-The biggest name in the free agent class, Julius Peppers, signed with the  Bears for $91.5 million dollars over 6 years, with $42 million guaranteed.  Good lord that’s a lot of [...]]]> The first day of free agency yesterday resulted in a flurry of activity, including blockbuster trades, crazy rumors, and giant contracts.  Let’s break it down:

-The biggest name in the free agent class, Julius Peppers, signed with the  Bears for $91.5 million dollars over 6 years, with $42 million guaranteed.  Good lord that’s a lot of money– but for an extremely talented pass rusher the Bears needed in the wake of the tragic death of Gaines Adams.  People say that Peppers has questionable consistency and “takes plays off,” but I’ve honestly heard that about many of the great D-lineman in the league– shockingly giant pash rushers don’t bring maximum heat every play, perhaps to conserve some energy for more important/clear passing downs.  Plus, there’s this one guy, Randy Moss, who has heard this criticism and still continues to be one of the best WRs in the league.  Peppers may be on the wrong side of 30, but he’s still an elite pass rusher.   Althought the Bears paid a lot of money, they basically just signed Peppers to a 3 year 42 million dollar contract given that the rest isn’t guaranteed.  Not bad really.

-On the trade front, Anquan Boldin finally got his wish and was traded from the Cardinals to the Ravens for a3rd and 4th round pick.  The Ravens then signed Boldin to a 3 year, $25 million extension.  The Ravens finally get the consistent, No. 1 caliber wide receiver that they’ve been looking for for years.  Boldin is one of the toughest receivers in the NFL- he plays through injuries, goes over the middle, etc- which fits in perfectly with the Ravens’ ethos.  I wonder how Cowboys fans must feel after trading a 1st rounder and 3rd rounder for the lackluster Roy Williams…

-The Cards exodus continued with LB Karlos Dansby signing with Miami and released safety Antrel Rolle signing a deal with the Giants making him the highest paid safety in the NFL.  The Cards have taken a huge number of hits this offseason, losing 4 Pro Bowl quality players (Dansby, Rolle, Boldin, Warner).  The Cards can’t be considered the favorites in the NFC West any longer with huge elements of their offense and defense out of the equation.  Can you say 49ers win the West?

-In the unrestricted free agent area, it sounds like Brandon Marsall may be on the move from Denver soon.  Reportedly, Marshall is meeting with the Seahawks today to see if they can work out an offer sheet.  Offensive coordinator Jeremey Bates worked with Marshall as the former QB coach in Denver, so it makes sense that he would want Marshall.  Since the Broncos have a first round tender on Marshall, if Seattle were to offer Marshall a contract and the Broncos choose not to match, they would be entitled to the 6th overall pick in the draft.  Of course, Seattle and Denver could work out a trade for perhaps the 14th pick in the draft (which is the pick Denver traded to Seattle last year) or a lower pick and a player.  There’s two ways of looking at this: Seattle could trade the 6th pick for a young, 100+ catch Pro Bowl receiver (which sounds good), or Seattle would be trading the 6th pick for a risky, moody receiver that Mike Shannahan and Josh McDaniels both wanted to get rid of.  Ultimately, I think a deal for the 6th pick would be good for both teams.  Denver would have to be ecstatic to get such a high pick in the draft for Marshall, who they want to get rid of anyway.  Even if the Broncos are worried about the money they can always trade that 6th rounder for more picks in the draft.  Seattle would love to get a high impact reciever, and no one can question Marshall’s talent, so long as his attitude can be managed.  We’ll see what happens today…

-Browns kick returner/WR/RB Josh Cribbs got the extension he’s been seeking.  Mike Holmegren obviously likes what he sees in Cribbs, and who wouldn’t– he’s a speedy game breaker who’s been the best player on the Browns for the last two years.  It’ll be interesting to see if Cribbs has an expanded role this season to go along with that deal…

It’s time for the obligatory break down of this weekend’s playoff games and for me to put my money where my mouth is and make some predictions.

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

The Breakdown: Coming off of their crazy shootout at home to beat the Green Bay Fighting Aaron Rodgers in OT, Arizona heads to the [...]]]>

It’s time for the obligatory break down of this weekend’s playoff games and for me to put my money where my mouth is and make some predictions.

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

The Breakdown: Coming off of their crazy shootout at home to beat the Green Bay Fighting Aaron Rodgers in OT, Arizona heads to the Superdome in New Orleans to face off against the top seeded Saints.  The Saints come into this game having lost 3 straight, including losses to Dallas and the lowly Bucs at home before taking the foot off the gas in week 17.  Despite the losing streak, I think this game matches up pretty well for the Saints.  The Cards couldn’t stop ANYBODY last week at home, despite a wealth of defensive talent on the roster (Adrian Wilson, Dominque Rodgers Cromartie, etc.) and the Saints have just as many, if not more weapons than the Packers.  The Saints can beat you with the run with Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, or with Drew Brees and his plethora of passing weapons.  Although the Cards did in fact shut down the Packers for most of the first half of last weekend’s game, it’s clear that they can have their problems stopping an elite offense.  Plus, the Saints are at home in the Superdome, which will be loud and make it hard for the Cardinals to consistently excute like they did last week at home.  Plus, you never know when Kurt Warner will go out and bomb like his 5 INT game earlier in the year (although it’s not very often that happens), Anquan Boldin looks to be out this week, and Drew Brees is always consistent.  The bye week also had to give Gregg Williams some extra time to scheme defensively and Sean Payton to get the offense together.  I think this will be a shootout, but homefield advantage will have the Saints marching to the NFC Championship.

Irrational Reason for Pick:  With USC dominating the news–Reggie Bush is slightly less of a bust than Matt Leinart, Saints win.

Prediction: Saints 34, Cardinals 31

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Breakdown: The premier matchup of the divisional round has Real America’s Team vs. Brett Favre.  Listening to the mainstream media you would think Minnesota has no chance because they only have one active player on the roster, Brett Favre.  Turns out through my investigation I’ve found out they in fact have some other players, including this guy Adrian Peterson who will occasionally run over a linebacker or 3 and embarass the hell out of them and this other guy Percy Harvin, the offensive rookie of the year.  Apparently Jared Allen and Pat Williams play for them on defense too, who knew?  In all seriousness, the Vikings definitely have some playmakers and haven’t lost at home yet this year.  However, Tony Romo and the Cowboys are so hot right now, the defense, led by DeMarcus Ware, is getting after the QB and Dallas has one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL featuring Felix “Chris Johnson, Jr.” Jones.  I have a feeling the Cowboys get a fast start in this one based on their momentum, the Vikings are still shaking of rust from the bye, and the end result is Brett Favre will be forced into gunslinger mode as he thinks he has to pass and force the ball to win the game.  Favre will audible out of one too many of Brad Childress’s running plays  to pass and will turn the ball over to the Dallas D.  Also the Vikings defense has not looked as formidble since the team lost MLB E.J. Henderson to injury.  He’s really the quarterback of the defense and it shows– the Vikings pass rush has been almost nonexistent since he’s been out.  I see Dallas beating the Vikings in this one at the Metrodome.

Irrational Reason for Pick: Brad Childress looks like he should work for 1-800-DENTIST with that headset he wears.  I hate the dentist.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Vikings 21

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianpolis Colts

The Breakdown: After crushing Tom Brady and the Patriots last week the Ravens won the right to try to beat the best quarterback in the NFL, Peyton Manning, and the Colts this week.  The Colts are coming off of a losing streak after resting their starters the last two games of the season in hopes of getting healthy for a Super Bowl run.  History isn’t great for the Colts when they use this strategy, as the last time they cruised into the playoffs with a bye they got throttled by the then 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers.  While I personally didn’t like the strategy and think it probably will make this game closer than it should be, I like the Colts to beat the Ravens.  Last week the Ravens forced the Pats to play their game by coming out with some huge plays (84 yd TD run by Ray Rice, INT of Brady) and then could run their ball control, rely on the D type of gameplan.  While that worked against a depleted Patriots team, I don’t think that will work against the most disciplined QB in the game with all of his weapons who have legitimate big play potential every play.  Even if the Ravens do have the ability to keep the game close, the Colts had 5 consecutive comebacks at one point this season and tight games have been their bread and butter.  With Joe Flacco slightly hobbled I think the Ravens will need to lean on the run and Indy knows it– so they can focus their defense around stopping the run game.  When Flacco does throw he hasn’t been great lately, and with Mathis and Freeney on the ends coming after the QB, I think Flacco gets in trouble if they have to throw to win.  I can’t see Peyton Manning allowing the Colts to lose this game and I think the Ravens offense can’t keep up given how inconsistent they’ve been all year.

Irrational Reason for Pick: If the Ravens win all next week the phrase “Wacco for Flacco”  will be used at least 200 times.  The universe cannot allow that to happen.

Prediction: Colts 21, Ravens 17

New York Jets vs. San Diego Chargers

The “favorites” in the postseason square off with the hotter than hell San Diego Chargers.  The Jets do have some things going for them in this matchup.  They are number 1 in total defense and passing defense which will help counteract Phillip Rivers and the Chargers air attack.  The Jets also have a great running game with Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene.  San Diego doesn’t do a great job of covering the tight end, and the Jets have a good one in Dustin Keller.  However, the big liability is the Sanchize.  Although he hasn’t turned the ball over in the last 3 games, he certainly hasn’t played a team with as much talent as the Chargers in that timeframe, since the last two weeks of the season he played against backups.  The Chargers haven’t scored less than 20 points all year, and I really see the Jets having a hard time putting up that many points just running the ball.  If the Chargers strike quick, or start scoring anywhere near what they’ve been doing lately, the Jets are going to have to throw and that creates huge liabilities for them.  Rookie QB vs Phillips Rivers does’t bode well.  I just don’t think the Jets have had to play a team as elite as the Chargers in quite some time and I’m not willing to bet against the team that’s won 11 games in a row.

Irrational Reason for Pick:  The Jets don’t even play in New York, man.  They play in New Jersey.  What good has ever come from that state (beside the Sopranos)?

Prediction: Chargers 28, Jets 17

1. San Diego Chargers: Winners of 11 straight games makes them the hottest team in the NFL. Phillip Rivers is [...]]]> Now that the Aaron Rodgers Show (aka Green Bay Packers) are out of the playoffs there’s a big shakeup in the playoff power rankings. Here’s how I rate the remaining teams in the playoffs and why:

1. San Diego Chargers: Winners of 11 straight games makes them the hottest team in the NFL. Phillip Rivers is tossing the ball all over the field and the defense looks revitalized. Plus, with Darren Sproles in the return game they’re a threat in all three phases.

2. Indianapolis Colts: Yeah, they’re on a losing streak, but I’ll chalk that up to Curtis Painter and not playing the starters. This team could be undefeated and would be number one if they didn’t take their foot off the gas at the end. Defense is fast, and they’ve got this guy named Peyton Manning. He’s pretty good.

3. Dallas Cowboys: 2nd hottest team in the NFL, dominated a pretty good Eagles team two weeks in a row. DeMarcus Ware scares the hell out of me and I’m just watching the game on TV. Tony Romo looks sharp and Dallas has 3 legitimate starting running backs on the roster. Clicking on all the right cylinders, but can they overcome their previous playoff failures?

4. Minnesota Vikings: Although they didn’t finish strong, they looked good in the last game of the season. Their defense is getting Pat Williams back at tackle, and they still have a potentially dominant defensive line– although the secondary has been getting pushed around a bit. The offense has one of, if not the best, running backs in the NFL, and Brett Favre is still tossing it around. But the looming question is can Favre prevent the gunslinger in him from throwing 3 INTs in the near future?

5. New Orleans Saints: Lots of weapons, but struggling over the last 3 games. 3 weeks ago I’d have them ranked second, but the inexplicable loss to the Bucs and the thrashing by Dallas really makes you wonder. The defense is a big question right now, but with all that firepower and a bye they could put it back together.

6. Arizona Cardinals: The Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde factor means they have to be ranked lower. When their offense is clicking they are SCARY good (see 51 points vs a good Packers D). Kurt Warner is at the helm, which always gives this team a shot. But can the defense stop anybody?! Sometimes yes, sometimes no…which is why you never know what you’re going to get with the Cards.

7. Baltimore Ravens: Getting back to their old school ways of running the football, Flacco hasn’t had to do much lately (see 4/10 passing Saturday). Their defense can get pumped and get it going and if they play like they did against the Pats again they are scary. But again, this team has been inconsistent all year, so who knows how they come out against Indy.

8. New York Jets: The Sanchize didn’t hurt them last week, but that’s the big risk with this team. The defense is dominant and they can run the ball to win– IF, and that’s a BIG IF, they don’t turn it over.

Also, this doesn’t mean I think one of these lower ranked teams won’t win– that’s about the matchup, which I’ll be talking about later in the week, and this is about momentum and talent in a vaccum.