Posts Tagged ‘NFL’

Keys to Super Bowl XLVI

With less than a week till Super Bowl XLVI, it’s time we take a look at the keys to the game for both the Patriots and the Giants.

Gronk’s Health – This has been the biggest story for the last week and a half, and will continue to be the leading story until we see Gronkowski play on Sunday. With the recent report coming from his dad that he has a high ankle sprain, this is a major issue for the Patriots. Gronkowski has become the focal point of the offense, allowing others like Welker and Hernandez more room to run. If Gronk is unable to be effective during the game, the Giants won’t have to double him and can concentrate on taking away Brady’s other targets. If this is the reality, Deon Branch could be the key to the Patriots passing game. If Gronk is able to be effective, than the pressure is on the Giants’ mediocre core of linebackers to handle two stud TEs.

Giants Pass Rush – In Super Bowl XLII the Giants’ pass rush shocked the New England offensive line and overwhelmed Brady. The Patriots were to inept to handle the rush, or make game time adjustments to slow down Giants. However, the Giants don’t have the same type of D they had in ’07. While their front 4 are the best in the game, their linebackers are weak, and can’t be left alone in 1on1 pass coverage all game. The Patriots O-Line handled the Ravens front 7 and if they do the same to the Giants, Brady will carve their weak (but not as pathetic as the Patriots) secondary.

Turnover Battle – While this is a no brainer key to the game, the events in both the AFC and NFC Championship games, makes this even more important. In the AFC Championship, Brady and the Patriots almost blew their chance to be in the Super Bowl with turnover after turnover. Brady was surprisingly bad, throwing three INTs including an awful decision to take a shot down field after a Brandon Spikes‘ interception that could have sealed the game. After the Patriot escaped elimination after numerous turnovers, the Giants got their berth to the Super Bowl capitalizing on turnovers. Kyle Williams inability to hold onto the football, and the fact he thought he could fool the 700 angles of instant replay, allowed the Giants to sneak into the Super Bowl. The Patriots had similar issues with Danny WoodHead fumbling on a kickoff return. If the Giants are able to force multiple turnovers, this game could get out of hand. Look for the giants to try and fluster Brady and force him to make bad decisions.

Goodell Gets Extension

Like it or not, Roger Goodell will be the commissioner of the NFL through 2018. After taking of for Paul Tagliabue in 2006, Goodell has been instrumental in the success of the NFL. Over the last decade, the NFL has grown astronomically and is above all others when it comes to fan base, and ratings. However, we are going to start off with some of the ways Goodell might ruin in the game in the next 6 years.

Since taking office, Goodell has suspended over 7 players and handed out more fines than I think we’ve ever seen in the sport. While people are more intrigued with the with the sport and the fan base is growing rapidly in all demographics. While there is a lot of attention being given to the game, the media has clearly paid more attention to the fines and suspensions. We have no one but Goodell to thank for this with the rule changes he has laid down over the last 5 years. There is a fine line of protecting the players, and controlling the game that he may have crossed. The most disappointing rule change is clearly the fact that he moved up the kickoff. Not only does it take one of the most exciting plays out of the game, but he also may have cost some players a job and a shot to live out their dream. Goodell also crossed the line with some of the rules that favor the offense. While it is exciting to see points on the board, it’s not as exciting to see them do it with 15yrd penalty after 15yrd penalty. While the main issue is that there isn’t parody from referee crew to referee crew, it is Goodell’s job to make sure that they are all on the same page.

That being sad, nothing can be taken away from Goodell for what he did during the lock out. Not only did he respectively reduce his salary to $1, but he saved a sport we all love. In the last year, he negotiated a 4 1/2 month locate, extended and negotiated long-term tv contracts that will bring in more revenue for the next 10 years, and saw the NFL have one of its most successful seasons ever. So while we may criticize ”The Man” for trying to change the game too much, we can all be glad Goodell is here to stay.

LeBron meets with 6 teams in biggest free agent year in NBA history.

The whole NBA is holding their collective breath until they find out one thing:  What is he going to do? 

He is not Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire (who is nearing a $100 millon deal with the Knicks), Dwayne Wade, or Dirk Nowitski.  He is Lebron James and right or wrong, he is the most imporatnt man in basketball.  Not for his playing ability or marketing power, though those things are certainly why everyone wants him.  But it’s for his decision.

James is a free agent and has been since 12:01 am July 1st.  He is the straw that stirs the drink in what is being recognized as the biggest free agent year ever in the NBA.  With so many of it’s top stars opting for free agency, some teams gave up on last season in order to clear cap space to sign one – or in some cases more than one – of these young players.

Yesterday, the son of Akron, Ohio sat down with the likes of Nets owners Mikhail Prokhorov and rapper Jay-Z, Nets coach Avery Johnson, and GM Rod Thorn.  He also entertained the New York Knicks who had a truckload of stuff to bring with them – literally.

Today, sporting a white t-shirt and baggy sweat pants (the perfect choice of clothing for an important business meeting with professional excecutives offering millions and millions of dollars) he entertained the Miami Heat with Heat exec. and former coach Pat Riley, Heat owner Micky Arison, coach Erik Spoelstra and former Heat center Alonzo Mourning (all wearing business suits – way to be overdressed) in toe. 

After a courtesy meet and greet with the L.A. Clipppers, James will call it a day.  In tomorrow’s Main Event, LeBron will be entertaining the Chicago Bulls, as well as his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers - the 2 teams considered the favorites to land him. 

He hopes to make a decision by July 5th.  What James decides may shape the NBA for the next decade.

Panthers WR Steve Smith breaks arm; will miss start of training camp

By Bob Metz

WR Steve Smith, Carolina branch (Panthers) has a broken arm he suffered in a flag football game according to Mike Cranston, AP sports writer.

Smith had surgery Sunday night on the same arm he broke against the New York Giants last season, though not in the same place. The team does not have a timetable for his return.

However, all may not be lost, fantasy owners because though Smith will miss the start of training camp for certain, the reports at this early stage sound optimistic about Smith possibly being able to play by week 1 of the regular season.

Either way, I wouldn’t count on Smith being a top notch WR this season.

Albert Haynes-worth? A lot of cash, but nothing else.

By Bob Metz

So Albert Haynesworth took the check. The $21 million dollars that was offered to him on April 1 to do just one thing: Show up and do his best. That apparently wasn’t what Haynesworth had in mind when he accepted the check instead of the other offer. Freedom.

Haynesworth met with new ‘Skins head coach Mike Shanahan and the latter offered him a way out. A way out of a $100 million contract and the rest of the $40 million guaranteed money that Haynesworth signed on for under then-head coach Jim Zorn.

Why would he want out? Because Shanahan runs a 3-4 defense and Haynesworth is more comfortable in a 4-3. Apparently Haynesworth has a big problem with it. So big in fact, that Haynesworth has made a spectacle of the situation, and is not showing up for offseason workouts.

Haynesworth has even alienated his teammates. His selfishness has turned off everyone within the organization and many outside of it. “He didn’t turn down the money, but he never intended to show up.” sites one source.

The only thing it appears the Redskins can do at this point is trade him. After all, he is worthless to his team now that nobody wants him there and he doesn’t want to be there. But right now they are more concerned with getting some or all of the $21 million back that he accepted only 2 1/2 months ago.

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT UPDATED!

By Bob Metz

Click for an updated version of my 2010 fantasy mock draft!

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/

The 5 Deadly Sins Of Fantasy Drafting

By Bob Metz

As your fantasy football expert, I am here with a warning.  Do not commit these common fantsy draft mistakes.  If you do, you’ll likely miss your playoffs and wish you had heeded these 5 deadly sins of fantasy drafting:

Read more…

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT!! 

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/

Staying In Fantasy Shape Wins Championships

By Bob Metz

It’s only May, and pro football’s preseason doesn’t even start for another 2 months and change.  Some NFL players are showing up for voluntary team workouts, while others are opting to stay home a while longer.  This is the time of year that we find out which players are working to get better, faster, and stronger.  These players are working out, trying to fix the little things that they still need to work on.  They are not perfect, but they want to be champions so they are willing to do their homework.  They watch film, gain or lose weight, whichever they believe will help them, and they stay around football even when there is no football being played. Read more…

Top 5 players for whom you should temper expectations in 2010

By Bob Metz

Each season, there are players who excel and go above and beyond expectations and have enormous fantasy stats.  Likewise each season, fantasy owners make the mistake of expecting the same from them the following season.  Some players have team changes which can seriously impact their star players’ production in a very negative way, yet they still get drafted high based on their prior season’s production.  With this in mind, I offer to you my top 5 players for whom you should draft with the understanding that they likely will decline to varying degrees in fantasy points this season: Read more…