Talking NFL

Couldn’t have said it better myself…

Fantasy Football, Cheering, Don’t be a tool

Dallas Cowboys (2006 results:  9-7, lost in Wild Card Round):

Tons of talent, mediocre head coach.

(in other words, see San Diego Chargers preview, copy, paste)

The Prediction: 10-6, 1st place NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles (2006 results:  10-6, lost in Divisional Round):

IF Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and Jevon Kearse can stay injury free, this team has a shot to revisit the Super Bowl. If they don’t, they probably don’t make the playoffs.

I say nyet.

The Prediction: 8-8, 2nd place NFC East

Washington Redskins (2006 results:  5-11):

Hmmmm….Jason Campbell might be promising, they just brought in locker room cancer favorite Pete Kendell, and they locked up London Fletcher until he qualifies for social security. They might be sneaky good…

Plus they have such a lovable group in the front office!

Ugh. Nevermind.

The Prediction: 5-11, 4th place NFC East

New York Giants (2006 results:  8-8, lost in Wild Card Round):

Tiki Barber’s tossing bombs,
Eli Manning hates his job,
Coach Tom Coughlin, one year left to go.

Players dropping left and right,
Strahan gave up without a fight,
Have you seen their schedule? Man it really blows.

Is Jacobs a full-time back?
Do they have a cornerback?
Will Plaxico Buress ever learn how to score?

By the way, he’s made of glass,
Jeremy Shockey is an ass,
Alimony wars! I can’t take it anymore!

We didn’t start the fire; no we didn’t light it, but we’re real excited.
We didn’t start the fire; no we didn’t light it, but we hope the Giants burn on, and on, and on, and on, and on!

The Prediction: 6-10, 3rd place NFC East

NFL Preview, 2007, Regular Season, Predictions, NFC East, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, slapped together in 20 minutes, Billy Joel reference, gaaaaaaaaay

What do you think?  Should I start Part II of the Sleeper Picks with another picture of a hottie taking a nap?  Yeah, I thought so…

Thank, Veronica!

Defense - Green Bay Packers

CBSSportsline Ranking:  #13 DEF
Talking NFL Ranking:  #9 DEF

Lots to like here; plenty of good young players like A.J. Hawk and sack monster Aaron Kampman, a defense that gradually improved over the ‘06 campaign (from dead last at Week 7 to 12th in total yards allowed by the end of the season), all the starters are returning, and plenty of offensively challenged opponents like Minnesota, Chicago, Oakland, and the Giants (oh, yes - the Giants) on the schedule.  Definitely worth a late round pick.

…and as much as I like the Pack this year, there’s another defense I have ranked higher that’s currently not in the Top 10.  Sorry, I’m expecting VERY good things from them, and simply won’t give this one away.  In fact, by Round 13 of my fantasy league’s draft, I will probably be rocking back and forth the way Terry Francona does on the Red Sox bench when he puts Eric Gagne in the game, hoping this D doesn’t come off the board by surprise…

Wide Receiver - Roydell Williams (Titans)

CBSSportsline Ranking:  Not rated
Talking NFL Ranking:  #145 Overall

In the last few rounds of the draft, I love taking a chance on a few unknown wideouts in the hope that one of them has a breakout year.  Roydell Williams looks like a decent candidate.  The Titans are hurting at WR, since they’ve been decimated by free agency and injuries.  Brandon Jones was looking like their #1 guy by default, but Roydell got the start over him in the 3rd preseason game (also know as the “dress rehearsal” game), and had 4 catches for 68 yards.  He’s got deep threat speed, is going into that magical 3rd year as a wideout, and could be the new go-to guy for Vince Young.  Let’s just hope that Madden Curse doesn’t rear it’s ugly head…

(more…)

…no wonder he made a plea bargain.

Speaking of which, the NFL just suspended Vick indefinitely from the league. What’s less surprising; the suspension itself, or the fact that Commissar Goodell snuck this news story in at 6 p.m. EST on a Friday?

Come Monday, expect the Falcons to shread Vick’s $130 million dollar contract. Then (hopefully), we’ll be done with this entire sordid tale & can get ready for some REAL football!

Cartoon Source: Gary Vervel of IndyStar.com

Michael Vick, trial, dogfighting, Ren says, you eediot

Hello, ladies!  Gisele, before you call the police, let me just say that I did get the court order yesterday.  I don’t know what happened to the other 14 you sent, but the message has been received, loud and clear.  500 yards - no problemo. That’s why I bought a telescope.

Anyways, I believe some congrats are in order for Ms. Moynahan!  Glad to see you passed that sperm whale gave birth to a healthy baby Brady this week.  And a boy, no less!  Rumor has it Scott Pioli has all ready signed Touchdown Jesus Junior to a $140 million dollar contract that locks him up from 2028-2035.

As for you Gisele, well I was very upset to hear that you left Victoria’s Secret.  Then again, I certainly don’t blame you.  Imagine only getting paid $5 million a year to run around in your underwear - I mean really!

Well, enough chit-chat.  Ladies, you are receiving this memo on behalf of Patriots fans everywhere.  As you probably could care less about know, the football season is nearly upon us.  Which means it’s time for Tom Terrific to start making the donuts.

More importantly, it’s time for you crazy b!tches to leave him the f alone.

I’m not joking here; this is completely serious.  You’re both high profile, high income female celebrities.  Which means you’re also both high maintenance and highly freaking insane.  And we’re terrified that you’re starting to mess with our wonderboy QB’s head.

I don’t want to hear about any more crap like this happening again until February 5th, 2008.  You got me, you nutjobs?

Here, for your convenience, I’ve even put together a list of what is and is not acceptable correspondence/contact with #12 for the next 5 1/2 months:

Allowed:

- Supportive text messages regarding the upcoming game no longer than 20 characters (ex. “Good luck, Tomy!  UR #1!”)
- Phone conversations on Tuesday or Wednesday of 10 minutes or less between 9am - 5pm EST
- One date per month, but the conversation must include a comprehensive quiz about the team defense the Patriots are facing that Sunday.

NOT Allowed:

- Angry late night calls asking for an explanation why he “knocked up that no-talent b!tch”, or “choose DiCaprio’s sloppy 2nds over you.”
- Psycho emails/text messages/letters/smoke signals of any kind
- Sex (WOMEN WEAKEN LEGS, and we don’t want another mid-season rugrat drama unfolding)
- Any baby time (seriously, is Brady lactating?  No, so what the hell good is he to a newborn?  Keep that pooping machine away from him…)

Again, this is COMPLETELY SERIOUS.  The Patriots are poised for their 4th title in 7 years, and NFL immortality.  You 2 are the hideous sirens on the rocks wailing incessant cries of, “pay attention to ME!” until Brady heads right for you and inadvertently turns the HMS Patriot into the Titanic sequel.

Think I sound paranoid?  Look, New Englanders have been here before, man.  We know exactly what can happen when a promising young man gets seduced by a wildly overrated celebrity…

(more…)

Here’s my favorite part of any fantasy football draft - the sleeper picks!  Much like Sophie here, this is going to be awesome…

Shhhh…don’t wake up the hottie…

Before we begin, however, a quick rant:  there are WAY too many fantasy football sites out there that are abusing the term “sleeper” (I’m not linking them - you know who you are…).  Let’s get this straight:  a sleeper is NOT a player that you’ve heard of before that is primed for a comeback year.  That’s a COMEBACK player.  And a sleeper is not a household name that is undervalued:  that is a VALUE pick.  A sleeper is a dude that you’ve either never heard of before, or when you hear the name, you think it might be an old college buddy you used to party with (Frank Gore?  Yeah, big guy, right?  Farted all the time…smelled badly…).

I actually read one site that called Fred Taylor a sleeper pick.  Sorry, Fred Taylor is not a sleeper pick.  Nor is his groin.  Or his hamstring.  Or whatever part of his body it is that decides to explode this year.  Don’t even get me started about Fragile Fred in ‘01 - “questionable” for 14 straight @#$%* weeks, my ass.  I got the answer to your “questionable” right here, you gimpy son-of-a-

….

Ah, dammit.

….

I went off on a tangent again, didn’t I?

….

Uhhhhh…

….

Seriously, what the f#@k was I talking about?

….

RIGHT!  Sleepers!!

Running Back - Jerious Norwood (Falcons)

CBSSportsline Ranking:  #82 Overall
Talking NFL Ranking:  #68 Overall

Speaking of the difference between a sleeper and a value pick; I nearly called Norwood a value pick, but he’s ranked so low on the CBS board that he qualified as a high-end sleeper (again, leave it to CBS to absolutely baffle us.  They don’t even have Norwood in the Top 32 Running Backs?!  Scandalous!)

Look, it’s easy to write off the Falcons for dead right now.  Yet despite all the off-season turmoil, and the fact that Joey Harrington is their starting QB, they will put an offense on the field, and that offense will score touchdowns.

So who’s going to get in the endzone?  Not Vick (he is hoping NOT to score so much this year), and not Warrick Dunn for the first part of the season either; he’s still recovering from back surgery.  That leaves a huge opportunity for Norwood to expand on the gaudy 6.4 yard per carry average he boasted in ‘06.

Let’s keep the expectations tempered; the Falcons will struggle this year, and Norwood can’t replace all the run production they will lose with Vick.  But he’s young, a legitimate home-run hitter, and the city of Atlanta desperately needs a new football hero.  The role is there for Jerious Norwood’s taking.

(more…)

As a fan of New England sports teams, I’m paranoid by nature.  There’s always something to worry about, even when your team is the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl (in fact, just writing that last sentence gave me a seizure).

And while there are plenty of other teams (Chargers, Colts) and players (LT, and yes, Peyton Manning) that worry me, you always have to look at your own division first for the immediate concerns.  If you think your team can handle the other 3 teams, then and only then can you start worrying about the rest of the league.

Well, as I mentioned in my AFC East preview, the Bills and Fins don’t concern me.  And right now, the Jets are close, but what separates them from us right now (primarily) is the quarterback position.  Like I said (and I don’t think I’m going out on a limb here), Chad Pennington is no Tom Brady.

Enter Mr. Kellen Clemens, the guy who’s currently giving me nightmares.  What do we know about him?  He’s a 2nd year QB out of Oregon who currently backs-up one Chad Pennington.  He’s completed 22 of 31 passes for 230 yards, four TDs and one interception so far this preseason.  He has thrown one (count ‘em - ONE) meaningful pass in an NFL regular season game (FYI - it was an incompletion).

And I’m absolutely terrified that he could become the next Tom Brady (minus the dreamboat looks).

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Yesterday, Michael Vick agreed to plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges in connection to his role in an illegal dogfighting ring run from his property in Virginia.  

The maximum term for the charges Vick was convicted of is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  However, ESPN reports that that prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 12 to 18 months for the embattled quarterback.  Sentencing will be held next week, after Vick officially pleads guilty in court on Monday.

Of course, there have been numerous articles published on the sad Michael Vick saga.  I’ve provided links to some of the better entries:

- Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports describes just how far the fall has been for #7.

- The Mighty MJD from AOL Fanhouse feels that, despite the fact Vick may have to stay out of the NFL for at least a few years, he will eventually play in the league again.

- Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post wonders if the post-prison version of Vick will carry the same level of arrogance that got him in trouble in the first place.

Finally, once part of the ESPN article on Michael’s plea bargain is sure to catch everyone’s eye:

About a dozen bright red Vick jerseys have been donated — often accompanied by financial contributions — to the Atlanta Humane Society since he was indicted last month. The shelter uses them for dog blankets, and to clean up after the animals.

“Kind of appropriate,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States.

Michael Vick, Plead Guilty, NFL, dogfighting, gambling, Atlanta Falcons

The 4th Talking NFL Division Preview. Links to past previews:

AFC East
NFC North
AFC West

I love the changing of the guard…

Not THAT changing of the guard (nice hat - can that dude see anything?).  

The NFL changing of the guard, where a team that has dominated a division for years finally succumbs to the young upstart team that triumphantly displaces it, usually in an emotionally charged game near the end of the season.

Fittingly, this changing of the guard will take place in the NFC West this year, which has had it’s share of dramatic baton-passing seasons.  In 1981, the San Francisco 49ers overtook the then L.A. Rams en route to their first Super Bowl.  It was the beginning of the 49ers dynasty, and the end of the Rams run of 7 division titles in 8 years.  It would take nearly 20 years and a different home city, but the Rams took back the division in 1999, and went on to their first Super Bowl win.  The Rams would win 2 of the next 3 division crowns before falling to the Seahawks in 2004.  The Hawks have now won the NFC West 3 straight times.

Now we have come full circle, and the 49ers look positioned to retake the division.

(actually, it’s more like a full triangle with the Cardinals sitting off to the side watching jealously…work with me here…)

San Francisco 49ers (2006 results:  7-9):

Doesn’t it seem like there aren’t any solid long-term rebuilding plans for NFL franchises these days?  Not like they used to have in the good old days, at least.  The Steelers of the 70’s and the Cowboys of the 90’s were patient; they put the players & coaches they needed in place to succeed, let them grow together, and were rewarded with dynasties.  Nowadays (minus the Colts & Steelers), you don’t have those long term build-ups to championship teams.  You either win immediately (like the Patriots & Jets), or you have teams like the Browns and the Texans where the fans are saying, “do these guys have a CLUE, let alone a plan?!”

Enter the modern day Niners, poised to break-out in the 3rd year of their rebuilding plan.  After a disastrous ‘04 campaign, they blew up the works.  They drafted Alex Smith with the #1 pick, hired coach Mike Nolan, and waited out their time in salary-cap hell.  This off-season, they went bat-out-of-hell-shit crazy with their spending, shelling out nearly $40 million in guaranteed money on just 4 defensive players.  They added linebacking beast Patrick Willis through the draft, and traded their 4th round pick to Seattle for WR Darrell Jackson, thereby strengthening themselves while weakening a division rival.  

RB Frank Gore broke-out last year, and look for TE Vernon Davis to do the same this year.  Lastly, the bottom quarter of their schedule (home vs Minnesota, home vs Cincinnati, home vs Tampa Bay, away at Cleveland) screams stretch run to the playoffs.  By the way, keep an eye on OLB Tully-Banta Cain.  He was just starting to emerge with the Pats last year & has a great burst off the edge.  Double-digit sack numbers as a full time player isn’t out of the question.

…apparently, he’s like to play grab-ass as well, which means he’ll fit right in San Fran…(I kid, I kid!)

I love this team this year, perhaps unreasonably so.  All bets are off if Alex Smith doesn’t progress, but I’m betting that he does.  And considering it’s the NFC (New Freaking Champ every year), it’s looking more and more like the Patriots may not have gotten such a great deal on the 49ers 1st round draft pick next year…

The Prediction: 11-5, 1st place NFC West

St. Louis Rams (2006 results:  8-8):

I want to like these guys better than I do.  Really.  Bulger/Jackson/Holt is as solid an offensive trio you’ll see throughout the league, and they get pro-bowler OT Orlando Pace back after he missed the last 7 games last season with a torn triceps.  They finished strong last year as well, winning their last 3 games.

But that run defense, ranked 31st in the league last year, is still a problem.  Their off-season solution was to bring in decent DE James Hall from the Lions and draft DE Adam Carriker and move him to DT.  Not sure that will be enough help…

Also, did you know last season was the first one that 30-year old Marc Bulger played all 16 games?  The Rams better hope that their new $65 million dollar man stays healthy again this season.

Don’t get me wrong.  Overall, I still like these guys & think they’ll improve.  Just not as much as the 49ers.

The Prediction: 9-7, 2nd place NFC West

Arizona Cardinals (2006 results:  5-11):  Let me ask you a question; have you ever had a really great day, then had it blown to hell after listening to someone else bitch about their crappy day?  

Say (just for an example), you drove nearly 600 miles in one day, just for a half-hour business meeting.  And let’s say that I you nailed it - perhaps the most pivotal meeting of your career.  You get on the horn & tell your significant other the great news.  She (hypothetically) responds by telling you all about this d-bag bartender at the restaurant she works at who gave her such a hard time it brought her to tears.  So now you’re (assumedly) all worked up & want to be the crap out of this guy.  To which she replies, “oh, I’m over it now, but I just wanted to share.  I’ve got to go out with the girls now.  Buh bye!”  So now she’s off having fun, while you’re great mood is destroyed, and you’re looking to run the next guy off of I-15 that so much as looks at you funny.  Hypothetically, wouldn’t that piss you the f#$k off?

Well let me tell you, it would definitely get me pissed (supposedly).  Next time, I’d just tell her right off the bat, “look, was your honor impugned enough so that I need to physically go after this guy?”  If the answer is yes, fine; give me a couple months to get my ass back into shape and I’m all over it.  If the answer is no, then do me a favor and don’t tell me about it, OK?  It will only upset me, along with all these nice ladies here in the champagne room.  Thanks, sweetie.  Buh bye!

(and, no, this has nothing to do with the Cardinals.  I’ve all ready said they’re going 8-8.  But thanks for reading, I just needed to vent.)

The Prediction: 8-8, 3rd place NFC West

Seattle Seahawks (2006 results:  9-7, lost in NFC Divisional Round):

Veteran football teams are like aging porn stars; when they go downhill, it happens quickly and it’s horrifying to watch.  Take Jenna Jameson, for example.  Just a couple of years ago, she was hot as balls.  Now…

Yeeuggh.  What the hell happened?

Anyways, I think this visually mimics the upcoming train wreck that will be the 2007 Seahawks.  Why would I say that, when may experts have them winning the division a 4th year in a row?  Consider:

- They went 1-3 against the 49ers and Cardinals last year, and both those teams look better this year.

- Five starters on offense will be in their 30’s.

- One of those starters, Shaun Alexander, is facing questions and scrutiny like this after a sub-par, injury plagued, Madden cursed ‘06.  If he’s not 100%, Plan B is career back-up Maurice Morris, who has 1 TD in 5 seasons.  Sweet.

- Another starter, QB Matt Hasselbeck?  Overrated.  (His wife?  IMMENSELY OVERRATED.)

- Say what you want about departed WR Darrell Jackson, but he did score 10 TD’s for the Hawks last year & that production will need to come from somewhere else.  D.J. Hackett came on late in the season, but neither he, Deion Branch or Bobby Engram are #1 calibur wideouts.

- Say what you want about departed TE Jerramy Stevens (OK, there’s ALOT to be said about him), but it’s hard to call 35-year old Marcus Pollard a big improvement…

- Still suffering from the loss of Guard Steve Hutchinson, the Seahawks courted prize free agent Kris Dielman.  After a rather soggy Seattle visit, Kris said this to his agent:

“I told him, ‘Get me out of here, man. Get me home, back to sunny San Diego.’ “

Suffice to say, Dielman re-signed with the Chargers.

- Their weakest position, defensive line, is counting on two players (free agent DE Patrick Kerney and DT Marcus Tubbs) that are coming back from surgery on recent injuries (Kerney a torn pectoral, Tubbs a knee microfracture).

I think the rest of the division is primed to move up while the Seahawks slide just enough so that everyone else passes them.  Keep in mind, we’re only talking about a 3 game swing here.  But when it happens, it happens quick and it ain’t pretty to watch.  Much like Jenna’s next movie…y-yikes.

The Prediction: 6-10, 4th place NFC West

NFL Preview, 2007, Regular Season, Predictions, NFC West, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, aging porn stars

Presenting a YouTube NFL Cheerleader Video tribute. New division preview coming tomorrow. Enjoy.

(Hat tip to YouTube users GoJaguars, celebspotter, and maximvideooline)

NFL, Cheerleaders, YouTube

Michael Schmidt of the N.Y. Times writes today that Michael Vick’s NFL career is in serious jeopardy…but not just because of the dogfighting allegations.

A new set of indictments being prepared by federal prosecutors will focus on the gambling monies that Vick reportedly collected from the dogfighting ring.  If he is found guilty, Vick would be subject to the league’s gambling policy, which (as Schmidt reports) includes the penalty “a suspension from the NFL for life.�?

The fact that two of Michael’s co-defendants look to have accepted plea deals will bring more evidence of gambling activities on Vick’s behalf, as Schmidt reports:

Tony Taylor, one of Vick’s co-defendants, said in a statement of facts that he signed when he entered a guilty plea July 30 that the “gambling monies�? used by the suspected dogfighting ring run from Vick’s property “were almost exclusively funded by Vick.�?

All this, without even talking about the fact that Vick is now almost certain to face jail time, as ESPN reports.

There has been heated debate throughout the internet regarding the Vick case.  Passionate cries on both sides of the issue; ranging from the horror of the cruelty to animals that’s been reported, to allegations of racism regarding Vick’s prosecution.

Regardless of your stance, one question has to keep being asked:  why would a man who holds a $130 million contract and multiple endorsement deals with the most popular sports league in America risk everything on something like an illegal dogfighting ring?

If you have any idea, let me know, because I’m stumped.

Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons, indictment, NFL, gambling, plea, co-defendants

Know that as you read this posting today, I am either in the midst of a business meeting in Sin City, or waging an internal battle on whether or not to lay down a bet on who will win Super Bowl XLII.

Now, as I stated in my original post, I am not a fan of betting on football games. However, since I’ll be in the belly of the beast & pigskin fever is riding high, a $10 throwaway bet might be in order.

If this is something that interests you, here’s an up-to-date listing of the Super Bowl odds, care of Bodog.com:

Arizona Cardinals 45/1
Atlanta Falcons 60/1
Baltimore Ravens 18/1
Buffalo Bills 100/1
Carolina Panthers 25/1
Chicago Bears 14/1
Cincinnati Bengals 15/1
Cleveland Browns 125/1
Dallas Cowboys 20/1
Denver Broncos 20/1
Detroit Lions 70/1
Green Bay Packers 40/1
Houston Texans 100/1
Indianapolis Colts 7/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30/1
Kansas City Chiefs 55/1
Miami Dolphins 55/1
Minnesota Vikings 50/1
New England Patriots 8/5
New Orleans Saints 14/1
New York Giants 30/1
New York Jets 38/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
Philadelphia Eagles 20/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 25/1
San Diego Chargers 6/1
San Francisco 49ers 18/1
Seattle Seahawks 20/1
St.Louis Rams 38/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 50/1
Tennessee Titans 55/1
Washington Redskins 40/1

Some quick observations on these odds:

- The Pats are listed at 8/5?! Meaning you’re winning back less than 65% of your original bet? Hey, they’re my team & they look good, but they don’t look THAT good…there must have all ready been some serious action on these guys; probably dated April 29th.

- I know someone who’s putting money down on the Texans at 100/1. Before you fall off your chair laughing, this same guy won a grand on the Rams in 1999 at the same odds…

- Look at the Lions moving up to 70/1 odds! Get on that bandwagon now, kids!

Any other thoughts on these odds?

NFL, Super Bowl XLII odds, football futures betting, Bodog, don’t bet your mortgage on the Browns

Here’s Part 2 on the Fantasy Value picks for 2007.  (click here for Part 1)

Defense - Dallas Cowboys

CBSSportsline Ranking:  #10 DEF
Talking NFL Ranking:  #7 DEF

Say what you want about new Head Coach Wade “dough-boy” Phillips (and there’s plenty there for another column…), but he’s had proven success in the past as a defensive coordinator, specifically with the 3-4 alignment. That should only improve the numbers of stud OLB DeMarcus Ware, who has 19.5 sacks in 2 seasons with the ‘Boys. Hopefully, he’ll also get more out of underachieving DE’s Marcus Spears and Chris Canty.

Free agent safety Ken Hamlin adds some stability to the secondary, and keep in mind that the Cowboys get the offensively challenged teams of the NFC North this year. Lastly, opposing quarterbacks should be sufficiently distracted by the presence of Carrie Underwood on the sidelines to throw a few extra INT’s…

(except for Brady, who’s probably had her all ready…)

(more…)

“Coach ran after ANOTHER ice cream van?!”

Denver Broncos (2006 results:  9-7):

I’ve all ready talked at length about what I like about these guys, so let’s keep this one short. You know they’ll be able to run the ball well, Jay Cutler is the real deal, and their first two draft picks (Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder) should help their biggest area of weakness, the D-line, right away. Yes, the #2 receiver spot is a big question mark, and losing Al Wilson will definitely hurt. But they have more than enough talent on the rest of the team (offensive line, secondary, special teams) to make up for that.

Most importantly, Mike Shanahan has a career coaching record of 131-81, and is now the 2nd longest tenured coach in the NFL (behind Jeff Fisher). When in doubt about a football team, check out their head coach. That’s like, really, really, really important in the NFL.

The Prediction: 11-5, 1st place AFC West

Which is a convienent segway to the…

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Apparently Heinz is running a contest for people in YouTube land to make their next ketchup commercial. Some of the entries are quite good, some of them are terrible, and some of them…well, are just plain disturbing.

(Heinz Field, home of the Steelers - there’s your suspect football tie-in…)

Anyways, I happen to know a few people that were involved in this little creation, and I give it the official Talking NFL approved vote of confidence. Meaning that it’s the for schizzle, my nizzle (…is that right?).

I could see certain fans doing this after watching that ad several times (and drinking 12-14 beers)…

YouTube, Heinz, contest, tomato!, oh yeah!