NFL Preview: AFC North

Ah…the AFC North. The most physically demanding division in football, the division where the most bad ass mother f’ers inhabit the trenches. Let’s break it down.

      1. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens were a Lee Evans dropped touchdown pass from beating the Patriots and advancing to the Super Bowl last year, and a missed 32-yard Billy Cundiff field goal from sending the game into overtime. They will try to erase those infamous memories going into this year. It won’t be easy. Is this the year? Let’s investigate.

Hate on Joe Flacco all you want, I’m not saying the guy is John Elway, but he has won a playoff game in each of his four seasons as a starting quarterback, advancing as far as the conference final last season. And for the first time, the team was not inhibited by his performance in the playoffs.—in fact, Flacco was outstanding against the Patriots. I would like to say he earned his stripes in that game, but he must cut down on the erratic performances if this team will take the next step. Flacco doesn’t have to do much, he has the most dynamic and complete back in the league in Ray Rice and with a lack of outside threats, they will be relying on Rice to account for most of the offense. They hope speedster Torrey Smith can become a more reliable target and provide that big-play factor that this offense has craved for so long. The Ravens have been knocking on the door for a long time now--the defense has been a prolific force for over a decade, but they have not been to Super Bowl since the legendary Trent Dilfer parted ways. Sure, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are getting older, but they are first ballot hall-of-famers who still play their position at an elite level. They are accompanied by Haloti Ngata, probably the best defensive defense tackle in the NFL. The loss of Terrell Suggs for the first six games will certainly hurt, but 2^nd round draft pick Courtney Upshaw will certainly help. The defense will do their job…can the offense step up? We’ll see.

Projected Record: 12-4

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s kind of funny the similarities the Steelers and Ravens share. Both finished 12-4 last year and they both have a bunch of big, scary but aging animals on defense. They have been atop this division for a long time now, and when the two clash, they display good old classic football: hitting everything in sight and see who is left standing at the end. It’s hard for me to distinguish the superior of the two, but I do feel like the Steelers are burdened with more questions. Ben Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings to his name and is probably the toughest quarterback in the league, but he can only fight through injury for so long. This offensive line has been dreadful for the past two seasons and Big Ben is constantly running for his life. If they can give him some time to breathe, he has two exciting players in Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace to chuck it to. Wallace has reported despite a lengthy holdout, and as we have learned in the past…holdouts just never bode well for the player (chest pound Chris Johnson). Anyway, the Steelers hope to get back to their identity which is ground and pound after running only 42% of the time last season. It doesn’t help that they will start the season without Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman is…well…Isaac Redman. If the offensive line can clean up their act, if Redman can prove to be an adequate replacement, they will certainly give the Ravens all they can handle. Once again, I don’t feel the need to go into their defense much. They finished first in the league last year again, the 3^rd time out of 5 years under Mike Tomlin. Troy Polamalu…James Harrison…Lawerance Timmons…LaMarr Woodley…need I say more?

Projected Record: 11-5

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Even though I have spent the last couple minutes praising the two big brothers of this division...these guys have a good chance to invade the top ranks and turn the tides. The Bengals shocked a bunch of people last year when they snagged a wild-card bid got in the playoffs. Andy Dalton stepped in as a rookie quarterback and played beyond his years—making smart decisions and being accurate with the football. Having a fellow rookie and stud-in-the-making like AJ Green to sling it to definitely doesn’t hurt. The two have developed a strong rapport and should only improve this season. Cedric Benson is gone and Benjarvus Green-Ellis comes over from New England to take over the rushing duties. The Bengals will want to run the ball frequently much like their divisional counterparts, and whether Benjarvus (Green-Ellis just felt awkward to say) can handle the load still remains a question. Look for this offense to make some big strides this year with the progression of Dalton and Green. On defense, this unit was under-the-radar very good last year. They allowed the fewest total yards in the entire NFL, they lack any big name stars like Polamalu or Ray Lewis, but they get the job done.  They are more than capable than hanging in with the big boys. Watch out for this team…I have them at 3…but it wouldn’t shock me if they jump either the Ravens or Steelers, or possibly both.

Projected Record: 10-6

4. Cleveland Browns

God. This team just really sucks. You know you suck when your best player BY FAR is your left tackle (Joe Thomas). And the rest of the o-line is awful…like really awful. I am trying to find some positive things to say but I am struggling mightily. Twenty-eight year old Brandon Weeeden takes over for Colt McCoy and will start at QB week 1 despite a rough preseason. Trent Richardson was the most highly touted runningback to come through the draft since Adrian Peterson, but he has had two knee surgeries this offseason and once again…is a rookie. Their receiving corps is not exactly stellar…headlined by Greg Little, Mohammed Massaquoi, and supplemental 2^nd round draft pick Josh Gordon. I guess “headlined” may have been the wrong word to describe that group of no names. Their defense ranked middle of the pack in most categories last season, and Joe Haden has established himself as one of the best young corners in the league and one of the only bright spots on this team. Buckle up Browns fans, the Dawg Pound, however you prefer to be called…it’s going to be a long season.

Projected Record: 4-12

PJ’s Picks

1.Baltimore Ravens

2. Cincinnati Bengals

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

4. Cleveland Browns

NFL Preview: NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers

If a team goes 15-1, there is a pretty good chance that they are still going to be very good the next season. And as long as that guy named Aaron Rodgers is playing quarterback for the Packers, they’ll be very good every season. That’s really what it comes down to for the Packers. They have Rodgers, the other 31 NFL teams don’t. He is clearly the best player in the league, and he knows how to utilize his weapons of Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley, and others. The offensive line has also matured and gained veteran Jeff Saturday, so Rodgers should stay well protected all season. The defense isn’t great all around, but Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews alone make it respectable. BJ Raji, AJ Hawk, and Tramon Williams are also good players that can compensate for the mediocre starters on the Packer defense. Still, as long as this defense doesn’t allow over 30 points a game then they will be fine. Rodgers and the rest of the offense are really that good. Expect another dominant season with a first-round bye.

Projected Record: 13-3

2. Chicago Bears

The Bears have a ton of hype coming into this season. Jay Cutler and Matt Forte are back from injury. They traded for Brandon Marshall, Cutler’s old Denver buddy. While I do think this team will be good, I don’t think they will meet most expectations. Sure, Cutler and Marshall put up huge numbers when they played on the Broncos together. But they played in as many playoff games as I have (hint: that answer is zero). They also relied on a great offensive line that gave them time to develop big plays downfield, and they do not have that this year in Chicago. The running game should be awesome with Forte and Michael Bush, barring that they both stay healthy. Defensively, the Bears are good but nowhere near their level from a few years ago. Julius Peppers is still a stud, and Lance Briggs is also still great. It’s tough to say the same about Brian Urlacher. He’s so banged up at this point in his career and has a lost a few steps. The secondary is very average, and they’ll get burned for that playing in the same division as Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford. Bears fans do have many reasons to be excited about this upcoming season. While I think they will have a good record, I see them as the first team to get burned for playing in the loaded NFC.

Projected Record: 10-6

3. Detroit Lions

Last season was fun for the Lions, wasn’t it? Only a few years removed from the worst season in NFL history, the Lions took the last wild card spot and went to the playoffs. Sorry to be the buzzkill, but I don’t think that will happen again this year. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson were both undeniable awesome last season, and there’s a chance they can do it again. I’m skeptical though. Stafford played the entire season last year, but it was the first time in years that he did. I’d honestly be shocked if he played all 16 games again. The main reason I’m not convinced though is that the Lions’ offense is throw to Johnson, throw more to him, and some more after that. They have absolutely no running game, and aside from Titus Young don’t have any other intimidating weapons. On defense, the line is very good. Cliff Avril and Ndamukong Suh are young stars in the making. Aside from them though, every other unit is okay at best. This team lacks in durability, character, and maturity. I think it will show this season, leading to a very disappoint end result for the Lions.

Projected Record: 8-8

4. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings can just never catch a break. I’d like to tell their fans that things are going to get better this season, but I don’t like to lie. This season is clearly a rebuilding year for Minnesota, and they are in a terrible division to do so. Christian Ponder can be a nice starter in the NFL someday, but that won’t be the case this year. They do have the best running back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson, but he tore up his knee late last season and won’t be himself at the beginning of the season. I do really like Percy Harvin at wide receiver and Matt Kalil at left tackle, but the rest of the offensive starters suck. Aside from Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, and Chad Greenway, the rest can be said about the defensive starters. Note how not one of those three exceptions play in the secondary. Translation: this season might be historically bad for the Vikings’ pass defense. There is light at the end of the tunnel for the Vikings, but that light is very far away.

Projected Record: 4-12

Hope you enjoyed reading this segment! Expect more greatness from Chris tomorrow as he previews the AFC North.

-PJ Moran 

NFL Preview: AFC East

 New England Patriots

I’ll keep this short. There is no surer bet in the entire National Football League. The New England Patriots will win this division, and they will win it easily. They are coming off a 13-3 season, with one of those losses coming to the Bills when Tom Brady got picked four times. Tom Brady won’t get picked four times again. This offense is loaded. Tom Brady is Tom Brady. Wes Welker is Wes Welker. They have the best tight end in the league in Rob Gronkowski, and another hybrid tight end in Aaron Hernandez. They are flat out beasts. To make matters worse for opposing defenses, they added Brandon Lloyd, their first capable deep threat since Randy Moss. The last time Lloyd was a part of Josh McDaniels' offense, he led the league in receiving. McDaniels is back with the Patriots...see where I am going with this? They are going to throw the ball a lot, and they are going do so with immense success. Who do you cover? Welker? Gronkowski Hernandez? Lloyd? You can’t cover em all. Pick your poison. I even think their defense will be improved. They added defensive end Chandler Jones, Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and safety Tavon Wilson via the draft. Oh, and did I mention they have the easiest strength of schedule in the league? Look out.

Projected Record: 14-2

2.     Buffalo Bills

The Bills came out guns blazing last season, winning their first three games and beating the Patriots in dramatic fashion. Ryan Fitzpatrick looked like Dan Marino. Fred Jackson did his best Walter Payton impression. Stevie Johnson looked like the best young receiver in the game. Then the wheels came off the tracks. They dished out a six year, 59 million-dollar contract to Ryan Fitzpatrick, just in time for him to crack his ribs and start playing like Ryan Fitzpatrick again. Fred Jackson broke a leg. Stevie Johnson was busy blaming god for a dropped game-winning touchdown pass. The Bills finished 6-10, but I do think thing the glass is half full for the Bills this year. I actually think Fitzpatrick can be a very serviceable NFL Quarterback, and c’mon, you gotta root for Harvard guys. Fred Jackson is back and all kidding aside--he was one of the best backs in the league last year until he got hurt. And also all kidding aside, Stevie Johnson is coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. The Bills also made the biggest splash in free agency, signing Mario Williams to a monster deal. He will line up alongside Marcell Dareus, who looked like a future stud last year in his rookie season. And in a division where you are playing against the man they call Brady, rushing the passer will be essential for success. This team will be much improved and will be sneaky with the 3^rd easiest schedule in the NFL.

Projected Record: 8-8

3.     New York Jets

Where do I start? After making the conference final in back to back seasons, things unraveled for the Jets last season, finishing at a discouraging 8-8 and missing out on the playoffs. It wasn’t just that they lost--it was the way they lost. An 8-8 season seemed like 5-11. The offense gave awful a new meaning. Mark Sanchez regressed, Shon Greene has not turned out to be the every down bruiser they had hoped, Santonio Holmes complained about his role in the offense--it was just an all around debacle. I do feel bad for Mark Sanchez.  He is the classic of example of a guy caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a league powered high-flying offenses with quarterbacks putting up herculean numbers, Sanchez is a game manager with a limited skill set. Look, I don’t think he is very good, but he has taken this team to two conference finals. I understand those teams were mainly driven by the defense, but it still means something. Nonetheless, with the acquisition of Tim Tebow, this is it for Mark Sanchez. Every interception he throws, there will fans yelling Tebow’s name. Every time they lose…what would have happened if Tebow was in? I can just see it now—Jets start 1-3, Sanchez has four touchdowns and six interceptions, New York Post back page: “Tebow Time?” The quarterback situation could be a mess, the offensive line situation could be a mess (Sanchez has been running for his life the entire preseason), this whole season has potential to be a mess for Gang Green this year. They did trade future hall of famer Wayne Hunter for the Rams’ Jason Smith, a former #2 overall pick who they hope can finally live up to his billing and patch the offensive line. They also drafted speedster Stephen Hill to give Sanchez an explosive target. Maybe Sanchez finally steps forward and establishes himself as top 10 quarterback. Maybe this will finally be the year that Shon Greene establishes himself as a capable every down back. Maybe this is the year this receiving corps starts making plays. But those are all huge maybe’s for now. The defense is great, this team will go as far as the offense takes them.

Projected Record: 8-8

4.     Miami Dolphins

It’s a rebuilding year for the Fins—they hired Joe Philbin to take over the head coaching job, and they will have first round pick Ryan Tannehill taking over at Quarterback. Last year wasn’t all that bad actually. They did finish 6-10, but after starting 0-7, they won six of their final nine games and showed massive improvement. Matt Moore did a very nice job when he took over for Chad Henne, and Reggie Bush finally rushed for 1,000 yards and looked like he could perhaps erase his status as a complete bust. There are tons of problems with this team though. They traded away one of the best receivers in the game in Brandon Marshall and also a very good corner in Vontae Davis. Those losses will hurt…big-time. Tannehill has had his moments in the pre-season, but besides Bush, he has absolutely no weapons at his disposal. They parted ways with Chad Johnson after he head-butted his wife (seriously). They are now stuck with a horde of no-name receivers competing for playing time. Devone Bess…Brian Hartline…Roberto Wallace, maybe one of them can step up? Ryan Tannehill may have a bright future, but there will be plenty of growing pains this year.I can’t think of too many positives for this team, except for this I guess.

Projected Record: 5-11

PJ's Picks

1. New England Patriots

2. Buffalo Bills

3. New York Jets

4. Miami Dolphins

Up next will be PJ's preview of the NFC North. Make sure you are checking every day for NFL Preview Week! Enjoy everybody.

-Chris Collins

NFL Preview: NFC East

The NFL season opener is just 8 days away, and we at Ice Bath Report couldn’t be happier about it. So every day leading up to that glorious kickoff, we will release a division preview with rankings and record predictions. PJ will handle to NFC and Chris will take care of the AFC. Without further ado, here is your NFC East preview:

1. New York Giants

I honestly can’t remember another year when the reigning Super Bowl champion had less hype going into the following season. I know the Giants only finished the regular season 9-7, but does anyone remember how good this team was in the playoffs? Eli Manning looked as good as any quarterback in the NFL, and the defense made Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady look very average. And the thing is, this team has only gotten better. Eli’s chemistry with his young stud wide receivers, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, will continue to develop. The Giants also brought in Martellus Bennett from Dallas, who has never been great but is still an upgrade at the tight end position. David Wilson has also showed freakish ability in the preseason, and should easily perform better than Brandon Jacobs did in the backup role last season. On the defensive side, Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora form a pass-rushing trio that is unrivaled by anyone else in the league. Linebackers were a weakness for the Giants last season, but Mathias Kiwanuka is back from injury and they brought in the talented Keith Rivers from Cincinnati. While the Terrell Thomas injury this preseason hurt a lot, the secondary should still be good. Corey Webster played at a Pro Bowl level last season, and Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips make one of the better safety tandems in the NFL. The unity of the offensive line, the gap at the middle linebacker position, and Prince Amukamara in a starting role are all question marks for this team, but they have more than enough strengths to make up for them. I definitely think the Giants will return to the playoffs, and probably with a first-round bye.

Projected Record: 12-4

2. Philadelphia Eagles

At this point last season, the Eagles were being referred to as the “Dream Team” and almost every NFL expert had them going to the Super Bowl. Although no one is going to make that mistake again, this Eagles team should be pretty damn good. Despite the extremely disappointing result last season, the Eagles soared in their last four games and almost snuck into the playoffs. This roster might be the most talented in the NFL, but there was almost no chemistry for the majorty of last season. I don’t see that happening again, as the veteran players on the team have made it clear that they are more focused than ever. Still, the Eagles play in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL and might not be ready to win the division. The loss of left tackle Jason Peters was monumental, especially because he was the only great player on an offensive line that has the duty of protecting a scrambling quarterback with bad ribs in Michael Vick. If Vick can stay healthy, this offense should put up some huge numbers. LeSean McCoy led the NFL in touchdowns last season, and wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson are also both explosive. The Eagles should drastically improve defensively. The defensive end combo of Jason Babin and Trent Cole should be able to pressure the quarterback enough on their own, which will take a lot of pressure on a linebacker corps that really struggled last season. The Eagles also stole middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans from Houston, who should be key this season. However, the real fault in the Eagles defense last season was the secondary. They let star cornerback Asante Samuel go, which should actually help a lot. Nnamdi Asomugha was out of his comfort zone in zone defenses, so this year he will return to his dominating self in man-to-man. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is a very good second cornerback, and the safeties are serviceable. While I don’t think the Eagles will be great, I think they will be very good. Even in the extremely tough NFC, I see them grabbing a wild-card spot.

Projected Record: 11-5

3. Dallas Cowboys

Ah, the team that always seems to fall short of their preseason hype. Well guess what…they’re going to do it again. In the past few years, the Cowboys have had very talented teams but have choked away every chance of making the playoffs. But if you look at their roster this years compared to the powerhouses of the NFC, they just aren’t that good. Tony Romo is exciting and puts up good numbers year after year, but at this point it’s obvious that the guy just isn’t a winner. DeMarco Murray will be dangerous this year if he stays healthy, but running backs don’t win divisions in this passing age of the NFL. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are both big name receivers, but in their two years together they have never meshed well. The biggest weakness for the Cowboys is their offensive line. They royally suck, and they’ll probably make it very hard on Romo this season. DeMarcus Ware is one of the best players in the NFL, Jay Ratliff is a good nose tackle, and Brandon Carr was a nice pickup at cornerback, but aside from that every defender on the team is either mediocre or average. Sorry Cowboys fans. This year will just be another testament that money can’t buy you into the playoffs in the NFL.

Projected Record: 8-8

4. Washington Redskins

Another year, another finish at the cellar of the NFC East for the Redskins. I do feel for this team, as they have significantly improved but just so happen to play in probably the hardest division in the NFL. I do think Robert Griffin III will someday be a stud in this league, but it certainly won’t happen in his rookie season. I know other rookie quarterbacks in recent memory, like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, have taken their teams to the playoffs, but RG3 isn’t surrounded with nearly as much talent as those two were. The running game is a huge unknown, because it’s really a crapshoot who’s going to start at running back for Mike Shanahan. Fred Davis is a good tight end, but the rest of the receivers are average at best. The front 7 of the defense is actually very good, with the vastly underrated London Fletcher and future star linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. The same can’t be said about the secondary, which is honestly very bad. That’s not a good area to be weak in when you have to play against Eli Manning, Michael Vick, and Tony Romo each twice a year. The Redskins will improve, but because of their strength of schedule their record won’t very much.

Projected Record: 6-10

Chris’s Picks:

1. New York Giants

2. Philadelphia Eagles

3. Dallas Cowboys

4. Washington Redskins

Hope you enjoyed the first of our eight previews. Look forward to Chris’s take on the AFC East tomorrow.

-PJ Moran

A Dirty Game

This offseason, Major League Baseball seemed to have suffered a massive blow to its’ recovering image when reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (PED’s). He then proved his “innocence” through a barrage of circumstantial evidence.

Let’s go back even a year further. After being a lifetime .267 hitter, Melky Cabrera had an abnormally worthy season, only missing 7 games (career best) and hitting .307 (also a career best) for the Royals. This year, Melky was in the midst of a completely out-of-the-ordinary, phenomenal season, hitting .346 for the Giants. Then last Wednesday, Melky tested positive for synthetic testosterone.

Now let’s go to this past Wednesday. Six years removed from his 2005 Cy Young campaign, Bartolo Colon had endured five years of irrelevance and dreadful performances. This year, Colon had nearly completed a bounce back season, going 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA, his best since the year he won the Cy Young. Like Melky, his season seemingly came out of nowhere. But also like Melky, Colon tested positive for synthetic testosterone.

Major League Baseball has battled a multitude of drugs and performance enhancers for the last several decades. Baseball players have long gone to extreme measures in attempt to survive, endure, and gain an edge in the grueling 162 game schedule. After WW2, players started using “greenies” on a daily basis to improve their performance. In the 80’s, there was the cocaine outbreak. In the 90’s, the steroid era began. I recently read Jim Bouton’s Ball Four, an account of an MLB season where he references the rampant use of greenies (slang for amphetamines) in locker rooms during the 1969 season.  After a play where his teammate ran unusually fast and made an outrageously hard catch in the outfield, Bouton asked him how he had done it, the player replied, “I think my greenie kicked in.” 

Kind of scary isn’t it?

Major League Baseball started testing for steroids in 2004 and amphetamines in 2006, and obviously tests for cocaine. All Star third baseman and future hall of famer Chipper Jones responded to the new testing on greenies: “It’s gonna have a bigger effect on the game than steroid testing…it’s more rampant than steroids.” Despite the added testing, the sad thing is: the game is still dirty.

Besides a one time test in spring training Major League Baseball doesn’t consistently test for HGH (Human Growth Hormone), and with Cabrera and Colon’s results—baseball has a new hurdle to climb: synthetic testosterone.

Synthetic testosterone…that just sounds fishy doesn’t it? So what is it? I’ll give you the breakdown using the C- I received in my 8^th grade chemistry class. AKA the articles I have been reading all day about the new phenomenon.

Synthetic testosterone is especially appealing to players because of its ability to vanish from the body so quickly. Unlike steroids, cocaine or amphetamines that can stay in the system for months—synthetic testosterone can go undetected after 6-8 hours if used properly. Victor Conte, infamous for being the architect of the BALCO scandal, has said that the use of artificial testosterone “is really widespread.”

Scary isn’t it?

Baseball has combated its’ problems with cocaine and amphetamines, and I think a lot of us even thought that they had averted the steroid era. What is now starting to occur to me and many others: we may be wrong. We may be dead wrong.

We have been wrong before. We have all been fooled. Starting in the late 1990’s, baseball escalated to a new level of attraction and captivation. We saw these larger than life heroes conquer stadiums and major league pitching like nobody before. In 1998, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa allured the entire world in a race to Roger Maris’ single season homerun record. Both players broke the record—McGwire hitting 70 homeruns and Sosa with 66. The next year, they did it again. McGwire hit 65. Sosa hit 63. In 2001, Barry Bonds again set the record books ablaze with 73 homeruns. Sosa added 64.

Then the truth came out. The truth that this entire era of greatness will forever be tainted with suspicion, accusations, and doubt. That’s the sad thing…we will never know exactly who was clean and who was dirty. Sure, we know Mark McGwire used steroids and human growth hormone from 1993-1999. We are aware of the evidence against Barry Bonds, we also know that stars like Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Rafael Palmeiro have tested positive AFTER 2004. What were they doing when there was no testing? How many players were using them when there was no testing? Honestly, I don't think we want to know.

Over the last few days, there have been statements and assertions that Baseball is as dirty as it’s ever been. I would like to think that these reports are blasphemous. I would like to think that these claims are nothing but egregious.

Look, am I skeptical? Absolutely. Am I scared for the possible reality? Absolutely. Do I think there are players are using HGH? Absolutely. Do I think players are using synthetic testosterone? Yes I do. But I am also optimistic. I would like to think that the outrageous spike in offensive and power prowess from 1994-2004 was due to a constricted era of steroid use. I would like to think that the recent outbreak of exceptional pitching is symbolic of the game’s increased level of untainted competition. I would like to think all of these things and a lot of me does believe in these ambitious foresights. But also in the back of mind I also think: How can I? I have watched this movie before…and the ending sucked.

-Chris Collins

Thoughts and Rumblings

Once again, we apologize for the lack of posts lately. PJ is busy being a real cool frat boy at JMU and I just got back from vacation. He's actually just an orientation leader but I like busting his balls about being a frat boy. Probably wasn't even funny...anyway...

Don't have an article for you tonight but I thought I would give some of my thoughts that have been brewing. I do tweet a lot of these on Twitter, so make you sure you give us a follow.

Watching the Steelers-Colts game tonight, I concluded...

• Antonio Brown is going to have a huge year. Mike Wallace was probably watching this game and came to the realization: "Damn,this guy is probably better than me, they really don't need me, they probably aren't going to pay me." Brown will be the focal point in a diminishing Steelers offense, with Mendenhall hurt and Wallace still holding out, Brown is the man in Pittsburgh this year. If you Fantasy Football players haven't drafted yet, GET HIM! He's a steal! You could get him as #2 WR with #1 upside in the 6th round or later. (I got him on my team!) Did you see his 57 yard run-after-catch tonight? Once Brown gets the ball, he's as dangerous as any receiver in the league. Elusive, slippery, and next level speed. Watch out.
• I was trying to think of words to describe Andrew Luck. I dug deep into my vocabulary arsenal, but the best one I could come up was pretty mundane(<<SAT word baby): special. Andrew Luck is just a special player. Watching him tonight...he just does not look like a rookie Quarterback. He seems to have command of the game, command of the huddle, command of his throws. More importantly, he is confident out there. You watch Blaine Gabbart and he looks like he is playing blindfolded. Luck's final line of 16 of 25 for 175yds and 2 picks doesn't really tell the full story. One of his throws that was picked off hit T.Y Hilton (who the hell is that?) right between the numbers. He then juggled the ball and gift-wrapped it for a Steelers defender, sealing his fate as a grocery-bagger in the coming weeks. The Colts are a really bad team and Luck doesn't exactly have an abundance of skillful weapons to play with, but this guy is going to be an exceptional player for a long time. I am not exactly going out on a limb here, but I am just reiterating how impressive he has played thus far.
• I feel so bad for Austin Collie. He took another blow to the head tonight, and left the game with concussion-like symptoms. This would be his 4th concussion in 21 months. With the progressive, frightening research on athlete's brains post-athletics, the revelations on the dangers of the sport you fear for guys like Collie. We wish him the best, and hope for a speedy recovery. And also, we hope he that if he can no longer play football anymore, he has healthy life ahead of him in a new career.
• The NFL HAS to come to some sort of terms with the Referees Association. These replacement officials are completely incompetant. It's just sad to watch. If they are officiating regular season games, they are going to cost teams games. They could be the reason a team doesn't make the playoffs. Tonight it looked as though Vick Balliard's knee had come down with the ball JUST before the goal line. The play was called a touchdown, but with instant replay it looked as though the ball should be placed six inches to one foot from the endzone. Instead, the officials placed it at the one-yard line. One full yard. It was a comical display of ineptitude. There have been other instances bungling-idiot-like officiating this preseason -- botching the coin toss, getting the winner of the coin toss wrong, not being able to use a microphone. Please NFL, your revenue is astronomical, please give the refs what they want. The integrity of the game will be immensely compromised if there is no agreement.
• Did anybody else enjoy Dan Hicks play-by-play of the game tonight? Don't get me wrong, I like Al Michaels and he is a living legend, but I thought Hicks was extremely refreshing. Chris Collinsworth is still an idiot (he gives my name a bad rep too), but I really liked Hicks in the booth tonight. You may recognize his voice from calling the Olympic swimming events, but I thought he more than hold his own tonight. I would not be opposed to him taking over for Michaels...even thought it would never happen. Now if we can just find someone to replace Collinsworth...

That's all I got for now guys, thanks for being patient. More coming soon!