Tag: NFL

For the Bills, a hard truth is settling in

There might not be a better time than now for Buffalo to win a Super Bowl title

Here are the Buffalo Bills, down 21-0 to the upstart New England Patriots on a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts. Maybe the gravity of the moment didn’t hit the Bills at that time, but the perceptions from the outside looking in say a window is closing, and the opportunity to seize a moment is slipping away before our eyes. See, Buffalo has been knocking on the door of at least a Super Bowl appearance, only to see the Kansas City Chiefs (among other AFC counterparts) keep them from breaking through. The prevalent thinking says as long as the Bills have Josh Allen playing quarterback for them, the window for a title remains open, but over time, the teams Buffalo has been better than start to catch up. In other words, opportunities are precious, and if one gets missed, there’s no guarantee another is coming. As the Bills looked at what was in front of them, perhaps that thought crossed their minds, and they reacted like a team who understood what was needed for the current moment.

Before getting into the details of what happened in the game, let’s take a look at the big picture. The Chiefs, who have made at least the AFC Championship Game every year since 2018, are officially eliminated from playoff contention for this season. The Baltimore Ravens, who came in right there with Buffalo as a major candidate to dethrone Kansas City, are sitting at 7-7, struggling to win the weaker-than-normal AFC North. Yes, teams like the Patriots and Denver Broncos (the Jacksonville Jaguars can get thrown into the mix) are ascending as new contenders, but questions about how viable they can be ring loud. That brings us back to the Bills, who came into their second game with New England (the Patriots won the first contest 23-20 in western New York) at 9-4, needing a win to keep their hopes of reigning over the AFC East alive. Because of the numerous playoff scars, it’s logical to think they’re more tested than the aforementioned new kids on the block, and their main contenders are in a weakened state. It’s about as perfect of a scenario the Bills can hope for, and it looked dangerously close to being squandered a bit, or at least harder to take advantage of the situation.

But sometimes, it’s forgotten there are four quarters in a football game, and plenty of time remained for Buffalo to get it together. Did they ever, as they were able to erase that 21-point deficit to take the lead 28-24. New England running back TreVeyon Henderson broke off a 65-yard touchdown run to give the Pats the lead back, but the Bills would respond to land the final blow and solidify a 35-31 victory. Suddenly, a season (and perhaps the best title opportunity remaining) that looked to be on the brink of collapse is alive and well for Buffalo. After a squad wins, it’s normal to hear how it was the ultimate team effort, but it’s especially true in this case. Allen (who had 193 passing yards with three touchdowns) didn’t have to put on the Superman cape, because they remembered they have James Cook to run the football (107 yards with two touchdowns). A kickoff return by Ray Davis set the comeback in full swing, putting the Bills in position to quickly cut into a 24-7 deficit coming out for the second half. Finally, a much-maligned defense stood up and held New England to just seven points after getting ran through in the first half.

As it stands right now, the Patriots are 11-3, still a game up on Buffalo in the AFC East, but because they couldn’t finish Sunday, the pressure to hold on to the lead could start to heat up. One thing the Bills have in their favor is experience in crucial games, and it was apparent they leaned on that in this contest. Who knows? Buffalo might still be a wild card that would have to win three games on the road to make the Super Bowl, but the comeback on New England serves as a reminder of how dangerous they are. They might not have home-field advantage, but it would be hard to find a team excited about having the Bills visit for a one-and-done playoff game, especially with the reigning league-MVP on their side. Throw in the urgency factor, combined with past heartbreak, and there could be a certain intensity unmatched by anyone else.

During title runs, there’s always a turning point where things lock in. For Buffalo, this would be the moment if they are the last one standing in February, and this looks to be the best chance to finally bring a championship back to their passionate fan base. Understanding things are falling in their favor (mainly the struggles of the Chiefs and Ravens) might have been what woke the Bills up last Sunday. Maybe the team got together to look at a hard truth. Either way, at least for now, Buffalo is aware of the opportunity in front of them, and it’s imperative they cash in, because nothing is promised for the future.

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.

The hype is real, but the results won’t match for these NFL teams

Disappointment reigns supreme when it comes to these overrated clubs

Here we are, at that time of the year when training camps are underway throughout the NFL. This is truly the occasion where all of the teams arrive with hopes of winning the Super Bowl. Of course, games will be played, and the field dwindles down until one squad is left standing in February. Until then, the hype trains will be gassed up in record levels, and there are a few who continue to have many fans and media try to speak a championship season into existence. Much more often than not, the results (inevitably) fall far short of the hype, and these teams fit that category perfectly.

It probably shouldn’t be much of a shock the Dallas Cowboys are amongst the top when it comes to results and hype not matching. If marketability and business is the topic, there isn’t a team on this planet that beats the Cowboys, with their value being over $10 billion (with a “b,” according to multiple sources). While Dallas is on top of the franchise value world, games are actually played on the field, and the Cowboys aren’t thriving between those lines. The normal talk has already started. Quarterback Dak Prescott will be looked at as a potential MVP candidate. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will get pub as someone who can break the receiving yards record. Defensive end/linebacker Micah Parsons (who’s in a contract dispute with the team, much like Prescott and Lamb was at this time last year) will get built up as the best defensive player in the league, not just currently, ever. What has happened in previous years is Prescott, Lamb and Parsons have inflated their stats against inferior opponents, only to get exposed when a step-up in weight class occurs. That’s Dallas as a whole, and if they didn’t wear that blue star on their helmets, the hype isn’t nearly as loud. It’s widely know the Cowboys haven’t been to the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, and there is no indication that changes as long as Jerry Jones remains the team owner in Dallas.

Speaking of clubs that can’t get right, there’s no need to look past the Los Angeles Chargers. How many years (in a row) have people waited for the Chargers to take the next step toward becoming a championship contender, especially since Justin Herbert has been the QB? Now, that talk has only amplified since Jim Harbaugh took the reins as the head coach before last season. Harbaugh made some interesting comments a few days ago, saying everyone else on the team has to get on Herbert’s level. If that’s the case, higher levels need to be strived for, because there hasn’t been a playoff win with this “elite” quarterback leading the pack. Football is the ultimate team sport, and there is probably truth to what Harbaugh is saying. With that said, multiple things can be true, and if Herbert is the top QB everyone seems to think he is, then he will elevate his teammates to a level where they can challenge the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown (and beyond). For a reminder, titles cannot be given to someone. They have to be earned, and while Herbert has shown signs of brilliance throughout his career, it’s not worthy enough to match the hype. It’s past time for the Herbert and Los Angeles to put some substance behind the style, and it’s questionable whether or not that happens in a few months.

While this team may not be on the level of disappointment the Cowboys and Chargers have given the hype pushers, the Green Bay Packers are starting to enter that territory. This goes back to the latter years of the Aaron Rodgers (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) era, and has carried on with Jordan Love as the triggerman. Like Prescott and Herbert, Love is in the conversation for MVP, but with the exception of the second half in the 2023 campaign, the performance has been a little underwhelming. This is supposed to be the season where it all comes together for Love and the Packers. The roster looks like it’s one of the best in the league, and they have a good coach in Matt LaFleur. Now, there’s no excuses, and it’s time for Love to lead the charge bringing another championship back to “Titletown, USA.” It won’t be easy, especially considering Green Bay plays in the NFC North, which might be the toughest division the NFL has to offer.

With these three teams (and there are others), the noise surrounding them has been loud, and the hype has been just as blinding. After a while, the truth always comes to the light, and people can only believe the words without substance and action for so long. No matter how hard many try, there’s no argument for results, and if the Cowboys, Chargers and Packers want to change their respective narratives, then it’s time to actually win on the field. Hope springs eternal, and there’s every reason to be optimistic. Based on past history, it shouldn’t be a surprise if (and probably when) these clubs have a derailment of the hype train.

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.

It’s hard to defeat the Chiefs with a loser mentality

Results say Kansas City has way more substance than luck and wild conspiracy theories

By now, we have heard all of the excuses (and conspiracies) for why the Kansas City Chiefs have become the dominant force in the NFL. If it’s not the league telling the officials to be favorable towards the Chiefs, it’s the thirst to keep Kansas City in the spotlight. Everyone knows pop star Taylor Swift, who’s currently the girlfriend of tight end Travis Kelce, brings a whole new audience the NFL might not have otherwise (the Swifties), and the networks have to make sure they get Swift’s reaction to every Kelce catch, adding fuel to the fire of haters everywhere. Regardless of the crazy reasons thrown out to the world of gossip, there’s no denying the results on the field. Kansas City is on the way to their seventh straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game, with a third consecutive Super Bowl title still in play. With that amount of success, there has to be some skill making that happen, and most importantly, consistency in the leadership positions to continue building upon.

Of course, leadership goes filters from the top down, but on the field of play, it helps to have one of the best coaches ever in Andy Reid. Not too long ago, Reid was known as a coach who couldn’t win the “big one” during his days with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, he’s creeping up on the all-time wins list, securing his 300th when the Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional round last weekend. At quarterback, Kansas City has Patrick Mahomes, who is the best in the league, and like Reid, is becoming one of the best ever at his respective position. Together, Reid and Mahomes have set the foundation for the rest of the roster to be constructed, which is saying a lot considering how quickly people want change when the first sign of adversity hits. One more thing, the Chiefs’ defense has become the strongest part of their team. Math can be a difficult subject, but hall-of-fame head coach, combined with great QB and defense, equals championship formula.

This isn’t breaking news about Kansas City being the standard in the league, but attempting to beat them becomes much tougher when a loser mentality enters the equation. The Texans, after being sent home by the Chiefs, made it clear they felt they were going into the game feeling like they had to beat Kansas City and the officials. There were a couple of controversial calls in regard to contact on Mahomes, but simply put, Houston is not good enough to beat a team on a championship level. When a team goes into something with a built-in excuse, they’re probably already defeated before the game starts. When the inevitable loss happens, the blame goes on everything else besides where it should go, on themselves. The Texans had plenty of opportunities to potentially win the game, but simply didn’t make enough plays. C.J. Stroud being sacked eight times has nothing to do with officiating, and everything to do with the offensive line getting whooped in the trenches. The inability to cover Kelce, who had seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, falls on a bad defensive game plan letting the Chiefs’ main target get wherever he wanted on the field. All of that gets forgotten in the cesspool of excuse-making, but that’s what happens when people don’t want to face the reality of not being ready for prime competition.

Clearly, being a cooked team isn’t part of the formula to beat Kansas City, but what is? Belief tops the list, but there’s also evidence that says it’s possible. The Cincinnati Bengals were able to come into GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and beat the Chiefs during their run to the Super Bowl in the 2021-’22 season. Big picture says Kansas City has the championship rings for the last two seasons, but a deeper dive says a few plays could have literally altered history. In the 2022 run, their margins of victory were seven (Jacksonville Jaguars), three (Bengals) and three (Eagles), respectively. 2023 was more of the same. After beating the Miami Dolphins 26-7 in a rare wild card appearance, the wins were by three (Buffalo Bills), seven (Baltimore Ravens) and three (San Francisco 49ers). In other words, the Chiefs haven’t been an unbeatable freight train that blows out everyone who steps on the field with them. More often than not, teams have chances to make the money plays, but Kansas City beats them to the punch.

So here we are, in the NFL’s version of the Final Four, and we’re asking the same question we have for years about anyone having what it takes to dethrone the Chiefs. The Bills will get another shot Sunday evening, and they believe the team they’re bringing to Kansas City this time is the best equipped for the task. The mentality alone give them a better chance than Houston ever had, and belief is a powerful thing. Something else that probably won’t be heard when Buffalo’s players get interviewed leading up to the game is built-in excuses. Whether they can break through Chiefs Kingdom or not is another question, but if the Bills lose, it won’t be because the belief wasn’t there. Losing is never an easy thing to deal with, but having a loser mentality before stepping onto the field makes it worse. That’s something the Texans have to face, and if they stay with the status quo, it’s difficult to see where they can get past winning the AFC South.

Another NFL Draft, another chance for teams to get right at quarterback

For these three clubs, the hope is 2024 brings a player to build the foundation around

In sports, there might not be a more important position than the quarterback in football. While some teams have had unprecedented success finding their guy to build a team around, others have gone through purgatory to find something remotely close. With the NFL Draft behind us, there were front offices everywhere who spent countless nights trying to make sure they have the right QB (if they don’t already) to be the face of the franchise. This is especially true for three clubs, all who have had tremendous difficulty finding someone to lean on for various reasons. It’s time to dive into why they may have finally got it right, or maybe, why their search will continue far beyond this draft.

The obvious team to start with is the Chicago Bears, who had the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year. The Bears haven’t had a bonafide starter since Jim McMahon was the man during the 1980s. Since then, the quarterbacks who have played in the Windy City have provided mixed results at best. Rex Grossman (Remember him?) was the man when Chicago went to the Super Bowl in 2006 (losing to the Indianapolis Colts), and the franchise thought the found their man in Jay Cutler in 2009, but inconsistencies and turnovers equaled disappointment at the end. The latest experiment involved Justin Fields, who the Bears selected with the 11th pick in 2021. The reasons for why Fields would end up being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers can and have been debated for weeks, but the next man is former USC QB Caleb Williams. The feelings about Williams will be discussed later, but for now, let’s say the belief in him isn’t as high as what the mainstream media displays.

Sitting with the second pick of this year’s draft was the Washington Commanders. Like the Bears, it’s been musical quarterbacks for the better part of the last three decades for Washington, who have seen 27 players take their turn at the position since 2000. In 2012, they thought they had their man in the form of Robert Griffin III, and there was reason to believe this was the case after Griffin III won the Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately for the player and the team, injuries would derail RGIII’s career, and the Commanders would turn to Kirk Cousins, who was taken in the fourth round of that same draft. Cousins played pretty well overall, but was never able to lead Washington past the wild card round of the playoffs during his tenure. Since seeing Cousins leave to sign a record contract (at the time) with the Minnesota Vikings before the 2018 campaign, they haven’t settled on a consistent starter. The latest contender, Sam Howell, was just traded to the Seattle Seahawks last month. So who is next to try their hand at solidifying the QB position in Washington? That question seemed tougher to answer than it would be for Chicago, but former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is the choice. For the Commanders’ sake, let’s hope No. 28 is more consistent than the last 27.

Lastly, let’s slide down the draft order to No. 12, where the Denver Broncos resided. In the grand scheme of things, the Broncos haven’t been as bad off as the first two squads. After all, they have been fortunate to see two of the best quarterbacks ever to wear their uniform (John Elway and Peyton Manning). Outside of those years, it’s been up-and-down. Before the 2022 season, Denver felt they had a roster that was ready to compete for a championship, and the missing piece was that QB. So they decided to trade a nice haul of draft picks and players to the Seahawks for Russell Wilson, then signed him to a five-year, $245 million contract extension. The two years that followed were nothing short of disastrous, and Wilson is now with the Steelers (like Fields). Meanwhile, the Broncos are eating $85 million in dead cap money, and they’re once again in the market for a quarterback. In an attempt to remedy this ongoing problem, they acquired Zach Wilson from the New York Jets Monday, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if they reached for another one. As it turned out, it’s Bo Nix who could be next in line, depending on who wins the competition to start that’s coming in Denver.

It’s no secret the quest to find the quarterback of the future is never-ending in the NFL. A few teams (the Kansas City Chiefs among others) get it right, but it appears most of them can’t. More often than not, it’s different year, same problem. In this year’s edition of the quest, six of the first 12 picks were QBs. The Bears, Commanders and Broncos hope this is the year they end their nightmare search. Of course, we have to see these men actually get on the field and play before making any determinations, but if we’re going off of a projection before the draft, I would say nay on Chicago, yay for Washington and neutral for Denver. Personally, I felt Daniels was the best quarterback in the draft, and was never high on Williams (probably an unpopular opinion). For Nix, I can see a solid starter, but that probably won’t be enough for starving, impatient fan bases. The beauty is we’ll start to get right or wrong answers soon enough, and for these three teams, a rest off of the QB carousel would be close to heaven.

Bucks coaching fiasco latest example of crumbling under expectations

Apparently, having one of the best records in the NBA isn’t enough for a head coach’s job security these days

It’s understood the NFL is king when it comes to the talking points, and plenty of time will be spent previewing the Super Bowl in short order. Meanwhile, stuff is happening in the other leagues, and there’s one topic that definitely came and stayed in the radar. It involves the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, and their decision to fire first-year head coach Adrian Griffin after (only) 43 games. The factors as to why the Bucks made this move, at this point in the regular season, will be discussed in a little bit. Just know situations like this point to a larger issue when it comes to the pressures of trying to produce winning results quick, fast and in a hurry. Such expectations can lead to executives in front offices everywhere to misunderstand the personnel they have, and horrible lapses in judgment altogether.

Let’s start with this stat. At the time, Milwaukee sat at 30-13, good enough for second in the Eastern Conference (behind the Boston Celtics). In and of itself, that record should have had the Bucks feeling great about hiring Griffin to replace Mike Budenholzer, who coached Milwaukee to an NBA title in 2021. As stated earlier, expectations are to get back to the top of the mountain again, and frankly, the Bucks should believe they can hang another championship banner. Above everything else, they have a perennial MVP-candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they traded to bring Damian Lillard, who is one of the league’s most potent scorers, to help assist. When a squad has those assets, it’s easy to see where a head coach could crumble under the weight of the pressure, especially one in his inaugural season. Based off of the record, Griffin was doing a good job, but apparently, not good enough. So why the sudden change to fire him? According to reports, the way Milwaukee was playing defensively was a chief reason, ranking 24th in points allowed per game this season. In back-to-back contests against the Detroit Pistons, the Bucks gave up 135 and 113 points, respectively. The Pistons have the NBA’s worst record at 6-43. Griffin would become the fall guy because of these struggles, but there are reasons to believe other factors contribute to the lack of defense.

The first factor is nobody in the league plays defense anymore, especially in the regular season. For context, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are in a four-way tie for first in the Western Conference, lead the league in points allowed per game at 107.1. Years ago, that total might have been last in the NBA, but now, it’s a miracle if a team is held under 100 points after three quarters. The second factor is the Bucks’ roster isn’t one that’s built to stop anyone. Besides Antetkounmpo, anyone who had something like a defensive mentality went out the door with the Lillard trade, and all of the scoring punch the guard brings is equaled by his defensive liabilities. In other words, it shouldn’t surprise anyone Milwaukee is bad defensively, regardless of who the head coach is. It’s understood the NBA is a league that’s player-driven, which means they will get the benefit of the doubt in most cases when teams have rifts. With that said, it makes it too easy to blame other factors as to why strife is occurring, and the head coach is the one who becomes the sacrificial lamb.

So who did the Bucks decide to bring in as Griffin’s replacement? None other than Doc Rivers, of course. After all, it would make sense to bring in a guy who was a team consultant while working on the lead commentary team for ESPN (sounds dirty). At any rate, maybe things can be different in Milwaukee, but there’s not many reasons to believe this would be the case. Rivers was just fired by the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of last year, and has been the head coach of teams that have blown numerous series leads in the playoffs, including last season’s 3-2 advantage to the Celtics in the East semifinals. There was a time where Rivers was considered one of the best coaches in the NBA, and some may still have that view. Now, it’s harder by the day to continue living off of the title he won as Boston’s head coach in 2008, especially when every place he’s been to afterwards has been left in dysfunction when the time to part ways came. Frankly, having Rivers replace Griffin says Milwaukee is caving in under the pressure to win now.

Nobody knows the true reason(s) why the Bucks let Griffin go, except the people within the organization. If the team’s lack of defense was a main reason why, then it might be fair to say every coach in the league should be on the hot seat. For Milwaukee, the record since Griffin was fired on Jan. 23 is 3-5, and opponents haven’t scored less than 112 points in any of those games. Unless Rivers has some sort of secret to magically fix the squad’s lack of defense, many of the same problems will persist, and the Bucks will find themselves falling short of those lofty expectations. At that point, maybe the front office will look at the players, and find these are problems (by their own creation) a coach can’t necessarily fix with schemes alone. Time will tell, but at this moment, it appears Griffin got a raw deal.

Broncos have only themselves to blame for Wilson debacle

Things were destined for failure once Denver decided to trade for the beleaguered QB

In football, it’s no secret everything is centered around who a squad has playing the quarterback position. When this assessment is seen or heard, laughter is what comes to me at times, because this sport is the ultimate team game that needs so many moving parts to come together. At any rate, QB has become arguably the most important position in all of sports, and who’s there could be the difference between a team winning or losing at championship levels. In the summer of 2022, the Denver Broncos felt they had assembled a roster ready to compete for a Super Bowl title, and quarterback was the missing piece to their puzzle. With that in mind, the Broncos decided to go all-in on their search, and Russell Wilson was identified as the man who could lead the franchise back to the promised land.

Knowing my personal feelings are not important for this article, I could go on and on about how much I disagreed with this move. I never thought Wilson was a QB who could put a team on his back and bring titles home. It’s understood he won a championship with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, but the identity of that particular squad was a strong running game (Marshawn Lynch) and a great defense led by the “Legion of Boom” secondary (Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas among others). When the Seahawks decided to give more responsibility to Wilson, there were moments where the QB played at an elite level, but at the end, Seattle never made it past the NFC divisional playoff round since the 2014 season (the fateful Malcolm Butler interception in SB XLIX). After 2021, it was apparent Wilson’s time in the Pacific Northwest had run short, and the Seahawks brass, namely head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, were open for business. Now, it was just a matter of who was willing to trade with them and acquire the QB. This is where Denver comes back into the story.

Let’s not forget the Broncos felt they were a quarterback away from truly being championship contenders, and getting Wilson was seen as a significant upgrade from the combined play of Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock. Therefore, Denver decided to do a deal with Seattle, where Wilson would come to the Mile High City in exchange for the 2022 and 2023 first- and second-round picks (and players to include Lock). To show how serious they were in this investment, the Broncos gave Wilson a five-year, $245 million extension (There was a season left on the four-year, $140 million contract signed with the Seahawks in 2019). In the NFL, the trend is to do what’s possible to win right now, even if it means getting rid of future assets. What Denver said was they were good enough to win right now and in the future, and Wilson was the man who would lead them there. As everyone knows by now, those dreams haven’t come close to becoming a reality.

2022 was a nightmarish season for the Broncos, finishing 5-12 in a campaign that saw first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett get fired before the finale. As for Wilson, the argument could be made for the QB taking a step back from the 7-10 record in 2021. Everyone knows the quarterback probably gets too much credit and/or blame, depending on the final tally, but if that’s the standard, there wasn’t much good Wilson brought to Denver. If anything, it was drama, from reports of teammates not getting along with him, to his rumored accommodation of having his own office. Yes, all of the off-field stuff matters to an extent, but on the field, Wilson looked like a player who has seen his best days. In a word, washed was a common term to describe his play, as he threw 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games. Needless to say, changes were in store for the Broncos, and Sean Payton was brought in to steady the ship at head coach. Things started off ugly this season, with the team beginning 1-5 (which includes giving up 70 points to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3). To their credit, Denver recovered to give themselves a puncher’s chance in the AFC playoff picture, but after a disappointing 26-23 loss at home to the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve, hope was all but lost. Soon after, Payton would come out with the announcement Wilson was being benched for the final two games, saying they needed a spark to win. So the man of choice to replace Wilson is Jarrett Stidham (sounds suspect), and now, the stage is set for an offseason mess.

Thinking logically, it’s probably fair to say Stidham isn’t giving the Broncos a better chance of winning than Wilson. At the same time, all indications say the squad is looking at the contract they gave to Wilson, and are seeing a huge mistake based off the results of the last two seasons. Apparently, Denver wanted the QB to adjust his contract, or risk being benched, which happened after the Broncos’ playoff hopes took that deafening blow from the defeat to the Patriots. In other words, this rocky marriage looks like it’s headed for a messy end, and Denver is about to take a nice-sized cap hit if and when they decide to cut Wilson (unless they can find someone to trade with). Clearly, the return on investment hasn’t been matched on the field, but this whole situation could have been easily avoided if the Broncos didn’t fall victim to the vaunted quarterback chase. For this debacle, Denver should look at themselves in the mirror if they want to place blame, and because of this move, the franchise might have lost a few years in a supposed championship window that could have been a mirage all along.

Exploring why the NBA regular season has lost its luster

The In-Season Tournament provides a boost, but a lull between the conclusion and the playoffs loom large

More than ever, the regular season in many of the world’s major sports leagues have decreased in terms of importance. From the players to the fans, the priority is to make it to playoff action, and let the chips fall where they may. The decaying value may not be any more prevalent than it is in the NBA, where it’s almost considered a crime if a player (let alone a star player) comes close to playing in all 82 regular season games. That, combined with a style of play that has made defense optional, and a product that is close to unwatchable becomes the result. It’s become so bad, commissioner Adam Silver knew he had to do something in an attempt to remedy the problem, and alas, the In-Season Tournament (won by the Los Angeles Lakers) is born. After assessing the results, it’s time to look into why this point was reached, the after effects of the tournament and where things go from here.

When it comes to the league’s devalued regular season, one of the main reasons people love to point the finger at is load management. This isn’t to say resting players wasn’t happening before this, but the San Antonio Spurs started a trend when they chose selected games to sit aging starts like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the early to mid-2010s. The goal was to make sure they were healthy for the playoff run, and the action resulted in the Spurs making back-to-back runs to the NBA Finals in 2013 and ’14 (winning it all in the latter year). Since then, many other teams have adapted the strategy for numerous reasons, even if it means shutting down players for trade and draft considerations. Nowadays, 65 or 70 games played for a star player is considered a miracle, and there’s no indication of that trend changing anytime soon. It’s never a good sign when the competitive balance of a league is in question, and the problem is particularly glaring in the NBA. Yes, MLB and the NHL have equally long seasons (in terms of months played), but the star players are likely to play more often than not. The NFL has less games to play, but you can count on them to be in action unless injuries keep them out. The opposite has become the norm in basketball.

Along with load management, the quality and style of play is mentioned as a reason why the league’s regular season isn’t as pleasant on the eyes and ears. At the risk of sounding like the old head, the days of tough defense seem to be long gone, and players get thrown out if there’s even a hint of a hard foul. The combination of rule changes and the want by many to see more offense equals point totals that are astronomic. Final scores of 130 to 120 are now the normal instead of the exception, and it’s surprising if a team, or both, don’t have 100 points after three quarters of action. In other words, the games in the regular season aren’t too much better than glorified scrimmages and shoot arounds, and the product has become close to cringeworthy. This isn’t to take away from the skill these players have on offense, but the defense is more about getting the points back on the other end than taking the challenge and actually stopping somebody.

It’s one thing to point out problems, but what are the solutions? We knew there were (and still are) issues with tanking, and the NBA decided to introduce the Play-In Tournament in response. Like anything else in life, the playoff tease has its detractors, but it has worked to generate more excitement and more importantly, lessen the amount of giving up on the season. Viewership in the regular season is the next issue, which is a problem simply because football (both the NFL and college) is clearly the elephant that blocks the sight for everything else. At the earliest, the league’s Christmas showcase, when there are five nationally televised games in a row, is when any bit of interest in the season begins. By bringing the IST into existence, they can at least take advantage of the nights football isn’t on as much, and give incentive for the players to hold off (for a little bit) on load management. From all indications, the tournament checked all of the boxes for success, and if the way some of the courts looked is the most fans can complain about, it’s safe to say good reviews are aplenty.

So what happens next? There are reports the NBA is looking at ways to improve upon the first IST. Maybe the league can start the tournament a little later, with the final potentially taking place on Christmas Day. The first month of the season is used by many players to start getting into playing shape, and for that reason, it’s understood why the NBA wanted to have the dates they chose to hold the invitational. Maybe they could hold another one before the All-Star Break, with the trade deadline looming. Some people say the IST is a gimmick , but in the soccer world, the tournaments during the season have been a rousing success. It’s good to see the NBA is willing to try something new. They saw a problem, and they’re trying to solve it. Best believe, the other leagues in North America are watching, and if the success continues for basketball, don’t be surprised if there are copycats that follow.