As NFL training camp approaches, the oddsmakers, pundits and prognosticators are, as usual, hard at work establishing the betting favorites for the upcoming season. And despite the ongoing difficulties with the labor situation and the lockout by the owners, the 2011 season is no different.
But this year, unlike in the recent past, the experts are largely in agreement as to whom the team to beat in 2011 will be: The Guys In The Seahawk Uniforms.
“Definitely the best team out there,” said one Las Vegas oddsmaker, who requested anonymity. “Absolutely the class of the league, depending on what players they get.”
As is usually the case, the championship will likely be determined at the game’s most important position, giving the Seahawks Guys a clear advantage.
“I mean, you know they’ll be strong at quarterback, because they’ll probably sign Jeff Garcia or somebody,” said the oddsmaker. “And that offensive line. I can only imagine how good they’re going to be.”
But that sentiment is not necessarily unanimous.
“You can never count out the guys in Titans uniforms,” said a rival oddsmaker. “They’ll be strong up front on both sides of the ball. Don’t forget, they have a lot of overweight gym teachers in that part of the country.”
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Cutler's Injury Doesn't Hurt Other Players At All
When Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler stood on the sidelines for most of the second half in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against Green Bay, he must have known there was a storm brewing.
The Bears' starting quarterback left the game early in the second half with a knee injury and didn't return. The Bears went on to lose, 21-14.
Many NFL players tweeted and texted during and after the contest, questioning Cutler's toughness and desire for coming out of a game of such magnitude. Although his Bear teammates were quick to jump to his defense, other current and former NFL players were in near-unanimous agreement: Cutler's injury, a possibly torn MCL, didn't hurt them at all.
"There's no way I would let an injury to Jay Cutler keep me out of a championship game like that," said a relaxed Maurice Jones-Drew, lounging by the poolside in Miami. "I would tough it out and play no matter how badly he was hurt."
"Of course I would play," said linebacker Derrick Brooks , grittily working his way through another round of golf. "As long as the injury happened to him, I would absolutely refuse to come off the field."
"I'm not questioning his toughness, just his manhood," said Deion Sanders, who hasn't played in years and never tackled anybody when he did. "I could've played that game running backwards. Just like I played every game."
Cutler, who gave way to backups Todd Collins and Caleb Hanie in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Packers, was said to be distraught over the treatment from his fellow professionals, and coach Lovie Smith indicated that the decision was made by the medical staff to pull the fifth-year starter. It was claimed that the knee, which Cutler could not remember injuring on any specific play, was having stability issues and prevented the quarterback from planting and throwing. Still, other players were having none of it.
"I don't care how much pain he's in," chimed in Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes, grimacing from a deep tissue massage. "They would have to drag me off the field. We all play hurt this time of year. I mean when we're playing, that is."
The Bears' starting quarterback left the game early in the second half with a knee injury and didn't return. The Bears went on to lose, 21-14.
Many NFL players tweeted and texted during and after the contest, questioning Cutler's toughness and desire for coming out of a game of such magnitude. Although his Bear teammates were quick to jump to his defense, other current and former NFL players were in near-unanimous agreement: Cutler's injury, a possibly torn MCL, didn't hurt them at all.
"There's no way I would let an injury to Jay Cutler keep me out of a championship game like that," said a relaxed Maurice Jones-Drew, lounging by the poolside in Miami. "I would tough it out and play no matter how badly he was hurt."
"Of course I would play," said linebacker Derrick Brooks , grittily working his way through another round of golf. "As long as the injury happened to him, I would absolutely refuse to come off the field."
"I'm not questioning his toughness, just his manhood," said Deion Sanders, who hasn't played in years and never tackled anybody when he did. "I could've played that game running backwards. Just like I played every game."
Cutler, who gave way to backups Todd Collins and Caleb Hanie in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Packers, was said to be distraught over the treatment from his fellow professionals, and coach Lovie Smith indicated that the decision was made by the medical staff to pull the fifth-year starter. It was claimed that the knee, which Cutler could not remember injuring on any specific play, was having stability issues and prevented the quarterback from planting and throwing. Still, other players were having none of it.
"I don't care how much pain he's in," chimed in Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes, grimacing from a deep tissue massage. "They would have to drag me off the field. We all play hurt this time of year. I mean when we're playing, that is."
Cutler is expected to have surgery on his knee, which is fine.
Monday, November 29, 2010
TCU Announces Move To NFC West
FT. WORTH--Apparently tired of being left out of the national championship picture and seeking better access to more lucrative postseason games, TCU has announced it will flee the troubled Mountain West Conference and begin play in the NFC West in 2012.
The board of trustees voted unanimously to accept the invitation to join the NFL, making it the fourth league for the Horned Frogs since the old Southwest Conference broke up in 1995. The team played in the WAC from 1996-2000 and C-USA from 2001-2004 before mistakenly joining the YMCA in 2005.
The move is seen as good for all the parties involved, with the obvious exception of the MWC and new member Boise State, whom no one really cares about.
"This obviously adds a lot of credibillity to the division," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who extended the invitation to the Horned Frogs last spring. "It not only adds strength to what has become an embarrassingly weak group of teams, it gives the league a team in Texas that doesn't routinely underachieve. And it's good for TCU, since they can expect to be competitive immediately."
The St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks currently sit atop the NFC West with 5-6 records; although neither is ranked in anyone's top 25, the division's AQ status means the winner qualifies for the NFL playoffs no matter what.
"The situation in college football is very fluid," said Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson, referring to the departures of Utah, BYU and TCU from his conference in the near future. "And by fluid, I mean an unforgiving ocean sucking the MWC down to a watery grave. Arrrr. Davy Jones' locker, and all that."
The board of trustees voted unanimously to accept the invitation to join the NFL, making it the fourth league for the Horned Frogs since the old Southwest Conference broke up in 1995. The team played in the WAC from 1996-2000 and C-USA from 2001-2004 before mistakenly joining the YMCA in 2005.
The move is seen as good for all the parties involved, with the obvious exception of the MWC and new member Boise State, whom no one really cares about.
"This obviously adds a lot of credibillity to the division," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who extended the invitation to the Horned Frogs last spring. "It not only adds strength to what has become an embarrassingly weak group of teams, it gives the league a team in Texas that doesn't routinely underachieve. And it's good for TCU, since they can expect to be competitive immediately."
The St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks currently sit atop the NFC West with 5-6 records; although neither is ranked in anyone's top 25, the division's AQ status means the winner qualifies for the NFL playoffs no matter what.
"The situation in college football is very fluid," said Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson, referring to the departures of Utah, BYU and TCU from his conference in the near future. "And by fluid, I mean an unforgiving ocean sucking the MWC down to a watery grave. Arrrr. Davy Jones' locker, and all that."
"Glub. Glub, I tell you."
TCU Athletic Director Chris Del Conte downplayed the MWC's struggles retaining teams and lack of access to higher-paying bowl games; the reason for the move was simple. "We're not playing on that damn blue field. No freaking way."
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Celtics End Heat's Unbeaten Season
The Boston Celtics ended Miami's quest for the NBA's first unbeaten season tonight with an 88-80 victory, snapping the Heat's winning streak at 0 in a showdown of two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron James led all scorers with 31, while teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 21 points, shooting a whopping 7-for-27 from the field. Ray Allen paced the Celtics with 20 and Shaquille O'Neal had nine in his Boston debut.
The Heat, with the celebrated trio of superstars having joined forces in a clear violation of the Rules of the Playground, were on pace to join the NFL's Dolphins as the second team from South Beach to finish with an unblemished record. But the Celtics, with balanced scoring on their home court, took a 15-point lead into the locker room at halftime and made it stand up on this night.
Miami is now on pace to snap the record for losses in a season, set by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973 when they finished with a record of 9-73.
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LeBron James led all scorers with 31, while teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 21 points, shooting a whopping 7-for-27 from the field. Ray Allen paced the Celtics with 20 and Shaquille O'Neal had nine in his Boston debut.
The Heat, with the celebrated trio of superstars having joined forces in a clear violation of the Rules of the Playground, were on pace to join the NFL's Dolphins as the second team from South Beach to finish with an unblemished record. But the Celtics, with balanced scoring on their home court, took a 15-point lead into the locker room at halftime and made it stand up on this night.
Miami is now on pace to snap the record for losses in a season, set by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973 when they finished with a record of 9-73.
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
NFL Seeks To Increase Understanding Of Concussions By Causing More
NEW YORK--The National Football League, responding to increasing concern over the damage caused by playing professional football, has announced a new program aimed at increasing understanding of the effects of repeated concussions.
"We want to get out in front of this issue and take a leadership role," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at a press conference yesterday. "With this in mind, and knowing that much more data is needed regarding concussions than we currently have, we want to increase the schedule from 16 to 18 games. The increased amount of information available will spur our understanding and help us find a solution that much sooner."
The proposal to lengthen the season will be part of the discussion regarding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Player's Aassociation, and will need to be approved by that organization before it can take effect.
"The players must realize that they have to be part of the solution," said Goodell. "We need as many of their brains as possible for autopsies, as soon as we can get them."
"We sincerely hope this will not become a divisive issue in our talks with them."
The proposal, if implemented, is expected to add hundreds of collisions per season for each player as well as necessitating expanded rosters, increasing the supply of brains to study.
"We have to get ahead of this problem," Goodell went on to say. "Without information, we're just butting our heads against the wall. We can't just wait for worse problems to smack us in the face. We need to put our heads together now and come up with a program that has real impact. "
"It's time to put on our thinking helmets and use them as weapons in this fight."
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