Tag: NFL

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.

Same overhype, and probably same results coming for Jets

There’s a lot of noise coming from New York, but chances are it will be just that

It’s getting close to the start of another NFL season, and with that comes the renewed hope for teams and their millions of fans, the belief that says this could be the year where a Super Bowl victory parade can be seen in their city. Of course, there are some places that deserve the hype more than others, but a few that is going to get bulks of conversation simply because of where they reside. The New York Jets are one of those clubs, and if they weren’t in the nation’s top media market, it would be hard to imagine them receiving the hype they get every season. It’s not like their play on the field gives reason for conversation (unless it’s staying in purgatory). The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, and have had seven last place finishes in the AFC East since their last postseason appearance. Coming into this season, there’s actually championship talk centering around New York, and with hype machines ESPN and HBO’s “Hard Knocks” driving the bandwagon, that talk is going nowhere fast. Last time it’s been checked, no team has ever won a title on paper, and here are reasons why the Jets might stay that way when the season is finished.

Before diving into those reasons, let’s be frank by saying there’s more cases for belief than any other season in memory. New York has a legit quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, replacing Zach Wilson as the starter. They have a defense (led by Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner), who was one of the top units last season, returning the majority of their players. The team even have some shiny toys as weapons (with Offensive ROY Garrett Wilson among them) for Rodgers to throw to. With the Jets, the roster looks like one that can compete with any in the NFL, but the offensive line is a worrisome spot that could derail any dreams of glory days. Last season, New York quarterbacks were sacked 42 times. The QBs that were back there, whether it was Wilson, Mike White (now with the Dolphins) or Chris Streveler, weren’t that good. That’s no secret, but with the protection they were getting, there aren’t many quarterbacks who would thrive under those conditions. Wilson, in particular, has more issues on his own, but he was far from the only problem. Yes, Rodgers should be a significant upgrade at arguably the most important position in all of sports, but the offensive line better be upgraded along with him. If not, a record hovering around .500 could once again be in the Jets’ future. No QB likes getting knocked down, and it’s not uncommon for other people start getting blamed for it, especially if it’s Rodgers telling the story. When New York City is the place the drama unfolds, it’s a totally different beast. Either Rodgers gets protection, or it’s going to be open season in the tabloids.

Of course, nothing happens if things that can be controlled aren’t taken care of, but even if that does happen, there’s a lot of competition in the aforementioned AFC East that could eliminate New York. The Buffalo Bills, who have won the division the last three season, are still the favorites to win the crown once again. The Miami Dolphins, coming off of a playoff appearance a year ago, look to be formidable with an explosive offense and improvements on defense (at least through transactions). As for the New England Patriots, they’re never an easy team to face, and they seem to beat the Jets no matter when they play. Long story short, if New York wants to become the team to beat, it’s going to be tough to get through division battles alone.

Let’s say the Jets are to make it out of the AFC East as champions. If that happens, the conference as a whole doesn’t lack for quality teams that look to be in the running for a Super Bowl berth. The defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, won’t give the title up easily. The Cincinnati Bengals made it to at least the AFC Championship Game two seasons in a row. In Jacksonville, the Jaguars are young and hungry. The Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Chargers also figure to make some noise. New York can turn out to be a good team, but how much better is a significant question. They won seven games last year, and their win total odds are set at +9.5. Even if they go over, it still might not be enough to make it to the playoffs, not because the Jets aren’t formidable, but because there are other teams that may turn out to be better.

This isn’t an effort to rain on the optimism for fans in the city that never sleeps and beyond. It’s merely a caution, warning against getting blinded by the hype. New York has a good roster, and it’s easy to believe they could be ready to win right now with the addition of Rodgers. Of course, we’ll start getting answers soon, but don’t be surprised if the Bills win the AFC East, and it’s a struggle for the Jets to make the playoffs as a wild card. The conference is loaded with good teams, and hype machines are known to set people up for heartache. Consider this an effort to help bring realistic expectations to the table, so if (and probably when) the Jets get grounded, there should be no one saying there wasn’t people seeing things with clear eyes. The buyer beware sign is out, and now, it’s time to see how the bandwagon looks after each passing game.

Defense is still king, no matter what changes in sports

Advertising and marketing tells us it’s all about the offense, but defense is still the key if championships are to be won

Most of us know what it’s like to open up a print newspaper and see all of the different sections within it. There’s sports, entertainment, metro, business, politics and life (among others topics) being covered up by the main page introducing the name of the paper. As time has moved on, the printed newspaper became smaller, and the sections have been combined to cut down on the cost of printing. In a way, the newspaper reflects how life is today, and when it comes to sports and entertainment, those two sections are about as joined at the hip as it gets. Because of the partnership, leagues and broadcast stations prioritize getting as many eyes on their product as possible, and promoting offense has become the chief way to do so. As offense has become engrained in the DNA of the viewer, defense is almost an afterthought, but even after all of these years, defending is still the most important item if titles are going to be won. Don’t take my word for it, just look at history.

Let’s start with the NFL. If a person went on YouTube right now, they could find many videos that showed the league’s greatest hits from back in the day. In other words, defense was promoted almost as much as the offense, but as we know, that’s not the case anymore. Now, rules that make the big hit almost non-existent are in-place (flags fly if a quarterback is even touched), and everything that’s been legislated into the game gives the offense all kinds of advantages. Even with these changes, no team wins a Super Bowl without making at least a few big plays on defense. The Kansas City Chiefs just won this year’s title, and of course, QB Patrick Mahomes was the one who got all of the accolades. No one is trying to take away from the greatness of Mahomes, but he didn’t even reach 200 yards passing in the game. The Chiefs were outplayed by the Philadelphia Eagles for a huge part of the contest, but a defensive touchdown, in the form of a fumble return by linebacker Nick Bolton, kept Kansas City within striking distance until the offense got on track. It definitely helps to score points, but if a team can’t stop anybody, that will come back to haunt a squad at the wrong moment.

Next, the NBA is on the list. In a sports world where offense has become everything, this league might be the biggest example of that. It’s not uncommon to see teams score around 130 points in a game these days. Compare that to games played in the 90s, where scoring 100 points was considered an offensive explosion. Remember when the hard foul was allowed to make players who dared to come into the lane for a layup pay for their efforts? Not anymore. Now, it’s an automatic ejection if a foul is deemed too aggressive. Hand-checking has been taken out, and overall, defense is optional. With that said, the defense (magically) makes a difference between winning a title and getting close to that status. Games start to slow down in the playoffs, and they’re not as wide-open as they were earlier in the season. Things get a little tighter, and it’s not enough to be good offensively. Take a look at the Golden State Warriors when they defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals in 2022. We know about Steph Curry and his shooting ability, but they were third in points allowed per game through the season. The Warriors probably don’t win if the defense wasn’t as good as it was. Just because defense has become optional at times doesn’t mean it can’t be played at a high level. Golden State, and the other teams that have won in the last decade, prove this theory.

Finally, lets take a look at MLB. The analytics bug is part of the driving force behind the offensive craze, but it might be the biggest part in baseball. All we hear about is launch angle, upper-cut swing and power numbers. Rules to get rid of the shift (overloading fielders to one side), along with smaller dimensions in MLB’s stadiums, have combined to allow home runs at record rates. Yes, power numbers are way up, but teams have become dependent on the long ball, leading to more strikeouts. What happens in the playoffs is pitching staffs make adjustments to keep the ball out of the sweet spots the hitters love, and if a squad can’t manufacture runs with singles, doubles and sacrifice bunts, runs don’t get scored. Pitching and defense is still the way to go. An example of this is the Houston Astros, who won the World Series in 2022. In defeating the Philadelphia Phillies to win the title, the Astros only gave up three runs in the final three games, including a combined no-hitter in Game 4. A catch at the wall by centerfielder Chas McCormick preserved the win in Game 5, and a young pitching staff came of age throughout the journey. It goes to show winning 10-9 every game isn’t sustainable if a team wants to win a championship.

There’s a phrase that says offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. No matter how much people want to say that isn’t true anymore, too many cases say otherwise. Maybe this is the way to think about today’s times in sports: Offense can get you to the hill, but defense gets you over the top. Media and leagues encourage offense, which provides the entertainment value. When it’s winning time, it’s a good thing these games aren’t played on a ratings chart.

Looking at myself after seeing the Damar Hamlin injury

The tendency is to look at things one way or another, but it’s okay to embrace multiple perspectives

Coming into this first week of the new year, I had a plan to write on this blog, mostly because it’s been a while since the last article. The topic was going to be about delusional NFL franchises who thought they were Super Bowl contenders. That topic might be ready for another day, but on this occasion, I want to talk about life. There will be elements of sports sprinkled in, but this is more about a deep dive into opinions, emotions and the way we process different events. Before we start having the tough conversation, let it be known this might not be the cleanest copy. This is about getting thoughts on paper, and we’ll see where it takes us.

On Monday night, I, like many in this country and around the world, watched in horror and shocked silence as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field from cardiac arrest in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. At the time, I was actually working as an associate editor for a sports website, and of course, we had to bang out the articles. You do what you can, because it’s part of the job, but I can tell you my mind was probably not with it. After my shift, which ended at midnight, I tried to go to sleep, but couldn’t because all I wanted to do was get a report on Hamlin the man, not just the football player. Even my mom, who’s a causal football fan, called to ask me if I was watching what was going on. My mind, my thoughts, my heart, everything was fixated on the hope of good news for the condition of Hamlin.

As I woke up Tuesday, I had no idea when I was going to write on the blog, because I didn’t feel it was right to. I knew I had to go to work, but it felt wrong to write about anything else. The last thing I wanted to do is seem insensitive by not following the Hamlin situation. It did help I was able to write about some of the reaction from legendary players, such as Former Bills and hall-of-fame quarterback Jim Kelly, but even with that, there was something in me that was missing as far as the passion I normally have for talking about sports. I guess the only way I can explain it is I was able to take the emotion out of it, and focus on the job. After all, that is what we’re told to do, keep our head down and continue to push through at times when we’re might not be at optimal performance levels.

Speaking of pushing through, I would be lying if I said I knew the Bills-Bengals game would be postponed, and later cancelled. This is the NFL we’re talking about, and we all know how money-driven and spotlight-hungry the league has shown to be. As catastrophic and horrifying as Hamlin’s injury was, I did think they were going to treat him, take him to the hospital, and the game would continue soon after. I understand if someone would call me morbid for these thoughts, but before the criticism comes, ask yourself this. How many times have we seen players have gruesome injuries during games, and there wasn’t even a thought of that game being postponed? Look at what happened to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa earlier this year, also in a game against the Bengals. Personally, I still can’t shake the vision of Tagovailoa’s fingers seizing up from the effects of a concussion. That, like Hamlin’s injury, was scary to watch, but the paramedics came on the field, handled Tagovailoa with extreme care, and took him to the hospital. The game went on without a thought of suspending it. I’m old enough to remember watching the moment when Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown suffered a spinal cord injury in a game against the New York Jets in 1997, and Brown, like Hamlin, needed CPR to bring him back to life. Again, the game kept going without the thought of postponement.

I’m not here to compare injuries or situations. I’m just stating as scary as Hamlin’s injury was to witness, this is far from the first time athletes have been in danger of dying on the field of play. With all of that being said, I have no issues with the Bills-Bengals being cancelled because through all of the rough moments mentioned, we (myself included) have to remember these players are human beings, not unemotional robots. It can be easy to forget because players are painted as heroes, and they are capable of doing superhuman things while in action. There are some professions where you spend more time with co-workers than you do with your families. Bonds get developed over time, and they mature into brotherhoods (or sisterhoods). When one of those brothers or sisters go down, it’s an mental and emotional blow that’s hard to recover from. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see Buffalo was in no state of mind to continue that game, and it was refreshing to see the NFL take a break from their money machine to acknowledge the human element.

Over the week, the focus went to what happens for the rest of the season, and the first two games since the Hamlin injury were played Saturday. A part of me still says all of that is irrelevant at this point, but two things brought me back to that conversation. The first is the positive reports about Hamlin’s condition, and hearing one of the first questions he asks doctors was whether or not his team won. The second is remembering what sports is about at its core. This is one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and beliefs can come together for a common bond. It’s also where we go to help heal after difficult times. Meanwhile, tributes continue to rain down upon Hamlin and his family, which shows there’s still care in the world, and lots of it.

So all of the discussions about the season, and how to feel about league decisions regarding the AFC Championship Game will keep going. As a journalist, I get it because I live in the 24/7 news cycle. This is just me sharing a deep dive into my feelings, because I believe it’s a conversation worth having. Emotions run high all of the time, and mine’s was all over the place through the week. So I waited until I was ready to share on this forum. Maybe my next article will get back to normal, but no promises. I’ll just leave you with this. While we put a lot on sports, we have to remember they are part of life, not life itself, and the humans playing it have feelings just like the rest of us. My hope is we, and the league keeps that in mind, because a little heart and compassion can go a long way. Don’t worry…I’m doing what I can to follow my own advice.

Better sooner than later for the inevitable Colts rebuild

Indy looks like a team that’s ready to tank, but someone forgot to give the owner the memo

In recent memory, it’s hard to find a team that had a crazier week than the Indianapolis Colts. It started Sunday, when they were pushed around in a 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots. The effect from the lifeless performance, which dropped the Colts to 3-5-1 for the regular season, resulted in the firing of head coach Frank Reich, and the hiring of Jeff Saturday, a former player for Indy who has no prior coaching experience at the NFL level. Throw in a off-balanced attempt by team owner Jim Irsay to explain the happenings, and one can understand why the Colts are in a state of flux. Some things happen fast in life (and sports), and through nine games, Indy has gone from a team supposedly ready to compete for a Super Bowl, to potentially entering full tank mode. The reasons are aplenty, but here are the main ones why the Colts are stuck in dysfunction.

Football is the ultimate team sport, but I’ve been told a time or two the league is quarterback-driven. So if a team has a franchise QB (or someone perceived as such), that’s the player to build around. With that said, it would be logical to think the Colts tale spin began with the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck in the 2019 preseason. Playing at Stanford before being drafted by Indy in 2012, Luck was looked at as a transitional talent, and when healthy, he showed why people were so high on him. Coming into 2019, the Colts had high hopes on building from the season before, when they made it to the AFC Divisional Playoff before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. Since Luck left the sport, it’s been a revolving door of starting QBs, with Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan all getting a chance to solidify the position. The results have been mixed at best, and it appears the door will continue revolving in the coming months.

Notice I used the word “solidify” when it comes to Indy’s quarterback situation. The reason is the thinking from the Colts brass (and a good amount of analysts) was the team had a roster who was ready to win now, and with good QB play, they were as dangerous as anyone. The truth is this roster is not close to competing for any titles. There are some good parts, such as running back Jonathan Taylor, linebacker Shaquille Leonard and offensive lineman Quenton Nelson (among others). Other than that, there are still question marks that aren’t answered. The wide receivers are missing in action more often than not, and the defense is inconsistent at best. While Reich and other coaches were the ones to lose their jobs, general manager Chris Ballard hasn’t been the best in building this team. In other words, the expectations were probably too high for a roster that screams average. Therefore, don’t be surprised if Ballard is on the chopping block in the coming months (we all know Irsay is not going to fire himself).

Speaking of Reich, while I’m not rooting for anyone to lose their job, it was overdue for him to leave. Reich was hired as the head coach in 2018 because he was the hot commodity, being the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles when they won the Super Bowl in 2017. With that clout, he was thought to be a so-called quarterback whisperer, and even with Luck’s retirement, whoever was playing that position should have been in good hands. Offensive performance came with mixed results, and the club as a whole didn’t appear ready to play at times. This wasn’t more evident than the end of last season, when Indy needed a win to get into postseason play. Instead, they were beaten like a drum by the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars and missed the playoffs altogether. Everyone piled on the low-hanging fruit that was Wentz, but the whole team wasn’t ready to play. That’s an indictment on the head coach, and after that debacle, Reich probably should’ve be done. Be as it may, he was brought back, and as harsh as this might sound, it’s probably a miracle the Colts have three wins.

So here is Indy, having benched Ryan for Sam Ehlinger, and bringing in a former player fresh off of firing hot takes on ESPN to coach the team. Maybe Saturday comes in and and shows promise, but something tells me the Colts have more issues than just the coach. The club has tried reloading (if you want to call it that) for years, and it’s probably going to take tearing down and starting over for ultimate goals to be reached. During the press conference introducing Saturday as the new coach, Irsay touted his half-a-century experience in building football teams. Doing that and doing it well are different things, and what they’ve been doing hasn’t worked. The inevitable rebuild is knocking on the door, and if Irsay wants to be honest with himself, kicking the can down the road only works for so long.

It’s past time for the media to stop catching blame

When athletes get frustrated, media members catch the wrath, but they’re the wrong people to direct anger at.

As someone who has spent a portion of life in the journalism industry, I’ll be the first to admit the media is far from perfect. In the age of the 24/7 news cycle, the priority has changed from making sure a story is accurate to being the first to bust out the breaking news label. The change in priorities has led to (at best) sloppy and lazy journalism, and ultimately, distrust towards the media world. Yes, there are people who work in the industry that are about being the headline themselves, but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of individuals who still understand the foundations of what journalism is about. Therefore, the attacks on media when they are actually doing the job is unwarranted and ridiculous. When athletes in sports have bad games, that’s not the fault of the media. Unfortunately, there are many players who fail to take responsibility for their actions.

Let’s start with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the first example. Excuse me if I can’t narrow down the number of flops to a single case when it comes to Rodgers. For starters, he lied about his COVID vaccination stance last season, and when the media remembered what was said, he said they were out to get him. This season, the reigning two-time NFL MVP isn’t playing up to that standard, and not only is it the media’s fault, it’s everyone else around him. Receivers, coaches, the front office, pretty much the whole organization not named Rodgers have passive-aggressively caught some wrath. The bottom line is if A-A-Ron (Google Key and Peele if you don’t understand where I got that from) wants to be snippy, he should look in the mirror for who’s catches the brunt of his frustration. He stunk against the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s divisional playoff loss, and he couldn’t do anything with three second half interceptions from (Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB) Tom Brady in the NFC Championship Game the year before. Those opportunities slipped away, and it looks like a far cry for Rodgers and the Packers to get a chance like that anytime soon. I get the hurt feelings, but the media is the wrong place fight.

For the second example, let’s go to the NBA and discuss Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. This man actually has people in the media afraid to criticize him, and I have no idea why. James may be a once-in-a-generation player, but he, or no other human being, is above criticism or questioning. So when media members ask him questions about the terrible play of guard Russell Westbrook, they’re probably asking because it was James who wanted him on the Lakers in the first place. Keep in mind I’m not the only one who felt bringing Westbrook to the team would be a horrible fit, but LeBron the general manager didn’t listen. Now, Westbrook is doing what he has always done, building whole neighborhoods with bricks from three-point land (along with committing the careless, back-breaking turnovers like he’s still a rookie), and the Lake Show is officially unwatchable. Meanwhile, the leader of the player-empowerment movement lets Westbrook take all of the darts, knowing he was the ring leader for this transaction. Instead of taking responsibility, James acts like he’s just a player, and says the media is trying to “bait” him into saying something messy. No, the press is asking simple questions, and it’s not critical just because people aren’t worshiping the ground he walks on. What’s happening is LeBron can’t overcome deficiencies to flawed rosters anymore, and the realism of that is something he’s having a tough time dealing with.

Finally, let’s come back to the NFL and look at what Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams. This case is particular damning because unlike Rodgers and James, Adams actually put hands on a media member. After the Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on the road Oct. 10, a pissed off Adams shoved a photographer to the ground, resulting in misdemeanor assault charges. I want someone to explain to me what that photographer did to deserve that treatment. If Adams is going to be upset at anything or anyone, maybe it should be the fact Las Vegas blew a 17-0 lead, or perhaps at fellow receiver Hunter Renfrow for tackling each other on a fourth down pass that sealed the Raiders’ fate on that night. I guess Adams figured pushing on media would be better than injuring himself punching a wall or locker. Needless to say, this is not the way to deal with anger, and no matter how upset a player is, there’s no excuse for coming after press in that manner. Let’s make sure you don’t run into your teammate before acting that way Davante.

Trust me when I say I can understand why there are serious trust issues with the media. The actions of some within the industry can be enough to set off emotions that are better off being left alone. With that said, it’s not the media’s fault if a player is performing below standards. It’s not the media’s fault when said athlete wants to call himself a leader, but deflects and hides when accountability is called for. It’s not the media’s fault when a player and his (or her) teammates let an opportunity for a big win slip away. The actions of Rodgers, James and Adams are just a few of the many cases where public figures want to go after the media when things don’t go their way, or are questioned about their actions (see Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving from the past weekend). If they want all the spoils of success, then they should know criticism comes along with the status from it. The local boxing gym would be the place to find a punching bag, but for the foreseeable future, the media will continue to be a suitable substitute for receiving frustrations…and shoves.

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.

Talent over leadership: Why the latter is often forgotten across the NFL and NBA

When it comes to dealing with a star player, there’s no doubt talent is the first thing front offices look at in trying to determine whether or not to sign a long-term commitment. Coming through high school and college, being the biggest, fastest and/or strongest was enough to get by. In the NFL and NBA, those advantages are gone, because it’s truly the best of the best, and everyone has talent at that level. This means there has to be another factor that separates the great from the good, and if we’re talking about a franchise quarterback in the NFL, or elite player in the NBA, management is expecting them to be a leader and elevate the team around them. Therefore, many teams get blinded by someone’s talent, and find out the hard way they aren’t what they thought they were. Here are a few cases where leadership is lacking, and talent isn’t enough to overcome the headaches and heartbreak that come with it.

As the NFL prepares to start their season in a couple of weeks, there might not be a team with more question marks than the Arizona Cardinals. The offseason for the Cardinals was, to say the least, noisy. Their quarterback, Kyler Murray, went into brat mode and scrubbed his social media accounts of anything associated with the team, setting the stage for a contract dispute. Eventually, the sides got a deal done, but there were stipulations (which were later taken out) that basically said Murray needs to show more leadership and stop acting immature. On the field, it’s true Arizona has shown improvement each year he’s been the starter, but when things go bad, Murray has shown a tendency to quit on his team and throw teammates under the bus. Now the Cardinals are stuck with him for a while, which really says a lot about the league’s quarterback market (way overrated in my humble opinion). It’s time for Murray to grow up, because talent can only be hidden behind for so long.

In the NBA, the obvious example to look at for a lack of leadership is the Brooklyn Nets. During the summer of 2019, the Nets decided to make a splash in free agency by signing forward Kevin Durant and guard Kyrie Irving to huge contracts. Prior to these deals, Brooklyn had a team with a number of good young players, but they decided to mortgage the future for an attempt to win right now. Fast forward to current times, and it’s been nothing but disaster, mainly because Durant and Irving have been either injured, or malcontents, the whole time they’ve been there. The two stars have all-world talent, but if a team is counting on them to lead to the promised land, that’s going to be a long wait. The only times ultimate success occurred for these players are when they were supporting actors. It’s understood Durant was a two-time NBA Finals MVP during his days with the Golden State Warriors, but most know there wasn’t much he had to change in joining a championship-ready team. Irving hasn’t done a whole lot if he doesn’t have a certain king he’s playing with. Bottom line, it’s different when a player has to be the one to lead, and up to this point, Durant and Irving have proven they don’t have that leadership gene. When things get tough, they want to run and make excuses, and lash out at the media (because it’s always the media’s fault of course). Unless things drastically change, the Nets will continue to find out their investment in talent is going to fall flat.

Back in the NFL, let’s take a trip to Wisconsin, where Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers continues to be productive, and a pain in the a**, at the same time. There’s no denying the immense talent Rodgers has, and in my estimation, he might be the most talented player ever to play that position. He has won the regular season MVP award four times, and has a Super Bowl MVP along with it from the 2010 season. Notice there’s a lot mentioned about individual accolades. That’s because team success has been hard to come by. In the last two seasons, the Packers have managed to be the best team in the NFC, which gives them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Even with that, the team failed to get to the Super Bowl, and it’s because the perennial MVP candidate came up small in the biggest moments. Coming into this season, Rodgers has already criticized the young group of receivers for a lack of production in training camp. I’m not one to talk much about contracts, but Rodgers is the highest paid QB in the history of the league (in terms of annual value). He’s getting that money because the Packers believe he can uplift the team to another Super Bowl title. At the moments of truth, he has failed, and for the amount of drama he has caused, it’s starting not to be worth it. If a player wants all the money, more is going to be on his or her shoulders. When leadership is needed the most, buckling isn’t an option. Someone forgot to tell Rodgers this.

All be told, most teams are willing to get through all of the mess and drama a great player can come with because the talent is so immense. Presidents and general managers everywhere are afraid to pass on them because they don’t want to be known as the person who lets that talent get away. Leadership is hard to evaluate because a player has to be put in that position in order for that to be shown or not shown. The players mentioned above have been anything but leaders, and there’s more than enough evidence to show things won’t be any different moving forward. It’s hot in the kitchen, and these players, along with many others, have displayed they can’t handle the heat. Don’t worry…the media will be ready for the attacks when the frustrations of these players boil over again.

Maybe one day, the NFL will be honest with us, and themselves

A lot has happened since March 11, 2020, when the world literally changed forever. It was then when the COVID pandemic really start to grip everything and everyone, and the sports world was not spared from its outreach. The NBA and NHL postponed their respective seasons, and the NCAA cancelled March Madness altogether. MLB didn’t have a clue on how to deal with the pandemic, and their season was shortened to 60 games, more than half of the 162-game campaign we’re accustomed to. Even the English Premier League and other soccer organizations in numerous countries were forced to stop their seasons due to the virus. In other words, the world as we knew it stopped before our eyes.

The one league that was able to escaped the wrath of COVID (at least initially) was the NFL, that was only because they were in their offseason. Eventually, even they would have to adapt to change. The draft would be held virtually, and so would training camps. The preseason was cancelled, and the first game action came with the season-opener between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs Sept. 10 of that year. The season was largely playing out in empty stadiums, and there would be at least one game held each day of the week due to postponements caused by the pandemic.

As the world attempted to return to normal, the NFL was determined to do the same. They wanted to be strict as far as COVID protocols went, pinning the responsibility on the franchises to make sure coaches and players adhere to the rules as the 2021 regular season loomed. No longer would games be postponed due to spikes or outbreaks, they would be forfeited and handed to the team that was supposed to play the infected one. The league wanted to stay on schedule, perhaps thinking (and it’s not out of the norm for the NFL to act this way) they can do so because they are “The Shield.” It would be logical to think this stance was premature when considering a pandemic is still going on, but when has the NFL listened to anybody going against their vision?

With everything I just said, here we are, almost two years after having our lives turn upside down, and there’s a harsh truth staring at us and the league. COVID (and all of its variants) is still very much a factor, and because of that, the NFL is doing what they vowed not to do a few months ago, postponing three games on Friday. The Las Vegas Raiders–Cleveland Browns matchup has been moved from Saturday to Monday, and two more games (The Washington Football Team–Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks–Los Angeles Rams) were pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday. While the move shows a sign of basically being in the same place we were with the pandemic at this point last year, it also shows what the league, and many others, are ultimately about when push comes to shove. Anyone with a little intellect can see money is always the priority when it comes to the decision making in the NFL.

Bottom line, a forfeited result means a loss of revenue for everyone involved, and the NFL knows this better than anyone. What this means is they’ll do anything to protect their profit, even if it means going back on their original word. The funny thing is many people would understand if money is the first motivating factor, as long as the organization is honest about it. Instead, the NFL continues to hide behind other reasons while conducting their business, and attempts to tell us so as if we can’t see through them. Postponing the three games shows exactly why someone can not (and should not) take what the league says seriously, because eventually, the truth comes to life, and it’ll likely involve lots of dollar signs. Then again, nobody can expect the NFL to be honest with them if they can be honest with themselves first.

Familiar names still in the NFL hunt through all of the craziness

If there is anything we’ve learned through the first half of the National Football League’s regular season, it’s validation of knowing we are watching the world’s best reality show in progress. Just when a team looks like they’re emerging from the pack, they catch a loss that has many wondering what happened. The Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills were among the squads that experienced those humbling defeats last weekend, while the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans (the team that gave the Rams their loss) might actually be the teams to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the bunch. What happens this week is anyone’s guess, but the one thing we do know is predicting who will be in the Super Bowl at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium in February won’t be too much easier than trying to figure out a Rubik’s Cube. We also know watching what happens on the way there will be tons of fun.

While I say there isn’t much we know in processing what has happened in the regular season so far, there are a couple of trends that do stay true. Any team with Tom Brady as their quarterback remains in the hunt for a Super Bowl, while the ones with Kirk Cousins as their triggerman remains consistently average. Something else has been proven true in regards to the landscape in the respective conferences. In the NFC, the standings are top heavy, while the AFC has many teams bunched within at least two games of each other. To back this up, consider the fact every team in the AFC North and West divisions have a winning record at the halfway point of the season. So yes, the NFL has new faces trying to stake claims, but there are a couple of familiar ones who are still in the mix, even through all of the wackiness. Those two teams are the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the Patriots, they have righted the ship to move their record to 5-4, which has them half a game behind the Bills for first place in the AFC East. New England still has two head-to-head matchups with Buffalo remaining on the schedule. The Pats have won their last three games, and they could be 8-1 if it wasn’t for a one-point setback to the Miami Dolphins, a two-point defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and an overtime loss to the Cowboys. At any rate, New England looks to be hitting their stride at the right time behind a strong running game and a ball-hawking defense. When the team needs a big play in the passing game, rookie quarterback Mac Jones has shown he is more than capable of providing that. Another thing the Patriots have going for them is they have one of the best head coaches of all-time in Bill Belichick, who can make up what the club might lack in talent with game-specific scheming. If this upward trend continues, don’t be surprised if New England does more than just make an appearance in the playoff picture.

As for the Steelers, they were sitting at 1-3, and people were basically declaring the season over for them. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was looking old and ready to retire, and nothing was going right for the offense and defense as a whole. Someone forgot to tell Pittsburgh the rebuilding project was beginning, because quietly, they have won their last four games to bring the record to 5-3. With a win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, they would be tied with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North, with both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals close behind. One of the major questions about the Steelers coming into the season was the offensive line. Things didn’t look good the first four games, but they have become functional by establishing the running game with rookie running back Najee Harris. The defense has elite playmakers on every level, with T.J. Watt on the line, Devin Bush at linebacker and Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety. Like the Patriots, Pittsburgh has a great coach to help get them ready for battle each and every week. Say what you want about Mike Tomlin, but the truth is the Steelers have not had a losing season since he took over as the head coach in 2007. As long Roethlisberger doesn’t become a turnover machine, Pittsburgh will be a team nobody wants to play come December and January.

There’s a phrase that says “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” In the NFL, there are several new teams trying to emerge as contenders, but through it all, that conversation doesn’t happen often without a mention of the Patriots or Steelers. There’s a reason why these two teams are tied for the most Super Bowl wins (six) in league history. Winning DNA is not built overnight. It takes consistency over a sustained amount of time, and it’s hard to find more consistent teams than these two. It didn’t start well for either one, but as of now, they’re as dangerous as anyone in a league oozing with parody.