http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d81b80962/Player-safety
So I suppose I should say something about the new fines and suspensions that the NFL has begun implementing this weak on helmet-to-helmets hits and "devastating tackles" as they put it. Fine. Look, I understand the league's intent in these new rules. They want to prevent as much vicious hits as possible. But the fact of the matter is that this is football, and in football you occasionally see some dangerous hits that may or may not cause injury that could be considered serious or possibly, in the case of players like, in the case of Kevin Everett back in 2007 or Eric LeGrand just a week ago, life threatening. Imposing fines and possible suspensions will not change that part of life no matter how thousands of dollars you fine them. If the commissioner and board members of the NFL really want to help protect their players, shouldn't they do something more helpful like making the players where those new concussion protective helmets, or reduce the amount of games instead of doing the hypocritical thing that the league is trying to do and impose an 18 game season?
Now, the main reasons why the NFL suddenly began this new policy of imposing fines and suspensions were due to the four biggest hits to happen during the bloodbath that was week 6: Dunta Robinson's hit on DeSean Jackson, Brandon Merriweather's hit on Todd Heap and James Harrison's two hits on Joshua Cribbs and Mohammed Massaquoi. All three of those three defenders were fined between $50,000 and $75,000 as a showing by the league that they were serious in the new rules they implemented. Let's review them all shall we? Now, there's no question that the hit by Merriweather was illegal, pointless and should have called for a suspension. But the other three hits by Robinson and Harrison respectively? Completely legal, it was just done in a way that caused injury.
Those hits by Robinson and Harrison also addresses to me another problem in these new rules by the league. It seems that these new rules and fines were implemented simply to punish defenders for making the hits that would have once been glorified by the league. The fines don't seem to address fault on people like the quarterbacks to didn't throw the football properly for Jackson and company to avoid those hits. Besides, had Harrison and Robinson hadn't made those hits, then he would have been faced negative reviews from coaches and fellow defenders for making such hits.
Finally, what really is considered a hit worth a fine or a suspension? Let's say DeSean Jackson would have gotten out of that hit by Robinson perfectly fine and without any injuries. Would Robinson still have gotten fine by the league? Also, if you watch the new safety video that the NFL released concerning this new rules (you can find it by just clicking onto the link on the top). On one part of the video, they mention how hitting a defenseless player is considered frowned upon by the league, and yet when they showed a hit by Ray Lewis that they considered okay, it too involved a player who was defenseless. It just doesn't make sense.
To recap: yes, I think that this was a good step in the NFL's quest to stop dangerous helmet to helmet collisions and pointless hits that are dangerous. But in the end I feel that these moves were more of an overreaction to the scary hits that we saw last week at best and slightly ill-conceived. Now, let's go onto the picks before I get even more ticked off then I already am right now.
In case you were wondering, I finished the week once again around the .500 range, going 8-6. Meanwhile, mj50 had his first spectacular week picking in a while, going a fantastic 10-4, his best week picking games since week 1. In terms of the overall standings, I am currently leading with my 53-37 record by 7 games over my old man with his 46-44 record. So how about this week? We shall find out by Tuesday. Until then, here are the picks for this week's games in the NFL. As always, the game times are based on the Central time zone.
Let's begin:
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons (-3.5): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Cincinnati
This one was hard for me just because both teams have been badly inconsistent throughout the year. I ended up going with the Bengals mostly because Atlanta is coming off a very physical game against the Eagles whereas the Bengals will come fully rested after the bye they just had a week ago. Atlanta is also without their Dunta Robinson thanks to his monstrous hit on DeSean Jackson last week, so their already poor passing defense will be even worse heading into this game in which they will be set to face Ochocinco and T.O.. Finally, in nine out of the last thirteen games Cincinnati has been an underdog, they have won against their opponent. I'm a stone-cold sucker for stats like that!
mj50's pick: Atlanta
Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens (-13): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Baltimore
This game should be painful to watch of because of the one-sided beatdown that Baltimore will put up on Buffalo. Whereas the Bills are still the worst team in the league in my opinion, Baltimore is arguably one of the five best. Besides, the Ravens are coming out of a tough loss to the Patriots that they probably should have won, so expect to use that anger from last Sunday and take it out on the helpless Bills. It would be the pro version of college football's #2 ranked Oregon losing a game and then play Washington State the next week.
mj50's pick: Baltimore
The Jake Locker/Prince Amukamara Bowl
[a.k.a San Fransisco 49ers (-3) vs. Carolina Panthers]: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: San Fransisco
For those of you who are new to this site and did not read last year's NFL picks column in which I had about three games that season refered by me as the Jimmy Clausen/Ndamukong Suh, this year's version of it, the Jake Locker of Washington/Prince Amukamara of Nebraska bowl, is the little nickname of the games from here on out that feature coincidentally features two of the worst teams in the league. Last year, it was St. Louis vs. Detroit in week 7, Cleveland vs. Detroit in week 11 and Kansas City vs. Cleveland in week 15. In our first JLPAB of this season, we have 1-5 San Fransisco 49ers versus the 0-5 Carolina Panthers. Winner gets a nice moral boost, while the loser remains as one of the leaders in the race for the top pick in next year's draft. Can you feel the excitement? I know I can!
Anyways, I'm taking the 49ers in this one mostly because they have Frank Gore. Gore is coming off a 25 carry, 149 yard performance against the Raiders 30th ranked rushing defense last week. This week, he's taking a similarly awful Panthers defense that is 26th in the league. I expect to see him have another big game. Also, this may be the only time I will ever say this all season, but San Fran has the much better QB in this game in that Alex Smith has yet to put up the same horrifying numbers that Moore and Clausen have had for the Panthers. And then there's the fact that the 49ers have actually WON a game this season. Granted, it may have been only one week, but it did come last week, so it wasn't that long ago. In other words, I'm expecting both Buffalo and Carolina to be remain as the only two winless teams left in the NFL by the end of the week.
mj50's pick: San Fransisco
Washington Redskins vs. Chicago Bears (-3): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Chicago
This one was a game in which I had to go back and forth between these two teams, but ecause the Bears have won three of their last four games against Donovan McNabb, I'm going with them. Chicago has also only lost once in four games this season at home and the team will go out into this game trying to prove to the league that they will at least stick around for the entire season after last week's embarrassing loss to Seattle. Oh, and the Redskins are dead last this season in passing defense whereas the Bears have been one of the few consistently good defenses of the year, ranked in the top ten in yards allowed and in points allowed per game. But then again, with that horrible offensive line that Chicago has had all season, anything is possible.
mj50's pick: Chicago
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) vs. Miami Dolphins: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Pittsburgh
The Steelers are almost perfect this season in all but two categories: at QB and at stopping the pass. But the former has been fixed now that Roethlisberger is back and looking as fabulous as usual and the latter shouldn't be a problem this week with the average at best Chad Henne as the team's opposing QB. The forecast predicts a cloudy mid-October day in Miami, so the humidity that has played key for the Dolphins through most of their games will not a factor, and the team has yet to win at home despite being a perfect 3-0 on the road. The bottom line is, this should be one of those games that I expect will end up more one-sided than the spread suggests it will be.
mj50's pick: Miami
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans (-3): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Tennessee
I don't think that either Kerry Collins or Vince Young have lost a game as the Titans starting QB when one of them filled in for the other due to injury or benching. Also, anytime you have Chris Johnson facing such a poor front seven as the Eagles have been this season (ranked 22nd in the league), you have to go with Mr. Running For the Cops Speed every time. And I mean, anytime!
mj50's pick: Tennessee
St. Louis Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Tampa Bay
Sam Bradford has really matured well in the past few weeks. That said, the Rams have have been winless on the road this season (inlcuding a 44-6 loss to an inferior Lions team). So...yeah.
mj50's pick: Tampa Bay
Cleveland Browns vs. New Orleans Saints (-13): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
Do I really need to explain myself after the performances that both teams put up last week? I don't think so.
mj50's pick: New Orleans
HALFTIME! This week, instead of posting another random stand-up comedy act like I have done through the first six weeks of the season, I'm just going to post a video that has been popping up all over the Internet, and I feel that it's about time that I post its greatness here as well. It's that video of a guy with a voice similar to Ray Lewis (except for that lisp) amazingly describing Greg Jennings's 90 plus yard TD catch while running on a broken leg on Madden. For all we know, this just might be the greatest game announcing ever taped in Madden NFL history.
"Oh, shit! Darren SHAW-PAH! One of the most hardest hitting safeties in the league! BUT, I put the team on my back, doo! Fuck It! You can't stop me! Cross the plain...touuuchdown...Greg Jennings! 49-20. Man, fucwimiowaa....FUCK YOU GUMBY!" Fantastic. Now, let's get back to our regularly scheduled programming...
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-9): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Kansas City
It's official: I've jumped on the Kansas City bandwagon. I'm not saying that they are one of the best teams in the AFC or anything, but I do at least have them as the favorites to win the division. They have a terrifically (for them at least) easy schedule after this game (vs. Buffalo, at Oakland, at Denver, vs. Arizona, and at Seattle) in which I can see them win in at least three of them, a terrific home crowd that can always give them a great advantage everytime they play a game in KC, and while they don't have the terrific passing game that division rivals San Diego and Denver has or a head coach that you can consider to be a great one, they at least have that great running game and front seven to make it all up. They're still going to probably lose early in the playoffs if they do win the division, though.
mj50's pick: Kansas City
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks (-6.5): Sunday- 3:05 p.m.
mj15's pick: Seattle
It's the battle for the early first place lead in the NFC West! How......intriguing? Anyways, I'm taking the Seahawks mostly because of that homefield advantage that is Qwest Field. Whenever they have played this season, they seem to play on a much better level. Also, I see no reasons why the Cardinals would be a threat in this ballgame. According to their NFL.com page, they're ranked 25th or below this season in almost every major category both offensively and defensively and you could argue that they are lucky to not be 1-5 at this point.
It has been nearly three years since Seattle held solo possession of the NFC West lead this late in the season. Expect that drought to finally break after this ballgame.
mj50's pick: Arizona
New England Patriots vs. San Diego Chargers (-2.5): Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: New England
You have to wonder much longer Norv Turner lasts as the Chargers starting coach. The team has been ranked in the top ten this season in yards per game, points per game, passing yards per game, yards allowed, passing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed...yet are only 2-4 this season. They even lost to the Raiders, the team they previously won 13 straight time against, for Christ's sakes!Also, the situation for Turner is not like the situation of say, Wade Phillips's situation in Dallas. Unlike in Dallas where there are no good replacements for Phillips, San Diego has the fine defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to go to. My gut feelings is that this should happen if the Chargers lose this week's game and next week's game to Tennessee. On a random note, when did Tom Brady's hair become a serious topic in the sporting world? You can't seem to read any Patriots article or hear a discussion on them without talking about the new long hair that Brady has been showing off. Is it really that big of a deal as it's made out to be?
mj50's pick: New England
Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos (-8): Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: Denver
Remember when Kyle Boller was the starter for the Ravens before the team wised up and got Steve McNair to fill his role as starter, and then Joe Flacco? Well, get ready, because you get to see why that was the case this week as Boller will be the Raiders starting QB this week thanks to the injuries suffered by both Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski. Also, don't you think for a second that the remaining members of last year's Broncos team have forgotten about the loss from week 15 last year to Oakland. Anytime a team suffers a loss as painful as that was, they are going to end up using it as big motivation for the next time these two teams meet.
mj50's pick: Denver
Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers (-2.5): Sunday- 7:20 p.m.
mj15's pick: Minnesota
Remember when Brett Favre used to play for Green Bay? Well, it's true! And since he has left, Favre has been undefeated last season in two meetings against his former team (all of those meetings were, of course, last season). Also, don't look now but the Vikings are starting to get their groove back. They've won two straight including last week in that must-win game against Dallas, the Favre to Moss combo has looked sharp, and Adrian Peterson is playing like his fine and dandy self. A couple of more wins, and it looks like they will join Green Bay and Chicago in the race for the NFC North. Also, did I mention before that Green Bay was banged-up football team. I think I did.
mj50's pick: Minnesota
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys (-3): Monday- 7:30 p.m.
mj15's pick: Dallas
Look, I enjoy the Dallas downfall this season as much as the next non-Cowboys fan, but at some point they're going to actually play a game in which they don't commit pointless endzone celebration penalties and awful turnovers. And on Monday night, I expect to see that fianlly happening. Besides, the Giants have been known in recent years to lay eggs in big road games such as this one. In other words, I expect to see the Cowboys win add onto the happiness of Dallas sports fans which already includes the Rangers winning their first ever ALCS and the Mavericks season tipping off in a few days.
mj50's pick: Dallas
RECAP
The Undertaker at WrestleMania Lock of the Week: New Orleans over Cleveland
The Golden State Warriors over Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA Western Conference Quarterfinals Upset of the Week: Cincinnati over Atlanta
The "30 Rock" Season One vs. "The Office" Season Two "I'm Not Sure" Pick: Chicago over Washington
And that's about it. As with every post I ever made and will continue to make, I hoped you enjoyed this one just as much as I wrote it. Be sure to come back next Friday night for my week 7 results and my picks for week 8, featuring the introduction of a new running segments which you will see occasionally in the weekly picks column from then on. Until then, have a wonderful weekend and may your viewing of this week's games be very enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15
If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you just have any suggestions or tips for my next blog entry, e-mail me at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mails are greatly appreciated.
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