically, Moses against Dallas was like Macho against Denver.

Memo to Moses and Macho: Each point costs more dearly the closer you get to a Super Bowl.

Macho is better in coverage and tackling than Sean Jones’ recent outings. Macho is a baller, a punisher, and he’s fast. That is why McDermott and Reid will put him right back out there. He needs to learn to make better decisions soon, because he’s potentially good enough to help this team win playoff games—take the secondary to the next level, as Fokou could do for the linebackers.

Sean McDermott probably figures, with good reason, he needs Harris to help cover Miles (Steve) Austin, as well as the Saints, Vikings, Colts, Cardinals, Packers, and/or Bolts receivers. He can’t learn on the bench; he has to take his chances now. This year’s depleted Eagle defense can’t beat high-powered offenses with Sean Jones in coverage.

Macho could be the surprise factor in the ‘Birds playoff hopes. Scary for a guy who doesn’t know which hand to carry a ball in, or when to let up from headhunting receivers. He’s all adrenaline but that can be useful. I think he’d have fit in well with the old Gang Green of the Buddy Ryan era. Buddy might have kept him on the field despite mistakes, too. 

Maybe Macho and Fokou can have breakout games, and Akeem Jordan will be better acclimated to the MIKE (middle linebacker) spot. This is the good fortune the Birds will badly need. It will be interesting to see Jordan’s snaps versus Jeremiah Trotter’s. Trot is usually sidelined when the Eagles are keying on tight end coverage.

With past sudden injuries on the O-line, the Eagles have really struggled. (See the Raiders game when Jason Peters went down). Jason Peters also missed some action against the Cowboys the first time. With all the injuries and problems on the O-line going back to Shawn Andrews, the Eagles might be too thin there to win a championship. Stacy Andrews certainly couldn’t handle Jay Ratliffe last time.

However, the Eagles have had a week and a half a game to iron out the snaps between Nick Cole and McNabb. The bigger problem will be Max Jean-Gilles, who gets the start against Ratliffe, and there the Eagles will need fortune to shine on them rather than that huge Cowboys Stadium monitor. O-line coach Juan Castillo has had time make the best of it he can. 

Can offensive coordinator Marty Morninwheg scheme away an overwhelming inside rush with QB rollouts to the left (Peters’ side)? Can you run up the middle behind Cole and Jean-Gilles?

Doubtful. Though I will say I think Donovan needs to turn on the wheels a few times this game even at risk of injury. That can foil an aggressive pass rush, tire the D-line, and take advantage of the maximum coverage down field on our skill players. You have to take what the defense is giving you, and Dallas may give Donovan room to run. He has to take it.

The Eagles offensive skill players can beat anybody, but Donovan has bad games just like Romo sometimes. He will need four or five flawless games from here out to get the Lombardi trophy. Can he hit DeSean Jackson on the double move deep like the Eagles have done so many times before? Will he have time? Can he fire missiles at a diving Jeremy Maclin on the sidelines to beat tight coverage and a fast pass rush?

Yes, maybe. It’s show-me territory. Donovan under a rush isn’t always pretty. The Eagles can score 42 or they could score 10.

Fortunately, I’m not sure any D-line the team might face with New Orleans or Minnesota (or Indianapolis) poses the threat to the Eagles depleted O-line that the ‘Boys do. All other potential playoff opponents have been underwhelming in recent weeks, with even the Vikes’ Jared Allen struggling and Pat Williams missing a game with an elbow injury.

This Cowboys game could be a Super Bowl for these Eagles—or a Super Bowl Part One of Three—if you count a Dallas playoff rematch and the Super Bowl itself.

Against the Cowboys, the Eagles have to get some breaks and inspired coaching. That means an off day for Ratliffe, a career game for Jean-Gilles, or both, a confusing offensive scheme, special teams scores, defensive turnovers (pick sixes are nice), screens and QB scrambles to take care of Dallas’ pass rush and exploit what could be a soft underbelly in Dallas’s coverage scheme.

It can be done. The Eagles have the coaching edge with Reid over Philips, and they don’t have Jerry Jones meddling.

But these ‘Boys are for real—possibly the toughest opponent between the Eagles and the Super Bowl championship.

If the Eagles have to play them twice, they better make sure that the next one will be in the NFC championship at the Linc in the dead of January. That will be just like the old days.

Oh ‘Boy.

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NFL Week 17: AFC Picks

Unlike previous weeks,  I’m going to do two separate previews, so that I can properly sort out the key games in each conference and how they effect the playoffs.

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NFL: Liver’s Week 17 Picks

Hard to believe it’s Week 17 and after this weekend there will only be 11 NFL games remaining. After The Liver’s much deserved Roman style Christmas vacation, it’s back to work.

This should be the worst week of the season with no less than EIGHT of the 16 games this week meaning absolutely nothing. Of the remaining eight games, seven feature teams that need to win for either playoff positioning or to keep pretending that they have a shot at getting in. The opponents are either out of the playoffs completely or have already solidified their playoff spots and have nothing to gain by playing their starters.

The only game this week in which BOTH teams have something to gain….that would be the Filthy Eagles coming to The Death Star to face The Liver’s surprisingly playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys.

This week shouldn’t even count, gambling-wise, but it does. The lines are so skewed this week because even Vegas doesn’t know who’s going to play like they care or not.

Six days left until The Liver’s beloved Longhorns play Alabama for the National Championship. Not even going to try and pick that game because there’s no way I can emotionally detach myself to look at it in a black and white way. I will say that Texas MUST play their most complete game of the season in order to win against a nasty Alabama defense.

None of this take the first half off and then come out on fire in the second half crap that they’ve done way too many times this year. If Texas can win the turnover battle and keep Heisman winner Mark Ingram under 100 yards rushing, they can win. This is going to be where Texas fans see what Will Muschamp truly has in his bag. His defense has been underwhelming at times this season and he will need to have them play their best football in order to claim Texas’ second national championship in four years.

HOOK ‘EM HORNS

Of course it goes without saying that the following picks AGAINST THE SPREAD are for RECREATIONAL USE ONLY . Only Rick Pitino, LeGarrette Blount, Donte’ Stallworth, Braylon Edwards, Bob Griese, Miguel Cabrera, Tila Tequila, Bill Belichick, Steve Phillips, Travis Henry, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Tony Romo, Elizabeth Lambert, Tiger Woods, Richard Heene (a.k.a. Balloon Boy’s father), the Liver’s biological father (a.k.a. The Most Interesting Man in the World) and all Somali Pirates would be drunk enough to question the Esteemed Liver’s picks.

Last week’s record: 8-7-1

2009 record against the spread: 133-101-6 (.568)

Sunday, January 3

Indianapolis at Buffalo (-7)
Are the Colts a gutless franchise that will tank games to rest players when immortality is within their grasp? Is Charlie Sheen guaranteed a domestic incident involving a soon-to-be ex-wife once every 4-5 years? Kudos to the Colts fans who felt cheated and betrayed by Jim Caldwell’s soon-to-be infamous decision and put so much heat on the team that Colts President Bill Polian’s weekly radio show had to be cancelled. And let’s not even get into how many fantasy teams and gambling picks (LIKE THE LIVER’S ) that were destroyed by that decision. I’m now rooting for the Colts to get knocked out in the playoffs. Oh wait, the Chargers will take care of that in the AFC Championship game. If Buffalo can’t beat the Colts JV team this week, Ralph Wilson Jr. should refund everyone’s game ticket. Pick: Buffalo

New Orleans at Carolina (-3)
The once unbeatable Saints are having some problems right now and despite having home field wrapped up in the NFC might actually need a win here to have some confidence going into the playoffs as opposed to going in on a three-game losing streak. They won’t find it easy against a Carolina team that has looked strong the last few weeks with Matt Moore as QB. Just think where they’d be if John Fox had benched Jake Delhomme earlier and put Moore in. I’m guessing that the Saints will pull the starters in the second half. Pick: Carolina

Jacksonville at Cleveland (-1)
Are the Browns really playing for Eric Mangini right now? Could ANYONE have seen this playing out two months ago? Are the Browns really stupid enough to fire Mangini and in effect be paying TWO former coaches not to coach? Romeo Crennel is still collecting a fat paycheck. No wonder he looks so happy in those Coors Light commercials. Pick: Cleveland

Chicago at Detroit (+3)
Just to show you all how much The Liver hates Brett Favre and the Vikings; I was rooting for Jay Cutler last week like he was Troy Aikman. Pick: Chicago

New England at Houston (-7 ½)
Do the Patriots sit their starters here? Obviously Vegas thinks they will. Brady might play…FOR A QUARTER . Houston’s chances of getting into the playoffs are slim to none, but with the win they would finish at 9-7 which is the best season in the Texans long and storied history. Just think what kind of damage they would do in the playoffs if they could’ve won ONE big game this year. Pick: Houston

Pittsburgh at Miami (+3)
As a Texas Longhorns die-hard, no story was better in the NFL than Ricky Williams returning to form and rushing for over 1,000 yards for the first time in six years. On a depressing side note; Ricky Williams is referred to as the “wise old veteran” in the Miami locker room. Williams’ age is 32. The Liver’s age is 32. If he was playing here I’d take Miami but he’s doubtful for now so… Pick: Pittsburgh

N.Y. Giants at Minnesota (-9)
So NOW who’s the QB who can’t win in December? That would be your starting QB Brett Favre, Vikings fans. The whole Mr. Magoo/Favre controversy was something that ANYONE with a football IQ of 10 or higher could have seen coming. That doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. Can we all agree now that while AP is an incredible running back, he’s got a serious fumbling problem that could make Tiki Barber and Ahman Green wince? If the Giants can win and the Cowboys win then it’s conceivable that the Cowboys could be the No.2 seed in the NFC and get a bye. Pick: N.Y. Giants

San Francisco at St. Louis (+7)
San Francisco should destroy the Rams here and with the No.1 pick in the draft at stake, why would the Rams even try to win? Stephen Jackson is questionable with a back injury that kept him out of last week’s game. I’d like to extend a personal thanks to the Rams coaching staff who didn’t reveal until right before kickoff that Jackson wouldn’t be playing against Arizona.

I’m sure none of the people like THE LIVER who picked the Rams to cover the 14 point spread would have changed their pick in a heartbeat had we known that Jackson wouldn’t be playing. It’s polite considerations like that that make me want to pull a Walter Sobchak and smash Steve Spagnuola’s car with a crow bar while yelling “This is what happens when you f**k a stranger in the ass.” Of course “we’re talking about unchecked aggression here Dude.”  Pick: San Francisco

Atlanta at Tampa Bay (+2)
If there was an award for Worst Coach of the Year do you think Raheem Morris would accept it? Pick: Atlanta

Philadelphia at Dallas (-3)
The Liver is never one to hide when he’s wrong so here it comes…I didn’t think the Cowboys would be in the position that they’re in. NO realistic Cowboys fan saw this two weeks ago coming off of losses to the Giants and the Chargers. But that win in New Orleans could go down as a defining moment in Cowboys history. A win here would erase the still nauseating 2008 season finale in Filthy Philly that resulted in the infamous 44-6 debacle.

Tony Romo might be playing the best football of his brief career and the defense looks like a pack of rabid dogs right now. However, that secondary CANNOT contain DeSean Jackson who scares me the way Mike Leach scares Adam James. Also, the offense still doesn’t look right. Shutting out the Redskins 17-0 was nice but 14 of those points came off of a Campbell interception early and Jason Witten’s 69-yard reception that put the Cowboys in the red zone.

They left at least 14 more points on the field and Shaun Suisham doesn’t make me feel much better then Nick Folk. Sooner or later, he’s going to be needed to hit a clutch kick and he just can’t do it. Having no faith in your kicker affects an offense in countless ways because it’s going to make offensive coordinator Jason Garrett have to take unnecessary gambles since he doesn’t know if his kicker can hit a 35 or 40 yarder.

This game is far more significant for the Cowboys because a win means the NFC East crown and at least the No.3 spot in the NFC which means one home playoff game possibly against the Eagles for the second time in a week. A win here becomes the biggest win for this franchise in the Wade Phillips era and would give them real confidence that they could beat Filthy again should they meet up in the wild card. A loss means most likely a trip to Minnesota but I’m not too afraid of them right now for some reason. Still, it would be extremely difficult for the Cowboys to win in the Metrodome where the Vikings have been dominant.

I think the Cowboys can win here but Filthy might be the best team in the NFC right now. The Death Star and the Dallas fans need to provide the home field advantage that Jerry and the city of Arlington shelled out $1.2 billion for. I rarely do this, but I’m going to take an emotional chance on this team that I haven’t done all season. Congratulations to Miles Austin on a well earned Pro Bowl selection. Here’s hoping he won’t be playing in that crap due to a more important game he’ll be playing in South Florida the following week. He deserves all the Playboy Bunnies he can get. Pick: Dallas

Green Bay at Arizona (-3)
A position game for Arizona here and Green Bay has nothing to gain by playing all out since they are locked into the No.5 seed and there is a strong possibility that these two teams will be meeting again later this week. Then again, Arizona would be wise to give Warner some rest considering that he’s one concussion away from retiring. Pick: Arizona

Kansas City at Denver (-13 ½)
Looks like Brandon Marshall is returning to his “Teammate of the Year” territory and at the perfect time. Josh McDaniels is benching him for the biggest game of the year because Marshall is supposedly pretending his right hamstring is more of an issue than acting like a sissy. Prosperity for Marshall is like prosperity for Lindsay Lohan; neither know what it is or what to do with it. Kudos to McDaniels for the brave move BUT you’re benching your best offensive weapon for a game that you have to win in order to avoid a 2-8 collapse after a 6-0 start and a second consecutive year of pissing away the AFC West title.  Pick: Kansas City

Baltimore at Oakland (+10 ½)
Baltimore has to win to get in but Oakland has made a habit this year of screwing up other teams’ seasons. I don’t think I’ve seen a team more undisciplined in my life when it comes to penalties than the Ravens, and remember I’m a Cowboys fan. Pick: Oakland

Washington at San Diego (-3 ½)
San Diego truly has nothing to play for here but even with their second stringers in there the Redskins have been on vacation for two weeks now so why can’t San Diego beat this dog? Bad time for Washington sports fans with Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittendon drawing down in the locker room Christmas Eve over a gambling debt. Please dear god let it have been a debt over NBA games. PLEASE .

As a David Stern hater, I couldn’t be happier. Let’s see him slide THIS under the carpet. Tim Donaghy might turn out to be the Jose Canseco of the NBA as far as blowing the whistle (no pun intended) on crooked refs and fixed games. Pick: San Diego

Tennessee at Seattle (+4)
The Titans may not be going to the playoffs but Chris Johnson is still running and the Seahawks went golfing weeks ago. Pick: Tennessee

Cincinnati at N.Y. Jets (-10)
The Jets and their fans should be thanking the sports gods that they got to play the gutless Colts last week and basically get handed a playoff spot. It’s still an insult to the other AFC teams (Broncos, Ravens, Texans, Steelers, and Dolphins) that were fighting for that spot. Nevertheless, The Sanchize can take his first real step in becoming a New York sports icon if he and the top ranked Jets defense can win here and get into the playoffs.

Then again, the Jets have made it a habit of stomping all over their fans’ hopes at the most crucial of times. And there’s the factor that if the Patriots lose and the Bengals win, then the Bengals would be the No.3 seed in the AFC. Can you imagine the fury of the NBC executives when they realized that they couldn’t flex Dallas/Filthy to the night game because of the Cowboys already having appeared the league max three times on Sunday night? You don’t think there was an anonymous NBC exec. that made a desperate call to Roger Goodell pleading “Can’t you just let it slide this one time?. No one will notice.” Pick: Cincinnati

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Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers: Future Joe Montana, Steve Young?

1991, a year before I was born, marked one of the greatest transitions in football. For those that were alive to see it, would remember it as a sore point among not only San Francisco 49er fans, but NFL fans nationwide.

Steve Young was just the backup guy, the one that no one thought about. After spending years on the bench behind the ‘The Great One’, Young finally got his start in 1991 after Montana went down injured and was forced to miss the entire season.

That was pretty much the start of it. Montana got hurt, Young stepped in and started off shaky, and then ended up as the main man in San Francisco for years to come—eventually winning a Super Bowl.

Story sound familiar? I bet it does. 

Two years ago when you thought of Brett Favre you automatically thought, Green Bay and the number 4. Think about him now and you think, Minnesota, and still among other things, the number 4.

Just like Steve Young, Aaron Rodgers spent a few years of his career on the bench behind Favre. Watching and learning, game in and game, out has no doubt helped Rodgers learn the game that he plays so well today.

Like Steve Young, Rodgers was of course questioned in every interview on “How are you going to follow the legend?”. Some fans felt Rodgers was good, others expected him to fail and see the Packers fall from grace, all the way down to an under performing team.

That scenario never happened though. Rodgers stepped up to the plate and delivered.  Sure Green Bay finished 6-10 last season, but look at him now, guiding the Packers to what could be a possible NFC Championship, Rodgers has already established himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL today.

With all this said though, how do Favre and Rodgers compare to Montana and Young?  Well realistically, they don’t. Montana and Young have a combined seven Super Bowls between them, while Favre and Rodgers only have one.

Career wise it is arguable either way. The majority of fans will argue that Montana was by far a greater football player than Favre. Meanwhile Rodgers has only made a dent into his career, which promises to be full of milestones, and hopefully Lombardi Trophies also.

Comparing the two pairs is fair.  Following a legend is one of the toughest things to do in any professional sport, and both Young and Rodgers did it exceptionally well. 

Both of these stories are so similar it is uncanny. The only problem is that the Favre-Rodgers story is not complete just yet. In my opinion Rodgers is going to floruish in the NFL, and cap his career off just like Young did. Or maybe even better.

A Super Bowl is still a maybe for the Packers just yet, but if anything gives Packer fans hope, it’s that Young won his first Super Bowl within three seasons of being with the 49ers.

Is that a thing for Packer fans to count on? Who knows. If Rodgers continues how he is though, Favre and Rodgers may just yet outshine Montana and Young’s partnership by a long shot.

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Playoffs Or Not, Broncos Exceed 2009 Expectations

As the New Year begins and the football season comes to a close, one cannot help but look back to the beginning of the season, and even the year, when the Broncos were entrenched in one of the most attention-getting and controversial offseasons in franchise history.

The Broncos had fired long-time head coach Mike Shanahan and in mid-January hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to replace Shanahan at the helm.

Little did we know what would transpire. A couple months following McDaniels’ arrival, rumors spread that the new head coach tried to trade quarterback Jay Cutler in a deal that would have sent former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassell to the Broncos.

The McDaniels-Cutler relationship soon disintegrated and the disgruntled quarterback was eventually traded to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Kyle Orton, as well as two first-round draft picks and a third-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

This trade spawned a myriad of negativity from the Broncos faithful as well as the entire football community. The Broncos were soon considered a mockery; their demise seemed imminent.

The Broncos offseason was not a complete disaster. Former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan was brought in as the new defensive coordinator and the defense as a whole underwent an extreme makeover.

Additions to the defense included veterans such as safety Brian Dawkins, linebacker Andra Davis, defensive back Andre Goodman, defensive back Renaldo Hill and others.

The offense was also revamped. McDaniels brought in running backs Correll Buckhalter, Lamont Jordan and J.J. Arrington (who would eventually be cut). Wide receivers Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Lloyd were also acquired, not to mention the acquisitions of Orton via trade and rookie running back Knowshon Moreno as a first-round draft pick.

Possessing arguably the toughest schedule in the NFL the Broncos went into the 2009 season with less than attractive expectations. With their backs against the wall, the Broncos soon proved all the naysayers wrong as they began the season with six straight wins heading into their Week Seven bye.

Following the bye, they promptly lost their next four contests and were looking like the team everyone expected at the beginning of the season. They came back with back-to-back wins against the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs in Weeks 12 and 13. They proceeded to lose their next three games and are now in danger of missing out on the postseason.

However, even if the Broncos lose to the Chiefs on Sunday, and end up not making the playoffs, they will still finish at an even 8-8 on the season. Their defense, with one game left to play, has given up a respectable 280 points compared to the 448 points they rendered last season.

Kyle Orton has more than held his own this season and proven himself to be a very capable quarterback for the Broncos. Orton and wide receiver Brandon Marshall have established a potent Mile High connection as well.

Additionally, the Broncos are sending five players to Miami for the Pro Bowl in February, three of which are on defense. They had only three representatives in the Pro Bowl last year and they were all on offense.

Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game, the Broncos have overall been a pleasant surprise to their fans and it is hard to argue that they have not exceeded expectations this season.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Relocation is Not the Answer for NFL Teams

Most educated NFL fans remember what took place under the darkness in Baltimore on March 29, 1984. The Colts were on their way out of Baltimore and headed to Indianapolis, their new home. Ask any Baltimore fan how they felt about that, and I’m sure you will understand where this is going.

With the recent troubles affecting the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise, as well as a few others (Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo) there have been many rumors of sending a franchise to Los Angeles. The ticket sales have been dramatically low, and the franchises are finding it hard to survive in this economy. While the economy isn’t the only thing to blame, moving to L.A. is not always the answer.

There have been many re-locations in the league, as well as other leagues, most recently the Seattle Sonics moving to Oklahoma City. There have been eleven football re-locations since 1921, with Baltimore being the main city in the two most controversial moves.

The first move is the well-documented escape of the Colts to Indianapolis, the second was after they received the Cleveland Browns’ franchise in 1996. This team changed their name to the now Baltimore Ravens. Three years later, the NFL made another franchise and gave it back to Cleveland.

Once the Houston Oilers made the move to Tennessee and became the “Titans” the city of Houston was awarded another franchise five years later, now known as the Texans. Two teams lose their franchise, only to gain another one a few years later?

Obviously the problem in Baltimore was the city did not want to fund the team with a new stadium, but the situation in Jacksonville is quite different. The attendance and money being taken in is not significant enough for the franchise, and they think that by moving to L.A. things will be resolved. The constant moving of football franchises is beginning to wear on the fans, as well as the cities.

Think about how you would feel if your NFL team decided to up and move the franchise overnight without telling anyone. The fans of Baltimore have experienced a great loss with the relocation of the Colts.

As a Colts fan here in Indianapolis, I particularly feel bad for the fans of Baltimore. Not only did they lose their team, but even 25 years later, the Indianapolis Colts are still using the same logo and colors.

At least when Baltimore got the Ravens, Tennessee got the Titans, and Houston got the Texans, they were able to change the team names, colors, and logo.

If the Jaguars, or any other franchise plans a move in the near future, for whatever reason, they should consider the consequences before making such a big decision. The fans in Baltimore will never forget what happened that night, and to this day, they still hold a giant grudge when playing the Indianapolis Colts, and I don’t blame them one bit.

When the Indianapolis Colts visit Baltimore, the scoreboard will always read “Indianapolis” instead of “Colts.” When the Ravens fans come here to Indianapolis for a game, you can see the hatred and disgust on their faces during the game. Although we as fans here didn’t steal the team from them, I can sympathize with them because of what the franchise did to them.

To the Baltimore fans, I understand your anger, especially when you see people in this town (Indianapolis) wearing their Johnny Unitas jerseys. What the Baltimore Colts did during their time in Baltimore will always stay in their record books, and should be counted towards the Ravens’ achievements.

When the Colts left town on that snowy, early March morning, they not only took the furniture and equipment, they took the spirit of the NFL away from the city of Baltimore. When will the owners learn that moving the team is not the answer.

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Why DeSean Jackson Is Already Becoming Philadelphia’s New Fan Favorite

Philadelphia’s newest (and possibly fastest-rising) icon stands only 5′ 10″ and weighs a measly 175 pounds. Coming out of the University of California, DeSean Jackson was supposedly too fragile and had too big of an ego to survive in the NFL. But don’t remind the other 31 teams that passed on the opportunity to draft him a little over a year and a half ago.

Because they all wish they hadn’t.

DeSean Jackson gives the Philadelphia Eagles something that they haven’t had in a long time: a more-than-legitimate passing offense.

With the beastly Jackson, rookie speedster Jeremy Maclin, sure-hands Jason Avant, athletic Brent Celek, shifty Brian Westbrook, flashy Lesean McCoy, and offseason gem/bruiser Leonard Weaver at his disposal, quarterback Donovan McNabb has the best chance at winning a Super Bowl in his entire career.

So what types of people love DeSean Jackson?

DeSean is loved by the young fans of our beloved Iggles, and of the NFL overall. Really, though, what’s not to love? The kid’s a flashy playmaker with unbelievable speed. And let’s face it: The majority of today’s sports-inclined youth idolize the showstoppers, the game-breakers, and the outrageously visible talents.

People like Chris Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Peterson, Ray Lewis in his heyday…you get the idea.

He’s loved by the older, venerable fans as well. He worked with Jerry Rice, the unquestioned G.O.A.T. at the wide receiver position, before the NFL Draft. In addition, he runs ultra-precise routes and almost seems to glide down the sideline, deftly catching the wide variety of over-, under-, mis-, and perfectly-thrown passes thrown from Donovan’s cannon of a right arm.

And you have to love his consistency. I’m sure that I’m hardly the only one who sits at home, watching the week’s Eagles game and expecting Jackson to put up streaky stats.

After all, aren’t those to be expected from a “deep threat?” Instead, he’s been averaging 80 yards a game, and has 12 touchdowns scored on the season, spread out over 10 of the 14 games he’s played on the season.

But most importantly, it’s Jackson lack of an obviously-apparent diva personality that has truly endeared himself to the fans, the team, and the community. Jackson is an active member of the NFL’s Take A Player To School program and in the community.

And…he hasn’t been a headcase. Whatsoever. No drug charges, no public outbursts or temper tantrums, no DUIs. Sure, he’s been fined once…for a ridiculous equipment violation! (His shoes didn’t match his team’s shoes.)

In a sense, Jackson embodies the spirit of Philadelphia itself: Full of a (somewhat) quiet swagger, but with more than enough of a skill set, not to mention a compassionate personality, to back that confidence up.

Now, I don’t expect DeSean to become a headcase, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Young, superstar athletes with obscene amounts of talent can hardly be blamed for the polarizing personalities that arise. But Jackson hasn’t shown any side-effects of his sudden league-wide fame.

Yet. And I hope he never does.

Because if he never does, and stays as humble as the most dynamic receiver in the league can stay, then he’ll have throngs of fans across the country watching his every move, in utter disbelief at his ethereal abilities, for the next decade. As long as he keeps his head, and continues to produce on the field, everyone will remain in pure awe of the Man in Philadelphia, the streaking blaze in the green-and-white No. 10 jersey who was drafted with the 49th selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The seventh wideout chosen…right behind the likes of Donnie Avery, Devin Thomas, Jordy Nelson, James Hardy, Eddie Royal, and Jerome Simpson. Wait…who are those guys again? Oh yeah, that’s right: Not DeSean Jackson, the miniature savior of the future of the Philadelphia Eagles’ high-powered offense.

I guess ol’ Andy can draft successful wide receivers after all.

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The 10 Biggest Snubs of the 2010 Pro Bowl

It’s no secret that the 2010 Pro Bowl voting is somewhat a popularity contest, especially among the fans. Not every player that is deserving gets selected, and many overrated and over-hyped players do.

The 2010 Pro Bowl rosters are now out , and although the fans, coaches and players got many of the selections right, there is still a decent number of snubs.

These are the 10 most-glaring snubs in my book.

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