RANDOM, RELENTLESS RANTS

Its been way too long since I last put the tips to the edge of the home row on my keyboard. I have to comment on a few things.

Mike McCarthy, the new head coach of the Green Bay Packers........thats too easy, and there isnt enough room on this post, I'll get to that later tonight or tomorrow. This honestly pisses me off more than watching Terrell Owens cry after making that catch against the Packers during the playoffs back in '99.

Steel City Celebration
The Steelers have become the first 6 seed to make it to the Super Bowl. That is very impressive, but in the ERA of Parody on the NFL, that should be about as surprising as Barry Bonds backing out of the World Baseball Classic to avoid steroid testing.......oops, I mean avoid risking injury to his knee.
You knew this was going to happen eventually, just like the Patriots had to lose eventually in the playoffs under the guide of Joe Montana......oops, I mean Tom Brady. Speaking of which, can we put that garbage to rest? Montana NEVER threw a pick in his playoff career, and Brady threw a pair of them in the same game, making him look like the last Patriots QB to lose in the playoffs (Scott Zolak) which sent the Broncos into the AFC Title game 10 days ago. I'm one of those guys that will tell you time and time again that the greatest quarterback of all time does not exist, and trust me, he doesn't. When it comes to the playoffs, few were better than Montana, and to put Tom Brady on the same level as Montana, is about as embarassing as Gloria James humiliating her son by drinking and driving and being unruly with the police.

So who do I like in Super Bowl XL? Well, for now it seems like Pittsburgh is destined to win this thing, and they have really overcome a lot of obstacles. However, Seattle, despite a nice run in the playoffs and a great regular season, still seems to fly under the radar. One thing is for sure, the same old boring ass "nobody gives us respect" routine will be heard at least 28000 times through the next two weeks. I do think that the week off is not going to help the Steelers. As well as they are playing a week off is not what they need.

More on Super Bowl XL as it gets closer, for now, lets just enjoy this hype week which accomplishes absolutely nothing, and if anything, it takes away from the game itself. See you then.

EEEK

Last weeks 1-3 performance was inexcusable and embarassing. Matter of fact, it was about as embarassing for me as the Spencer Schitz moment was for Zach Baker a few years back during a Bowling Green Baseball broadcast. Its time to turn things around and make a run like Vivid Video in the early 90's.

By the way, for those of you wondering when my next post in regards to the Packers' outstanding hire of Mike McCarthy is going up, you just wait, it will be here before the Veterans Committee votes someone into the Hall of Fame. There may not be enough room on my blog for me to emotionally vent on Terrible Ted Thompson.

Redskins vs. Seattle
Gil Brandt made some terrific points in his nfl.com column this week. One of the stats he pointed out, was this...since 2000, teams who have won the only regular season contest and then met again in the divisional round have an 8-0 record in the 2nd matchup (in the divisional round). This plays well into the favor of the Redskins who won the first matchup in overtime. I think this 8-0 record comes to an end this week. If they couldnt put up over 120 yards of total offense against the Bucs, how in the world are they going to be able to compete with the top ranked offense in the NFL? I really dont think Washington will be able to keep Seattle from getting ahead early and making them play catchup. If the Seahawks are up 2 scores early, this game is over. Seattle's defense is a lot better than people think. 'Matter of fact, they had the 5th best defense against the run in the regular season. I dont buy into this Mark Brunell hype, if you stop Clinton Portis, you stop the Redskins offense. The Seahawks are 8-0 at home and these people are ANGRY because unlike the desperate, crybaby Patriots, they actually havent gotten the respect they deserve. I'm going with the Seahawks, and I dont think its going to be close.

Patriots vs. Broncos
The Broncos are clearly the best 13-3 team that nobody is talking about. This is going to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. I think these two teams are as evenly matched as they come. As much as I hate the Patriots, I think you have to be impressed with the way they have come together, and they way they manhandled the Jags last weekend. However, they are playing a Denver Broncos team that is 10-0 in home games played in December and January since 2000, they went 8-0 at home in the regular season, and they have won their last 8 games played on Saturdays. Obviously, those streaks combined with the current post season Patriots streaks make for an interesting matchup, and something has got to give. The Patriots will have trouble rushing against the 2nd best rush defense in the league. However, Tom Brady should have a field day against Denver's secondary which ranks 29th, ouch. The Patriots have won games through the air before, and you have to believe, that since I'm picking them to win this game, they will lose. Every time I pick them they lose, when I pick against them they win. Here goes nothing, I'll pick the Pats (even though I'm not dead set on that).

Steelers vs. Colts
After further review, Joey Porter is the most flamboyant and homo erotic linebacker in the history of the NFL. Tell me that Ray Nitchske wasn't doing backflips and carthweels in his grave when he saw Joey Porter dressed like Elly May Clampet with his jersey tucked under his shoulder pads last week. Rumor has it Dick Butkus delivered a package of Maxi pads to Porter's front door after he saw him dressed like that. Ok, enough, no wait, not enough. Porter opened his mouth earlier this week saying that the Colts try to out think you, and they aren't a physical team. He also said that Edgerrin James's 100 yard game against them earlier this year was a cheap 100......maybe I watched a different game, but James had about 30 yards in the fourth quarter, and they essentially ran the ball down Pittsburgh's throats, keeping their offense off the field and not allowing them any chance to get back in the game. Why give a 14-2 team bulletin board material? This team is well rested, this team is fired up and emotionally, they are back where they ought to be after the death of Dungy's son. They know Pittsburgh is going to be physical, and they know that they will try to throw their timing off, you think they havent come up with alternative ideas or given Peyton Manning other check down options if his timing routes are thrown off? This is a game that will end up being like the first one. Pittsburgh will fall behind early, and they wont be able to recover. If this is the last game for Jerome Bettis, then thank you Bus, you've been a pleasure to watch for the last 14 years, and he's one of the few players I like that went to Notre Dame.

Carolina vs. Chicago
I think I'd rather watch Janet Reno guest star on Night Calls, or Courtney Love grind on Martha Stewart than watch the Bears offense. This is a sexy upset pick for a lot of people. The real question here, is how will John Fox a) make adjustments on the offensive linemen's schemes to avoid letting Delhomme get sacked 8 times again and b) generate the same kind of pass rush he did last week against the Giants. I said it last week on the blog, and I'll say it this week, there are times where the Panthers look like the best team in the NFC hands down, and then there are weeks where they look as bad as the girl you puked on the night before but dont remember walking home with. The numbers can be misleading in a game like this, where one big play will ultimately be the difference. Do the Bears have a game changer like Steve Smith? No sir, Mush. Muhammed is a former Spartan so he has my respect, but he's not the game changer that Steve Smith is. The Bears will have to stop a red hot DeShaun Foster who has run for over 310 yards in his last 2 games. What the Panthers will do in this game is force Rex Grossman to make plays. The Panthers Defense ranks 4th against the run and 9th against the pass. Rex Grossman has absolutely no playoff experience and most of this Carolina defense went to the Super Bowl 2 years ago, giving them the edge, and I think they will create a couple of turnovers which will make the difference. Take the Panthers to go at least one more round.

Enjoy the final "full weekend" of Football, man February is going to suck.

WILD BILL ROSEWOOD

Thats right, in Beverly Hills Cop 3, Judge Reinhold aka Bill Rosewood, said one of the absolute greatest lines ever produced in a sequel since Mr. T said "Prediction?? (dramatic/intense pause) PAAAAIN...." as Clubber Lang in Rocky 3. Wild Card Weekend, means some wild picks, "The name's Wild Bill Rosewood, I'm the Sheriff of this town." Thats the attitude I'm taking into this posting. I know thats a bit of a stretch, but I am going somewhere with this, so lets get to the Wild Card Weekend Predictions.

Game 1
Redskins vs. Bucs
We've heard the same thing from Redskins fans at least 8843743700 times. "We should have won that first matchup and we would have if it wasnt for that B.S. call, blah blah blah." Look, the Redskins have run off 5 wins in a row, they have a very good defense, and their offense has shown both the ability to run the ball effectively, and take shots down the field with success. However, they are playing a Tampa Bay Defense which ranked first in total defense this season and Derrick Brooks is playing better than anyone else at the position, and he will be all over Clinton Portis like flies on a turd. I love what the Redskins have done this season, but that five game winning streak is going to come to an end this afternoon. No Shawn Springs, means someone else is going to have to keep an eye on Joey Galloway deep down the field and things will open up for Cadillac Williams. Bucs sweep the season series and move on.

Game 2
Patriots vs. Jaguars
Lets set the record straight. ESPN.com just conducted a poll asking who the least disrespected team in sports is, and guess what one of the options was? You guessed it, the New England Patriots. Yet these morons INSIST on playing the "Nobody gives us any respect" card which is about as fun to listen to as the the Fabulous Sports Babe, and that might be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. It may have worked a few years ago against the Rams, but it doesnt work anymore. Erik Kasillius said it best this week, the actions of Cory Dillon and Tom Brady this week when asked questions after practice were displays of desperate measures. As desperate as the guy with the peanut butter jar and the dog in the closet. These guys know that they're VERY vulnerable to this upset. The Jaguars are the best team in the league in sacks per pass play, and they will beat Tom Brady up all night long. The difference here is that the Patriots will not be able to protect him by running the ball because Jacksonville's front 7 will MANHANDLE the Patriots depleted offensive line. I'm calling for the upset here. On offense the Jags will throw over that Patriots secondary to get the victory. I know, Florida teams dont play well in the cold, and Tom Brady is 9-0 in the post season, and the Patriots havent lost a playoff game since 1999. Well guess what, the Jags were the last team to beat them in the playoffs, and just like the one night stand with the hottest girl in the bar, all great things must come to an end, the streak ends tonight. Jags win.

Carolina vs. Giants
This is the toughest game of the week to pick. I really like Carolina a lot, there were times this year I really thought they were going to be the odds on favorites to win the NFC, but this team has become so inconsistent from one week to the next. Their lack of a running game, and the pressure from Umenyiora and Strahan (who combined for 26 sacks) really scares me in this game. Their defense is outstanding and they will get to Eli Manning, but Shockey is playing, Tiki Barber is absolutely on fire and Plaxico Burress can beat any corner that they have. At the beginning of the week I tried to convince myself to pick Carolina, but Eli Manning is 7-1 at home this season, and he is a totall different player at home. This one will be very close, but I like the Giants.

Bengals vs. Steelers
To some this is the game of the weekend. They split the season series with the road team winning both games. The major concern here is the Bengals run defense which has been as effective as Denis Leary in a disney movie. The running game is Pittsburgh's bread and butter, I really dont think the Bengals will be able to stop it. However, this defense can force turnovers, and give their offense the opportunity to make something happen. I understand that the Bengals didnt play their starters a ton last week, but when you lose 2 in a row to end the year, and one of those games was against the Bills at home, thats saying a lot about where this team is mentally right now. We kept hearing about the changing of the guard in the AFC North all year long, and while the Bengals might have the Division Crown, it will mean nothing if they lose in the first round, and the rubber match in the season series. Cincy's +24 turnover margin will be tough to pick against, but their defense (26th vs the pass, 20th vs. the run) will not be able to keep the Steelers off the field. Plus, Pittsburgh's playoff experience is second to none, I'll go with the road favorites.

Have a nice weekend.

Vacation Ending Blog

I know, I know, its been about two and a half weeks since I last posted anything, and when I published my last post, I posted it twice. So here's to hoping that things turn out much better on the first blog of the year. Happy Holidays to all, I hope the year's end turned out as well for you as it did for me.

The topic on everyone's mind right now is the return of another fantastic reality TV show called Dancing with the St.......wait a minute, thats not right. Here he my question, you know how the adult film industry names some of it's films after a box office smash with a sexual twist? How long is it before this is done to reality shows? Like, for every Harry Twotter and Pulp Friction out there, you know there has to be something like "The biggest oozer" or "Rear Factor". You know its on the way, don't you? Ok, that was my cheap shot at reality shows and network TV.

Last night's game was the best college football game I've ever seen on that kind of stage. Vince Young is more impressive at this level than Mike Vick was, and we need to stop ridiculing Reggie Bush. Lost in his very solid yet un-superhuman like night was that OUTSTANDING effort he put forth diving into the end zone in the fourth quarter on what was one of many terrifc plays in that contest. People are now saying that he's not as good as advertised because he didnt have a HUGE game and all of this other nonsense. He was pretty solid last night, and while that botched pitch did turn out to be a 'Signing Big Country Bryant Reeves to a long term contract' type mistake, it shouldnt take away from the fact that this guy is truly a special player.

So what happens next? The Texans are not keeping that first overall pick. Picking a running back when you have lots of money tied up in another pretty good one, and you have several teams salivating about the guy who will go number one that you don't need, makes about as much sense as wiping down the posterior before a big Mexican dinner, when you know the fireworks are on the way about a half hour later to clear the room and set the tone.

After Bush, who is next? This morning on Mike and Mike in the morning, Mel Kiper Jr. said that the Leinart/Young race will go right down to the wire. One of these guys will go to the Saints, and the other will go to the Jets unless somebody else trades up. At this point, Leinart will probably make a more immediate impact because he seems to be NFL ready, while Young is a better long term investment because he has all of the physical tools of Mike Vick and then some. After these 3 are off the board, it's as wide open as Mariah Carey's sex life now that she's been reduced to slutting herself up on New Years Eve on national television. Rest assure, there will be a lot of defensive players taken off the board, after the first 3 guys are gone.

In the coming days I will have my playoff predictions, and I will talk about the obnoxious New England Patriots who love to bitch and moan like a teenage girl after a breakup about how they get absolutely no respect. Have a great day.