NFL Week 6 Picks

Photo Credit. AP Photo/ Bill Kostroun

Last week saw a bit of a drop in form with my picks, putting together a record of 9-5. Still, I will forge ahead and give my picks for week 6.

I am expecting the Giants- Saints game to be the best of the weekend. Denver against San Diego on Monday Night Football should also be really good (ESPN has done a good job scheduling MNF games so far this season, some really great matchups between rivals). However, there are too many matchups between really bad teams this week (Carolina-Tampa Bay, Kansas City-Washington, even St. Louis- Jacksonville) for my liking. At least they will be competitive?

Here is who I like this weekend, who do you have?

Houston (2-3) at Cincinnati (4-1)

Cedric Benson leads the league in rushing yards, Antwan Odom is tied for the league lead in sacks, and Jonathan Joseph is second in the league in interceptions. I wonder what the odds were before the season on this happening. I know you’d be lying if you told me you saw it coming. They’ve beaten three good teams (Green Bay and then division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore, who they really need to beat to compete for a playoff spot), played lousy but won against an awful team (Cleveland) and lost on a miracle to an undefeated team. But those wins against good teams, were they just luck?

The Texans have been a mixed bad. They’re offense has looked pretty good at times, but their wins have come over Tennessee (winless) and Oakland (would be winless if it wasn’t for Kansas City). Their losses are against two decent teams (New York Jets and Arizona) and one team that is more Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde than they are (Jacksonville). It’s been tough to get a good read on where these two teams stand. I think this game will be another exciting one. Cincy has been playing out of their minds this season and the old saying going, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. I’ll take the Bengals to win this week.

Detroit (1-4) at Green Bay (2-2)

Green Bay at home against the team at the bottom of their division. Coming off a loss and a bye this is a statement week for them. They need to come out and dominate, especially if the Lions are without Calvin Johnson. Green Bay will get the job done and win this game.

Baltimore (3-2) at Minnesota (5-0)

After tearing the league apart in its first three games, the Ravens have unraveled a bit losing two in a row. Meanwhile, the Vikings have stepped it up lately, beating the Packers in one of the most anticipated games in the first half of the season and destroying St. Louis last week to remain undefeated. As I have before, I point out the Ravens fast and aggressive defense. Brett Favre has played very well this season, but he’s not a young kid anymore. Will he be able to evade Ray Lewis and company? Will he stay within himself and play smart or will he revert to the ignorant gunslinger and throw some costly turnovers into the hands of Ed Reed? However, will the Ravens defense be able to keep up with Adrian Peterson, second in the league in rushing? Last week the Ravens went up against the number one rusher in the NFL, Cedric Benson, and he snapped their streak of games not allowing a 100-yard rusher. Are they vulnerable for another attack?

Meanwhile, the Vikings D looks sharp. They have the most sacks in the league—beware Joe Flacco—and are 12th in rushing defense, which could be enough to stop Ray Rice. I may be drinking from the Viking Kool-Aid, but this team doesn’t have the questions the Ravens have developed right now and are really playing some good football. I’ll take Minnesota to win.

NY Giants (5-0) at New Orleans (4-0)

This is the marquee matchup of the weekend. Two undefeated teams. The best defense against one of the most exciting offenses. One can argue that the G-Men haven’t really been tested yet, and their top ranked “d” is a sign of the weak offenses they’ve gone up against. But this is a Super Bowl-caliber team. They have plenty of veteran leadership and guys that have been there before and know what it takes to win big games.

The Saints haven’t won those big games yet and Drew Brees has looked pretty pedestrian in his last two games, not throwing a single touchdown or breaking 200 yards passing. Even with the bye last week for an extra week to prepare for them, I don’t think Brees fares much better against arguably the strongest and deepest defense in the league. Giants will win this showdown and give New Orleans their first loss.

Cleveland (1-4) at Pittsburgh (3-2)

Cleveland is finally on the board for the ’09 season. Still, they only scored six points. Now they go to Pittsburgh, where the Steelers haven’t lost yet in this young season. If Pittsburgh is smart, they keep handing the ball off to Rashard Mendenhall, who has looked very good in Willie Parker’s absence. This should be no contest. Steelers take this one.

Carolina (1-3) at Tampa Bay (0-5)

Two anemic offenses. Two struggling defenses. It’s really a toss-up. I’ve kind of lost faith in anything the Panthers have done. Last week, against the Redskins defense, currently ranked 23rd in the league, DeAngelo Williams only rushed the ball 18 times. It was his highest total of the season (any coincidence that his highest rushing attempts total came in their only win of the season?), but I still think he needs to carry the ball more. Take the ball out of Jake Delhomme’s hands. Tampa Bay’s rush defense sits at number 29, however they have only allowed three rushing touchdowns.

Will the Panthers do the smart thing? Josh Johnson isn’t a bad quarterback and did some nice things last week. Still, three interceptions isn’t going to win you any games. Panthers Head Coach John Fox isn’t dumb; he’s had success in this league and even led the Panthers to a Super Bowl. You don’t do that with just pure lack, or by riding your players alone. He can do the job. I think he and the team take advantage of Tampa’s lack of success against the run, give Williams even more carries, and win this football game.

Kansas City (0-5) at Washington (2-3)

The Redskins are now the first team in history to start the season playing six straight winless opponents. Their record? 2-3, good enough for last place in the NFC East. They have just been a bad team. Their effort on the field has been very uninspired and it only means impending doom for Head Coach Jim Zorn. Not that the Chiefs have looked good either, but it’s very hard to go an entire season without a win, and this is as good a matchup as any for them. I’ll take the Chiefs to “upset” Washington.

St. Louis (0-5) at Jacksonville (2-3)

Jacksonville was embarrassed last week. And that led to Maurice Jones-Drew calling out the coaching staff for its selection in offensive plays and personnel. Had this been a one-time thing, I look past it. But the Jaguars haven’t been the model of consistency, and last week’s performance and Jones-Drew’s tirade are red flags for me, even against the lowly Rams. For the Rams, at least Steven Jackson looks very good this year. The team is messed up at quarterback, but I think Jackson puts the team on his shoulders and goes off against the 20th ranked run defense. I’ll take St. Louis for the win.

Arizona (2-2) at Seattle (2-3)

Matt Hasselbeck returned and the Seahawks dominated. So why is T.J. Houshmandzadeh complaining now? I would’ve understood if it was the past couple weeks, but your QB is back. Maybe he didn’t get you the ball as much as you would’ve liked last week, but it was his first game back from injury. It’s week six, still a lot of season left. Why complain now? Arizona took care of business last week. They are certainly better than Jacksonville and won’t play dead against the Seahawks. I’ll take the Cardinals to win this game.

Philadelphia (3-1) at Oakland (1-4)

Another week, another tough NFC East opponent for Oakland, who was only able to muster up seven points against the Giants last week. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has played fairly well this season. Expect more of the same from both teams, and an easy Eagles win.

Tennessee (0-5) at New England (3-2)

Another loss for Tennessee last weekend. It gets no easier in week six. While the Patriots haven’t been the juggernaut of old, they still have shown flashes. One thing New England is very good at is their passing game. They are currently fourth in the league in passing offense and have all the tools to execute. Tom Brady is still a very good quarterback, their wide receivers, led by Randy Moss and Wes Welker, are very good, and the offensive line, although it hasn’t been at its best this year, is still serviceable. Tennessee will also be without both starting cornerbacks. Nick Harper broke his arm against the Colts last week and Pro Bowler Cortland Finnegan was just recently ruled out with a right hamstring injury. Safety Vincent Fuller also has a broken arm and has not been cleared for contact. This spells disaster for the Titans and another home win for the Patriots.

Buffalo (1-4) at NY Jets (3-2)

Buffalo scored grand total of three points last week. Against Cleveland. And they lost. They have hit rock bottom. The Jets are much better than Cleveland. No way is Buffalo even close in this one at Giants Stadium. Jets win big.

Chicago (3-1) at Atlanta (3-1)

With all the media fawning over Minnesota and Green Bay, Chicago is quietly enjoying a nice 3-1 season so far. This will be a big game for them, but after a very slow start it was encouraging to see Matt Forte go off for 121 rushing yards against Detroit before the team’s bye week. Atlanta’s offense has had a very good year so far. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White have all enjoyed good seasons so far, culminating in last week’s drubbing of a good 49’ers team. The Bears defense is ranked fifth in the league right now, even without Brian Urlacher, but Atlanta isn’t too far behind, ranked eighth. I feel the Falcons’ offense is more well-rounded, and will pick them to win at home.

Denver (5-0) at San Diego (2-2)

Although it never means as much this time around, you have to think Denver is thinking about getting a little bit of redemption here against the team that basically stole their playoff spot last year. Denver must also be feeling really good about themselves after their big win against New England last week. Knowshon Moreno is starting to come into his own, especially with the injury bug nagging Correll Buckhalter. Moreno still only has one rushing touchdown, earned in week three against Oakland, but the Charger’s defense has been one of the worst against the run this season, ranked 24th. I like the Broncos to continue riding their momentum and beat San Diego, remaining undefeated.

Byes: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, San Francisco

Last week: 9-5

Season: 31-13

You're a Good Man, Charlie Davies

Monday, United States National Team striker Charlie Davies was enjoying the height of his soccer career. He had just played a major part in the country qualifying for its sixth straight World Cup.

Tuesday, he was in a hospital in stable but serious condition.

Davies, 23, was involved in a one-car accident Tuesday on the George Washington Parkway in Virginia. He was airlifted to the Washington Hospital Center Medstar to undergo several hours of surgery to repair a lacerated bladder, fractures to the tibia and femur in his right leg, facial fractures, and a fracture in his left elbow. According to the U.S Men’s National Team blog, titanium rods were placed in his leg with no complications and he will be hospitalized for at least another week with more surgeries to come to stabilize his elbow fracture and facial fractures.

“The car was pretty much split in half,” U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser said, according to The Washington Post.

The driver of the car was also injured and the other passenger was killed. It is currently unknown what the cause of the accident was and if Davies’ injuries are career-threatening.

“Injuries of this nature usually require a recovery period of six to 12 months and extensive rehabilitation,” said U.S. Soccer physician Dr. Dan Kalbac, on the team’s blog. ”Due to Charlie’s fitness level, his prognosis for recovery and his ability to resume high-level competition is substantially improved.”

This is an extremely sad day for all of U.S. soccer.

Davies is a budding star. After attending Boston College for two years, Davies went to Sweden and played for Hammarby, scoring 21 goals in 56 league appearances. In July, he signed with French club Sochaux and has two goals in six league appearances.
While his play abroad has been impressive, his biggest impact has come on the international stage.

The first real glimpse many American fans got of Davies was in the 2008 Summer Olympics, where he came on as a sub in the last game against Nigeria. Needing a tie to advance out of group play, the U.S. was down 2-1. The complexion of the game changed though when Davies entered the pitch. His incredible speed allowed him to get behind the defense and caused Nigeria fits. In the dying minutes of the game, he put forth a header that struck the crossbar, nearly earning him the equalizer and hero of the tournament status.

It may not have gone in, but Davies was just beginning to leave his mark.

Davies has 17 appearances for the senior national team and has scored four goals, three of them being extremely important and showing Davies’ value for the team.
His first goal came October 15, 2008, in a World Cup qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago. The team lost 2-1, but Davies goal had tied the game at 1 and kept the U.S. in it.

His biggest goal came against Egypt in this past summer’s Confederation’s Cup. The U.S. were all but eliminated, needing to beat Egypt by three or more goals as well as Brazil beating Italy by three or more to advance to the next round.

Jozy Altidore sent in a low cross that the goalie got his hands on but didn’t bring in. Davies, running onto the cross, continued to run through the ball and poked it free towards the goal line. Fighting off two defenders, Davies played with the ball, turned it, and knocked it into the net. The goal showed an extreme amount of determination and hustle, and it started an offensive blitzkrieg from the U.S. on Egypt. The U.S. wound up winning 3-0, as did Brazil. The U.S. wound up advancing to the finals of the tournament against Brazil, losing 3-2.

His latest goal came in World Cup qualifying against Mexico. This goal is significant because not only the goal give the U.S. a 1-0 lead (they eventually lost the game 2-1), but the game was played at the infamous Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, known for its grueling altitude and hostile crowd that both paralyze opponents. The 23-year-old became only the fourth American in the history of the game to score against Mexico at Azteca.

It is the heart, hustle, skill, determination, and courage that Davies has displayed on the field and especially on those goals that have made him a special player. Not only do those qualities benefit him, they also rub off on his teammates.



Sometimes, it seems as if leaders like Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey get a bit complacent with their positions on the national team, or the offense is lazy, but never Davies. No matter the situation, whenever Charlie is sent onto the field, he is buzzing around, posing a serious attacking threat. It makes the game more enjoyable to watch and it makes his teammates excited and they to begin to show that same heart and desire.

The Americans are not the most skilled team in the world, by far. However, what they lack in talent, they make up for in grit and determination. Charlie Davies perfectly symbolized that style of play.

In a recent interview, Davies expressed his firm belief that the U.S. could win the upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa—even before they had even qualified for it.

“I think we showed we have the potential to really make an impact at the World Cup. If we are all playing well, with the players we have and if we are all on the same page there is no reason why we couldn't win a World Cup that's for sure,” he said.

While it is a long-shot, it isn’t impossible, especially after some of the performances the U.S. has put on against top-competition recently, mainly Brazil, Spain, and Argentina. Improbable or not, I want my players to truly believe that they can win, otherwise why play at all?

This statement was not naivety, nor was it cockiness. It was simply a player make a statement about the confidence in himself, his team, and their abilities.

Davies has also been very interactive and grateful with his fans, with Twitter and Facebook pages dedicated to helping him reach out to those that support him.

Leadership can come from the most unexpected places sometimes. A youngster and newcomer to the team, Davies’ play on the field and his attitude and the way he carries himself off of it truly make him a leader and an example of what American soccer players should strive to be like.

Alas, all that Davies brings to the table will now be missed, for quite some time. While nothing has been made official, it is only practical that he miss this summer’s World Cup. The most important thing for him though is to make a full recovery, to be healthy. Soccer can wait; there are more important things in life.
I will choose not to speculate who will take his spot in the lineup or how the team will learn to play without him. Rather, I choose to make this a wish of all the other players.

I hope that they play with Davies’ heart, hustle, and determination, because it is that desire that Davies brought to the team and will help them succeed.

I also hope that the players, as well as any other normal person, recognize that anything can happen, and your life can be altered in the blink of an eye, so not to take anything for granted, whether it be your status on the playing field, or more important things such as your friends, your family, or your life.

One day you can be on top of the world, only for the world to crash down on top of you the next.

Fans can send Davies their thoughts and get-well wishes to his e-mail account, charliedavies9@yahoo.com, and the messages will be printed and delivered to him.

Photo Credits.
Top: AP Photo/ Fernando Llana, File
Side: AP Photo/ Ted S. Warren, File

NFL Week 5 Picks

Photo Credit. AP Photo/ Rob Carr

Time for my week 5 picks. There are a bunch of matchups I’m really interested in this week, such as the Bengals-Ravens, Texans-Cardinals, Falcons-49er’s, Patriots-Broncos, and of course, Jets-Dolphins. As always, let me know what you think of the picks in the comment section.

Cleveland (0-4) at Buffalo (1-3)

Cleveland pushed a tough Bengals team to the limit last week, eventually falling in overtime. Yet they just traded their number one receiver and are very unsettled at the quarterback position. Buffalo has been very disappointing thus far this season, especially after expectations were raised when they signed Terrell Owens (who has done very little). I think this could be a breakout week from Buffalo against a weaker opponent. Running back Fred Jackson has been a nice surprise for the Bills in the absence of Marshawn Lynch (who returned last week) and Cleveland has the worst rushing defense in the league. I predict a win for Buffalo.

Dallas (2-2) at Kansas City (0-4)

Dallas is not playing well, even in their wins. Tony Romo looks like he has never played football before. However, as bad as the Cowboys are right now, the Chiefs are even worse. Nothing is going right for them and no player is really doing well. The Cowboys, amidst all their frustration this year, catch a break going up against such a bad team this week. Expect them to take out their frustrations on Kansas City and get the “W”.

Minnesota (4-0) at St. Louis (0-4)

Although the game was at home (I think it’s a different story if played at Lambeau), I still give Minnesota credit for beating what I think is a very good Green Bay Packer team. It was a tough test and the Vikings came to play that night, especially their defense. The one positive I see here for St. Louis is the potential for Minnesota to have a huge letdown in energy after such an emotional game Monday night. Still, I think that letdown would have to be of epic proportions for the Rams to win this game. Minnesota gets the win.

Oakland (1-3) at NY Giants (4-0)

Other than the Cowboys game, the Giants have not been challenged at all. It can’t be beneficial to them. They are just cruising right now while other playoff caliber teams are playing decent competition, preparing them for the tough competition they’ll face down the stretch and in the playoffs, if they make it. Not that it’s the Giants fault, they’re taking care of business as it was set out for them, just something to think of down the road. Giants with another easy victory.

Tampa Bay (0-4) at Philadelphia (2-1)

After a bye, the Eagles get Donovan McNabb back. Not that Kevin Kolb did a bad job, he actually looked good at some points, but McNabb is the heart of this team and its leader and that can’t be replaced. Who knows though, the Eagles may start to run away with this one and Kolb will get more playing time to keep McNabb fresh and injury-free. And how many plays can we expect to see Michael Vick in this week? What does McNabb’s return mean for Vick at the QB position? Philadelphia wins.

Pittsburgh (2-2) at Detroit (1-3)

Pittsburgh struggled in the second half against San Diego last week, but they did enough to hold on for the win and even out their record. Looking to build off the momentum of a victory against another playoff team from last year, I see Pittsburgh coming out strong against a much weaker opponent. They’ll be looking to get their first win on the road, and I believe they will do so against Detroit.

Washington (2-2) at Carolina (0-3)

Neither team has been impressive this year. However, Carolina is a much more talented team, especially on offense. Delhomme has been a turnover machine, but hopefully Head Coach John Fox realizes that they key to Carolina’s success is, and will be, running the ball with DeAngelo Williams (maybe even getting Jonathan Stewart going again). At home, I pick Carolina to finally get their first win of the season.

Cincinnati (3-1) at Baltimore (3-1)

Cincinnati has been a nice surprise this season. Still, they needed overtime last week to beat a winless Browns team. Baltimore had its chances to beat the Patriots and remain undefeated but they ultimately fell short. Still, quarterback Joe Flacco is playing very well, Ray Rice (former Ruytgers product)is having a breakout year, Wilils McGahee leads the NFL in touchdowns, and Derrick Mason—after announcing he wished to retire—is having a standout season. Add these new offensive dimensions to an already talented defense and this team is intimidating to go up against. Back at home, I expect the Ravens to not let last week’s slipup get to them, and beat the Bengals.

Atlanta (2-1) at San Francisco (3-1)

This is one of my favorite matchups of the weekend. Both these teams are young, upstart teams with playoff aspirations. 49ers’ Head Coach Mike Singletary has done a great job with this team so far. He has really instilled a great, winning attitude in the players. However, their three victories of the season have come against all the teams in the NFC West, the worst division in the NFL. They did play the Vikings to a good game, but could not finish them off. Then again, Atlanta’s wins (Miami and Carolina) aren’t much to talk about either, and even though Tom Brady struggled, they were outclassed by the Patriots in New England. This game will be a close one. I feel Atlanta has the more explosive offense and will be able to make the big plays that will decide the outcome of the game. Victory for Atlanta.

Jacksonville (2-2) at Seattle (1-3)

Seattle really needs Matt Hasselbeck as their quarterback to be competitive. They just aren’t the same team without him. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are on a nice two-game winning streak after stumbling out of the gates to begin the season. Maurice Jones-Drew has been electrifying lately, and it looks like David Garrard is starting to round back into form. I’ll take Jacksonville to get the win in this game.

Houston (2-2) at Arizona (1-2)

Another interesting matchup this weekend. I like what Houston is doing this season. They have a very exciting offense. It’s becoming more well-rounded as Steve Slaton begins to play a bigger role. After struggling the first two weeks, in his past two games he’s rushed for 141 yards and he scored his first touchdown of the season. Arizona had a bye last week, after getting abused by the Colts. They have the best wide receiver depth chart in the league. The running game however, is the worst in the league. I’m picking Houston to win this game.

New England (3-1) at Denver (4-0)

I’ve gone against the Patriots the past two weeks and what have they done? They won both games and have played increasingly better every week. It is no coincidence that Tom Brady looked more comfortable last Sunday—surprising because he was facing an intimidating Ravens defense—with Wes Welker, his favorite target, back in the lineup. Welker was the leading receiver for New England last week. I like what Denver is doing right now and they are an intriguing team, but I feel the Patriots are stronger and will win this matchup.

Indianapolis (4-0) at Tennessee (0-4)

Tennessee always plays the Colts tough, especially at home. However, I haven’t seen any signs of life out of them (except for Chris Brown) to merit picking them against such a strong opponent. Three things that have turned the Titans upside down this year: 1. Their defense isn’t as good as last year (do they really miss Albert Haynesworth that much?) 2. Kerry Collins is coming back down to Earth (is it time to go back to Vince Young yet?) and 3. LenDale White has done absolutely nothing this year (ironic, after everyone was raving about how he lost all that weight after giving up drinking tequila). As I said before, Tennessee always plays the Colts tough, which is making a lot of people consider that this will be the week they finally get their first win (can you believe the Detroit Lions won a game before the Titans have), but I don’t see it. Tennessee, as a team, has to play well for an entire game before I can even consider them to beat a team like the Colts. Indianapolis gets the victory.

NY Jets (3-1) at Miami (1-3)

Mark Sanchez, Jets fan’s latest hero, got his first taste of defeat last week. The Jets responded by going and getting him a new toy, receiver Braylon Edwards. A one-time Pro Bowler with a nice mix of athleticism, size, and speed, people have sometimes questioned his work ethic, his attitude, and his ability to actually catch a pass. Maybe, a fresh start with New York (coming from an abysmal situation in Cleveland), will prove that the grass is greener on the other side. Who knows how he will perform though, adjusting to a new system. Miami looked good in Chad Henne’s first start last week, and they ran the ball extremely well. It’s not the best matchup, but when two teams with so much history between them matchup, you can, most of the time, throw the records out, they don’t matter. For some reason, deep inside me, I truly believe being at home this week gives Miami their best chance at beating the Jets. It may not be a case of the better team winning, but I have a good feeling the Dolphins will steal one from their division rivals here.

Byes: Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Diego

Last week: 10-4

Season: 22-8

NFL Week 4 Picks

Photo Credit. AP Photo/ Tom Gannam

So last week I was quite successful with my picks, going 12-4 on the weekend. This weekend features some good matchups, such as Ravens-Patriots, Saints-Jets, and Packers-Vikings on Monday night. Here's who I like to pick up wins this weekend:

Detroit (1-2) at Chicago (2-1)

Congratulations Detroit! You’ve won for the first time since 2007! Time to start another losing streak. Chicago gets the win.

Cincinnati (2-1) at Cleveland (0-3)

The Bengals were my guilty pleasure of the summer. They were a pleasure to watch on HBO’s Hard Knocks. It was really hilarious. I felt guilty though, because I thought they were going to have an awful season. I guess I was wrong. It hasn’t been pretty all the time, and they sure are causing a lot of heart-problems in Cincinnati, as all their results have come in the waning minutes of their games. Literally every game has come to the wire. But they are playing tough, and Cleveland hasn’t. Win for the Bengals here.

Seattle (1-2) at Indianapolis (3-0)

Last week, the Colts were losing 3-0 through the second quarter. I was working my shift at the Boston Globe, and my co-worker and I were wondering if maybe the Colts were starting to decline. Then in just over seven minutes they scored three touchdowns and took control of the game. Sorry to ever doubt you Peyton. I pick them to beat up on the Seahawks.

New York Giants (3-0) at Kansas City (0-3)

Giants. Easily. It isn’t all good news for the G-Men though. Safety Kenny Phillips had microfracture surgery on his left knee and won’t be able to even run for five months.

Baltimore (3-0) at New England (2-1)

Baltimore has looked sharp in every facet of the game this season. Tom Brady played better last week, but he still wasn’t himself, especially in the first half. He doesn’t look confident. How will he react with Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed coming at him full speed? I’ll take Baltimore.

Tampa Bay (0-3) at Washington (1-2)

Both these teams have looked miserable this season. The Buccaneers do have a new coach, and they did have to play a tough Giants team last week. Their other opponents, the Cowboys and Bills, weren’t horrible either. What’s your excuse Washington? Embarrassing victory against the helpless Rams and then let the Lions beat you? Ouch. Another team gets their first win of the season courtesy of the Redskins (for the record, if Tampa Bay does win, they will be the third team in four weeks to get their first win against Washington—if that doesn’t say doormat I don’t know what does).

Tennessee (0-3) at Jacksonville (1-2)

What is going through Chris Johnson’s mind right now? In three losses, he’s rushed for 351 yards and two touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 106 yards and another touchdown. He’s got to be wondering what else he can do to help the team win a game. They face another dynamic running back this weekend in Maurice Jones-Drew. Too bad the rest of Jacksonville isn’t as good as he is. I’ll take Tennessee to finally get in the win column.

Oakland (1-2) at Houston (1-2)

Recent Raider first round picks: OL Robert Gallery, QB JaMarcus Russell, RB Darren McFadden, and WR Darius Heyward-Bey. All offense. One would think that they would be pretty exciting to watch, even if they weren’t winning. Not true. In three games they’ve scored 36 points, bad enough for third worst in the league. The Saints have scored more than that in one week—twice. Houston wins.

New York Jets (3-0) at New Orleans (3-0)

The Jets have looked good so far. Strong defense. Mark Sanchez gets better every week, and his rushing touchdown was phenomenal. I have a lot of respect for a quarterback that runs like that to make sure his team wins. Still, I am enamored with Drew Brees. Not only do the Jets have to go up against the best quarterback in the league right now, but they have to do so without cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland. I’ll take the Saints at home.

Buffalo (1-2) at Miami (0-3)

Is Terrell Owens primed for a breakout week? He got into the media this week after some time staying quiet. Poor T.O. He’s so misunderstood. He only ran himself out of San Francisco, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Dallas. But it’s the media’s fault for sure. They pick on him for no reason at all. As for the game? Who knows? Buffalo already blew one against an AFC East foe. As for Miami, the Chad Henne era begins. With his promotion, Pat White gets promoted to number two, where they can actually use him in the Wildcat. This game really is a toss-up, but I’ll take Miami.

St. Louis (0-3) at San Francisco (2-1)

Another NFC West stinker. The 49er’s got beat by another Brett Favre miracle last week. I still think they are the best team in their division, and they showed they can be competitive. St.Louis, well they can be competitive with Washington. San Francisco wins this one.

Dallas (2-1) at Denver (3-0)

Dallas has looked awful so far. Yes, I know, they are 2-1. But they haven’t showed in those wins that they are a good team. They are also banged up at running back right now, with injuries to Marion Barber and Felix Jones. Denver, meanwhile, has looked solid. True, they did get to play Cleveland and Oakland, both extremely weak opponents. But I don’t feel confident in picking Dallas at all right now. I’ll go with Denver.

San Diego (2-1) at Pittsburgh (1-2)

Pittsburgh has really stumbled out of the gate since beating the Titans in overtime in week 1. Think they miss Troy Polamalu? Still, I have faith in them putting everything back together. They get to go back to the comforts of Heinz Field this week after losing two straight on the road. Look for Ben Roethlisberger to live up to his reputation as a team leader and put the Steelers back on track.

Green Bay (2-1) at Minnesota (3-0)

Green Bay is the toughest team Minnesota has faced yet. Favre will be juiced to play his old team. It’s really all he’s wanted to do since he retired the first time. Don’t think Green Bay wouldn’t like to shut him up though and make a stand for Aaron Rodgers. It’ll be a battle, but as long as Rodgers lets his team do the talking and doesn’t try to out –throw Favre, I believe Green Bay will be victorious.

Byes: Atlanta, Philadelphia, Arizona, Carolina

NFL 2009 Week 3 Picks

AP Photo/ J. Pat Carter

The NFL season has started and I feel it's time to include on the blog a picks segment.Expect me to go through Sunday's games and pick you a winner every Saturday. Disagree? Make sure to leave a comment then.

Washington (1-1) at Detroit (0-2)
Last week the Redskins scored a total of nine points against the Rams. Nine! St.Louis looks like it’s headed for another miserable year, but the Redskins barely squeaked out with a win. Meanwhile, while the Lions aren’t good, they will have the best offensive player—Calvin Johnson—between both teams, and can put up points on occasion. I like them here, at home, to get their first win since December 23, 2007.

Green Bay (1-1) at St.Louis (0-2)
Sure, Green Bay lost to Cincinnati last week. Sure, the Rams didn’t get embarrassed last week. But quite frankly, the Rams are one of the bottom three teams in all of the NFL and Green Bay is one of the top contenders in the NFC, and they’ll be looking to bounce back from last week against a much weaker opponent. Green Bay wins easily.

San Francisco (2-0) at Minnesota (2-0)
Tossup. I’m not buying Minnesota as a legitimate contender yet. They beat the Browns and the Lions. Whoop-de-doo! Those teams aren’t even average. But it is their home opener, and you can believe the Metrodome will be pumped to see Adrian Peterson and the home debut of Brett Favre. The Niners beat the defending NFC champion Cardinals and the Seahawks, and I like their defense, but the NFC West is the weakest division in football. I’ll go with my gut here and take San Francisco.

Atlanta (2-0) at New England (1-1)
Have the Patriots looked bad or what? Tom Brady certainly doesn’t have that killer instinct in his eye this year; he looks more nervous about getting hurt again. The Pats defense just looks old. Atlanta has gotten off to a nice start, trying to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. Atlanta looks like the hungrier team, and I still don’t think the Patriots realize what is wrong with them yet. I’ll take Atlanta to steal one here.

Tennessee (0-2) at NY Jets (2-0)
If Mark Sanchez’s performance and win in week one wasn’t enough to get Jets fans excited, then leading the Jets to victory against the rival Patriots while throwing no interceptions should definitely have done the trick. Meanwhile, Chris Johnson had an amazing performance against Houston last week, but they still lost. That a week after losing the opener to Pittsburgh in OT. The balls are bouncing the right way for the Jets, while the Titans don’t have any luck at all. I’ll keep going with the streaks and take the Jets.

Kansas City (0-2) at Philadelphia (1-1)
McNabb may still be out, but it shouldn’t matter. The Chiefs can’t seem to put it all together. In week 1, even without Matt Cassel, the offense puts up 24 against a strong Ravens defense, but their own defense surrenders 38. Last week they give up only 13 points to Oakland, but score only 10 themselves. The Eagles win, no question. The more intriguing storyline is what will Michael Vick do in his first regular season game since 2006?

NY Giants (2-0) at Tampa Bay (0-2)
The Giants ruined Dallas’ home debut in primetime last week. Surprisingly, without Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the wide receivers have stepped up and played well enough to help out Eli Manning win games. Tampa Bay, after years of being famous for a stingy defense, is now getting further and further away from that distinction, allowing the second most points (67) in the NFL, behind only Detroit (72). Giants win this game.

Cleveland (0-2) at Baltimore (2-0)
Since when does Baltimore have a good offense? After years of inconsistency at the quarterback position, Joe Flacco has finally solidified the most important position on the field. Ray Rice has looked very good as the starting running back. The two second-year players have transformed the Ravens into a complete team. They easily dispose of a bad Cleveland squad.

Jacksonville (0-2) at Houston (1-1)
Matt Schaub had the game of his life last week, although it’s easy to do when you are throwing to the most underrated wide receiver in the game in Andre Johnson (how does this guy not get the publicity that Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and even Chad Ochocinco get?). Now if they could only get last year’s surprise Steve Slaton going strong again, they’d have something going on down there. In Jacksonville, all David Garrard has to throw to is an over-the-hill Torry Holt. I like Houston here.

New Orleans (2-0) at Buffalo (1-1)
Drew Brees is amazing. We knew that. The Saints score a lot of points (93 points in two games; second is Baltimore with 69). We knew that. However, the Saints defense has done a good job of bending but not breaking this year. How far New Orleans goes depends on how well the defense does, not how well Drew Brees does. Buffalo is one Leodis McKelvin fumble away from being 2-0. The Saints are stronger though, and they win this game.

Chicago (1-1) at Seattle (1-1)
I liked Seattle in the (poor) NFC West this season. I liked their pickup of T.J. Houshmanzadeh. I thought they’d return to prominence, at least in their crummy division. With Matt Hasselback injured, I don’t like them as much. Sorry Seneca Wallace, but you just don’t cut it for me. Not even against a Bears defense without Brian Urlacher. Chicago wins.

Miami (0-2) at San Diego (1-1)
Miami’s performance against Indianapolis was surprising. It even almost resulted in a victory. The defense has played fairly well this season. San Diego will be missing LaDanian Tomlinson, but Darren Sproles has looked really good in his place. A tough call here, but I’m not confident in any team where Norv Turner is the head coach. Miami gets its first win of the season.

Pittsburgh (1-1) at Cincinnati (1-1)
Yes, we all know the Bengals are a miracle catch from Brandon Stokley away from being 2-0. Yes, it looks like Ochocinco is back to his old self after a rough season last year. No, I don’t think they are a better team than Pittsburgh, and they don’t win this game. Pittsburgh does need to get their running game going though if they are going to even beat Baltimore this year, let alone defend their Super Bowl championship.

Denver (2-0) at Oakland (1-1)
After all the offseason drama, the Broncos are looking ok and sitting atop the AFC West standings, and I’m still waiting for Knowshon Moreno to burst onto the scene. Meanwhile, the Raiders don’t have a clue, and if it wasn’t for playing Kansas City, they wouldn’t have a win either. Denver is the victor in this one.

Indianapolis (2-0) at Arizona (1-1)
This will be the most exciting game of the week. Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin. Expect a lot of points. Both teams have great offenses and average defenses. I like Indy’s rushing game more, to mix it up, but with those quarterbacks and wide receivers, I wonder if it really matters that much. Still, I believe Indy is stronger and expect them to win.

Carolina (0-2) at Dallas (1-1)
The battle of the turnover quarterbacks. Both Jake Delhomme and Tony Romo have cost their teams a game this season because of a high number of interceptions. This one could get ugly. So I like the team with the stronger defense to pull out in this one, and I think that team is Dallas.

What Will Become of J.J. Redick?

Think back to 2006.

J.J. Redick was a captain of a highly ranked Duke team, set an NCAA record for most 3-pointers made, broke Duke's career scoring record, and became the all-time ACC points leader, as well as the leading scorer in ACC Tournament history.

He also was the recipient of 13 postseason awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year award and was an Associated Press First Team All-American.

Come back to 2009 and Redick's basketball life has been turned upside down.

Drafted number 11 overall by the Orlando Magic, many thought that while Redick may not be an NBA All-Star, his great shooting would help open up the floor for Dwight Howard and he would be a grand asset to the team.

Redick himself thought he knew what to expect of his role in Orlando.

"I think I'll be a role player like 80 percent of the players in the league are. I don't expect to be a star, I'll just shoot, be a team player," he told the Charlotte Observer.

He could not have anticipated what his role became.

Since he entered the league Redick has struggled to earn minutes. In the regular season he has appeared in only 140 games out of a possible 246, started in only five, and logged a career average of 14.4 minutes per game.

Certainly not what you would expect from such an accomplished college player.

Some of Redick's biggest critics have said that he is not a capable defender and that he is not athletic enough to create his own shot.

While they are fair criticisms, Redick is still an extremely gifted shooter with a very good basketball I.Q. that he deserves more than to be buried on the bench, and when he's been given an opportunity he's produced.

The 2008-09 season was by far Redick's best.

All of his starts came this season, he averaged 17.4 minutes, and scored a career high 382 points. Even though his scoring average was only six points per game, he reached double figures 15 times, including a season high 17 points January 9 against Atlanta, where he played 20 minutes and shot five of seven from the field-- including four of five from beyond the arc-- and even pulled in four rebounds.

He was even given an opportunity to showcase his abilities in the playoffs.



He played in 16 playoff games, including eight starts, for 20.4 minutes per game also averaging six points a game. His best overall performance was in the first round against Philadelphia, where he started in place of the injured Courtney Lee. He played 31 minutes, scored 15 points, shot five of nine from the field, pulled in three rebounds, and handed out four assists.

Redick has publicly voiced his frustrations. While not trying to be a distraction, he has asked his agent to look into possible trades.

"We want to see what's out there," Redick told the Orlando Sentinel, "I want to stay here, but it's been frustrating."

This is where the J.J. Redick saga gets confusing.

While Redick spends most of his time on the pine, Orlando has said repeatedly that they have no interest in trading Redick, even though a number of teams have reportedly called inquiring about his availability.

The franchise claims that they like Redick as a player and do not want to let him go, yet at the same time he still has trouble earning regular minutes, no matter how he performs.

What is to become of J.J. Redick?

One possibility was that his increased minutes in the playoffs was an audition, for both other teams for a trade in the offseason or for his position in Orlando for the upcoming season.

It looks like neither will pan out.

Orlando traded for shooting guard Vince Carter, signed free agent small forward Matt Barnes, and signed power forward Brandon Bass which will push Rashard Lewis back to the small forward position.

Carter and Lewis are going to start, and they will be backed up by Barnes and Mikael Pietrus. Orlando could also go with two point guards in the backcourt together at some points during the game with starter Jameer Nelson and backups Jason Williams and Anthony Johnson.

Redick will most likely get some extended looks while Lewis begins the season serving a ten-game suspension for testing positive for an elevated testosterone level.

Yet once Lewis returns it is very difficult to determine where Redick will land.
Will Orlando continue to keep him on their bench, unleash him when they feel necessary, and hope he moves up on the depth chart?

Redick is in the last year of his contract and could be moved before the trade deadline as other teams try to stockpile cap space in preparation of the huge summer of 2010. However, if Orlando is having another successful season it's hard to imagine they will tinker with their roster and move him, especially if no one is significantly injured.

To expand on that, if Redick does not get the playing time he thinks he deserves, it's hard to imagine he'll stick around in Orlando after the season knowing that other teams are interested in his services. In this case Orlando would also get nothing in return for a player they at least claim to put a lot of stock in.

It remains to be seen what Redick's role with the Magic will be. What we do know is that Redick can produce and no matter what happens he will behave in a professional manner.

It will be interesting to see if we ever come close to witnessing the 2006 J.J. Redick again.

Photo Credits.
Top: AP Photo/ David Zalubowski
Left: AP Photo/ Bob Levey

Orlando Magic Doing Disappearing Act with Roster

Do you recognize the prospective 2009-2010 Orlando Magic, following their first NBA Finals appearance since the 1994-1995 season?

After losing the championship to the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando has tinkered with their roster quite a bit.

The big three of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, and Rashard Lewis remains intact but the supporting cast is greatly different.

Gone are Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, and Tony Battie. Taking their places are Ryan Anderson, Jason Williams, Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass, and Vince Carter. While some of these names aren't very big, their impacts on the Magic winning their first title in franchise history could be huge.

Ryan Anderson will replace Tony Battie as the backup power forward.



Last season was Anderson's rookie year and it's tough to tell how he will progress, but he was much more productive than Battie was. Anderson started in 30 games, although Battie was more durable, playing in 11 more games.

Anderson's numbers were significantly better in points, rebounds and free throw shooting percentage-- something that was Orlando's Achilles heel in the finals-- as well as having more steals and assists per game and an equal number of blocks per game.

Jason Williams will help with the depth at the point guard position, especially after the team traded away Rafer Alston.



As a younger player, Williams had great court vision but his decision making was subpar. Now, he is a year removed from playing, taking off last year because of family reasons, and could be a bit rusty.

However, he played for Magic coach Stan Van Gundy in Miami, and helped the Heat win the championship. His experience will help guide a young team, and he will push Jameer Nelson to be even better.



Matt Barnes is a versatile forward who can play either the 3 or 4 spot, depending on where Orlando needs help for the night. He is a solid contributor on the offensive side of the ball, but is even better defensively. He, along with Mickael Pietrus, will give Orlando a strong defensive presence on the perimeter.

Brandon Bass may be the biggest acquisition for Orlando this offseason, Vince Carter included.

Bass is a very physical and tough post player, who is a good rebounder. While he is a wide body, he still is an athletic player who will be able to run with Orlando's up-tempo offense.



Bass also has a good mid-range jump shot, which will perfectly compliment Dwight Howard. He will provide a strong post presence alongside Superman while also being able to step outside and free up space for him. Bass is also a career 83% from the foul line, including shooting 87% last season.

Also, starting Bass at power forward will allow Rashard Lewis to slide back to the small forward position, where he will be much more effective shooting from the outside without worrying about banging around in the post with more physical bodies.

Bass is the power forward Orlando has needed, and at 23 years old, he will fit in well with Howard, Nelson, and Lewis for many years to come.

The biggest splash Orlando made this offseason though was getting Vince Carter.

Last year, Orlando lived and died by the three-point shot. If the outside shooters got cold or out of rhythm, the Magic were in for a long night. They didn't have anybody that could take the ball from the outside and drive inside with authority and consistent success to stop the slide.

That's what Vince Carter will do.

Vinsanity is a prototypical slasher. He is a playmaker who can create his own shot off the dribble. If Orlando's shooters start to get cold, the team can get the ball in Carter's hands and let him take over the game.

However, the question about Carter is which Vince will show up?

Carter has a reputation as being a moody player. If he isn't happy, he won't be productive. He also has a tendency to just disappear from games.

He's a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of player. When he's on his game, Carter is a force to be reckoned with, a game changer. However, when he's in a poor mood, he goes through the motions and brings down the entire team.

How well Orlando does this season will have a lot to do with which Carter shows up. Right now though, it's fair to believe that Carter will be motivated by joining such a talented and successful group and will do what it takes to push Orlando over the edge.

While these personnel changes are upgrades and fill in needs that were obvious holes in the finals, one concern is that all these moves will temper with the chemistry the team has created.

Every year at the trade deadline, general manager Otis Smith is usually slow to pull the trigger on any move because he doesn't want to temper with the team chemistry.

However this summer has seen the team undergo a big transition.

Will the players be able to mesh?

Courtney Lee and Dwight Howard were close teammates. Will Lee's departure effect Howard, similar to how trading Mike Miller soured Tracy McGrady's attitude, or how getting rid of Cuttino Mobley bothered Steve Francis?

Only time will tell. For now, the remaining players will have to be confident that the front office did what they had to in order to ensure that this year the team would be hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy instead of watching someone else do it.

Change can be a good thing, and Orlando's changes may mean an NBA title.

Photo Credits.
Vince Carter: AP Photo/ John Raoux
Ryan Anderson: AP Photo/ Carlos Osorio
Jason Williams: AP Photo/ John Raoux
Matt Barnes: AP Photo/ Paul Connors
Brandon Bass: AP Photo/ LM Otero