Can Someone Fix The Redskins?

Ok.  I know.  No one really wants to read about how much of a train wreck the Redskins are.  But, since they are my hometown team, I can't help but spend hours thinking of how the hell they keep getting themselves into this mess.  For 20 years, with only a few fluke exceptions, the Skins have stunk.  Eli and the Giants have 2 rings.  The McNabb/Reid Eagles dominated for years, and now Chip Kelly and Mick Foles are in 1st too.  Even the Cowboys, who always seem to make huge mistakes, have been more competitive in the regular season than the Skins.  So, how the hell can the Redskins finally right the ship?  How can this franchise, who may be among the league's worst the past two decades, finally turn it around and become a model franchise like the so many others in the NFL (including that one 40 miles up I-95)?  Well, here are some of the options:

- Get a new owner!  This is the most popular answer.  It is also the most unrealistic.  There is no way Dan Snyder is selling the Redskins.  Even though they have been garbage since he took over, they are still one of the most profitable franchises in all of professional sports (Forbes ranks them as the 8th most valuable, behind only the Cowboys and Patriots in the NFL).  Why would Dannyboy want to sell the golden calf?  He will continue to make money because the Skins have an extremely devoted fanbase.  They will show up no matter how terrible the team is.  They've been doing it every year since 1992, haven't they?

- Change the name!  Maybe it is a curse.  Maybe, much like building a house on an Indian burial ground (thank you Poltergeist), having a name that is racist has brought all the bad spirits to FedEx Field, and put a hex on the team.  I know a lot of people in DC don't want to change the name.  To be honest, I would be a bit perturbed if they did, even though I know it is the right thing to do.  But it has to happen at some point.  If it happens soon, the curse could be lifted while RG3 still has a few healthy knee ligaments left.  The new name?  The Washington Warriors.  It is alliterative, it fits in the fight song, and it can still apply to the proud Native American spirit Snyder claims that Redskins does.  Also, Danny already owns the name, so it just makes sense.

- Move back to DC!  I do really like this idea.  I never saw a game at RFK, but I have seen a few at FedEx.  It is a dump.  It is just an awful stadium.  I have no idea what Jack Kent Cook was doing building his new home out in Landover, MD, but it was not a good idea.  Much like the name, the curse of not playing in DC makes some sense.  The Skins were successful when they played in RFK.  They stink at FedEx.  Currently, only DC United play in RFK, and they are getting a new stadium down the street from my Nats.  All Snyder would have to do is buy the land and build a new field.  Jerry Jones did it, and now that field hosts every major sporting event.  Imagine if DannyWorld was able to pull in the Super Bowl, the BCS title game, the NCAA Final Four, and Wrestlemania?  All that money in his pocket and into DC businesses would make the city start to like him a little.  Plus, it is a prime location.  It is on the metro, there is parking all around it, and one could even walk from Capitol Hill/Eastern Market/Potomac Ave areas if they wanted to go to a bar before or after the game.  This should happen!

- Get a new coach!  Well, more and more it seems like this will happen.  I understand that Mike Shanahan was a big name.  I also understand that he only won with John Elway.  He was alright with Brian Griese.  He was ok with Jake Plummer.  He's been decent with RG3.  But he has a lower winning percentage with the Redskins than Norv Turner did, and Snyder couldn't wait to fire him when he bought the team.  Furthermore, his staff isn't exactly stellar.  Jim Haslett has one of the worst defenses in football.  Mike's son Kyle Shanahan is only a mediocre offensive coordinator, who seems unwilling to build a respectful relationship with the team's franchise Golden Boy.  So, they all go and the Skins start over from scratch.  A new report said they would try to get Baylor's head coach Art Briles, who of course coached RG3 during his Heisman campaign.  Would it be worth a shot?  Sure.  Really, anything would be better than Shanny and Danny fighting in public.

- Get RG3 to take some blame!  At first, I really liked RG3.  Hell, I still do.  He seems like a genuinely good guy who just wants folks to be happy with him.  However, everything that Donovan McNabb and Santana Moss have said about him seems to be coming true.  Rarely does he say that he was responsible for a loss.  He can seem more concerned with his newest Subway ad then with his airmailing open receivers.  The great QBs always take the blame for bad games.  Tom Brady may yell at his guys on the sidelines, but the first thing out of his mouth after a loss is "I could have done better".  RG3 is young.  He is famous.  Maybe this year's massive failures will humble him and restore that drive to win as top priority over that drive to be known.

- Build through the draft!  My biggest complaint with the Redskins is that they don't take the draft seriously enough.  It seems like they are always trading away picks when they have massive holes to fill.  Free agency can only help you so much.  At some point, you need to have homegrown prospect that help you win.  Look at the Ravens.  Ozzie Newsome may be the best GM in all of football.  He knows how to draft players.  He drafted Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Marshall Yanda, Paul Kruger, Lardarius Webb, Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta, Jimmy Smith, Torrey Smith, Kelechi Osomele, and Matt Elam.  He signed John Harbaugh.  He is responsible for putting together a complete team that has made the playoffs the past 5 years and is the reigning Super Bowl champions.  You have to have a good GM who is dedicated to the draft and to building a true team over putting together a group of stars.  That is how you win titles.


Some of these changes are pretty easy ones.  Some are a bit harder.  One, the new owner, simply isn't going to happen any time soon.  So, can someone actually fix the Redskins?  I think so, but it will be a process.  They should try, at least, cause it can't get much worse than it has been.

My Heisman Ballot So Far

I do not have an actual Heisman vote, seeing as how I am just a blogger.  However, I should have one, because I am awesome, and I do not get caught up in the hype of one good or bad game like so many of these voters do.  So, that being said, here is my Heisman ballot for the season thus far.  I am going to follow the official ballot rules, meaning I only get to pick 3 players.  Spoiler alert, they are all QBs.  Let's look at them from 3rd to 1st.


3. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State

          I'm not going to lie, I am a little biased.  I loved watching David Carr when he was at Fresno.  He could have been a great pro if the Texans believed in providing any kind of protection for him at all.  Now, his little brother Derek might be even better.  His play is the main reason why Fresno is undefeated and looking to crash the BCS party.  He also has the kind of heart-wrenching/life-changing story that Heisman voters eat up: His newborn son underwent two surguries in the first few days of his life to combat a potentially deadly condition.  David White of the NY Times wrote about it here.  Not only is Derek a fantastic football player, but he is mature enough now to realize it is just a game and that there are more important things.  Certain other college stars who are not in my Top 3 still haven't gotten that.  Will Derek win the Heisman?  No.  Does he deserve to be in New York for the finals based on his play?  Absolutely.


2. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State

          Barring some kind of collapse, Jameis Winston is going to win the Heisman.  He is ridiculously good.  He destroyed my Syracuse Orange last week.  FSU is undefeated, and most of their games have been complete runaways in a better-than-expected ACC.  So, why the hell am I putting him at 2 instead of 1?  Well, it has to do with the talent that is around him and my #1 pick.  There is no doubt in my mind that Winston is insanely gifted, and will probably be a solid pro.  I think that FSU can compete with Alabama in the BCS title game, and maybe even win it.  But that is not just because of Jameis.  FSU has an amazing defense which is only giving up 11 points a game, #3 in FBS.  FSU's offense averages just under 200 yards a game rushing, which is in the top 1/3rd of FBS.  They are a well-rounded and complete team.  I think that, in an award that is supposed to honor individual achievement, having a team that great around you should hurt a little.  AJ McCarron isn't on my list for the same reason, though he is not as talented as Winston.


1. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

          Baylor is a great team.  They are not as good all around as FSU is, though.  That makes me give the slightest of edges to Bryce Petty in my Heisman vote.  Their offense is the best in the country, averaging 61 points per game in the Big 12 (10, but who's counting?).  Their defense is playing better as well, but it usually doesn't matter because the offense can score at will.  Petty is the leader of that unit, and his numbers back up my praise.  He has only thrown 1 INT all year to go with his 24 passing TDs, and has a QB rating of 206.2, a full 11 points higher than Jameis Winston.  Additionally, he has 10 rushing scores to help his campaign.  This could all be a moot point if Petty stumbles down the stretch, because Jameis Winston doesn't look like he will.  But, assuming that they both go undefeated, my vote goes to Baylor's Bryce.

Clowney Question Bro- Why SC's Freak Will Not Be The #1 Pick

There is no doubt in my mind that Jadeveon Clowney will be a solid NFL player.  He is an athletic freak of nature, standing at 6'6, weighing around 250 lbs.  He is fast, agile and strong.  Teams have been double or triple-teaming him, yet he can still find ways to impact plays.  Does the fact that he seems to take some plays off concern me?  A little, but not enough to say that he isn't a Top 5 pick in the NFL Draft.  But that's it.

Top 5.

Not #1.  Sorry.

He's a defensive end.  An important position?  Sure.  But the NFL isn't all about defense anymore.  It's a quarterback league, and some of the teams that are in line to pick #1 overall need a QB a lot more than a pass rusher.  You can't tell me that the Jacksonville Jaguars might be on the clock, looking at Teddy Bridgewater, Taj Boyd, Johnny Football, Aaron Murray, AJ McCarron, etc. and then really say that they aren't more important than Clowney is.  A good QB, hell even a halfway decent QB, can turn a bad team into a playoff contender.

Want an example?  Well, the Kansas City Chiefs had the #1 overall pick last year.  Worst team in the league, even though they had 6 Pro Bowl players.  They lacked a QB, so they got Alex Smith.  Now they are 5-0 and look to at least make the playoffs as a wild card (the Broncos are winning that division).  The New Orleans Saints were mired in obscurity for years.  Cue Drew Brees, and they become relevant.  My Washington Redskins were a joke for the better part of 20 years.  They get a healthy RG3 last year and made the playoffs (not so much this year while he recovers from his injury).  A QB has his hands on the ball every single offensive snap.  Even the best defensive ends have a major impact on MAYBE 5 or 6 plays a game.

So, no, Clowney will not be the #1 pick if it is Jacksonville, Tampa, or Minnesota.  He could be in the mix for struggling teams that have a franchise QB though, such as the Giants, Steelers, Raiders or Rams, even though I think they all have bigger needs along their respective offensive lines.

The perfect fit for Clowney?  How about in Atlanta, where injuries have decimated the Falcons pass rush.  Plug him into that defense, coupled with a fully healthy Falcons offense in 2014, and the Dirty Birds would be back to the Super Bowl contenders people expected them to be this year.

I still think Jacksonville is far and away the worst team in football, and they need a QB, so Clowney will not be the #1 pick.  But to all the analysts that seem to be jumping ship on him, saying that he could fall out of the Top 10 even with all of his ability and questioning his prospects as a pro, I just have one thing to say:

That's a clown question bro.

Can The Yankees Be Fixed?

So, I was doing a little research for this post today.  I was trying to figure out who were some nice bargain free agents that can come in and help the Yankees next season.  I was trying to figure out if they can really afford to pay Robinson Cano all the money he wants.  I was trying to figure out how to fix the pinstripes without breaking the bank that much.  The answer to all of these conundrums?  I have no idea.

I am not sure how to fix the Bronx Bombers.  I am in my late-20s.  The Yankees have been good pretty much my entire life.  And let's not pretend that they are a horrible team.  They have 82 wins right now.  But they aren't THOSE Yankees anymore.  Pettite and Mariano are retiring.  Jeter might as well retire soon because he seems to be made of glass now.  How can they possibly recover from losing their franchise's faces?  Plus, you have to deal with A-Roid, a suddenly struggling CC, and the departure of many players (and possibly a manager).  There is no easy answer.

Here is the one thing I am sure about if I am the Yankees, though- There is no way in hell that I am giving a 2nd baseman $300 million dollars.  I know that Cano is the best player on that team.  I know that the Dodgers are going to be willing to pay some massive amount of cash like that to make one of the best infields I have ever seen.  But the Yankees can't afford to do that right now.  I mean, they can obviously AFFORD to, but they shouldn't.  At some point the old Steinbrenner way needs to change.  You can't always buy a title.  Hell, look at the Angels.  They can't even buy a playoff appearance, and they have (probably) the best young player in baseball on their team.  The new way to build a franchise is with home grown talent.  That is what was the core of those great Yankees teams.  They don't have that right now, and their minor league system is apparently garbage.

That brings me to one of the only fixes I can think of for the Yankees- Qualifying Offers!  Cano, Curtis Granderson and Hiroki Kuroda are all free agents that the Yankees wouldn't mind having back at the QO price of $14 million for one year.  Kuroda may sign that, and that's fine.  The other two won't, which means that the Yankees will get two compensatory draft picks for their loss.  If you are a team looking to rebuild, this is a great thing.  The Yankees did this last year after Rafael Soriano signed with my Nationals (over 40 saves, which I like, but it was never easy).  They ended up with 3 of the top 33 picks in the draft, a solid move in rebuilding your minor league system.  The move could work!

Or maybe I am wrong.

The Yankees are kind of dependent on Cano.  They don't even have another 2B on the active roster, and only one more on the 40 man roster, but still in the minors.  He leads them in every offensive category.  Do the mini-Steinbrenners really want to stop paying all the money to star players, putting butts in the ridiculously expensive seats?  No clue.  Can they resist signing Cano, Brian McCann and Tim Lincecum in the offseason?  No idea.

I just know that, if I was in charge of the Yankees, I would look hard at the talent I have available. It may be worth it to be not-so-great for a year or two in order to build another potential dynasty on your own players.

The NFL vs The WWE: AFC West

Well, it has come to this.  Here is the last installment of the series comparing NFL teams to WWE Superstars.  I hope you have enjoyed it.  Maybe I'll dust it off again before next year.  Here we go:

- Denver Broncos: The Rock
          Are the Broncos on the older side of things?  Well, their QB is.  Peyton Manning is still one of the best in the business, even if he is close to NFL AARP age.  Same goes for The Rock.  Good old Dwayne came back for a little bit, won the WWE Title, and even main-evented Wrestlemania for the second straight year (I was there, it was pretty cool to see him).  He suffered a pretty bad rib injury at the show, and may not come back ever again, but if he did he would still be at the top of the list of WWE Superstars.  We weren't sure how good Peyton would be when he came back with a different team, but he was amazing last year.  The Broncos could pull a Rock themselves this season, following Peyton on one last ride to the top.

- San Diego Chargers: Fandango
          Oh, Fandango.  I'm not entirely sure how his gimmick is still working after a few months.  I don't really think anyone cares about a wrestler who pretends to also be a ballroom dancer.  He has the look of a wrestler though, and a beautiful woman to accompany him to the ring.  It helps distract us from how unimpressive he has been in the ring.  The Chargers play in San Diego, the city with the best weather in the country.  Their powder blue uniforms are the best jerseys in sports.  Their helmets have friggin lightning bolts on them!  All of this to distract you from a sub-par team.  Maybe they will be able to continue the streak of teams in the Eagles' home opener winning the Super Bowl (last 3 years) or teams that lose to the Skins winning it all (last three years).  But, more than likely, they will dance around, leave you feeling silly after their games, and frustrate real fans.

- Kansas City Chiefs: Christian
          Christian is one of the best workers the WWE has.  That being said, he hasn't always been a Main Event guy.  His tag team partner Edge had the it factor to push him over the top and make him a WWE Hall of Famer.  Christian kind of got left behind, though he has had a bunch of good streaks.  The Chiefs have been good in the past.  They have a Super Bowl.  They won a ton of games with Priest Holmes and Trent Green.  But then they fell on hard times.  Now, they have a new coach in Andy Reid, a new QB in Alex Smith, and some new optimism.  One big push in the AFC could get them to immortality, just like how one big push for Christian could cement him as a Hall of Famer.

- Oakland Raiders: The Big Show
          This is kind of unfair to the Big Show, who is one of the most impressive big men ever in the WWE (Him, Andre, Kane and Undertaker are a class above everyone else).  However, there is this thing that the Raiders love- MEASURABLES!  Big Show is 7 feet tall and 500 pounds!  He would be the perfect Al Davis pick, God rest him.  While Show is getting a mini-push in his current storyline, the Raiders seem to be one of the worst teams in football. Still, with that size and that athletic ability, he would be an ideal Raider.



Well, that's all.  Hope you enjoyed it!  Thanks for reading, and enjoy the season!

The NFL vs The WWE: AFC South

Moving right along with our penultimate post in this series, comparing the teams in the AFC South to WWE Superstars.

- Houston Texans: Cody Rhodes
          I have been waiting for Cody Rhodes to get his (well-deserved) push for about three years, and it still hasn't happened.  He is a great wrestler.  He is good on the mic.  He has the family history, being the son of Dusty Rhodes and brother of Dustin "Goldust" Rhodes.  He is loaded with potential, but has yet to get over that hump to super-stardom.  The Houston Texans are exactly the same.  We know they have a ton of talent.  They are just a massive ball of untapped potential.  Two straight trips to the playoffs are nice.  A Super Bowl is nicer.  Is the third time the charm?

- Indianapolis Colts: Kane
          Kane is one of my all time favorite wrestlers, and even though he has been the same character for 16 years, he has managed to reinvent himself by pairing with younger stars he can help push.  The latest of these was his teaming with Daniel Bryan, or his feuds with The Shield and The Wyatt Family.  And infusion of young stars helps his character stay fresh.  The Colts weren't exactly a young team when Peyton Manning left. They got rid of some of their older players, and hooked up with #1 pick Andrew Luck.  He has been great, and now the Colts are back to being a playoff contender.

- Tennessee Titans: Kofi Kingston
          I like Kofi, I really do.  He is super fun to watch.  The problem is that he is stuck in the mid-card.  He needs some tweaks to his character or his style to push himself to the next level.  The same can be said about the Titans.  They aren't a terrible team, they just don't have the talent to be a true contender.  Chris Johnson hasn't been himself in years, making us wonder if he is on the downside of his career.  Jake Locker still needs to prove that he can be a starting QB in the NFL.  Kenny Britt needs to show he can stay health and out of trouble.  If they are able to take care of some of these issues, then I could see them making a run.  Until then, they are just middle of the pack.

- Jacksonville Jaguars- Hornswoggle
          The Jaguars aren't exactly a good team.  To be fair, they are pretty awful.  They seem to just be around these days for the amusement of the rest of the NFL.  That's the reason why Hornswoggle is in the WWE.  He is a leprechaun (or just vertically challenged) whose best friend is a 7'1 man from Punjab, India.  He dances, he throws out t-shirts, he makes kids happy.  We don't expect to see him in the main event any time soon, and we feel bad if some bigger guy is picking on him, but we don't take him that seriously as a wrestler.  He's there for our entertainment, just like the Jaguars.

Our journey concludes in the next post, the AFC West.  Join us, won't you?

The NFL vs The WWE: AFC North

Welcome back!  Now time to compare the teams of the AFC North to WWE Superstars.

- Baltimore Ravens: Alberto Del Rio
          The current World Heavyweight Champion is, in my opinion, kind of boring.  Sure, he wrestles well, and always seems to hit people really hard, but I am not entirely sure how he has managed to remain a main event player so consistently since he debuted.  This is pretty much exactly how I feel about the Ravens, and I like them!  The Ravens will knock you out, have been in the playoffs the previous 5 seasons, and won the Super Bowl last year.  However, there doesn't seem to be anything that spectacular about them.  They may not be the best team to watch, but they manage to stay at a high level all the time.  Furthermore, Ray Lewis, the mouthpiece of the Ravens, is now gone.  Ricardo Rodriguez, ADR's ring announcer, is now teamed with someone else too.  Funny how that works.

- Pittsburgh Steelers: Brock Lesnar
          The Steelers are one of the best run franchises in all of sports.  They are extremely physical, intimidating, and tough.  Even when they aren't around the playoffs, they will make sure they hit you hard.
They are a perfect comparison to Brock Lesnar.  He is a monster that always makes sure his opponents feel the most pain possible.  He takes some breaks from being on TV, but comes back stronger and crazier each time.  Its a shame that he has already tried to be in the NFL and failed, because he sure does look like he would be the perfect kind of player for the Steelers.

- Cincinnati Bengals- Sheamus
          FELLA!  Yes, the biggest Irishman you will ever lay your eyes on is my pick for the Bengals.  After all, both hit hard, seem to be fairly consistent these days at being good but not great, and both are overshadowed by the other guys in their division (the Heavyweight division, for Sheamus).  Not stopping there, both the Bengals and the Celtic Warrior are kind of boring.  Yes, they have occasional moments of flash and brilliance, such as AJ Green's spectacular catches, or Sheamus' electric Brogue Kick.  But on the whole, they don't do much to really wow you.  Finally, of course, both Sheamus and Andy Dalton are gingers.  Perfect.  I wonder if Andy is related to Beaker also...

- Cleveland Browns- The WWE Divas
          Ok, so the Browns are the Divas, only not nearly as much fun to look at.  They have some talent, sure.  They have a strong, dependable and underrated back in Trent Richardson.  The Divas have Natalya, who really should always be fighting for the title, but isn't because she isn't dating John Cena or something like that.  Really, neither the Browns nor the Divas have any kind of direction, which is a shame.  Both have great histories.  Jim Brown was a Brown!  Trish Stratus was a Diva!  Oh well.  Now both are just painful to watch.  I don't really expect much from either one of them any time soon, though I'd be happy if both were better.


The next entry?  The AFC South.  Only a week until the season!

The NFL vs The WWE: AFC East

Back from vacation with the second half of our comparison between NFL teams and WWE Superstars.

- New England Patriots: John Cena
          The Champ Is Here!  Well... not really.  In fact, Cena is out 4-8 months after finally succumbing to a tricep tear that made his elbow look like it had a baseball growing out of it.  He may be out as long as Gronk!  But, to be fair, this is why the Patriots are the John Cena of the NFL- they are always around the title picture.  The Patriots have been one of the best teams in football since Tom Brady took the reigns in 2001.  The naysayers insist that they aren't that good, or that Brady is overrated, but that simply isn't the case.  Sure, some teams may be more entertaining to watch, and some may even be better coached, but it is hard to argue with the consistent production of the Pats.  John Cena has won the title 13 times.  He has been in some of the best matches the past ten years.  These are facts.  The icing on the cake?  Despite both being good, they are very hate-able to a part of their sport's fan base.  The Patriots are the evil empire that wins too much, and Cena is hated by the "smart" fans who think other (better?) wrestlers deserve his spot.  And hey, Cena is from Massachusetts.  Its a perfect fit.

- Miami Dolphins: The Usos
          Jimmy and Jay Uso are the sons of former WWE Superstar Rikishi (a fan favorite), so you know that they have the pedigree.  They are up-and-coming in the tag divisions, having recently received a mini-push by feuding with The Shield for the tag team belts.  They have a ton of potential.  The Dolphins are a popular pick to make some noise in the AFC East this year, with Ryan Tannehill, Lamar Miller, Mike Wallace and that defense showing signs of improvement from last season's 7-9 record.  The fact that they signed my friend AJ Francis as a free agent helps too, of course.  If they are able to put it together, they could make a splash just like the Usos seem poised to do.

- Buffalo Bills: Antonio Cesaro
          A Swiss wrestler of Italian descent that speaks 5 languages?  Very international.  A team that may move to Canada soon?  Also international!  Yes, the Bills and Cesaro seem like a fairly good fit.  They both have talent (just watch Cesaro's matches vs quality opponents, and then watch CJ Spiller gash up a defense), but they seem to lack some direction.  Cesaro isn't exactly enthralling on the mic, so he has been bumped back to xenophobic tag team wrestler with Jack Swagger's Real Americans.  The Bills have a new coach (who I wish was still at Syracuse...), a new QB (who is injured), an old owner and the threat of moving from their city.  They could both use an upgrade back to relevance.

- New York Jets: TNA Impact Wrestling
          This is kind of a low blow... to TNA.  They put a good product into the ring some times, especially with the X Division (their Knockouts division destroys the WWE Divas division as well).  But they are just not on the same league with the WWE.  Their storylines can be dreadful and outdated.  Sometimes their product is just unwatchable.  That is EXACTLY like the Jets.  They will probably win a few games this year, somehow.  The Jets, though, just seem to be the worst run franchise in the NFL, if not all of sports!  I have many friends who are Jets fans, including my best friend from college.  They are all threatening mutiny.  They need a massive overhaul if they want to play with the big boys.


Next up, perhaps the most physical division in the NFL (mostly), the AFC North.

The NFL vs The WWE: NFC West

Time to wrap up the NFC portion of my fan favorite column comparing NFL teams to WWE Superstars.  We end out in the NFC West:

- San Francisco 49ers: Randy Orton
          So, you may recall that, in my post about the Falcons being like Daniel Bryan, I said DBry would be the champ (but not for long).  I was right!  Randy Orton cashed in Money In The Bank last night and is the new WWE Champion.  He is the apex predator of the WWE- he hits hard, he hurts you, he is always dangerous and is a threat to be the champ.  The new attitude that Jim Harbaugh brought to the 49ers is just like that.  It seems that, with their defense, an evolving offense and a great coach, it is only a matter of time before the NFC Champions win the big one.

- Seattle Seahawks- The Shield
          The Shield came on the scene suddenly and impressed the hell out of everyone.  They were able to surprise some of the established stars of the WWE en route to winning the Tag Titles and the US Championship.  The Seahawks are that young, up-and-coming team that all the analysts drool over.  ESPN insists that Russell Wilson is the next big thing, even taking time off from talking about RG3's knee to praise the diminutive Seahawks signal caller.  Their defense is strong, tough and doesn't always play by the rules.  I'm not sure either will carry their momentum that well into the fall, but it will be entertaining to watch regardless.


- St. Louis Rams- The Wyatt Family
          The new wild cards of the WWE are the Wyatts.  Rumor has it they are in line for a big push, and they have the perfect leader to do it in Bray Wyatt, who is solid in ring and fantastic on the mic.  They are able to mess with your head and intimidate you.  Shockingly, the Rams are becoming a comparable organization.  While the offense still needs some work, the additions of Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Jared Cook should actually provide Sam Bradford with real weapons for the first time in his career.  Their defense is young and getting better, led by Chris Long.  Plus, like Bray Wyatt, the Rams have an intimidating leader whose followers buy into everything he says, and will do whatever it takes to win.  Jeff Fisher is the most intimidating coach in the NFL.  Just look at that mustache.

 

- Arizona Cardinals- Chris Jericho
          This one might be a bit of a stretch.  To be honest, when Y2J is around in the WWE, he is one of the best wrestlers on the roster at everything.  The problem is, he isn't always around.  He has other commitments outside of wrestling, including his band Fozzy which seems to be picking up steam.  This is kind of like the Cardinals.  A few years ago, when they were relevant, they were amazing.  Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald carried this once-sad franchise to and NFC title and a last-second Super Bowl loss.  But then, Kurt (like Jericho) went away.  They have the talent, especially in the persons of Fitz, Patrick Peterson and rookie Tyronne Mathieu (so they say. I will buy him when I see him perform in the big time and not get suspended).  They just need a QB to rise back above the jokes and the mid-card.



Next we move over to the AFC with the East division.  Stay tuned.

The NFL vs The WWE: NFC South

On to the NFC South division with our comparison of NFL teams with WWE superstars.


- Atlanta Falcons: Daniel Bryan
          It seems weird to say, since we all know Vince has never been too fond of the stars that don't have the prototypical WWE physique, but Daniel Bryan is about to become one of WWE's biggest stars.  There is a solid chance that he becomes the champion soon (though it may not be for that long), his matches are always exciting, and he is over with the crowd.  The Atlanta Falcons seem like that team just on the verge of massive success as well.  They finally got over the hump of not winning a playoff game under Matt Ryan.  Now, with an explosive offense led my Matty Ice, Julio Jones and Roddy White, the sky seems to be the limit.  Now, if only one of them would grow a Daniel Bryan-esque beard, the comparison would be perfect.  Could they win the Super Bowl this year?  YES! YES! YES!

- New Orleans Saints: Dolph Ziggler
          I don't know if I can name anyone (outside of Falcons fans, of which there are maybe 40) that hates the New Orleans Saints or how they play football.  Even last season, when they were hurt by suspensions surrounding Bounty Gate, more fans seemed to take their side instead of agreeing with Roger "Vince McMahon" Goodell.  They want to see the Saints do well because they are great to watch, and can steal the show every Sunday.  Dolph Ziggler is the smark's favorite wrestler.  He sells things perfectly.  He is great on the mic.  Even when he was a top heel, cheating to win, the fans loved him.  He won a title, then was hurt via concussion, but looks like is coming back better than ever, despite Vince "Roger Goodell" McMahon's refusal to push him.

- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jack Swagger
          Remember when the Bucs won the Super Bowl?  Didn't that seem weird to a lot of people?  I mean, sure, they had an awesome defense, but they just didn't seem like a championship team in the era where Brady and Manning were dominating.  The same can be said for Jack Swagger.  He was the World Champion, but I can't exactly remember anything about his title run.  He just doesn't seem to fit in with the Main Event players.  Both the Bucs and Swagger are looking to improve, and not just be stuck in the mid card for another year.

- Carolina Panthers- Tons of Funk
          Originally, I thought that the whole Brodus Clay "Funkasaurus" thing was cute.  It was like Rikishi in Too Cool, or Flash Funk.  Seemed like harmless fun.  Perfect for WWE-PG.  The thing with Rikishi, though, was that we knew that if he could actually wrestle if it was needed.  Still not sold on Brodus Clay.  Furthermore, the attempted re-branding of Lord Tensai (Albert...) as Sweet T only added to this joke because he hasn't won any kind of big match in WWE since he was teaming with Test (RIP).  Its the same thing with the Panthers.  Sure, Cam Newton can be fun to watch.  He is big, he runs a lot, he can throw a mile.  When he scores, he does a fun/easily-imitable "Super Man" move that the kids love.  The problem is, when the Panthers come to play on Sunday, they usually lose.  No one is afraid of them.  The Panthers, like Tons of Funk, need a re-branding if they want to be taken seriously.

Next up, we conclude the NFC with a look out West.

The NFL vs The WWE: NFC North

Part 2 of the fan favorite comparison between NFL teams and WWE Superstars.  Up next- the NFC North.

- Green Bay Packers: CM Punk
          Best In The Wooooorld!  Well, not currently, title-wise.  But it difficult to deny that CM Punk is the best all around superstar, combining in-ring ability, mic skills, merchandise sales, fan popularity and national recognition.  We he says he is the best, it is probably true.  And so it is with Aaron Rodgers.  Yes, Brees/Brady/Manning are still going strong in their Hall of Fame careers.  But it is very hard to argue against Aaron Rodgers as the best QB in the NFL.  He took over this crown in Green Bay from the great Brett Favre.  CM Punk took the beloved anti-hero role over from Stone Cold Steve Austin.  Even when Punk isn't on top of the WWE Title picture, we all know we want to see him most.  Same with Rodgers and the Packers.

- Minnesota Vikings: Curtis Axel/Wade Barrett
          What do you call the team that has everything except for that one missing piece that would vault them to success?  The Vikings.  I don't believe that Christian Ponder is a big time QB, but they made it to the playoffs in spite of him.  They have the best running back in football, a strong defense, but no real passing game.  Its just like Axel and Barrett.  We know they have the talent: they have been around since the Nexus days and have provided memorable in-ring moments.  Axel has the pedigree, his father being Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig.  Barrett has the presence, listed at 6'7, 250 lbs.  But they are both just missing that one thing that would thrust them into the main event picture.  I want the Vikings to solve their QB issues because they are great to watch otherwise.  I want Axel and Barrett to finally click with the fans/management and turn into the next generation of stars I know they can be.  But until then, in the NFL and WWE, they are just midcard players.

- Chicago Bears: Mark Henry
          The Monsters of the Midway and The World's Strongest Man.  It seems like a perfect fit.  Both are strong, intimidating, and hard hitting.  The Bears made a reputation as a dominant defensive team that would hit you in the mouth and be happy about it.  Mark Henry is more than willing to induct anyone into the Hall of Pain.  The NFL is better when the Bears are good.  The WWE is better when Henry is healthy and a believable heel.  The Bears won a title once.  Henry won a title once.  Its a no brainer.  Even in their current roles, it makes sense.  Mark Henry, now on the downside of his career, is still an intimidating heel draw or an impressive babyface on which young heels can earn legitimacy.  The Bears aren't a perennial title contender, but never seem to be far out of the playoff race, and always put up a solid fight.  This is what they do.  (Full disclosure, I am a huge Mark Henry fan.  I need to buy this shirt).

- Detroit Lions- Big E Langston
          Think of Big E as a young Mark Henry who hasn't found his way yet.  That's just what the Lions are.  They have the talent.  They have the youth.  They can knock you out.  But they just haven't put it all together at the right time.  Both have a very bright future.  If Langston can stick in some major storylines and can develop his mic work, he is a perennial IC champ threat at the worst.  If the Lions keep making strides, then they will be a playoff contender every year.  You still want to see them put it all together at one time and make a push for the title, but you don't want to rush them.  It will come soon, and when it does people better watch out.


Next up- The NFC South!

The NFL vs The WWE: NFC East

Time to dust off an old fan favorite- Comparing every NFL team to a WWE Superstar!  I did this a few years ago, and it was one of my most viewed pieces.

Let me just preface this entire thing by saying I am not trying to insult your team.  I have no doubt that every man in the NFL is committed fully to their team and their job, and could probably beat the tar out of me... Except maybe for those kickers.  I am just going off of how I perceive them based on their personnel, on-field succes, and off-field hi-jinks.  

I will break the comparisons down by division, and will start with the home of my Redskins, the NFC East.

- Dallas Cowboys: Ryback

          Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler are always telling us about how much of a threat Ryback is.  They insist that he is a main event player.  They compare him to other monsters from the past, like Goldberg and Batista.  ESPN et al tells us every season that the Dallas Cowboys are a threat to win the Super Bowl, just like the 1990s.  Tony Romo is super talented.  They have all those receivers and DeMarcus Ware, who wants to feed on more QBS.  Surely, both Ryback and the Cowboys are the real deal, right?  Well... no.  When the time comes, and its the biggest matches of the year, Ryback folds.  He went on a massive PPV losing streak, and can't be considered a top guy.  The Cowboys have won exactly 1 playoff game this millennium.  Frankly, we don't believe they are real title threats anymore.

- New York Giants: The Undertaker

          Consider the Giants the opposite of the Dallas Rybacks.  Much like The Undertaker, the Giants aren't always around.  Sometimes, they miss the playoffs, much like Undertaker misses all of the year's PPVs.  However, when they are at the biggest stage of all, they do not lose.  The Phenom's WrestleMania undefeated streak now stands at 21-0, with extremely memorable wins over the best that the business has to offer.  The past two trips to the Super Bowl for Eli and company, they have come home with that Lombardi Trophy in extremely entertaining games against the Dynasty that is the Patriots.

- Washington Redskins: The Miz

          I had a lot of trouble with this one.  After all, saying that my team is The Miz could be an insult, cause there are a ton of WWE fans that don't like him.  But hear me out.  Miz has the talent.  We know this.  He has been in some great matches.  He is a former champ.  That's just like the Skins.  They have always had talent, even when it was old or under-performing.  And no one can take away the fact that the franchise was, at a time, a dominating champion.  Miz is the "Most Must-See" superstar.  How often do you see RG3 on your TV each commercial break?  A lot.  Finally, while Miz is not at the top of the ladder right now, he could be if he could just avoid those damn injuries!  Needless to say, that is perfect for the Skins.  Just think of the list of hurt players the Skins had last year and early this year: Orakpo, RG3, Garcon, and JFLANland favorite twitter follower/ avid WWE fan Adam Carriker.  If they weren't constantly bit by that injury bug, they could be something special.  I haven't given up hope for either The Miz or my Skins yet.

- Philadelphia Eagles: 3MB

          I don't say this just to insinuate that the Eagles are some kind of joke, a low/mid-card act that is really there just to get the top guys over in various squash matches...  Although, I don't think the Eagles will do much of anything this season.  No, I am picking 3MB because no one really knows what these three wrestlers (Jinder Mahal, Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater) are doing together, and why they are pretending to be a band.  Think of the Eagles QB situation as the 3MB of the WWE.  Mike Vick is McIntyre.  At one time, he was considered "The Chosen One", and the new face of his business before he actually did anything.  Then, following some injuries, some mistakes (Vick's worse than McIntyre's I'm sure), and inconsistent performance, he dropped.  Nick Foles is Slater.  You know there is some talent there somewhere, even if it isn't Hall of Fame stuff, but you are pretty sure he is in the wrong spot to let what he has actually flourish.  Matt Barkley is Jinder Mahal, the 3rd banana who should get a push if there weren't concerns over using him as a stereotype (Mahal being the feared foreigner from India, Barkley the feared USC QB failure as a pro).  By midseason, Philly fans will be screaming for Barkley, just like how "Don't Hinder Jinder" is becoming a movement.  No direction, no reason for them all being there, and no threat to the top stars.  The Eagles are 3MB.  And seriously, why the hell are they a "band"?  They don't have instruments!

Part 2: NFC North, coming soon!

JFLANland's NFL Fantasy Forum: Sleepers I Love

It is entirely possible that I am a fool.  After all, I am writing this post about the fantasy sleepers that I love for my Fantasy Forum weeks before my fantasy draft.  My friends (and fantasy enemies) could very well read this and take all of my picks.  I don't know how I feel about that...

Nevertheless, I want to help you, my faithful reader, win your league however I can.  So, here are some of those lesser-known players for the 2013 NFL season that I love:

- Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay:  I don't know if he should really be called a sleeper.  He just signed a big contract extension, which was very much deserved.  While Vincent Jackson may be the big play threat for the Bus, Mike Williams is the great possession receiver that can also catch touchdowns.  Last year he had more fantasy points than Antonio Brown, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald, Jordy Nelson, Desean Jackson and a ton of other WRs being drafted above him.  With his QB entering a contract year, and with Doug Martin a legitimate Top 10 fantasy back, I see no reason why Williams won't improve on those numbers.

- Rookie running backs!  Last year I watched all of the Redskins preseason games.  I noticed that a certain Mr. Alfred Morris was getting a ton of touches, and playing with the first team offense.  Apparently, none of my friends realized this, and I was able to snatch up Morris in the 10th round.  He went on to break Redskins rushing records and finish second in rushing yards in the NFL.  Are there guys in this rookie class than can be valuable late picks?  There sure are!
Obviously, Eddie Lacy, Montee Ball and Le'Veon Bell are the featured rookies, who are expected to start Week 1 for their teams.  But further down the ranks are guys who will not only steal carries from older backs, but will also be great for deep keeper leagues.  Giovani Bernard on the Bengals could be the starter in Cincy by Week 12 if BenJarvus Green-Ellis struggles.  He is also an ideal 3rd down back, who may even see some plays at WR because he is that good at catching the ball.  Johnathan Franklin will be splitting carries with Lacy in Green Bay, but may be the more dependable every-down back.  Denard Robinson will be a WR/RB hybrid, officially listed as OW: Offensive Weapon.  The former Michigan QB will be a slasher on a team in desperate need for an offensive kick, so its worth stashing him on your bench for a starter's bye week.

- DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston:  Reporters are saying the rookie wideout is impressing everyone at camp.  The great news about this is that, since Andre Johnson will get all of the defense's attention in the passing game, is that Hopkins should get one-on-one coverage all the time.  In his first pro game, he was targeted 5 times, and got 4 catches, 52 yards and a touchdown.  He'll start as the Texans' #2 receiver Week 1.

- Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati:  Kyle Rudolph is listed as a top 5 tight end by ESPN.  He doesn't have a QB throwing to him.  Eifert is younger, more talented, and already has great chemistry with Andy Dalton.  Lots of teams will be upset they didn't draft this Notre Dame TE.

- Jared Cook, TE, St. Louis:  Sam Bradford has always lacked great weapons in the passing game.  While Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey will help with the WR ranks, it is Cook that is going to be his best option.  Reports are that Cook has lined up at TE and split out wide, and looks to have as much of an offensive presence as another higher-rated tight end in the NFC West, Vernon Davis.

- Baltimore's defense:  Did they lose Ray Lewis and Ed Reed?  Yep.  Did they get younger, deeper, faster and more explosive through their draft and free agency?  Sure did.

- Kenny Stills, WR, New Orleans:  For deeper leagues, it is never a bad idea to take the #3 guy from an explosive offense.  Kenny Stills has a future HOFer throwing to him, and won't be guarded as closely as Colston or Graham.  He'll put up great numbers some weeks, and probably none on others, and could be one of those feared Big XII WR busts, but it is never a bad idea to take one of Brees' weapons.

- Joseph Randle, RB, Dallas:  I know, this goes against my "Don't Draft Cowboys" mantra.  However, we have seen that DeMarco Murray is made of glass and cannot stay healthy.  Randle has already impressed in preseason, so you should keep your eye on him later in the year.



That's all the secrets I feel like giving away right now.  I hope that this helps you out.  Remember, watch the preseason games and follow how teams are using these sleepers.  Then you can learn if they are worth picking sooner rather than later.  Good luck!

JFLANland's NFL Fantasy Forum: Who To Avoid

I don't claim to be a fantasy guru.  The fact that I have won my fantasy football league the last three years may show I know something though.  Yes, a combination of luck and knowledge has earned me some nice cash prizes, and I would like to pass some of this knowledge onto you.  Why?  Cause I'm a nice guy.  Also, I know my luck won't go on forever, so I might as well act like a know-it-all while I can.

For the first installment of JFLANland's NFL Fantasy Forum, I'd like to give you some of my players to avoid.  I don't like taking these guys, or players of their ilk.  Sometimes, it is because I hold an odd personal grudge.  Sometimes, it is because I dislike their team.  Other times it is because I think I know something you don't.  The results don't lie.  Here we go!

Do Not Draft!-

-The Dallas Cowboys.  I know, it is kind of silly.  Yet I have been able to win without them.  Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murry: They all get hurt.  They are unreliable.  Tony Romo will put up some good numbers, sure, but I tend to take QBs early enough to get one better than he is.  Maybe take Witten, but even then, I would avoid him because there are some great young tight ends on other teams.  Plus, they are the Cowboys.  You don't want to root for any of their players to do well.

- The Philadelphia Eagles.  Jeremy Maclin is out. Vick always gets hurt.  We have no idea if Chip Kelly's system will work in the NFL.  Riley Cooper will be injured by some angry safety.  DeSean Jackson doesn't really care that much.  I don't trust LeSean McCoy either.  Just avoid the Eagles.  Plus, like with the Cowboys, do you really want to root for the Eagles as the trip over themselves?

- Rob Gronkowski- Gronk hurt.  Gronk hurt a lot.  Gronk no play much.  Gronk no spike ball no more.  No draft Gronk.

- Darren McFadden and Chris Johnson.  You know that these guys have the talent, but they are perennial disappointments in fantasy.  Where is the old CJ2K?  Maybe he will be jealous that Adrian Peterson makes it look easy and will decide to play again.  As for Run DMC?  He'll be hurt by Week 8, so don't waste a pick on him in the first 4 rounds.

- DeMaryius Thomas, if he is your #1 WR.  I like him a lot, but only if he is coupled with another good wideout.  Peyton Manning with get Thomas the ball for sure, but he also has Decker and Welker to throw to now.

- Ryan Mathews.  Just don't.  Not again.  You know he has hurt you in the past.  Don't let him do it one more time.

- Aaron Hernandez... Obviously.

- Any Jets receiver until they prove they can throw.  Normally, I am all for taking the #1 WR on a bad team, because someone has to catch the passes.  In this case, though, I just don't think there is the talent there, both at QB and WR.  That being said, if you are desperate during the week for a sub, always look to the bad teams for a good replacement.  They may not get you consistent numbers like a #2 or 3 guy on an awesome team will, but they have bigger boom potential.  This can apply to the Browns too.

- Older running backs trying to hold off young guys.  This basically means that, if you don't have a #1 RB by the time the good ones are gone, you are screwed.  BenJarvis Green-Ellis is a solid flex player or substitute back, but he will be splitting time with Gio Bernard.  Rashard Mendenhall won't get much help from that Arizona O-line.  Ahmad Bradshaw will get receptions, but Vick Ballard could take some of his carries.  Frank Gore and Stephen Jackson have been horses for years, but their time will run out soon.  Be wary.  This is why you watch preseason games.

- Big XII receivers.  Wes Welker is the only exception.  Dez Bryant falls under the Cowboys rule.  Justin Blackmon is suspended.  Michael Crabtree is hurt.  There aren't any other WRs from those schools worth taking, so don't force it.\


There you go!  Hopefully this helps you out.  I'm not asking for a portion of any of your winnings, but some thanks would be nice.  Have fun!

Football Is Back!

Well, my baseball team is hot garbage, so it's time for me to dive head first into football!  NCAA!  NFL!  HOORAY!  The sport of kings has returned.

Yes, I love football.  A lot.

I love it so much I watch the Scouting Combine.  I watch all seven rounds of the Draft.  I watch as many preseason games as I can to get a little leg up on my fantasy competition.  I won the past 3 years, so I think I'm making a wise choice.

Anyway, over the next month, I will be posting more about football and much, much less about baseball.  This also means I will be posting more than I have been the past few months anyway.  I know you have missed it, and that I have promised to post more before, but this time I mean it.

So, enjoy the preseason!

Ryan Braun Finally Succumbs to Steroid Suspension

Well, the baseball police can breath a sigh of relief tonight.  They got him.  Ryan Braun will be suspended for the remainder of the season after getting essentially a plea deal for 65 games instead of the 100 a 2nd offense would get him.  It is breaking news, so the info is still rolling in, but it just seems like a good day for everyone involved.  MLB finally gets a guy who got off on a technicality.  The investigators now have confirmation that the Biogenesis information is factual and solid.  Even Braun should be OK with this, because we have seen that those who admit to use and take their punishment are easily forgiven by the masses (see Pettite, Giambi, McGwire as a coach), and those who choose to insist they are clean when people have proof that they are dirty (Clemens, Bonds, Sosa, and Palmeiro, which still breaks my heart) are hated.  Furthermore, Braun will not lose 100 games worth of paychecks.

It makes us as fans happy to know that Braun has been caught because of how mean and unapologetic he was when he got off on a technicality a few years ago.  He was, as ESPN's Tim Kurkjian called him, baseball's Lance Armstrong.  He was so vicious towards the man who supposedly mishandled his urine sample that we began to dislike him just for that.  Now that MLB has proven he is a liar, and now that Braun has admitted it, we can dislike him even more.

Yet at the same time, Braun is only 29 years old.  He still has a solid 5 to 10 years left in his career.  He can come back as a humbled man who has come to terms with his past mistakes.  He can be baseball's spokesman for the dangers of steroids.  He clearly has the ability to be an All Star player, but his decision to take steroid has sullied his name, damaged his reputation, and will cost him around $3 million in salary.  He should learn from Ray Lewis in the NFL.  The man did something wrong and then became the ultimate good soldier for his league.  This is the opportunity that Braun has before him.  If he can put together a decade of baseball with solid numbers when we know he is clean, as he should be after today, then he can return to the good graces of the baseball universe.

The Dog Days of Summer

Oh July, you are a cruel month.  Yes, it is in the middle of baseball season, but no other sports are going on.  On top of that, my beloved Washington Nationals have decided that they don't like scoring runs or winning, which makes sitting through 95 degree weather to see sloppy baseball an unpleasant experience.  Sure, last year it was much hotter; Probably a good 5 to 10 degrees warmer here in the DC metro area.  But winning seemed to mask all that heat.  The cool breeze of first place and a division title helped us forget how saturated our clothes and caps were in sweat and sunscreen.  This year?  Its just hot, and we can feel it.

The problem with warm weather, bad baseball, and not living up to expectations is that the combination causes great unrest.  Yes, the Nats are still better than the Marlins or Astros.  But this team, with virtually the same lineup, won 98 games last year and was one god damn strike call away from the NLCS (there were strikes thrown, ump.  Drew Storen still hasn't gotten over it).  At some point, heads have to roll and someone has to take the blame for this season so far.  Today, hitting coach Rick Eckstein was that man.  The Nats were near the bottom in almost all important offensive categories, so it seems like the logical thing to do since you can't fire the players.  But it probably won't be the last move.

There will be some major decisions coming from the Nats soon.  Do they try to salvage their season and catch the Braves by mortgaging their future, trading top prospects for another pitcher to solidify an oft-injured rotation?  Do they bring in another bat off the bench, or to replace a struggling starter?  I'm not so sold on those options.  At some point, we may have to accept that this just isn't the year.  Not every team expected to do well does.  Hell, most of the time the anointed preseason World Series favorite doesn't even get to the League Championship Series.  I don't want to ship out any prospect that can help us next year for a rental player.

No, instead of bringing in a new guy, we can just sit and hope.  Maybe this team, which has all the talent in the world, will finally start playing like everyone knows they can.  Maybe the excellent starting pitching will finally get the support of a newly-enthused offense, and the foundation of a lights out bullpen.  Maybe we have a huge 2nd half run in us, because the Braves have still left the door wide open for the Nats (or Phillies... yuck) to make a push for the NL East.  Maybe this is the first great comeback story for the Washington Nationals franchise!

Or maybe we're just a 2nd/3rd place, .500 team this season.  Its all possible.

Autumn will be here soon, and with the turning leaves and cooler temperatures will come either a glorious comeback or a relieving end to a disappointing season.  Til then, we have to suffer through the heat, through the sweat, through the dog days of summer.

JFLANland's 2013 NBA Mock Draft

I know I do a ton of mock draft rounds for the NFL.  Luckily, the NBA Draft is only 2 rounds, so it is a lot easier.  Here is my Round 1 Mock Draft.  I haven't researched this nearly enough, and as always there will be a ton of trades, but this is what I think teams should be doing/what they will do tonight.

1.  Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky.  I don't know if this is the right pick.  Centers coming off of injury, especially super-skinny centers, aren't exactly ideal.  Were I the Cavaliers, knowing I have a core of Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Cody Zeller for years to come, I add a small forward.  Otto Porter is the safe pick, but may not be a superstar.  Anthony Bennett could be Larry Johnson, but may also be a bust.  I'd take them both over Noel or Alex Len, to be honest.

2.  Orlando Magic: Victor Oladipo, SG/SF, Indiana.  He was one of the best players in college all year (except when he played Syracuse).  He could be a combo guard, or play SF in a small lineup.  He has a motor and solid defense.  Orlando just needs bodies that want to play right now, and Oladipo is a good fit.

3.  Washington Wizards: Otto Porter Jr., SF, Georgetown.  Otto Porter haunts my nightmares.  He destroyed my Syracuse Orange twice this past season (but not in the Big East Tournament, HAHA!).  He is the safe pick for an organization that can't afford a boom/bust guy like Anthony Bennett, as talented as he may be.  Wall, Beal, Porter, Nene, and Okafor? That is probably a playoff team.  Not a title contender, but the Wiz should be back playing basketball in May.

4.  Charlotte Bobcats: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas.  Interesting stat I read recently regarding the number of players from historically strong NCAA programs that succeed in the pros over the past decade or so.  Kentucky has a bunch.  Duke and Syracuse have a few.  Michigan State doesn't have many.  Kansas has virtually none.  Other than Kirk Heinrich and Nick Collison from the 2003 NCAA runner-up team, it is difficult to name a Kansas player who has a serious impact on their team.  Mario Chalmers may be closest, and he is at best #4 on the Heat.  Nevertheless, McLemore is considered the best pure scorer in the draft, and the Bobcats need everything.  Look for them to somehow mess up this pick though, because Michael Jordan is the worst owner/GM/President of Basketball Operations I have ever seen.

5.  Phoenix Suns: Alex Len, C, Maryland.  Another team that needs a ton of help.  They ended the year playing Luis Scola at center, and he is barely 6'9.  I think Bennett or one of the top 3 PGs could go here, but Len may fill the biggest need right away.  Not a huge fan of his, but he has potential.

6.  New Orleans Hornets Pelicans: Anthony Bennett, SF/PF, UNLV.  The rumors have the Pelicans taking a point guard here, but I don't really know why.  They have both Greives Vasquez and Eric Gordon, and though while they are both more natural shooting guards, should still be able to play together.  They have a bigger need at SF, where Al-Farouq Aminu only averages 7 points per game.  Bennett is a stretch PF, and could make one hell of a frontcourt with Anthony Davis.

7.  Sacramento Kings: CJ McCollum, PG, Lehigh.  That's right, Lehigh.  The Kings need a pointguard that can shoot.  MCW is the best pure passer and defender, but his J needs work.  Burke is a good scorer, but is undersized.  McCollum fits the mold that the Kings want.

8.  Detroit Pistons: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan.  I think Burke is the pick over Michael Carter-Williams for two reasons.  First, while MCW has the size and passing ability, he can't shoot the jumper as well as Burke. Second, Burke instantly has a built in fanbase in Detroit, having led Michigan to the NCAA Finals.  I don't know if I would pick Burke over MCW, but I am biased.

9.  Minnesota Timberwolves: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF, Georgia.  I know nothing about him, and the Wolves are a constant mess or disappointment.  Apparently this is the pick that will happen.

10.  Portland Trailblazers: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana.  JJ Hickson, the Blazers' starting center, is 6'9.  That won't do.  Zeller isn't ideal, and looked terrible against Syracuse's huge frontcourt in the Sweet 16, but he has a polished offensive game and a nose for the ball.

11.  Philadelphia 76ers: Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh.  He is raw.  Very raw.  So raw that he may have to be the 9th man in your rotation for a year or two.  But he has the size and potential to be a great center.

12.  Oklahoma City Thunder: Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse.  My boy MCW would be thrilled to land in this spot, I am sure.  Not only would he get to play right away due to the injury to Russell Westbrook, but he would be able to join a very talented young team.  Imagine a pass-first PG that plays defense to go with the offense of Westbrook at the 2 and Durant on the wing.  That'd be scary.  The Thunder could also reach for a big man, but they have other picks to fill that need.

13.  Dallas Mavericks: Sergey Karasev, SF, Russia.  He's foreign, and is probably trade bait.  That's all I got.

14.  Utah Jazz: Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil.  The Jazz may lose Al Jefferson and Paul Milsaps.  They need bigs.  I'm sure a 7-foot Brazilian dude will fit right in with the people of Utah...

15.  Milwaukee Bucks:  Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany.  He is bigger than Shane Larkin, and that may be all the difference.

16.  Boston Celtics: Kelly Olynyck, PF/C, Gonzaga.  The Celtics are rebuilding, and are looking at losing KG and Paul Pierce.  Rondo and Jeff Green will still be there, but they need a legit offensive weapon in the post.  Olynyck has the size and offensive ability to be a consistent scorer down low, and can also stretch the floor with solid mid-range and deep jumpers.

17.  Atlanta Hawks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF, Greece.  Not sure that will fit on a jersey...

18.  Atlanta Hawks: Mason Plumlee, PF/C, Duke.  He can play right now, unlike the Greek dude, and gives the Hawks a nice frontcourt with Al Horford.

19.  Cleveland Cavaliers: Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA.  He is completely one-dimensional, and apparently has a bad attitude, but the Cavs need a scoring wing, and that is the only thing Shabazz does well.

20.  Chicago Bulls: Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, UNC.  A scoring wing player that can come in and help a team with a great defense, especially if they end up trading Luol Deng.

21.  Utah Jazz:  Shane Larkin, PG, Miami.  They went big with their first pick, now they need someone to get him the ball.  The only knock on Larkin, it seems, is his height.  If he plays well enough, everyone will forget how tall he is.

22.  Brooklyn Nets: Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville.  The rumor is that the Nets are tryign to trade some of their big men, so this could be a replacement pick.  I wouldn't be shocked if new coach Jason Kidd tried adding a guard.

23.  Indian Pacers: Isaiah Canaan, PG, Murray State.  During the season, many of the experts said the Pacers were a point guard away from being contenders.  Well, they got to the Eastern Conference finals and pushed the Heat the entire series, so I think they have a damn good roster.  Canaan adds another scoring threat and some passing ability to a stacked team.

24.  New York Knicks: Mike Muscala, PF, Bucknell.  They won't do this.  No team will.  But Muscala looks like a complete PF, who has size, can play inside and out, rebounds, and can score.  The Knicks would be wise to pick a complete player who can help them instead of a one-dimensional one who hurts them in the playoffs.

25.  Los Angeles Clippers: Jamaal Franklin, SG/SF, San Diego State.  A natural scorer to help a team on the verge of greatness.  Doc Rivers will know how to use him well, especially paired with CP3.

26.  Minnesota Timberwolves: Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico.  More scoring is needed in Minnesota, so that's what they get.

27.  Denver Nuggests: Allen Crabbe, SG/SF, California.  Andre Iguodola may not re-sign, so the Nuggets need another scorer.  Crabbe is the best available, and has the size to play the 3 fairly well.

28.  San Antonio Spurs: Rudy Gobert, C/PF, France.  The Spurs love their international prospects.  They can keep him overseas for a year or two, like they did with Tiago Splitter, and bring him in when Tim Duncan finally calls it a career.

29.  Oklahoma City Thunder: Tim Hardaway Jr, SG, Michigan. The Thunder couple the MCW pick, a pass-first PG, with a dynamic offensive SG in Hardaway.  He could instantly become the new James Harden.

30.  Phoenix Suns: Glenn Rice, Jr., SF, NBDL.  Again, the Suns just need people that want to play and can score.  Alex Len helped up front.  Rice is a big time shooter, and will be a test to see if dominating the NBDL can translate to pro success.


Enjoy the draft!

How Great Would A Pacers-Grizzlies Final Be?

So, judging from the title of this post, I am sure that many of you are already upset.  Surely, the Heat will be in the NBA Finals.  You thought I really liked Tim Duncan (I do), so how could I pick against the Spurs?  The Pacers aren't even in the next round yet, and may not make it without George Hill.  I went to Syracuse, so how can I pick against Melo?

All valid points.  But I really want to see a Pacers-Grizzlies NBA Finals.

Let's assume for a moment that the Pacers are able to close out the Knicks and advance.  They are a tough young squad who may be able to beat the Heat once or twice.  Will they win the series?  Probably not.  But, if they did, and they got matched up with the Grizzlies, it would bring about one of my favorite things in the entire NBA- quality big men play.

Hibbert vs Gasol.  West vs. Randolph.

I am salivating at the idea of jump hooks and drop steps.

If you were born in the 1980s (like me) you have had a chance to watch some amazing NBA centers and power forwards for their entire careers: Shaq, Ewing, Kemp, Hakeem, Pau, Dwight, Duncan, The Admiral, KG, Zo, Rodman, Dikembe, Sir Charles, Malone.  It was a golden age for centers and power forwards.  However, recent NBA trends have gone with "smaller" lineups, though the players size is just the same.  LeBron James plays like a combo-guard, but has a body of a NBA center.  Dirk and Durant are both an eyelash under 7 feet, but they shoot 3's all night.  I miss the behemoths getting physical in the paint.  Wars on the blocks are always fun to watch for any real basketball fan.

The Pacers-Grizzlies brings a chance to see 4 all-star level giants going at it in the primes of their careers.  Does the NBA need the Heat Dynasty?  Yeah.  Would I love to see Tim get another ring?  Of course.  Would it be nice for Melo to have a NBA title to match his 2003 National Championship?  You bet.

But the fan in me wants to see Roy Hibbert post up the defensive player of the year in Marc Gasol.  I want to see Zeebo and West exchanging baskets, trash talk, and elbows.  It is what I love about the game.

Some Final Draft Thoughts

Just a few thoughts about how the 2013 NFL Draft went:

- I still have no idea what the Bills were doing taking EJ Manuel over Ryan Nassib.  The only reason Marrone has a NFL head coaching job is because of Nassib's play.  I, like some others, think that Manuel is a project, and the Bills can't afford to wait for him if they want to compete.  It isn't like Kevin Kolb and Tavares Jackson are the best QBs in the world.  Nassib could have stepped right into a system that he already knows and has played in for 4 years.  Of course, we found out later than Bills' Hall of Famer Bruce Smith is Manuel's godfather, so some strings could have been pulled there.

- Ryan Nassib now gets to backup Eli Manning.  The Giants had a weird draft.  It was as if they wanted me to start rooting for them.  Very happy for Cuse's Justin Pugh going #19 overall.  If Eli goes down, Nassib will be ready to go.

- Tyrann Mathieu got drafted.  If I'm the Cardinals,  I give him one chance.  Bill Polian said he wouldn't draft a guy with character issues like Mathieu.  He was a 6-time Executive of the Year.  I'd trust him.

- I think the Rams had the best draft.  Just from top to bottom, it was great.  The Bengals, Ravens and Vikings did well also.

- I thought the Skins did an OK job.  Drafting a corner and two safeties was smart.  However, even though I know Mike Shanahan is a RB guru, I don't think it was necessary to draft two running backs when we still have Alfred Morris.

- Manti Te'o to the Chargers was perfect.  He will stay away from the East Coast media, and gets a chance to play along some solid linebackers.  I think he will fit very well in the team and the community.

- I'm not entirely sure why the Eagles took Matt Barkley, unless Chip Kelly is completely redoing his offense, but the fact that he was available in the 4th round makes him a steal.

- Sorry, Geno Smith.  Learn everything you can from David Garrard, and wait until your contract with the Jets is up, or until they fire Rex.

- Eric Fisher was the #1 pick.  Central Michigan.  Crazy.

- My boy AJ Francis was not drafted, which baffles me.  However, he did sign with the Dolphins yesterday, so its all good.  Congrats AJ!


Time for OTA's and some more free agency.  Only a few months til preseason starts!

JFLANland's 2013 NFL Mock Draft: Round 4!

After all, it's only one more sleep til Draft Night!  WOOOOOOO!  So close.  Here is my final installment of my mock draft, since I have been busy the past few nights.  4th Round action.

A special shout out, by the way, to my boy and good friend AJ Francis.  AJ is a defensive tackle from the University of Maryland.  I believe he will hear his name called at some point this weekend, unless it happens during a commercial break.  I know of no kinder, more genuine, and more likable man than AJ.  He's a gem, and any team that drafts him is immediately getting a quality young man that can have a positive impact on their franchise.  He is projected in the 5th Round, but he'd be a steal there.  And you know I don't care for the Terps much, so he must be pretty special.

Anyway, here is Round 4:

1 (98). Jacksonville Jaguars- BW Webb, CB, William & Mary

2 (99). Kansas City Chiefs- Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State

3 (100). Oakland Raiders- Hugh Thornton, OG, Illinois

4 (101). Philadelphia Eagles- Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State

5 (102). Minnesota Vikings- Duke Williams, S, Nevada

6 (103). Arizona Cardinals- DaVonte Holloman, OLB, South Carolina

7 (104). Cleveland Browns- Dwayne Gratz, CB, UConn

8 (105). Buffalo Bills- Oday Aboushi, OG, Virginia

9 (106). New York Jets- John Simon, DE/OLB, Ohio State

10 (107). Tennessee Titans- Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee

11 (108). Carolina Panthers- Josh Boyce, WR, TCU

12 (109). New Orleans Saints- Kayvon Webster, CB, USF

13 (110). San Diego Chargers- Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida State

14 (111). Miami Dolphins- Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State

15 (112). Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Nicholas Williams, DT, Samford

16 (113). St. Louis Rams- Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M

17 (114). Dallas Cowboys- Barret Hones, OC/G/T, Alabama

18 (115). Pittsburgh Steelers- Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin

19 (116). New York Giants- Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M

20 (117). Chicago Bears- Jeff Baca, OG, UCLA

21 (118). Cincinnati Bengals-Christ Harper, WR, Kansas State

22 (119). Washington Redskins- Jonathan Bostic, ILB, Florida

23 (120). Minnesota Vikings- Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

24 (121). Indianapolis Colts- Giovani Bernard, RB, UNC

25 (122). Green Bay Packers- Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford

26 (123). Seattle Seahawks- David Amerson, CB, NC State

27 (124). Houston Texans- Sean Porter, OLB, Texas A&M

28 (125). Denver Broncos- JJ Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern

29 (126). Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Denard Robinson, WR/QB, Michigan

30 (127). Atlanta Falcons- Earl Watford, OG, James Madison

31 (128). San Francisco 49ers- Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee Titans

32 (129). Baltimore Ravens- Jordan Mills, OT, Louisiana Tech

33 (130). Baltimore Ravens- Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State

34 (131). San Francisco 49ers- Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas

35 (132). Detroit Lions- Steve Williams, CB, California

36 (133). Atlanta Falcons- Nico Johnson, ILB, Alabama



That's all I got for this year, kids.  Enjoy the Draft.  I hope your team takes all the players you think they need.  Here's to Mel Kiper's hair!