Tag Archive: peyton manning

Delaware Park Parlay Card Part Trois

January 16, 2013 Adam Thomas

The Denver Broncos vs Baltimore Ravens AFC Divisional playoff game.1.) Aren’t we all lucky to have the regular refs back in our lives?  They did not miss a single call last weekend and I for one am glad that they did not stay locked out for longer.  Yeeeesh.

Of course that is sarcasm, and even though I thought that the replacement refs were terrible, it turns out that the regular refs are just as terrible. It was, however, very nice to see the Broncos get screwed over on a ‘Tuck Rule’ non call. So that made me happy.

It was those same Broncos, mind you, that kept me from being PERFECT in my game predictions for these playoffs.  But when you do a three team parlay, that one game means everything. Again though, I was never more happy to be wrong.

2.) I feel really sorry for that young child in the Tide commercial where he is wrapped up in a Raiders towel and a Raiders jersey and his dad says, “Timmy didn’t get to choose his colors, they were chosen for him.”  Or something along those lines.  Sadly, I think the commercial rings too close to home. RUN TIMMY! Run NOW! The Raiders will only break your heart. Trust me.

3.) After watching that commercial, I decided to youtube clips of the ‘Tuck Rule.’  I haven’t seen that play since it happened 11 years ago sending me crying into my parents basement where I hung out with our cat who had been quarantined after being attacked by a raccoon. Don’t ask me why I watched it. The worst part is the referee who made the call said, “It was clear as day, Brady’s arm was going forward.” See how terrible real refs are? I want the scab refs back please.

4.) Randy sent me an absurd text over the weekend that read like this: ’65 yrds…2 sec…u gotta kick it?? right??’ This was during the Seattle game mind you, a Seattle game featuring a kicker the Seahawks had just signed during the week and whose career long is a 55 yard field goal. Also, and I’m not sure if you are aware of this or not, but the Seahawks won on a Hail Mary earlier in the season in a little seen game without a hint of controversy against the Packers.

Still….the Seahawks lost when they attempted the Hail Mary. Would they have lost if they had tried the kick?  I can’t say yes….but I also can’t say no.  That Randy may just be a made genius.

Just kidding. They definitely should not have attempted a field goal.

As for this week, I like:

49ers -4.5 (Wilson almost threw for 400 yards last week against ATL, imagine what Kaepernick is capable of),  Ravens +9.5 (Ray Lewis’ last stand) and the NFC +.5 in the Pro Bowl (gotta pick the Pro Bowl game).

Last week I was 2-1, putting me at 5-1 for the playoffs.

 

Comment

Predicting the Top 5 Offensive Breakout Players of 2012

September 7, 2012 Randy Neil

Whether you’re a casual football follower, a die-hard fan of your city’s team or a fantasy football guru who just got NFL SUNDAY TICKET from http://www.direct-ticket.net/ for non-stop Sunday NFL action, it’s always good to see new players staking their spots among the league’s best and cashing in on their years of hard work.

Here are 5 breakout players to watch for this year:

1) Eric Decker – Last year, Decker racked up more than 600 yards receiving and 8 TDs in a Tim Tebow-led offense. He looks to follow up his sophomore campaign with a much better year now that Peyton Manning is at the helm. Despite Demaryius Thomas’ coming out party in the playoffs last season, it looks like Decker will be Manning’s primary target this year – especially if the preseason is any indication. Decker received more targets, caught more passes and had more touchdowns than Thomas in the preseason. He is the go-to guy in Denver’s newly revamped offense this season.

Prediction: 100 receptions, 1250 yards, 9 TDs

2) C.J. Spiller – Chan Gailey has repeatedly said he needs to find ways to get C.J. Spiller more touches. He’s right. Spiller has been underutilized at this point in his career, even when you consider Fred Jackson’s effectiveness. Spiller is an excellent open field runner and catches the ball out of the backfield as well as anyone in the league. Fred Jackson comes into this season at 31 years old, so you have to wonder if he can carry the load for another full season. Spiller may not put up Lesean McCoy-like numbers, but expect him to have a similar impact with the Bills as Darren Sproles had with the Saints last year.

Prediction: 650 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry; 500 receiving yards; 11 total TDs

3) Julio Jones – You may be wondering what a guy with nearly 1,000 yards receiving and 8 TD’s as a #2 receiver last season is doing on this list. It’s pretty simple – outside of Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, Jones is simply one of the most physically intriguing WR specimens in the NFL. His big frame, physical play and blazing speed will enable him to take his place among the league’s elite this year. This is especially true when you consider that he now has chemistry with Matt Ryan and has refined his route-running ability.

Prediction: 90 receptions, 1400 yards, 12 TDs

4) Jared Cook – This guy has all the tools to explode as the league’s next premier presence at tight end. Cook can be classified as a late bloomer – he’s had 3 full years in the league and didn’t put up any significant numbers until last season. He possesses the speed to stretch defenses and has the frame necessary to come down with balls in the red zone. While the jury is still out on young starter Jake Locker, you can expect Cook to be an effective safety valve for the 2nd year QB capable of giving opposing defensive coordinators headaches.

Prediction: 65 receptions, 1100 yards, 8 TD

5) Emmanuel Sanders – This Pittsburg WR is this year’s sleeper, at least on this list. Although Pittsburgh came up short in the playoffs last season, Sanders came to play and racked up 6 catches for more than 80 yards. What’s even more impressive is that 20 of Sanders’ 28 receptions last year went for a first down. With Mike Wallace likely not in full football shape to start the season, look for Sanders to play a key role early and to earn a spot as a starter when the Steelers start the game with 3 WR. In 2012, Sanders will have a breakout year. In 2013, the speedster will supplant Mike Wallace once he’s shipped off to another franchise.

Prediction: 45 receptions, 600 yards, 4 TDs

It’s always exciting to watch the storylines unfold, and it makes for feel-good entertainment when an underdog or underachiever starts to turn heads. Who do you think will breakout this year?

Comment

I Would Walk 900 Miles

March 23, 2012 Adam Thomas

1.) Somebody needs to put an end to that Taco Bell commercial where the teenager kidnaps 4 of his friends and drives 900 miles to a Taco Bell. 900 Miles! That is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever seen. I don’t know anybody who would drive 9 miles to a Taco Bell.

As NT put it when I ran this joke past him, “Why didn’t they just drive to Mexico and get some real tacos?” Indeed.

Plus, as NT also pointed out, how many Taco Bell’s did they pass in that 900 mile stretch?  I can see them coming up to one of the blue highway signs that lists all the restaurants:

Grant: “Uh, Derrick, didn’t we just pass a Taco Bell?”

Derrick: “YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH, GRANT!”

2.) I was watching “Into the Blue” on Saturday (don’t ask, I was sick all day and in a Benadryl induced coma), but something happened in that movie and it really gets on my nerves.

So they find this buried treasure under the sea, and all 4 characters are out to eat dinner (it is totally light out), and Paul Walker’s character starts in on a speech about the treasure saying, “The treasure belonged to this French Pirate” and Scott Caan’s character says, “Well, dude, who was this French pirate exactly?”  Which leads to Walker and Alba launching into a history lesson about the pirate and his ship.

But here’s the thing: Walker starts talking at dinner, then they cut to a scene where he is talking at a campfire.  It’s completely dark and they have moved locations, but he is finishing the exact same sentence that he started during dinner.

So what happened in the meantime? Did he just get distracted, stop his story for 3 hours and then pick it up again at a later time?  Or was he like, “So the pirates name is Dan and he…hold on, let me wait till we get to the campfire to continue this sentence.”  It happens in “Field of Dreams” too when Ray is talking to his daughter about Shoeless Joe Jackson. I would be very irritated if somebody was telling me a story, stopped completely, and then picked it up 3 hours later as if nothing had happened in the meantime.

3.) I saw the trailer for Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” and it looks awesome, but something happened in the middle of the trailer that made me burst out laughing. It’s a science fiction movie and these two people are outside of the space ship investigating something, and then Stringer Bell from the Wire pops up and says “Whatever that probe’s picking up, it’s reading life form” only he says it in a RIDICULOUS Texas accent.  High comedy.  I don’t know what Idris Elba was thinking, but I haven’t heard a southern accent that bad since Nic Cage in Con Air.

“Put da bunny…back in da box.”

4.) Nothing is more embarrassing than having a Headrush Tournament pick em Yahoo League and losing to your wife…that’s why I’m trying to hide that fact in item 4. Cause you all skip over item 4, right? Stefanie is currently tied for first place with NT (Though she has more possible points remaining), Randy sitting in a respectable 3rd, and I’m in 5th. Still a lot of basketball to be played, though, but I’m pretty sure we all (Me, NT, Stef and Randy) have Kentucky winning it.

5.) The Saints deserved what they got. Why all the whining? I mean look, I’m sure other teams had bounty programs in place, BUT the NFL was investigating the Saints and the Saints lied to them about the whole program existing. Think about that.

If you were doing something at work, your boss told you to stop, you didn’t stop but lied to them and told them that you did, and then they found out you lied…You’d be screwed!  That’s why I have no sympathy for the Saints.

6.) Speaking of, that text message that Jeremy Shockey posted is the weirdest thing that I have ever seen take place between a coach and a player. I don’t even think I need to add anything so I will let the message speak for itself:

Is this real life?  There is no way that is really Sean Payton sending those texts. Why in the world would he have “hug!!!!!!” at the top of the conversation? Peculiar.

7.) One more thing: Drew Brees, I think you need to sit the next few rounds out. After the punishment came down, he got on twitter and said, “I am speechless. Sean Payton is a great man, coach, mentor and a phenomenal hugger (ed. note: I may have added this part). The best there is. I need to hear an explanation for this punishment.”

Um, Drew, I have nothing to do with the NFL and even I was able to hear an explanation for the punishment. Just go on ANY NFL RELATED WEBSITE THERE IS, and you will be able to find the reasons behind the punishments. I used to like Brees, but after this off season and all the contract stuff, he seems like a prick.

8.) I’m not too concerned with Peyton coming to the AFC West for a few reasons: a.) The Raiders are in rebuilding mode and I’m not expecting them to win the division next year.

b.) If you hit Peyton in exactly the right spot, it’s going to be like a scene straight outta Mutant League Football with Bones Jackson sending his head spinning into outer space. Seriously, the man has had four neck surgeries. He really shouldn’t be playing football.

c.) He looks old as dirt. The Broncos will probably get one good season out of him, but I doubt they’ll get two.

d.) Tebow is gone, which makes me happy.

That’s all I got.  Till next time….

4 Comments

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