Conference Championship

Could we have a John and Jim Harbaugh super bowl showdown? It's quite possible

http://nesncom.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/john-harbaugh-jim-harbaugh.jpg?w=400&h=225

We will finally know who will be playing in the super bowl after today. Last week was as good as I thought it would be, though I almost struck out on all four of my picks. With only two games today, I'm hoping I can do a little better this week. Here's my predictions for the Conference Championship matchups...

Sunday, January 20

3:00 p.m.-49ers @ Falcons:  27-13 49ers

This is the week that the Falcons will fall. They are not going to be able to run the ball as easily as the did last week against this 49ers front seven. Look for Matt Ryan to make a couple of mistakes, similar to his mistakes last week. This time around they will not be able to work their homefield advantage magic.

6:30 p.m.-Ravens @ Patriots:  30-24 Ravens

I love what the Ravens have been able to do as of late and I think the offense's success will continue. Joe Flacco has been great in these playoffs and Ray Lewis continues to anchor the defense with 30 tackles in the playoffs already. Can Tom Brady make another appearance in the super bowl? He could, but I don't think it will happen this time around. The Ravens win this game because of Flacco, the Ravens receivers, and the bad Patriots secondary.

Trindon Holliday

Wow. That was a great game. It was well played by both teams. You have to love the games that go down to the wire like that and especially when the games mean so much.

With the game behind us now, I want to look at one guy in particular from the game. That's Trindon Holliday. He had some huge special teams scores that really made this game even more fun to watch. Here we have the 90 yard punt return touchdown for the first score of the game. This guy is lightning fast and he is only 5' 5". 

Below is the link to his 104 yard kick return touchdown. Holliday is the first player in NFL history to return a punt and kick for a touchdown in a playoff game. A remarkable achievement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0od0JzfLK4&feature=player_embedded#t=0s



2012 NFL Re-draft

Sometimes it's fun to go back and evaluate the previous year's draft and figure out where guys should've went based on their rookie season play. In other words, this is what the results should have looked like in the 2012 NFL Draft...

Russell Wilson would not last to the third round the second time around

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/121213124025-russell-wilson-single-image-cut.jpg

1. Andrew Luck - Colts:  It was hard to mess up on this pick and the Colts got it right.

2. Robert Griffin III - Redskins:  Again, obvious choice here.

3. Trent Richardson - Browns:  I've been looking at a couple of re-drafts already and a lot of them have Russell Wilson going third to Cleveland. Wilson's good, but Richardson proved to us this year that he can be a feature back in this league. In a couple of years I think we will all realize that Richardson was the correct pick here.

4. Matt Kalil - Vikings:  Another good choice here. You have to wonder what kind of season that Adrian Peterson would've had if they didn't go with Kalil.

5. Russell Wilson - Jaguars:  If the Jags knew what Wilson was capable of, I guarantee they pick him over Justin Blackmon at 5.

6. Morris Claiborne - Cowboys:  This is the guy the Cowboys had their eye on. They wouldn't change their pick.

7. Doug Martin - Tampa Bay:  Martin actually went to the Bucs at pick 31 but based off his play last season he should've been a top 10 pick.

8. Ryan Tannehill - Miami:  If the Dolphins had a redo I think they need to look for someone other than Tannehill. But I guess this is a passing league so they'd most likely pick him again.

9. Fletcher Cox - Panthers:  Cox is a beast. Too bad the Eagles have him.

10. Luke Kuechly - Bills:  Buffalo is pretty bad at both cornerback and linebacker. However, Kuechly makes more plays than their actual first round pick Stephon Gilmore.

11. Chandler Jones - Chiefs:  Dontari Poe isn't a bust yet but I think the Chiefs want this pick back.

12. Lavonte David - Eagles:  This 2nd round pick finished with well over 100 tackles and would definitely help in the rebuilding of this Eagle defense.

13. Kevin Zeitler - Cardinals:  Need I say anything about the Cardinals offensive line?

14. Michael Brockers - Rams:  I'm going to say that, for now, this was the correct pick. Brockers is still raw plus they still need help at d-line.

15. Bobby Wagner - Seahawks:  They ended up picking Wagner but he would go a lot earlier the second time around.

16. Melvin Ingram - Jets:  Out of the available defensive lineman, I say Ingram.

17. Harrison Smith - Bengals:  Who needs Nate Clements when you can have Harrison Smith.

18. David DeCastro - Chargers:  The Chargers could use a little bit of everything but it starts at offensive line.

19. Riley Reiff - Bears:  Cutler finally gets a lineman. Too bad this is just a re-draft.

20. Zach Brown - Titans:  This subpar defense needs Zach Brown.

21. Janoris Jenkins - Patriots:  They wouldn't have needed to trade for Aqib Talib if they went after the second round steal, Janoris Jenkins.

22. Dont'a Hightower - Browns:  Let's make this team look somewhat intimidating instead of drafting Brandon Weeden.

23. Mitchell Swartz - Lions:  I'd say he's just as good, if not better than Riley Reiff.

24. Bruce Irvin - Steelers:  You know why they didn't make the playoffs? Their defense walk around on canes.

25. Whitney Mercilus - Patriots:  With Chandler Jones off the board they go with Mercillus.

26. Justin Blackmon- Texans:  Texans don't have much at receiver outside of Andre Johnson.

27. Casey Hayward - Bengals:  He's a defensive rookie of the year candidate. That's first round worthy to a cornerback needy team.

28. Courtney Upshaw - Packers:  I still can't believe Upshaw fell to the second round. That doesn't happen in my re-draft.

29. Mark Barron - Vikings:  Barron wasn't bad but he wasn't great this year either. The Vikings original pick, Harrison Smith, outplayed him but Barron is great value at this spot.

30. Michael Floyd - 49ers:  He can't already be a bust can he? He definitely has first round talent.

31. Stephon Gilmore - Buccaneers:  If the Bucs had any idea how there cornerback position would pan out this year they would've taken a cornerback like Gilmore in the first round.

32. Alfred Morris - Giants:  I have no idea if Morris would thrive without someone like RG3 at quarterback. Surely, he can do better than David Wilson though right?



To see the real draft results refer to this site...
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1164697-nfl-draft-2012-results-of-every-pick-in-this-years-draft

Ray Lewis's Last Chance?

Today could be the last time we see Ray Lewis making plays on the field

http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ray-lewis-dance.jpg

By now we all know that this is Ray Lewis's "last ride." His ride may be ending today as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Denver Broncos. Hopefully, it will be a good, physical matchup. For the Ravens to put themselves in a winning position, they must play physically sound on both sides of the ball. Joe Flacco is going to have to play flawless against this defense, they're going to have to get both Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce involved, and the o-line needs to block Von Miller. Watch the Von Miller-Michael Oher matchup very closely because if Miller has a field-day out there, it's gonna make for a long and uncomfortable day for Flacco. Miller is the reason that the Ravens are going to need a good running game.

As for Ray Lewis and the defense, they need to somehow force some turnovers. They are going to have to minimize the damage from Peyton Manning in any way they can.

I know for a fact that Lewis wants to see his guys go out there as the underdogs and beat Peyton. I know for a fact that the Ravens want to win another one for Ray and give him another shot at a Super Bowl ring. I also know that the Ravens are going to have their work cut out for them in this matchup. I'd love to see them win it for Ray, but there are way too many strengths on this Broncos team that I can't see the Ravens pulling it out.

Just as a side note, I believe that, along with Lewis, Ed Reed may also be hanging up his cleats after this playoff run. He has hinted at retirement in the past and his contract will be up at season's end. And if he doesn't retire, who's to say the Ravens want him back.

Hopefully we'll see Lewis and Reed back in action next week because it will be a sad day to see them leave the NFL for good.

NFL Hall of Fame Class

The Hall of Fame revealed the final cut of the finalists on Friday. There are a total of 17 finalists...

1. G/T - Larry Allen
2. RB - Jerome Bettis
3. WR/KR/PR - Tim Brown
4. WR - Chris Carter
5. DL - Curley Culp
6. Owner - Ed Bartolo, Jr.
7. LB - Kevin Greene
8. DE/LB - Charles Haley
9. Owner - Art Modell
10. OT - Jonathan Ogden
11. Coach - Bill Parcells
12. WR - Andre Reed
13. LB - Dave Robinson
14. DT - Warren Sapp
15. OG - Will Shields
16. DE - Michael Strahan
17. DB - Aeneas Williams

Jonathan Ogden was a beast on the Ravens offensive line for 12 years and finds himself in a position to be a Hall of Famer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/10/24/Local-Politics/Images/Hall_of_Fame_Nominees_Football-0d759-446.jpg

One name missing from the list that I thought would be a finalist was former commissioner, Paul Tagliabue. I know that no one likes the commissioners but Tagliabue contributed a great deal to the set-up of the salary cap. The last thing we want as fans is for the NFL to be like the MLB with the big-market teams like the Yankees and Dodgers stealing the show.

Now, I'm not one to guess on who gets in. I will say that there are a couple of guys that jump out at me. Disregarding owners and coaches, the big names include Michael Strahan (Giants), Warren Sapp (Buccaneers/Raiders), Larry Allen (Cowboys/49ers), Chris Carter (Eagles/Vikings/Dolphins) and Jonathan Ogden (Ravens).

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in the first weekend of August. Till then, it's anyone's guess on who gets inducted into Canton.



For more informatino refer to these sites...
http://espn.go.com/nfl/topics/_/page/pro-football-hall-fame
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-nfl-news-pro-football-hall-of-fame-names-17-finalists-for-2013-class-20130111,0,7986280.story

Paul George

Breaking News. The Indiana Pacers are 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a 22-14 record. And Paul George is having a breakout season with Danny Granger on the shelf with a knee injury. The 6' 8" George has taken on a new role on the Pacers while 16.9 ppg. His ppg is up almost 5 points from last season. He is also ranked fifth in rpg for small forwards behind some elite rebounders like Kenneth Faried, LeBron James, and company.

Paul George is starting to show his potential

http://slamdunktraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Paul-George-Basketball.jpg

George is known around the league to be a great defender but the knock on him has always been his ball handling. This year he is turning the ball over 2.8 times a game which is up 1.0 from last year. He is going to have to improve in this area to get to the next step in his development.

George and the Pacers are putting up a surprisingly productive season. The scary thing about him is that he is not a finished product. Keep in mind that he is 2 years pro and still only 22 years old. Even though he hasn't reached his full potential, we are beginning to see the glimpses of what is capable of.

The Pacers have a good little tandem going for them right now with George, Roy Hibbert, and George Hill. When and if Danny Granger returns the Pacers will improve even more, but if he is unable to return this season, Paul George has proven that he is capable of carrying a bigger role.




For more stats refer to these sites...
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/rebounds/sort/avgRebounds/position/small-forwards
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4251/paul-george

Is Golden State for Real?

The Golden State Warriors are one of those teams that no one ever seems to really care about. They aren't a powerhouse team and they don't have exceptional players. But the Warriors are silently putting up a nice season. They are now 5th in the Western Conference with a 22-12 record. Record-wise, the are right up there with the Heat and Knicks, yet they get no respect.

David Lee and Stephen Curry are putting up All-Star numbers

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/4_vqgn8CLJAEX3oK2JrYYg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/David-Lee-and-Stephen-Curry-dominated-the-Clippers-on-Wednesday.-Ezra-Shaw-Getty-Images.jpg

The impressive thing about Golden State is there lack of recognizable players. The starting lineup consists of guys like Klay Thompson (15.9 ppg), Harrison Barnes (9.1 ppg), and Festus Ezeli (2.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Yes, you read that right. Festus Ezeli has started 29 games for the Warriors and has 2.9 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds per game. The other two starters, Stephen Curry and David Lee have been putting up all-star numbers this year. Curry is averaging 20.2 ppg and 6.4 rebounds per game. Lee has been a double-double machine averaging 19.7 ppg and 10.9 rpg. The bench has really pulled this team together. Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack have both been averaging double-digits in points per game and have been instrumental to the team's success.

This team will be something to keep tabs on as the season continues. Don't be fooled. What appears to be a team lacking in talent is actually a team with incredible team chemistry. The key will be staying healthy. Stephen Curry has an injury history but has done a good job staying healthy thus far. If they can continue to stay healthy, look for them to be a legitimate playoff contender.



For more information refer to these sites...
http://espn.go.com/nba/standings
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2013.html

Divisional Playoff Predictions

The NFL playoff race for a Super Bowl appearance is starting to heat up.

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2013/01/06/0ap1000000123071.jpg

It's now an eight team race for a chance at Super Bowl XVLII. I am really excited to see how the race will pan out this year. Is it just me or is this some of the best playoff matchups we've seen in a while? At this point, any of these organizations could win it all and it seems that every one of these teams are playing their best football of the season right now. The best teams separate themselves from the others this late in the season and these final eight teams are, undoubtedly, the best of the best. Let's take a look at the matchups;

Saturday, January 12th


4:30 p.m.-Ravens @ Broncos:  24-20 Broncos

The Broncos are arguably the hottest team in the league right now and it will be interesting to see if the bye week will either help or hurt them. The Ravens have been inconsistent but they will need a flawless performance on Saturday to take down the Broncos. As long as the Broncos have Peyton Manning, I see them winning this game.


8:00 p.m.-Packers @ 49ers:  21-17 49ers

This is going to be a good one to watch. If the 49ers offense can move the ball on a subpar Packer defense, which they should, then the 49ers should take this game. The key for the Niners will be to stop Aaron Rodgers from taking control of the game.



Sunday, January 13th

1:00 p.m.-Seahawks @ Falcons:  24-14 Seahawks

I am officially sold on the Seattle Seahawks. They are a legitimate super bowl threat this year, even with a 5-11" rookie quarterback named Russell Wilson. I think we all can agree that the Falcons are a bit overrated. They are still playing good, but I see them falling in the divisional round. The only way they win this game is if their homefield advantage magic takes over.


4:30 p.m.-Texans @ Patriots:  31-20 Texans

This one is another tough game to pick. I'm going to say that the Patriots can not gain any momentum off the bye and the Texans take it. It's a coin flip for me though.




For more info refer to the sites below...
http://www.nfl.com/schedules
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14881/russell-wilson