Top Ten Headlines heading into 2011

1) Where art thou Melo?

While I don't think Carmelo Anthony will have the impact on the NBA that LeBron James did in 2010, I think his decision will have the biggest impact on the league in 2011 compared to any other player transactions. If Carmelo stays in Denver the rest of this entry is void. And with the chance that he doesn't get traded to New York, it would make sense for him to take the money while he can. But if Carmelo Anthony really just wants to be a Knick then this will be a major move for the NBA.

Obviously I'm being a homer by thinking Carmelo Anthony going to the Knicks is one of the major stories in sports, but let me gloat and pretend the Knicks are national news, and that they're so relevant and close that they're worth mentioning as one of the more important stories in all of sports. This season the Knicks look like they're one piece away from being a championship contender. They've played the Celtics tough, beaten the Bulls a couple of times, and handed the Spurs their fifth loss of the season on Tuesday. They definitely need to add some depth, but if there was some way they could keep Landry Fields, Wilson Chandler, and Danilo Gallinari, and add Melo, they'd be pretty close to the best teams in the league.

I'm anticipating the Knicks having to part with at least one of the three guard/forwards that I just mentioned, but they're still in the process of rebuilding and it seems that Amar'e Stoudemire and Ray Felton are two great starting points. Melo could attract more talent to the Big Apple and the Knicks/Heat rivalry will reach new highs. Or Melo could get traded to the Nets and fade into obscurity. Keeping my fingers crossed....

2) NFL Postseason

I don't think there's been a year where everyone's at such an even playing field in recent memory. I mean the Saints are defending champions and won't play a home game, the Steelers, Ravens, Falcons, and Bears have pretty much cruised all season, the Patriots are looking unbeatable, but the Jets are one one of the two teams to defeat New England this year. Oh yeah, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers are still around too. The only team that really doesn't stand a chance is the 7-9 Seahawks, but even they play exceptionally better at home and will host the Saints in the Wild Card round.

I'm not using this opportunity to make any predictions, but I am excited and think this will be one of the more unpredictable playoffs in a few years. I'll trim the edges and say I don't think it'll be both one seeds in the Superbowl, and I also don't think home-advantage will matter that much. There are twelve different teams, that play twelve very different styles of football, and I really think that every team but the Seahawks stands a chance. Or the Patriots will continue to maul through everyone and win it all.

3) Phillies vs Red Sox World Series?

Tell me, if not the Phillies and Red Sox, then who? What team in the National League has the pitching (or hitting really) to go up against Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Roy Oswalt at the front of a rotation? Don't forget about Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins in the lineup. The N. L. really feels like it's Philadelphia's to lose, even if the Giants are the defending champs. The Phillies have played in two of the last three World Series and they're a team that's poised to win.

And American League followers, why don't you tell me who has the pitching to stop Carl Crawford, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Gonzalez, and David Ortiz (probably their 1-5)? Cliff Lee left Texas, and while the A.L. West can still be won, I don't know who has the pitching or offense to keep up with Boston. I'm obviously playing a little stupid here because I still think the Yankees are going to win the A.L. (sorry for being a homer), but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of Boston this year...at least until Papelbon takes the hill.

4) Mayweather vs Pacquiao please?

I tried to talk about other sports in my 2010 article, so let me give boxing a shout-out in 2011. This is the fight that boxing NEEDS! It's the sports two biggest stars, who happen to be in the same weight-class, who have both been on top of the sport for the past five years. They were slated to fight in 2010 but impromptu drug tests set Pacquiao off and the fight was never made official. The fight being on-and-off has built the anticipation to see the undefeated Mayweather take on the hard-hitting Pac-Man, but Mayweather doesn't fight too many fights anymore and it seems these two are content with making money and beating up on lesser opponents. Not to disgrace boxing but this is the fight everyone wants to see, and until it happens the sport can expect to play second fiddle to MMA.

5) So an Owners League and a Players League walk into a bar...does either come back for 2011?

This has the potential to be THE biggest story in 2011...in fact, the TWO biggest stories in 2011. There's a good chance that we may not see the NFL after February, or the NBA after June (or July or August, whenever the playoffs finally end) this year. Both leagues look like they're heading towards lockouts, and there really isn't much room for optimism.

The NFL has become American royalty as far as sports go, but the players want more guaranteed money and the owners want more games and lower salaries. Even if there is a lockout, the NFL is still going to be paid five billion dollars from the NFL Network...do you know how much of that the players are going to see? Zero. I doubt either side wants to not play for numerous reasons (league image and insane income to name a couple), but this is a situation that doesn't seem to have much give.

And the NBA lockout is looking like a sure thing too. Again, the players want more money and the owners aren't in favor of the players contracts. The NBA hasn't quite had the success that the NFL has had recently, so teams are bringing in less money and players are being paid well beyond their abilities. I mean how does Amar'e Stoudemire get nearly 20 million dollars a year out of a mid-50 million dollar salary budget? Or a better example, how does Darko Milicic get a four-year, 20 million dollar deal when he came into the season averaging way less than 10 points and 5 rebounds a game. Of course I'm just stating my opinion in who deserves what. The owners make a nice salary and why not share that with the players who bring in the money? But when you're giving guys like Darko and Adonal Foyle mega-deals, we have a problem. And as a result we may not have NBA basketball in 2011-2012.

6) NFL Coaching Changes

We may see some big name coaches return in 2011, including Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden, and it seems Jim Harbaugh is the hottest thing to hit football coaching since Bill Belichick found his groove with the Patriots. While it seemed just a couple of weeks ago that jobs in New York, Dallas, and Minnesota might be available, those positions have been solidified, while the 49ers, Raiders, and Browns jobs have become the most highly touted. Even Cleveland could see Mike Holmgren return to the sidelines. Will Tony Sparano be bounced from South Beach? Lots of questions to be answered, and hopefully we'll have some of our favorites back in action next season.

Legacies are on the line...

7) Best since MJ? How about better than MJ?

Yep, I'm mainly talking about Kobe here. Do the Lakers three-peat and get Kobe Bryant his sixth NBA championship? They've been to three straight NBA Finals, and as good as San Antonio and Dallas look at the beginning of the season, we all know the Lakers are still the cream of the crop. If the Lakers do win, it'll tie Kobe and Michael Jordan for championship rings, and the question will have to be asked...is Kobe better than Jordan? You know my answer (if you don't it's no). Hopefully LeBron wins instead (unless the Knicks make a push, then by all means) and we can start to call him the best since Jordan.

I don't think this season necessarily has that great of an effect on LeBron's legacy. Obviously the sooner he starts winning championships the better it is for him, but it's not win or bust for him this year. I know if the Heat don't win every championship while they have LeBron and Dwyane Wade it will be considered a failure, but he could still come out and win more than a handful of rings even if he doesn't this year.

8) Who's the Yankees shortstop?

Derek Jeter had arguably his best season in 2009. Moving back into the leadoff spot, Jeter hit .334 with 18 homers, while stealing 30 bases and winning a gold glove. In his contract year in 2010, Jeter's average dropped to .270 with only ten home runs. Now we all know Jeter isn't a power hitter, but the fact that his average dropped .64 points is alarming considering the Yankee Captain is going to be 37 years old in 2011. Everyone has their off years, but you can't debate that the older an athlete gets the less effective they become. Is this the end of the road for Jeter? Or was 2010 just one of those years?

9) The Greatest Quarterback ever?

While there's a lot of hype surrounding Stanford Junior quarterback Andrew Luck, within the next couple of months we will have a new NFL champion, and there's a good chance that the winner will be lead by either Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Without a doubt, Brady and Manning are both in the conversation as it is, and I think if either one of them wins another championship it'll put their names at the top of the list.

I want to start with Brady because his team is looking like the clear favorite to win Superbowl 45. I know the playoffs haven't even started yet, but the Patriots have scored at least 30 points in 11 of the 13 games they played since trading Randy Moss. This is a team that crushed the Jets, pummeled the Bears, beat the Ravens, and looked unstoppable against the Steelers (not to mention two wins against the Dolphins, and wins over the Chargers, Colts, and the Aaron Rodgers less Packers). I know that none of that means anything in the regular season, but this team has walked the walk, and Belichick and Brady are at their best in the playoffs. Brady's probably going to win his second MVP, but if the Pats go all the way this will be his fourth ring. Numbers like that probably equate to number 1.

While Brady has the meaningful numbers, Peyton Manning may be the guy who breaks all of Brett Favre's records. His excellence and consistency really haven't been matched by anyone in his era besides Brady. While Brady has won more championships, Manning has more MVPs, and it's arguable that Brady and the Patriots success is a byproduct of the teams coach, while the success of the Colts is dependable on Peyton Manning. If Manning would have beaten the Saints last year his case would be stronger, but multiple rings for Manning is the key to his legacy and this may be one of his last shots.

10) The Greatest Coach ever?

It's going to happen, and it's going to happen sooner than people thought. No more are the days of Greg Paulus and David McClure, Mike Krzyzewski's getting top prospects again, and the Dukies are winning a lot. Coach K moved past Dean Smith into second place on the all-time wins list just last week, and is currently 21 wins away from passing Bobby Knight at 902. Duke will most likely lose a few games this year, but between the rest of this season and the beginning of next season, Duke and Coach K will get those 22 wins and then some.

It should be an interesting year, especially if we are spared those lockouts. I tried to talk about what I thought were the most impactful storylines on the sports world, but also receiving honorable mention are...

- Jimmie Johnson's Chase for Six

- Tiger Woods, a Year Removed from the Drama

And of course...

- Brett Favre's Comeback (come on, you guys know he isn't gonna stay retired!)

Enjoy the NFL Playoffs and Let's Go Jets!

Top Ten Stories of 2010

1)LeBron James Free Agency

How could one man's availability turn the NBA up-side down? Well despite the fact that the Lakers and Celtics are probably the two best teams in the league still, LeBron James signing with the Heat is the biggest thing to happen to the league since The Big Three was formed in 2007. Not only does LeBron make the Heat one of the league's elite teams for years to come, but his decision has given his peers the idea that their careers are in their own hands, and they can play wherever they want and with whoever they want.

Obviously that last statement only applies to those relevant enough to be coveted by both their current teams and their hopeful teams (cough Melo), but I think this move will create a trend in the league where superstars will align and create a greater gap between the good teams and the bad teams. I can't only credit LeBron for this. I'll get on Chris Bosh and call him a follower all day, but realistically he could've tried to be the man somewhere else and win a championship without two better players than him on his team, but he made a smart move and went where he thinks the championships are going to go...to LeBron and Dwyane Wade. (Note: Before making his decision, Chris Bosh said he wanted to go to a team where he would be "the man," as if that wasn't the situation in Toronto where he couldn't lead metal to a magnet, just saying).

LeBron and Bosh made what they believed to be smart business decisions, as did Amar'e Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer, but this past summer we read about Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and other All-Stars wanting to follow the trend. With collective bargaining coming up and the argument of whether the NBA is a Players league or an Owners league, it should be interesting to see how LeBron's decision effects the NBA on a greater scale than the success of the Miami Heat...which is already being felt (they're 15-1 in December).

2) Michael Vick...from Most Wanted to Most Valuable?

Some may know him as Ron Mexico, but in 2010 he's number seven in the playbooks and number one in your hearts...too soon? He loves animals, he loves watching film, and he's still unstoppable...what's not to love about Michael Vick? After letting Donovan McNabb go to a divisional rival, Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid must have really believed in his quarterback. That quarterback was Kevin Kolb. Kolb lead the Eagles to 2-3 in games he played in 2010, the Eagles are now 10-5, Vick has a 100.2 QB Rating, you figure the rest out. (Sometimes I feel like I'm writing Stuart Scott's script...)

Heading into the final week of the NFL season, it looks as if the Eagles will secure a home playoff game. They're one of the youngest teams in the league, but they're being lead by an MVP candidate (although Brady's pretty close to a shoe-in) and the best story in sports. I'm sure people are still rooting against Michael Vick, and it's tough to feel bad for a criminal, but it's awfully nice to see him taking advantage of his talents and surpassing the legacy he left behind before things went bad. I'm still rooting for the Jets, but if Vick wins a Superbowl the planet might explode.

3)Tootles to Brett Favre

To all of you cynics who can't understand the over-the-top Brett Favre coverage every time he sneezes, wake up! There's this much coverage for Brett Favre because he's been one of the main faces of sports for the last two decades almost. You know who gets the best ratings on Monday Night Football? Brett Favre's team. And not for nothing, but the Vikings made the NFC Championship last year, he flamed out with the Jets, but he made the NFC Championship with the Packers the year before that too. I know at times he seems washed up, but he's still been one of the most effective athletes on the planet. This year however, he's definitely seemed washed up and it seems he knows it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sick of the guy like almost everyone else, but I think it's sad that this is his last season. I hope that his games played streak ending will be remembered more than this TMZ story involving Jenn Sterger (as guilty as he may or not be, he didn't have an affair, he didn't offend the person his actions were intended for, and he didn't commit a crime, let it go). I mean, I just find it so remarkable that this man played at the level he did in 297 straight games. I think that Cal Ripken Jr's consecutive baseball games played streak is impressive, but Favre has been knocked out of two games this season alone, and he's taken that kind of beating since 1992 and gotten up and come back to play the next week every time. He's 40, he's banged up, but he's also one of the all-time greats, and truly has played until he couldn't play any longer. Thanks for the memories Brett, now please don't make me write this again a year from now.

4)Cliff Lee doesn't go to the Yankees...twice

It's hard to complain about anything when you're a Yankees fan, and I'm not making any case for me or my people, but Cliff Lee reportedly being traded to the Yankees in July (obviously didn't happen) only to be really traded to the Rangers, and then signing with the Phillies in December are two of the most impactful things to happen to baseball this year. Lee helped lead the Rangers to the World Series, and will most probably be a part of the Phillies dominance in 2011. It's hard to imagine one player being so important to the whole MLB, but in this case Cliff Lee really was and is.

5)Jimmie Johnson's Five-Peat/Zenyatta's Quest for Perfection

Here's one that I doubt anyone reading will care about, but two stories that must get some sort of acknowledgment as far as big stories in sports go. I think in order to fully understand how important these two stories were, we have to put them in context with their own sport.

Jimmie Johnson had won four-straight Sprint Cup Championships (the NFL Playoffs, World Series, Stanley Cup - of NASCAR) heading into this season, and it looked like his dominance was coming to an end in 2010. Johnson failed to finish four races last season, but won six and finished in the top five in 17 races. He trailed Denny Hamlin for pretty much the whole season, including heading into the the Final Race of the Sprint Cup, but a second place finish secured Johnson his fifth-straight championship. Five-straight titles is the NASCAR record (it was previously three), and Johnson only needs one more title in his career to tie Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty with seven championships. This is GREATNESS people.

From great racing to...great racing. Zenyatta entered November's Breeder's Cup Classic a perfect 19-0, looking for her second straight Breeder's Cup win. To the countries disappointment, the Philly came up a head short in her quest for perfection. A female who absolutely blew away her male counterparts the past two years, Zenyatta was named to O Magazine's 2010 O Power List, and was featured in W magazine, on top of the national recognition she received from sports media. If she would have won her last race this story would be slightly more impressive, but in a sport where dominance isn't prevalent, this story must be recognized and Zenyatta's significance will be felt in the future like that of other great horses.

6)Tiger Woods held Winless

For the first time in his 15-year PGA Tour career, Tiger Woods failed to win at least one PGA tournament this past season. Woods streak at Number 1 in the golf rankings also came to an end in November...after 281 weeks at the top. Woods has lost his number one ranking five times in his career, and hopefully for Tiger, number six will be approaching sometime in the future.

I didn't want to discuss Woods off the course drama, but it's hard to imagine that it didn't play a roll in his drop-off. Technically the S hit the fan (like that?) around Thanksgiving of 2009, and I'm not too into the gossip aspect of sports coverage. Tiger's been battling injuries for the better part of the last couple of years, and it seems he has a psychological injury that much like his knee injuries, will just take time to heal. It's not like his work ethic has gone down the tube and the talent around him is passing him by. Tiger had a couple of chances to win in 2010, but his lack of focus and inconsistencies failed him when we're used to seeing him come up big.

Tiger has already stated that he plans on playing in more tournaments in 2011, and I fully expect him to make a recovery and get back that number one ranking sometime sooner than later. And I'm sure he'll end his dry spell too (no pun).

7)Saints go Marching In

This is a feel good story. It's great to have diversity in the NFL, but seeing the Saints go from below average to league's elite under Sean Payton is so incredible after everything the city of New Orleans has been through since August of 2005. Not only did the Saints play incredible football in 2009, but they overcame Peyton Manning and his destiny to be one of the all-time greats, and proved they really were the best the NFL had to offer last season.

Aside from their regular season feats, the Saints played such a great game in the Superbowl. From the offsides kick to start the second half, to the interceptions of Manning, to Drew Brees's execution of Payton's masterful offense, what more do you want out of a Superbowl team? The Saints brought home their first ever Superbowl championship, New Orleans partied, and then New Orleans partied some more. Oh yeah, and the Saints are back at it again in 2010. Who Dey?

8)Cinderella goes Prime Time (Butler)

A five seed out of the Horizon conference was three points away from winning the NCAA Men's National Championship title. As the line between mid-majors and big six programs is fading out, Butler had an unforgettable run that landed them in their backyard, playing for the National Championship. Duke was too much for the Bulldogs, but the run that team made etched its way into tournament history, and will not be forgotten anytime soon.

9)Belichick and Brady...Works Every Time!

"You're kidding me, these guys again?" - Jared Mintz, December 6th. They're 13-2, they're beginning to embarrass their opponents like it's 2007, and Brady's looking like the MVP of the league. Can I get one year to think maybe my team is better? Was that last year and the Jets just didn't take advantage? Damn. I'm not throwing in the towel as a Jets fan, but this team looks completely unbeatable. If they were to get another shot at Cleveland, it would probably be a bloodbath.

10)Cam Newton/College Football Rant

I'll go in order. I don't think we've ever really seen anyone do what Cameron Newton has done this year. That may sound ignorant, but the Auburn star ran for 1,409 yards and 20 scores (10th in the nation) while throwing for 28 touchdowns (10th in the nation) and posting a 188.2 Quarterback Rating (1st in the nation), and he's going to be the reason his team wins the National Championship. Heisman Award? Check. Nike Deal? On the way. First-round draft-pick money? Most likely. Why not definitely?

Because winners have the brains and the talent, and Newton may be lacking the brains. That's not me calling Newton an idiot, I just don't think he has the personality traits to succeed as an NFL Quarterback. This isn't the hate on Cam Newton parade, but his awful career as a student athlete has been in the spotlight all year, and you can't tell me you really believe he's going to keep his newly acquired Heisman trophy. He's attended three institutions, has been in trouble with the law, and it seems that either he or his family have violated NCAA regulations involving money. How many of these guys translate well to the professional level? Have you heard him speak? Tell me a successful quarterback that speaks like him?

This isn't the least bit racially-charged either. It is incredibly difficult to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. Michael Vick had the talent prior to his suspension, but he's more focused on being a team player now and has a better attitude, low and behold we have an MVP candidate. I think Auburn will defeat a very good Oregon team, because it's the SEC's world and we're just living in it. Hate him or love him, Cam Newton has been the biggest story in the NCAA by far this season, but it's been a season I remind you that was missing namebrands like Florida, USC, Texas, Ohio State and Oklahoma.

Which leads me to my next point...is this the season that nobody really minds the BCS? Alabama flopped, nobody emerged from the PAC-10 or Big 12, and even Boise St. lost a heart breaker. Auburn and Oregon coasted to the championship game for the most part, and it doesn't seem that anybody minds that TCU and Wisconsin get to duke it out for the bronze. Sorry to speak so figuratively, but I'm disappointed that the uproar against the BCS is gone this year even if the parity isn't as great as it was the last few seasons.

Maybe if there's a tournament Boise St. gets a chance to redeem themselves and beat a couple of good teams earning themselves legit notoriety. Or maybe Oregon and Auburn each win a playoff game after a bye and play the inevitable championship game. It just seems so much better for the game to open up their postseason. Single-elimination is the way to go; 8 teams, no 6 would even be fine. Six teams, top two get a bye, three rounds, one team emerges, college football becomes beloved by the whole country the way March Madness is embraced.

It could happen...

*Honorable mention goes to the UConn Huskies Women's Basketball team for breaking the UCLA Men's Basketball consecutive wins record. The Huskies actually just lost to Stanford last night, oddly enough the Cardinals were also the last team they lost to before beginning their streak. It was a 90-game win streak that stretched over two years, and it will most likely not be touched by either gender for a very, very long time.

I hope you guys enjoyed the 2010 sports year as much as I did, and stay tuned for a Top 10 storylines to follow heading into 2011. Happy and a Healthy New Year to all...

Week 15 with Major Playoff Implications!

Surprise, Surprise...the Chargers blew out the 49ers Thursday night. While the San Diego got its sixth win in its last seven games to improve to 8-6, the Niners are now 5-9 and still not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs! It's only a matter of time, and while the Chargers may be one of the NFL's best teams, if you watched the 49ers last night there's no way that that team belongs in the postseason. There's no reason for me to continue talking about the losing team, the Chargers keep inching away at the banged up Chiefs and with road games at the Broncos and Bengals to close out the season, their odds at winning out look good. However, with how competitive the AFC is they may still need to get some other teams to lose a game or two, or they could be golfing in a month.

Lets take a look at the rest of Week 15's matchups...

Lines as of Friday morning, home teams in caps

Kansas City (even) over ST. LOUIS

Both teams suffered bad losses Week 14, but I don't think either of those games were necessarily indicative of how these teams will fair out moving forward. The Chiefs got killed by a surging Chargers team while playing without their quarterback, but I think it's a major problem that Matt Cassell is the deal breaker for this team. They lead the league in rushing yards, and I understand losing your QB allows the opposing defense to focus on stopping the run, but the Chiefs only ran the ball 17 times last week which is why they controlled the football for less than 20 of the games 60 minutes. I think they'll manage this game a little bit better, and while the Rams have made a commendable effort, they're only going to go as far as their rookie quarterback will take them. They may win their division but the NFC West is atrocious.

Houston (+1.5) over TENNESSEE

I think the Titans are just absolutely done. Since beating the Eagles Week 7, the Titans have been outscored by a total of 56 points and are 0-6. The Texans were down 28-7 in the third quarter against the Ravens Monday night, until Matt Schaub went absolutely nuts and led the Texans to an overtime loss on a walk-off pick six. The Texans are playing with momentum and still have so much talent. I don't expect Kerry Collins to have back-to-back good games, and since he played well last week I think he'll be back to his old ways in this divisional rivalry. Keep your eyes on Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan.

INDIANAPOLIS (-5) over Jackonville

We remain in the AFC South where the Colts reign on top is seriously in question as division leader Jacksonville comes into the dome. If the Colts lose their season is essentially over, which is why I don't think they'll lose, and I don't think it'll be as close as their first meeting. I keep picking against the Jags and I keep getting burnt, but I'm not going to believe the Colts aren't a playoff team until it's official. No stats, just gut, and my gut takes Peyton Manning over most options. We'll find out how good the Jaguars really are.

Arizona (+2.5) over CAROLINA

I don't know how I'm picking a team led by John Skelton, but when the other choice is a team led (under HEAVY scrutiny) by Jimmy Clausen I don't feel too terrible about it. If this game isn't blacked out locally I don't know who's going to be watching. I mean seriously, I think I'd rather watch episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess and Battlestar Galactica than this one. Let's see what Jimmy's made of, but the Panthers have been horrible and the Cardinals are still only two seasons removed from a Superbowl run (quite a reach but this game is giving me absolutely nothing to work with).

CINCINNATI (-1.5) over Cleveland

Carson Palmer is 5-0 all-time at home against the Browns and best-case scenario for Cleveland is that Colt McCoy comes back. I've repeatedly said I have a hard time picking the Browns without McCoy, but I just don't see how the Bengals could lose 11-straight games after making the playoffs last year. The Browns are playing very hard and talent doesn't necessarily prevail over effort in this league, but my hunch is the Bungals stop the bleeding for a week.

Buffalo (+5.5) over MIAMI

The Dolphins beat the Bills by five points in Week 1, and I think the Bills are a better team at this point in the season than they were in the season opener. With that said, I think the Dolphins are playing better football than they were a few weeks ago as well. They're still not eliminated from the playoff and they're a well coached team. Still, Chad Henne's been one of the worst quarterbacks in football and this team plays 10 times better on the road than they do at home. I expect them to win but not cover.

NY GIANTS (-2.5) over Philadelphia

The Eagles are playing great, and are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the league, but the Giants aren't too far behind them. As we've seen over the past few years, when the Giants are playing well on both lines they're one of the top five teams in football, and they're really controlling the line. They looked great against a less than impressive Vikings team, but I think they want revenge from their Week 11 loss to the Eagles, a game they were in until the last five minutes of the game. They're running the ball well and Eli Manning is more capable than he's performed over the last couple of games. Not to mention the Eagles defense is average at best. I don't know if the Giants can contain the Eagles speed on offense, but this game will be a big indicator of who has the power in the NFC.

DALLAS (-6) over Washington

Here's another Week 1 matchup, and oh how the tides have turned...sort of. OK, they haven't really at all, except maybe this time the Cowboys will show up. The Redskins have lost their last four games and may be better off with Jim Zorn than Mike Shanahan. I'm a Donovan McNabb guy, I can realistically say that he isn't the player/leader he once was, but I'd rather have a one-legged McNabb than Rex Grossman. I'm not in practice, I don't know if Grossman has been lighting it up, but based on past experience this guy should be holding a clip-board and nothing more unless McNabb is physically unable to step onto the field. Shanahan has done an awful job with the talent he has, and while a lot of these guys haven't performed/have gotten their diva on, he's playing too many mind games with his players and it wouldn't surprise me if he's completely lost his locker room. The 'Skins defense ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed, and the Cowboys are averaging 32 points a game since Jason Garrett took over as head coach.

Detroit (+5.5) over TAMPA BAY

I think the Buccaneers win this one but the Lions cover. I know I've been hard on Drew Stanton, but the Lions aren't terrible, they just don't win on the road and I don't necessarily expect that to end Sunday. The Bucs are undefeated against teams with losing records, and with a chance at still making the playoffs I think they'll continue to take care of business. Whether they make the playoffs or not, this has been such an encouraging season for this young team.

New Orleans (+1.5) over BALTIMORE

This game is a pick-em for me, and I think the Saints are clicking at the right time. I don't know how the Ravens defense will rebound after being embarrassed by the Texans in the fourth quarter on Monday night. With the talent the Ravens have they could really bounce back, but the Saints offense is almost as explosive as the Texans and I think they will be able to spread the field against the Ravens, who have only lost to Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and Ben Roethlisberger (Carson Palmer really doesn't help prove my point). Drew Brees is as elite as those guys and he has the Saints playing their best football of the season at the right time.

SEATTLE (+6) over Atlanta

I believe way too much in the Seahawks homefield advantage, but realistically, someone has to win the NFC West and the Cardinals, 49ers, and Rams don't really feel like playoff teams to me. Not to say the Seahawks do, but at least they have a quarterback who's been to the Superbowl. The Falcons have been so good, and this is a game they should win, but I think it has trap-game written all over it. Seattle is quite a hike from Atlanta, and as good as Matt Ryan's been, this will be a true test for him and his first place Falcons.

NY Jets (+6) over PITTSBURGH

Hooommmmerrrr, hooommmmerrrrrrr. Yep, total homer pick. Everybody's waiting for the Jets to collapse. It's almost a lock that they'll lose to the Steelers and Bears on the road, and who knows, they are the Jets, they'll probably be upset by the Bills at home too. Wrong. Or you know what, maybe it's not wrong. But if this Jets team is any different from the same ole Jets, they'll take advantage of a Steelers team missing their leader on defense (not like they're that much worse without Troy Polamalu) and with a hobbled Ben Roethlisberger taking the snaps. As long as the play calling doesn't allow Mark Sanchez to lose this game, this is a winnable game for a Jets team that DESPERATELY needs a win. I understand how that last comment will be criticized, and if the Jets come out and lay another egg like they have in their last two games then I need to wake up and smell the coffee, but this is a team that started 9-2 (I don't care who they played, they started 9-2) and was 30 minutes away from the Superbowl last season. They're no slouches, they're just playing like slouches, and if they can't get their acts together this week then they'll be lucky to back their way into the playoffs again. This isn't the most important game of the season for the Jets, but if they no-show again this week then a team who was once considered a championship contender will prove that they didn't deserve any of the attention that they received, and that they're a circus show being run by clowns.

OAKLAND (-7) over Denver

Relax guys, it isn't Tim Tebow time...yet. Realistically, it probably never will be. The guy's like the Henry Rowengartner of the NFL (minus the miracle arm), we all want to see him play but I don't know that anyone thinks he's capable of being good. I've wasted too much time already talking about Tebow, but the Broncos haven't really given us anything else to talk about. The last time these two teams met the Raiders spanked the Broncos 59-0, in Denver no less. The Broncos are just a complete disaster and the Raiders are fighting for a playoff spot, but more realistically a winning or even record.

NEW ENGLAND (-12) over Green Bay

How can anyone pick against the Patriots right now? I mean, 12 points probably doesn't even do justice to how flat-out brilliant the Pats have looked since their Week 9 loss to the Browns. While the Packers defense has been pretty good, I don't think anyone can stop the Patriots offense, and playing without Aaron Rodgers just means the Packers offense will not get going Sunday night and it'll just be another awful primetime television game. Sorry cheese heads, Matt Flynn equals no win.

MINNESOTA (+7) over Chicago

From one dreadful NFC North quarterback situation to another, what's the deal with Jay Cutler? Just kidding. Joe Webb? Really? How could the Vikings not have four quarterbacks (or at least 3) on their roster going into the season with the ageless, painless wonder Brett Favre? I may change this pick before the game on Monday night, and if I do I'll let you know. I fully expect the Bears to win this game, but if it's a 3-0, or 7-3 game I will not be surprised. Minnesota will have absolutely zero going on offense, but luckily for them the field conditions are expected to be worse than horrendous. I don't have much confidence in the Bears in this situation, but they'll be playing against a QB who may not be good enough to play in the CFL. They signed Patrick Ramsey for goodness sake to backup wide receiver, I mean quarterback Joe Webb. Things are looking pretty miserable for the Vikings, but luckily for them they'll be at the same disadvantage as the Bears as they may as well be playing the game in a hockey rink from what I'm hearing about TCF Bank Stadium. I'll gladly take the under on 42 points.

Enjoy the festivities

Last Week: Do i really have to tell you? Cough 4-11-1 cough (worst...week...ever!)

Thursday Night Football and other Notables

I'm Not Going to Say the Knicks are Back

Yet...They're 16-10 and a good possession away from being 17-9 and having a win over the best team in the Eastern Conference. I mean seriously, who are these guys? You couldn't expect them to really have much chemistry through the first ten games of the season, but for them to be clicking and playing as well as they are at this point is the most pleasant surprise I've had in sports since the 2009 Jets playoff run.

Amar'e Stoudemire is as legitimate of an MVP candidate as there is in the NBA this season, and Raymond Felton is really getting the most out of guys who have never sniffed a .500 season. I know that every Knicks piece I've written has been centered around Stoudemire and Felton but these two guys are just such difference makers. And the team will live and die by them, that is, until they get Melo...

Please God...don't allow the 2010 Jets to become the 2007 (and 2008) Mets

If you were to pick up a milk carton in the Tri-state area you may find a picture of the Jets offense on the side of that carton under a bold headline that reads "MISSING." Ok, I know milk cartons haven't done the "missing" thing in years now, but you get my drift. After starting 9-2 and averaging 24 points per game, the Jets have gone 0-2 and scored a total of 9 points against the Patriots and the Dolphins.

They have road games against the Steelers and Bears coming up, before coming home to play the Bills in the season finale. If they don't win either of the next two this team is in serious trouble of not making the playoffs, or backing themselves into a spot due to another teams futility. While I know that the ultimate goal is to make the playoffs anyway you can, it's going to look awful if a team that started 9-2 finished 10-6 with losses against pretty much every good team they face. I got news for you, if you can't beat the good teams in the regular season, you probably won't beat them in the postseason. Get it together Jets.

The World Series has been Decided in December

Cliff Lee's on the Phillies, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez are on the Red Sox, what else do you need to know? While these two teams have had the most successful offseasons so far, not to mention they're already building on stacked rosters, I'm being mightily sarcastic with my headline. I know that I'm a Yankees fan and readers will take that and think I'm being biased, but it is December and they do play the games for a reason. Who expected the Giants to win the World Series a year ago? I mean they weren't even in the playoffs until the final week of the season.

Not to completely shoot down my headline, with the addition of Lee the Phillies now have two of probably the three best starting pitchers in baseball and the Red Sox lineup is probably the scariest in baseball heading into the season. The Phillies offense has also been one of the most productive in baseball since 2008 and the Red Sox have three (maybe four if you include Bucholz) guys who could be aces on just about any team in baseball. New York baseball fans hold your breathe.

Line as of Thursday afternoon, home team in caps

SAN DIEGO (-10) over San Francisco

Two teams that I tend to be wrong on a lot, and two teams that I have little to no confidence picking. Ten points is a lot, but as the Chargers proved last week, they will stomp somebody out (31-0 over the Chiefs, wow). They did however prove the week before that they're very vulnerable against gritty teams (second loss of the season to the Raiders). The Niners aren't exactly gritty, but they do have a good defense, their offense is what scares me. I talked about the Smith quarterback carousel last week, and I don't feel any better heading into a game against the team that gives up the least amount of yards in the NFL. I really want to pick against Norv Turner, but the Chargers still have a playoff spot in sight and the Niners are awful despite wins over the Seahawks and Cardinals in two of their last three (sarcasm, those teams are believe it or not worse than the Niners).

Week 14 Picks

As bad as the two teams playing Thursday night have been, Week 14 kicked off with a bang as the Colts ended their skid with a 30-28 win over the Titans. Kerry Collins had his best game of the season, but more importantly, Peyton Manning didn't throw an interception and the Colts pretty much rolled all game.

Peyton's doing better, but seeing how the Colts didn't cover (damn last second touchdown) Jared is not. In celebration of the Knicks current 7-game winning streak, this weeks picks will be done D'Antoni style (7 words or less)...not to mention the games will be under way in less than an hour. Lets get to it...

(Lines as of Sunday morning, home team in caps)

Oakland (+3.5) over JACKSONVILLE
Raiders are still very much alive.

Cincinnati (+8.5) over PITTSBURGH
Nine points is a lot.

CHICAGO (+3) over New England
Game will be played in blizzard, Pats don't run.

BUFFALO (even) over Cleveland
Don't love Browns without McCoy.

NY Giants (-3) over Minnesota (game played Mon. night in Detroit)
Giants are healthy, Vikings lost home field.

Green Bay (-7) over DETROIT
Pack rolled first time, may kill Stanton.

CAROLINA (+7.5) over Atlanta
Have a hunch that Carolina will play hard.

Tampa Bay (-1) over WASHINGTON
Tampa beats bad teams, Redskins aren't good.

St. Louis (+9.5) over NEW ORLEANS
Saints are hot, but Rams don't lay down.

SAN FRANCISCO (-5) over Seattle
Quarterback carousels generally aren't good, but Seahawks are awful.

NY JETS (-5) over Miami
Jets play better on short weeks.

Denver (-4) over ARIZONA
Won't pick the Cards without huge spread.

Kansas City (+10) over San Diego
Chiefs will run 50 times, how does that lose by 10 or more?

DALLAS (+3.5) over Philadelphia
Like the way Cowboys are playing, like home dogs.

HOUSTON (+3) over Baltimore
I really think the Texans will surprise.


Last Week 9-6 (whimped out on the Monday night game)


Thanks for reading and feel free to post your picks in my comments section. Enjoy the festivities...

Thursday Quick-Hits

How About Them Knicks?

Quick, who's the last Knick to score 30 or more points in 6 straight games? Good ole Willie Naulls did it in seven games back in 1962. That was until Amar'e Stoudemire poured in 34 points (18 in the fourth quarter) Wednesday night as the Knicks extended their win-streak to 6 (and 11 of 12) against the Raptors. Raymond Felton hit an Allan Houston-esque three with 2.7 seconds to go in regulation to give the Knicks the final lead for the night.

The Knicks are 14-9 and are playing their best basketball in nearly a decade. They've had a weak schedule but you can only play the teams that you're scheduled to play, and the Knicks have done a great job of that. Stoudemire was named Eastern Conference player of the week last week, and is on pace to take home the award again this week if the Knicks continue to surge. Award or not, Amar'e teamed with Felton have been the two best players the Knicks have had on a court together since Houston and Latrell Sprewell, and the teams record is indicative of it.

Red Sox Making Major Moves

Yep, my biggest fears are coming to life...I thought this was going to be the year they didn't make major moves. Instead the Red Sox add both Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to not just their already stacked lineup, but to really help bolster the defense. We're talking about two perennial MVP candidates going to beantown.

The Red Sox really were banged up last season, so you're not just adding Crawford and Gonzalez to the mix, Josh Beckett, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are coming back with something to prove. This team has a scary amount of talent, and the loss of Victor Martinez most likely will not hurt this lineup at all. We're not only looking at a threat for this coming season, but we may be looking at professional sports' newest dynasty.

Yankees, it's your move...

Kyrie Irving's Toe

The number one team in the country may be without their number one for the rest of the season. Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving severely injured one of his toes during Saturday's National Championship rematch against Butler, and while the injury was at first thought to be a sprain, full details are yet to be released and the situation looks grim to say the least.

While the amount of time Irving will miss is still undetermined, Coach K seemed very down about the situation after Duke's win over Bradley Wednesday night, and Irving tweeted "situation not looking good and I'm not feeling good...smh worst thing ever." That isn't too encouraging.

What is encouraging is that the Blue Devils still have Nolan Smith, Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins in the backcourt, as well as freshman Tyler Thornton. It's going to be tough playing without one of the best point guards in the nation, but adversity isn't a new theme for Duke or Coach K.

Thursday Night Football!

Indianapolis (-3.5) over TENNESSEE

Wow, who would've thought that this game may be a stinker? With the way these two teams are playing as of late this game is really a toss up, I mean who would've thought that between Kerry Collins and Peyton Manning it would be Manning that's thrown ELEVEN picks in his last three games (all losses). Well I think the bleeding ends tonight. It's Peyton, it's Primetime, and it's the Titans who have lost 5 straight and are just a complete lost cause. The division is still in sight for the Colts, and as banged up as they are, they still have the best quarterback in football (and that's in no way a dig at Tom Brady who I'm well aware picked apart my favorite teams defense last week).

Week 13 Picks

Week 13 started with a bang as Michael Vick rebounded from his tough outing last week to have a monster second half, and carry his Eagles over the Texans on Thursday night. Houston led 24-20 with less than a minute to go in the third, but the fourth quarter was a completely different ball game. Vick threw for 106 yards and a score, and also ran in a short touchdown as the Eagles offense had their way with the Texans.

Eagles 34, Texans 24. Gary Kubiaks job security is not looking too good, and I start the week 0-1.

I know I skipped out on last week’s picks, but I’m back in full effect for Week 13, coming off back-to-back double-digit victory weeks. I’m going to post my picks for Sundays games now, and come back Monday to really weigh in on my Superbowl (that is, until the Jets make it to their date in Dallas in early February).

(Lines as of early Saturday afternoon, home team in caps)

Buffalo (+5.5) over MINNESOTA

This really feels like a stupid pick. The Vikings are hot, and motivated playing for Leslie Frazier, and Sidney Rice is coming back into form. This is also Brett Favre’s final month of his NFL career, unless the Vikes surge and make the playoffs (just kidding). I always find a way to write about why the team I’m picking to lose should win, but the Vikings could be without Adrian Peterson, and the Bills have been playing their tails off. Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for over 250 yards in four of the teams last six games, and running back Fred Jackson has found the end-zone in four straight games. Steve Johnson needs to put last week behind him, and the Bills need to continue doing what they’re doing, and that’s staying in every game. They’re 2-4 since the bye week with a point differential in those six games of +8. Lets go Bills.

Cleveland (+5) over MIAMI

For some odd reason the Dolphins are an awful home team. I’m not overly impressed with the Browns being led by Jake Delhomme (especially after a 1-point squeak-out against the Panthers, Delhomme’s former team and probably the worst team in football). Delhomme threw for no scores and two picks for a 64.6 QB rating week 12, and the Browns really had a good thing going with Colt McCoy. Brandon Marshall is questionable for the game, but Chad Henne is questionable at the quarterback position, and I think the Browns are simply playing better football right now.

Jacksonville (+3) over TENNESSEE

This game is a land mine. I think it’ll either be close, or the Titans will blow them out. There are just too many question marks with the Titans offense and the Jaguars have been so consistent. Best-case scenario for Tennessee is Kerry Collins is ready to go, and then that he doesn’t play awful, which has often been the case with him this season. The Jaguars hung in tough with the Giants last week, but were just overwhelmed by one of the best pass rushes in the league. It all depends which Titans team shows up. If Kenny Britt and Kerry Collins are in top form they look a lot better than they would with Rusty Smith, but the Jags will show up either way, so I gotta go Jacksonville to cover this one.

KANSAS CITY (-8.5) over Denver

I almost had a fourth straight road-dog in this one, for some reason I always want to pick Denver against a large spread, but I tend to lose when I do that. Todd Haley wants this one after refusing to shake Broncos coach Josh McDaniels hand after Denver won their first matchup, but McDaniels is a gamer and will probably have his guys ready in his defense (it’s too bad neither of these guys actually get to step on the field). The Chiefs seem to be flying high after spanking both Arizona and Seattle, and Denvers down and pretty close to out. I think this is the game where the Chiefs really establish themselves and send a message to San Diego that the playoff spot is theirs.

NY GIANTS (-7) over Washington

This is a game that I would love to pick the Redskins in, but insight is going to overrule gut on this one. The Redskins are hurting on both lines of the ball, and the Giants, despite injuries have found a way to still dominate up-front, especially on defense, especially where the Redskins are very, very thin. McNabb seems to play well against the Giants, but the Giants have had the Skins number the last couple of seasons and I expect that to continue on Sunday.

Chicago (-4.5) over DETROIT

Drew Stanton’s starting for the Lions, and I think the Bears are one of the best teams in the NFC right now. The defense has been getting better every week, and Jay Cutler is coming off of one of the best games of his career. I’m sorry Lions, it’s not me, it’s Drew.

GREEN BAY (-9.5) over San Francisco

Brian Westbrook carried the load for the Niners on Monday Night Football, put can he do it against a real defense this week? Same question has to be asked for leader of the new school Troy Smith, who hasn’t played a cold-weather game yet this season. The Packers have passed the eye-ball test so far this year, and need a big win against an underachieving team that has been beaten by every good team they’ve played this season.

New Orleans (-6.5) over CINCINNATI

The Saints are surging and getting healthy at the right time. The Saints have scored 30+ in their last three games, and are playing against a team that gives up 26 points a game (26^th in the NFL). The Bengals look dead while the Saints look very much alive since losing to both the Browns and the Cardinals earlier in the season.

Atlanta (-3) over TAMPA BAY

All the analysts are talking that if there’s a game for them to lose and still be comfortable it’s this game. They’re 9-2 with two games left against Carolina, a game in Seattle, and a home game against the Saints. Everyone knows they’re a better home team than a road team, so why not lose this one? Because they know the Saints are going to catch them if they don’t keep winning, and if they lose this week and somehow let the 12^th man get to them in Seattle, their playoff spot could be Tampa’s playoff spot. As surprising as the Bucs have been this season, they’re 7-0 against teams with losing records, and you guessed it, 0-4 against teams with winning records. That previously mentioned 9-2 record is a very winning record and the Falcons are a very good team, the Bucs are still at least a year away.

Oakland (+13) over SAN DIEGO

The Chargers want to make me pay for never picking them, so they’re going to keep covering on these games where they’re given outlandish point spreads. I don’t think the Raiders are bad enough to lose by two scores to the Chargers, and I don’t think the Chargers are going to win out, which is what they’re going to have to do if they want to make the playoffs. I still think they’ll beat the Raiders, but not by 13 or more.

SEATTLE (-5) over Carolina

And here’s your stinker. Matt Hasselbeck has had two 100+ QB ratings in three of his last games and he gets his top receiver in Mike Williams back to go against…THE WORST TEAM IN THE NFL. Carolina’s awful, they’re excited to get their struggling rookie quarterback back. I hope this game turns into a shootout, but I expect it’s a snooze-fest unless you’re a diehard Seahawks or Panthers fan, in which case, I’m very sorry.

St. Louis (-3.5) over ARIZONA

I’m supposed to believe that the Cardinals are going to come back and defend their home turf after the way they performed on Monday night, and the way their “leader” performed afterwards? They have a terrible quarterback and the Rams have an improving defense, not to mention a legitimate leader in probably Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford. The Rams haven’t won five games in a season since 2006, and I expect them to get to six sooner rather than later.

Dallas (+5) over INDIANAPOLIS

This is a really tough game. The Colts 4-1 home record is the most impressive number working in their favor, definitely more impressive than Peyton Mannings seven interceptions over the last two games. Manning is still one of the greats, but this season he’s looking human working with a less than a legitimate NFL offense. The Cowboys defense is fast and should play well in the dome. It’s hard to imagine the Colts not taking advantage of their competitive division stance, but this team is looking more vulnerable every week, and the Cowboys are playing their best football of the season.

BALTIMORE (-3) over Pittsburgh

Since entering the league in 2004, the Steelers are 7-2 against the Ravens in games Ben Roethlisberger has played in, and 0-4 in games he hasn’t, including the Ravens 17-14 win week 4. The big story out of Pittsburgh this week was that Roethlisberger was in a walking boot nursing a sprained right foot. He’s supposed to play Sunday, but the Steelers offense hasn’t excelled the way they’re capable of and I don’t know if they’ll be at their best with a limping quarterback. I like the Ravens to end Big Bens 5-game win streak over them.

Lots of good games, and don’t forget the Monday Night Megabowl! I’m not as excited as my words may indicate, but I’ll be back with more on Monday. Enjoy…