Tag: San Francisco 49ers

Porzingis Leads 4th Quarter Comeback At The Garden!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

porzingis

It’s a miracle!!

The New York Knicks have a winning record (5-4)!!

We can thank 1 man for that. No, not James Dolan. Not Phil Jackson. Not Jesus.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS!!

Thanks to the Latvian wonder boy, the Knicks are winners of 5 of their last 6 games. Most notably, a road, blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last Sunday (114-95). While impressive, Porzingis took his early season achievements to new heights last night. Down 12 to the Indiana Pacers entering the 4th quarter, Porzingis put on a show. He scored 17 of his 40 points in the 4th quarter, claiming a 108-101 victory. Yes, you heard that right — 40!!

Porzingis’ Stat-Line: 40 points (15-24), 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 1 assist

At the ripe old age of 22, Kristaps Porzingis is carrying the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. And this isn’t any old city. This is the Big Apple. Many have succumb to the pressure of succeeding in New York. Not Porzingis. He’s taken the reigns as the centerpiece of the Post-Melo Knicks, and he’s steering the ship in the right direction. The question is, can the Knicks surround Porzingis with enough talent to compete, and ultimately, stay in New York??

Knowing my Knicks, they’ll figure out how to screw this up. Until then, let’s enjoy Mr. Latvia.

______________________________________________________________________________________

There is little doubt who the best team in the NFL is; The Philadelphia Eagles. As for teams 2 through 12, I have no freakin’ clue. The Eagles now stand at 8-1, after a dominating 51-23 victory over the hapless Denver Broncos. Hey Denver, how did you think starting Brock Osweiler at quarterback was going to go?!

We saw something in the Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers game, we may never see again — ever. Julio Jones, one of the most talented, sure-handed wide receivers in the NFL, dropped the easiest touchdown in the history of touchdowns. If you didn’t see it, check it out here.

Dropping a wide open touchdown hurts all the time, but down 10, with 8:23 to play, on 4th & 7 adds salt to the wound. “I’m sure this won’t haunt you forever.”

Apparently yesterday was boxing day. No, not the day after Christmas in places that don’t matter. There were a lot of fights in the NFL….

AJ Green showed the world his best UFC style choke slam on Sunday. Jacksonville Jaguars’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey was his victim. Check out brawl #1 of many here. Both players were promptly ejected.

Mike Evans thought it was a good idea to blindside Marshon Lattimore. Brawl #2 ensued. Click here to watch the stupidity. Inexplicably, no one was ejected.

And last but not least, the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers got into a straight up brawl. Following a late hit to 49ers’ quarterback, C.J. Beathard, fisticuffs happened. Click here to watch the melee.

 

What did you watch on Sunday?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below. Just don’t try to fight me please.

 

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 .

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!!

 

Bill Belichick Is An Idiot!!

~ 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.

 

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 .

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!!

 

 

There’s A First Time For Everything

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers

Thursday Night Football shocked the world!! Thursday Night Football did something for the first time since its inception. It gave us a GOOD game!!

I’m not going to lie. When Brian Hoyer, the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback, threw an interception on the 1st play from scrimmage, I thought this game was going to get out of hand. Click here to see the interception. Especially since Todd Gurley ran in a touchdown on the very next play. Despite being down a score 12 seconds into the game, Hoyer and the 49ers showed great resolve.

**I need to take this moment to talk to Ezekiel Elliot. HEY BUDDY!!!! I want you to watch the replay of that interception until your eyes bleed. Do you see what #88 did?? That’s 49ers tight end Garrett Celek. Watch how he runs after the player who just intercepted the ball. Then watch him dive at his feet, making a spectacular tackle, saving a touchdown!! Take notes because THAT IS WHAT AN NFL PLAYER SHOULD LOOK LIKE!!

Anyway….

Until last night, the 49ers’ offense was being tagged as one of the worst the NFL has ever seen. They had certainly struggled, as their 1st TD of the season came at 8:17 of the 1st quarter of last night’s game. But with all due respect, the New York Jets couldn’t score 39 points in a game if the opposition was only playing 8 men on defense. Outside of the early interception, Brian Hoyer almost resembled an NFL quarterback, Pierre Garcon can still rack up receiving yards, and a healthy Carlos Hyde is solid at the running back position.

As for the Los Angeles Rams, they put on an offensive show. They won 41-39. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley have put last season in the very distant rear view mirror. Last night, Goff was 22 of 28 for 292 yards and 3 TD’s. He’s only thrown 1 INT on the season and is leading a Rams’ offense that’s averaging 35.6 points per game. Gurley has returned to his rookie form, when he racked up 1,106 yards and 10 TD’s (in 13 games). Last night, Gurley had 149 yards from scrimmage and 3 TD’s (2 by land, 1 by air).

Some of you have a confused look on your face….

Oh! You want to know how the 49ers scored 39 points!! Well, the Rams defense (which is supposed to be good), looked like swiss cheese, giving up 3 TD’s in the 4th quarter alone. That’s how. Pierre Garcon had 7 catches for 142 yards, including a 59-yard reception setting up a TD for the 49ers in the 4th quarter, and Carlos Hyde had 2 rushing TD’s. The 49ers actually had a 2-point conversion attempt to tie the game with 2:13 left in the game. They failed.

A 2-point attempt was only necessary because of a missed extra point by Robbie Gould.

The 49ers simply wouldn’t go away. They recovered the ensuing onside kick, but after an offensive pass interference penalty and a sack, the game was officially over. And the 1st exciting Thursday Night Football game, EVER, was in the books.

You can tune into NFL Network next Thursday to watch the Chicago Bears visit the Green Bay Packers. If you’re into blowouts, this is the game for you!!

 

Did you watch last night’s game?? Can you remember a better Thursday Night Football game?? If you can, please tell me 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.

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!!

 

If Only These Thursday Night Games Didn’t Suck

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

tnf

I must start today by sending my thoughts and prayers to anyone dealing with the effects of the earthquake that hit Mexico yesterday. This earthquake shook central Mexico, bringing devastation to Mexico City, as well as millions of people in surrounding areas. Sports is my passion, but it is not as important as family, and health, and happiness. Sports can also serve as an outlet, so hopefully I’m helping someone get through their day.

Mediocrity is Coming

“Are you ready for some football?!” I mean, crappy football? Thursday is almost here, which means we have a nearly unwatchable matchup on the horizon.

Door opens….

San Francisco enters.

Thursday Night Football has been kind enough to present the Los Angeles Rams vs. the San Francisco 49ers. How gracious?! The Rams are the superior team, however, it is a road, divisional game (never easy). I’ll be going to bed early tomorrow evening. But for those willing to watch simply because the NFL is on TV, enjoy watching an ugly, low-scoring affair. Tune into NFL Network @ 8:25 P.M. EST to endure the torture.

The Race for Nothing

Did you know there was a time when MLB didn’t have a Wild Card?? And do you remember when there was only 1 Wild Card?? Until 2012, when MLB implemented a 2nd Wild Card, teams would be eliminated from playoff contention way before September 20th (that’s today’s date for those who are paying attention). Regardless, MLB teams haven’t left much to race for this season. The Astros, Dodgers, Nationals, and Indians all clinched their divisions approximately 474 days ago. And all the Wild Cards are decided except two, the AL and NL 2nd Wild Card.

With 12 games remaining, can the Angels make up their 1.5 game deficit from the Twins?? And can the Brewers continue to take advantage of the Rockies downward spiral, and overcome a 1 game deficit??

I think both the Twins and Rockies get caught.

While this IS exciting, and this IS why MLB instituted the 2nd Wild Card, I’m not losing any sleep to watch Rockies and Brewers’ games. Sorry.

Yes, Golf Still Exists

And last, but not lea….Ahh, who am I kidding?? Of course golf is least. But I like it. So I’m talking about it.

Thursday marks the beginning of the final golf tournament of the FedEx Playoffs. The Tour Championship will be played from September 21st – September 24th and will determine the winner of the FedEx Cup. 30 of the world’s best golfers will battle it out for the right to be crowned champion. Mathematically, all 30 golfers remain in contention to win the FedEx Cup. Click here to see the scenario for each golfer to win.

While technically everyone CAN win, I’m not betting against Jordan Spieth (current leader). As long as Mr. Spieth is healthy and rolling them in, he’ll be my pick to win every week. Could golf possibly get more exciting?! IT’S PLAYOFF TIME BABY!!

 

Are you as excited about golf as I am?? How many minutes of Thursday Night Football will you watch?? Do you like, love, or hate the 2 Wild Card format in MLB??

Kindly answer my questions in the comment section below. Thanks!

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.

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!!

 

 

 

NFC West Preview

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

nfc-west

Annnnddddd last, but quite possibly least, the NFC West. Last season, this was the weakest division in the NFL, with only 1 team above .500. I don’t envision that changing — the weaker the quarterbacks, the weaker the division….

Last Season’s Standings:

Seattle Seahawks: 10-5-1

Arizona Cardinals: 7-8-1

Los Angeles Rams: 4-12

San Francisco 49ers: 2-14

From worst-to-first we go….

San Francisico 49ers

You may want to buckle your seatbelts, because this ride is going to get bumpy. The 49ers will battle the New York Jets for the worst offense the NFL has ever seen. They will also battle the Jets for the worst record in the NFL. Despite John Lynch’s successful 1st offseason as 49ers’ General Manager, this team is going to be BADDDDD!! They did draft good, young talent, so NFL fans can enjoy watching their improvement, but until they find a quarterback, expect the 49ers to draft in the top-5 every year.

Key Additions: Pierre Garcon, Elvis Dumervil, Malcolm Smith

Key Losses: Antoine Bethea, Glenn Dorsey, Torrey Smith

Los Angeles Rams

They can move across the country. They can change their name. Hell, they can even change their hair color and get a tattoo. Nothing will keep them from stinkin’ up the joint. The Los Angeles Rams (I’m still getting used to that) would have a solid defense IF Aaron Donald would show up. But Dave, he’s just one guy. I’m aware. But that ONE GUY happens to be the best defensive player in the NFL. Their offensive line is key. They must give Jared Goff time to find his new wide receivers, Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. And they must provide running lanes for the super-talented Todd Gurley. Until those things happen, the Rams offense will stall, like a beat-up, old car.

Key Additions: Robert Woods, Andre Whitworth, Sammy Watkins (Trade) 

Key Losses: Kenny Britt, Greg Robinson, T.J. Mcdonald 

Arizona Cardinals

Everyone on the Arizona Cardinals is another year older. Profound right?? Cardinals quarterback, Carson Palmer, is 109. Seriously though, he’ll be 38 years old before season’s end. Larry Fitzgerald (34) is no Spring chicken either. This team will rely heavily on star running-back David Johnson. They will also hope and pray Johnson can repeat his performance from last season, 2,118 total yards and 20 total touchdowns. I’m sure there will be similar hoping and praying going on with the #1 overall pick in Fantasy Football drafts.

Key Additions: Jarvis Jones, Karlos Dansby, Antoine Bethea

Key Losses: D.J Swearinger, Calais Campbell, Jaron Brown

Seattle Seahawks

Who knew the New York Jets would play a role in someone winning football games?? Not me. Friday afternoon, the Jets parted ways with Sheldon Richardson, trading him to the Seattle Seahawks. Despite being a malcontent, Richardson is a special talent. He’ll help strengthen an already stellar defensive line. The only question is, how bad is this offensive line?? NFL experts project this offensive line to be one of the worst in the league. If Russell Wilson is afforded any time to throw, or room to run, this division will be a walk in the park.

Key Additions: Eddie Lacy, Luke Joeckel, Sheldon Richardson (Trade)

Key Losses: John Jenkins, Jermaine Kearse, Steven Hauschka

This Season’s Predictions:

Seattle Seahawks: 11-5

Arizona Cardinals: 7-9

Los Angeles Rams: 5-11

San Francisco 49ers: 3-13

 

As a whole, the NFC West stinks.

The Seahawks will win this division by default.

“That’s all I have to say about that.”

 

Who will win the NFC West?? Post your predictions 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.

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!!

 

2017 NFL Draft 1st-Round Review

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

adams

Well that didn’t go as planned. Despite months of draft analysis from experts, and countless mock drafts, the 1st-round of the 2017 NFL Draft was as unpredictable as the weather (Mel Kiper and Todd McShay do look a lot like meteorologists today). In between the plethora of boos hurled at Roger Goodell, the 1st-round provided more twists and turns than the Taconic Parkway (New Yorkers know what I’m talking about). There were multiple trades and many players rose or fell from their projected draft spots.

No surprise at the top, as the Cleveland Browns selected Myles Garrett from Texas A&M with the 1st overall pick. The Browns evening didn’t end there. They traded the 12th pick to the Houston Texans for the 25th pick and the Texans 1st-round pick in 2018. The Texans drafted Deshaun Watson from Clemson at 12 while the Browns drafted Jabrill Peppers from Michigan at 25. I don’t love either pick, as I think Watson, despite his outstanding career at Clemson, is an undersized quarterback who lacks the arm strength to succeed in the NFL . Peppers is a ‘tweener’ (safety/linebacker) who comes with baggage after failing a drug test at the NFL combine. The Browns then traded back into the 1st-round by shipping the 33rd pick and a 4th-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for the 29th pick. The Browns selected David Njoku from Miami. Njoku was the 3rd tight end selected in the 1st-round, and while I like the player, I wonder who will be throwing him the football this year….

Of the many trades from Thursday night, my favorite was the 1st one (for the 49ers that is). New 49ers General Manager, John Lynch, swindled the Chicago Bears. There is no other way to put it. The Bears traded up 1 SPOT, from the 3rd to 2nd pick, giving up 3rd and 4th-round picks from this year as well as a 3rd-round pick in 2018. Only problem is, the Bears LITERALLY didn’t have to do that. How did that conversation go?

Lynch: Listen Chicago, we’re getting multiple offers for the #2 pick here. If you can’t give us 3 valuable draft picks to move up only 1 spot, I’m afraid you’re going to miss out on your guy.

Ryan Pace (Bears GM): That sounds extremely fair. Now we can get Mitch Trubisky! You want me to throw in my 1st-born child too?

Yes, you heard that right. The Bears gave away the farm, to move up 1 spot, to draft a guy that was going to fall to them anyway. Even if Trubisky ends up being good, he simply is not worth such a high draft pick. He has only started 13 games at the collegiate level! The 49ers then drafted Solomon Thomas from Stanford, who yup you guessed it, is the guy they wanted anyway! Nice work Chicago. The 49ers, like the Browns, weren’t done for the evening. They moved back into the 1st-round by sending Seattle their 2nd and 4th-round picks in exchange for the 31st pick. John Lynch continued to impress in his 1st draft as the 49ers selected Reuben Foster of Alabama, who despite off-field issues, is regarded as one of the most talented players in the draft. The other major trade from last night saw the Kansas City Chiefs trade the 27th pick, a 3rd-round pick, and their 1st-round pick in 2018 to the Buffalo Bills to move up to the 10th pick. They selected Alex Smith’s potential successor in Patrick Mahomes II from Texas Tech. Mahomes has an absolute cannon for an arm, which often leads to risky throws. Only time will tell if Andy Reid can mold Mahomes into a successful NFL quarterback.

And last but not least, let’s talk about New York. We’ll quickly brush over that New York team that wears blue or purple or whatever color that is, so we can get to my New York Jets. The Giants gave Eli Manning another safety valve and drafted Evan Engram out of Ole Miss. Engram is an undersized tight end who will bring playmaking ability to an already talented receiving core for the Giants.

And then there were the New York Jets. As I like to call them, My New York Jets. With tank mode in full-effect, it was imperative that the Jets did not draft a quarterback on Thursday night. And thanks to the Chicago Bears, they didn’t even get that chance. The top 5 picks saw 3 offensive players fall off the board, leaving the Jets with the pick of the defensive litter. And even though the suspense was cut short when ESPN camera’s accidentally showed LSU safety Jamal Adams receiving his call of a lifetime, Jets fans have to be ecstatic that he fell into their laps. With the Jets’ secondary in shambles, they just picked up, according to some experts, the best player in the draft. Personally, I love the pick, and I love Adams already. First of all, CHECK OUT THE SUIT!! And talk about passion. His interview immediately following the selection was filled with raw emotion and the promise to “work his butt off”. Jets General Manager Mike Mccagnan has stuck to the motto ‘draft the best player available’ in the 1st-round. As for the 2nd-round, eh………not so much. So, let us collectively hold our breath until we reach the Jets next pick (39).

How do you feel about the Jets 1st-round draft pick? How do you feel about your teams draft pick? Tell me 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. You can also 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!    

 

 

I’d Ask, But I Know You Are Ready For Some Football!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Denver-Broncos-vs-Baltimore-Ravens-620x350

Your birthday? Nope. Your anniversary? Nah. That day you randomly find a $20 in your jacket that you haven’t worn in 3 months? Almost, but no. So what is the best day of the year? It is today; Opening Day of the NFL Season. It is the day you’ve been waiting for ever since the unbelievably annoying Ray Lewis hoisted The Lombardi Trophy over is head in February. Well, the wait is over. You can have a snickers bar and you can watch some football. You can finally see how your fantasy picks will pan out. And, you all have a reason to sit on the couch and do nothing. Enjoy what should undoubtedly be made a National Holiday.

The 2013 NFL Season kicks off tonight, Thursday September 5th, with the defending champion Baltimore Ravens taking on the Denver Broncos (I think we all remember what happened the last time these teams met). To say The Broncos will be looking for revenge would be an understatement. The Broncos enter the season with extremely high expectations. Some have them in or winning The Super Bowl this year thanks to the additions of Wes Welker and others. Even with their best defender, Von Miller, suspended for the first 4 games of the season they are still looked at as the favorites in the AFC. On the other hand, the defending champion Ravens enter the season with a handful of question marks. How do they replace Ray Lewis and Ed Reed? Will Joe Flacco live up to the astronomically high contract he was given last year? Can you really win with just 1 wide receiver? That last one was a joke, but seriously how are you going to win with Torrey Smith and me at wide receiver? Despite his impressive Super Bowl performance and his wonderful (haha) showing on Dancing With The Stars, Jacoby Jones is actually not very good at football. These are some of the questions that will certainly be answered once the season gets under way. You can catch tonight’s opening game on NBC at 8:30 P.M. Who do you like to win this game? I have Denver (at home) winning a relatively close game 24-17.

The rest of Week 1 will be played on Sunday and Monday. So, clear your schedules for the weekend, find that ass groove in the couch that has missed you so dearly, and lets get ready for some football. I am now ready to give you some of my thoughts and predictions on the upcoming season. Everyone has an opinion on their own favorite team and who they think will win, but football more than any other sport is incredibly unpredictable. Players get injured at a very high rate, and every year we seem to have a completely unknown player climb out of the woodwork and land right in the limelight. Nonetheless, lets make some predictions. I shall start with my favorite “team”, The New York Jets. Their team can be summed up in one word: Joke. They are a complete and utter joke. I see them winning 4 games at most, but most likely will only pull off 3 lucky victories. With that being said, I still believe it is not fair for ESPN to rank the Jets as the worst team in the NFL. That distinction clearly should be held by The Oakland Raiders (Chris Berman voice). Anyway, I see the Raiders, Jets, and Jaguars all being very very bad, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any of these teams wound up as the worst team in the league. And now, I will provide you with the Division winners, Wild Card teams, and Super Bowl Champion that will make up the 2013 playoffs.

In the AFC East, I don’t see how any other team will come out of that division than The New England Patriots. Everyone can talk about how much better The Miami Dolphins will be, but I’m sorry Ryan Tannehill, I’m just not buying it. The AFC West is also a pretty easy division to figure out. The Denver Broncos will handily win this division. Most people are eager to hop on the Kansas City Chiefs bandwagon, but I’m also not prepared to do that either. Will they be in a hunt for the Wild Card with 3 games to go? It’s very possible, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if they were 4-9 by then either. Oh, they have Alex Smith? Well then, that changes everything, they’ll probably win The Super Bowl. What was I thinking? The AFC North and South are a little tougher to figure out, and will probably provide the playoffs with the other 4 teams in the AFC this year. The AFC North will be a tightly contested division, but I feel that The Cincinnati Bengals will prevail. I also believe that The Ravens, not The Steelers will land a Wild Card spot this year. The Steelers have no running game, and Big Ben just isn’t good enough to win without a good supporting cast and top 10 defense. The AFC South is a fun division and should also bring 2 playoff teams to the mix this year. The Indianapolis Colts will win this division behind the strong play of Andrew Luck (he is the real deal and will be the best 2nd year QB in the NFL this season). The Texans will land the other Wild Card spot this year.

    AFC Playoff Picture

1.) Denver Broncos
2.) New England Patriots
3.) Indianapolis Colts
4.) Cincinnati Bengals
5.) Baltimore Ravens
6.) Houston Texans

I envision The Denver Broncos beating The New England Patriots in the AFC Championship (and giving everyone that one last Peyton Vs. Tom showdown everyone was looking for last year).

As for the NFC, I see this as the much harder conference to predict. The NFC East by itself is like flipping a 4-sided coin. But, here goes nothing. In the NFC East, as much as I hate them and love watching them crumble under pressure, I see the Dallas Cowboys narrowly pulling out the division title this year. I think The New York Giants will be in the fight for a Wild Card spot all season but will fall just short of the playoffs yet again this season. The NFC West, which is seen as the strongest division in the NFL should definitely bring 2 teams to the playoffs this year. I have The San Francisco 49ers winning the division, and The Seattle Seahawks winning a Wild Card spot. The NFC North should be a battle between 2 long time rivals; The Packers and Da Bears. I see The Packers edging out the Bears for the Division while Jay Cutler will once again be watching the playoffs from home this season. Last, but certainly not least, there is my favorite division in football, The NFC South. This division should also produce 2 playoff teams this season. The Atlanta Falcons will once again win the division while the New Orleans Saints will land the final playoff spot this season.

    NFC Playoff Picture

1.) San Francisco
2.) Atlanta Falcons
3.) Green Bay Packers
4.) Dallas Cowboys
5.) Seattle Seahawks
6.) New Orleans Saints

Let me repeat how unpredictable the NFC is going to be this season. Don’t be surprised if the Wild Cards consist of The Bears, Redskins, Giants, or Redskins. However, based off my predictions, I see The San Francisco 49ers beating the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship in a rematch of last year. As for the Super Bowl, I see Peyton Manning prevailing to win his 2nd Lombardi Trophy, while Colin Kaepernick suffers his 2nd straight defeat in the Super Bowl. And that my friends, is how I see the NFL season playing out this year. It is a long road, and it all starts tonight. However it plays out, enjoy it!!

Please leave me your predictions for the upcoming NFL Season below in the comment section. Thank you.

If 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!

NFL Free Agency Continued (Day 2)

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Day 1 of free agency in the NFL was just a warm-up for the real action.  Day 2 is where all the big moves came pouring in.  There were many big moves all across the NFL, but one clearly stood out amongst all the rest.  Wes Welker, the longtime Patriot signed with their AFC rival Denver Broncos.  This is a huge deal for the Denver Broncos.  Let’s take a quick peak at that receiving core and see the weapons Peyton Manning will have to work with this coming season.  He has Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker on the outside, and now Wes Welker will fill in the slot for Manning’s high powered offense.  Combine that with the Broncos good young defense and solid rushing attack, and you might see Peyton playing in Eli’s house come Super Bowl Sunday.  While I’m sure that Tom Brady is upset to lose such a dependable receiver in Wes Welker, the move they made Wednesday is not a bad replacement for Welker.  The New England Patriots signed Danny Amendola to their roster.  Danny Amendola is a younger version of Wes Welker and should fit nicely into the Patriots offense.  I think Amedola will actually improve with Brady’s help, assuming he can stay healthy.  The only concern with Amendola is that he is injury prone.  However, in New England being one of many options should keep him healthier longer, unlike in St. Louis where he was the only receiving option.  His workload with the Rams could have a lot to do with his prior injuries.  Another huge signing Wednesday was the former Miami Dolphin Reggie Bush signing with the Detroit Lions.  WOW, can’t you just see it now?  Megatron and Reggie Bush on the same field should be something special to watch in the Motor City.  Another running back on the move Wednesday was Rashard Mendenhall.  The former Pittsburgh Steeler was signed by the Arizona Cardinals.  When healthy Mendenhall is a very solid back that could help any team.  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up a solid safety in former San Francisco 49er, Dashon Goldson.  And as if the Seattle Seahawks defense needed to get any better, they signed former defensive end and former Detroit Lion Cliff Avril.  This should strengthen their pass rush and bring more toughness to their defense.  One last defensive signing that took place on Wednesday was former Philadelphia Eagle Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie signed with the Denver Broncos.  Maybe this will keep the Broncos secondary from having any deep balls launched over their heads.  Ouch.  Too Soon?  Na, definitely not soon enough.  Ah yes, I almost forgot, the New York Football Jets.  What a train wreck they are.  The news regarding the Jets is not who they’ve signed.  It is the lack of signings by the Jets and the amount of players they’ve not re-signed and let walk out the door that is the concern.  Strong Safety Laron Landry has signed with the Indianapolis Colts and should give Andrew Luck some help on the other side of the ball.  He is a hard hitting safety that should bring the pain in the middle of the Colts secondary.  The Jets also let Shonne Green slip away, as he signed with the Tennessee Titans.  This move I’m not all that upset about because I never thought Green was good enough to be a featured back anyway, but they need to sign someone.

There are still some big names in limbo in free agency, that should get signed in before the weekend.  Some of those names are: Greg Jennings, James Harrison, Ed Reed, Bernard Pollard, Steven Jackson, and last but certainly not least Brian Urlacher.  All of these names have yet to find their final destinations for the upcoming season.  Hold on to your hats because this ride isn’t over yet.  You can check back tomorrow for the rest of the signings here @ DaveTalksSports.com.

If 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 athttp://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Let The Madness Begin!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Gotcha!! You all thought this was a college basketball story didn’t you? Well, sorry to get your hopes up but it’s not. This article is all about NFL’s Free Agency, which begins today at 4:00 P.M. Come 4 O’ Clock teams will begin signing free agents in hopes to build a championship contender for the future. Some NFL teams couldn’t wait and started making moves Monday afternoon. Most notably, Anquan Boldin and Percy Harvin were both traded. Anquan Boldin was traded from the Baltimore Ravens to the San Francisco 49ers for a 6th round draft pick. Percy Harvin was traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the Seattle Seahawks for a 1st round draft pick this year as well as 2 other draft picks. If you ask me, I don’t really understand the Ravens’ thought process here. Why in the world would you trade the guy who just helped you win a Super Bowl for a 6th round pick? To save yourself 2 million dollars a year? If that’s the case, solid move Baltimore. You’ll see just how good Joe Flacco is without his most dependable wide receiver. The big winner in this situation is the San Francisco 49ers. They pick up a big physical receiver to play on the opposite side of the field as Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree. Happy Birthday Colin Kaepernick. Ahhhh I get it. It has nothing to do with the fact that Boldin refused to take a pay cut (rightfully so). It’s because John Harbaugh won a Super Bowl, and now he wants to make sure his little brother Jim wins one next year. Now, I’m sure that the Seattle Seahawks will have something to say about that next year. With these two trades, the NFC West has become the best division in football. The Seahawks gave up an arm and a leg for Percy Harvin, but this trade is clearly a perfect fit for them if he stays healthy. Think about it, all they are missing is a big play receiver. Last season prior to his injury, Harvin had 62 receptions for 677 yards (in only 9 games) on a team with a less than stellar quarterback. I’d say that’s exactly the type of production the Seahawks need to get over the hump. Harvin’s not too shabby in the kick return game either.

The New York Jets certainly made the biggest move of the day. Hell, this might be the move of the year! The Jets signed David Garrard as their backup quarterback. Their hope is that he can compete with Mark Sanchez for the starting job. To this I say nothing. I say nothing because it doesn’t matter. Garrard is not going to push Sanchez to another level, and if Sanchez falters Garrard is not going to come in and set the world on fire. I am pretty indifferent on the move, but I’m sure that Rex Ryan is sending save the dates to all his friends for the day after the Super Bowl. Oh yeah, they think they’ll be in Disney World, but actually they’ll be on their couch just like the rest of us. The actual news regarding the Jets is the status of Darrelle Revis. Revis must be traded, it is as simple as that. The question is what can they get for him in return? Due to the ACL injury he is coming off of they won’t get top value for him right now. The Jets would be taking a huge risk though if they hold on to him for this season. They would end up paying him plus they wouldn’t get anything in return in this years draft. Plus, he could play poorly due to the injury or even worse he could re-injure himself (then they would really be screwed). I think the Jets should get as much as possible for Revis before this years draft and before they are obligated to pay him another penny.

No matter what the Jets decide to do with Darrelle Revis, today should be a busy and fun filled day around the NFL. Buckle up your seat belts and let’s go for a ride. Check back tomorrow to see the grades I dish out for each teams major free agent signings.

If 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!