NFL Week One Thoughts and Maybe Slight Overreactions

So Sunday football is pretty much done. We have seen a majority of the teams play. With the exception of four that play tomorrow. The Cardinals .vs. Chargers (two evenly matched teams) and Lions .vs. Giants (another set of two possibly evenly matched teams).

After seeing a lot of these teams, I have a lot of thoughts…and maybe slight overreactions.

1. The Seahawks Have a Chance to Repeat

A no brainer here. They looked dominant against the Packers at home once again. Should be interesting to see how they do as the season progresses. They haven’t won at San Francisco in years, you can almost chalk that one up as a loss. They have to play Denver at home, who are tough in the regular season and in general. And they have to go play in Carolina, which I think could be a loss. Last years opening game in Carolina was very, very close. If this team gets in as a top seed, they could have a good chance to repeat. But there are a few teams in the NFC that they must be worried about.

2. The 49ers Are Still a Great Team

Many people thought this could be the year they regress, myself included. I saw them as a 10-6 team. They still look very good and sharp on defense. Tony Romo couldn’t get anything going. Their run game is still at the top of the league and they still can control the clock well. I hate to admit it but they will be battling Seattle for control of the division or as a top seed in the NFC. They still have a top five defense and guys such as Aldon Smith will eventually come back. There are a few tough games on their schedule but they look like they could be around 12-4 like they were last year.

3. Denver Has an Elite Defense This Year

Two years ago they had a very good defense and last year their defense flat out sucked. This year they have a good, clutch defense that can keep teams from scoring points. Their offense doesn’t look as crazy good as it did last year. I think they are once again the top team in the AFC and the team to beat there. Who will be their competition come postseason time? I’m not sure, but let’s not forget the Ravens were able to take them out two years ago. Any team can come in and take them out.

4. Atlanta and New Orleans are Two Evenly Matched Teams

I made the mistake saying Atlanta would be a terrible team this year. They look around the same level the Saints do. I predict both to be around 10-6 teams who are good on offense and not bad on defense. The Saints could have played much better on defense today.

5. Carolina Still Controls the NFC South

They picked up where they left off last year. They dominated Tampa Bay with their scrub second string quarterback Derek Anderson. Their defense is savage and physical as fuck. Cam Newton might not be the best player on this team; Luke Kuechly may be. I think the regression talk was exaggerated. They will win the NFC South division again in my eyes. Their defense can absolutely beat Atlanta and New Orleans at home and maybe on the road too.

6. Minnesota is a Good Team This Year

I was completely wrong about them. No way do they finish 2-14. They played great today and could be the team to give the Packers competition for the NFC north crown. I think the Lions and Bears are mediocre teams. The Vikings, if they play like they did today, can absolutely take out the Bears and Lions in the NFC North.

7. Houston Has a Top Ten Defense

They strangled Washington and looked strong on defense. They allowed just one touchdown. I am not so sure they will finish 4-12, they looked fine. They could be the best team in the AFC south along with the Colts.

8. Washington is the Worst Team in the League

I’m sorry but they looked like it today. RG3 has been figured out and I think by midseason we will see Cousins come in to play. Their defense is still awful and their quarterback is not a guy who was as dominant as he was when he first came in the league. I think they are the worst team after what I saw this week along with maybe the Cleveland Browns.

9. The Patriots Decade of Dominance May Be Nearing an End

I haven’t seen them play this poorly in a regular season game in years. Usually if they are down by a few points they are able to come back and make the game competitive. Brady and Belicheck just flat out gave up today when they were down. Miami beat them up in the trenches, on both sides of the ball. I think the game against the Vikings next week will be very interesting. For one, we will see if the Vikings are for real. And two, if the Patriots are bad this season. I saw a Patriots team that looked really poor today. They are a different animal at home but we will see…

This Is Why I Hate the San Francisco 49ers

Yes, I’m a Seahawks fan.

But even if I wasn’t a Hawks fan I would hate the San Francisco 49ers. Seriously, everything about them pisses me off. I felt like venting out just watching their preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.

Here is a laundry list on why they are my least favourite sports team next to the Miami Heat (who are not anymore since Queen James left them stranded just like he left Cleveland):

1. Colin Kaepernick is seriously over rated

Seriously, what is good about this guy? He’s not even a top fifteen quarterback in the league. Yet in his first year in the league I had to hear bullshit from people like Ron Jaworski (or whatever the hell his name is) say how he could be the best ever quarterback in the NFL. Are you serious? The greatest quarterbacks I have seen in the game can dissect defenses and could be surgeons had they not made it in the NFL. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers. Colin Kaepernick? That’s a nice joke. The guy couldn’t read a defense to save his life. I must admit, he can run. He’s quick. He has a pretty damn strong arm. But that’s completely it. If you put him on another team he does not last long in the league at all. He has Frank Gore to help him run the ball, who has skills and has for a while. He has Crabtree and Boldin to catch the ball who while I both don’t like they have some great hands. They are great. Vernon Davis is a top tight end in a league. AND his offensive line is the best in the league. What more can he get? Hearing fans call him the best ever or say how he had no weapons to start the year last year seriously annoyed me. The guy is a spoon-fed child and not good at all. That Dre beats commercial was laughable and didn’t last long when Sherman and Malcolm Smith picked his ass off in the NFC championship game. Let’s not forget how many times Anquan Boldin (who has some of the best hands in the league) has bailed this guy out. In the NFC championship game he threw a risky throw to Boldin right when Earl Thomas was there. It didn’t work when Sherman was there.

2. The Fans and the Organization Scumbagged Alex Smith

How can you hate on Alex Smith? He’s a smart, quiet quarterback who has some decent skills. The first year Harbaugh came in I must admit I didn’t dislike this team. It impressed me how quickly Harbaugh turned the team around. Alex Smith looked like he fit in really well. They were dominant and he managed the game well. Hell, it was him and Vernon Davis who took out the New Orleans Saints in that playoff game. The Saints were a powerhouse team that year. The bandwagonning fans in San Francisco cheered in the audience. The guy they complained about finally proved his worth and took them over the top. It was not him who lost that game against the Giants in the NFC championship game. The name Kyle Williams rings a bell. So what happens next year after Alex Smith took them over the top? Right as he goes out with a concussion they bring in Kaepernick, a gimmick quarterback who looked great in a league that wasn’t prepared for the read option. So of course Harbaugh leaves this spoonfed child in and sits out Alex Smith. And then sends him to Kansas City who takes him in with wide open arms. Of course after the fact Alex Smith turned around the Kansas City Chiefs, sports journalists and 49ers fans have the audacity to continuously bash this guy despite the fact he took their team to the NFC championship game. Is Kaepernick better than this guy? Nope. I don’t care what anyone says, I would take Alex Smith 9/10 times over the gimmick quarterback who had a few hot games a few years ago.

3. Their Fans Are Big Bandwagonners

In number two I described how the fans of the 49ers cheered when Smith helped them defeat the powerhouse New Orleans Saints in Candlestick park and they talked how great he now was. Yet when he gets concussed he all of the sudden is not as good as Kaepernick. Bullmeat sandwich. All these fans talk about are how the Seahawks fans are bandwagonners. Says who? It’s been the loudest stadium in the league for years. Even when Holmgren was there. I recall when Singletary was coaching the 49ers it was the quietest for a team with such a great history. Yet when Kaepernick comes in all of the sudden they are the most passionate. Yeah right. Biggest bandwagonners in the league bar none and I’m not being biased.

4. Their Defense is Annoying to Play Against

Not that I hate their defense or anything, they just annoy me because they are so good. Without this defense Colin Kaepernick would be seriously exposed. I have lost count the number of times I have seen Kaepernick throw a careless interception or fumble the ball yet his defense bails him out on the ten yard line or line of scrimmage. Come on guys, play worse so Kaepernick can be exposed and the bandwagon fans can go cheer for another good California team (if there is one). I have respect for them though. Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Navorro Bowman. Some bad dudes. That is the most clutch and best front seven in the league. Which is why they frustrate the hell out of me. Like I said, please play worse so Kaepernick can get exposed.

5. Jim Harbaugh is a Big Whiner

This is sort of like number four. Harbaugh is annoying to watch but he is a damn good coach. No shame in me admitting he is a top three-five coach in the league. The only bad decision he has made is dumping Alex Smith for Colin “me me me” Kaepernick. He will look back at that one day and say “Jesus, I was drunk the day I did that”. But seriously, Harbaugh is a huge whiner. Every freaking game I have watched the 49ers play he is whining. It’s good to be competitive but lighten up. He whines over the most ridicolous crap ever as well. Such as how much time is left on the clock. Good coach, huge whiner. The game against the Panthers in the playoffs was really tough to watch.

6. The Team is Arrogant and Classless

Which brings me from my last point talking about the game against the Panthers. The 49ers talk trash and are arrogant as hell. My Seahawks are definitely the same way. These guys talk just as much trash though. Even Troy Aikman had enough of it. Anquan Boldin’s antics were annoying to watch in the game against the Panthers in the playoffs. He is like a child. People don’t know it but Crabtree is just as bad. A big whiner. Whenever he doesn’t catch something he’s quick to say that it’s pass interference. Should be a politician with that type of whining aren’t I right? Surprised he didn’t do it when Richard Sherman ruined his career.

They are a good team but I won’t be losing sleep when they go downhill. Just have had enough of their annoying team and fans.

Sam Bradford’s Injury Brings Up Harsh Realities of Being in the NFL

So Sam Bradford is done for the year, yet again.

As a fan of a division rival team of the St. Louis Rams in the NFC West, I honestly feel really bad for not only the St. Louis Rams but also Sam Bradford.

There have been polls out there that show Shaun Hill is who people think is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL. So the Rams have that going for them. Is he as good as Sam Bradford? I don’t know about that.

Bradford reminded me a lot of Alex Smith when watching him play. He is not elite but he possess some skills. Not good at throwing it deep but he can be accurate and manage the game well. It sucks for the Rams losing him.

However, besides having Shaun Hill they do have a good, young defense going for them and talent everywhere. I picked them to go above .500 this year but I just don’t know if they can do it with Shaun Hill. Time will tell.

Anyways, you may be asking what is with the thread title. Well, this is a brutal league. I’m sure people who saw Bradford win rookie of the year in 2010 did not see this as his fate. People were questioning if the Rams should stick with him after this year. Well, unfortunately, now that this has happened again I don’t see them sticking with him. He is holding them back from improving by either: constantly being injured or even when playing, not taking them (the Rams that is) to the next level.

It may be time to see what Shaun Hill has to offer. If he’s not the answer, they can look into Ryan Mallett of the Patriots or Kirk Cousins of the Redskins (who both have shown shades of decency at quarterback yet are delegated to backup roles). They could also even draft a quarterback next year and groom him to take the starting spot on an already highly talented, young team in the St. Louis Rams.

I hate to say it but I think Sam Bradford is done being a St. Louis Ram.

The Seahawks Are Blowing the Roof Off the Building

It’s preseason, but the Hawks are thrashing the Bears like it’s nobodies business.

Does this sound similar to last season? The Hawks went 4-0 and won the super bowl. They looked dominant in the preseason. They lost to the Broncos this preseason but it was a close game. These last two preseason games at home they have obliterated the opposition. The Chargers and the Bears…not the worst teams.

I won’t be too quick to say they can repeat as champions. But I really do believe they will be in the running again. This team is nasty and built well from top to bottom. I said their offense would be better this season. They have Lane and Tharold Simon as reserves, extremely talented guys on defense.

I think the ones who should be worried about the NFL regular season are the Santa Clara Forty Whiners, also known as the 49ers lead by crybaby Jim Harbaugh. They have gotten their asses kicked this preseason and the St. Louis Rams are clearly on the rise in the NFC west.

Patrick Peterson is Criminally Overrated

I saw the reports on Profootballtalk that Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals is now the highest paid cornerback in the national football league.

I nearly spat my drink out.

My god is this guy overrated. Not once have I watched him and said to myself “wow, this guy is good”. I’ve said that about Richard Sherman, Joe Haden, Earl Thomas, and Darrelle Revis. Not this guy.

Yet we hear people constantly say this guy is the best cornerback in the league. The Arizona Cardinals office certainly thinks so?

How so?

Tell me if he’s even sniffed the playoffs before like Sherman or Revis have. You can’t knock Joe Haden for that since the Browns are always awful. The Cardinals actually had Palmer playing decent last season and a stacked defense. That’s right. Karlos Dansby was the one on that defense who people thought was underrated. I agreed. He could have been in the running for defensive player of the year last year. He was playing lights out. John Abraham was also good. The young kid Mathieu was great until he went down with an unfortunate injury.

Peterson has never won anything and he is in my opinion the most overrated player in the league. People can say all they want. They can say he’s good for man on man coverage or returns punts. Big deal. Why can’t he win anything if he’s so great?

Predicting the 2014 NFL Standings

Of course a lot of these will turn out to be wrong. But I will do the best to offer my opinion on what the standings could or should look like at the end of next season.

AFC East
1. New England Patriots (13-3)
2. New York Jets (9-7)
3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
4. Buffalo Bills (3-13)

Reasoning:
-The Patriots with a pitiful receiving core still did quite well and finished at 12-4 last season. Granted the teams get better in the NFL every year, they plan on having Gronk back for most of the season and also updated in key areas such as their secondary on defense with the additions of Revis/Browner. An easy to hate but very well run organization. With Belicheck and Brady still in town, they are good for at least 12 wins.

-The Jets will always be decent or in the picture. Rex Ryan is an excellent coach and they upgraded their awful offense from last year with solid additions in Chris Johnson at RB and Eric Decker at WR. If Geno Smith is horrible again they can give Mike Vick a shot. There are few backups in the league as good as Vick. I don’t get the hate for this team and I see them having a solid season.

-The Dolphins are…the Dolphins. Not a bad roster but not impressive either. I like what Tannehill brings but I don’t see an elite quarterback in him (at least yet). They aren’t bad on either side of the ball, have a decent coach, and got rid of their stupid controversy that derailed their season last year. Having said that, I’d say 7-9 with an upside of above .500 at 9-7. They aren’t a lottery team but they aren’t contenders either. They could be near a wild card spot in the AFC at 9-7 though.

-Nothing about the Bills remotely impresses me. I saw a few flashes of brilliance in quarterback EJ Manuel last season but then he faded. They got rid of their top wide receiver and added in an unproven rookie Sammy Watkins. That is their whole offense plus CJ Spiller at running back. Meanwhile on defense (where they seemed alright last year unlike their offense) they got rid of their best player Jairus Byrd and Kiko Alonso tore his ACL. He’s done for the season after having a defensive rookie of the year-like season. Yeah, nothing to look forward about here. I expect them to be a lottery team.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-10)
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

Reasoning:

-Wow this is one of the worst divisions in the league. The Baltimore Ravens can only go up from their poor year last year where they finished 8-8. Their schedule does not scream tough and they are one of the most well run organizations in the league. I expect them to finish a tad above .500. Not contenders but back in the playoff picture. The addition of Steve Smith as a veteran presence for a few years will be intriguing. We’ll also see if Gary Kubiak is a good fit at the offensive coordinator position this year.

-The Bengals have finished above 10-6 the last few years and have looked good in the regular season. The problem is I’ve never been impressed. It’s only a matter of time before having Marvin Lewis in charge with Andy Dalton at the helm that they get worse and worse. They’ve proven they can’t win a playoff game or do damage in the postseason. I expect teams like that to go down eventually. Just like the Falcons and Texans went through last year. Not winning in the playoffs is demoralizing for a team when it happens year after year.

-The Steelers have an atrocious roster. It was only a few years ago where they were impenetrable defensively and you could not score more than 20 points on their defense. Last year, wow. They were bad on defense. They haven’t made any huge upgrades. They still do have a great personnel and I expect them to win a bit with Tomlin in charge and big ben at QB but they can’t be a playoff team with their lack of depth everywhere. I’d be shocked if they get a wild card.

-The Browns on paper have an elite defense and talent everywhere. The only problem is at quarterback they look bad. I can’t picture a team with the young Johnny Manziel or Hoyer at quarterback having huge success as well as missing Josh Gordon at wide receiver for a while. When a team has no offense but an elite defense they still don’t win much. That’s what will happen with the Browns. If they were to get a gem at quarterback one day they could take over this division. Until then they will remain bottom dwellers.

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
2. Tennessee Titans (6-10)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)
4. Houston Texans (4-12)

-The Colts have finished both years with Andrew Luck at 11-5. They can only go up with him at quarterback. They added some solid pieces to their receiving core, have potential at the running back position with Richardson and Bradshaw, and a decent defense. The defense looked lackluster at times last season and then elite at other times. The question is if their defense can hold up or if there is depth on that side of the ball. If so, look out, they could be contenders soon enough.

-The Titans don’t really scream impressive to me on either side of the ball. They lost some key guys such as Chris Johnson to the Jets and Verner to the Bucs this year. Whisenhunt as the new coaching hire has proven he can lead teams as coordinator to a championship. I like the hire and if Jake Locker is healthy they can be decent. I expect them to be in the same position as the Miami Dolphins are. Not great but not that bad either. On paper they have an awful roster though.

-I really like what the Jaguars are doing as an organization lately. A year ago people said how they would be shocked if the Jaguars did not get the number one overall pick or finish with a win even. They had awful depth. They had a terrible roster. Where could they possibly go? They finished 4-12 and coach Gus Bradley did an amazing job. Finishing with four wins with that awful roster was remarkable. I think drafting Blake Bortles at quarterback was a wise move. He has shown shades of being similar to Big Ben of Pittsburgh. That position is the most important in football and if he turns out to be a decent pick, they could only go up. Thank god they got rid of Blaine Gabbert. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a few years these guys are battling the Colts for control of the AFC south.

-The Texans have all the pieces on both sides of the ball but just like the Browns they have no one to play quarterback. Bill O’ Brien is a decent hire for this team since has has experience being a quarterback coach but I can’t see a team with freaking Case Keenum, Ryan Fitzpatrick, or the newly drafted Tom Savage having much success at all. They could have an elite defense but they desperately need a quarterback.

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos (13-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
3. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
4. Oakland Raiders (4-12)

-I really feel guilty about ranking the Broncos this high. Having said that, their schedule looks relatively winnable this season and they are still better than the rivals in their division. The only tough teams they play are the 49ers and Colts (at home however), the Seahawks (a game they will lose for sure at century link), and Patriots in foxborough (another game I can’t see them winning). That automatically makes them good for at least ten wins. Peyton Manning is the best quarterback ever in the regular season and they upgraded their mediocre defense from last year with the additions of Aqib Talib and Demarcus Ware. I still don’t see them coming close to a super bowl despite the good regular season. That beating in the super bowl will eventually haunt them.

-The Chiefs started off strong last year and then ended miserably. They should have been around 13-3 last season with their easy ass schedule. This year I expect them to still be decent but not as good as they face tougher opponents. It’s still a winnable schedule. Alex Smith is under rated and they have good pieces on offense. Their defensive coordinator needs to get his ass together. All the talent in the world yet they finished the season looking like idiots on that side of the ball against the Colts in the playoffs.

-The Chargers are a decent built team. Mike McCoy was an excellent hire and helped Phillip Rivers pick up his seemingly lost game. They aren’t threats or contenders but I expect them to be wildcard favourites again this year.

-The Raiders have the toughest schedule in the league. I feel bad for them. But when I think logically and look at their schedule, they still can win a few of their games. I think they can win against Buffalo and Miami at home and possibly beat Cleveland and/or St. Louis and the New York Jets on the road. They added Matt Schaub at quarterback who is still a decent quarterback. He will make the team decent in the regular season, just not in the post season. The Raiders would be thrilled to even make it close to the post season. They also added veteran presence on their defense and I think Khalil Mack will be the most NFL ready draftee this year. He could have a defensive rookie of the year like season. 4-12 will be a success with their tough schedule.

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)
2. New York Giants (9-7)
3. Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
4. Washington Redskins (5-11)

-The Eagles will only go up from last season. Chip Kelly has to be one of the best coaching hires in recent memory. The guy is a winner. He got the team to win the division and found a gem at quarterback in Nick Foles. I think they will improve next year with Kelly at the helm. Expect them to have close to the top ranked offense and an alright defense. These guys will be exciting to watch and possibly contenders.

-The Giants made some decent moves on their weak secondary from last year. They were very bad last year yet still finished 7-9. They can’t be any worse than they were last year starting out 0-6. I expect them to get a wildcard spot and make the playoffs soon enough (where they are always dangerous).

-The Cowboys have finished 8-8 in the last few years but I can’t see it being that way again. Eventually they will get worse since they have not upgraded much on their roster while their division rivals get better and better. I see them being around 6-10. They definitely aren’t better than the Eagles or Giants.

-The Redskins are a tough prediction. It really depends on RG3. Can he repeat what he did in his rookie year? He looked awful last season and they were a trainwreck as a team. Yet they also added some good players on offense. Desean Jackson at wide receiver has to make them only better. If RG3 is healthy and plays well they could even be near a playoff spot. I will go with the same prediction and say that they have a mediocre year. Their defense still does not look good on paper.

AFC North

1. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
2. Chicago Bears (9-7)
3. Detroit Lions (7-9)
4. Minnesota Vikings (2-14)

-The Packers with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback are always contenders for the lombardi trophy. No question about it. Unless he goes down, they will be good for at least ten wins. They are still better than their division rivals. They will be good once again.

-The Bears impressed me last year on offense. But the problem is their defense still doesn’t look great on paper. They need to improve on that if they want to contend. 9-7 is a solid bet. They are good but not great.

-The Lions look amazing on paper on offense. I see them being near the Chicago Bears in the division. You could honestly switch them around. The only thing is that I think Trestman is a better coach than Caldwell and Cutler is also better than Stafford at quarterback. That makes a big difference.

-The Vikings don’t look good at all on paper. There is simply nothing to look forward about for them unless you look at a few of the pieces they have on offense. Yeah they hired a new coach Mike Zimmer but he hasn’t proven anything yet. The lack a good quarterback. Fans will tell you how they drafted Teddy baby hands Bridgewater but just like Zimmer he hasn’t shown anything yet. I had to pick one team being atrocious this year and it was between them or the Buffalo Bills. I predict their division rivals to smash them as well as most of their other opponents. Sorry Vikes fans.

AFC South

1. Carolina Panthers (13-3)
2. New Orleans Saints (10-6)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
4. Atlanta Falcons (3-13)

-The Panthers are an interesting team to watch. Last year I said how they reminded me of the early 2000s Ravens. A defense that was physical and chippy as hell. Yet they have their quarterback. Cam Newton has shown when he is confident or playing with confidence he can easily take over games. They got rid of most of their receivers which is a bold move. Cam Newton is still Cam Newton no matter who he has to pass to. I think getting rid of Brandon Lafell to the Patriots was a good move. The guy dropped more than he caught. They should have kept Steve Smith though. Kelvin Benjamin may turn out to be a wise pick and a threat with Cam Newton passing to him. Cam Newton will only get better. The guy will become a top five quarterback in the league soon enough. Their defense still looks lethal on paper. They look like the team who have gotten better over the years. That playoff game against the 49ers was a learning experience. Look out, these guys could be threats next year.

-The Saints are the Saints. Sean Payton is still there and they upgraded their secondary by adding Jairus Byrd from Buffalo. The only question I have is when will Drew Brees slow down? He’s getting old just like Tom Brady is. Eventually he will pass the torch. This team does not look like the powerhouse they were a few years back when they were superbowl contenders. I still expect them to make the playoffs but I think the Panthers are a better team than them for now in this division.

-I like what the Bucs are doing for their team just like the Jaguars. Lovie Smith is an excellent hire. Their defense showed flashes of brilliance last year. Greg Schiano was a real idiot. They have talent everywhere. They just need that quarterback. Call me crazy but I did not mind Mike Glennon at all last year. Josh McCown was good as a backup on Chicago too. If either one can repeat what they did last year or improve than look out, the Bucs could be good on both sides of the ball. I expect with Lovie there that they will have an elite defense. They have so much talent on defense.

-The Falcons to me are one of the most over rated teams in the league. Not once have I seen anything about them that impressed me in years. A few years back they were the top team in the NFC. I recall them having an easy schedule that year. Then last year they finished at 4-12 and were completely exposed. People complained about how they were banged up. To me their defense has always sucked. The loss of Julio Jones was huge however. He will be back this year. But their defense will still suck. They definitely aren’t as good as the other teams in their division. Coach Mike Smith is a goof. I expect it to only be a matter of time before he’s fired. Sorry Falcons fans but the truth hurts. Just like the Vikings I expect their division rivals to beat up on them just like last season.

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
2. San Francisco 49ers (11-5)
3. St. Louis Rams (9-7)
Arizona Cardinals (7-9)

-The toughest division in football. The Seahawks were world champions last year and I expect them to be in the same position this year. They haven’t downgraded and kept most of their core. They will look dangerous on defense again. With Harvin healthy their offense could improve. The big question is if they can stay the same from last year. If so, they will be in the picture again.

-I’m a self admitted 49ers hater and not sure about this season. I’m probably the worst person to judge. The cold hard truth is that they are built similarly to the Seahawks and should be neck and neck with them. Another part of me says how they should go down soon enough. They have gone to four straight NFC championship games. I can’t recall the last time a team went to five. I honestly don’t expect them to. And Colin Kaepernick is the most over rated quarterback in the league. I think he should be figured out soon enough. Navarro Bowman is a classy individual and it sucks he is out for the rest of the year. No doubt that is a big loss. Aldon Smith also might be out for the rest of the season due to his off-field antics. Another big loss. Who knows if they will improve after the Seahawks beat them in the NFC championship game or not.

-I’ve always said it’s only a matter of time before the St. Louis Rams reach above .500. This is the year I expect them too. Good young talent on both sides of the ball and coach Jeff Fisher at the helm. They will only go up from here.

-The Cardinals seemed to over achieve last year and they lost Karlos Dansby and Darryl Washington on defense. I can’t expect them to be as tough as they were last season.

I’m Not Sure About the Arizona Cardinals

Whenever I offer my opinions that the Arizona Cardinals will come I last place in the NFC West division next year their fans get all pissed off.

How is it a bad opinion?

I saw a tough team last year that may have overachieved and not be built for the future.

Let’s get it straight, Bruce Arians is a hell of a coach and one of the leagues best in the NFL. But he’s also in a division with two of the top five coaches in Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh.

His team was inconsistent last year. They blew out the Colts and then barely held on against worse teams.

If the Cardinals were in the NFC West, without a doubt I’d say they make the playoffs. Especially in the AFC. But it happens. I think they will regress next year. Karlos Dansby and he defensive MVP like stats has left for Cleveland. Washington is out all season. Those were two huge guys on their defense last year. John Abraham has to regress eventually as well.

It’s only a matter of time before the St Louis Rams become above five hundred (.500). With all that young talent they are drafting on both sides of the ball and stingy coach Jeff Fisher I believe they will turn that corner this year.

Sorry cards fans.

The Redskins Team Name is No Big Issue

Profootballtalk of NBC Sports recently reported that Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has hired a lobbyist to prevent his teams franchise name (the Redskins) from being changed.

What really annoys me or grinds my gears is how people make the biggest deal out of nothing.

Oh, the Redskins, how freaking racist. I’m damn offended every time they step on the field. But I wasn’t 15 years ago when no one was complaining after they won multiple super bowls.

Let it go people. If any team name needs to be changed first it’s the Cleveland Indians, and even then their name isn’t that bad either.

Analyzing Colin Kaepernick’s New Contract

NBC sports and the NFL is reporting that the San Francisco 49ers have just signed Colin Kaepernick to a six year extension worth up to $126 million with around $61 million guaranteed.

My first reaction was “wow”. Not a fan of the deal for the 49ers one bit (even though I don’t like them as a team). If they want to keep all their talent in tact that steals them games (which isn’t Kaepernick, it’s their front seven on defense as well as their star studded core on offense as well as the o-line) then this will handcuff them in a few years.

The only way it will look “good” is if Kaepernick improves gradually year by year, which he hasn’t shown signs of (yet). Someone brought up that Joe Flacco and Albert Haynesworth after getting their massive contracts had banner years as a sarcastic joke. That is indeed true.

When watching the 49ers play last year Kaepernick no doubt helped the offense control the clock with his running and their run game. However, he didn’t really take over many games unless they were against the weakest teams (and Green Bay, sorry). The front seven was the whole reason that team was as dominant as they were. It’s very hard to score touchdowns on them when they are playing lights out.

A 49ers fan however retorted with a good argument that this is in fact a good move by Baalke and co. due to the fact the Seahawks now may have to pay a ransom to Russell Wilson (who just won the superbowl). Perhaps, we will have to wait and see on that.

The 49ers and Hawks have two of the best defenses in the league when they are on and when you look at their offensive cores they are both quite star studded (Marshawn Lynch is slightly better than Frank Core while the 49ers receiving core is better than the Hawks slightly, etc). You could put an average quarterback behind either team and they would still be slightly above .500. The point being Wilson and Kaepernick are no Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning.

Until then, we will have to wait and see how this plays out. In a few years we may be laughing at the 49ers or watching them win multiple Lombardis.