Tag: New York Giants

This might be the year to win the Super Bowl for these three teams

With parity as high as ever in the NFL, a few unlikely clubs could have their best chance to get rings

Coming into the NFL season, predictions were made on who could win the Super Bowl in February, and there’s still a good amount of time to see if those views play out. The majority of those views probably had what one could call the usual contenders: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens topping the list in the AFC, while the Philadelphia Eagles (defending champs), Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions gathered the majority of votes from the NFC. After that’s determined, the next question centers around teams who can announce themselves as a threat in their own right. The Houston Texans (who went home after the divisional round each of the last two seasons) were a trendy pick, but have been underwhelming to this point. The Green Bay Packers, particularly after they acquired linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, became the team everyone is supposedly chasing, but many questions remain if they can even win the NFC North (let alone make a championship run). One thing (and perhaps the only item) we have learned is there isn’t a stand out team playing right now. As a result, three squads who weren’t looked at as serious contenders may have as good a chance as ever to emerge as the top dog.

The first of this trio is the Indianapolis Colts. It would be interesting to see if even the biggest Colts fan living within the Indianapolis city limits had this on their bingo card, but this team is tied for the best record in the league at 5-1. Somewhere along the line, it was forgotten how good running back Jonathan Taylor was and is. Taylor is reminding everyone up to this point, as he leads the NFL in rushing yardage (603) and touchdowns (seven). Combine that with the efficient play of quarterback Daniel Jones (yes, that guy who flamed out with the New York Giants), and the offense is on a level that makes them hard to stop. The Colts defense has been good enough to bend, but not completely break, and they have forced nine turnovers in their six games. Complementary football has been a strength for Indy, and Shane Steichen has cooled off talk of being on the hot seat to lose his head coaching job. In other words, the Colts have the ingredients to stay in the fight for a while.

Second on the list is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is the team tied with Indy for the league’s best record. The Buccaneers could be at least 2-4 if a play or two doesn’t go their way, but they have found a way to make those plays, and the scary thing with this squad is they can become much better as the season moves on. If there is one reason why Tampa Bay sits where they are, it probably starts and ends with QB Baker Mayfield, who would probably be the MVP if the season ended today. Mayfield has been the definition of clutch, as he has been the architect of a few game-winning drives. It’s even more remarkable when considering Mayfield is playing at this level without the team’s top-two receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.). There was a little talk about the Bucs being a contender going into the season, but the combination of how good they can be and the league being up for grabs could see them become a favorite before too long.

Finally, the Denver Broncos find themselves on the list of teams who could walk up to a championship this season. With the Broncos coming off of a wild card appearance last year, the prevalent thinking was they could continue to ascend, and perhaps, knock the Chiefs off from the top of the AFC West. The main reason is their defense, led by cornerback Pat Surtain II (the defensive player of the year in 2024) and linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper. Most people would say Denver’s defense is at championship-level, but what could make or break their visions is whether or not quarterback Bo Nix can consistently stay on the same page with coach Sean Payton, and bring the offense close to par with the other side of the ball. Throughout the year, Nix has been hit or miss with the execution of plays. If he can provide more of the good version, the Broncos could be on the cusp of a high on the Rocky Mountains.

There are other teams that could have made this list (the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots among them), but at this time, the Colts, Buccaneers and Broncos seem to have more in their favor to continue the upward trend. Of course, things can escalate quickly in the NFL, and what looks good one week might not the next, and vice versa. Who knows? Those teams who were listed as favorites might ultimately end up there come January. The beautiful thing about sports is games will be played, and everyone will get to find out as it happens. What we know is the gap between contenders and pretenders doesn’t seem to be as wide, and if that continues to be the case, don’t be surprised if this year’s Super Bowl winner is someone not exactly on the radar from the beginning.

Richardson’s case is the latest in a troubling trend

His career is apparently “over” after losing the competition for the Colts’ starting quarterback

The preseason is officially over in the NFL, and a week from Thursday, the regular season will be upon us. As teams start their final preparations for Week 1, there are still some items on the list to check off. One of those items include getting rosters down to 53 players, with the deadline set for Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Like the other squads, the Indianapolis Colts have some tough decisions to make, and one of them may involve the future of quarterback Anthony Richardson. Just two years ago, this scenario might have been seen as a far cry, but the situation Richardson is now in points to a trend that should be avoided by simple understanding and judgment of talent evaluations.

Before getting into the troubling pattern plaguing the league, let’s start with the origin story. Richardson was selected by the Colts with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft (third QB taken that year after Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud). As is the case with all of these selections, the goal is to find that franchise-altering player that can be the cornerstone for a bright future, and based on the raw talent Richardson possesses, there’s reason to believe why Indianapolis thought they found their guy. While the physical attributes stand out, actually playing the QB position well was always a question, as Richardson was inconsistent at best during his days at Florida, finishing 2022 with a completion percentage of 53.8. That stat alone should give the scouting department (along with the general manager and head coach) pause when considering whether or not a quarterback is ready for the next level, but with the thirst over the position at an all-time high, stats can be seen as minor details, secondary to the number of highlights seen from college days. What a player does in the NFL combine and pro day means more, and that was probably the case with Richardson.

Regardless of the red flags that stuck out, the Colts felt good about their choice, and with Richardson coming in the same year Shane Steichen was hired as the head coach, a nucleus was formed. If anyone was qualified to polish the rawness of the skillset Richardson has, it was thought to be Steichen. He was the offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles when they lost in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs the year prior. Because of his role in helping Jalen Hurts develop into one of the better QBs, the thinking was he could do the same with Richardson, who has a similar body-type to Hurts. At the beginning of 2023, things looked rosy for the newly-formed partnership, as the rookie was putting up good numbers. Unfortunately, Richardson’s season was cut short, due to a shoulder injury suffered in early-October. Fast forward to 2024, and conditioning issues surfaced in a critical divisional showdown with the Houston Texans. Richardson “tapped out” of the game due to fatigue, a move that was seen by many as quitting on his teammates. Combine that with the season he was having up to that Week 8 contest (4 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with a 44.4 completion percentage), and losing faith in a guy who’s the supposed leader and franchise player becomes more than a possibility.

After Indianapolis saw the quarterback position alternate between Richardson and Joe Flacco (now back with the Cleveland Browns) last season, training camp presented a fresh opportunity for the maligned raw talent to seize the starting job. Instead, Steichen (with probable assistance from GM Chris Ballard) decided to name Daniel Jones, someone who was with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings before coming to Indy, the starter for the foreseeable future. Now, questions of trust are floating around, and the team’s relationship with the player is on the rocks. Of course, the first thing the media and fans want to do is place blame on why things with the Colts and Richardson appear dark. It might be true Steichen and Ballard didn’t provide the best situation for Richardson to succeed, but ultimately (and probably the main reason), the player was most likely overrated in the first place, and not ready to play at a level where he could be considered a competent QB in the NFL. Another elephant in the room is Steichen and Ballard aren’t exactly secure in their respective positions. So they’re going to do what they feel gives them the best chance to keep their jobs and win football games. Apparently, they trust Jones more in that venture than Richardson.

In totality, this is just the latest in cases where quarterbacks are put up far too lofty, when a little bit of research (and simple eye testing) would tell a different story. Another troublesome trend is the rush to throw a BS hot take into the wind, calling Richardson a “bust” after just two seasons in the league. It’s true the career path hasn’t started off so well, but the man is only 23 years old, and the raw talent still jumps off the page (this is coming from someone who is very critical of his play). Let’s see if he can work on his craft and earn himself another chance to show he can become a franchise QB, whether it’s in Indianapolis or elsewhere. History says Jones won’t make it through a whole season without getting injured and/or benched. If and when that happens, Richardson has to be ready, because if not, there might be a little substance to that bust potential.

Hard to understand all of the questions surrounding Hunter

Wondering about a player who excels on offense and defense speaks volumes about the NFL’s talent evaluators.

As we all know by now, the action never stops in the NFL, even without games being played. The scouting combine is behind us, and free agency is about done (with the exception of the normal Aaron Rodgers drama) before the NFL Draft in late-April. Speaking of the draft, one of the main questions leading up to the time to see players officially become professionals center around Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter. Speculation goes from discussion about where Hunter gets drafted, to how he should be used once said team selects him with a presumably high draft choice. On one side, the questions could be seen as valid, and on the other, it would be understood if this topic as a whole is nothing more than made-up fodder for the talking heads and “experts” to quench the thirst for content.

Before diving into the validity of the questions, let’s start with facts about the player, for context purposes. Hunter was highly-recruited by numerous power-conference schools, before stunning the college football world with the decision to play at Jackson State, who was coached by Deion Sanders at the time. On the surface, people wondered why would Hunter go play at the smaller college, but considering cornerback is his natural position (more on that in a minute), why wouldn’t he want to learn from arguably the best to ever play that position? After spending his first year at JSU, Hunter would follow Sanders to Colorado, where he would become a household name with his versatility. Not only would he remain one of the best corners in the land, but also become one of the elite receivers. His ability to be on the field for around 100 plays per game (routinely) was instrumental in his winning of the Heisman trophy this past season. Now, Hunter is anywhere in the top-five on most draft boards as far as best players available goes.

After reading that last paragraph, it’s logical to ask why there are issues deciding where Hunter would fit in the scheme of the team who drafts him. The problem isn’t the athlete as much as it is the front offices doing the evaluation. Like most things in life, feedback and “analysis” come from a negative lens, talking about what can’t be done, or what a player can’t or won’t do. What Hunter can do is play the game of football, and there’s no reason why he can’t do in the NFL what he did in college. Deciding how to use Hunter’s talents should be easy from a front office perspective, but because the focus is on detracting, lines become blurred. If his natural position is defensive back, draft him with the purpose of playing him there, then put a package together where he can get some snaps on the offensive end (just to start off). If Hunter is still feeling fresh after whatever play-count, give him more plays. Most of all, why wouldn’t a team want to get a player with Hunter’s skillset as many chances on the field as possible? More often than not, there’s too many questions that have no reason to be asked.

Of course, we won’t get answers until the draft opens April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but it doesn’t mean the time for forecast is stopping anytime soon. With that in mind, let’s talk about the draft order. The Tennessee Titans hold the first pick, followed by the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. Unsurprisingly, conversation begins and ends with the quarterback position, and this year’s class is headlined by Cam Ward (The “U” of Miami) and Shedeur Sanders (Hunter’s teammate at Colorado). Most will say this is crazy, but if the Titans aren’t taking Hunter with the pick, it might be better to trade down and stockpile more picks. Despite all of the hype (along with the everlasting obsession with the QB position), there’s nothing that says Ward or Sanders are players franchises can build around. On top of that, Tennessee has a bunch of issues on their roster, and picking a quarterback doesn’t make them go away. It’s easily forgotten how much of a team sport football is, and unless the Titans start with roster-building, the same problems will persist. Plus, if it doesn’t work out with Hunter, the team isn’t torpedoed for years, like missing on a QB would do. So if Tennessee keeps the pick, they might as well go with arguably the best player.

It’s no secret the NFL season is a grind, and the toll the game can take on the human body is undeniable. Also true is how rare it is to see players take snaps on both sides of the ball with regularity. What Hunter will attempt to do upon entering the league has never been done before, but can he at least have a chance before it’s an automatic no? We’re always told history is meant to be broken, so let’s see what Hunter does. From all indications, he has a work ethic to match the talent, and a mentality to be great at what he does. At the end, that should be all front offices ask for, and this could be a big mistake if Hunter doesn’t get to maximize his talents because of bad management.

Three teams that could emerge as Super Bowl contenders

They might not grab the attention right now, but a different story could be written before too long

As the NFL season prepares to kick off Thursday night, it’s time for one more projection in a land that’s flooded with them. In the AFC, most are good with saying the Kansas City Chiefs (defending Super Bowl champion), Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Bills will be the conference representative in Las Vegas when February’s league showcase comes around. As for the NFC, it’s the Philadelphia Eagles (conference champs from last season), San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys who are the favorites. While it’s not out of the ordinary to hear these six teams mentioned amongst the favorites, it’s almost inevitable a squad that’s under the radar will rise to be in the mix. That’s what this article is all about, finding those squads that could be surprises, and here are three that might be fitted for the crown.

In the AFC East, there’s a lot of hype surrounding the Bills and New York Jets (with the addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers), but the Miami Dolphins shouldn’t be an afterthought. Of course, a lot of what the Dolphins do depends on the health of QB Tua Tagovailoa, but if he’s right, the offense is as potent as there is in the league. Tagovailoa is complimented by an explosive duo to throw to in wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, good running backs in Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. and a good offensive line that continues to improve. While there aren’t many questions about the offense, the defense is a different story. Knowing this, Miami did what they could to address the doubts during the offseason, bringing in Vic Fangio as the defensive coordinator and trading with the Los Angeles Rams to get cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The latter, combined with fellow DB Xavien Howard, looks like one of the top pairs of corners on paper, while the former has been an architect of some of the best defenses in recent memory. If the defense can be on par with the offense, the Dolphins will be dangerous to deal with.

Moving over to the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers, even after all of these years, can’t be overlooked. Being objective, this division has the potential to beat each other up, but the Steelers look like they can do their share of inflicting pain. The defense, led by linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, is traditionally a top unit in the league. The offensive line is a major question mark (perhaps THE major one). If they can protect second-year QB Kenny Pickett, look for him to take a significant step towards being the man in Pittsburgh for years to come. There’s not a lack of weapons in the Steel City for Pickett to spread the ball around to. Running back Najee Harris is one of the best all-around ball carriers in the NFL, and for pass-catchers, wide receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, along with tight end Pat Freiermuth, can combine to give the Steelers some much-needed explosiveness to compliment their stout defense. It also helps to have Mike Tomlin, who hasn’t had a losing season since he took over in 2007, as the head coach. There is a chance Pittsburgh can get caught up in the web of the AFC North, but if they do emerge, look out.

Heading over to the NFC, how about the Washington Commanders? Sure, they have the Eagles, Cowboys and New York Giants to contend with in the NFC East, but the Commanders have the talent to play with anyone. The keys to Washington’s car has been turned over to Sam Howell, the quarterback who was selected in the fifth-round of the 2022 draft, and the team hopes he can provide stability to a position that has seen so much turnover in past seasons. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. are among the skill players who should help give Howell support through the tough moments. As for the defensive line, it’s possible the best group could be in the nation’s capital. Defensive end Chase Young is ready to return and join a group that features fellow DE Montez Sweat and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. This group can stop the run, while generating pressure without help from blitzing. While there is something to be excited about on the field, it’s off the field where the most excitement might be. Billionaire Josh Harris has replaced Dan Snyder as the owner, and to say the air has cleared since that finalization would be an understatement. The hope is under Harris, the team can stop being mentioned as part of investigations into a toxic environment and workplace misconduct, which was constantly a topic under Snyder. For the first time in a while, there is true hope the Commanders can make some noise, and FedEx Field will actually be a true home-field advantage. A change in leadership could be enough to add two or three more wins, which would probably be the difference between making and missing the playoffs.

This wasn’t easy to pick three teams that could be sneaky Super Bowl contenders, because there are many who could fit this mold. Someone else’s list could be completely different from this one, and chances are a compelling case could be made for it. Just remember when it comes to these choices, the Dolphins, Steelers and Commanders are all picked to finish third or fourth in their respective divisions (according to most oddsmakers). The talent on all of these squads can be matched with anyone. It’s just a question whether or not everything can come together at the right time. If it does, don’t be surprised if one, or all, of these teams are in the running for title contention come December and January.

Three tips to keep sanity through sports seasons

Let’s prevent ourselves from going viral for the wrong reasons.

Before we dive in, I think it’s fair to acknowledge we all have things we are passionate about. Maybe it’s writing, reading, traveling or working out. It could also be entertainment, business or politics that gets the emotions going. One thing that’s unique about sports is it qualifies as one of the few places where all of these differences (from multiple backgrounds and viewpoints) can unite for the common goal of rooting for one team to win. All of those passions are carried over to the stadium, arena or whatever device you’re watching the game from, and similar to other walks of life, those feelings can drive people to irrational thoughts (just talking about sports in this case). Have no fear, because yours truly is here to give three tips on how to stay sane when watching your favorite team or player navigate through the roller-coaster ride called the regular season. The focus is on the NFL, but these can help through all of the other sports as well.

The first tip is to be realistic with expectations. I know every team has the goal of winning a championship when training camps begin, but there are squads who are nowhere close to achieving that goal. For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars had the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft for the past two years. While they may have building blocks for the future, they’re probably not ready to compete for titles. The Dallas Cowboys (and their fans) believe they can win the Super Bowl every year, but how long has it been since they even made it to the big game in February (over a quarter of a century, but I’m not counting)? On the other hand, the Buffalo Bills have been knocking on the door, and look like the favorite to win it all this year. There aren’t too many people I know who are more optimistic than I am, but realism has to set in at some point. As a San Francisco 49ers fan, I know there’s a chance they can win a title, but Jimmy Garoppolo is the ultimate wild card at quarterback. Therefore, I’m always ready for the back-breaking interception if and when it comes. So if fans are being realistic, the sanity can still remain. In saying that, it doesn’t mean the pain lessens during losses.

Secondly, remember regular seasons are marathons, not sprints. Overreactions from the hot take media runs rampant through every forum, but regardless of what is said or heard, no team has ever won a championship after the first week of the year, in September, or during October. The Baltimore Ravens didn’t see their season come to an end by blowing a large lead to the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. The New York Giants probably aren’t going far into the playoffs, even though they have a surprising 4-1 record. It’s fun to get into debates with family and friends, and easy to get lost with all of the opinions and data, but understand things have to play out over time. So if there’s a team you thought could make some strides in the right direction, but it hasn’t worked out that way to this point, give it time before jumping off the bandwagon commences. If there is a player who is hyped up to be the best thing since sliced bread (Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert comes to mind), can he at least lead a team to the playoffs before we rush him to the Pro Football Hall of Fame? All I’m saying is things have to develop. It’s about the big picture, not the small prism of what happens in a game.

Finally, keep in mind sports is part of life, not life itself. It’s understood there is a lot of money involved because of the gambling craze, but at its core, games are supposed to be fun. If you are going to gamble, please do it responsively, and let’s stay in one piece. Too many times, fans have fought each other because of game results (Philadelphia Eagles fans in particular. There was a jail at old Veterans Stadium after all). As much as we might want to think we’re part of the squad, we don’t actually play for them. Life continues, and there’s no reason to make social media clips showing people burning jerseys, or smashing televisions they spent their hard earned money on. Yes, fan is short for fanatic, but we can make sure to stay sensible through it all.

So there you have it, the three tips for someone to stay sane during regular seasons. I’m not different from the next person when it comes to passion for a team. In today’s world, it’s easy to let those emotions bubble over when our team loses, especially with the real life issues we have to face in our daily lives. A loss can send people over the edge, but sports is supposed to be an outlet from those issues. There’s still a way for us to root for our teams, sensibly. If these tips are followed, you’ll ensure calmness, and save a few limbs from breaking furniture in frustration. By the way…I’m not a psychologist, I just play one on my blog.

A few NFL teams that should be banned from air time

When a person turns on a television, listens to a radio or monitors a website on their computer or smartphone, it’s hard not to notice the huge amount of mess that is accessible to the eyes and ears. Part of that mess is teams in the NFL that continuously get air time, even though their performance on the field says they shouldn’t be talked about at all. Some of these teams may have historical significance in terms of winning championships in the past, while others have been given unnecessary hype because of a few offseason moves. Either way, these teams have either underachieved, or have been overall trash. A few of the teams I am talking about are the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and both of the New York teams, the Giants and Jets. These teams get talked about way too much while the product on the field is subpar at best.

Let’s start with the Cowboys, who are currently in first place in the NFC East. Seeing this fact alone would make someone want to ask me why I’m listening Dallas as one of these overhyped teams. It’s because they have a 6-7 record while playing in a garbage division no one seems to want, and the headlines are the same as always. Head coach Jason Garrett is in supposed jeopardy of losing his job, but this has been the case ever since Garrett took over the position in 2010. Jerry Jones, the owner and general manager of the team, continues to try and sell to anyone who will listen this is a team who can win a Super Bowl, something the Cowboys haven’t done since the 1995 season. Dallas is one of those teams who have historical value (on top of being the world’s most valuable sports franchise) and when this is the case, the media seems to hang on anything that can be a sign of a return to glory. Factually, the Cowboys are far removed from those winning ways, and we can’t continue to hold on to past history when recent history says they are as close to average as any team can get on the field of play. The play is what it should be about, and until the day comes where changes at head coach and owner are made, or the record gets better, there’s no reason why Dallas should get as much attention as they get.

Speaking of unwarranted attention, there’s no better definition of this than the Cleveland Browns. I just talked about how average the Cowboys have been, but the Browns would have a championship parade if they were close to average. If you don’t believe me, just go back a couple of years, when the city of Cleveland threw a parade for the Browns going 0-16 in 2017. At any rate, this is a team that came in to this season with a lot of excitement, and understandably so. They have an up-and-coming quarterback in Baker Mayfield, a good running back in Nick Chubb, a wide receiver duo featuring Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry and a good defense. Sure, Cleveland has a lot of young talent, but Super Bowl contending status? That’s what numerous media members thought. After 12 games, it looks like the Browns are still, well, the Browns. They are 5-7, and are in grave danger of missing the playoffs, something that has happened every year since 2002. Because of all of the preseason hype, ESPN, Fox Sports and other television and radio stations continue to talk about Cleveland like they are one of the elite teams in the league. Maybe this is breaking news to some, but one thing they’re not is elite, and reality has to set in at some point. The Browns aren’t good, and there will be plenty of time to talk about them around NFL Draft time, but not in December. This month is meant for actual playoff contenders, and Cleveland is not that. Get ’em out!

If anyone thinks the Browns are overhyped (which I clearly do), just imagine how much worse it would be if they were playing in the nation’s No. 1 media market, which is New York City. That’s the only reason why the Giants and Jets continue to stay somewhat relevant, because saying their play on the field has been garbage is an insult to trash cans everywhere. The Giants sit at 2-10, and the Jets are 4-8. The Giants, as bad as they have been the last few years, have at least won a couple of championships recently.The Jets? They have done next to nothing on the field for decades now. For this season, they are best known for being the first victory for the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, two teams that were looked at as tanking the season. If the Giants and Jets played anywhere else besides New York, there’s no way they stay in the media cycle as much as they do. It’s a good thing we were created with minds, so we can look past all of the hype and see how truly bad these two teams are.

I understand this article seems funny because I’m talking about these teams getting too much air time, and by writing this story, I’m doing the same thing I’m coming after media outlets about. The main thing I wanted to point out is all of the hype and history can only carry a team so far, because if they’re not winning, it’ll get harder and harder to hold on to these nuggets of hope. The Cowboys, Browns, Giants and Jets are simply not as good as the narrative would have us believe, and we have to see it for what it is, not from a fantasy world. The reality is these teams, among others, have not been good, and they shouldn’t be covered like they’re perennial championship contenders when they are anything but. The teams that are actually doing something are who should get the attention, and hopefully, more people can see it this way.