I figured this would be something to keep me posting, so I will start trying to remember to make weekly picks on here and whoever wanted to chime in could feel free to do so.
NFL Week 2 - Sunday, September 18
1:00PM Games
Lions OVER Cheifs - Cheifs lose to the Bills last week? Really?
Bills OVER Raiders - Bills look good.....almost too good.....
Bucs OVER Vikings - UPSET SPECIAL - Giving it to that Bucs D to take down McNabb
Bears OVER Saints - UPSET SPECIAL - Bears will successfully exploit that Saints D that we saw against the Packers
Ravens OVER Titans - The Ravens D may be getting old but they still know how to play
Browns OVER Colts - If the Browns can't even beat the Bengals at least maybe the Manning-less Colts
Jets OVER Jags - MJD won't be able to save them this week.
Steelers OVER Seahawks - Seattle is just horrible.
Redskins OVER Cardinals - That defense is looking scary good after Week 1.
Packers OVER Panthers - Newton's stellar Week 1 will be short-lived
4:00PM Games
49ers OVER Cowboys - UPSET SPECIAL - sorry Romo...and the D is not looking too thrilling
Texans OVER Dolphins - This may be the Texans year with a down Colts team they just need to take advantage
Patriots OVER Chargers - The Patriots always seem to have the Chargers number
Broncos OVER Bengals - Broncos must bounce back after Week 1 loss
Sunday Night Game
Eagles OVER Falcons - Vick will shine in first visit back to Atlanta
Monday Night Game
Giants OVER Rams - Eli needs to start proving himself....NOW
Hope everyone enjoys Week 2 and good luck to everyone (except the Steelers and Cowboys)....haha
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
NFL 2011-2012 Season Predictions
It's that time of year again, the NFL lockout is over and the new NFL is set to begin on time and in full force. A lot of media and fans alike are worried that teams have not had enough time to prepare in training camps and workouts in order to be fully ready for the season ahead and the level of play may be lower during the first few weeks of the regular season. Well, this year there may have been an actual legit meaning to the pre-season. It gave teams 4 extra weeks until the regular season starts to prepare and get ready for the regular season. All that being said, this means it is also time for my season predictions broken down by division. I will also set out my playoff predictions and super bowl picks as well. It's an exciting time of year and I hope everyone is ready for some football!
(*) 2010 Standings Position
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (2)
2. Detroit Lions (3)
3. Chicago Bears (1)
4. Minnesota Vikings (4)
The NFC is becoming more and more challenging to predict every year. With the North I see a surging Lions team coming up fast and making a play to be a major competitor this year. Of course the defending champs will dominate the division once again and the Vikings will have another disappointing year. I can't decide what the Bears will actually end up doing this year so I gave the underdog Lions the benefit of the doubt this year. We'll see what happens.
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons (1)
2. Tampa Bay Bucs (3)
3. New Orleans Saints (2)
4. Carolina Panthers (4)
Once again, another tough NFC division to predict. I still love the Falcons and I think with another year under his belt, Matt Ryan and the Falcons may be ready for a deep playoff run this year. Now you may be asking, the Saints in 3rd? Yes, you saw right. Watch out for those Bucs this year because you may be in for a huge surprise. I think the Saints will have a surprisingly down year but still be competitive obviously. Sorry Panther fans...you guys are no where near close to being a competitor in this division.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles (1)
2. New York Giants (2)
3. Washington Redskins (4)
4. Dallas Cowboys (3)
Still one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, the East this year is sadly the Eagles to lose. I'm not buying into the "Super Team" hype or whatever it is ESPN and it's affiliates conjured up after the major free agent signings the Eagles completed during the off-season, but I am buying into the fact that they will be a hella good team this year and maybe even Super Bowl bound. It really pains me to say all that but I am trying to be un-biased here. I still like the Giants to take 2nd place although I don't know if they are playoff bound this year. Skins still need one more year under Shanny to compete and the Cowboys are just a fatal mess all around and I do not expect big things out of them this year.
NFC West
1. St. Louis Rams (2)
2. Phoenix Cardinals (4)
3. San Francisco 49ers (3)
4. Seattle Seahawks (1)
I don't even know why I waste my time with predicting the NFC West. Just take it for what it is.
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (1)
2. Baltimore Ravens (2)
3. Cleveland Browns (3)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (4)
Most of my AFC picks stayed the same from the way they ended up last year. Just don't see many regime changes in the AFC this year as most of the teams are still pretty much the same. Starting with the North, the Steelers are still a powerhouse when it comes to many aspects. Although I do think the Ravens may put up more of a fight this year for that top spot, the Steelers are just a tough team to beat and always have been. The Brownies are looking up this year and may even have a winning record? While the Bengals continue on the downward spiral they have been on for the past decade.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (1)
2. Houston Texans (3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (2)
4. Tennessee Titans (4)
Not much changing in the South this year either. Whether Peyton is healthy or not it cannot be denied that the Colts still have a good team. There will come a day when Peyton is forced to retire and then the Colts will be forced to try and win without him. Either way, rooting for the Texans to have a much needed good year. Jags and Titans are still mediocre in my mind even with running backs like CJ and MJD.
AFC East
1. New England Patriots (1)
2. New York Jets (2)
3. Miami Dolphins (3)
4. Buffalo Bills (4)
I feel bad for the Jets because until Tom Brady and/or Bill Belechik retires the Pats are going to won the East for a long time to come. I would love to see nothing more than the Jets to de-throne the seemingly "flawless" Pats from the top spot of the AFC so we'll see what this year brings. Don't even bother talking about the Dolphins and Bills.
AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers (2)
2. Kansas City Cheifs (1)
3. Denver Broncos (4)
4. Oakland Raiders (3)
Last but not least, the AFC West. Always a very tough division to predict as well but I can't believe that the Chargers will disappoint again this year. Broncos will have plenty to prove this year and the Cheifs will continue their upward trend that started last season. We'll see how it goes.
Division Winners
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Falcons
NFC East: Eagles
NFC West: Rams
Wildcards: Giants; Bucs
AFC North: Steelers
AFC South: Colts
AFC East: Patriots
AFC West: Chargers
Wildcards: Ravens; Jets
Wildcard Round
5 Giants OVER 4 Rams
3 Falcons OVER 6 Bucs
6 Jets OVER 3 Colts
5 Ravens OVER 4 Chargers
Divisional Round
1 Eagles OVER 5 Giants
3 Falcons OVER 2 Packers
1 Steelers OVER 6 Jets
5 Ravens OVER 2 Patriots
Conference Round
1 Eagles OVER 3 Falcons
5 Ravens OVER 1 Steelers
Super Bowl
1 Eagles OVER 5 Ravens
So there you have it. My pre-season predictions. I know the Eagles pick to win the Super Bowl is pretty cliche considering all the hype around them this year but I'm sick of picking the teams I want to see go to the Super Bowl and the teams that I think will actually make it. Believe me those are two very different things. Nevertheless, let me know what you guys think!
-R.N.N.
@ryannnelson87 on Twitter
rnelson0187@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Future of Plaxico Burress...Is There One?
Plaxico Burress is out of prison and has been since June 6th. It has been almost two and a half years since the night Burress shot himself in the foot in a New York City nightclub. It has been less then that since Burress was sentenced to jail in September of 2009. Huge criticisms and comments were thrown at Burress by former teammates, colleagues, friends, and media outlets alike. Even if many thought he was a "thug" before this event he was now being thrown into that category with all the current and former NFL players who committed such crimes.
Some say he didn't commit a crime. As a high-profile NFL superstar he was obviously carrying the weapon for protection, especially if he was trying to enjoy the New York City nightlife. I think they have bodyguards for that and I'm sure Plaxico had the money to afford one. As far as I know he did not employ one. Many NFL superstars hire bodyguards to watch over them when they go out in public. Maybe not all the time, but especially when going to clubs or bars where alcohol and intoxicated people are involved.
The crime that Plaxico committed was carrying a firearm unlawfully. Also simply known as not having a license to carried a concealed weapon issued and approved by the state of New York. To commit a crime like this is just ignorant and very easily avoidable if you are aware of the law. All but 2 states have laws in place regarding the carrying of firearms in public. There are 2 states (Wisconsin and Illinois) and Washington, D.C. that have a "no-issue" law in place where there is no time a person can carry a firearm in public. So unless Burress were to play for the Packers, Bears, or the Redskins it is most likely he will be on a team where he would have to have a license to carry a firearm in public. Seems simple to understand right?
Nevertheless, Plaxico has served his time and is ready to get back in the league and contribute on the field for whatever team is ready and willing. With the Michael Vick situation and countless other cases as NFL precedent, it would seem that the Plaxico situation is far less severe in degree and should be much more easily forgivable than Vick's crimes that happened quite some time ago now. However, Plax isn't getting any younger. At the ripe age of 34, his most productive years are probably slowly trailing behind him. However, if the rumors are true and he stuck to his pretty strict routine while in the slammer then it would seem he would come out still being pretty fit and at playing ability. I will never be the one to deny that Plax has always been a threat on the field. His height, speed, and ability to make plays has torched defenses even when he started off with Pittsburgh. Now the questions becomes, what's next for Plax?
With the NFL Lockout ending this past weekend and the free agency period being in full force this week it would seem that the logical thing for Plaxico to do would be to try and talk to the Giants and work something out. This seems to be what is unfolding and a meeting has been set up between Burress and head coach Tom Coughlin and other staff this Friday.
If Plaxico does return to the Giants I do believe he will be welcomed back as a leader and veteran on the field and would definitley be a valuable asset to all the young studs on the current Giants receiving core especially Hakeem Nicks. The only problems I would foresee is would Burress expect to be the #1 even though receivers like Nicks and Manningham have grown ten fold during his absence? Will he still be the opinionated and brutally honest receiver that he was 2 years ago or will his time in prison have humbled him to some degree?
These questions will be answered in time if he does indeed return to the Giants. If not, I'm sure there are many teams out there who would love to have a talented and experience veteran receiver like Plaxico in the arsenal. As a Giants fan, I would honestly love to see him back in a Giants uniform and adding yet another formidable target for Eli Manning. We'll see how this week progresses and the meeting on Friday.
-R.N.N.
@ryannnelson87
rnelson0187@gmail.com
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Super Bowl XLV - Thoughts and Predicitons
It's Super Bowl week. Except this year the hype that usually surrounds the big game seems a little bit less than previous years. I don't know if that's just me but I feel like Super Bowl week has always been just as big as game-day itself and this year it just doesn't seem that way to me. OK, let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. I will be rooting for the Packers and for a couple of reasons. One and most importantly, I just despise the Steelers and pretty much always have. It's pretty plain and simple. You can say what you will about my opinion but I'm sticking to it. That's really the main reason I am rooting for the Pack on Sunday. However, I have turned into a Aaron Rodgers fan and am definitley rooting for him to overcome the shadow of Brett Farve in Green Bay and getting a Super Bowl Ring this year would definitely help that progress. I think a lot of fans in Green Bay are well on their way to getting over Farve but I'm sure there still some sting leftover that still lingers in a lot of fans' hearts. As a Giants fan, however, I probably logically should be rooting for the Steelers since the Pack pretty much kicked the Giants out of the playoffs this year but that's another story. However, the Packers are playing a lot like the 2007-2008 Giants...winning every game on the road to get to the Super Bowl and facing the juggernaut team that everyone thinks is gonna run all over them. So in that regard I want to see the Packers win and prove everyone wrong just like my G-men did in 2007-2008.
But before I go on to make my actual prediction on the game this little section is for you Steelers "fans". Listen, I respect all of you "born and raised" fans who actually have some legit ties to rooting for the Steelers. My beef is not with you guys. My respect ends for those "bandwagoners" who jump on every single year come playoff time and start spilling their guts out with posts about Steelers and whatnot. Through whatever source of media they choose to express themselves (i.e. Facebook) they just repeat what other fans say in order to pose as real fans of the team but ask them one thing about the team that only a true fan would know and they stutter their way to the crazy house. I apologize to all the real fans out there but these bandwagoners cause me to like the Steelers less and less every year. Now you might say, well aren't you becoming a bandwagon fan of the Packers then? And my response to that is absolutely not. Honestly, I could care less who wins the Super Bowl when my team isn't in the big game. Therefore, still being the fan of football that I am I have the choice of rooting for whoever I want. The keyword to pay attention to there is "ROOTING". I'm not becoming a fan of the Packers at all, if anything I am jealous that they are there and not my G-men. After the Super Bowl is over with I could are less about the Packers and the city of Green Bay. There is a HUGE distinction between rooting for a team and being a fan of a team. I think some of these Steelers "fans" need to grasp of that concept before they start running their mouths at me.
All that being said my prediction for the game is simple. Pack win. It will be a close game but I honestly think people are underestimating that Pack defense and it's ability to make plays. Aaron Rodgers is unstoppable right now (so is Big Ben). However, I am getting that same feeling I did with my G-men in 2008 and I think this game is gonna be a lot more interesting than people may be thinking. These two teams are very evenly matched when it comes to a lot of aspects of the game. The key for me is if the Pack can get a running game going against the number two ranked Defense in the league. If the Pack can do that then the sky is the limit for them to tear open the Steelers weaknesses on D (yes they have a weakness if you can exploit it).
Originally at the beginning of the season I had predicted the Packers would make the Super Bowl and what do you know they actually made it. That being said, I gotta stick with my original pick. Final Score 35-30 Packers.
Hope everyone enjoys the game!
-R.N.N.
@ryannnelson87
rnelson0187@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Stop Hating on Hokies Football
First and foremost, all you haters of the Virginia Tech Hokies just get over yourselves and move on. We get it. For some reason you just despise the Hokies and that's fine. You have the right to dislike any team you want. But what gets me is all the b.s. that comes out of these haters mouths when it comes to how the Hokies play and what they have accomplished as a football program. That's where it needs to end in my opinion. Yeah, you can root against them whenever they play. You can say you don't like the team, the coach, or even the whole program at Tech. All of that is fine by me but don't knock all that they have accomplished as a program whether you think they are "over-rated" or not. Let's take a look shall we?
With a career record of 229–115–4 following the 2009 season, head coach Frank Beamer is tied with Jim Tressel for the second-winningest active head coach in Division I-FBS, ranking behind only Joe Pa. His 24 straight season as the Hokies coach is the 2nd longest tenure at a school only behind the great Joe Pa. Let's not forget the numerous times he has won Big East and ACC Coach of the Year awards during his time at Tech. That's some pretty good company to be in when it comes to college football coaches.
The Hokies currently have the second-longest bowl game streak in the country, having participated in the postseason every year since 1993. Only
Pretty good stats and pretty good company to be in when it comes to college football if you ask me. Over the years I would agree with a lot of haters that the Hokies may have come into the college football season ranked a little high. However, that does not mean as a program they are over-rated just because they have come into a couple season highly ranked in the polls. Even at the end of those seasons Tech usually goes to a respectable Bowl game and still finishes the season in the Top 25 in the nation which is always well deserved in my opinion regardless of their pre-season ranking.
Even as teams have began to "figure out" Bud Foster's prominent Defense and begin to understand and gameplan for the famous "Beamer Ball" scheme, Tech still manages to produce good teams year in and year out. Especially this year when it seemed all the haters came out full force because of their pre-season top 10 ranking. They still bulldozed the ACC competition for another ACC championship and BCS bowl berth. I mean you can't ask for much more than that out of a team year in and year out. Yes, the JMU loss brought a lot of haters waiting in line to bash Tech even more. But really? Get a life, those types of games happen every year and unfortunately it happened to the Hokies this year. However, after the JMU loss, Tech reeled off ten straight wins and became the first team to go undefeated in ACC play since Florida State in 2000. It finished its regular season with a 10-2 record and now holds the longest streak of ten-win seasons in the NCAA with seven.
To sum this up for all you college football fans out there, don't hate on Tech. Or if you still dislike them at least when it comes to football give them some respect where respect is due (even if it's a little). They have come a long way as a football program especially since Frank Beamer became the head coach. Since pretty much all of my dad's side of the family went to Tech for school I have personally always been a fan of Hokie football and always will be as far as I can tell. Go Hokies!
-R.N.N.
@ryannnelson87
rnelson0187@gmail.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
King James Returns Home To Cleveland Tonight
First off, I have one statement to make about this topic: WHO CARES? I mean, obviously Cleveland fans all over the nation care and think it's a big deal but honestly, grow up people. I know James humiliated you on national TV and not only a fan-base but an entire City, I get it. But c'mon, you knew he was gonna leave sooner or later if the team couldn't help him out and put together a championship worthy team. Now, maybe the way he went about leaving the team and the circumstances that surrounded his arrival in Miami could have been done a little better, it doesn't mean he didn't have the right to leave Cleveland in the first place. But let's not kid ourselves here, Lebron James put the entire Cavaliers franchise let alone an entire City on his back and tried to resurrect a franchise back to whatever "success" (if you even want to call it that) it may have had in the 1990s. He deserves a lot of gratitude from the fans and City of Cleveland. If it wasn't for King James sports in Cleveland might have become a dead topic. The Browns are still horrible and the Indians are falling off as well. King James resurrected, at least to some degree, a town that used to have some decent sports teams.
He fulfilled his contract for crying out loud. This happens in sports all the time. A player fulfills his contract with a team and then he has the right to explore other options or stay right where he is at. I may not agree with a player leaving one of my favorite teams for another team but I get over it and move on to the next game/season, etc. Part of the reason for all the hard feelings is because the d-bags at ESPN had to make his decision to leave (which was probably made long before the media event) the biggest story since the fall of the Berlin Wall (or some equivalent world event.) That didn't help the situation at all. I must admit, James is probably one of the biggest media whores I have seen in a while so of course he welcomed the attention and the spotlight for an entire hour during prime-time TV. That is the part of this whole fiasco that I don't agree with, the way he went about doing everything.
All that being said, I have this to say to any fans going to the actual game tonight or watching at home on TV: BOO all you want. You have every right to at this point. The way you were just thrown out the back door by Lebron like nothing happened is wrong. You deserved to at least be let down a lot more easier than what he gave you. Keep it civil and keep it classy as possible. That would be just what Lebron would want to have unruly fans cause a huge disaster and embarrass the City of Cleveland and the Cavaliers franchise even more. The fact that King James isn't doing to hot in Miami this year so far is a relief that all Cleveland fans need to celebrate and realize that it may turn out to be his loss after it's all said and done. Until that time when Cleveland fans can turn it back around on Lebron, stay cool and just move on from it already!
-R.N.N.
rnelson0187@gmail.com
@ryannnelson87 on Twitter
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Michael Vick Story: A Legacy Re-born?
If you were to walk up to a random person on the street and ask if they knew who Michael Vick was, I can guarantee the answer 9 out of 10 times will be simple: "He's the dog killer, right?" Unfortunately, Mr. Vick has dug himself into a massive hole and maybe this year he is slowly beginning to make the climb up and out of that hole. Maybe. A lot of people will never let him live down, and maybe rightly so, the fact that among other convictions, he financially supported and housed the dog fighting ring known as "Bad Newz Kennels" based out of Surry County, Virginia. Countless Pit Bulls not only lost their lives due to the behavior of Vick and his associates but many of the dogs were found so beat up that their lives will never be the same. Thankfully, some of the canines have been "re-trained" and have been lucky enough to find new homes that will care for them in the way they were meant to be cared for. However, others were not so lucky and had to be put down because they were just so mentally and physically destroyed by the effects of Vick's dog fighting operation. Over the past year and a half this story is what many people have come to know about Michael Vick, not football.
Not his glory days at Virginia Tech and taking the school to a BCS National Championship game as a Sophomore and breaking school record after school record in a multitude of categories as a QB. Placing third in the Heisman voting as a Freshman. Not being drafted number one overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001 and then two years later taking them into a cold and snowy Lambeau Field and beating the Packers in the playoffs and ending the Packers undefeated playoff record at home. His three Pro-bowl selections which his first selection came in his second year in the league. His electrifying playing style, his upbeat personality, and his great athleticism. Whether you agree or not how good of a quarterback Vick started out as during his first seasons with the Falcons, he was still a play-maker and most of all a game-changer. He brought back the scrambling days of Randall Cunningham and others but in a much bigger way. Even with all the criticism and bashing he still managed to play the game the way he wanted to and still managed to stay on top of his playing style the whole way through.
Then somewhere along the way, he lost focus. The 2007 year brought a lot of hardships to Michael and everyone knows about the dog-fighting convictions and his ultimate guilty plea and being sentenced to jail for 23 months. But it didn't end there for Vick. When he was released from prison in mid-2009 he was met with extreme financial issues and more lawsuits from creditors and others that Vick owed money to. It looked like it was never going to end for Vick but after his reinstatement into the NFL and with help from former Colts coach Tony Dungy and many others, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Vick in the 2009 off-season to a one-year deal. This signing, in my eyes started the road of redemption for Vick. He just has to make sure now he can stay on that road and continue improving and putting the past behind him and learning from his mistakes.
Since his release from prison he has been making great strides toward showing the pet lovers and animal community that he is trying to educate everyone more on the nature of dog-fighting and it's heinous results in the live altering effects it has on the animals subjected to it. He has been going across the nation and presenting his message to the people that are willing to listen. Even with occasional media criticism or protester, Michael is still working towards a solution to his problems so that life can get back to "normal" for him.
Being from Newport News myself, going to the same high school that Vick did, and growing up a VA Tech fan, naturally I have always been a fan of Vick and everything he has accomplished as a person and a football player. When I heard the news about the dog-fighting charges I was, needless to say, utterly shocked and upset with Vick. How could he be so blind. Throwing away everything that he worked so hard to accomplish in life and now it could all be destroyed because he listened to some old friends and associated himself with a bad crowd that he should have known were "bad newz." It was sad to see such a promising life get halted in an instant and everything just blew up in his face. Yet, everything Vick has worked for as a professional and a person still hangs in the balance has he tries to "redeem" himself through a new and improved game on the football field.
Personally, it will take me a very long time to forgive Vick for his off the field antics. What he did to those defenseless dog is just beyond wrong at this point. I had heard of dog-fighting cases before but not as horrific as the Vick case and that is really disturbing. As much as I want the infamous cliche "every one makes mistakes" to apply to Vick here but I think his situation cannot be rectified on that statement alone. However, as a football fan he is well on his way in redeeming himself on the field after falling off there before his incarceration. He is an amazing football player and now is one of the top QBs in the league in my opinion. As long as he is not playing the Giants I will always want to see Michael do well on the field.
So has his legacy been re-born this season. I think so. Most are calling it a "renaissance season" for Vick and I would have to agree with that assessment. It's good to have him back on the field where he belongs and see him starting to do well again. Now let's see if he can keep it that way and help his legacy continue to mature again into the Michael Vick we all knew he could become.
-R.N.N
rnelson0187@gmail.com
@ryannnelson87 on Twitter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)