There is some sort of irony to be found in the concept of watching the fittest athletes in the world compete while chomping down on the least nutritional food possible.

Gone are the days where a simple burger and fries was the worst thing that one could consume at a Major League baseball game.

We have arrived at a time where the folks that run park concessions have gotten competitive in their creative zeal to come up with the most decadent combinations possible to tempt your palette.

These are the five that are must haves for those that road trip to multiple parks during the summer.

#5  SCOTCH EGGS:  PNC Park/ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

These hard-boiled eggs wrapped in Italian sausage are exactly what you should not ingest if you love your heart and digestive system.

BUT, at only $7.50 they are most likely to tempting to pass up when you are at a Pirates game.

When it comes to stadium food, this is a cheap price to pay to indulgent one’s culinary curiosity.

#4 Beltre Buster: Ranger Park/Arlington Texas

The most decadent stadium fare is usually named after marquee names that certainly can’t eat what the team associates their brand with.

Rangers  third baseman Adrian Beltre may have recoiled in horror when he was shown what his menu item is dedicated to.

The $26 Beltre Buster hamburger  has one pound of Nolan Ryan beef, half of a pound of bacon, grilled onions and Monterey Jack cheese served on a pretzel bun.

At $26, parents that give in and purchase this monstrosity to share with begging kids that idolize Beltre, may go berserk when said child takes a small nibble, wrinkles his nose and says “I don’t like this bread or the onions.’

#3 The Beast: Miller Park/Milwaukee,Wisconsin

This is a grilled bratwurst sliced in half and stuffed with a grilled hot dog.  The gluttonous two-for-one is then wrapped in bacon and served with sauerkraut and grilled onions on a pretzel roll.

At $9 it’s not terribly expensive financially, but the cost to be paid later physically should make you want to think twice before diving in.

But you will and so will we.

#2 The Brunch Burger:  PNC Park/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Let’s be real here and state the Brunch Burger is really the grand daddy of them all The Luther, masquerading under a different name.

It’s a bacon cheeseburger and fried egg held together by a glazed doughnut.

At only $7.50 you can’t go wrong with it, unless the burger is less than a half-pound of beef.

Truthfully, you can try the Players View version of the Luther at home.

Grill one 3/4 lb patty and top it with six slices of bacon, 4 slices of cheddar cheese and use two Krispy Kreme jelly doughnuts as bun substitutes.

Toss in the fried egg if you want to go royal-style.

#1 Winning Ugly Grand Slam Sandwich:U.S. Cellular Field/Chicago, Illinois

This is not a burger or a regular sandwich. This is something that has created it’s own lane.

The Chicago White Sox took their history of winning ugly and commissioned a food item that lives up to that standard set by the 1983 team.

This major league knockdown drag out is put together with Italian beef, Italian sausage patty, pork chop and bacon covered with giardiniera, sautéed onions and peppers on eight inch muffalatta bread.

The post 5 most decadent menu items at Major League parks appeared first on Players View.

#1 Geno Smith Steals The Show

Geno Smith stole the show for two consecutive nights.

On Thursday, it was thanks to his quit exit after he felt a certain way about not getting drafted in the first round.

Smith predicted that he would be a first-round pick on Twitter and when it did not go down that way, he vowed not to to the green room on Friday night.

The Jets took him early and volia!, Smith darted out of the backstage crowd and made his way to the stage to bask in his draft glory.

After crapping out on his draft prediction, Smith issued another proclamation.

Smith stated that the New York Jets will make the playoffs…this year.

#2 Manti Te’o Stays On The West Coast

The San Diego Chargers were not on any of the hot lists to bring in former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o.

Yet they made their move and Te’o will stay in the sunshine where he feels most comfortable.

The Chargers defense is desperate for a identity and this can actually be a good fit.

Let the completely baseless Junior Seau comparisons begin.

#3 Ryan Nassib and Matt Barkley Are Tripping

The fourth round has yet to begin and both of these signal callers are still professionally homeless.

One of them should become property of the Arizona Cardinals and the other may end up in Jacksonville.

Regardless of where they go, both of these projected top-tier picks have to be disappointed.

#4 So Unpredictable

In the past, with the proper research and funnels of information, a mock draft could put together that was at least 50-55% accurate.

There will always be draft day trades that sink those ships, but for the most part the basic foundation of the first three rounds could be put down with confidence.

Maybe it was the influx of new head coaches and general managers that made the spotlight rounds feel a purge of insanity.

It could be that there was not enough consistency within the scouting community regarding the kids that were involved.

The rhyme or reason why does not matter.

The first three rounds were full of oddball picks the set off a chain reaction of more of the same.

#5 Dallas Cowboys Drafted Horribly

The Cowboys for whatever reason standout as the team that walked away with the least amount of benefit thus far.

They reached in the first round for center Travis Frederrick.

In the second round they reached again with tight end Gavin Escobar.

They did make up some ground with safety J.J. Wilcox in the third, but it may not have been enough to salvage this year’s crop of new talent.

Jerry Jones may have officially entered his Al Davis phase.

#6 The St. Louis Rams Did It Again

The Rams have yet to pick up a running back that they desperately need but you can not help but be impressed with their draft for the second year in a row.

They finally went and got quarterback Sam Bradford a bonafide weapon in wide receiver Tavon Austion and they further solidified what is already a good defense with standout linebacker Alec Ogletree.

Both players are first day starters that will change the direction of this team.

#7 Quarterbacks Are On Notice

Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets tipped their hands that they are looking for new offensive leadership.

One of the big off-season stories  for the Buccaneers is that this is Josh Freeman’s last chance to prove himself.

When the team chose Mike Glennon on Friday, they clearly made the statement that ‘objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.’

In the case of the Jets vs. Mark Sanchez, common sense dictates that they have come to the end of the road of their partnership.

Geno Smith will be the face of the franchise before training camp opens.

#8 The Chiefs Helped Keep The Curtain Closed

I for one, think that its a good thing that the Chiefs did not disclose who they were picking number one overall.

They may have been flip-flopping down to the wire.

At least five names were deeply connected with them since the Senior Bowl and Andy Reid’s new regime did a pretty good job of keeping their cards close to their chest.

It’s better for the fans to have a little bit of intrigue going into the telecast, even if by draft day it was well known that the smart money was on Eric Fisher.

#9 E.J. Manuel To The Bills Was Amazing

E.J. Manuel played the home stretch of the draft like a fiddle.

The kid got out in the media and respectively represented himself very well.

For the last 72 hours, the world got to know him as FSU highlights rolled on ESPN, the NFL Network and beyond.

If the Bills organization had any questions and about how he carries himself in front of the world-at-large, Manuel proved that he is the guy.

Kudos.

#10 Running Out Of Time

There are purists that feel as if running backs are no longer valued as highly as they used to be.

The first round of the 2013 draft gave them further ammunition.

Not a single pick was spent on a running back in the first round.

Were they that bad?

Or have we now truly arrived at the day where the NFL views runners as accessories?

The post New York Jets Geno Smith leads the Top 10 Takeaways from the NFL Draft appeared first on Players View.

In leaving the Jets via trade, he  signed a $96 million dollar deal with Tampa Bay that is worth zero dollars in guaranteed money.

It’s a risky move on his part as he has been prone to injury.

The high risk/high reward element to the deal is only magnified by his recovery from a ACL injury that ended his 2012 season.

We are going to assume that Revis will play up to his previous gold standard.

Looking at that best-case scenario, these are the five ways in which Darrelle Revis will help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers get back on track.

#1 Third Down Bailouts

Tampa Bay’s most serious woes has lied within their secondary.

In 2012, they were ranked 24th out of the NFL’s 32 defenses in third down conversion percentage.

Defenses that can not get off the field, get tired and when they get tired they start getting abused.

Revis can help button up this problem on third-and-long situations that are obvious passing downs.

The maximum impact rests not only with drives shut down early.

It will now be easier for Tampa’s defense to maintain their stamina well into the fourth quarter.

The Bucs issues with giving up leads in the fourth quarter might become a thing of the past.

#2 Makes the Defensive Line Better 

The Buccaneers have invested heavily in building up the depth of their defensive line.

A standout like Gerald McCoy will only grow stronger if he is allotted more time to get to the quarterback in passing situations.

But cutting off a quarterback’s number one option, Revis will forces division foes such as Drew Brees to work through his progressions to find other open targets.

In doing so, the Buccaneers will begin to generate more coverage sacks.

#3 Josh Freeman Should Be Better

How can Revis make his quarterback better?

Afterall, his prescence did not exactly do wonders for Mark Sanchez.

It’s simple.

If statements one and two are correct, the Buccaneers offense will be handed better starting field position.

By not forcing Freeman to work as many long drives, his scoring opportunities will rise.

Freeman built a lot of chemistry up with wide recevier Vincent Jackson in the 2012-13 season.

A 30-yard quick strike from mid-field places Tampa in field goal range.

That same pass from within deep in their own territory only removes their back from against the wall.

Freeman is still working out the kinks in his game, but with an easier road to walk, he should be able take that next step.

#4 Balance of Power 

The NFC South is not completely dominated by any single team.

The Atlanta Falcons have won the crown two out of the past three years but for the most part, the South has enjoyed a nice bout of parity.

Atlanta is the presumed favorite to do it again.

Tampa could now be the strongest threat to that prediction.

The Saints are not what they used to be and the Panthers still have to prove that they can take Cam Newton’s talents and use them to generate wins.

Revis will have his hands full bouncing back and forth between the Falcons’ receiving tandem of  Julio Jones and Roddy White.

There is no one that is currently on the Saints or the Panthers pre-draft rosters that Revis can not easily handle.

Dominance within the division is the first step to post-season entry and a shot at the division title

#5 Ticket Sales

There are very few markets that have an abundance of fans that are so dedicated to their team that they will show up win, lose or draw.

As they have struggled, Tampa’s ticket sales have been fairly bad.

Stars bring promise and promise sells tickets.

If Revis can deleiver on his promise, I don’t think anyone will be discussing Tampa-area television blackouts for some time to come.

Yes, it’s always about the money.

The post 5 Ways That Darrelle Revis will help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appeared first on Players View.

Let’s run down a list of predictions for each series that is about to take place.

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Houston Rockets

This is the part of the show where we discuss the possibility of the Rockets’ James Harden making the Thunder pay for trading him away from their championship-caliber squad.

The answer to that is umm…no.

Harden and the Rockets have made strong strides this season but that will amount to them walking away with the feel-good title as the NBA’s most improved group.

The Thunder have developed a collective attitude problem as of late and it should render them as pretty ruthless when it comes to playing against someone who used to be one of their own.

Kevin Durant understands completely that he and OKC will have to lay down the law to end these series in as few games as possible to maintain their stamina for the obvious team that should come out of the East.

It won’t be a sweep but it will be pretty dang close.

Prediction: Thunder wins in five.

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) L.A. Lakers

What I am about to say in the most complementary of ways.

The Los Angeles Lakers are the current cockroaches of the NBA.

They are impossible to kill and they refuse to go away.

For those that want to gloat about an embarrassing downturn in Los Angeles, you’re going to have to wait until at least next year’s festivities.

The Lakers lucked up and pulled the Golden Girls card with a hobbled Spurs team that is not running on the same juice that is fueling the purple and gold.

Who knew it would come to this?

With Kobe Bryant down, Dwight Howard can seize the moment and for the time being make the Lakers his team.

This means that coach Mike D’Antoni will have to adjust the pace to suit the physical play of both Howard and Pau Gasol.

Throw in a little bit of Crazy Ron (a.k.a. Metta World Peace) and you have a remodeled Lakers team that can and will leave bruises on you.

This is the worst case scenario for the Spurs who will shockingly see a first-round exit.

Prediction: The Lakers do it in six.

(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors

This may be the most compelling series of the opening round in either conference.

The Nuggets have played ridiculous basketball since the break and the Warriors have the pieces to go stroke-for stroke with anybody.

Games are won and lost simply thanks to matchups and these two teams matchup very well against each other.

Both teams have big play potential from the perimeter and off the fast break.

These games will be so dramatic that it will surprising if any single game is won by more than  five-to-six points.

Denver defeated the Golden state three-out-of-four times in the regular season.

But as we have seen, none of that matters in the postseason.

The Warriors’ Steph Curry is playing lights out but the scales will tilt the Nuggets favor thanks to strong home court play.

Prediction: Denver in a highly contested seven.

(4) L.A. Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies

When these two teams met in the first round last year it was like two T-Rex’s fighting over a piece of meat.

It was ugly and it left the Clippers so drained that they were easy pickings for the Spurs.

In 2013, the lineups for both teams have changed a tad bit.

The Grizzlies got a little worse and the Clippers got much stronger by way of the development of their bench.

Let’s not under estimate the impact that a healthy Chauncey Billups brings to the Clippers.

It’s not likely that this series will be a repeat affair by way of intensity.

The movable parts that are in place now favor the Clippers so strongly that a sweep would not be surprising.

It’s not expected to happen, but don’t be surprised if does.

The Grizzlies won’t get blown out, but the better team will be evident on just about every night.

Prediction: Clippers move on in five.

(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks

Can the Bucks even make this series respectable?

Yes.

Don’t sleep on Brandon Jennings or Monta Ellis.

They can are capable of pushing Miami a little further down the dirt road than most pundits would like to admit.

The thing is that the Bucks won’t get this done.

That out of the way, Miami will run through the Milwaukee in an efficient manner.

It won’t be brutal or ugly.

It will just be what it is. Honestly, it might be a little bit boring.

Prediction: Heat with the sweep.

(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Boston Celtics

Carmelo Anthony arguably had the best regular season of his career in 2012-13.

Besides a few bumps and bruises here and there, he walked away looking like a player ready to elevate his status by leading his team deep into the playoffs.

The biggest thorn in his side may have been Celtics living legend Kevin Garnett who allegedly got so deep under Anthony’s skin by making lewd comments about his wife La La, that Anthony was given NBA discipline for attempting a physical ambush outside the Celtics tour bus after a contest.

Good times.

The say living well is the best revenge and the new NBA scoring champion will lead the Knicks past the Celtics.

Beyond the bad blood, the Knicks are simply just the better team.

It’s time for the Celtics to put a few horses out to pasture.

Prediction: Knicks take out Boston in six

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks

Here’s two teams that are always in the playoff mix that never do much with their opportunities.

These clubs split dead even at two games apiece in the regular season.

The Pacers get the nod based on the consistency factor.

The Hawks can sneak up just about anyone and win one game.

They have an issue with winning multiple games and that will be their downfall.

Here is a name for you that supports this argument.

Indiana’s Lance Stephenson will be the big difference maker in his series.

Stephenson has mastered the Pacers halfcourt scheme and has the ability to go end-to-end after snatching a board.

Atlanta does not have an answer for him on paper.

Prediction: Pacers finish it in six.

(4) Brooklyn Nets vs. (5) Chicago Bulls

Look it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…not Derrick Rose.

But that is ok, as the Bulls have the brute strength to power straight through a Nets team that is still somewhat finding their way.

Bulls leader Joakim Noah will watch his star rise yet again.

As for Brooklyn, it all depends on which Brook Lopez decides to show up.

Ditto point guard Derron Williams.

Just when you want to believe in either of them, they tend to let glory slip through their fingertips.

They are quietly consistent, yet it’s the big-time moment that brings out the worst in them.

There is no bigger moment than now.

Prediction: Bulls shut the door in five.

The post NBA first round playoff predictions appeared first on Players View.

1) Money

Palmer is due $13 million this year on a contract that has now become bloated beyond reality.

Palmer is a 33 year-old gunslinger that only managed a 44.7 QBR in 2012-13.

Various reports such as this one from ESPN are stating that Palmer is not likely to restructure his contract.

2) He Is A Hue Jackson Product

Coaches and general managers always want to build around their own guys.

Palmer was not brought in the building by current general manager Reggie McKenzie .

He was imported in from the Bengals on a bad trade executed at a vulnerable time by Hue Jackson.

Jackson and Palmer have history that dates back to Palmer’s days as a USC Trojan.

None of that works to his favor with the current administration.

If Palmer does balk at a restructured deal, there is not a record of loyalty or success built into that situation to keep him around.

3) Oakland Needs To Figure Out Terrelle Pryor Once For All

The only way that the Raiders will figure out what they do or don’t have with Terrelle Pryor is to give him extended time under center.

Pryor dominated his competition at both the high school and college levels.

His skill set as a mobile quarterback is the flavor of the day in the NFL.

If Oakland needs to wipe the slate clean and move on with a new guy altogether, they can’t do that with Palmer on the roster.

McKenzie has gone on the record stating that Pryor will have a chance to ” compete” for the starting job this year.

He just did not specify with whom.

The Raiders pick at the number three spot in the 2013 draft.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith could very likely be available.

Just saying…

Those points said, if Palmer refuses the deal it most likely won’t be over compensation.

He was more than ready to retire when he wanted out of Cincinnati and owner Paul Brown dangled his contract over his head two years ago.

It could be that he simply wants to play somewhere else.

By refusing to redo his deal, he understands that he is forcing Oakland’s hand.

Check out Palmer’s demeanor in this interview from last year.

The post Three reasons why Carson Palmer won’t stay in Oakland appeared first on Players View.

Let’s see whose phone is still ringing.

Quarterback: Kevin Kolb

Wow. Ok. How do you say this with a straight face? Kevin Kolb is the best available quarterback in the NFL.  On Monday that distinction would have belonged to veterans such as Matt Hasselbeck and Ryan Fitzpatrick but they signed with the Colts and Titans .

As for Kolb, he is a injury magnet that is capable when he has protection. His big arm is his greatest asset. That in itself is likely to earn him another team such as the New York Jets.

Another Viable Option: Jason Campbell

Running Back: Chris Ivory 

There are a few names out there at running back that call for deep consideration.

Ivory is a restricted free agent which means that someone will have to cough up a second-round pick to the Saints to get him on board.

Ivory dealt with a hamstring issue in 2012 that kept him in and out of the lineup in 2012.

At 26-years-old, Ivory has plenty of upside.

In three seasons with New Orleans he is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and he can catch out of the backfield.

Another Viable Option:Ahmad Bradshaw

Fullback: Mike Cox

Cox has no problem playing selfless and getting out in front of the momentum as a lead blocker when he gets a chance to get on the field.

That’s about all you can ask for from a fullback in today’s NFL.

Another Viable Option:Spencer Larson

Tight End: Dennis Pitta 

30 days ago there would have been no reason to place Pitta on this list as he is restricted.

The Baltimore Ravens are slicing and dicing and its hard to figure out what general manager Ozzie Newsome has on his mind.

The Ravens placed a second-round tender on Pitta which is doable for anybody that needs a reliable third-down and red zone threat.

Pitta is a determined blocker that adds immediate value to anyone’s running game.

Another Viable Option: Fred Davis

Offensive Guard: Matt Slauson

The Jets would like to re-sign  Slauson, but he is generating interest from a variety of teams.

It does not help the Jets case that they talked him into taking less money last year.

The Jets had an awful run in 2012 and there looks to be no end of the misery in sight.

Look for Slauson to regain his nasty temperament in a new climate.

Another Viable Option:Leonard Davis

Offensive Tackle: Sebastian Volmer

We have effectively started week two of the league year and Sebastian Volmer is still available.

We had him down as a day three option at the very most.

Blame Jake Long for dragging his feet.

Long absolutely had to set the market first.

Now that the Dolphins have a need, Volmer could suit up in teal after playing with the rival Patriots.

Another Viable Option:Andre Smith

Center: Dan Koppen

Koppen played well for the Broncos after walking away from the Patriots in 2012.

Broncos coach John Fox told WEEI how much he respects the center who jumped into the fray on a moment’s notice after Denver lost  J.D. Walton  due to injury.

“Dan Koppen stepped right in like nothing ever happened, and he was a big reason we were able to go on that run. You have a guy waiting in the wings when J.D. got hurt, and we really didn’t drop off  a lot when he stepped in. He did a fantastic job, and he’s a guy I have a lot of respect for.”

Koppen could logically draw interest from a team like Atlanta who is now lacking depth at center after Todd McClure started his retirement buzz.

Another Viable Option:Doug Legursky

Defensive End: Elvis Dummervil

It doesn’t matter how Dummervil got into the open market.

He’s there and unless the Denver Broncos dig deep into their pockets, they will lose him.

Dummervil still has it and he is the best pass rusher that is up for grabs.

His situation could force him back into playing angry again and that is a bad look for quarterbacks  at large.

Another Viable Option: Osi Umenyiora

Defensive Tackle: Richard Seymour

The Oakland Raiders are taking a $13 million dollar cap hit for a player that is not on the team.  Seymour’s dead space cap hit is yet another reason why the Raiders fail to make progress.

Seymour’s value is in the player/coach role that will allow him to guide a group of younger interior defensive linemen.

He’s 33-years-old and dealing with a knee issue.

But he still has a lot to give.

Another Viable Option: Sedrick Ellis

Outside Linebacker: D.J. Williams

Williams has a history of off-the-field issues but when he is on he is on.

Based on who is available, he is our highest-rated option for football reasons.

His production when focused is often stellar and if his mind is right, he brings a lot of value to a team that needs help controlling the flat.

Another Viable Option:Shaun Phillips

Middle Linebacker: Karlos Dansby

Dansby was released by the Dolphins in favor of the younger Dannell Ellerbee.

Youth does not always trump experience as Dansby was still rolling in 2012-13 racking up 134 tackles.

He could quietly become the steal of the year if he latches on to a team like Atlanta or the New York Giants.

They are two groups that desperately need help at middle linebacker.

Another Viable Option: Brian Urlacher.

Cornerback: Brent Grimes

Even though he is coming off a ACL injury, Grimes is a playmaker.

He plays above his 5’10 stature  and has proven he can leap with the big boys.

He is not much for run support but that could apply to more than half of the corners in the game today.

Another Viable Option: Nnamdi Asomugha

Safety: Ed Reed

By the time this posts, Reed could be off-the-market  and with good reason.

The Pro Bowl, All Pro, Super Bowl champion safety is arguably the best that ever did it.

Will Reed choose the Ravens or the Houston Texans?

Stay tuned.

Another Viable Option: Bernard Pollard

The post NFL Free Agency: Week two’s top available players by position appeared first on Players View.

Of course when a store opens for business, there will be the early goldrush of teams looking to improve their chances of bringing a championship back to their city.

These are the top 5 situations that made the third day of NFL free agency notable.

#5 Matt Cassel Gets His Ninth Life

When the Kansas City Chiefs cut quarterback Matt Cassel, it was presumed that he would be left for dead after his two previous were nothing short of the word abysmal.

Then a funny thing happened on the way to Minnesota according to the NFL’s website.

The Vikings thought it would be a great idea to bring him in to light a fire under third-year man Christian Ponder.

We saw how this strategy worked with Mark Sanchez in new York.

The quarterback’s ego shall not be played with.

If Cassel finds traction, it will do nothing but prove Percy Harvin right.

Then again in the nine games that Cassel played in during 2012, his  QBR stat line was a dismal 36.5 out of a possible 100.

Oof.

#4 Steven Jackson Finds A New Jersey To Sell

Former St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson landed with the Atlanta Falcons as expected. 

This is seriously a high risk/high reward type of deal.

The Falcons would be wise to draft another back in the second or third round of the draft.

After nine seasons, Jackson is really nothing more than a Band Aid at this point.

#3 Ed Reed  Loves The Rodeo.

Will Ed Reed become the latest Baltimore Raven to kick rocks?

Reed told KRIV in Houston that he fell in love with the “southern hospitality” that the team showed him on his visit.

“Both of us want to get a championship, going to see if we can work some things out,” Reed said. “Conversations have been great, amazing, on the same page of what needs to get done and what we want to do.”

The Texans did indeed treat him like a king.

They flew him into town on a private jet and turned on the Texas charm.

It may be a matter of when and not if Reed becomes a Texan.

#2 The Chiefs Continue To Beat The Drum

Cornerback Sean Smith came out of Miami as the name to watch among the unrestricted cornerbacks.

He now joins the Chiefs secondary that may have added him to specifically counter Wes Welker’s arrival in Denver.

These division foes will go at it twice this year and the Chiefs are no longer the AFC West’s red-headed step child.

#1 Greg Jennings Arrives In Minnesota

Nothing is written in stone but I would roll the dice on wideout Greg Jennings being refered to as a former Green Bay Packer before Friday is over with.

The Vikings sent defensive end Jared Allen out with Jennings during his visit and we know Allen has a tremendous track record with getting his man.

Also Notable:

The New England Patriots continue to stockpile new weapons with the signing of former Seahawk Leon Washington. The Pats will host former Falcons pass rusher John Abraham over the weekend.

Nnamdi Asomugha to San Francisco? A return to Northern California could be just what he needs.

DE Michael Bennett will thrive as a Seahawk if only to treat his new one-year deal as an audition for other teams in 2014-15.

The post Top 5 moments from the third day of NFL free agency appeared first on Players View.

Of course when a store opens for business, there will be the early goldrush of teams looking to improve their chances of bringing a championship back to their city.

These are the top 5 situations that made the second day of NFL free agency notable.

#5 Revis Island Update

We waited and waited and waited.

And then nothing.

The Jets continued to move by standing still and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still knocking at the door for  Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis.

The one thing that Tampa has said is that they will not give up their 2013 first round draft pick for him.

They are however according to Yahoo, willing to ship their 2014 first-round pick to the Jets.

Unless a team gets really thirsty, expect this game of chicken to continue.

#4 There’s Bloodshed in Baltimore Pt.2

The Baltimore Ravens added Bernard Pollard to their list of Flacco Gate victims.

What happened to the needs of the many outweighing the desires of one?

Flacco’s big-money deal is setting the Ravens back by at least three seasons.

The world waits with bated breath to see what happens with Ed Reed’s situation.

Reed is scheduled to meet with the Houston Texans who can certainly use his help getting over the hump.

#3 When It Rains It Pours

The weather is consistently porous in Seattle.

In that spirit the Seahawks poured another high-profile name onto their roster in inking defensive end Cliff Avril.

ESPN has this listed as a two-year $15 million deal.

Avril’s deal may effectively kill John Abraham’s chance of landing there but it is what it is.

The Seahawks are loading up and quickly becoming  one of the big winners of the off-season.

#2 Reggie In The Motor City

Reggie Bush’s move to become the latest Detroit Lion could prove to be the impact move of this year’s free agency class.

We have seen this movie work before with Jahvid Best in the lead role.

The Bush signing stacks the Lions backfield bigtime.

Detroit has bruiser balance with Mikel LeShoure and and a home run hitter with Bush.

The Lions have some defensive luster in watching Avril walk but their offense is now ready to run a track meet with anyone.

Bang. Bang.

#1 Poker Faces

The New England Patriots in one fell swoop shed Wes Welker to gain Danny Amendola.

In the process they did nothing to shed their reputation as the Evil Empire of football.

With the exception of Tom Brady and a couple of rowdy tight ends, the Patriots have proven to be quite heartless in their contract dealings but hey business is business.

After spending two years fighting with Welker over money, they overpaid Amendola moments after Welker latched on the Denver Broncos for a similar amount.

In Denver, Welker got two years for $12 million.

The Patriots gave Amendola the longterm deal that Welker coveted which was 5 years for $31 million.

You do your own math and make up your own mind as to whether or not the Patriots were being spiteful.

In his four years in the NFL, Amendola has played one season in which he completed all 16 games.

Last season he played in 11 games.  Heck, in 2011 he only played in one game.

As hard as he works and for as much potential as he has, Amendola at this stage of his career is not worth that kind of bread.

He is a right place, right time rebound signing that is out-of-character for New England.

Don’t blame Amendola he took nice money to go play with Tom Brady over Sam Bradford.

You would have done it to.

Amendola came into the league sticking to Welker’s script and has now has followed in his footsteps.

The post Top 5 moments from the second day of NFL Free Agency appeared first on Players View.

Of course when a store opens for business, there will be the early goldrush of teams looking to improve their chances of bringing a championship back to their city.

These are the top 10 situations that made the first day of free agency notable.

#10 Buffalo Hits Restart

The Buffalo Bills wisely came to their senses and realized that Ryan Fitzpatrick may not be a NFL-caliber starting quarterback but he sure fooled them into thinking he was one.

Fitzpatrick told WGR 550 in Buffalo that he’s not happy with the outcome.

“This isn’t something that all of a sudden was thrown at me, I was blindsided by it, this is something that we talked about for a week or two,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was a lot of just private conversations. It was nice for it to be kind of left between me and [general manager Buddy Nix] and not played out through the media.

“It stinks. I really did enjoy being a Buffalo Bill, and unfortunately we couldn’t get anything worked out.”

The Harvard graduate might turn up as a back-up somewhere but don’t look for him to be a starter again.

#9 There’s Bloodshed in Oakland

The Oakland Raiders cut receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, defensive back Michael Huff and defensive end David Tollefson.

Both Bey and Huff are first round picks that carried hefty price tags.

“The Raiders would like to thank Michael Huff and Darrius Heyward-Bey for their contributions to our organization, both on the field and especially in our community, over the last several years,” the team said in a statement. “We sincerely wish them well in their future endeavors.”

Look for Huff to land on his feet in a destination such as San Diego.

#8 The Eagles Stay Practical 

As cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was leaving the Philadelphia Eagles secondary, safety Patrick Chung was coming in the door.

Chung spent some time as the last line of defense for the New England Patriots and could emerge as a star talent in Philadelphia.

#7 Same Old Song Down South

The Atlanta Falcons are a very particular bunch and they spent day one retaining familiar faces. Tight end Tony Gonzalez announced that he is back for at least another year.

It was reported that cornerback Brent Grimes was getting his locker back on D-Block.

That proved the be inaccurate.

What did happen is that the Falcons managed to ink left tackle Sam Baker to a six-year deal.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff told the NFL Network’s Total Access program that it may be a week or two before the team jumps into the free agent waters.

The splash won’t be a big one as the Falcons are running out of cap space and in a hurry.

#6 The Baltimore Ravens Get Clipped

The Ravens lost a trio of key starters and failed to get veteran safety Ed Reed’s deal done on day one.

The ultimate price to be paid for Joe Flacco’s mammoth deal is that the Ravens have lost middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbee, defensive end Paul Kruger, wide receiver Anquan Boldin and possibly safety Ed Reed.

Baltimore  got a deal done with former New York Giant Chris Canty but a chunk was definitely taken out of the champ’s armor.

#5 No Wes? No Problem!

Wes Welker and the New England Patriots broke off contract talks on Tuesday and Tom Brady’s favorite target is now up for grabs.

With all the negative energy that has flowed between both parties over the past two years, this might be for the best.

Welker will finally get a chance to prove that he is not just a shifty guy that was the product of the Patriots system.

The Patriots will finally be forced to go look at a wideout in the draft that fits the traditional mold of such.

#4 Jay Cutler Gets Help

Jay Cutler is tired of getting his tail handed to him.

The Bears heard his cry and went and got him a real left tackle in Jerman Bushrod to watch his back.

Cutler also got a new safety valve in tight end Martellus Bennett. 

By the end of the year we may look back on these moves as the best in show.

#3 Kansas City Keeps On Keeping On

The Chiefs continue to fortify their ranks.

With the Alex Smith trade now over and done with, Matt Cassel is due to be cut and tight end Anthony Fasano is on the way.

The Chiefs can now go all in on the best players available at the draft.

Well played by new GM John Dorsey.

#2 To Revis or Not To Revis

The Darrelle Revis trade drama has the potential to become as tiresome as any episode of the Brett Favre mess.

Either the Jets are dragging this thing out for the sake of attention (very possible) or the market is not as thirsty for Revis as New York anticipated it to be.

Regardless, the Jets have an offer from Tampa Bay on the table per numerous sources such as Pro Football Talk. 

What they do with it is their business.

As each day passes other options such as Sean Smith, Brent Grimes and yes Nnamdi Asomugha will start to fly off the board as the Jets drag their feet on getting something done.

#1 It’s Getting Hot In South Beach

The Miami Dolphins lit a fire under GM Jeff Ireland because he FINALLY made a few moves that can at the very least should make them a wildcard-bound playoff team.

Mike Wallace and  Dannell Ellerbee were two of the most coveted names in free agency.

Ireland got it done and for once he got it right.

Other Day One Moves Of Note: 

The St. Louis Rams secured TE Jared Cook with a five-year deal.

The Cleveland Browns signed defensive tackle Desmond Bryant to a five-year deal.

The Minnesota Vikings brought back wide receiver Jerome Simpson.

Day Two Predictions:

1) Darrell Revis finds a new home.

2) Reggie Bush takes over for Jahvid Best in the Motor City

3) Sean Smith joins the Eagles secondary

4) Wes Welker bids adieu to the Patriots

5) Charles Woodson will head West to the 49ers.

The post Top 10 moments from the first day of NFL free agency appeared first on Players View.

While in Pittsburgh, Harrison was brutal and at times crossed the line to send a message to opponents.

Here is his five most notorious moments. 

#5 Mohamed Massaquoi Unwillingly Loses His Mind.

In what was a purely dirty moment, Harrison cemented his status as a the bully of the NFL after his 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Honors.

#4 The 100-Yard Championship Return 

Super Bowl 43 gave Harrison one of his first tastes of primetime adulation.

This goaline interception and subsequent 100-yard touchdown return at the end of the second quarter did not physically harm the Cardinals.

It did obliterate what was about to become a game-changing drive that could have sent the Cards on their way to their first title.

#3 Cleveland fan Meets His Untimely Demise.

Drunk fans that run onto football fields are idiots.

This guy found out why.

The worst part of this video is when the offender is interviewed and claims that Harrison’s bodyslam did not hurt.

#2 The Demolition of Colt McCoy

This hit is considered to be Harrison’s most violent moment. I think you may disagree when you see number one.

This helmet-to-helmet blow changed the life of Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy forever.

It was this incident that drew McCoy’s papa on to the national stage to criticize the Browns for how they handled his son’s concussion.

McCoy has not been considered a starter since Harrison put him down.

Sensing a trend on this list, maybe Harrison was never that evil. He just didn’t like the Browns.

# 1 Vince Young Gets Trapped in a Moment He Can’t Get Out Of 

The granddaddy of them all.

Harrison’s part in this tag team suplex could have been what knocked good sense out of Vince Young.

Football fans watched in awe as Young laid on the turf for what seemed like an hour before bouncing back up.

The scariest moment for the other Titans was Harrison’s walk-off strut with Lamaar Woodley at the end of the clip.

Who else whats some of Deebo?!

The post James Harrison and his five most notorious moments appeared first on Players View.

Each of the 32 NFL teams have players they want to keep, players that are letting go and players that they will bid for.

Let’s see how it’s going down in the NFC South.

Atlanta Falcons

Needs: MLB, RB, CB, DE, TE

The division champs in theory don’t have a lot to take care of.

However looks can be deceiving.

The Falcons overlooked issues with poor middle linebacker play has haunted them in post-season play.

In 2012, local UGA product Akeem Dent shook out as more liability than asset when he assumed the starter’s job from the previously functional Curtis Lofton.

The pickings at the position are slim in free agency with the rumors that the Baltimore Ravens are set to cut a nice check to Dannell Ellerbe before Tuesday’s deadline.

There is the outside chance that Rey Mauluga won’t see eye-to-eye with the Cincinnati Bengals and hit the road.

Running back and defensive end are two holes that can be filled with new veteran faces.

Steven Jackson’s name has  been the most dropped as the eventual replacement for the released Michael Turner.

The logic behind trading one banged-up back for another doesn’t make sense.

A younger name that could  just need a change of scenery to flourish is Shonn Greene.

It would not be a shock if the Falcons tried to undo the mistake that they made with free agent bust Ray Edwards by inking another defensive end in either Osi Umenyiora, Cliff Avril or Dwight Freeney.

Atlanta cut cornerback Dunta Robinson. The speculation is that the team will bring back Brent Grimes who spent 2012-13 on injured reserve. ‘

If not, Carey Williams really stepped his game up for the Ravens last season when called upon.

There is also the feeling that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is still young enough to turn his career around if he opts out of Philadelphia.

Don’t look for Aqib Talib’s name to be associated with the Falcons.

His various issues would rot the infamous Falcons filter to the core.

The jury still remains out on how the Falcons will handle their dilemma at tight end.

If  San Francisco lets Delanie Walker go he would be a perfect fit.

The Falcons don’t have a chunk of money to spend and they have their own free agents to sign.

Don’t expect them to  make more than one splash in free agency.

Carolina Panthers

Needs: S, CB, WR, RB, DT

The Carolina Panthers are still very much a work in progress.

Offensively, the hot spots on their agenda has to fixing their tepid running game and finding a wide receiver that can keep up with Cam Newton’s arm.

Here is the problem.

The Panthers have no money to spend.

They were forced to cut their best corner Chris Gamble to get under the cap.

The four million dollars that they currently have to play with almost insures that unless a slew of generous vets step up to reshuffle their deals, Carolina won’t be players in free agency.

That’s too bad as the availability of wide receiver Mike Wallace would have been the perfect horse for the Panthers offense to run with.

Defensively and as a whole, Carolina has to have safety on their radar as their must fix issue.

The Arizona Cardinals just put Adrian Wilson on the street.

As one of six players with both 25 interceptions and 25 sacks, Wilson has both the pedigree and leadership to hold the seat warm for a emerging draft pick.

Other safety that could end up on the Panthers radar us Dawan Landry.

If he is willing to take garbage money, hometown favorite Chris Canty can take care of the team’s needs on the defense’s interior line.

New Orleans Saints

Needs: S, OLB, WR, OL

Like the Panthers, the Saints hands are tied with only $3 million available under the cap.

First up, whomever conjured up the rumor that Ravens safety Ed Reed could end his career as a Saint because of a hometown connection should quit playing with people’s emotions.

If Reed gets away from Baltimore it will be strictly because he wants more money than the Ravens are willing to give him.

Even if the Saints find various ways to pump more money into the books, the acquisition of Reed seems like more than a longshot.

Another thing to consider is that after Carl Nicks left town in 2012, the quality of the Saints pass protection noticeably decreased.

The team is faced with the same issue in 2013 as left tackle Jermon Bushrod could end up working elsewhere if the Saints can’t get something done before Tuesday.

Three names that are almost a lock to wear a new logo are defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, wide reciver Devery Henderson and defensive end Turk McBride.

Running back Chris Ivory is a restricted free agent that may now be expendable if New Orleans decides to go ahead and lean on 2011 first round pick Mark Ingram.

Looking at the list of who New Orleans is fighting to keep and the money they have to keep them with, it’s not very plausible that they will land a big ticket free agent to address any of their needs.

Stay tuned as another move or two has to be on the horizon for the Saints to be able ink draft picks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Needs: LB, CB, WR

Tampa is positioned to use free agency to upgrade their roster yet again.

In 2012, the Bucaneers were players that got their hands on nice pieces such as reciever Vincent Jackson that paid immediate dividends.

Tampa is $30.1 million under the cap and  has several options to play with.

They stand to lose defensive end Michael Bennett.

Until they pull off that Darrelle Revis trade that everybody and their mama has been linked to, they need a cornerback.

Like Atlanta, look for names such as Cary Williams and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to come forth.

If Miami’s Sean Smith gets in the water, Tampa is a perfect fit for an emerging corner with a generous upside.

Two names that are floating out there as potential fits as slot receivers are Danny Amendola and Wes Welker.

If the Buccaneers add that dimension to their offense, it could provide quarterback Josh Freeman with both the opportunity to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure.

2013-14 is reportedly the last act of Freeman’s audition for the Buccaneers.

If he doesn’t get it done this season, the Buccaneers are not expected to offer him another deal.

Takeo Spikes who was just released by the Chargers could step into Tampa and immediately bring clarity to their linebackers unit.

Saturday: AFC South, NFC East

The post NFC South: 2013 free agency options appeared first on Players View.

As with anything, athletes are not immune to shaping the culture. These 10 videos represent a cross-section of the most relevant, imaginative and hilarious shakes available.

There are certainly more to come but in the meantime, this is the creme of the crop.

#10 Denver Nuggets

This effort was led by JaVale McGhee  and is one of the latest entries into the dance party.

It has all the elements of a classic Harlem Shake routine. It’s starts off with an ambivalent cast of characters and it quickly melts into a furious run of oddball movements and pop culture references.

While not very original, it was executed fairly well and for that it earns the 10 spot.

#9 NFL Draft Prospects

While preparing for the NFL Draft, this group of prospects got together to let it all hang out.

Watch out for Santa Claus and the soccer ball.

#8 Manchester City Soccer Team 

Wow. The champs know how to weave international and domestic pop culture references into one hot mess.  Whomever that is at the bottom of the rolling cart with the diaper on needs counseling.

#7 Kansas Jayhawks Basketball 

These kids got coach Bill Self to draw up the perfect intro play to their dance of the bizarre.

Shout out to the Roman gladiator.

#6 Ferris State Hockey 

There is only one thing that matters here. Gumby is in the house.

#5 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football

The first day of spring football yielded this one.

The setup was classic. A spurned player going off as the next play sets up was a smooth intro.

The first act was the best act.

#4 Toronto Raptors 

It’s all about the remix. The Raptors provided a 2-for-1 special that was longer and funnier than most.

#3 Oregon Ducks 

Watch for the pause and kudos for somebody finally thinking about the feelings of the Kool Aid Man.

#2 Miami Heat 

The attention to detail is why the Heat’s shake is easily the most popular on the internet.

LeBron James is in costume as King James. Mario Chalmers is Super Mario, the Bird Man behaves like a  bird.

Chris Bosh however failed to embrace his inner dinosaur.

It should have been number one. Except…

#1 UGA Swim Team 

The Bulldogs called up Captain Nemo and pulled the trigger on the most creative and most likely the hardest shake video to pull off yet.

The post The top 10 Harlem Shake videos: sports edition appeared first on Players View.

In doing so they top our week 17 NBA power rankings.

#1 Miami Heat (40-14)

As impressive as LeBron James has been, it is his supporting cast that has Miami thumping the opposition right now.  Shane Battier is shooting 60-percent over nine games from three-point land.

#2 San Antonio Spurs (45-13)

The cagey veterans keep on keeping on. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt and for how long. The Spurs just win.

#3 Oklahoma City Thunder (41-15)

The Thunder has broken down from time to time. That is going to happen to every team in the NBA.

The debacle against the Houston Rockets is what it is and it certainly is not an indictment on the status of that team.

#4 Los Angeles Clippers (40-18)

The Clippers have to decide what they want to do. How they were handled by the Spurs last week was disappointing. After the Spurs jettisoned them out of the playoffs last season, it should have been that starting five’s personal business to take down the older group each and every time they met this season.

It was less than a month ago that Miami took them to the shed as well. To be the man you have to beat the man. Truer words have never been spoken in sports.

#5 Denver Nuggets (35-22)

The Nuggets have a gut check coming up this week against the Thunder. If they can fix their issues with perimeter shooting they can get back on another longterm hot streak.

#6  Indiana Pacers (35-21) 

The Pacers are looking incredible  at points ( hello New York).  Look for them to rumble on.

#7 Memphis Grizzlies  (37-18)

Reports of the Grizzlies demise have been exaggerated in their P.R.(Post Rudy) lifetime.

The Grizzlies P.R. edition  have the unenviable task of taking on the Heat during the middle of the week.

Don’t be shocked if their defense comes up big. The question is will it be big enough to win?

#8 New York Knicks ( 33-20) 

The Knicks are on a slow and painful slide to the bottom of the playoff heap. There are many reasons for their mediocrity. Shumpert is off and they failed to genuinely improve themselves via trade. Those two just get the party started. Coach Mike Woodson still has a lot of work to do.

#9 Chicago Bulls (32-24)

Ok Derrick Rose dunked during a pregame practice on Sunday.  That’s cool and everything but the Bulls need him on the court to spark that offense. If not, that video does not mean a lot.

#10 Golden State Warriors (33-23)

GS got themselves a signature win over the Spurs. They are building a winning streak that could continue to build on something solid if they keep trending up.

#11 Brooklyn Nets (33-24)

Just when Deron Williams starts to play better, oops… Joe Johnson goes and gets banged up. If wasn’t for bad luck…

#12 Houston Rockets (31-27)

1) Carlos Delfino moving to power forward could tell the story of how consistent the Rockets can be. 2)  What the Washington Wizards did to them on Saturday kills a lot of momentum that their victory over the Thunder stashed in their confidence.

#13 Atlanta Hawks (31-23)

So Josh Smith stayed in Atlanta after all.  Let’s see how that works out. Odds are it will yield another ‘eh’ week from a ‘eh’ team that is hanging on until next season.

#14  Utah Jazz( 31-25)

Of all the teams that did not make a big splash by Thursday’s trade deadline, the Jazz are the most disappointing. They are standing on the cusp of being a good team and yet failed to commit to dedicating themselves to greatness this year.

#15 Los Angeles Lakers (28-29)

The Lakers are just one  game under .500 and Kobe Bryant has a problem with Mark Cuban’s mouth. Cuban likes to make money so he should take on a fifth job as Bryant’s personal motivator. Bryant did promise a playoffs birth afterall.

#16 Boston Celtics (29-27)

Life after Rondo isn’t looking so frilly now that the Celts had to take their show on the road.

#17 Milwaukee Bucks (26-28) 

It’s time for J.J. Reddick to repay the Bucks for saving from a life in Orlando and help that unit push forward. The Bucks have a manageable schedule this week that should allow him to really settle in with his new peers.

#18 Toronto Raptors (23-33)

Now that the Raptors are playing like a playoff team with the addition of Rudy Gay, the question becomes is there enough time for them to make it? Doubtful. They will have to play almost flawless basketball  to get into the dance. It can be done but the room for error is almost nil.

#19 Washington Wizards (17-37)

The Wizards are going to take someone’s spot as a playoff team next year. There is too much ground for them to cover this season but they will enjoy the spoiler role as they move along.  Ask The Rockets how this team looks these days.

#20 Detroit Pistons (22-36)

Will Bynum has an alternate career waiting for him as prizefighter. In the meantime, he and the rest of the Pistons need to look at teams like the Raptors and Wizards and figure out what is missing.

#21 Dallas Mavericks (25-30)

Each time that their logo appears or their name is mentioned the tune ” Had A Bad Day” comes to mind.Its not just that the Mavericks are coming up short, it’s how they are coming up short. Dirk Nowitzski probably raised his hand when he heard the word amnesty only to realize the boss was talking about somebody else.

#22 Portland Trailblazers (26-30) 

They lost to the Suns and they just stopped the bleeding on a seven-game losing streak. There is not much to get excited about after they flirted with fighting for a playoff spot.

#23 New Orleans Hornets (20-37) 

They are better than they look after losing a few games by less than five points. The Hornets are a young team that are just cutting their teeth.

#24 Cleveland Cavaliers (18-30) 

They are ranked 28th in defense.  That is why they only have 18 wins on the chalkboard. The Cavaliers have their moments but not to many of them equal wins.

#25 Philadelphia 76ers (22-32)

The Andrew Byum saga continues or rather discontinues. What else can be said besides the 76ers did not even look competitive against the Heat?

#26 Minnesota Timberwolves (20-33)

The Timberwolves look uninspired not some of the time…all of the time.

#27 Sacramento Kings (19-38)

Thomas Robinson to his good fortune had the good luck to get away from the team where young careers go to die.  I wonder if there is film somewhere of him sprinting out of the locker room?

#28 Phoenix Suns (18-39)

So how did firing the coach work out? 5-11 could not have been what the front office or the fans had in mind.

#29 Charlotte Bobcats (13-43)

They have already won more games than they did last year. That’s a plus right?

#30 Orlando Magic (15-41)

Bad. How many ways can you call a team bad? Trading J.J. Redick was the Magic’s way of waving the white flag. This year is over and they are building for the future.

The post LeBron James and the Miami Heat take over the Week 17 NBA power rankings appeared first on Players View.

As the Super Bowl’s confetti memories fade to black, fans start to plot and scheme about what their teams needs are and who they favor in the upcoming draft process.

Players View has a series of day-by-day previews. Follow us on Twitter @Players View for instant analysis over the weekend. We will recap the events of each day as well.

Day One: Saturday: Offensive Linemen, Tight Ends & Kickers

Offensive Linemen: The offensive tackles not only will steal the spotlight within their own category. Look for some of the names listed below to make a case for being chosen number one overall.

#1 Luke Joeckel-OT- Texas A&M

There is a contingent that believes that Joeckel is just to good for the Kansas City Chiefs to pass up with the number one pick.

He stands at 6’6 and weighs 310 pounds and is quick and disciplined.

Joeckel was a big part of the reason why Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel became such a rockstar.

His ability to move to the second level to take out linebackers after he sat down his primary assignment was almost unparalleled during the 2012 season.

Joeckel uses his hands well. Once he gets placed within a NFL-quality strength & conditioning program, he will become an elite problem for opponents.

#2 Chance Warmack-OG-Alabama

Standing at 6’2 Warmack is normally a bit small to bid for an elite spot in the NFL on the offensive line.

However, the kid is a bulldog in both his durability and his relentless nature.

Playing in the hyper competitive SEC should cool many fears about his size.

Warmack has a lot of power in the lower half of his body.

He is also a very disciplined player that does not miss very many assignments.

He will not have the quickest feet at the combine.

He will however impress with his tenacity, intelligence and proper technique.

#3 Eric Fisher-OT-Central Michigan 

Fisher has a nasty attitude that makes up for his perceived lack of upper body strength.

His reps during the weight room part of the show will tell the story about how hard he has worked in the off-season.

If he has packed on a little more muscle on to his 6’7  frame, he could potentially hop scotch Joeckel as the highest rated tackle heading into the pro day season.

Fisher is incredibly quick and has the potential to grow into a monster.

#4 D.J. Fluker-OT-Alabama

At 339 pounds, Fluker is a big boy. He uses his size well. Watching some of his 2012 tape, I was mostly impressed with how easily he handles the bull rush.

He sets a nice foundation and he does not let his hips get contorted out of position when setting the pocket.

A nice word for Fluker is balance.

#5 Johnathan Cooper-OG-North Carolina

Pass protection is Cooper’s specialty.  He will show off his mirror skills, shifty feet and superior arm extension on day one.

His most impressive trait is his almost instant recovery speed which allows him to mask mistakes as if they never happened.

*Breakout Candidate* Lane Johnson-OT-Oklahoma 

Each year there are players that jump off-of-the-screen in their category and climb into the front of everyone’s thought process.

Lance Johnson could very well become that dark horse for the offensive linemen.

The former tight ends has pretty big mitts for hands and used his ability to punch and move to handle his business at Oklahoma.

Those familiar with the combine process are aware of the mirror drill that pits candidates in direct competition with each other.

Johnson’s shifty feet, wingspan and hand skills will help him push forward if he can turn in a nice 40 time.

Book it.

Tight Ends:  The top three tight ends of the year are considered to be the measuring stick for this group. A deeper look may prove otherwise.

Tyler Eifert-TE-Notre Dame

Eifert reminds me a lot of the New Orleans Saints playmaker Jimmy Graham.

He is tall and lean and comes down with tough catches that make games count.

His style of play does not make him the best blocker in the world.

Its obvious that he will need to work on becoming a better inline blocker to help any NFL team run the football.

#2 Zack Ertz-TE-Stanford

Ertz stepped in for Coby Fleener last season and did a solid job.

He is used to the spotlight after being a high school star yet fought off injuries at Stanford.

Ertz is not a stud blocker or receiver.

He does everything well yet does nothing great.

He is the best all-around prospect in the process.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

His route running is strong and only lacks elite speed.

#3 Jordan Reed-TE-Florida

Reed needs a strong combine during both the interview process and on the field to make up for some lost ground.

The former Gator was used as a Swiss Army Knife and never sold anyone on what his identity is as a tight end.

How he was used within the Gators’ scheme is largely not his fault.

His behavior was.

Figure in a serious reputation for having a bad attitude and you have a kid that oozes talent that already has a lot to prove.

Coming into last season we predicted that Reed would dominate at his position and that potential is still there.

He needs to use Saturday as an opportunity to prove that he can do what fellow-Gator Percy Harvin did when he landed with the Vikings.

Don’t be surprised if he does well that a team won’t try him as a slot receiver as he really can’t block at all.

#4 Travis Kelce-Tight End- Cincinnati 

If you are looking for this year’s Rob Gronkowski, Kelse is your guy.

He stands at 6’5 and weighs 255 pounds and has no issues with blocking or running folks over when he catches the ball.

Kelce may not have the star power to hit the clubs with LMFAO but on the field he is similar to Gronk in that he is deceptively fast.

Discipline issues in the past may come back to haunt him if he does not use Saturday as a springboard to showcase his talents.

#5 Gavin Escobar-TE-San Diego St.

In the playmaker vein, Escobar was a big fish in a small pond.

He is the most intriguing of the top prospects.

He holds his blocks well, has nice acceleration and can catch balls in traffic.

Escobar brings a lot to the table.

And he also has a lot to prove seeing that he did not spend Saturdays playing against the best that the nation had to offer.

*Breakout Candidate* Vance McDonald-Tight End-Rice

McDonald has the work ethic and the skill set to get his name called a lot during the broadcast.

He is built like a tank yet occupied the vertical threat role at Rice.

He blocks well in space which will bode well for him in the eyes of teams that have mobile quarterbacks.

He will standout if only because he can do things that a lot of guys his size can’t do.

Kickers: There is only a couple of kickers that really stand out.

#1 Dustin Hopkins-K-Florida State

137 touchbacks in three years of play is a nice stat to have.

In 2012 competition Hopkins converted 25-of-30 field goal tries and only missed one extra point.

#2 Quinn Sharp-K-Oklahoma State

Sharp is a duel-threat that has made the rounds as both a kicker and a punter.

Over the past four years he has 220 touchbacks to his credit.

Sharp also has an aggressive side in kickoff coverage and has no problem throwing himself on a body to make a tackle.

There is no tackling drill for kickers but it’s nice to see a kicker get his hands dirty.

The post NFL Scouting Combine 2013: 14 Day One Names To Watch appeared first on Players View.

#1 San Antonio Spurs (38-11) 

Consistency has vaulted them into the top spot despite the fact that Tim Duncan’s injury could cause him to miss him to miss some time this week.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder (35-12) 

I believe that the Russell Westbrook’s temper tantrum was not that big of a deal. The point guard is obviously going through something. The bigger pause should be how we discuss his game. As of late Westbrook has looked awfully well…average.

#3 Los Angeles Clippers (34-15)

Uh-oh. The Clippers look bad without Chris Paul and now comes word that Blake Griffin is hurting as well. Its time to see just how deep that bench really is.

#4 Miami Heat (30-14)

The Heat keep on winning despite the charges that Dwyane Wade is not what he used to be and that they can’t rebound.

Hmm..

#5 Denver Nuggets (30-18) 

The Nuggets have taken six straight.  2013 has been good to them and their challenge will be to keep up this momentum after the break.

#6 Indiana Pacers (28-19) 

To keep an exact pulse in the rankings, there has to be some consideration for the teams that are killing it right now even if their overall record may fall a game or two short of their competition.

And with 13 straight wins at home, and a victory over the Heat, the Pacers are killing it.

#7 Golden State Warriors (30-17) 

Andrew Bogut is back just in time to help the Warriors kept it pushing after a better-than-expected January.

#8 New York Knicks ( 30-15)

The Knicks are coasting along but come Sunday they will be tested by a Clippers team that should have Chris Paul back. That one game will tell us a lot about each team.

#9 Memphis Grizzlies (30-16)

The Rudy Gay trade did not immediately make the Grizzlies better. It only served to complicate a situation that thrives on personal and strategic balance.

#10 Chicago Bulls (29-18) 

The Bulls are proving to be road warriors. Key injuries have their current trek in jeopardy.  If they can pull off wins against  the Nuggets, the Spurs and the Pacers, they straight up deserve top five consideration.

#11 Brooklyn Nets (28-19) 

The best news the Nets got all week is that center Brook Lopez is headed to the All-Star game.  The Nets are hanging in there but are they really a good team? Or are they a mediocre team that pulls off some strong games from time-to-time?

#12 Milwaukee Bucks (25-21) 

The Bucks are poised to turn it up after the break. A moment off to make a few adjustments and focus on the positives such as the play of Larry Sanders, will get them over the hump in contests against some of the better groups in the league.

#13 Houston Rockets (26-23)

The faster the opponent, the bigger the challenge for the Rockets. When they can defensively get a grip on slowing some of these teams down (i.e. Denver), disappointments will turn into highlights.

#14 Utah Jazz (26-22)

The Jazz flip-flop so much that its hard to get a definite read on them. The numbers say one thing but their habit of  putting up a glass jaw at the strangest of times, equals a team that either folds and/or can not keep its focus.

#15 Portland Trailblazers (24-23)

J.J. Hickson is shooting 56-percent and making the Trailblazers relevant. Boom.

#16 Los Angeles Lakers (22-26)

Don’t trust their current success. Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are due to bellyache again. In 5-4-3-2…

#17 Atlanta Hawks (26-20) 

The Hawks could make a move as the trade deadline draws near. It’s doubtful, but its a possibility.

Atlanta is dead set on sticking to the plan of trying to lure either Chris Paul or Dwight Howard to the Highlight Factory in the offseason to build on what’s currently there.

#18 Boston Celtics (24-23)

Are the Celts really better without Rajon Rondo in the mix? Maybe so….nah. Doc Rivers is just coaching that team up  to be better than what they are. The winds of trade are blowing hard.

#19 Dallas Mavericks (20-27) 

The Mavericks can not close a game to save their lives. Call it a lack of heart, effort or both.

#20 Philadelphia 76ers (20-26)

Philly has put together a couple of wins against what would be considered so-so competition. It’s all good as they wait for the Celtics’ magic carpet ride to come to an end so they can takeover the Atlantic.

#21 Detroit Pistons (18-30)

Parting with Tayshaun Prince was a sign that the Pistons are already looking ahead to next season.

#22 Toronto Raptors (17-31)

Rudy Gay is in the house and he has already made his mark on the Raptors as an individual. How will he fare in a leadership role? That is the magic question.

#23 New Orleans Hornets ( 15-33)

A rough week for the Hornets/Pelicans. No fellas, it’s not time to get off the rollercoaster yet.

#24 Minnesota Timberwolves (18-26)

Their highlight of the week was beating the brakes off the Hornets. Yet, their overall outlook is still much, much more bleak until Ricky Rubio shows consistent signs of life.

#25 Phoenix Suns (15-32)

Mike Beasely sold a bucket of wolf tickets and personified the life of a Sun when he failed to be the “beast” of a player that he said he would be. Actually that’s not true. He’s a beast of burden.

#26 Washington Wizards (11-35)

John Wall’s return has them winning games now and then. It’s plausible that they could finish the season as a .500 team.

#27 Sacramento Kings (17-32)

Seattle should research the restrictions of the Lemon Law before they take this challenge on.

#28 Cleveland Cavaliers (14-34)

The Cavaliers really don’t deserve Kyrie Irving. The rest of that roster often hangs around with a look of awe on their face as he does his thing. What they should be doing is finding a way to join the party.

#29 Charlotte Bobcats (11-35) 

You know the Bobcats do what the Bobcats do and we try to find new and improved ways to talk about how bad they are.

#30 Orlando Magic (14-33)

The Magic just don’t seem to care anymore. Glen ” Big Baby” Davis certainly might be thrilled to be out for the season as this spiral of misery is due to continue.

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The AFC Champion, Baltimore Ravens are counting on spiritual adrenaline to uplift them over the NFC Champion, San Francisco 49ers.

At midseason the window for this Ravens team was closing, but there’s still a slight draft in the air.

On the other sideline, San Francisco was predicted to be here from day one. It’s just no one thought that a kid named Colin Kaepernick would be the starting quarterback on February 3^rd.

Will the Ravens be flying high back to Crabcake City?

Will the 49ers bring championship number six back to the Bay?

Will Joe Flacco earn the right to call himself elite?

Which Harbaugh brother will be victorious?

Who will have more rushing yards – Ray Rice or Frank Gore?

Which defense will step up?

Who will be the hero?

In honor of Super Bowl 47, here are forty seven predictions that I generated using common sense, analysis and to a certain extent out-of-the-box thinking.

These predictions are exclusively my own as Adrian Glover and Wade Thompson will deliver their final fireside chat for this season on Thursday.

Dim the lights…

#1 Alicia Keys’ rendition of the National Anthem will be the greatest ever.

The girl on fire has both the passion and the pipes. Whitney Houston will lose the crown.

#2 Ray Lewis will be seen crying during the National Anthem.

The emotion of the moment will overwhelm him just before he steps on the field to shatter somebody’s spine.

#3 Baltimore (+3.5) is the bet of the game.

You read it here first.

#4 The result of the coin toss will be “tails.”

I know for a fact that this has a better than 49-percent chance of being true.

#5 San Francisco 49ers will get the ball first.

Call it a hunch.

#6 The first pass will be a dud.

On the first play from scrimmage, Kaepernick will throw an incomplete pass intended for Michael Crabtree.

#7 It will take San Francisco’s offense two drives to get started.

Their first offensive possession will be a three-and-out.

#8 A field goal will be the first score of the game.

Baltimore will witness some “U” on “U” crime as former Miami alumni Frank Gore will run right over Ray Lewis.

The drive will eventually stall.

# 9 San Francisco kicker David Akers won’t choke.

He will regain some of the swagger that he lost after earlier key misses.

#10 San Francisco will own the lead at the end of the 1^st quarter.

The 49ers defense won’t allow the Ravens to get off to the same quick start that the Falcons did in the NFC Championship Game.

#11 Vernon Davis will score the first touchdown of the game.

Somewhere Mike Singletary will take all the credit for the player that Davis is today.

#12 San Francisco will be leading at halftime.

Somewhere in an exotic locale Tom Brady will chuckle and golf clap with his flock of beautiful people at his side.

#13 Jay-Z will make a special guest appearance at halftime.

He will not make the same mistake that Jermaine Dupri did with Janet Jackson.

#14 Destiny’s Child will reunite during the halftime show.

As this is happening, we will wonder ‘what ever happened to the Bud Bowl?’

#15 Thank God for Kate Upton

No weapon formed against her shall prosper.

#16 It’s really all about mom and dad.

John and Jim’s parents will appear on camera at least 27  times by halftime.

You can even go as far as to make it a drinking game. Drink once for every close-up.

#17 Purple comes back swinging

Baltimore will score on their first possession to start the second half.

#18 Flacco will use a familiar face to get it done.

Dennis Pitta will catch the touchdown.

#19 Baltimore’s defense will score a touchdown.

Look for T-Sizzle to make the hit and Bernard Pollard to scoop up the loose ball and take it to the house.

#20 San Francisco’s defense won’t generate any turnovers.

They will wear down over the course of the game and eventually lose their way.

#22 This will be Randy Moss’ final game as a 49er.

The self-proclaimed greatest of all-time is about to go house hunting.

#23 Ray Rice will have more catches than rushing attempts.

The screen game will provide his screen time.

#24 Frank Gore will rush for over one hundred yards.

BUT…

#25 Frank Gore will not find the end zone.

Sorry bro.

#26 Colin Kaepernick will not rush for over 75 yards.

Ravens defensive end Haloti Ngata will tap “Kap” on the shoulder during pre-game warmups and mouth the term ‘R-G-III.’

#27 While Ravens backup RB Bernard Pierce will break 75.

It seems that the Ravens have two little engines that can.

#28 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will refuse to smile.

Matter of fact let’s go a step further and state that he will lose his mind at some point in the third quarter.

#29 Aldon Smith will record 2.5 sacks

Cue the theme from The Blind Side.

#30 The Mile High Hero Will Return

Jacoby Jones will contribute more than Anquan Boldin will.

#31 Joe Flacco will throw for more than 350 yards

Yes, he will become a lot more expensive.

#32 Vernon Davis will score a total of two touchdowns.

He will keep one of the balls and hand it to his boy Alex Smith on the sideline.  Grown men everywhere will go ‘aaaaaw.’

#33 Ravens safety Ed Reed will have two interceptions

There will be one in each half.

#34 Ray Lewis will finish as the game’s leading tackler.

When this stat is announced, Phil Sims will go on and on about the similarities between Lewis and Jerome Bettis.

Never mind the fact that they play on two different sides of the ball.

#35 Lewis will cry at least twice during the game and for at least five minutes afterwards.

Those tears will be sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.

#36 Dashon Goldson will be flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit.

The Ravens receivers will get under his skin.

#37 Donte Whitner will pick up the same penalty.

See # 36

#38 Phil Simms will mention that this will be Ray Lewis’ final game 234 times.

If you are brave, you can replace the Harbaugh family drinking game with this one.

#39 Colin Kaepernick will fumble at least once while scrambling to find an open receiver.

He has been cool and steady thus far but the bright lights of the biggest stage will rattle his nerves.

#40 This year’s game will not come down to the final possession.

Not every one can be an epic.

#41 Ravens WR Torrey Smith will score two touchdowns

Champ Bailey will reach out to form a Bay-Area chapter of his Been Torched by Torrey support  group.

#42 And so will Tanden Doss.

(Ed. note Tanden Doss? Really?)

#43 Neither kicker will kick a FG longer than 48 yards.                  

 #44 There will be a special teams touchdown.

Who do you have in this one? Ted Ginn Jr. or Jacoby Jones?

 #45 The color of the Gatorade that will douse John Harbaugh will be red.

I like fruit punch too.

 #46 The final score will be Baltimore Ravens 42 San Francisco 49ers 24.

#47 Super Bowl 47 MVP: Joe Flacco

Flacco will attempt to pin down Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome in the lockerroom to work out the terms of his forthcoming bloated long-term deal.

An that is how it will go down.

Feel free to pass it around and/or link back to this feature

The post 47 Predictions for Super Bowl 47 appeared first on Players View.

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (34-11)

Despite Kevin Durant’s inability to stand up and closeout the hopeless Los Angeles Lakers, the Thunder roll on into the top spot.

#2 Los Angeles Clippers (33-13) 

The Clippers can’t win them all but they slip due to their habit of dropping multiple games at a time. They bounced back against Portland, but they can’t remain a top team by playing streaky basketball.

#3 San Antonio Spurs (36-11)

They may have the best record in basketball but they are not the best team. Their blue-collar work ethic gets it done day in and day out.

#4 Miami Heat (28-13)

Miami’s killer instinct has been questioned on multiple occasions this season. Sunday’s loss to a Rondo-less Celtics speaks to what the Heat need to tweak during the break.

#5 Memphis Grizzlies (28-15)

Last week’s trade may very well have kept this team’s core together. Barely escaping teams like the Hornets will remind the ownership that there is still time to make another deal.

#6 New York Knicks (27-15)

Carmelo Anthony drained nine 3-pt shots to cut down the Hawks. This win and the payback victory over the Celtics rendered last week as a very Knicks-friendly run. Well sort of. That 76ers beatdown was pretty embarrassing.

#7 Brooklyn Nets (26-18)

They look good then they don’t look so good. The Nets had a chance to kick the Houston monkey off their back and they failed.  Its these signature moments that the Nets must put under their belt.

#8 Chicago Bulls (26-17)

Derrick Rose is etching closer to his return and the Bulls need him after getting torn down by the Washington Wizards. Yes…the Washington Wizards.

#9 Indiana Pacers (26-18)

Click, clack, click clack. You hear that? That’s the footsteps of Danny Granger. And he is on his way back. I’ll say it right here and right now, when Granger returns the Pacers will threaten to take over the East.

#10 Denver Nuggets (27-18)

Nuggets wing Andre  Iguodala has described his time in Denver “as up and down,” to the Denver Post. At the halfway point that is not a good look. Iguodala has has to find positive consistency for the Nuggets to continue to build a playoff resume.

#11 Golden State Warriors (26-17)

Are the Warriors starting to slip after two straight humbling defeats? Their upcoming dustup with the Raptors will speak volumes for their current status.

#12 Milwaukee Bucks (23-19)

The Bucks are trying to hold steady in the wake of their changes. A recent victory over Golden State boosted team morale.

#13 Atlanta Hawks (25-19)

Had the Hawks held on to defeat the Knicks on Sunday they would have flown into the Top 10. They can still be counted on to fail in big moments against winning teams.

#14 Utah Jazz (24-20) 

Earl Watson is poised to make all the difference in the world for a Jazz team that needs a boost.

#15 Houston Rockets (24-22)

Houston is playing about .500 basketball. Their wins are coming against creditable teams and they are losing against some teams that for the most part they should beat. A true head-scratcher.

#16 Portland Trailblazers (22-22)

Lamarcus Aldridge is headed to the All-Star game. That’s about all there is to see here.

#17 Los Angeles Lakers (19-25)

Do you really believe that Kobe Bryant will continue to play the teacher’s pet and pass the rock? No? I don’t either.

#18 Boston Celtics (21-23)

Without Rajon Rondo on the roster, there’s about to be some hot tears shed in Beantown.

#19 Dallas Mavericks (19-25)

When fans get excited about the Mavericks defeating the Suns you know that Dallas is hurting. The end.

#20 Philadelphia 76ers (18-25)

The Andrew Bynum talk is back again but his alleged return could be too little, too late. The 76ers will have to be impeccable after the break to stand tall for a playoff run.

#21 Detroit Pistons (17-27)

Brandon Knight is coming alive as the Pistons continue to find reasons to hold their heads high.

#22 Toronto Raptors (16-28)

The Raptors were considered to be frontrunners in any trade that involved the Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay.

But then Memphis figured out a way to potentially keep their roster intact. Just another loss in a long line of many this season for Toronto.

#23 Minnesota Timberwolves (17-24)

According to ABC, Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman has returned to the team after taking a leave of absence to attend to his wife’s health issue. They need him now more than ever.

#24 Sacramento Kings (16-29) 

Seattle lookout the Kings are coming.  All it took was over half-a-billion dollars.

#25 New Orleans Hornets (15-29)

A young team that will be dangerous in the future is capable of anything as they fight for consistency. The future will be bright for them when they transform into the Pelicans.

#26 Phoenix Suns (15-30)

Coaching chaos has not made life easier in Phoenix where the sun has set on their pride.

#27 Orlando Magic (14-29)

Rumors have shooting guard J.J. Redick being traded to Boston. Two days ago Redick should have been in love with the idea. Now that Rondo is out for the season, Redick might as well stay put because losing is losing. Might as well fight for the warm weather.

#28 Cleveland Cavaliers (13-32)

Kyrie Irving is emerging before our eyes as one of the best. The Cavaliers must get him some help.

#29 Washington Wizards (11-31)

John Wall is back and the Wizards are hitting a groove. It’s fool’s gold. Don’t buy in.

#30 Charlotte Bobcats (11-32)

The Bobcats may revert back to being called the Hornets after the Hornets just became the Pelicans. Ok. When will they play good basketball?

The post Oklahoma City Thunder top the NBA Week 13 power rankings appeared first on Players View.

But what can not be stated is that he cracks in stressful situations. Let’s look at his five greatest moments-of-truth.

#1  Jan. 13, 2013 - Opponent: Seattle Seahawks-Score: 30-28

The pressure for Ryan to come out and win his first playoff game was intense.

His current run is the fourth time that he has played in the post-season and this game thus far has been his sole post-season victory.

It started off easy as Ryan and the Falcons found early and dominant success in the first half.

That melted in the fourth quarter as the Falcons let their 20-pt lead give way with just 31 seconds left.

With the self-esteem of this era of the franchise on the line, Ryan once again threw darts under pressure.

Ryan first connected with slot man Harry Douglas near the sideline.

He followed that up with a mid-field strike to Tony Gonzalez.

In a familiar scene, Ryan set-up the kicker and Matt Bryant came out and nailed the victory.

#2 Oct. 12,2008-Opponent: Chicago Bears-Score: 22-20

This is the one that started it all.

Early into Matt Ryan’s rookie campaign he was already deemed something of a prodigy.

Ryan was among of the first of this new wave of quarterbacks that have walked in the door and been successful from day one.

The situation was that the Bears had scored the go-ahead touchdown with 11 seconds left.

99.9-percent of the time, that is a death-blow.

The game is over. Ryan was either was to young or to confident to buy into the numbers.

After  Douglas returned a to-yard squib kick to the Falcon’s 44-yard line.

Ryan walked onto the field with six seconds left and connected with Michael Jenkins on a perfect 26-yard back shoulder throw that lead the receiver out-of-bounds with just one tick left on the clock.

Out came Jason Elam for the game-winning field goal. The legend of Ryan was born

Ryan finished the game 22-of-30 for a then career-high 301 passing yards.

#3  Oct. 3, 2010-Opponent: San Francisco 49ers – Score:16-14

This game was a comeback in every sense of the word. Then safety Taylor Mays helped San Francisco jump out to a 14-0 lead.

On this day San Francisco appeared to be the better team even if Ryan had found success against them in previous meetings.

Atlanta fought back and were positioned to take the lead late in the fourth quarter.

Ryan made the rare fourth quarter tactical error and threw a late interception to Nate Clements that for seconds appeared to be the dagger in the team’s heart.

This was until receiver Roddy White now playing the role of the defender came from out of nowhere and stripped Clements of the football during his return.

Atlanta recovered the fumble on their own seven yard line. Ryan proceeded to complete six crucial passes that set up (what else?) a 43-yard game-winning field goal by Matt Bryant.

Ryan finished the day going 26-43 for 273 yards and one touchdown.

#4 Nov.11, 2010-Opponent:Baltimore Ravens-Score: 26-21

Ryan has found success with yet another team that is still in the Super Bowl hunt.

On this evening in Atlanta, Ryan won the favor of Deion” Primetime” Sanders as he threw a game winning touchdown on the evening that  Sanders was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.

The Falcons were successful early on but flushed a 13-point lead down the toilet.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco seemingly sealed the deal with just over one minute left when he tossed a 9-yard touchdown to Todd Heap.

Ryan promptly engineered a 80-yard drive that featured a crucial third-down grab by Michael Jenkins.

Ryan then found Roddy White for the game winning touchdown with 2o seconds left . Even team coach Mike Smith was stunned.

“That might have been the most the intense game I’ve ever been involved with at any level of football,” Smith told reporters.

Ryan went 32-50 for 316 yards and three touchdowns.

#5 Dec. 20, 2009- Opponents: New York Jets-Score:10-7

2009 was the only season that Ryan did not lead the Falcons to a playoff berth.

Still some special things happened.

Ryan led Atlanta to its first set of back-to-back winning seasons.

He also showed his mettle in this road win.

Ryan returned from a nasty toe injury after missing two games to face the Jets on a nasty winter day.

The stat sheet does not look pretty as both defenses showed up in this low-scoring affair.

Atlanta took three interceptions from Mark Sanchez.

It was what happened with 1:38 remaining that made the headlines.

On fourth and goal, Ryan broke the pocket and found his  new teammate Tony Gonzalez in the back of the endzone with a 6-yard bullet.

History has since proven that the pair was just getting started.

Ryan’s numbers were 16 of 34 for 152 yards and 1 touchdown.

The post Matt Ryan and his five greatest comebacks appeared first on Players View.

During Saturday’s record-setting playoff performance against the Green Bay Packers,  we all saw that a star was born.

Lets look at how it all came together.

#1 His Confidence Grows Weekly

When some guys get their shot as the lead-dog they die on the vine like overexposed grapes.

Unlike Minnesota’s Joe Webb, Kaepernick has made the most of every opportunity that he has been given.

He is a special talent that can do a lot of great things.

When Alex Smith went down with a concussion and ultimately lost his job to the second-year man out of Nevada, the offense was quietly divided.

One of the most important pieces of that unit Vernon Davis, was as assertive as he could afford to be in supporting Smith.

To quell what could have been a diplomatic nightmare, Kaepernick earned the trust of his teammates by stepping up and distributing just a little more swagger with each passing week.

Skill players such as running backs and especially wideouts want to get on the ship that is being flown by the guy that performs like he is the man.

If Cam Newton is Superman, Kaepernick might just be Rick Flair.

He’s now out-dueled both Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. It’s these marquee wins that fuel his personal ability to understand that he is a gamer.

#2 He Has Developed A Bond With Michael Crabtree

The world has been patiently waiting for Michael Crabtree to stand up and live up to the superstar hype that he had when he was drafted in 2009.

Who knew that all he needed was the right guy to pull the trigger?

More than half of his 85 receptions and six of his 9 touchdowns have resulted from Kaepernick’s presence.

It must be said that they have both done wonders for each other’s careers.

Kaepernick to Crabtree could continue to be the 49ers’ box office connection for years to come.

For Kaepernick, he quickly made it his business to find a primary guy that he could gel and grow with.

#3 Unconditional Support 

A key ingredient in this success story is the wisdom of coach Jim Haurbaugh.

Kaepernick did not just happen. He was chosen for development by the quarterback savvy coach.

Was the plan to eventually kick Smith to curb when the time was right?

I believe so.

Before Smith was injured, Kaepernick was already moving in on Smith’s gametime snaps here and there.

The stage was set early on.

You can’t blame Harbaugh for wanting his guy to make history with.

Alex Smith benefitted from Harbaugh’s tutelage as much as the team did under his effective game management.

Harbaugh did his apprentice the biggest solid by not flinching at all when the 49ers dropped games to two divisional rivals in the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.

Some guys (cough cough…Rex Ryan) would have allowed a circus of indecision to eat his team alive.

After the two week production of Lets Pretend That We Like Alex, Harbaugh built his quarterback up buy not jumping ship when they hit a few choppy waves.

#4 Expanding His Arsenal 

Back-shoulder throws that cruise like missiles. Intelligent check downs.  The occasional smart audible.  These are the upgrades that Colin Kaepernick is bringing to his team every week.

He is becoming a student of the game that is consistently introducing a better way to place the football away from defenders or a sneakier way to run the play action game.

Each week Kaepernick has a new trick to show you that is not really a trick at all.

It’s the product of digging deep and completely immersing himself in what he needs to do to get better.

A key thing to notice about him is that he never makes the same mistake twice.

#5 He Has A Strong Running Game

An emerging quarterback’s best friend is his running back.

When all else fails he can depend on the 49ers running back committee led by Frank Gore to get it done as he figures out his next move.

What do you think ?

The post 5 Reasons why Colin Kaepernick erupted so fast appeared first on Players View.

The NFL Playoffs is a tricky series of events.

Games are won and lost in scenarios that surprise us all.

But are they really surprises?

These are the x-factors for each playoff team that can tilt the scales in multiple ways.

Denver Broncos: Ryan Clady, OT

Clady allowed a team-low one sack during the regular season.

The Broncos tackle was only penalized for holding just four times.

He did an incredible job protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side during the regular season.

But come their first playoff game, a divisional match at home on Saturday, Jan. 12, the Broncos offensive line might look a little different.

Clady has been held out of practice with a “mysterious” injury, but reports out of Denver are that he should be back on the field when the Broncos’ Super Bowl run begins.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Clady has started in all of Denver’s 80 regular season games since he was drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft.

I’m not going to get into potential offensive lineman replacements, because Bronco fans should not worry, but if Clady’s injury becomes serious, the side that was protected all season long will become exposed when they need Clady the most.

New England Patriots: Aqib Talib, CB

During the first eight weeks of the season, it was no secret the Patriots secondary was the dead weight.

Their Lombardi dreams would have certainly been smushed if changes were not made.

Enter  the trouble-prone cornerback Aqib Talib.

Talib was acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in early November.

The addition of the talented Talib turned this defense into a formidable bunch in multipe ways.

Most importantly, his debut allowed Devin McCourty to return to his natural cornerback position.

Patrick Chung moved back to safety.

Kyle Arrington returned to the other starting cornerback position.

While Talib is battling a hip injury, a first-round bye will allow him to heal.

A week after Talib was injured; the Patriots defense surrendered 41 points to the San Francisco 49ers.

So while Tom Brady is the most valuable player on the team, the Patriots will not advance in the playoffs if Talib isn’t on the field.

Houston Texans: Owen Daniels, TE

We know what Andre Johnson is capable of.  We know what Arian Foster can do, but if the Texans offense wants to return to an elite level, Owen Daniels must be a major contributor.  In recent weeks, Daniels hasn’t been as involved, catching three passes for 27 yards in each of his last two games.

During an eight stretch game this season, Daniels caught eight touchdowns over that span, but he hasn’t found the end zone since Nov. 22.  The Texans have a No. 1 running back and a No. 1 wide-receiver.  It’s no secret Matt Schaub needs another target.  They hope Daniels will step back up.

Baltimore Ravens: Dennis Pitta, TE

With the recent struggles of wide receiver Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta’s importance vastly increased over the final few weeks of the season.

If Smith and Anquan Boldin have trouble performing, Pitta could become the most important receiver in the red zone for quarterback Joe Flacco, who made up for twenty percent of the Ravens’ red-zone targets this season, en route to recording four touchdowns .

The window for Flacco to prove he’s capable of leading this team to a Super Bowl championship is closing.

Pitta will be a key target for the Ravens in the playoffs, and hopefully, his growth throughout this season will be enough for the Ravens to see future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis end his 17-year career with a Super Bowl championship.

Indianapolis Colts: Dwight Freeney, OLB

Andrew Luck, no.  Vick Ballard, maybe? Dwight Freeney, yes.

When the playoffs begin for the Colts, Freeney will be the most important player on the roster.

Freeney, was been hampered during the first half of the season by a high sprain to his left ankle, appears to be gathering steam as the playoffs begin.

Over the past three games, the Colts’ pass rush has turned up the heat with eight sacks and 13 hits on the quarterback.

Opponents have had their quarterbacks holding the ball a bit longer, giving Freeney, Robert Mathis and others a better opportunity to get to the quarterback causing major havoc in the backfield.

Freeney may not return to the Colts in 2013.

A deep playoff run would be a fitting swan song.

Cincinnati Bengals: Geno Atkins, DT

In just his third season out of Georgia, Geno Atkins has turned from a solid defensive tackle into one of the most dominant players in the NFL.

Atkins finished the regular season with 12.5 sacks.

His is one of the several names that have made the Bengals defense dominant, and he might be the best of the bunch.

The NFL was put on notice of what Atkins can do this season.  On Saturday, the Houston Texans get to see what he can do first hand.

Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB

In meaningless game, with a meaningful injury, 34-year old John Abraham left week 17’s game on a cart with an ankle injury.

Falcons coach Mike Smith stated that Abraham won’t miss time.

But he is clearing passing-the-torch of defensive leadership to Spoon.

Weatherspoon, had three sacks in the first five games of the season.

His charisma made him a natural choice to lead the Falcons linebackers.

With the playoffs beckoning, Weatherspoon is preparing his entire unit to ride.

His big play ability in tandem with his desire to stick to the core fundamentals of the game gives Atlanta a dependable yet explosive player that must be on his “A”-game for Atlanta to advance to New Orleans.

San Fransisco 49ers: Vernon Davis, TE

Where in the world is Vernon Davis?

Since John Harbaugh announced that both Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick were both his starting quarterbacks, but decided to play Kaepernick, Davis hasn’t scored a touchdown since Nov. 19, and has only recorded six catches in his last six games.

Kaepernick has a fondness for focusing almost solely on Michael Crabtree.

Davis may have been knocked silly against Seattle but he has proven that he is the 49ers strongest offensive asset.

Davis and Kaepernick have to get on the same page and fast.

Green Bay Packers: Mason Crosby, K

Unless the Packers travel to Atlanta, Crosby will be playing exclusively in unfriendly outdoor conditions beginning Sunday in Green Bay.

Crosby has endured a disastrous season for the Packers, making only 63.6% of his kicks and hitting only two of nine from beyond 50 yards.

If the Packers find themselves in difficult fourth downs in close games, coach Mike McCarthy will have a decision to make.

Will he put the game on Crosby’s leg or in the  hands of No. 12? Only time will tell.

Washington Redskins: Santana Moss WR

No longer on top of the depth chart after being pushed in favor of Pierre Garcon, Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan, Santana Moss has emerged as an infrequent and surprisingly  unexpected threat.

Operating primarily out of the slot and sometimes out wide, Moss saw his most endzone action since 2005.

His eight touchdowns are impressive his targets dramtically decreased in 2012-13.

If Griffin continues to be limited by a knee injury, Moss may see his activity go up and could be a notable presence for the Redskins.

Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Browner,

Browner will return during the Wild Card round of the playoffs after a four-game suspension.

Concerned that he might be a bit rusty after four weeks away from playing, coach Pete Carroll has not said whether Browner would start, but I don’t see him being on the sideline when the game begins.

Carroll told the News Tribune that he is thrilled to have him back.

“Getting Brandon Browner back is a big deal to us,” Carroll said. “He’s been a big part of what we’ve done here. And he’s been a significant factor in the style that we play. So he comes back, and we’ll how he does.”

Both Browner and fellow starting cornerback Richard Sherman had their positive tests for banned substances leaked following the Seahawks’ Week 12 loss at Miami.

Sherman said all along that he believed his suspension would be overturned on appeal and it was.

Because of that, the Seahawks will have arguably the best cornerback tandem in the league on the field when the playoffs begin.

Minnesota Vikings:  Jerome Felton, FB

Adrian Peterson’s 2012 season:

1) 2,097 rushing yards, the second-most ever for a running back in a single season.
2) 12 Rushing Touchdowns

3) Peterson became the second player (Earl Campbell, 1980) to rush for 150 or more yards in seven games in an NFL season

And if anyone is interested, Felton is a fifth-year fullback who earned a selection to the Pro-Bowl despite touching the ball three times all season.

Felton led the way for Peterson setting the key blocks that sprung him into history.

If Felton falls off, the Vikings are done. It’s that simple.

The post The x-factors of the NFL Playoffs. appeared first on Players View.

For Tim Tebow that plan probably will not include a long-term stint in the NFL.

Players View staffers got together over wings and beer and posed the question ‘ where will Tim Tebow be working at five years from now?’

If you’re one of those Tebow-folks that can’t take digest humor and sarcasm when it comes to your boy,you might not want to read this.

#10 Football Player

It may or may not be in the NFL.

Tebow could be slinging the rock in Canada, an arena league or a semi-pro league deep in the heart of cattle country.

He’s dead set on playing quarterback for somebody.

It’s just hard to envision that five seasons from now that somebody will be a NFL owner.

#9 TV Analyst

Tebow has been known to bust out a suit from time to time. Its not hard to envision him clipping on a microphone and getting behind the desk.

Is there room on ESPN for a First Take spin-off with Tebow and Skip Bayless?

No.

Throwing him on a panel with a stable group of NCAA color commentators would prove to be the more viable and dignified option.

#8 Coach

With the right staff could Tim Tebow lead a high school team to state championship glory?

Quite possibly.

The only only problem is that he would probably insist on coaching his quarterback.

That’s when things could fall apart.

If placed in the situation where all that he was responsible for was daily motivation, pre-game speeches and strength and conditioning, Tebow would do a fine job.

Matter of fact,  Lifetime could produce  a Movie-of-the-Week documentary that will allow him to step  into a program in a impoverished area and saves lives as he wins games.

#7 Revered/Pastor

On the up-and-up. This really would be a good choice. Seriously.

#6 Publicist

Who has done a better job of generating headlines and creating a scene better than Tim Tebow has?

Tebow could take a useless product, the lamest film opening or the most uninspired musical artist and create  a media juggernaut with 24 hours.

The boy has the touch.

#5 Philanthropist

Tebow already does a lot to help others on a global scale. If this was the only title on his business card, I suspect that he would be in his happiest place mentally.

Some people like to give and perhaps giving is how his message is best served.

#4 Personal Trainer

Tebow is already actively involved in the D-I gym franchise.

It would make sense for him to take that next step and work with aspiring youth and soccer moms on the prowl.

For a nominal fee of course.

#3 Actor/Model

We already know he can act.

He was robbed of both the Golden Globe and the Emmy award for his starring role in  Mile High Production’s  The Miracle Worker.

A model?

Most certainly.

Perhaps he and Mark Sanchez can start their own agency.

They might want to skip any calls that show up on the office’s Caller I.D. from an R.Ryan.

He’s only looking for a foot model.

#2  Funeral Director

Kyle Orton and Sanchez are two of the careers that Tebow has already provided services for.

It is our understanding that he may give Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Kahn a hometown discount and grant him with a two-for-one special by taking out both Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert.

It all looks good on the resume for this career path.

#1 Motivational Speaker

The ultimate and really the only choice if you give it much thought.

Starting with a step-by-step volume of DVDs and accompanying manuals Tebow could guide anyone through lessons such as Getting Through The First Three Quarters of Life and Making The Most Out Of  Your Day In 15 Minutes Or Less.

All for only $19.95 a month.

All packages of course would provide access to seminars where Tebow himself lecture attendees on how to transform from mere mortal into a temporary force of nature that can not be stopped by anyone except well… their boss.

The post 10 Future Careers For Tim Tebow appeared first on Players View.

Hype, reputation, respect and veteran status are key ingredients that peel names off the ballot and onto the roster.

But as stated, some guys are criminally disrespected. 

#1 Richard Sherman – Cornerback- Seattle Seahawks

You mad bro?

Fans of teams that have been burned by Sherman’s ability and antics have been cracking that joke since the moment that it was announced that Sherman was left off the NFC team.

The catchphrase has become the football equivalent of David Chappelle’s ‘I’m Rick James!’ cat-call.

Both wore thin quickly and both to a certain degree masked the larger depth of talent that both men possess.

If Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson has provided the unit with hope, Sherman has been their heartbeat.

Sherman is the rare defensive back that is physically a bully.

With 61 tackles on the year thus far, he’s obviously smacking guys around.

That’s only part of the package.

Sherman has made life miserable for receivers that attempt to separate themselves from him.

His seven interceptions are a nice total to have but his defining impact on each game that he plays is why he was truly snubbed.

Did his ongoing battle over a potential four-game PED suspension deep-six his 2012 Pro Bowl opportunity?

#2  Andrew Luck-Quarterback-Indianapolis Colts

Everything has gone right for Luck this year except for this.

Luck may have more wins than rookie counterpart RG3  but he could not squeeze into a field that was dominated by Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Luck put a previously pitiful Colts team  on his back and won without the benefit of a serious running game.

He’s cracked the 4,000-yard mark, thrown for 21 interceptions and averages 279 yards per game.

With the playoffs around the corner, there are bigger games for the rookie to think about.

Especially with the knowledge that there will plenty of Pro Bowls in his future as long as the league exercises common sense and maintains the tradition.

#3 Charles Johnson-Defensive End-Carolina Panthers

Playing for a bad team is one of the easiest ways for a breakout player to get buried. That is especially true if the team is the Carolina Panthers who perform in a secondary-market that is devoid of national media attention.

The awareness for Johnson simply was not there although his seven forced fumbles and 10.5 sacks spoke volumes for the direction that the 26-year-old’ s career is headed in.

#4 Thomas DeCoud-Safety-Atlanta Falcons

DeCoud does nothing but make big plays and perform odd sideline dances.

He’s been on the cusp of top-tier status for the bulk of his five year career.

In 2012, he’s picked off  VIP names like Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Robert Griffin III, Drew Brees and Eli Manning.

The California native’s 70 tackles have shown his value in both run support and limited opponent;s yards after the catch.

His trip to Hawaii that was thought to be in the bag won’t be punched.

#5 C.J. Spiller-Running Back- Buffalo Bills

The dynamic playmaker from Clemson carried the ball 183 times and walked away with a 6.5 yards per attempt stat.

Let us put that in it’s proper perspective.

Adrian Peterson nailed 6.0 flat on 314 attempts.

Spiller is fifth overall in the AFC yards with 1,185.

Lets put that in it’s proper perspective.

Pro Bowl starter  Arian Foster has 1,328 yards which bests Spiller by 143 yards.

It took him 152 more carries to create that distance from Spiller.

If Spiller did not have deal with a timeshare situation with veteran Fred Jackson for the bulk of the year, we are not having this conversation.

Pound-for-pound Spiller could be one of the two best running backs in the AFC.

Honorable Mention Offense: Roddy White-Wide Receiver -Atlanta Falcons

White easily bested names such as Victor Cruz who is having a down year compared to his 2011 run.

Honorable Mention Defense : Luke Kuechly- Linebacker- Carolina Panthers

Going into the final game of the year, the rookie leads the league in tackles with 151.

The post Top 5 Pro Bowl Snubs appeared first on Players View.

The Falcons are the only team in the NFL with home field locked-up.

#2 Denver Broncos (12-3)

Yes, the Broncos have played a lot of teams with losing records as of late. The NFL is a league pf parity where upsets happen on a weekly basis.  They have avoided each and every trap game. That says something.

#3 Houston Texans (12-3)

Houston is showing signs of weariness coming down the stretch. There is not another team in the tournament that needs a week of rest more than they do.

#4 Seattle Seahawks (10-5)

The beatings that the Seahawks are distributing are epic. Stay tuned for Richard Sherman’s suspension verdict this week.

#5 Green Bay Packers (11-4)

Beating up on the Titans was a statement. Let’s see how the handle Adrian Peterson and the Vikings.

#6 San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1)

They got their tail kicked by the Seahawks. But they still remain one of the NFC’s dominant team.

#7 New England Patriots (11-4)

A close-call against the Jags? Say it isn’t so!

#8 Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

The snuck into Houston and stuck a pin in the balloon of the Texans. Can they do it against Green Bay?

#9 Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

One game does not equal a turnaround. Baltimore did prove that they Ray Rice is their offensive key and that their defensive depth players have some heart.

#10 Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

They Colts gave up a garish amount of rushing yards to the Chiefs which is a concern. But they made it to the show after Luck struck again in the final moments of a key game.

#11 Washington Redskins (9-6)

RG3 looked more like RG1.5 on Sunday. The Redskins eeked out a win against the hopeless Philadelphia Eagles. Griffin’s mobility is not premium and that handcuffs Washington’s playcalling and execution.

 #12 Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

It wasn’t pretty but in striking down the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals got a monkey off their back and made the playoffs. If that’s not double-dipping, I don’t know what is.

 #13 Chicago Bears (9-6)

They beat the Cardinals and they won’t know their ultimate fate until next week concludes.

#14 Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

Dallas broke down at the very moment that it mattered the most…again. Sense a pattern here?

#15 Miami Dolphins (7-8)

Miami could end .500 to break even on the year. Does it mean anything? No but if Reggie Bush continues to score multiple times per game, he may entice the Dolphins to come to the negotiating table.

#16 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)

It was all good just two years ago. Change must be on the menu.

#17 New York Giants (8-7)

I’m not even sure if the Giants want to make the playoffs this year. They have played as if they just want to go home and be done with this year.

#18 St. Louis Rams (7-7-1)

The Rams were a few plays away from being a player in the playoff hunt. The Rams are a few tweaks away from doing damage.

#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9)

Something went terribly wrong there behind-the-scenes. Minor details are starting to leak.  Is coach Greg Schiano losing the locker room?

#20 New Orleans Saints (7-8)

As the winners of the Payton Bowl, the Saints earned a signature that they can hang their hat on moving forward.

#21 Carolina Panthers (6-9)

Cam watch your back.

#22 Cleveland Browns (6-9) 

Injuries to both their rookie quarterback and first round phenom Trent Richardson can make the Browns’ season even worse.

#23 Detroit Lions (4-11)

Megatron got the record. Now comes the business of sorting out numerous free agency fires in the off-season.

#24 Buffalo Bills (5-10)

This team may not even look the same in 2013. We know the Bills will field a new quarterback but what about the head coach’s perch?

#25  San Diego Chargers (6-9)

The Chargers won another meaningless game. It won’t stop the bleeding that will commence seven days from today.

#26 Arizona Cardinals (5-10)

Yeah, so about that new quarterback…

#27 Tennessee Titans (5-10)

The Titans have taken two of the worst beatings that 2012 has had to offer.

#28 Oakland Raiders (4-11)

So they tried to take out Cam Newton on purpose? Paging Roger Goodell on line two.

#29 Philadelphia Eagles (4-11)

Mike Vick will start the Eagles last game of the season. Bet the Giants didn’t see that one coming.

#30 Kansas City Chiefs (2-13)

Two words that makeup one name: Geno Smith.

#31 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13)

They almost beat the Patriots in what would have been the upset of the year.

#32 New York Jets (6-9)

Let’s just move on…

The post Denver Broncos heat up the week 17 NFL power rankings appeared first on Players View.

This photo gallery featuring the spirit squads of the Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals and of course the Dallas Cowboys entertained the fans during Week 15.

The post Photo Gallery: NFL cheerleaders spice up week 15 appeared first on Players View.

Two of which are currently on the New York Jets’ roster, one of those two most likely won’t be there in 2013 and the other two have been discussed as  possible fits.

No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t look like much will change moving forward.

#1 Tim Tebow Won’t Be A Jet In 2013

Tebow seems to have a healthy self-esteem. So there is certainly some merit to the scuttlebutt that he will ask for a trade or an outright release when this season is done.

“I’ll just wait until after the season to look at things like that,” Tebow told Newsday.

“You know, sometimes things just happen out of your control,” Tebow told USA Today. “Obviously, you might not be pleased with them or happy about it. You just handle them the best you can.”

“Every opportunity you get, you want to make the most of. I would’ve loved to have more of an opportunity to just play quarterback. Obviously, that’s my goal. Just make the most of these last two weeks and see what happens after that.”

Jets’ coach Rex Ryan was evasive when trying to make sense of it all.

“We’ll see what happens,” Ryan told the New York Post regarding Tebow. ”My focus has to be with [the next]two games, and that’s it.”

When pressed Rex expressed disappointment in Tebow.

“I think, ‘Did I expect us to maybe have a little more success running the wildcat?’ Maybe I did. I’m sure I did,” Ryan said. “A lot of that is [Tebow] is a backup quarterback that can do a lot of other things.”

The latest Jets starter Greg McElroy  has done one thing Tebow has not in 2012.

He has thrown a touchdown pass.

The feeling is that Tebow got played in New York and there is a mountain of evidence to support that.

What matters in the NFL is what one does with their on field opportunities when they present themselves.

In truth, Tebow did little-to-nothing with his.

He was a victim of unrealistic expectations.

The Jets just expected Tebow to run on the field and just do that magical thing that he does.

Offensive coordinator Tony Sporano has been in-over-his-head since in every position that he has been blessed with since he left Dallas.

It’s not a stretch to suggest that during the Jets’ weekly comedy-of-errors,  Sporano turned to Tebow on the sideline and said  ’hey kid go pull a rabbit out of your hat.’

When Tebow failed as the Jets’ David Copperfield he was no longer welcome there.

#2 Mike Vick Will Not Play In New York 

The second the ink was dry on the extreme possibility that Vick was not returning to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, he was almost immediately linked to New York.

The long and the short of why that won’t happen comes down to money.

The Jets foolishly resigned Sanchez to a hefty deal this past off-season.

Said deal will cost them $12.4 million against the cap if they release him.

Whether he stays or goes, Sanchez will pocket $8.25 million.

Period.

Vick won’t walk in the door for chump change.

Vick won’t walk in the door without a guarantee that he will start.

Sanchez on or off-the-bench holds all of the cards.

There is not a sensible GM in the league that will pickup his salary for his level-of-play.

As for Vick, as much as he seems to enjoy the thrill of a good challenge, it’s doubtful that MV7 will want to play out his career in the Pigskin Circus. 

#3 Alex Smith Won’t Be There Either

I think it’s safe to say that Alex Smith does not want to pack-up and head to other end of the country just to compete with Sanchez and possibly McElroy.

He’s starred in that movie before.

#4 Sanchez Could Become The Most Expensive Backup In The NFL

The Jets and their present and future braintrust most likely want no part of Mark Sanchez.

But as stated, he holds all of the leverage by way of the monies owned.

As dim as he appears sometimes, he would really have to be a sucker to renegotiate his deal to make life easier for New York.

Vick and Smith will most likely hit the street. Washington and Seattle both have backups that hold trade appeal in Kirk Cousins and Matt Flynn respectively.

And there is that little process called the NFL Draft.

Sanchez has no market value as a starter on another team.

There is no motivation for him to do anything but stick around New York.

Greg McElroy could be in position to take the starter’s job in 2013-2014.

Sanchez meanwhile will collect lottery money for holding a clipboard and eating hotdogs.

#5 Rex Ryan Will Stay 

As long as there is no hope that a franchise quarterback can be secured, the Jets coaching gig won’t be attractive to anybody of merit.

Rex has made his bed and by default he may get to lay in it for at least another season.

The post 5 New York Jets quarterback rumors appeared first on Players View.

#1 Atlanta Falcons (12-2)

Their path to the number-one seed is almost complete after they ROLLED over the world champions.

#2 Houston Texans (12-2)

Despite suffering a ugly loss a week prior, the Texans bounced back to take their division from a talented Colts team.

#3 Denver Broncos (11-3)

The Broncos etch a little closer to the top of the heap after taking advantage of the AFC’s latest whipping boys in the Baltimore Ravens.

#4 San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1)

They beat the Patriots like a drum, let them back in the game with soft playcalling and finished the deal when they had to.  The 49ers’ coaching staff needs to learn how to keep their foot on a enemy’s throat.

#5 Green Bay Packers (10-4)

The Packers keep on keeping on as they continue to get healthy. Memo to Clay Matthews: Please don’t ever do Dancing With The Stars.

#6 Seattle Seahawks (9-5)

100 cumulative points over two games. Boom.

#7 New England Patriots (10-4)

So much for the newly discovered power of the Patriots’ young defense.

#8 Minnesota Vikings (8-6)

Adrian Peterson is running away with the MVP title and leading the Vikings to the playoffs. We are witnessing history.

#9 Washington Redskins (8-6)

Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins may have played himself into a starting gig elsewhere in 2013 and provided the Redskins with coveted extra draft picks in his mastery over Cleveland.

#10 Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

The Ravens are quickly becoming a shadow of what they used to be. Why they refuse to just hand the ball to Ray Rice for 30-carries a game is beyond me. Joe Flacco has proven one thing. He does not have the mental makeup of an elite quarterback.  He has the arm and the attitude but defenses sucker him into poor plays on a weekly basis.

#11 Indianapolis Colts (9-5)

The Colts failed in their opportunity to steal the division from the Texans. They have one more prep game against them before the playoffs begin.

 #12 Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

The Bengals have two key games remaining to dive into the playoffs and prove that their flub at Dallas was just that.

 #13 Chicago Bears (8-6)

Brandon Marshall’s near-freakout after the Bear’s loss to the Packers displays that there is more frustration bubbling underneath the surface of that team than maybe we all thought.

#14 New York Giants (8-6)

Somewhere you can still hear Roddy White laughing at the Giants receivers who failed to deliver on the wolf tickets that they have been selling in the media all season.

#15 Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

Despite their recent success it’s hard to buy into the Cowboys when they are relying on Houdini-like escapes to earn each win.

#16 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

Add the Steelers to the list of teams that need to make wholesale changes in the off-season.

#17 Miami Dolphins (6-8)

Miami once again showcased that they have pieces in place to be successful in spurts.

#18 St. Louis Rams (6-7-1)

Nothing has changed since last week. Good team, mediocre record, needs offensive skill players.

#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)

A young team that is once again going off the rails of a crazy train. When these guys make statements like ‘send these coaches back to college,’ it won’t get any easier.

#20 New Orleans Saints (6-8)

They put it on the Buccaneers as they try to forget the 2012 season.

#21 Cleveland Browns (6-8)

2012’s most improved team took a step backwards against a fighting Redskins team in a statement loss.

#22 Buffalo Bills (5-9)

Bills fans can look forward to a new franchise quarterback coming to town next season.

#23 Detroit Lions (4-10)

It’s all about helping Calvin Johnson capture Jerry Rice’s record.

#24 Carolina Panthers (5-9)

The Panthers may finish the season with a respectable 7-9 after a dismal start.

#25 Tennessee Titans (5-9)

The happiest player on the Titans today is not Chris Johnson for his breakout run; it’s punter Brett Kern who obviously sent Mark Sanchez a wine and cheese basket today for sacrificing his job to save Kern’s.

#26 San Diego Chargers (5-9)

What happened to Charger pride? San Diego’s fans deserve better than this.

#27 Arizona Cardinals (5-8)

It should not be a big deal to win one game. But from what I understand 48 hours later they are still celebrating what may be the Cardinals final win of the year.

#28 Oakland Raiders (4-10)

There is nothing exciting about Oakland. Let’s move on.

#29 Philadelphia Eagles (4-10)

Philadelphia will eek up a few spots before the end of the season by playing spoiler to division enemies. Andy Reid’a parting gift will be served cold.

#30 Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)

Two words that makeup one name: Geno Smith.

#31 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

They have a angry Patriots team to contend with this week. Prediction 56-3

#32 New York Jets (6-8)

They don’t have the worst record but the New York Jets are the worst representation of the game of football that the NFL has to offer.  The Jets are the reason that soccer fans can lay a reasonable claim to calling their sport football in North America.

The post Jets nosedive in the Week 16 NFL Power Rankings appeared first on Players View.

Kevin Durant,Reggie Jackson and Perry Jones spent a special Saturday afternoon teaching senior citizens basketball and fitness tips as part of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s  Thunderfit program.

The photographs from this wonderful gesture were posted on the Thunder’s Instagram account @OKCThunder.

The post Photo Gallery: Kevin Durant & The Oklahoma City Thunder teach basketball to seniors appeared first on Players View.

The end result is the protective mask that he was fitted with that he will wear in the short-term while he is on the court.

Irving told ESPN “It’s just precautionary, as usual.”

The mask must be special as he posted a career-high 41 points with it on against the surging New York Knicks.

The post Photos: Kyrie Irving Dons Black Zorro Mask After Breaking Jaw appeared first on Players View.

2012 has been something else as there are numerous players that have turned in incredible performances from all over the league.

Show-stopping rookies, potential record breakers, comeback kids, savvy veterans and defensive killers are among those that have assembled legitimate resumes this year for the award.

Check out the field and cast your vote.

#1 Peyton Manning-Quarterback-Denver Broncos

There is probably only signal caller in the NFL that can take a year off, deal with numerous neck surgeries, switch teams and go takeover a division that he’s unfamiliar with.

After a shaky start, Manning has been unbelievable and he has done without an all-star cast of wide receivers.

3,812 yards, 30 touchdowns and a 104.0 quarterback rating was not on anybody’s radar.

I’ll admit it.

I was a naysayer that looked at his initial lack of arm-strength as a sign of things to come.

Somewhere around week five, the balls that used to sail or fall flat started becoming darts and from that point forward it has been on.

The MVP race is a perception based contest and right now the perception is it’s his to lose.

His story and his results have combined to make his push nearly unstoppable.

The key word is nearly as he’s not the only horse in the race that has picked himself up and dusted himself off after a bit of bad luck.

#2 Adrian Peterson-Running Back-Minnesota Vikings

Speaking of miraculous comebacks, Adrian Peterson’s run at Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing yards title could be history-in-the-making.

On December 24, 2011 Peterson tore both his ACL and his MCL against the Washington Redskins.

Many previous players that have suffered this double whammy such as former Vikings/Dolphins quarterback Dante Culpepper were never the same.

Titans’ wide receiver Kenny Britt was dealt a similar hand months before Peterson was and he now resembles a shell of his former self and he is a lot younger than Peterson is.

Peterson was sketchy to even play in the first few games according to reports that ran through the pre-season.

You can only throw out the facts here.

Each and every one of his 1,600 yards thus far has been awe-inspiring.

Peterson has 43 runs that netted 10 yards or more and 64 runs that have given his team an extra set of downs.

Each month his rushing totals have elevated and if he finishes with a bang, both the record and the MVP honor will be his.

# 3 J.J. Watt –Defensive End-Houston Texans

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

It is also a sign of influence. In 2012, J.J. Watt has been the most influential defensive player in the game.

He has changed the way his position is played because he has every defensive lineman imitating his ball swatting technique.

Coming off the three technique Watt quickly became a MVP candidate by accomplishing one of two things.

He either registered a sack or he swatted the ball in the air on passing downs.

Both actions create maximum disruption.

He didn’t invent ball swatting obviously, but he put it on tape for all to see that an end or a defensive tackle can create a space for themselves to take a certain angle to get it done.

His 16.5 sacks could easily climb into the twenty-plus range before all is said and done.

#4 Tom Brady –Quarterback-New England Patriots

When is Tom Terrific not in the MVP conversation?

As of late, he’s been playing like he did when he first stepped out of the shadows and felt as if he had something to prove.

With exception of the Patriots victory over Miami, Brady has not seen his QBR drop below 82.4 over the stretch of the past five games.

His overall totals are not best in show for any category which could be the only real knock against him.

The only two numbers that seem to awe many is passing yards (3,833) and touchdowns (29). Brady does not lead the league in either category.

The MVP race is all about perception.

As long as the Patriots keep winning with confidence, the perception will be that Brady is the man.

#5 Calvin Johnson Jr.-Wide Receiver-Detroit Lions

Like Barry Sanders before him, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson is the best skill player of his era at his position that is property of a dire Lions franchise.

There are only two things that can give him a measure of pride leaving this campaign.

To earn one he must first shatter the other.

Jerry Rice has long been considered the best wide receiver in the history of the NFL.

Megatron stands at the threshold of breaking Rice’s coveted single season receiving yards mark.

Having racked up 1,546 yards thus far he just needs 303 yards to earn the honor.

As we reported, his entire team is pushing for him to get to the promised land.

Let’s paint a picture.

Johnson is closer to this record than Adrian Peterson is to breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing yards record.

A strong showing down the stretch that includes a high highlight reel worthy TDs and a little bit of luck, could make him the dark horse winner.

Then again there is that Madden Curse thing.

#6 Aldon Smith –Linebacker-San Francisco 49ers

Ask a football junkie about the 49ers and they will gush over their current defense.

They will then proceed to talk about Aldon Smith as if the sophomore firestarter is nothing short of an intelligent monster with incredible instincts.

In most years, Smith’s name would not sit in the middle of the pack for MVP consideration.

2012 has so many great stories to choose from, that Smith’s dominant play alone may not be enough.

Chicago Bears backup quarterback Jason Campbell is still most likely waking up in a pool of his own sweat after Smith beat him to within an inch of his career on one cruel Monday night.

Smith already has 19.5 sacks on the year with multiple games left to go.

Next up on his menu is New England’s Tom Brady.

Something has to give in that matchup.

If Smith can flourish the week after J.J. Watt simply did “ok” against Brady, he would all but lock-up Defensive Player of the Year and streak up the MVP chart as well.

#7 Robert Griffin III-Quarterback-Washington Redskins

What a year RG3 has had.

He’s ridden on some pretty extreme highs and be dealt with some pretty crushing lows.

The downspin has always been injury-related.

His style of play is the only problem with his MVP bid.

It’s hard to seriously consider someone for MVP when the way that they play the game is extremely high risk and high reward.

It can be argued that the Redskins would have defeated Atlanta had RG3 avoided the knockout blow that took him out of that contest.

An extra win for Washington is a huge deal at the moment as they hunt down a playoff berth.

Then again would the Redskins have a playoff berth to lose without him?

He has changed the climate of that team regardless of how much he endangers himself.

His leadership, moral fiber and charisma has that constituency and that lockeroom believing in the franchise again and that is very valuable.

His numbers are not bad either.

Through the air he’s notched 2,902 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and a 66.4 % completion ratio.

On the ground he’s rushed for 748 yards and six touchdowns.

#8 Andrew Luck-Quarterback-Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck’s numbers are not so wonderful that he cannot be denied.

His 54.9 percent completion ratio and his 18 touchdowns don’t reek of supreme excellence.

His buzz is coming from the size of his heart and his character.

Luck stepped into an organization that had modest expectations and turned heads around through nearly the worst of circumstances.

He will be something to witness moving into the playoffs.

The kid has incredible timing and when the Colts need a magical moment, he figures out a way to dial it up.

Does that make him MVP-worthy?

In these eyes not now…not yet.

#9 Aaron Rodgers-Quarterback-Green Bay Packers

The 2011-2012 incumbent is on the list simply to defend his title.

The eight-year veteran has been pretty consistent.

The problem is that his numbers have been so eye-gouging since he took over for Brett Favre in Green Bay that this season feels like a statistical disappointment.

After throwing for 4,643 yards last season, Rodgers is flirting with not even cracking the 4,000 yard mark this year.

With three games left to go he sits at 3,297 yards to his credit.

The biggest thing on his mind is making the playoffs but a repeat MVP may be out of reach at this point in the season.

#10 Matt Ryan-Quarterback-Atlanta Falcons

Ryan roared into this season with so much conviction that his name was heavy in the conversation as that guy.

A streak of erratic performances that include dismal QBR ratings against Arizona (31.2) and New Orleans (35.4) have shot holes in the theory that this will be his MVP year.

Having led the Falcons to an 11-2 record is enough for some people that insist that his name is as viable as any other on this list.

Ryan has thrown for 3,932 yards, 24 touchdowns and has an overall QB rating of 94.8 going into the last three games of the season.

The post 10 Legit NFL MVP Candidates appeared first on Players View.

After humiliating the pride of the AFC on the regular season’s biggest stage, the Patriot’s are on a serious roll.

Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd got a public talking to by Patriots legend Troy Brown and subsequently showed up and could be becoming the weapon that he was always intended to be.

#2 Houston Texans (11-2)

Despite getting carpet burn in front of the world, Houston was smoked by a 10-3 team that is the reigning AFC champs.

That within itself and their record keeps them in the same spot that they have maintained for the bulk of the year.

#3 Atlanta Falcons (11-2)

The site of the Panthers’ Greg Hardy openly taunting the NFC South champs must have stung like a bad rash for the Falcons.

This was the classic trap game and as such perhaps Atlanta will put their foot back on the gas and finish the season strong.

#4 Denver Broncos (10-3)

In truth, had the Falcons not defeated the Broncos previously, the Broncos would occupy the number three spot.

The Broncos are smoking right now and they have established themselves as a legit AFC contender.

#5 Green Bay Packers (9-4)

Key injuries to both sides of the ball have kept the Packers vulnerable this season. They have not stopped them from assuming the driver’s seat in the NFC North.

They may not be able to run the ball. But they are finding ways to win.

#6 San Francisco 49ers (9-3-1)

San Francisco let Miami hang dangerously close to them in the first half on Sunday. They eventually started throwing daggers but playoff caliber teams would have been all over them.

Colin Kaepernick has proven to be a stronger option than Alex Smith but the 49ers’ dull playcalling is limiting his playmaking ability.

Kaepernick can sling the rocket from the pocket; open it up.

#7 New York Giants (8-5)

The Giants defense stated that beating the Saints would be an easier task than defending RG3. They were right as they were the latest team to chip away at Drew Brees’ confidence.

#8 Indianapolis Colts (9-4)

With the Texans’ loss to the Patriots, the Colts have the chance to not only win their division; they could sneak into a first round bye with a bit of help.  Can the Colts take two out of the next three from Houston?

#9 Seattle Seahawks (8-5)

What the Seahawks did to the Arizona Cardinals was criminal. When Seattle plays well in all three phases of the game, they can run with anybody.

#10 Baltimore Ravens (9-4)

Two back-to-back losses that concluded with excellent play from the opponent’s backup quarterback.  Ravens fans are justifiably dismayed.

#11 Chicago Bears (8-5)

The Bears slip again when they should not have. They are two steps away from allowing the Vikings to get back into the wildcard hunt.

#12 Minnesota Vikings (7-6)

The Vikings have decided to ride Adrian Peterson all the way to the playoffs. No offense Christian Ponder, but that is the smartest thing that your coach Leslie Frazier could do.

#13 Washington Redskins (7-6)

Whether or not RG3 plays on Sunday, its apparent that the Skin’s version of the Pistol formation is going to shorten his NFL shelf life.

To their credit their backup Kirk Cousins can get it done and he may see a full-time start against the Browns.

#14 Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)

Playoff-bound squads always find a way to make key plays to put games away. The Bengals came close to proving that point against Dallas yet they fell short.

#15 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

Crushed by the San Diego Chargers. That headline must still have a nasty ring to it for the Steelers who are running out of time to state it’s post-season case.

#16 Dallas Cowboys (7-6)

Dallas is currently in getting-by mode and the probability of losing Dez Bryant for the year can swing their fortunes one way or the other.

#17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)

Three weeks ago the Buccaneers stood at the threshold of making a run toward the post-season, now after dropping three straight, they stand at outside looking in.

#18 St. Louis Rams (6-6-1)

Good team, mediocre record, needs offensive skill players.  That is all that is really left to say.

#19 Miami Dolphins (5-8)

Miami is going through growing pains that show promise and disaster often in the same offensive or defensive drive.

#20 Buffalo Bills (5-8)

Fred Jackson is done for the year so it’s time to see if C.J. Spiller can carry the burden of a full-load as the Bills prepare to repackage their team for 2013.

#21 Cleveland Browns (5-8)

2012’s most improved team continues to fight on.

#22 New York Jets (6-7)

Yes the Jets won two games in-a-row. They beat Arizona by one point and struggled at points against Jacksonville. Color most of us unimpressed.

#23 Detroit Lions (4-9)

The Lions had every chance to beat the Packers but they failed to do because of key strategy flaws. The Lions can play spoiler but will they?

#24 New Orleans Saints (5-8)

Are the Saints fighting to keep pace with the ghosts of what they used to be or are they simply degenerating into what they are going to be?

#25 Tennessee Titans (4-9)

The one positive thing that the Titans can take away from their recent misfortune is that wide receiver Kenny Britt continues to regain the ability that he once had prior to his devastating knee injury.

#26 San Diego Chargers (5-8)

Why is it that the Chargers can only play well when owner Dean Spanos puts their coaches’ head in the noose?

#27 Carolina Panthers (4-9)

The Panthers played their version of a Super Bowl in their victory over the Falcons on Sunday.  How they will feel in four weeks when the regular season is over?

#28 Arizona Cardinals (4-8)

Like the song says, “Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down.”

#29 Philadelphia Eagles (4-9)

If 8-8 was not good enough for 2011, 4-9 with three games to go has to be much worse. LeSean McCoy could return although Michael Vick has his real estate agent on speed dial.

#30 Oakland Raiders (3-10)

Watching the Raiders play the Broncos was painful.  Carson Palmer needs to go let it go…it’s over.

#31 Kansas City Chiefs (2-11)

Dwayne Bowe could be done in a year that the Arrowhead faithful can’t wait to end.

#32 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)

It was all good just a week ago.

The post New England Patriots top Week 15′s NFL Power Rankings. appeared first on Players View.

St. Louis Rams at Buffalo Bills

Wade Thompson: The question here is ‘what Rams team will show up?’ Will it be the team that has nose-dived against most of their competition? Will it be the team that beat the 49ers?

Adrian Glover:  I am pretty sure that you got it right the first time.  I’ve been following the Rams’ upgrades since the off-season and I thought they were a wildcard contender early on.

But, obviously that’s not the case and its because they have a hard time scoring points. When its Sam Bradford’s time takeover, the Rams don’t get it done.

I love the Rams’ defense because when they are on they are on. But the Bills have an incredible rushing attack and they are capable in the passing game.

Wade: Interception Man…

Adrian:  You know, I thought about that and then I looked at some numbers and Ryan Fitzpatrick has not had a multiple interception game since September.

Wade: He has 12 overall.

Adrian: And seven of those are spread out amongst two games earlier in the season. Fitzpatrick has obviously worked hard to cut some of that out. I move to transfer the Interception Man title to Drew Brees or Phillip Rivers.

Wade: That’s a good point. I think Buffalo’s defense is a better unit than the Ram’s offense. They don’t have any real weapons for Bradford to play with. We don’t know how good he really is because he does not have a supporting cast.

Mutual Pick: Buffalo Bills

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Adrian: Let me start this off by saying that Steve Smith lost every ounce of respect that I had for him for that stunt he pulled in Kansas City last week.

When a tragedy has occurred you don’t disrespect that moment by mugging and doing obnoxious touchdown dances. I always felt that he was classless before, that confirmed it.

He’s an amazing player but as a human being I have my doubts.

Wade: I agree with that. He was incredibly out-of-line and it just shows you that there is no leadership down there.

Fire Ron Rivera and let this team get to where they need to go.

Adrian:  The Panthers are an emerging team and I like what they can do. This has trap game written all over it for Atlanta.

Wade: I disagree. The Falcons are expecting them to play them tough. Atlanta is motivated to secure home field and in this division everybody hates each other.

The NFC South as a division has some of the best rivalries in the game right now when you talk about pure emotion.

I am still drinking the Matt Ryan Kool Aid. Atlanta will win big. Michael Turner historically performs well against Carolina.

I don’t like Atlanta. I love Atlanta to win this one.

Adrian:  I have the Falcons as well but you can’t dismiss the talent that is on that Panthers team. The Falcons are the one team that they can run on and anything can happen.

Mutual Pick: Atlanta Falcons

Dallas Cowboys at Cincinnati Bengals

Adrian: Prayers to the families that were impacted by the tragedy that has taken place in Dallas.

Wade: Indeed.

Adrian: I am just going to make a few points here and walk away from this topic. A.J. Green will not let Dez Bryant take his shine. The Bengals defense is underrated and is assaulting the quarterback. Two key Bengals used to play in the Dallas secondary. Dallas struggles on third down. Tony Romo is Tony Romo. Dallas barely got past the lifeless Eagles. Go

Wade: Wow. So you are just dismissing Dallas?

Adrian: You are not?

Wade: Oh, they won’t win. Another point is that Dallas on both sides of the ball cannot control the line of scrimmage. DeMarcus Ware is a wasted talent there. The Bengals have been on fire since the bye week.

Mutual Pick: Cincinnati Bengals

Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns

Wade: We like the Browns.

Adrian:  It’s a weird thing but they play teams so close.

Wade: Everybody they play, it’s a dogfight. You really can’t say that anybody is beating them down. They will put that together and get another win.

Adrian: You know I think we are going to see a lot of big plays in the running game from both teams. Jamaal Charles will represent for Kansas City and Trent Richardson will show and prove for the Browns.

The big difference is that Brandon Weeden I believe is a much better quarterback than Brady Quinn is.

The return of KC coach Romeo Crenel and Brady Quinn will have zero impact on this game.

Wade: Say it again! This will be a statement game for the Browns. I will say this. This will be the game that Richardson crosses over into 1,000 yards rushing on the year.

Mutual Pick: Cleveland Browns.

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts

Adrian: #Chuckstrong.

Wade: Salute to that man.  The Colts are on a roll. They are scoring points through the air and the Titans cannot stop the pass. Colts win

Adrian: It really is as simple as that. The Titans don’t care anymore. Peyton Manning saw something when he turned down that blank check to go back to where he played college ball.

Wade: He saw the opportunity to open up pizza joints in a state that was about to legalize pot.

Adrian: Wow. We’re out of here with that one.

Mutual Pick: Indianapolis Colts.

New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars

Adrian:  I will try to keep this short. I never in a million years felt that I would pick the Jaguars to win a charity Putt Putt Golf tournament let alone a football game.

That says more about the state of the Jets than it does the second coming of the Jaguars.

The elements for humiliation are there and the Jets just refuse to pass on any opportunity to taste humiliation.

Tebow’s homecoming, facing Chad Henne who used to play for their offensive coordinator are just two of the reasons why the Jets will just sink.

The Jaguars do have defensive end Jason Babin on deck now. This will be his second game with them and he will terrorize the plethora of quarterbacks they will parade out there.

The Jets will hit their bottom.

Wade:  I agree but for different reasons. Jacksonville wants to play well as a whole for their first year head coach. They want to play well for Chad Henne. Justin Blackmon wants to continue to prove that he is not a bust.  What a great win this will be for them if they can pull it off.

Mutual Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

Adrian: Christian Ponder cannot be trusted. He has proven that. With Brian Urlacher out for the Bears, it sets up Adrian Peterson to do some great things.  But the Vikings are without Percy Harvin and the Jerome Simpson Experiment needs to be taken off the air.

Wade:  The Bears will contain Adrian Peterson but they will not stop him. The Bears pass rush will get to Ponder and you will see a lot of turnovers.

Adrian: Charles Tillman for President. They will say that after this game.  Cutler and those guys will do ok but this will be one of those games where the Bears defense goes to work.

This game will for all intents and purposes make the NFC North a two horse race.

Mutual Pick: Chicago Bears

Houston Texans at New England Patriots

Adrian:  The Patriots go where Tom Brady goes. When Brady goes to the ground, he loses games. J.J. Watt in his second season is a legit MVP candidate that is eating quarterbacks for breakfast. You see where this heading?

Wade: You’ll take any excuse that you can to pick against New England. But I have the Patriots in a shootout.  They are passing well and running well.  Their defense is coming together. You have said that yourself.

Adrian: So you think that New England is going to stop Arian Foster and Andre Johnson?

Wade:  No I don’t but in the end they will find a way to win this game. This just might be the first round of the AFC Championship game.

Adrian:  What I see is a 28-17 win for the Texans.

Wade: What I see is a team that has been to five Super Bowls in…

Adrian:  How did they lose the last two?

Wade: Brady bowed down to the pass rush. I give you that

Adrian:  That is all that I need to say. The Texans will conquer the Patriots. We want to say Rob Gronkowski has not really been missed. This will be the game that he is missed. Injuries come home to roost brother.

Wade Picks:  New England Patriots.

Adrian Picks: Houston Texans

Quick Picks:

San Diego will lose at Pittsburgh

Miami will lose at San Francisco

Philadelphia will lose at Tampa Bay

Arizona will lose at Seattle

Adrian Picks Detroit To Win At Green Bay

Wade Picks Detroit To Lose At Green Bay

New Orleans will lose at New York (Giants)

Baltimore will win at Washington

The post NFL Week 14 Picks and Predictions appeared first on Players View.

The pictures in this gallery say it all.

The post NFL Week 13: The Week In Pictures appeared first on Players View.

#1 Atlanta Falcons (11-1)

The Falcons’ defense punished the Saints offense in a way that we have never seen before since Drew Brees took over the reins of that squad.

Atlanta’s goal has to be the execution of complete games that feature domination from both sides of the ball.

With their playoff spot secured, Atlanta has four games to complete their master plan.

#2 Houston Texans (11-1)

The past month has been a rollercoaster ride for Houston. Their definitive win over the Tennessee was a confidence breeder after a pair of overtime near-misses.

#3 New England Patriots (9-3)

The Patriots defense has become more impressive over time as Tom Brady and his group continues to get it done. Before all is said and done, look for them to secure home field throughout the playoffs. Call it a hunch.

#4 Denver Broncos (9-3)

With a division title under their belt, the Broncos continue to add fans to their bandwagon.  It’s smooth sailing for them throughout.

#5 Baltimore Ravens (9-3)

The Ravens slipped on an ugly banana peel on Sunday against a Steelers team that was ripe for the picking.  The panic button is not ready to be pushed yet, but a sweaty finger is ready to press it down.

#6 San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1)

Just when the 49ers convince the world that they are the meanest, nastiest and most brutal team in the league, they drop the proverbial trap game. It has become their 2012 calling card and its an attribute that can kill them in the playoffs.

#7 Green Bay Packers (8-4)

The NFC North is up for grabs and the Packers are poised to scoop the division with the return of Greg Jennings. But as Jennings comes, Jordy Nelson goes. Their fortunes largely rest on Sunday’s game against the Lions.

#8 New York Giants (7-5)

A statement loss is a statement loss.

Typically by now the Giants are making statement wins.

The remaining points of their schedule are not easy ones to digest.

It is becoming plausible that the Giants could lose their grip on their division.

#9 Chicago Bears (8-4)

The Bears are shaky but they are holding on to their playoff position.

Injuries are their Achilles heel and if they can stay somewhat healthy and smack the Packers down the stretch, they can roll into the playoffs as a Super Bowl favorite.

#10 Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

Indianapolis is two wins away from locking down a wildcard spot. This young team is never out of a game and that borderline naïve spirit can take them further than many are predicting.

#11 Seattle Seahawks (7-5)

The do-or-die Seahawks are the NFC’s version of the Colts.  They are young, scrappy and willing to play 60 complete minutes of football each and every time they step on the field.

#12 Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)

The Colts may be locked into one AFC wildcard spot but the Bengals are in position to the take the other. Their offense and defensive secondary have been nothing short of dominant since their bye week.

#13 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)

The Steelers put magic on the field against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.  Key players have returned and Steel City is keeping the AFC North race a three-way dance. If Mike Wallace can get it together, special things may continue to come their way.

#14 Minnesota Vikings (6-6)

Adrian Peterson is gold and the Vikings need to reward him by grabbing another wideout off the street. We know the names that are in play. High risk can equal high reward because the Jerome Simpson project is a bust and Michael Jenkins has lost not one, not two, but three or more steps.

#15 Washington Redskins (6-6)

The Redskins are surging but their secondary can still be had.  They are the ultimate spoiler and RG3 does belong in the MVP conversation.

#16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)

After a few key wins, the Buccaneers have dropped two games in-a-row to dispel the theory that they are ready to contend.

#17 Dallas Cowboys (6-6)

Can Dallas win the NFC East? NO. They barely got away from the Eagles on Sunday and new leadership is desperately needed.

#18 St. Louis Rams (5-6-1)

The Rams can beat anybody when they feel like it. Jeff Fischer’s off-season checklist will certainly include a playmaker at wideout and offensive line help.

Today? They are just a team that will play well enough keep themselves from a top 10 draft pick.

#19 Miami Dolphins (5-7)

Miami in spite of their coach, can still be a playoff team but they won’t earn that distinction because they need to much help from other groups.

Where is Reggie Bush? One touchdown in four games is not the recipe for greatness.

#20 Buffalo Bills (5-7)

The Bills continue to win one here and there as they showcase how well they can run the football.

#21 New Orleans Saints (5-7)

Two things can be taken from the Saints defeat at Atlanta.

The Falcons did not make a mistake when they let linebacker Curtis Lofton go to end in up in a black & gold uniform.

Lofton’s been pushed around all year in key moments and Tony Gonzalez’s drive-by touchdown was certainly a declaration of that fact.

The other is that Drew Brees is pressing so hard to be a hero that he’s becoming a liability more so than an asset to his group.

New Orleans will bounce back to a respectable finish. But the 2012 season is a wrap.

#22 New York Jets (5-7)

What’s the worst thing that can happen if Greg McElroy gets a shot?  He certainly cannot bring any further shame to the Jets logo.

#23 Detroit Lions (4-8)

When this season is over with, Detroit’s front-office should take a long, hard look at whether or not coach Jim Schwartz is the guy that can lead a group of young men to the upside of their potential.

#24 Cleveland Browns (4-8)

The Browns are playing at a much higher level as of late and seven wins is foreseeable for their future.

#25 Tennessee Titans (4-8)

There is not much to like about the Titans right now.

More times than not, the coach takes the hit for a season this dismal but it’s the personnel in this case is failing the test.

The Titans when they feel like it can trade punches with just about anyone.

But when they shut it down, they shut it down.

#26 San Diego Chargers (4-8)

The verbal vault is empty on ways to describe what has happened to San Diego.

Are they cursed or do they just mentally take themselves out of games in the fourth quarter?

There is no lack of talent on the field or knowledge on their sidelines.

It’s time for everyone involved to get a fresh start.

#27 Arizona Cardinals (4-8)

Shout-out to Arizona’s defense for playing full-tilt football in the face of an unhappy ending.

If that unit stays intact and the Cardinals can secure serviceable help at both offensive guard slots and a quarterback, they could easily be a 2013 playoff team.

#28 Carolina Panthers (3-9)

First up, Steve Smith proved just how classless he really is for his touchdown celebration in Kansas City on Sunday considering the circumstances of that contest.

Now, the Panthers will rebuild and hopefully get a coach that can change the culture in Charlotte.

#29 Oakland Raiders (3-9)

When was the last time that the Raiders really bought into the concept of ‘just win baby?’

#30 Kansas City Chiefs (2-10)

Will Brady Quinn continue to have career days as this team struck by tragedy becomes even more unified? Not likely… but we are praying for nothing but good things to come their way.

#31 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

Jacksonville is still a pretty bad football team upgrades or no upgrades. The Bills expressed this fact to them on Sunday.

#32 Philadelphia Eagles (3-9)

Valiant effort against the Cowboys or not, the Eagles remain the worst team in the league.

The post Atlanta Falcons top Week 14 NFL power rankings appeared first on Players View.

There are a few first-year names that are on the ballet that look extremely attractive.

Guard/tackle Larry Allen, kicker Morten Andersen, safety John Lynch, tackle Jonathan Ogden, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, and defensive end Michael Strahan are the newcomers to the list.

There are several names that compose the remaining field of 27 that many have felt have been notoriously snubbed over the years.

Cowboys legend Charles Haley and Vikings/Eagles great Chris Carter headline a group of power names that continue to fight for induction as a swarm of first year names parade through the ranks each year with an amazing pedigree.

Former Ravens owner Art Modell’s death may posthumously grant him entry as it would be a bit crass to ask his family to show up years from now to honor his contributions to the sport.

Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is currently in the midst of playing middle man in the Bounty Gate mess and how he handles that mess can determine the fate of his inclusion.

Bill Parcells could also get his shine this year as his accomplishments are certainly yellow jacket worthy.

There is a lot of mystery around how the selection process for this thing plays out.

Here’s a statement directly from the Hall’s website that tries to break down a portion of how it works.

“Although there is no set number of enshrinees for any Hall of Fame Class, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s current ground rules stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year.

No more than five modern-era nominees can be elected in a given year and a class of six or seven enshrinees can only be achieved if one or both senior nominees are elected.”

Defensive tackle Curley Culp and linebacker Dave Robinson compose the seniors that are eligible.

The complete modern-era list minus the first timers is as follows.

Jerome Bettis (RB), Roger Craig (RB), Terrell Davis (RB), Chris Carter (WR), Tim Brown (WR),  Andre Reed (WR), Will Shields (OL), Joe Jacoby (OL), Charles Haley (DE), Kevin Greene (LB), Karl Mecklenburg (LB), Steve Tasker (KR), Aeneas Williams (DB), Steve Atwater (DB), Bill Parcells (Coach), Don Coryell (Coach), Art Modell (Owner), Paul Tagliabue (Commissioner), George Young (Executive) and Ed DeBartolo, Jr. fill out the mixed bag.

You never know how the HOF brain trust is going to work.

But we will try to call this thing anyway.

These picks are not based on “our” selections from this field but yet in what directions we feel that the Hall will go based on their past history.

It’s logical to think that they will clean up at least one of their misfires.

Seeing that it’s hard to justify enshrining Larry Allen if they don’t enshrine Charles Haley, it looks like 2013 could be Halley’s best shot at entry.

Strahan is a sure first ballot candidate.

The understated Jonathan Ogden is a good look for the rookies as well.

Jerome Bettis had an outside shot at earning first or second ballot honors but he has built up a great deal of goodwill amongst anyone in the media that ever came across him

That leaves one name left to pull and Art Modell should secure that spot.

First things first, this list will boil down to 15 in January with the final selection taking place on the day before the Super Bowl February 2, 2013.

In the past we have lamented the fact that Chris Carter has criminally been overlooked for entry.

That feeling that has not changed, but looking at the bottleneck of media savvy players who have all recently done incredible things, it makes it that much tougher for Carter to get in.

Is it right? Nope.

But Carter has reportedly upset a great deal of people within the sports communications business over the years and this regardless of what people will tell you is their way of exacting their revenge.

Throw in the truth that wideouts have it tough enough as it is and it appears that he will sit idle yet again.

Warren Sapp will sit out the 2013 class. If Sapp doesn’t get immediate induction, watch for him to get his jacket in 2014.

Sapp’s off-the field issues could taint his immediate induction as they allegedly did with Michael Irvin who waited for three years before he was inducted.

Our dark horse thought is that don’t be surprised if Morten Anderson gets love on his first time around.

Players View Modern-Era Predictions:

Michael Strahan (DE)

Jerome Bettis (RB)

Art Modell (Owner)

Jonathan Ogden (OL)

Charles Haley (DE)

Players View Modern-Era Preferred Class:

Chris Carter (WR)

Michael Strahan (DE)

Charles Haley (DE)

Art Modell (Owner)

Joe Jacoby (OL)

The post Predicting the NFL’s 2013 Hall of Fame Class appeared first on Players View.

Odds are if you are reading this, you know his story and it is one that is rooted around his inability to control himself and his destructive urges that ultimately shame him out of LSU.

This is not the platform to discuss whether or not his apparent zeal for high grade marijuana is not as bad as people make it out to be.

Instead, look to several incidents one being as recently as last month to curb your enthusiasm as to how successful this kid will be in the big time.

Somebody will take him at some point. He may not get the position that the was going to get prior to all of this foolishness but he will get scooped by somebody that will kick his tires and give him a go.

If he has kept himself even somewhat together since he was jettisoned from LSU’s football program, he has NFL-quality talent as a kick returner and a nickel cornerback.

But as a twenty-year-old that is struggling with saying no to situations that are not a good look for him, how can he come out of this as a success story?

“I am sorry that I was not able to complete my journey at LSU, but I will always support LSU in any way I can,” Mathieu said in a statement. “To my teammates, you are my brothers. You have kept me going. I will do my best to make you all proud of me.”

“I am committed to tackling my personal issues and will work to better myself every day as a man first and only then as a football player. I will always consider myself an LSU Tiger,” Mathieu said.

Let’s look at a few situations that may need his services and point to which one give him the best chance to succeed longterm.

The Detroit Lions –The Lions are desperate for secondary help and improved special teams play. However, their locker room lacks the veteran leadership to guide him amongst his peers.

The coaching staff has shown that they are having a hard time keeping their house in order. For Mathieu this has worst case scenario written all over it.

The Philadelphia Eagles –The Eagles’ secondary will not be the same next year.

Matter of fact, that entire team and coaching staff is about to be gutted. So it’s hard to predict how well he would fit in there, but it’s doubtful that the team will have the structure or the desire to take on such a project as they rebuild.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are an interesting scenario. There are zero big city distractions to steer him away from football and there are a few positive veteran influences in that locker room that can help him out.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Tampa is the ideal landing spot for HB. They have a tough-love style coach in Greg Schiano that has very recent college experience.

He knows how to work with young men and get their minds right. If the aging Ronde Barber plays next year, Mathieu will have a mentor at his position that can do for him what Chris Carter did for a young Randy Moss.

Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins need cornerbacks but the city’s nightlife would most likely crush the young man before training camp was over.

The temptation that resides on South Beach is relentless. Coach Joe Philbin seems to operate with a ‘one-strike and you’re gone ‘policy so the Dolphins appear to be his quickest path out of the NFL if were to screw-up.

The Chicago Bears- As stated Mathieu’s best asset as a NFL employee will come in the special teams department.

Prior to his concussion, the greatest-to-ever-do-it Devin Hester seemed to lose a step and has yet to revisit the magic of his past.

The Bears have strong-willed veterans to spare and coach Lovie Smith has can always make use of a shifty corner that blitz.

The Bears are nearly as good of a fit for him as the Buccaneers are.

At least two of these teams will show an interest in him based on what their current needs are now and hopefully he can find himself involved with a group that can help him go to the next level as both a player and as a man.

The post 6 Potential NFL Fits For Tyrann Mathieu appeared first on Players View.

#10 Chicago Blues

As strong as the Bears can be when they are clicking on all cylinders, they just like anybody else become pretty bad when injuries come to town.

Although Jay Cutler returned from a concussion bid to lead them to a confident win over the Vikings, the team lost six starters in the process.

Running back Matt Forte (ankle), cornerback Charles Tillman (ankle), linebacker Lance Briggs (foot), wide receiver/kick returner Devin Hester (concussion) and guards Lance Louis (knee sprain) and Chris Spencer (knee sprain) all walked away with potentially serious injuries.

The Bears will reveal the severity of the injuries on Monday.

#9 Atlanta Keeps It Interesting

GlaxoSmithKline is the company that is behind the antacid savior TUMS. If their marketing department is smart they will quickly design a red and black bottle aimed at Falcons fans.

Atlanta is playing how they are going to play most likely for the rest of the year.

They will try and run the ball to control the time of possession and keep their defense off the field.

This will keep games close.

They will strike quickly when they need a fast score.

And yes they will make some mistakes.

This all adds up to a series of fourth quarters that will take years off your life and thus Players View’s product placement of the day.

#8 The Saints Are Still the Saints

The formula for beating New Orleans now is the same as it has always been.  Consistently pressure Drew Brees into making mistakes and the game will get out-of-hand.

The San Francisco 49ers as a whole will be discussed later but the fact is that for all of the money that Brees is making he’s got to limit his game changing interceptions when he is under duress.

#7 Miami Showers

In what came across as a moment that you thought you would only see in a Buffalo Wild Wings commercial, the sprinkler system mysteriously was activated during the Dolphins brawl against the Seattle Seahawks.

As the field was flooded, the Fins took the time to draft a plan that would carry them to a last second victory.

Chaos indeed.

#6 One Man Can Carry An Entire Team.

Ben Roethlisberger is so important to his boys that they have morphed into becoming one of the worst teams in football in his absence.

In their lost to the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh looked like the Bad News Bears.

The turnovers, misguided focus and lack of intensity proved that he is more than the captain of that ship.

He is everything that is good about them when they are great.

#5 Oakland Has No Heart

As we just discussed with Pittsburgh, teams are lead by their quarterbacks.

What does it say about the Raiders when they have a chance to help Carson Palmer avenge himself against his former team the Cincinnati Bengals and they go out there and take a beating?

Does it say that they don’t respect Carson? Does it say that Carson has not done enough to earn that level of respect? Or does it say that everybody is just there to get their money and go home?

The way that Oakland lost yesterday should be humiliating on so many levels.

Yet somehow judging from the sideline faces that I saw on the replay, I don’t think they cared very much.

#4 The Chargers Curse Strikes Again

The term fourth-and-29 will define Norv Turner’s eventual exit from San Diego but the truth is that the Chargers had plenty of chances after Ray Rice’s phenomenal play to still pull it out.

The play calling moving on from that incident was poor and truthfully Phillip Rivers played like anything but a hero in overtime.

Rivers played not to make mistakes and when you are only worried about people saying it’s your fault then honestly it becomes your fault.

There were several opportunities that Rivers had to extend drives with his feet instead of opting for the safe option which often lead to incompletions.

C’mon Phillip, go watch your film from two years ago backwards and get your fire back.

#3 Jacksonville Gets Another Win

Chad Henne is making a great case as to why the Jaguars don’t need to bring another quarterback into the fold in the off-season.

I know beating up on the Titans impresses no one but the fact that he beat a division opponent with complete certainty says a lot.

First round draft pick Justin Blackmon finally found a guy that he can ball with.

#2 The Packers Get Knocked Out Early

When the Giants come to play it seems that nobody can run with them as witnessed on Sunday’s final game.

The Packers are loaded with injuries but there is not a reason for what happened to them on Sunday night.

Aaron Rodgers was manhandled, their receivers were shut down and their defense had no answer for a New York team that seemed to say to its citizens ‘forget the Jets, there is still hope.’

One phrase says it all.

The Packers got thumped.

#1 San Francisco Has a New Sherriff In Town.

Alex Smith hasn’t done anything wrong to anyone and maybe he doesn’t deserve to suffer in the manner in which he is suffering.

For him to return from a concussion as a successful starter and lose his gig to sophomore quarterback Colon Kaepernick is seriously kind of dirty…but that’s business.

Kaepernick’s skill set is special. Let’s forget about the kid’s feet for a moment.

He has the ability to make plays that Smith does not.

They think differently and take control in different ways.

Alex Smith is a game manager while Kaepernick is a game changer.

There are throws that Kaepernick will attempt and complete that Smith quite frankly won’t allow himself to make.

Smith’s not a risk-taker and when the game is on the line you absolutely, positively need an arrogant risk taker to win a title.

The 49ers did not spend all of this money in the off-season on playmakers to rely on high percentage plays to get the war won.

Kaepernick beat the Bears and the Saints in back to back meetings in style with a lot of help from the 49ers’ defense.

His numbers are not bad either.

He will only get better.

Time will tell if Smith gets his job back. If not the 49ers need to do the right thing in the 0ff-season and let that man pursue other options.

The post 10 NFL Observations from Week 12 appeared first on Players View.

Thursday provided plenty of memorable moments that are worth capturing on film.

The post NFL Thanksgiving: The day in pictures appeared first on Players View.

# 25 Washington at Washington State

State is on the ropes and looking ahead to next year.  Washington quite frankly is not much better but they own the mental edge.

# 24 Arizona vs. Arizona State

Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey is the nation’s leading rusher and he will go head up against ASU’s Will Sutton who is one of the top defensive linemen in the country. It’s a true clash of the titans and State will walk away with the win.

# 23 Kent State vs. Ohio

Kent State is a ranked team.  I hope that feat is enough, because Ohio is about to snuff their status out.

# 13 Oklahoma vs. #21 Oklahoma State

Clint Chelf is 2-0 as the Cowboys’ starter and Oklahoma feels untrustworthy. State for the win.

# 20 Louisville vs. Connecticut

The Cardinals won’t lose this game. They just won’t.

# 19 Michigan at Ohio State

Ohio State’s players have to feel slighted regardless of what their situation may be. They will take it all out on Michigan and win big.

# 18 Rutgers at Pittsburgh

Don’t forget that Pittsburgh almost dropped the number one team in the country. Rutgers won’t survive this dogfight.

#8 Stanford at # 17 UCLA

We could easily see this game again next week as a Pac-12 title game but first things first. In this game, the Bruins will punch the Cardinals ticket as they may not be over their emotional win against USC.

# 5 Oregon at #15 Oregon State

Oregon was humiliated last week just by the fact that that they lost their shot at glory just as they got into the big boy conversation.  The end result is their in-state rivals will feel the wrath of a team that may never be the same if the rumors of a pending NCAA investigation are true.

# 14 Nebraska at Iowa

There is not a team on the field that has zero chance to win a game. BUT this is as close as it gets and Iowa’s losing ways won’t reverse course here.

#11 Clemson vs. #12 South Carolina

Clemson has really come on as of late and the Gamecocks don’t have the mental toughness to stand up to their offensive prowess. Clemson stomps them out.

#4 Florida at #10 Florida State

Florida should win this game but they won’t as their quarterback situation is up for grabs and FSU’s defense is on fire right now. The benefit of a recently light schedule comes to an end for the Gators.

# 9 Texas A&M vs. Missouri

The only thing on the line here is Johnny Manziel’s Heisman bid. He may be late to the party but Missouri won’t do anything to stop him from crashing it.

#7 LSU at Arkansas

LSU earns their BCS Bowl entry against a rival. It doesn’t get much sweeter than that.

# 3 Georgia vs. Georgia Tech

This rivalry is as nostalgic as it gets. It will be a good one as always but the Bulldogs will triumph at the end of it all.

#2 Alabama vs. Auburn

The world’s greatest rivalry doesn’t look like it will be close. Auburn has nothing to lose but pride while Alabama is pushing to stay in the hunt for the big game.  Bama crushes the Tigers/War Eagles.

# 1 Notre Dame at USC

Notre Dame was supposed to be the unranked team playing the number one team in the country. Now that’s been flipped upside down in one of the strangest scenarios in recent memory. To bottom-line this, there is trouble in Trojan country and there will be no upset.

The post NCAA Football: Week 13 Bullet Picks appeared first on Players View.

While we are all in favor of rotating out a pair of the team’s that get the prestigious look every year, we know that the games, kickoffs and even their halftime shows will be something to behold for one reason or another.

Here’s our predictions.

Houston Texans at Detroit Lions

Wade Thompson: The Lions don’t seem to have a direct path to win this game.

Adrian Glover: I disagree and agree with that statement. You know they took a huge step this week by finally flexing some muscle with these undisciplined kids and making Titus Young inactive.

That sends a message hopefully that are done with all of the crap whether it is juvenile behavior on or off the field.

That is the kind of thing that can get a group back on track and playing up to their expectations.

Wade: So you have Detroit? Interesting.

Adrian: Well you know, one of two things is about to happen either the Texans are about to fall off  or they are about to do what seriously dangerous teams do and that is bounce back from a close game or loss and just crucify the competition the following week.

I’m sorry, I don’t care who the quarterback is when you have as much hype as the Texans do and you let one of the worst teams in the business take you into overtime, that raises my eyebrows.

Throw in that they are coming off a short week with that on their brain and I would say that the mental aspect of this favors Detroit.

Wade: Ok Dr. Phil, let’s been honest with ourselves. You like to make your picks based on scenarios that others never look at. The crazy thing is that a lot of people don’t do it that way. They like I look at numbers and the most important number are wins and losses.

I agree with you Detroit should be a playoff team but they are not. So until they prove it to me I still see Matthew Stafford as a big guy with a huge arm that finds a way to throw the interception at the wrong time.

The Texans take advantage of players like that. The vertical game showed UP with they needed to so now we know it’s not all just Arian Foster.

Adrian: I am glad you brought up Stafford’s size because as much as I feel that J.J. Watt is the hardest working defensive man in the business, he won’t intimidate Stafford like he does some of these other guys.

This game can go a long way in proving a point for the Lions but their porous secondary is the reason why I am going with the Texans.

Wade: You went through all of that to go with Houston?

Unanimous Pick: Texans stuff the Lions in a shootout.

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

Wade: This one is at Club Jerry! But, I think holiday talk and jokes aside, this is a division game for the Cowboys and they will find a way to win this. This is their only chance to get back into-the-mix.

Adrian: You don’t lie and you know…the Cowboys have won two in a row but the sincerity of the situation is that having watched both of those games, there was more luck involved there with skill.

Wade: There is also the idea that regardless of what the team officials may say, they have to play for their coach right now.

Adrian: I am not sold on the idea that they want Jason Garrett leading them. If that was the case they would have started playing well like what two seasons ago? I mean to me, I am positive that there are guys in that locker room that want Garrett gone.

BUT, here’s why Dallas will lose. You saw how two weeks ago Dallas squeaked by the new worst team in football in the Eagles?

Well the Redskins battered defense and all came out and broke out the strap on them. They had the killer instinct to break the Eagles down to the lowest common denominator.

The Cowboys just one game removed nearly looked as bad as they did. Let’s be real.

That’s not even about coaching as much as it is the leaders on the field.

So really it comes down to Washington’s first two drives.

If RG3 comes out there and makes them look foolish, then Tony Romo is sitting on the other sideline biting his fingernails getting nervous.

Why? Because he knows he will have to dial-up a near perfect game to win that duel.

Then the thoughts of all of those past screw-ups will start running through his mind.

And then…pick six to DeAngelo Hall who is good for humiliating others when he’s not humiliating himself.

Sorry dude, in that situation, I don’t trust Romo. Nobody does and now that he’s gone two games in a row without throwing a pick, he’s due.

My grandmamma always told me that when somebody shows you who they are, believe them.

Wade: You just changed my mind.  The biggest revelation is that you spoke to the instability of that team and this is the moment when they unravel.

It’s not just Tony. It’s Miles Austin as well. It’s Dez Bryant who still needs to go grab the brass ring more than just every now and then.

Unanimous Pick: Sports talk radio in Dallas will be the scene of the real Black Friday.

New England Patriots at New York Jets

Wade: I will start this one as the resident Patriots expert. Losing Gronk hurts a lot but the team will just substitute multiple receiver sets for dual tight end sets. It’s cool.

It’s Tom Brady, It’s Bill Belichick and now that they have Aqib Talib in the secondary they are that much more of a complete team.

Adrian: That was a tight and concise argument for why the Patriots will get it done.

Wade: But…

Adrian: If there is one thing that Rex Ryan can do to save his tail, it’s beat the Patriots in front of the entire free world on Thanksgiving.

Wade: Say it again! But he won’t.

Adrian: Losing Gronk is a big deal. He’s not a vertical tight end that can stretch the field. He’s a rhino that blocks better than the bulk of that team’s offensive line that just so happens to be able to catch the football.

There is more than just traceable production that they will lose with him.

Wade: The Jets will not suddenly become hot even if they almost beat New England a few weeks ago and the beat the Rams last week.

I agree with you that they can do it. But in this battle of wills, Belichick and Brady for that matter are both dealing with their pride too.

Adrian: As you would say…say it again! But Shonn Greene, an efficient game from Mark Sanchez and no Tebow tricks can win this game for them.

If Rex gets cute and tries to outfox Bill it’s over. If the Jets walk on the field, impose their will and play ugly football, I like them to win.

That is what I am picking them to do.

Wade Picks:  The Patriots in a blowout.

Adrian Picks: The Jets in a knockdown, drag out game for the ages.

The post NFL Thanksgiving Picks appeared first on Players View.

#1 New York Knicks (7-1)

Just because they dropped a game does not mean that they are not playing the NBA’s best ball right now.

#2 Los Angeles Clippers (8-2)

The new kings of Los Angeles are riding high with other names besides Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.  Eric Bledsoe is stepping up and Jamal Crawford is on a serious roll.

#3 Memphis Grizzlies (8-2)

The Grizzlies are making up for semi-rocky start with their current flourish. Wins against the Heat and the Knicks don’t hurt much either.

#4 Miami Heat (8-3)

Loses to both the Knicks and the Grizzlies have the Heat looking from the outside in to the Top three.

#5 Oklahoma City Thunder (8-3)

Kevin Durant continues to play above just about the rest of the world but the Thunder as a whole seems to have lost a step.

#6 San Antonio Spurs (8-3)

In the car-jacking that was their loss to the Knicks, the Spurs really showed their age. Manu like the rest of that group has his moments but it’s concerning when a veteran group shows signs of rust this early into the season.

#7 Brooklyn Nets (6-2)

The knock on the Nets is that they haven’t really beaten anybody. But the last time we checked the Celtics were somebody.

#8 Milwaukee Bucks (6-2)

Monta Ellis is really taking the next step forward in his bid to become one of the game’s premier guards.  In doing so, he’s got the Bucks playing above their talent level.

#9 Boston Celtics (6-5)

The Celtics are as inconsistent as the word implies right now. Rondo is gimpy and if they rise to the occasion, we would not be surprised. But, if this group of formerly ageless wonders falls off we would not be surprised one bit.

#10 Los Angeles Lakers (5-5)

The D’Antoni Show is about to begin and the Lakers won’t even begin to flourish underneath him until Steve Nash not only returns from injury but he’s 100%.

#11 Chicago Bulls (5-5)

Last week was a horrible run for the Chicago’s defensive agenda.  It doesn’t matter if D-Rose is out of the lineup, the Bulls are starting to hand out 100-pt games like early holiday gifts.

#12 Atlanta Hawks (4-4)

Atlanta…oh Atlanta. Its hard to understand how they can succeed, fail, succeed and fail again often over the course of the same game. Josh Smith needs to start shining again in The Highlight Factory.

#13 Philadelphia 76ers (6-4)

Andrew Bynum’s prognosis seems to get worse as the days goes buy and yet somehow so does his greasy mop-top.  What we need to look at is how Jrue Holiday is keeping the 76ers on the brighter side of their win-loss record.

#14 Dallas Mavericks (6-5)

Owner Mark Cuban needs to stop yelling at Facebook and work wonders on a roster that needs to give O.J. Mayo some help.

#15 Utah Jazz (5-6)

Al Jefferson, Al Jefferson and one more time Al Jefferson. The Jazz are being prompted up solely by big fella and could see even larger gains should someone else rise to his level of play.

#16 Minnesota Timberwolves (5-4)

Out of all of the Timberwolves injuries, Brandon Roy’s may be the dagger that delivers the death blow to a looming skid.

#17 Golden State Warriors (5-5)

As they build around young Harrison Barnes, the Warriors will experience fleeting moments of joy and depression as they get it together.

#18 Portland Trailblazers (5-5)

The Trailblazers now have Nic Batum going off in addition to LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. They can’t stay down very long if this trio continues to play at a high level.

#19 Denver Nuggets (4-6)

Who is selling t-shirts that say What Happened To Iggy? New Nugget Andre Iguodala’s 2012 PPG is down to 13.5 and is RPG has slipped to 6.5.

The numbers are not downright terrible but they point to an overall disappointment with how the Nuggets have performed thus far.

#20 Houston Rockets (4-6)

All of the early hype in the world cannot change the fact that James Harden’s Rockets have not taken flight as of late.

#21 Charlotte Bobcats (4-4)

To be .500 this far into the season is a huge step forward from where the Bobcats were this time last year.

#22 Indiana Pacers (4-7)

Roy Hibbert needs to get over the fact that Danny Granger is gone and man up. The Pacers need offense in beyond the worst way.

#23 Toronto Raptors (3-7)

DeMar DeRozan is playing well now he needs some of his friends to join the party.

#24 New Orleans Hornets (3-5)

How can we stop focusing on just Anthony Davis when he refuses to not be the star of the Hornets show?

#25 Orlando Magic (3-6)

The good news this week is that Orlando found out how it feels to win. In other news…

#26 Detroit Pistons (2-9)

Call me crazy for ranking them above the Suns, but Greg Monroe’s group flashed moments of competitiveness against the Thunder that could inspire them to at worst become the best of the worst teams.

#27 Phoenix Suns (4-7)

Phoenix is sinking from being mediocre to pretty bad.

#28 Cleveland Cavaliers (2-8)

Losing Kyrie Irving for a month is soul-destroying event that will not only hurt Cleveland’s chances it will crush them.

#29 Sacramento Kings (2-8)

The Kings are unraveling at a rapid pace as their youth which was once a benefit has become the worst of liabilities.

#30 Washington Wizards (0-8)

A winless record pretty much sums it up. Even if John Wall is the best player they have, things should not be this bad as he recovers from injury.

The post NBA Power Rankings Week Three appeared first on Players View.

#1 Atlanta Falcons (9-1)

After   dodging a bullet in a messy affair against the Cardinals, the Falcons were due to lose their spot. The only problem is that Houston had an even worse day.

#2 Houston Texans (9-1)

Despite some eye-gouging numbers offensively, the Texans somehow ended up letting  more or less the worst team in the NFL take them into overtime. That’s shameful.

#3 Baltimore Ravens (8-2)

Now that they are in control of the AFC North, the Ravens hold all of their cards in regards to their destiny. Keep your head up Ed Reed.

#4 San Francisco 49ers (7-2-1)

The beating that the 49ers put on the Bears was a lesson in humiliation. However, Alex Smith is now once again an unhappy camper after his stand-in Colin Kaepernick shined in his absence.

#5 New England Patriots (6-3)

The Patriots ruthlessly killed the Chuckstrong movement but in the process lost their most vital weapon in Rob Gronkowski.

#6 Green Bay Packers (7-3)

The Packers won ugly against a Lions team that is in disaster mode. We’re still waiting on their offense to put together a string of games that rivals what they have done in the past. Injuries may have just deflated the Packers to a pretty good team instead of a great one.

#7 Denver Broncos (7-3)

Now that the AFC West has been brought to their knees, look for the Broncos to start chipping away at the rest of their conference.

#8 Chicago Bears (7-3)

The Bears defense had an opportunity to ride for their hobbled offense and they failed to even come close to living up to their ability on Monday. Shameful.

#9 Indianapolis Colts (6-4)

The bottom hasn’t fallen out of their crusade just yet. Can Andrew Luck get his mind right to press on after being taken out in the backyard by Tom Brady?

#10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)

Tampa ascends even after they danced a wee bit to close with defeat against the woeful Carolina Panthers.

#11 Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

Fresh off a bye, will the Seahawks fade burn out or rise up after taking a step back from their momentum?

#12 Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)

The Bengals are starting to click on all cylinders but they may have dug a hole that is too deep to climb out of earlier in the year.

#13 New York Giants (6-4)

Something does not smell right in New York and for this instance its not the Jets. Call it a hunch.

#14 Minnesota Vikings (6-4)

With the Bears potentially on the ropes and the Packers playing just “ok” can Adrian Peterson in spite of his quarterback’s inconsistency lead the Vikings to the post-season?

#15 New Orleans Saints (5-5)

The Saints are creeping up the chart again. Are we witnessing something special or just a run of good luck during a period of misery?

#16 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)

You can’t trust Charlie Batch to seriously anchor this team and you can’t trust Plaxico Burress to make much of a difference either.  Out of respect for their record you can’t ship the Steelers too far down the chart, but know that a huge dip is upon us.

#17 Dallas Cowboys (5-5)

The beat Cleveland and barely did that. Dallas is thankful that their entire division is hurting at the moment.

#18 Arizona Cardinals (4-6)

Out of each time that came out on the negative side of Sunday’s games, the Cardinals played the best defensive game. However, their offense is just horrid.

#19 Detroit Lions (4-6)

Players are undisciplined, coaches are acting like brats and yet somehow Detroit stayed close with the Packers. It shows you just how much talent that franchise is wasting right now.

#20 New York Jets (4-6)

The Jets are a headache to discuss at this point. They beat the Rams which is great for them and let’s just leave it at that.

#21 Washington Redskins (4-6)

Injuries are once again putting an asterisk by Redskins victories. They beat the Eagles half-to-death as is becoming the norm this year.

#22 Buffalo Bills (4-6)

The Bills defense displayed signs-of-life against a Dolphins team that despite a mid-season surge, is pretty much calling it a day.

#23 San Diego Chargers (4-6)

I can’t wait to see how this all plays out for the Chargers in the off-season. A loss to the Ravens this weekend could bring out the first of many hooks that will attempt to restore some dignity to the Bolts.

#24 Miami Dolphins (4-6)

Miami should take it one game at a time because as soon as the playoff talk erupted their slide began.

#25 St Louis Rams (3-6-1)

The Rams did not even play the Jets tough. It seems that their emotional tie with the 49ers was too much for them to come back from.

#26 Tennessee Titans (4-6)

Hope you enjoyed the rest Tennessee as we know you enjoyed watching the Bears get a taste of their own medicine after they punked you.

#27 Oakland Raiders (3-7)

It is what it is and the Raiders are beyond help.

#28 Cleveland Browns (2-8)

The Browns are starting to get it right here and there. They could put it all together to at least eek out five wins before the years over with.

#29 Carolina Panthers (2-8)

It’s bad in Carolina right now. Ron Rivera is more or less done whether he’s booted now or at season’s end.

#30 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)

How can the Jags lose and still climb two spots? See below.

#31 Kansas City Chiefs (1-9)

The players have forgotten that their fans have a thing called pride. Sad to see.

#32 Philadelphia Eagles (3-7)

Are the Eagles seriously the worst team in football? No not really but they have chosen to be here. More than half of their 22 starters are loafing and playing to get the game over with. Eyes never lie and people are not stupid. It gets worse every week.

The post NFL Power Rankings Week 12 appeared first on Players View.

I don’t know what to even say about the Eagles anymore. Sunday’s performance against the Redskins was as much of a disaster that you could never want to see.

The defensive play was so shoddy that the Eagles secondary should be classified as felons if they show up this week to collect their pay checks.

Watching the replay it was obvious that this team gave the game away from both sides of the ball and for that it will take some time before I can respect a few members of this “Dream Team.”

#9 Less Tebow More Wins

Tim Tebow is a model citizen but his reduced snap count in the Jets victory against the Rams proves that their offense is dramatically better when he is not consistently running in and out of the huddle to get his fleeting moments in the sun.

“I think that’s just the way things worked out today,” Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez assertively told the Star Ledger . “But whatever (offensive coordinator Tony Sparano) and Rex and those guys need us to do; we should be able to go out there and execute in our system and keep rolling.”

Sanchez was 15-of-20 for 178 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in a nearly Tebow-less day.

The numbers are not Tom Brady like but they are the model of efficiency that Sanchez brought to the table when the Jets went to two straight AFC Championship games.

Leave well enough alone.

#8 Great Teams Can Win Ugly

What impressed me the most about how Atlanta, Houston and Baltimore won on Sunday was not how they almost lost but how they found a way to win when it counted.

The great teams are those that get caught sleep-walking yet always get out the back door with a win.

A few losses here and there are great for every NFL team as I have a theory about regular season killing machines, but despite throwing five interceptions a guy like Matt Ryan can become perfect on the game winning drive despite his ugly day.

The terrible numbers can deep-six a MVP bid but it can build character going into the playoffs.

#7 Mike Holmgren Might Be Headed To Dallas

Mike Holmgren is on his way out of Cleveland.  Holmgren loves Jerry Jones. Jones loves Holmgren and current coach Jason Garret is by all assumptions from everyone observing walking on a thin line.

When the Browns and Cowboys met on Sunday, Holmgren and Jones made it a point to put on a pre-game love-fest for all of the cameras in the house.

Of course, Jones made it a point to discuss the visit without denying that Holmgren is on his potential hit-list should Garrett be shown the door.

“Well, we had the visit that we always have when he comes, when I come to where he is,” Jones told the Dallas Morning News.

“We’re good friends. We served for about seven or eight years on the Competition Committee together….We visited about all the things that we normal visit about.

“He’s a really, apart from being an outstanding coach, he’s a heck of a man. He’s got a lot of character and I can’t tell you how much I respect him. When you’re close like that and spend a lot of time with somebody, familiarity can breed contempt. It’s just the opposite with him. Every time I’ve been around him he’s gone up.”

And with Sean Payton we have two names now on the Jason Garrett’s Playoffs Or Else Express.

#6 Rob Gronkowski Is Out For 4-6 Weeks

What impact will Gronk’s loss have on the Patriots? With fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez on the way back, perhaps not much from a skill perspective.

It’s the attitude that Gronk brings to the offense that cannot be replaced.

The Patriots running game needs to get ready for the spotlight as they are due for an extended role as the team morphs itself into a new shape without Gronk on the field.

There’s never been another team that dealt with injuries as well as New England does so it would not be surprising to see a guy like vertical threat Brandon Lloyd finally step up and consistently go for his.

#5 Maybe It Was Blaine Gabbert…

Players View has taken the Jacksonville Jaguars to task all season long for being the worst team in football.

We still believe there is some truth to that.

Although we now feel as if the injection of former Dolphin Chad Henne at quarterback uplifts that team and gives them the best chance to move out of the pigskin ghetto.

After Gabbert’s injury on Sunday Henne stepped in and almost pulled off the upset against the Texans.

That’s cool and all but that is not why we feel this way.

Henne threw four touchdowns.

That’s cool and all but that is not why we feel this way.

We feel this way because Chad Henne stepped on the field and took advantage of the skills of number one draft pick Justin Blackmon without ignoring the prowess of the team’s rising star Cecil Shorts.

On Henne’s watch Blackmon became the star that the Jaguars drafted him to be.

Blackmon caught seven balls for 236 yards and a touchdown while averaging 33.7 yards a snatch.

He was targeted 13 times. He has only been targeted in double figures once previously on September 30^th.

Going with Henne is a huge step forward and for that group’s morale he should be named the permanent starter as soon as the press release can be cut.

#4 San Diego Is A Shadow Of Its Former Self

It was really hard to watch the once-proud San Diego Chargers get outplayed and outcoached by the Denver Broncos.

The Chargers were at one point the class of the AFC West and regardless of how crazy their seasons went, always made it a point to try and fight to take advantage of the window that existed for them to win it all.

The window has now slammed shut.

The team needs a new voice in the front office, the sideline and I hate to say it but in the huddle.

Never did I think that I would see the day that Phillip Rivers would adopt a ho-hum stance for most of a contest but there it was.

Rivers is a personal favorite and maybe for all parties concerned he should join the exodus and reboot his career in another city that has talent but is just in need of a fiery field general.

It seems as if everyone involved in this situation from the fans to the personnel has grown tired of each other.

#3 The Luck Ran Out

As RG3 took advantage of a spineless Eagles’ defense to make his bid for Rookie-of-the-Year, Andrew Luck got served by the master Tom Brady in their first meeting.

The Colts are still very much in the playoff hunt, but Brady was on his game and consistently encouraged his defense to play up to the offense’s level.

It was a lesson in leadership that Luck will get under his belt and as quick a learner as he is, I would be willing to concede now that a second post-season matchup would not be as much of a blowout as Sunday was.

#2 Byron Leftwich Is Horrible

I feel bad for Byron Leftwich this morning. He was expected to step in during the absence of Ben Roethlisberger and behave as a suitable Band Aid that will ensure the Steelers’ playoff dreams.

After an inspiring first drive on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, Leftwich did what he does best which is flash potential and get injured in short order.

Although he was not pulled out of the game, Leftwich failed to make throws that he should make with ease, winced , hobbled and made us all painfully aware that he was in a great deal of pain.

Say what you want about many of the quarterbacks in this league.

The lion’s share of the true starters find ways to gut-it-out and come through when they must without advertising that want to leave the field of play.

In doing so, they don’t let balls fall well short of their target. They just do what they have to do.

If his presumed injury is or was indeed that bad, Leftwich should have completely tapped out and let his backup Charlie Batch give it a go.

Now, the Steelers are staring down the barrel of a must win game in Baltimore to even think about winning the AFC North.

Letting former backup Dennis Dixon sign with the Ravens last week in hindsight seems like a really, really bad move.

#1 The NFC South Could Be Heating Up

At 9-1 the Atlanta Falcons would have to drop the ball in an epic way to lose their stranglehold on their division.

But with the New Orleans Saints getting hot and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers getting hotter, it can’t be denied that as teams such as the Rams, Lions, Eagles and Cardinals eliminate themselves from playoff contention, the South has an opportunity to return two teams to the post-season tournament.

The post 10 NFL Observations from Week 11 appeared first on Players View.

Washington is bowl eligible and looking to sneak their way into a high profile scenario. Who wants to play in the Jed’s Auto Parts Bowl?

#23 Texas Tech at # 24 Oklahoma State

The Red Raiders are thinking revenge after 2011’s 60-point beat down. The Cowboys are reeling at quarterback and TT is angry with Seth Doege pulling the trigger. The Red Raiders are coming in for and leaving with blood on their hands.

#22 Rutgers at Cincinnati

Some teams just know how to beat certain teams. Cincinnati has always had Rutgers number and the Scarlet Knights are trying to go 5-0 in the Big East. Rutgers will break the curse on Saturday.

# 21 Michigan vs. Iowa

This one is simple if Devin Gardner starts at quarterback over Denard Robinson Michigan will win. If Robinson returns, Iowa will take their fourth straight unlikely victory from the Wolverines.

# 20 Louisiana Tech vs. Utah State

Simple and plain, Utah State does not have the defense to win this game.

#17 UCLA vs. #18 USC

Nobody predicted that USC’s fall from grace would be so severe that the Pac-12 South title would seriously be up for grabs. This is a winner take all turf battle and Jim Mora Jr. has UCLA believing in themselves. UCLA takes the title.

#16 Oregon State vs. California

What is Cal capable of? That is the biggest question here. The answer is not very much.

# 14 Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Nebraska is firmly in control of the Legends and will take a blue-collar get-in-and-get-out approach to taking down Minnesota.

# 2 Oregon vs. # 13 Stanford

To get the coveted number one spot, Oregon has to molly whop Stanford to win the Pac 12 North.  I suppose we need to leave room for Stanford to upset but not very much.

# 12 Oklahoma at West Virginia

The Sooners will take it to the biggest disappointment in college football.  WV has a lot of soul searching to do after letting themselves go the way that they did.

# 11 Clemson vs. North Carolina State

NC State got it done at home against Clemson last year. However, in a rivalry that has always been one-sided, they are not due for another upset until 2019.

# 10 Florida State at Maryland

After the Clemson debacle, Maryland braces themselves for another ACC annihilation.

#9 South Carolina vs. Wofford

Wofford can only hope to stop the bleeding and keep it respectable.

# 8 Texas A&M vs. Sam Houston State

Spoiler alert…Sam Houston can score points.  I am not predicting that they can win but this one has oddball game written all over it.

# 7 LSU vs. Ole Miss

Ole Miss is fading fast and LSU is ending the year strong after writing the blueprint for beating Alabama.  Tigers get it done.

#6 Florida vs. Jacksonville State

The theme of the week for the most part is David vs. Goliath. That’s nice and all but the underdog has no chance in this one.

#5 Georgia vs. Georgia Southern

For what they are, Southern has a good program but they simply just cannot run with the Bulldogs. Expect Georgia to score often and early.

#4 Alabama vs. Western Carolina

Western Carolina was not happy to witness Texas A&M’s victory over the Crimson Tide last weekend as they knew they would have to pay the price for it. This will be a nasty, nasty game.

#3 Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest

Now that the rubber has met the road, Notre Dame has avoided a slew of serious mishaps to get into the top three. Wake Forest is a well coached group that can stick another thorn in their side and be the team to twist it deep enough for the win.

#1 Kansas State at Baylor

A year ago Baylor could have taken this overrated Kansas State group. But Baylor’s two shiniest toys are in the NFL now and Kansas State is holding off Oregon in the polls bythismuch.  Baylor’s defense be forewarned they are coming to run it up.

The post NCAA Football: Bullet Picks Week 12 appeared first on Players View.

#1 Atlanta Falcons (8-1)

They lost and now we can get over the undefeated talk. They will have to gear up the running game to hold this spot. Paging Jacquizz Rodgers.

#2 Houston Texans (8-1)

An ugly win that was punctuated by their defense’s four turnovers on a rainy night cemented the Texans as the class of the AFC.

#3 Baltimore Ravens (7-2)

The Ravens are on a mission to reprove themselves and they are getting it done in all three areas of the game.

#4 Chicago Bears (7-2)

With Jay Cutler on the mend, will the Bears spiral out-of-control just like they did in 2011 when he went down?

#5 Green Bay Packers (6-3)

The Packers step back into the fray rested and one game closer to winning the NFC North.

#6 New England Patriots (6-3)

The Patriots let the Bills stay close as they always do but they are finding ways to get it done.

#7 Denver Broncos (6-3)

The Broncos are starting to whoop teams that they should whoop. A top five entry could be on the way.

#8 San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1)

A tie is as bad as a loss when you are allegedly the scariest team in football.

#9 Indianapolis Colts (6-3)

The Colts avenged a humiliating loss that they suffered earlier this year at the hands of the Jags last week.  Andrew Luck has looked better but the wins are starting to stack up.

#10 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

The Steelers can only hold on for so long with the injuries piling up like past due bills. If Roethlisberger is out for any real period of time, this will get ugly.

#11 Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

The Seahawks need at least two more wins to get serious attention. At each point that we looked at them as a serious threat…they lost.

#12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4)

It seems like we looked up and the Buccaneers were suddenly playing big boy football.  Defensives holes be damned, the Bucs are challenging for a Wild Card spot right now.

#13 New York Giants (6-4)

The middle-of-the-season letdown is a part of what the Giants do. It’s just some weird part of their culture that allows them to finish strong. Hit the panic button if they drop four out of the next six.

#14 Minnesota Vikings (6-4)

Adrian Peterson is a freak-of-nature that is refusing to let his team down. One man can’t do it all but he can inspire an army.

#15 Cincinnati Bengals (4-5)

In pistol-whipping the Giants, the Bengals proved that they can be a dominant football team.  If Marvin Lewis can keep them focused, they may be able to make a run.

#16 New Orleans Saints (4-5)

Explosive offense that is merged with a defense that has the potential to step up from time to time.

#17 Arizona Cardinals (4-5)

They took the week off and still can’t be depended on to attempt to turn things around with Atlanta coming up.

#18 Dallas Cowboys (4-5)

Dallas came out on top in the Desperation Bowl and still looked really, really sloppy in the process of doing so.  Thankfully for them, everyone in their division is caving right now.

#19 Detroit Lions (4-5)

It was all good just a year ago.

#20 San Diego Chargers (4-5)

Phillip Rivers is visibly having the most frustrating season of his career. Once again he had a game in hand and he let it slip away at just the wrong time.

#21 St Louis Rams (3-5-1)

When you have the ability to upset the top dog of your division and you throw that opportunity away because of stupid mistakes, you have to question not only the players but the leadership.

#22 Miami Dolphins (4-5)

Umm…the guy with the Dolphins belly tattoo is the most interesting things that is related to the Dolphins right now.

#23 New York Jets (3-6)

Go ahead and hate but if the Jets front office was smart they would go ahead and cut bait with somebody now that a post-season berth is highly unlikely.

Whether its Tim Tebow or Rex Ryan or whomever else that is generating this soap-opera, the Jets should weather the storm in the lost season to regroup for the next season.

#24 Buffalo Bills (3-6)

Fred Jackson will miss more time as C.J. Spiller steps up to take over the reins yet again. At this point, the Bills are fighting for honor when they should start shopping for a new quarterback.

#25 Washington Redskins (3-6)

Until, they have a defense that can play lights out football; the Redskins don’t have much to offer beyond RG3.

#26 Tennessee Titans (3-6)

They bucked up and took Miami to school after being humiliated by the Bears. How long will they stay angry?

#27 Oakland Raiders (3-6)

Raiders fans…I offer you my sincerest condolences.

#28 Carolina Panthers (2-7)

The Panthers have no confidence to take advantage of their talent.  Maybe a move to Los Angeles would serve to reboot that franchise.

#29 Cleveland Browns (2-7)

Book it here as the Browns are about to play spoiler to the hopes of numerous teams that are fighting for post-season position.

#30 Philadelphia Eagles (3-6)

Andy Reid and each and every member of their offensive line down to the practice squad guys should be tried for treason by the Eagles organization. The play calling is pitiful and the protection is even worse.

#31 Kansas City Chiefs (1-8)

What you almost did does not matter.

#32 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8)

The worst team in football remains the worst team in football.

The post NFL Power Rankings Week 11 appeared first on Players View.

#1 San Antonio Spurs (6-1)

This group of cagey veterans has jumped off to an amazing start led by Tim Duncan who thus far looks as hungry he did five years ago.

#2 Miami Heat (5-2)

They were handled by Memphis’ physical play pretty heavily but everybody is allowed to have an off-night.  They get a bonus point for talking Ray Allen to attempt a fast break at his age.

#3 Memphis Grizzlies (5-1)

The Grizzlies a top 3 team? I call them like I see them and early into the season they are shooting well and dominating under the net.

#4 New York Knicks (4-0)

The Knicks maybe undefeated but they have only played four games. Carmelo and company “look” great but call me a skeptic; I need to see a bigger body-of- evidence before I call them a top three club.

#5 Los Angeles Clippers (5-2)

With the Lakers doing whatever it is that the Lakers are doing right now, the Clippers are accepting applications for in-town fans that seek shelter from the rain.

The starting five is already throwing up highlights and their deep bench is gelling faster than expected.

#6 Oklahoma City Thunder (5-2)

The Kevin Martin experiment thus far has worked out nicely for OKC. Russell Westbrook on the other hand…yeah. Scott Brooks will merge this group together and they have the potential to be even better than they have been in recent years.

#7 Chicago Bulls (4-2)

It’s business as usual for the Bulls. They are winning the close games that they need to win and in a workmanlike fashion. For the naysayers, it looks like they will be right in the mix when D-Rose rejoins the party.

#8 Philadelphia 76ers (4-2)

Center Andrew Bynum has suffered another setback and it looks like the 76ers are learning how to get it done without him. Jrue Holiday once again is showing that he’s the reason that Philly fans have something to root for.

#9 Minnesota Timberwolves (4-2)

I just don’t want to but this team in the top ten but they have kept their heads up in spite of injuries that could have broken their spirit.

A little adversity never hurt anybody and the next two weeks will sort out their intended direction one way or another. For the moment put me down as a non-believer that respects what they have done so far.

#10 Denver Nuggets (4-3)

After a bowling-shoe ugly 0-3 start, Denver has rebounded with four wins in-a-row.  If this is a sign of things to come, the Nuggets could be a very talented team that is prone to streaky play.

#11 Los Angeles Lakers (3-4)

Yes I am serious; the Lakers are looking in from the outside of the Top 10.

Their record has less to do with it than their state-of-disarray does.

The wrong coaching hire could only serve to make things worse.

They might just end up as the NBA’s version of the Philadelphia Eagles as an All-Star team that folds under a circus-like environment.

#12 Dallas Mavericks (4-3)

They lost to the Bobcats. If that doesn’t send a spike through the hopes for consistency, I don’t know what does.

#13Boston Celtics (3-3)

The Celtics shine in spots and flop in other spots. The season is young and they are expected to rise above being purely mediocre.

#14 Brooklyn Nets (3-2)

Brook Lopez is starting to really come on for the Nets and if he can continue to bond with Deron Williams, the Nets can dare I say…be a really good team.

#15 Indiana Pacers (3-4)

The Pacers fall victim to their inability to win games more so than the talent that is on their roster. Danny Granger’s absence is proving to be borderline disastrous thus far.

#16 Milwaukee Bucks (3-2)

They started hot…key word started.

#17 Houston Rockets (3-3)

After looking damn near invincible at the start of the season thanks to the injection of James Harden, the Rockets have fallen back to Earth. They have some work to do but they will be alright as time will bear out.

#18 Utah Jazz (3-4)

I am convinced that the Jazz as a team are cool with just being “ok.” How else can you explain their pedestrian numbers and on-court attitude?

#19 New Orleans Hornets (3-2)

Can this young team led by a rookie stay afloat? They’ve only got five games under their belt and if they can come out of this week with a winning record intact, you can expect a fast ascension next week.

#20 Atlanta Hawks (2-3)

It’s time to go ahead and ask ourselves ‘will Atlanta completely pack this year in?’ It sure seems like they are thinking forward and not playing for the present.

#21 Golden State Warriors (3-4)

The injury bug hit the Warriors early and in ruthless fashion. Next man up is a popular phrase in sports but they don’t have the depth to replace what they have lost.

#22 Cleveland Cavaliers (2-5)

If the Cavaliers can get their bench to step up and do their part, the Cavaliers can become a pleasant surprise. That’s a big if.

#23 Phoenix Suns (3-4)

A huge comeback highlighted a nice week for the Suns. Although with D’Antoni coaching Steve Nash and the Lakers it seems that Phoenix fans are jumping onto that bandwagon with the quickness.

#24 Orlando Magic (2-4)

I never felt sorrier for Glen “Big Baby” Davis than I did upon the day that I heard his club track “Big Baby Gon Turn it Up.” That is until I bore witness upon the manner in which they got handled last week. Oof.

#25 Charlotte Bobcats (2-3)

Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could be sending a message that the Bobcats won’t be the laughing stock of the NBA this season. Truthfully, they may be all that the city has to root for.

#26 Portland Trailblazers (2-4)

They were humiliated by the Spurs in such a way that it may take a week or two for them to get over it. Seriously, the replay was like watching a boxer that can’t defend himself take uppercut after uppercut.

#27 Sacramento Kings (2-5)

DeMarcus Cousins are you serious man? Going after commentators is not a good look. Get it together and come back and lead your team. There is no more benefit of the doubt homie.

#28 Toronto Raptors (1-5)

Things will only get worse without Kyle Lowry and a hefty road trip over the horizon.

#29 Washington Wizards (0-5)

The Wizards are seriously in a holding pattern until John Wall returns. As a team, this will just be bad until their pieces are together. Call in a lack of depth or bad luck.  Bradley Beal keep doing your thing.

#30 Detroit Pistons (0-7)

Kids this week’s definition of misery is sponsored by the letter D.

The post NBA Power Rankings Week Three appeared first on Players View.

#10 Tebow Is Done In New York

The Jets are a defiant bunch and regardless of how bad their season has become, the players are not fond of the idea that Tim Tebow could become their quarterback.

They said it when the team traded for him, they said it in the pre-season and they are saying it now. Mark Sanchez is their guy and that sentiment has been echoed from players on both sides of the ball.

The latest diatribe from one of the most vocal anti-Tebow players is perhaps one of the most scathing.

“Mark is our quarterback. At the end of the day, we could give a damn what anybody on the outside has to say. Mark is our quarterback and he’s going to continue to be our quarterback,” cornerback Antonio Cromartie told the media in a press conference. “There’s not going to be no division, talking about who needs to be our quarterback. Mark is our quarterback and he’s our only quarterback.”

Oh and Cromartie added that anybody that wants Tebow in the game can “kiss my ass.”

How can Tim even want to play for the Jets after all of this?

#9 The Ravens Refuse to Cave

After the Ravens went through a hell week that included losing their heart-light Ray Lewis, their best cornerback Lardarius Webb and a brutal statement game to the Texans, it appeared to some as if they were done.

Since their bye week, they have won two-in-a-row and during Sunday’s affair completely decimated the Oakland Raiders 55-20.

Last week we spoke of the 51 points that the Bears hung on the Titans as being a huge slap-in-the-face, five points shy of 60 stings that much worse.

Now that the Ravens have developed Jacoby Jones into the most consistent special teams threat in the league, they have found another way to impose their will on people.

#8 Doug Martin Comes Back To Earth

The only thing that matters to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is that they beat the San Diego Chargers to push their record to 5-4.

To those that spent the week searching for a better nickname for rookie running back Doug Martin than “Muscle Hamster,” they were left taken back with his numbers.

Martin’s stats were respectable but they were not awe-inspiring.

He rushed for 68 yards on 19 carries.  He caught three balls for 51 yards. That’s 119 yards total production which for a rookie is nice.

But for those that are disappointed because they were about to invest in their own line of Martin related t-shirts that bore their nickname with his likeness, never fear…there’s always next week.

Just don’t pretend that something like D-Money, D Truth or D Man is something that you came up with on your own.

#7 Jason Garrett Can Sleep A Little Easier

I am convinced that had the Cowboys lost to the Eagles on Sunday, Jason Garrett would have forced owner Jerry Jones’ hand to fire him.

Best case for Garrett, he would put that man in the hospital with the world’s most dramatic aneurism. After all, Jerry does everything big.

Regardless, he lives to coach another day and he has to be ESTATTIC that the Saints showed signs-of-life against the Atlanta Falcons.

This translates into coach Sean Payton feeling good about the New Orleans program and Jones being less apt to fighting for Payton’s services…this week.

#6 So About Andy Reid…

The Eagles’ season is in shambles and after their starting quarterback went down, the ugly truth was revealed that their saving grace rookie is not an upgrade.

Pro-Nick Foles people will try and look for the good in his performance yesterday but the truth is the kid was wild, unsure of himself and not the guy you want on the field.

But why is this the case?

Andy Reid. Reid is one of the greatest coaches in this era of the NFL’s history.

It would be rude to link a series of events over the years to why his roster has shaped up to be what it is, but this roster is in the shape that it is in due to what happened on his watch.

The Eagles offensive line and lack of a real defensive coordinator to lead those troops is his fault.

Reid got caught sleeping and now it’s going down.

It’s sad and a shame to see.

One day NFL Films will document it all and show the back-story behind this mess but in the now?

Reid forgot the most basic principle in putting together a world-class offense.

You must control the line-of-scrimmage.

How many quarterbacks have to lose their careers before the Eagles do something about it?

#5 I Think We Found About Who The Dolphins Really Are          

To get beat down by the Tennessee Titans after the Titans were dragged out into the street a week prior should be unacceptable to the Dolphins brain trust.

It should also share with the world that Miami has a lot of work to do and that their post-season dreams are just that.

#4 Julio Has Heart

The Falcons situation as a whole is coming up but it has to be noted that even in defeat Falcons receiver Julio Jones did his part to help keep his team undefeated.

Jones’ lower leg injury appeared to sideline him after just one quarter of action and during his absence, the Falcons’ offense got off-track.

Upon his return, the Falcons battled back from a multi-score deficit to almost win the game after he made some crucial plays on a bad wheel.

When we discuss someone’s impact on a team, its not just their production that counts, its how they inspire their teammates.

This is what the media means when they discuss intangibles.

#3 Houston Gets It Done Nasty

There are no style-points in winning but the Texans did win one of the ugliest games in recent memory.

In defeating one of the strongest teams in the NFC in the Chicago Bears, the Texans beat them at their own game by forcing four turnovers.

We will be talking about the concussion suffered by Bears QB Jay Cutler throughout the week, but the rain, the mistakes and the defensive battle that yielded a 13-6 score are the real stars.

How can a game yield only 19 combined points with Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson on the field?

#2 The Broncos Are Officially A Problem

The 36-14 score is not the reason for the headline.

Von Miller’s arrogant display of hip grinding swagger over Cam Newton’s prone body is not either.

It’s how Denver put it all together by traveling cross-country to walk into another team’s house and punish them for even stepping onto the field that is the reason for the headline.

Players View has been skeptical of what Denver can do but you have to acknowledge greatness when it presents itself.

The Broncos as a team are great and it certainly did not hurt coach John Fox’s ego to walk into his old digs and beat the brakes off the organization that put him out to pasture.

#1 The Falcons Lose A Game

Atlanta fans listen up. This was bound to happen. Losing your undefeated season to your worst enemy cuts through your skin like a rusty knife.

But you know what? It was the best thing that could have happened to you.

The undefeated talk is an anchor that weighs teams down.

We saw how Roddy White started to behave in the spotlight of the chase for that accolade.

Losing to the Saints burns slow but it will ultimately stop the team from buying into the hype.

It will ultimately force the coaching staff to pull the trigger on Michael Turner’s touches and transition those over to Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling.

It will ultimately help The Falcons take that next step.

The post 10 NFL Observations from Week 10 appeared first on Players View.

# 24 Northwestern at Michigan

Northwestern is in the hunt for the Legends title and injuries be damned there’s not much Michigan will be able to do to get in their way.

# 23 Rutgers vs. Army

The loss to Kent State is still hanging in the air as thick as syrup and Rutgers now has to figure out to stop Army’s running game. Good luck with that.

#22 Texas Tech vs. Kansas

Sometimes you just have to be brutal. The Red Raiders are going to wear the Jayhawks out.

#7 LSU vs. # 21 Mississippi State

After cominthisclose to beating Alabama in Death Valley last weekend, LSU will either be emotionally drained or charged in this one. Look for them later to be the case.

# 20 Louisiana Tech at Texas State

These two team s have never hooked up but LT quarterback Colby Cameron is playing at a very high level right now. This won’t be even close.

# 19 USC vs. Arizona State

There were moments that USC didn’t even appear to be in Oregon’s class last Saturday. Arizona will pay the price for the frustration that is born from that loss.

#18 UCLA at Washington State

UCLA is on the upswing and their opponents are headed in the opposite direction. The Bruins will take another step forward.

#17 Texas vs. Iowa State

Texas will do as well as David Ash does. It’s that simple. His confidence is growing and that will be too much for Iowa State’s defense to handle.

#16 Nebraska vs. Penn State

Penn State has fought a noble fight in the aftermath of the unthinkable this season. Nebraska will shut the gate on them with a thud.

#1 Alabama vs. # 15 Texas A&M

Do not think that for one second that the Aggies can’t take out the Crimson Tide. LSU put the film out there and we’re picking that the number one rated offense in the SEC will take advantage of it.

#11 Oregon State at #14 Stanford

Two teams that are really fighting for the number two spot in the PAC-12. Look for Stanford to live up to the moment.

#13 Clemson vs. Maryland

Yikes. Clemson will make this look like a scrimmage game.

# 12 Oklahoma vs. Baylor

RG3 has left the building. Oklahoma wins big.

#9 Louisville at Syracuse

This would be a different set of circumstances if this were basketball but it’s not and Syracuse will need to fight just to keep it respectable.

# 8 South Carolina vs. Arkansas

Bobby Petrino is gone so its within good taste to give the Razorbacks the benefit of the doubt again. Prediction is that the Gamecocks will get caught slipping after an emotional bye week.

#6 Florida vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

The Gators don’t have much to worry about this weekend. LL provides them an opportunity to work out a few kinks in their aerial game.

# 5 Georgia at Auburn

Auburn vs. Georgia is always a close game. The bitter feelings between both teams never seems to fade regardless of how many classes of kids graduate through this rivalry. Georgia will get past the War Eagles but it won’t be by very much.

#4 Notre Dame at Boston College

The Fighting Irish will keep it moving after a heart attack triple overtime affair last weekend with Pitt.

# 3 Oregon at California

The Ducks are clicking on all cylinders right now. This will be the week they move into the number two spot.

#2 Kansas State at TCU

Can TCU take down the feel-good story of the year? No.

The post NCAA Football: Week 11 Top 25 Bullet Picks appeared first on Players View.

Now that the word undefeated is really starting to mean something, how will the Falcons deal with respect?

#2 Houston Texans (7-1)

The Texans get another test against the seriously hot Bears who could take their spot on Sunday.

 #3 Chicago Bears (7-1)

They are playing with a ridiculous mix of a ruthless defense and a potent offense. There are still some questions about their offensive line that will be answered against Houston.

#4 San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

Coming off the bye, the 49ers are rested and could potentially crush the Rams.

 #5 Green Bay Packers (6-3)

If time heals all wounds, the Packers are thankful they have a week off to lick theirs.

 #6 Baltimore Ravens (6-2)

The Ravens defense refused to give up a touchdown on Sunday and they featured running back Ray Rice. The formula for success is clear.

 #7 New England Patriots (5-3)

They stumbled here and there and now the Pats begin the second act of their 2012 run.

 #8 Denver Broncos (5-3)

Denver could be the class of the AFC before the regular season is over with.

 #9 Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

The loss of Antonio Brown is big but they are playing the Chiefs on Monday so it might not mean much for now.

 #10 New York Giants (6-3)

Their offense is slipping and if they are not careful they could fall to a now desperate Bengals team.

#11 Indianapolis Colts (5-3)

The most motivated team in the NFL has a beyond real chance of being 6-3 after a date with the lowly Jaguars on Thursday.

 #12 Seattle Seahawks (5-4)

The Seahawks are just barely over.500 and must string together multiple wins in-a-row going forward.

#13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)

Are the Bucs the most explosive offense in the NFC? Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson seem to think so.

 #14 Minnesota Vikings (5-4)

 Christian Ponder is leading this team down the road-to-ruin. Down and on their way out.

#15 Detroit Lions (4-4)

The Lions are one of two teams that take a giant leap after a big win during Week 9. It may have been against the Jaguars but the Lions were very disciplined.

 #16 San Diego Chargers (4-4)

The Chargers licked the Chiefs which obviously is not that big of a deal. However, in doing so, they regained their middle-of-the-pack status. This can go either way with them from here on out.

 #17 Miami Dolphins (4-4)

Nobody expect Miami to be .500 at the halfway point. 10-6 is possible for this team.

 #18 Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)

The Bengals are missing a few breaks here and there to generate wins, but overall are playing decent football.

 #19 Arizona Cardinals (4-5)

The bye week will be merciful and stop the bleeding in Arizona for one week.

 #20) St. Louis Rams (3-5)

The Rams are facing a mediocre end to their season unless they can do something mighty such as beating the 49ers this weekend.

#21) New York Jets (3-5)

I’m not sure how this is going to end up but I would venture to say not well if they continue to mix and match Sanchez and Tebow.

 #22 Buffalo Bills (3-5)

They are going to see the Patriots at home after a week of rest. The Bills play them hard but after a second-half breakdown during their last outing, the sting has to still feel very real.

 #23 Dallas Cowboys (3-5)

They appeared to play Atlanta tight but after a second viewing, their offense floundered and set-up their defense to fail in the fourth quarter.

 #24 New Orleans Saints (3-5)

They stuffed a downtrodden Eagles on their way back to legitimacy. A big division challenge waits.

 #25 Oakland Raiders (3-5)

After making Bucs running back Doug Martin look like Barry Sanders, the Raiders benefit only from some other epic meltdowns that were a bit more tragic.

 #26 Carolina Panthers (2-6)

Ok so they got one.

#27) Philadelphia Eagles (3-5)

Is there time to save their season? I suppose so but the Eagles defense and offense line is playing without one drop of pride.

I feel for Mike Vick, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy.

The time has come for Andy Reid to gracefully exit because for the first time in his phenomenal career, the coach just does not look like he really has the answers anymore.

 #28 Washington Redskins (3-6)

 It’s a huge nosedive but a) they are depleted by injuries b) they have a head coach that regardless of how much he backtracks and says otherwise has given up on the year and c) is currently suffering from morale issues because of reasons a & b.

 #29 Cleveland Browns (2-7)

Until they play up to their potential and figure some things out, the losses will continue to mount.

#30 Tennessee Titans (3-6)

They allowed the Bears to score 51 points. They should be ashamed of themselves.

#31 Kansas City Chiefs (1-7)

The Chiefs are currently challenging the Jags to a winner-take-all match for Matt Barkley.

#32 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7)

The worst team in football remains the worst team in football.

The post NFL Power Rankings Week 10 appeared first on Players View.

#10 The Cowboys Collapse Continues

Everything about the Dallas Cowboys is in disarray as yet another season sits at the brink of disaster. They are 3-5 with allegedly enough talent to fill a Pro Bowl roster yet they consistently under perform.

The only thing about Dallas that is consistent is that they are inconsistent.

Whether it’s the erratic offensive play calling or the mood/tempo of this team, this all lands squarely in the lap of head coach Jason Garrett.

As with many tragedies there comes a little comedy such as the report that owner Jerry Jones was “locked out” of the team’s locker room after their defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons.

#9 Redskins Look Ahead To 2013.

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has said some stupid things before but I can’t think of much that tops what he said Sunday after his group lost to the Carolina Panthers.

Shanahan’s post-game comments ran in the Washington Post and they reeked of defeat.

“A must-win game is to give you a chance to play for a playoff spot. At the midway point when you’re 3-5, it’s got to be a must-win, obviously, to get in the hunt. When you lose a game like that, now you’re playing to see who, obviously, is going to be on your football team for years to come. Now we get a chance to evaluate players and see where we’re at.

“Obviously we’re not out of it statistically,” he said. “But now we find out what type of character we’ve got and how guys keep on fighting through the rest of the season.”

There is a shred of optimism hiding in there but you hate to see a coach use a term like “evaluate players” at this stage of the game.

Shanahan’s biggest mistake here can be denying his rookie quarterback the opportunity to mentally believe that all things are possible.

If you are not out of it statistically, then refrain from using the e word until you are.

#8 Chicago Bears Hang 51 On The Titans

The Bears/Titans game looked like a real-time simulation of a Madden video  game. The only problems is that the personnel controlling the outcome were not evenly matched and you have to be embarrassed for Tennessee.

“In my 50 years of owning an NFL franchise, I am at a loss to recall a regular-season home game that was such a disappointment for myself and fans of the Titans,” owner Bud Adams told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. “We were grossly outcoached and outplayed from start to finish today.

“At this time, all aspects of the organization will be closely evaluated, including front office, coaches and players over the next seven games. If performance and competitiveness does not improve, I will look at all alternatives to get back to having the Titans become a playoff and championship football team.”

There goes that evaluation word again. It hits a little harder when it comes from the guy that writes the checks huh?

#7 Baltimore Bounces Back

They may have shut down the lowly Cleveland Browns but after the world was predicting that the sky was falling, the Baltimore Ravens showed up and got a victory.

How they won was just as important as they got running back Ray Rice involved early and often.   Defensively they held the Browns to 15 points that were all scored by kicker Phil Dawson.

A Ravens defense that allows no touchdowns is waving from familiar ground.

#6 Christian Ponder Is In A Slump

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder’s stats from Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks are 63 yards, 1 interception, 0 touchdowns and a 37.3 quarterback rating.

This is the second time within the past three games that Ponder has failed to break the 100 yard mark in-the-air.

Receiver Percy Harvin has now passed into the ranks of the veterans. He needs to stop antagonizing his coach on broadcast TV and uplift his boy.

#5 Atlanta Can Win In A Lot Of Ways

PV has noted that at times Falcons running back Michael Turner appears to have lost more than a couple of steps.

But as shown against the Cowboys, he can still get to where he needs to go when teams are forced to blanket his team’s arsenal of weapons that can catch the ball.

Turner’s second half touchdown and 102 rushing yards put Atlanta in the win column for the 8^th time this season.

“It’s ‘football tough’” Turner told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “It’s going to be like that sometimes. We have just got to figure out ways to get better and finish and score touchdowns.”

He and his fellow backs in Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling may no longer be the team’s crutches but when all else fails, the can still set the pyrotechnics off in the Georgia Dome.

#4 Doug Martin Stomps All Over The Raiders

Tampa Bay’s rookie running back Doug Martin rushed for a franchise-record 251 yards and four touchdowns to lead his team to a 42-32 over the Raiders on Sunday.

Martin who was born in Oakland, assisted the Buccaneers (4-4) in their fight for a wildcard playoff berth as his record-shattering day breathed life into their season

Out of Martin’s four touchdowns, three were over 40 yards, two were over 65 and one of which was a 70-yard push.

Incredible.

#3 Aaron Rodgers Makes Something Out Of Nothing

Once again Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers uplifted he and his team out of dire circumstances and rolled right over the competition.

Rodgers’ favorite target in Greg Jennings was out and will be for some time, his other primary guy Jordy Nelson excited early with an ankle issue as he battles a hamstring problem.

None of that was an issue as Rodgers dialed up Randall Cobb’s number and proved that he can make anybody a star.

Cobb’s two touchdowns in the Packers’ 31-17 victory over the Cardinals proved that his desire, speed and ability are the perfect complement to Rodgers’ ability to find anyone, anywhere on the field.

Once Cobb can improve his conversion ratio of targets to actual catches, he will be yet another lethal option for Green Bay.

#2 Peyton Manning Is Peyton Manning

There is only so many times, we can use the what if’s as they pertain to Peyton Manning’s current stint as the Denver Broncos quarterback.

The fact is that Manning played four solid quarters of football against the Cincinnati Bengals despite turning the ball over.

When the Broncos fell behind late in the game, Manning came through and drove a ruthless dagger in the hearts of a good Bengals team coming directly off a bye.

For two straight games, Manning has played four quarters of football that is typically associated with his last name.

Now that the wins are coming, the sky might be the limit in the AFC.

#1 The Colts Keep On Keeping On

After defeating a surging Dolphins team to go 5-3, the Colts welcomed their Leukemia-stricken head coach Chuck Pagano into their locker room for perhaps the most emotional moment you could ever see in pro sports.

Pagano’s spirit, faith and determination obviously is pumping adrenaline through this team and they are closer than they think to being a legitimate playoff contender.

Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck may not have the headlines that RG3 is grabbing but he has a much more valuable asset in his pocket.

Andrew Luck has the wins.

The post 10 NFL Observations From Week 9 appeared first on Players View.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals

Adrian:  I like this game but I am going to let you start.

Wade:  I like this game too but I don’t like it enough to start the Bengals as my defense against Peyton Manning in my fantasy league.

I am thinking that the Broncos played so well last week against the Saints that they finally showed that they could come out and play four quarters of football.

Right out of the gate, they got it done and they have been creeping towards this point and they have arrived.

I am picking the Broncos to win but the Bengals will run a lot up the middle with the law firm of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and maybe they will keep it close.

Adrian:  I agree with you but you know what? The Bengals picked the right time to stumble. That coaching staff as a whole can get those guys back together.

That being said, Green-Ellis has surprised me, I won’t lie about that. I was never a big fan of his but Andy Dalton has a little to prove after a couple of bad games and you can’t ignore the vertical weapons that he has in A.J. Green and company.

The Bengals can get it done from the wideout position, the slot and the tight end position. To think that offensive coordinator Jay Gruden will ignore all of that to just run the ball is crazy.

The Broncos secondary can be had and the Bengals will have them.

So now that they had a bye week, I think they will take what you like about them with the running game and take what I like about them which is their aerial game. They will blend those two elements together and they will really become hard to stop.

Wade: The Broncos looked amazing against the Saints. You can’t take that away from them and they are playing with confidence.

Adrian: The Broncos are feeling themselves right now and they should be. But c’mon, let’s be honest with ourselves. They beat the Saints man. Every time they faced somebody they lost the game. Falcons and the Patriots were both chances for them to beat somebody and they fell short.

In my mind, the Bengals can be somebody and one way or another, this game is going to tell us who is for real.

Look at the Chiefs, the Chargers and the Raiders. That is the division that the Broncos do business in. Now look at the Ravens, the Steelers and the Browns. That is the division where the Bengals do business in.  The Broncos have an easier path to walk but I don’t think they will get passed this one.

Wade Picks: The Broncos to keep their momentum going

Adrian Picks: The Bengals to bounce back from the bye

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

Adrian: Bottom line, I know what I just said about the Bengals but nobody needed a bye week more than the Ravens did.

Wade:  Say it again!

Adrian:  So let’s address the first elephant in the room. I do believe in Dannell Ellerbe. Ray Lewis has been grooming that young man to take his place for some time. I believe in Ray as a motivator and as a coach.  Ellerbe is quick and hey he got 12 tackles nine of which were solo tackles against the Texans.

That game was a horror movie for Baltimore but Dannell did his job.

Wade: That kid is good.

Adrian: He’s fast, he’s strong, he knows how to get to the ball. He’s not Ray. What I mean by that is he’s not ready to maybe make sure his teammates are where they should be. But he will more than hold his own.

Truthfully, it’s Terrell Suggs’ turn to play that role and as we saw last year, he can do that.  He’s not Ray but in that regard Suggs’ is as good of a defensive leader that you will find that is not Ray Lewis. Those linebackers will be fine. I feel sorry for Cleveland to be honest with you.

People forget that the Ravens played well without Ray last year when he was injured.  You can’t replace Ray. Ray is the greatest linebacker of all time. He’s not just the best middle linebacker…the best linebacker period.  Left, right, outside, Sam, Will, Jack…however you want to say it. Lewis is the best. But he also gave back to his team and made sure that he helped to cultivate a group that is incredibly dangerous without him.

Wade:  A lot of people don’t remember that they beat the 49ers on Thanksgiving last year without Ray in the lineup.

Adrian: The secondary and the offense are the two biggest problems for the ravens right now. I like Jimmy Smith to hold his own at corner but the rest of that group needs to step up in Webb’s absence. And Flacco needs to get it together and fast.

Wade: The offense needs to step up and say ‘it’s our turn to carry this team.’

Adrian: What do you say? Say it again! That group has been spoiled for years by their defense.

Flacco is running around talking about his money and how elite he is. He has a 5-2 team that he can put on his back and shock the world.

He needs to read situations at the line –of-scrimmage better and audible out of blitzes and hand the ball to Ray Rice when he has to. He has to quit forcing plays to try and satisfy his ego.

Wade: Say it again! Flacco is running around talking about how expensive he is when he’s really on sale at the Dollar Store.  Cam Cameron as an offensive coordinator has always made bad decisions.

Adrian: Cameron really does appear to be sacrificing the good of the team and Ray Rice to further his quarterback’s career.

Wade: We didn’t talk about Cleveland.

Adrian:  Cleveland will lose.

Wade: That’s it?

Adrian:  I mean what else is there to say? This won’t be their day. I like their potential but potential won’t save them in this one.

Wade: Next.

Unanimous Pick: Ravens will win with confidence.

 Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers

Wade:  If you can name the guy running the ball for the Arizona Cardinals this week without using Google, I’ll hand you five dollars right now.

Adrian: I’m not going to take your money but your point is extremely valid.

Wade:  I feel bad for Larry Fitzgerald man.

Adrian:  We have said all of this before and it still applies to this game. The hardest part for Arizona is that they have already played themselves out of the Matt Barkley sweepstakes with four wins.

Wade: They lose out…

Adrian: Jacksonville. But here is the deal. The Packers are on the mend as well. No Greg Jennings, probably no Jordy Nelson. No running game. No Charles Woodson.

Wade: If you are about to say the Cardinals will win and they do I will come clean your house for a week. I’ll sneak in at two in the morning when nobody is awake so you can’t put me on Instagram and embarrass me. That’s how sure I am that Green Bay will win this game.

Adrian: You can keep your toilet brush because I can’t pick Arizona. But I will never say that it’s impossible for any team in the NFL not to beat somebody. These are the best athletes in the world. Anything can happen.

Wade: Jacksonville?

Adrian:  I mean you have to even allow room for that to happen because it happens. But I don’t feel good about saying that the Cardinals will pull this off.

I really hope they at least tried to get [running back] DeAngelo Williams out of Carolina before the trade deadline passed.  They don’t have a running back of any worth. Beanie Wells may come back but we’ve already seen that movie. It was pretty bad.

Simply put, that means they don’t have a way to keep Aaron Rodgers off-the-field.

Regardless of how bad their quarterbacks are, if they had a running back that was even capable of generating 80 yards, I would give it real thought.

This is just based on who is not playing for Green Bay.

Wade: Rodgers will be afforded plenty of chances to score points.

Adrian: Exactly. All he needs to do is hit Randall Cobb twice and Jermichael Finley or Donald Driver once and it’s done.

Wade: Night, Night.

Unanimous Pick:  Green Bay will get it done in a blue-collar victory.

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans

Adrian: Are football players eligible to be sued under the Lemon Law? If so, if I was Bills owner Ralph Wilson I would sue Mario Williams for whatever I could get back out of him and try to terminate the rest of that deal.

Wade: $100 million dollars for very mediocre production this far.

Adrian: To be fair only $50 million of that is guaranteed. Look its not about what he has done thus far. What bothers me is that now he has made statements that he did not leave Houston by his own hand. I understand that he said that to appease the Texans fans on his return visit. But it sounded really sincere. How can trust a guy to play at a 100 million dollar level that still feel s a certain kind of way about his old team?

Wade: Buffalo brought him in to specifically put pressure on Tom Brady and other quarterbacks in that division and he didn’t even play in the last eight games of the year. Why would you even give him a deal like that?

Adrian: Ok, Mario Williams aside, this could be a trap game but I am not going to call it a trap game. It has that classic feel of a trap game. Buffalo has pieces. They can run the ball, they have guys in the secondary that can give Matt Schaub fits.  But…

Wade: Interception Man

Adrian: Trap games usually conclude with some stunning dagger to the heart that is usually thrown by the quarterback. I don’t trust Ryan Fitzpatrick to live up to that moment. On top of that…J.J. Watt. Do you know how much better Watt has made not only the Texans but the rest of the league?

Never, before have I seen more defensive ends deflecting passes that I do right now. They are all using that read-and-step-back move that Watt created. To avoid that Interception Man will have to drive the ball down-the-middle-of-the-field. He usually does not make good reads in the seam.

Wade: Say it again! The Texans have it.

Adrian: I agree but you know what? I am not sold on Matt Schaub but we can talk about that some other time.

Unanimous Pick: Texans give the hometown crowd to something to feel good about.

Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts

Wade:  I love my team. So I feel strange picking against my team when I think that they will win because when I pick against them they play well. Does that make sense?

Adrian:  In a hedging your bets kind of way. Both of these teams are 4-3 and they are standing on the cusp of a wildcard berth.  Both of these teams can and probably will finish second in their division. This is a wildcard tie-breaker make no mistake about it.

Wade: They will not be able to run on the Dolphins defense. They are stingy and they are mean. The Colts don’t have the personnel to combat them.  I am going to pick Miami to win because they have so much confidence right now.

Adrian:  I can see that. I think this one will be very, very close and because of that, I think the Colts and their will to win, the Chuckstrong fire and the pure talent that they are fielding will get it done. I am very much on the fence but the Colts have two tight ends that can butcher the Dolphins linebackers.

Wade: You still don’t believe in Miami?

Adrian: It’s not even about that. The matchups favor the Colts.

Adrian Picks: The Colts will keep it magical.

Wade Picks:  The Dolphins to continue their winning streak.

Detroit Lions at Jacksonville Jaguars

Adrian: Calvin Johnson is bruised, battered and working under the Madden curse and the Lions will still stomp the Jags out.

Wade: The-Next-Team-In-Los-Angeles is helpless right now.

Adrian: The worst team in football. Their leading wide receiver is Cecil Shorts who is only averaging three catches a game.  Paging Justin Blackmon and I am going to make a bold statement. But   with his off-the-field trouble and what he has failed to do so far…Blackmon is the poor man’s Dez Bryant.

Wade: Say it again.  They went to the same college and everything.

Adrian: Exactly. Anyhow, I don’t even feel as if the players in Jacksonville even care. When you watch their game tape, their body language even screams ‘let me go home so I can get this check.’

Unanimous Pick: The Lions roll another win off the assembly line.

Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans

Adrian: I officially withdraw my opinion that the Titans have the potential to make a run this year. They have the pieces but they are a year away from meshing it all together correctly. It will happen just not right now.

Wade:  Just like that?

Adrian: Yeah, Kenny Britt’s knee needs time as does Jake Locker’s shoulder. That combination in my mind is the future of that team. Chris Johnson is an important piece but Locker-to-Britt will take them where they need to go.

On the other side of the ball, they need a shutdown corner, a stronger middle linebacker and another pass rusher coming off the end.

Chicago only has one loss right now for a reason. It’s pretty cut and dry. Do you disagree?

Wade: Not at all.

Unanimous Pick: Tennessee will drop another one.

The post NFL Picks Week 9 appeared first on Players View.

#25 Louisiana Tech vs. UTSA

Terry Bradshaw’s alma matter is fighting to solidify its WAC standing against a faltering UTSA group. LT will run away with this one.

#2 Kansas State vs.  #24 Oklahoma State

Kansas State is the new sexy pick in the BCS standings.  That does not mean that they are suddenly invincible. Upset special as the Cowboys will get the duke.

#18 Texas Tech vs. # 23 Texas

Texas’s freshman phenom Jonathan Gray will tear up the turf against Texas Tech’s defense. Still without linebacker Jordan Hicks, Texas is not the same unit. TT will take it to the air to win via their vertical game.

#22 Arizona at UCLA

UCLA has flirted with chart legitimacy this year but Arizona has proven that they can stomp out bigger dogs. Arizona in a close one.

#21 West Virginia vs. TCU

Two Big 12 rookies go head to head in a match that earlier in the year we predicted would go TCU’s way. That was before scandal came to town and changed everything. WV will get back on track.

# 20 Nebraska at Michigan State

Nebraska has a powerful offense headed up against a stout defense. Normally defense wins such clashes but Nebraska will find a way to squeeze enough points out of this one to get it done.

# 19 Boise State vs. San Diego State

SDS is riding high right now but Boise is at home. Always go with Boise at home.

#4 Oregon at # 17 USC

There was once a popular rapper from Georgia named Bubba Sparxx. His big hit was called “Ugly.”  Oregon will make this game…ugly.

#15 Mississippi State vs. # 16 Texas A&M

The last team with the ball should win this game. But in the interest of making a pick…Aggies will come out on top.

# 14 Stanford at Colorado

As the most overrated team in the Top 25, Stanford has managed to eek out improbable victories. This one won’t be that kind of party as they will handle Colorado with ease.

# 13 Clemson at Duke

Duke will dust themselves off after an embarrassing defeat but they won’t play well enough to win.

#11 Oregon State vs. Arizona State

The Beavers are running with a new quarterback and Arizona State is still dealing with a dose of heartache after losing a heartbreaker against UCLA. AS will win this statement game

#10 Louisville vs. Temple

A cakewalk game for the red birds.

# 7 Florida vs. Missouri

We have said it all year that Mizzou is not ready for SEC action. An angry Gators team will prove that point to be truthful once again.

# 6 Georgia vs. Ole Miss

 UGA is coming off an emotional win over their greatest rival in Florida.  Ole Miss is not a joke despite their ranking and this one has the makings of a trap game. The game is between-the-hedges so Georgia will get the win.

No. 1 Alabama at No. 5 LSU

 Can LSU pull this off in Death Valley?  Yes.

No. 3 Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh

 Notre Dame will drop this trap game to a Panthers team that is coming on and has their number.

The post NCAA Football: Top 25 Bullet Picks – Week 10 appeared first on Players View.

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The champs are back and how they fare against the Boston Celtics to kickoff the 2012-2013 season will set the tone for their new look.  The pressure is off LeBron and Ray Allen is on the perimeter shooting darts, PV expects Miami to own the top spot for at least 50% of the NBA season.  We are picking the Heat to repeat as NBA champions.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder

The loss of James Harden is a big, big thing to overcome. What the Thunder got in return more than compensates for it. The chemistry word that is flying like bullets in the Matrix is somewhat overrated in this case. If only because the one-sided argument suggests that Harden is so special that only he can get along and prosper with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.  Please. We are picking the Thunder to repeat as Western Conference champions.

#3 Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers managed to swing the Dwight Howard trade which is really why they are ranked so high.  Steve Nash has arrived in Los Angeles three years to late as he and Kobe Bryant are on the downside of their storied careers.

#4 Boston Celtics

The Celtics are another aging group that must be respected coming out of the gate. From the word go, they are one of the most formidable groups on the floor. Watch what happens in January.

#5 Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers imported veteran leadership, has playoff experience and has a lot of young superstars on their roster. They will be a joy to watch as they will spill over with too many highlights to keep up with this season. We are picking them to face the Thunder in the NBA Western Conference finals.

#6 Indiana Pacers

Roy Hibbert and Danny Granger will help the Pacers take advantage of the void that D-Rose will leave behind in Chicago. Looking at the status of the field and considering that Rose has no return date forthcoming, the Pacers are our pick to meet the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals

#7 San Antonio Spurs

What the Spurs mean to the NBA is so significant that it feels like a crime to rank them out of the top five to start the season.

But what we saw in the playoffs last year is a preview of what is to come from an aging group whose habits and limitations will keep them from even sniffing the finals until they get a youth injection.

#8 Chicago Bulls

The Bulls has one the…no, they have the best coach in the NBA in Tom Thibodeau. They have an extremely deep bench.  They are without D-Rose for as much as the first 60% of the season, but they have shown that can play without him.  We’re not ready to kick the Bulls to the curb just yet.

#9 Denver Nuggets

If we are wrong about our Western Conference finals prediction it is only because the Nuggets will have something to do with it.

Their core of Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried will make considerable waves once they gel.

#10 Memphis Grizzlies

The key to the Grizzlies upward mobility is making sure that they keep Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph on the floor together. If that happens, they will see the post-season.

#11 Brooklyn Nets

You have to be a little bit skeptical about a team when their new arena is the star of their show. Deron Williams is already licking his wounds a little bit but there is no doubt they are the most complete team in New York.

#12 Milwaukee Bucks

Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings will help the Bucks become one of the NBA’s strongest sleepers.

#13 Utah Jazz

The Jazz are still not a trust-worthy team when it comes to the overall dedication of the front office and the roster.  This year still does not feel as if everyone has “bought in” with the exception of Enes Kanter.

#14 Philadelphia 76ers

Andrew Bynum where you at? His lengthy rehab is certainly starting to make the Lakers front office look mighty good.

#15 Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta is purely in wait-and-see mode as they prepare for next year’s off-season rat race.  As a nasty pest that the Celtics swat away each year in the post-season, the Hawks will make the dance per usual.

#16 New York Knicks

Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler cannot do it all by themselves. The Knicks are two pieces away from doing something special.

#17 Dallas Mavericks

Never has a team imploded as quickly the Dallas Mavericks have.  The new CBA’s playing field brought some of this on but in all reality owner Mark Cuban made some horrible basketball moves.  PV expects Dallas to trend downward over the course of the season.

#18 Minnesota Timberwolves

Their two stars Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are gimpy and the rest of their roster is ‘eh’ at best.  Perhaps they can call Prince and ask him to write them a fight song as he did for the Vikings.

#19 Houston Rockets

A week ago, the Rockets would not have landed upwards of the #25 slot but James Harden makes a huge difference for this team. If he is indeed ready for the starting rotation spotlight…fear the beard.

#20 Portland Trailblazers

There is hope in Portland. A new coach, an exciting rookie in Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge will lay the building blocks for this franchise’s future.

#21 Golden State Warriors

This ranking is a little bit low but the Warriors don’t appear on the verge of doing anything more than what they did last season.  Rookie Harrison Barnes is a nice start but he’s going to have play beyond his years to push the Warriors to new heights.

#22 New Orleans Hornets

Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers will have the chance to reboot this franchise but make no mistake about it; the Hornets are still on the slippery slide of the slope.

#23 Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have no identity and we won’t know much about where they are going until December.

#24 Washington Wizards

Injuries have marred any hope that the Wizards will get off to a nice start. It would not be surprising to watch them go lethal once John Wall returns now that Bradley Beal is in his cache.

#25 Detroit Pistons

Detroit went in the wrong direction last year and Greg Monroe’s pride should keep them from being bottom feeders again this year. But until we see it, here they stand.

#26 Phoenix Suns

Too many questions are hanging over the Suns right now for them to be taken seriously. Credit Steve Nash’ era of dominance for leaving them in peril now.

#27 Sacramento Kings

Last year PV touted that the Kings had a nice young roster that would evolve into a contender in time. This off-season of uncertainty has left this group in mental state of transition the reaches as deep as to f where they will be playing in the not-so-distant future. These factors will impact their play.

#28 Cleveland Cavaliers

Has Cleveland done enough to help budding superstar Kyrie Irving? It doesn’t look like it.

#29 Orlando Magic

How can a playoff team from last season fall so low? Ask Dwight Howard who will not get any love at Disney Land any time soon.

#30 Charlotte Bobcats

Personal thought says that the Bobcats will land as high as #20 on this year’s power rankings. But until they make it so…

The post NBA Power Rankings Week 1 appeared first on Players View.

#1 Atlanta Falcons (7-0)

After confidently putting down the Eagles, the Falcons are gaining confidence during the crucial stretch of the season.

#2 Houston Texans (6-1)

We’ll see if the bye week did them some good or broke their momentum.

#3 New York Giants (6-2)

Dez Bryant’s misplaced finger saved them from a serious spiral.

#4 San Francisco 49ers (6-2)

The 49ers issue another beating to a division opponent. Who knew?

#5 Chicago Bears (6-1)

The Bears struggled with the Panthers a bit in victory but they are poised to grab a top three spot with their next win.

#6 New England Patriots (5-3)

Any time you throttle an NFL team 45-7 your stock rises.

#7 Green Bay Packers (5-3)

The Packers slip as injuries have rendered them less explosive and easier to be had defensively. Jordy Nelson could return this week which will boost their receiving corps.

#8 Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens have had some bounce back time to prepare for the second half of the season. Let’s see which direction they go in.

#9 Denver Broncos (4-3)

The Broncos are finding new believers after licking the Saints on Sunday evening. With an easier schedule on deck, good things could be on deck for them.

#10 Miami Dolphins (4-3)

Are the Dolphins for real? When you can stop the run and score enough points to win, the answer is yes.

#11 Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

Depending on how the Ravens adjust to life without Ray Lewis, the Steelers could be coming on at just the right time in the AFC North.

#12 Minnesota Vikings (5-3)

 The Vikings are falling fast now that the pixie dust has worn off of quarterback Christian Ponder. A third horrific game in-a-row is the worst thing that can happen to him and his team.

#13 Indianapolis Colts (4-3)

Two more wins and watch how fast the Colts become the new sexy pick of the AFC wildcard chase.

#14 Arizona Cardinals (4-4)

There is no other way to say it but not now that the Cards are at .500, they are one game away from being a sub.500 team.

#15 Seattle Seahawks (4-4)

 The team that was finding ways to win is suddenly finding ways to lose. Seattle is capable of turning it around but they must stop playing streaky football.

#16 Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)

The good news is that the Eagles still have time to win their division. The bad news is that they don’t seem to believe that.

#17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)

The Bucs can be in turn-around mode as their offense has become capable of taking on the heavyweights.

#18 Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)

The Bengals jump a few spots during their bye thanks to their talent and the beatings that their peers took while they were off.

#19 Dallas Cowboys (3-4)

Dallas is once again in seasonal turmoil. A win over the undefeated Falcons will go a long way to lifting their spirits; a loss will do nothing for the state of owner Jerry Jones’ mental health.

 #20 St. Louis Rams (3-5)

The Rams have officially lost their ‘can- upset-anybody’ status.

#21 Washington Redskins (3-5)

Washington appears to be a bit in-over- their-heads right now. There is only so much one man can do. RG3 keep your head up.

#22 New York Jets (3-5)

Wow. Just….wow. A week off will do them all some good.

#23 Tennessee Titans (3-5)

With both the Texans and now the Colts surging, the Titans don’t have a prayer in the AFC South.

#24 Buffalo Bills (3-4)

After having surgery on his injured wrist, will defensive end Mario Williams stand up and earn his money?

#25 Oakland Raiders (3-4)

If the Raiders can take one thing away from the first half of the 2012 season, it’s that wide receiver Denarius Moore can seriously BALL.

#26 Detroit Lions (3-4)

The Lions can only hope that the Vikings collapse, the Packers stumble and that they will win out to see the post-season. That’s a tall, tall order to fill.

#27 New Orleans Saints (2-5)

There will be no miracle this season.

#28 San Diego Chargers (3-4)

They could not even score a touchdown in a loss to the Browns. Welcome to the power rankings ghetto San Diego.

#29 Cleveland Browns (2-6)

How many more win can the Browns pull off this year? Our guess is four.

#30 Carolina Panthers (1-6)

Their morale is broken and the franchise appears to be in turmoil. It would not be a surprise if the Panthers won less than three more games this year.

#31 Kansas City Chiefs (1-6)

How does the head coach not know that his best weapon is not being deployed consistently?  Jamaal Charles, we’re feeling for you man.

 #32 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)

The worst team in football remains the worst team in football

The post NFL Power Rankings Week 9 appeared first on Players View.

#10 The Eagles Are Losing Their Will To Fight

Philadelphia is too talented to be written off for the year just yet. I am sure you have already heard that a million times between Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons and this very moment.

The thing is that they really don’t seem to care that much about raising their game to fight through the sludge to get their respect back.

Recently defensive struggles have let them down and previously the offense was giving opponents to many chances to keep up with them.

If this continues widespread changes may be coming fast as the fans as witnessed yesterday have already left the building.

#9 New England Can Dominate When They Feel Like It

There is something to be said for being a proven winner even when you may lose your touch here and there.

For those that count the Patriots as one of the NFL’s fading dynasties that are ready to hand the keys over to a team like the Houston Texans, Tom Brady has a message for you.

New England Patriots:  45 St. Louis Rams: 7

During Sunday’s overseas beat down even the largely absent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd got in on the action catching two passes for two touchdowns.

#8 Phillip Rivers Please Phone Home

This guy that Norv Turner has running around with a Phillip Rivers mask on can’t be the power-mouthed gunslinger that we’ve grown to respect and at times awe.

That guy can manage to throw for at least one touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. This guy… is pretty bad.

Sincerely, if we have learned one thing this season is that pressure does burst pipes and the pressure that is hanging in the air San Diego is thick.

I guess it wasn’t such a great idea to jettison skill players Vincent Jackson, Darren Sproles and less recently but no- less-impactful Michael Turner.

The loss of those three names along with that of coach Marty Schottenheimer ‘s tells the story as to why general manager  A.J. Smith’s bull-headed ways robbed this team of its championship opportunity.

#7 The Colts Want It…Bad

The Indianapolis Colts probably won’t make it to the big game this year but that is not because they are without desire.

Throw the 2011 season in the garbage and chalk it up to a bad run.

This group has a few hungry kids that want to win today and their 4-3 record is speaking loudly that they could be a wildcard contender.

Each team that takes them lightly gets burned in the fourth quarter and whether the hero is quarterback Andrew Luck or running back Vick Ballard, the Colts are finding a new hero almost weekly.

#6 Seattle Has A Chip On Its Shoulder

We get it Seahawks; you will come to play every week. But after two losses in as many weeks, it’s time to tell cornerback Richard Sherman to be quiet for awhile.

He may be playing well right now and he should be proud of limiting Calvin Johnson to minimal returns on Sunday.

Was it smart for him to come out the day-after-a-loss and brag about it?

Probably not.

Two losses in-a-row is a losing streak and boasting about anything is not a good look right now.

Don’t be mad bro.

#5 Miami Is Not A Joke

At Players View we have a running joke that every time that we unanimously pick Miami to lose…they win.

The serious part about all of this is after they beat the snot out of the Jets on Sunday we have to start looking their way in how we select games.

They are on a roll and no amount of pre-season foolishness can’t deny that they are a hot team in the AFC.

Kudos Dolphins you have fought your way back into the world’s respect.

Will they keep it?

#4 Ron Rivera Is On The Verge Of Losing The Panthers Locker Room

A month ago when it started to get ugly in Carolina, we looked at Cam Newton and pointed to his inability to handle stress and hung the team’s losses on his shoulders.

That is all well, good and true but head coach Ron Rivera is a former defensive coordinator that is currently so shell-shocked that he can’t even manage that side of the ball when it’s time to close out a upset win.

The 5-1 Bears were flailing on the ropes like a punch drunk prize fighter in the fourth quarter and Rivera’s shockingly passive defensive scheme handed the game to them.

Ron, they were who you thought they were and you let them off the hook.

#3 The Saints Are Done.

New Orleans will pick up a couple of pride wins here and there. Some of them will be against top-shelf teams and they will remind us of why they have been so dangerous in the past.

However, we can openly say that after they tail-kicking they took from the Denver Broncos on Sunday night that their post-season hopes are squashed.

I grew up with the term “mathematically eligible to make the playoffs.”

The Saints mathematically could make the playoffs.

However, they are almost dead last in the NFC conference standings at 2-5.

With Atlanta almost a lock to own the NFC South at 7-0, the Saints can hope for a wildcard spot.

This year they will be two teams coming out of the NFC West and NFC North to join the tournament.

Sorry Nawlins you will host the Super Bowl but this will be the one party you won’t get invited to.

#2 The Falcons Offense Does Have A Weakness

With running back Michael Turner trending downward, the Dirty Birds have becomes more likely to rely on the shifty Jacquizz Rodgers and the stable Jason Snelling to handle some of the load for Tuner.

As we get into the second (i.e. colder) half of the season, the Falcons are a dome team that for all shoots-and-ladders really does not have a reliable featured back.

Turner is currently averaging 3.8 yards per carry with only three touchdowns to his name on 108 carries this season.

Being undefeated is a wonderful thing and Falcons fans are hanging their hopes on the team’s incredible vertical attack to get things done.

They need to secure home field advantage to field track meets during the playoffs with the Super Bowl being hosted in a dome this season.

If they fall short again this year, don’t be surprised to watch them make a move at tailback.

#1 RG3 Needs Help

In watching the veteran Steelers group contain RG3, one has to wonder what this kid would be like if he really had some talent to work with.

Wideout Leonard Hankerson is coming along nicely but from one week to the next, Griffin III needs a stable cache of weapons to build his resume with.

Watching him get nearly knocked out as he tried to catch the ball yesterday was not the business.

The post 10 NFL Observations From Week 8 appeared first on Players View.

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears

Adrian: Go ahead and laugh.

Wade:  Oh wow. You are funny. That’s so cold-blooded. Listen, though I don’t think this will be a blowout. I think Chicago will win but I think they will get Steve Smith going. Good things can happen when Steve Smith gets going.

Chicago is playing great and that is why they will win. I love what they are doing right now.

Adrian: Look man, I have one name for you. Charles Tillman. The Chicago cornerback is playing incredible right now. If it was not for J.J. Watt down in Houston, I would start talking about him as Defensive Player of the Year.

Wade:  I think this will be the week that Carolina gets their running backs going. They have two starting-caliber running backs on their roster that they have not been using. I think [Ron Rivera] knows that he is coaching for his job. They will get to back-to-basics football. That’s what will keep the game close.

Adrian:  I can see that potentially happening but the reality is this. Carolina has three starters on IR. Two of them are on defense and the other is their center. Chicago will score quick and often. That will kill the ground game for the Panthers as they will have to keep up.  Tillman will shut down Steve Smith. Look for Greg Olsen and Brandon LaFell to see a lot of targets from Cam Newton.

Unanimous Pick: Chicago keeps their winning streak alive

San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns

Wade: You sold me on Cleveland’s potential. I went and watched some of their tape and they are a hungry football team with a lot of young talent. I think they can get this one. I really do.

Adrian: I am leaning that way myself but I can’t commit to picking them this week. It is ugly out there right now for the  Chargers. Their fans are not having it anymore and if they drop this game, the climate will get even uglier.

The Chargers have the talent …

Wade:  C’mon man, with those no name wide receivers?

Adrian: Robert Meachem is building a connection with Phillip Rivers. It’s evident that is happening. What Rivers needs to do is let go of Norv Turner and let his execution play itself out.  The Chargers have become Dallas West.

Wade: Ooh. That’s good.

Adrian:  But big man, think of it like this. They have dropped two straight and they are due for one their annual statement games where they trick their fans into thinking they are turning it around.

Wade:   Their running game is on-again, off-again. You don’t know what you will get from them. I got the Browns.

Wade Picks: Cleveland in a close one.

Adrian Picks: The Chargers with authority.

Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

Adrian: Seattle is getting cocky. [Cornerback]Richard Sherman changed his Twitter name to Optimus Prime because he is covering Calvin “Megatron” Johnson this week.

Wade: Wow. That’s good stuff. Seattle is playing tough and Detroit is playing very poor football. Madden curse.

Adrian: You know we were going to say it. Johnson’s knee is banged up and he has been touchdown deficient all season long.

I like Russell Wilson to take over this game. He played well enough to beat the 49ers. His receivers just dropped key passes that would have been touchdowns. Dan Marino could not have thrown those balls better.

Their defense is playing lights out with the exception of being vulnerable in the run game on a bad day.  I just think Seattle has the swagger to thump Detroit and keep the NFC West interesting.

Wade:  What I like about this game is this. It will further expose the Lions for being what they are which is immature. Ndamukong Suh can’t just show up every four games and make a nice, violent play and expect to call himself dominant.

Adrian: Detroit needs to man-up, period.

Unanimous Pick: The Lions fall to the Seahawks.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Green Bay Packers

Adrian:  Now you are laughing. You called me cold for chuckling at the mention of the Panthers game.

Wade: I’m sorry man but the Team-That-I-Think-Is-Going-To-L.A. is going to get killed. Can we dare say this is will Beat Down of the Week?

Adrian: Nope, I have another game in mind for that.

Wade: I don’t care this is my choice. Right here.

Adrian: A) It’s not entertaining to just pick Jacksonville every week just because we know they will lose. B) The Packers don’t matchup well enough against them right now for me to feel comfortable to say that.

Look Rashard Jennings is stepping into Maurice Jones-Drew’s spot to prove that he can tote the rock as a starter in this league. The Packers are without Charles Woodson to hold down that defense.  At some point Justin Blackmon just has to breakout and have a nice game right?

Wade:  You think this will be it?

Adrian:  It might be or it might not be. Regardless the Packers have Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson out and although they are deep at receiver, I am skeptical about Randall Cobb and Drop The Ball Man [tight end Jermichael Finley] doing enough to warrant Beat down-of-the-Week).

Besides, if I am Mike McCarthy I do enough to win but try to protect the players that I do have by not inviting cheap shots from a frustrated Jags team.

Wade:  So are you picking the Jags?

Adrian: Hell no! They are the worst tea m in the league.

Adrian Picks: The Packers by 10

Wade Picks: The Packers will crucify the Jaguars.

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

Adrian:  I know this will be hard for you. Use logic and not your heart. The Jets don’t believe they can lose. We don’t know how a rookie quarterback and his rookie head coach will perform after a bye.  Reggie Bush has been running his mouth.  I believe Jets safety LaRon Landry when he says he’s going head-hunting. I feel sorry for Bush.

Wade: Are you still starting Bush on your fantasy team?

Adrian: Based on my situation, I kinda have to. But regardless of that, the Jets have too many other ways to win. It’s not even just about that.

Wade:  I want to pick my Dolphins. I really want to but I can’t and I hope that by picking against them they will keep winning. It always works when I pick against them.

Adrian: Oh wow the superstitious fan thing. Keep the tradition alive brother. Keep hope alive.

Unanimous Pick: The Jets pick up a confident win.

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles

Wade:  I am on the Matt Ryan bandwagon. Bang the drum until they lose.

Adrian: This is an emotional game and it always has been. Look, we all know that Mike Vick is in trouble in Philadelphia. Let’s be honest with ourselves.

With that said, you have a guy slinging the ball on the other side of the field in Matt Ryan that to this very day has to look up in the stands of the Georgia Dome and see old Mike Vick jerseys.

You even have the combo green and red Vick jerseys which are seriously offensive.

Ryan has the chance to come out and seal Vick’s fate potentially. I can’t think of better motivation than that.

LeSean McCoy will have a nice game. Shady will get it done but I just visualize [linebacker] Sean Weatherspoon being ready to mount Vick’s head over his fireplace man.

Wade: So true, the Falcons defense has been playing well.

Adrian: As of late, they have had their issues but Asante Samuel is going back to Philly. There are a plethora of grudges in this game.

Wade: The Andy Reid bye week record is at stake but the Falcons are coming off of a bye too.

Unanimous Pick: Falcons go 7-0 as the pressure continues to mount to pull Mike Vick.

Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers

Adrian:  This is a tale of two offenses that will shred two defenses. However, the Steelers defense has a little more to offer right now if [linebacker]London Fletcher does not play for Washington.

Wade: Mike Wallace won’t drop as many balls this week for the Steelers. RG3 can win this game for the Redskins but he probably won’t.

Adrian: It will come down to which defense can get the most stops. Pittsburgh can get the edge in that department by as many as three. RG3 will ball he just will get held in check just enough by the old fellas to lose.

Unanimous Pick: Steelers get it at home.

The post Week 8′s NFL Picks appeared first on Players View.

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#1 Atlanta Falcons (6-0)

As the only undefeated team in the NFL, the Falcons are fresh off a bye week and presumably ready to take out the Eagles.

 #2 Houston Texans (6-1)

 The Texans murked the Ravens in one of the most confident bounce-back games that you could conjure up.

 #3 New York Giants (5-2)

 The champs skirted the threat of the RG3 by exploiting their injury-laden defense in the final ticks of the contest.

#4 Green Bay Packers (4-3)

 The Packers are throwing darts again yet their defense will now be without its leader Charles Woodson for one month.

 #5 San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

 The 49ers’ offense can win the heavyweight fights as they did against the Seattle Seahawks. Let’s see if they can start targeting Vernon Davis again.

#6 Chicago Bears (5-1)

Chicago is making believers out of the masses. Save the letdown against the Packers, the Bears would be sitting in the top five.

#7 Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

 Christian Ponder appeared to be hanging on against the Cardinals last week instead of taking over.

 #8 New England Patriots (4-3)

After barely getting away with their hides against the Jets, the Patriots are finding a new way to win.

#9 Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

The Ravens slide not because of their defensive injuries but because of the skittish nature of their gunslinger and their inability to feed Ray Rice the football.

#10 Denver Broncos (3-3)

 They break the top 10 on a bye week. A loss to the lowly Saints on Sunday will deep-six that situation fast.

#11 Dallas Cowboys (3-3)

Dallas will rise and fall for the duration of this season. That’s just the way that it is.

 #12 Miami Dolphins (3-3)

Are the Dolphins for real? Let’s see how they handle high expectations now that they won’t always be the underdog.

 #13 Seattle Seahawks (4-3)

Dropped passes cost them a hard fought game against the 49ers. Can the Seahawks win without last-second heroics?

 #14 Arizona Cardinals (4-3)

The Cards are slowly sliding down the charts and their offense is helpless to do anything about it.

#15 Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

 The fate of the Eagles might seriously rest in the Eagles’ ability to defeat the only undefeated team in the NFL. If they drop to 3-4, expect more changes.

.#16 Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)

The Steelers are sorting through a lot of issues as they try to break .500

#17 New York Jets (3-4)

The Jets are maybe not in as much trouble as we think they are. If they can win six out of the next nine games, its conceivable they can earn a playoff spot with the parity that exists in the AFC.

#18 Washington Redskins (3-4)

RG3 is special but their defense is losing key pieces by the week. If London Fletcher‘s hamstring injury is serious, they are almost helpless to stop most NFL offenses.

#19 St. Louis Rams (3-4)

 The Rams are about to either start winning consistently or losing consistently.

 #20 Indianapolis Colts (3-3)

 Having carved out a 3-3 record in a conference full of them, can the Colts make a difference in the wildcard race?

 #21 San Diego Chargers (3-3)

 They crash, they burn and they tell their fans to take a chill pill when they get upset about it.

 #22 Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)

They are too talented to be on such a downer. But as they say ‘it is what it is.’

 #23 Tennessee Titans (3-4)

Can Chris Johnson have three strong games in a row? The Titans will only go as far as he will go as he is what inspires others to play harder around him.

 #24 Buffalo Bills (3-4)

 Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Bills wasted a lot of money on Mario Williams.

 #25 New Orleans Saints (2-4)

As impressive as the Saints’ offense is, their defense is as dismal.  Now that interim head coach Joe Vitt is back, we’ll see how it goes from here.

#26 Oakland Raiders (2-4)

Yeah, they beat the Jaguars as predicted but the fact that it was close screams that the Raiders can’t be taken seriously.

#27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)

 They can score but they can’t stop others from scoring. Near-wins over the Giants and the Saints tell the story here.

 #28 Detroit Lions (2-4)

 I would have paid good money to be a fly-on-the-wall in the Lion’s locker-room after they were taken down on Monday.

 #29 Carolina Panthers (1-5)

Did they curse themselves when they predicted that they will win the Super Bowl during the preseason?

 #30 Kansas City (1-5)

They are really starting Brady Quinn? Wow.

#31 Cleveland Browns (1-6)

 The Browns may not even make .500 this year but it is encouraging to see a guy like receiver Greg Little come into his own.

 #32 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)

The worst team in football is now without their best player. It can’t get any worse.

The post NFL Power Rankings Week 8 appeared first on Players View.

#10 Jonathan Vilma Is A Non-Issue

Based on his play in his return to the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is some time away from being the beast that he once was.

He failed to register a single tackle during his field time.  Vilma’s knee issues can be overcome as he eases his way back into the swing-of-things.

But at 30-years-old, will Vilma be able to do enough to overcome the memory of him being the face of Bounty Gate?

#9 Arizona Was Not For Real

After starting 4-0 the Cardinals have sunk to 4-3 after an emotional blowout win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Blaine Gabbert down in Jacksonville, their four wins may have played them out of the Matt Barkley sweepstakes.

Defensively they are solid yet they need a quarterback and a running game in the worst way.

#8 Cam Newton May Be Right

Cam is struggling to become a leader. Cam is struggling with his ego. Cam is struggling with trying to do it all by himself.

One thing that Cam is not wrong about however is his post-game statement that the Carolina Panthers need a suggestion box so that they can some ideas on how to get their situation back on course.

The team took a major step forward when they fired their general manager Marty Hurney on Monday morning.

The coaching staff needs to be the next to go.

After watching that mess of a game that Ron Rivera’s group called against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, changes need to be made.

The Panthers do not have the personnel to limit the touches of their feature back DeAngelo Williams. This was a close game and the coaching staff treated like it was a playground special.

#7 The Champs Are The Champs

The Giants talked the trash but their defense did allow Robert Griffin III to have a nice game despite the turnover he generated.

RG3 completed 20-out of-28 pass attempts for 258 yards and two touchdowns during the Redskins defeat.

However, when it was all said and done, once again the calmest demeanor in football, Eli Manning put it on his closer Victor Cruz to deliver the deathblow.

#6 Joe Flacco Is Not Elite

There are a lot of things suddenly wrong with the Baltimore Ravens.  After the whipping that they took from the Houston Texans on Sunday one thing is front and center.

Joe Flacco is a good quarterback but he is not the elite quarterback that he claims to be.

After the Ravens defense lost key pieces against the Cowboys, Flacco had one week to wrap his head around the concept of if he took over his team the golden ticket that he desires so badly would be his.

Instead, his opportunity to step into greatness swallowed him whole. Flacco was skittish, inaccurate and he failed to elevate those around him to another level.

In short, he was not elite.

#5 Dallas Is Still A Mess

The Cowboys got the win over the Carolina Panthers yet they looked ugly doing it. At every point of that game save some nice play from rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne, it looked as if the wheels could fall off the Cowboys’ wagon at anytime.

#4 The Jets Are Not Going To Go Out Without A Fight

As soon as it looked the worst for the Jets, Rex Ryan dusted them off and stuck a heart into that team.

The playoffs most likely won’t be in their future but after taking the Patriots to overtime yesterday, it became clear that we can say what we want; they are going to fight until the last second ticks off the scoreboard of the last game.

It will take another game or two to be sure of this statement, but it looks like the Jets’ offense is clicking better without star wide receiver Santonio Holmes.

#3 Patriots Defense Needs Help

They got the big overtime stop after Tom Brady led the offense down the field for what proved to be a game-winning field goal in overtime, but the Patriots defense still looks suspect.

New England’s two minute offense is still good to drive the field and eat up yards but their days of putting up obnoxious scores could be over.

Their defense has to start getting off the field on third down and start playing their opponents with more bite.

#2 The Packers Offense Is Back On Track

Aaron Rodgers has issued a memo that states that Randall Cobb is the new Greg Jennings. Cobb’s two touchdowns on Sunday sealed the deal on his sophomore year’s breakout party.

Barring another rash of injuries, the Packers’ offense is ready, willing and able to push out 30 points a game on unwilling participants.

#1 The Houston Texans Stayed Hungry

When teams get off to fast starts, they often crash and burn when they get smacked in the face with a little bit of adversity.

The Texans responded to their test by humiliating the Baltimore Ravens on both sides of the ball.

The Ravens defense may be an M.A.S.H. unit but their offense is pretty much 100-percent and they for the most part rendered them helpless.

The post 10 NFL Observations From Week 7 appeared first on Players View.

The former New England Patriots running back is actively available through the Thuzio.com service which allows fans to spend time with athletes for the right price.

It’s questionable how many people have thousands of dollars laying around to spend on hanging out with Kevin Faulk but if you do, this photo gallery provides a list of his services.

The post Photos: Kevin Faulk is for sale appeared first on Players View.

Washington Redskins at New York Giants

Adrian: NASCAR in the house.

Wade:  I like what Eli Manning is doing right now.

Adrian: The Giants’ defensive line played a lot of mind games with RG3 this week. As a rookie I am not sure he knew how to process that from the footage that I saw.

Osi Umenyiora stops calling him Bob and switches to Sir Bob. While JPP is acting like MR.T telling him not to try anything on his side.

Plus, don’t underestimate that Prince Anokumura picked off his first pass last week.

Washington’s defense is battered and I don’t trust (coach) Mike Shanahan to have depth on that side of the ball. He has running backs stashed all over the county but defensive players? Not so much.

Wade: Shanahan has running backs working at Target right now that are waiting for their chance. So I agree with you on that point. Look, Griffin will play lights out but they are the road team playing against an explosive offense that has more weapons than they do.

Unanimous Pick:  New York will deliver their second beating in as many weeks.

Green Bay Packers at St. Louis Rams

Wade:  I like the way that St. Louis is playing in most games. They can get after the quarterback and they have a strong secondary. I am going to go with them.

Adrian:  You are not going with the easy pick. I was actually going to take the easy pick but your points make sense. The Packers did sniper the Texans’ perfect season but the Texans were missing Brian Cushing.

They still don’t have a legit running game and Jermichael Finley still can’t catch a cold.

Wade: Say it two times.

Adrian:  The Rams offense concerns me but Sam Bradford can sneak up on you and drop a solid game on somebody every now and then.

Unanimous Pick: Seriously, we are picking the Rams in a trap game.

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Adrian: This is a NFC South battle and a bit of a grudge match. Offensive lineman Carl Nicks left the Saints in the offseason to suit up with the Buccaneers. I’ m sure he will want to do well.

Wade: The Saints are coming off a bye week and they needed to regroup. They got their first win during their last game and they can score enough points to beat Tampa Bay.

Adrian:  The Saints can be gashed in the running game and Tampa has two guys that can tote the rock. Mark my words, LeGarrette Blount will get his hurdle on.

Like I said Nicks will help push some people around. Mike Williams is starting to come into his own and Freeman can get it done. Tampa has secondary issues but their front seven has a bit of a mean streak.

Wade: Those are all good points and if you are right, Tampa will set themselves up for the number two spot in that division.

Adrian Picks: Tampa Bay with confidence

Wade Picks: New Orleans to pick up their second win.

New York Jets at New England Patriots

Adrian:  You are not going to like what I have to say. I am picking the Jets.

Wade:  You can’t be serious!

Adrian: Let’s take all of the emotion out of the game and just look at some bare facts. The Jets I believe will get back to running the ball. I don’t think that the Patriots will be able to consistently stop their rushing attack.

If that happens Tom Brady will stay off the field for an extended period of time.

The Patriots offense has been very streaky this year.  They run really, really hot and they can run really, really cold.

They have done well when they can get their running game going. The Jets have the pieces to limit their rushing success.

All this adds up to the Jets pulling out a sneaky win.

Wade: Those points sound all fine and well. But don’t forget that New England could easily be 4-2 or 5-1. Nobody has kicked their ass. When somebody steps on their throat then maybe I can ride with you. They are playing quality football.

Bill Belichick lives for these games. He hates the Jets and Rex Ryan more than anything. New England will be fine.

Adrian Picks:  The Jets will pull it off

Wade Picks: New England will handle their business

Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders

Adrian: I was impressed with how tight the Raiders played the Falcons. Truthfully, the only thing that shot them in the foot was their penalties. If they clean that stuff up,they can win ball games.

Wade: They did play Atlanta tough. Darren McFadden should get the chance to go ballistic.

Adrian: H.A.M.!

Wade:  The Team That Is Probably Going To L.A. is just so bad.

Adrian: They have no playmakers at any level of that defense and they are smothering their offensive talent. If they wanted to bring in a guy that can shoot down an offense. Mike Mularkey is the guy.  He hindered Matt Ryan’s development for years. That’s not an opinion, that is a fact. So he now has a guy with far less talent in Blaine Gabbert and you see the results.

Wade: I am thinking Beat Down of the Week.

Adrian:  I would have it no other way.

Unanimous Pick: Raiders stomp out the Jaguars

Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills

Adrian:  Interesting game. These are both two teams that have some talent. I like the Bills. They can run the ball well and they seem to be throwing only when they must. It’s bad for wideout Steve Johnson’s and tight end Scott Chandler’s numbers. But you do well what you do well.

Wade:  But you minimize Interception Man. I like this game to be the game that Buffalo’s defensive line just explodes. Mario Williams it’s time.

Adrian:  I agree. I know that the Steelers gave the Titans offensive line a self esteem but I think they will pressure Hasselbeck into throwing picks to the rookie Gilmore and/or the safety Byrd.

Unanimous Pick:  Bills put it on the Titans

Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers

Wade:  I don’t trust the Cowboys, I don’t trust the Cowboys and I don’t trust the Cowboys.

Adrian:  Going with the Panthers, wow.

Wade: Hell No! But I am still saying I don’t trust them.  DeMarcus Ware should neutralize Cam Newton and then it is on from there. The Panthers are incomplete on both sides of the ball. I can’t go with them.

Adrian:  I am on-the-record regarding Newton. As for the Cowboys, they should win this game but that does not mean that that they will. Dez Bryant should go off. Felix Jones should go off. I say that about Jones because as a previous starter if he really wants to be the man he will go off in the absence of DeMarco Murray.

Wade:  You don’t think Romo will go off?

Adrian:  I mean he has to for his supporting cast to. The Panthers front seven can ball when they feel like it. I smell another Dallas letdown but the Panthers may be the only other team besides the Chargers that is as mentally fragile as the Cowboys are.

Unanimous Pick:  Dallas will win in the last second.

Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans

Adrian:  I am not sure about this game. I think what we have learned is that Brian Cushing is a crucial piece of the Texans’ defense. That was obvious before his injury but we saw in their let down against the Packers that he was the centerpiece that allowed J.J. Watt to run free.

Now we will find out the extent to which the Ravens will miss their key pieces.

Wade: You can’t replace Ray Lewis man.

Adrian:  I don’t think replace is the right word. Dannell Ellerbe has been in cue as Lewis’ replacement  since 2009. I think for the Ravens’ it becomes easier to go to him when he has already been the understudy.  With Ray Lewis as a mentor before his injury, I think it’s the best possible situation that the Ravens could be in. Ed Reed is still out there playing centerfield and I like Jimmy Smith’s chances to get some sort of leverage against Andre Johnson with Reed up top. The problem with the Texans is that they don’t really have another scary wideout. You think Kevin Walter is really scaring somebody?

Wade: Obviously not but I like Arian Foster to come out mad. He is angry right now and his numbers after Texans losses are sweet.

Adrian: Joe Flacco said he was elite. It’s time for to go earn that big money deal and put the defense on his back for a change.

Adrian Picks: The Ravens to go into the bye week 6-1.

Wade Picks: The Texans to bounce back.

Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts

Wade:  I love the Colts in this matchup.

Adrian: I don’t.  Cleveland went out and got their first win and they have a lot of talent that is fighting for a job. I don’t care what the press release says. The new ownership threw Mike Holmgren into retirement to send a message that nobody is safe.  The Colts are trying to stay emotionally fresh and God bless them… they are dealing with a lot. But the Browns are an emerging team with some very nice pieces.

Wade: You changed my mind.

Adrian: Come to the dark side man.  I’m telling you a talented team plus a job interview-style atmosphere always equals wins.

Unanimous Pick:  Browns win with confidence.

Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings

Adrian:  Kevin Kolb is back on the injury list again. The Cardinals have two running backs on injured reserve. I would not be surprised if they hold X-Factor style auditions to look for a running back.  I hate this for Larry Fitzgerald and their defense which has been fighting hard.

Wade: Yeah and you know  if Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin get on track, the Cardinals won’t be able to compete with them.

Adrian:  And don’t forget receiver Jerome Simpson is supposed to come back for real this week for Minnesota.

Wade: Back-Flip Man.  The Vikings can really air-it-out with him. This might be like shooting fish-in-a-barrel.

Unanimous Pick: The Vikings will knockout the Cardinals

Pittsburgh Steelers at the Cincinnati Bengals

Adrian:  The old grey men just ain’t what they used to be, ain’t what they used to be…

Wade:  The Steelers won’t drop two-in-a-row.

Adrian:   Ok, they don’t have a true starting running back or a stout defense and the Bengals can score points in a hurry. When are you going to get hip to the fact that the Steelers are like that old boxer getting in the ring for fights they should not be fighting? The Steelers are the Evander Holyfields of the NFL.

Wade: WOW

Adrian:   I said it. Everybody acts like they are the mob or something. Like they can’t be criticized. I love Mike Tomlin but his tools are rusty.

Wade: You watch.

Wade Picks: The Steelers will rebound.

Adrian Picks: The Bengals to roll on in a divisional game.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears

Wade: Bears

Adrian:  The Bears seem ready for a letdown. But the Lions are still playing like children and acting like children off-the-field. They need some grown-ups in that locker room. I like Detroit. I want to pick Detroit. I can’t pick Detroit but I am not picking Chicago as a whole to win. I am picking Chicago’s defense to win this game. Charles Tillman is in cue to return a defensive touchdown for three games-in-a-row. I think he will get that done.

Wade:  I like Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall. They can be special. The Lion’s secondary is garbage.

Adrian:  Well they key matchup  is Mighty Mouse a.k.a. Chris Houston at 5’11 178 lbs for the Lions against  Brandon Marshall who  is 6’4  230 lbs. for the Bears. You tell me who is going to win that?

BUT and this is a key but, the Bears offensive line is throwing Cutler to the wolves.  If the ball can’t get downfield to begin with Houston vs. Marshall is a moot point.

Unanimous Pick: Da Bears.

The post Players View NFL Picks Week 7 appeared first on Players View.

Certain situations such as the Dallas Cowboys were not included because they are expected to let their fans down. Therefore, being a disappointment is not disappointing.

Let’s roll through our Top 10.#10 Fred Davis

Running quarterbacks often depend on available tight ends as useful safety valves.

As such, with the import of RG3 and a fairly strong 2011 campaign under his belt, Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was due to have a breakout year.

The Skins front office even kicked fan favorite Chris Cooley to the curb to allow Davis to anchor that role.

For what? Davis has only 23 catches for 319 yards and zero touchdowns in five games.

If Davis was known as a blocking tight end that would be a solid run of production.

For a tight/slot receiver hybrid?  Davis has not been the business.

He has only been targeted 30 times, but is that because he can’t get open or is it because RG3 is looking elsewhere?

The tape shows Davis is having a hard time getting free and clear.

#9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay was due to shock the world after nice set of upgrades both in the draft and in free agency.

With both the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints rolling over and playing dead, this was due to be their year to challenge Atlanta for the NFC South Crown.

So far they have done very little with that opportunity.

Josh Freeman your time is now to uplift your team and get them back into the playoff picture.

#8 Cam Newton

Regular visitors know that we have talked about Newton a great deal.

His sophomore year in the NFL is turning out to be as poor as his rookie year was spectacular.

The first sign of things to come could have been when his ego got him mollywhopped at last season’s Pro Bowl.

We have said it all before and hopefully after a bye week to clear his head we won’t have to continue to say it.

What’s it going to be boom or bust?

#7 Chris Johnson

We feel downright stupid for predicting that Chris Johnson would be the phoenix to rise from the ashes and take back the NFL rushing title.

It’s not impressive that he dug out a fading Steelers defense during Week 6.

It will be impressive when he can stop whining and start running north and south with a head full of steam like he used to.

It will be impressive when he earns the trust of his offensive coordinator and as a result gets more touches to slap those all-purposes yards back on the table like he used to.

Chris Johnson is not some old man like Larry Johnson was when he fell from grace.

Don’t let the money make you lazy Chris. Get back to work man, there’s certainly more where that came from.

#6 Detroit Lions

The Lions have been disappointing since the off-season. Their trials and tribulations have been well documented in that regard.

Even in victory, they been a hot mess. They have been both outcoached and outplayed.

Despite the talent on that roster, there obviously is not a leader in that locker-room.

Their youth movement has brought Detroit the promise of prosperity with the ugliest pieces of immaturity.

Three more losses could kill their season and if so, hopefully lessons will be learned and a few of these young men will emerge as veteran leaders.

#5 Green Bay Packers

For the record, our belief is that the Packers will get back on track and it’s not because they played well and defeated the Houston Texans.

What is happening there is that they are learning how to win without Greg Jennings and Cedric Benson.

Their lapse will run its course but we would be remiss to not include them on our list of disappointments because frankly it is disappointing to see them looking up at both the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North

#4 New England Patriots

The Patriots are facing a decent possibility of dipping under .500 for the second time this year.  Something is not right with them and whatever it is they need to fix it.

To witness Tom Brady being sonned in a ‘you mad bro?’ moment is something that we thought we would never see yet it happened.

Seattle’s defense is strong but the Patriots are allegedly stronger.

A Week 7 loss to the Jets will send this team into a tizzy.

The Patriots must seize control now or all of these bruised egos will deflate before our very eyes.

# 3 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense

Offensively, the Steelers can still generate big plays and hang points on anybody.

What is hard to stomach is witnessing a once proud group of dominant defenders crumble into a decaying ball of mediocrity.

The Steelers are the Steelers and they are expected to be nothing short of the bullies in the yard.

To think that they were they were one of the defenses that allowed Chris Johnson to break out his slump is all of the  evidence you need.

It will hard to bid farewell to faces that have done so much to generate championship results, but the time to go young is now.

#2 Kansas City Chiefs

Once former coach Todd Haley was kicked to the curb and the players fought for their current leader Romeo Crenel, the Chiefs came into this run with optimism on their side.

A seemingly loaded offense was in place to work with a defense that has a few pieces at each level to get it done. It is a formula that should spell s-u-c-c-e-s-s in a weak AFC West.

But aside from what should have been a turn-around victory over the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City has been handing out lessons in how to make misery entertaining.

Here is a news flash for the fans that pushed for back-up quarterback Brady Quinn to come off the pine.  He’s not good enough to be “the” guy that can take you to the Promised Land.

The desire to cheer for the other guy is a natural reaction. Be strong and fight it.

Rest assured if things stay the same, the fans at Arrowhead will benefit from the next hotshot quarterback that steps into the NFL and lights things up from the word go.

#1 Peyton Manning

Let’s talk as family for a moment here.  Had it not been for an EPIC Phillip Rivers second-half collapse on Monday Night Football, the Denver Broncos would be staring down the barrel of a 2-4 record.

Yes, Peyton stepped up and did his thing at the tail-end said game but he should not have been in that position to stage one to begin with.

The feeling is that the Broncos are entering the soft part of their schedule and all will be well in the land now.

If that is how the Broncos plan on getting it done, they should have stuck with Tebow.

Peyton was brought in to orchestrate a dominant offense and that has yet to happen.

Manning will provide us with fleeting moments of inspiration here and there but for the most part the Broncos’ 3-3 record is proof that as a four-quarter gunslinger, Manning may not have much gas in the tank.

The post NFL’s Top 10 Disappointing players and teams appeared first on Players View.

#1 Atlanta Falcons (6-0)

As the only undefeated team in the NFL, they earned the spot regardless of how sloppy their play has been as of late.

 #2 Houston Texans (5-1)

The Texans are still the most complete team in the AFC. They got slapped in the face by the Packers which may wake keep them from taking wins for granted in the future.

 #3 New York Giants (4-2)

The champs beat the tar out of the 49ers in what was supposed to be a Pier-Six brawl.

#4 Baltimore Ravens (5-1)

They lost so much in victory against the Cowboys that it’s hard to envision what they will do now. Today their record has them in the Top 5.

 #5 Green Bay Packers (3-3)

Was their knockout over the Texans a sign of things to come or a quick reminder of what they used to be?

 #6 San Francisco 49ers (4-2)

The 49ers are indeed mortals. When they can’t punk their opponents they need to have another mode of operation on deck. The multiple quarterback thing is not it.

#7 Chicago Bears (4-2)

The Bears return after a bye week to knuckle up with the Lions in a game they should win. If cornerback Charles Tillman makes this his third straight game with a defensive touchdown, he will punch his Pro Bowl ticket.

 #8 Minnesota Vikings (4-2)

Reality set in on the Vikings as RG3 left their defenders in the dust. Now what are they going to do about it?

#9 New England Patriots (3-3)

Something is not right about these 2012 Patriots. If the Jets strike them down don’t be surprised if Rex Ryan steps to the podium during his postgame presser and screams ‘you mad bro?!’

#10 Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

The Seahawks have almost arrived…almost.

#11 Denver Broncos (3-3)

I won’t predict big things for Denver until they play four complete quarters of football. But what happened against the Chargers on Monday Night Football was something to see.

 #12 Arizona Cardinals (4-2)

That initial four game winning streak will only get you so far.

 #13 Miami Dolphins (3-3)

To their credit the Dolphins did not believe it when the world said they had no chance.

 #14 Washington Redskins (3-3)

As electric as RG3 is, he is still playing reckless and that defense still has holes in it.

#15 Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

 A mediocre spot for a talented team that’s playing like a mediocre team.

.#16 Dallas Cowboys (2-3)

The Cowboys proved that they can beat quality teams; the problem is that they won’t.

#17 St. Louis Rams (3-3)

Just when you thought the Rams were turning the corner they come up short.

#18 New York Jets (3-3)

Last week they went back to what works for them against the Colts. Will that work against a suddenly-struggling Patriots team?

#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3)

 The Buccaneers tour of lesser teams continues as they prepare for a shootout against the New Orleans Saints. Josh Freeman should be on his game.

#20 Buffalo Bills (3-3)

 Like everyone else in the AFC East they are tied for first and last place. Their running game should help them find separation.

 #21 Detroit Lions (2-3)

They have the talent to be player better than the Bad News Bears but they refuse to act like it.

 #22 Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)

 The Bengals are another talented team that is losing its grip on sticking with the winning path.

 #23 San Diego Chargers (3-3)

 Nobody knows how to crash and burn like the Chargers do. Norv Turner has turned blowing big leads into an art-form.

#24 Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3)

Steel City fans can hate all you want but there is nothing cool about losing to a Titans team that has more issues than an episode of Maury Povich.

 #25 Indianapolis Colts (2-3)

 How fuel do they have left in the tank?

 #26 Carolina Panthers (1-4)

Cam can run, Can can pass and Cam can design clothes. Now when will Cam win?

#27 Oakland Raiders (1-4)

Could have, would have and should have don’t win football games. The fact that they had the Falcons on the ropes and let them off the hook with costly penalties and turnovers proves that they have a discipline issue.

#28 New Orleans Saints (1-4)

If they don’t find a way to beat Tampa Bay, turn out the lights…it’s over.

 #29 Tennessee Titans (2-4)

Paging Kenny Britt. Your services are needed to save your team.

#30 Kansas City (1-5)

Brady Quinn is not the answer. It’s going to be a long season for the Chiefs.

#31 Cleveland Browns (1-5)

 As was stated in Week 6, the moment that the Browns win, the Jags will hit the bottom. Cleveland welcome to the 31^st spot.

 #32 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)

The worst team in football assumes their rightful position. That’s not said to be mean, it’s said to be honest and it’s sad what general manager Gene Smith has done to that franchise.

The post NFL Power Rankings Week 7 appeared first on Players View.

#10 The Atlanta Falcons Need To Step Up

You can only dodge bullets for so long and for the third week straight, Atlanta almost gift wrapped a victory for a team that they should have defeated.  The old football proverb about good teams finding a way to win only goes so far.

#9 The Dallas Cowboys Are The Unluckiest Team In Sports

The evidence that the Cowboys are cursed is so convincing it’s ridiculous.

But wait a minute.

Do they just find a way to collapse in crucial moments?

I’ll take curtain number two for $500.

How could coach Jason Garrett and his quarterback Tony Romo BOTH mismanage the closing seconds of their game against the Ravens is beyond me.

There is no reason why they did not run at least one more play to edge their kicker closer for the game winner.

It was sloppy, it was clumsy and it was something that even a high school group could have pulled off.

#8 The Jets (Sorta) Got Their Swagger Back

They were not crushed by the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football as predicted, they were just defeated.

They used that minimal slice of self-esteem and went back to the ground-and-pound formula that works for them and stuck it to the Colts.

The Jets may not even make the playoffs but they can at salvage some sort of dignity in this a year where they have lost a lot.

If they can pull off a Week 7 victory over the Patriots, seriously all bets are off.

#7 The Packers Showed Up For Work

Aaron Rodgers dismantled the Texans defense in the offensive display of strength that we have grown accustomed to.

They did it with an injured and disgruntled Jermichael Finley, a patchwork running game and without their number one receiver Greg Jennings.

J.J. Watt had a few moments to shine but as a whole his now mortal Texans team got it handed to them. Speaking of which…

#6 The Texans DO Need Brian Cushing

When linebacker Brian Cushing was lost for the year on Monday night, the Texans and even Cushing himself issued propaganda that stated that with or without Cushing they were as good as ever.

The Packers dismantled that theory as they tore up the second level of the Texans defense on Sunday night.

You don’t replace a guy like Cushing but they are certainly second-guessing trading ILB Demeco Ryans to the Eagles for almost nothing in the off-season.

#5 The Eagles Are Almost Down For The Count

Unless their fans, their local media and their team unites and learns to look at the bright side of things, the finger pointing is going to break the will of this team.

Yes they have not generated sacks, yes Michael Vick needs to protect the football and yes the offensive line has some work to do.

These things are the self-evident.

But with the Cowboys slipping on banana peels, the Redskins only winning every couple of games or so and a win over the Giants, the Eagles can still easily take the NFC East.

Like the song says, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.”

The post Top 10 NFL moments of week six appeared first on Players View.

However the desire to create and market the title speaks volumes to the expectations hang over James and the rest of the Miami Heat.

The theme of the book takes an interesting spin that we won’t spoil for you. Enjoy the preview. The rest can be viewed at ESPN.

The post Photos:Inside Marvel and ESPN’s LeBron James comic appeared first on Players View.

#25 Michigan at Illinois

Michigan has a lot to prove to even merit their inclusion on the polls. Look for a dominant win against Illinois.

#24 Boise State at Fresno State

Boise always wins the turnover battle when these teams meet. That equals victory.

#22 Texas A&M at #22 Louisiana Tech

Texas A&M’s offense will simply score and score again on Louisiana Tech’s leaky defense.  This will get bad quick.

#21 Cincinnati at Fordham

This could be a trap game but it won’t. Cincinnati gets a large win in a turbulent week.

#20 Rutgers at Syracuse

The games in this series can be tight. This won’t be as Rutgers continues to fight for their pride.

#19 Mississippi State at Tennessee

Tennessee will shoot down the Bulldogs in what will technically register as an upset.

#18 Louisville at Pittsburgh

The facts are the facts and until Louisville can figure out how to beat Pitt after dropping four straight to them, I’m picking the Panthers.

#7 Notre Dame at #17 Stanford

The Fighting Irish will kick the Cardinals right out of the polls. This will be bloody.

#13 Oklahoma at #15 Texas

The Texas defense will rebound after last week’s shocker and eek their way back into the Top 10.

#12 Florida State at Boston College

Boston College can technically put a fight but they won’t against a mad Seminoles team. FSU will take it by a large margin.

#11 USC at Washington

After struggling against Utah for a moment, the Trojans must crush Washington to be deemed legit.

#10 Oregon State Brigham Young

The loss of Sean Mannion will catch up with Oregon State. It just won’t happen this week

#3 South Carolina at #9 LSU

I hope South Carolina enjoyed their moment in the sun. LSU’s win over them is about to make the SEC picture very interesting.

#8 Ohio State at Indiana

Indiana has the worst rushing defense in the land. They are facing Ohio State’s blazing quarterback Braxton Miller. Good luck with that…

#6 Kansas State at Iowa State

Iowa State loves to play spoiler but that won’t happen here.

#5 West Virginia at Texas Tech

Two words: Geno Smith. Three Words: Texas Tech loses.

#4Florida at Vanderbilt

Another potential trap game. Florida is playing well and this one will be close. It just won’t be close enough for a Gator’s loss.

#1 Alabama at Missouri

The Crimson Tide will put on a clinic to prove that Missouri has no business playing in the SEC. Yeah I said it.

The post Week 7 NCAA Top 25 Bullet Picks appeared first on Players View.

Sadly after we racked our brains and revisited these previous efforts, that was not to be the case. Not by a long shot.

#15 Deion Sanders: “Must Be The Money”

In a g-funk ode to off-key singing, Sanders gives it a go on this tribute to himself. If he played during the Auto Tune era things may have be different. This will not be the last time Prime Time shows up on this list. We love you Deion but nobody can do it all.

#14 Free Reign: “One Step Away”

There are a lot of Cowboys on this list. Makes you wonder if owner Jerry Jones decided to try his hand at pimping his players out in the music business.

No matter, this metal band made up of offensive linemen Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo and Cory Procter that now play for various teams are loud enough but the cliché lives on.

Their generic blend of metal stalwarts Godsmack, Staind and Metallica is for die-hards of either their various teams or the genre only.

#13 Glen Davis: “Big Baby Gon Turn It Up”

You knew he was going to be here at some point. The man that got it all started throws T-Pain’s worst Auto Tune nightmare into the blender with pop’s version of trance music to have you shaking your head more than your behind.

#12 Shaquille O’Neal: “Skillz”

 There are many Shaq audio disasters to choose from but this one kills them all like a sniper. This Dr. Dre influenced beat from the early 90’s is what it is and that is pretty bad.

#11 Terry Bradshaw: “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”

Based on the world’s reaction to his recent comments on Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Terry might be crooning this country ditty right now. 

What’s worse the outfit or the ear-splitting vocal?

#10 Manny Pacquiao: “Sometimes When We Touch”

I like the Pac-Man but words can’t sincerely say what this is all about.

#9 Troy Aikman & Waylon Jennings: “The Good Old Dallas Cowboys”

If it was findable, Aikman’s solo single “Oklahoma Nights” would have been here. If you can find it, don’t pull the trigger and give it a listen.  

This duet should be enough of a sampler platter of what Aikman can do behind the microphone.

#8 FSU Seminoles: “Seminole Rap”

It’s too easy to find whack team songs to put this together. If you had to pick the worst of the worst, FSU’s rap disaster has to be it.

We stated earlier that Deion Sanders would be back and low and behold it’s evident that even with a Jheri curl dripping curl activator in the Florida sunshine, Sanders knew he was the man.

#7 Wyclef Jean feat. The Rock “ It Doesn’t Matter”

This is lives among the tackiest ideas that anybody ever brought to fruition. Released in 2000 when both The Rock and Wyclef were peaking, it screams good marketing.

All that we got was bad music. This island-flavored car wreck is a mess.

#6 Delonte West feat. Kaye M – “Livin Life Fast”

When hip-hop is done wrong the parody level that oozes out of that situation is as evident as high-beams coming off a monster truck in the middle of the night on a dark road.

Delonte West has always operated as something of a cartoon character both on and off the court. This is further proof as to why that is the case. LeBron James certainly got a nice chuckle out of this.

#5 Corey & The Phins:  ”Can’t Touch Us”

You know the whole thing about trying to not include team songs? They key word was trying. Sorry Seminoles you’re not the king of this distinguished mountain.

The Miami Dolphins reckless attempt at a rap song legitimized both Weird Al and Vanilla Ice. Oof

#4 Golf Boys: Golf Boys: “Oh Oh Oh”

This was supposed to be a joke. This PGA mash-up of the game’s hottest players and a boy band is creepy.

The video is far worse than the song is because truthfully the audio itself just sounds like an Escalade commercial, but the visuals are so freighting than even Boy George would find it garish.

#3 John Daly: “I Found It”

A deep sigh is all you will muster for this boogie-woogie slice of shameful blues.

The backup vocals heading into the second verse are fall down funny.

#2 Tony Parker: “Premier Amour”

If this was playing in the club when Parker was injured during Chris Brown and Drake’s melee, Parker has no business suing anybody after a fight broke out.

#1 Kobe Bryant feat. Tyra Banks “K.O.B.E.

The ego has landed should have been the sub-title for one of the worst songs in any genre that has ever left a recording studio.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry but most of all you will be angry that you can’t get the time invested in checking out the song.

The post The 15 Worst Songs Performed By Athletes appeared first on Players View.

#1 Houston Texans (5-0)

The Texans roll on but they may have lost a key defensive piece in Brian Cushing for the remainder of the year.

 #2 Atlanta Falcons (5-0)

Atlanta continues to play teams with lesser talent dangerously close. Beware the trap game in the visiting Oakland Raiders.

 #3 San Francisco 49ers (4-1)

Since losing to the Vikings two weeks ago, winning has not be enough for San Francisco. They are settling for nothing short of complete and absolute murder.

 #4 New England Patriots (3-2)

 Now that they have dug themselves out of the hole, are the Patriots indeed back?

 #5 Baltimore Ravens (4-1)

They scratched out a soft win over the Chiefs and their talent level is still premium.

 #6 Minnesota Vikings (4-1)

 With a strange brew of their win and certain losses, the Vikings make another positive move  They face a depleted Redskins team that can still burst their bubble during the sixth week.

#7 Chicago Bears (4-1)

 Beating down the Jags should not be anyone’s crowning achievement. But the way their defense is scoring right now should be.

 #8 New York Giants (3-2)

The Champs let the Browns go up early on them before they launched another comeback. They need more four quarter victories such as the one that they put on Carolina to crack the top five.

#9 St. Louis Rams (3-2)

What? Who? Yes the Rams are in the building for the first time in who knows how long. Their defense is playing like animals at the moment and Sam Bradford is starting to look comfortable throwing the deep ball again.

 #10 Arizona Cardinals (4-1)

I won’t even lie to you. Their previous record is the only reason they are in the elite 10. They might even be gone by next week as they don’t have a true starting running back and Kevin Kolb has gone back to holding the football for “10 Mississippi” before he slings the rock.

#11 Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

 Michael Vick is single-handedly holding back a very elite team back from dominance.  In time Vick will cure his ills with fumbling the football.

#12 Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)

The Bengals dropped a game to a Dolphins team that they should have defeated. They still have an enviable cache of weapons that can get the job done.

 #13 Green Bay Packers (2-3)

 Injuries are ripping them apart on both sides of the ball and they can’t find an emotional rallying point.

 #14 Seattle Seahawks (3-2)

Seattle had the chance to go off on the Panthers but they barely got out of the stadium with the win.

#15 Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)

The Steelers are in hanging on mode and it would not be surprising to see them head south sooner than later.

#16 San Diego Chargers (3-2)

They had a chance to put the ailing Saints away and they choked plain and simple.

#17 Miami Dolphins (2-3)

The Dolphins have scratched and clawed their way into legitimacy. Their season is far from over for them.

#18 Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

The Cowboys looked heartless the last time that they stepped on a football field.

#19 Denver Broncos (2-3)

 The Broncos are amassing mile-high problems.

#20 Indianapolis Colts (2-2)

When talent meets inspiration amazing things can happen.

 #21 Washington Redskins (2-3)

 Regardless of who starts on Sunday in the quarterback position, the luster of the Redskins season is wearing off fast.

#22 New York Jets (2-3)

 At this part of the chart it is not about wins and losses as much as it is who got their tails kicked with a lesser measure of dignity. The Jets are still a mess but they avoided being totally humiliated on Monday night.

#23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3)

Let’s see how the bye week impacted their level of play.

#24 Kansas City Chiefs (1-4)

When the fans get more attention than the players that says a lot.

 #25 Buffalo Bills (2-3)

The past six quarters of football have been cruel to the Bills.

 #26 Tennessee Titans (1-4)

The day the music died is near.

#27 Carolina Panthers (1-4)

 There has never been a team that needed a bye week more than the Carolina Panthers.

#28 New Orleans Saints (1-4)

How many tricks does this offense have in their bag?

#29 Detroit Lions (1-3)

After a week off, the Lions have a shot to prove that the first quarter of the season was a fluke.

 #30 Oakland Raiders (1-3)

If the Raiders can pull off the upset in Atlanta, they can turn their season around.

#31 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)

 Bad is bad and the Jags are the worst. The moment the Browns win a game, the Jags will probably hit the cellar and stay there.

#32 Cleveland Browns (0-5)

The Browns are starting to display a certain measure of potential.

The post NFL Power Rankings Week Six appeared first on Players View.

#10 Injuries Ruled the Day

NFL locker rooms substituted for M.A.S.H units there were so many significant injuries that took place. The injuries to quarterbacks such as the concussed RG3 and Matt Cassel grabbed the headlines.

Trust me when I tell you if guys such as B.J. Raji and Troy Polamalu miss any real time, the impact of their losses will also be felt in a major, major way just as those of the gunslingers.

Did the fans that cheered for Matt Cassel’s knockout wake up feeling remorseful this morning?

#9 Is It Time To Sound The Alarm in Green Bay?

The Packers sole definitive win was against the Bears who have since gone on to seemingly whip everyone in their path.

Chronic injuries have not helped their cause but coach Mike McCarthy has to have contingency plans to stop the bleeding once they start to lose their grip on big leads.

Their meltdown against the Colts was preventable by both the players and the coaches.

It’s not time to sound the alarm but you can feel safe resting your finger on the button.

#8 Denver’s Mile High Dreams Were A Myth

Plenty of championship teams have survived rocky starts. The New York Giants know all about that. The Denver Broncos don’t look like they have the fiber to stitch together that kind of year.

The just add Peyton approach was put to the test yet again against the New England Patriots and yet again the Broncos could not get it done.

You hate to use terms like could not hang but the Broncos simply could not hang against the Pats.

We suspect that John Fox is not the right coach for an explosive offense that is designed to run a track meet week after week.

#7 The Eagles Are In Yeah But Mode

To their credit they are right in the middle of the NFC race with a 3-2 record. They have a small window to get it when/if they do they will be one of the fieriest teams on the field.

The primary reason for their ‘yeah but’ status is that their quarterback has to stop fumbling the football. Vick has put a cap on his interception issue.

Now he has to stop putting the ball on the ground every time he gets a love tap from a defender.

 Regardless if they manage to squeak out wins they will remain a ‘yeah but’ if they don’t solve their turnover issue.

Plenty of guys take sacks and don’t cough it up.

#6 Miami Is Quietly Getting Better

The Dolphins started the year as one of the worst teams at the bottom of the NFL barrel. Their strong play has kept them in just about every game that they have played in.

Now they have stepped up to punch a good team in the Cincinnati Bengals in the mouth.  They may not win the AFC East but with a little bit of luck they may become a viable wild card option. Let’s see what happens.

#5 Jacksonville Really Is A Bad Team

Power rankings drop tomorrow and the only one thing that will save the Jaguars from joining the Browns at the bottom of the list is if the Jets lose tonight by sixty points or more to the Texans. The sad thing is that it is entirely possible.

#4 The Saints Were The Saints Again For History’s Sake

How awful would it have been for Drew Brees to takeover one of the NFL’s most sacred records only to lose the game in a nationally televised contest?

All of the ingredients were in place for a Saints win. The gang of Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis and Joe Vitt were all in the house.

Brees got the record early.

The crowd in the Super Dome was on fire.

The Chargers almost spoiled the party but it was not to be.

At 1-4 the Saints will most likely continue their downward spiral as their defense outside of a few bright moments looked just awful.

But for one night, the Who Dat Nation partied in the streets.

#3 Imperfect Perfection

As one of two teams that are currently undefeated, the Atlanta Falcons are getting a lot of attention.

The memo that they are circulating is that they still have a lot of work to do and things to fix could keep them focused during their regular season run.

The media’s obsession on their playoff failures will keep them humble.  Scratching out two fourth quarter wins in a row is the ultimate good and bad thing.

They should have beaten both Washington Redskins and the Carolina Panthers from pillar to post.

It’s nice that they have the fortitude to fight to the last tick off the clock. It’s not so nice that they are having a hard time pulling the trigger on teams they should beat.

#2 Chris Johnson Might Not Ever Be The Same

Chris Johnson is no longer the best running back in the NFL and he probably won’t ever hold that title again.

Against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday he averaged 1.6 yards per carry to net him 24 yards on the day.

Let’s stop calling him C2K and just go back to calling him Chris because the guy does not have anything special going for him anymore.

Unless something dramatic changes Johnson will be remembered as a guy that had a couple of great years but was not even close to being the best of his generation.

#1 New England Can Run the Football

Historically speaking, every now and then the Patriots summoned up a strong day on the ground but it always felt flukish. Now with Steven Ridley leading the way, they are pounding the rock with consistency. Who knew?

The post Top 10 NFL moments of week five appeared first on Players View.

Here’s how we see Week Five.

 Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts:

 The Kid: Vontae Davis is out for the Colts.

 Adrian: I was picking Green Bay before, but that statement is one of those life affirming moments where you sit back and feel good about your opinion.

 Wade: Green Bay’s defense needs to play well on Sunday to move forward and say competitive after struggling against New Orleans.

 Adrian: I agree with that. I’ll be serious and add that they need to take kill shots on both sides of the ball. They are working Cedric Benson in to achieve more balance but that offense needs to show out and put up 40-plus points on the Colts just to shut people up.

 Unanimous Pick: Green Bay wins with swagger

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs

Adrian: I just can’t keep picking Kansas City week after week just because they are loaded.

The Kid: Where you do see the problem?

Adrian:  It’s popular to say that Matt Cassel is not the guy but neither is Brady Quinn. Chiefs fans should maybe start pushing for losses. Matt Barkley could do wonders in that offense.

The Kid:  He fits the mold of the quarterback of the future.

Adrian: But this week, The Ravens are walking out of Arrowhead Stadium with a win.

Wade: The Ravens are 20-times better than that team is.

Adrian: I disagree but they are playing at a higher level. The Chiefs are a couple of tweaks away.

Unanimous Pick: Ravens win big

Cleveland Browns at New York Giants

Wade:  I like the Browns and their new rookie running back Trent Richardson. The Giants are having a hard time stopping the run. We saw that last week against the Eagles.  But…

Adrian: But…

Wade: That defense is going to tear the quarterback up man.

Adrian: The Giants will come out and score points. But this could be a trap game for them after that heartbreaking loss last week.  I’m picking them but I am not at all surprised if they lose.

The Kid:  That is like picking them but not picking them.

Adrian: Fine. You know what?

Adrian Picks:  The Browns with an upset

Wade & The Kid Pick: The Giants

Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers

Adrian: It does not matter who is coming back. The Steelers will lose this game.

Wade: It’s in Pittsburgh. Steelers

Adrian:  Stop buying into the myth of that old defense that is so intimidating.

Wade: Steelers

Adrian: The Eagles are better offensively and defensively.

Wade: Steelers

The Kid & Adrian Pick:  The Eagles in a confident road win.

Wade Picks:  The Steelers

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins

Wade:  I keep telling you man I am riding the Matt Ryan Gravy Train until the wheels fall off. I believe in him and that offense.  I love RG3 and he is a super hero and all of that but Ryan is phenomenal.

Adrian: Ryan has been doing what he did in the last moments of the Carolina game since he arrived in the league. That is no surprise but as much as we all like RG3, he’s not  equipped to win a shootout like Ryan is. The Redskins defense is hurt. We went over that last week. DeAngelo Hall’s ego may force him to make a play or two but at the end of the day, I like the Falcons to go 5-0.

Unanimous Pick: The Falcons win a high scoring game

Seattle Seahawks a Carolina Panthers

Adrian: This will determine the fate of the season for both of these teams.

The Kid: You did not tell a lie. Cam Newton is going to explode mentally one way or the other with all of this pressure on him.

Adrian: I thought that was your boy? I bet you are glad you didn’t buy his cleats now.

The Kid: Funny. Shout out to the Nike Land Sharks they are too comfortable to pass up. Anyway, Cam has a long way to go in terms of playing like a man and not a kid. We all know that.

I have made decisions on the field just because I don’t want to lead like he thinks he does and the results have paid off. I admire his God-given talent, his passion and his dedication to being a better player. But looking at the Panthers as a team, they got their souls torn from their bodies last week. I don’t think their coach [Ron Rivera] is good enough to bring them back from that.

Wade: What else can you say?

Unanimous Pick: Seattle wins the Crossroads Bowl.

Chicago at Jacksonville

Wade: Really? Are you really even asking me this question?

Adrian: I have been left no other choice.

Wade: Chicago is going to tear them up, rip them apart and send them to Los Angeles.

The Kid: Who is Jay Cutler going to fight with this week?

Adrian: Now there is a far more entertaining question. I got Lovie Smith. Or maybe he goes defense and barks at Brian Urlacher.

The Kid: He doesn’t want those kinds of problems.

Wade: Cutler is going to throw all over them. Brandon Marshall is going to smile. You ever see it when Brandon Marshall smiles? He’s a psycho man. But when he’s catching balls he’s happy.

Adrian: Well then he’ll smile so much during this one that he will get a toothpaste endorsement. Colgate is holding on line three.

Unanimous Pick: Chicago breaks out the belt on the Jaguars.

Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings

The Kid: Chris Johnson took a step forward last week for the Titans.

Adrian: I am going to pull a Wade on this game. Vikings.

Wade: That won’t work because nobody is giving you a counter point for you to stonewall.

Unanimous Pick: The Vikings.

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

Adrian: Here we go! It’s on.

Wade: Please. The Patriots have not one but two running backs. They are throwing the ball to Wes Welker. They are in rhythm.

Adrian:  The Patriots had to put together a second half comeback after the Bills almost run away with it. Give them credit for hanging 50 points on them. But don’t act like they came out the gate firing on all cylinders.

Wade: Brady always gets up for these games against Peyton.

Adrian: Both Manning and Brady do. It’s not a lie to say that right now…today… that Tom Brady is a better quarterback than Peyton Manning is. He physically can play the game at a level that Manning will probably never see again.  This Nostalgia Bowl is not a matchup of quarterbacks anymore. It’s a defensive game. I want to like Denver’s defense more but I just can’t.

The Kid Picks: Denver to get it done.

Wade & Adrian Pick: The Patriots to keep rolling.

Buffalo at San Francisco

Wade:  Go ahead and congratulate me for winning Beatdown of the Week last week.

Adrian: Indeed. The 49ers bullied the Jets in ways that I did not see coming.

Wade: I want my prize.

Adrian: There is no prize besides satisfaction.

Wade: So Buffalo won’t win this game.

Adrian: We said the same thing about Minnesota. However, Christian Ponder has yet to throw an interception all year and the Bill’s Ryan Fitzpatrick hands them out like business cards.

The Kid: I can’t see the Bills winning.

Unanimous Pick: The Bills have a quiet flight back home after visiting the West Coast.

San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints

Wade: The Saints will get this one.

Adrian: I will never pick a 0-4 team to beat a 3-1 team on the pure principal of it all.  The Saints can’t stop the run. The will make both Jackie Battle and Ryan Matthews look like Barry Sanders. I don’t care if Sean Payton is in the house.

Wade:  You should. He’ll be up in the stands sending over hand signals that get relayed over to the staff on the field.

Adrian: Like THAT won’t get caught on camera. He could motion for the beer guy and NFL security will rush him out. Brees will get the record but the Saints will go 0-5.

The Kid: Don’t forget about Darren Sproles is also facing his former team as well. There is a lot of animosity in this game from the Saints’ perspective.

Adrian: When Sproles shows back up, then I will factor him into my thinking. Right now…0-5.

Wade Picks: The Saints to win with emotion

The Kid & Adrian Pick: San Diego to get it done.

Houston Texans at New York Jets

Adrian:  I think we all agree that this game is our unanimous pick for Beatdown of the Week.  The Jets are in so much trouble that I would be in favor of sending them to the CFL.

Wade:  If I were the GM, I would seriously go get Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson AND Plaxico Burress for league minimum.  I would just try it because if you are going to host a circus, do it big.

Adrian: While you are at it go ahead and replace Shonn Green with Cadillac Williams.

Wade: All three of those guys are better than what they have now and they can’t defend not bringing them in with the ‘we don’t want the drama’ excuse.  Rex Ryan is about to lose his job. I seriously stand by that statement.