Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 320 of 1503)

      2010 NFL Week 2 Picks & Predictions

      September 19, 2010 /
      Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver (80) celebrates a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles with teammates Aaron Rodgers (12) and Greg Jennings during the third quarter of NFL football action in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Here are my top 4 plays to fade in Week 2 of the NFL:

      Ravens at. Bengals +2.5, 1:00PM ET
      Odds makers claim that they don’t lay traps for bettors. Well then, what do you call this game, you undeniable witchdoctors? Am I really not going to take the Ravens minus less than a field goal against a Bengals team that the Patriots shellacked in Week 1? Pssh. Well, I’m not. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer took the blame for the Bengals’ defensive effort last week, which he should have. He couldn’t have telegraphed where he was sending pressure any more than he did against Tom Brady, who picked Cincy’s defense apart. This week, however, he’s going to come better prepared and now it’s up to the Bengals’ players to execute. I say they rise to challenge. The Bengals beat the Ravens twice last season and have something to prove after last week. They win this game outright.
      THE PICK: BENGALS +2.5

      Bills at Packers –13, 1:00PM ET
      I try to not make it a habit of taking teams who lay double-digit points in the NFL, but I can’t help myself here. The Packers are that good and the Bills are that bad. The loss of Ryan Grant (out for the season) certainly hurts, but some people are acting like the Packers just lost Walter Payton. Brandon Jackson is a serviceable starter and besides, the passing game is still the focal point of the offense in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers was shaky last week, but he shouldn’t face as much pressure on Sunday as he did last Sunday in Philadelphia. That means big plays to Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jermichael Finley in the passing game. Green Bay rolls in this one.
      THE PICK: PACKERS –13

      Texans vs. Redskins +3, 4:15PM ET
      Here’s another example of why odds makers are full of crap. The Texans are coming off a huge win in which Arian Foster rushed for over 230 yards and are now only laying 2.5 points to a Redskins team that still has plenty of doubters. Why not take Houston here and lay the measly 2.5 points? Because the NFL is a fickle bitch when it wants to be – that’s why. The Texans are coming off an emotional win over the Colts and now have to travel to D.C. to play a very beatable Redskins team. And while Washington did beat Dallas by holding the ‘Boys to just one touchdown, they’re still lacking believers. For at least one week, I believe.
      THE PICK: REDSKINS +3

      Rams at. Raiders –3.5, 4:05PM ET
      I don’t like this matchup one bit for the Rams. They have a rookie quarterback making his first road start of his career in a hostile environment and a less-than 100% Steven Jackson. Plus, I don’t think the Raiders’ defense is as bad as it showed last week in Tennessee and the Rams don’t have enough pass-rushers to make Jason Campbell uneasy in the pocket. Not having Michael Bush hurts Oakland, but the Raider defense should force a turnover or two to put the offense in good position to score a couple of times. Taking the Raiders when they’re favored makes my stomach hurt, but I feel pretty good about this one.
      THE PICK: RAIDERS –3.5

      External Sports, NFL

      Texas’ defense shuts down Tech in second half to preserve victory

      September 19, 2010 /
      LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 18: Running back Eric Stephens of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is tackled by Jackson Jeffcoat of the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

      The Texas-Texas Tech matchup was being billed as the best game in Week 3, but it certainly didn’t live up to the hype.

      That’s because the Longhorns’ defense held Tech to 144 total yards and forced three turnovers in a 24-14 victory.

      The Tech offense never really got going and even when it started to show signs of life, somebody would turn the ball over. A Jarvis Phillips 87-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first quarter was huge because Texas was driving for another score already up 14-0. But even when Tech tied the game 14-14 on a Lyle Leong 15-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Potts early in the second, the Raiders still couldn’t drum up much offense against UT.

      The decisive blow for Tech came in the fourth quarter when Garrett Gilbert orchestrated a 23-play, 80-yard drive that took 9:25 off the clock and resulted in a Barrett Matthews 1-yard touchdown catch. Even with over nine minutes left on the clock, you got the feeling that the Raiders were finished.

      Tech rushed for minus-16 yards on the night, which was their worst total since October 24 (also against Texas). Ouch.

      College Football, External Sports

      Oh, right – Mark Ingram is pretty good, isn’t he?

      September 18, 2010 /
      Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram (22) sprints past Duke Blue Devils linebacker Adam Banks (39) and defensive end Justin Foxx (92) during the first half of their NCAA football game in Durham, North Carolina September 18, 2010. REUTERS/Jim R. Bounds (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Welcome back, Mark Ingram. Thanks to Trent Richardson and the 19 other All-Pro backs that your football program has, you weren’t necessarily missed over the last two weeks but it was certainly nice to see you running around again.

      And run you did.

      In a 62-13 lambasting of Duke on Saturday, Ingram went berserk in his first game since having knee surgery three weeks ago, as he rushed for 151 yards on just nine carries. He also scored twice and on his first handoff (which came on the first play of the game) he broke off a 48-yard run.

      Of course, when a team scores 62 points it usually has more than one hero, which the Tide did. Quarterback Greg McElroy threw for 258 yards on 14-of-20 passing for three touchdowns and one interception, while the aforementioned Richardson chipped in 61 rushing yards on seven carries and one score. He also broke free on a long ride himself, as his went for 45 yards.

      Fun fact: With Duke’s loss today, ACC schools are now 0-7 against reigning BCS national champions. So, yah, ACC teams.

      College Football, External Sports

      Joe Namath isn’t a big fan of Braylon Edwards’ work

      September 18, 2010 /
      Former New York Jets Hall of Game quarterback Joe Namath shares a laugh prior to the New York Jets vs. Houston Texans football game at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas on September 13, 2009. UPI/Aaron M. Sprecher Photo via Newscom

      Based on recent comments he made on 1050 ESPN radio in New York, it sounds like if former Jets legend Joe Namath were starting a football team tomorrow, he’d rather have a steel pipe sticking up out of the ground at receiver than Braylon Edwards.

      From Rant Sports:

      Then Namath ripped into Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards. “I don’t feel that we have the deep threat, the speed out there at this point, that defensive backs really respect. I really believe that Edwards is a fine receiver…But meantime, I don’t think they’re worried about him running by any defensive backs.” Ouch.

      He then went on to say that he didn’t have very good hands. “I’d like to see him catch the ball more consistently”. Well, what is Edwards response going to be for that? He did lead the league in dropped passes in 2008 with 16. So basically Namath is saying that Edwards doesn’t really have elite speed and he can’t consistently catch the ball. Other than that, he’s a fine receiver.

      That low rumble you hear in the distance is every fan in Cleveland laughing his or her ass off.

      Joe Willie also said during the interview that he felt as though “Hard Knocks” was a distraction to the Jets and maybe he’s right. Or maybe they just need a quarterback who doesn’t think the checkdown is an actual offensive play? Yeah? No? All right…

      That said, I love how this team loses to the Ravens on Monday Night Football and now all of a sudden people are trying not to fracture their femur while jumping off the bandwagon. I consider myself an objective fan, but I almost hope the Jets beat the Patriots this weekend so I can watch everyone break their necks trying to get back on the bandwagon.

      External Sports, NFL

      Bucs partly to blame for Aqib Talib’s latest mistake

      September 17, 2010 /
      ATLANTA - DECEMBER 14: Cornerback Aqib Talib #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watches play against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 14, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

      If Buccaneers’ cornerback Aqib Talib faces further punishment for attending Tampa Bay’s game against the Browns last Sunday, then the team needs to hold itself partly accountable.

      Talib was suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy and apparently, the suspension prohibited him from participating in any team activities, which included attending Sunday’s game.

      So imagine the NFL’s surprise when it found out that Talib watched the game not from the comforts of his own home, but from his personal suite at Raymond James Stadium. He now faces more punishment, although it’s unclear at this point what that’ll be.

      Granted, Talib probably should have known that he couldn’t be at the stadium while he was suspended. But the Bucs are well aware that this kid isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, so I’m wondering why someone with the team didn’t tell him to quietly sneak out the back door when they saw him sitting there watching the game. There surely had to have been someone affiliated with the team that saw Talib and said, “Hey, what a minute…”

      Again, Talib doesn’t escape criticism for what can only be described as another dumb decision among multiple dumb decisions that he’s made since arriving to the NFL. But this one is on the Bucs.

      External Sports, NFL

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