Showing posts with label Off The Bandwagon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Off The Bandwagon. Show all posts
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Friday, September 22, 2017
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Thursday Throw Down: Week Two
September 14, 2017 11:22 am
Kev Massing
The lack of entertaining Thursday night games has been a noticeable trend in the NFL over the last few years. With most Thursday games showing exclusively on the NFL Network, casual fans must brave the chaos of half priced happy hour and screaming children at their local wing joint.
With winter looming, the idea of this series is to help one decide if the weekly Thursday game will be worth risking a Friday morning hangover.
Week 2: Texans vs. Bengals
Both teams got off to a rocky start in the first week of the 2017 season. Andy Dalton threw four interceptions en route to a 20-0 shutout loss at the hands of the rival Ravens. Many expected a bounce back year from Dalton, though you won't hear them admitting it now.
If Bengals fans are frustrated with quarterback inconsistencies, they'll get no sympathy from Texan fans. A mere 31 plays into the season, and allegedly offensive minded head coach Bill O'Brien pulls his starter for First round pick Deshaun Watson. Standing alone, this isn't that bizarre. However when you look at O'Brien's tenure in Houston, and add to this his announcement that he may not select this week's starter until kickoff, one has to question how long coach will have his job.
My Advice
Skip it. Unless you are a fan of either team, there is really no reason to tune in this evening. Both teams come into this game feeling down from last week, so a hard fought game can be anticipated, just not one worth watching.
Each team will likely rely on defense to keep them in the game. With quarterback issues on both sides, this will be a slow paced game hardly worth watching even with players on your fantasy roster.
Who wins
We've come this far, so we might as well figure out who wins this thing. In a game the looks like a round of horse between placekickers, the Texans win 19-13.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
The Tom Brady Farewell Tour
Kev Massing
It is no surprise that the New England Patriots enter the 2017 NFL season as the favorites to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, or that Tom Brady was announced as the preseason front runner for the MVP award. It will catch no one off guard if the Hoodie is announced the Coach of the Year at seasons end. Should Gronk tear his labrum fist pumping on a yacht, only to watch Major Tom casually toss it up for 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns, the talking heads will rejoice and praise the GOAT, and we will collectively shrug it off.
When you look at the AFC East over the last eight years, you’ll see that surprises are all but nonexistent. Since 2009, the Pats have gone 37-11 against their division counterparts, winning the division each year. With offseason acquisitions of weapons like Brandin Cooks & Dwayne Allen, 2017 looks to promise more of the same. This begs the question, ‘When will this madness stop?’ Soon my friends, very soon.
The Good News
Tom Brady just turned 40. This in itself is an anomaly in such a physical team sport, and there is just no way that the Tom Brady we have now will be the same guy in three years. The NFL’s ’40 –and-over club’ primarily exists of three players: Kickers, offensive lineman, & backup quarterbacks. While you cannot compare Brady to the likes of Matt Hasselbeck & Dave Krieg, Father Time remains unbeaten.
Brady is the twentieth quarterback to play at 40. Of the other nineteen, only eight made it to 41. Of course, Tom’s strawberry-free diet may keep him on the field for a few more years, but that doesn’t mean he will be starting in New England during that time. Brett Favre anyone?
Considering Jimmy Garoppolo’s upcoming free agency, the Pats will soon face the same decision the Packers & Colts had to address in recent years. Logic dictates that Belichick, a coach known to cut or trade talented players rather than over pay them, will follow suit & choose the future over the present. Jimmy G’s extended preseason play could very likely be a byproduct of this consideration. I cannot foresee a situation in which Garoppolo agrees to resign with the Pats to hold a clipboard for two more years.
You may be asking ‘Why don’t they franchise tag Jimmy until Tom retires?’ $20 million for a backup? Bill Belichick? Right..
Looking at the careers of Favre, Manning, and Montana (who was traded to the Chiefs for a First round pick at the age of 39), I can’t imagine Brady retiring if he feels he is still capable. Especially if he is forced to make room for his backup.
The Bad News
You’re going to have to sit through one more Super Bowl celebration. As we have established, this division has belonged to the Pats for almost a decade. This year more than most, it seems that the rest of the AFC East is doing what they can to ensure this run. The Dolphins, Bills, & Jets each rank in the bottom eight of the current NFL Power Rankings at 25th, 26th, and 32nd respectively.
The Jets are all but a lock for the first pick in next year’s draft. They have traded every semi valuable asset that they have. Someone in New York has been keeping an eye on the NBA. I feel a ‘trust the process’ era in the Big Apple.
The Bills are an enigma to me at this juncture. After resigning Tyrod Taylor, they trade away Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby for Ryan Matthews, E.J. Gaines, & two early draft picks. While new coach Sean McDermott swears that getting Matthews in the deal and signing the ageless Anquan Boldin is proof enough that the Bills are not “throwing in the towel,” I’m not buying it. The Bills have two picks in each of the first three rounds in next year’s draft. With a talented quarterback class expected, Buffalo has more incentive to lose than win this year.
This brings us to the Jay Cutler ‘led’ Dolphins. Miami was the only team perceived to be in contention for the AFC East title coming into the season. Looking to build off of last year’s playoff clinching season, the Phins looked poised to be the sole thorn in New England’s side this year. Then Ryan Tannehill went down with a non-contact knee injury. Miami chose to let their playoff hopes ride on the arm of Jay Cutler rather than Colin Kaepernick, apparently upset an entire city with a tee shirt. More evidence that every team in this division is rooting for and in fact helping the New England Patriots send off their favorite son with at least one last division title.
The Future
I anticipate an AFC Championship game between the Pats and the Raiders on the snow covered field at Gillette stadium that rivals the ‘tuck rule’ game. Brady and company will hold off whichever one-hit-wonder the NFC throws at them this year, ending their dynasty on a high note.
What follows is an offseason that sees Tom Brady shipped to a borderline contender. The Broncos still have a Super Bowl quality defense, and have rented a past-his-prime hall of famer to get there before. This sets the table for the Oakland Raiders to earn one last Super Bowl ring before heading to Sin City. To see more on why the Raiders will win a title before they leave, check out my good friend Shawn Baker’s article.
The Raiders WILL Win a Super Bowl Before Leaving Oakland
The Raiders WILL Win a Super Bowl Before Leaving Oakland
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
The Raiders WILL Win A Super Bowl Before Leaving Oakland
By: Shawn Baker
It is mid August and the heat is on. First week of the NFL Preseason is behind us. Teams are making evaluations of players who are virtually unknown to the common man. Trades have been dealt. Cuts are being made. Anyone who is a fan of professional football is ecstatic to see what their team will do this year. For me, that team is the Oakland Raiders.
Ever since the NFL team owners voted and approved the Raiders relocation to Vegas, there has been tension among Raiders fans worldwide. Especially those in the great city of Oakland, CA. Even after the disappointment and heartbreak those fans suffered through, they remained committed to their team even if it felt one-sided. Season tickets sold out and jerseys kept flying off the shelves.
With that said, there is an obligation to reward the fans who have stuck by a team who was historically bad for over a decade. There is a void in the hearts of Raiders fans that can only be filled by the arrival of the Lombardi Trophy. And this must happen before the team’s departure to Las Vegas. This is the only way to even come close to making it right in the eyes of the fans.
The first step of the healing process was bringing in Marshawn Lynch. Beast Mode IS Oakland. Having him around has done wonders for the city morale. His Raiders jersey has been the highest selling NFL jersey for over 10 weeks and counting. GM Reggie McKenzie is a genius. I pity the fool who says otherwise. He has surgically repaired this team’s roster. As soon as he arrived in the Bay Area, he began dumping cap casualties and releasing bad contracts. This paved the way for building through the draft, a process in which he has proven to be a master of.
The Raiders arguably won the 2017 NFL Draft. Starting with first round pick Gareon Conley. The cornerback from Ohio State was considered a Top 10 pick heading into the draft. Unfortunately, a sexual assault accusation arose just days before the draft, causing his stock to plummet dramatically. Lucky for him, McKenzie and the Raiders were comfortable taking the risk on a player who they view as a potential cornerstone of their defense. The case has since been dismissed and it’s back to football for Conley and the Raiders.
2017 second round pick Obi Melifonwu, a safety from Connecticut was believed by many to be a first round talent. Due to an overload of secondary talent in this past draft, he slipped into the second round where the Raiders were able to swoop him up with the #56 overall pick. His combination of size, speed, and coverage versatility make him an absolute weapon in the backfield. Eddie Vanderdoes and Treyvon Hester are starting to look like steals as well. This could be one of the most exciting years in Oakland Raiders history, if not the most.
For those of you who are familiar with the “Tuck Rule game,” you can probably understand why we as Raiders fans HATE the New England Patriots. That game has haunted us for years. It has left us fans with tons of “what if” questions and scenarios. To hell with the Patriots. Yeah, I said it. Legacy schmegacy. Any QB could be a HOF’er when he’s throwing footballs so flat, they might as well be tossing Jell-O puddings out there. The hatred is real as you can see. That brings me to my next point though.
The Brady-Patriots era started with the Raiders and it will END with the Raiders. The Tuck Rule game kickstarted it and the Carr-Mack led Silver & Black is going to shut it down. I would like to believe that “the best team wins,” but come on guys. How many of you really believe that? It is hard for me to not believe that sports are rigged to a certain extent. At the end of the day, it is a business. And what are businesses all about? Making money. Sports are a form of entertainment and in order to keep people entertained, you need a good storyline. Look at the past 3 NBA Finals for an example.
Now don’t get it twisted here. I am not by any means saying that my beloved Raiders aren’t good enough to win it all based on talent alone. All I am saying is that I believe there is a greater power at work here. Raiders vs. Patriots equal high television ratings. The media has already thrown gasoline on the fire, by claiming the Raiders are the only team who can stop the Patsies from reaching the Super Bowl for a consecutive time in 2018. While I agree to some extent, I feel like the word ONLY is a bit of a reach.
First off, the Raiders need to develop a recipe that will solve our Kansas City problem. Don’t worry though Raider Nation, I believe that concoction is being created as we speak. New OC Todd Downing is a smart man. Plus, with the strong relationship that he and Derek Carr have, I am confident we will conquer the AFC West this year. Yes, even the Butt Chiefs.
As far as New England goes, the road to the Super Bowl for the Raiders is not going to be a walk in the park. The defense must improve, the secondary and pass rush in particular. If those two things are a polished, offense-eating machine by the time we face the Patriots, it should be fairly smooth sailing.
Here’s the thing that has me perplexed though. I have a sneaking suspicion that the powers that be are purposefully eliminating any obstacles the Pats may have in their division. My good friend and fellow writer Kevin Nivek seems to feel the same way. For more insight on his interesting perspective, be sure to check out his article on the Bad Dinner Guests blog.
The Tom Brady Farewell Tour
Just think about it for a moment. Doesn’t it seem a little odd that ALL the teams that reside in the AFC East, except for the Patriots, somehow got significantly worse this offseason? Like, worse than usual.
The Tom Brady Farewell Tour
Just think about it for a moment. Doesn’t it seem a little odd that ALL the teams that reside in the AFC East, except for the Patriots, somehow got significantly worse this offseason? Like, worse than usual.
The Buffalo Bills up and decide to trade Sammy Watkins to the LA Rams for three Jolly Ranchers and a Pepsi-Cola. The Jets have been terrible and continue their tradition naturally. They call it rebuilding or whatever, but hey. Who am I to judge? The Miami Dolphins were the only team in that division that could have gave good ol’ Tommy and the Cheats a run for their money. Then the unthinkable happens. Ryan Tannehill suffers from a non-football related injury. Non-football huh? Hmm, well let me take a guess. Maybe Billy Belichick and the crew decided to pay RT a little visit one night. Far fetched? Maybe, but this is America after all. Anything can happen.
So enough with the theories and what not. Moral of the story is this: Raiders will win a Super Bowl before they leave for Sin City, BUT it won’t be easy. The Patriots must wallow in defeat before this can happen. Hopes are high and fingers are crossed, as the football Gods deliver us another season of Silver & Black.
Monday, April 10, 2017
Nate's Road Trip Podcast: MLB Preview
Special OTB episode!
Nate brings on special guest Lucas (from Shadow Play Paranormal) as they talk America's Pastime on their road trip home from Wrigley Field North. (OK, Milwaukee) The guys breakdown the action from the Cubs-Brewers game, Nate recalls his trip to St. Louis for Opening Day, and Lucas gives you his predictions for the 2017 MLB season.
@BandwagonBDG
@Baddinnerguests
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)