This weekend’s NFL Draft featured a number of similarities when compared to drafts of the past. As always, there were a boatload of trades and a plethora of surprise picks.
For me, there were a number of teams who came through with solid drafts. In particular, I’m handing out gold stars to the five teams listed below, in my NFL Draft edition of “Gold Stars”.
Gold Stars – Volume II – NFL Draft 2008 Please note: All picks state the round first, then the overall spot which the player was taken.
Kansas City Chiefs
Many of the critics are giving the Chiefs high marks for their draft. I’m joining in on that fun, and there are plenty of reasons why. Here’s the list of the new Chiefs:
1 (005) – Glenn Dorsey – DT – LSU 1 (015) – Branden Albert – OG – Virginia 2 (035) – Brandon Flowers – CB – Virginia Tech 3 (073) – Jamaal Charles – RB – Texas 3 (076) – Brad Cottam – TE – Tennessee 3 (082) – DaJuan Morgan – S – North Carolina State 4 (105) – William Franklin – WR – Missouri 5 (140) – Brandon Carr – CB – Grand Valley State 6 (170) – Barry Richardson – OT – Clemson 6 (182) – Kevin Robinson – WR – Utah State 7 (210) – Brian Johnston – DE – Gardner Webb 7 (239) – Mike Merritt – TE – Central Florida
When you’re a team with major holes to fill, the wise choice would be to start in the trenches. That’s exactly what the Chiefs did, and they did so in grand fashion by taking two of the most talented in the draft, LSU’s Glenn Dorsey and OG Branden Albert from Virginia. The Chiefs also managed to snag the talented Brandon Flowers for their secondary, as well as former Texas Longhorn Jamaal Charles to help out the running game. Still, the gem here is Dorsey, the former LSU star who despite being double teamed all season, managed seven sacks and 12 ½ tackles for a loss throughout LSU’s national championship run.
Washington Redskins
Wasn’t it a little strange seeing Washington’s name pop up so many times on the draft board? I think so. Either way, the ‘Skins took advantage of the opportunities they had, with a number of solid additions. Here’s the list:
2 (034) – Devin Thomas – WR – Michigan State 2 (048) – Fred Davis – TE – USC 2 (051) – Malcolm Kelly – WR – Oklahoma 3 (096) – Chad Rinehart – OG – Northern Iowa 4 (124) – Justin Tryon – CB – Arizona State 6 (168) – Durant Brooks – P – Georgia Tech 6 (180) – Kareem Moore – S – Nicholls State 6 (186) – Colt Brennan – QB – Hawaii 7 (242) – Rob Jackson – DE – Kansas State 7 (249) – Christopher Horton – S – UCLA
The Redskins had a great draft for a number of reasons. OK, so they seemed to ignore the D-line need again, but the big targets at WR were added. It was a need after falling short in trading for Cincinnati’s Chad Johnson. In recent weeks, the talk on the Washington Post website was the ‘Skins looking at Malcolm Kelly with the 21st pick, stating that Devin Thomas would not fall to them. Not only did Washington manage to select both receivers, but the Redskins also were able to trade out of the 21st slot for additional picks, and still get both players. That alone points to a successful draft. In addition to that accomplishment, Washington had a few other intriguing picks, including arguably the best punter in college last year (Durant Brooks), as well as Colt Brennan. Sure, Brennan got beaten up by Georgia on the national stage. He also wasn’t impressive in the Senior Bowl. He also has said to have iffy form. All that aside, he has the character, a ton of records, and has worked with a former NFL coach in June Jones. All in all, it makes him an intriguing late round pick by the ‘Skins.
Baltimore Ravens
Another draft, another Ravens team searching for an impact QB. OK, so maybe it doesn’t happen every year, but it sure seems like it. I was impressed with Baltimore’s draft for a number of reasons. Here’s the list:
1 (018) – Joe Flacco – QB – Delaware 2 (055) – Ray Rice – RB – Rutgers 3 (071) – Tavares Gooden – ILB – Miami (FLA) 3 (086) – Tom Zbikowski – S – Notre Dame 3 (099) – Oniel Cousins – OG – UTEP 4 (106) – Marcus Smith – WR – New Mexico 4 (133) – David Hale – OT – Weber State 6 (206) – Haruki Nakamura – S – Cincinnati 7 (215) – Justin Harper – WR – Virginia Tech 7 (240) – Allen Patrick – RB – Oklahoma
With Steve McNair retiring, the Ravens desperately were seeking a top QB. If not Matt Ryan, then it was going to be Delaware’s Joe Flacco, featuring a towering 6’6” frame and powerful arm. While I think the Ravens may have traded up a little high (in a panic) to get Flacco, I still think this could pan out to be a solid “un-Boller-like” selection. Next, there’s RB Ray Rice from Rutgers. I loved watching this kid play in college. Sure, scouts say he may not have the size, but man he runs hard. Like a bull, and I think he’ll be a fine addition as well. Finally, I can’t help but admit that Tom Zbikowski, the former Notre Dame safety, also sticks out in my mind. He can play special teams, he has speed, he hits hard, and he’s smart. He should be a great fit with the Ravens. All in all, a solid draft for the men in purple.
Carolina Panthers
I think the Panthers addressed some needs for sure, and got some solid value in a number of their slots. In a year where John Fox will be under a microscope more than ever, here’s their list of new additions:
1 (013) – Jonathan Stewart – RB – Oregon 1 (019) – Jeff Otah – OT – Pittsburgh 3 (067) – Charles Godfrey – CB – Iowa 3 (074) – Dan Connor – ILB – Penn State 5 (141) – Gary Barnidge – TE – Louisville 6 (181) – Nick Hayden – DT – Wisconsin 7 (221) – Hilee Taylor – OLB – North Carolina 7 (241) – Geoff Schwartz – OT – Oregon 7 (250) – Mackenzy Bernadeau – OG – Bentley
I admit when trading up, I thought the Panthers may have given up too much. Still, they were aggressive and filled needs, and you can’t fault them for that. Jeff Otah was listed as one of the better linemen in the draft, and should eventually help Carolina with their running game. As for former Oregon Duck RB Jonathan Stewart, call me crazy, but I think he could have a better career than Darren McFadden. Finally, I want to mention former Penn State LB Dan Connor, who was originally projected as a late first round pick. Instead, he fell to the third round, where Carolina gets great value, and a guy with great instincts. I think Connor will go on to excel in the NFL, just like former teammate Paul Posluszny began to do before a freak arm injury last season.
New York Jets
After a major drop off from a solid 2006 season, the Jets needed to improve in a big way. And on paper, it certainly looks like they may have done that. We’ll see how this crop does, but here’s New York’s solid list:
1 (006) – Vernon Gholston – DE – Ohio State 1 (030) – Dustin Keller – TE – Purdue 4 (113) – Dwight Lowery – CB – San Jose State 5 (162) – Erik Ainge – QB – Tennessee 6 (171) – Marcus Henry – WR – Kansas 7 (211) – Nate Garner – OT – Arkansas
Sure, the Jets didn’t have as many picks as the other teams mentioned above, but they picked quite well with what they had available to them. The pick most intriguing to me is Dustin Keller, former TE from Purdue. Scouts say he lacks in size and blocking ability, but I think this guy is underrated. He has 4.5 speed for a tight end, coupled with great hands. With that alone, he could cause some nightmares and tough matchups for opponents. He should be a solid weapon for the Jets passing game. In addition to Keller, I think Vernon Gholston could end up being a very talented defensive end in the NFL. I think both he and Dorsey could have solid careers. Finally, the Erik Ainge pick intrigues me. He is a solid QB for a fifth round pick, and he certainly has the size at 6’5”. Who knows, maybe he could climb the depth charts. The Jets certainly need a QB to step to the forefront. Hey, Tom Brady did it.
There you have it, five teams that personally jumped out at me during this year’s NFL Draft. Certainly, I liked some other picks in the draft such as the Steelers stealing Mendenhall late and the Cowboys adding speedster back Felix Jones, among others. Still, the five above teams in particular had unique moves, situations, or multiple picks that I felt could pan out or add some value. Feel free to pitch in your thoughts on the draft, and who you personally would give a gold star too. This has been “Gold Stars”, and that’s a wrap for another NFL Draft. When is kickoff?
Toss out the records. Throw away the seeds. Ignore the home field advantage. It’s the Pats and the Colts in the playoffs… again. This time, I’m not fooled… and I see a matchup truly reminiscent of “David vs. Goliath”. Yes, I am comparing Peyton Manning to “David”, and the New England Patriots to “Goliath”. And yes, I do realize that the Indianapolis defense is clicking and the Patriots have shown that they are more vulnerable compared to recent years.
When it comes to Peyton vs. the Pats, the matchup should be compared to David vs. Goliath
Enter David…
In college at the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning set a number of SEC records, including most career passing yards (11,201), highest completion percentage (62.49%), lowest career interception percentage (2.39%), and the most career 300+ yard passing games (18).
Manning’s impressive career did not slow down once reaching the NFL, and playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Among the milestones of his career thus far with the Colts include the 2003 co-MVP award, the 2004 MVP award, most touchdowns in a season (49), most touchdown passes in a rookie season (26), most consecutive games with a touchdown as a rookie (13), best passer rating in a season (121.1), 7 pro bowl appearances (including 2007), and an overall QB rating of 94.4 (which is 2nd all-time).
It may be difficult to imagine a two time MVP who arguably already has a pathway paved into the NFL Hall of Fame labeled as “David” in a David vs. Goliath comparison, but in my mind, that is basically what Peyton Manning is at this point.
Sure, while Peyton’s college and professional statistics are impressive, I still have to come and out say… Who cares? I also realize that the Colts have managed to defeat the Patriots two straight times during the regular season. Let’s keep in mind that this was during the regular season though people! Instead, more importantly, it should be noted that Peyton Manning has yet to win the “big game”. To further prove this point, let’s take a brief look back at some of the biggest games of Peyton Manning’s football career thus far…
Wow, 62 points! That result obviously can’t be blamed entirely on Manning and the Tennessee offense, but either way, it still equals a loss to Steve Spurrier and the Gators.
Manning and the Volunteers were #2 in the AP poll and playing at home, but still could not manage to come back and win the close game. This result would later land Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl, where they would defeat Northwestern 48-28. However, the early season loss to Florida (combined with a late season blunder against Memphis) would eliminate any National title hopes for Tennessee.
With his final chance to defeat the Gators, Peyton Manning fell short once again. This time, it wouldn’t hurt the team’s standing as much as in previous years. Manning and the Volunteers would win out and earn a spot in the SEC Championship game.
Tennessee did manage to squeak out a one point win against the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship game, which would land Manning and Tennessee in a major bowl game, and a possible outside chance to win a national title.
With an outside shot to compete for a National title, Manning and Tennessee would get crushed by the Nebraska Cornhuskers. All in all, it was a disappointing finale to a solid collegiate career for Peyton Manning.
National Football League (Indianapolis Colts)
January 18, 2004 (AFC Championship Game)
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots – Patriots win 24-14
Two playoff wins against Denver and Kansas City would earn both Peyton and the Colts a spot in the AFC Championship game. In his first playoff matchup against the Patriots, Manning and the Colts were manhandled in New England. While the score appears to be close, the game really wasn’t. New England scored seven times, including five Vinatieri field goals, a safety, and a touchdown from Tom Brady to David Givens. The Pats led the game 15-0 at halftime, and took a 21-7 lead into the fourth quarter. New England’s inability to score touchdowns allowed the Colts to remain in the game, especially after Indianapolis added a touchdown in the fourth quarter (to narrow the lead to seven points). However, an Adam Vinatieri field goal shortly thereafter would ice the victory for New England. Peyton Manning’s first big game playoff opportunity was one to forget, as he was intercepted four times (including three by the pesky Ty Law, who also happened to intercept Peyton twice in this year’s playoff game against the Chiefs).
January 16, 2005 (AFC Divisional Playoff Game)
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots – Patriots win 20-3
Peyton Manning and the Colts started off with another playoff victory over the Denver Broncos, but a much bigger challenge was ahead a week later. Once again, Manning had to face Tom Brady and the Patriots, but this time, Indianapolis came in sporting the highest scoring offense in the NFL. Even so, the Colts still had to travel to Gillette Stadium, where it was bitter cold and snowing during portions of the game. The high octane Colts offense would once again be grounded by Belichick, as Indianapolis was held to a measly three points. As for Manning, in this game he would throw for 238 yards, while having zero touchdowns and one interception.
January 15, 2006 (AFC Divisional Playoff Game)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts – Steelers win 21-18
Last season, the Colts came in with the number one seed in their conference, and guaranteed to play in the comforts of the RCA Dome throughout the AFC playoffs. Once again it didn’t matter, as Bill Cowher and the Steelers blitzed their way to an upset win, despite a late comeback by Indianapolis. Overall, this was one of Peyton Manning’s better playoff performances, as he had 290 yards passing and a touchdown. However, at times, Manning looked rattled and confused by an aggressive Steelers defense, which often never even allowed Manning to throw the ball away. The Steelers led the game 21-3 after three quarters, all while playing at Indianapolis. Late blunders by the Steelers allowed Manning and the Colts to stay in the game. Jerome Bettis had a critical fumble near the Indianapolis goal line, which was recovered by the Colts. Instead of being returned for a touchdown by Indy, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger made a critical tackle that saved the game for Pittsburgh. The game was then put into Manning’s hands, who managed to get the Colts into somewhat respectable field goal range. Later, Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt would miss the 46 yard field goal (and this one wasn’t even close to going in), which would have tied the game. The result was another devastating loss for the Colts, and a number one seed in the AFC had been squandered.
“Big Game” Synopsis
During Manning’s college career, Tennessee and Florida were considered not only among the elite SEC football teams, but also among the best in the country during the mid to late 1990’s. During his time at Tennessee, Peyton Manning was unable to defeat Steve Spurrier and the Florida Gators.
In the NFL, Peyton Manning has had an extremely successful career thus far from a statistical standpoint. However, during the playoffs, Manning and the Colts have sputtered. Overall, Peyton Manning has a career playoff record of 5-6 (which includes this year’s wins over Kansas City and Baltimore), including zero Super Bowl appearances and a 0-2 record against the New England Patriots.
Enter Goliath…
The “Goliath” of this story is the New England Patriots, the most dominant NFL franchise of the new millennium. Plain and simple, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the Pats know how to get it done, especially when it comes to crunch time in the playoffs. After all, the Patriots already have three Super Bowl rings to prove this fact, and still remain alive in this year’s playoff chase. With the New England steamroller still trudging along, if another team such as the Colts do not step in and stop the madness, Belichick, Brady, and the gang may soon run out of fingers for all of their rings. OK… so that may be exaggerating slightly, but you get the idea.
The most recent example of New England’s postseason mastery is a comeback victory against this year’s best regular season team, the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers led the game 14-3 late in the first half, and 21-13 late in the fourth quarter, but costly turnovers, mental errors, stupid penalties, and poor late game clock management eventually did in the NFC West Champion San Diego squad. Inside two minutes, Patriots rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski did his best Vinatieri impression by launching a go ahead field goal straight through the middle of the uprights. Shortly thereafter, a last gasp 54 yard field goal attempt by San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding was a hair short (and right) of tying the game. The result sealed yet another postseason victory for the Pats, and as a result set up another epic battle with their AFC rival, the Indianapolis Colts.
The victory over San Diego is an example of one of many impressive playoff performances by the New England Patriots in recent years. To drive the point home, here are just a few critical statistics to prove that the Patriots are the “Goliath” in this story.
>> Since 2001, the New England Patriots have won three Super Bowls
>> Under Belichick, the Patriots are 12-1 in the playoffs (dating back to the year 2001)
>> One stat during the San Diego game this past weekend mentioned that during the playoffs, Belichick (as the Patriots coach) has not allowed a single point to any opponent on their opening drive
>> Tom Brady has 19 TD’s and 8 INT’s in the playoffs compared to Manning’s 16 TD’s and 13 INT’s
>> Tom Brady has two Super Bowl MVP awards along with a career 12-1 record in the playoffs (including ten in a row, which is a current NFL record)
Combine the story of New England’s recent incredible playoff stretch along with the fact that Peyton Manning has not proven to any of his critics that he can win the big game yet, and the perfect David vs. Goliath scenario is set into place.
“David vs. Goliath” Part III
With the Patriots in the way, Peyton Manning and the Colts still have quite the uphill battle ahead of them if they want to reach their ultimate goal, that being a Super Bowl title and hoisting up the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
With the Patriots in the way, Peyton Manning still has quite the uphill battle ahead of him.
This is Peyton’s best opportunity to date, as the Colts have again made the AFC Championship game, but this time, the Pats have to come to their house. Here are a few key points to the AFC Championship this weekend.
>>New England is more vulnerable compared to recent years, and Tom Brady’s game has been flawed at times this season. However, Brady proved against San Diego that he can still step it up when the game is on the line.
>>Playing on the home turf of the RCA Dome should help an already red hot Colts defense, especially speedy playmakers such as Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders. The dome turf will also help Indy’s offensive weapons, mainly receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.
>>The raucous Indianapolis crowd likely will be a factor in the game… that is of course, unless Tom Brady and the Patriots can manage to quiet them down in the early going.
>>The New England running game and clock management will be an important key to the game, along with Peyton Manning’s ability to adjust to Bill Belichick’s game plan.
>>Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are not the only difference makers on the field. The winner of this game will advance due to an overall team effort.
Stemming off of my final point, I do in fact realize that I have put most of the focus on Peyton Manning, and not the Colts as a franchise. While it is also very clear to me that football is a team game, critics will always still try to find someone to blame. The blame game of the NFL almost always falls into the hands of the head coach and/or the quarterback, which is why my focus has been mainly on Manning and his inability to lift his team to a crucial “big game” victory. While the Colts defense was the main issue during the regular season, the Indy defensive unit has righted the ship and performed nearly flawlessly thus far in the playoffs. As a result, the game could fall back onto Peyton Manning, who likely will be the deciding factor of the AFC Championship this year.
Now the question looms… should you root for “David” to slay “Goliath”?
Why you should root for David
In my mind, the average NFL fan should be cheering on Peyton Manning and the Colts in this year’s AFC Championship game. When I say average fan, I mean those fans that do not have a vested interest in this game. Therefore, fans whose favorite team is no longer in the playoffs (so calm down New England, cheer all you want for your beloved Patriots). The obvious exceptions to the rule are fans of the Baltimore Ravens. As most of you know, Baltimore fans had their hearts ripped out by the Colts years back when the team left them (for Indianapolis) overnight. Salt was recently poured into the wounds of Baltimore football fans when the Colts defeated the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff game. Toss in there the occasional non-Gator SEC fan who is still bitter at Manning, the fantasy football manager who lost in the playoffs due to Manning’s statistical performance, or even maybe the occasional Saints or Bears fan who feels that his/her respective team will fare better against this year’s New England Patriots team in the Super Bowl.
Why else should you root for Peyton Manning and the Colts? Well, certainly everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just see Manning as a poster boy for the game today, and I overall have a great deal of respect for him. Not only does he show up on TV with a number of likeable commercials, but Peyton is a supreme example of an individual working hard to attain a goal. Every time the cameras pan over to Manning on the sideline, he is looking at film printouts, and researching ways in which he can get better. I don’t think you see enough of that in the game today. Why not root for one of the poster boys of the NFL today, and a model citizen who gives money to charities, works hard, is a good role model, etc? If all the hard work by Manning doesn’t eventually translate into a championship, Peyton will likely be called the greatest player to never win a major title (even ahead of former Miami QB Dan Marino). That is a story for another time though.
In Conclusion
From my standpoint, I do understand that in the historical story, David eventually defeats Goliath, and he does so by using a sling to launch a stone at Goliath’s head. Overall, in my mind, the story is an improbable one about a man of small stature armed with only sticks and stones, but who manages to defeat the giant Goliath, when many thought it was not possible. Peyton Manning is by no means a small man, and is also a very likeable person actually… well… that is… “if you like 6’ 5” 230 pound quarterbacks… laser…rocket arm”. Instead, my comparison to the story is that to this date, Peyton Manning has gone nearly a decade without winning the big game, and he always seems to find a nemesis at every level of football (Florida in the college ranks and New England in the pros).
All in all, eventually I do think that Peyton Manning will eventually defeat the Patriots in the big game (a.k.a. the playoffs), but the real question is… when will it happen? Will it be this year? Will this be the year that David finally slays Goliath? Only time will tell.
* All College Rankings were taken from the AP Poll during the week of the actual game
Greetings… Smart Donkey here! If you want to know more about my personality then think of another term for donkey. That is me in a nutshell… plus I tend to talk in the third person at times. Overall, I am frequently short on the analysis, yet high on the trash talk and smart remarks. What can I say? After all, I truly am an ####. And now let's talk sports before someone pins the tail on me…
Wild Card Weekend – Post-Game Banter
The NFL playoffs are in full swing, and here is the Smart Donkey recap of Wild Card Weekend...
Colts 23 / Chiefs 8
Peyton Manning had yet another subpar playoff performance, but this time the Colts advanced anyway. But of all the possible scenarios for this game, could anyone have predicted the Indy “D” to be as spectacular as they were last weekend? Larry Johnson was held to 32 yards rushing on 13 carries, and the Kansas City offense was held without a first down until the third quarter. “Bravo” to the Indy defense, as I haven't seen a coming out party like that since Neil Patrick Harris (a.k.a. Doogie Howser M.D.). Donkey had a bet as to which value would be higher: Kansas City’s total number of first downs in the 1st half or the total number of albums sold by Kevin Federline that weekend. Donkey thought he was a shoo-in for a victory, but Federline won 1-0. However, Donkey later found out that K-Fed bought his own album, therefore resulting in a stalemate. Either way, Donkey is not betting with that mule again.
Seahawks 21 / Cowboys 20
Wow, what a wild finish! I haven’t seen a game that wild and crazy since… well… a few days prior when Boise State defeated Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Checking my NFL playoff picks, with the victory, I can now write down Seattle in permanent ink. Fortunately for me, I had a pen to use due to the fact that I found T.O.’s Sharpie near the sideline at Qwest Field in Seattle. He must have dropped it. After post-game, I tried to toss it over to Tony Romo (to give back to Owens), but he bobbled the pen and lost it too… so I gave up and took it home. The ink flows magically, unlike that of the Dallas offense.
Patriots 37 / Jets 16
Until last Sunday, this game’s two head coaches may have been feuding more than Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell. However, after the game, Bill Belichick and Eric Mangini greeted each other with a post-game hug. Perhaps this could be a sign of an improved relationship down the road. Later, Belichick publicly apologized for shoving a cameraman on his way to greet the Jets coach. Donkey thinks he was just trying to keep the man from snapping still shots and close-up images, therefore allowing people to have a better chance at copying the New England coach’s supreme fashion.
>>Belichick definitely didn’t turn down a job at GQ to coach the Pats
Eagles 23 / Giants 20
Midway through the season, the Giants were considered a favorite to play in Super Bowl XLI. Oh how a season can change. New York’s defense lost the battle in the trenches against the Eagles, allowing Brian Westbrook to rush for 141 yards on 20 carries. Tiki Barber had 137 yards rushing in the final game of his career, but the Eagles appeared to be more physical down the stretch. All in all, after starting the season 6-2, the Giants fell apart. Donkey hasn’t seen a collapse like that since the Yankees gift wrapped the ALCS and hand delivered it to the Red Sox in 2004. Sorry New York fans, that’s two zings in one paragraph. No soup for Donkey! On the other hand, the Philadelphia Eagles continue to play solid football with steady veteran QB Jeff Garcia at the helm. The streaking Eagles will now advance to take on arguably the best story of the NFL season, which is first-year coach Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints.
Divisional Playoffs – Pre-Game Chatter
Colts at Ravens
The Colts are returning to Baltimore. I wonder if they will be showing up in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping. There is no doubt that fans of the Ravens are still bitter at the Colts, and have been waiting for a playoff match like this for years. Donkey thinks that Baltimore fans will be frostier than an old man who misplaced his Viagra before Bingo night. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis defense not only has to deal with another quality back in Jamal Lewis, but also an elusive quarterback in Steve McNair. Donkey has a hard time seeing Peyton Manning have two poor games in a row, even against a stout Ravens defense. Therefore, as long as the Indy run defense doesn’t leave open holes the size of the Grand Canyon, the Colts should squeak this one out in a hostile environment. With the Ravens fans angry and completely on edge, Donkey’s best advice would be for each team’s QB to not do their best impression of Mike Vick (and he’s not referring to Vick’s blazing speed).
>>Keep using that finger Peyton, and you’ll be OK
Eagles at Saints
The New Orleans Saints are the feel good story of the NFL this year, and feature an explosive offense led by former Purdue QB standout Drew Brees, as well as promising rookies Reggie Bush and Marques Colston. On the other hand, Philadelphia is arguably the hottest team in the NFC. One downside for Philly fans is that the Eagles have lost pro bowl corner Lito Sheppard for the game due to a dislocated elbow injury that he suffered last week against the Giants. That injury could help the potent New Orleans offense in a big way. It could also feature the Eagles secondary having less coverage than Britney Spears during a night out on the town. Because of that, I’ll pick the Saints by a human nose. If I took them by a donkey’s nose, I would be calling for a blowout.
Seahawks at Bears
Donkey thinks this could be the most unpredictable game of the weekend. For starters, Rex Grossman has more personalities than Russell Crowe’s character in “A Beautiful Mind”. The question is which Rex will show up on Sunday? The lethal Chicago defense, which has struggled as of late, should be ready to go at home. On the other hand, the Seahawks are a different team away from home, and have been in recent years. Coming off a wild win at home against the Cowboys, Seattle should be riding a playoff high. Either way, if the Seahawks show up and walk onto the field Sunday afternoon, that will already be a better performance than in Week 4, when the Bears annihilated Seattle 37-6. Holmgren should keep this one closer, but Donkey will go with “Da Bears”
Patriots at Chargers
What a matchup in this game, as Tom Brady and a New England franchise rich in playoff success take on San Diego, the team with the best record in the NFL (14-2) and featuring the NFL’s MVP in LaDainian Tomlinson. This game will be interesting, and could easily feature either a hard fought defensive battle, or result in more scoring than a night out with Paris Hilton. Overall, Donkey thinks the difference maker in this game is not Brady, not LT, but in fact playoff rookie and San Diego QB Philip Rivers. No doubt the Patriots hope to frustrate Rivers more than a one-legged man would be when participating in a butt kicking contest. For once, Donkey will have to pray for no OT in this game, as Jack Bauer will return shortly after the expected end time of the game! Donkey gives a slight edge to San Diego, especially if they sport those nifty powder blue jerseys.
Other Nuggets
Don’t worry, not those kinds of nuggets...
Florida vs. Ohio State (Tostitos BCS National Championship)
There is that chip brand again… Donkey is getting hungry. Perhaps all this mention of Tostitos could get Donkey’s name in lights. Attention Frito-Lay: Please feel free to send along a free shipment of tasty Tostitos and chunky salsa to Donkey’s address. Anyway…this game reflected the perfect example of the phrase “Never listen to everything that you read”. Every sports analyst stated that the Gators didn’t stand a chance in this game, yet Florida went on to win 41-14 in a laugher. Donkey certainly learned his lesson regarding listening to everything that he reads. For example, today he had a Chiquita banana that had a sticker on it that stated “Place Sticker on Forehead. Smile.”. He did… probably not the best idea considering he has fur on his head. Donkey looks like Terry Bradshaw on a good day now.
NFL Coaching Carousel
The Miami Dolphins have been rumored to have 12 candidates in the running for their head coach position. 12 total candidates?! Horse feathers! Why stop there? Let’s toss Rich Kotite into the mix. While we’re at it, how about bringing Jim Mora Sr. out of retirement? After all, Mora Sr.’s “Playoffs - Playoffs?!” tirade would be fitting considering the current state of the Miami franchise
The Arizona Cardinals are also in search of a new coach after letting Dennis Green go. Dennis Green is what Donkey thought he was! Overall, the Cards should be thankful for their new stadium, because after another disappointing season, without it there may have been more attendance at a Basic Instinct 2 screening.
Greetings!It is time for Part II of my NFL Playoffs segment, featuring the AFC Conference.For the NFC portion of the segment, see my previous posting.
In the holiday spirit, here is a unique twist on the NFL playoff contenders as the season winds down…
AFC
1. 1. Indianapolis Colts (13-2):
Team Outlook
Wow, what a difference a few weeks can make.Doesn’t it feel like yesterday that the big NFL news was whether the Colts would go undefeated or not?Now Indy has dropped two in a row.Look for the Colts to rebound in the final week against the Arizona Cardinals (5-10).With that win, look for Indianapolis to regain some of their momentum.The Colts are still the beast of the AFC, and a team that has another week (plus a bye week in the playoffs) to try and get healthy.Furthermore, the Colts are going to play even harder for Tony Dungy, who is grieving due to the unfortunate loss of his son.There will be some big challenges ahead of this Colts team, but look for them to still have the best shot to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XL.
What was in his stocking?
Tony Dungy– An Infinite Number of Cards from Fans, Teammates, and Friends
Though I assume he will never view this blog, my condolences and sincere best wishes go out to Coach Dungy and his family.This is no doubt a very emotional time for the Dungy family, and I wish them the best.
3. 2. Denver Broncos (12-3):
Team Outlook
Coach Shanahan has heard some criticism in recent seasons, as he has been unable to get the Broncos back to where he took them with John Elway (to two Super Bowl victories).However, you can admit one thing about Shanahan, and that is that he can make any running back work well in his system (e.g. former Wisconsin standout Ron Dayne).Denver has some good balance offensively and defensively, but has had major problems with the Colts in the past few seasons.If they meet Indy in the AFC Championship, I expect a better showing, but not enough to get it done.
What was in his stocking?
Jake Plummer – A pair of scissors and a good barber
C’mon Jake, I think it is time to trim away the wild party of facial hair.It looks like the Denver offense is being led down the field by Bigfoot. Plummer may even have some birds or squirrels nesting in there too.On the other hand, Jake has had a solid year, and handles the play action passing game better then anyone in the NFL.
3. 3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4):
Team Outlook
Kudos to Marvin Lewis for continuing to improve one of the younger teams in the NFL.Cincinnati has the state of Ohio buzzing again about professional football, even though the Bengals had a major setback against the Bills over the weekend.Cincinnati’s youth should prove to be a major factor in their playoff chances.The lack of playoff experience is going to hurt the Bengals this year.There is no doubt that the Bengals have a great deal of developing talent, especially on offense (including Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh– yes I had to look up how to spell his name).However, if Pittsburgh is the opening matchup for Cincy on Wild-Card weekend, I’m convinced that Cowher will get his revenge and pull two out of three against Marvin’s squad. The Bengals will play hard, and certainly not keel over and die.However, they just don’t quite have enough to get it done this season.
What was in his stocking?
Chad Johnson – A Coffee Table Book featuring End Zone Celebrations
Soon enough, even Chad is going to run out of celebrations.What better gift for a player, but a book of brainstorming options to keep the fans entertained?While we are at it, might as well toss in a fresh book of checks, so he has something to fill out when paying the fines to the NFL.
Marvin Lewis – A few Coach of the Year votes
Coach Lewis deserves a few votes for Coach of the Year already.There most definitely are some other legitimate candidates, but Lewis should finish near the top of the list, if not the outright winner of the award.
3. 4. New England Patriots (10-5):
Team Outlook
Just when you thought they were fading out of the picture, the New England Patriots have clawed their way back into it.There was no doubt that the Pats would steal away a playoff spot in the weak AFC East division.However, until recent weeks, their play had seemed all but mediocre.Now, the Patriots have to be considered a legitimate threat in the AFC playoffs, especially as a dark horse to knock off Indy (as they already have past experience in doing just that).I still believe the losses of former coordinators Romeo Crenell and Charlie Weis are going to hurt Bill Belichick come playoff time.New England will give teams a lot of headaches, but this year they will fall short of the title.There will be a new AFC representative for Super Bowl XL.
What was in his stocking?
Bill Belichick – A Book on Fashion Tips
Let’s face it, Belichick can call plays, but he doesn’t care what he looks like does he?While that is unique in the NFL today, it is also subject to random blog nitpicking from individuals like myself.That baggy non-cuffed hooded sweatshirt look reminds me of a muumuu.Belichick wears a muumuu.That is all there is to it.No one said he should change, but maybe some tips would help for formal dinners out on the town (to celebrate Patriot victories).
3. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4):
Team Outlook
Like the Panthers in the NFC, Jacksonville is a tough team to figure out. One week they look unstoppable, and the next they are chock full of flaws.The Jaguars always seem to play to the level of their competition.One good sign is the ability for the team to remain afloat during the absence of QB Byron Leftwich (backup David Gerrard has filled in admirably).Coach Jack Del Rio’s team features a solid and tenacious defense, and an offense that can be anemic at times.Right now, it looks as if Jacksonville could run into a red-hot Patriots squad in the opening round.If that is the case, I see an early exit in their future, as Belichick knows how to win the clutch ballgames.I give kudos to the Jaguars coaching staff for improving this team greatly, and getting them back to the playoffs.
What was in his stocking?
Byron Leftwich – A Doctor’s Note
The most recent rumor has Leftwich possibly returning for the last game of the season (vs. Tennessee).Getting him back this early would help him loosen up and return to game form before the playoffs begin.Therefore, a positive doctor note would be useful for Byron.
3. 6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5):
Team Outlook
The power running game is lacking this year in Pittsburgh, and in turn this is making the Steelers have to rely more on QB Ben Roethlisberger.“Big Ben” has been fighting hard and playing through injuries, which therefore also results in more mistakes (and a hit on the passing game).That leaves the Pittsburgh defense, which is solid, but by no means a dominating group.The Steelers should get into the playoffs due to the final week matchups (Steelers host the 5-10 Lions while Kansas City has to face the 11-4 Bengals).If they do get in and face Cincinnati, I feel they will win that game as well.After that, I think Pittsburgh’s season will come to an abrupt end.
What was in his stocking?
Bill Cowher – Laundry Detergent and a boatload of French Fries
The lack of a power running game should keep Cowher out of the Super Bowl this year.Therefore, the perfect gift is some laundry detergent to clean up all of those “Terrible Towels”.On top of that, pile on some French fries, which can be used to dip into the endless ketchup available at Heinz Field.
3. 7. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6):
Team Outlook
Kansas City is the “Bubble team” in the AFC at the current time. Coach #### Vermeil had the team ready this past weekend, and it showed with a dominant 20-7 win over the Chargers.The Chiefs also have RB Larry Johnson, who has rattled off eight straight 100-yard rushing games.Johnson would therefore open the passing game for QB Trent Green, who is more then capable of making big plays.The Chiefs will need help from Pittsburgh in order to get into the playoffs.If they can sneak in, Kansas City has a legitimate shot to knock off the number three seed in the AFC.A Kansas City / Cincinnati matchup could be a fun shootout for fans to watch.
What was in his stocking?
#### Vermeil – A box of tissues (The kind with Aloe)
With the team on the verge of potentially missing the playoffs, one would imagine that Chiefs coach #### Vermeil could be on the verge of another tear-filled experience.Even if Kansas City squeaks in to the playoffs after a trying season, a good cry may be in order.That along with the possible rumored plans of retirement?Better make it two boxes.
That is all for now.Once again, Happy Holidays to all… and to all a good night!
/ Jets 16
