There are a few NFL issues that I thought I might as well say something about. I painted my Grandma's house today (actual word) and am tired, so expect a low-effort post here...as I hope you always do.
1. Brett Favre is back for yet another year of ridiculocity (totally a word) and I actually like it this time. Last year, he was ruining the career of a young QB and ruining the season of an up-and-coming team while making his non-decisions and then joined a team he couldn't even help anyway (Chad Pennington had a better season than him last year!!!!).
This time? No real stakes. He's joining a team who is good at everything other than Quarterbacking and Coaching who plays in a dome and will now probably like to go deep a little more with A LOT more success. Also, it's not like he is stunting the growth of two promising QBs in Minnessota. Sage Rosenfels is one of those guys who is capable of winning games but occasionally (a bit TOO occasionally...) collapses into a turnover circus and Tarvaris Jackson is just bad.
Also, in your face, Packers.
Side note: I've always liked and rooted for both the Packers and Brett Favre, but since I've met and conversed with a few Packers fans, I have gotten the feeling that they feel pretty superior and are quite irrational. Why are there Packers fans in Ohio? I'm now, anti-Packers and rooting for the Vikings in those games. Happy?
2. Plaxico Burress is having a bad summer.
The topic of interest seems to be whether this sentence is too long or not. Here is my opinion:
Not only is this sentence too long, I believe it is unquestionably a less egregious moral crime to carry an unlicensed gun and accidentally shooting yourself in the leg than to sentence the man who did that to two years in prison.
Plaxico Burress did the equivalent to drunk driving in my mind. He put himself in a situation where he was more likely to hurt himself or others with no intent to do either and ended up doing the former. The appropriate penalty for this is infinite hours of community service and a 4-game suspension. But now, a good guy and a Super Bowl hero, whose daughter will be born while he is in prison (I heard), is going to jail for 2 years. No matter what card you play to defend yourself Plaxico...race, fame...it's legitimate.
THE THING
If there was any confusion, "THE THING" is the football preview...what else?
By the way, I'm aware I'm writing my NFL Preview the day it begins...I also am aware that I am picking up my HDTV at 4 O'clock on opening day as well. Get off my back.
AFC
AFC North
Going clockwise. Here we go.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Anything is possible in the NFL (within reason) but the smart money has to be on one of these two teams (Steelers or Ravens). Both of these teams are no fun to play in the playoffs but Pitt has it's offensive shit together better than the Flacco-led Ravens. I am giving them the nod in that match up.
Buddies Blankets: None
2. Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco is fine...BUT...there's a group of quarterbacks who you're watching and you're thinking, "This guy is alright," but deep down you know that you don't trust him throwing anything between 8 yards and 30 yards (anyone can throw a deep ball, some better than others of course). Flacco, as of now, is in that group. Other than that: Good defense, coach, running backs, uniforms, etc.
Blankets: None
3. Cincinnati Bengals
I can talk myself into these guys all I want and I really won't get anywhere. It's full of the same guys who can't figure out how to win. "Hard Knocks" has shown me that Marvin isn't a terrible coach, but he's trying to turn around an Indian Burial Ground team. Everything bad happens to them if at all possible. If you're wondering what an Indian Burial Ground team is, it's the opposite of the Steelers. Get it?
Blankets: J.T. O'Sullivan (embarrassing)
I'm hoping for 7-9.
4. Cleveland Browns
With Brady Quinn at the helm, Cleveland's range of wins has narrowed. There won't be as many deep balls or interceptions thrown. I like the decision because you're not going anywhere with Derek Anderson. He's unstable and weak. At least Brady Quinn shows some discretion with his throws. Oh yeah, this team sucks.
Blankets: Josh Cribbs
AFC EAST
1. New England Patriots
This is already boring. I have put New England and Pittsburgh on top of their divisions. No comment.
Blankets: None
2. Miami Dolphins
I am completely indifferent to the rest of the teams in the division but I'm going with the Dolphins basically because of Bill Parcells.
Blankets: Davone Bess
3. NY Jets
The only reason they aren't last is because I think their coach is decent and I think the Bills are a buncha crap.
If it isn't clear already, there is no analysis in this part, only predictions and stupid stuff. Enjoy it.
Blankets: Jerricho Cotchery, Darrelle Revis
4. Buffalo Bills
T.O. can go straight to hell...or get hurt....would be good.
Blankets: Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch
AFC SOUTH
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
I don't love picking this division. This was one of the worst teams in the league last season but stranger things have happened. As I'm typing this, I'm thinking about whether I should put Houston in this first spot or dead last. NO idea...
Blankets: None
2. Tennessee Titans
I don't even know what's happening right now. These teams are all good but not good enough to be in first and all have problems...does somebody have to win? I'm lost.
Blankets: Justin Gage, Michael Griffin, Bo Scaife
3. Houston Texans
Really good offense. Ready to break out. Quarterback gets hurt too much. Can't win away from home. What am I supposed to do with this shit?
Blankets: Kevin Walter
4. Indianapolis Colts
Did I just put the Colts to finish last in their division? Well, whatever.
Blankets: None
AFC WEST
1. San Diego Chargers
This is the worst division. I bet the Chargers drop one to Kansas City for no reason this year but otherwise do OK in this division and otherwise. BOOOOORINNGGG.
Blankets: None
2. Kansas City Chiefs
KC could have a mildly exciting offense but they just don't have any talent. Second place in this division is all about who wants it and I think KC will try.
Blankets: Jamaal Charles
3. Oakland Raiders
Again, this team has no idea what's going on, but they won a few games last season that nobody seemed to notice. If Asamlafuaoguuugahaa comes back, they can win five games or so WHICH WILL DEFINITELY GET THEM OUT OF THE BASEMENT IN THE AFC WEST.
Blankets: None
4. Denver Broncos
This is what they get for the Jay Cutler Fiasco. Lousy.
Blankets: None
NFC NORTH
1. Chicago Bears
Once you my fantasy team, you'll know that I have bought stock in this team.
It has recently come to my attention (from a Packers' fan) that the Bears' defense "isn't that good." Whatever. You're taking a decent team from last year, giving the running back another year and replacing a horrible quarterback with a really good one. I have no problem with this.
Blankets: Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Lance Briggs, Brad Maynard
2. Green Bay Packers
Everyone loves the Packers and Aaron Rodgers and they (both) do seem pretty explosive. I'm just not convinced that either one has any direction or focus or knows how to finish games because they were explosive last year and were 6-10.
Blankets: None
3. Minnesota Vikings
I guess I'm betting against Brett Favre and I KNOW that I'm betting against Brad Childress and I'm nervous about betting against Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen but somethings good teams get third place in a division with three good teams.
Blankets: Chad Greenway
4. Detroit Lions
Bad.
Here are my thoughts about the quarterback situation:
It doesn't matter who you start right now. You will not win more than 2 games in this season (in all likelihood). You can start Culpepper and then bring in Stafford when you're ready or start Stafford, but one thing you cannot do is this: DO NOT START STAFFORD AND THEN PULL HIM AND THEN PULL HIM. That is what doesn't work.
Obviously Stafford will be a disaster but that whole team is a disaster so who cares. If you don't think your quarterback can handle going 2-14 in his first season, then he's not a good quarterback.
Blankets: None
NFC EAST
1. Philadelphia Eagles
This team is always so good, I don't understand why they can't keep it together. I think their WRs are much improved from the shit-show they are used to and they might in in Westbrook's last year with his replacement up and coming. It looks good.
Blankets: Trent Cole
2. Washington Redskins
I can't believe I'm doing this but I feel like they aren't bad and they always do better than they are. I was about to put them third so it makes sense that they would finish second.
Blankets: None
3. New York Giants
No Plax is a problem but they are still quite good. Eli Manning is still Eli Manning even though he won a Super Bowl and that's not horrible, but he's not a Hall of Famer. It is what it is.
Blankets: None
4. Dallas Cowboys
This is shamelessly full of hate. Dallas Cowboys? Fuck 'em.
Blankets: Jason Witten
NFC SOUTH
1. Atlanta Falcons
They seem to have a good coach, quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end...I don't know much about their defense but it all looks right to me.
Blankets: Roddy White
2. Carolina Panthers
I hate these guys because Jake Delhomme is an embarrassment to humanity, but I don't trust the Saints.
Blankets: None
3. New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees' history shows that he is the king of the high stats/low wins quarterbacks. I like him, but come on. Make the friggin' playoffs.
Blankets: None
4. Tampa Bay Bucs
Who is their quarterback? Seriously, I have no idea. Is it Luke McCown? Is he even on their team? Is he even a person?
Blankets: Cadillac Williams
NFC WEST
1. Seattle Seahawks
This is a division where none of the teams are great and that's why they rotate so often. The Seahawks are going to outmatch their schedule this season and win this division.
Blankets: None
2. Arizona Cardinals
Super Bowl losers that were never that good to begin with.
Blankets: Darnell Dockett, Neil Rackers, Chris Wells
3. San Francisco 49ers
I love this coach. I still think Glen Coffee is a fantasy extreme sleeper.
Blankets: Shaun Hill
4. St. Louis Rams
I just don't care anymore.
Blankets: None
I'm gonna go get a TV so I can watch stuff instead of type stuff.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
A Variety of Things
A few years ago at Subway (famous for it's "fresh-take hot line"), my Grandpa was asked by the "chef" what he would like on his sub. His answer: "Oh...a variety of things." This has nothing to do with anything, I just thought it was funny.
Per Bowl and Rob's clamoring for more posts (and my competition for being the best blog in my fantasy football league) I feel that I have to comment on, well...a variety of things.
1. It's too early for a football preview. I'd actually like to watch some preseason games to see who I think is good and to refresh my memory about why I like and don't like certain teams. My fantasy football league/team preview will come with this.
2. The Cavs signed Leon Powe to a two-year deal for what seems like no money in the Dan Gilbert era. It's funny how with each subsequent signing, your expectations drop so much.
Anthony Parker, while I'm happy with him, seemed like a disappointment because we could have (and should have) gotten Ariza (and I blame Ariza for this, if you were wondering). Jamario Moon was somewhat of a steal for the second signing (you could almost argue it was actually stealing).
And now, with the third signing (for the league minimum), I basically just approve of this deal. If anyone reading this didn't know already, Leon Powe is recovering from his THIRD ACL RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY ON HIS LEFT KNEE AS WELL AS MICRO FRACTURE SURGERY ON THE SAME KNEE AND WON'T BE ABLE TO PLAY UNTIL FEBRUARY AT THE EARLIEST.
That is how high my expectations were. It appears the Cavs are actually interested in one more random forward (my sources, in case anyone didn't know, are Brian Windhorst's Twitter Page and nothing else), it seems to not matter who (I'm sure Rob Kurz is a great guy, but if anyone is telling you they are "interested" in Rob Kurz, they are lying).
3. The Indians.
Excuse me for not being pessimistic, but I'm much more interested in them currently than I was for the first half of the season.
We traded a few guys, like Ryan Garko, Ben Francisco, Mark DeRosa and Carl Pavano that I'm just not going to miss...so whatever. If we get anything at all for those guys, great. It instinctually hurts when you trade basically the only two guys on your team who were having good seasons and probably the only two legitimately good major league players on your roster...but here's the dynamic that make these good trades (regardless of whether we got enough to Cliff Lee or not because we probably didn't but I don't know the Minor Leagues well enough to discuss this is the necessary detail).
To take a step back for a moment, this team we had to start the year...well, it SEEMED good enough to make the playoffs in this division. They started losing and then they continued to lose. They looked around and thought, "Why are we losing?" and, as always, there is no real answer to that question. Talent wins in the playoffs, but to make the playoffs, especially in a crappy division, you just have to figure out how to win faster than the other guys.
With baseball being such a long season where you play almost every day as well as being a sport that is not physically draining, it's just confusing when you're losing. Unlike in football or basketball or most other things, the answer is not more effort or even necessarily more preparation. I don't even know what the answer is. You just have to figure it out. I know that seems like absolutely no analysis, but what am I supposed to say? You have to get clutch hits and make clutch defensive plays and make clutch pitches...but how do people do those things? They just have to find a groove and all get on it. People who have never played baseball say that it's not really a team sport but I totally disagree. It's not as rhythmic as basketball or soccer and you're life isn't in the hands of your teammates as much as it is in football, but if you don't do your job in baseball, your teammates are screwed, and if you don't have any confidence in your teammates to do their jobs, you'll have trouble doing yours. It's subtle, but it's there.
So back to the new-look Tribe.
Frankly, we currently have a disgusting team to look at. I could mention some players I think could stick (Asdrubal Cabrera, Jamey Carroll...that might be it), but we have nobody who has mentionable power, speed or pitching velocity. The Indians have a disturbingly low amount of anything spectacular in any area of the game. Ouch.
So what we got in these deals, from what I hear from my sources, is a ton of pitchers, of which many throw in the mid to upper 90s and one of which has already been good in the Majors (Masterson). I guess I'm satisfied. But to answer any one's potential questions as to why the Indians appear to be playing much better with a much worse team, here is the answer:
First, the pressure is off. Easy.
Second, and more noteworthy, these young guys who are not very good are playing better, I believe, mainly because we traded our two best players. It's hard for young players who know they are failing the veterans to play well. I know Victor Martinez was a great guy, but that actually makes it worse. Young guys would want to please Victor so much that I'm thinking it became counterproductive. I'm telling you, baseball is that way. If you hate your teammates or love them too much, as this case seems to be, in football you can just do your job and go about your business. Baseball isn't as much a read and react game. You are forced to put all other aspects of life on the back burner or you actually might get killed. The leisurely aspect of baseball makes it more difficult to play with mental baggage because you can bring it along with you when you play and you probably won't get hurt or embarrassed, you just won't play very well. It seems like the tedium of baseball requires an almost eerily relaxed mind to perform on a consistent basis.
4. RoBry Fantasy Football League.
Go Blankets!!!!
(Note to Maggs: I will not root for your team until you give it a name.)
Per Bowl and Rob's clamoring for more posts (and my competition for being the best blog in my fantasy football league) I feel that I have to comment on, well...a variety of things.
1. It's too early for a football preview. I'd actually like to watch some preseason games to see who I think is good and to refresh my memory about why I like and don't like certain teams. My fantasy football league/team preview will come with this.
2. The Cavs signed Leon Powe to a two-year deal for what seems like no money in the Dan Gilbert era. It's funny how with each subsequent signing, your expectations drop so much.
Anthony Parker, while I'm happy with him, seemed like a disappointment because we could have (and should have) gotten Ariza (and I blame Ariza for this, if you were wondering). Jamario Moon was somewhat of a steal for the second signing (you could almost argue it was actually stealing).
And now, with the third signing (for the league minimum), I basically just approve of this deal. If anyone reading this didn't know already, Leon Powe is recovering from his THIRD ACL RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY ON HIS LEFT KNEE AS WELL AS MICRO FRACTURE SURGERY ON THE SAME KNEE AND WON'T BE ABLE TO PLAY UNTIL FEBRUARY AT THE EARLIEST.
That is how high my expectations were. It appears the Cavs are actually interested in one more random forward (my sources, in case anyone didn't know, are Brian Windhorst's Twitter Page and nothing else), it seems to not matter who (I'm sure Rob Kurz is a great guy, but if anyone is telling you they are "interested" in Rob Kurz, they are lying).
3. The Indians.
Excuse me for not being pessimistic, but I'm much more interested in them currently than I was for the first half of the season.
We traded a few guys, like Ryan Garko, Ben Francisco, Mark DeRosa and Carl Pavano that I'm just not going to miss...so whatever. If we get anything at all for those guys, great. It instinctually hurts when you trade basically the only two guys on your team who were having good seasons and probably the only two legitimately good major league players on your roster...but here's the dynamic that make these good trades (regardless of whether we got enough to Cliff Lee or not because we probably didn't but I don't know the Minor Leagues well enough to discuss this is the necessary detail).
To take a step back for a moment, this team we had to start the year...well, it SEEMED good enough to make the playoffs in this division. They started losing and then they continued to lose. They looked around and thought, "Why are we losing?" and, as always, there is no real answer to that question. Talent wins in the playoffs, but to make the playoffs, especially in a crappy division, you just have to figure out how to win faster than the other guys.
With baseball being such a long season where you play almost every day as well as being a sport that is not physically draining, it's just confusing when you're losing. Unlike in football or basketball or most other things, the answer is not more effort or even necessarily more preparation. I don't even know what the answer is. You just have to figure it out. I know that seems like absolutely no analysis, but what am I supposed to say? You have to get clutch hits and make clutch defensive plays and make clutch pitches...but how do people do those things? They just have to find a groove and all get on it. People who have never played baseball say that it's not really a team sport but I totally disagree. It's not as rhythmic as basketball or soccer and you're life isn't in the hands of your teammates as much as it is in football, but if you don't do your job in baseball, your teammates are screwed, and if you don't have any confidence in your teammates to do their jobs, you'll have trouble doing yours. It's subtle, but it's there.
So back to the new-look Tribe.
Frankly, we currently have a disgusting team to look at. I could mention some players I think could stick (Asdrubal Cabrera, Jamey Carroll...that might be it), but we have nobody who has mentionable power, speed or pitching velocity. The Indians have a disturbingly low amount of anything spectacular in any area of the game. Ouch.
So what we got in these deals, from what I hear from my sources, is a ton of pitchers, of which many throw in the mid to upper 90s and one of which has already been good in the Majors (Masterson). I guess I'm satisfied. But to answer any one's potential questions as to why the Indians appear to be playing much better with a much worse team, here is the answer:
First, the pressure is off. Easy.
Second, and more noteworthy, these young guys who are not very good are playing better, I believe, mainly because we traded our two best players. It's hard for young players who know they are failing the veterans to play well. I know Victor Martinez was a great guy, but that actually makes it worse. Young guys would want to please Victor so much that I'm thinking it became counterproductive. I'm telling you, baseball is that way. If you hate your teammates or love them too much, as this case seems to be, in football you can just do your job and go about your business. Baseball isn't as much a read and react game. You are forced to put all other aspects of life on the back burner or you actually might get killed. The leisurely aspect of baseball makes it more difficult to play with mental baggage because you can bring it along with you when you play and you probably won't get hurt or embarrassed, you just won't play very well. It seems like the tedium of baseball requires an almost eerily relaxed mind to perform on a consistent basis.
4. RoBry Fantasy Football League.
Go Blankets!!!!
(Note to Maggs: I will not root for your team until you give it a name.)
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