Cutler

I don't know why this was such a story, earlier in the week.  Last week in the NFC Championship game Mr. Cutler wasn't getting pounded but he had blood on his undershirt and left just before the half with a MCL tear.  As a Giant fan I saw the guy get pounded into the ground, until he was concussed.  I am sure he would have stayed in that game as well as on Sunday if he and the Doctors felt he could go.  After saying all that how dare people say the guy isn't tough, I thought this was a somewhat ridiculous story.   everyone in the NFL plays through pain, a bruise here a cut there, after a sixteen gam NFL regular season everyone is playing hurt until they or a doctor says they can't go any longer.        

NFL Championship games

Both games had a similar feel to them, at lest to start.  Both the Packers and Steelers jumped out to early leads and let their opponents back into the game.  In Chicago the Packers and Aaron Rodgers jumped out to an early 14-0 lead at the half.  To begin the second half Todd Collins the Bears backup quarterback who relieved the starter Jay Cutler who left with a MCL injury wasn't able to do anything.  On the final drive of the third quarter Caleb Hanie the Bears third quarterback was able to finally punch it into the end zone, to get chicago on the scoreboard.  After an interception by Green Bay and one more Bear touchdown, we had our final score Green Bay 21, Chicago 14.  Caleb Hanie was not the hero and now the Packers are NFC Champions.  Aaron Rodgers is on his way to being an elite NFL quarterback.  In Pittsburgh the Jets could not do anything in the first half, they were missing tackles left and right.  The Steelers jumped out to a 24-0 lead before the Jets added a field goal right before half time, to go into the locker room trailing 24-3.  All the second half scoring was done by the Jets.  The Jet scoring in the Second half started with a touchdown on the opening drive.  After that score the Jet commutation broke down and they had the ball for 8:06 and could not score ending the drive on the 1 yard line.  The Jets managed a safety and a touchdown in the final moments but it wasn't enough as Ben Roethlisberger and the steelers won the AFC title by a score of 24-19.  We are now set for Super Bowl XVL between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.  Aaron Rodgers con solidify himself as an elite quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger can become on of the all time greats with his third ring and Steeler coach Mike Tomlin can win his second Super Bowl by age 40, those are just some story lines.                        

Conference Championship Weekend: picks

After a long and winding road to get here we will find out our two Super bowl XLV teams to square off at Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, TX.  With no one dominant team in the league this year, the playoff games have gone either way and that is no different this week.  Both games will probably be one score games, and could really go either way.  Conference Championship picks:
1.  The first game of the day is an old storied rivalry being renewed at soldier Field between the Packers and Bears.  this game is very evenly matched, I do not think the field will in anyway be an issue since both teams play outside in the NFC North.   Jay of the Bears is prone to the interception while Arron Rodgers of the Packers seems to be hot, and I think the Packers came back from injuries at the beginning of the season to peak and the right time.  I'll take the Green Bay Packers on the road to beat the Chicago Bears and go to the Super Bowl, Packers -3.5.  Green Bay -3.5      
2.  For the night cap in Pittsburgh, the New York Jets face the Steelers.  I what will be a very close game that could come down to a field goal I like the Steelers with their kicker on their home field, which is hard to make field goals in and I don't trust the Jet kicker at Heinz field.  For the Jet fans who haven't won since Super bowl III will wait a little longer.  I'll take the Pittsburgh Steelers at home over the New York Jets,  Pittsburgh -3.5.  Pittsburgh -3.5  

Divisional weekend-wrap

In what continues to be a great and at times surprising NFL playoffs, with no dominant team, we had a good weekend of football.  This week we had some surprising events in the AFC games, with the results somewhat expected on the NFC side.  Lets start in Pittsburgh where Baltimore let one get away.  Baltimore had the Steelers on the ropes in the first half of that one but as we all know its a tail of two half's and Baltimore let them back in the game, in the second.  Once Baltimore made a few mistakes the Steelers were on their way to the AFC Championship.  In an interesting game in which I thought Atlanta would put up more of a fight, the Falcons were blown out by the Packers.  I think Matt Rogers is now on a roll and the Packers are now on to the NFC Championship.  on Sunday the Bears did what we thought they would, it was a little closer than we probably thought but the Bears ended Seattle's cinderella run.  Chicago now hosts Green Bay for the NFC Championship.  In a very surprising game in which the Jets just dominated the Patriots, this game was really not as close as the final score indicated.  the New York Jets dominated in every facet of that game and they deserve some accolades, as they move on to Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship.

division

Divisional weekend picks (NFL)

We've made it to the divisional round. We have some pretty interesting match-ups on tap, in fact their all rematches from the season and two of them and divisional games.  My picks
1.  In the first game I am going to take the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Pittsburgh, I think its the Ravens time to make a run and I picked them to go to the Super Bowl, Baltimore +3.  Baltimore +3 
2.  In the next game I am taking Atlanta at home, I like Atlanta at home, Atlanta -2.5. Atlanta -2.5 
3.  In this game I like the bears to win but not with the 10 point spread, Seattle is a decent team but the bears are better, bears win but fail to cover, seattle +10.  Bears win, Seattle +10
4.  I don't kno that I like this spread either but New England is going to win this game over the Jets the Patriots are explosive so I go with New England -8.5. New England -8.5      

Wild Card weekend wrap up

After an interesting and at times unlikely Wild Card weekend, the NFL playoffs are down to four teams.  the Seattle Seahawks beat the New Orleans Saints at home in in what was a shocking affair.  Seattle even with their loosing record, are two different teams at home as opposed to on the road.  Seattle now has to go on the road and take some lumps in chicago.  in a close game in which you really can't say much, it was a two point game, the Indianapolis Colts lost to the New York Jets.  The Jets now have a third matchup with New England.  The better games were definitely on Saturday, Sunday was a good day of football but it didn't live up to the billing.  I thought the Kansas City Chiefs would put more of a fight against Baltimore, but we always knew the Ravens had a good defense.  Baltimore now travels to face Pittsburgh for the third time this season.  In the final game last night the Green Bay Packers beat the Philadelphia Eagles, in a game in which the Eagles were exposed by the Green Bay defense and the Eagles just had a bad game.  we now have Green Bay traveling to Atlanta.              

NFL Wild Card weekend picks

After an eventful regular season, its playoff time in the National Football League.
Here are my wild card weekend picks:
1.  let's start with New Orleans at Seattle, although the Seahawks are home they are still an under .500 playoff team and the Saints have to many weapons,  I'll take the Saints -10 in Seattle.  Saints -10  
2.  New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts, The New York Jets are more talk than play the Jets can't fall behind the Colts and make one of their comebacks, did I mention they had Peyton Manning, I'll take the Colts -2.5 at home.  Colts -2.5
3.  Baltimore at Kanas City, I think they might be outmatched here by the upstart Chiefs.  The Chiefs have the experience on the coaching staff and they play well at home, in what should be a good game I am taking the Chiefs +3 at home.  Chiefs +3 
4.  Green Bay is at Philadelphia, in a game that could go either way the Packers can play and Michael Vick is being slowed by injuries now, I'll take Green Bay +2.5 on the road.  Green Bay +2.5      

Hall of Fame Vote

The Hall of Fame voting results came out today, two players were elected Roberto Alomar who deserved it and Bert Blyleven who raises some questions.  I guess the Hall of Fame is now for average not great players, since we are now voting in players who are only 37 games above .500 for their career and an ERA  at 3.31.  Bert only won 20 games once and his next highest total was 17 wins, his average season was only 14-12.  Not a great player but no a Hall of Famer, at least in my eyes which I thought was supposed to be for great players.  If  Blyleven is going to be elected to the Hall with his numbers, the door should be opened up for guys like Mike Mussina and Jim Kaat who had better win percentages.        

Sugar (sit) bowl

We've had a good college bowl season so far, with two major bowls left, one is the Sugar tonight and then we have the National Championship on Monday.  The Sugar Bowl is tonight and Ohio State has five juniors who were suspended for the first five games of next season, for selling memorabilia and they are allowed to play tonight.  This might be big time Division 1 college football, but rules are rules and those students violated the rules and their punishment should begin immediately.  in life when we mess up it's not like we get punished in three months.  Ohio State coach Jim Tressel should take it upon himself (since the NCAA cares more about the money) to not play these students tonight.      

NFL season recap

Well it was a exciting NFL regular season, while it lasted.  The NFC west was up and down all season but I don't have a problem with the winner of that division having a sub .500 record, it hardly ever happens and rules are rules.  As far as New York goes the Jets are going to Indy (more to come) and the Giants are going home.  The Giants failed to make the big plays, turned the ball-over to much, couldn't run the ball at crucial moments, and lacked consistent special teams play.  Obviously the turning point of the Giants season was the loss to Philadelphia, but I think some crucial injuries to the receiving core and center Shaun O'Hara (he caused that O-line to be tinkered with and when he came back maybe he wasn't a hundred percent and maybe that affected the running game) are being overshadowed.

New Years Bowl round up

Happy New Year!!  I watched some college football yesterday.  I thought the Outback was a good game in which Penn State's youth showed itself.  Florida was able to send Urban Meyer out with a win, and Joe Paterno will be back and Penn State will be better.  I thought the Rose Bowl was a great game in which TCU showed that the non-AQ's do belong with the big boys, even though many non-AQ's are switching conferences. Wisconson and TCU played a great game and the Horned Frogs was able to outlast the Badgers.  In the night cap, Uconn wasn't up to the task of a BCS bowl and Oklahoma was able to get a BCS bowl win.      

New Years Bowl round up

Happy New Year!!  I watched a couple games yesterday, not much before that.  I thought the Outback was a good game where Penn State's youth showed late.  Florida who was just a better team sent Urban Meyer out with a win, was never a Florida fan even in their champio