Why the NFL is so great.

The NFL continues not to disappoint hardcore football fans once again this season. The intriguing storylines (firings and injuries), upsets and complete surprises add to an already spectacular season. For example, the Buffalo Bills are leading the AFC East division at 5-1, the Arizona Cardinals are 2 games ahead of the Rams in the NFC West and the Tenessee Titans are 6-0 in the AFC South with the Colts 3 games back! It is shaping up to be an exciting stretch run for some teams, especially the NFC East with every team with at least a .500 record. There could very well be a repeat Super Bowl Champion not named Patriots or we could see a brand new champion be crowned. As a fan, it doesn't get much better than this.

Gotta' Love Jerry Jones

In lieu of Tony Romo's broken pinkie, and Adam "No-Longer-Pacman" Jones' indefinite suspension, Jerry Jones attempts to appease Cowboys fans with the trade for wide receiver Roy Williams from the Detroit Lions. This seems like a good move for the long term of the WR position for the 'Boys. Terrell Owens is only going to be on the team for another year or two (Jones probably doesn't like his attitude), and Roy Williams is a guy alot like Owens without the baggage. I know, I know, Williams has his problems, but he hasn't single handily destroyed two franchises (I use "destroyed" lightly). But back to Jerry Jones. Jones' attempt to appease Cowboys fans worked, in my book. I was down and pessimistic about the direction of Dallas since the loss to Arizona, Romo's injury, NL-Pacman's turmoil, and it is still scaring me the way Owens reacted after the Washington loss. But, now that Dallas gets some excellent talent opposite Owens (which he described as being "ecstatic" on hearing the news), when Romo gets back the only problem he's going to have is "who do I give the ball to?" So take your pick double TO, Williams, Witten, or Barber, but you certainly can't cover them all. So I am now optimistic the Cowboys can head into their week 10 bye going 2-1 without Romo, and with options when he gets back. Just what the doctor ordered.

Weekly Pick 'em (once again!)

Chicago @ Atlanta
Baltimore @ Indianapolis
Detroit @ Minnesota
Oakland @ New Orleans
Cincinnati @ New York Jets
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
St. Louis @ Washington
Miami @ Houston
Jacksonville @ Denver
Dallas @ Arizona
Philadelphia @ San Francisco
Green Bay @ Seattle
New England @ San Diego

Monday:
New York Giants @ Cleveland

Are the Rays for Real?

The Tampa Bay Rays advanced to their first ever ALCS after beating the ChiSox 3-1. The Rays' franchise is breath of fresh air for those fans of the fall classic who tire from the Yankees vs Red Sox story that has seemed to have dominated baseball. I enjoy seeing the preverbial underdog make a run for that October dream, while leaving their opponents with their huge payrolls and overrated stars watching from their respective clubhouses. Now that the Cubbies are eliminated from the postseason, it seems as though the American League should have an easy path to yet another World Championship. I think that the Rays may have beaten the second best team in the AL, as the Angels of Anaheim in Los Angeles(?) have yet to show up. All I can hope is that my beloved Reds will take a page from the Rays' book and follow suit next season. Good Luck Tampa Bay!

I Am Tellin' You, It's the Curses!

The cubs are officially under three curses. The curse of the goat, the black cat, and now Bartman. You know of the other two curses, but since the 2003 season the Cubs have not won a single game in the post-season. For two years they have been swept. I can understand last year because they had to play their way into the playoffs, but this year they were an amazing team. They played exceptional until about mid-august and then they skated into the playoffs. Then they played like a little league team. The Cubbies played terrible defense and had zero offense. So, I am blaming the curses. I know, it is just an excuse, but it helps me sleep at night. This offseason we need to figure out how to break these curses. One of my friends thinks the only way to is the blow up wrigley field and start anew. I love Wrigley and would never want to see it demolished, but I started to think this it he only way. The other option: Anyone know any good witch doctors?

Weekly Pick 'em (Has to get better right!?)

As my partner preceded, last weeks' pick 'em was embarrassing! Here's to a new week!

Sunday, October 5th

• Kansas City at Carolina
  
• Chicago at Detroit
  
• Atlanta at Green Bay
• San Diego at Miami
• Seattle at NY Giants
• Washington at Philadelphia
• Tennessee at Baltimore
• Indianapolis at Houston
• Tampa Bay at Denver
• Buffalo at Arizona
• New England at San Francisco
• Cincinnati at Dallas
• Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
  

Monday, October 6th
Minnesota at New Orleans

Cub's Fans Are Distraught

The picture says it all. The Cubs are struggling. Is it the dreaded curse or just a tense team? I wish they would have won last night to put them at ease, but they played like a little league team. They committed so many errors it wasn't even funny. However, with all that said I still think they can rally. They need to go back to playing the way they did to get to the post-season. They need to loosen up and have fun. They don't need to worry about any curse. There is still hope, they can win, but they are going to have let go of the last two losses.

And if they don't win, oh well what is one more year. Then we can say what we always say in Chicago, "There is always next year."

Bryan's Week 5 NFL Picks

After my embarrassing barely .500 picks last week I am hoping to make some better picks this week. We'll see. My picks are in Red.

Sunday, October 5th

• Kansas City at Carolina
  
• Chicago at Detroit (I know call me crazy, but I think Detroit wins)
  
• Atlanta at Green Bay
• San Diego at Miami
• Seattle at NY Giants
• Washington at Philadelphia
• Tennessee at Baltimore
• Indianapolis at Houston
• Tampa Bay at Denver
• Buffalo at Arizona
• New England at San Francisco
• Cincinnati at Dallas
• Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
  

Monday, October 6th

• Minnesota at New Orleans
  

Can Randy Moss Realize Fantasy Projections?

Is Randy Moss still a relevant fantasy football (FF) wide reciever option? I'm sure there are many owners out there that have him sitting on the trading block (I did in one league) or plopped on the bench behind the likes of Lance Moore & Bernard Berrian. Of course the logical thinking FF player did not think that Moss would have a consecutive 20 TD season, we were hopeful for around 10-12 TD's, however. Ever since Tom Brady went down Moss has taken the plummet along side him into fantasy irrelevance. It seems that Moss himself might as well be injured, he's produced less that 3 points per game since Brady's departure. All this leads to my uncanny feeling that Moss will turn it around, however. He is playing with a quarterback who hadn't seen any action since high school , in Matt Cassel, and has been a bit timid at first (considering the speed at which he would go to a check down receiver). But, I know you don't want to hear this, Bill Belichick is notorious for adjustments and preparation. Well, what dyou know? He has this bye week both to adjust his gameplans to fit the needs of both Moss and Cassel and two weeks to prepare them. I would look for Moss in more slot positions and run more 5-10 yard ins and drags, getting him in open field (much like a RB) against LB's in which he can exploit his speed and quickness. He could certainly end up with 8-10 TD's, really the lower end of preseason hopes. If he could obtain this, though, it is alot more production than what you could get out of a trade or off the waiver wire. Without Brady, Moss will become more of a second-tier receiver in most fantasy leagues, but hey after the output thats been put on the field second-tier is two steps up!

If Bobby Knight was president....

With the upcoming Presidential election looming, myself as well as many other Americans are probably unsure who of the two candidates are best suited to lead our country. Each candidate has some things to offer the American people, but neither one really has that aura of authority about them. We need a hard-nosed, take no crap President like Ronald Reagan or Teddy Roosevelt in order for us to take back our spot as el country numero uno. The wheels started to turn the other day and I came up with a solution to our political dilemma. I officially nominate Robert Montgomery Knight, aka The General, as a candidate for the President of the United States. Now I know there are those who disagree with Knight's antics as a coach, but I believe his track record speaks for itself. He is a reliable diplomat (Represented the US in the Pan Am games and the Olympics), he will vehemonantly argue for his point, he won't put up with those around him who don't pull their own weight (Wall Street and United Nations----chairs will be flying, folks), and our education system and libraries will improve to where we rank among the top in the world. The war in Iraq will come to an abrupt end after The General goes from a zone defense to man-to-man to whoop each member of Al-Quaida face to face (Zone almost never works). Basically, who is more qualified that Mr. Future Presidente, Robert M. Knight?? He has worked well with the media, so his State of the Union addresses will be informative and entertaining. More importantly, he is a straight-shooter. So if we want someone in the White House to be looking out for our best interests and being a champion to the Presidency, that man is Bobby Knight. Knight in '08!