At the end of last year the Panthers franchised Jake Delhomme, and almost lost the star of their defense because of it. I wasn’t going to write about what a horrible move it was because, well, maybe they knew more than I did. Apparently not!
Let’s look at this: You are a running team. You play a ground pounding offense and make the playoffs. You score more touchdowns in both the season and the post-season by running the ball. Yet in the most important game of the year, you decide to throw the ball. What happens? Several interceptions and the most disappointing loss in recent memory; that’s what. At the end of the year you lose one of your wide receivers and now limit the number of people who can catch a pass from your horrible quarterback. Yet after making it harder for Delhomme to complete passes, and experiencing a terrible loss, you reward the limp arm with a huge contract and a franchise label.
Now we move forward. The preseason is over and camp has wrapped up, and we find ourselves three weeks into the season and completely lost. How could we be 0-3? What went wrong? No one saw this coming, right? Wrong! The signs were everywhere! Jake Delhomme is a quarterback in a run offense, he doesn’t have to pass and that is why he has survived in the league for 3 years as a starter. But something has happened over the course of time. Runnning Backs have aged, and no one on defense can help Julius Peppers out. Because of this more points are being scored against the Panthers, and the offense most throw the ball more often. With only Steve Smith to throw to and with a quarterback who has a terrible time throwing the ball there won’t be any good wins and Carolina will again miss the Super Bowl.
The Panther need to do four things to prepare for next year- yes, next year, this one is going to be a wash.
1) Find and groom a quarterback. There needs to be someone in place in case things don’t get better with Delhomme.
2) Find and groom a running back. It is not time for the panthers to discard their running backs, but who is the next big name in Carolina once this team gets too old?
3) Get Peppers some help! That’s simple enough, find the guy some help.
4) And lastly- get yourselves a new wide receiver. The new quarterback will need someone to throw too, help open up the run game, and take the pressure off Steve Smith
The 2009-2010 Season is over unless some deals and big moves are made. Until then, start counting down to next season.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
College GameDay: Bama-VT
Without going into all the details here it is- #5 Alabama v #7 Virginia Tech. This is the perfect game for opening College Football. VT has an incredible running game and is looking to prove its passing game is up to par. Unfortunaltey for the Hokies tonight IS a good night to prove your offense is where it needs to be to make a BCS run. The unfortunate thing about it, is that Big Al and the defense is too tough to let a team try something new and succeed. The good part about the night is that if you succeed, you succeeded against Alabama, and you have obviously done what it takes to fight for a cahmpionship. Too bad you can't play Alabama and get away from what makes you you. Tonight will be the first, and ONLY loss for VT this season. From there the BCS title hopes hang on the shoulders of the rest of the country. VT will need Alabama to lose two games this season, and all other BCS contenders must have atleast one loss as well.
Get ready for a great 2009 Football season!
Get ready for a great 2009 Football season!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Why the Braves Should Make the Wildcard Interesting (and make the post-season)
After last nights loss I began to feel like the NL wildcard was out of reach for the Braves. Jimmy Rollins successfully ended the Braves season with his heads up double play- Second to Short to THIRD! After a few minutes of feeling let down and deflated I realized this was not over yet. I mean the day before the Braves smoked the Phillies, and when looking ahead on the schedule, there are only two slightly tough series left. One with the Phils and one with the Cardinals.
The Braves schedule is as follows: Marlins, Reds, Astros, Cardinals, Mets, Phillies, Mets, Nationals, Marlins and Nationals.
First up are the Marlins in Florida. The Braves are currently 5-6 against the fish, but with the recent play of the two teams and the pitching matchups, I expect the braves to take 3 of 4 and come out of the series one game closer to the Phillies and the Giants.
Atlanta is 3-3 against Cincinnati, yet again this is a different team from the last time they met. The Reds are now 17 games below .500 and the Braves are no longer teetering on having a losing season. These three games, in Atlanta, should be a sweep for the Braves.
Next the Braves head to Texas and play the Houston Astros. This is yet another below .500 hundred team, and the Braves should be able to take 2 of the 3 games.
The newly acquired Cardinal, John Smoltz would like to see his success continue when he returns to Atlanta, however the Braves cultivated this arm and should be able to beat him should he pitch in the series. Despite the defeat of Smoltz, the Braves will only go 1-2 in this 3 game series in St. Louis.
Next up are the NY Mets. Enough said. This is the worst team in the league, even the Nationals are starting to come around and have a good finish. The Braves play the Bad News Mets twice and should go 5-1.
In between the Mets Series, Hot-lanta gets some excitement and the Phillies come to town. The braves are 4-2 against the Phils at home and should easily take 2 of the 3.
The Braves must travel to DC before the Nats head to Atlants, and despite the recent surge, the braves should easily take each series, and bring their 7-4 record against the Nats to 12-6. the Braves may drop two in DC as it is the Nats finally home stand.
Sandwiched in between the Nationals series is a final look at the Marlins. 3 games in Atlanta. 3 wins for the Braves.
From now till the end of the season the braves should pull close to the Phillies, but not overtake them, and they should knock the Marlins out of the wildcard race. The braves have a total of 32 games left and should be able to go 24-8 and reach the post season. All they need now is a collapse from the Giants who have to go through the Phillies and then face the Dodgers for 2 series. As long as the braves win each of their next series, we should see the Braves make the post season!
The Braves schedule is as follows: Marlins, Reds, Astros, Cardinals, Mets, Phillies, Mets, Nationals, Marlins and Nationals.
First up are the Marlins in Florida. The Braves are currently 5-6 against the fish, but with the recent play of the two teams and the pitching matchups, I expect the braves to take 3 of 4 and come out of the series one game closer to the Phillies and the Giants.
Atlanta is 3-3 against Cincinnati, yet again this is a different team from the last time they met. The Reds are now 17 games below .500 and the Braves are no longer teetering on having a losing season. These three games, in Atlanta, should be a sweep for the Braves.
Next the Braves head to Texas and play the Houston Astros. This is yet another below .500 hundred team, and the Braves should be able to take 2 of the 3 games.
The newly acquired Cardinal, John Smoltz would like to see his success continue when he returns to Atlanta, however the Braves cultivated this arm and should be able to beat him should he pitch in the series. Despite the defeat of Smoltz, the Braves will only go 1-2 in this 3 game series in St. Louis.
Next up are the NY Mets. Enough said. This is the worst team in the league, even the Nationals are starting to come around and have a good finish. The Braves play the Bad News Mets twice and should go 5-1.
In between the Mets Series, Hot-lanta gets some excitement and the Phillies come to town. The braves are 4-2 against the Phils at home and should easily take 2 of the 3.
The Braves must travel to DC before the Nats head to Atlants, and despite the recent surge, the braves should easily take each series, and bring their 7-4 record against the Nats to 12-6. the Braves may drop two in DC as it is the Nats finally home stand.
Sandwiched in between the Nationals series is a final look at the Marlins. 3 games in Atlanta. 3 wins for the Braves.
From now till the end of the season the braves should pull close to the Phillies, but not overtake them, and they should knock the Marlins out of the wildcard race. The braves have a total of 32 games left and should be able to go 24-8 and reach the post season. All they need now is a collapse from the Giants who have to go through the Phillies and then face the Dodgers for 2 series. As long as the braves win each of their next series, we should see the Braves make the post season!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Paying Respect to a Great Man
Below is the first paragraph of Elizabeth Merrill's article about Ed Thomas. It was written for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com.
PARKERSBURG, Iowa -- They fell to the ground and did gut-busters together, 69 bellies thumping against the hard Midwestern earth. The drill was the most dreaded in Ed Thomas' arsenal -- up and down, no knees on the grass, and everybody quickly back on their feet. Did he know then, how scared they were? How perfect they could be? The world was changing, the Twin Towers had just fallen in New York City, and rumors were floating around Aplington-Parkersburg High that the draft was coming, and soon they'd all be 7,000 miles away hunting terrorists. Thomas gathered that 2001 team together, said a prayer, said everything would be all right.
Please take a minute to read the entire article and to learn about this amazing man- Ed Thomas. The article is located here.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Mind on Burress
I got to work this morning,and rather than diving head first into my work load I sat back and watched ESPN's E:60. As I watched the latest episode, and saw Plaxico Burress trying to convince people he didnt know he had shot himself, I had a few thoughts.
My first thought, was why has nobody asked Burress why he had the gun in the first place? I have seen several articles saying he carried it for self protection, but no one has asked him face to face and let us see his reaction as he tries to explain it. There is no reason, no matter who you are to carry a concealed weapon into a club that has security guards. Not too mention you were going to be heading to the VIP room anyway. Plaxico, who were you worried about protecting yourself from in the VIP lounge? Your boy Antonio Pierce? I mean if you are in the VIP lounge, you decide who else comes in. I usually dont choose to hang out with people I might need to shoot. Do you?
While I thought about all of this, I realized another thing, if security knew Plaxico had a concealed weapon, why didnt they ask to see his licensce? If someone is coming into an area I am in charge of keeping secure, I would do one of two things, well honestly I would do both, but wouldn't you either take the weapon or ask for the identification that proves he is allowed to carry the gun? If you opt to let the man enter the building with a concealed gun, you MUST ensure that he has the proper license to do so, and when you find that he doesnt have the required paperwork, you MUST then deny either Burress or the gun access into your club. I hope someone in the club that night is bringing a lawsuit on the club and the security company has been let go. As we have seen, the security guard made a terrible mistake and as a result the club put anyone in the building in grave danger. Next time a "Plaxico Burress" type of celebrity hangs out in a club who knows who will be the victim of an accidental shooting. Had Burress cuaght the gun at a weird angle anyone in the room could have been the target.
My final question in all of this, is who the hell is Benjamin Brafman? I know he is the attorney for Plaxico, and seeing as how Plaxico is a celebrity and has a good bit of money, he must be a highly reccommended attorney, but just listen to this quote:
"This was not an intentional criminal act. In my judgment, a two-year prison sentence is a very severe punishment."
Not an intentional act? Hey dumbass did your client not intentionally buy the gun? Did he not intentionally put it in his black jeans that night? Did he not intentionally conceal and carry the weapon for self protection? the only thing that was not intentional about this was the actual shooting of himself! He even had the intention of using the gun if needed. Oh wait, and all the time he didnt have a licesne for yet. So he intentionally bought and carried a gun, he intended to use, and never got the certification he was required to have. Oh wait that is criminal, and the law states he committed a felony and should get 3.5 years in prison. You are lucky he is only getting 24 months for his criminal act.
The only good thing out of all of this: No Plaxico in the NFL for atleast two Seasons.
My first thought, was why has nobody asked Burress why he had the gun in the first place? I have seen several articles saying he carried it for self protection, but no one has asked him face to face and let us see his reaction as he tries to explain it. There is no reason, no matter who you are to carry a concealed weapon into a club that has security guards. Not too mention you were going to be heading to the VIP room anyway. Plaxico, who were you worried about protecting yourself from in the VIP lounge? Your boy Antonio Pierce? I mean if you are in the VIP lounge, you decide who else comes in. I usually dont choose to hang out with people I might need to shoot. Do you?
While I thought about all of this, I realized another thing, if security knew Plaxico had a concealed weapon, why didnt they ask to see his licensce? If someone is coming into an area I am in charge of keeping secure, I would do one of two things, well honestly I would do both, but wouldn't you either take the weapon or ask for the identification that proves he is allowed to carry the gun? If you opt to let the man enter the building with a concealed gun, you MUST ensure that he has the proper license to do so, and when you find that he doesnt have the required paperwork, you MUST then deny either Burress or the gun access into your club. I hope someone in the club that night is bringing a lawsuit on the club and the security company has been let go. As we have seen, the security guard made a terrible mistake and as a result the club put anyone in the building in grave danger. Next time a "Plaxico Burress" type of celebrity hangs out in a club who knows who will be the victim of an accidental shooting. Had Burress cuaght the gun at a weird angle anyone in the room could have been the target.
My final question in all of this, is who the hell is Benjamin Brafman? I know he is the attorney for Plaxico, and seeing as how Plaxico is a celebrity and has a good bit of money, he must be a highly reccommended attorney, but just listen to this quote:
"This was not an intentional criminal act. In my judgment, a two-year prison sentence is a very severe punishment."
Not an intentional act? Hey dumbass did your client not intentionally buy the gun? Did he not intentionally put it in his black jeans that night? Did he not intentionally conceal and carry the weapon for self protection? the only thing that was not intentional about this was the actual shooting of himself! He even had the intention of using the gun if needed. Oh wait, and all the time he didnt have a licesne for yet. So he intentionally bought and carried a gun, he intended to use, and never got the certification he was required to have. Oh wait that is criminal, and the law states he committed a felony and should get 3.5 years in prison. You are lucky he is only getting 24 months for his criminal act.
The only good thing out of all of this: No Plaxico in the NFL for atleast two Seasons.
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