Thank you, Peyton

He came in at the top. He went out on top.

Drafted with the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning would change the game of football through his chess-like audibles and pre-snap recognition of the most complex defenses in the game.

He was supposed to be good. Really good. Possibly great. But he became arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. And it wasn't by accident.

A great story comes from then Colts General Manager Bill Polian in 1998, the year in which the Colts held the number one pick in the draft and were torn between taking Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning. The majority of GM's had Leaf pegged as being the better long-term prospect. That didn't sit well with Peyton. He famously told Polian three weeks before the draft "Look, I think I'd really like to play for the Colts, I do. But if you don't pick me, I'll spend the next 15 years kicking your ass." Polian has said that after Manning made that statement his mind was made up. That was the kind of moxie he wanted in his future NFL quarterback. And most of us know that Ryan Leaf went on to be one of the biggest busts in NFL history. To think there was a competition between the two at the time is laughable now.

The Early Days

Peyton Williams Manning grew up as the middle son of former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints star quarterback Archie Manning. He has been around football literally his entire life. He grew up to star at Isadore Newman High School, playing with his older brother Cooper, who was a wide receiver for the team. Cooper had multiple college offers but ultimately had to call a career early because of spinal stenosis.

 (Manning Family circa 1981)

Peyton shocked the football world when he spurned his father's alma mater Ole Miss and instead chose to sign on to play football for the University of Tennessee. Peyton starred at Tennessee, setting multiple national and SEC records at QB. He eventually finished second in the Heisman race to Charles Woodson in 1998 his senior year, in one of the best Heisman classes of all time. Manning and Woodson would go on to play the next 18 years in the NFL against each other. Both will be first-ballot Hall of Fame selections in 2021.

The Establishment

Manning set the NFL rookie record for touchdown passes in a season in 1998 with 26, which has now been tied by Russell Wilson. His rookie year the Colts were terrible, going 3-13. They had the number one pick for a reason, right?. The next year the Colts drafted a guy by the name of Edgerrine James, a running back from the U. The Colts then made the single biggest winning percentage improvement in one year, going 13-3 in 1999.

While the first 8 seasons of Manning's career with the Colts was primarily a success, he was still missing one thing. A championship. He began to draw comparisons to Dan Marino, who was considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time but never won the big one. It wasn't until Manning's 9th season that the monkey descended from his back.

In the 2007 AFC championship game, Manning led the Colts back from a 17 point halftime deficit to defeat the New England Patriots. Manning beat his arch rival Tom Brady to advance to his first career Super Bowl.

Two weeks later the Colts would go on to beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI to give Manning his first ring. No more questions about if he was "good enough' to win a title. No more Marino comparisons. No more wondering if he was ever going to get it done. He did.

The Career-Threatening Neck Injury

In the offseason after the 2010 season, Peyton would go into surgery to have a procedure done on his neck. However, when doctors got into the surgery, they saw that this was not going to be a simple fix. Manning's neck vertebrae was seriously damaged.

He had a herniated disc in his neck which was putting pressure on the surrounding nerves. Manning would go on to have four total surgeries, including neck fusion surgery in which the doctors inserted a plate and screws to hold the vertebrae together. The injury caused Manning to miss the entire 2011 season. He had previously never missed an NFL start.

The injury was more serious than people know or seem to remember. David Cutcliffe, who served for a long time as Manning's quarterback coach, said that in the months following the surgery, Peyton couldn't throw the ball 10 yards. Imagine that... a guy who rewrote NFL record books passing a football couldn't throw 10 yards. Manning has recently come out and said that he hasn't regained feeling in his fingertips since the surgeries almost 5 years ago. So, let's get this straight. The QB who broke the single season passing td's and yards records, as well as winning MVP in 2013, couldn't feel his fingertips in his throwing hand? Wow.

The Broncos Take a Chance

The neck injury Manning sustained was so serious that many analysts thought he would hang it up after 14 seasons with the Colts. He was already going to be a first ballot HOF'er, had multiple NFL records, and a ring. What else does he need to prove? Well John Elway and the Broncos took a chance on a 36 year old coming off of four neck surgeries. Not the smartest move, many thought. The fear was that the first big hit Manning took might end his career, or possibly worse, put him in a wheelchair the rest of his life. There was absolutely no certainty about his future and the contract he signed showed it. If Manning failed to pass every aspect of a complex physical each March, the Broncos could cut him from the roster and not pay him a dime. He passed all four physicals each year he played for Denver.

Life teaches us that sometimes the biggest risks provide the biggest rewards. It seems that Elway might have had this mentality in his decision to sign Manning. Although the Broncos took minimal risk in their future salary cap implications, they were saying that they were placing their future in the hands of an old QB, coming off missing an entire season due to neck injuries, and couldn't feel his fingertips in his throwing hand. Yeah, Elway might have been criticized a little bit.

What kind of reward did the risk return? How about two Super Bowl appearances, one championship, four 12-win seasons, the single season passing td's and yards records, and one of the greatest comeback stories in sports history.

More to Manning than Football

While the game of football will undoubtedly be what Peyton Manning is best remembered for, he has given us much more outside the lines. Have you watched TV recently? Chances are you've seen a commercial with him in it. Chicken Parm you taste ~~~~~ yeah, I know you hummed that one out. He's engraved in our minds as one of the best sports actors of our time. He has starred in multiple commercials over the years with MasterCard, DirecTV, Nationwide, and many more. He will surely have a future in television if he so chooses.

While the commercials seem to be a big hit as of late, his greatest act comes in his SNL premiere after winning the Super Bowl in 2007. Peyton headlines the show, doing multiple skits poking fun of himself and showing how not to be a role model to children in the community through the United Way. In the latter, Manning is shown throwing footballs at kids, pegging them in the back and head. Teaching them how to break into cars, getting tattoos, and using one kid to pick up an attractive "nice lady". If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and watch the skit on YouTube. You won't regret it.

( Manning teaches kids to break into cars)

While Manning has spent the past decade making himself marketable off the field in TV appearances and commercials, he's also done his greatest work off the field in other areas.

If you had made millions of dollars over your career what would you do? Buy a mansion? A yacht? New cars? Luxurious vacation homes? Build a hospital for children? Wait what? That's exactly what Manning did through his Peyback foundation in Indianapolis. He put millions of dollars into St. Vincent's hospital and the hospital was eventually renamed the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincents. I'm a believer in capitalism and what people choose to do with their money is their business. But imagine if  half the celebrities who make tens of millions of dollars a year had good intentions like Peyton did when donating to this hospital. Wouldn't this world be that much better? 

There are countless stories about Peyton interacting with his biggest fans. He used to, and still does hand reply to wedding invitations in Indianapolis, visits troops overseas, and visits with children in local hospitals.

A few of my favorite stories:

Kari Bollig, an Indiana native, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Doctors told her to start crossing things off her bucket list, it wasn't going to be long. Kari had followed Peyton most of his career and thought that she'd write him a letter telling him how much he inspired her and to say thanks. Peyton got the letter. Read it. But he didn't write back. That would have been easy.

(Peyton with Kari and her husband Ed)

Instead, Manning flew Kari and her husband to Denver to watch a game. He met with them on the sideline before the game started, saying "Keep fighting, Kari. I'll be praying for you."

Kristen Patterson, wife of Army Sgt. Ryan Patterson, wrote to Manning in 2015 telling him that he was Ryan's favorite player and requested to meet Manning in person. Pretty bold request, right? Well, one problem. Kristen forgot to put her contact information for Manning to contact her. Doh! Peyton had the Broncos PR department track her down, as the couple was stationed in Alaska and would be visiting the Cincinnati area in the coming months where Denver would be playing during the season.

Peyton had the team hotel reserve a conference room and met with the couple privately when the team arrived. He signed autographs, played with the couples daughter, and thanked the Army Sgt. for his service.

All in all, Peyton has been a model citizen both on and off the field. He's a great role model in a society that yields few. He cares, he's polite, he's professional, he does things the right way. Everyone is human, no one is perfect, but I chose to have one role model growing up and that was Peyton Manning. You'll never convince me I could've chosen a better one.

The Legend

On March 7th, 2016 when Peyton Manning announces that his football career has come to an end, he will leave behind one of the best legacies known to sports. For almost two decades he dominated the NFL landscape, setting and breaking records. 5 MVP awards, 2 Super Bowl trophies, dozens of records, and literally changing the most popular sport in America.

His impact on the game, his coaches, teammates, and communities in the cities in which he played will go on forever. He's known as a great leader, teammate and friend. Manning is notorious for his preparation, thousands of hours studying film, throwing routes, and getting that perfect timing down with his receivers.

I was lucky enough to see him play in person in four NFL games, including against the Texans in 2013 when he threw touchdown number 51 to break the single season record. I watched him beat Tom Brady in the AFC championship game in Denver in 2013 to advance to the Super Bowl. I watched as he beat the Cowboys 51-48 in the fourth highest scoring game in NFL history. I spent thousands of dollars on travel and tickets. My only regret is that I didn't go to more games.

The Final Farewell

I knew Manning would retire after this season, and after winning the Super Bowl there was never a doubt in my mind he had played his last game. As sad as that was to comprehend, I found some kind of peace in the impending decision. It was time. He had nothing left to give. An illustrious career, capped by riding off with another Lombardi trophy tied to the saddle. As much as I love watching him play, I was ok with him walking away. It's the best thing for him at this point in his career.

The situation draws eerily similar to that of my late grandfather. My grandfather, Theodore Walker, of whom I was named after, had a very long and successful life. He was married for over 50 years, raising two great daughters while having a successful professional career. After my grandmother passed away, he moved into a nursing home. He was in his 90's at this time, and needless to say he didn't really enjoy the home life.

I would often visit him, seeing him in discomfort, not in his element and not exactly happy with the situation he was in. I remember seeing him the day before he passed away. He looked tired. Not like after a long day of work tired, but after a long life tired. He had done his part on earth. It was time to move on.

Much like seeing my grandfather come to his last days on earth, I've watched Manning come to his final days of football this year. He's done his part. He gave it everything for 18 years. He's got nothing left to prove or give. And that's ok, because he's done more than enough for the game and the fans. It's time to move on.

We will probably never see another QB like him. A star on and off the field, a winner in every sense of the word. A role model for children and adults. A man who showed up to work every single day and who rightfully reaped what he sowed.

It's been an amazing ride for the Sheriff.

Thank you, Peyton.

 

2015 NFL Season Preview

It's that time of year! No ladies, not pumpkin spice latte season... football season!  We've waited long enough. We've heard the word Deflategate at least 2,758 times since the Super Bowl.

What do cheese and the Seahawks have in common? Neither likes to run when you want them to. Stupid Pete Carroll. We're ready to move on, right Seahawks fans?

In this blog I will provide you with the most credible, knowledgeable, and insightful information regarding the upcoming NFL season. Ok, it's really just my biased opinions about each team but if you've read my blogs before, you know what to expect. Here we go!

Let's take a look back on my pre-season predictions. What went right, what went wrong.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos    11-5
 
Oh, Peyton is old? Is the sun hot? Come on, people. As long as he can sling the pigskin he's gonna win 11 + games and his team is going be a contender in the playoffs. The new running scheme brought by Gary Kubiak will prove to help Peyton and turn CJ Anderson into a workhorse running back. It's time for the defense to step up and prove they can help the team in the playoffs.

Looks like Denver might get my projected win total in the next couple of weeks Yikes! They're playing lights out defense. Looks like that unit stepped up to the challenge in a difficult year for Manning.


Kansas City Chiefs     10-6

The Chiefs made a big time addition by bringing in stud WR Jeremy Maclin. He is the downfield target they have been looking for the last couple of seasons. I predict Andy Reid to have a mustache the whole year and the Chiefs to sneak into a wild card position for the playoffs. Oh and a wide receiver WILL catch a touchdown pass this year. (A WR did not catch a TD last year for the Chiefs)

The Chiefs season went down the drain with Jamall Charles knee. They simply don't have enough fire power to get it done. Yes, I know they scored 45 points last week, that was a fluke. Trust me. Reality is around the corner and it's ugly.

San Diego Chargers     8-8

The Chargers drafted Melvin Gordon to be their stud running back of the future with the 14th overall selection in this years draft. Gordon has looked hesitant in the backfield during the preseason, being indecisive and looking confused at times. I'm a big believer in him. He has the size, speed,, and skill set to be a great player in this league but it might take some time. The Chargers miss the playoffs by a couple games as their defense struggles without a way to generate a pass rush.

Is Phillip Rivers going to set the passing yardage record on a trash team? He might. They continue to sing the ball down late in games and haven't established any kind of run game. They're looking at a top 10 pick in the draft.

Oakland Raiders   7-9

Here they come. That's right, the sky is falling. The Raiders are on there way to being relevant again. The reason? Multiple. They have a good-looking young QB/WR combo in Derek Carr and Amari Cooper. If you haven't watched Amari Cooper run a route, go to YouTube right now. You won't be disappointed. That duo on offense along with already one of the best linebackers in the league in Khalil Mack, leaves the Raiders with a future worth looking forward to.

THE RAIDERSSSS... are 4-3 and looking like a wild card contender. I thought they might have a good year, but they have surpassed expectations with Latavius Murray running well and the resurgence of Michael Crabtree. Sticking with my record projection though, don't think they make playoffs.

AFC EAST

New England Patriots   12-4

I promise you they will win at least one game. Ok, that's cheating I know. Like how I snuck the word cheating in with the Patriots? Funny how that works out. Glad that joke didn't fall flat, like the... well you know. Anyway, as long as Bill Belicheat and Tom Shady are at the helm, the Patriots are playoff contenders.

The consistency in New England continues, as the Patriots look to tear apart the NFL week by week. Doesn't hurt that they have the league's easiest schedule, but the Patriots mean business. A showdown with the Broncos in Denver in late November could decide the No. 1 seed in the AFC as both teams are undefeated to this point.

Miami Dolphins    11-5

Any A&M fans out there? Well I owe your boy Ryan Tannehill an apology. Three years ago, Todd McShay, an ESPN football analyst, said that Tannehill would be a top 10 quarterback in this league one day. I laughed. I called my friends and said you'll never believe what I just heard. Insert crow into mouth. He looks good, has weapons around him, and an underrated defense. Serious playoff contenders down in south beach.

The Dolphins looked lost under their previous head coach. But under Dan Campbell they look like an inspired team. They won't make the playoffs, but they will have several interesting games because of their talent level.

New York Jets   6-10

When Ryan Fitzpatrick is your starting quarterback, you're already thinking about next year. The Jets defense will be strong with additions of Leonard Williams and Darelle Revis, but a paltry running game and shotty quarterback play will be the death of this team. Maybe next year. If they get a QB. If not, never mind.

The Jets aren't great, but they're not too bad either. They need Fitzpatrick to be healthy (can't believe I'm saying that) to be a contender.

Buffalo Bills    5-11

A lot of experts are picking the Bills to be sleepers this season and make the playoffs. I'm no Mark Schlereth (I'm better), but last time I checked you need a respectable quarterback to be successful in this league. Tyrod Taylor you say? No, I say. He's not the answer Rex. Never was, never will be. Look for the Bills to be a top 10 pick in next year's draft and address their QB situation.

The Bills have had their entire offense depleted throughout the season. The defense is underperforming after being tops in the league a year ago. Maybe 2016 will be better.

AFC NORTH

Cincinnati Bengals    10-6

Well, I had the Steelers winning the division until I saw them play Thursday night. So this is a revised pick. The Bengals defense is big time underrated this year and will carry them through the season. A healthy A.J. Green and Jeremy Hill provide enough spark on offense to make the Bengals contenders. This division will beat each other up all year, but I believe the Bengals come out on top.

Look at the Bengals making me look smart. Kinda They're going to win the division like I predicted, but they're 8-0! Wow, hard to say anyone saw that coming. Their offense has the best balance in my opinion between the backs, receivers, and tight end Eiffert who leads the league with 9 touchdown receptions.

Baltimore Ravens    9-7

Just because the Ravens are always slight above mediocre, right? They're never considered a top team, but they always have a winning record and a legitimate chance at the playoffs. I don't trust Justin Forsett to stay healthy this year, and an aging Steve Smith is a situation to monitor. Ice up, Steve.

Get well soon, Steve. After Smith tore his Achilles last week, you could feel any hope the Ravens had go down the drain. The team is simply not very good, and will not being playing with the same intensity level after Smith leaves.

Pittsburgh Steelers   8-8

Hold on, Steel City, it's gonna be a rough year. The return of LeVeon Bell in week 3 will help the offense, along with Martavis Bryant returning week 4. In spite of all the talent on offense, the defense can't stop a pop warner team right now. No pass rush, confusion on the defensive play calling, and leaving the best tight end of the decade wide open all game on Thursday proved that they have a long way to go. Oh and Big Ben a top 3 fantasy QB? No, not happening. Ever.

Bell out with suspension, comes back. Big Ben down with knee injury, comes back. Bell out for season with knee injury. It's just not the Steelers year.

Cleveland Browns   1-15

With the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select...
Yes, that's going to happen. The Browns are terrible. Worse than terrible but it's midnight and I have no other words at this point. Riddle:  What do you get when you don't have a QB, along with no running game, and a crappy defense?  A 1-15 record.

Cleveland already has 2 wins in 9 games so they beat my projection. But they're still terrible.

AFC SOUTH

Indianapolis Colts    12-4

The Colts have gone 11-5 the past three seasons but this year they hit the 12 win mark. With the additions of Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, and Trent Cole, they are primed to once again dominate a weak division and make the playoffs. Home field advantage will be a huge factor in determining how far they will go. Andrew Luck will be MVP of the league. Not a homer pick, ok? He's that good with a great team around him. And I took him #1 in my fantasy league, so he better go bananas!

Oh how the mighty have fallen. After loading up in free agency in the offseason, the Colts find themselves at 3-5 and on the brink of losing their season with Denver coming to town Sunday. Luck has been terrible and the firing of offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton should improve that. They need to find their rhythm before they completely derail.

Houston Texans    7-9

The only reason I am giving them 7 wins is because of that monster by the name of J.J. Watt. He is the best defensive player I have ever seen with my own eyes. Arian Foster is set to miss the first month of the season with a groin injury which will only hinder the offense led by.. Brian Hoyer. Ehhh.. The sooner they find a franchise QB the better of they'll be. Should be easy, right?

The Texans defense has been atrocious. Foster is out for the year. They cut their starting QB because he couldn't show up to places on time. Tough, tough year in H-town.

Jacksonville Jaguars   5-11

Ok, the jury is still out on Blake Bortles but.. my arbitrary ruling is in and the verdict is.. NOT a franchise QB. Look, just because a guy is 6'5 with a good arm doesn't mean he's the next Ben Rapelisberger. His arm wore down over last season and it's not like he has a ton of weapons to throw to anyway. The defense will again be in the bottom half of the league and they'll get another top ten pick.

Blake Bortles has improved from the end of last year, but we will see if he can maintain his production throughout the season. Yeldon has been a big help to the offense but they're still not close to playoff bound.

Tennessee Titans   5-11

I was not a believer in Marcus Mariota coming out of Oregon. But man, this guy has pose. And he's athletic. And he's accurate. And he has a crappy team around him so don't get too excited! Really though, the more I watch him the more I like him. But a QB can only do so much, and until the Titans put some pieces around him, he will struggle early on in his career. Sneaky fantasy play too because of his rushing ability and garbage time yards. Remember him when you're desperate. He's kind of like that one girl..never mind.

When you fire your coach halfway through the season, things aren't going well. Mariota has been hurt a couple weeks but still, this team is just not very good. Another high draft pick in the making.

NFC WEST

Seattle Seahawks   12-4

I actually think they take a slight step back this year, but gave them 12 wins because they just don't lose at home. The addition of Jimmy Graham will help the passing game, along with Tyler Lockett blowing the tops off of defenses with his speed. Marshawn Lynch will do his thing cause he's "just about that action, boss". Russell Wilson got paid like the top QB in the game in the offseason, and he'll need to deliver on that contract.

The Seahawks not only won't win their division, they may not make the playoffs. The team looks lost and not themselves week in and week out. Lynch being hurt and the holdout of Chancelor surely didn't help the situation.

Arizona Cardinals   11-5

Loved the Cardinals last year to go deep in the playoffs, then Palmer's knee told me not so fast. This year, I love them again, but they're offensive line is telling me not so fast. The Cardinals are better off having trash cans run block for them right now. It's that bad. They say the games are won in the trenches. Or is it on defense? No wait, the QB..  Whatever, their line sucks and Ellington will get hurt somehow, some way. But they still finish with a good record because of a stingy defense and Palmer. If he has two legs all year.

The Cardinals will win the NFC West. They have a great balance on offense, and Carson Palmer is playing lights out with his weapons. The defense is scary good as well, with some of the best corners in the league. Look for a strong playoff push.

St. Louis Rams   8-8

Riddle #2: What do you get when you have 5 first round picks on defense? A good one!  But when your QB is sketchy and your top pick in the draft is a RB coming off a knee injury and your top WR is injury prone and drops passes and.. you get the picture.

Surprisingly the Rams aren't that bad on offense. Looks like the RB coming off the ACL injury just might lead the league in rushing. Gurley is dominating the NFL and looks poised to top 1,000 yards in 12 games. The Rams hopes ride and die with Gurley.

San Francisco 49ers  4-12

Yeah, that's right! 4 wins. Oh how the mighty have fallen. If you listen quietly you can hear the Bay Area fans screaming "Come back, Jim!"  After multiple seasons of being a lock for the playoffs, the 49ers tanked last year on purpose, yes on purpose because they didn't like their head coach. This year, they'll just be bad. Kaepernick can't find his rhythm to be a top QB in the league despite Ron Jaworski saying he thought Kaepernick would be one of the best of all time..yeah, that happened too. Look , when Michael Crabtree is calling you out Kaep, it's gotten bad. Really bad.

Yep, called it.

NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles   12-4

This is a risky pick only because it is contingent on Sam Bradford staying healthy all year. (Stop laughing) The Eagles have a top 5 offense and a playmaking defense. They run tempo and can tire out opponents with ease. The problem? Their starting QB and top two RB's are injury prone. They also released or traded every playmaker they've had over the last five years (goodbye D-Jax, Maclin, and McCoy). Health will be key for this team, but if they make it through the year, watch out.

Do they play offense in Philly? Geez, it's ugly. Mathews continues to drop passes and Demarco is a shadow of himself from last year in Dallas. It's not a good year in Philly, but luckily the division is terrible and they statistically still have a chance.

Dallas Cowboys   10-6

Ok, it crossed my mind to pull the ultimate troll move and have the Cowboys finishing last with a 4-12 record. Part of me still wants to because I hate them and want them to suck. But that's not reality and this isn't fantasy land. The Cowgirls will be good again this year, just not as good as last year. The loss of Murray is big. Yes, Dallas has the best offensive line in the league and I could probably run for 500 yards behind them. Ok fine, 400. But they did nothing to replace Murray. And don't give me McFadden you diehards, cause I'll give you an injury list longer than Shaq's grocery bill. Oh, Joseph Randle you say? Who the hell is he, I say. Yes, I know who he is but he's not the answer. Romo's back issues may finally catch up with him but if he can stay healthy, feed Dez enough to keep him quiet, they might be ok on offense. The defense desperately needs Sean Lee to stay healthy, as he can be a big time playmaker for them. They'll make the playoffs, somehow. Unfortunately.

Here I am trying to give the Cowgirls credit for a decent season and they go and injure the whole team. Romo, Bryant, now Randle gets released. Maybe the fan base will see that Tony wasn't so bad after all..

New York Giants  7-9

Did you see the Steeler's defense on Thursday? Ok, now picture that kind of play in a Giants uniform. Their defense will struggle mightily all season. The hand injury to JPP only hurts them even more. Eli recently signed a huge contract extension, and he will need to earn every penny to keep this team in games throughout the season. No playoffs for the G-men this year, but at least OBJ will be fun to watch. Right Cowboys fans?

The Giants are just the Giants. Inconsistent as can be, every single week. Their defense plays lights out one week and then gives up 500 yards passing and 7 touchdowns the next. Maybe the return of JPP can help, but I wouldn't count (on your fingers) on it.

Washington Redskins  3-13

I haven't seen this much drama on television since my grandma made me watch Days of our Lives with her. Seriously, it's a shit-show. RG3, while I've never been a big fan of his, got screwed over when Jay Gruden tried to turn him into a pocket passer. They didn't turn Secretariat into a show-pony, did they? RG3 needs to be in a system where he can make plays with his feet, run zone-read handoffs and bomb some pigskins. Shame on the coaching staff for trying to change his natural abilities. With that said, Griffin didn't help the situation by being a crappy leader and getting hurt all the time. It's going to be a long year in Washington D.C. Oh wait, that's every year since 2009..

Well, so much for my RG3 is gonna suck this year scenario..he never got a chance to!

NFC NORTH

Green Bay Packers   11-5

Rodgers is still the quarterback? Ok then, book 'em for 10 + wins. Cheesehead nation suffered a huge loss with Jordy Nelson going down to an ACL injury in the preseason. However, Lacy and Rodgers will pick up the slack and the playoffs should come fairly easy as the defense finally steps up and provides some relief for the offense.

The Packers will still win the division, but they're not going very far. They've been hurt by injuries all year and aren't the same team we all thought they would be.

Minnesota Vikings   10-6

The purple people eaters  are going to feast this year! Ok, they barely make the playoffs in the wild card but still, that's good for them as they have struggled since the Favre era ended in Minnesota. Sounds weird, doesn't it? Adrian AD Peterson is coming back and looking to rip through defenses. Teddy Bridgewater has proven to be better than most expected and has weapons on the outside in Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace to make a splash in the division this year.

The Vikings sit at a surprising 5-2. I'll stick with my 10 win prediction here. The rise of rooke Diggs at receiver has helped the offense as Charles Johnson and Patterson have each flopped the last two years. And AP is still AP.

Detroit Lions  9-7

The loss of a boy named Suh will hurt the Lions defense significantly. Haloti Ngata was a good pickup, but there's a reason the Dolphins gave Suh $100 million. If Calvin Johnson manages to stay healthy, Stafford will have a great duo of WR's to throw to including Golden Tate. Ameer Abdullah is one of the more interesting rookies to keep an eye on this year. He could top 1500 all purpose yards. Or he could be the next Jahvid Best. That name makes you cringe, doesn't it Lions fans?

Did I say 9-7? Ooops. The Lions defense has been non-existent, as evidenced by allowing the lowly Chiefs to score 45 points. May have the top pick in the draft come April.

Chicago Bears  5-11

It's going to get ugly in the Windy City. The defense is going to be one of the worst in the league. When you couple that with a struggling Cutler, an aging Matt Forte, the loss of Brandon Marshall, and an already hurt Alshon Jeffrey.. things look awfully bleak for Da Bears. Good news: garbage time fantasy points still count!

Pretty spot on with this one so far. The defense is terrible and now Forte is hurt. Oh boy.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons  11-5

Rise up! As they say in the A-T-L. The Falcons will regain playoff form behind a strong season from Julio Jones. I have Julio finishing as the top WR in fantasy. Matt Ryan is who he is.. Matt Ryan. No, that's not meant to confuse you, just meaning that he'll throw 4500 yards, 30+ Td's, short arm a couple throws to lose big games and probably lose in the first round of the playoffs. Watch for rookie RB Tevin Coleman to make a name for himself in the backfield. Kyle Shanahan is looking to turn him into Alfred Morris 2.0 and Coleman has the playmaking abilities to do just that.

Hotlanta is 6-2 and a fluke overtime loss to the Bucs from 7-1. My pick to win the NFC looks good, especially with the ascent of Devonte Freeman, who is apparently the reincarnated Barry Sanders.

New Orleans Saints   10-6

I really like the Saints this year, but their biggest question mark is their defense. If they have to be in shootouts they're going to struggle. Brees does not have the weapons of old, and they are going to be a little more focused on the run game this year. If Spiller and Ingram can both stay healthy, (hey, miracles happen right?) the Saints will once again have a potent offense that will contend in the playoffs. And I can't go without mentioning Brandin Cooks. Watch the F out for this guy. Dynamic.

The Saints are not a good football team. Looking forward to next year in Nawlins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers  6-10

Yes, they will struggle this year because of a weak line and Winston forcing the ball late in games only to result in turnovers. However, this team is on the rise. Winston will be a good QB in this league, Mike Evans is a monster, and Doug "Muscle Hamster' Martin looks to be running like his old self after dropping 10 pounds in the offseason. The defense is coming along nicely as well, as LeVonte David and Gerald McCoy are going to be Pro Bowlers for many years to come. The Bucs will be good, just not this year.

The Bucs look like a decent team with the improved play of Winston as the season progresses, as well as Dougie Martin, aka The Muscle Hamster, looking like his old self the last 4 games. They'll be a team to watch, but it'll be next year.

Carolina Panthers   3-13

It's just ugly at this point. Their top WR, Kelvin Benjamin, is already lost for the year with a knee injury. This comes after the team failed to address their weak WR group in the offseason. Cam Newton will have a tough time trying to throw to someone.. anyone. The defense will be top 10 in the league however, behind the best linebacker in the league in Luke Kuechly. Cameron Artis-Payne, the rookie running back from Auburn, will be the team's starter by the end of the season. And it won't take that long.

This is the team I was dead wrong about. How the Panthers have taken this lackluster offense to an undefeated record I have no idea. They aren't that good, right? I don't think so, but..

Playoff Predictions


NFC
Falcons
Packers
Eagles
Seahawks
Cowboys
Cardinals

NFC Champion-  Falcons

AFC
Colts
Patriots
Bengals
Broncos
Chiefs
Dolphins

AFC Champion- Broncos

Super Bowl L - Broncos 27  Falcons 21

I'm going to stick with my picks for the Superbowl. Obviously the playoffs predictions  are going to be a little off, but hey..not so bad.

MVP- Tom Brady

Defensive Player of the Year- Josh Norman CB Panthers

Offensive Player of the Year- Julio Jones WR Falcons

Coach of the year- Marvin Lewis  Bengals

Party like it's 1999! or 1945 (The USWNT and their run at the FIFA World Cup title)

The United States Women's National Team (USWNT) will face Japan in the finals of the FIFA World Cup. The U.S. is looking to avenge their loss to Japan in the 2011 finals, which they lost in penalty kicks. The U.S. missed their first three kicks of that shootout, looking like Shaq trying to eat with chopsticks. It wasn't pretty.

This year's team has nine of the eleven starters from that game back and are certainly looking to finish on top this time around. While the women's team did beat Japan for the Olympic gold medal in 2012, the World Cup is the sports most coveted prize. When Abby Wambach was asked if she needed the Cup to cement her legacy in the game, she replied "You're damn right I need it." Don't look for her to play too many minutes tonight, but if she does come in late, she can have a big impact on the game.
(Abby is chasing her first World Cup title)

The USWNT has not allowed a goal in the knockout rounds. That's over 500 minutes of do-or-die action that they have shutout the competition. The team is currently 28 minutes away from breaking the all-time tournament record of consecutive shutout minutes, because that's what the U.S. does, we shut people out. Unless you're Cuba. Thanks Obama.

I want to see this team go out there pissed off. Not a drunken Hope Solo pissed off, but just angry at the world. They had the lead twice in that 2011 final only to give up tying goals and eventually lose embarrassingly in penalty kicks. The U.S. just knocked out Germany in a dominating 2-0 win and will need to carry that confidence and momentum into the final.

It's been 16 years since the '99 USWNT won the Cup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Hard to believe it's been that long ago. Seems like just yesterday Brandi Chastain was ripping her shirt off in celebration after scoring the winning penalty kick, arguably the most famous moment in World Cup history.



When I saw the schedule for the tournament this year I was hoping the final would be played on July 4th. Then, I was really hoping we could beat England in the final. Wouldn't that be something?

Instead we'll just hope for an extended holiday weekend. One more day to celebrate America. One more day for strangers to identify with a common interest and a chance to avoid all the nonsense going on around us. That's the great thing about sports, especially sports that are centered around teams from countries, they bring people together. You may not be a soccer fan, maybe never watched a minute of game action in your life, but if I told you the U.S. is playing Japan, who you got? That's right.

Tonight, watch for the U.S. to use possession to control the pace of the game. We have the best defensive unit in the world and will use ball possession to cater to our skills. Hope Solo is the best goalkeeper in the world as well, and that's something you always want on your side. She hasn't had to make many saves throughout the tournament to this point, and let's hope that continues.

Being an avid sports fan for over 20 years, I have noticed more often than not one simple thing: big time players make big time plays in big time games. Our big time player? Alex Morgan. She was nursing a leg injury early on in the tournament but has looked more her old self the last couple of games. I think she comes through with the winning goal tonight. The USWNT wins the World Cup, beating Japan 1-0.

NBA Finals Preview (Is LeBron better than MJ? Kobe? Is Steph Curry the greatest shooter ever?)

He's the closest thing to Jordan since the greatest basketball player of all-time retired over a decade ago and left us yearning for more. He dominates games in a fashion we haven't seen since MJ.
One of the best pure scorers in NBA history. No, not LeBron or Steph Curry. This guy.




With LeBron's fifth straight trip to the NBA finals, you'll find many analysts and articles talking about how LBJ is catching up to and transcending MJ. But in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, he hasn't even caught Kobe yet. Yet.

Bryant is currently looking at both of his hands, one with five rings on it and the other with none. He's been chasing number six for five years now and it doesn't look like he's going to get it. LeBron is quietly sitting with two rings, and still trying to make up for the three he couldn't cash in on. In case you need a quick refresher, MJ has enough to put rings on both hands, capturing six titles and six Finals MVP awards. To take it a step further, he should probably have eight rings but chose to pursue a "career" in baseball in the middle of his championship runs. Why the greatest basketball player of all-time gave it up in the middle of his prime to chase a dream in another sport is beyond me.

(MJ celebrating his 4th title on Father's Day 1996. His father, James, was murdered in 1993 on the side of the road while taking a nap in his vehicle.)


While the debate between Jordan, Kobe and LeBron will go on for unforeseeable decades to come, one thing is clear. LeBron is gaining ground. Quickly. He has taken his team to the NBA Finals now in five straight years and is making his sixth overall appearance. He's playing arguably the best basketball of his career while leading a team riddled with injuries. It was supposed to be the "Big 3" again for Bron Bron, this time in Cleveland. But losing Kevin Love to a cheap shot shoulder injury and Kyrie Irving to his ailing legs (I'm starting to wonder if Irving is beginning to think he actually is Uncle Drew) has left LeBron with a mediocre supporting cast. Let's give him the credit he deserves, he has willed this team to the Finals. He's the best point guard in the game, although his position is small forward. Now, the Cavaliers went through a weak Eastern Conference, I get that. But a team can only play who they are scheduled to play. The Cavaliers, LeBron in particular, have played very good basketball and positioned themselves to possibly take home the title.

(Irving, aka Uncle Drew, has to shake off the old man legs if the Cavs are going to have a chance in these NBA Finals)

On the other side of the ball, we are graced with the greatest gift the NBA has given us this year. No, not Steph Curry. His daughter, Riley.

(Riley Curry is taking the NBA by storm)

Ok, she's great but she can't play in the NBA yet. Only because of the dumb college rule. So let's focus on Steph. Better known as the baby-faced assassin, the better half of the splash, Curry is widely considered to be the greatest 3-point shooter of all-time. Yes, all-time. Better than Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, and Larry Bird. He makes making 3's look easier than breathing. He'll pull up from the parking lot. With the quickest release in the game it's almost impossible to block his shot. Curry had one of the greatest shooting seasons in NBA history and took home the MVP award, deservedly.

But he's not LeBron.

LeBron is the best player on the planet and has been for the last decade or so minus Kobe. He plays all five positions and has strengthened his teammates in a way that hasn't been done since.. Jordan?

What can we expect to see in the Finals?

Viewers can expect to see great basketball. The best player on the planet against perhaps the greatest shooter of all-time. Expect to see a record number of 3-point attempts. Look forward to fast-paced basketball with great ball movement.

Prediction

The Warriors have the better team and supporting cast surrounding Steph Curry. The Cavaliers have one of the best of all-time and a deadly sidekick in Irving. LeBron has started 172 career playoff games while the Warriors starting five has a total of 168. However...

The Warriors take home the title in one of the most prolific series in NBA Finals history. The best part for the Warriors? They do it at home in game 7.


*This blog was written in dedication to and in memory of Stuart Scott. The ESPN anchor loved covering the NBA Finals every year and made it one of his goals to come back and deliver the championship trophy last year in San Antonio, which he did. Stuart Scott passed away from cancer in January 2015.

Keeping up with the Jenners (Why sports networks should not be covering Caitlyn)

   Ted's Take is a sports blog that covers sporting news across the world. I started this in an effort to reach fans and communicate sports in a light-hearted and fun manner that privies information from the brain of a sports fanatic. This blog is centered around sports and always will be. That is why even though I have opinions on the new Caitlyn Jenner, I would never write about them. People are free to do what they want with their lives. It is their choice to do or not do whatever they see as being in their best interest. I am a big believer in if it doesn't involve you, don't be involved. Well I'm involved in sports, and it just so happens that ESPN is the worldwide leader in sports.

A quick factoid for the viewing population if not already known, ESPN is an acronym for Entertainment Sports and Programming Network. While most of the followers from the companies' inception in 1979 have tuned in to view the sports part of the program, the company has shifted focus over the last couple of years. ESPN has moved to include more of the entertainment and less of the sports in the programming. This is evidenced by daily shows First Take, Mike and Mike, and others bringing entertainment stars on the network. Rappers, actors, and comedians alike have hit the stage with sports analysts to debate current issues and rivalries in sports. I'll be honest, does anyone know who Lil B the base god is, because I don't? I'm not even sure if that's how you spell the guy's name but I refuse to waste ten seconds of my life looking it up. The rapper has claimed to put a "curse" on NBA players Kevin Durant and James Harden. Most recently Harden for "stealing" his cooking or stirring the pot motion after making a basket. Lil B or whatever the hell his name is has been all over ESPN and Twitter. Does he play sports? No. As a sports fan do I want to see him on my sports programming or being tweeted about on my twitter line by sports anchors? No. Point being, let's stick to sports here ESPN. Let's let E! cover the entertainment industry. Speaking of which...

There's a fine line between sports and entertainment. Sports are entertaining, but entertainment is not necessarily sporty. Right? Ok follow me down this road for a minute...a 65 year-old has-been athlete, who is only relevant because he (now she)  married the mom of the biggest trio of egotistical whore daughters in the world, having a later-life crisis and sex change is not sports related. Bruce Jenner was an Olympic gold medal winning decathlon athlete in the 1970's. Caitlyn Jenner is not. While this news is certainly relevant to the LGBT community, it is not relevant in the sports industry.

Apparently ESPN does not see it that way. ESPN has an annual awards show called the ESPY's where they recognize the best plays and players in sports from the past year. During the ceremony, they give away awards for categories like top play, top team, best male and female athlete, as well as the Jimmy V perseverance award and Arthur Ashe courage award. The courage award is presented to a team or individual who transcends the sports world, and does not necessarily have to be an athlete. Why is that? It's a sports awards program. I don't remember seeing the Grammy's giving out an award for best buzzer-beater.

Nevertheless, ESPN has presented the award to individuals like Muhammad Ali, Dean Smith, Pat Tillman, Nelson Mandela, and Michael Sam. What defines courage? Giving up a multi-million dollar contract in the NFL to join the Army and serve your country? Yes, thank you Pat Tillman for paying the ultimate sacrifice. Becoming the first openly-gay athlete to enter the NFL draft knowing that teams will pass on you in the draft in fear of you being a distraction to the organization? Kudos for being you, Michael Sam. Having an identity crisis and deciding to change genders? Nope.

While Bruce has known, apparently for a while that he has wanted to be a she and finally having the balls (pun intended) to go through with the process, it is not an action that needs to be recognized by a sports network. It is an action that needs to be recognized by the LGBT world, and rightfully so. The world is evolving into a place where people are starting to feel like they can be themselves and voicing their opinions on the situation. That's what we call advancement in society. Every person has the right to be happy, Caitlyn no different. I just don't want to hear about it on ESPN, NFL Network or from any other "sports" network.

This is a case of a network playing the politically correct card and reaping the benefits. ESPN is well-aware that Jenner is a high-profile celebrity. Shoot, she gained a million twitter followers in four hours yesterday! Beating the record set by President Obama, which I find both hysterically funny and sad. I couldn't get a million followers if I was giving away money.

ESPN knows that their viewership will skyrocket in July when the ESPY's are held  because they will have non-sports fans tuning in for 5 minutes to see the acceptance speech by Jenner. I'm all about bringing in new fans, but not by tainting the award for past winners. There are plenty of courageous athletes to choose from, we don't need to tune in to Keeping up with the Kardashians to find one.

The state of the Rangers

    After making the World Series back to back years in 2010 and 2011, the Texas Rangers have been in a downward spiral since. From losing the wild card game in 2012 to barely missing the playoffs in 2013. 2014? A dazzling record of 67-95 brought diehard fans to tears, and ended with the team's worst season since 1994. But what did we expect after they swept Nolan Ryan out the back door like a pile of dust they were too lazy to pick up. Needless to say, the move did not sit well with fans.

There are some occurrences that a front office can control, and then there are injuries. To add a little insult to injury after the Rangers traded away all-star second baseman for one of the best hitters in the league Prince Fielder, Fielder goes down with a neck injury after only 42 games. Injuries are part of any sport, but it seems the Rangers took a lump sum in 2014.

Despite the lackluster season in 2014 and already a string of injuries to begin the 2015 season, the Rangers are currently sitting at .500 for the year. Despite losing Profar (again) and Yu Darvish for the year, coupled with injuries to Derek Holland and Matt Harrison, the team seems to be settling in to a nice groove lately. After a seven game losing streak earlier in the season, they managed to rattle off a string of six straight wins in May.

While injuries are never something you want to see happen to your ball club, it does provide an opportunity for the younger talent in the organization to develop their skills. This has been the case for rising stars like Delino Deshields and most recently Hanser Alberto. Just last night we saw Chi Chi Rodriguez, a 6'3 righty from Oral Roberts make his pro debut. How did he finish? 5.2 innings pitched and zero runs allowed. Can we have some more of what he's having?

Although the Rangers have faced adversity and controversy over the last two seasons, the team seems to be headed in the right direction. Imagine getting a healthy starting rotation of Yu Darvish, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Yovani Gallardo, and Nick Martinez/Matt Harrison. Couple that rotation with the speed and batting power our lineup has shown this year and the Rangers become a very dangerous team. No one in baseball is hitting the ball as well as Fielder, and Hamilton seems to be settling in nicely back home in Texas.

Let's not forget to give cred to Jeff Banister. Taking over as manager after Ron Washington was not an easy task. Washington certainly had some questionable instances arise during his tenure, but he was loved by the fans. Banister has taken over a young, injury plagued team and has them playing .500 ball. That's what they call getting it done.

The present and future looks to be bright for the Texas Rangers. Taking a punch in the mouth with all the injuries and turning it into an opportunity to strengthen the depth of the roster will only help them going forward. Playoffs 2015? Yes, please.

For the Love of Hate

The Yankees. The Patriots. The Miami Heat during the LeBron era. Duke Basketball. The Dallas Cowboys and the rivals of our favorite sports teams. We hate them. We would rather see our ex hooking up with a model than to watch them sniff a win in a game. A six hour flight full of screaming babies sounds like a vacation compared to sitting through one of their games while your friend cheers them on. Whether it's the pure love and dedication to your team or the sheer fact that you would rather shave with a rake before seeing them win another championship, all sports fans love to hate.

Now, we all have great explanations for our reasoning behind the hate. The Yankees buy their payroll, Spygate and Deflategate with the Patriots, LeBron teaming up with other superstars in Miami to chase that elusive title. And no one needs a reason to hate their teams arch rival. That's like death and taxes, it's a given in life.

One of the most hated teams in America is Duke basketball. Coming off their fifth national title in 25 years last night, it was easy to see that the majority of America was displeased. Now, we can trace this hate back to the days of Christian Laettner and the Blue Devils championships of the early 1990's. It's understandable that people didn't like that team. Christian had a brash personality, and he gave less thought to what you cared about him than Obama gives to the future of America. But he owned it. He was comfortable in that skin. He fed off the hate. But just as this team is hated, it's hard to understand why this generation of Duke is continually hated. Coach Mike Krzyzewski has done nothing but be a class act and great coach unlike some of his counterparts (see Calipari and Boeheim). He continually achieves excellence on and off the court. But maybe that's what it is. People love to hate greatness. Think about all the teams listed above in the first paragraph. What do they have in common? Multiple championships. They are all teams that have excelled in their sport.

Maybe it's not the program, team, city, players or coaches that we hate. Maybe it's the winning. Maybe it's the fact that we're sick and tired of seeing that team win and not ours. We all know that someone is a bandwagon fan if they like a great team. No matter how many years you have spent following the team, how many nights you have stayed up late watching their games, or how many times a piece of your heart breaks when they bow out of the final game of their respective season. People love to hate winners. And if your team wins, chances are people will not or already do not like them.

So continue the hating. It makes sports what it is today. It makes showing up at the water cooler on Monday morning a lot better when you have a shit-eating grin on your face cause your team just beat your buddies team and he knows he's not going to hear the end of it all week. It makes friends of enemies. You and a coworker may not like the same team, but if you hate the same team, well that's just as good. Loving to hate teams brings people closer together than the New York subway system. Example: I show up to the Heat vs. Spurs NBA finals game last year. What am I wearing you wonder? An Indiana Pacers shirt. I got tons of looks and people asking if I was lost, but one person actually grabbed me and said "Why the hell are you wearing a Pacers shirt, they're not even playing?" To which I promptly replied " I'm just here cause I hate the Heat. I hope they lose." I made 50 friends with that answer and a few cold ones on the house.

Don't take it personal when people hate on your team for winning. It's not actual hate, it's their love to hate. And their favorite team probably sucks.