JZSports NFL Preseason Primer Podcast

Listen to internet radio with jzsports on Blog Talk Radio

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The JZSports Podcast Returns!

Tune in on Monday, 7/30 at 5:00PM on Blogtalkradio.com to hear our NFL Training camp discussion! We'll be talking for 60 minutes on anything and everything related to NFL training camp. Take a listen, and don't forget to call in to share your opinions with us!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jzsports/2012/07/30/jzsports-nfl-training-camp-discussion

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NFL Logos w/ Peyton Manning's Face

Here is a hilarious collection of NFL logos formed with Peyton Manning's sad face. We'll give you our eight favorite, but believe us they're all worth seeing. Thanks to Dave's Art Locker for the stellar work.

For the rest, click here.

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Fantasy Pickup of the Week: Houston Texans Defense

It's about to be Week 2 of the Fantasy Football season, and that means virtual GM's across the U.S are looking for some waiver wire gems to add to their squads.

If you are looking, you need look no further than the Houston Texans revamped defense. It has already been highly vaunted with the additions of Brooks Reed, J.J Watt, Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning, but nobody really figured just how much of an impact Wade Philips would have.

Fear not that Mario Williams has moved to outside linebacker; in the new 3-4 scheme he picked up two sacks on Sunday, adding a forced fumble. This defense steamrolled the Peyton Manning-less Colts, and you can expect them to present a huge problem for any opponent they face, provided they stay healthy.

In fantasy, it is worth remembering that return yards and touchdowns can be just as useful if not better than sacks, picks and fumbles. Jacoby Jones is a solid return man, and already put one up during Sunday's game.

The Texans' defense is the real deal, and they are here to stay. Likely having gone undrafted in most leagues, now is the time to snap them up. Get em before they're gone. You won't be sorry.

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THE LOCKOUT IS OVER!

Sorry this is a day late folks, but the news is official: football is back!
The two sides have agreed to a decade-long CBA, meaning we'll all be old before we ever have to deal with this again thankfully.

With that in hand, today starts the most frenzied few weeks of NFL offseason in history. We are compressing a four-month long free agency period into a week, starting camps late, and watching trades happen that should have been on draft day.

-One of the new provisions becomes immediately relevant this week, and that is the new salary cap system. Under the new CBA, each team has a cap of $120 million, but the catch is that they must spend a minimum of 89%, or $107.1 million. That leaves several teams like the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks with over $30 million in unused space, so some guys will be getting big contracts with those clubs. It should be interesting to see how this cap works, after an uncapped year, teams are going to have to change how they do things.

-At long last, there is a rookie wage scale in place. No longer will an unproven draft choice be given an exorbitant amount of cash before he is due. The new deal cuts top rookie contracts by 50%, with top picks receiving 4-year deals with a 5th year team option.These 4-year contracts are eligible for rounds 2-7 as well. Cam Newton, the first pick in this year's draft, is eligible for a 4-year $22.03 million contract. If the Panthers keep him for a fifth year, his salary would be at the average of the top 10 salaries of other quarterbacks, which is far more reasonable.
The best part of the rookie wage scale? No more holdouts. This means idiots in the mold of Jamarcus Russell and Michael Crabtree can no longer sit out for long periods of time, because they lose their first round cap status after August if unsigned.
Even better, if a player goes the Revis route and sits out while under rookie contract, they are prohibited from renegotiating at all. Sweet deal I say.

-Owners have agreed to a 10-12 percent increase in the minimum salary structure. Rookies, for example, would go from $330,000 to $375,000. The increases go to $450,000 for second-year players, $525,000 for third-year players, $600,000 for fourth-year players, $685,000 for players with five-to-seven years of experience, and so on. Players with 10 years or more receive a minimum of $910,000, which is excellent for players in decline that still need money.

-The franchise tag remains unchanged, so don't expect any of the players franchised now or in the future to depart the team that tags them. That little item is here to stay. Logan Mankins, Michael Vick and Vincent Jackson will have to live with being the highest paid players at their positions.

All things considered, I'd say everybody wins with this new deal. Players get the money they wanted, owners get the power they wanted, and rookies are screwed. All is as it should be.
Now,
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!

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A Case of Gang Green?

It seems like a tidal wave has hit the usually optimistic and positive Gang Green. The season began with such promise and at 9-2 most believed the New York Jets had the season under control and the playoffs in their near future. Those same fans are now questioning the team's recent play and the flustered lack of confidence from the face of the franchise, Mark Sanchez. Be realistic. Sanchez isn't ready to carry this team, amidst a recently struggling run game and questionable pass-blocking. The Jets will prosper with an elite defense and a dominating running game that now needs their offensive line more than ever.

Fans began to cringe after the game against the Lions in week 9. Close to a loss in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Jets were saved by a Nick Folk field goal. The game was ugly as Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller had catches pryed away by defenders for statistical interceptions. The next week in Cleveland against the Browns was the same story, with an overtime touchdown by Santonio Holmes securing the win. Lacking a dominant victory, the Jets still compiled inspirational wins that built team spirit, so it seemed.

The poor play caught up to the Jets as the Patriots held their ground with a 45-3 trampling that broke the Jets' spirits. Perspiration omnipresent, fans and players seem to be at a loss for words. Even their chatty and colorful head coach has been subtly avoiding the media, aside from his burial of the ball used during the loss to the Patriots.

Their games have been slightly less entertaining than watching a microwave timer dwindle. Sanchez has no confidence, Ladainian Tomlinson isn't getting holes to squirt through or accurate chucks to allow him to run after the catch and the offensive line has lost its swagger. All good teams have hick-ups, but unless they start playing with some pizzazz and heart, it could be an epic fail towards the playoffs.

They can turn it around and they need to, but will they? To add insult to injury, their strength coach, Sal Alosi, was suspended for the season for tripping the Dolphins' Nolan Carroll. It will be a tough climb to the top with games against the 10-3 Steelers and 9-4 Bears, as well as their week 17 battle against the fiery Bills, who refuse to be called pushovers.

In the end, the season is in the Jets' control. Find the dominant offensive line that has become the cream of the crop and that will instill energy in the whole team. Last year they were a team that surged in the second half, now it seems to be the opposite. The real Gang Green will show their grit in the coming weeks and will define what team they are right now. As Broadway Joe Namath said, "First I prepare, then I have faith." Only time will tell how much faith the Jets have.

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