T.O. Finally Put In His Place!!

February 6, 2018February 6, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

The 3rd time’s the charm.

While that expression may not always apply in business, or marriage, it applies to the NFL Hall of Fame.

When you’re in, you’re in.

Terrell Owens is finally in!! As of Saturday, Owens will join Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile, and Bobby Beathard in the 2018 Hall of Fame Class.

Terrell Owens, WR, 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, Bengals (1996-2010)

There’s no doubt Terrell Owens is overjoyed to be in the Hall of Fame, but he refuses to use this accolade as validation of a tremendous career. Listen in here. Like, love, or hate T.O., his accomplishments on a football field are undeniable:

Receiving Yards: 15,934 (2nd All-Time)

Receiving TDs: 153 (3rd All-Time)

Receptions: 1,078 (8th All-Time)

You don’t have to know anything about football to know those are Hall of Fame numbers. The NFL Hall of Fame Voting Committee should be ashamed of themselves. To keep T.O. out because he didn’t play nice in the sandbox was ludicrous.

T.O., however, should probably thank Randy Moss. I believe, as much as the committee doesn’t like T.O., they recognized they couldn’t simultaneously elect Moss and leave T.O. on the outside looking in — again.

Randy Moss, WR, Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, Titans, 49ers (1998-2012)

Randy Moss was an electrifying, deep-threat receiver, who glided behind defenses with his long legs. While he made a name for himself with the Vikings, he etched his name in history with the Patriots. In 2007, he broke Jerry Rice’s record for most TD receptions in a single season (23). Moss became the 1st receiver to be elected in his 1st year of eligibility since Jerry Rice (2010).

Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens (1996-2012)

If you’re at the gym, and you can’t seem to find energy for a workout, just throw some Ray Lewis on. Have you ever listened to Ray Lewis hype up his team?! It’s something to behold. Click here to relive one of Ray Lewis’ pregame speeches. He played a little football too….

Lewis led the Ravens to 2 Super Bowls, in 2000 and 2012. He was named Super Bowl MVP in 2000 and also won Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 2000 and 2003. Lewis’ induction is no surprise, as he stands as one of the best defensive players of all-time.

Brian Urlacher, LB, Bears (2000-2012)

The rock. The staple. The foundation of the Chicago Bears. That’s how Brian Urlacher will be remembered. The Bears ranked in the top-5 in defense 5 times during Urlacher’s 13-year career. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, as well as Defensive Player of the Year in 2005. Like Moss and Lewis, Urlacher was inducted in his 1st year of eligibility.

Brian Dawkins, S, Eagles, Broncos (1996-2011)

Brian Dawkins had to wait 1 year to achieve his dream. Known as “Weapon X”, Dawkins’ versatility set him apart from other defenders. Dawkins was a ball hawk from the safety position. Ray Lewis may be infamous for his motivational speeches, but Dawkins’ pre-game ritual was nothing to sneeze at. Click here to check out Dawkins’ raw emotion.

Jerry Kramer and Robert Brazile were inducted to the Hall of Fame by the Senior Committee. Kramer will be remembered as one of the best guards in NFL history, as he helped lead the Green Bay Packers to back-to-back Super Bowls in 1967 and 1968. Brazile played his entire 10-year career with the Houston Oilers from the linebacker position. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1975 and never missed a game throughout his career. Bobby Beathard was inducted as a contributor to the game. He helped orchestrate the Washington Redskins’ Super Bowl Victories in 1982 and 1987.

Did the NFL Hall of Fame Committee get it right this year?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

Giants Pull The Plug On Season….A Month After It Died

December 5, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

reese and mcadoo

It’s about time!!

The New York Giants finally came to their senses, albeit a month late, parting ways with their general manager and head coach. As of Monday, Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo’s services are no longer needed at MetLife Stadium. Giants’ owners, John Mara and Steve Tisch, confirmed the firings in a news conference Monday afternoon. Defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, will be named interim head coach, and assistant general manager, Kevin Abrams, will be named interim general manager. While I would have fired Reese and McAdoo 5 weeks ago, the blame for this season’s dumpster fire shouldn’t be placed on their shoulders. The buck stops with the owners.

The Giants organization deserves an Oscar. They’ve fooled everyone for a long time. It’s actually impressive. See, everyone places the Giants organization on this imaginary golden pedestal, and adds the prefix ‘classy’ to their name. Yeah, not so much. You don’t have to dig that deep to see past that pretty little façade. John Mara’s grandfather, Tim Mara, purchased the Giants for $500 in 1925, making it the most sound investment in the history of the world.

However, does anyone know how Tim Mara made a living in 1925??

He was a bookie!! If you think the gambling epidemic and mob ties to the NFL in the 1920’s weren’t intertwined with Mara and the Giants, you were born yesterday.

The Giants also enabled Lawrence Taylor’s behavior for over a decade. Taylor, one of the best players in NFL history, was constantly in trouble off the field. But, as long as he produced on the field, the Giants tolerated his drug abuse and other problems.

And let’s not forget the “mis”handling of the Josh Brown domestic violence issue. The Giants knew exactly what their kicker did (in abusing his wife), but decided to sweep it under the rug to avoid negative publicity. It wasn’t until the truth leaked to the public that the Giants suspended Brown indefinitely.

That pedestal is starting to look rusty….

And then, there’s their present day folly. Because nothing says classy like dragging the face of your franchise through the mud. Then backing up and driving over him. Then putting the car in drive and running him over again.

What John Mara allowed Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo to do to Eli Manning was practically criminal. To rip Eli’s consecutive games played streak (210 games) from his hands, for just 1 game, was painful to watch (even for a non-Giants fan). Especially for Geno Smith. And now, the Giants, at 2-10, will hand the reigns back to Eli Manning. WOW!! Just — WOW!!

Here’s John Mara’s sorry attempt at pointing the finger at himself:

“You ought to stop blaming Ben and Jerry on that. If you want to blame anyone on that, blame me. I certainly had the power to overrule it if I wanted to. I chose not to do it.”

I already blamed you John!! But thanks for giving me permission….

What do you think of the New York Giants?? Are they a classy organization?? Or just another group of money hungry, selfish, billionaires??

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

A Food Coma With A Side Of Football — Now That’s Thanksgiving!!

November 24, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

chargers

I’m full!!

With another successful Thanksgiving in the books, it’s time to review the amount of calories I consumed. I’ll give you a hint, it’s more than any human being should consume in a week. Turkey, stuffing, gravy (oh the gravy), pumpkin pie, and apple pie. All fantastic. All delicious. All useless without a side of football.

Vikings Vs. Lions

The Detroit Lions typically play well on Thanksgiving, as they had won their past 4 Turkey Day matchups. Unfortunately, they ran into a Minnesota Vikings team who is playing as well as anyone in the league. In taking down the Lions (30-23), the Vikings extended their winning streak to 7 games. Adam Thielen is playing at an elite level at the wide receiver position, topping 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Case Keenum is doing his best Peyton Manning impersonation, averaging 288.5 yards and 2.25 touchdowns per game over his past 4 games.

The question is, will Keenum be able to duplicate this success come January??

Chargers Vs. Cowboys

If you want to know how the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving went, just look at Philip Rivers’ stat line:

27 for 33 for 434 yards and 3 touchdowns.

That’s a lot of yards. The Cowboys stink!! After a 28-6 drubbing from the Chargers yesterday, the Cowboys have now lost by 20 or more points in 3 consecutive games (giving up 70 combined points). I know Ezekiel Elliot’s worth (on a football field), but last time I checked, he doesn’t play defense.

And can all those Dak Prescott supporters admit he’s simply not that good?! The writers who had Dak Prescott #14 on NFL.com’s preseason player rankings should be ashamed of themselves. Dak is a game manager who needs an elite offensive line to succeed. He’s not a quarterback who can carry his team across the finish line.

Redskins Vs. Giants

The New York Giants are really bad at football.

No, that’s not a revelation, it just rolls off the tongue really nicely. Listen, the Giants’ season has been lost for months now, but at least their defense is trying (again). They’ve only given up 32 total points in their last 2 games, squeezing in a 6-quarter stretch without giving up a touchdown. But the team as a whole is a disaster.

The Giants’ franchise has made numerous head scratching decisions over the past few seasons, but leaving Eli Manning at quarterback, at 2-9, may take the cake. This is not a direct shot at Eli (even though I’ve never been a big fan of his work), rather an opportunity to highlight the ineptitude of the Giants’ front office. They have Davis Webb, a 3rd round pick, waiting in the wings. And while the Giants should start Webb in every game the rest of the way, for the future of the franchise, they won’t. They’d rather preserve a meaningless, games started streak for Eli Manning. Yes, starting 209 games is impressive, but it doesn’t help the 2018 or 2019 New York Giants.

How was your Thanksgiving?? Which games did you watch?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

Yes, That Rotting Smell IS The NFL

November 13, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

NFL: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

There was a lot of stink radiating from the NFL this past Sunday.

The NFL is not what it used to be. We can blame rule changes, the most recent CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), etc. Whatever the main culprit is, the level of play has simply taken a nosedive over the last decade. Here at DaveTalksSports, we enjoy a good list:

Nice Sack, Nice Sack, Nice Sa….Hey, Does Anyone Here Know How To Block?!

8.) I said it the second Ezekiel Elliot was (finally) suspended, “The world is going to recognize Elliot’s worth (on a football field).” One player does not make a football team, but one player can greatly effect a football team. With Elliot’s suspension hanging over the Dallas Cowboys like a black cloud, the rain finally came. And the Cowboys were ill prepared to weather the storm. After taking a 7-0 lead, it was all Falcons the rest of the way. The Falcons would score 27 unanswered points, sacking Dak Prescott 8 times in the process.

So much for having the best offensive line in the NFL.

Does He Know What Color Jersey He’s Wearing????

7.) Tom Savage.

Need I say more?

The Los Angeles Rams continued their winning ways (4 in a row), stomping out the Houston Texans 33-7. Tom Savage showed us, yet again, why he’s not fit to play quarterback at the professional level. Because nothing says victory like a 50% completion percentage and 2 interceptions….

How Is It That You’re Employed?!

6.) Speaking of quarterbacks who don’t belong in the NFL, Brock Osweiler still has a job. To answer your question, I’m not sure. Last time I checked, 18 for 33 with an interception isn’t going to cut it against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. This one got so out of hand (41-16), Brian Hoyer took 9 snaps under center for the Patriots. The Broncos are now losers of 5 straight.

You Embarrass Yourself!!

5.) When the team you’re facing is 2-6, and is without their 2 best players, you should win. But you wouldn’t be the New York Jets. The Jets, looking to get to .500, travelled to Tampa, to take on the Buccaneers. And in predictable fashion, the Jets ‘pooped the bed’. Against a middling Buccaneers defense, the Jets mustered just 3 points. Yes, Josh McCown threw a garbage-time touchdown with 28 seconds left, but that doesn’t count.

My favorite part of the game was the back-to-back interceptions thrown by the 2 most journeymen quarterbacks in the history of the NFL.

The Jets are who we thought they were, only slightly better. While the #1 pick is out of reach, and Jets’ fans should enjoy the young players’ progress, they’re still the good ol’ Jets.

Beat Downs Like This Should Be Illegal

4.) Holy Water Buffalo!! The Buffalo Bills have now been blown out in consecutive weeks. Their week 9 loss to the Jets was bad, but they took LOSS to a whole new level in week 10. 47-10. No need to adjust your glasses, that’s the right score. The Buffalo Bills allowed the New Orleans Saints to come into their house, and rush for 298 yards and 6 touchdowns!!!!

If I can sprinkle some good into this article, the Saints are winners of their last 7. Watch out NFC….

It’s Hard Finding New Ways To Lose EVERY Week

3.) Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the Los Angeles Chargers prove you wrong. Intercepting a Blake Bortles’ pass, with 2 minutes left and a 3-point lead, is usually a recipe for success. Not if you’re the Chargers. ONLY the Chargers can fumble the ball trying to run out the clock. ONLY the Chargers can intercept another Blake Bortles’ pass, seemingly icing the game, but then go 3 and out giving the ball back to the Jaguars. ONLY the Chargers can let the Jaguars gain 36-yards in 47 seconds, allowing their former kicker, Josh Lambo, to kick a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime. ONLY the Chargers can throw an interception in overtime, leading to a game-winning field goal by the Jaguars. 20-17 F/OT. Yikes!!

The Giants Would Be the Worst Team In the NFL If The Browns Didn’t Exist

2.) The New York Giants season has been filled with turmoil, drama, and dissention. Injuries + a poorly constructed roster + anonymous players ripping their own coach = 1-8. Only a dumpster fire of epic proportions could get blown out by the winless San Francisco 49ers. 31-21 doesn’t do it justice. But hey, Giants’ fans, look at the bright side. The Giants will probably draft a franchise quarterback who will end up in the Hall of Fame. If only the Jets could figure that out….

Oh Cleveland, Poor, Sweet Cleveland….How Could You Be So Stupid?!

1.) Allow me to create imagery. There’s 15 seconds left in the 1st half. It’s 2nd down. And the Cleveland Browns have the ball on the Detroit Lions’ 2-yard line. THE BROWNS HAVE NO TIMEOUTS. The score is inconsequential, but it’s 17-17. If you’re the Browns, what do you do?? My 10-year old daughter knows the answer to this question by the way. You throw the ball twice, while avoiding a sack, in hopes of scoring a touchdown. If you don’t score a touchdown, you kick a field goal. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER DO YOU RUN THE BALL, BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T SCORE, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO RUN ANOTHER PLAY!!!!

So obviously the Browns ran the ball….

The score was still 17-17 at the half. And they lost 38-24.

Which disaster of a football game did you watch on Sunday?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

Bill Belichick Is An Idiot!!

October 31, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Los Angeles Chargers v New England Patriots

The NFL. The gift that keeps on giving. As if Monday Night Football wasn’t enough, the NFL was blessed with storylines for days. Monday provided us with a mediocre football game, a questionable trade, and the suspension that won’t go away — or happen.

MNF

Trevor Siemian is NOT an NFL quarterback. He doesn’t have the arm strength, awareness, or vision to compete at the highest level. The Denver Broncos’ 3-1 start was a mirage. By season’s end, their 42-17 blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys (Week 2) will be an inexplicable anomaly. Siemian threw 3 interceptions against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday night, bringing his grand total to 10 interceptions in 7 games.

There’s a reason Siemian was drafted in the 7th round.

On the other hand, the Chiefs handled their business, winning 29-19. They didn’t look overly impressive. If you force 5 turnovers, including a fumble return for a touchdown, you should win by more than 10. Alex Smith played like, well, Alex Smith (14 for 31/202 yds/1 td), and Kareem Hunt had a pedestrian 46 yards on 22 carries. The Chiefs move to 6-2 on the season, tied for the best record in the AFC.

Bill Belichick Is Not A Genius

Everyone. Correction. Almost everyone blindly walks the Bill Belichick line. “Bill Belichick made this move, it has to be good.” I’m sorry, but I’m no sheep. Trading Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers, for a 2nd round pick, is NOT a good trade.

Let’s travel back in time. Remember when the Patriots, just 6 months ago, were offered the #1 overall pick in the draft for Garoppolo???? I do. They declined, putting their future eggs in the Jimmy Garoppolo basket. Does the basket suddenly have a hole in it??

Plus, I know the Patriots are a ‘next man up’ kind of franchise, but what do they do if Tom Brady goes down?? They’ve now traded Jacoby Brissett and Garoppolo, leaving NO ONE as their backup quarterback. I’m not saying this is a dumb move, but this is A DUMB MOVE!!!!

The Suspension That Never Was Or Is Or Will Be….Or Will It?!

Ezekiel Elliot’s most recent preliminary injunction request has been denied — again. Some say he will begin serving his suspension this coming week. Some say he will appeal this decision and receive another temporary restraining order against his 6-game suspension. I can’t take this, or follow this, anymore. I couldn’t draw a timeline of Elliot’s ‘suspension activity’ if I tried. It’s filled with enough zigs, and zags, and stop signs, and yield signs, and flashing yellow lights, to make your head explode. And at the end of the day, we’ve ended up right where we started: Ezekiel Elliot will be suspended 6 games for violation of the NFL’s player conduct policy (domestic violence).

I hope he actually serves his suspension. When you beat up a woman, you deserve a punishment. A HARSH ONE!! Elliot should serve his suspension, hopefully learn from his mistake, and move on with his life.

What was Monday’s biggest story?? Post your opinion in the comment section below.

Who Needs Sleep When You Have Thursday?!

October 13, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

scherzer

I was going to get a good night sleep….until Thursday happened. Thursday night brought us an oxymoron, a moron, and a nail biting elimination game.

A Good Thursday Night Football Game

This term is an oxymoron. But every so often, despite having our viewership locked up, Thursday Night Football provides something worth watching. In a matchup of 4 and 1’s, the Philadelphia Eagles flew into Carolina to take on the Panthers. It was a close, competitive game, but just as I predicted, Cam Newton threw the game away. Not 1, not 2, but 3 interceptions led to a 28-23 victory by the Eagles. I couldn’t be happier for a nicer guy.

On the brighter side of things, Eagles quarterback, Carson Wentz, continued to impress. He posted 3 touchdowns, no interceptions, and added 25 yards on the ground. That’s not too shabby against a stout Panthers’ defense.

Wentz is the real deal.

The Eagles (now 5-1), will have plenty of time to rest, as their next game is a primetime, Monday Night matchup with the Washington Redskins. The Panthers (4-2) will look to bounce back against rookie quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, as they take on the Chicago Bears next week.

Suspend Me Please

She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me. She loves me no….

That’s what Ezekiel Elliot’s status has been like this year. He’s suspended. No, he’s not suspended. Okay he’s suspended, but he can play. Oh wait, now he’s really suspended. Elliot’s 6-game suspension will start next week when the Dallas Cowboys return from their Bye Week. The 5th U.S Circuit Court in New Orleans (Federal appeals court) made this ruling on Thursday.

Elliot and his legal team are exploring their options, primarily their right to appeal the suspension — again. For now, the Cowboys (2-3) will need a game plan while they’re without the services of their star running back. A running back committee of Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, and Rod Smith has already been discussed.

Stay tuned. Something tells me the final chapter hasn’t been written on this story yet.

An Inning To Forget

When Max Scherzer is in the game, the opposing team doesn’t usually stand a chance. After retiring the 1st 2 batters of the 5th inning in Game 5, that appeared to be the case. The Nationals were winning when Scherzer entered, however, calamity was about to ensue….

Infield Single
Bloop Single
2-Run Double
Intentional Walk
Strikeout That Didn’t End The Inning
Catcher’s Interference
RBI Hit By Pitch

Ummm, wow!! That brought the grand total in the 5th inning to 4 runs scored on 3 hits and 2 errors. Yes, this inning was insane, however, it is a microcosm of the Nationals, postseason persona. The Nationals have won the NL East 4 out of the past 6 years, and have lost in the 1st round of the playoffs each time. On the contrary, the Cubs won their 4th straight elimination game and advanced to their 3rd consecutive NLCS.

The Cubs will travel to La La Land to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. Game 1 can be seen on TBS on Saturday @ 8:08 P.M. EST.

But more importantly, the Yankees take on the Astros in Houston tonight for Game 1 of the ALCS. Tune in to FS1 @ 8:08 for all the action.

Projected Starters: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Dallas Keuchel

Prediction: Yankees 5, Astros 4

Let’s Go Yankees!!

Who do you think will win Game 1 of the ALCS?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:10 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Get Used To Me Couch, The NFL Is Back!!!!

September 11, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

jets stink

That was fun!! We should do that every week. What do you say, we get together next Sunday, around 1 o’ clock?? Yeah, you can come over, and we’ll watch football for 11 straight hours while we eat guacamole and drink beer. It’ll be great!!

After being forced to wait 7 months for football, the NFL finally returned, and it did not disappoint. My team, however, is another story:

New York Jets

1 down, 15 to go. As a lifelong Jets’ fan, this is going to be the weirdest season I’ve ever experienced. Today, I am glad they lost. Their performance was encouraging. It showed me they are capable of losing to anyone. Although their defense is decent, they will be on the field too often to impact the game positively. They lost 21-12 to the 1st place Buffalo Bills (man that sounds weird).

New York Giants

Few teams looked worse than the Jets yesterday. The Giants were one of them. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys 19-3. 3. 3 points.

“7. 7 miles per hour. And usually when I pull someone over they pull over to the side of the road!”

Last time I checked it’s hard to win a football game when you only score 3 points. Did I mention the Giants only scored 3 points?? People can talk about Odell Beckham Jr. not playing all they want, but it all boils down to the Giants’ offensive line. They can’t protect Eli Manning. They can’t provide running lanes for their running backs. I’m surprised they don’t get penalized more often. Last night, they made the Cowboys defense look like the ‘Steel Curtain’.

The Giants have the worst offensive line in the NFL.

Stinky QB Play

Two quarterbacks were pulled from their respective games yesterday, Tom Savage and Scott Tolzien. I’m not sure who was worse….

Scott Tolzien: 9/18 for 128 yards, 2 INT’s, and 1 fumble

Tom Savage: 7/13 for 62 yards and 2 lost fumbles

Tolzien was pulled from the game for newly acquired Jacoby Brissett. Brissett has only been on the Indianapolis Colts for 8 days, so he will be given a longer leash than Tolzien. It’s safe to say the Colts can’t wait for Andrew Luck to return to the field. For my eyeballs’ sake, I can’t either.

Despite having the emotional Houston crowd behind him, Savage was only able to muster 62 yards passing against a mediocre Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Oh, and the Jaguars had 10 sacks. Savage was replaced with rookie Deshaun Watson. Watson looked good, scoring a touchdown on his opening drive, but it was too little, way too late. The damage had been done. Hopefully, the Texans are smart enough to start Watson next week.

Too Smart For Their Own Good

The Philadelphia Eagles looked good yesterday. Carson Wentz looked good yesterday. And most would say head coach, Doug Pederson, looked good yesterday. The Eagles beat the Washington Redskins 30-17. Pederson’s mathematical blunder went unnoticed because they were winning, but bonehead decisions like these will cost you games in the future. The Eagles returned a Kirk Cousins’ fumble for a touchdown, going up 28-17 with 1:29 left in the 4th quarter. Pederson and the Eagles proceeded to go for a 2-point conversion.

I’ll give you a second to let that sink in….

Now, if you know anything about football, or numbers, you’d know going for 2-points in this situation is the wrong decision. There is no difference in being up 12 (kicking the extra point) versus being up 13 (going for 2). The only risk is not converting the 2-point conversion, only being up 11, and allowing the Redskins to climb back into the game. If you didn’t notice this mistake, don’t feel bad. The professional commentators announcing the game didn’t notice either.

There are still 2 Monday Night Football games left to close out Week 1. The New Orleans Saints will visit the Minnesota Vikings @ 7:10 P.M. EST, and the Los Angeles Charges will visit the Denver Broncos @ 10:20 P.M. EST. Both games can be seen on ESPN. I will be sound asleep before the 2nd game starts.

What was your biggest take away from the 1st Sunday of the NFL season?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

Hey..Psstt..I’ve Got A Great Business Idea For You….

September 7, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

craig-cartin

You are a bad guy!! No no, I’m not talking to you (the reader), I’m talking to Craig Carton. This, allegedly, is a really bad human being. Be careful everyone, I’m being very judgmental today.

Craig Carton

What a bleeping scumbag!! This guy was arrested by the FBI in a $5.6 million scam. Carton was duping investors in order to cover his gambling debts. Debts that had reportedly reached millions of dollars. Carton is ‘in the hole’ with 2 casinos as well as an unidentified individual. How the hell do you fall so far into debt?!?! Carton, along with Michael Wright, are formally being charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. The maximum sentence is 45 years in prison. Have a nice time buddy!!

Here’s the deal: Carton set-up a fake, ticket-selling business. He lied and forged documents to dupe people into investing into his “business”. He forged signatures, posing as the concert vendors for stars like Adele, Justin Bieber, and Katy Perry. His Ponzi-Scheme reached unbelievable heights, as billionaires Michael Dell and Paul Tudor Jones are on the Carton’s victims list. Carton was arrested early Wednesday morning at his Manhattan home. The real sad part in all of this, he has 4 children.

Roger Federer

On the lighter side of things, oh well, maybe not that much lighter. Roger Federer lost in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Wednesday night. As a big Federer fan, this disappoints me. I was looking forward to another edition of Federer vs. Nadal. Thanks a lot Juan Martin Del Potro!! You don’t have to believe me, but as much as I like Federer, I predicted this. Del Potro has simply been playing too well. Federer’s 41 unforced errors and 5 double faults probably had something to do with it as well. Now, Nadal’s path to a 3rd U.S. Open title (I predicted that as well) is as clear as it gets.

We have an All-American semifinal on the Women’s side:

Venus Williams vs. Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys vs. CoCo Vandeweghe (All are in action tonight)

Let’s Go Venus!!

NFL Kick-Off

And last, but certainly not least, the NFL. The 2017 season finally kicks-off tonight. The defending champion, New England Patriots play host to the Kansas City Chiefs. You can catch the action on NBC @ 8:30 P.M. EST (which really means 8:50 pm). I’m on my way couch!!

In New York news, the Jets will travel to Buffalo to get the ball rollin’ on their 0-16 campaign. And the Giants will take their talents to Dallas to battle the Cowboys (with Ezekiel Elliot) on Sunday night.

Due to Hurricane Irma, Week 1’s match-up between the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been postponed to Week 11 (both teams original Bye Weeks).

Stay Safe Everyone!!

What have you been watching in the world of sports this week?? Are you as excited as I am for the NFL Season?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

What’s A Zeke?? (AKA NFC East Preview)

August 30, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 4 Comments

nfc-east-preview

No one will be paying attention to football in the NFC East this season. Well, at least for the first 6 weeks. All eyes will be glued to the Ezekiel Elliot situation. Elliot has been suspended by the NFL for 6 games due to violation of the personal conduct policy. ‘Zeke’ as his friend calls him, has decided to appeal the suspension. The appeals process started Tuesday, and ahhh who cares!! Don’t be a bad guy, and you won’t get suspended. Anyway, let’s talk about the NFC East….

Last Season’s Standings:

Dallas Cowboys: 13-3

New York Giants: 11-5

Washington Redskins: 8-7-1

Philadelphia Eagles: 7-9

You know how this works by now. Worst-to-first….

Philadelphia Eagles

Expect regression. Yes, their offensive line is pretty good. Yes, Carson Wentz has a few new weapons to play with. Yes, they still have ugly uniforms. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to be good this year. I don’t think Wentz is going to be an elite quarterback. Their defense is nothing to write home about. And expect to be extremely disappointed with their latest running back acquisition, LaGarrette Blount. He will be the bust of the year. And the Eagles will call 4th place in the NFC East home. Sorry Philly. Beautiful city. Amazing cheese steaks. Bad football team.

Key Additions: Alshon Jeffrey, Jordan Matthews (Trade), LaGarette Blount

Key Losses: Bennie Logan, Conor Barwin, Leodis McKelvin

Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins seem to be stuck in purgatory. Never good enough to make a run in the playoffs, but never bad enough to get the top pick in the NFL Draft. After an offseason of playing hardball with their own quarterback (smart!), the Redskins can look forward to another season of average. They will be the definition of average this season. Like last year, they will have a good passing attack, but their running game will plod it’s way down the field. Outside of their left tackle (Trent Williams), their offensive line is not very good, and their defense is eh.

Key Additions: Terrelle Pryor, D.J. Swearinger, Brian Quick

Key Losses: Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, Kory Lichtensteiger

Dallas Cowboys

Last season was no Tony Romo, no problem. This year it’ll be No Ezekiel Elliot, big problem. Listen, their offensive line is so good I could run for 1,000 yards back there, but potentially missing Elliot for 6 games is not a recipe for success. No matter how many games Elliot plays this season, expect regression across the board. Last season’s record of 13-3 (2 of their losses coming by way of the Giants) was the result of a perfect storm. Their defense will take a BIG step back this season. While they will make the playoffs this year, I don’t see an NFC East Division Title in their near future.

Key Additions: Nolan Carroll, Stephen Paea, Taco Charlton (Draft)

Key Losses: Ronald Leary, Brandon Carr, Rolando McClain

New York Giants

The New York Giants are always an interesting team, right?? They have spectacular regular season’s, and fall short of expectations. And then they turn around and run the table, as an underdog, twice. All while simultaneously having stability. Curious, isn’t it?? I expect the former this season. They will have a very good regular season en route to their 9th NFC East Division Title, but they’ll lose in the 1st round of the playoffs. Pencil in more of the same from Eli Manning, decent numbers with too many turnovers. Their running game will be bad, but their defense will be top-10 in the league.

Oh, and expect to see Eli Manning on his back more than you’re accustomed. This offensive line is REALLY BAD!!

Key Additions: Brandon Marshall, Rhett Ellison, Evan Engram (Draft)

Key Losses: Ronald Leary, Johnathan Hankins, Rashad Jennings, Marshall Newhouse

This Season’s Predictions:

New York Giants: 10-6

Dallas Cowboys: 9-7

Washington Redskins: 7-9

Philadelphia Eagles: 6-10

This is a well-balanced, healthy, nutritious meal. No, this is a well-balanced division. Expect entertaining football when the NFC East is on TV.

Who do you think will win the NFC East?? If you have a different opinion than me, you’re wrong, but you can still post it in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

NFL Divisional Playoffs Kick-Off Saturday

January 9, 2015January 9, 2015 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

This is the best weekend of the year. If you had somewhere to go, cancel your plans, because that groove on the couch misses you. I know it’s been hard to stay “into it” since your fantasy team was officially eliminated from contention, but it’s time to gear up for playoff football. The schedule is as follows:

Baltimore Ravens vs. *New England Patriots – Saturday @ 4:35 P.M. (NBC)

Carolina Panthers vs. *Seattle Seahawks – Saturday @ 8:15 P.M. (FOX)

Dallas Cowboys vs. *Green Bay Packers – Sunday @ 1:05 P.M. (FOX)

Indianapolis Colts vs. *Denver Broncos – Sunday @ 4:40 P.M. (CBS)

* – Indicates Home Team

If the Ravens and Patriots matchup is giving you deja vu, you are not the only one. This is the fourth time in six years that these teams will face each other in the postseason. And while the Patriots have the best postseason record of any team since the turn of the century (18-8), the Ravens have been Tom Brady’s kryptonite. Joe Flacco and the Ravens have beaten the Patriots in two of their last three trips to Foxboro. As much as I would enjoy seeing that trend continue, I believe the Gronkanator and the Pats will be too much for the Ravens to handle.

Prediction: Patriots 27 – Ravens 21

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers will look to keep their momentum going as they venture to CenturyLink Field on Saturday. The Panthers are looking to become the first team ever to advance to the Conference Championships after having a losing record during the regular season (7-8-1). The Seahawks were 7-1 at home this season, and will look to continue that trend with their usual formula: ground and pound + violent defense = more points than the other team. If the Panthers are going to have any chance in this game, they’ll need Cam Newton to do his best Superman impression. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening. Expect a defensive struggle in the first half, and then the Seahawks should pull away late in the game.

Prediction: Seahawks 26 – Panthers 17

As we transition to Sunday, expect the best game of the Divisional Round to come from the frozen tundra; aka Lambeau Field. This is a product of matchups. Demarco Murray, if healthy, should run all over the Packers less than stellar defensive line. However, Aaron Rodgers, if healthy, should have a field day with the Cowboys secondary. This matchup marks the first time in NFL Playoff history that an undefeated team at home (Green Bay 8-0) will host an undefeated team on the road (Dallas 8-0). Murray is the Cowboys only chance at victory, because as good as Tony Romo is, he is not winning a shootout against his counterpart. The soon to be MVP (Rodgers) should be able to will his team to victory with or without a torn calf. I see the Packers edging out the Cowboys in a thriller.

Prediction: Packers 28 – Cowboys 27

And to wrap up a great weekend in football, Andrew Luck will march in to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Everyone can talk about how ordinary Peyton has looked over the last month, and how bad he is in the playoffs, but I am not ready to give up on the first family of football. Andrew Luck is a phenomenal talent, and I expect him to be great for 10 more years, but this is not his year. This Colts team is not strong enough defensively to stop Peyton Manning, and their running game has simply crumbled. They have left Andrew Luck on an island. I hope this game is close, but I see Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, and Emmanuel Sanders being too much for the Colts to handle.

Prediction: Broncos 34 – Colts 24

What do you think? Who do you have advancing to the Conference Championships?

Let me know in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

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