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Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins Aren’t Cool: Love, Passion, Honor, and the Game of Football

Friday, October 28th, 2011

By Bradley Anderson

…And that is what makes them arguably top 10 greatest football players on the defensive side of the ball to ever play the game.  A number of professional athletes succumb to a “Joe Cool” attitude about the game they play for millions of dollars.  Years of being given preferential treatment, being celebrated for jumping high, running fast, throwing hard, catching well, and hitting have led them to a sense of self entitlement and arrogance that waters down their passion (if they ever had that passion to begin with).  The professional athlete has become so desensitized to the fans’ perspective and feelings, so detached from the reality of them playing a beautiful game, not for the money, but for the love, not to make it onto Sportscenter, but to be the very best they can possibly be.  Not to extend the contract but to create a bond of brotherhood amongst teammates.  These athletes enjoy the ancillary benefits of the lifestyle more so than the game.  Oh sure, they do a United Way charity event or two.  Why not?…tax break and good publicity for brand imaging.  But do they really understand the lessons and character conveyed to an onlooker by them being impassioned and taking pride in their every breath?  Do they understand that, yes it’s a child’s game that you make millions for, but it’s also the platform for the world to judge and learn from your every action.  Should you be a role-model?…NO.   Are you a role model?…YES.  The ideal and the reality, the reality and the perception.  Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins are examples of players who appreciate every breath of life God gives them.  Every opportunity to put the pads on and play a child’s game.  Though they are vocal leaders, their actions speak the resounding volumes of their character, willing to follow as much as lead.  There is a story of Ray Lewis bringing water to his teammates during practice…a 12 or 13 year veteran at the time, bringing water…no ego…just a desire to build the bonds of brotherhood a sports team needs to be successful.

These two players have the happiness, joy, passion, intensity, and love of a 1st year walk-on in college, decades into Hall of Fame careers.

Ray: 216 games played, 215 started, 1492 tackles made, 18 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, 40.5 sacks, 31 INTs, 3TDs. 

“Dawk”: 216 games played, 215 games started, 892 tackles, 35 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, 25 sacks, 37 INTs, 2TDs.

They’re going to the Hall folks.  They are arguably two of the greatest at their respective positions.  I hope we all can learn to be as passionate and loving about life and our pursuits as these two dudes.  No “Joe Cool” ego.  Just love of life and the game. 

Bradley “B. Austin” Anderson of The War Room, for War Room Sports

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For The Love of the Game

Friday, October 14th, 2011

By Monica Pierce

There are some things going on in sports these days that have me feeling bad for young athletes.  Some of the things that have me feeling sympathetic are:

  • The increasing amount of stories I read about kids being scouted by college and professional sports teams as young as the seventh grade

 

  • The fact that my nephew and I sit and watch the Little League World series games on the family of ESPN networks, with the championship game being aired on ABC.

 

  • Turning to ESPN and seeing a high school basketball game between two high schools that aren’t even in the same state

 

  • An article I recently read discussing the growing popularity of athletic trainers for kids

 

  • Lastly, a website I stumbled onto that says they specialize in training young athletes http://kidssportstraining.com/

 

It seems like as soon as a kid shows any promise or potential, the predators come running.  There is no room for the average kid to play sports, and the kid that is the standout feels the pressure early.  My nephew is 12.  He’s short for his age and just started playing basketball a year ago.  I heard someone tell him that he’s going be short and he started playing too late, so he might as well stop playing.   What’s wrong with him playing just for fun or exercise?  When I think about how children with or without athletic abilities are treated, it makes me wonder…when do kids have the chance to play their favorites sports, simply for the love of the game?

Monica Pierce, for War Room Sports

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It’s Time for the Andy Reid Era to End

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

By Brandon Pemberton

Catch me on Twitter @Bashir28

Angry, shocked, bewildered, and befuddled are a few words to explain how I felt after I watched the Philadelphia Eagles blow a 20-point, 3rd quarter lead, and lose 24-23 to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.  Yes I admit, I am a full-bred, Philadelphia-raised, 4-for-4 sports fan.  But as an aspiring sports radio host and sportswriter, I am also a non-homer and I break things down objectively.

When the Eagles assembled this current team during the lockout-shortened off season, I was excited about the pieces they added, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  On paper, bringing in corners Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, along with defensive lineman Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins, made this Eagles defense look like world beaters.  They also signed quarterback Vince Young as the backup to Mike Vick and late in training camp, former Giants wide receiver Steve Smith as well.  Young coined the phrase “Dream Team” in an interview with the Philly media and the whole city ran with it.  Even before the team had played a down of football.

I had thought there were positions that were left unaddressed before the preseason and after watching preseason games 2 and 3, it was obvious to me that the offensive line, linebackers, and safeties were going to be a problem.  When I let it be known on Twitter, Facebook, and in this article http://brandononsports.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/eagles-brutal-performance-onthursday-is-it-reason-to-worry/ , people told me “calm down, it’s only preseason”.  Well the only eye test I had was the Eagles’ starters against the opposite team’s starters.  I thought to myself, “the Eagles really need to do something about these linebackers with the scheme they are attempting to play”, but this is Andy Reid we are talking about folks.  He feels as though linebackers don’t matter and aren’t a factor in winning a title.

So here we are, after this first 4 weeks of the season and the Eagles stand at 1-3 and last in the NFC East.  Unable to hold 4th quarter leads, horrible play in the red zone on both sides of the ball, along with putrid coaching and philosophy are the main reasons why.  Oh, don’t let me leave out the protection issues with the O-line, Vick’s problems coughing up the ball, and the inconsistent play of DeSean Jackson.

I and everyone else have had it with Reid’s excuses right after games in press conferences and the day after.  The same “I have to do a better job” statements along with his pompous and smug answers to the reporters’ questions the day after a bad loss or when he has made mind-blowing mistakes in a game, just tick me off.  His inability to adjust on game day and his refusal to take value in certain positions is the reason why he hasn’t yet won a Super Bowl, and why this team has fallen flat on their faces after 4 games.

Early in his career, Reid refused to acquire any big-time wide receivers, even when it was obvious it would help Donovan McNabb and take the team to another level.  He finally came to his senses and in 2004, Terrell Owens was added to the team and the Eagles had its best offensive season in franchise history while making a trip to the Super Bowl and eventually losing to the New England Patriots.  He then drafted DeSean Jackson in the 2nd round in ’08 and Jeremy Maclin in the 1st round of the 2009 draft.  It took him a while, but he eventually figured out if he was going to be a pass heavy team, he needed stud receivers.

During Andy Reid’s tenure here in Philadelphia, he has refused to put value into the linebacker position.  When he came here in 1999, he inherited stud middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and in 2000 while Tom Modrak was the General Manager, they signed outside linebacker Carlos Emmons as well.  Trotter and Emmons played together for two years (2000-01) and when “Trot” was allowed to walk after the 01′ season, this is when I realized the Eagles and the front office undervalued the linebacker position.  Reid has gone year after year refusing to address this problem.  Gardner, Simoneau, Kirkland, Jones, Wayne, Bradley, Gocong, and recently Ernie Sims are some of the names of the mediocre players that have played here since Trotter and Emmons.  They also have never found a proper replacement for Eagles’ legend and future Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins.

So when I saw the Birds send out a starting linebacker core of Moise Fokou, Casey Matthews, and Jamar Chaney on opening day, I wasn’t surprised.  You would think since the team is using Jim Washburn’s “Wide Nine” set for the defensive line, which leaves the linebackers vulnerable to offensive linemen, the team would acquire bigger, more violent linebackers via free agency or the draft.  Instead they move Jamar Chaney from his natural position of middle linebacker and hand the job to a 4th round pick out of Oregon who can’t play.  The eye test doesn’t lie.  Anyone with football acumen would have told you that Matthews isn’t a NFL middle linebacker, let alone a starter.  How Moise Fokou owns a starting spot on an NFL roster, I have no bleeping idea.  The guy is nothing more than a special teams player.  I liked what I saw from Chaney last season, but the current scheme doesn’t fit his abilities. 

There are two other teams in the NFL that currently use the “Wide Nine” scheme with its front four, the Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans.  The Titans are in the top 10 in 3 key defensive categories in the NFL:  7th in yards per game (299.8), 8th in rushing yards allowed per game (87.8), and they have the number 1 scoring defense in all of football (14.0 pts per game).  Their trio of linebackers include:  Will Witherspoon (6’1′ 240), Barrett Ruud (6’2′ 241), and first round draft pick Akeem Ayers (6’3′ 254).  They all are players who attack the line of scrimmage violently and are big enough to take on and defeat blocks at the point of attack.  Will Witherspoon, who played in eleven games for the Eagles in 2009, is also excellent in pass coverage, especially against tight ends.

The Lions rank 11th in the NFL in yards allowed (334.3) per game, 20th in rushing yards allowed per game (113.0), and 8th in points allowed per game (19.0).  Of course any defense with a player like Ndamukong Suh is going to make it easier on linebackers to play because he draws so many double-teams.  But there’s no way you can tell me that Stephen Tulloch (5’11’ 240), DeAndre Levy (6’1′ 238), and Bobby Carpenter (6’2′ 249) aren’t a more credible linebacker crew than the crap the Eagles have.  Stephen Tulloch has played his whole career in the “Wide Nine” scheme and was a free agent during the offseason.  It would have made sense to take a look at Tulloch and sign him since he is a proven veteran playmaker, but no, this is Andy Reid’s regime we are talking about here folks.  By the way, Tulloch is having a Pro Bowl caliber season through four games.

Before I finish, let me address the safety position as well.  As I said earlier in this article, Brian Dawkins still hasn’t been properly replaced since leaving via free agency in 2009.  Nate Allen was having a good rookie campaign before rupturing his patella tendon towards the end of last season, and it wasn’t certain if he would be 100% coming into this season.  Kurt Coleman is a 7th round draft pick who outplayed his expectations last season, but that didn’t mean he was a NFL starter.  The Eagles drafted Jaiquawn Jarrett out of Temple in the 2nd round, which was a reach and he has dressed for one game so far.  When the Eagles realized they were in trouble during the preseason, they signed 6-year veteran Jarrad Page, who has started on some bad Kansas City Chiefs teams in the past and played sparingly for the Patriots last season.  To start the season, it was Coleman at free safety and Page at strong safety, but the both of them were exposed during the first 4 games.  Whether it was blown coverage or just plain missing tackles, they both proved that they shouldn’t be starting in this league.  Nate Allen was given a shot at starting this past Sunday against the 49ers and he was a non-factor.

What more can I say?  It’s the same sad love song with Andy Reid at the helm and running things around here.  The Eagles haven’t been back to the Super Bowl since the 2004 season and they damn sure aren’t [going back] this year or any with Reid as coach.  His message, coaching style, philosophy, drafting, and antics are all old and it’s time for new blood for this franchise. 

Brandon Pemberton of Brandon on Sports, for War Room Sports

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Fantasy Report: Play’em or FOH

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

By Nairann Merceir

Week 3: “Play’em or FOH”

Here is my fantasy football advice for week 3 on who to play on your team and who to tell FOH.  Through the first 2 weeks of the season, I have predicted with 75% accuracy on who to start to achieve a fantasy victory in your league.  Ok, the 75% may be a little high, but you get my point.  It’s all about match-ups people.  Find that star QB facing a subpar pass D.  Find that running back facing a porous rushing defense, that defense facing an unproductive offense.  Enough chit-chat already, let’s get to the reason we are here, who to play and who to tell FOH.

 

Play’em

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady vs. Bills – Let’s look at Brady’s numbers through the first two weeks…63/88, 940 yds, and 7 TDs.  I’d say Brady is a safe start against anyone this week.

Matthew Stafford vs. Vikings – Matthew has been off to a hot start this season with 599 yards and is tied with Tom Brady with 7 TD passes.  The Vikings’ pass D has allowed an average of 280 yards per game this season.  Matthew is a safe start here, with a chance to put up monster numbers.

Phillip Rivers vs. Chiefs – Phillip is off to another fast start…713 yards and 4 TDs, and is facing a porous Chiefs’ defense that just lost its best defender, Eric Berry, for the season.  Look for Phillip to have a good day against the Chiefs.

 

FOH

 

Quarterbacks

Tarvaris Jackson vs. Cardinals – I know Cam Newton and Rex Grossman both had outstanding games vs. the Cardinals pass D the past two weeks, but I’m not buying Tarvaris Jackson as a starting QB on a semi-pro team.  As long as he starts in Seattle or anywhere, tell Tarvaris FOH.

Kerry Collins vs. Steelers – Do I really need to give a reason for this match-up?  Be my guest and start Mr. Collins against the Black and Yellow if you want.  Hopefully you’re facing me this week in a fantasy league.  I could use an easy “W”.

Eli Manning vs. Eagles – With the Giants already lacking receiving options in their passing game, the team just received another bit of bad news.  Their #2 receiver Mario Mannigham is out against the Eagles.  With only one real receiving threat, Hakeem Hicks, against a stout Eagles pass D, don’t look for Eli to put up big numbers.  I say let Eli sit this one out.

 

Play’em

 

Running Back

Fred Jackson vs. Patriots – The NFL’s leading rusher (229 yards) may see a heavy workload this weekend as the Bills try to keep Tom Brady and that high powered Patriots offense on the side line.

Chris Johnson vs. Broncos – Chris Johnson has been quiet for the first two weeks of the season, and I’m sure he doesn’t want to hear boos this weekend from the home crowd, after receiving a huge off –season contract.  And what better way to get it going than against a Broncos D that has allowed an average of 131 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks?

Beanie Wells vs. Seahawks – I know right now you’re saying to yourself, “really Nai, Beanie Wells…you must have bumped your head”.  But in reality, Wells hasn’t played that bad through the first two weeks…183 yards and 2 TDs, and he’s facing a weak Seahawks run D.  I look for the Cardinals to get up big early, which means a healthy dose of Wells in the second half.

 

FOH

 

Running Back

Reggie Bush vs. Browns – I wouldn’t play Reggie against the any team in Ohio right now…not even the Akron Zips.  He’s steadily losing touches to rookie Daniel Thomas and I see this trend continuing vs. the Browns.

Felix Jones vs. Redskins – Felix hasn’t exactly been lighting it up the first 2 weeks of the season…26 carries, 69 yds, 1 TD, and I don’t see that changing against a surprisingly solid Redskin’s run D.

Joseph Addai vs. Steelers – Another guy not really filling up the stat sheet through the first two weeks of the season…22 carries, 103 yds, 0 TDs.  Don’t look for those numbers to improve vs. the Steelers this weekend.

 

Play’em

 

Wide Receivers

Calvin Johnson vs. Vikings – Johnson has solid numbers through the first two weeks…9 rec for 117 yards and 4 TDs.  Vikings are likely to assign their best cover corner, Antoine Winfield, who stands a full 5’8” in shoes vs. the 6’5” Johnson.  I like Calvin’s chances for a big game this week.

Brandon Marshall vs. Browns – Brandon is off to a fast start this season…13 rec, 218 yds, 1 TD, and he’s Chad Henne’s favorite target.  Against an inexperienced Browns secondary, look for a big day from Brandon.

Steve Smith vs. Jaguars – Steve Smith is off to a vintage Smith type season…14 rec, 334 yds, 2 TDs, and seems to have developed a nice chemistry with his young QB.  Look for Steve to have another big game against a hapless Jaguars pass D, especially since the Panthers are throwing 40 + times a game.  That means more opportunities for Smith to make plays.

 

FOH

 

Wide Receivers

Denarius Moore vs. Jets – The rookie Moore had a huge coming out party last week, with 5 rec for 146, and 1 TD.  The clock has struck 12 on Cinderella as he now faces one of the top corner duos in the league in the Jets’ Reevis and Cromatie.  While he may make some plays, don’t look for a repeat of last week’s game.

Packers’ Wide outs vs. Bears – Besides the Saints and Patriots, the Packers are the ultimate “spread the ball around and exploit matchups” team with no one receiver being the focal point of the offense from week to week.  If you have no choice but to play one, I like Jennings and the big tight end Finley this week.

Dwayne Bowe vs. Chargers – Bowe is off to a slow start, just 7 catches and 118 yards on the season, and with the Chiefs’ biggest play maker, Jamaal Charles, out for the season, look for the Chargers to focus on stopping the Chiefs’ second best offensive option, which is Bowe.  Bowe will see consistent double teams from the Chargers.  Only play Bowe if you’re in a pinch this week.

 

Play’em

 

Tight End

Jason Witten vs. Redskins – With both Dez Bryant and Miles Austin struggling with injuries, look for Tony Romo or Jon Kitna to look Jason Witten’s way early and often in the passing game.

 

FOH

 

Tight End

Zach Miller vs. Cardinals – Zach has been a reliable safety blanket for Oakland QB’s the last 3 years, but has yet to develop any chemistry with Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson.  Through two games, Zach has only 3 catches for 32 yards, and has only been targeted 6 times by Jackson.  Also, the issues along the Seahawks offensive line aren’t helping Zach either because he is asked to stay in and help block, limiting his effectiveness in the passing game.

 

Play’em

 

Defense

Eagles D vs. Giants – The banged up Giants just don’t have enough offensive weapons to successfully move the ball against the Eagles, in my opinion (not a homer pick either).  Look for Eli to force throws in an attempt to make plays, leading to 2 or 3 Eagles’ interceptions, and if you add in the QB sacks the Eagles are going to generate, this could be a big week for their defense.

 

FOH

 

Bills D vs. Patriots – The way the Patriots’ offense is playing right now, I wouldn’t start the 85 Bears, 91 Eagles, or 2001 Ravens against them.  If you own the Bills defense, I think it’s best to leave them on the bench this week.

Nairann Merceir, Fantasy Expert for War Room Sports

(For additional advice, hit me up on FB or Twitter.  I’m always available to talk fantasy football.  Click my signature at the top of the page for my Twitter page and click the signature directly above this message for my Facebook page.)

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Fantasy Report: Play’em or FOH

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

By Nairann Merceir

Week 2: Play’em or FOH

Ok, I’m man enough to admit I missed the boat on Joe Flacco as he torched the Steelers’ defense for 224 yards and 3 TDs, however in my defense, in the six pervious Steelers/Ravens matchups, Flacco has thrown a combined 6 touchdowns, so I guess he was due.  But enough small talk, here are my picks for “Play’em or FOH”, week 2.

 

Play’em

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick vs. Falcons – I know the Falcons are playing at home on Sunday night TV, in front of a national audience, and would like some redemption from their opening week blowout loss to the Bears, but let’s be real.  The Falcons’ secondary allowed Jay Cutler to throw for 312 yards and 2 TDs.  Mike Vick and the Eagles’ offensive weapons are far greater than the Bears’.  Look for a big night from Vick.

Matt Stafford vs. Chiefs – Stafford is coming off a 305 yard and 3 TD performance against the Bucs and his facing a Chiefs defense that allowed 4 passing TDs to Ryan Fitzpatrick.  This a no-brainer start.

Josh Freeman vs. Vikings – I still believe in Josh Freeman, even though he didn’t have his best game last week.  Look for him to bounce back in a big way against a mediocre Vikings secondary.

Tom Brady vs. Chargers – All I have to say is…look at last week’s stat line of 517 yards passing and 4 TDs.  START BRADY!

 

FOH

Quarterbacks

Donavan McNabb vs. Bucs – All I have to say is…look at McNabb’s stat line from last week; 7–15 for 39 yards.  Play McNabb if you want too, but I’m not guaranteeing you he’ll improve much.

Alex Smith vs. Cowboys – It’s Alex Smith.  Do I really need to give a reason?

Luke McCown vs. Jets – Look at the previous Alex Smith comment.

 

Play’em

Running Backs

Tim Hightower vs. Cardinals – I see a little payback here for Hightower, who was given his walking papers from the Cardinals.  Hightower is clearly the number 1 back in Washington, as evident by his 25 carries last week against a weak Giants defense.  Look for Hightower to have a good game.

Derrick McFadden vs. Bills – “RUN DMC” had a monster game in week one with 22 carries for 150 yards, and with an improved Raiders offensive line, look for McFadden to have a big game against the Bills.

Cedric Benson vs. Broncos – Denver’s defense allowed the Raiders to run for 190 yards on 39 carries, for an average of 4.9 yards per carry.  It’s a copy cat league so expect Benson to get a heavy workload against Broncos this week.

 

FOH

Running Backs

Fred Jackson vs. Raiders – Raiders’ defense only allowed the Denver Broncos to rush for 38 yards last week.  Look for Fred Jackson to find it difficult running against the middle of this Raiders defense, with a rejuvenated Richard Seymour anchoring it.

Chris Johnson vs. Ravens – Chris Johnson never got into a rhythm last week vs the Jaguars, and appears a little out of football shape this week.  Don’t look for him to have an impact this week against a very good Ravens defense.  He still is Chris Johnson and if you lack a better match-up, start him but don’t expect much.

Ryan Matthews vs. Patriots – As long as Matthews is in a carry share with Mike Tolbert, and with Tolbert getting the goal line plays, I say keep Matthews on your bench.

 

Play’em

Wide Receivers

Dez Bryant vs. 49ers – I just don’t see anyone in the 49ers secondary capable of guarding Bryant, who gave Reevis Island fits last week.  Look for another big game from Bryant.

Mike Wallace vs. Seahawks – Seahawks are another team that had difficulty with covering the opposing team’s receivers last week.  Look for Big Ben and Wallace to connect on a couple of big pass plays vs a porous Seahawks secondary.

Devery Henderson and Robert Meacham vs. Bears – With Colston out for 4 weeks and Lance Moore still hampered by the groin injury, look for Brees to look more to Henderson and Meacham in their absence.

 

FOH

Wide Receivers

Mike Thomas vs. Jets – Jaguars best receiver will have to pay a visit to Reevis Island. And at 5’8 and 160 pounds soak and wet, he lacks the physical attributes of a Dez Bryant.  Look for Thomas to have a hard time shaking Reevis.

Any Seahawks receiver vs. Steelers Defense – Two words…Tavaris Jackson.  Play at your own risk.

Any Vikings Receiver vs. Bucs – SMH, McNabb is under center.  Play these guys at your own risk.

 

Play’em

Tight end

Vernon Davis vs. Cowboys – Davis only had 5 catches for 47 yards last week and Alex Smith says he has to do a better job of getting the ball to him.  Look for him to do that against an improved Dallas defense that struggled to contain Dustin Keller last week.  Look for a big game from Davis.

 

FOH

Tight end

Brent Celek vs. Falcons – With Jason Peters questionable for the game, which possibly means King Dunlap will start against Falcons defensive ends John Abraham and Ray Edwards, look for Celek to remain in protection and help the offensive line, limiting his opportunities to make plays in the passing game.

 

Play’em

Defense

Packers Defense vs. Panthers – Cam Newton had a monstrous first start in his NFL debut, throwing for 422 yards and 2 TDs.  Look for him to have a difficult time repeating that performance against a solid Packers defense, lead by Clay Matthews Jr. and Charles Woodson.

 

FOH

Defense

Chargers Defense vs. Patriots – Tom Brady and the Patriots’ offense looked like a well-oiled machine, gaining 622 yards against what I thought was going to be a solid Dolphins Defense heading into the season.  While they might not repeat that performance, I still look for Brady & Co. to have a huge week vs an average Chargers defense.  This game has “shoot-out” written all over it.

Nairann Merceir, Fantasy Expert for War Room Sports

(For additional advice, hit me up on FB or Twitter.  I’m always available to talk fantasy football.  Click my signature at the top of the page for my Twitter page and click the signature directly above this message for my Facebook page.)

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Farewell to Entourage: All’s Well That Ends Well

Monday, September 12th, 2011

by Bradley Anderson

Last night, on 9/11, at 11:10pm EST, one of HBO’s greatest creations, Entourage, went off the air for the last time.  Doug Ellin’s masterpiece was just that, a masterpiece, because it managed to capture the male fantasy and combine it with very real emotion, logic, and general coolness against a dream-scape we’d all want to live in.  We laughed, we rooted for them, we thought about how we’d handle the Ferrari’s on the track, how we’d bend Sasha Grey up, how we’d live the lavish lifestyle.  We laughed at Ari’s clever, cruel, and masterfully hilarious quips…knowing damn well they were rude, cutting, and politically incorrect.  But we also knew at some level it represented what we may have been thinking.  And as the seasons progressed and “the guys” became almost like friends, the resounding themes of humor, fun, friendship, and loyalty against the backdrop of Tinseltown captivated us for 8 seasons.  The last episode leaves us with the storybook ending…and that’s ok…because Entourage was the ultimate fantasy.  “Drama” gets his movie, “Turtle” makes his millions, “E” gets his girl (and a baby), Ari becomes the good husband and father, and Vince gets “The Girl”.  “All’s well that ends well.”  What does this have to do with Sports?  Ari was/is going to bring an NFL franchise to LA, “Turtle” had a veritable who’s who of NBA, NFL, and MLB athletes investing in Don Pepe’s, and Mark Cuban made an impact like no other billionaire.  But most of all…”All’s Fair in Sports and War”.

Bradley “B. Austin” Anderson of The War Room, for War Room Sports

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Fantasy Report: Play’em or FOH

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

By Nairann Merceir

Week 1: Play’em or FOH

Are you ready for Fantasy Football?  This is opening weekend in the NFL, and a chance to get your team off to a fast start.  While a loss doesn’t mean you won’t make the playoffs or even win your league championship, if you are like me (a person who dislikes losing), you want to win them all.  So hopefully I can provide you with some last-second fantasy advice to help you start your season off 1 and 0.  If you look at my predictions for Thursday night’s Saints/Packers game, you saw that my “play’em or tell them FOH” predictions were right on point, but enough talk, let’s get to it.

Week 1: Play’em

Michael Vick vs. Rams: I believe Michael will carry on his momentum from last season and will have a monstrous opening day performance.  While I do believe the Rams have made great strides, I just believe the Eagles have too much firepower on offense.  Red Flag alert: this is the Eagles o-line’s first time playing together since the revamp.

DeSean Jackson vs. Rams: Recognize any of these names?: Ron Bartell? Bradley Fletcher? Justin King? Or maybe Al Harris?  Isn’t Al like 36 years old?  Start DeSean, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Dez Bryant vs. Jets Pass D:  I believe the Cowboys will make plays against the Jets secondary.  “Revis Island” can’t cover everyone and will likely be matched up against Miles Austin most of the night.  If the Jets get an early lead, look for the Cowboys to chuck it around and for Romo to look to Witten and Bryant.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs Dolphins: in his career against the Dolphins Defense, “BGE” has averaged 80 yards and a TD per game, and I don’t see that changing this season.  Look for at least 100 yards and a TD for “BGE”.

Josh Freeman vs. Lions: I believe last season was no fluke.  Josh is ready to take next step into upper echelon QB in the NFL, plus the Lions pass D is poor.  Look for a big game from Josh.

MUST START ALERT: Lance Kendricks vs. Eagles D: if you watched the preseason, you know Sam Bradford loves this young tight end, and we all know the Eagles’ history of being unable to check tight ends, and with the corners the Eagles have, look for the Rams to use Lance to attack those young Eagles linebackers.

Other matchups I like:

Peyton Hills vs. Bengals

Beanie Wells vs. Panthers

Jarvis Best vs. Lions

Mike Williams and Blount vs. Lions

Kenny Britt vs. Jaguars

Texans D vs Colts: No faith in Kerry Collins

San Francisco D vs. Seahawks: Are the Seahawks really starting Tavaris Jackson?  49ers D is a must start.

 

Week 1: FOH

Joe Flacco vs. Steelers: I won’t start any QB not named Rodgers against the Steelers D.   While Flacco is a solid QB in 6 match-ups against the Steelers, he has only thrown 6 touchdown passes.  If you have a better option at QB, I say start them.

Felix Jones vs. Jets D: I believe Felix will find running room difficult to come by against a solid Jets run D.

Miles Austin: Two words…”Revis Island”

Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon: No Peyton Manning…and let me say that again… NO PEYTON MANNING!  While I believe Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne will be fine with Kerry Collins under center, the two players I believe will miss Peyton most are Collie and Garcon.

Brent Celek vs. Rams: Once again, with the uncertainty of the offensive line, look for Celek to once again remain on the line to help in pass blocking.

Giants D vs. Redskins: The Giants will be without CBs Terrell Thomas, Prince Amukamura, DE Osi Umenyiora, and LB Jonathan Goff, leaving them very thin on D, which wasn’t in the best shape to begin with.

My FOH of the week goes to (drum roll please)…

Kyle Orton vs. Raiders D: With Josh McDaniels and his dink and dunk offense now in Saint Louis, and John Fox a coach known for running the ball into the ground, look for Orton’s numbers to decrease dramatically, but on a positive note, the Broncos may win 1 or 2 more games this season.

Nairann Merceir, Fantasy Expert for War Room Sports

(For additional advice hit me up on FB or Twitter.  I’m always available to talk fantasy football.  Click my signature at the top of the page for my Twitter page and click the signature directly above this message for my Facebook page.)

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2011 NFL Season Preview

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

By Brandon Pemberton

Well, after a long offseason due to the lockout, the NFL is back and I can’t be any happier.  I went through each team’s individual schedule after watching them play in the preseason (first half and game 2 and the first three quarters of the third game) and predicted where I believe they will finish during this season. This is my second time doing this (http://brandononsports.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/2010-nfl-season-preview-and-predictions/) and as you can see last season, I picked the Packers to win it all and I was a bad play by Dawan Landry of the Ravens away from picking the exact Super Bowl teams. Well here goes, enjoy and feel free to comment here or hit me up on twitter https://twitter.com/Bashir28 and I will gladly talk and debate with you.  Thank you and enjoy the season.  Remember to check out www.brandononsports.wordpress.com during the season for more articles and blogs from me.

D-Division Winner

WC-Wild Card Team

 

National Football Conference

 

NFC East

Eagles 10-6 D

Cowboys 9-7 WC

Giants 9-7

Redskins 7-9

Outlook: In my eyes, the Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the division.  I still have questions about the middle of their offensive line.  They are starting 6th round draft pick Jason Kelce at center and 1st round draft pick Danny Watkins was supposed to start but he’s not ready, so newly acquired right guard Kyle DeVan.  Teams started to figure Mike Vick out towards the end of last season and he was having problems reading the blitz.  Not having a full offseason might have stunted the growth of Vick in the passing game and may very well stop the Eagles from being a SuperBowl winner.  They have nine new starters on defense and glaring holes at the linebacker and safety positions.

The Dallas Cowboys fired Head Coach Wade Phillips during the season and gave the job to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.  The team seemed to play harder and Garrett for some odd reason called the plays with more balance when he took over the job.  You can’t deny it; this team has a medley of offensive weapons to go along with a quarterback in Tony Romo who puts up big numbers during the regular season.  But can he get it done when it counts?  I doubt that it’s likely, but if Felix Jones can stay healthy for a whole 16 games, the Cowboys will be in contention for a wildcard spot.  With the addition of Rob Ryan as the defensive coordinator, expect a good season out of the defense.

The New York Giants are going to be their typical bipolar selves.  One week looking like a contender and then the next week killing themselves with penalties and turnovers.  I expect a breakout season from Hakeem Nicks with the departure of WR Steve Smith to the Eagles, but Eli will be Eli…a turnover machine.  The defense will still put pressure on the QB, but with the season-ending injury to their best Cornerback Terrell Thomas and Prince Amukamara breaking his foot and needing surgery, this team will struggle and miss the playoffs.

The Washington Redskins were a complete disaster last season (Its first under two time Super Bowl champion coach Mike Shanahan).  I expect a better season out of them in his second season, but I don’t like their Quarterback situation with Rex Grossman as the starter and John Beck as the backup. Shanahan has a trio of running backs: Ryan Torain, newly acquired Tim Hightower, and rookie Roy Helu from Nebraska.  I expect the Skins to be a run first and play-action pass type of offense.  Santana Moss is coming off of a 90-catch season and 2nd-year WR Anthony Armstrong is establishing himself as a legit deep threat and 2nd receiver.  The Defense was a complete disaster in its first year playing in a 3-4. Expect some improvement with the additions of Nose Tackle Barry Cofield, safety O.J. Atogwe, and 1st round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan at the outside linebacker opposite of Brian Orapko.  They still miss the playoffs though.

NFC West

Rams 9-7 D

Cardinals 7-9

49ers 5-11

Seahawks 4-12

Outlook: This is clearly the weakest division in all of football and in my eyes the Rams are the clear cut favorite.  Sam Bradford played pretty damn well in his rookie season and I expect better play from him this year.  Josh McDaniels is the new offensive coordinator and he loves to spread defenses out and pass the ball.  Hopefully he won’t forget about the abilities of running back Steven Jackson.  The Rams had the 12th ranked scoring defense last season and added a group of veterans, including Linebackers Ben Leber and Brady Poppinga, along with former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell.

The Arizona Cardinals saved their franchise by trading for QB Kevin Kolb, which obviously made franchise player Larry Fitzgerald happy, as he signed an 8 year, $120 million extension to remain in Arizona.  In my eyes, the book is still out on Kolb and we will see how good or bad he really is.  It would help him if running back Beanie Wells could provide some sort of presence in the running game.  The defense was average at best last season and they had problems getting to the quarterback.  I see seven wins for the Cardinals.

Jim Harbaugh was hired by the San Francisco 49ers as head coach, after reviving a dead Stanford football program.  He ran a pro-style offense in college, played QB in the NFL, and coaching football is in his DNA.  But the fact of the matter is that Alex Smith is still the starting quarterback for this team and he flat out stinks.  The team has all the weapons offensively; franchise running back Frank Gore, an elite tight end in Vernon Davis, and wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards.  But the situation at QB is going to kill them all season long.

The Seattle Seahawks made the playoffs last season with a 7-9 record, winning the division and shocking then defending SuperBowl champs New Orleans Saints in the first round.  Well this offseason, they allowed quaterback Matt Hasslebeck to leave via free agency and decided to go with the former Viking, Tavaris Jackson as the starter.  They also signed wide receiver Sidney Rice to a huge free agent contract as well, even though he is coming off a season where he missed a bunch of time due to a serious hip injury.  Add the inconsistent play of running back Marshawn Lnych and you have a 4-12 season.  Their defense, outside of Aaron Curry and Earl Thomas, isn’t much to speak about, so I expect them to be in the running for Stanford QB Andrew Luck.

NFC North

Packers 13-3 D

Vikings 8-8

Bears 8-8

Lions 7-9

Outlook: The Packers won the SuperBowl last season, even though they lost keys players like Ryan Grant, Atari Bigby, and veteran leader Nick Barnett for the season to injuries.  As I predicted prior to last season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers would place himself amongst the top 5 QB’s in the league and win the big game.  He did BOTH!  The Packers bring back pretty much the same team offensively and the return of their running back to the fold.  Greg Jennings, in my eyes, is one of the more underrated wide receivers in football and will have a monster season.  The 3-4 defense lead by Clay Matthews, B.J. Raji, and Charles Woodson are back in full effect.  The Packers also sport one of the best corner tandems in football with Tramon Williams and Sam Shields.  I see no reason why they aren’t playing on the last Sunday of the season again.

The Chicago Bears are going into year two of running offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s pass-heavy offense, an offense that hasn’t won anything since the St. Louis Rams “Greatest Show on Turf”.  Jay Cutler is the perfect fit for the offense, but he is also a turnover machine and cost the Bears games with his bad decisions and carelessness throwing the ball.  The one-two punch of Matt Forte and newly acquired running back Marion Barber should be formidable.  Knowing that the offensive line is an issue, you would think Martz would run the ball a bit more, but like Andy Reid, Martz is a stubborn coach. Defensively, we know what the Bears are.  They are running the Tampa Cover 2 and linebacker Brian Urlacher is the leader of this group.  All-Pro weakside linebacker Lance Briggs is unhappy in Chicago and is asking for a trade.  This is not the type of distraction the Bears need the week before the season starts.  I predict eight wins from this team, missing the playoffs.

The Minnesota Vikings received quarterback Donavan McNabb in a trade from the Washington Redskins.  One thing I can say is, the Vikings have a strong running game with Adrian Peterson for McNabb to depend on and unlike his former boss, the Vikes don’t have a problem running the rock. While losing wide receiver Sidney Rice to free agency, the Vikings still have Visanthe Shiancoe, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph as targets in the passing game.  Defensively, they have seen their better years pass by and they have lost starters Ben Leber, Ray Edwards, and Pat Williams, while an aging Antoine Winfield is still hanging on.  Jared Allen will see more double-teams with the departure of Ray Edwards, rendering the team less effective on passing downs.  McNabb will have some sort of a bounce-back year, but not good enough for them to make the playoffs.

Everyone is on the Detroit Lions’ bandwagon, as they were last season prior to the injury to franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford.  I see progress from this team.  I like the pieces they have added defensively in linebacker Stephen Tulloch and the drafting of defensive tackle Nick Fairley out of Auburn. If Stafford can stay healthy I see them winning 7, maybe 8 games.

NFC South

Falcons 11-5 D

Buccaneers 10-6 WC

Saints 8-8

Panthers 4-12

Outlook: The Atlanta Falcons on paper seem to be loaded and set to finally make that run to the NFC Championship Game and possibly to the Super Bowl.  I like Matt Ryan as a quarterback, just not as much as others (like 97.5 The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli in Philadelphia).  If he is as good as people think he is, a trip to the Super Bowl would solidify his fans opinions.  This offense is solid in all phases: running, passing, and most importantly, line play.  Defensively, they are pretty simple, not too much pressure from blitzers, they like to rely on their front-four to get to the QB.  The addition of defensive end Ray Edwards in free agency from the Vikings opposite of John Abraham should boost the Falcons’ pass rush. The wildcard for this team is rookie receiver Julio Jones from Alabama.  If he can provide a legit target, it would open up more field for Roddy White and make the Falcons a legit contender.  Falcons win the division.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Head Coach Raheem Morris shocked all of the football world by winning 10 games last season and barely missing the playoffs.  Quarterback Josh Freeman was pretty damn good last season, especially driving his offense downfield at the end of games to tie or take leads.  Rookie wide receiver Mike Williams showed the talent and promise he had at Syracuse and running back LaGarrette Blount proved why he was considered a first to second round pick prior to the punching incident against Boise St.  Losing leader Barrett Ruud on defense was a big blow, but the Bucs believe Mason Foster is a more than capable replacement.  The Bucs had problems getting to the quarterback last season and they addressed the need by drafting Adrian Clayborne from Iowa and Da’Quan Bowers from Clemson.  Coming into the 2010 College Football season, Bowers was the number one NFL prospect in the country.  But issues with his knee and the possible belief that he will soon need microfracture surgery dropped him out of the first round and he was drafted with the 51st pick in the second round.  If healthy, Bowers could provide the legit pass rushing ability the Bucs need to take their defense to the next level.  They make the playoffs this season as a wild card team.

The New Orleans Saints still have Drew Brees at the helm of their high powered offense.  It’s pretty much a given that this team will not have a problem scoring points.  The departure of Reggie Bush, who was a big key in their passing game, was made up for with the drafting of running back Mark Ingram from Alabama.  The Saints had serious issues last season on defense.  In their Super Bowl season in 2009, the defense was one of the best in the league at forcing turnovers and it made up for some other glaring holes.  Last season they didn’t force turnovers and was gashed against the run on a weekly basis, and it was also the reason why they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Seahawks.  They brought in veteran run-stuffing defensive tackle Shaun Rogers along with Aubrayo Franklin to attempt to address the issues on defense.  Jonathan Vilma is a more effective Mike linebacker when he has less offensive lineman to shed and space to run and make tackles.  Due to a less than average defensive unit, the Saints win eight games and miss the playoffs.

The Carolina Panthers are in true rebuilding form, as they selected quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall draft pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.  He has the potent running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to lean on as he takes his lumps and learns the NFL game.  Time will tell if he can become an accurate passer, learn to read pro defenses, and a winner.  The Panthers have an ok defensive unit led by defensive end Charles Johnson and his new $72 million contract.  New Head Coach Ron Rivera has had success as a defensive coordinator running a cover 2 and 3-4 with the Bears and the Chargers.  They will be a winning team in the future, just not this year.  I give them 4 or 5 wins.

NFC Championship: Packers over Falcons

 

American Football Conference

 

AFC East

Patriots 11-5 D

Jets 9-7 WC

Dolphins 6-10

Bills 4-12

Outlook: I expect the Patriots to win the division as they have the best quarterback (Tom Brady) and coach.  You know what you are getting offensively from the Pats.  They will spread you out and allow Tom Brady to pick you apart passing the ball.  Add in some occasional runs from Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis and they put up points in bunches.  Chad Ochocinco was added to the core of receivers by trade from the Bengals and if he stays healthy, I can see him having a great season.  The Patriots addressed their defensive issues by adding a bunch of veteran lineman: Albert Haynesworth, Andre Carter, and Shaun Ellis.  While Haynesworth wanted no parts of playing in the 3-4 with the Redskins, the Pats use multiple fronts and defenses.  I expect a great season from Haynesworth.  The Patriots haven’t won the Super Bowl since the whole “Spygate” fiasco, but they are a legit contender this season and I would not be surprised to see them playing in Indy in February.

I like Rex Ryan as a coach, I love the defense, I love Darrelle Revis…I just don’t like Mark Sanchez.  He is one of the most overrated athletes in all four major sports.  Until he is able to be depended on making plays downfield in the passing game, the Jets won’t take the next step and play in the Super Bowl. They get a wild card spot and lose in the second round of the playoffs, taking a step back.

The Dolphins allowed Ronnie Brown to leave town via free agency and signed Reggie Bush and drafted running back Daniel Thomas out of Kansas State to take his place.  The Dolphins have a good trio of receivers in Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, and Davone Bess, but Chad Henne has yet to prove that he can be depended on as a starting quarterback.  How he plays this season will determine what direction this team goes draft-wise.  The defense was stingy as far as giving up points last year and often was hung out to dry by short drives and turnovers from the offense.  I see 5 or 6 wins from this team.

The Buffalo Bills are in a rebuilding stage, and had some flashes last year from Stevie Johnson.  He had a breakout season and proved to be a true playmaker in the NFL.  I’m not sold on Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson is ok, but lacks the explosiveness of a true number one back.  I’m looking forward to see if 2nd year running back C.J. Spiller is an every down back or a situational player.  Hopefully for their sake and where he was picked, he is.  Years and years of bad early draft picks is the reason why this defense flat out stinks.  Four wins for this team.  If I were Andrew Luck, I would be praying that the Bills don’t have the worst record in football.

AFC West

Chargers 10-6 D

Chiefs 8-8

Raiders 7-9

Broncos 6-10

Outlook: Last season the Chargers had the number one ranked offense and defense but missed the playoffs somehow.  Special teams blunders, turnovers, player holdouts, and Antonio Gates missing six games were all reasons why this team didn’t make it.  Phillip Rivers had an MVP type season, throwing for over 4700 yards and 30 TD’s.  He has really come into his own and is one of the top 5 to 7 QB’s in football.  The Chargers having Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates together from day one is a plus and if they can get some sort of running game from Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert, they will be even more dangerous than they were last season.  Defensively, they cause havoc running a 3-4 base led by outside linebacker Shaun Phillips and safety Eric Weddle.  The wildcard for this team is free agent signing Bob Sanders.  If he can stay healthy for a full 16 games, he will obviously be a difference maker for the Chargers.  They win 10, maybe 11 games and win the division.

The Chiefs won the division last year, even though they were too swept by the Raiders.  The offense was a well-balanced machine, relying heavily on the running back combo of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, and Matt Cassel having a great season passing the ball.  Tony Moeaki had a good rookie season last year, controlling the middle of the field, opening up the outside for stud wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.  But Moeaki was lost to a knee injury playing in the final preseason game and last year’s offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis, left to take the same position with the Florida Gators.  On defense, they were pretty solid as they have some good pieces for the 3-4 defense they run.  Tamba Hali came into his own ever since the Chiefs switched to the 3-4 defense and is coming off a season in which he recorded 14.5 sacks.  They also sport one of the best young defensive backfields in football with Brandon Flowers at cornerback and 2nd year Eric Berry who is set for a Pro Bowl season in my eyes.  Even still, I think they come back down to earth and miss the playoffs this season.

The Raiders dominated the division, sweeping its way through, going 6-0.  But then were 2-8 outside of the AFC West and were very inconsistent offensively.  They have arguably one of the best running games in all of the NFL with the combo of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.  Third round Pick Jared Veldheer from Hillside College was a pleasant surprise, starting at the left tackle spot and playing pretty well for a rookie out of a small school.  But the loss of Zach Miller at tight end and Nnamdi Asomugha are big for this team.  I see them taking a step back, winning seven games.

The Denver Broncos hired John Fox as head coach and he has a complete mess to fix.  Former coach Josh McDaniels completely destroyed this franchise after taking over for Mike Shanahan.  While most football fans wanted Tim Tebow to be the starter, the Broncos and John Fox made the right decision in going with the proven veteran Kyle Orton.  Expect more of a balanced attack under Fox’s regime and Knowshon Moreno will have the chance to have a big season if he can stay healthy and protect the ball.  Brandon Lloyd had a breakout all-pro season after all of those years being an underachiever.  The Broncos had one of the worse defenses I have seen last season, horrible against the run and put no pressure on the QB.  They drafted linebacker/defensive end Von Miller with the second overall pick and I expect big things from him this season.  Champ Bailey has had a hall of fame career and is still performing at a high level.  With all this being said, it’s going to be a rebuilding year and I see at the most, six wins for the Broncos.

AFC North

Steelers 13-3 D

Ravens 11-5 WC

Browns 5-11

Bengals 4-12

Outlook: The Pittsburgh Steelers return this season the Super Bowl runner-ups with pretty much the same team from the prior season, returning all its starters on defense and besides some changes on the offensive line, the offense is in tack as well.  The Steelers looked good in the preseason and are going to play their brand of football and I expect them right back in the running for a return to the Super Bowl and possibly winning it.

The Baltimore Ravens were one bad mistake away from playing in the Super Bowl last season.  Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are getting up there in age and I wonder when time will catch up to them.  Offensively, they rely on the legs of running back Ray Rice, but Joe Flacco needs to step his game up and make more plays in the passing game and in clutch situations.  The Ravens are still a good defensive team, but not the unbreakable crew from past seasons.  They have glaring weaknesses at cornerback that were exposed last season during the playoffs.  They drafted cornerback Jimmy Smith from Colorado to address the weakness.  The Ravens make the playoffs as a wild card team.

The Cleveland Browns are obviously rebuilding its team and it has two solid pieces right now: running back Peyton Hillis and 2nd year quarterback Colt McCoy.  Hillis gives the young McCoy a legit running game to rely on while he continues to develop as a passer in the NFL.  Defensively, I really like Joe Haden at cornerback and the drafting of Phil Taylor, the defensive tackle out of Baylor as well.  They still lack the explosive plays from receivers on the outside.  I see five wins for the Browns.

The Bengals are simply one of the worse run franchises in all of pro sports and the fact that team management refused to trade away quarterback Carson Palmer and receive something of quality in return for him, speaks volumes.  This is one of the reasons why Chad Ochocinco wanted out of there a long time ago.  I still don’t know how Head Coach Marvin Lewis has lasted this long.  They are starting rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, who for some reason, which I don’t know, everyone thinks he is going to be a good NFL player.  He’s just another guy.  This team wins 4 games and are in the running for Andrew Luck.

 

AFC South

Texans 10-6 D

Colts 9-7

Titans 8-8

Jaguars 5-11

Outlook: The Houston Texans are explosive on offense and have brought in Wade Phillips to try to get the defense up to par.  I still don’t like the idea of having the 6’7′ 290lb Mario Williams playing a position similar to what a player like James Harrison plays in Pittsburgh.  He was in his element as a defensive end in the 4-3 defense, but I do like the group of linebackers though.  With Peyton Manning’s health in question, this is the perfect chance for the Texans to win the division and finally make the playoffs.

There is not one team that depends on one player more than the Colts.  Peyton Manning had surgery on his neck during the off season (and a second procedure THIS MORNING) and it’s clear he’s not healthy, and I have the belief that he will miss at least half the season, if not all of it.  The Colts’ whole offense is based around the ability of Manning and although they signed veteran Kerry Collins, he isn’t used to running this offense.  The Colts take a step back this season and miss the playoffs.  It would be wise of them to draft a quarterback to replace Manning.  There’s no telling how much time he has left, if any.

The Titans spent most of the preseason dealing with the holdout of franchise running back Chris Johnson, after hiring Mike Munchak as their new head coach.  They brought in veteran QB Matt Hasslebeck to serve as the stop-gap for first round draft pick Jake Locker out of Washington.  The Titans still have one of the best offensive lines in football and will be able to run the ball.  The question is how the passing game will do.  Kenny Britt is talented but often in trouble off of the field.  Defensively, they are average on paper; the only player who stands out to me is cornerback Courtland Finnegan.  I see eight wins for the Titans.  Also, look for a breakout season from tight end Jared Cook.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ franchise is confusing me as of right now.  They cut veteran quarterback David Garrard this week, less than seven days from game one of the season.  Talk about a deflating move, I wonder how the veteran players feel, along with head coach Jack Del Rio, who was told anything short of a playoff berth and his ass would be canned.  I guess he should work on selling his home because this team has no chance in hell of making the playoffs.  Outside of Maurice Jones-Drew and Mercedes Lewis, the Jags have no weapons offensively and the defense is subpar.  I see five wins at the most for the Jags.  At least halfway, look for first round draft pick Blaine Gabbert to see some action and the team will see if he can actually play.

AFC Championship: Chargers over Steelers

 

Super Bowl: Chargers over the Packers

Offensive MVP: Phillip Rivers

Defensive MVP: Lamar Woodley 

Offensive rookie of the year: A.J. Green, Bengals

Defensive rookie of the year: Von Miller, Broncos

By Brandon Pemberton of Brandon on Sports, for War Room Sports

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IT’S OUR ANNIVERSARY!

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Queue the Tony Toni Tone music

Join your 5 favorite radio hosts in The War Room this Thursday, September 8th to celebrate our 1-year anniversary show with us!

Tune in Thursday, September 8th at 6pm ET to hear Jimmy, Aquil, B. Austin, Devin, and Paul take you on a trip down “Memory Lane” to our very first episode from September 9th, 2010 and our favorite moments of our first year on the air!  We’ll also be previewing the 2011 NFL season, which starts directly after the show!  To tune in, go to www.WarRoomSports.com and click the “Listen Live” button…or dial 323-410-0012 to listen LIVE by phone.

In the meantime, join the War Room Sports Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/WarRoomSports and follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/WarRoomSports (@WarRoomSports)!

Grab some cool War Room Sports merchandise by clicking the “Memorabilia” tab on our website www.WarRoomSports.com.

Finally, if you own an Android phone or tablet…an I-Phone, I-Pad, or I-Pod, please go to your Market and/or App Store and download the FREE War Room Sports mobile app!  It’s the VERY BEST way to stay up on all of our media content!

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Justin Verlander for MVP!!!

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

By Germain Favor

With a little less than a month left in the baseball season, pundits and analysts alike are starting to tell us  who they believe should win the various individual awards for the 2011 season.  One of the hotly-debated topics is about Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Justin Verlander and whether or not he should be the American League Most Valuable Player.  Some say that he should be the MVP because MVP is Most Valuable PLAYER, not Most Valuable BATTER.  Others say he should not be MVP because a starting pitcher does not play on a regular basis.  I for one say he is the AL MVP.  If you look at Verlander’s stats, you will see he has the numbers needed to be an MVP.  In 29 starts, Verlander is: (1) first in wins with 20; (2) first in Innings-pitched with 215.2; (3) first in strike-outs with 218; (4) second in earned run average  with 2.38; (5) first in WHIP with .90; and (6) first in win percentage with .800.  But the one thing that makes Verlander MVP is unquantifiable; his impact on the Tigers.  Including his 4 “no-decisions”, the Tigers have won around 70 percent of their games started with Verlander on the mound.  When another pitcher starts, the Tigers are near or below .500.  That is the mark of an MVP. 

An MVP should be a player that lifts his team.  An MVP should be a player that, when he plays, the team is better than they are in the games in which he does not play.  Verlander is all of that and then some.  No other player in the American League has such an impact on a team that is in first place and the numbers to go with it.   But there are those who think that Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox, Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees, or Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays is the MVP.  Yes, all three have the numbers, but does Bautista, Granderson, and Gonzalez make their teams dramatically better?  No.  The Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays do not play harder when they are in the lineup, nor does each team do worse when they are out.  So are they good players?  Yes.  MVPs?  No.  Verlander fits the bill as an MVP because he has the numbers and the impact on his team that an MVP is supposed to have.  The MVP voters need to do the right thing and make Justin Verlander the American League MOST VALUABLE PLAYER.

Germain Favor, for War Room Sports

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