Week 2 of the 2012 NFL Playoffs

As we all know by now, the NFL wild card round has concluded this past weekend. All the games gave us some exciting and stunning moments!

Denver's miraculous victory over the Steelers was certainly a surprise for everyone outside of all the Denver die hard fans. The game came down to overtime and left me in awe. A first play touchdown in OT was a great way to cap off a great performance overall. All I know is...TIM TEBOW IS FOR REAL! yeah, he's been putting out 4th quarter miracles throughout the year but the playoffs are a different story. All the criticisms that this man takes is uncalled for although he does lack the skills of a real QB....Just kidding! He has all the right tools to develop into a dynamic QB. He's unique and keeps the opposing defense guessing. The kid has talent and get's the job done. It's as simple as that.

My Texans beat out the Bengals too. It came to little to no surprise for me. I just thought Arian Foster would be too much for the Bengals to handle and I was right. Dalton seemed to have felt the pressure but I'll give him props for hanging in there. He displayed great poise throughout the regular season to earn some respect.

The Giants put a pounding on the Falcons over the weekend. I was surprised about the score but not surprised about the outcome. I picked the Giants to win and I expect them to keep rollin'.

The Saints are simply on fire and the Lions didn't put a good effort out there. It was a high scoring affair and that was no shock. 45-28 was the final score there.



THIS WEEK

Denver vs New England - Can Tebow continue his awesome play? In my opinion, yes he can. New England's defense is nothing to be scared of compared to the Steelers. Pittsburgh was a little banged up and that may have had a major part in their loss but Denver has to be credited too. Their defense played well and kept Big Ben in check the whole day. BUT, sadly...I don't expect Tebow's magic to continue this week. The Patriots offense is much more proven and talented than the Steelers offense. If Tim Tebow struggles early, the Broncos will not get a chance to come back because the deficit will be too big. Put your money on the Pats.

Baltimore vs Houston - I love this matchup! Arian Foster should put off a good performance but the Ravens powerhouse D is scary. With TJ Yates, the Ravens could blitz often and put pressure on the young man. Although the Texans are playing really well, I really think the Ravens will run away with this.(I hope not). Ray Rice should be the focal point like he is always and Flacco should be decent. Expect a very hard fought game. I'm taking the Ravens to win this game. It breaks my heart though. I'm a big Texans fan. I hope they win but it's a long shot.

Green Bay vs NYG - Another great matchup! I'm going to go out and predict that the Giants will WIN this football game. Why? They are red hot right now. Elisha, yes I said Elisha, is playing great! He's doing everything! And with the weapons that he can work with, I don't expect a let-down even against a good D. Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers and he should be able to exploit the different matchups and take full advantage of mismatches. He always plays well and the Packers are the reigning Champs. I just feel a really big upset in this one! I'll take the Giants and ride the momentum train with them!

New Orleans vs SF - Drew Brees vs Alex Smith. At the beginning of the season, you wouldn't be able to put these guys in the same sentence but they have been playing really well for their teams. Smith has been playing decent and steady while Brees was breaking records. It isn't a great comparison by numbers but if you compare the way they lead their teams, it would be a pretty good argument. The 49ers D is probably more of the reason why they have made it this far but you gotta give credit to Alex! I do expect a hard fought game to be played here and this is another one that I will feel is an upset. Is the Saints beating San Fran an upset? That's weird to say isn't it? I'll take the Saints in this game even though I expect Gore and company to tear it up!

NFL Reg. Season Conclusion

The NFL regular season came to a close and the dust has settled on the playoff seeding! This season has been spectacular with eye-popping touchdown runs, amazing catches, unbelievable defensive plays, and surprising breakout performances. It also featured some heart-breakers, bloopers, and misfortunes.

First, I want to talk about some things that have surprised or shocked me about this year:

• The New York Jets not making the playoffs. With the team they have assembled, I believed this team would at least make it into the postseason. Their defense looked on par to what experts thought of them at the beginning of the season. Teams started to test Revis Island and paid the price. The main problem that Sanchez and the Jets had this year  was their performances on the road. At home, Mark Sanchez had an TD-INT ratio of 16: 9. Eh, not the greatest, but it isn't the worst either. On the road though, Sanchez had a TD-INT ratio of 10: 9. His 2 touchdown, 3 interception game in Week 17 against the Dolphins ultimately knocked 'em out of contention. The Jets lost their last 3 games of the season and had they won one game, they would've made the playoffs. We can't blame Sanchez for everything but he certainly played the biggest role in the downfall. 

• The Philadelphia Eagles......How sad it is. I'm a huge Eagles fan and this came to shock when they couldn't close out games. It reminds me so much of My Toronto Raptors...and that's not a good thing. All the hype for this team vanished after their collapse against a good 49ers team. You could also blame the play of Michael Vick after his stellar 2010 campaign. But, he did play injured. The defense didn't play well until the second half of the season. Many blame Juan Castillo, the newly installed defensive coordinator for that but the players have to have their share of the blame as well. Maybe it was their lack of experience in their linebacker core or the talent level at the safety positions. Nnamdi Asomugha did play well this year but he was utilized differently compared to when he was at Oakland. *sigh* At least LeSean Mccoy has proven that he has become one of, if not, the best RB in the league now. They got a lot of work to do.

•  The play of Chris Johnson! Damn, he surprised me for topping 1000 yards this year! And that's not a good thing. With the talent and athletic ability that he possesses, he should've had a good year. Yes, 1000 yards is a good milestone to have but we all know the capability of reaching a higher mark for this guy. I'd say he only played good in 5 games. He posted two good outings against good defenses like the Steelers and Browns but his other good games were against BUF(ranked 26), CAR(ranked 28), and TB(ranked 30). The Titans ended up winning 4 out of 5 of those games! They needed him to bring that same production every week. He didn't top 100 yards in 13/16 games! And didn't even pass 60 yards in 10 of those games. He was decent in the passing game this year, but it was  unlike the past! He wasn't the same CJ2K he was before. Oh how the lockout affects people.

•  Some great unexpected QB's making names for themselves. Alex Smith of the 49ers finally had his long awaited breakout season. The Niners were ready to give the keys to the car to rookie Colin Kaepernick before the season if Smith didn't at least play decent. BUT, of course, winning cures all. Alex Smith wasn't as spectacular as the likes of Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers but he did have a quiet, under the radar good season. He threw 17 TDs and only 5 INTs. I'd say that's pretty good. The Niners defence should get a lot of credit for their success but Alex Smith's improvement should take notice.

The sparse amount of rookie QB's shocked a lot of people. Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Christian Ponder, Jake Locker, and even TJ Yates all had good rookie campaigns in their own right.

Everyone knew Cam was going to be a star but no one expected it to come as early as it did! He broke Peyton Manning's rookie record for most passing yards in their NFL debut. He also rejuvenated Steve Smith. Even though the W's didn't show up this season, expect big things from Cam for a long time.

Andy Dalton was the only rookie QB to lead his team to the playoffs! He and fellow rookie AJ Green anchored that team to a storybook season. They traded their long time faces of the franchise in Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer for many draft picks which lead a lot of people to believe they were a few years away from contention. WRONG.  Those two aren't missed much back in Cincy anymore because their two young guys are ready to make an impact in the playoffs and for years to come.

Christian Ponder of the Vikings took over mid-season over veteran Donovan McNabb who was later,sadly, cut from the team. He had a decent rookie campaign and although they didn't win many games, they're primed for a big season next year as star RB Adrian Peterson isn't getting any younger.

For the limited amount of games that Jake Locker has played in, he has put up some good numbers! Locker threw for 4 TDs and 0 INTs en route to an 0-4 record as a starter! Yeah, I know, the wins aren't there but he definitely has the tools to become a successful QB in this league. 

AND, TJ Yates.... He came in as the 3rd string QB after both Schaub and Leinart got injured. After that, many expected the Texans to have another heartbreaking season. But no.. Yates did as much as he could to get this team to the postseason! Yeah, his numbers weren't great but it was good enough for the team to make a good run at their first playoff berth in their history!

• Marshawn Lynch's surprising year bodes well for the future of that Seahawks team. They finally got themselves a RB to work with since Shaun Alexander. 
• Drew Brees breaking the record was an amazing accomplishment. It'll take a long time for that to be broken again. 
• I didn't know the Colts were that bad without Peyton....Now, we all can see how much Manning is valued by this team. Will they really draft Andrew Luck or stay with Peyton? That'll be interesting. 
• Another "OK" season for Romo. We all know he's capable of being an elite QB but we also all know that he's capable of choking in the most crucial moments. Think Lebron James here. Sadly, I think this might be the end of his era as a Cowboy even though he has been so good....on paper. 
• Tampa Bay Bucs being 4-12...That's a surprise. After their glorious season last year, they were primed for a breakout this year. They started out 4-2 but they couldn't do much after that. A bad defense added in with the relapsed development of their young offensive stars cooked up a 10 game losing streak to end the year which ultimately led to the firing of Head Coach, Raheem Morris. BAD MOVE. I believe that this guy will be a successful coach moving forward. 

 This ended up being the playoff seeding for the NFL

AFC - NFC

New England Patriots(13-3) - Green Bay Packers(15-1)

Baltimore Ravens(12-4) - San Francisco 49ers(13-3)

Houston Texans(10-6) - New Orleans Saints(13-3)

 Denver Broncos(8-8) - New York Giants(9-7)

Pittsburgh Steelers(12-4) - Atlanta Falcons(10-6)

Cincinnati Bengals(9-7) - Detroit Lions(10-6)

So, the Pats, Ravens, Packers and 49ers all have byes this week. That means we got some interesting matchups.

• Houston vs Cincinnati - The Texans beat the Bengals earlier on the season. Both have young talent but the Texans do have a more experienced club. Arian Foster is arguably one of the best running backs and Ben Tate is probably the best 2nd stringer in the league who would be starting if he was on any other team. Andre Johnson, although injury plagued, is still one of the most lethal wide receivers in the game. Their defense has been good this year and former Jonathan Joseph is leading the charge. The Bengals do have younger legs and their D has done well. BUT, I'll take the Houston Texans in this ball game. They're at home and they have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time! Arian Foster will have a nice day against them. It'll be a close matchup though.
• Denver vs Pittsburgh - This matchup is an interesting one. They haven't faced each other season. I think this will be an all-defense time of game. The Steelers will probably be without Rashard Mendenhall which be a huge blow for them. Isaac Redman has to fill in big for them. Big Ben and his receivers have been playing well thus far and I think that'll continue this week. As for the Broncos....If Tebow doesn't play well from the get-go, it'll be over before they know it. They need Tebow to start playing well from the 1st quarter because his 4th quarter miracles have been erased for a while now. Expect the Steelers to win this game and don't expect anyone in Denver "Tebowing" after. The Steelers are more experienced and have a better team overall.
• New Orleans vs Detroit - This is going to be a fun one to watch. This game will be one for the ages. Two teams that are known for their great offenses will clash. Drew Brees and the Saints are rolling right now! The Lions have been derailed a bit but we all know what they can do. Stafford to Megatron is something we hear every week and it'll be no different. BUT, the story we'll be hearing the most this week is Brees to any reciever. Darren Sproles is my X-Factor in this game and I expect the Saints to take this one in a high scoring affair.
• New York Giants vs Atlanta - The Giants took a long, scary route to make it. They had to win to get in and luckily, they made it! Unfortunately, they'll have a tough matchup against the Falcons. Burner Turner should come up big for them this week but I expect Roddy White and Julio Jones to steal the show. The Giants do have home-field and more depth. Hakeem Nicks should be able to garner some big catches but the running game is the big key for the Giants. If Bradshaw and Jacobs give Atlanta some problems, Eli can have an easy day at the helm. This is a tough one, but I'll take the Giants in this game.

All these matchups are great and I expect all the best from all these teams! The season has been fun and exciting but its time for the real stuff! Move aside, the big boys are playing! 

I'm Pretty Good at Fantasy Football

Sadly, the NFL season is nearing the end so that means that fantasy football it down to the wire as well. In this post, I just want to talk about my keeper league fantasy team and how I've rebuilt it into a championship contender. Last year was my first year joining a competitive fantasy football keeper league. Every year, each team would select 5 players from their squad and keep them for the next year. The champion of course, would be awarded an extra keeper! Rookies that are selected in the rookie draft would have 3 years of free keeper status. For example, if you guys chose a guy like AJ Green in a rookie draft this year, he'd be a free keeper for the next 3 fantasy seasons unless he's dropped anytime before that! After that, he'd be like every other player and count towards your original 5. That would mean Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Calvin Johnson, and all the other superstars will probably end up being kept. That means they will not be thrown into our Free Agent draft. Rookies are really crucial in leagues like this because it gives you a potential fantasy star keeper for upcoming years. The team I took over ended up stacking up QBs and finished last in the previous year. Fortunately, he did end up leaving me Ben Roethlisberger and drafted Josh Freeman. AND Luckily, I was able to get the 1st overall pick in the Rookie and Free Agent draft. The manager I took over decided to tank it all for some reason and left me with little to work with!
These guys were the keepers I ended up keeping:

• Ben Roethlisberger (PIT-QB)
• Matt Leinart(ARI-QB)
• Vince Young (TEN-QB)
• Matt Cassell (KC-QB)
• Donald Driver (GB-WR)

and my rookie that I was able to keep was Josh Freeman!

Not a good team right? I hated it too at first but those were the cards that were dealt to me. I quickly took this team and did a massive rebuilding process. In the rookie draft, it was a no-brainer to select RB, Ryan Mathews. His lightning speed and elusiveness was like a young LT. He was already rated a top 10 RB by many scouts before the season even started. After that, I made a couple of trades that gave me a little leeway. I traded Matt Cassell for Ryan Grant and a 2nd round rookie pick that ended up being Brandon LaFell. Then, I traded away Matt Leinart,5th round FA pick for Mike Sims-Walker and a 3rd round FA pick. MSW was coming off of a breakout year and I thought that he would've built on that. I was definitely wrong. A few more trades and free agent draft picks netted me some good players like Chad Ochocinco, Cedric Benson and Ahmad Bradshaw. My team was looking good on paper before the season started. Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Freeman, Vince Young, Bradshaw, Mathews, Benson Ocho, LaFell, Driver, Mike Sims Walker were my key guys that I thought would give me a solid team. I WAS SO WRONG. I started off on a bad note and lost my first few weeks. BUT, it was a blessing in disguise! I ended up having 1st waiver priorities and picked up Michael Vick. He turned out to be a fantasy phenomenon! Along the way, as my team kept losing, I just started to stack up on players with value. I picked up people like LaGarette Blount, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Earl Bennett. I also did a lot of major trades to give me a good team for next year:

• I traded Vince Young for Mohammed Massaquoi who still had rookie keeper rights. It was a great trade because VY ended up getting benched a few weeks later and Massaquoi still had potential for a breakout year.
• I also traded Ryan Fitzpatrick and Donald Driver for Sidney Rice and a future 3rd round pick.
• I also traded Big Ben and a future 3rd round pick to a team that was in contention for a title! He gave me a hefty price of Tony Romo and a 1st round pick. Remember, Romo was out for the season with a collarbone injury. He was in desperate need for a QB

AND then.... Sadly... my team finished with a miserable 4-9 record.

AND NOW.

 THIS YEAR!!!!!

My 5 keepers coming into this season were:

• Michael Vick (PHI-QB)
• Tony Romo (DAL-QB)
• Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG-RB)
• LeGarrette Blount (TB-RB)
• Sidney Rice (SEA-WR)

WITH my rookies : 3rd Year(Josh Freeman, Mohammed Massaquoi). 2nd Year(Ryan Mathews, Brandon Lafell)

Honestly, this team was looking good. And with the extra free agent picks, I was in line for a great season! I got back to work and traded Blount, 3rd round FA pick for Vincent Jackson! With that trade, I added an elite WR to my team. I had the second worst record in the league so I was awarded the 2nd overall pick in the rookie and free agent drafts.  In the rookie draft, I drafted AJ Green 2nd overall. I couldn't pass on a talented guy like him. I know I left people like Cam Newton and Julio Jones but AJ Green is someone I couldn't let go. In the second round, I found a gem. Can anyone guess who this was???? It was DEMARCO MURRAY! Yes, the Dallas phenom! I didn't expect him to blow up either but he was probably the steal of this draft.

Take a look!
                   Round 1

1. King Brodeur (via Deckie) - Daniel Thomas
2. Jabatchi - AJ Green
3. Alphabits - Mark Ingram
4. Falcons - Ryan Williams
5. Axsalinger - Julio Jones
6. Raiders - Cam Newton
7. Habspatrol - Roy Helu
8. Elicit - Jake Locker
9. Axsalinger (via Evil Empire) - Blaine Gabbert
10. Deckie (via King Brodeur) - Andy Dalton
11. Broncos - Jonathan Baldwin
12. EE (via Axsalinger via Cheetos) - Mikel LeShoure

Round 2

1. Elicit (via Deckie) - Greg Little
2. Jabatchi - DeMarco Murray
3. Falcons - Christian Ponder
4. Alphabits - Colin Kaepernick
5. Axsalinger - Titus Young
6. Cheetos (via Raiders) - Leonard Hankerson
7. Habspatrol - Denarius Moore
8. Habspatrol - (via King Brodeur via Elicit) - Kendall Hunter
9. Deckie (via King Brodeur (via Evil Empire) - Delone Carter
10. EE (Deckie via King Brodeur) - Alex Henery
11. Broncos - Torrey Smith
12. Cheetos - Lance Kendricks 

In the FA Draft, I ended up selecting Brandon Lloyd, Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, and others.

My team looked solid!!!

This is what it looked like before the season started:

QB:
Tony Romo (DAL)
Michael Vick (PHI)
Josh Freeman (TB)*
RB:
Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG)
Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Ryan Mathews (SD)**
DeMarco Murray (DAL)***
WR:
Vincent Jackson (SD)
Brandon Lloyd (DEN)
Sidney Rice (SEA)
Bernard Berrian (MIN)
AJ Green (CIN) ***
Brandon LaFell (CAR) **
Mohammed Massoquoi (CLE)*
TE:
Jimmy Graham (NO)
K:
Stephen Gostkowski (NE)
DEF:
Green Bay
IDPS:
Tyvon Branch (OAK)
Trent Cole (PHI)
Derrick Johnson(KC)



And of course, Lloyd got traded to STL. I dropped Berrian, Massaquoi and they turned into Brad Smith and Thomas Jones. My IDP's changed too. I have Jason Babin, DQwell Jackson instead of Cole and Johnson. I also seemed to pick up Philadelphia's DEF after everyone gave up on them!

To many of the managers in the league, they looked at it as a team pushing for a playoff spot. They were soooo wrong! Even though Vick is having an awful year, he still manages to give me 20 points because of his legs. Despite all the hatred for Tony Romo, he's still one of the best QB's in the league. He's been doing really well but no one ever acknowledges that because of his 4th quarter meltdowns. Josh Freeman was a little disappointing but he was a good injury filler. Murray, Mathews, Lynch, and Bradshaw all have helped me! They all had breakout years! DeMarco Murray came out of no where and landed a 253 yard rushing performance one week against the Rams. After that, he took off! Sadly, his season ended last week with an ankle injury. Bradshaw was having an outstanding year before he got hurt but now he's getting back to form in time for my championship! As for Mathews, he's become one of the most complete backs in the game! AND, Marshawn Lynch has scored a touchdown in 9 straight games! He's definitely the hottest RB right now. And my WRs are amazing. AJ Green was a pleasant surprise. I didn't think he would do really well this year because of a young Bengal offense but that certainly turned some heads. VJ has been up and down but he's still an explosive guy. He could be giving off only 9 points in one game but have a 30 point explosion in the next! And the mid-season acquisition of Brandon Lloyd for the Rams really upped his fantasy value. He was going nowhere in Denver but the trade made him a viable option for weeks! He had pretty good weeks for me. But my MVP might have to be Jimmy Graham. He has played well every week! I swear he averages at least 20 points a week. If he's not scoring, he's getting 7,8 receptions with 100 yards receiving.  The man is a beast; a total superstar! He has to be the best tight end in the NFL right now. No one can stop him! Overall, my team ended up being the first seed in the league! We went on to finish with a record of 11-2 in the regular season! I also had an eight game winning streak to end the year! This is a great rebuild on my part and probably the best season of fantasy football i've ever managed!

And now, my team is in the finals. Unfortunately, the other team has a scary team. He has a Ray Rice and LeSean Mccoy RB duo goin' on. AHHHH, I'm so ready to win this league. I hope i'll be Tebowing by the end of next week! In just 2 years of managing this roster, I must say, i'm pretty good at fantasy football.

Week 1

As we all know, the football season has launched! Last night, the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints battled it out all the way til the dying seconds. Mark Ingram had a chance to score a touchdown to put the game into a deciding 2 point conversion but the Packers D showed up. I swear like five different players did a superman jump at Ingram! It was actually crazy! Speaking of superman jumps, did anyone see AJ Hawk attempting it?! It actually looked really cool. Too bad it was called for a pass interference. Here's a bad, but passable link for Aj Hawk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0_Jv63msfw

Ok, anyways, about week 1, there are a lot of great matchups to look forward to.
Atlanta@Chicago: I have a great feeling that Chicago has this game. I think it will be an all offense game with these two teams with nonstop scoring drives. I just have that gut feeling that Mike Martz' offense with newly acquired Roy Williams and a rising player in Knox will be able to pull through despite facing a powerful Falcon offense. This one is up in the air.
Cincinnati@Cleveland: Okay, this will be a good game as well but Cleveland is the better team, at least on paper. Cover boy Peyton Hillis will absolutely dominate this game. With an young QB at the helm in Cincy, I doubt the Bengal offense will score much. I do like the AJ Green, Joe Haden matchup. That will be a fun one to watch throughout the game. I'll take Cleveland in this game.
Buffalo@KansasCity: As much as I do consider Buffalo as my home team, I do know they are bad. Kansas City have a strong offensive punch with Jamal Charles leading the charge at RB. Newly acquired recievers Steve Breaston and Jon Baldwin should fit in to Haley's offense perfectly. KC's D is pretty good also. I got KC winning by 20+ points in this one. I hope i'm wrong though.
Philadelphia@St.Louis: DREAM TEAM! I've been an Eagles fan since the McNabb-Owens era and I'm not a bandwagon jumper! Michael Vick has bounced back to claim a seat with the elite QBs in the league; Desean Jackson is definitely one of the most explosive players in the league but contract issues have been lingering; and most of all, the D. Three proven corner backs in Asomugha, Samuel, and DRC. This team should be able to battle it out with the best of them. Sam Bradford, as good as he is, will not have his best game on Sunday. I really do like the Rams this year, but this week, they're on the Eagles dinner menu. Eagles will win this and go to the SUPER BOWL. Book it. I know its week 1 but I know it'll happen.
Detroit@TampaBay: Josh Freeman should be able to have a decent game against the Lions but who knows? The Lions D has improved drastically but I have that feeling that Freeman will be able to get passed them. Mike Williams should be able to get 8 or more receptions with a touchdown on Sunday. I do expect an entertaining game on both sides. Stafford and the CJ connection is amazing and will probably be one of the best this season BUT, it won't be enough this week. I got TB.
Tennessee@Jacksonville: Both teams are mediocre in my opinion but I'll give the edge to the Titans. Chris Johnson is a game changer and will always keep his team in ball games. David Garrard will have a great day throwing! Oh wait..he was cut...GO LUKE MCCOWN! He got this! I'm going to say he'll throw a touchdown on Sunday....but also two interceptions. We'll see. I got the Titans in a kinda exciting affair.
Pittsburgh@Baltimore: DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE! A low scoring affair is what I'm expecting but it will be a great game to watch, like always. Both teams are evenly matched but the edge on offense goes to the Steelers only because I'd rather have Big Ben than Flacco. BUT, I'll take Baltimore in this game only because of the home field advantage. A toss up though.
Indianapolis@Houston: Okay, I'm reaching far on this prediction but I think the Texans will finally win their division and also take a trip to the Super Bowl. I think they are a complete team all around with great additions to their defense and a growing chemistry in their offense. Andre Johnson is arguably the best WR in the league right now and Arian Foster only started to heat it up last year. The Colts don't have Peyton. They'll be competitive but won't win this game. Put your money on the Texans.
Carolina@Arizona: Kevin Kolb and Fitz versus Cam Newton and Steve Smith...I'd take Arizona. Despite losing a little fire power in their defense, I think the Cards made the right move to get Kolb. He has been throwing well and has developed a good chemistry with Larry. I see big things from them. As for Carolina, they are still a work in progress but they are heading in the right direction. Expect a ton of headaches in the Panther nation this year. I'll take the Cards in this matchup.
Minnesota@SanDiego: Its hard to say no to McNabb and AD but I just don't see them beating the Chargers on Sunday. Why? One, they don't have home field advantage and two, they are facing notably the most under appreciated QB in the league in Rivers. Rivers will throw lights out and I expect VJ to have a field day! It'll be close but SD will pull out the win.
Seattle@SanFrancisco: The Seahawks made a splash signing Sidney Rice this offseason but the Niners also got better. Braylon Edwards will surely be an upgrade at their WR position. The nod goes to the San Fran D which I think are one of the more better defenses in the league. I take San Fran in this one.
NewYorkGiants@Washington: New York is a consistent team and I think they will have a nice day defending Rex Grossman. I won't be surprised if the Redskins will lose this game by a landslide. Go Giants!
Dallas@NewYorkJets: I do like what the Cowboys have done this offseason and the development of Dez Bryant is great but the Jets are tough to beat especially on their home turf. I think Revis Island will take over. I got the Jets winning in a close one.
NewEngland@Miami: Tom Brady or Chad Henne? Eh......Ocho? Go Pats? Yeah, I'll take the Pats on this one.
Oakland@Denver: I got a big upset on this one! I'm taking the unproven, bad, inconsistent Raiders on this one! Why? I don't know...BUT I do believe that this team will be decent. Run DMC should be able to run around the Broncos on Sunday. Gut feelings really cost people money...

Hope everyone agrees but if not, comment with your own opinion!

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in you're Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Nnamdi Asomugha

Nnamdi Asomugha is the biggest free agent in the NFL this season and after long awaited days of speculation, he has finally found a new home. The Pro Bowl corner who has been the most sought out player since the end of the lockout made a very surprising decision. His whole career has been with the Oakland Raiders and he felt that its time to move on and seek a championship. Adam Schefter reported that he has signed a 5 year/60 million dollar contract with yes, wait for it.... THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES! I am a HUGE fan of  both the Philadelphia Eagles and of Nnamdi Asomugha's. This is such an exciting time for Eagles fans as they have picked up arguably one of, if not the best, cornerbacks in the whole entire league! This is a big shock to me as an Eagle fanatic only because they already have two proven cornerbacks in Asante Samuel and newly aquired Dominique Rodgers Cromartie. I really hope that these three can put on their cleats and play in the same dark green jersey together but sadly, its very unlikely. The Eagles will probably keep Asomugha and Cromartie which will lead to the exit of Asante Samuel. Its strange to see a guy like Asante Samuel, who is a proven pro bowl corner, being the odd man out on any team but this is a different scenario. The Eagles have a good problem on their hands and I do expect Samuel to be moved soon. Sadly. Maybe the Jets and the Cowboys could seek a guy like Samuel since they were the expected front runners in the Nnamdi sweepstakes and lost out. The Eagles definitely may have just pulled off the biggest move of the offseason so far and it doesn't appear that the Eagles are done just yet.  Just imagine these three playing on D together..... no team would dare pass the ball to those guys!  And oh yeah, what happens to the Oakland Raiders? They will suck for another consecutive season...Once again, they are in a pickle. They lose their best player to free agency and they have yet to make a big splash in the offseason. It is quite depressing in Oakland right now.


Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

NFL Transaction Frenzy

Isn't everyone finally relieved that the NFL lockout has ended? It took forever for the lockout to finally end. Now, all of us NFL fans can go to bed happy again. Ever since the lockout has ended, transactions have been flying through the roof! There were a lot of trades and free agent signings that were made today that included a lot of well known and big named players.Let's go more in depth of some of the major transactions that were made today.

What Happened: Chad Ochocinco(above) has been involved in a major transaction today that landed him in New England. He was sent to the Patriots for two future draft picks and then reportedly agreed to a three year contract. He has spent his whole career with the Bengals but has seemed to fallen out of their future plans. He, along with newly "retired" quarterback Carson Palmer both suffered their worst professional season last year.
In My Opinion: I think the Patriots made a great deal. They acquired a veteran receiver that can fill the gap that Randy Moss left when he was traded last year. It is a big risk to take in a personality that Ochocinco possesses but it is also a big reward because he is a very talented player. Coach Belichick will definitely have to work his magic again. He will have a bounce back year with Tom Brady throwing him passes every game. If the Patriots could win ball games with Wes Welker and Deion Branch as their top receivers, they will certainly do much better with Chad. And for the Bengals....at least they have upcoming rookie A.J Green to fill the void.
Fantasy Outlook: I'd say Chad Ochocinco and Tom Brady values rise for the Patriots while Deion Branch is a nobody again. The stock certainly rises for rookie A.J Green of the Bengals. Jerome Simpson's stock also rises a bit because he will get more touches. The only question there is: Who will be their quarterback?

 What Happened: Reggie Bush was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a few draft picks and safety Jonathon Amaya . He has also agreed to terms on a new contract worth 10 million for 2 years. After drafting running back Mark Ingram, it seemed to have closed the door to a Reggie Bush return.
In My Opinion: I believe that this trade is good for the Dolphins. They acquired a very athletic, young running back who still has yet to reach his fullest potential. I think he will have a career season this year much like how Michael Turner did when he signed with the Falcons a few years back. The Miami offense will be much improved now that they have a running back like Bush. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are a nice 1-2 punch but a new change might be the best bet for the Fins. And as for the Saints, they signed Darren Sproles to fill the role that Reggie had last year. So, I guess it works out in the end.
Fantasy Outlook: Reggie Bush's value will increase because he won't be sharing the load with Pierre Thomas. The Fins did draft a rookie running back in Daniel Thomas, but we'll see what will happen come preaseason. I see a big leap in value for Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and whomever their QB will be as well because Reggie will definitely take some of the pressure off. As for the Saints, Pierre Thomas' value is increased a bit. 

What Happened: Kevin Kolb was finally traded to the Arizona Cardinals after  numerous rumours dating back to when last season ended. He was sent to the Cards in exchange for young corner, Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie and a future second round pick. Kolb was set to become the franchise player when McNabb was traded last summer but an injury in the early minutes of the opening game opened up an opportunity for Michael Vick. As time passed on, Kolb's role as the future starting quarterback started to diminish as Vick flourished on the big stage.
In My Opinion: This trade benefits both teams. The Eagles get another corner that will compliment Asante Samuel perfectly. Those two together are arguably the best cornerback duos in the league. That future second round pick can turn into another quarterback just like Kevin Kolb, who was a former second round pick himself. But doesn't it suck to know that you were waiting a few years, being groomed into becoming the franchise quarterback and then an injury derails you from that path. But its whatever now, Kevin Kolb gets a fresh start in an Arizona Cardinal uniform. The best part for Kolb is that he can't really lose his job. Does anyone really think that Derek Anderson or Max Hall will take over? I don't think so. Having Larry Fitzgerald campaign to the organization to grab you isn't a bad thing either. It'll be a good relationship in Arizona. The only thing he lacks is experience. He hasn't shown enough in the NFL but all signs seem green when it comes to Kolb.
Fantasy Outlook: Kevin Kolb, Larry Fitzgerald, and all the Arizona Cardinal running backs will benefit from this trade. The stock of David Anderson and Max Hall go down to nothing but who really wanted to draft them anways? For the Eagles, Michael Vick's value will not be shattered because he is the clear cut starter.

In the Free Agent Frenzy, a couple of big names were tossed around.

• Pro Bowl Reciever Sidney Rice agreed to a 5 year/41 million deal. To me, Sidney Rice was the best receiver in this free agent class and the Seahawks won that race. He and Mike Williams could make for a big deadly nightmare for defensive coordinators every week but the only thing that the Seahawks lack is a good offensive line and a true starting quarterback. So overall, Sidney Rice might have just put himself in a hole. As talented as he is, he can't show it if no one is throwing him the ball. Charlie Whitehurst and Tarvaris Jackson battling for that quarterback spot is just as bad as David Anderson and Max Hall in Arizona. Uh oh.
• Jonathan Joseph will be wearing a Texan uniform this upcoming season. The young corner signed a 5 year/48.7 million contract. He will probably become their number one lockdown defender. Does this mean the end of the Asomugha pursuit? Only time will tell. And I really hope the Texans finally make the playoffs this year! It's hard seeing an exciting team lose every single year. They have enough talent to make it into the post-season but it seems as if they choke in the second half ALL the time. 

Other Notable Transactions:

• Donovan McNabb was traded to the Vikings for draft picks. I really like McNabb and I hope he straightens everything out in Minnesota. Hey, can you guys believe that the Vikings got younger by acquiring the 34 year old McNabb?! Hopefully they do better this year. Its a shame that a team quite talented as this can never make a big splash.
• Albert Haynesworth(above), the 100 million dollar man, has found his way out of Washington and into a winning organization. He was traded to the New England Patriots. After a few years of disappointment in red,yellow and white, he is trying to change his colours and finally be the player that everyone thought he was going to be. Haynesworth can finally be happy again and shine! Why does every team keep making the Patriots better? I don't know. It baffles me. 
• Matt Hasselbeck joined the Tennesee Titans. He will likely be given the starting gig to start the season but he was signed to give more of a mentoring role to rookie Jake Locker. I won't be surprised to see Locker starting a few weeks into the season because Hasselbeck's best days are behind him.

So, there it is, a big news report about some of the more major transactions the NFL has brought to us today. I can't wait to see how everything else unfolds and where more of the well known faces of the league end up. It's an exciting time of the year! Football has finally come back into our lives. We will say the same about the NBA in a few days....hopefully.....probably not. Ah crap,  I do NOT want to be stuck watching NBL teams go at it. It will be a horrible, horrible time of the year.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for Caring! :)