10 Things You Will See in the NFL Before Week 4
The Stanley Cup went to the Penguins. The NBA Title went to the Cavaliers and MLB is just getting into the meat of their season.... and now major sports fans like myself slip into a sports coma. Now, the best entertainment is re-watching the 1984 Cotton Bowl or a special on NFL Network about the career of Herm Edwards. But, I'm here to offer you some NFL writing based on nothing but my gut and having no social life! *single tear* Now, without further self pandering... 10 thing you will (most likely) see in the NFL before Week 4.
10. Sean Payton will be on the preverbal 'hot seat'
He has been the Saints head coach since 2006. In that time he got them a Lombardi trophy, a bunch of playoff berths and most importantly helped lead the team during that hurricane Katerina mess. But, the Saints haven't been to the playoffs since 2013. In between there are a few mediocre 7-9 seasons (2012, 2014, 2015.) Does this warrant a firing? Well, lets put it this way... I've seen A LOT of other head coaches fired for MUCH MUCH less (looking at you Tampa and Cleveland.) To make things worse, the NFC has a young surging Buccaneers team, a Panthers squad just coming off a Super Bowl berth, and oh yeah... the Falcons.
9. The "Loaded" Jaguars will be 0-3
Despite them having a draft and free agency frenzy like no other they still need to come together as a team. A lot of those names will sell seats and jerseys but for an entire roster of young and new talent to gel by week 4 would be nothing short of a miracle. If they do Gus Bradley should be mid season Coach of the Year (yes, I know that's not a real thing.) Also, they start the year against a ready-to-go Packers team. Then take a trip to San Diego who, I think, will rebound off their rough 2015. Lastly in week three they face a very well rounded Ravens team. 1-3 at best... 0-3 most likely.
8. Mark Sanchez will be starting for the Broncos
Even though Sanchez has been the butt of MANY a joke (including the old 'butt fumble') he still has NFL starting experience. And when he is in the right system he has shown he can play well and more importantly, win. And really, what are your other options? The Broncos are smart enough not to throw rookie Paxton Lynch into the mix too early. And who else?... Who else? That's right! Trevor Siemain. I don't know who he is either... If he was worth this weight in gold there wouldn't have been such a ruckus when Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler left for Houston.
7. The Oakland Raiders will be 3-0
The Raiders are the trendy pick for many an NFL pundit and fan. But, they ended 2015 on a bang and added talent where it was needed on an already stout roster. They start at a Saints team that is already on the ropes going into the season. Followed by a mediocre Falcons team for the home opener. Then they take a trip to a young and still growing Titans' team. Does this mean they will take the AFC West? Well...
6. The AFC West will be the best division
Yes, the Broncos lost a ton of talent. But, at they still have a solid base and they will be playing with the cliche (but true) chip on their shoulder to prove they still are Super Bowl caliber. The Chargers had a rough outing in 2016 but, I think are primed for a solid 7-9 to 8-8 season. Then you have a Kansas City team that made serious improvements on their front seven and will have a healthy Jamaal Charles (until say week 6?) Either way, this is the division to beat and without a doubt they will put two teams into the playoffs.
5. The NFL refs will blow an 'epic' call
There are a few things I am 100% on and this is one of them. Is this a vague, horsicope type prediction? Yup. But, by week 4 one team's fan base will want to set the world on fire. Or maybe it will be more than one team, who knows. All I know is that I am for sure there will be an NFL record for most flags thrown this season. They are all like Roger Goodell's henchmen. Finding ways to slow down and ruin pro football. *Punches hole in wall*
4. The Monday Night Football crew will be just fine
If you have a life you may not know that Mike Tirico left MNF for NBC Sports this off-season. But, what you may also not know is that he was replaced by one heck of a sports casting veteran, Sean McDonough. He has done everything from Major League baseball, to NCAA Final Four games, regular season college basketball, and has been doing play-by-play for the NFL on ESPN Radio since 2013. (Also, I don't hate that he is a Syracuse alum) I think him and my role-model and best coach ever (okay, I am just rambling now) Jon Gruden will make a great team. If anything Gruden has been breaking down tape on McDonough since May.
3. New York franchisees will be a combined 3-6
The Jets STILL have not signed Ryan Fitzpatrick. So, that means all aboard the Geno Smith train! Wooo! Wooo! Next stop Dumpster-fire Depo! Or you can lean on your 30yr old running back Matt Forte... sounds like a plan... (I feel like I am on a roast) Who is next? The G-Men made a major reach to get corner Eli Apple in the first round. Ignoring other needs at linebacker, or offensive line, or... well pretty much anything but a QB. Victor Cruz is now a certified headcase aaaaaand *drum roll* they have a first year head coach. That is a formula for disaster. Then there are the Bills. They are the most 2016 ready team out of the three. However, they seem to have a ton of pre-pre season injuries. And pretty much every member of the Ryan family on their staff. They picked up talent here and there but I am not sure what the end game will be for them. NYJ- 0-3, BUF 1-2, NYG 2-1.
2. Jared Goff will feel the weight of the franchise move
Without taking one snap in the regular season Goff is already pegged by many in L.A. (and some in St. Louis still) as a franchise saver. Between media, fan, and ownership pressure Goff will be under center by week 4. Will it be too early? I say yes. If they had a better core of players or some scrappy vets to prop up their young QB then fortunes would be a bit brighter for Goff. New franchise + Young QB + Dispassionate Fans = David Carr 2.0
1. Deflate Gate will FINALLY be over! RIGHT?!
By this point Brady will have or not have served his four game suspension. I feel like this has been going on since 2010. This is just a power move by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He wants to show the players and coaches 'who is the boss.' He is ruining this sport. Moving the extra point back to 'create excitement.' Moving the kickoff spot. Now eliminating chop blocking... what's up for next year? No tackling a ball carrier if he is having a bad day. 15 yard penalty, everyone hug it out, you're all winners. *barf*
10. Sean Payton will be on the preverbal 'hot seat'
He has been the Saints head coach since 2006. In that time he got them a Lombardi trophy, a bunch of playoff berths and most importantly helped lead the team during that hurricane Katerina mess. But, the Saints haven't been to the playoffs since 2013. In between there are a few mediocre 7-9 seasons (2012, 2014, 2015.) Does this warrant a firing? Well, lets put it this way... I've seen A LOT of other head coaches fired for MUCH MUCH less (looking at you Tampa and Cleveland.) To make things worse, the NFC has a young surging Buccaneers team, a Panthers squad just coming off a Super Bowl berth, and oh yeah... the Falcons.
9. The "Loaded" Jaguars will be 0-3
Despite them having a draft and free agency frenzy like no other they still need to come together as a team. A lot of those names will sell seats and jerseys but for an entire roster of young and new talent to gel by week 4 would be nothing short of a miracle. If they do Gus Bradley should be mid season Coach of the Year (yes, I know that's not a real thing.) Also, they start the year against a ready-to-go Packers team. Then take a trip to San Diego who, I think, will rebound off their rough 2015. Lastly in week three they face a very well rounded Ravens team. 1-3 at best... 0-3 most likely.
8. Mark Sanchez will be starting for the Broncos
Even though Sanchez has been the butt of MANY a joke (including the old 'butt fumble') he still has NFL starting experience. And when he is in the right system he has shown he can play well and more importantly, win. And really, what are your other options? The Broncos are smart enough not to throw rookie Paxton Lynch into the mix too early. And who else?... Who else? That's right! Trevor Siemain. I don't know who he is either... If he was worth this weight in gold there wouldn't have been such a ruckus when Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler left for Houston.
7. The Oakland Raiders will be 3-0
The Raiders are the trendy pick for many an NFL pundit and fan. But, they ended 2015 on a bang and added talent where it was needed on an already stout roster. They start at a Saints team that is already on the ropes going into the season. Followed by a mediocre Falcons team for the home opener. Then they take a trip to a young and still growing Titans' team. Does this mean they will take the AFC West? Well...
6. The AFC West will be the best division
Yes, the Broncos lost a ton of talent. But, at they still have a solid base and they will be playing with the cliche (but true) chip on their shoulder to prove they still are Super Bowl caliber. The Chargers had a rough outing in 2016 but, I think are primed for a solid 7-9 to 8-8 season. Then you have a Kansas City team that made serious improvements on their front seven and will have a healthy Jamaal Charles (until say week 6?) Either way, this is the division to beat and without a doubt they will put two teams into the playoffs.
5. The NFL refs will blow an 'epic' call
There are a few things I am 100% on and this is one of them. Is this a vague, horsicope type prediction? Yup. But, by week 4 one team's fan base will want to set the world on fire. Or maybe it will be more than one team, who knows. All I know is that I am for sure there will be an NFL record for most flags thrown this season. They are all like Roger Goodell's henchmen. Finding ways to slow down and ruin pro football. *Punches hole in wall*
4. The Monday Night Football crew will be just fine
If you have a life you may not know that Mike Tirico left MNF for NBC Sports this off-season. But, what you may also not know is that he was replaced by one heck of a sports casting veteran, Sean McDonough. He has done everything from Major League baseball, to NCAA Final Four games, regular season college basketball, and has been doing play-by-play for the NFL on ESPN Radio since 2013. (Also, I don't hate that he is a Syracuse alum) I think him and my role-model and best coach ever (okay, I am just rambling now) Jon Gruden will make a great team. If anything Gruden has been breaking down tape on McDonough since May.
3. New York franchisees will be a combined 3-6
The Jets STILL have not signed Ryan Fitzpatrick. So, that means all aboard the Geno Smith train! Wooo! Wooo! Next stop Dumpster-fire Depo! Or you can lean on your 30yr old running back Matt Forte... sounds like a plan... (I feel like I am on a roast) Who is next? The G-Men made a major reach to get corner Eli Apple in the first round. Ignoring other needs at linebacker, or offensive line, or... well pretty much anything but a QB. Victor Cruz is now a certified headcase aaaaaand *drum roll* they have a first year head coach. That is a formula for disaster. Then there are the Bills. They are the most 2016 ready team out of the three. However, they seem to have a ton of pre-pre season injuries. And pretty much every member of the Ryan family on their staff. They picked up talent here and there but I am not sure what the end game will be for them. NYJ- 0-3, BUF 1-2, NYG 2-1.
2. Jared Goff will feel the weight of the franchise move
Without taking one snap in the regular season Goff is already pegged by many in L.A. (and some in St. Louis still) as a franchise saver. Between media, fan, and ownership pressure Goff will be under center by week 4. Will it be too early? I say yes. If they had a better core of players or some scrappy vets to prop up their young QB then fortunes would be a bit brighter for Goff. New franchise + Young QB + Dispassionate Fans = David Carr 2.0
1. Deflate Gate will FINALLY be over! RIGHT?!
By this point Brady will have or not have served his four game suspension. I feel like this has been going on since 2010. This is just a power move by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He wants to show the players and coaches 'who is the boss.' He is ruining this sport. Moving the extra point back to 'create excitement.' Moving the kickoff spot. Now eliminating chop blocking... what's up for next year? No tackling a ball carrier if he is having a bad day. 15 yard penalty, everyone hug it out, you're all winners. *barf*
Comments
Post a Comment