Podcast #1: Week 8 NFL Predictions

Download: NFL Week 8 Predictions

This is JZ Sports' first podcast, our NFL week 8 predictions. The first of many, we will have weekly predictions and will have video predictions coming next week. Thanks and enjoy!

Andy Reid's Love Triangle Hurting the Eagles

~ Here is our first article by Jake Silver, who will be writing for this site as well. Read and enjoy his piece on Andy Reid's interesting season so far...

It is understandable for a head coach to become indecisive when he has two good quarterbacks on his roster. After all, that situation creates a lot of pressure to sit/start the right player, especially if the coach recently traded away one of the greatest quaterbacks of our time.

The only thing is, Andy Reid doesn't actually have this problem; there is only one good quarterback on the Eagles roster, and that player is Michael Vick. Kevin Kolb on the other hand, is at best a second-rate passer with potential to be a starting caliber quarterback in a few years with some serious work, and at worst a washout who should never get off the bench. I dont say this out of hatred for Kolb, the evidence is there.

Everyone loves to talk about how Kolb threw for 300+ yards in his first two starts in 2009, being the only player to ever do so. What people seem to forget is those games were against the Chiefs and the Saints; one team not exactly known for great defense, and the other with such an explosive offense the Eagles had no choice but to pass on every down. There was also the little game against the Ravens in 2008 where Kolb managed to throw 4 picks in 1 half, including a 108 yard pick 6. Oh yeah, I want him on my team....

With that in mind, this season has seen some of the strangest waffling by a head coach in recent memory. The season started off as expected, with Kolb as the starter and Vick getting some token snaps in the Wildcat formation to keep him quiet. Clay Matthews changed all of that in the blink of an eye. Kolb went down in game 1 with a concussion, and suddenly there was Vick, going 16/25 for 175 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for an additional 103 yards. This is all after Kolb got sacked several times and threw a pick.

Even after Vick's stellar performance, Andy Reid went to the press and confirmed that if Kolb was cleared to play, Vick would be riding the bench once again. Though Kolb wasn't cleared for week 2, Reid made it clear that he would play when the doctors gave the green light. Vick put up another fantastic game against the Lions, and still Andy Reid went with his golden boy. In the middle of the week between games 2 and 3, Reid shocked the world by announcing Vick was to start over Kolb, despite Kolb being cleared to play. This created locker room buzz, despite what the players said to the camera, don't be fooled into thinking there was no drama behind closed doors. Vick went on to another good performance against Jacksonville before getting hurt against the skins.

Obviously, Vick's rib injury had to keep him out for a few games, but the circumstances surrounding Kolb's start against the Titans in week 7 was fishy, especially since Vick basically said he felt ready to play. It is also a little too convenient that Vick now has his job back after Kolb performed poorly against Tennessee. It almost seems like Reid was pushing the envelope to give Kolb another chance, and if that's true, it cost the Eagles a win.

The problem here is that the flip flopping of quarterbacks is going to affect team chemistry and psyche. Quarterbacks and their wideouts need to practice together, and it screws up the recievers if they are practicing with a different guy every week.

The main issue is Reid's ego battling his common sense. Reid fought so hard, and made such controversial moves (read: McNabb) to get Kolb his job, its almost like Kolb is Reid's little pet project. His ego cant take it that his project was surpassed by a washout on his comeback. On the other hand, Reid knows deep down that Vick is the superior quarterback. His talk of possibly using both quarterbacks in equal capacity reveals the depth of his madness, as no sane man would use Kolb over Vick at this point.

Reid obviously has staked a lot in Kevin Kolb, but the way the Eagle's season is going right now, he'd better throw his chips in with Vick if he wants to avoid the hot seat.

Heat Not So Hot

 "Rome wasn't built in one day." 

         ~ Lebron James, after loss to Celtics

          It was a strange game, seeming like a vivid dream that one waits to wake up from. While every sports blogger is discussing the Miami Heat's loss to the elderly Boston Celtics, I will continue to do the same. It was an awkward showing, the Heat looking tense and the Celtics displaying youth that I personally doubted they still had, even with 38-year-old Shaquille O'Neal manning the center position. Rondo, with 17 assists, albeit only four points, led the Celtic offense and got everyone involved. The Celtics, however, are a team that has meshed, having played together for four years now. The Heat haven't yet reached that level of comfort.
          During the 88-80 loss, the Heat committed 17 turnovers, eight from Lebron James and six from Dwayne Wade, and only had 15 assists, two less than Rondo had by himself. The Heat looked uncomfortable and most of their shots looked forced. Lebron didn't seem his explosive self, settling for contested jump shots and sloppy passes.
          After the Lebron signing (fiasco) in the off-season, most fans lost respect for him and his tainted legacy. Looking like a man who could transform the game of basketball with his ability and the legacy he was on the way to making, he decided he wanted to play with his buddies Wade and Chris Bosh and didn't care about having "his own team."
          If last night's game is any indication of how close the Heat are to jelling, they have some progress to make. I don't believe we should make too big a deal out of the first game of the season in an 82-game season, yet it is an interesting topic to discuss as basketball is a team sport and I am interested to see if three individual superstars can share the ball and win as a team or if they will continue to exist on their own islands, forcing shots, turning over the ball and continuously begging for more time.

Tailgating Bible

Thanks BroBible.com's joePA for a quick guide to successful tailgating. It's always helpful to know the keys to tailgating and having a top-notch, festive experience before the game. Read and enjoy!
 
Via: Medical Insurance

Faces in the Crowd: Superfan Cameron Hughes

"Cameron Hughes earns a six-figure salary for being the crazy, sometimes annoying, superfan in the stands."                                                        ~ David Critchell, Portfolio.com

One man is living the dream for all the young fans out there. Cameron Hughes has found the pot of gold, a euphoric situation. It is truly inspiring to know that a fan out there gets paid a six-figure salary to stimulate the crowd and produce team spirit. Teams ranging from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Los Angeles Lakers, teams pay him a nice check to be a fanatical and fervent fan. Once an aspiring actor, Hughes gets to act as himself and be a kid at a ball game passionately rooting for ‘his team.’ Home-team fans don’t know where his loyalties truly are as they change every gig, but he gets to bring the team spirit out of everyone every time. He’s a role model and an inspirational figure for fans in the team spirit spectrum of sports.

A Heartfelt Story of Sportsmanship

 "It was the right thing to do."                                   

~Darius McNeal, DeKalb Barbs

Sportsmanship is always a major issue in sports. From pee-wee league to professional athletics, athletes are ubiquitously scrutinized for there lack of sportsmanship, but not too often for the sportsmanship they display. This story surrounds two teams that witnessed true acts of sportsmanship, propelling a story that should be read by everyone. In the town of DeKalb, Ill., an 18 year old, Johntel Franklin (pictured), who had seen his mother in remission after a five-year fight with cervical, had to see a detrimental decision made hours before DeKalb's non-conference game against Milwaukee Madison. It was decided that his Mother's life-support system would be turned off, crushing the young man, who was very close with his Mother, according to his coach Aaron Womack Jr. Womack wanted to cancel the game but Franklin said he wanted his team to play. Expecting Franklin to grieve and not come to the game, Womack and his team were ecstatic when he showed up in the second quarter, and was surrounded by hugs from teammates and fans. He decided he wanted to play, yet the only way to get him in the game was to take a technical foul, giving two free throws to the other team, which Womack easily agreed to, backing up his player altruistically. The sportsmanship came when the player taking the free throws for the opposing team, Darius McNeal, purposely missed the two free throws with the support of his coach, Dave Rohlman, after the referees forced the team to take the shots as part of the rules. "Yes, DeKalb would go home with a loss. But it was a trip they'll never forget." A touching story of true sportsmanship. I only hope others can learn from this story. 

Dock Ellis and his No-Hit Trip

"I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I was psyched. I had a feeling of euphoria. I was zeroed in on the (catcher's) glove, but I didn't hit the glove too much. I remember hitting a couple of batters and the bases were loaded two or three times. The ball was small sometimes, the ball was large sometimes, sometimes I saw the catcher, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I tried to stare the hitter down and throw while I was looking at him. I chewed my gum until it turned to powder. I started having a crazy idea in the fourth inning that Richard Nixon was the home plate umpire, and once I thought I was pitching a baseball to Jimi Hendrix, who to me was holding a guitar and swinging it over the plate. They say I had about three to four fielding chances. I remember diving out of the way of a ball I thought was a line drive. I jumped, but the ball wasn't hit hard and never reached me."                                                    

                                                                         ~ Dock Ellis, former Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher



It's difficult to decide how to feel about Dock Ellis and his epic pitching performance against the San Diego Padres on June 12th, 1970. Do I feel ecstatic or dumbfounded. Ellis, who won 19 games in 1971 for the World Champion Pirates, played for six teams in his career, including the Mets and Yankees, but is best known for the no-hitter he threw while under the influence of LSD, a powerful hallucinogenic drug.

The first question that came to mind was what he thinking taking acid before a game? However, it turns out he was visiting friends in Los Angeles thinking he was off. He was still high when his friend's girlfriend told him he was pitching that night. He boarded a shuttle flight to the game and pitched a masterpiece, not being able to remember parts of the game.

It's a remarkable performance in a game that requires concentration and focus. Pitching in the major leagues is difficult enough in its own right, let alone while hallucinating. It is an experience that the sport of baseball will probably never see again, albeit not knowing about it until 13 years later. However, it is arguably the most phenomenal and unique pitching performance in the history of baseball.

Pitching Dominating the Giants vs. Phillies Series

"The Giants have yet to score more than four runs in a game this postseason, yet five games in, they are 4-1 and now hold an early lead over the mighty Phillies in the NLCS. That's a credit to their pitching staff, which has allowed just 2.4 runs per game and more than three runs just once in those five contests, each of which has been decided by just one run."

                                                                                                                            ~ Cliff Corcoran
                                                                                                                             Sports Illustrated

          Coming into the playoffs I believed that Philadelphia had the best pitching rotation with Halladay doing what he has continued to do for years, Cole Hamels causing a plethora of swings and misses, seemingly finding his groove and recently acquried Roy Oswalt, a bonafide number one starter, being able to play a more supporting role. With Superstar Tim Lincecum, hard-throwing Matt Cain and young phenom Madison Bumgarner carrying the Giants rotation, they definitely matched up well, however the Phillies' offensive lineup carried more muscle, all-around threats crowding the lineup.
          While they are 4-1 in the playoffs thus far, the Giants have yet to score more than four runs. Their pitching staff has supplied the team with all the power it needs, allowing 2.4 runs per game, while only giving up more than three runs once in five games. I expect Philly to pick it up and hit the baseball, yet the series will continue to be dominated by pitching.
            It is refreshing to see the game played by natural athletes, allowing pitching to have a serious impact and a scrappier game to be played.

Classic Bloopers

Too good not to show, these never get old. Enjoy...

Did Female Reporter Ines Sainz Invite attention from NY Jets?

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=8d7ca640-b0c2-4317-be65-db46c96a8802&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_articles" target="_new" title="Reporter reacts to controversy">Video: Reporter reacts to controversy</a>

Seems far from innocent. Even the reporter asks her if she was looking for attention with the way she was dressed. Great answer to his question of whether the jeans could be any tighter, "That's my size," she said. Even Washington Redskins runningback told the media awhile ago that if a woman reporter is going to dress sexy and walk into a locker room with 50 or so football players, she's going to get cat calls. It's debatable as to what dictates professionalism. Thoughts?

Hilarious Piece About "Trick Plays"

 

Somehow I don't see any of these working, albeit being very comical. Very creative piece by Yoni Brenner. Enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trick Plays

by Yoni Brenner October 4, 2010  

The Quadruple Play Fake

The quarterback receives the snap from the center and fakes a handoff to the running back. Then he pivots right and fakes another handoff to the fullback. Then he fakes two more handoffs in quick succession: to a wide receiver, and then, once again, to the running back, who looped back behind the line of scrimmage during all the faking. Pretty soon, the defense catches on and goes after the quarterback, at which point the actual trick is revealed: the first fake handoff was real.

Musical Chairs
The offense arrives on the field with a two-receiver, two-end package. The receivers bunch to the left and the first tight end splits out wide to the right. Then the quarterback starts patting his pockets and looking around anxiously, as if he can’t find his keys. Meanwhile, the second tight end—who has a beautiful singing voice—drifts into the backfield and croons selections from “A Little Night Music.” This continues until the referee blows the whistle for delay of game.
This play will not yield any yards, but it will get the defense thinking.

Double Trick Inside Stunt
Essentially, a well-disguised variation on the strong-side blitz. For the first trick, the strong-side linebacker “stunts” inside the defensive tackle to confuse the blockers. The other trick is that they’re all on steroids.

The Open-Source Sweep
A week before the big game, team officials engineer a “chance encounter” between the opposing quarterback and the actor Jake Gyllenhaal. The pair become fast friends, attending a number of folk concerts and rummage sales together. As their relationship blossoms, Gyllenhaal inculcates the quarterback with progressive ideas about transparency and freedom of information, and by the end of the week he convinces the quarterback to post his team’s playbook on WikiLeaks. The team loses five of its next six games, and the quarterback is benched. As for Jake Gyllenhaal, he is eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, and is hired by Fox Sports to join Howie Long and Michael Strahan on the Sunday N.F.L. pre-game show.

Last Man Standing
In a single-back, four-wideout formation, the quarterback accidentally sends the receivers on identical crossing routes, causing a spectacular collision at midfield. The defense seizes the advantage: they overpower the offensive line and pancake the quarterback for a substantial loss, leaving only the running back to tell their stories and sing their songs and pass on their proud traditions of hunting and leatherwork.

The Sleight of Hand
The quarterback lines up behind the center and takes the snap. But as he drops back we see that he’s holding not a football but a basketball. This causes the defense to hesitate, and the quarterback lobs the basketball deep to the wide receiver. The receiver catches it in stride for a touchdown—at which point the ball turns into a bouquet of roses. If, however, the ball is intercepted, it turns into bees.

Buried Treasure!
After sacking the quarterback, a defensive lineman “accidentally” leaves behind a tattered parchment scroll that turns out to be a sixteenth-century treasure map. In the second half, the quarterback is consumed with visions of rubies, silver coins, and gold bullion. He recruits a party of his most trusted offensive linemen and together they embark on a two-week journey to a forgotten island off the coast of Guadeloupe. They return, bedraggled but successful, bearing a treasure worth nearly eighty thousand dollars—only to discover that the combined lost salary for the weeks they missed added up to $4.3 million. The season ends badly, with the team slipping into last place and the starting left guard succumbing to wounds sustained in a cutlass fight.

West Coast Misdirection
During the off-season, the opposing quarterback is again approached by the actor Jake Gyllenhaal. The quarterback warns Gyllenhaal to keep his distance, but Gyllenhaal tells him that it isn’t like that—he wants to offer the quarterback a part in an independent film he is producing, called “The Quarterback and the Dame,” about an unlikely romance between a gridiron hero and the English stage legend Judi Dench. The quarterback reads the script, and he has to admit it’s pretty good, so he signs on. The quarterback arrives on the set for the first day of shooting, only to find Gyllenhaal costumed in shoulder pads and eye black. The quarterback goes berserk, believing that he’d been promised the part.
“No, no,” Gyllenhaal coos, “you’re playing Judi Dench.”

The End of Days
In the waning seconds of the first half of the N.F.C. championship game, the pious visiting quarterback leads a masterly eighty-yard drive, culminating in a fifteen-yard touchdown strike. As his teammates celebrate, the quarterback drops to one knee to thank Jesus. Just then, the Rapture comes, and the quarterback is instantly beamed up to Heaven, leaving only his cleats behind. The visiting team is forced to play the second half with the inconsistent journeyman Billy Joe Hobert, who throws three interceptions, and they end up losing the game, 42–10. The home team advances to the Super Bowl—only to lose in heartbreaking fashion, when what would have been the winning field goal caroms off an apocalyptic horseman and falls wide right. ♦

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2010/10/04/101004sh_shouts_brenner?printable=true#ixzz12H2mbwxx

Texas Rangers Make History as Cliff Lee Dominates

"With their first postseason series win, the Rangers have arrived as an American League superpower. Over the three years since the franchise's landmark Mark Teixeira trade, GM Jon Daniels has infused the organization with the best young talent in the game. The new Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg ownership group, as well as a mammoth TV deal, also positions the franchise to be a force for years to come, with or without Lee. But for now, Lee and the Rangers have their eye on the Yankees and the ALCS, which begins Friday in Arlington."                                                                                                                    ~ Albert Chen, Sports Illustrated With a win in game five of the American League Division Series over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the  Rangers have advanced to the next round for the first time in the history of their franchise. Dominant Cliff Lee has become Mr. October, going 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA in seven playoff starts. It's a unique story, upsetting a team that had World Series aspirations, or rather expectations. As a reward for beating the number one ranked team in the American League East division, the Rangers now get to face the New York Yankees, another other powerhouse in the AL East. With Lee on the mound, they are more than confident and expect their offense to continue mashing the baseball. It will be an interesting series as both teams are looking to make statements. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/albert_chen/10/13/cliff.lee/index.html

Wisniewski's Obscene Gesture in NHL Game

The National Hockey League has been seen as the most difficult sport to watch, so it's not surprising that players are trying to spice it up a little. On the other hand, what defenseman James Wisniewski did to Sean Avery was borderline astonishing, at the very least completely inappropriate. The Canton, MI native, signed this year as a free agent by the Islanders, has been suspended for two games for the obscene gesture and is taking it in stride. "A lot of actions on the ice are regrettable,” Wisniewski said.  “I’ve been given a suspension from the league and I’m going to accept it and move on from here" (newyorkislanders.com). Is two games a sufficient amount, should he get more?

Jamarcus Russell the DJ?

No not really, just seems he is hanging with his friends in Mobile, Alabama and showing off his Rolls-Royce. His time in the National Football League given him a beautiful car and now unemployment. Jamarcus Russell is trying to move on after being cut by the Oakland Raiders, establishing himself as arguably the biggest bust of all time. It's a sad story for a guy who was the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, after being named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl and finishing 21-4 as a starter at Louisiana State University. After signing a contract worth $61 million, $32 million guaranteed, Russell finished 7-18 as a starter in three seasons with the Raiders. He was released this past May. What a letdown for a team looking for a franchise player, someone to change their recent fortunes. They'll have to keep searching, although they are optimistic about the recent surge by running back Darren McFadden, drafted fourth overall in 2008 out of the University of Arkansas. Hopefully for the Raiders, Al Davis can change his drafting plan and start taking some football players, rather than athletes with egos.

CBA Agreement could reshape NBA

No Team Like 'Da Bears' of '85

Great read by Jeff Pearlman about the '85 Bears, a unique team they were.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jeff_pearlman/10/08/85.bears/index.html?eref=sihp

Posted: Friday October 8, 2010 1:25PM ; Updated: Friday October 8, 2010 1:49PM

Jeff Pearlman>PEARLS OF WISDOM

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There still hasn't been a team near as compelling as Da Bears of '85

Story Highlights Today's Jets pack a punch, but don't match the '85 Bears -- not even close Considered by many to be the greatest team ever, the '85 Bears' legacy won't die Willie Gault: "We walked the walk and talked the talk and were never intimidated"

They come along every decade or so, and we initially fall for the bait.
The Dallas Cowboys of the mid-1990s.
The Pittsburgh Steelers of a couple of years ago.
Today's New York Jets.
We call them wild and wacky and crazy and amazing, almost begging the adjectives to burst off the page and infuse life into the relatively lifeless. But, for the past 25 years, dazzling words have failed to meet harsh reality. Yes, the Cowboys of Aikman, Smith and Irvin were wonderful. Yes, the Steelers of Big Ben and Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes walked with a swagger. Yes, the 2010 Jets seem to pack a punch.
None, however, match the 1985 Chicago Bears.
Not even close.
RELATED: Rare Photos of the '85 Bears
That it's been 2 1/2 decades since the greatest team in NFL history ran through and over the league is mind-boggling in its own right. Twenty. Five. Years. How can that be? It seems like a season or two ago that Mike Singletary, eyes the size of Oreo cookies, was patrolling the middle of the field, flanked by the freaky athleticism of Wilbur Marshall and Otis Wilson. It seems like a season or two ago that the punky QB known as McMahon was launching deep bombs to Willie Gault down the sideline; that Walter Payton was finding a hole behind Matt Suhey; that Gary Fencik was launching his helmet into opposing receivers and Jimbo Covert was pulverizing pass rushers from his spot along the line.
Teams have come and teams have gone, but the '85 Bears, well, they were different. Crazy. Alive. "We walked the walk and we talked the talk and we were never intimidated," Gault said. "There's a reason our legacy has lasted this long. We were a special collection of men."
Chicago finished with '85 season with a 15-1 record -- the only blemish being a Monday Night loss at Miami. They pulverized the Giants and Rams in the NFC playoffs, then destroyed the Patriots in the Super Bowl, 46-10.
Their coach, Mike Ditka, hated Buddy Ryan, the defensive coordinator. Their quarterback, McMahon, hated Dan Hampton, the star defensive lineman. There were fights nearly every day in practice; no-holds-barred wars between offensive and defensive players that usually lasted until a pool of blood could be found on the ground. "It was crazy intense," Covert said. "Our toughest games were our practices. Sundays seemed easy."
To commemorate the 25th anniversary, a pair of books have been released. Ditka teamed with Rick Telander, a former Sports Illustrated senior writer, to pen The '85 Bears: We Were the Greatest. And Steve Delsohn, an ESPN reporter and co-author of Jim Brown's autobiography, wrote Da Bears: How the 1985 Monsters of the Midway Became the Greatest Team in NFL History. Both texts are wonderfully written and deftly reported, with a common theme that few football fans can deny -- namely, that the Bears were one-of-a-kind champions.
Writes Telander: "Not only did [the Bears] make it to Super Bowl XX, they snatched the champion's mantle and toyed with it and danced on its fabric like maniacs. ... At its crescendo, that 1985 squad was, almost without question, the best NFL team ever. And it was the first to have larger-than-life characters sprinkled throughout. Quasi-nutcases, some. Or maybe it was just the first to have the media appreciate those characters, dissect them, revel in them, despise them, adore them -- starting with the head coach. It was a sitcom played out for our entertainment."
In New York, people are beginning to act as if the Jets are the real deal. Their coach, Rex Ryan, is Buddy's son, and they can match Gault's breakaway speed with Holmes' breakaway speed; Payton's legend with LaDainian Tomlinson's legend; Singletary's hard hits with David Harris' hard hits. But there's a difference-a gigantic one.
Come Sundays, the Jets hope to win. They want to win. They believe they'll win.
"We knew we'd win," Suhey said. "It wasn't just confidence. It felt like absolute certainty."
It was.

Blowout of the Week

New Orleans Vs. Arizona
The Saints are winning like usual, yet not in the fashion they prefer. They have been letting bad teams stick around but none as bad as Arizona is right now. Derek Anderson has been benched twice for undrafted rookie Max Hall. Look for the Saints to take care of business today.
Pick: Saints

Battle of the Underdogs

Jacksonville Vs. Buffalo
Call it a battle of the scrubs, but both these teams always seem to hang around. After the Bills' debacle against the Jets, albeit battling in the second half, most experts have lost complete faith in any wins for the Bills. Today is no different except for the fact that they are playing the Jaguars, who are facing their own adversity, especially on defense as they are ranked 30th in the league in defense. Offensively the edge goes to the Jaguars as David Garrard has more potential than the tough Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will run and gun when he can. Pick: Jaguars

Most Underrated Game Week 5

Kansas City Chiefs Vs. Indianapolis
Who would have predicted the Chiefs as the only undefeated team left in week 5? This game has two huge questions that need to be answered. Can the Colts get back on track and how serious should we take the Chiefs? Looking to implement themselves into the early season playoff talk, the Chiefs are 3-0 and are coming off a bye week. No need for doubts though as the Colts are getting back some injured players this week, including cornerback Antoine Bethea. Their defense will be much hungrier. Pick: Colts