PatriotGate: Cheating in the NFL

Dateline: Foxboro

"At this point, we have not been notified of the league's ruling. Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players. Following the league's decision, I will have further comment."

Who did that statement emanate from this morning?

TNA Tag Team Champion Adam “Pacman” Jones? Nope.
Free Agent Tank Johnson? Nope.
Bengals wideout Chris Henry? Nope.
Recently suspended Patriots safety Rodney Harrison? Closer.

It was none other than the Patriots’ three-time Super Bowl champion head coach, Bill Belichick.

Source: Wordpress.com

Yeah, that guy.

His statement followed ESPN's Chris Mortensen's report that the NFL is considering punishing the Patriots for spying. This was first alerted, via the media, by a website Jets Confidential

In case you didn’t know the facts, here’s a quick rundown:

NFL security officials confiscated a camera and videotape from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the New England sidelines when it was suspected he was recording the Jets' defensive signals. Sources say the visual evidence confirmed the suspicion.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is considering severe sanctions, including the possibility of docking the Patriots "multiple draft picks" because it is the competitive violation in the wake of a stern warning to all teams since he became commissioner, the sources said. The Patriots have been suspected in previous incidents. [Last season, similar accusations were made while playing the Green Bay Packers.]

In addition to punishment in the form of draft pick forfeitures, fines and suspensions for coaches (including Belichick) have been rumored. As for anyone who thinks Goodell would strip a victory away from the Patriots; that’s about as likely as letting a half-dozen rabid Jets fans take tackling drills with Belichick during the next time the teams meet up.

So what should be the punishment? In reality, we have to try and find something that may possible happen. Right?

I’m not going to worry about the assistant coach. He should have to fall on the sword in every way possible and receive a lifetime ban from the NFL sidelines. However, he was following orders. It’s time to punish those who are ultimately accountable.

Additionally, I’m also going to ignore the real media justifying the Patriots indiscretions by stating that everyone cheats. We’re dealing with this situation and with these accusations of cheating. We don’t diagnose murder as an entire subject during each and individual trial.

Here are some suggested penalization scenarios based on the body of facts.

Suspension for Belichick:
One game is the most realistic approach, and even that is not likely. The Patriots are the NFL’s darling and it would be surprising to see the Commissioner lay down that hammer and sit the head coach for a week. However, he should.
Multiple game suspension. Even less likely, it would be tough for Goodell to sell this to just about everyone (except Pats haters and Jets fans). Since these accusations have surfaced – and Belichick seems less than sincere with his apology – maybe it isn’t that irrational.
Season-long suspension. As likely as sending him to the moon. No way, no how.

Fine:
There’s no use even guessing random numbers. Although Brian Urlacher did get fined six figures for wearing a Vitamin Water hat during Super Bowl media week. Is there a number that can actually hurt the Patriots? Bob Kraft spent crazy bank on Donte Stallworth and Kelly Washington, so why would a fine hurt him? If it’s less than one million, then it’s an absolute joke. Let’s say it has to be at least $1 million. Does Kraft even flinch? $5 million? Does Goodell have the cahones?

Stripping Draft Picks:
If you’re going to take picks, you make a real statement reminiscent to the NBA stripping the Minnesota Timberwolves of multiple 1^st round picks for tampering with Joe Smith. Commissioner Goodell can make that real statement by stripping a year’s worth of picks. You strip multiple high-round picks, in multiple years if need-be. What’s likely? A blend of something seemingly tough and something unreasonably light-handed (e.g. a 3^rd and 5^th-round pick).

So what would I do? Stepping aside for a moment from being a die-hard Jets fan, here are the punitive measures I would employ:

1) Suspend Belichick for 1-game. He got caught cheating for at least one game, so suspend him from one.
2) Fine the Patriots $5 million. You have to make sure this never happens again.
3) Strip the Patriots of their 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd-round picks. Unfortunately, that’s just more money for free agents; unless you can try your best to tinker with their salary cap. You cannot ignore the fact that the Patriots were already once accused less than a season ago and trim their penalty.)
4) Sit Belichick down in a room with Commissioner Goodell and have the two go over the entire rule book. This way, Belichick has no room to misinterpret the rules. (This statement alone makes him a complete black-hearted fraud, by the way.)

Cheap shots aside, do you think Belichick peeks at his opponent’s screen during a game of Madden?

Until next time…

Tuesday FourCast: Week 1

Welcome to the latest feature of PHSports, the Tuesday FourCast. Each Tuesday morning during the NFL season, one member of the PHSports staff will give his list of four things to take away from the weekend’s slate of games. Since we will be switching off, you can get a taste of each contributor’s thoughts and style.

#1: Special Teams Players Deserve Mad Props

Very few football fans understand the amount of sacrifice that goes into a standard special teams play, such as a kickoff. The fans, particularly casual fans, do not realize that on any given kickoff about half of the kicking team and half of the receiving team charge at each other at full speed. This isn’t like your typical trench battle at the line of scrimmage. This is two 18-wheelers driving towards each other at 100 mph. Fortunately, the injuries that come from this sacrifice are usually limited to really painful bumps and bruises. Unfortunately, this past weekend, a life was drastically altered from this thankless job.

Kevin Everett, a backup tight-end on the Buffalo Bills, smacked into a member of the Denver Broncos on kickoff coverage and instantly crumpled to the ground. Normally, an injury draws concerns such as “how long will he be out?” This time, the football questions stop, and we are left to wonder if Everett will survive the “catastrophic injury” (as doctors called it), and if so, how he will adapt to his likely partial paralysis. So while we praise the likes of LT, Peyton Manning and Steve Smith, let’s not forget the unsung heroes who risk far more life and limb as nameless special teamers. I hope we all remember Kevin Everett and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

#2: The NFC is Still the Second Best Conference (Maybe Even Third)

Sure, many football fans and analysts will argue that Week 1 doesn’t mean all that much, if anything, in the grand scheme of the NFL season. I really won’t argue that point since it holds a fair amount of water, but since it’s all we have so far I’ve got to use it. And based off Week 1’s performances, the NFC sucks. About the only notable victory for the NFC over the AFC was Detroit beating Oakland, and since I doubt either team will be in the Super Bowl this year, that isn’t saying much.

The Saints were owned and slapped around by Indianapolis; the Bears should have lost 21-3 instead of 14-3, but the refs (per usual) missed an obvious call; and the Redskins barely survived what should have been an overmatched Dolphins squad led by a geezer QB. No NFC team looked superb this past week, whereas at least three (and arguably four, if you count the Bengals impressive win over Baltimore) AFC teams ran on all cylinders (see: Indianapolis, New England, and Pittsburgh). This is starting to feel like the AL/NL relationship in baseball’s All-Star game.

#3: Byron Leftwich Won’t Be Jobless Much Longer

At this point, it is easier to name the teams that are not interested in signing free agent quarterback Byron Leftwich now that Week 1 is done. By my count, nine teams suffered from below mediocre play from their starting quarterbacks. Leading that list are the Browns, Chiefs, and Falcons. Let’s also not forget the Giants who appear to be without Eli Manning for at least a month according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Teams can now sign Leftwich without guaranteeing him an entire year’s salary. The question is, which team wants to add an unfamiliar signal caller at this point? I’d cross out the Browns who should tough it out with Frye and Anderson until their bye-week before handing the reigns to QB of the future Brady Quinn. The most likely destinations appear to be the Falcons, Chiefs, Vikings or the Giants, depending on the severity of Eli Manning’s shoulder injury. But hey … Jon Gruden does love having as many quarterbacks on his roster as possible, and Daniel Snyder does love to make big splashes that make zero sense, and hell, Roger Goodell could always use a referee with better eyesight on his payroll. Regardless, Leftwich should be signed by somebody within the next 5 – 10 days.

#4: Can We Send John Madden to Outer Space? Without a Spacesuit?

You know, I love John Madden. The video game series that bears his name has given me countless hours of entertainment. If it wasn’t for him, I’m certain that I would have had a much higher GPA in High School, College, and Law School. But the man is past his prime as a color commentator. I’m pretty confident in stating that I feel he and George W. Bush share a brain at this point in time. The most recent line that I heard to prove this point was offered in Thursday night’s season opener. To paraphrase, Madden analyzed an illegal formation penalty in roughly the following language: “Ya see, when you start the play in a legal formation, and then move illegally, that's an illegal formation.” Thanks for the education in obviousness, John. Go find Brett Favre.

The Unspoken For

Your fantasy fix is fulfilled. Here’s a list of a few players who you may have not heard of and may make or break teams.

Anthony Montgomery, DT, Washington Redskins
The second-year defensive tackle out of Minnesota was a standout during training camp and made the likes of Joe Salave’a expendable. He may split time at the DT2 with fellow 2nd-year player Kedrick Golston, but can expect to play many downs given Cornelius Griffin’s injury history.

Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston Texans
Ok, so you’ve heard of this guy. The 3rd rounder out of Lane College has limitless upside and is the only other gamebreaker on the roster aside from Andre Johnson, who will be the recipient of double team efforts. A repeat effort of the pre-season will push current starter Kevin Walter to the slot role.

Eric Steinbach, LG, Cleveland Browns
Steinbach and left tackle Joe Thomas may develop one of the finest guard-tackle partnerships if both can remain healthy. Unfortunately, health is not an assumed quantity when considering the cursed history of the new Cleveland Browns. If healthy, Cleveland should surpass double-digit rushing touchdowns for the first time in what seems like forever.

James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Listed as the starter at right outside linebacker, Harrison only logged 55 snaps last season. Likely a make-weight for rookie OLBs Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley, Harrison has a golden opportunity to shine against a purported weak offense in the form of the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh is a factory for developing stellar linebackers and Harrison’s early performances can allow the rookies to grow into their new roles.

Omar Gaither, MLB, Philadelphia Eagles
Last season, Gaither excelled during the pre-season and unexpectedly claimed a spot on the Eagles roster, contributing at multiple linebacker positions during the season. The undersized yet instinctive former 5th rounder out of Tennessee made Jeremiah Trotter a cap casualty in Philadelphia, but has shown judgment lapses when defending the screen pass.

Mike Gandy, LT & Reggie Wells, LG, Arizona Cardinals
With the selection of Levi Brown, the Cardinals shored up the right side of the offensive line (Deuce Lutui is the left guard), which is Matt Leinart’s blind side. However, the left side remains a very big question mark for Ken Whisenhunt. Weakness on the left will result in an overstack on the right, hurting Edgerrin James’s output on the stretch play.

Clement’s Weekly Predictions and Prognostications…

So it appears as if we are ready to embark on yet another NFL season. I could spread out the vernacular, hyperbole, and use of alliteration until I go blue in the face., but the title of this column isn’t preaching that. Instead, you’re looking for cold, hard predictions. And my friends, that’s exactly what you’ll get.

Each and every Friday, you can expect a few things from me:

1) 3 NFL picks for the upcoming weekend. I promise no gimmies. Real-deal matchups only.
2) 1 College Football pick for the upcoming weekend. With no offense to Appalachian State, we’re not searching for miracle upsets either. On showdown weekends, we may have a second college football pick.
3) 3 Must Starts and 3 Must Sits for the upcoming NFL fantasy football weekend. These won’t be your typical ESPN brainbusters, “Start the Chicago Defense, Larry Johnson, Torry Holt, and try and pick up Travis Henry off of waivers if you can!” This will be legit sleepers and busts for each and every weekend.
4) 4 Statements to love or loathe for the upcoming weekend. Straight from the horse’s mouth. [They’ll follow each NFL/NCAA prediction.]

Let’s get this puppy started. [Has that been said since the late 80s? Or ever?]

Week 1 NFL Picks: [Record: 0-0]

Carolina at St. Louis [Pick’em]

Credit: Yahoo! Sports

-Steve Smith will start this season just as his fantasy owners expect him to; with over 150 yards and at least one touchdown against a more than suspect Rams secondary. Exploit the odds and push the Panthers for the W.

…Sunday Night Football…
NY Giants at Dallas [-5.5]
















Credit: Yahoo! Sports

-The NFL may have already figured out Tony Romo; however, Sam Madison won’t be able to figure out TO. Dallas covering is as close to a primetime lock as you’re likely to see this season.

…Monday Night Football…
Baltimore at Cincinnati [-3]

Credit: Yahoo! Sports

-The early love for the Bengals will be squashed, at least during Week 1, as “Ground” McNair realizes McGahee gets to his hand-off twice as quick as Jamal Lewis ever could. Take the road dogs and count your early-season cash.

Week 2 NCAA Pick: [Record: 0-0]
#9 Virginia Teach at #2 LSU [-12]















Credit: Yahoo! Sports

-It isn’t fair to judge Tech’s opening game due to the tremendous outpouring of emotion that has been engulfing the team as of late. However, the humidity brought on by the LSU defense, not to mention the Bayou itself, will be far too much for the Hokies to contain. Tech QB Sean Glennon, not LSU's Matt Flynn, will be knocked out by the D or benched by the end of the 3^rd quarter. LSU chomps and romps.

3 Must Starts & 3 Must Sits:
START
1) The Jacksonville Defense – Vince Young is a ton of fun to watch. However, he is lacking a running game or a solid receiving corps. Match that with an opportunistic Jags defense and you have yourself a defense you might just be able to scoop up before your opponent reads this article. Start them with confidence.

2) Brian Westbrook – While McNabb may be getting all the Week 1 fantasy pub, don’t sleep on what Westbrook, and opposing running games, can do to the Pack attack rush defense. With lockdown corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson healthy, don’t be surprised if Westbrook is called on, via the run and pass, throughout the entire game. Don’t even flinch by depending on him to carry your team this weekend.

3) Darrell Jackson – Before injuries beset him, DJax was a top 5 wideout before the end of Week 5. With Antrel Rolle hardly resembling the elite shutdown corner the Cards once envisioned, look for Alex Smith’s favorite new wideout to see the endzone once or twice on Monday night. Enjoy him early and often. Then, deal him before Week 3 is over.

SIT
1) Lee Evans – As hot and cold as a fantasy star can be, don’t expect too many fireworks as he opens up with the nasty duo of Champ Bailey and ‘Dre Bly. While he may chase 200 yards and multiple TDs on some weeks, don’t view him as more than a shot-in-the-dark #3 wideout.

2) Ronnie Brown­ – While I am not as quick as some staff writers to call him a disappointment, the Skins defense looked awfully good in the pre-season. Also, Brown has a knack for not combining TDs and 100 yards performances. Likely a high pick in your draft, don’t expect this week to be the week he busts out 125 and 2 TDs.

3) Joe Horn – Do yourself a big favor and don't be "that guy" who is silently counting on the newest wideout acquisition in Hotlanta, former Saint Joe “Cell Phone” Horn to put up any type of numbers on Sunday. While Vikings CB Antoine Winfield has fallen back to Earth in recent seasons (I wonder if Nate Clements might do the same following his exodus from Buffalo), the Vikings defense should target Joey “Heisman” Harrington early and often on Sunday inside the dome. Do yourself a favor and take a risk on another team’s #2 or #3 before you attempt to start Atlanta’s newest WR.

And there you have it. The best of the best. Or, is it the rest? Either way, we’ll see who’s laughing … and who’s crying next week.

Until next time…

MLB Hot Stove: Catch NL Playoff FEVER!

…as of Wednesday night’s action…

We’re back and we’re still talking about those eighteen teams still lingering within divisional and wild-card races. While the AL got its due first, there’s much more drama to be found within the three divisional and wild-card races in the National League.

Let’s not waste another second and dive head-first into the ruckus that is the Senior Circuit.

NL East

Credit: Art.com

Division Leader – (78-61) New York Mets [5 game lead]
2^nd Place – (73-66) Philadelphia Eagles [trail by 5 games]
3^rd Place – (71-69) Atlanta Braves [trail by 7.5 games]
No other viable division contenders.

Comments: It seemed like the Mets would maintain a five to six game lead throughout the season. Note: the key word in that last sentence is seemed. Despite some major deadline deals from Atlanta (Texiera/Dotel), the Braves-bullpen has become engulfed in turmoil and their bats have become far too inconsistent against NL East pitching [Tim Hudson has also fallen fast out of the AL Cy Young race subsequently]. Despite losing 4 straight in Philly, in as bad a fashion as one could imagine each night, the Mets rebounded as best they could with a three-game sweep against the Braves. The Phillies, who got as close as two games to the division leaders, struggled this weekend by dropping 2 of 3 to the lowly Marlins. A disastrous defeat, via an improbably late-inning Atlanta comeback this past Wednesday, may have sucked the morale out of the Phils. The Mets maintain a 1-game lead currently for best-record in the NL East and continue in Cincy for 3 relatively easy games (or so you might think). As for the second and third place teams, they meet at Turner Field in what may become the last stand for Bobby Cox’s crew this season. With Cole Hamels rehabing still, the Phillies will have to rely on their big MVP-caliber hitters (Utley, Rollins, and Howard) and whatever stability they can find from their rotation/bullpen as they hope to continue on their divisional and wild-card run late into September. While the Braves seem a lost cause, they could actually help the Shea-faithful by snatching a series victory this upcoming week against Philly. Each team sees each other again, but after this week, too much damage may already have been inflicted.

NL Central














Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Division Leader – (70-67) Chicago Cubs [.5 game lead]
2^nd Place – (70-68) Milwaukee Brewers [trail by .5 games]
3^rd Place – (68-67) St. Louis Cardinals [trail by 1 game]
No other viable division contenders.

Comments: Wow, talk about a logjam. In a division that nobody seems to want to claim, each team is going through more than a few issues. Whether it’s pitching, hitting, or attitude, each team is struggling mightily down the stretch. Even St. Louis, who has rebounded quite nicely during the second half of the season, realizes that it should’ve been able to surge past the Brew Crew and their arch-nemesis Cubbies. With Chris Carpenter out, who will be the stable back end of the Cardinal rotation down the stretch? The Cubs may be asking similar questions of their ace, a healthy Carlos Zambrano, who dashed any realistic Cy Young hopes with an 0-5 August campaign. As for the Brewers, Prince Fielder hitting home runs can’t win this division outright for them. Ben Sheets, and a starter to be named later, will be heavily relied upon as the inexperienced Brewers continue their surprising late season postseason push. As ESPN’s Woody Paige might say, it’s time to “Look at the Schedule!” Without getting in too deep, the Cubs (4 more w/ St. Louis, 0 w/ Milwaukee, and a friendly 15 w/ Fla, Pit, and Cincy combined). Meanwhile, the Lou has tough matchups with the Mets as well as a 3-game series out west in Arizona. A key series will go down Sept. 24-26 in Milwaukee when they visit the Brewers with both teams potentially staring up at the Cubbies. Closing out with a crucial four hosting San Diego, Milwaukee will have to dodge bullets from spoilers (Houston) and pretend contenders (Atlanta) along the way. Point is: this divisional race is the most likely to go down to the final out on the final day. That is unless you consider the…

NL West

Credit: Raisport

Division Leader – (76-62) San Diego Padres [tied, percentage point leader]
Division Leader – (77-63) Arizona Diamondbacks [tied]
3^rd Place – (73-65) Los Angeles Dodgers [trail by 3 games]
4^th Place – (72-66) Colorado Rockies [trail by 4 games]
No other viable division contenders.

Comments: Wow. A lot can be said, but I don’t want to drive myself – via countless scenarios – too crazy. So instead, I’ll take the easy way out and LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE! San Diego, with Jake Peavy anchoring a Cy Young run, has 10 easier games between San Fran & Pittsburgh. However, they fall into potential landmines with 6 against Colorado and that aforementioned closing series in Milwaukee. Oh yeah, they travel to play those Dodgers for 3 games as well in the middle of the month. As for Arizona, don’t sleep on them. They get 9 against the San Fran/Pitt combo. Add six more against the Dodgers and two crucial series (at home vs. St. Louis and closing the season out on the road in Colorado). They control their own destiny, but it won’t be easy. Speaking of such, the Dodgers and Rockies can’t be forgotten. Each see the teams ahead of them more than enough. Memo to Matt Holliday: get Colorado into the post-season, and you’ll be rewarded with an MVP award.

Predictions and Prognostications
1) The Mets, despite a disastrous four game sweep from the Phils, will right the ship and claim a second straight NL East crown.
2) Here we go again. I’m taking the Cubbies. I did it before the season and I’m doing it again. Sue me!
3) While I hate on them far too much, the Diamondbacks may be the team to beat. Except,I’m still taking the Padres.

NL Wild Card











Credit: EmptytheBench.com

Current Leader – (77-63) Arizona Diamondbacks [3 game lead]
2^nd Place – (73-65) Los Angeles Dodgers [trail by 3 games]
3^rd Place – (73-66) Philadelphia Phillies [trail by 3.5 games]
4^th Place – (72-66) Colorado Rockies [trail by 4 games]
5th Place – (71-69) Atlanta Braves [trail by 6 games]
6^th Place – (70-68) Milwaukee Brewers [trail by 6 games]
7^th Place – (68-67) St. Louis Cardinals [trail by 6.5 games]
No other viable wild-card contenders.

Comments: It’s impossible to detect. Except that the Diamondbacks, technically, control their own destiny. However, while teams in the West seem to have an advantage, they play each other so much that they could easily each drop a few games in the standings. Watching the standings each and every day is a must. Don’t count out a veteran ball club like St. Louis. Don’t sleep on the overachieving Rockies. And don’t underestimate the talent of the Phillies. We’ll check back soon, but for now…it’s impossible.

Then again, just remember how awfully mediocre last year’s World Series champion Cardinals appeared at this time. In fact, they seemed that way just about until the opening pitch of the playoffs.

Until next time…

NFL SWOT Analysis: AFC East

By: Armin Mohajeri

Buffalo Bills

Losman (Photo Courtesy of NFLGuru.net)

Strengths: Buffalo’s strength lies within their young talent. Last season Wide Receiver Lee Evans came into his own and was somewhat dominant. Quarterback J.P. Losman had flashes at times, and has plenty of opportunities to grow this season. Rookie Running Back Marshawn Lynch should get the lion’s share of carries this season. Rookie MLB Paul Posluszny will not wait long to take a leadership role on the defense. Safeties Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson have the type of coverage ability to allow their corners to take gambles and make plays. If the front office can keep this young talent together for a 2-3 seasons, they could have something special.

Weaknesses: While the team has young talent, the overall team is not impressive. The offensive line, outside of Jason Peters looks like patchwork. Derrick Dockery, who was the shakiest offensive linemen on the Redskins last year became one of the highest paid offensive linemen when he signed with the Bills. Maybe Jauron saw something in him. Outside of Evans, the talent at WR is either too small or too slow to make a difference. Most outside of Buffalo have no idea who Keith Ellison or Angelo Crowell are. Cornerback Terrence McGee came back down to earth after receiving his contract, and the sad thing is, his counterpart, Kiwaukee Thomas will be picked on mercilessly. The team has a lot to prove, and with some good coaching they might put together a decent season if all the pieces fall in the right place.

Opportunities: Free Safety Ko Simpson was one of the youngest players in the NFL last season. He finds himself in the starting lineup, and he could be a mainstay alongside fellow sophomore Donte Whitner for a long time. Kevin Everett will be given opportunities to be a pass-catching Tight End in this offense. Losman sorely needs a safety-valve receiver.

Threats: Inexperience poses the largest threat to this team. Late leads can be lost. Important drives can fall apart. A drive crippled by penalties. All of these are signs of inexperience. However, these lessons will be valuable in the growth and maturity of their young players. Hopefully, the fans will remain patient.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Nobody is really passing a torch here. Posluszny probably earns the distinction of receiving the torch as the leader of the defense.

Position Battle: Running backs Anthony Thomas and Marshawn Lynch seem headed into a season where they will share carries. Lynch will probably receive more carries, however if he has issues, coaches won’t hesitate to give the ball to the veteran, Thomas.

Rookie Contributor: MLB Posluszny and RB Lynch are the most likely contributors. However, keep an eye on RB Dwayne Wright who put together a decent preseason. He could get some touches late in the season.

Miami Dolphins

Thomas (Photo Courtesy of DolphinsInfo.com)

Strengths: Once again, the defense will have to carry this team. The heart and soul of the defense returns in the form of MLB Zach Thomas and teammate and brother-in-law DE Jason Taylor. They lead a strong front seven that should excel at attacking the line of scrimmage. Joey Porter needs to get accustomed to the 4-3 defense. He could benefit from having slightly less duties as an OLB than he had in the 3-4. A stronger pass rush could relieve some of the pressure on the corners. Will Allen and Travis Daniels were practically on their own last season. Newly acquired QB Trent Green will have plenty of targets. With the QB issues the team has had since Marino’s departure, Green could be a welcome sight as an accurate veteran who has great moves in the pocket. The receiving corps have a lot of potential after adding the speedy Ted Ginn to current starting WRs Chris Chambers and Marty Booker.

Weaknesses: The offensive line has its fair share of question marks. Guard Chris Liwienski may be the most solid piece of the puzzle. Vernon Carey is back at left tackle, but still needs to prove himself. Rookie Center Samson Satele is the only other lineman worth mentioning. The running game was shaky last year, and seems to be headed to a similar place this year. Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman are in a battle for the number one spot. The safety position is weak. Neither starter will have receivers hearing footsteps, nor will they bring much to the run defense.

Opportunities: Look for DE Matt Roth to have every opportunity to have a breakout performance feeding off the attention received by Jason Taylor, Keith Traylor and Vonnie Holliday. After years of playing in either Bubba Franks’s or Randy McMichael’s shadow, TE David Martin finally gets his shot to start. He is a speedy TE who converted from WR in his rookie year. He could be a field stretcher at the position.

Threats: While Trent Green is considered to have great pocket presence, he played behind one of the best offensive lines of the past couple of decades while with the Chiefs. Behind the current offensive line, his pocket skills could face a great challenge.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Look for DT Keith Traylor to slowly pass the torch to Paul Soliai. They are nearly clones. In fact, Soliai is even larger than Traylor. On the college level, Soliai proved he could take up space and force the run outside. He could replace Traylor late in the season, if the Fins are out of the playoff picture.

Position Battle: Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman are still embroiled in a battle for the starting RB job. They will probably split carries going into the season, but someone should emerge as the lead back. Ronnie Brown should be the one.

Rookie Contributor: The Fins have several. On top of that list is WR Ted Ginn, who could eventually start alongside Chris Chambers. For now, Ginn will man the slot position and return kicks. Both situations will allow him to display his magnificent speed. Satele is already starting at Center. Keep an eye on Lorenzo Booker, who could get some carries as a change of pace back.

New England Patriots

Brady (Photo Courtesy of anthjames.com)

Strengths: Many pick the Patriots as the favorite to win the Super Bowl. On paper, they look stronger than ever. All-Pro QB leads an offense that upgraded at WR without losing much else. The WR corps include four new faces in Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington. They should all take pressure off the rest of the offense that carried the team last season. Ben Watson returns and has sole possession of the TE position. Physically, Watson is a poor man’s Vernon Davis. Could this be his year? The offensive line returns intact with a strong set of backups. Running behind that line is Laurence Maroney who, like Watson, now has sole possession of his starting position. He could be in for a huge season. The defense returned almost everyone, and upgraded at a couple of spots. Adalius Thomas steps in to man Vrabel’s old ILB spot, while Vrabel moves outside to upgrade their OLB spot.

Weaknesses: Depth on the defensive line used to be one of the strengths on this team. This is now a challenge, especially with Richard Seymour starting the season on the PUP. While the team did upgrade the WR spot, they filled it with a bunch of misfits. Wes Welker could end up being the most solid member of the group. The cornerback position continues to deliver, but on a skeleton crew. They need to address this eventually. Rookie Brandon Meriweather could end up sliding over from safety to get some playing time there.

Opportunities: The AFC East is possibly the weakest division in the league. The Patriots should have a cake walk this year in their division. They returned most starters from an already elite team. They could roll through and get five to six wins out of the division.

Threats: If Randy Moss chooses to implode again (not sure if Oakland was really an implosion, but he played poorly there), does he take part of the team down with him. There was some talk of him getting cut from the team, as he may not be the top target, which he will definitely complain about. Talent always gets chances in the NFL, but will a team want to touch Moss if he fails in New England?

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Both Laurence Maroney and Ben Watson get the keys to their own starting positions. Corey Dillon and Daniel Graham are no longer around to share the spots. Both look poised to have monster seasons. However, should they prove to be the type of players that thrive on sharing their position, the Patriots could be in trouble.

Position Battle: James Sanders will have to fight hard to hold off Brandon Meriweather at safety all season. Meriweather’s stock rose as teams continued to overlook his actions that prematurely ended his last season of college football at Miami.

Rookie Contributor: Meriweather might be the only rookie that contributes this year. Look for DE Kareem Brown to get looks in the Defensive Line rotation. He is built a lot like Richard Seymour, and could end up being another great pick by the Patriots.

New York Jets

Vilma (Photo Courtesy of ithaca.edu)

Strengths: The Jets have slowly put together a decent team. QB Chad Pennington has a nice duo of starting WRs backed up by a competent set of reserves. Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery have the speed to challenge defenses, and are getting better each game. Justin McCareins and Brad Smith aren’t much of a drop off when called on. Look for the Jets to occasionally go with four-wide sets from time to time. Running Back Thomas Jones comes over from Chicago, where he was the workhorse of the offense. He should have a fine time running behind a deceptively talented offensive line. The Defense, however, is the strength of the team. Inside Linebacker Jon Vilma returns to lead the defense. As great as Vilma is, he still has untapped potential. He has the tools to be the best LB in the NFL. Defensive End Shaun Ellis returns to lead the defensive line where he fills a role much like Richard Seymour on the Patritots. Safety Kerry Rhodes returns after having a monster year. It will be tough for him to live up to the hype he received this offseason.

Weaknesses: Mangini has a defense built similarly to his former team, the Patriots. His weaknesses are similar as well. The defensive line has very little depth and the cornerbacks leave something to be desired. First rounder, Darrelle Revis could be the answer at corner, however the team cannot rely on a rookie to lead them all season.

Opportunities: Dewayne Robertson looked decent last year. If he comes into his own this year, he could make the Jets look good for reaching for him in the 2003 draft. Keeping with the theme of former first rounders coming into their own, Bryan Thomas could be on his way to proving his value as he’ll play a Roosevelt Colvin role and relentlessly rush the passer.

Threats: Several players played above expectations last year. Some say this was the Mangini effect. However, if they play down to a level that was expected before last season things could get ugly, especially on defense. Vilma and fellow inside backer Eric Barton must hold things together lead this defense much like Bruschi and Vrabel are the glue in New England.

Passing/Receiving the Torch: Finally, I am throwing a curveball. If Pennington falters, and the team gets behind in the standings early, he could be handing the torch over to Kellen Clemens. The team seems very high on Clemens and could be itching to give him a shot. Clemens may not be as accurate as Pennington, but he does have a nice deep ball.

Position Battle: Free safeties Erik Coleman and Eric Smith could end up rotating, however someone has to be consistent enough to make all of the calls in the secondary. Coleman looks like he has the upper hand, however Smith has more potential, and brings a ton more to the table when it comes to measurables.

Rookie Contributor: Cornerback Darrelle Revis is the only rookie that will get playing time, unless the team tanks early. If he fulfills his potential, Revis could be the shutdown corner the Jets need to take their defense to the next level.

And You Thought NFL Free Agency Involved Lots of Money

According to figures coming from business advisory firm Deloitte, summer spending by English clubs (all Premier League and Football League) rose by approximately 60% to reach more than £500million ($1.007B USD).

The huge rise is greatly attributed to a rise in broadcasting revenue and money being pumped into Premier League (EPL) clubs by new owners.

Per usual, the biggest beneficiaries of astronomical and slightly irresponsible spending by English clubs (dominated by EPL) are overseas clubs, who received £250million for players.

While player wages increased, they rose at a much lower clip than the 80% rise in gross transfer spending this summer.

Summary of EPL spending (in millions)
Manchester United £51 ($102.7 USD)
Liverpool £50 ($100.7 USD)
Tottenham Hotspur £40 ($80.6 USD)
Sunderland £35 ($70.5 USD)

How Transfer Fees Work
In international football, clubs must negotiate a transfer fee for players with more than 6 months remaining on their contract. Once the transfer fee is agreed to, the buying club can speak with the player and offer a contract. In almost all cases, players with less than six months remaining on their deal can move to another club for free (widely known as a Bosman or free transfer).

Final Preseason NFL Picks

NFC
NFC East *Philadelphia 11-5 **Dallas 10-6 Washington 8-8 NY Giants 4-12 Philly is, just barely, atop of the NFC East again. Of course, this is dependent upon the health of McNabb and Westbrook. Even though Dallas has Wimpy Wade as head coach, their defense is quite solid, and Romo’s confident and talented enough to make them a solid contender in the NFC. Washington did NOTHING to fix its D-Line in the off-season, and there are too many questions on offense to be able to give them a better record. The Giants might as well experiment with Strahan as their new RB. The Coughlin experiment needs to end in New York.	NFC North *Chicago 13-3 Green Bay 9-7 Detroit 5-11 Minnesota 2-14 Like I’ve said all along, this is a weak division. Chicago is the team to beat in the NFC, though they won’t be as dominant without Thomas Jones running the ball. Green Bay has an outside shot at making the playoffs, but it depends entirely on the running game getting to average and their defense may actually be okay. Detroit’s passing game has lots of weapons, but there’s no guarantee of a running game to keep opposing defenses guessing. Minnesota just seems too weak with Tarvaris Jackson leading the way and nobody to throw to.
NFC South *New Orleans 11-5 Carolina 9-7 Tampa Bay 5-11 Atlanta 4-12 The teams (and fans) in this division will experience some agonizing defeats this year. The Saints, while they won’t surprise anyone this year, still have enough talent to win this division, and could realistically finish 13-3; the lack of defense keeps them from dominance. Carolina could very easily end up 11-5, but without an assurance of health at RB, it’s too questionable. Tampa has too many questions on offense and their defense could suffer the loss of team-leader Simeon Rice. Atlanta won’t be as horrible as the record implies, but by the time Harrington earns the confidence of his teammates, it’ll be too late to salvage the season.	NFC West *Seattle 10-6 **San Francisco 10-6 St. Louis 8-8 Arizona 7-9 With these stronger than advertised divisions, the NFC could be a season away from evening things up with the AFC. In the West, it’ll be a nail-biter between Seattle and San Fran, with the Seahawks edging out the 49ers. While Hasselbeck and Alexander aren’t what they were 2-3 seasons ago, they’re still solid enough to deliver wins for Seattle. San Francisco will surprise with a stronger than expected defense, and with Alex Smith leading the way on offense. St. Louis will be 5 points away from being 10-6, but they’ve locked Bulger down for a while…so keep an eye out on them. Also watch for the Cards, with Grimm and Whisenhunt, they’ll be contenders soon.
Tie breaker note: SEA wins the West because it has a better record in common games than SF. NO gets the 2 seed by virtue of beating PHI head-to-head. SF gets the 5 seed because it has a better conference record than DAL.
AFC
AFC East *New England 12-4 NY Jets 8-8 Buffalo 5-11 Miami 3-13 New England misses the #1 seed in the AFC because Rodney Harrison wanted to heal faster and because Randy Moss doesn’t think working with his QB is important. Otherwise, the Pats are solid. Initially I thought the Jets would have a much better year, but Pennington’s inconsistencies in the pre-season and Thomas Jones’ lack of work make me nervous. Buffalo has too many young kids starting to be effective this year, but watch out for them next year after Lynch and Posluszny get a year under their belts. The Dolphins will be horrid, Trent Green has a fork stuck in him, and Ronnie Brown is an inch away from being a bust.	AFC North *Baltimore 13-3 **Cincinnati 11-5 Pittsburgh 10-6 Cleveland 4-12 Baltimore needs to give its entire defense a massive raise. For the umpteenth year in a row, the D saves them from a mediocre offense. Cincy will rock it in the 2nd half of the season after Chris “Prison Break” Henry returns from suspension. Until then Carson Palmer and Rudi Johnson will keep things honest. Mike Tomlin will have an okay first year in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger will fair okay with regard to having more control of his offense, but will make “rookie” mistakes in his fourth season. Finally, Cleveland will start to improve once Brady Quinn is installed as QB just around the midway point of the season.
AFC South *Indianapolis 12-4 Tennessee 9-7 Jacksonville 6-10 Houston 5-11 Nobody in this division can legitimately contend with Indianapolis. The Colts won’t romp through the season, but they still have enough talent to scare any team that faces them. Tennessee will be kept in the playoff hunt by QB/RB Vince Young, but until they have a legitimate rushing attack they won’t overtake Indy. Jacksonville will rely too much on their running back tandem and will regret dropping Leftwich so late in the pre-season, not giving David Garrard enough reps before the start of the regular season. Finally, the Texans are looking up, and Ahman Green will be a solid contributor for them, but they’re still a handful of players away.	AFC West *San Diego 13-3 **Denver 12-4 Kansas City 4-12 Oakland 3-13 San Diego is the second playoff caliber team in the league that will underachieve because of its head coach. LT, Gates and Rivers will still lead the team to take the West, but they should’ve been able to do it more convincingly. Denver will make the playoffs behind a strong rushing attack and the arm Jay Cutler. Their defensive line will need improvement, but the secondary should help them win a few close calls. KC has no offensive line, so Larry Johnson will need to bring his own dynamite to open up holes to run through. The Raiders are in desperate need for a real QB, so maybe they can draft AND sign one in April. Until then, the defense will get them 3 wins.
Note: BAL gets the 1 seed by virtue of a head-to-head win over SD. NE gets the 3 seed due to a head-to-head win over IND.

Wildcard Playoffs

San Francisco over Seattle – San Francisco wins the rubber match here, overcoming Seattle’s 12^th man.

Dallas over Philadelphia – For the second year in a row, the Eagles face a division foe in the wildcard round, but this time they lose.

New England over Cincinnati – Tom Brady is now clicking on all cylinders with his new WRs, and the Bengals just aren’t strong enough on defense to take it.

Indianapolis over Denver – Jay Cutler just can’t unseat the Super Bowl champs. Peyton’s football intelligence wins this game for the Colts.

Divisional Playoffs

Dallas over Chicago – A defensive brawl for the ages is settled with Romo’s 1 interception versus Grossman’s 3.

San Francisco over New Orleans – 8 years later, Gore finally beats Bush, though it’s the underwhelming 49er WRs who have career days.

New England over Baltimore – Brady methodically picks apart the Ravens’ defense to the chagrin of 80% of NFL fans and the broadcasting team of Nantz and Simms. The Ravens offense can’t do anything in response.

San Diego over Indianapolis – Norv Turner does what Marty couldn’t as the Bolts follow LT and unseat the Colts.

Conference Finals

San Francisco over Dallas – Memories of Dwight Clark and “the catch.” But who will recreate it? D-Jax or Vernon Davis?

New England over San Diego – The Chargers just can’t believe it, but this year it won’t be as close.

Super Bowl

New England over San Francisco – Sticking with the same game and same pick as I had in the previous version of this prediction article. The Patriots have been here too often to lose to the upstart yet inexperienced 49ers.

Sunday Reflections on a Hectic Football Saturday

COLLEGE FOOTBALL KICKS OFF
Who said the first weekend of college football carried no excitement? Whoever said that must be awfully forgetful of the form that we should expect from teams coming out of the gate. Since there is no real preseason in college football (no, the spring game does not count), the first week – for better or for worse – is littered with shoddy play and desire can sometimes overcome talent.

This was seen in Appalachian State’s 34-32 victory over Michigan. This game was so far off the radar that ESPN GamePlan did not even air it. It was aired on the Big Ten Network, which got great publicity, but it was with an unintended and undesired result. Whether this upset is the greatest in college football history will be determined by Michigan’s form.

How about DeSean Jackson’s punt return to break a 14-all tie and put California in the ascendancy for good? At the next level, he’s anywhere between Steve Smith and Peter Warrick. That must scare teams. Throughout the course of a football career, every player, no matter what their training regimen is, will suffer an injury. Hypothetically speaking, will Jackson have the same cutability [sic] which puts him all over SportsCenter highlights?

In the best game of the day that went severely under the radar, Colorado and Colorado State battled it out until the Buffaloes claimed the victory in overtime. Cody Hawkins has the tools to be a poor man’s Drew Brees. His accuracy is impeccable and demonstrates poise in the pocket. Nevertheless, remember that he was playing a porous Rams defense that allowed two touchdowns in ten plays in the game’s opening quarter.

Should Texas and Arkansas be alarmed by their lackluster performances in expected blowouts? Absolutely.

Here’s an even better one. Can’t we just enjoy the football until October and THEN worry about the rankings?

NFL CUT DAY
Moving from the college ranks to the pros, yesterday was the day when NFL teams had to cut their rosters down to 53 players, otherwise known as Cut Day.

Here is a list of what I consider the lowlights ranging from the surprising to the downright shocking:

First, not one high third-round pick, but TWO of them – defensive players, no less – were told au revoir by their respective organizations. In Oakland, Quentin Moses continued his fall from grace by not even making the team; however, he was quickly snapped up by Arizona, who released their own third-round pick in the form of Florida State linebacker Buster Davis. Ken Whisenhunt intimated that Davis was not the same player he saw on the game tape prior to the draft. So, to sum things up, Davis has been called a fraud by a NFL head coach just months after being drafted. Ouch.
Second, a host of aging safeties received their marching orders from management. A shortlist includes the likes of Donovin Darius, Omar Stoutmire, Will Demps, and Lamont Thompson to name a few. This begs the question. Do the Texans now regret trading Jason Babin to the Seahawks for Michael Boulware prior to the majority of cuts?

Other notes include:
- Kevin Jones will NOT be on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as earlier reported by multiple media outlets. This means he can practice prior to the Week 6, so he can get his timing down and try to regain his job.
- Richard Seymour IS on the PUP list for New England. This means Bill Belichick will focus his energies on concealing the health status of other Patriots players.
- Chris Simms remains in Tampa Bay for now. If they add Byron Leftwich, then they’ll have FIVE quarterbacks. Don’t worry, that’s a joke. Or is it?

RODNEY HARRISON CHEATS, BUT NOT FOR COMPETITIVE EDGE?
By now, everyone knows that Rodney Harrison got busted by the league for using HGH. It’s one thing to cheat, but it’s another to admit cheating and then say the following:

"My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was solely for the purpose of accelerating the healing process of injuries I sustained while playing football.”

Acceleration of the healing process from injuries is the very essence of giving one’s self a competitive edge. Such a statement of arrogance presupposes that the general football consuming public is stupid, naïve, or a combination of both.

Furthermore, how is this situation that different from Barry Bonds on the wrong side of his 30s taking another performance-enhancing drug? It’s HGH abuse instead of steroids (allegedly, of course) and Bonds has higher star power. Both used the performance enhancer to overcome injuries, giving each an opportunity to compete rather than sitting on the sidelines longer or going into retirement.

MLB Hot Stove: AL Playoff Chase is on!

Even though football, via college and the professionals, have been recently dominant the current of sport’s talk these days…MLB pennant races are hotter than ever.

Actually, as many as eighteen teams remain in contention for a playoff birth this season (whether it be via divisional or wild-card means).

While some (Boston) seem more likely than others (Colorado), there remains a little under a month of baseball until we are given our ‘dirty dozen’ of playoff entrants.

With that being said, it’s time to take a look at the final stretch, as best as we can attempt to. With most teams staring at around twenty-five games remaining, there’s plenty of drama left to unfold.

Let’s take a dive…

American League
AL East

Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Division Leader – (82-55) Boston Red Sox [6 game lead]
2^nd Place – (73-59) New York Yankees [trail by 6 games]
No other viable division contenders.

Comments: The Yanks swept the series in the Bronx against their hated rivals; however, Boston has maintained a rather comfortable lead, easily the largest in baseball, for quite some time now. However, this is the Yanks and the Sox. With 3 more games remaining head-to-head, the Bronx Bombers have to be thinking a road-sweep at Fenway to have any chance at closing this formidable gap. Boston (with a pair of series with Tor, Bal, and TB each), a game up for the best record in baseball, seems as close as a mortal lock as anyone to return to the playoffs this year (after missing out last season).

AL Central

Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Division leader – (78-58) Cleveland Indians [5 game lead]
2^nd Place – (73-63) Detroit Tigers [trail by 5 games]
No other viable division contenders.

Comments: Despite fading miserably in September in the past two seasons, Cleveland appears much more stable in their rotation and bullpen this season. Detroit, impressively rebounding by taking 3 of 4 from the Yanks at home two weekends ago, seems as volatile as anyone this season (especially after losing the first two of three against Kansas City earlier this week). As for the Twins, getting beat down by Cleveland pretty much ruined any and all legit playoff chances for them this season. The Tigers can’t be ruled out of the division race just yet; especially with Kenny Rogers slated to return mid-week. Both the Indians and Tigers will be circling their calendars for their mid-September pivotal series; however, Cleveland may make their playoff beds with their performance against the AL West in the month of September.

AL West

Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Division Leader – (80-55) Anaheim Angels [7 game lead]
2^nd Place – (73-62) Seattle Mariners [trail by 7 games]
No other viable division contenders.

Comments: You blinked over the week and this divisional race seemed to get turned upside down. On an unrelated note, surprise surprise, Oakland was nowhere to be found in the second-half this season (they can blame their anemic offense for that more than anything). In their place, the major’s biggest surprise by far, are the Seattle Mariners. That may soon be a forgotten cause though, at least out West, as the Mariners have tanked recently to the tune of 9 straight losses. Most damaging was a terrible trip to Anaheim, which included losing a game they lead 5-0 after just 2 innings. An important make-up game this Thursday against Cleveland didn’t help either, only bunking up the Mariner travel schedule with another loss. Despite losing all three in Toronto, instant rejuvenation can come against the Yanks (more below) With remaining series against the aforementioned Yankees, as well as the Tigers, Indians, and those Angels (yet again), the Mariners will have to continue to prove to their detractors, and perhaps themselves, that they are a legit playoff team. As for the Angels, outside of eight games against the Indians and Mariners (all at home), they appear to have the smoothest waters remaining in their schedule, perhaps in all of baseball. That may be important, for better or worse, in dictating whether they match up, as of today, against the wild-card leader (Yankees) or AL Central’s best (Cleveland).

Predictions and Prognostications
1) Boston should be able to lock up the AL East and avoid a late-season meltdown without too much anxiety.
2) Cleveland should hold off Detroit, if only by a game or two down the stretch, and secure the division title.
3) Anaheim, due to a lighter schedule, will widen their gap, if only by another game or two, and secure the AL West.

But wait, there’s still one spot left!

AL Wild Card

Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Current Leader – (76-61) New York Yankees [2 game lead]
2^nd Place – (73-62) Seattle Mariners [trail by 2 games]
3^rd Place – (73-63) Detroit Tigers [trail by 2.5 games]
4^th Place – (70-66) Toronto Blue Jays [trail by 5.5 games]
No other viable wild-card contenders. [Sorry Toronto.]

Comments: First off, the Twins should be all but crossed off of “being neglected” from this list before the end of Labor Day weekend (they are 7.5 back). The real nitty gritty comes in the form of one team from the AL East (Yanks), two from the Central (Indians & Tigers), and one from the AL West (Mariners). While Boston or Anaheim could slide, as we said before…it isn’t likely. Ditto goes for the Blue Jays making a legit run at the wild-card lead, although they could play a pretty important role as a spoiler (with several games against most of these playoff contenders lingering). Then again, with so many key games, perhaps they do merit at least brief consideration (especially after the Seattle sweep). But in reality, that leaves three teams, as of now, who trail division leaders. Seattle, interestingly enough, controls their destiny more than you may suppose, despite losing 9 in a row. Starting tomorrow, they travel to the Bronx for three games (Sept. 3 through 5) and then return home, with an off-day sandwiched in-between, to host the Tigers for three (Sept. 7 through 9). Pivotal series continue for Seattle’s finest as they are locked up in crucial sets with Anaheim and Cleveland late. The waters appear to be a little easier for the Yankees, or so you might think. Three more games against the major’s best Red Sox and three hosting the aforementioned Mariners make up a tough playoff-laden stretch. However, there is a chance to beat up on AL East foes (Tor, TB, and Balt.) as the Yanks see the teams a collective nineteen times. Unfortunately though, they lost the first two of those three – at home no less – to the lowly Devil Rays. Added to that are their struggles against the Orioles this year, 30-3 losers withstanding. Their inconsistency may catch up with the Bronx Bombers, especially with a suspect back-half of the rotation (Hughes/Mussina/etc.) whether against the top tier (Boston/Seattle) of the AL or the bottom (KC/Baltimore). Finally, we have the Tigers. An enigma to end all enigmas as of late, Detroit, to nobody’s surprise, gets a heavy dose of the AL Central down the stretch. Only visiting Cleveland 3 more times, Detroit must recapture its Yankee-beat down momentum and not simply rely on sneaking into the wild-card race. Two pivotal series against AL West has-beens (Oakland, which they took two of three, and Texas) may go a long way into letting us know if Detroit will make a serious push, or attempt to limp or sneak into, the playoffs (division or wild-card).

If you think the AL is a little crazy, then, my friends, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

In a little under 48 hours, the National League (aka the Senior Circuit) will get its due. By the way, this is where the majority of the eighteen “competitive” playoff teams can be found.

They’ve even had people in Cincinnati, if only for a day or two, talking pennant chase.

Who’d have ever thunk that one???

Until next time…