Tag Archive: cam newton

The NL East, The Big East, and Dan LeBatard Eats

September 20, 2011 Randy Neil

Welcome back, boys and girls. It’s been a pretty amazing week. The Phillies clinched the NL East with a win over the Cardinals on Saturday. Chase Utley’s barehanded grab to make the last out was symbolic of our entire season. We could do things the more traditional way, but instead, we’ll just make it look easy. Get your cameras ready, we’re making a highlight reel.

College football is changing. Smaller schools and smaller conferences are starting to get bullied around by the bigger fish in the pond. The ACC is starting to make moves that strangely look like they are attempting to destroy the Big East Conference. Teams are leaving, teams are joining other conferences, everyone is playing musical chairs.

If it wasn’t for the disgusting greed behind these actions, I’d actually be in favor of consolidating conferences in some cases. Bigger conferences make for better competition among teams, better games, etc. Sure, it would hurt those smaller schools, but isn’t the illegal recruiting already doing that?

I’m curious as to what college sports will look like in twenty years. I imagine a mere 3 major conferences, all involving 20 or more teams, with players that are getting financially compensated and huge scandals. It’s getting ugly, folks, and I don’t see any signs of it slowing down.

Now, I have to take a brief moment of silence for someone dear in the sports community. The Florida Marlins’ fans. Does anyone down there have time in between gator hunting to check out America’s pastime? Last week, Sun Life Stadium hosted a whopping 347 total spectators for a Marlins’ game. THREE. HUNDRED. FORTY. SEVEN. Man, that’s sad.

Florida is talking about building a new stadium for the Florida Marlins, and honestly, I can’t imagine why. Obviously the days of combining a football and baseball stadium are somewhat faux pas (cough, OAKLAND, cough, SAN DIEGO) but still, if you aren’t drawing crowds in Florida with a good team (see Bay, Tampa) you probably won’t do it with a terrible team. Let us bow our heads….

Ok, now if you haven’t seen, or even heard of, the new Dan Le Batard (pronounced Leh-bi-tard) show on ESPN2, I strongly recommend you watch it. Le Batard has been a regular on PTI and writes for the Miami Herald.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. The guys a douche, right? I used to think so, too, but his fast paced, bold attitude while interviewing athletes is perfect. His co-host happens to be his father, who truly has no business on television, but that’s what makes it funny. His thick Cuban accent makes interviewees very uncomfortable during questioning, and makes me very delighted.

I didn’t get a chance to see the Floyd Mayweather “knockout”, but from what I’ve heard, it was pretty unsatisfying. Look, truth is, he was going to win that fight anyway. I hate the guy, but there’s only one man on the face of the planet who’s better than him. We all know who it is, including Mayweather, which is why we’ll probably never see that fight take place. It’s pathetic, but I guess I wouldn’t have much an issue having people hating me if I was making $50 million dollars. I would just buy some of those people and pay them to like me.

Finally, I KNOW ya’ll saw my man Cam Newton tear it up. I fell into the hype of thinking he wasn’t going to perform as well against the Packers, so I sat him, again. It came back to haunt me once more, as I lost this week.

Week 1 : 422 Yards, 2 TD, 1 Int, 1 Rush TD
Week 2 : 432 Yards, 1 TD, 3 Int

Now those 3 picks look nasty, but in the fantasy world, they cancel out that 1 TD and I’m looking at a QB who threw for 432 yards. In most leagues, that equates to about 35 points. I’d take that anyway, and I should have.

Seeing how many yards Cam threw got me thinking…. Who the heck is this guy throwing to?? Steve Smith caught for a majority of those with 156, but who accounted for those other 276?

Well, Jonathan Stewart caught 8 passes for 100 yards. Jeremy Shockey got 46. Greg Olsen only caught 1 pass for 34. Brandon LaFell grabbed 4 receptions for 49 yards. He’s distributing the ball well.

Another thing that stood out was Carolina’s leading rusher. It’s Cam Newton. So far, he leads a team that boasts a duo of great running backs with 71 yards. Jonathan Stewart and Deangelo Williams have a combined 74 yards in two games. This concerns me.

Ah well, 854 yards in his first two games. Cry me a river, right?

LETS GET TO THEM PICKENS!!

San Francisco (-2.5) over Cincinnati
Playing in Cincinnati, still like the 49ers in this one.

Buffalo (+9) over New England
Division rivals, plus Buffalo has a healthy run game. I expect this to be close enough to take the points.

Houston (+4) over New Orleans
The Texans are on fire. Even with Schaub being mediocre, I think they’ll win in New Orleans.

Eagles (-1) over New York Giants
The Giants barely scraped by the Rams. Philly’s home opener.

Cleveland (-3) over Miami
Meh… why not? Whatever. You got a good idea on this?

Denver (+7) over Tennessee
The Titans upset Baltimore last week, but I think this game’s gonna be close. Tebow is finding his way into the offense and Orton is solid enough to keep it close.

Detroit (-3.5) over Minnesota
I think D-town is gonna stay hot. I think McNabb is gonna stay losing.

Carolina (-3.5) over Jacksonville
Panthers first win of the season. Actually, J-Ville will probably win this one….

San Diego (-15) over Kansas City
Jamaal Charles is out. Matt Cassel looks terrible.

Oakland (+3) over New York Jets
The Jets travel to the Bay Area. I like what I’m seeing from dem Raydahs.

Baltimore (-3.5) over St. Louis
St. Louis is still trying to figure out their offense. Let Baltimore’s D figure it out for them.

Atlanta (+1.5) over Tampa Bay
I don’t understand how this is so close. Falcons upset the Iggles, Tampa Bay hasn’t won a game yet. This is fishy, but I guess I’ll take Atlanta.

Arizona (-3) over Seattle
NFC Division Rivalry! Oh boy!

Green Bay (-3.5) over Chicago
Hopefully Green Bay doesn’t give up 17 points in the first half.

Pittsburgh (-10.5) over Indianapolis
I don’t like the big spread on this, cuz I think ol’ Kerry Collins can keep you in a game, just not win it, but I’m going Pitt.

Dallas (-1.5) over Washington
How is Dallas getting all the night games? I think both of these teams are going to be (2-1) when all is said and done.

*Lines taken from SportsBetting.com

Comment

We All Need a Savior, Mine Is Cam Newton

August 30, 2011 Randy Neil

I’m frightened, gang. Frightened because the off-season is almost over and I’m not sure how things are going to end up. No, I’m not talking about football. I’m talking about the NBA.

Obviously ESPN isn’t constantly discussing labor agreement talks for the NBA like they did with the NFL, so let me give you an update…. IT’S ALL OVER MAN!! Reports indicate that neither side is close to an agreement, and with many NBA players signing oversees, the future looks bleak.

Roger Goodell didn’t have the threat of players leaving his league and signing elsewhere during his negotiations. David Stern is a stubborn man, more stubborn that Goodell, and the possibility of no American basketball being played this Fall looks imminent.

So what are players doing? Well, Deron Williams already signed with Besiktas. Kobe Bryant was talking about it. Wilson Chandler just signed with some league in China. Someone even told me that Kevin Durant has signed with another Greek League.

Turns out he didn’t, but he did happen to sign a movie contract. That’s right, Durant is making a movie this “off-season” to help him sustain if the lockout continues through the season (here’s hoping it’s Space Jam 2!) He’s also getting in some hot water Tweeting about Michael Vick.

If you hadn’t heard, Michael Vick just signed a 6-year $100 million deal with the Eagles. The man is getting paid! Right after, Durant Tweeted that Michael Vick “was not a top 5 QB.” Naturally, there was some Philly backlash.

I mean, not that it was really any of his business, but he makes a valid point. Vick is getting paid as much as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. I don’t doubt any of Michael Vick’s talents, nor do I think he’s not capable of winning us a Superbowl, but this worries me a bit. It’s almost too good of a story. A man experiences success, commits a crime, pays his dues, then redeems himself by being better than ever? Call me crazy, but I still think the man has a few dog skeletons in his closet.

You know who doesn’t have me worried? CAM NEWTON BABY!! The kid looks like a natural. I suppose anyone would after learning the “ropes” from a veteran quarterback like Jimmy Clausen (zing!) How could there even be a question about who should get the starting job? Clausen was a total bust, which probably makes many-a-hater happy out there, but for me, last year was rough. I welcome Cam with open arms.

In fact, all 3 of my fantasy league drafts are going to look as followed :

First pick : Cam Newton.

Second pick : David Akers.

Third pick : DeAngelo Hall.

Fourth Pick : Jimmy Clausen.

Results? I’ll win every league. But keep that between us, it’s my little secret. ;)

Seriously though, Cam Newton is probably going to have an average year, with many ups and downs, but after last year’s 2-14 season, average is friggin’ great! Add in the fact that Jeremy Shockey is now reviving players from the dead during training camp, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Adam and I are running theheadrush.com fantasy football league this year as well, so look for a link to that coming soon. Draft is this Sunday, and there’s definitely a purse involved.

Before the season starts, we’ll have our 2nd annual football predictions coming, too. This is a tradition that has been running long before this site, but now we have millions…. er thousands… ok, hundreds of readers to gaze at them and scoff.

That’s all for today, kids. Go do your homework.

1 Comment

Random Thoughts: Post First Round Edition

April 29, 2011 Adam Thomas

This draft seemed like it was one of the crappiest in recent memory.  Who are these guys?  They all look like they are 13 years old and none of them look particularly dominant in the high light videos that they showed.

Case in point: The ATL Falcons traded next years first and a bunch of other picks to trade up and grab Julio Jones.  After they did, the first video ESPN showed was Julio Jones dropping a ton of easy passes.  Then this morning, a Yahoo columnist declares the Falcons winners for taking him.  Wait…what?

The Falcons did a stupid thing.  Can you imagine if the Raiders made that trade?  Good God all mighty, everyone would be ripping them to shreds!  So to the Falcons, I bestow them with my dumbest move of the draft (DMOD) award.

1.) DUMBEST MOVE OF THE DRAFT: Falcons

2.) SECOND DUMBEST MOVE OF THE DRAFT: Panthers.  We’ve seen this movie before.  We know how it’s gonna end.  Did you see Cam Newton’s dad?  He looked like and spoke like a crooked Jesse Jackson. “I don’t…care if he’s…Mr. Irrelevant.  GOD IS GOOD!  GOD IS GOOD!”  What Cam’s dad was obviously trying to say was “CHA-CHING!  CHA-CHING!”  Sad day for the Panthers, they just won’t realize it until 2013.  Cam Newton acts like an entitled prick and he is gonna hold out for millions and then suck up the joint when he gets his chance to start.

3.) THIRD DUMBEST MOVE OF THE DRAFT: Broncos.  Yesterday I wrote that Von Miller was going to be the bust of the draft, so I was delighted to hear the pre-draft rumors that the Broncos were gonna draft him.  Then, when they did draft him and he started to cry, my dad looked at me and said, “He’s soft.”  So thank you, Broncos!  You made my day last year by drafting Tebow and you made it again this year by grabbing Miller!

(Note: If the Broncos trounce the Raiders on Monday Night Football with Tebow going off for 300 yds passing, 150 yads rushing and 4 tds and Miller gets 3 sacks, feel free to come on here and rip me a new one, cause really, I’m just trying to stir the pot.  That’s what all us bloggers do, ya know?)

4.) FOURTH DUMBEST MOVE OF THE DRAFT: The Bears.  So, let me get this straight, they wanted to trade with the Ravens but didn’t confirm it with the league, which made the Ravens lose their spot to the Chiefs.  Who in the world is running the Bears?  If that happened in a fantasy football draft, holy balls people would be at each others throats!  I can only imagine what was being said in the Ravens war room.  But at least they got that CB who is addicted to codein syrup.  Nothing bad has ever come from a little syzzzurp, right?

 

Best Moves of the draft:

1.) Lions grabbing Fairley, the DT from Auburn.  I’ve always wondered why more teams don’t just build on their strengths.  The Lions have a great DT already, why not make him even better by pairing him with the guy who was projected to go number one just a month ago?

2.) Chiefs.  Good Lord, that was a nice pick getting that WR from Pitt.  The Chiefs are winning the AFC West again next year.

3.) Saints getting Mark Ingram.  Fourth round fantasy pick anybody?

4.) Cardinals getting Patrick Peterson.  He was the best player in the draft.  Why don’t teams at number one go with the best player?  The QB thing works out once out of every 30000 picks.  It makes no sense to me.  For every Peyton Manning there are 30 JaMarcus’s.

Ah well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.  Rounds two and three are tonight.  Enjoy!

Comment

Mel Kiper Jr., Spawn of Satan

April 25, 2011 Randy Neil

I felt compelled to write this. For several reasons. 1) I’m a Panthers fan, so the recent draft talk has definitely been a concern of mine. 2) I just saw his “Fast Five” promo on TV and wanted to throw up on myself. 3) I watched this youtube video and it confirmed my suspicions that Mel Kiper Jr. is in fact hated by everyone in the NFL…. except Keith Olbermann…. but that guy’s a douche too… so whatever.

Observe :

I’m desperately trying my best to find that Fast and Furious promo he did, but I’m having some difficulty. I’m upset by this.

My biggest beef with Mr. Kiper (and all draft analysts for that matter) is his ridiculous antics that hold no rhyme or reason. At the end of the NFL season, Cam Newton wasn’t even a top 20 pick on Kiper’s rankings chart. This assessment was decided after 4 years of college tape in real game-time experience. Then, somehow through 1 combine walkthrough, and a Pro Day, Cam Newton was being ranked as the top prospect in the NFL Draft.

For reals? That’s what makes the difference? NOT the years you’ve had to watch him play quarterback in real competitive games?

I caught a glimpse of the Bill Parcells’ draft special on ESPN recently. Now THERE’S a man who knows about the draft and has a valid opinion throughout the NFL community. When he got asked something along the lines of, “Do you think any teams keep Mel Kiper’s draft rankings in their locker before draft time?” Parcells simply responded with a pretty basic “Fuck no. That’s retarded.”

I’m paraphrasing of course, so… I dunno why I used quotes, but whatever….

The point is Mel Kiper Jr. has no more insight on an NFL draft than a newborn infant. He has no place on television and his opinion should never be taken with merit.

How he managed to claim the title “draft expert” is laughable. You know who the experts are? The scouts hired by NFL teams to research the players before the draft. They got the job. Not Mel. Nobody’s banging down Mel’s door to get him a scouting job are they?

I can’t wait til the draft is over so we can have 10 months of relief from his bird-like face.

That is all. HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE

Comment