INJURIES MOUNT FOR MIZZOU & NYG, JAGS CUT GARRARD, FLA BLACKOUTS LIMITED TO 1 & MY FEARLESS NFL PREDICTIONS
The injury news continues to mount for the Missouri Tigers & New York Giants. Mizzou will be without starting running back Kendial Lawrence as he suffered a hairline fracture of his tibia. He could miss 3-6 weeks. With Henry Josey & Devion Moore, the Tigers aren't without experienced backups, but it's just another player who was counted on that won't be playing for a while. Lawrence joins left tackle Elvis Fisher, who's out for the season, center Travis Ruth, out since mid-August with a strained Achilles, defensive end Jacquies Smith, dislocated elbow, & linebacker Will Ebner who has a high ankle sprain. That's five starters who won't make the trip to Tempe this week.
The Giants defense took yet another hit when starting middle linebacker Jonathan Goff tore his ACL & was placed on injured reserve, out for the season. They have a few options, resigning Phillip Dillard, who was cut Saturday, resign Kawika Mitchell, who was released by Buffalo right after the 2010 season ended or they can revisit Keith Bullock, also a free agent who, like the other candidates, knows the system.
My man Al Michaels was questioned outside a Hollywood restaurant by a TMZ camera crew Monday evening. They asked him if the Raiders were going to win a Super Bowl soon to which Michaels replied "as long as Al Davis is alive, you ain't gonna win a Super Bowl." The cameraman, obviously a Raider fan, said "isn't Al Davis considered a genius? He helped build the AFL & NFL & he's a Hall of Fame guy right?" Michaels replied with the best question of the exchange "let me ask you a question, if you had a team that lost 11 or more games in 7 consecutive years, would you say a genius ran the team?" That's what make Michaels the very best at what he does.
It appears the Florida teams will face only one blackout this weekend. Just like last season, it's Tampa Bay. The Jaguars will buy up enough non-premium tickets to allow the game to be televised locally. The same in Miami as the Dolphins are expected to swallow enough of the remaining 6,000 tickets to avoid a blackout. Tampa plays the Detroit Lions, a matchup of two of the NFC's up & comers. Hard to figure, this will be Tampa's 11th consecutive blackout.
Jacksonville just about had to insure their team would be televised after they saved over $8 million by cutting starting quarterback David Garrard on Tuesday. They will start Luke McCown Sunday against Tennessee. This is the second time they have cut their starting quarterback the week of their opening game, Byron Leftwich was released in 2007 under the same circumstances. Very puzzling, it appears coach Jack Del Rio has gone "all in" for this season, one that finds him squarely on the hot seat.
So I guess it's time to put into print my 2011 NFL predictions, here goes.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia--I'm picked the Eagles not because they're the "Dream Team" but because Dallas & the Giants have more issues than the Birds.
2. New York Giants--As the defensive injuries mount, the Eli Manning interception question hasn't been settled either.
3. Dallas--Too many offensive line questions, can Felix Jones hold up as the feature back & the Cowboy secondary was a problem in 2010, it looks to be the same in 2011.
4. Washington--Any team starting Rex Grossman at quarterback isn't expecting much. Neither am I. Still believe Mike Shanahan is terribly overrated.
NFC South
1. New Orleans--Dumped Reggie Bush & got Darren Sproles, a positive move. Drafted Mark Ingram, also a major improvement. Had trouble stopping the run in 2010, signed Shaun Rogers & Aubrayo Franklin to play DT. I like everything the Saints did.
2. Atlanta--still not sold on this team, the Falcons have never made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. I think they'll squeeze in, but their defense just isn't Super Bowl worthy IMO.
3. Tampa Bay--10-6 last year, they won't be this season. Tougher schedule & too many distractions, I see 8-8.
4. Carolina--Cam Newton becomes the starter, this will be a long season for Panther fans.
NFC North
1. Green Bay--I expect some Super Bowl hangover, but the Pack is so much better than everyone else in this division, I can't see them falling too far. They won the Super Bowl with 12 players on injured reserve & yet never trailed by more than 7 points at any point last season. I don't see a repeat of that in '11, but this is a good team.
2. Detroit--Sticking my neck out here a little, but if QB Matthew Stafford remains healthy, the offense will score enough points to post a winning record. The defense will continue to improve & intimidate with Suh & company.
3. Chicago--Too many offensive line issues, erratic QB & a disgruntled running back spell trouble for the Bears. No playoffs in 2011.
4. Minnesota--could pass both the Bears & Lions if Donovan McNabb can generate enough passing yards to keep teams from swarming Adrian Peterson.
NFC West
1. St. Louis--The Rams did everything right in the shortened off season. Got relief help for Steven Jackson, assembled some receivers for future elite QB Sam Bradford to throw to & watch TE Lance Kendricks, a budding star. Defense will be better as well.
2. Arizona--Kevin Kolb was a big improvement for a Cardinal team that had the worst QB play in the league last year. If RB Ryan Williams hadn't been injured, they might have been my pick in this division.
3. Seattle--They'll be fortunate to win 5 games this season. Awful QB talent & too many starters with extensive injury histories.
4. San Francisco--They're definitely in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes, this is a bad team.
AFC East
1. New England--Real stretch picking the 8-time division winning Patriots. Still don't like their lack of pass rushers & speed receivers. I think it will hurt them once again in the playoffs.
2. New York Jets--Lost a lot of experienced vets & that's why I place them 2nd. Not a Mark Sanchez fan & will Plaxico & Derrick Mason hold up all season?
3. Buffalo--I like the Bills just a little more than Miami, neither will win more than 5 games.
4. Miami--Poor QB play, fragile running backs, shaky O-line & a sub-par defensive line doom the Phish.
AFC South
1. Houston--Not totally sold on the Texans but in what could be a Manning-less division the first few weeks, Houston can build a lead big enough to finally make the playoffs.
2. Indianapolis--The fact they play Houston week one w/o Peyton starts them off on the wrong foot. Also have Pittsburgh & Tampa Bay in the 1st 4 weeks.
3. Tennessee--Titans, Jaguars, flipped a coin, Tennessee won.
4. Jacksonville--By cutting David Garrard, the Jags told their fans "don't expect much."
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh--Aging defense(9 of 11 starters over 30) might have 1 more year in them. O-Line is a question mark, but QB, RB & a frightening WR corps should score points.
2. Baltimore--Another defense long in the tooth & with cornerback questions. The offensive tackle situation isn't the best either. Still good enough to make the post-season.
3. Cleveland--Browns could see .500 if they stay healthy.
4. Cincinnati--The Bengals will have the worst record in the AFC.
AFC West
1. San Diego--D-coordinator Greg Manusky brings a new toughness to San Diego along with S Bob Sanders & ILB Takeo Spikes. Both of Phillip Rivers' favorite receivers wil be there from day one, unlike last year. Tough schedule, but I think this is a Super Bowl team.
2. Kansas City--Much tougher schedule, no quality tight end, tackle play is shaky as is defensive line. If K.C. can stop the run, they can compete for a wildcard. If not, 8-8 or 7-9 is more realistic.
3. Oakland--Swept the division last year but lost best defender, pass receiver & blocker. Just another Silver & Black disappointment.
4. Denver--Teams will try to run between the tackles against new 4-3 defense & they should be successful. Six different D-coordinators in last 6 years is a real issue.
Wildcard playoff teams:
NFC--Atlanta & Detroit
AFC--NY Jets & Baltimore
Super Bowl:
San Diego defeats New Orleans
Stop emailing, I promise to post my "Office Pool Picks" tomorrow morning or on every Friday morning there is not a Thursday night game for the next 17-weeks.
The Giants defense took yet another hit when starting middle linebacker Jonathan Goff tore his ACL & was placed on injured reserve, out for the season. They have a few options, resigning Phillip Dillard, who was cut Saturday, resign Kawika Mitchell, who was released by Buffalo right after the 2010 season ended or they can revisit Keith Bullock, also a free agent who, like the other candidates, knows the system.
My man Al Michaels was questioned outside a Hollywood restaurant by a TMZ camera crew Monday evening. They asked him if the Raiders were going to win a Super Bowl soon to which Michaels replied "as long as Al Davis is alive, you ain't gonna win a Super Bowl." The cameraman, obviously a Raider fan, said "isn't Al Davis considered a genius? He helped build the AFL & NFL & he's a Hall of Fame guy right?" Michaels replied with the best question of the exchange "let me ask you a question, if you had a team that lost 11 or more games in 7 consecutive years, would you say a genius ran the team?" That's what make Michaels the very best at what he does.
It appears the Florida teams will face only one blackout this weekend. Just like last season, it's Tampa Bay. The Jaguars will buy up enough non-premium tickets to allow the game to be televised locally. The same in Miami as the Dolphins are expected to swallow enough of the remaining 6,000 tickets to avoid a blackout. Tampa plays the Detroit Lions, a matchup of two of the NFC's up & comers. Hard to figure, this will be Tampa's 11th consecutive blackout.
Jacksonville just about had to insure their team would be televised after they saved over $8 million by cutting starting quarterback David Garrard on Tuesday. They will start Luke McCown Sunday against Tennessee. This is the second time they have cut their starting quarterback the week of their opening game, Byron Leftwich was released in 2007 under the same circumstances. Very puzzling, it appears coach Jack Del Rio has gone "all in" for this season, one that finds him squarely on the hot seat.
So I guess it's time to put into print my 2011 NFL predictions, here goes.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia--I'm picked the Eagles not because they're the "Dream Team" but because Dallas & the Giants have more issues than the Birds.
2. New York Giants--As the defensive injuries mount, the Eli Manning interception question hasn't been settled either.
3. Dallas--Too many offensive line questions, can Felix Jones hold up as the feature back & the Cowboy secondary was a problem in 2010, it looks to be the same in 2011.
4. Washington--Any team starting Rex Grossman at quarterback isn't expecting much. Neither am I. Still believe Mike Shanahan is terribly overrated.
NFC South
1. New Orleans--Dumped Reggie Bush & got Darren Sproles, a positive move. Drafted Mark Ingram, also a major improvement. Had trouble stopping the run in 2010, signed Shaun Rogers & Aubrayo Franklin to play DT. I like everything the Saints did.
2. Atlanta--still not sold on this team, the Falcons have never made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. I think they'll squeeze in, but their defense just isn't Super Bowl worthy IMO.
3. Tampa Bay--10-6 last year, they won't be this season. Tougher schedule & too many distractions, I see 8-8.
4. Carolina--Cam Newton becomes the starter, this will be a long season for Panther fans.
NFC North
1. Green Bay--I expect some Super Bowl hangover, but the Pack is so much better than everyone else in this division, I can't see them falling too far. They won the Super Bowl with 12 players on injured reserve & yet never trailed by more than 7 points at any point last season. I don't see a repeat of that in '11, but this is a good team.
2. Detroit--Sticking my neck out here a little, but if QB Matthew Stafford remains healthy, the offense will score enough points to post a winning record. The defense will continue to improve & intimidate with Suh & company.
3. Chicago--Too many offensive line issues, erratic QB & a disgruntled running back spell trouble for the Bears. No playoffs in 2011.
4. Minnesota--could pass both the Bears & Lions if Donovan McNabb can generate enough passing yards to keep teams from swarming Adrian Peterson.
NFC West
1. St. Louis--The Rams did everything right in the shortened off season. Got relief help for Steven Jackson, assembled some receivers for future elite QB Sam Bradford to throw to & watch TE Lance Kendricks, a budding star. Defense will be better as well.
2. Arizona--Kevin Kolb was a big improvement for a Cardinal team that had the worst QB play in the league last year. If RB Ryan Williams hadn't been injured, they might have been my pick in this division.
3. Seattle--They'll be fortunate to win 5 games this season. Awful QB talent & too many starters with extensive injury histories.
4. San Francisco--They're definitely in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes, this is a bad team.
AFC East
1. New England--Real stretch picking the 8-time division winning Patriots. Still don't like their lack of pass rushers & speed receivers. I think it will hurt them once again in the playoffs.
2. New York Jets--Lost a lot of experienced vets & that's why I place them 2nd. Not a Mark Sanchez fan & will Plaxico & Derrick Mason hold up all season?
3. Buffalo--I like the Bills just a little more than Miami, neither will win more than 5 games.
4. Miami--Poor QB play, fragile running backs, shaky O-line & a sub-par defensive line doom the Phish.
AFC South
1. Houston--Not totally sold on the Texans but in what could be a Manning-less division the first few weeks, Houston can build a lead big enough to finally make the playoffs.
2. Indianapolis--The fact they play Houston week one w/o Peyton starts them off on the wrong foot. Also have Pittsburgh & Tampa Bay in the 1st 4 weeks.
3. Tennessee--Titans, Jaguars, flipped a coin, Tennessee won.
4. Jacksonville--By cutting David Garrard, the Jags told their fans "don't expect much."
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh--Aging defense(9 of 11 starters over 30) might have 1 more year in them. O-Line is a question mark, but QB, RB & a frightening WR corps should score points.
2. Baltimore--Another defense long in the tooth & with cornerback questions. The offensive tackle situation isn't the best either. Still good enough to make the post-season.
3. Cleveland--Browns could see .500 if they stay healthy.
4. Cincinnati--The Bengals will have the worst record in the AFC.
AFC West
1. San Diego--D-coordinator Greg Manusky brings a new toughness to San Diego along with S Bob Sanders & ILB Takeo Spikes. Both of Phillip Rivers' favorite receivers wil be there from day one, unlike last year. Tough schedule, but I think this is a Super Bowl team.
2. Kansas City--Much tougher schedule, no quality tight end, tackle play is shaky as is defensive line. If K.C. can stop the run, they can compete for a wildcard. If not, 8-8 or 7-9 is more realistic.
3. Oakland--Swept the division last year but lost best defender, pass receiver & blocker. Just another Silver & Black disappointment.
4. Denver--Teams will try to run between the tackles against new 4-3 defense & they should be successful. Six different D-coordinators in last 6 years is a real issue.
Wildcard playoff teams:
NFC--Atlanta & Detroit
AFC--NY Jets & Baltimore
Super Bowl:
San Diego defeats New Orleans
Stop emailing, I promise to post my "Office Pool Picks" tomorrow morning or on every Friday morning there is not a Thursday night game for the next 17-weeks.
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