Views from Florida

1 week down 1 week to go

2010-02-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

So the first week of the Olympics are in the books and Team USA is kicking the world's ass, thank you all for participating, now go home. Here are my observations after the end of the first week.

Biathalon is very interesting sport, I believe it could be incorporated into the Summer Games, somehow using the women's volleyball teams. 6 foot tall, bikini clad women with rifles is curiously erotic.

Last night's performance by Apollo Ohno in the semi qualifying 1000M round was spectacular. If you missed it, he won by a few inches of a skate blade.

Is curling perhaps the best sport ever invented? I know understand why the Winter Games take 18 days, because curling matches take forever. The game has 9 ends, much like baseball has 9 innings and the matches seem to last as long. This sport has timeouts? Why? I believe that the company which makes the Swiffer, has missed a huge opportunity with the Winter Games. They should have manufactured the brushes the curlers use, just another lost opportunity.

What is up with the Norwegian men's curling team's pants? They are wearing the upstart Loudmouth golf pants which remind me of the Zubaz pants of the 1980's which were just as obnoxious.

Men's figure skating saw an American, Evan Lysacek win a gold medal for the first time in 20 years and it wasn't without controversy. Silver medalist, Yevgeny Plushenko was upset that he completed a quad and Lysacek didn't and the Russian ended up with a silver. Word to ya brother, yes you completed a quad, but the rest of your jumps were very very sloppy you arrogant freak.

What the hell is a triple lutz? I thought Lutz was a town just east of Tarpon Springs Florida.

The men's and women's skeleton. This ice racing event is the same as the Luge, except you run head first and use a smaller sled. Wonderful. This sport most likely got it's name because if you crash, your skeleton is all that is left.

I watched some of the men's bobsledding last night. What is up with the outfits? These suits make shrink wrap look like a pair of cotton Chinos. Hell, you could tell each racer's religion by just simply watching.

Tonight is the much anticipated hockey match-up between Team USA and Canada. Let's go USA!!!!! Crush Canada like a bug at a picnic.

Let the Games begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

Following the tragic death of Georgia Luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, the 21st Winter Olympic games in Vancouver opened last night. While the games opening ceremony was not as eye popping and jaw dropping as the 2004 Summer Games, but remember that 1 billion people live in China and more people live in California than in the entire country of Canada. Nonetheless, it was quite a spectacle and the producers use of 72 different projectors around the arena which acted simultaneously created some very vivid and rich images. So as I watched the opening ceremony, of course I had to make just a few observations.

Prior to the start of the events, NBC aired the video of the remake of the song, We are the World, where over 80current recording artists participated the song in which the proceeds will go towards the Haiti earthquake relief. I remember when the original song was recorded and 25 years ago I could name every artist in the room. Last night as I looked on, I wondered, am I really getting old or do I just care less and less about self absorbed celebrities?

During the hours long epic coverage, Coca Cola aired a commercial which featured a snowball fight in the Olympic village. This commercial was funnier than 99% of the commercials which aired during the Super Bowl, and I bet it cost a lot less.

Differing from the Summer Games, the Winter Games allow the athletes to enter the arena to watch the ceremony prior to the start. I couldn't help but be struck with irony as Joe Biden was watching Team USA entering the arena as they were wearing hats with moose on them. Just the whole Sarah Palin thing hit me. The Canadians had mittens on with little maple leaves sewn in the palms of the mittens. We get it already Canada, you are all about the maple leaf. (even though you didn't adopt the current flag for your nation until the 1960's. Please. At least we picked a flag and stuck with it for a few hundred years)

Then as all the country's athletes had their butts in their seats, out comes Nellie Furtado and Bryan Adams. Nellie wearing a blue dress which looked like body paint was used to apply it. Nellie is a very beautiful woman but two words here, Jenny Craig. Much more Canadian bacon and you won't be fitting into the front seat of a Humvee. To close out the show, the organizers trotted out K.D Lang. Wow. Bryan Adams and K.D. Lang? What were they thinking? If the whole production fell apart, they could always revert back to a quick 1986 retro closing show? And what the hell was up with the outfit Lang was wearing? She looked like she just flew in from Vegas, where she is a doing 6 shows a week as an Elvis impersonator.

So the performance starts, and the voiceover is from Donald Sutherland. I had no idea that Jack Bauer's father was from Canada.

During the first portion of the show, a giant polar bear is inflated at one end of the stage. I really think the bear wasn't a bear at all. It was the stay-puff marshmellow man from the GhostBusters movies. It's a tough economy and he's got to find work where ever he can.

The rest of the production was pretty good, but the fiddle segment was troubling. After the dude with the imp-ish looking hair was done fiddling in the canoe, the stage exploded into a myriad of fiddling and tap dancing performers. The key focus was on the man on top of the wedding cake looking stage, and he was fantastic on the fiddle, but were those really tattoos or did his daughter just go crazy on his chest with a Sharpie a few days before the opening of the games when he fell asleep after too much Molsen Golden? He later broke into some scat tap dancing, but his outfit reminded me of a cross between Larry the Cable guy and some guy wanting to wash my windshield in Tampa on my way to a Bucs game.

After the performances were over, the Governor General of Canada declared the games open. When did Wanda Sykes take political office in Canada?

The Olympic torch ceremony was nice in the arena, as the top 4 athletes in Canadian history all did a relay inside the facility. Is Catrina Lemay Doan, Katies Couric's long lost sister?

The only glitch of the entire performance occurred while trying to raise the 4 pillars which would surround the cauldron housing the Olympic flame. 3 of the 4 went up. Memo to self: Don't purchase any hydraulic parts manufactured in Canada.

Does anyone else think Biden was drunk at the post ceremony interview? He was an absolute joke as the man one heartbeat away from the office of President. I've never heard a VP use terms such as Dude or Awesome. He wouldn't even give his wife an opportunity to answer questions asked by NBC correspondent Lester Holt.

Overall, it was a very nice ceremony and I look forward to watch Team USA run the table on the rest of the world. Best of luck to all the athletes and enjoy the next 16 days.

Jiminy Cricket wins an award

2010-02-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

ProFootballtalk.com announced today that NBC color commentator, Chris Collinsworth has won the Pat Summerall award. The what? Is the prize a case of Jack Daniels or a commemorative shot glass? The past winners of the award include James Brown, Greg Gumbel, Jim Nantz and Chris "Boomer" Berman. Jiminy Cricket and Chris Collinsworth were separated at birth.

Sure, one is 6'5" tall and the other is 3 inches. One has actually gone to Walt Disney World and the other wanted to but never won a Super Bowl. One of them is the voice of conscience for Pinocchio and the other is an annoying voice in Al Michaels ear. One of them went on to do a cameo in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and the other does work with Roger Rabbit, oh thats right it's Keith Olberman.

Collingsworth has won over 5 Emmy awards, further proving that award shows are highly overrated and irrelevant. Chris is one of the most overrated announcers in football with a pitchy voice and quick to crown each player as the greatest ever. He has made my list of the most annoying sports announcers, joining the likes of Tony Kornheiser, Joe Theisman, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.

So, in a moment of self importance, the members of the media have gathered to crown one of their brethren with a phony piece of hardware. So in the spirit of Pat Summerall, raise your glasses in a toast, (or bottles) and hail Chris Collinsworth. And in the spirit of Emmitt Smith, I guess he "blowed out" the competition.

AFC Championship game

2010-01-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

We have only three games left in the NFL's 2009 season folks and then we dive into the "black hole of nothing to watch" which swallows us alive for the next 8 months. Sure, some of us who are football junkie's will await the free agency signing period, but that will likely be clouded with the Collective Bargaining Agreement going by the wayside on March 5th. Those of us with the NFL Network will watch some of the Combine workout. Even the draft this year has changed, the NFL decided to spread the 7 round draft over 3 days of television coverage. Really? This will be a very confused and chaotic off season especially with the possibility of an owner's lockout looming for 2011. The only good news is that after this weekend, I might never have to watch another Jimmy Football Tailgate tested Tailgate approved Budweiser commercial ever again, quite possibly the worst commercial campaign ever created for a Budweiser product.

Prior to last weekend, nearly everyone (except Jets fans) expected the San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts squaring off this Sunday. I guess teams which lay down late in the season should be careful for what they wish for because Indy, look who's coming to dinner on Sunday. The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets are a good, solid defensive football team with a running attack which averaged over 170 yards a game in the regular season. Coached by Rex Ryan, son of Buddy Ryan(Google him if you are too young to remember the 1985 Chicago Bears) the Jets are playing very physical smart football right now. While watching the Chargers-Jets game this past Sunday, I thought back to the Ravens of 2000 and my beloved Buccaneers of 2002. All three teams finished the season with the number 1 ranked defense in the NFL. All three had strong running games and the numbers are strikingly similar. The 2000 Ravens scored an average of 20.8 points and yielded 10.3. The 2002 Bucs scored 21.6 points for and surrendered 12.2 per game. This year's Jets are putting up 22 a game and allowing 15 through the playoffs. Yes, the Ravens and Bucs both won the Super Bowl in those years and defense does win championships. Will defense translate into the first Jets Super Bowl in 41 years this year? No.

The difference between the Super Bowl winning teams from the Ravens and Buccaneers in comparison to this years Jets, is the quarterback position. In 2000, the Ravens had a pedestrian Trent Dilfer under center. The Fresno State product had a strong arm in Tampa but when he arrived in Baltimore, he was coached into the position of a game manager. Jon Gruden took over the reigns in Tampa at the start of the 2002 season and inherited a 33 year old journeyman quarterback in Brad Johnson. Brad was another game manager in Gruden's version of the West Coast Offense.

What is lacking for the Jets, is leadership under center. Mark Sanchez is a true rookie quarterback who has benefited from a strong defense and running game with the Jets running over 60% of the time. Sanchez turned the ball over 20 times this season while having 5 games with multiple interceptions. He only threw for more than 200 yards 4 times, never completed more than 20 passes in a game, and only 5 times had 30 or more attempts. If the Colts jump out to a quick double digit lead, I think Sanchez isn't prepared to lead this team back from a deficit to win.

What to look for from the Jets-
Very obvious here. More of the same. Shonn Greene has been on a tear in the last four games, with 73 carries-420 yards and a 6.0 yard per carry average. Shonn is starting to take over the lead back role for the Jets, though the ageless Thomas Jones is still effective.

The Jets defense must mix up their schemes, though Peyton Manning is the best in the game at changing up plays at the line. Again, the obvious is defensive line pressure on Manning, but I seriously think the pressure is going to have to be applied by the Jets secondary by closing off the second and third receiver if they want to win.

The Jets need to keep this game close at half-time. Manning saw the Jets in week 15 when they needed to win and the Colts were laying back.

What to look for from the Colts-
Indianapolis's running game isn't as strong as New York's. I forecast some token running plays early on in the game but the majority of plays should be with a single back either left in to pick up a blitzer if the Jets mount a pass rush or swinging the back outside to create a mismatch on the linebacker.

I expect to see many three step drop passes and slant patterns. Jets cornerback Darelle Revis, the best cover corner in the league, last week against the Chargers, rotated off Vincent Jackson. I'll be interested to see if he matches up all game against Reggie Wayne, or the defense scheme rotates him over to cover Dallas Clark. Either way, I don't expect the usual stars to shine against this defense. Look for either Pierre Garcon or Austin Collie in the 3 wide set to excel and one of them will have a surprisingly big day.

Performance predictions-

Jets-
Shonn Grenne- 21-94-1TD
Thomas Jones-13-44-0

Mark Sanchez-19-31-172-1TD-2INT

Colts-
Joseph Addai/Donald Brown combined- 24-65 yards-1TD

Pierre Garcon-7-88-1TD
Reggie Wayne-8-90-0
Dallas Clark-7-66-1TD

Peyton Manning-27-40-277-2TD-1INT

Final Score-
Indy20- New York 16

Divisional weekend games

2010-01-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

This weekend will be the start of the final seven games of the NFL season. I was gutted last week with my predictions, after a documented 70% prediction record straight up all season long. A 1-3 record with an almost spot on prediction of the Bengals-Jets game, other than that, I was totally in the tank. Regular readers know though that I did predict back in September prior to opening week, I predicted the Super Bowl between New Orleans and San Diego, with New Orleans winning 39-28. At least, I've made the final eight in the playoffs.

Cardinals vs Saints Sat. 4:30pm
Arizona is fresh off a record setting performance in last weeks game against Green Bay. From a fantasy football player standpoint, I wish that game could have continued through the entire OT period. The Saints in the last part of the regular season have not been the dominant team they were in week 10. The Cardinals have been a very streaky team all year and rumors surfaced after the Packers game, that Kurt Warner might just retire at the end of the season.

I fully expect this game to go over on the current line, which is 57 points. Profootballtalk.com is reporting this afternoon that the Saints have resigned runningback Deuce McAllister. Duece is a hometown favorite in New Orleans but hasn't played in over a year. The signing could be a handout to bring a player back for a possible playoff run who means so much for the team, or it could mean that Pierre Thomas's rib injury and Mike Bell aren't fully ready to go.

Either way, the Superdome is going to be one noisy place to play and the Cardinals have had a short week. I expect another offensive shootout, but the Saints move on.

Predictions,
Warner 29-43-380-3td's-2ints
Brees 31/39-355-3td's-0 ints

Saints over the Cardinals 38-34.

Ravens vs. Colts. Sat. 8:30 pm
Memo to the NFL, can we move back to the old playoff format where games in the playoffs were held at 1 and 4pm? Nearly everyone I spoke with this week is sick and tired of these playoff games starting after 8pm. Could someone in Goodell's office possibly look at the ratings in baseball with the World Series starting with the first pitch starting after 8pm? I understand it is the Colts, but as marketable as Peyton Manning is, not everyone in America is in love with him. Peyton pimps himself out to nearly every company that will endorse him, short of feminine hygiene products and filling in for the late Billy Mays.

These two teams met back in November and Indy and squeaked out 17-15 win. The Colts have been off for two weeks, and down the stretch, haven't played a complete game for 4 quarters since week 14. It does appear that the Colts will be fully healthy for this game, even though they have listed 20 players on the 53 man roster to the injury list.

Baltimore will keep this game close, but in the end, the Colts have too many weapons. I just think back to the early season game the Colts played against the Dolphins. Miami controlled the clock for over 45 minutes of the game, but still lost. I believe Manning is pissed off after losing the chance at the perfect season and will find a way to win this game late.

Ray Rice 27-131-1td
Flacco 16-31-175-1td
Manning 33-49-340-3td's

Colts 27 Ravens 24

Cowboys vs. Vikings. 1pm Sunday
In my opinion, this will be the best game of the weekend. The matchup between these two teams in the 1970's created the Hail Mary pass as Roger Staubach launched one up for Drew Pearson in the endzone to win the game. There is alot of offensive firepower coming to the table in this one.
Dallas is on fire right now. Tony Romo is actually playing some great football for the Cowboys and the Vikings stumbled down the stretch. Marion Barber, who has really underachieved this season, is dealing with some knee issues, so Felix Jones and Tanard Choice will carry the running load for the Cowboys. Percy Harvin looks as if he will play this Sunday. Last year, Harvin's involvement in his college team offense made his quarterback look good, and early this year, Harvin's involvement made Favre look good. His return will be the difference this weekend in what I predict to be the highest scoring game of the weekend.

Miles Austin 11-167-2td's
Adrian Petersen-22-137-2td's
Favre 21-38-280-3td's-2ints
Romo 26-41-340-3td's-2ints.

Vikings win this game simply on Favre's will at the end. Vikings 38 Cowboys 37

Jets vs Chargers. 4:40pm Sun.
In week 6 of the regular season, I made the bold prediction that the 6-0 Denver Broncos would be the first team to start 6-0 and miss the playoffs. Denver didn't get a ticket to the playoffs. San Diego made a pretty remarkable run which was overshadowed by what was happening in Indy and New Orleans at the time. San Diego, which suffered early in the year on run defense, has put together one hell of a run here on the playoffs. I believe Phillip Rivers is the best quarterback that not many folks know about.

Some pundits will say the Jets backed into the playoffs, but I'll tip my hat to Rex Ryan, the team is playing lights out defense right now but I believe their run in the playoffs comes to an end this weekend. Darrelle Revis is the best shutdown corner I've seen since Deion Sanders, but he isn't going to be enough this Sunday to handle all the weapons San Diego has.

T. Jones 21-84-1td
M. Sanchez 13-34-145-0td's-3ints
P. Rivers 22-36-290-3td's

Chargers win 31-19

Wildcard weekend part 2

2010-01-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

Blogspot isnt allowing any discussion.
Patriots win 27-19 over Ravens
Packers win 36-29 over Cardinals

Wildcard weekend, part 1

2010-01-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

This weekend will see three matchups of teams which wrapped up week 17 against each other. Jets vs Bengals, Eagles vs Cowboys and Packers vs Cardinals. I believe that might just be an NFL record.

Saturday 4:30 NBC
Jets vs Bengals

Yes, I know the Jets blew the Bengals away last weekend, but they played the last game (8:30pm) of the regular season and Cincy had nothing to play for. The Bengals have been drifting aimlessly the last few weeks of the season while the team tries to deal with some tragic issues.
The Jets come into this game with the league's top rated defense and a strong running game. Thomas Jones has been an ageless wonder this season. New York is a 2.5 point underdog and the over/under is 34 points. Gametime conditions are really not that bad considering the frigid weather gripping the Nation. No repeat of the Bengals-Chargers January playoff game of 1981 where the windchill was -59 degrees. Actually, the temperature at kickoff in Cincinnati will be warmer than the temperature in Tallahassee Florida. Must be Global warming.....

I expect Darrell Revis to continue his mastery as the best shutdown corner in the league, with Chad Ochocinco being a non factor in the game. Carson Palmer passes for less than 220 yards, Ochocinco ends up with 5 catches for 42 yards, Cedric Benson has 22 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown. For the Jets, Sanchez will wind up with 140 yards passing, Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene wind up rushing for a combined 34 carries and 178 yards and 3 scores.

Jets 24 Bengals 16

Sunday 8:30pm NBC
Eagles vs. Cowboys

Eagles coach Andy Reid is one of the better coaches in the league when it comes to matching up players. Last week, with the NFC East division crown on the line, Dallas coach Wade Phillips pulled out all the stops to win that game and possibly save his coaching career. The Cowboys were up 17-0 at halftime, and I believe Coach Reid pulled in the game plan and positioned his team for the rematch this week in Dallas. Dallas is giving 3.5 points and the over/under is 45 points.

These teams know each other inside and out. As division rivals they meet twice a year, and I expect there will be a new wrinkle or two out of the Eagles tonight. It is difficult to beat the same team three times in one year. I expect the Eagles to put together a blitz package which will frustrate Tony Romo. While Miles Austin will get loose for 8 receptions for 120 yards and 2 scores, I expect DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin to combine for 14 catches and 215 yards and 3 scores.

Eagles 31 Dallas 26

NFC North review

2010-01-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

Lord Favre returns, Aaron Rodgers becomes a leader, Jay Cutler bombs and Detroit is.........well Detroit.

My prediction:
NFC North
Green Bay 13-3
Minnesota 11-5
Chicago 9-7
Detroit4-12

Actual finish:
Minnesota 12-4
Green Bay 11-5
Chicago 7-9
Detroit 2-14

Back in September, I expected Brett Favre to suffer the late season failings he normally experiences. Yes, the Vikings lost games late in the season, but Favre threw for over 600 yards, 8 TD's and no interceptions in the last two games of the year. In fact, Favre threw for over 4200 yards while tossing 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. So much for him winding down in the month of December.

Minnesota. As mentioned above, Favre was strong this year. The addition of draft choice Percy Harvin(who was sorely missed by Tim Tebow) made a strong push to be the offensive rookie of the year. Adrian Peterson, didn't rush for the league total yards this season, but the addition of Favre and Harvin allowed him to increase his touchdown production, which is more important.
The Vikings defense still has some gaps, especially in the secondary which will be exploited in the playoffs. Favre had a great season, and I have no doubt he'll return next season in purple.

Green Bay. I really believed that 2 playoff teams would come out of the NFC North this past September. I was correct, but I was wrong in how the teams would evolve from this division. I felt that Green Bay had the easier schedule back in September. That is the problem with looking at schedules before teams actually take the field. The Packers finished the season winning 7 of the last 8 games, but started the season with quarterback Aaron Rodgers getting beaten in the pocket worse than a red headed stepchild. Rodgers has proven himself to be a quality quarterback, and one tough SOB. The Packers defense came around this season as well and produced 40 turnovers. This is a team you are going to have to watch during the playoffs. I believe they will be in the NFC Championship game.

Chicago. What a wasted year. Chicago giving up virtually the entire 2010 draft for players like Jay Cutler and Gaines Adams, what a waste. Former Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, was sacked 35 times and threw 26 interceptions. Obviously, someone stole his jersey the final two weeks of the year since someone wearing his jersey threw for 550 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2 games. Chicago's defense went downhill as soon as Brian Urlacher was done for the season. The offensive line was non existent. Matt Forte was one of the biggest busts in fantasy football.
As a Bucs fan, I must say the Chicago front office is in much more disarray. The Bears actually gave up a 2nd round pick in this years draft for DE Gaines Adams. Wow. Put down the crack pipe. This is a team which should have finished 4-12 and doesnt have a draft pick until the 4th round, WOW. Maybe Obama will sign an executive order and give you guys 4 first round picks.

Detroit. What is there left to say about Detroit. The Lions are one of the oldest franchises in NFL history, but also one of the only teams never to have played in the Super Bowl. Detroit is 9-39 in the last 3 seasons, only to be outdone by St Louis who is 6-42. Matthew Stafford might very well be a great addition in Detroit, he showed his toughness during a game late in the year, but this team needs help at all positions. When Drew Brees was signed by the New Orleans Saints, he and his wife took out a full page advertisement in the New Orleans paper, and after Hurricane Katrina hit, Brees was very active in the community. Saints fans have filled the Superdome this year and rallied around Drew Brees. If I were Matthew Stafford, I'd take some of that huge guaranteed money from my contract last year, and pay undrafted college free agents from around Michigan to come tryout for the Lions during training camp. It couldn't hurt.

NFC South review

2010-01-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy New Year to my readers. Today is the first part of an eight part series reviewing each NFL division, looking at my preseason predictions and how the team eventually ended their respective seasons. Since I'm a Tampa Bay fan (and it's my blog) we'll be starting with the NFC South.

My prediction in September,
NFC South
New Orleans 12-4
Atlanta 7-9
Carolina 7-9
Tampa Bay 3-13

Final standings
New Orleans 13-3
Atlanta 9-7
Carolina 8-8
Tampa Bay 3-13

Atlanta and Carolina both finished up the season strong, winning 3 their last three games in a row. New Orleans hit a wall and dropped the last three. Tampa won 2 of the last three. The odd trend of the team which finished last in the NFC South in one season and finishing first in the next season continued this year. The Saints were 8-8 in 2008 and won the division in 2009. I believe this will be the last year this trend continues, more on that later.

New Orleans. The Saints came out on fire winning the first 13 games in a row. Early in the season, I thought they might be on pace to break the offensive team records of the 2007 Patriots. However, around week 8, injuries hit the defensive side of the ball and the Saints looked vulnerable. The result was two squeaker wins against division opponents, the Falcons and Panthers in weeks 8 and 9, but the Saints perhaps played their best game of the year against the Patriots in week 12.

The addition of defensive coordinator Greg Williams made a substantial difference for the Saints this year, while LB Jonathan Vilma and S Darren Sharper had superb seasons. On the offensive side of the ball, Drew Brees at times looked as if he could throw the ball through the eye of a sewing needle at 40 yards while rolling out to his left. The wide receiver position solidified itself as perhaps the best all around squad in the league, and the running back by committee approach worked for the Saints adequately.

The media is too quick to crown the Cowboys as the team to beat this year in the playoffs. Sean Peyton is one of the best playcallers in the NFL and I stand by my prediction this September of the Saints and Chargers in this years Super Bowl.

Atlanta. For the first time in 44 years, the Atlanta franchise has put together back to back winning seasons. The Falcons were a streaky team this year at one time losing 4 games in a row, then winning 3. Atlanta was a respectable 6-2 at home but a miserable 3-5 on the road. Matt Ryan went down in week 12 with a toe injury and Michael Turner missed multiple games late in the season with a high ankle sprain. There is a good foundation in place for Atlanta to be a strong team for several years to come.

Carolina. There are a few teams who would like to have a do over this season, and Carolina is one of them. Sensing his job might be on the line, John Fox in week 13 named Matt Moore the starting quarterback. Moore responded nicely (85-138 8TD's 2INTS 98.5 rating) and the team won 4 of the final 5 games. Jake Delhomme was the gift who kept on giving to opposing defenses by turning the ball over 20 times in 12 weeks and failing to move the offense. DE Julius Peppers recorded double digit sack totals (10.5) for the sixth time in his 8 year career.

Tampa Bay. My desire to see Raheem Morris replaced as head coach will not be realized this year. I believe the decision has more to with the uncertainty surrounding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the possible lockout in 2011 than anything else. The Bucs are paying Jon Gruden to sit in the Monday Night Football booth and would be on the hook for a salary of a high profile coach as well if there is no football in 2011. So the result Bucs fans, is a 6-10 season in 2010. This franchise has moved back into the dark ages of the 1980's.The Bucs have 5 picks in the first 99 selections in the upcoming draft, and I don't trust the current staff to use them wisely.

Tampa was simply horrible this season. The offense generated a paltry 15.2 points per game. The offensive line, filled with first and second round picks along with the highest paid center in the league, regressed. The three headed running attack of Williams, Ward and Graham, failed to deliver. Mike Clayton, signed to a ridiculous 15 million dollar contract last offseason, failed to deliver once again. The arrogant product from LSU finished the year, 16-230-1TD, and 5 of those catches for 93 yards were in the first game of the season. First round pick, Josh Freeman was inserted as the starter in week 9, after the bye as I had predicted that in September. While Freeman did show an occasional glimpse of potential, he turned the ball over 28 times in 10 games. Carnell Williams did make a remarkable recovery after two knee surgeries and accounted for over 1000 yards from scrimmage and 7 touchdowns. He should be given strong consideration for comeback player of the year in the league.

The defense. The Bucs played defense this year? Actually they finished the season ranked 10th against the pass, and that is due to the emergence of the shutdown corner, Aqib Talib. Talib started the year in trouble with the law for allegedly assaulting a taxicab driver in Tampa, but finished the season with 5 interceptions and showcasing the talent which made him a first round draft choice. Ronde Barber on the other hand, needs to retire. He was showing signs of slowing down in 2008, and this year failed to record an interception for the first time since becoming a starter in 1998. The defensive line only recorded 28 sacks with the leader being Stylez White with 6.5 sacks. Former draft picks Dre and Kyle Moore struggled to make it onto the field all year, sometimes Moore really is less. Tampa's defense was ranked dead last against the run.

Special teams. This was another disaster this season. The Bucs released Matt Bryant in the preseason and gave a large contract to former Jets kicker Mike Nugent. Nugent was gone a few weeks into the season. Tampa concluded this years campaign be using Indianapolis castoff Conner Barth for kicking duties. Kickoff and punt returner Clifton Smith suffered injuries but 2009 seventh round draft choice, Sammie Stroughter returned one for a score. In the final weeks of the season, Micheal Spurlock(the first man to return a kickoff for a touchdown in Tampa Bay history) was signed to return punts and he did just that in the victory over the New Orleans Saints.

There are a few green shoots at One Buc Place after this last year, but I just wonder if the Bucs have the right coaching staff in place to add some Miracle Gro and make this team respectable once again. Good news is, Detroit, Cleveland, Seattle and St Louis all come to RayJay this next season. 6-10 isn't out of the question.

Next up, the NFC North.

Last week folks. NFL done, NASCAR back again.

2009-12-29T15:48:00.000-08:00

Ugh. It's the last week of the NFL season. Where the hell did that quarter of the year disappear to?
This late in the year, I went 12-4 in the straight up picks last week. Merry Christmas to ME!!!!
That brings the season picks to 161-78. 70% ratio. Hmmm. Just little ole me, at 70% on the straight up picks.

Well now we get to the worst week of the straight up picks, hell we are the worst week with points.

Indy vs. Buffalo. Fred Jackson runs for two scores. Indy loses again and misses the Super Bowl.

Jax vs. Cleveland. The O/U on this game is 39. Take the Under as it will be a running game. Cleveland wins.

Philly vs. Dallas. Lose this week, come back to Dallas next week, Minnesota lost last night. Philly wins by double digits.

Chicago vs. Detroit. Who really cares? I'm not picking either team.

Atlanta vs. Tampa Bay. Atlanta wins.

New Orleans vs. Carolina. Drew Brees gets dialed in against the Panthers, and wins large.

New England vs. Houston. Playoff status means nothing to New England, and Houston can still qualify. New England wins, but take the 8 points Houston is getting.

San Fran vs. St. Louis. Please. 49'er's destroy St Louis.

Pittsburgh vs. Miami Mullets- I'm taking Miami here.

NY Football Giants vs. Minnesota and diva Favre- That was a fantastic MNF game last night, but the Giants aren't going to bring game to the table at the Metrodome. The Vikings secure the 3rd seed in the NFC after beating the Giants.

Cincy vs. Jets. The Bengals are a mess the last few weeks. Take the Jets who need a win.

Green Bay vs. Arizona. Hmm. Wicked game. The Over/Under is 43 right now. Take the under. Arizona will win with Leinert at qb.

Washington Crackheads vs. San Diego. San Diego will continue on their path and beats Washington.

Tennessee vs. Seattle. Tennessee wins because they give Chris Johnson 50 touches on the ball.

Baltimore vs. Oakland. Baltimore wins easily.

Kansas City vs Denver. Denver tries to hold on to a playoff spot, but remember, I stated that Denver would be the first team to start 5-0 and miss the playoffs, KC wins.

Oh Brother, what a week..........

2009-12-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

So a woman walks into the veterinarians office with a duck. She lays the duck on the vets table and says, what's wrong with my duck? The vet responds it's dead. I can't believe it says the woman, I want someone else to examine it. So, the vet takes the duck into another room and a golden lab sniffs the duck from head to tail, and concludes, it's dead. The woman still won't admit the duck is dead and wants another opinion. So, the vet takes the duck into a room where a cat sniffs the duck from head to tail and concludes once again, the duck is definitely dead. The woman finally relents and asks the doctor how much the office visit will be, and he responds, usually, 50.00 but since I had to send it to the lab and requested a cat scan, 300.00.

How are my jokes? Most likely as good as my picks. 8-8 this past week. I have been unable to pick a Thursday night game this year. And in the past few weeks my Monday night picks aren't much better. I was 14-2 in week 1 and 8-8 in week 15, are you kidding me? 149-74 overall. The Jets losing at home against the Falcons eliminated from the playoffs. Oakland beating Denver in Denver with a quarterback who had not played in years. Tampa winning in Seattle? Please. Minnesota tanking in Carolina? Why aren't 100.00 bills flying out of my ass?

I'm disgusted with many things happening in the Nation during this week, so no lovey dovey discussions regarding each game. Wake the hell up America, your freedom is being ripped from you as I type.

San Diego vs. Tennessee. San Diego
Buffalo vs. Atlanta. Atlanta
Kansas City vs. Cincy. Cincy
Oakland vs. Cleveland. Cleveland
Seattle vs. Green Bay. Green Bay
Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh. Baltimore
Houston vs Miami. Houston
Jacksonville vs. New England. New England
Tampa vs New Orleans. New Orleans
Carolina vs New York Giants. Giants
Detroit vs San Fran. San Fran
St Louis vs. Arizona. Arizona
NY Jets vs Indy. Indy
Denver vs. Philly. Philly
Dallas vs Washington. Dallas
Minnesota vs Chicago. Minnesota

I've played fantasy football for 12 years, and this season I had 5 teams, each one of my teams has reached the playoffs for the first time in my career, but I really could care less as I watch the Senate destroy this great Nation by passing a 2700 page bill that no one has yet to read, and Senators getting payoffs just for their vote. I'm so happy that the State of Nebraska will never have to pay federal Medicaid payments ever again, just so Harry Reid and his band of fucking crooks can ram this bill down our throats. If you think unemployment is bad now, just wait until June of 2010. Wake up people. This bill isn't about affordable healthcare, it's about Big Brother dictating every aspect of your life from here on out. How's the hoax and change working for ya now, suckers?

What the Hell?? Week 15

2009-12-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

What a brutal week for those who try to predict football games. Every single Thursday night game this season, I've lost. This past Saturday, New Orleans looked flat. It was the worst game I've watched the Saints play all season, but they were still fighting until there were 9 seconds left.

Point spreads weren't an option this week and I'm sure bookies and Vegas raked in tons of cash Sunday. I had Arizona winning straight up and they did but failed to cover against the 28th ranked pass defense in Detroit. Atlanta came out of no where with Matt Ryan starting as a surprise and managing a weak win. Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs with Dallas's win over the Saints, they are a dome team traveling to New Jersey after record snowfall and they win. Are you freaking kidding me? Houston only manages to beat the Rams by 3? Oakland travels to Denver as a 14 point underdog while starting a quarterback who hasn't played in 2 years and won straight up. You've got to be kidding me. Minnesota was a 10 point favorite heading to Carolina Sunday night. Carolina had Mandy, I mean Matt Moore under center, lost DeAngelo Williams early and has lost both starting tackles for the season, yet pulled off a beatdown on a Vikings team which doesn't travel well.

Finally, in the worst game of the week, The Bucs traveled to Seattle as a 7 point underdog and won outright 24-7, while forcing 5 turnovers. You have got to be kidding me. Way to go Junior. At 1-12, and a chance to get Suh in the draft, you win the game and drop the Bucs draft spot down to at least 3rd currently. Do you think you might sneak 2 wins in during the final 3 weeks and save your job for next year? All I want for Christmas is to see your happy ass gone and an actual head coach with experience replace you. Oh, that's right, we had one. I disagreed with Gruden ALOT. However, this team would not be 2-12 if he had stayed.

Deja Vu, all over again?

2009-12-21T11:56:00.001-08:00

If the playoffs were to start today, I know, all bets are off during the last two weeks of the season, but an interesting scenario is evolving. The NFC playoff participants seem more in place than the AFC with New Orleans, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Arizona atop their respective divisions. Dallas and Green Bay appear to be locks for the wildcard spots. With New Orleans and Minnesota heading towards an apparent first round bye, week 17 will make for some interesting positioning for the last 4 teams likely to extend their seasons into January. Dallas hosts Philadelphia in the final week of the season and Green Bay travels to Arizona.

With Arizona and the winner of the NFC East getting the #3 and #4 seeds, week 17 games will set up a virtual rematch for the wildcard round of playoff games. I can remember in the past a team finishing the season and then playing them the next week in the playoffs, however, I can't ever recall 2 teams finishing the season only to face the same opponent the first week of the playoffs.

This lays out the groundwork for very fascinating football the last week of the year.

March to the playoffs continues.

2009-12-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

I predicted this would be a bad year for the Bucs back in August while suggesting they would put 3 games in the win column, but that looks daunting at this point. Junior Morris has commented this past week that he is bored with being the head coach. Well, that must be because the team is functioning on a cylinders right now and that the team basically runs itself. Yeah, right. All I want for Christmas is a firing of Morris on January 4th, 2010, and a competent head coach put in place. I don't trust Morris in choosing the players in next year's draft with the Bucs selecting as high in the draft as they'll be.

Around the league, Indy and New Orleans are cruising towards a perfect season, though the Horseshoes head coach said that they would be resting players during the final two games. New England looks shaky with a banged up Tom Brady and Randy Moss laying down early in games.
Baltimore looks like they are making a push for a wildcard spot, despite losing at Green Bay 2 weeks ago. The Jets are in the hunt but after this weeks contest, they have to play Indy and Cincy. Green Bay certainly has been playing strong as of late. San Diego has reeled off 8 in a row and might be the third best team in the league.

Picks were 11-5 last week and the season record so far is 141-66.

Thursday Night
Indy at Jacksonville.
This game opened in Vegas on Monday morning with the Horseshoes being a 6.5 favorite and today, it's down to 3 points. Jacksonville has too much on the line in this matchup and will be playing in front of a soldout stadium for the first time in several seasons. Jacksonville wins by 2 on a late field goal.

Saturday Night
Dallas at New Orleans.
The Saints were my preseason favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl and this team is playing as well as anyone in the league right now. The Superdome will be rockin, mass quantities of beer will be consumed, thousands of crawfish will be eaten while the fans watch the Saints roll over the Cowboys in a double digit win. The Cowboys wish the playoffs would start the week after Thanksgiving as they play horrible in December. The Boys will miss the playoffs again this season. At least Jerry Jones has a big screen tv at his new stadium to watch the playoffs on.

New England at Buffalo.
The wheels are falling off in New England and if they don't get it get it back on track soon, they too, will be watching the playoffs at home. The Pats win a low scoring contest 19-13.

Arizona at Detroit.
Arizona turned the ball over 7 times in San Francisco Monday night. Detroit has been outscored by over 100 points in the last three games. Arizona locks up the NFC West division by 4pm Sunday after pummeling the Lions.

Miami at Tennessee.
The Titans started the season by dropping 6 straight games, then won 5 in a row. It appears that Vince Young might miss this weeks game and if he does, it will be reflected in Chris Johnson's production. Miami is playing for a wildcard spot and wins this week.

Cleveland at Kansas City.
Who stole the Brown's uniforms last week? 8 sacks? A win against Pittsburgh? Will they make it two in a row? Yes. The Chiefs are horrible and Matt Cassel simply isn't the same quarterback without Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Break up the Browns, they win two in a row.

Houston at St Louis.
It's a little too late for the Texans. They have had problems at running back all season long and quite simply are one of the most underachieving teams in the NFL this season. St Louis is , well, St Louis and their offensive line is down to just two starting guards. Houston puts up huge numbers against a team which should be playing in the NCAA Div II.

Atlanta at J-E-T-S. Jets Jets Jets.
The Falcons have never had back to back winning seasons in franchise history and with Matt Ryan and Michael Turner out, they just may continue that trend this year. The forecast calls for possible snow in the Meadowlands this Sunday, the Jets have a great defense and strong running attack. Jets move forward, maintaining playoff hopes.

San Francisco at Philadelphia.
You know the drill, a team wins on Monday night against a division rival and a west coast team comes east for a 1:00pm kickoff. The 49'ers are improved this year but not quite there yet. Philly marches towards a division title with a win.

Chicago at Baltimore.
Baltimore's Ray Rice is running as strong as any back in football right now, amassing 200 total yards and a score last week against the Lions. Chicago's Jay Cutler has lobbed 20 picks so far this year. The Bears have no offensive line, Matt Forte has really suffered a sophomore slump, they have no defense, a questionable kicker, but other than that, I guess it could be worse. Baltimore wins.

Cincinnati at San Diego.
Every time these two teams match up, I can't help but think about that classic matchup on January 10th, 1982, where the gametime temperatures were -9 on the field and the 35 mph winds caused the windchill temps to be near -50 at kickoff. That won't be a problem this week, kickoff will see the temps in the mid 60's in San Diego. Cincinnati lost to Oakland a few weeks back on the west coast and the offense is having trouble scoring points. Bad time of the year to have scoring problems. San Diego is red hot, and I'm wondering if Tomlinson can stay healthy in January this year.

Oakland at Denver.
How bad is your football team when you're crippled by Bruce Gradkowski being lost for the season? If that's not bad enough, your options at quarterback are JaMarcus Russel or Charlie Frye. Ouch. Denver wins easily.

Green Bay at Pittsburgh.
Snow in December at Heinz Field but the Steelers have nothing left to play for other than pride. Green Bay is cruising with 5 straight wins and they aren't going to let up in this one. Green Bay wins by a touchdown.

Tampa Bay at Seattle.
Tampa plays poorly on the west coast. Josh Freeman will be overwhelmed by the noise in Seattle's stadium and after throwing 8 picks in the last two games, that trend should continue. The Bucs haven't scored a touchdown in 2 games and most likely won't score one on Sunday either. Seattle wins.

Minnesota at Carolina.
Carolina has Matt Moore under center, and their strength has been the running game over the past few weeks. But, the Panthers have lost both starting tackles and Minnesota brings the Williams Wall on the defensive line with them. Minnesota must continue to win in order to obtain a first round bye or even homefield advantage in the playoffs. Favre tosses 3 scores and the Vikings cruise Sunday night.

Monday Night
New York Football Giants at Washington.
The Giants defense has been exposed. Washington has actually seen some offense after coordinator Sherm Lewis was hired mid season. Washington wins a home game over a division rival.

Journalism is dead, part deux.

2009-12-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

I know, you are all tired of the Tiger Woods stories, I am too, he's a dirtbag. However as I pointed out last weeks grammar issue on the ProFootballTalk.com website, let's take a look at tonight's article from the New York Daily News linked below. They claim that since the advent of the Tiger Woods scandal after Thanksgiving, Democrat Representative Joe Baca has scrapped his plans to bestow the Congressional Medal of Honor to Tiger Woods. MEMO to the NY Daily News, bestow means to give as a gift. The Congressional Medal of Honor is earned and awarded, not bestowed. My Great grandfather was awarded the medal twice for his service, and I have the family tree to prove I'm not some wacked out blogger. But what I find so offensive in this article is that the writer never questions the intent to bestow the Congressional Medal of Honor on Tiger Woods, who has never served in the military. This is what I find so disturbing about the 20year old somethings coming out of college and finally getting jobs in journalism. They were not taught proper history and they disregard those who remember it. Interesting enough, there is no rebuttal on Rep. Baca's website, and if you do not live in his district, he will not accept emails from you, and calls go directly to voicemail. This was going to be the most transparent administration in the history of US Government. How's that hoax and change working out for ya?

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/12/09/2009-12-09_tiger_woods_texts_to_rachel_uchitel_alleged_mistress_no_1_reveal_tortured_affair.html

Phew!, A hell of a week.

2009-12-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

Last week's picks stunk it up as I watched my first losing record of the season while going 7-9. Sure, I picked the Chiefs over the Broncos as a stretch pick. But, Bruce, the Polish Popgun Gradkowski, former Buc, looked like Roger Freaking Staubach against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. What's up with that? I did, however, predict a trap game for the Saints and suggested taking Washington and the 11 points. Those who did, won. Last week's dismal predictions have brought my selections to a season long record of 130-61.

Thursday Night
Pittsburgh V. Cleveland. Stick a fork in the Steelers, they are done for the season. That thought warms the hearts of many Brownie fans I'm sure, but it's always better to have something to root for than root against. The poor fans in Cleveland haven't had anything to root for in decades and it isn't looking better down the road. The climate change, Global warming blizzard, known as AlGore which is creeping across the Great Lakes region today will create a massive lake effect snow event for Thursday's game. Take the under on the points, and the Steelers will win.

Denver V. Indy. I have picked Indy to lose the past two weeks but I'm not picking them this week though. The Horseshoes can wrap up homefield advantage through the playoffs this week. This afternoon, the Colts said that career quarterback backup Jim Sorgi has been placed on IR with a shoulder injury. Manning will play this week and solidify homefield for the playoffs. It will be interesting to see what the Colts do with their starters for the final 3 weeks. Peyton has got to be just a bit happy with the turmoil over at Tiger Woods house, just think of all the new sponsors he can sign with after the first of the new year. Maybe advertising executives could create an all Manning all the time network, and in the offseason, the forehead could sell things just like the Home Shopping Network. Colts win.

Cincy V. Minnesota. Gray beard Favre threw nearly as many picks in Sunday night's game as he has all season. But the Vikings are going home to the friendly confines of the Metrodome, with the piped in crowd noise, where they are 6-0 this season. Cincinnati has never beaten Minnesota in Minnesota. Cincy has been weak against teams they should blow out, and while there are some injuries on Minnesota's side, Minnesota wins this game based on Favre's will. Close one, 30-27.

Jets V. Tampa Bay. Josh Freeman. For a few weeks you looked promising, but now in the last two games, you've turned the ball over 9 times. 4 picks last week in the endzone against a struggling Panthers team. You threw for over 300 yards, moved the team up and down the field, on the road, and scored 6 points? Last year, I posted Buc game recaps, this year, why bother. It appears that the J-E-T-S will be starting Kellen Clemens at QB this week instead of first round draft choice, Mark Sanchez. Didn't Kellen Clemens used to play saxophone for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band? Don't touch the Bucs for the last 4 games of this season, the JETS win.

Buffalo V. Kansas City. If there would ever be a contraction of the number of NFL teams, these two should be prime candidates. Jamaal Charles runs wild in this one and KC (without the Sunshine Band) chalks up a win.

Green Bay V. Chicago. Green Bay is making their push towards the playoffs, Chicago is looking towards the April draft. Green Bay's defense is very underrated and does Chicago even have a defense? Green Bay wins large.

New Orleans V. Atlanta. I called the trap game last week with the Saints coming off a home game, in a dome, then going on the road outdoors. Real football should be played outdoors. However, this Saints team is clicking on all cylinders and will be playing indoors against a wounded Falcons team. Matt Ryan will most likely not be playing this week, Michael Turner will miss another start and their secondary is horrible. Saints win and give the points this week.

Detroit V. Baltimore. Detroit is 0-6 on the road. Baltimore is pissed off and on a short week. Take Baltimore to win with Ray Rice having a large game.

Miami V. Jacksonville. I've been up in the air here about this game. Jacksonville has one of the best running backs in the league in MJD, but I feel the Miami Mullets are going to bring lots of confidence into this game against a in state rival which has been all over the board this year. Miami wins a very close game.

Carolina V. New England. New England is going to lose 3 in a row? If they do, Tom Brady will have lots of time to spend with his new baby come January 3rd around 4pm. Pats win.

Seattle V. Houston. Two teams which have really disappointed me all year. I have Texans running back, Steve Slaton on one of my fantasy teams, and now he is out for the season. The Texans have much more talent than their record allows. Seattle has a 1-5 road record, but I feel Seattle gets the win here.

St Louis V. Tennessee. Please, no discussion here. Chris Johnson rushes for 200 yards and three scores. Tennessee wins by halftime.

Washington V. Oakland. I really thought I would be done discussing the Polish Pop Gun, Bruce Gradkowski after he left Tampa and had failed attempts in Cleveland and St Louis, but oh no, here he comes again. 3 touchdowns in the 4th quarter against Pittsburgh, are you kidding me? The Crackheads suck and are headed West, so the Raiders win number 5 for the year and 3 under the leadership of the bald one. Why couldn't you through 50 yards down the field when you were in Tampa?

San Diego V. Dallas. I mentioned last week that Dallas always takes the December dive, but I didn't think it was going to be against a Giants team with their own problems. Never underestimate the impact of a divisional game. Outside of Indy and New Orleans, the Chargers are playing lights out football. (remember, I predicted them in the AFC Championship game back in September) This will be a great game but San Diego comes away with win number 8 in a row.

Philadelphia V. New York Football Giants. The Giants have their backs up against the wall in this game, if they lose, they are done for the playoffs. McNabb is getting up there in age, Andy Ried just got a contract extension today and the Eagles continue their march towards the NFC East division title after beating the Giants in this Sunday night game.

Monday Night
Arizona V. San Fran. Nancy Pelosi is representing San Fran, I want them to lose every single game from here on out, sorry folks but until you fruits and nuts elect reasonable representation, you must lose. Arizona wins.

A Clean sweep of the post?

2009-12-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

WOW! Less than two hours after my post regarding the grammar issues in Florio's post, the prediction website is updated with a new introduction to the first paragraph. That's fantastic.

The Patriots have only swept Miami twice in the Belichick area and they often struggle in Jimmy Buffet Stadium.

Patriots (7-4) at Dolphins (5-6)
1 p.m., CBS

The Dolphins aren’t any worse than the team that finished last season 11-5. Yet they are staring 5-7 in the face. A much tougher schedule and a propensity for fourth quarter collapses have ruined their season. (Opponents have outscored Miami 83-22 in the fourth quarter since their bye week.)

New England traditionally bounces back from tough losses with fury. They haven’t lost back-to-back games since 2006. But this is the second time in three weeks they are coming off a devastating loss and they are working on a short week. The Patriots have only swept Miami twice in the Belichick area and they often struggle in Jimmy Buffet Stadium.

This is a very dangerous game for the Patriots, but Miami’s secondary has too many holes for Tom Brady to throw in. Look for something different from these Pats: a fourth quarter comeback.

Pick: Patriots 31, Dolpins 28

Hmmm. How many times have the Patriots struggled in Jimmy Buffet Stadium?

And what exactly is the Bill Belicheck area?

Florio is a sell out and a loser unable to write complete sentences based on factual information.

Journalism is dead folks, thats why newspapers are dying

2009-12-03T13:55:00.001-08:00

Below, is a game prediction from Mike Florio and Gregg Rosenthal. Mike Florio founded the popular website, profootballtalk.com. This year, Mike sold out to NBC and merged with the nbcsports.msnbc.com team. Mike runs a site which is many times driven by rumors, not near the comparison of the TMZ of pro football, but mostly, his site is feeds of stories run in papers from NFL hometowns. Over the years, his site has attracted a lot of attention and he had gotten sponsorship from Sprint shortly before merging with NBC sports. The site sees much shameless self-promotion with a focus on grammar, sentence structure, and fact checking.
Below is the compiled game day predictions from Mr Florios website on the NBC/MSNBC site regarding the upcoming Miami Mullets against the New England Patriots. I beg any 9th grade English teacher to show me how the first two sentences of the posting are grammatically correct.
The Dolphins play in Land Shark Stadium, not Jimmy Buffett Stadium. And look at the final score prediction, what the hell is a Dolpin? Now, if you are writing a blog for NBC, wouldn't you think there could be (A) some fact checking, (B) some spell checking, and lastly, some sentence structure checking? What happened to the AP style guide for journalism?
Florio, last time I checked, I was kicking your ass too in straight up picks this year, behind you guys over at ESPN and Sporting News. Line forms at the end around the corner.

Patriots (7-4) at Dolphins (5-6)
1 p.m., CBS

The Dolphins aren’t worse of a team than the one that finished last season 11-5. Yet they are staring 5-7 in the face. A much tougher schedule and a propensity for fourth quarter collapses have ruined their season. (Opponents have outscored Miami 83-22 in the fourth quarter since their bye week.)

New England traditionally bounces back from tough losses with fury. They haven’t lost back-to-back games since 2006. But this is the second time in three weeks they are coming off a devastating loss and they are working on a short week. The Patriots have only swept Miami twice in the Belichick area and they often struggle in Jimmy Buffet Stadium.

This is a very dangerous game for the Patriots, but Miami’s secondary has too many holes for Tom Brady to throw in. Look for something different from these Pats: a fourth quarter comeback.

Pick: Patriots 31, Dolpins 28

Road Rules week 13.

2009-12-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

week 12 saw my picks at 10-6 to bring the season long record to 123-52. I believe that record is still above any of the "experts" over at ESPN, though Merril Hoge is close. We are in the stretch run for the playoffs and injuries are mounting as some teams scrap to get an invitation to play in the NFL's second season. This week, I believe we will see a road team domination.

Thursday night
Jets @Toronto Bills. The Bills play their first regular season game north of the border at the Rogers Center in Toronto. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is nursing a knee injury and I'm going with the Bills to win this "home" game.

Philly @ Atlanta. Matt Ryan will miss this weekends start with Chris Redman filling in for Atlanta this week. Redman was efficient last week versus the Bucs but will see a myriad of blitz packages this week. Sure, the Eagles are going to go without DeSean Jackson most likely this week(concussion), but Jason Avant should fill in nicely. Eagles continue their march towards the NFC East title.

St Louis @ Chicago. This week Jay Cutler might finally have some time to set up and throw the ball as the Rams have no pass rush. Good thing, because the Bears don't have an offensive line. Bears win at home. Matt Forte, 131 combined yards and 1 touchdown.

Detroit @ Cincinnati. Cincy didn't put as many points on the board last week against their divisional rival, but that should change this week. Jasmine's favorite team, the Bengals, are 13 point favorites this week and are 6-0 against the spread (ATS) in non conference games in the past two years. Cincy puts the pedal to the metal and wins by 20.

Oakland @ Pittsburgh. Big Ben should be back this week. Da Raydahs have had 10 days to get ready for the Steelers. Bruce "the Polish Popgun" Gradkowski will be figured out by the Steelers defense and another ugly showing by the Raiders is in store.

Tennessee @ Indy. This should be a great game this week. The Titans have won 5 in a row, and the Colts have yet to lose one this year. However, Tennessee is 9-2 against the spread when they've have 2 or more consecutive wins in the past 2 years. Indy is 13-30 ATS over the past 5 years against teams with losing records. The Colts finally lose this week.

Denver @ Kansas City. Yes, Denver won large, 26-6 against the Giants on Turkey Day, but the Giants are in a downward spiral. Denver is 0-7 ATS in the past 7 games when they were favored by 3.5-9.5 points and 1-8 ATS against teams with a losing record. Kansas City has nothing to lose. I'm taking Kansas City to beat their division rival outright behind Jamaal Charles running strong. Charles has 90 yards and two scores.

New England @ Miami. Did you all get to watch my preseason Super Bowl pick Saints put that beat down on the Pats? That upcoming NFC Championship game between the Vikings and Saints is going to be one for the ages. Miami is 0-6 against the spread in week 10-13 over the past 2 seasons. Brady and company are pissed off and will wear out the young corners of the Miami Mullets.

New Orleans @ Washington Crackheads. This is a classic trap game. The Saints are coming off an emotional win on a short week and traveling to an outdoor stadium against a weak team. Washington has covered the spread in the last three games and early in the week, they are a double digit underdog. I'll take Washington and the points but the Saints win.

Tampa Bay @ Carolina. Carolina's starting quarterback, Jake Delhomme has a broken finger on his throwing hand and it appears that the third year Oregon State product, Matt Moore will most likely start at quarterback. Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams are both listed early in the week as questionable. The Bucs are 6.5 point underdogs and on the road for the second straight game. The Bucs win this game outright this week. I predict 4 turnovers by the Panthers, and the Bucs score 30 points for win number two of the year.

Houston @ Jacksonville. These two teams are the poster children for those teams which are classic underachievers. Matt Schaub has a monster day against one of the worst pass defenses in the league. Houston hangs around in the wildcard chase for another week.

San Diego @ Cleveland. San Diego comes in on fire, to the city where the river caught on fire, after running off 6 consecutive wins. Cleveland doesn't have a prayer.

Dallas @ New York Football Giants. Sure, the calender reads December and that should signal the annual meltdown for the Dallas Cowboys. It won't start this week against a Giants team which started 5-0 and is 1-5 in subsequent games in the past 6 weeks. The Cowboys meltdown starts next week as they face the Chargers, @New Orleans, @Washington, and Philly, the final month of the season. Cowboys win this week.

San Francisco @ Seattle. San Fran is still in the hunt for a wildcard spot as the Giants, Cowboys, and Falcons future is uncertain. Seattle has been horrible this season and seemingly, key players have been on the injury report week in and week out all season long. San Fran hangs around this week, wins and stays in the hunt.

Minnesota @ Arizona. Will Warner play this week? Will Favre finally have a bad game this season? Will I ever win the Florida Lottery? All three of these are valuable and important questions. The Vikings are having a season for the ages with a quarterback of the ages. Warner sits, Favre plays and I don't win the lotto again this week. Minnesota needs to keep pace with the Saints for home field advantage through the playoffs. Vikings win a close one, 37-31.

Monday Night
Baltimore @ Green Bay. Pittsburgh's slide over the past 3 games, have allowed Baltimore to get back into the thick of the AFC wildcard playoff hunt. Green Bay has won 3 in a row after losing in Tampa to the previous winless Bucs. Baltimore has more to lose in this game than Green Bay. Ray Lewis will have the Raven's defense amped up and they will win a close one on Monday Night Football, 23-19.

71 days until the Super Bowl and counting.........

2009-11-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

The NFL season is too damn short. Fans of the game try to fill their love of the game by watching empty events such as the scouting combine, the draft, many of us huddle around to see who goes where at the start of free agency, and can't wait for training camp to open when we know all teams start anew and everyone is undefeated. It feels as if the season just started and now, there are 71 days until the culmination of the season this year in Miami.

My selections of the Vikings and Saints playing in the NFC Championship looks like it might be a reality. My fantasy teams (5) are all in first place in their respective divisions. Finally, my 3-4 win season for the Bucs looks to be a bit too generous.

The straight up pics last week went 12-4 and yesterday's choices were 2-1, that brings my documented picks on this blog so far this season to 115-47. Let's get to this week's selections.

Bengals vs. Browns. Brady Quinn had 27 fantasy points last week. He must have had some of that energy drink he pimps on tv before the game because I have no idea where that outburst of production came from. The Bengals, fell right into the trap game against Oakland. The Bengals (my Bengal cat Jasmine's favorite team) is at home and 5-0 vs. the division opponents. Cleveland is 0-4 in division. Jasmine is happy at 4:30pm EST as the Bengals cruise to a easy win.

Vikings vs. Bears. The ageless wonder, Lord Favre is showing no signs of breaking down as he did last season with the Jets. Then again, not every team has Adrian Petersen. The Bears offensive line is horrible and the Vikings will manhandle the Bears all afternoon. Vikings advance to 10-1.

Eagles vs Crackheads. I've been waiting to see Philly make a move towards a wildcard playoff spot, and now that the New York Football Giants got destroyed last night, Sunday's game will be the venue. These divisional games are always close and I think I will take the Crackheads +9 but the Eagles will win.

Miami Mullets vs. Toronto Bills. Ricky Williams has been reported over the past week with a chest injury, but worry not Mullet fans, he scores twice and you stay in the hunt for a wild card spot for at least another week at 6-5.

Seahawks vs Rams. Rams RB Stephen Jackson has missed practices this week and is experiencing back spasms. It's no wonder he has back spasms because this 30+ year old running back is trying to carry the entire team on his back. He's gotten 95 carries in the last 4 games, not to mention the catches out of the backfield. The only player with more total yards from scrimmage this year to date is Chris Johnson. Seahawks win this one.

Falcons vs Bucs. Will it be Turner or Snelling in the backfield for the Falcons? It looks like a game time decision. The Bucs are floundering badly. The OC was fired days before the start of the season and now Jim Bates has been replaced with Junior Morris calling the defense. Wasn't that what he was hired to do a year ago? The Falcons are trying to get over the stigma of never having back to back winning seasons in their franchise history and currently sit at 5-5. Matty Ice has suffered somewhat of a sophomore slump at quarterback this season. The Falcons are going to win this but I'm taking the Bucs +13 in my parlay.

Jets-Panthers. The Panthers have actually been playing better in the past few weeks, and the duo in the Carolina backfield will have success against a weak D-Line of the Jets. Steve Smith gets shut down by Jets CB Revis, but nothing new there. Carolina is playing in the Meadowlands, temps are in the mid 50's and light winds. They win by a field goal.

49'er's vs Jaguars. This in my mind is one of the most difficult games this week to forecast. Both teams are all over the radar screen. Early injury reports show that MJD and MSW both missed some practice this week and are now listed as probable with knee ailments. Jacksonville has not had a very good record traveling West this season, but I sense they know they are deep in the hunt for a wildcard spot and will pull out a win on their trip to Nancy Pelosi's hometown.

Chargers vs Chiefs. I look like Einstien this week after taking the Chiefs +11 last week and they won straight up. I'm taking the Chiefs +14 again this week but the Chargers will win this game.

Colts vs. Texans. These two teams played 3 weeks ago, and the Texans missed sending that matchup into overtime by a very nearly missed wide left field goal attempt as time ran out. These two teams know each other very well. Indy beat the Texans week 9 at home by 3, beat the Patriots by 1 and went on the road a beat the Ravens by 2. I'm picking the Texans to beat the Colts this week and I'm taking the 4 points the Texans are getting.

Titans vs Cardinals. The Titans are 4-0 since Vince Young became the quarterback. The Cardinals are 5-0 on the road. Kurt Warner has some injury issues, and the Titans are starting to play some pretty good defense. I'm going with the hot hand and VY to go 5-0.

Steelers vs. Ravens. During the early part of the season, many fantasy football "experts" said they were Wacko for Flacco. Well, they were just plain wacko. Joe Flacco has suffered the same sophomore slump that Matt Ryan has, and isn't putting up the numbers he did in the first month of this season. There were early week questions as to whether or not Big Ben would be starting this week, but all signs seem to point to yes as of now. This will, no doubt, be yet another very close game, but the Steelers prevail and keep marching towards the playoffs.

Monday Night Football
Saints vs. Patriots-

I can't wait to listen to Jon Gruden on Monday night football. I've waited to watch this game since the schedule was released. Prior to the start of the season I predicted a Vikings/Saints NFC Championship game. On week 6 I predicted a Saints appearance in the Super Bowl. This game is going to be a classic. Drew Brees has the quickest release of a quarterback I've seen since Dan Marino. The Superdome is a difficult place to play when the Saints are winning, and this season, the Patriots are 1-3 on the road. I expect a very high scoring game, but the Saints advance to 11-0 after winning 37-31.

11-3 at 7pm Sunday

2009-11-22T16:21:00.000-08:00

My straight up pics are currently 11-3 this week. We still have Philly and Chicago tonight and Tennessee vs. Houston Monday night. Thanksgiving screws everything up this coming week. I won't be around so I'll make my picks for Turkey day right now on Sunday night.

Green Bay vs. Detroit. Detroit screwed me good on one of my parlay cards, the Lions and Browns scored 75 points combined? Are you freaking kidding me? Green Bay takes care of Detroit easily.

Oakland vs. Dallas. I had Oakland +11 and the Washington Crackheads +12 this weekend. Don't expect Oakland to win coming into Dallas this week.

New York Football Giants vs. Denver. Denver has now lost the 4th game in a row, I predicted this collapse on week 5 of the NFL season. The Giants win.

I'll address the rest of the games played on Sunday later next week.

This Sunday is 9 years

2009-11-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving has become a melancholy time of year for me over the past several years. My neighbor and the man I considered to be the closest thing to a brother I ever had, died suddenly, the day before Thanksgiving 2000. This year the anniversary of his death will be on Sunday, the 22nd. Peter was a great family man, a hard worker who excelled at his craft, was fanatical about fishing, the only flaw was he was a hockey fan, not a football fan ( just kidding buddy-you might still be sore I beat you at fantasy hockey)

It's really interesting how you arrive at different points in your life. I met Peter by chance through an ex-girlfriend. The house my wife and I live in now is a direct result of meeting Peter. The house nextdoor to Pete's was available to rent and while the ex-girlfriend was kicked out shortly after we moved in, Pete and I became very close friends. Over a few years, I bonded with Pete and his family. During the evenings I was either over at his house, or he was over at my house. In the late 1990's, and the advent of the ultra fast 14.4 dial up modems with computers using Windows 3.1, we were always tweaking our operating systems or downloading some new program. Pete would crash his system just so he could rebuild it, because he could.

If it weren't for Pete, I would never have ever owned a cat. Pete's mother went to her car one morning, while getting ready to start the car, she heard a noise. That noise was a tiny little furball kitten cuddled up on her engine which ended up at my house and since she was alone, I named her Orphie, short for Orphan. Orph was a large part of my life for 13 years.

Pete was one of the most intelligent people I've ever met in my life. His trade in Ft Myers was installing ceramic tile. During periods of bad weather or fishery closures, I'd work with him. I'll never forget his mantra, " You SET Tile, you LAY women and carpeting". Nine years later, I run into people that still say they haven't seen anyone make the tile cuts he could do. Pete, I'll never forget that job we did out at South Seas.

Peter introduced me into the world of politics. He made me really think about things from a different point of view. He inspired me to seek out an appointment to the Gulf Council advisory panel, and unfortunately, he missed my appointment. He missed my Governor's recommendation of appointment to the full voting Council. He missed my trips to Washington, my visit to the floor of the US Senate in full session to get a buyout of fishermen in 2oo5.

Pete's missed out on alot of things I wish I could tell him about. But what I miss telling him about the most is Karen and I getting married. Karen and Pete would have been great friends. I miss you so much buddy, and if you think the Bush V. Gore election was crazy, you'd be out of your mind crazy with whats happening these days. You're not forgotten Pete. I think about you every single day, and those you knew, think about you as well. I wish you were still here.

PETER EDWARD DAVIS JR.
September 20, 1955- November 22, 2000.

Week 11, can you believe it already??????

2009-11-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

I know, it's Monday night and I'm making my picks already for this weeks games. We've gotten into the part of the NFL season where Thursday night games come into play and the so-called experts on sites such as ESPN wait until Friday morning to reveal their Thursday night picks. Well, that doesn't help you if you are betting straight up in a pick'em football pool which includes the Thursday night game does it? Nope. Not to mention I'll be on the water for a few days, so might as well get this out of the way now.

I told you loyal readers last week I would not go 8-5 again this week. I delivered on that promise. I went 11-3, and I would have gone 12-3 had I included my pick of Carolina over Atlanta but I omitted it so my season straight up record is now 101-42. That's pushing over 70% (the record is right here online-week by week picks) and I know some folks have won money from my picks, I appreciate my free food and drinks so far this season from Lee Roy Selmons pick 63.

I've got to start this week's column with the question WHY? Why did the Cleveland Browns get a home Monday Night Football game this year? Generally, teams with decent winning records and popular fan bases get primetime games based on the previous year's record. Cleveland has scored 5 offensive touchdowns in it's last 60 quarters of football, hardly a compelling draw for MNF. Outside of Cleveland and Baltimore, I'd bet more people watched the Oprah/Sarah Palin interview today than the football game tonight. I know I was watching the new 5 part World War II series on the History Channel, only checking in to see how Ray Rice was doing for my fantasy team. The Bucs won the Super Bowl (that would be Super Bowl 37 for my Eagles friends reading)
and then opened the season ON THE ROAD on Monday Night Football. Yeah, it was in Philly, and we kicked their ass again in their brand new stadium, but, every Super Bowl winner since has had a home game, primetime since. I'm not too worried about Monday Night Football, playoffs or the like with the Bucs right now so let's move on.

Speaking of the Bucs, I don't believe my desire to see Junior Morris replaced at the end of the season will be realized anytime soon. Jon Gruden just agreed to a long term extension on his ESPN contract today, meaning he will be in the announcer booth for the remainder of his Bucs contract and the tightwad Glazers will have to pay him over 3 million for the next two years while he collects from ESPN as well. Good for you Jon. I do think however, that Junior Morris will remain on the sidelines for the Bucs, regardless of what happens this season. It is looking more and more like a Collective Bargaining Agreement won't be reached and 2010 will be an uncapped season, which will result in what most are saying, an owners lockout in 2011. With such uncertainty, and the cheap owners of the Bucs, why hire a high profile coach only to watch him draw a multi million dollar check and go flats fishing for snook and redfish while the owners lock out the players from playing football. Yup. Welcome to the 1980's Bucs fans.

The Bye weeks are finally over (not that that matters to anyone who doesn't play fantasy football, but, ya freaking-hoo) Wimps need injury reports, I call'em as I see 'em. How about you limp dicks over at ESPN? You don't have an "expert" who is beating my record yet this season. My record is here online for the past two years, Now on to this weeks games:

Thursday Night:
Miami @ Carolina- Both teams coming off a short week. Miami has Ronnie Brown down with injury. Carolina wins.

Washington Crackheads @ Dallas Cowboys- The Crackheads got me on my parlay this week. I took Denver and gave the points, then out of no where, the Crackhead defense takes Kyle Orton out of the game and then Denver is forced to put in, the spleenless Chris Simms, who goes 3-14 for 7 yards and Denver loses again. (more later on that) Dallas is playing at home and Jerry Jones is pissed they hell off after that showing in Green Bay on Sunday. Dallas wins.

Cleveland @ Detroit- WOW. Must I make a pick in this one? Thank God I'm not in this tv market. Detroit wins simply because they are at home. I'll be shocked to see if 30,000 fans show up for the game.

San Fran @ Green Bay- I really thought Dallas would beat Green Bay at home last week after their poor showing in Tampa. Green Bay has really got to dig deep in the coming schedule if they want to make the playoffs. Green Bay wins this week, but the playoffs.............in question.

Pittsburgh @Kansas City- I took Cincy and the points last week, but I thought Pittsburgh would win. Cincy is balling right now but take Pittsburgh against a horrible Kansas City team.

Atlanta @ New York Football Giants- The Giants were a bit overhyped this preseason, and when they shot out of the gate at 5-0, everyone was getting ready for a Manning brother Super Bowl. Atlanta, as a franchise, has never posted back to back winning seasons since 1966, and it's looking like that trend might continue this year. I'm taking the Giants to be very motivated this week off the bye which saw Philly lose another game.

New Orleans @ Tampa Bay- Brees throws for 300 yards and three scores, Saints win by 13 points, my only question is can Aquib Talib shut down Colston one to one? Bucs lose, Saints win.

Buffalo @ Jacksonville- What is up with Jacksonville? One week they look like a playoff contender, the next? I had Jax+7 in the parlay this week and they won straight up. Buffalo is horrible in run defense, I see Jacksonville beating Buffalo and MJD running for 150 and 2, maybe 3 scores.

Indy @ Baltimore- Baltimore played with lots of emotion tonight, they will be on a short week, Peyton Manning coming to town, Indy goes 10-0.

Seattle @ Minnesota- I really felt once Matt Hasselbeck got back behind center, that Seattle would make a run for the NFC West title. Not so much now. Hasslebeck is 34 but playing like he's 50. Favre is 41 and playing like he's 25. Favre has lots of toys around him though Hasselbeck doesn't have. Minnesota goes to 9-1.

Arizona @St Louis- This doesn't warrant disscussion. Arizona easily.

NY Jets @ New England- Whoa boy. I feel sorry to be a New York Jet this coming week. They got beat at home by the Jaguars, and now they have to travel to New England and face a pissed off Patriots team. New England wins by double digits in a key division game.

Cincy @ Oakland- Benson might be out for Cincy, doesn't matter, Palmer throws for 300 and 3 scores.

San Diego @ Denver- This is going to be a great game. I predicted, when the Broncos were 5-0, that they would be the first team in NFL history to go 5-0 and miss the playoffs, let me search the archieves.............. (October 16th) Chargers are on fire right now and the NFL figured out how to beat the Broncos. San Diego wins. Norv Turner figures out how to hang onto his job one more year, again..........

October 16th, 2009.
Monday night-
Denver-San Diego. Denver has come out of the gate strong, winning games they shouldn't have won(see Cincinnati) and beating weak opponents (see Dallas) and last week winning a game outright against the overrated Patriots in overtime. I don't see the Broncos going into San Diego this week, after a bye and beating the Chargers. Phillip Rivers should have a large game. 37-34 final score. Could Denver be a team which starts the season 5-0 and fails to miss the playoffs? I think so.

Philly @ Chicago- The Eagles defense will blitz, blitz, blitz against Jay Cutler and the Bears. Cutler had 5 interceptions against the 49'er's and even if Westbrook is finished for the Eagles, Philly wins this game and stays in the hunt for a playoff birth.

Monday Night
Tennessee @ Houston- This should be a high scoring matchup next week. The smoking hot running back, Chris Johnson, from the Titans who has rushed for 500 yards and 6 scores in the last three games against high flying Matt Schuab and Andre Johnson of the Texans. I believe the Titans are grounded and Houston after a bye week prove they were worthy when they pulled withing 3 of Indy a week ago, Houston wins.

Thanks Junior

2009-11-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks for nothing. For the first time since the 2002 Super Bowl, I wagered on a game the Bucs played. I had a 5 team parlay which pays 20:1 and I had The Cardinals +3, the under 53 on the Saints/Panthers, the Panthers +14, Seahawks -10 and of course, the Packers -10. Of all the weeks to finally win a game, it had to be this week. For the third week in a row, I went 8-5 (90-39 overall). I won't repeat that this week, well, because there are finally 15 games this week as the NFL starts playing Thursday night games down the stretch.

Before I make this weeks picks, regular readers know that I call out Madison Avenue advertising campaigns on this blog. I've got to call out Anheuser Busch on this horrible, Tailgate tested, Tailgate approved campaign. First it was the Grooler, (combination grill/cooler) then it was the Foozie (foam finger with a drink holder). Bud then trotted out the Speaker Box, a radio in something which resembles a case of Bud Light. This past week was the tipping point on the sublime with the smock for dogs which holds condiments. I have thought all along that these commercials were fake, but after speaking with the Bud rep at a local watering hole, I was informed these are in fact real items and you can purchase them on the website. The next item coming is a 3-1 condiment gun which looks like a caulk gun you load with your three favorite toppings. Stop the insanity, please. This is the company which brought us the Bud-weise-er frogs, Louie the Lizard and the Clydesdales playing football, but these last two campaigns, the "Dude" ads and this is, quite frankly embarrassing. I admit, I did think about getting the smock for my cat, because it looks as if you could get a few beers in the holes, but I realized Jasmine has no thumbs and would never be able to retrieve me refills for my empties during game day. So please Busch, from a good customer, stop these stupid advertisements. On to this weeks picks,

San Fran vs. Chicago- Both of these teams are in disarray. The 49er's started the season 3-1 and have dropped three straight. Mike Singletary will have the Niners fired up as they face his old team. 49er's win.

Jets vs Jaguars- Jacksonville has a horrible secondary, so Mark Sanchez should have plenty of chances this week. Jets win.

Denver vs. Washington Crackheads- On week 5, I predicted that Denver would be the first team in NFL history to start 5-0 and miss the playoffs. It does appear that the rest of the NFL has figured out a way to beat the Broncos as they are 1-2 in the past three weeks. This week however, as they travel east to play the Crackheads, they win easily. Washington has serious issues and only won twice, against Carolina and Tampa Bay.

Pittsburgh vs. Cincy- My bengal cat, Jasmine, is angry with me on this pick. Sure, the striped ones are playing well and will most likely make the playoffs, but they won't win in Pittsburgh this week. Cedric Benson's remarkable comeback season will take a detour as he faces the NFL's leading run defense.

Tennessee vs Buffalo- Kerry Collins was replaced at quarterback by former 1st round draft choice, Vince Young. Young has not played all that spectacular, but he has produced two wins in the last two weeks. Granted, the wins were over Jacksonville and Oakland, but this weeks opponent is not any better. The Titans win.

Minnesota vs. Detroit- Pencil in win number 8 for Favre and company. Stafford and Megatron appear to be feuding, that isn't good news for the Motor City.

New Orleans vs. St Louis- The only question here is how many touchdowns will Brees end up with on Sunday.

Miami vs. Tampa Bay- Sure, Tampa got one in the win column last week but don't expect the same result this week as Miami will have game film on Josh Freeman. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are running the wildcat to perfection and Miami wins easily.

Oakland vs. Kansas City- Does anyone really care about this game other than fantasy football players? And if your fantasy teams are depending on this game, you're in trouble. Kansas City wins.

Arizona vs Seattle- I really felt that once Matt Hasslebeck returned to the lineup, Seattle would challenge for the division title, but this team isn't going to be playing after January 3rd 2010. Arizona wins.

San Diego vs. Philly- I really felt like the Eagles were going to separate themselves in the NFC East but fell flat on Sunday night against the Cowboys. Now, they have to travel west to play the Chargers. San Diego is playing great football as of late, but Norv Turner's team always plays great in the later parts of the season. San Diego wins.

Green Bay vs. Dallas- Dallas was on the road last week in an emotional NFC East game and now, they travel to Green Bay. Green Bay has lost two tough games, their offensive line is horrible but Aaron Rodgers is airing it out and Dallas has a weak secondary. Green Bay can't afford to fall any further behind the Vikings and pull out a close win at home this week.

Indy vs. New England- This will be a great game to watch. However, Indy has played two very close games the past few weeks, failing to cover the spread. This will be the week Indy finally loses a game.

Monday night
Baltimore vs. Cleveland- How does Cleveland rate a Monday Night game? I'm in the stretch runs in my fantasy leagues and I have Ray Rice who will have a monster game against Cleveland. Baltimore wins this game by halftime.

Week 9 and any given Sunday.

2009-11-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

That adage in the NFL is so true, any given Sunday. Last week Carolina came out of nowhere. St Louis finally put a mark in the win column, Denver fell back to earth, Miami pulled another win out of thin air, and Tennessee romped to a victory over Jacksonville. And yes, I went 8-5 for yet another week, to bring the year total to date of 82-34.

My Buccos take the field this Sunday in RayJay wearing the horrible uniforms of the past losing seasons. Those of us who watched during the 1970's-1980's will be treated to a blast from the past this week as Junior has decided his handpicked 17th pick overall in the NFL draft is ready to start at quarterback. Josh Freeman will not win this week and most likely won't win the rest of this year. Glazers, please, please, if this team goes 1-15 or 0-16, show Junior the door, don't risk the high draft choices of the upcoming 2010 offseason. The Bucs lose this game as the Packers are pissed after losing to Lord Favre last week.

Crackheads vs. Falcons- Atlanta came close to beating the Saints last Monday night but couldn't turn opportunity into points. Washington is a bad team, and Atlanta is at home. Falcons win.

Arizona vs. Chicago- Talk about two teams which have no direction, this is it. I'm going with Chicago at home.

Baltimore vs Cincy- Cincy is making their playoff push, this game will be a 50 point total game.
Cincy wins.

Houston vs. Indy- Houston is coming into the most important game of the year so far for them. I'm predicting this will be the week Indy finally loses a game.

Miami vs. New England- New England coming off a bye week after winning their last two games by 70 points? Are you kidding me?

Kansas City vs. Jacksonville- Jacksonville wins.

Carolina vs. New Orleans- That logo on the Saints helmets is the Fleur Des Lis. The tri pointed image of the Lily usually associated with French monarchs. That tri pointed image isn't for the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, but rather Brees, Colston and the defense. Carolina last week might have won in Arizona, but no chance this week against the Saints in the Superdome.

Detroit vs. Seattle. Both teams are a wreck. Seattle wins easily.

Tennessee vs. San Fran. Vince Young was under center this past week and they cracked the winless circle. However, Nancy Pelosi's favorite team wins this weekend.

San Diego vs. New York Football Giants. The Giants lept out to a 5-0 record after playing weak teams and have now lost three in a row. Phillip Rivers will light up the Giants secondary and come away with a win in the Meadowlands.

Dallas vs. Philadelphia. Philly is clicking on all cylinders. Dallas's secondary sucks. DeSean Jackson lights it up for 3 touchdowns. As I said last week, Philly is on it's march for a playoff spot.

Monday night
Pittsburgh vs. Denver. Do you remember my prediction two weeks ago that the 5-0 Denver Broncos will be the first 5-0 team to miss the playoffs? Pittsburgh wins.

ET phones home

2009-10-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

From Buccaneers.com,

Statement Regarding False Report

Oct 29, 2009 -

Statement by Joel Glazer, Co-Chairman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

“The report today by WDAE’s Dan Sileo about our family and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is 100 percent false.

"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not, nor have they ever been for sale. In addition, our family or any of our related companies have never invested one penny with Bernie Madoff.

"The report is baseless, irresponsible and slanderous. This type of behavior by Mr. Sileo and his company Clear Channel will be dealt with in the appropriate manner.”

I find this response to be a bit odd. Dan Sileo works for WDAE 620 in St. Pete/ Tampa area and I listened to their programing while I lived in the area for nearly 3 years. The afternoon drive time guy, Steve Duemig was an absolute douchebag and the Bucs never responded to any of his claims. He "always had" inside sources and the team was about to be sold yada yada yada.
Granted, Sileo is no gem either. But it will be interesting to see if the Bucs organization files suit against their flagship station in the Bay area with no one attending home Bucs games any longer.

I am still not buying the denial. Of course you need to come out with an immediate response saying it's false. If you are trying to sell something, you want to be from a position of strength. If people know you can't make a big call from the bank January 2010, then, you are going to get a hell of a lot less in asking price for what you are trying to peddle. And what the Glazers are trying to peddle is a piss poor football team with no direction. They do have a rider in the fact they didn't buy Jon Gruden's contract out and his rights are still retained by the Bucs for the next two years. Hmmmm.

I'm not buying into the comments from Joel Glazer. Ownership duties have been transferred over to the two sons after Malcom suffered a stroke a few years ago. This team is in trouble and I stand by my belief that it is for sale.

Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus

2009-10-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Since 1976, I have missed only 6 Tampa Bay Buccaneer games on either television or radio. I have no sources, I'm not an insider, I just have gut feelings about my beloved team and sometimes it appears I am dead on correct.

On August 22nd, I blogged the following,
Junior appears , from all reports, he's going with Byron Sandwich, and he'll be the ragdoll for the first 7 games. Then I suppose on week 9, the Messiah, Josh Freeman will emerge. Hope you season ticket holders remaining, enjoy your ride. SUCKAS...................

Yesterday, Junior announced that Freeman will be the starting quarterback on week 9. I say, why the hell not, it's not like this season means anything any longer, let's see what he's got. Based on what Junior has shown so far, I'm not expecting much from his handpicked quarterback.

Now today, a nugget of hopefully fantastic news has emerged.
http://www.businessinsider.com/nfls-buccaneers-put-on-the-block-2009-10

Did I not opine that this was a possibility on August 15th 2009?
Junior is well over his head going into this year. Bucs fans have just seen this team sink to where it was in the 1990's. After watching the first pre-season game tonight, tons of single season game tickets are stillavailable. Junior isn't helping. I believe Junior is a stop gap coach as the Glazers are trying to sell the team. The Glazers made their money. They bought a cheap team. Got a new stadium, extorted the stadium on season ticket holders, collected revenue on every non football related event in Ray Jay. Interesting tonight, the announcers kept talking about how fan friendly the Bucs stadium is. The Bucs were 60 million under the salary cap going into the free agent season and didnt spend shit. Bucs ownership wonders why no one wants season tickets?

This story was reported this morning on Tampa sports radio station 620 WDAE, which is the Bucs flagship station in the Bay area. If the Glazers are in a financial hardship, I am all for getting a committed ownership team in at One Buc Place. One Tampa resident I would love to see at the helm is Eddie DeBartolo. All he accomplished as owner of the San Fransisco 49ers was to record 5 Super Bowl wins. He's made comments that he would like to return to the ownership ranks again. This story also gives credence to why I think Gruden was fired after a 9-7 season. I believe the Glazers knew that Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden would want to spend as much of the salary cap space which was available.

If DeBartolo does buy the team, the Bucs still have a Super Bowl winning coach under contract, Jon Gruden. DeBartolo has a history with Gruden, when he was with the 49er's in 1990. Gruden has said during Monday Night Football this season that he is really studying the spread and wildcat offense. I would love to see the wildcat offense in Tampa with Carnell Williams, Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham. Hell, I'd like to see ANY offense in Tampa. 2010 is an looking like an uncapped salary year. With DeBartolo as owner, willing to spend money to get the players on the field needed, Gruden would flourish as head coach. Will the Bucs get a fantastic Christmas gift this off season or a lump of coal?

Week 8 already

2009-10-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

Last week, I again went 8-5. I went out on a limb by picking Kansas City, Oakland and Carolina to win, and those three teams lost by a combined score of 95-13. Ouch. My combined record for the season so far is 74-29. This past Sunday saw the point favorites in Vegas go 9-2-2 (two pushes).

As we head towards the midpoint of the NFL season, some teams are starting to shake out as contenders, some as pretenders, and then there are the teams which are like the crazy aunt in the basement which no one can understand.

Lets look at my picks for this week-

Bye week @ Tampa Bay- The Vegas line opened with the bye week giving 7 1/2 points over the Bucs at home. Junior Morris responded in a presser today, " Even though we are an underdog in the bye week, are going to have to continue to self evaluate, get stronger as a team, figure out who gives the best chest bumps, who has crunk, and simply move forward from there. Anyone wanna go to Channelside and have drinks?" Bucs lose in the bye, 34-9.

Houston @ Buffalo. Andre Johnson might miss this game with a chest injury but it won't matter. Steve Slaton has really picked up on the catches out of the backfield in the past few weeks with this pass first offense. Houston is making it's run for a playoff spot. Houston's water boy rushes for 100 yards and a score as Houston cruises easily.

Cleveland @ Chicago. The Bears just had 45 points dropped on them and are angrier than Bertha Lewis facing an audit of ACORN by Congress. At the receiving end of that anger, will be the Browns. This game will be ugly, early. Bears, 38-10.

Seattle @ Dallas. Seattle is one of those crazy aunt in the basement teams. Hasslebeck is back, and they are coming off a bye. However, Dallas is playing pretty good right now and I've got to go with Jerry Jone's work release squad wearing the blue stars on their helmet this week.

St Louis @ Detroit. Great news for Detroit, a new GM plant was opened today using stimulus money to fund the re-tooling. Unfortunately, the plant was in Delaware. Joe Biden is from...........Delaware. Good news for beleaguered Lions fans is, regardless if Stafford or Culpepper is under center this week, you will increase your winning percentage 200% this season. Talk about a stimulus. St Louis plods towards the Bucs all time loss record of 26 consecutive games.

Denver @ Baltimore. This just might be the lowest scoring game of the week. Both Baltimore and Denver are coming off a bye and these teams match up really well. Baltimore is scoring 29 per game on offense and giving up 22 on defense. Denver scores 23 per game and yields 11. Baltimore needs to stop a slide of three consecutive losses. Defense wins championships and I'm going with Denver in a game which very well might be 13-9.

San Fransisco @ Indy. Mike Singletary has done some stellar work in San Fran, trying to turn this team around, but it's a year early to crown them as playoff caliber. Alex Smith has replaced Shaun Hill at quarterback. Hill's arm was so weak, his 5 yard out patterns looked like an attempt to go 50 yards down the field. San Fran will score some points and will hover around .500 for the season, but not yet Niner fans.

Miami @ J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets. So, up 38-0 over the Raiders, Sanchez is eating a hot dog on the sidelines and catches hell for it? Atleast now, we know he likes his wiener with mustard only.
This game features almost two identical teams. Good run defenses. Good running offenses. Both teams have rookie quarterbacks. But, the Miami Mullets don't have a legitimate wide receiving threat and the Jets have the best cover corner in the league in Darrelle Revis. The Jets win this home game. Jets 24 Miami 20, Revis returns an interception for a touchdown to win the game.

New York Football Giants @ Philly. Philly and the Giants. The Phillies and the Yankees all together as a great big happy family on Sunday in the same town. If I were the mayor, I think I'd ask for some funding for extra police officers. Sure, it looks like Brian Westbrook won't be playing in this game, but it won't matter. LeSean McCoy will step just fine, DeSean Jackson will light up the secondary, and Eli Manning's heel injury will finally become evident. Philly makes the push for the NFC East division title with this game. Philly 34 New York 20. Could someone please tell Andy Reid to take Geno's Cheesesteaks off speed dial? Dear lord, he's starting to look like Vince Wilfork.

Jacksonville @ Tennessee. One of these weeks, you'd expect Tennessee to win a game. This is a team which went 13-3 last season and won 10 games in a row. Titans owner, Bud Adams, came out today and said he wants Vince Young to start at quarterback. Sorry Bud, he was a bad draft decision and he isn't going to turn it around this week against Jacksonville if he does start. Jacksonville wins this game by 17 points.

Oakland @ San Diego. Talk about the crazy aunt in the basement, San Diego more likely resembles the 3 faces of Eve this season. Norv Turner has greatly underachieved with the talent on this squad during his tenure and, as I said yesterday, get ready to see Jon Gruden in San Diego next year, I'm just sayin. The Chargers are 3-3 currently, and hanging around in the wildcard hunt, and this is a must win game for them. The Vegas line opened at 17 points the Chargers are giving. As chaotic as the Chargers have been this year I might take the 17 points, but in the end the Chargers will win this game.

Carolina @ Arizona. It's sounding more and more like Matt Moore will be the Carolina starting quarterback this week out west in the desert. The 20 million guaranteed money in the Jake Delhomme contract extension in the off season isn't looking so wise now is it? 1200 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The running tandem of Williams and Stewart aren't going to overcome Arizona this week. Arizona wins 31-17.

Minnesota @ Green Bay. Well, we football fans all know the significance of this game. The return of the Favreanator, Favrea-palooza, and the ultimate end, Favreageddon to the frozen tundra of Green Bay. Then again, the tundra won't be frozen, game time temps are forecast to be hovering around a balmy 40. Green Bay quarterback, Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 25 times already this season with a porous offensive line. Jared Allen and the Williams twins will have a field day in Green Bay. Minnesota wins in one of the best games of the week.

Monday Night-
Atlanta @ New Orleans. Atlanta's defensive backfield is hurting badly. Enough said. New Orleans hangs at least 38 points on Atlanta and continues their quest to their first ever Super Bowl appearance.

7 down, 9 to go, mercifully.

2009-10-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

What do Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland and Kansas City all have in common? They all have more wins than the Tampa Bay Bucs. Way to go Junior. The defense is giving up 29 points per game, with 9 plays over 40 yards in just 7 games. The offense isn't faring much better, scoring just 14 points per game. I guess it could be worse, we could be the St Louis Rams who have lost 17 straight games. The Bucs hold the second longest losing streak, at 11 in a row.

Junior had some great quotes yesterday in the post game presser. The bye week will allow for some self evaluation and the team will get better on fundamentals. He also mentioned that one day the Bucs will return to the playoffs. That's right Junior, they will return when your happy ass is down the road. My jaw hit the floor when he looked at a reporter and said, "We got 9 more games to go here Bro." Bro? This is the head coach not some second year special teamer interviewed in the locker room. His ability to destroy the English language this year in pressers really grates on me not to mention how he rudely walks away from the podium.

Next up for the Bucs is the bye week and then in week 9, the Green Bay Packers will be coming to town as the Bucs wear their throwback uniforms from the 1970/1980's and Tito Jackson made his debut in garbage time yesterday and will most likely be under center for week 9. I'm glad I have the Packers D on one of my fantasy teams.

As we reach the midway point of the season, I have a few observations around the league.

New Orleans Saints- This team is going to be tough to beat and I expect to see them win the NFC crown this year. They are scoring 34 points a game and the defense leads the league in takeaways. They are currently 6-0 and have 6 division games upcoming with Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa. I think they end the season no less than 13-3.

Buffalo- They have won a few games lately, most likely saving Dick Juaron's job until the end of the season, but the three wins they have are over Carolina, Tampa and the Jets. 6-10 final record.

Chicago- What has happened to the offensive line in Chicago? Have they all gone to work for Acorn? Matt Forte is having a horrible season. Cutler is second in the league for turnovers.

Denver- In the preseason, I predicted this team would only win 5 games, and each week I keep waiting for them to fold. This team was in turmoil in the preseason, but Kyle Orton keeps plodding along, continuing to win while under center. It looks like the AFC West is Denver's to lose.

San Fransisco- They started the season out strong, but their youth is starting to show. Singletary has the team going in the right direction, but another year away before they make a serious run at the playoffs.

Cincinnati- Perhaps the best 5-2 team no one is talking about. This could be a dark horse team in the AFC.

New York Giants- The G-men started out of the gate 5-0, but I wasn't buying the undefeated record. The first five victories were against, Washington, Dallas, Tampa, Kansas City and Oakland. Then New Orleans hands them a serious beat down last Sunday and last night, Arizona (who has a horrible record on east coast night games) beats the G-men at home. New York's schedule over the next five weeks will determine their season. Brandon Jacobs is not running with authority and perhaps Eli's heel injury is worse than reported and I wouldn't be surprised to see Dallas or Philly end up winning the division.

San Diego- This is the team I really thought was poised to make a run for the Super Bowl this season. But, just as in years passed, they are failing to meet expectations. LT is really showing his age. Chris Chambers has really lost a step. Sproles is not an every down back. If Norv Turner doesn't get it in gear, he might very well be looking for a job on January 4th, 2010 (along with Junior Morris) And don't be shocked to see Jon Gruden on the sidelines in San Diego next year if Turner gets fired. You heard it here first!

Sometimes, good material just can't slip away

2009-10-21T19:05:00.000-07:00

Health and Human Services Director, Kathleen Sebelius testified before Congress regarding the status of the Swine flu on Tuesday. This is the woman who instructed all of you loyal to the Motherland, how to sneeze. She mandated a few weeks ago that you WILL get the Swine flu vaccine. She has presented the perfect photo op with some captions. Supposedly, she had some sort of surgery, perhaps a lobotomy would have been in order.

Possible captions,

- Kathleen auditions for the lead role of Bea Arthur in the movie remake of the Golden Girls.

-HHS Secretary warns the American public, once tequila is consumed, sex should never be an option.

-Kathleen has her eye on you.

-Just before her testimony to Congress, Kathleen Sebelius sat on a Magic Bullet left behind from the previous person testifying. Twist and turn, just 10 seconds and you're done.

-If "O" can smoke in the White House, why the hell can't I light up my Sharpie here?

-Witchland, North Dakota Holiday Inn lounge singer Sarah Sunrise petitions the court for custody of her children.

- (with some SS collar tabs on her shirt) "Veee have Vayyys to make you talk.......

-(Thinking to herself...) How long to I have to play along with this shit before I can get a gig over at Fox and not have to deal with you aholes any longer?

-the right eye for the left guy

-I wonder if those internet ads claiming no botox really do work.........

-Congressman? Did you just sneeze improperly? Can I get security in here NOW.

-HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was on her way to Capitol Hill to testify on Swine Flu when she was hit in the eye with a snowball from children out of school on a snow day, during Global warming.

This administration just keeps giving great material. Maybe Kathleen just sneezed in the wrong elbow and caught her eye on a stray button. Damn, I'm glad Al Gore created the Internet so we all can share these funnies.

Week 7 picks almost halfway though the regular season????

2009-10-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I've had two 9-5 weeks back to back. This week, I've got to break out of this funk and I'm going with some bold picks. I did pick Kansas City to defeat Washington last week correctly. 9-5 and a season record of 66-24.

San Diego v. Kansas City- I picked San Diego last week to defeat Denver on Monday night. Denver inflicted a beat down. I have a feeling that Matt Cassell is getting familiar with his team, Dwayne Bowe had a great game finally last Sunday. San Diego has little defense and this game will be a shootout between division rivals but Kansas City wins it's second game.

Indy v. St Louis- Rush, be glad the NFL and the media ran you out of the Rams ownership deal, you wanted to buy an NFL team, the Rams aren't a Division I-A NCAA team, 16 loses in a row and counting. Peyton Manning will have time to film another commercial by the 4th quarter of this one. Is there a product the Manning family WON'T endorse?

Chicago v Cincinnati- This is a trap game. Chicago lost on MNF and is coming off a short week. Cincy lost a game they should have won at home last week to a manic Houston Texans team. I can't go against Cincy, having their second consecutive home game, (and now that we have a Bengal cat in the house, if I went against the Bengals, I'd not get a decent night's sleep until the end of football season)

Green Bay v. Cleveland-The only easier pick this week is the New England/Tampa game. Green Bay large, and Aaron Rodgers is wishing he had a commercial to film on the sideline by the 4th quarter.

Minnesota v. Pittsburgh- This might be the toughest game of the week to predict. Minnesota had a large lead on Baltimore last week, then late in the game, the Ravens clawed their way back within a missed last second field goal attempt of winning. Cleveland hung with the Steelers last week for a while and covered the 14.5 point spread. Both teams have quarterbacks able of slinging the ball around and both teams have issues with pass defense. As a football fan, I look forward to watching this match up, then again, I was looking forward to watching the Giants and Saints last week too, we know how that turned out. Minnesota wins this in a very close but high scoring game.

New England v. Tampa Bay- Please. 41-6 New England as we watch Junior Morris continue to complete his one and done season ruining the Bucs.

San Fran v. Houston- Mike Singletary no doubt had a few words to say to his team during the bye after getting crushed at home by the Atlanta Falcons. But, I've got to go with Houston at home after being on the road for two weeks and Schuab to Johnson will light it up this Sunday.

NY Jets v. Oakland- After watching the first three games of the Jets season, I was about ready to pencil them into the playoffs, but a funny thing happened on the way to grab the pencil. Matt Sanchez realized he's a rookie. I was forced to watch the Jets/Bills late game on Sunday, and as Sanchez threw up 6 picks, I had flashbacks to Vinny Testaverde in the 80's launching picks in orange and white. Oakland shut down a good Philly team, limiting them to only 9 points. Jets Dline anchor Kris Jenkins is done for the year and Oakland wins it's second in a row.

Buffalo v. Carolina- If this game were the only NFL game I could see this week, I'd rather watch competitive cup stacking on ESPN, I rather watch the magic bullet infomercial, hell, I'd rather watch anything on Lifetime than watch this game. Trent "the human concussion" Edwards, who is rapidly competing with Marc Bulger for the league leads in concussions, will most likely not be playing. Carolina's quarterback, Jake Delhomme has seemingly been playing with a concussion for 6 weeks of this season, both defenses are playing poorly, Carolina wins by a safety, 25-23.

New Orleans v. Miami- regular readers of the blog know I picked New Orleans as the NFC representative team to go to the Super Bowl which is in Miami this year. Brees and company will have a walk through in Miami on Sunday as they get ready for the big game in February. Miami's wildcat makes for an entertaining game in the first three quarters, but Brees throws 4 scores for 365 yards and the Saints put up 40 on the Miami Mullets.

Atlanta v. Dallas- This is another trap game. Dallas plays well coming off a bye. Atlanta won Monday night and winners on MNF don't fare well the following week. I'm playing the odds and going with the Cowboys, but this pick might bite me in the ass.

Arizona v. NY football Giants- Arizona won on the road last week in Seattle, which is a damn tough place to play, however, the Cardinals do not travel well to the East Coast and with the way Eli is throwing the ball and the Birds 31st ranked pass defense, the G-Men win this hands down.

Philadelphia Felons versus Washington Crackheads. Donovan McNabb recovers from whatever funk he was in last Sunday and send the Crackheads into their bye week with a loss and no head coach as Zorn is fired after they lose 37-9 on MNF.

0-6 and nothing on the horizon

2009-10-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

I usually do my Bucs breakdown later in the week, but why bother? This team is atrocious. I actually went to a bar yesterday so I could watch the team I've predicted all along to make it to the Super Bowl from the NFC, the New Orleans Saints play the Giants. Off to the side, the Bucs game was on a small tv. With 8 1/2 minutes to go, the Bucs scored on an interception return for a touchdown and the game was tied. I was wearing my Bucs jersey, with Williams name covered over with my protest sign, FIRE MORRIS NOW. My friend looks at me and said, "The Bucs are looking good, their going to win this" Fat chance. I bet him a beer that Carolina would march down the field and win the game. March they did. 16 plays, eating up the 8 1/2 minutes. What was impressive for Carolina (damn, did that just come out of my mouth?) was it was 16 consecutive running plays and a systematic move right down the field.

This team is now surrendering over 170 yards of rushing by opponents per game and on pace to set a league record at this rate. The Bucs had 245 yards of total offense versus a poor Carolina team. New Orleans had 355 yards in the first half. I read an online story this morning that Derrick Ward is upset over his lack of carries on his Facebook page. Channel 10 out of Tampa had video of Antonio Bryant walking off the field yesterday mouthing the words, Tell him to throw me the F-ing ball. The Football Post, this morning, reported that GM Mark Dominik and Director of Personnel, Doug Williams are at odds. A National FOX reported yesterday on rotowire.com reported that he has already heard from inside the staff, Junior Morris is "one and done" this season.

I hope that for the final four remaining home games, that the Bucs ownership will see blackouts. There is no reason to patronize the crap that this team is presenting every Sunday. There is talent on this team, but there is a serious lack of coaching. The team is disjointed. There is no fluidity to the offensive play calling. The defense is flying to the ball on occasions, but there is no tackling and the Bucs might very well lead the league in plays given up over 30 yards this year. (although yesterday's Pats/Titans game might have changed that)

I have watched some pretty terrible football in Tampa. Since 1976, I've only missed 7 games on either tv or radio, so I know from where I speak. Some of those 3-13 teams, 5-11 teams, didn't have the talent that this team has, and that is why this is why this simply comes down to the fact that Junior Morris doesn't have the respect of the players or Jim Bates. I read a report online this afternoon which said the sports radio host on 1040am Tampa, said Junior Morris was seen in a suite with several Bucs players for the USF Thursday night game between the Bulls and Bearcats. Last week on October 15th, Todd Haley, the Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and disciple of Bill Parcells, demoted wide receiver coach Dedric Ward and replaced him with Richie Anderson. When asked why, he said, never let the coaches get too close to the players. Jay Glazer on the Fox pregame show stated as much. Parcells has a slightly higher resume than Junior, who was fetching coffee for the Bucs coaches during the Super Bowl run in Tampa, so I'd tend to embrace his philosophy.

I'm not even going to bother breaking down this weeks game after Brady tossed 6 scores for nearly 400 yards and the Patriots put a massive smack down on the Titans, 59-0. Not to mention the two teams have to play in London and it gets charged as a Bucs home game. I think this game will be close for about the 4-5 minutes during the coin toss and initial kickoff, after that all bets are off. I predict 41-3, and the Bucs are lucky to get three. So after this week, the Bucs have a bye, then Green Bay comes to town. Fittingly, that is the game the ownership chose to wear the throwback uniforms of the 1970-1980's. We are watching it on the field, why not wear the colors. I predicted in August that the Packer game would see the debut of K-State phenom quarterback (NOT) Josh Freeman. That remains to be seen. After the Packers beatdown, the Bucs are at Miami. Did you see how Carolina ran on the Bucs yesterday? How does this team stop the Wildcat? Then 2 games with Atlanta, 2 games with New Orleans, Seattle in Seattle in December, @ Carolina and a home game with the Jets. By the end of the season, the Bucs will be on the end run of a 20 game losing streak. The final game of the season is played on January 3rd 2010. If Junior isn't fired by January 4th, 2010, I really don't think I can follow this team anymore because it will have shown me that the Glazers are making previous Bucs owner High Culverhouse look like a big spender. Hell, the Glazers are making Bill Bidwell in Arizona look like Donald Trump. This was a team which was 8-3 going into December last season and lost the final 4 games to finish 9-7. Wouldn't 9-7 look good about now? Wouldn't some direction for the future look good right about now?

Gaines "Ole" Adams off to the Windy City

2009-10-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

With the NFL trade deadline rapidly approaching next Tuesday, teams are positioning themselves to release players. Normally, the trade deadline in the NFL isn't a big deal but with the 2010 season having the possibility of being an uncapped season, trades in the NFL this season might look like MLB at the August 31st deadline.

The first trade happened tonight and I couldn't be happier. The 4th pick of the 2007 draft, Gaines Adams, Clemson, was sent packing to Chicago where he can either play on the defensive line or ACORN, I could care less. In return, Junior Morris and his wander crew get a second round pick in return. SWEET! The number 9 pick of the 2007 draft was Adrian Petersen. Enough said.

Good bye Gaines, you are another Eric Curry or Keith McCants. Sure you will be reunited with Rod Marinelli who was the D-line coach here in Tampa but he was the head coach in Detroit and bombed, but I hope he can get something out of you in Chicago. As this Nation has learned, it doesn't take any experience to become something as long as you come from Chicago. Before your first practice Gaines, make sure to register with SEIU and ACORN, the rest is gravy regardless of how badly you suck on the field. Good bye and good riddance.

Week 6 picks

2009-10-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned last week, there were 5 tossup games. I mentioned I wanted to go with Cleveland but I went with Buffalo at home. That game really stunk, Cleveland won while Anderson completed 2 passes for the entire game. If I had sat in the stands for that game, I'd have demanded my money back. Then again, season ticket holders in Buffalo should demand all of their money back once Ralph Wilson decided to play two "home" game across the border in Canada. So, here we go with this weeks picks and a surprise upset special. I was 9-5 last week and the current record is 57-19 overall for the season.

Houston-Cincy. Cincy is one tipped ball in Denver away from being 5-0. Houston is not playing consistent football. Cincy wins in a shootout.

Detroit-Green Bay. Detroit is a much improved team over last year's offering. They have scored over 20 points in the last two games. Green Bay is coming off a bye and wins this game, but I wouldn't give the 13.5 points if you want to bet the spread.

Baltimore-Minnesota. After a record run of 30+ games, the Ravens surrendered a 100+ rusher last week. Cedric Benson. Yes, Cedric Benson ran for 136 yards and a score on the Ravens. Now here comes Adrian "All Day" Petersen. Flacco will need to air it out as the Williams wall will most likely contain the Ravens running attack. This will be a great game to watch, but Favre and company come out on top.

Cleveland-Pittsburgh. If you are reading this blog to make picks and can't see a given, you shouldn't be betting money. Steelers in a romp.

Carolina-Tampa Bay. This game is close because they both suck but Carolina's running game and a long touchdown pass to Steve Smith does the Bucs in, again.

Kansas City-Washington. This is my upset special. Bowe is starting to get dialed in with Cassell who is starting his third game after missing a few with injury. Washington is not a good team. They beat Tampa at home and beat the Rams in St Louis by 3 points. Jim Zorn is scared, and I think the Chiefs beat the Crackheads by 10 this weekend. Jim Zorn is fired Monday morning.

St Louis-Jacksonville. Jacksonville is a 9 1/2 point favorite, take that bet because they will beat the Rams by 16 on Sunday.

Arizona-Seattle. Matt Hasslebeck is back under center, Arizona's pass defense is 29th in the league, Seattle is a tough place to play for visitors, especially when the weather will suck. Seattle starts their push for the NFC West division crown this week.

Philly-Oakland. McNabb throws another 3 td's and Philly covers the 14 point Vegas line.

Tennessee-New England. Tennessee was 13-3 last season, and at one point won 10 games in a row. Jeff Fisher is one hell of a NFL coach, but I have no idea what has happened to the Titans this past offseason. Their pass defense is horrible and this game will make Lord Brady look like Brady of 2007. How many children had he fathered then? I've lost count. Randy Moss and Wes Welker will have a field day this weekend at home.

Buffalo-NY Jets. Sanchez recovers after the loss in Miami on Monday night versus the Mullets. This will be the game where TO finally has a meltdown in the post game presser.

Chicago-Atlanta. This will be a close game, but Tony Gonzalez will exploit the loss of Brian Urlacher.

Monday night-
Denver-San Diego. Denver has come out of the gate strong, winning games they shouldn't have won(see Cincinnati) and beating weak opponents (see Dallas) and last week winning a game outright against the overrated Patriots in overtime. I don't see the Broncos going into San Diego this week, after a bye and beating the Chargers. Phillip Rivers should have a large game. 37-34 final score. Could Denver be a team which starts the season 5-0 and fails to miss the playoffs? I think so.

If you are betting points this week
Detroit-Green Bay-13 1/2 nope
Cleveland-Pittsburgh-14 yes yes yes
Philly-14-Oakland yes yes yes, hell yes
Jets-91/2- Buffalo yes.

Hey Junior, Got Carolina on your mind?

2009-10-14T18:02:00.000-07:00

You should. Carolina has owned the Bucs and have won 4 of the last 6 games the Bucs and Panthers have played. And before my Panther friends who read this blog want to talk smack, let me see your Super Bowl ring first, then we'll go into deep conversation. What? No ring? That's right you guys made it to the big dance and lost. Sorry about your luck. I still hate Carolina.

That being said, it's time to evaluate this weeks upcoming Bucs game. I didn't have time last week. I went back and watched Junior's pressers on Monday and Wednesday and I have a few comments. If anyone reading this blog is an expert in body language, I'd like you to review the last four pressers and tell me what his body is telling you, because it's telling me he is afraid, scared, uncomfortable and over his head. He constantly brings drinks with him to the press conferences, sometimes taking many sips during the presser. Usually water or Gatorade. I figure when the Bucs are 0-10, he'll show up with a Coors light so they can work him right into the stupid faux coaches press conferences Coors uses for ads on Sundays. He'll need to find work after this season.

He is constantly touching his face, scratching his nose, running his thumb over his lips, during this weeks presser on Wednesday, he showed up wearing a hat, and was constantly pulling at the hat. He was really pulling at the hat after he was asked about the reports which surfaced linking Tony Dungy returning to the Bucs. He responded by saying he felt bad for Tony who was just living in Tampa and trying to raise his family. You felt bad for Tony??????? Junior, you can't coach you're way out of a wet paperbag and you feel bad for Tony Dungy because he was linked to a story about his possible return to the Bucs? I feel bad for you, because you don't see the hammer about to hit you on January 4th 2010.

And what is up with the Monday presser, in Tampa, at 11:30, and you show up wearing a full sleeve length hoodie sweatshirt while it is 93 degrees outside of One Buc Place? Are you trying to channel Big Bad Bill in New England? It ain't working. On Wednesday, Junior informed reporters that he was no longer piping in his music from his IPOD during practice. Man. That's the way to lay down the law. And once again, in no presser I've watched this season does Junior ever say thank you or is there another question, he simply grabs his drink and rudely walks away. Why don't you rudely walk out of One Buc Place, make a left, then make another left on Dale Mabry and walk away. You are not worthy of being a head coach in this league.

Well, here come the Carolina Panthers. Sure, they have had issues this season. QB Jake Delhomme has turned the ball over more frequently than an ACORN volunteer can register a voter this season, but he has his number one Buc killer, Steve Smith alive and well at the wideout position. In the last 6 games against the Bucs, Smith is, 40-571-1, for a 15 yard average and has to be drooling at the prospect of matching up against Aquib "treadmarks" Talib this weekend. Last week, Philly's tightend, Brent Celeck posted respectable numbers against the Bucs across the middle. Carolina's TE Dante Rosario will have 7 catches for 100 yards and a score come Sunday. Julius Peppers has only 3 sacks so far this year, but he should get a few this week, especially going against Falsestart Trueblood. Finally, the last Buc killer on this squad is kicker, John Kasay. On September 24th, 2006, I was sitting in section 128, row g in blistering heat and watched him kick 4 field goals and the shortest one was 48 yards to defeat the Bucs 26-24, the last one as time ran out. Bastard. This guy has kicked forever, retire already!

Carolina is a 3.5 point favorite in Tampa this week as the road team. I wouldn't lay any money on either of these teams, but Carolina will win. I predict 23-20. And, Tampa fans won't see it because they will most likely experience the first blackout since Ray Jay was built in 1996. Great job Glazers. Way to build for the future.

Go Figur- YA Mon is signed

2009-10-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Word coming from One Buc Place this afternoon is the season is saved, an eleven game run is coming up next. The wide receiver/kick returned drafted 74th overall by the Baltimore Ravens and released by the Detroit Lions, (cue Bob Marley) Yamon Figurs was signed after a workout.
Junior called out the wide receivers after the pasting the Philly Felons put on the Bucs. Does any Bucs follower really expect to see Mike Clayton sit this week or be cut? Nah, he's got crunk according to Junior. He's a gamer. No one will likely see the Bucs at all this week because the B-word is looming. The first possible blackout since Ray Jay was built is looming this weekend.

Clayton sucks and the fans know it. Someone beat me to the punch and started the website, www.80sucks.com. After his comments last week about having his checks in the bank already and the fans have no clue as to what it's like on the field were the final nail in the coffin for Claytons' tenure for me. Junior might have signed you for 3 years jack but next year when the Bucs see a real head coach at the helm, your happy ass will be down the road. I'm sure you'll get a contract from Seattle, they love washed up has beens and never weres.

So, congrats to Junior and those at One Buc Place. This signing today sets in place the groundwork for an 11 game win streak and a push deep into the playoffs. Yeah right, cue the Bob Marley again and have the 12th Red Stripe. 1-15 is reality.

With the 1st pick in the 2010 NFL draft...........

2009-10-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

The Tampa Bay Bucs select.................

Those words will be heard soon enough Bucs fans. This team is pitiful. I was having flashbacks to 1983 today. Even Cleveland won today, in what had to have been a joy to watch, 6-3 over Buffalo. Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson complete TWO passes for the entire game. How do you win a game when you're quarterback completes 2 passes? And the Bucs lost to Buffalo?

Things I'm proud of, being a Bucs fan.

Ownership of the team hired a genius like Mark Dominik to be the General Manager. Mark's decision to re-sign Mike Clayton for 3 years and 16 million was brilliant. Clayton couldn't catch clap in a whorehouse. Stone hands were on display three times today. Why does this team always seem to have a wide receiver who believes their own press releases on how great they are? (see Meshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell, Alvin Harper)

We filled the 53 man roster with a kicker after Mike Nugent was rightfully released last week. Although, no one must have mentioned to Junior that a kicker actually travelled to Philly this week. Twice in the first half, the Bucs could have kicked a field goal and the dynamics of the game would have been changed with 6 more points in the first half. If Junior has no confidence in the kicker, why did they sign him to replace Nugent?

8 touchdown plays over 30 yards. This stat is just FANTASTIC! Jerry Maclin had Elbert Mack turned around so much on the post route, he looked like he was on Dancing with the Stars. This team is horrible folks. Does Ronde Barber still play defense?

Gaines Adams should now be labeled as the next Eric Curry. The Bucs selected Gaines Adams over Adrian Peterson because Cadillac Williams was already on the team. All I can say is, WOW. There really is no way Peterson would be able to crack into the already crowded, talent-laden Bucs backfield.

A few questions for the front office:

Will Defensive Linemen Dre Moore and Kyle Moore ever be active for a game this season? Moore really is less.

Since you want Gaines Adams to have double digit sacks this year, will you be appealing the league to extend the regular season to 20 games?

Can Junior motivate this team to play for 60 minutes?

Can Junior "get crunk" with his wide outs this week and perhaps coach some basics. This is a football, these are your hands. Hands, meet football.

So Bucs fans, here we are, 0-5 as I predicted back in August. The only remaining game on the schedule I believe the Bucs could win is coming next week. Then again, I am watching my 10th straight hour of football currently, consuming the remaining Anheiser-Busch products from our wedding reception and reality will set in tomorrow morning and the Bucs might keep the Carolina game at least close next week, but a win is highly improbable. This season was lost back in July. I am willing to fall on the sword. Tank the season, go 1-15, hell, since we are adopting the ways of the past, go 0-16. ANYTHING to get this joke of a coaching staff out of town.

I have a feeling that Ray Jay might finally see it's first blackout coming this week. The 1-4 Panthers playing the 0-5 Bucs. Club level seats will most likely be 20.00 a piece outside of the stadium at 12:00pm on Sunday. There are a record number of Super Bowl winning coaches out of work currently, and if the Glazers retain Junior after this train wreck of a season when they win 3 games or less, I will have a difficult time supporting this franchise moving forward until changes are made for the positive. Hey Joel, how's that season ticket waiting list working out for ya? Go Manchester United mate.

Week 5

2009-10-08T17:13:00.001-07:00

Going into week 5 and things are a bit busy around here, and 4 games in my eyes are virtual toss-ups this week. 47-14 record after 4 weeks but things might change this week.

Cleveland v Buffalo. This is one of those toss up games. I nearly picked Cleveland but I've got to go with Buffalo.

Dallas over Kansas City.
Minnesota over St Louis.
Philly over Tampa Bay. Philly wins 38-6
Carolina over Washington. Another toss up game but Carolina has a good record after a bye.
Baltimore over Cincy
San Fransisco over Atlanta, another toss up very close
Seattle over Jacksonville, tossup betting on Hasslebeck playing
Houston over Arizona. Which Houston squad shows up?
Denver over New England
Indy over Tennessee. A trap game for Indy. Tennessee is due to break out one week
J-ET-S jets jets jets over the Miami Mullets.

Junior grows a set

2009-10-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

A day after the Bucs had their best shot this season to win a game, only to see it slip away with an inept kicker, the 2 million dollar Mike Nugent was released today. It was the right call from Junior. Not that the Bucs are so deep that the kicking position will put this team over the top this season, but was Matt Bryant asked to come back? Nope. Junior continues to show his disdain for every player that was on Jon Grudens' roster. While Junior brought in Nugent and cost the team two million dollars, the team will be working out superstar kickers Shane Andrews and Brandon Coutu. Hmm? What? You've not heard of these superstars? Well, stand in line, because no one else has. Rest assured, with Junior on the helm at OBP, they will be no one older than 25 years old and will be willing to chest bump on the 50 yardline after kicking a 25 yard field goal kicking for the Bucs. The Bucs faithful miss you Matt Bryant. Especially going into this weeks game with Philly. I was sitting in section 118 Row r seat 1 on October 22, 2006 when you booted a chip shot 62 yarder to beat the Felons 23-21. McNabb also left a bit of himself on the south end zone when he deposited some Chunky soup on the 23 yard line.

I predicted this would be a train wreck of a season, but it is really getting out of control. The Bucs were in position yesterday to win the game, but failed execution and piss poor play calling doomed the Bucs. This weeks game with the Philly Felons will be ugly. Philly will hang 38 points on the Buccos.

48-14 so far on the straight up picks after 4 weeks. I told you you take the Bucs and the points, and the game would come down to a field goal.
The Crackheads will win this game but the score will be close. Take the Bucs and the 8 points the Heads are giving at home. I see this game coming down to a field goal. I guess it came down to a couple of field goals, missed ones at that.
This week the Bucs are 14.5 point underdogs. Enough said.

Week 4

2009-10-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delayed post this week, I was on the water for a few days. This will be my last weekend of making football selections as a free man, next week, the gonads go into a lockbox.
But let's get down to business. My record after 3 weeks now is 37-11. NONE of the ESPN experts have that record. However, there are some trap games on the schedule this weekend as we enter into the first of the bye weeks.

Chicago over Detroit. The Windy City is pissed after losing the 2016 games and Detroit can't put 2 wins in a row yet.

Cincy over Cleveland. Jesus, Himself could be under center for Cleveland and not solve the problems facing this team.

Indy over Seattle. Is there a product left on the face of the earth, other than feminine hygiene products, that Peyton Manning won't endorse? No game description because this will be a blowout.

New York Football Giants over KC. Take the Giants and give the 9 points, Please.

Baltimore over New England. Baltimore will blitz, blitz, blitz. The last team the Pats faced that did that was the NY Jets. How'd that work for ya Pats fans?

Tennessee over Jacksonville. Tennessee is 0-3 and was a 13-3 team last season. They MUST win Sunday and Jeff Fisher will have them ready to play.

Houston over Oakland. Houston's run defense has been horrible so far this year and the Raiders have 2 great backs in Bush and McFadden. However, JaMarcus Russell is under center.

New Orleans over the J-E-T-S, jets jets jets. Jets are playing great defense and are 3-0 under Rex Ryan. But, I feel that Drew Brees and his ultra fast release will neutralize the pressure from the Jets defensive front four. Saints are in the dome.

Miami Mullets over the Canadian Bison's. The Bisons have been hit hard with injuries on both sides of the ball. Chad Henne starts for the Mullets but I believe the wildcat and the running offense of Miami will be too much for the Bisons.

San Fransisco over St. Louis. San Fran is one play with 8 seconds remaining in the game away from being 3-0. Mike Singletary has this squad playing well. Don't be scared that Frank Gore is out, his replacement Glenn Coffee will fill his void well against a hapless Rams team.

Denver over Dallas. I know. Denver has played 3 very weak teams so far this season. However, Denver's defense has only given up 16 points in 3 games and Denver was predicted to be in the basement of the AFC West. Dallas does not fare well on the road after winning at home on Monday Night Football. I'm playing the odds and taking the Mile High City.

Pittsburgh over San Diego. West coast teams traveling East have not fared well this year. San Diego will most likely be without LT for the third straight week. Sproles and Bennett won't bring down the Steelers at home, but Rivers will most likely light it up through the air, but the Steelers win when the dust settles.

Green Bay over Minnesota. I know it sounds like a cliche, but this game will have a playoff feel to it. Adrian Petersen will have a good night against a soft Packers run D but Favre will have some difficulty against the pass D. It's the inverse for the Packers. No team runs well against the Williams wall on the Vikings line but Rodgers will be able to go downfield at will. The Packers know how to beat Brett Favre and you know the front office and Aaron Rodgers wants to get this monkey off their back.

Finally.
Washington Crackheads over Tampa Bay. Josh Johnson starts this week which gives the Bucs offense a different dimension with a mobile quarterback. Jabba the Hut is now the third string quarterback. But, all three running backs for the Bucs are listed on the injury list and there was no infusion this past week on the defensive side of the ball which will increase any sort of pass rush. Washington has their own problems. Head coach Jim Zorn is on the hot seat after a 1-2 start and losing to the Lions last week. Running back Clinton Portis is running out of gas, he has severe bone spurs in both ankles according to reports this week. The Crackheads will win this game but the score will be close. Take the Bucs and the 8 points the Heads are giving at home. I see this game coming down to a field goal. Josh Johnson will surprise alot of folks on Sunday.

Well, well, well.............

2009-09-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

In the Bucs post game presser last night, Junior stood by his decision to start Byron "The Human Windmill" at quarterback and he would be the starter next Sunday against the Washington Crackheads. Well, I've long thought that the regime over at One Buc Place reads my blog, and today, Junior has named Josh Johnson the starter for Sunday's game. Thank God! Never again do I want to see The Human Windmill under center overthrowing open receivers and moving in the pocket with his sloth-like speed.

No. I've not changed my opinion on where this season is heading, but Josh Johnson brings a new dynamic to the Bucs which has sadly been lacking. Johnson, (6'3" 215) is a product of the University of San Diego. During his senior year, Johnson passed for 2988 yards, rushed for 726 yards and produced 46 passing touchdowns and 1, yes 1, interception. That interception was a result of a ball which bounced off of his tight end's shoulder pads.

Johnson was pretty impressive in the preseason games which he appeared this year. He's a very accurate passer, with a quick delivery and very mobile. I believe this decision gives the Bucs the best chance to finally crack the win column this season. If it doesn't happen this week, the next favorable matchup is two weeks away when the Carolina Panthers come to town.

Hey Junior, Get the Hell out of Town

2009-09-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

Last week when I wrote my pregame blog about this weeks game with the New York Football Giants, I referenced former coaches, Leeman Bennett, Sam Wyche and Richard Williamson. After watching this piss poor offering at Ray Jay this afternoon, I have to apologize to the aforementioned head coaches because they never fielded a team which was as pathetic as what I watched today. The Bucs have to go back to 1986 to have allowed 2 back to back 200 yard rushing games. Get the grocery bags ready Bucs fans, and when they ask you at Publix if you want paper or plastic, you might suggest paper, although when we are 0-12, plastic might be a better option.

5 first downs, 28 total yards rushing, 58 yards passing. I think Armwood High School could give this squad a run for it's money. Byron Sandwich, "the human windmill", was stellar. When he was finally pulled late in the 4th quarter, his stat line was 7-16-22yds and an int. SWEET! If Junior wants to shelter his man crush Josh Freeman from the brutal next 4 defenses, sit Windmill and start Josh Johnson next week against Washington, it isn't going to make a difference, but atleast Johnson is athletic. Sandwich stands in the pocket like Jabba the Hut.

After watching this piece of shit game on tv today, the fault has got to finally be laid at the feet of Junior Morris, he's the head coach and this team is miserable. The Bucs rushed for 174 yards against Dallas in week 1, 57 yards last week against Buffalo, and only mustered 28 yards today.
A head coach is supposed to make sure that his team is sound in fundamentals, blocking, tackling and catching. This afternoon, the Giants rushed 4 against 5 offensive linemen and caused constant pressure on Byron Sammy without having to blitz. Last week, the Bucs missed 24 tackles in Buffalo and after reviewing the tape this week, atleast 12 were missed. And finally, the receivers are not catching the balls that somehow end up in their hands. And speaking of fundamentals, why do the long snapper and punter need to be practicing snaps on the sideline in the second quarter of the third game? The defense just seems out of the game from the start. A defense we've become accustomed to watching flying to the ball with vicious hits has become a simple mass of humanity simply milling around. There is talent on this team, but it comes down to coaching and it stops on Junior's desk.

The Giants were depleted on the defensive side of the ball today and only dressed 44 players for the game. During the game, the Giants lost one of their offensive lineman, but that didn't matter either. By the start of the 4th quarter, Eli Manning was texting his brother on the sideline and David Carr was under center.

It took until 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter until the Bucs converted a first down. I'm sick and tired of the comparisons of Junior Morris to Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin. This guy has no clue and this team has no direction. If this team finishes 2-14, as I predict, Morris must be fired, especially with all of the talented, unemployed head coaches who are watching football on Sundays with the rest of us. Come on Glazers, put a decent product on the field, you pulled the trigger on the Gruden trade, how can you sit by and watch this SHIT? Jon Gruden sits in the booth on Monday Night Football and chuckles as he gets paid from both the Bucs and MNF.

Week 3 picks

2009-09-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, week 3 already. I've got a 25-7 record straight up after two weeks, but this week poses a few matchup questions. It just gets more difficult from here on out.

Washington Crackheads over the Lions. Last week the paltry Crackhead offense managed only 9 points over a terrible St Louis squad on the road. But these are the Lions.

Green Bay over St Louis. Aaron Rodgers bounces back after a home loss to Cincy last week.

Minnesota over San Fran. This game will be much closer than anticipated. SF is playing great defense and the last last time these two teams met, Adrian Petersen was held to 17 yards. Favre isn't scaring any secondaries this season. I believe Minnesota wins but by 3 points or less at home.

Atlanta over New England. This is another game which is up in the air to me, however, I've watched both of New Englands games so far this season and the defense looks tired and the offense looks out of snyc, especially if Wes Welker won't be playing this weekend again.

J-E-T-S, jets jets jets over Tennessee. Tennessee is desperate for a win after starting 0-2 but I don't see it happening on the road this weekend. Rex Ryan has the defense playing tremendous football, the D-Line is causing havoc. I don't expect a letdown after last weeks win over the Patriots. What the hell is up with the air raid siren in the stadium?

Philly over Kansas City. It's the return of Mike Vick to the NFL this week, so hide your beagle, Vick's an Eagle. This game is a no brainer.

New York Football Giants destroy the Tampa Bay Bucs. New York puts atleast 34 points up on the Bucs defense which causes longtime Bucs fans to remember the glory days of Leeman Bennett, Richard Williamson and Sam Wyche.

Baltimore over Cleveland. Baltimore might rush for 300 yards as a team on Cleveland this Sunday.

Houston over Jacksonville. Both teams have horrible secondaries but Houston has Andre Johnson who should post another big week.

New Orleans over Buffalo. Drew Brees passes for 3 scores and 350 yards. (hope you are following along at home with my printable forecast on how Brees wins the passing records this season)

Chicago over Seattle. Yes, it's tough to win in Seattle, but Hasslebeck isn't playing, the defense is giving up nearly 6 yards a carry and Senaca Wallace is going to be under center. Please.

San Diego over Miami. San Diego has some issues. The lost their center for several weeks, LT is finally showing his age, but Phillip Rivers can heave the ball 50 times a game against this porous secondary of Miami and they win at home.

Pittsburgh over Cincinnati. Enough said.

Denver over Oakland. Denver is playing some really great defense right now and going up against JaMarcus Russel at quarterback for the Raiders doesn't hurt. This could be the lowest scoring game of the weekend.

Indy over Arizona. Wild over the top prediction for this game, Kurt Warner gets knocked out in the first half and Matt Leinart comes in and makes this game close at the end. Perhaps the highest scoring game of the weekend.

Dallas over Carolina (Monday Night) Dallas score 38 points and finally gets a win at the North Texas Football Cathedral Jerry Jones built for 1 Billion dollars. Then again these days with Congress spending out of control, how much do you REALLY get for a billion dollars?

Week 2 pick results

2009-09-21T20:38:00.001-07:00

The results of my selections this week, straight up, no points.

Oakland over Kansas City
Tennessee over Houston (but if Houston get 7 or more at kickoff- take the points)
Jets over Patriots.
Packers over Cincy
Minnesota over Detroit (by 9 points? How about 19?)
New Orleans over Philadelphia. (this could be the highest scoring game of the week)
Atlanta over Carolina
Washington Crackheads over the St Louis Rams
Arizona over Jacksonville
Seattle over the 49'ers
Buffalo over the Tampa Bay Bucs
Denver over Cleveland, tough pick, they both suck, matters who sucks less on Sunday
Baltimore over San Diego
Pittsburgh over Chicago
NY Giants over Dallas

Monday night,
Indy over the Miami Mullets, 27-16.
Indy won 27-23.

Google has caused many issues with my blog and my email account and I am no longer able to use my toolbar to switch off bold for text.
Anyway, Philly/New Orleans were the highest scoring game.
Houston did go off at +7 at both Las Vegas Hilton and the sportsbook.com, if you got in, BONUS.

Week 1 13-3
week 2 12-4

Drew Brees breaks some records this year

2009-09-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

Regular readers of my blog know I have already stated that Drew Brees will break the 5,084 single season passing yardage record set by Dandy Dan Marino of the Miami Mullets back in 1984. Last year, Marino watched as Brees fell 17 yards short of his single season record while he was filming his Nutra-System weight loss commercials. Well, in the now famous words of Terrell Owens, Dan better get his popcorn ready. (without butter of course)

I have the Saints as my favorite from the NFC to go to the Super Bowl this year and Drew Brees, if he stays healthy, should re-write the record books. In two games already this season, he has thrown for 669 yards and 9 touchdowns. Sure, 6 of those touchdowns were against the Detroit Lions, but he threw 3 yesterday against the Philadelphia secondary and he does have two games upcoming with the Bucs. I've broken down the remaining games for the Saints and how I feel Brees will break not only the single season passing yardage record of Dan Marino but will eclipse Tom Brady's record of 50 touchdown passes. In order to eclipse Marino's record, Bree's needs to throw for an average of 316 yards per game. I've broken down the remaining games, indicated my passing td predictions and the games where he will throw for more than 320 yards passing are indicated by an asterisk(*) baseball fans are familiar with the asterisk.

3. @Buffalo-3tds *
4. New York Jets- 2tds
5. Bye
6. NY Giants-3tds *
7. @Miami-3tds *
8. Atlanta-3 tds*
9. Carolina -4tds* ( by the halfway mark of the season-27 tds)
10. @St Louis- 4 tds *
11. @ Tampa- 4 tds *
12. New England- 3tds
13. @ Washington- 2 tds
14. @Atlanta- 4tds
15. Dallas- 3tds*
16. Tampa-4tds*
17. Carolina- 1 td. (Brees sits after the first series to rest for the playoffs)

You can print this blog post out and stick it on your fridge to follow along as the season progresses. I've watched alot of football in my life and I've never seen a quarterback who is as dialed in as Brees is right now. I'm sure he's more concerned with getting the Saints to their first ever Super Bowl, but I believe this year he'll shatter some NFL benchmark records but only if he and has receivers remain healthy.

This Sunday, clean the garage, play golf, anything but watching this train wreck.

2009-09-21T10:42:00.001-07:00

I usually wait until later in the week to make my prediction on the upcoming Bucs game. This week and for the next three weeks atleast, why bother. The upcoming schedule see The NY Football Giants visiting this coming Sunday, a trip to DC for a game with the Washington Crackheads and then a trip to Philadelphia for a matchup with the Felons.

I watched last night's post game presser and the Monday morning briefing from Junior this am. The arrogance of this head coach oozes through. Sure, the hoodie in New England is arrogant, but he has a tad more on his resume than Junior. He throws out the stat that defensive players missed 24 tackles and then he calls the players out. He threw Gaines Adams under the bus. I believe Adams is a bust myself, but he played better last year. Could the defense be playing poorer this season because there has been a significant loss in coaching ability? Hmmmm? After all Junior, the buck stops on your desk. If this is how you manage the team, in my opinion even if Jon Gruden had been retained as head coach, and you would have been the so named defensive coordinator, we'd be in the same position. The final touch of arrogance is shown in how you simply walk away from the podium at the end of your press conferences. No acknowledgement to the media, no goodbye, no thanks, no anymore questions, no nothing. Even during the biggest beatdowns of of the Gruden era, he was atleast respectful to the media who raked him over the coals and was cordial, you sir are not. Gruden won a Super Bowl, and I know you believe you won a Super Bowl (and have said as much) as well, because you were a quality control coach on that squad, but you had no part of the decision making processes which created that World Championship. Quality control coaches are people who help out the equipment folks and fetch coffee. Get over yourself Junior.

Now for the review of the this coming weekend's beatdown.

I normally breakdown each position versus position, but this week I'll sum it up this way.
Giants running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw and the roadgrader offensive line of the Giants. Eli Manning and receivers Steve Smith and Mario Manningham versus the Bucs secondary. Enough said.
This week, Jacobs scores 2, Bradshaw 1 and Manningham 1
Bucs score 1 touchdown from Jeramy Stevens

Bucs lose 34-13.

When is it time to throw in the towel?
Junior fell into a huge man crush with Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman that he traded up in the first round to select the man who looks like a combination of Tito Jackson and Linc from the old Mod Squad. Freeman didn't show me much in preseason. Actually, Josh Johnson, drafted last year, showed me more talent. But, the wise folks over at One Buc Place invested millions of dollars in Josh Freeman and he will be the golden boy soon enough. The question is when? I say throw in him now. Starting quarterback, Byron Sandwich has attempted nearly 100 passes in the past 2 games, and does the coaching staff really believe that Gary Coleman's younger brother is actually going to lead this team to a victory in the next three weeks? If they do, they should be drug tested. This season is lost, this team was never going to win more than 4 games, why not trot Tito out and let him face the music if he's the future? I've heard the argument that, we can't let him face the NFC East opponents as a rookie. BULLSHIT! Eli Manning was a rookie for the Giants and he had to face the Cowboys, Crackheads and Felons two times a year. Oh, then we face the Patriots in London in week 7, the Pats defense is nothing special. Throw this kid out there this week and let him play this year and see what the Bucs have. Mark Sanchez of this years draft is doing pretty well, oops, he has a defense.

Ray Jay will be so empty by the NY Jets game on December 13th, the Glazers will probably allow folks to bring their own food.

Hey, Junior, got crunk now? LOSER

2009-09-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Junior Morris, who is in WAAAAAAY over his head as the coach of the Bucs, made noise when he was named the head coach and said he can give some defensive back love because he was the DB coach, but also identifies with the players because he's got Crunk.
Well, Junior, at 33 years of age, hows that DB love and Crunk working out for ya? Sort of like that hope and change for the Nation? It's not and you're not. I hope you are a rental coach and we have an actual coach and staff in place come next season. I've suffered through worse than you, but when this team went 9-7 last year, the dropoff we are experiencing is sickening and it's at your expense. And what the hell are you doing bringing Josh Johnson in to line up at wideout for the first few plays of the game? Please.

Did not just about nail this game right on the head in my review last Thursday?

My blog post from Thursday:

Bucs versus Bills game 2

This week the Bucs travel to Western New York to take on the soon to be Ontario Bills. I saw this game as one of the three games which the Bucs could win this season. Yes, they could win, but, we'll discuss some matchup issues here.

Before we get into the meat of the discussion, I want to let Bud Light know, your new advertising campaign with the "Tailgate approved" crap, sucks. Anheiser-Busch is foreign owned now, and the advertising budget went overseas as well. Stupid, stupid campaign.

I see three keys to this weeks game.

Buffalo OL versus Bucs DL
Buffalo has assembled an offensive line which was on the field for the first time last week against the New England Patriots. Buffalo ran on the Patriots defense fairly well on Monday night, but the Bills, only have two roster players at running back, Fred Jackson and Xavier Omar, while Lynch is on his suspension.
Tampa made no real push on Tony Romo last week when the Cowboys visited Ray Jay. The expansion of stats, initiated by sports agents, i.e, quarterback hits, count for nothing. The Bucs D Line, is not putting pressure on quarterbacks. Not last year, and not so far, this year. And, not in this game.

The Bucs had 2 sacks and they were in the 4th quarter when the Bills were already ahead in this game. Once again, Gaines Adams was absent. And to think the Bucs chose him over Adrian Petersen sickens me.

Tampa TE's vs Buffalo LB
On Sunday night after the Bills/Pats game, it looked like the upcoming matchup would be a slamdunk for the Bucs. After all, the Buccos have Jeramey Stevens and Kellen Winslow and if they could get them in the game at the same time, PHEW~! However, the Pats go Benjamin Watson open down the middle because they can put Wes Welker and Randy Moss on the field at the same time. With Antionio Bryant out with a knee injury and the possible starting lineup of Mike Clayton and Maurice Stovall as wideouts, that strikes no fear in any defensive backs in the league. Winslow or Stevens and one of the rotational backs will score a touchdown.
News broke this afternoon that Bill's MLB Paul Posluzny will be out indefinitely with a broken arm.
Well, a situational back, Cadillac Willams scored and Winslow scored on a deep pass. The middle was open most all game and Junior decided to go another route once the Bucs got within 6 points. Kudos on the play calling.
Buffalo Offense v Bucs D

Fred Jackson had a good showing on Monday night against what looked like an aging, tired defense. Trent Edwards looked fairly mobile and with the sorry situation at the safety positions for the Bucs, Lee Evans and TO should light it up this week.

Well, I guess Fred Jackson wasn't a poser last week against New England. All he did today against, a young, poorly coached defense, is paste them for 28 carries and a career high 168 yards. After than beatdown, Evans and Owens didn't need a stellar day, but as predicted, they both scored.

Bills 33 Bucs 20 final score

Bills 30 Bucs 21 prediction

Week 2 picks

2009-09-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

Well, my straight up NFL picks last week were 13-3. My selections on the Lee Roy Selmon picks including NCAA games went 18-2. Free food for me this week!

Once again, here are my selections, straight up, no points.

Oakland over Kansas City
Tennessee over Houston (but if Houston get 7 or more at kickoff- take the points)
Jets over Patriots.
Packers over Cincy
Minnesota over Detroit (by 9 points? How about 19?)
New Orleans over Philadelphia. (this could be the highest scoring game of the week)
Atlanta over Carolina
Washington Crackheads over the St Louis Rams
Arizona over Jacksonville
Seattle over the 49'ers
Buffalo over the Tampa Bay Bucs
Denver over Cleveland, tough pick, they both suck, matters who sucks less on Sunday
Baltimore over San Diego
Pittsburgh over Chicago
NY Giants over Dallas

Monday night,
Indy over the Miami Mullets, 27-16.

Bucs versus Bills game 2

2009-09-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

This week the Bucs travel to Western New York to take on the soon to be Ontario Bills. I saw this game as one of the three games which the Bucs could win this season. Yes, they could win, but, we'll discuss some matchup issues here.

Before we get into the meat of the discussion, I want to let Bud Light know, your new advertising campaign with the "Tailgate approved" crap, sucks. Anheiser-Busch is foreign owned now, and the advertising budget went overseas as well. Stupid, stupid campaign.

I see three keys to this weeks game.

Buffalo OL versus Bucs DL
Buffalo has assembled an offensive line which was on the field for the first time last week against the New England Patriots. Buffalo ran on the Patriots defense fairly well on Monday night, but the Bills, only have two roster players at running back, Fred Jackson and Xavier Omar, while Lynch is on his suspension.
Tampa made no real push on Tony Romo last week when the Cowboys visited Ray Jay. The expansion of stats, initiated by sports agents, i.e, quarterback hits, count for nothing. The Bucs D Line, is not putting pressure on quarterbacks. Not last year, and not so far, this year. And, not in this game.

Tampa TE's vs Buffalo LB
On Sunday night after the Bills/Pats game, it looked like the upcoming matchup would be a slamdunk for the Bucs. After all, the Buccos have Jeramey Stevens and Kellen Winslow and if they could get them in the game at the same time, PHEW~! However, the Pats go Benjamin Watson open down the middle because they can put Wes Welker and Randy Moss on the field at the same time. With Antionio Bryant out with a knee injury and the possible starting lineup of Mike Clayton and Maurice Stovall as wideouts, that strikes no fear in any defensive backs in the league. Winslow or Stevens and one of the rotational backs will score a touchdown.

News broke this afternoon that Bill's MLB Paul Posluzny will be out indefinitely with a broken arm.

Buffalo Offense v Bucs D

Fred Jackson had a good showing on Monday night against what looked like an aging, tired defense. Trent Edwards looked fairly mobile and with the sorry situation at the safety positions for the Bucs, Lee Evans and TO should light it up this week.

Bills 30 Bucs 21

Hannah and James, a new direction

2009-09-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hannah Giles, 20, and James O'Keefe, 25, have made news on at least one news outlet over the past 10 days, by releasing videos which were made while going into ACORN offices trying to get help in securing a loan for a brothel using teenage illegal alien girls and funneling the possible proceeds into a make believe congressional campaign.

They had responses from burying the money in the back yard, to you can't be honest, to a woman in California who seemingly outlined how she shot her abusive husband. WOW. All on the taxpayers dime. And none of this has been picked up and won't be picked up by the so called Mainstream Media. Charlie Gibson on Chicago's AM-WLA laughed everything off this morning.

Ms. Giles and Mr. O'Keefe have perhaps exposed the largest government corruption scandal in the last 20 years and have nothing to show for it. They simply went about it all the wrong way in today's culture.

In order to get maximum exposure before releasing the videos,

Hannah and James should have posed as a couple who caused problems and got to be the first voted out on CBS's Big Brother. Then somehow gotten worked onto the Amazing Race and found their way into the final 4 couples before losing. TMZ would have been all over their story.

Without a doubt, a stint on Dancing with the Stars would have been in order. Since Hannah portrayed a hooker, she could have done a pole dance for Elliot Spitzer, but then again, Barney Frank might have wanted a James O'Keefe pole dance as well. We will never know exactly what went on in Frank's basement, nor do we really ever want to.

So after making the rounds on the so called reality shows, Hannah and James head up to the great northwest and star in the Deadliest Catch. At the start of the first episode for the season, Hannah and James turn at the camera and say, You've just been caught in the Deadliest Catch.

Most likely would have had a hell of alot more media coverage. Any single one of those reality shows, showing Hannah Giles wearing what she wore in the the ACORN videos, would have been TMZ quality nearly streaming videos. It is sick what's happening to this country and it's time to stand up. Why did 7 US Senators today vote to continue funding for ACORN?

You've got to help to stop this insanity. My great grandfather immigrated to this country and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor twice, one of 9 people to ever be awarded the Medal twice. I feel as I am letting him down as well as every member of my family who served this Nation by doing nothing. Enough of this shit already. Enough of this out of control radicalism.
If you don't stand up right now, you might not get a chance with this current administration and the czars which are in place. 30 Czars in place in the United States of America, my great grandfather is rolling over in his grave.

WAKE UP. Citizenship is not a spectator sport. Please do your part to do research. The Internet is simply not the place to find the latest Vegas line on a football game, recipe or coupons, but a fantastic research tool. Use it.

We are on the cusp America, it is up to you to become involved in these very difficult times. We all have jobs, commitments, responsibilities, but the next 14 months will require just a bit extra from all of you. If your wish is for the government to control every aspect of your life, then pay no attention. If you are a true American Patriot, and you believe in the freedom provided us by the Constitution, then get involved and work as hard as you can.

Regardless of your occupation, it is time for all of us who believe in the concept of Liberty and the founding principals of this Nation to rally around each other and show the elected officials who do not support our ideals that they are out of a job. Plain and simple.

Philly signs Garcia

2009-09-14T15:28:00.001-07:00

The Philadelphia Felons today made a move which signals they have very little confidence in backup Kevin Kolb. The 40 year old (married to former Playboy Playmate of the year Carmella Garcia) Jeff Garcia was signed today. It appears that the league is now adopting the injury reports in the manner of the New England Patriots. Loose lips sink ships.

Obviously, Andy Reid is comfortable bringing back Garcia, who went 6-1 in backup duty leading the Eagles to the playoffs two years ago. Garcia, however has some issues with Philly, as he left after the 2006 season when Reid and the front office declined to offer Garcia a contract. Garcia found his way to Tampa (along with his former Playboy Playmate of the year wife) where his career basically went flat.

The final insult to Garcia was the fact the Oakland Raiders named Bruce Gradkowski the #2 quarterback. (Simply look up reviews of that man on this blog) and asked for his release. Now in the ultimate case of irony, it appears Garcia might be under center on October 11th, when the hapless Bucs waltz into Philly on October 11th, and I might just have to be rooting for one of the toughest SOB's for his size to ever play the game.

What's that smell????

2009-09-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Oh. It's the tire treads on Sabby Pisscitelli's back. Great start to the long campaign known as Buc ball 2009 folks. Stand by, because it's going to get better. Next week the Buccos will trek up to Buffalo, and in one of the three games I believed the Bucs had a shot to win, I must now revamp my estimates. Lee Evans and TO will score at will on the deep ball against this secondary.

A few observations from Sunday's game.

Cadillac Williams ran hard and what a comeback story for a great kid from Auburn who has undergone some much adversity. I never thought I'd see him take another snap in the NFL and wrote as much on this blog last December.

Note to Raheem "Junior" Morris, Derrick Ward was one of the first free agents signed by this team back in February. He participated in all the OTA's and traning camp, and played well yesterday. As head coach, don't you think you could get his name right? It's Derrick Ward, not Steve Ward, as you said in the post game presser last night. I remember Jon Gruden referring to Mike Alstott as Mark Alstott once at a press conference and the media crushing him, but not one mention of the Steve Ward reference last night. Hmmm.

Tanard Jackson. You sir, are an idiot to be suspended for 4 games. 93.999% of the males in this country would love to have the ability to get paid to play football on Sundays', yet you find it more important to roll a joint and burn one. Idiot. And since you were suspended, this was your second offense.

Michael Clayton. The most receiving yards since week 14 of your rookie season. Can I say, IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME? All the mouth running the past few years, the Keyshawn Johnson attitude, the TO persona and the Alvin Harper numbers. I wanted you gone after last year, but Junior wanted you back. Lets see what the year end totals look like this year.

Defensive Line. I was at Publix this afternoon, and I saw Adams, White, Hovan and Petersen on the side of a milk carton. There was no upgrade in the offseason for this unit and I see no reason to think this unit will produce more than 30 sacks this coming year. Adams is a bust. And to think with that pick the Bucs could have selected Adrian Petersen. (Chills, then I throw up just a bit)

Byron Sandwich, I mean Leftwich. In the words of Bob Uecker in the movie, Major League, after Charlie Sheen fires his first pitch 6 feet wide, That ball is jusssssssssssssst a little bit outside. Byron threw some balls downfield yesterday which his recievers couldn't have caught with a freaking 10 foot net. Byron, who is the taller twin of actor Gary Coleman, (Google up the photos, I don't lie about these things) attempted 41 passes yesterday. The Bucs weren't out of the game until late in the 4th quarter and averaging nearly 6 yards a carry on the ground, so why is Sandwich attempting 41 passes? Watching this cat throw the ball is like watching a NCAA women's softball game in reverse. His windup resembles a wind turbine, perhaps the Glazers are just wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and went green at the quarterback position.

Nugent V. Bryant. How's the change at kicker workin out for ya Junior? Sure. Bryant had shorter kickoffs last year, but we had good coverage on special teams. Nugent missed 2 kicks yesterday.

Yes, one game does not make a season, but Bucs fans had a glimpse into this years season yesterday. Oh, the good old days, with Richard Williamson, Sam Wyche and Leeman Bennett. The glory days of the 10 loss seasons back to back for 11 years. Don't be fooled by what you saw on offense yesterday Bucs fans, because the stock market rallied to set highs even in the midst of the Great Depression. The Bucs had some of the best offensive teams in the losing years, all the while being offensive. The best chance for a win by this team is against Carolina in week 6 at home, then again I read today that Jeff Garcia might be signing with them after injuries yesterday. Oh, the irony.

And I can't even bring my fingers to the keyboard to write about how the Rays have dropped 11 straight games. That team lost their drive right after trading Kazmir. I might write about it after the season ends, and my disgust wanes.

As it's kickoff.............

2009-09-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

A few musings.

Terry Bradshaw dumped on Brett Favre for the repeated retiring/coming back episodes over the past few years.

Ray Jay Stadium looks pretty empty at kickoff.

Fox did a pregame story on the heat and humidity in Tampa today. A Tampa home game on September 13th and there is heat and humidity? REALLY?????? Tired story boys.

A note to Coors, (AGAIN) stop with these faux press conferences, even Bud abandoned the frogs after a few years.

Kudos to Burger King. That Tony Stewart commercial with Erik Estrada and Carrot Top was fantastic. Nice to see a break from the creepy "King".

Final 2009 NFL Predictions

2009-09-12T18:02:00.001-07:00

AFC East
Patriots 11-5
Jets 8-8
Miami7-9
Buffalo 6-10
AFC North
Steelers 11-5
Baltimore 10-6
Cincy7-9
Cleveland5-11
AFC South
Houston 11-5
Indy 11-5
Tennessee 9-7
Jacksonville 6-10
AFC West
San Diego 12-4
Denver 6-10
Oakland 6-10
Kansas City 4-12

NFC East
Philly 11-5
New York Giants 10-6
Dallas 9-7
Crackheads 8-8
NFC North
Green Bay 13-3
Minnesota 11-5
Chicago 9-7
Detroit4-12
NFC South
New Orleans 12-4
Atlanta 7-9
Carolina 7-9
Tampa Bay 3-13
NFC West
Arizona 10-6
Seattle 8-8
49'er's 8-8
St. Louis 2-14

The AFC Championship game will be hosted in San Diego, between New England and San Diego. The NFC Championship game will be hosted in Green Bay, between Green Bay and New Orleans.

Opening Weekend

2009-09-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the opening weekend of the NFL season. Every Sunday for the past decade, I couldn't wait for kickoff. The Bucs were always moving forward, or atleast had experience at the head coach position who we as fans believed were moving the team towards a playoff birth at the minimum.
This year, the Bucs have crossed over into another realm. Richard Williamson might make this team look good. I see none of the quality running backs crossing over the 1,000 yard mark, Antonio Bryant not repeating his breakout season last year, and TE's Stevens and Winslow will combine for 900 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns. Anything over 4 wins for the Bucs this year will be a surprise in my eyes.

Aside from the Bucs, here my my other predictions for the upcoming NFL season.

Tom Brady returns. He throws 38 touchdowns, 4200 yards. Contract year, new wife pregnant.........again. Posts big numbers.
Kurt Warner doesn't play the entire season, he goes down about week 10 after another 5 fumbles. Leinert fills in looking like the draft position he was taken.
Drew Brees wins the NFL MVP after throwing 45 touchdowns and 5500 passing yards.
Brett Favre finally sits a game and breaks his consecutive game streak this season.
Andre Johnson, WR HOU, will break the single season reception record.
Tony Gonzalez, TE ATL, will catch 15 touchdowns for 1000 yds.
Michael Turner, RB ATL, does not repeat last years production, ends up with 8 scores 1100 yards.

NFL Rookie of the Year- Mark Sanchez QB Jets
Comeback player of the Year- Carson Palmer QB Bengals
Defensive Player of the Year- Mario Williams DE Houston.
Offensive Player of the Year- Drew Brees QB New Orleans

Super Bowl 44
New Orleans 37 San Diego 28

WTF??????????

2009-09-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

I'm watching the pregame show tonight for the first game of the NFL season between the Steelers and Titans. What the hell is up with the hat Tim McGraw is wearing? It looks like something a Mexican bean eater would have picked up on the trip across the border and picked up at the local flea market. I'm just sayin'

Week 1 picks

2009-09-10T10:18:00.001-07:00

Well, the NFL season is finally upon us, and as I write, I am for the first time in a decade not very excited about the Bucs V.2009. For the past decade we had experience at the helm, Tony Dungy or Jon Gruden and the playoffs were always within sight, we even managed to sneak a Super Bowl win in there too. This years campaign though will be another story. A brutal schedule which sees the Bucs play all 4 teams in the NFC East within the first 6 weeks, a "home" game in London against the Patriots, a clueless head coach, fired offensive coordinator a week ago, and the possibility of blackouts for the first time since Ray Jay was built. It's possible that the Detroit Lions will win more games than the Bucs this year. Sad Bucs fans, very sad.

Enough of the downer, here's this weeks picks-
Pittsburgh over Tennessee tonight
Atlanta over the Miami Mullets
Baltimore over Kansas City
Philadelphia Felons over Carolina kitty cats
Cincy over Denver
Minnesota over Cleveland
Houston over the J-E-T-S jets jets jets
Indy over Jacksonville
New Orleans over Detroit (large I mean atleast 20 points)
Dallas over Tampa Bay
Arizona over Nancy Pelosi's hometown 49ers ( I hope the 49ers go winless)
NY G-Men over the Washington Crackheads
Seattle over St Louis
Chicago over Green Bay
New England over Buffalo
San Diego over Oakland

This is the most wonderful time of the year. Good luck to fans of all teams and to those of you I'm playing in fantasy football, God speed 'cause I'm gonna kick ass this year.

I do show prep for the media here on this blog

2009-09-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Joe Henderson wrote a column this afternoon which was a basic reflection of what I wrote earlier this afternoon about the Bucs and the future. Must I do all the show prep or media reports for the lazy newspaper reporters? Please. No one in the St Pete/Tampa media last year predicted a breakout season for Antonio Bryant, but I did, check the blog, I'm tired of doing all the work for the newspaper hacks.

TAMPA - If firing his offensive coordinator 10 days before the first regular-season game is the right move, it's only because Raheem Morris made the wrong move to begin with in hiring Jeff Jagodzinski. And if one of Morris' two most important hires didn't even make to the first game, it does little to blunt the argument that he really is over his head.

However the rest of this discussion – and this season – evolves, let us not forget that.

Even by the standards of this volcanic off-season, Thursday was a remarkable day at One Buc Bunker. Morris, the rookie head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, stood before the cameras and said that the decision to send his offensive coordinator packing was "not a knock on Coach Jagodzinski."

It's sure not an endorsement.

He couched it in vague language – "We needed more direction … we needed more precision" – and even offered up that Jagodzinski "may be a better head coach, may be a better position coach" than an offensive coordinator.

Whatever that means.

For those not tuned into the language of football, that's called a misdirection play. Besides, the Bucs had spoken eloquently about the situation earlier in the morning with a news release that said "Offensive Coordinator Jagodzinski Dismissed."

If Jagodzinski wasn't a detail guy or wasn't precise, you'd think that would have come up in the job interview. If there were questions about his ability to run an offense and call plays during a game, maybe that should have been one of the talking points, too.

And if the man appointed to succeed him, quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, is as "highly intelligent" and has as brilliant a football mind as Morris said he has, then why wasn't Olson even interviewed when the job came open during the off-season?

"This is on Raheem Morris," Raheem Morris said, and on that point, at least, he is correct.

There was back-channel chatter Thursday that this move had been cooking for at least a month – and that it has nothing to do with the choice to start Byron Leftwich at quarterback. I'll buy that. You don't make a move like this on a whim, so if there were serious problems with Jagodzinski then perhaps it's best to lop his head off now. As University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley likes to say, whatever you're going to do inevitably you should immediately.

Problem is, you can't look at this move in a vacuum.

Not after Morris said the Bucs would only keep three quarterbacks, but now might keep four.

Not after he said he would name his starting quarterback after two games, but then waited through three games and a couple of days.

Not after Morris moved Jermaine Phillips from safety to linebacker, then back to safety.

Not after Tanard Jackson's four-game suspension for a substance violation, or for Aqib Talib's arrest. Morris was their position coach before he was promoted.

Now this.

Taken separately, you can perhaps explain each of those things.

Taken collectively, though, you can make the argument that this is a team in chaos.

"When you talk about being in chaos, you're talking about not having a plan. The plan has not changed," Morris said.

That plan includes zone blocking, an emphasis on the run, that sort of thing. Maybe it will all work better now under Greg Olson. If it does, perhaps Morris will be lauded for making a tough call and taking the heat.

Right now, though, it looks like they're just throwing stuff against the bunker walls to see what sticks.

Bucs fans, remember 1977, 1983? You will soon

2009-09-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

This Thursday morning, word came from One Buc Place that offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodinski has been fired. Fired? What team fires their offensive coordinator 10 days before the opening game? Even the hapless Kansas City Chiefs fired their coordinator a week ago. This just shows how the wheels are coming off the bus in Tampa.

Junior Morris has no idea what he is doing, and I stand by my assertion that Morris is simply occupying space while the Glazers line up suitors to sell this team. Had Gruden and Allen stayed on, they would have wanted to spend more of that 65 million dollars of cap room. Forbes magazine this week came out with the rankings of NFL teams and the Bucs were the 8th most profitable, which I found surprising, but it is a lucrative stadium deal for the Glazers and the Bucs are the third highest priced tickets in the league.

But regardless of the future of the Bucs ownership, you do not fire coaches 10 days before the start of a season unless they have done something like DUI manslaughter. Who was responsible for the hiring of Jagodinski? Junior Morris. Jagodinski was fired from Boston College last season after violating his contract and speaking to the New York Jets without permission.

Week 8, the Bucs will be heading into their bye week. They should have a 1-6 record by then, and after the bye the gerry curl wearing, Tito Jackson look alike, Josh Freeman will be under center for the remainder of the season. It's sort of fitting that the Bucs will finally wear their throwback Creamsicle uniforms this season at the home game versus our old foe, the Green Bay Packers. By the time the throwback unis make their way onto the field, longtime fans will have flashbacks to 1977, 1983 and many other years.

Sad. Very sad that Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City might very well finish above the Bucs and right now, I will project they might very well have a pick in the first round of the draft next year in one of the top 3 spots, if not the first overall. A very painful year coming up for sure.

Luke McCown, you should start the season

2009-08-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

What a mess of a game tonight. Junior was able to watch over HIS squad commit over a dozen penalties. Stovall finally has found out how to catch the ball though, and I think he'll stick around.

I believed all along that the decision to start Byron Windup Leftwich was made long ago. A few weeks ago I thought he might have gone back to the Steelers, but after seeing the debacle tonight, he isn't going anywhere. Junior will firmly place him behind center when the Bucs get their ass kicked by Dallas in the home opener and as media reports are stating Luke McCown will be dealt elsewhere.

This is going to be a very very tough season for Bucs fans who enjoy the truth and stop drinking the Kool-Aid. Yeah, some of you Kool-Aid drinkers, how's that hope and change working for ya?

Josh Freeman tonight looked very bad against second and third team defense. It's going to be a LONG year for Bucs fans. Oddly enough, the person I feel bad for is Carnell Williams, look at what this poor kid has gone through, ran damn well tonight, and now will have to undergo a miserable season. I keep looking at the upcoming opponents, but I seriously don't see the Bucs winning more than 5 games this year. Junior is going to be the next Ray Perkins of the Bucs. Longtime Bucs fans understand what that means.

Football fans wait all offseason until the start of the next season, but some teams just get their nuts cut off before the season even starts.

Junior appears , from all reports, he's going with Byron Sandwich, and he'll be the ragdoll for the first 7 games. Then I suppose on week 9, the Messiah, Josh Freeman will emerge. Hope you season ticket holders remaining, enjoy your ride. SUCKAS...................

Women of America, watch out sista........

2009-08-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

All you Botox bunnies, Nutri-system Nannies, Slim fast Sweeties, and South Beach diet sluts.
You all are starving yourself while the First Lady of the United States parades around looking like Michael Strahan showing up for training camp. Birkenstocks and shorts, fullback sized thighs, but she's the reincarnation on Jackie O. She's got wonderful arms. Bill Clinton had to worry about ashtrays getting thrown at him by Hillary, if Barrack gets an ashtray thrown at him from C.C. Sabathia, he better duck.

AFC Predictions for 2009

2009-08-21T12:07:00.001-07:00

AFC East-
Miami 10-6
Buffalo 9-7
New England 9-7
New York Jets 8-8

AFC Central-
Pittsburgh 13-3
Baltimore 9-7
Cincinnati 7-9
Cleveland 4-12

AFC South-
Indy 12-4
Jacksonville 11-5
Houston 10-6
Tennessee 8-8

AFC West-
San Diego 12-4
Kansas City 8-8
Oakland 7-9
Denver 5-11

NFC predictions for 2009

2009-08-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

NFC East-
NY Giants 11-5
Felon-delphia- 10-6
Dallas 9-7
Washington Crackheads- 8-8

NFC North -
Minnesota 12-4
Chicago 9-7
Green Bay 8-8
Detroit 4-12

NFC South-
New Orleans 11-5
Atlanta 9-7
Carolina 7-9
Tampa Bay 5-11

NFC West-
Arizona 10-6
Seattle 7-9
San Fransisco 6-10
St. Louis 3-13

One Buc Place coming unglued.......

2009-08-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

Tanard Jackson- 4 game suspension.
This is the second time T-Jax has tested positive because the first time, the results are not released. "The One", the head coach defended T-Jax on his August 19th presser, saying he drafted him, he put his arm around him yesterday, and today and he'll support him all the way to his comeback after the 4 game suspension. Was that a green light for other Bucs in favor with the "One" to start juicing because he's got your back? Jon Gruden was let go because he and Bruce Allen would have wanted to spend the salary cap money the Bucs had this year (nearly 60 million) , and the Glazers simply don't have it to spend. The Glazers will sell this team within 2 years.

Aqib Talib- 2 misdemeanor arrests last night
There are alot of different stories coming out about this. A cabbie who had been working as a cabbie for 3 days claims assault. The original story said they were arrested in Tampa but he was booked into Pinellas county jail. Why not go to Orient Road? A video on the Slant pete Times shows the cabbie talking about how he was driving at 70 mph. Where exactly on 275 was he driving 70? The area leading up to the Howard Franklin? Over the Howard Franklin? And a cabbie that has three days experience has the street sense to tell just how drunk someone is. Please. I smell bullshit on this one. He immediately called an attorney. Then promptly showed his ear to the St. Pete Times. Hey, douche bag, you wanna see a lump, check out the lump on my head as a result of a jewfish. Man up and drive the damn cab.

Talib is a screw up, but at least he had enough common sense on the night training camp ended and was out partying with his buds, to get a taxi. He just got a gold digging taxi driver. If he had been drunk, the FHP would had charged him with drunk/disorderly along with the simple battery. This is a case of a cabbie who watches too many reality tv shows and Morgan and Morgan advertisements wanting a quick buck. I still would like to know exactly where he was driving 70mph at. Perhaps the FHP should investigate that as well.

Byron Leftwich-
Reports are coming out of SteelerNation today on the final day of training camp that Big Ben Roethlisberger pulled up lame during scrimmage, and has an Achilles tendon injury. If Ben's achilles is torn, he's done for the season. That injury sidelined Marino for almost a year and a half. This could be an interesting situation for the Bucs going into this weeks game. Byron played for the Steelers last season, the Bucs head coach, "The One" is friends with Mike Tomlin, "The One" drafted Josh Freeman from Kansas State at #17 in the first round last year in the draft. It is obvious to Bucs fans that The One is more stubborn than Jon Gruden was. Yet, I've rooted for the Bucs longer than "The One" has been alive. I will not be surprised to see Leftwich head back to Pittsbugh after this weekend. Luke McCown start the season and see Josh Freeman starting for the Bucs by week 8 when they they are 3-5. This is going to be a tough year to be a Bucs fan. Just think 1984-1994, and shudder. Ownership is getting what they deserve. Garbage in, garbage out.

1st game for junior, 27-20 loss

2009-08-15T20:13:00.001-07:00

Well America, the NFL is back. Those of us who play fantasy football or are plain NFL junkies have been waiting like illegals for their food stamp credit card at the first of every month if our teams missed the playoffs since January.

Since I have the NFL Network, I have a few observations before we get to the meat of the Bucs first game.

Josh McDaniels took over as head coach in Denver and shipped out Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler to Chicago and got Kyle Orton in return. After watching Denver last night, It will be painful to be a Broncos fan this year. They will miss Shanhan.

Is the Apocalypse near? Detroit won today against Atlanta. Then again after some research, the revamped uniform wearing Lions won all 4 preseason games last year as well, but I doubt these "new" Lions will go winless this season, I predict 4 wins.

Are the Buffalo Bills home, blue on blue uniforms not the most hideous uniforms you've ever seen? No wonder they are going to play some home games in Canada this season, they look like they already belong in the CFL.

Alright, let's get to the master observation of the Bucs.

Raheem Morris is 32 years old. I've rooted for the Bucs since Junior was a fetus. I'm not sold on his ability to coach a team, but I'll relate my comments of what I saw tonight watching the Bucs loss to Tennessee.

TheGood
The defense was sharp in the first half. Stlyz had a sack and an int. Sabby had a pick. It was a swarming defense, and there was pressure on the opposing quarterback.

Not so much in the Good category, but, I'd have to say that Byron Leftwich will be the starting quarterback for the Bucs this year. In 1979 the Bucs made it to the NFC Championship game with a big, strong armed quarterback. Leftwich has a gun but he has the slowest windup I've seen in a quarterback.

Clifton Smith- Our undrafted free agent running back last season which finally broke the curse of never returning a kickoff for a touchdown, and made it all the way to the Pro Bowl. He ran the ball very well, averaging 5 yards a carry.

Josh Johnson- This young man needs to be retained by the Bucs, he is an athletic talent. I have a feeling that Junior will release him since Gruden drafted him. He's a playmaker and was evident tonight.

The Bad

Luke McCown. If you want to remain on this team, suck it up.

D-Jax, aka "skids" Jackson- you limped off the field with an ankle injury, I hope it's nothing serious but please collect your injury settlement with the Bucs and go away. You don't have the talent to play in the NFL. Go be a spokesman for Morgan and Morgan, slip and fall, call.........

Stovall, Hankton, with Bryant and Clayton out with injuries, all they did was drop balls, about 8 times.

Josh "The Messiah" Freeman, number 17 pick in the 2009 NFL draft, skipped balls to receivers, and then quickly threw a Brian Griese-esque pick 6 interception. Freeman is no where near ready to play.

Junior is well over his head going into this year. Bucs fans have just seen this team sink to where it was in the 1990's. After watching the first pre-season game tonight, tons of single season game tickets. Junior isn't helping. I believe Junior is a stop gap coach as the Glazers are trying to sell the team. The Glazers made their money. They bought a cheap team. Got a new stadium, extorted the stadium on season ticket holders, collected revenue on every non football related event in Ray Jay. Interesting tonight, the announcers kept talking about how fan friendly the Bucs stadium is. The Bucs were 60 million under the salary cap going into the free agent season and didnt spend shit. Bucs ownership wonders why no one wants season tickets?

Bucco Bruce back at One Buc Place

2009-08-01T13:28:00.001-07:00

Bucs players, Barrett Ruud, Earnest Graham, Antonio Bryant and Gaines Adams were trotted out this past week with the Bucs front office official announcement that the Bucs will take the field wearing retro-creamsicle unis later this season. I'm about as old school a Bucs fan as you can get, and I have to say, I never wanted to see these uniforms worn by the Buccaneers ever again.

The Bucs front office has decided that the Orange wave will hit the field on November 8th versus the Green Bay Packers at home. Another throwback to the old Black and Blue division and a battle of the Bays. However, this game is after the Buccos have faced every team in the NFC East, Carolina and versus the Patriots in London as a "home game".

Lifelong Bucs fans by this point in the season will most likely have flashbacks to the Leeman Bennett and Sam Wyche days by November 8th. 2 wins and 7 loses is reasonable going into the Packer game, and with the season ticket situation in the toilet with the Bucs, longtime Bucs fans attending the game might have flashbacks to games in Tampa Stadium where the Packer fans outnumbered the Bucs fans.

5-11 is a realistic number for the upcoming season with Junior at the helm for the Bucs. The headcoach and GM have no idea what they are doing and they are getting ready to cast this team back to the days of the 1980's. No wonder no one wants to buy tickets to watch this upcoming trainwreck.

Jasmine says...........BULLSHIT!

2009-07-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

The state run media this past week have run stories about how the Messiah in the White House and his use of the "evil eye". Hmmm.... Obama has nothing on THIS evil eye. Jasmine has had enough of the crap coming out of Washington. Look at those eyes. Jasmine is staring down Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Waxman, etc, all the folks to pushed through the cap and tax bill last week. You who supported that bill, stare into those eyes, Jasmine bites. Not only does Jasmine bite, but those of us who vote bite too. And we will bite you all in the ass. Enjoy your drunken power grab for the next 14 months, because the American public has had enough and there will be a big shift in power after November 5th 2010. Jasmine assures it.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly at June 1st.

2009-05-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

I've been reminded by several folks that my blog posts have been lagging. Quite frankly, I could have posted multiple posts per day over the past few months with everything happening in this country and around the world over the past few weeks, but I've been busy doing other things. Not to mention that I've sustained an injury to my elbow and it hurts to type. But, I will muddle through.

Rays fans, we find ourselves on May 30th, 51 games into the season at 23-27, 5.5 games out of first. In any of the previous years, Rays fans would feel decent about where they were situated in the standings, but last year raised the bar beyond belief. The Rays rebounded last night against Minnesota at the Trop and put to rest a 5 game losing streak which, quite frankly was embarrassing. The Rays had a complete meltdown in Cleveland, losing the first game of the series 11-10, after having a 10-2 lead early and a 10-5 lead going into the 9th inning at Progressive Field. ( I almost called and canceled my auto insurance policy with Progressive after the four game beatdown)

The Good-
Lets look at some of the good things which have happened so far this season. Joe Maddon has found his long lost brother. (see above) Merlot Maddon only has to deal with pitching staffs and lineup rosters. Drew Carey has to endure an hour each day of overweight 70+ year old women whose breasts are below their waistline, resembling grapefruits stuffed in tubesocks mauling him as they climb on the the stage after winning a years supply of vitamin water and a vacuum cleaner.

Seriously, The Rays are leading Major League Baseball(MLB) in runs scored so far this season. Carlos Pena is leading the American League (AL) in home runs and Evan Longoria is leading MLB in Runs Batted In (RBI). Matt Garza and James Sheilds have shown in the past outings, that they are ready to become the meat of this pitching rotation. Jason Bartlett, though on the Disabled List (DL) for an undisclosed period of time, was batting .373, second in the AL, and his bat and supurb defense will be missed with his stint on the DL. Ben Zobrist has come on here as of late and has been deadly with runners in scoring position. And that's about where we have to close the door on all the good news.

The Bad-
I was not a fan of the offseason signing of ex-Phillies, Pat Burrell. Pat has only played in 30 games this season so far and after 108 plate appearances, he has 1 home run to show for his efforts. He's been on the DL with no return date to the lineup in sight. So far in my opinion, the money spent on his contract should have been allocated to middle and late relief pitching.
There really isn't much more marginal bad news, so we'll skip right to the ugly.

The Ugly-
Troy (walking wounded) Percival. This guy needed an EMS unit to follow him from game to game LAST year. So, after he recorded 6 saves this year as the designated closer, he went on the DL and rumors are he's simply going to retire. Troy. Why didn't you retire after last year? Why put the Rays in a situation where you say you could come back and then get shelled each outing 40 games into the season? Money? Jeff Garcia is gone from the Bay area, take a hint.

Grant (Lights Out Last Year) Balfor. WOW! Talk about what a difference a year makes, he ended last year with an Earned Run Average (ERA) of under three and early in May it was over 7.00. Maybe Grant should take a 21 day stint on the DL, head back to Australia and do a walkabout with Crocodile Dundee and toss some boomerangs around. He's currently got an ERA at 5.75 with 13 Earned Runs and 14 walks in 20 innings pitched. His Walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP) is 1.67. Unacceptable.

Scott Kazmir. The two time All-Star left hander has been nothing more than a batting practice coach lobbing softballs in his last three starts. I thought Scott might become the next Tom Glavine, but there is something seriously wrong with his mechanics and I wonder if he can regain his form. And if he can, will it matter this season?

Andy Sonnanstine. 7.66 ERA, 7 home runs in 49 innings pitched. We kept him and traded Edwin Jackson? Are you kidding me? In 2007, local sports talk radio in Tampa was really rough on Edwin. The clowns in the morning on 620WDAE coined the nickname, Ed two win Jackson. Well, the Tigers are in first place, he's solidified his place as the number 2 starter and has an ERA lower than any starter on the Rays at 2.50. Ron and Ian mocked you Edwin but I miss you.

BJ (The Next Andrew Jones) Upton. I was critical of BJ last season, especially down the stretch. I was a fan of the Atlanta Braves for decades and BJ's lackadaisical approach to the game resembles that of Andrew Jones. Two players which have read too many of their press releases about how great they will become. Andrew was a great defensive center fielder, but never really delivered with the bat. Sound familiar? Why BJ is hitting leadoff is beyond me. .199-2-9? 50 games into the season and he's below the Mendoza line?

Where is Matt Joyce? The Rays traded Edwin Jackson to the Detriot Tiger for RF Matt Joyce and send him to the minors. For the AAA Durham Bulls right now, Joyce is .315-5-27. You add up what Gabe (Welcome Back) Kapler .186-0-5 and Gabe Gross .256-3-14 have done combined, it doesn't add up. Why did we trade a starting pitcher for a outfield prospect to have him at the AAA level now while the right field position suffers?

Can Help Be On The Way?
We are creeping each day closer to the All-Star break and some possible callups in my mind if things don't turn around soon are:

Wade Davis. 5-2 3.40 The concern with Davis is, he's given up nearly as many walks as he has strikeouts. 25/32.

Winston Abreu. Closer for AAA Durham. 2-0 1.71 7 saves. Only surrendered one home run, 8 walks versus 38 strikeouts and a very impressive WHIP of 0.72

Calvin Medlock. This is my darkhorse for a callup for middle relief. 20 saves between A and AA ball in the organization. 3.04ERA but 3 walks versus 33 strikeouts at the AA level. 0.86 WHIP.

I think Rays fans will get a look at Abreu or Medlock by the All-Star break, and if they fall 10 games back before then, we might see them sooner.

Kennedy Water Dog lands at the White House

2009-04-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

How ironic? A Portuguese Water Dog which can be traced back to Edward, I'm sorry Mary Jo, Kennedy, will be presented tomorrow. Oh happy day.

The Messiah and his anointed wife had decried that they would get a first dog from a rescue shelter on the campaign trail. They cited Malia's allergy problems. But Bo, the already named dog, has a trail all the way back to Teddy Kennedy. A Kennedy with cancer giving a dog to the Messiah and his family. The second coming of Camelot after just rescuing the Captain taken by pirates. The Today Show will most likely have a live feed for 4 hours in the morning, they have already been running stories about how great Water Dogs are. Sunni and Shi'a Muslims consider dogs dirty. And an unaccepted Sunni tradition shows that black dogs are evil, according to Muhammed.

Then again, perhaps we wouldn't have this discussion because The Messiah had not attended church until this weekend. And had to since it was Easter weekend. He couldn't find a church. Huh?

After reading the story about the new black, water dog which will be in the White House, Bo is neutered, so he should have something in common with The Messiah. Water Dogs require alot of attention. Since he'll be in the People's House, will Bo be given access to the Teleprompter too?

How about a cat in the White House? Clinton and Bush both had one along with a dog. We recused our F4 generation Bengal before she went to the shelter. Muslims both fear and revere cats. Simply read Persian history. You won't see a cat in this White House Administration. It's alright, we excuse those friends of ours who have dogs. We love dogs too, but cats are simply so much more intelligent than dogs, and Sasha and Malia could have the whole dander, allergy issue taken care of by adopting a Bengal cat. Won't see a cat in this Administration. You've gotta wonder why this President took 11 weeks to finally find a church to attend, Easter weekend. Be there next week? Not so much.

Are You Kidding me????????

2009-03-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

This flag was selected by the 13 American colonies after they decided they had enough of the tyranny of England, Taxation without representation. The rattlesnake was chosen because the snake has 13 pieces compromising the tail. Individually, they don't really make any noise or strike fear in the hearts of anyone, but when all 13 parts are combined, the sound will stop anyone in their tracks.

Things are happening at break neck speed in the world and in our Nation these days. Congress is in full on misdirection mode with all the nonsense regarding the AIG bonus payments. Turbo Tax Tim came out this afternoon and admitted that the Obama administration wanted the bonus language left in the stimulus bill, so all the political theater in DC today was, once again, smoke and mirrors.

A news story on Drudge this morning, illustrated how the Obama Administrations climate change policy will cost the Nation, atleast 2 Trillion dollars. At a minimum. A minimum?

A Bloomberg story yesterday reported that The Messiah wishes to invoke a tactic called reconciliation which will allow Blue Dog Democrats, the ability to vote against his socialist agenda of nationalizing health care, cap and trade and raising taxes. In the meantime, the Republicans in the House and Senate will be completely shut out of any debate and simple majorities will ramrod the passage of these bills. I can't wait for that this summer. Those glowing images of the feigned smiles on Nancy Pelosi's face.

And yesterday, on the Obama campaign 2012 tour, he showed up in California, speaking about immigration reform stating that too many folks have too much time invested in the US and are having to live in the shadows and they don't have the rights to join unions. I'll explain here, 20 million ILLEGAL immigrants are getting ready to be given citizenship under amensty. And, MARK MY WORDS, this will be done prior to the 2010 Census. And of course, ACORN is running the Census, so we have no worries about the validity of any of their results. I mean, come on, they only registered voters in several cases to vote 30-40 times. It's all in the spirit of Chicago, where the dead can continue to vote forever.

This Administration just produces so much material on a daily basis. It was disclosed today, that The Messiah, was given a 500,000.00 advance on a book deal 4 days before he was sworn into office, and I still question if he was sworn into office or not, but thats another story. That's 3 million total in book deals he's made so far. He's 46 and already written two autobiography's. I can't wait to see what shrine he builds after he leaves office, but that remains to be seen if he can deal with that pesky 22nd Amendment.

Yesterday, the Federal Reserve announced they were going to print 1 Trillion dollars in money and buy Treasury securities. Let's see how this works. The Visa card is due, so I'll get a cash advance on the Discover card to pay the bill. When the Discover bill is due, I'll get a cash advance from the Master Card to pay it. When the Master card bill is due.............there is no money. That is how this government is operating folks. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will release numbers this Friday which will be frightening. Did you just get used to the term, trillion? Introduce yourself to quadrillion.

So, as oil shot up past 50.00 a barrel today, gold rallied nearly 100.00 in the past 24 hours and the dollar had a huge devaluation. The Euro shot up 7 cents over night. Rumblings are back from Europe about dropping the dollar as a standard currency.

And what is the Messiah in Chief doing? He's on yet another campaign tour in California. Remember the stimulus bill? The Messiah said that if the stimulus was passed, Caterpillar would rehire employees, guess what? They just announced more layoffs. The Messiah in Chief is picking his March Madness brackets on ESPN, and going on Jay Leno. A sitting president has never gone on the Tonight Show. It's American Idol in the Oval Office. Not to mention, he's going to address the Nation once again on Tuesday night (once again AI night) at 8pm. I never remember presidential pressers announced a week in advance. What is going on here folks? Is the Messiah scripted by Dreamworks? Manchurian Candidate ring a bell?

We are reaching critical mass folks. Enough already, can't we put Congress on a Time Out? HELL YES, you folks in Congress work for WE THE PEOPLE. Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd, all think they are doing the peoples business but those of us who play by the rules know differently.

Wake up America.

Cut from the team.............. new meaning?

2009-03-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

News broke today that Geno Hayes, 21, Florida State linebacker drafted last season has been cut. Hayes is speculated to be heir apparent to replace Derrick Brooks in the new Bucs defensive scheme under Jim Bates. Huh? Geno, who underwent knee surgery last year has made news this weekend.

The beauty queen, Shevelle Bagley, 19 years old, pictured above, was arrested after trying to cut Geno Hayes two times. First, with a pair of scissors, and then she stabbed him with a kitchen knife in the neck. Geno, you need to be aware of my gauge of HBP. High Bitch Potential. Shevelle is firmly at the top of the list currently.

Geno, I understand that you are only 22. However, you are playing in the NFL next season. Get rid of these deadwood hangers which will only bring you down. And Geno, as a lifelong Seminole fan, Shevelle is 5'3" 200 pounds according to the arrest record. Dude, you are 6'1" 230. Have you not spent anytime in Ybor City? Have you not been to Sheppard's during Spring Break? 5'3" 200#? Was she dating you so she could get a tryout for the Fullback position in the new offense?
I think I'd stop the trips to IHOP or Denny's for the Grand Slam.

5' 3". 200 pounds. That's half the size of my girlfriend. Geno, didn't you learn anything from Jeff Garcia? Do a search on Carmela Garcia. Geno, any assault with a kitchen knife won't end up well. Just as Oprah is telling Rhianna to run away from Chris Brown because of assault, I'm telling you, get the hell out and now. Dump her on Florida Avenue. I've had some pretty whacked out women in my life, but none took a knife to my neck. You've got a really promising future ahead of you, just let the tank go.

A Carton of smokes or.............

2009-03-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

You can buy some shares of "premier" blue chip stocks. Premier, yeah right. The Dow closed down once again today, at 6594. The Stock Market has been a forward looking tool into the economy for a very long time. The Dow closed at 12,209 on June 6th, 2008. Obama had wrapped up the Democratic nomination after the Oregon Primary on June 4th over Hilliary Clinton. The first trading day of 2009, January 2nd, the market closed over 9000. Today, the Dow continued it's never ending spiral towards Zero, and closed at 6594. 2500 point loss in 8 weeks. It's clear, the market does not like the Obama Administration plans. Each and every day, this Administration starts to rail on another industry which creates jobs and seeks to vilify them. The latest being health care and the oil industry.

The US citizens, 310 million, have seen a loss of 3 Trillion dollars in wealth destruction since the Inauguration. Meanwhile, the Messiah said yesterday in his comments that he doesn't watch the Stock Market from day to day, it's more like a political tracking poll. Tracking poll? Well, if the Stock Market is a tracking Poll, it's voted thumbs down on Obama and his policies.

And then today, (you can't make this shit up) he's said we can't wait for the economy to recover until we have the Government take over health care with another summit in DC today. Another 3 hour meeting, a few breakout groups, and SHAZAM, we'll have solved every issue of healthcare tonight. You want to really solve healthcare issues? Take a verse from The Eagles, "shoot all the lawyers, shoot them tonight. "

So, if you are heading up to buy a carton of Marlboro Light 100's at Publix tonight, take a pause and think for a minute and look at your buying opportunities:

For 34.00 you could purchase-

2 shares of Petsmart
2 shares of JP Morgan (at the same price of Petsmart. Sick)
11 shares of Bank of America
2 shares of Morgan Stanley
5 shares of GE
16 shares of Ford or GM with some change leftover
33 shares of Citigroup
95 shares of AIG
6 shares of Dow Chemical
227 shares of Sirius sat radio. (might be a good pickup because talk radio is going to be shut down)

The Dow was lower almost all afternoon but around 3:25 this afternoon, CNBC broke a news report that White House announced the jobs report coming out tomorrow is going to be "dismal". That sent the market 100 points lower. This Administration is doing nothing to inspire confidence in anything they are doing and the markets are reflecting that. They want a constant state of fear and chaos. The markets are always weak on Fridays. I say the job numbers come out in the morning and the Dow tests lows of 6300 and the S&P at 620.

Our good friends in the government are going to add 6.00 to every carton of cigarettes April 1st. That's nearly a 20% increase in the carton price. So, if you smoke and think you can make 20% in the next month on the stocks listed above, get on E-Trade. Otherwise, buy a few more cartons of smokes by the 3rd week of March.

Duca photo post

2009-03-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

ATTENTION LEE COUNTY FOOD SERVICE PERSONS
The above photo is of Rob Duca, a "journalist" for the Cape Cod Times newspaper, which in circulation numbers means he basically writes for the a newspaper no larger than the Observer newspapers which are thrown on our local driveways once a week.Everyone in the service industry needs to become aware of his face and his name. I'll bring this up again on the blog as we get closer to the spring training season after the first of the year. His face and his words will be circulated to all the service industry folks I know in various locations throughout Lee County this Spring Training.This individual is a lapdog for the Red Sox and during the offseason, wrote a column about how "gritty" Fort Myers is. How horrible Ft Myers is, "requires traveling on the busiest street in Ft Myers, Imagine an airport runway-flat and straight-with and endless stretch of fast-food shops, pawn shops, tattoo parlors, strip malls and seedy motels. That's Cleveland Avenue, and that's pretty much Fort Myers."Rob Duca couldn't sing enough praises for the Red Sox moving from Ft Myers up to Sarasota, referring to Sarasota as "Swanky Sarasota" He obviously dislikes Ft Myers terribly.He wrote his column about how bad Ft Myers was as he was on his way to the Bell Tower Shops to eat at Blue Pointe Oyster Bar and Grill to eat a high end meal. So, you servers out there, be on the lookout for this man come late January, early February, no doubt he will be hitting the high end locales in Ft. Myers on the expense account of the Cape Cod Times, and without a doubt telling you waitresses and bartenders how important he is as a member of the "national" media. He despises Ft Myers and dislikes Florida in general. DO NOT GET SUCKED IN WITH HIS BULLSHIT WHILE HE IS HERE. I'll revisit this post again just before spring training.Rob Duca should simply stay home if Ft Myers was so miserable last spring training.
Posted by bucs warrior at 12:09 AM

In case you forgot Rob Duca

2009-03-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

Posted prior to game 1 of the ALCS last season.

Rob Duca is a chicken shit reporter
Regular readers of my blog in the Ft Myers region will recognize this name. You know the reporter from the 347th largest media market in America, Cape Cod. Boston Red Sox kool-aid drinking fan, err excuse me, unbiased journalist for the media giant, the Cape Cod Times. I'm not a journalist, and I'm biased and proud of it.Mr Duca got caught up in the possibility of the Red Sox voiding their contract with the city of Ft Myers and moving, in his words, to "swanky Sarasota". Well, last week, Sarasota said they don't have the money to build the Red Sox's newest spring training shrine. Interesting that this team went 80 plus years without a championship and now feel like they can dictate to communities what they want as if they a perennial champions. NOT THIS YEAR! Take your 72 piece a game bubble gum chewing manager and find him a dentist in the offseason for God's sake.Mr Duca referred to my hometown as, "the main road resembles an airport runway, flat and straight-with an endless stretch of fast-food restaurants, tattoo parlors, strip malls and seedy motels. That's US41 and that's pretty much Fort Myers." Of course he wrote this opinion of Ft Myers while he was driving to dinner at the Blue Pointe Oyster Bar and Grill at the Bell Tower Shops 2 miles from my house. You won't walk out of the restaurant without a 50.00 per person tab, but who cares, he writes it off to expenses to the journalistic pillar known as the Cape Cod Times for his time spent here in "gritty" Ft Myers on his "expense" account. Reporters come here to cover both the Twins and the Red Sox and "reporters" always try to impress the local bartenders by informing them they are with the "National Media". Please. I've seen your picture Duca. Go back to the hotel room and watch HBO.Piss off Mr Duca. I know lots of folks in the service industry here in Gritty Ft Myers and I think we should start a letter writing campaign in the area to tell your editors that you really don't like this area and in this economic downturn you should stay the hell home this spring training if you find Ft Myers so offensive. Shovel snow in March instead of applying sunscreen. You can write about the Rays and the "Dreadful Trop" to your minions of liberal fans drinking the Red Sox kool-aid, but you never once responded to my emails when I confronted you with your accusations about my hometown. And to that, you are chicken shit. You are nothing more than a Boston Globe wannabe or an ESPN groupie.Well, get your popcorn ready sonny, Wednesday night, 8pm, the FOX network you can watch the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays take the field for game 1 of the World Series. Oh, how stupid of me. You'll probably be putting new anti-freeze in the car and adding some home heating oil to the homestead. Yeah, it's chilly here to. We just finally got to turn off the air conditioning after 4 months and I had to get a sweatshirt out tonight, it was 86 today but we might dip down on the mercury to 64 tonight.
Posted by bucs warrior at 8:22 PM

Spring Training starts, but someone's missing....

2009-03-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

The AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays started their Spring training at the new digs in Port Charlotte, the former facility the Texas Rangers used, this past week.
And, as usual, the Fort Myers teams, the Minnesota Twins and the Bawwsten Red Sox showed up. Crowds are swarming around the Spring Training fields, multiple games are already sold out. But there seems to be someone missing from Ft Myers. The ace reporter from the 237th largest media market in America, the Cape Cod Times.

Regular readers would recognize I am referring to none other than Rob Duca. Mister, I hate Fort Myers and I want God's Anointed Red Sox to move Spring Training to the Swanky city of Sarasota. Well the playoffs last year didn't work out so well for Mr. Duca, and Sarasota said no, Bawwsteen is looking for a new training facility in Ft Myers as I type. So be it.

What I find most enjoyable through this process is, that after all of Mr. Duca's ranting and raving about how horrible Fort Myers is, wasn't sent here to cover Spring Training this year. Maybe it's because the newspaper business is dying, thank god. Or, perhaps, it's because the Red Sox team called and said STFU, we want a new facility, we need a Fenway shrine in Florida. Who knows.

But, Rob I'm still checking out your columns 5 months after the playoffs. You're covering the Celtics and your newspaper is running AP stories about Spring Training. You are not here in Ft Myers, and I hope you were in that zone that got 12-18 inches of snow today. My windows were open and we had a high of 70 today. It was so warm today, I almost felt like visiting one of our never ending strip malls and getting a tattoo. A nice large shield, with the words, Buck Foston.

Buddy can you spare.....4 Trillion?

2009-02-26T13:18:00.000-08:00

This administration just gets better and better each day. When I wake up each morning, there is another storyline in which I say WTF? 400 Billion here, 700 Billion there, another 750 Billion, 75 Billion for irresponsible homeowners, and now today, the unveiling of a 3.6 Trillion dollar budget by the Messiah-in-Chief.

Here is an snippet of an article written by Dick Morris, former Bill Clinton and Trent Lott advisor on TheHill.com today:

In addressing this panic, the president of the United States must truly be the leader of the world — showing the way back to confidence.Instead, Obama has been instrumental in purveying fear and spreading doubt. It is his pronouncements, reinforced by the developments they kindle and catalyze, that are destroying good businesses, bankrupting responsible people and wiping out even conservative financial institutions. Every time he speaks, he sends the markets down and stocks crashing. He doesn’t seem to realize that the rest of the world takes its cue from him. He forgets that he stands at the epicenter of power, not on the fringes campaigning for office. This ain’t Iowa.Why does Obama preach gloom and doom? Because he is so anxious to cram through every last spending bill, tax increase on the so-called rich, new government regulation, and expansion of healthcare entitlement that he must preserve the atmosphere of crisis as a political necessity. Only by keeping us in a state of panic can he induce us to vote for trillion-dollar deficits and spending packages that send our national debt soaring.And then there is the matter of blame. The deeper the mess goes — and the further down his rhetoric drives it — the more imperative it becomes to lay off the blame on Bush. He must perpetually “discover” — to his shock — how deep the crisis that he inherited runs, stoking global fears in the process.So, having inherited a recession, his words are creating a depression. He entered office amid a disaster and he is transforming it into a catastrophe, all to pass every last bit of government spending and move us a bit further to the left before his political capital dwindles.But the jig will be up soon. The crash of the stock market in the days since he took power (indeed, from the moment he won the election) can increasingly be attributed to his own failure to lead us in the right direction, his failed policies in addressing the recession and his own spreading of panic and fear. The market collapse makes it evident that it is Obama who is the problem, where he should, instead, be the solution.

The stock market has crashed since it appeared Obama was going to win his party's nomination. May 6th, 2008, the market was at 13,000 plus change, it was at 9,000 the first trading day of 2009, and is hovering around 7200 currently. And I believe the market will dip to 6,000 before getting a bounce later in the year before reaching somewhere around 8500 before Thanksgiving. If you are still in the market, get out then.

This Nation cannot afford this wildass spending spree it is on. The Messiah has put forth a budget with 640 million dollars for universal health care? Excuse me? When was there a debate regarding universal health care? I guess I missed that. When was that? I'd like to be able to go back and get that debate from the C-SPAN website. OOOppps, there wasn't one. We are going to start taxing folks for a program which doesn't exisit yet. Yip, yip, yahoo.

The Nation is in crisis, The Messiah has mentioned crisis over 100 times in the past two weeks, and what are you representatives doing in the Senate today?
Taking a vote on restricting talk radio.
Giving full voting privileges to DC representatives in the House
And now Barbara Boxer is squawking about the "Primate Safety Act" to restrict the interstate transportation of primates, passed by the House earlier this week. This is a pressing issue. In this current climate, if we don't restrict primate transportation interstate, the entire Nation could collapse.

I'm so freaking sick of hearing these folks, just like Ms Boxer, refer to the Republicans as "my friend" across the aisle. Ms. Boxer, Mr. Vidder isn't your friend and if you are thinking you are being "bi-partisan" when you refer to Mr. Vidder as my friend, it's nothing more than a gratuitous wordspeak while you run the Socialist agenda of this Administration. I support passing the "Primate Safety Act" then you in monkeys in Congress won't be able to travel home.

Random news thoughts of the day..........

2009-02-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

Bucs Backlash?
After listening to the new Bucs head coach today in a presser regarding the release of 5 players with nearly 60 years of NFL experience, I fear, this 32 year old has no clue. I gave him the benefit of the doubt on his first presser when Gruden was fired and he was announced as the head coach, but this afternoon, I fear this man has no idea what it takes to be a head coach. A 6-10 season will be a positive next year Bucs fans. My free agent preview will be posted tomorrow.
I, as a fan, was very upset in the manner Brooks was released.

Gas Pumps-
I noticed a trend while pumping gas this past summer once gasoline reached 4.00 a gallon. Say for instance you pre paid 20.00 at your pump. It seemed as if the pumps flew through the first 19.50 worth of gas at a speed with would make a NASCAR pitcrew feel proud, and then the last 50 cents crawled through the pump at a speed which you could watch paint dry. What's up with this? Are gas stations trying to make us feel like we are getting more for our time at the pump? We're already bent over, just let the gas fly and get the hurt over with as fast as possible.

Chimp laws-
Oh boy! The House yesterday took up debate and passage of a bill outlawing the interstate transportation of chimps in response to the woman who was attacked in New York 2 weeks ago. Is there not something more pressing than passing laws on chimps? I guess not. Obama routinely spouts off that this is the worst economy since the Great Depression, but the House needed to move on the fast track for Chimp reform. If the Senate passes the bill, and Obama signs it into law, how will all the monkeys in Congress ever be able to travel back home? What a freaking waste of time by the self anointed in DC.

3rd time a charm?
Obama has once again, actually for the third time, announced his selection for Commerce secretary. Former Governor, Gary Locke from the socialist state of Washington. Has he used TurboTax? One thing is for sure, he had his brother-in-law living in the Governor's Mansion at the same time the brother-in-law was awarded a large state government contract and while he was actively lobbying the state government. This is going to be a transparent administration, no lobbyists.

NFL HQ, Call me!
The economic downturn has even hit the NFL. Today, NFL Mob Boss, Roger Goodell announced he would take a 20% pay cut. The "Messiah" has told people, with "skin in the game", they should cut back and Goodell conformed. The NFL Commish has serious duties. He's got to oversee the NFL draft, hold a few owners meetings, oversee meetings on some various rule changes, attend the HOF ceremony and game, attend various opening weekend games of the NFL season, attend whatever game he wishes during the regular season and playoffs, and then there is that pesky last game of the season known as the Super Bowl, oh hell, a week later there is that Pro Bowl crap going on. And for all of his duress, he's decided he can take a 20% reduction in pay. Original pay? 11 million a year. 11 million? Are you freaking kidding me? I'd do this job for 50,000.00 a year, plus the league needs to pay for travel and wardrobe.

The Ax man comes to One Buc Place

2009-02-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

Well, there is a new sheriff in town over at One Buc Place. With the free agency market set to open at 12:01am Friday, the Bucs made some large moves today.

11 time Pro Bowl linebacker, Derrick Brooks was cut. Joey Galloway and his traveling diva show was cut. Cato June axed. 1 year reunion with Warrick Dunn is one and done, he was cut. And the most dependable 3rd down wideout, Ike HIlliard was cut as well.

I am a bit disturbed how Derrick Brooks was treated. He has been a fantastic player for the Bucs, twice renogiated his contract to allow the team to acquire additional players, and is one of the highest quality players in the NFL. He will be sorely missed.

Dead Cat Bounce

2009-02-24T13:49:00.000-08:00

WhoooHoooo-
The Market was up 236 points and closed at 7350 points today. The Stock Market these days is tied to every word uttered by any member of the current Administration. Ben Bernake, Fed Chair, addressed the Senate today, and the market went up. This is nothing more than a dead cat bounce. On Friday, the market will close below 7000.
The Market has been down 26% since the election. The Market was at 13,000 in May 08, at the time Obama had wrapped up the Democratic nomination. That's a 50% decrease.

Some other random views-

Charlie Rangle was the chair of the tax reform breakout group of the Economic Dog and Pony Show yesterday. Another Democrat which can't pay taxes and he writes the tax laws. Hope and Change.

900 Million for Gaza- Now while I support Israel and their right to defend themselves, what the hell is the US doing by sending 900 Million to help to rebuild Gaza. Is this because our President has allied himself with Hamaas?

OctoMom-
How did I miss this new name tag on the welfare mom? TMZ.com had exclusive photos of the welfare fed mom, before she delivered her 8 children. Any discussion about how much TMZ spent for those exclusive photos? TMZ is showing photos of the octo-mom shopping.
Now, this morning, the Today show had coverage of video between the Octomom and her mother from a website, Radaronline.com. The bantering between the daughter and mother, looked like nothing more than a screen test for a forthcoming reality based tv show. I've said this before, Octomom will get a reality based tv show, especially since her mom's house she is living in is getting foreclosed.

For those of you who watch NBC,

2009-02-12T15:13:00.000-08:00

Three "Republicans" out of 535 members of Congress have voted for the biggest pork bill ever presented before Congress in the history of this great Nation.

Those who voted for this bill were:
Arlene Specter 202-224-4254
Susan Collins 202-224-2523
Olympia Snowe 202-224-5344 800 number for you in Maine, 800-432-1599

This so called stimulus package includes:

125 m(illion) for the DC sewer system
75 m for the Smithsonian
900m for green vehicles
180 m for bureau of land management buildings
110m for new buildings for US Fish and Wildlife
412 m center of disease control buildings
100 m US Marshall buildings construction
307 m National standards and technology buildings
60 m to make Arlington National Cemetery green
110 m for new computers at the National Farm Services
200 m to add alternative fuel vehicles on military bases
650 m to extend digital TV transmission.
1.2 Billion for government creation of summer youth jobs
750 m for the National Computer Center
850m for Amtrack on top of all the other money Amtrak already gets
100 m for lead paint removal.

Aren't these programs special? They all enhance government offices. Didn't the liberals in Congress just chastise bank CEO's for taking trips, upgrading offices or taking trips on private jets? If you work for the government, regardless of what you do, you're fine. However, if you are in the private sector and took government money, bend over. This left wing congress wants control of everything. Monday night's press conference might as well have been scripted by Leni Reifenstahl.

Judd Gregg, Thank you!

2009-02-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

From the Drudge Report:

OBAMA BURNED: GREGG WITHDRAWS AFTER POLICIES TOO MUCH TO STOMACH
Feb 12 2009 16:18:14 ET For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 12, 2009 Senator Gregg Statement on His Withdrawal for Consideration of U.S. Commerce Secretary Sen. Gregg stated, “I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle. “However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy. “Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives. “I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position. “As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President’s proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine. “Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments. “As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.”

Thank you so much for recognizing how Obama wants to ram his 2 year agenda down the throat of the American public. The major issue was the Census and how the Messiah Administration could re-district each area, coupled with 4.5 Billion dollars from the Stimulus bill for Acorn trying to secure Democratic control for decades.

Transperancy, no lobbists

2009-02-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

News broke this afternoon that Google and GE are going to join together in an effort to lobby the Obama Administration for 100 Billion dollars to upgrade transmission lines. This is over and above the 800 Billion just passed by the good Socialists in Congress yesterday.

Lets see, Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE is the head of a corporation which is the leader in wind turbine production, hybrid technology, and the owner of MSNBC, CNBC and NBC.

Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, who wants Google to be the head of the government program in the stimulus bill, and be the database who collects everyones medical records.

And these two, surprise, are members of Obamas Economic Recovery Panel. This was supposed to be the most transparent administration, no lobbying effort. 100 Billion for GE and Google? Wow, let's see if this happens and if it does, where will the media outrage be? State TV NBCCBSABCMSNBCCNN won't report any conflict of interest.

You can't make this shit up!

2009-02-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2009/02/12/cbs-early-show-claims-abraham-lincoln-was-gay

Today is the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Lincoln has been in the news lately, since the Messiah has morphed into a combination of FDR, JFK, MLK and Lincoln. He was sworn in as President using Lincoln's bible, oops, he took another oath after the inauguration without a bible after he flubbed the address. Then again all we were given were White House photos, so did he really take the oath? And he doesn't script his press conferences either? Yeah.

This morning on the CBS Early Show, Maggie Rodriguez interviewed black New York University Professor Jeffrey Sammons who alluded that Lincoln was gay and Lincoln never believed in black equality. The nutjobs are coming out of the woodwork folks. They are realizing they have two years of unchecked, ram everything down your throat, timetable. Pelosi, Reid, Frank, these stalwarts in Congress aren't worried about re-election and will throw their fellow dems under the bus to get what they want. Pay attention America. These leaders are sick.

If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?

2009-02-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Those of us in South Florida, love our visitors from the Northern states, but just as I like to research areas I will be visiting, I suggest that those of you visiting Florida do the same. Let's review a few basic traffic laws in Florida.

You may turn right on red after a complete stop at an intersection. In Ohio, you might not be able to do that, but you are in F-L-O-R-I-D-A.
I'm pretty sure that whatever state you came here from, having your left turn signal on and making a right hand turn might be some sort of moving violation.
And on the subject of turn signals, those of you who drive for three miles with the directional signal on, either change lanes or turn the damn thing off.
Basic automotive operational bulletin: the long pedal under your right foot, it's called the accelerator, it helps to move the vehicle along a bit faster the further you press down on it. This is not constrained to Florida, I believe the accelerator is universal, it works in most all of the 50 states.
I understand that the majority of the shopping center parking lots in our area were developed by someone using a crayon, placing 4 foot hedges surrounding every parking lane, entrance or exit, however, when you pull up in front of Publix, and park in the checkered lane, marked with several signs, NO PARKING FIRE LANE, these signs do apply to you too. SUPRISE! I don't care if you are dropping your wife off at GNC, grab a parking spot pal. I could care less if your 6,000 pound SUV is idling while you simply run up to use the ATM, you are still parked. Mother's dropping kids off at Blockbuster to return videos, this applies to you too. I find a place to park when I participate in local commerce, why can't you?

Finally, I understand, that the concept of a grocery store, where individuals congregate to buy food for consumption, must be something unseen in any other state because during the months of January to April, our grocery stores are filled with individuals which seemingly fall under a spell as soon as they enter the store. Forward foot speed of shoppers near the front door regresses to a zombie-like speed. Yes, we sell milk, eggs and cheese at these stores. You can even buy a steak. Yet shoppers are in such slow motion, they resemble archaeologists who just discovered the Holy Grail. Publix must send some sedative through the air conditioning when you walk into the store that sends visitors into some sort of vapor lock. Simply put one foot infront of the other, and recognize that other people are shopping as well, please.

It's GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRREEEEEAAAAAAAAATTT!

2009-02-12T11:38:00.000-08:00

From the state which brought us the first 0-16 NFL team, the mayor from Detroit who went off to jail (get Marion Barry on speed dial), the CEO's of the Big Three going to Congress with hat in hand,and Ron Gettlefinger, now gives us zoo sex. That's right, zoo sex right in Battle Creek, home of Tony the Tiger.
Found on http://www.wwmt.com.

Zoorotica program at Binder Park Zoo
February 10, 2009 - 8:22 AM
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Chocolate and flowers are nice, but this Valentine's Day why not take your honey for a walk on the wild side?

"We're going to talk about animal reproduction, the different animals here at Binder Park Zoo and their little quirks, different things that get them going to help them reproduce," said Jenny Parnett of Binder Park Zoo.

It's a Valentine's Day date that's sure to ruffle some feathers.

Binder Park Zoo says love birds are flocking to sign up for the Zoorotica program. From frolicking frogs to the love-lives of leopards, this will give you an intimate look at animal mating rituals.

The R-rated show lets you go where no zoo guests have gone before.

Tickets are sold out, but there is a waiting list. Just call the zoo office to add your name.

Michigan residents will have to pay 50.00 per couple to enjoy the "tour". My advice is if you are in Battle Creek Michigan and want to see some screwing without spending the $50.00, head up to Lansing and witness your Governor Jennifer Granholm in person, she's screwing you daily.

Back Injury? Back Injury? PLEASE!

2009-02-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

TMZ.com is posting pictures of OctupletAngelinaJolieobsessedcrazyderanged mother, Nayda Suleman eight days before she delivered her babies. First question which comes to mind is.......how much did TMZ pay for these pics? She and her team of publicists were out trying to sell her story to the highest bidder. I still haven't seen any report regarding how much state television (aka NBC) paid for the exclusive interview. I was going to link to the pics of Nayda here, but the photos are sickening. Suffice it to say, her stomach was so large, you could have used it as a garage for a Mattel Hot Wheels and not worried about hitting your head. And this woman collected 165,000.00 for a back injury? If she had such a serious back injury, how in the hell could she walk around with a stomach which resembled half a Volkswagen Beetle?

In her exclusive interview with Ann Curry on the Today show, unmarried and mother of 6 other children, Nayda Suleman said she did not receive any welfare. Breitbart.com is reporting today that the unmarried, unstable, mother of now 14 children, had been receiving 490.00 in food stamps, collected social security disability payments, and was receiving 2379.00 a month from California since three of her former children had been diagnosed with undisclosed disabilities.

The hospital where her children are located, has already contacted Cali-Med, which is the state Medicaid. Breitbart illustrates that based on 2006 numbers, the estimated costs associated with her birth of the octuplets could surpass 1.3 million dollars, which will be paid for by the taxpayers of California. The article continues on to say that she plans to use her student loans to support her children. What? Aren't student loans supposed to be used for schooling? It doesn't stop there friends, she has set up a website so that you can send donations to her, they even accept donations by all major credit cards.

This woman is trying to make a living by having children, both from taxpayer money and private donations. I still stand by my prediction that she will have a tv cable show before the end of the year, which is sickening. She really missed out though, if she had only been in Ft Myers this week, she might be benefited from the Great Obama Handout of 09.

Mr. Peanut goes to Washington

2009-02-12T08:17:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, the President of Peanut Corporation of America, Stewart Parnell, was drug up to Capitol Hill to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In the spirit of anti Capitalism the liberals in Washington espouse, previously scolding Big Tobacco, Big Oil, Big Finance, now, Big Peanut was front and center.

It appears from the outside that Peanut Corp, may be facing some liability regarding the salmonella outbreak, but really, do we need Congressional hearings? How much did this political theater cost the taxpayers? More grandstanding with props, more scolding.

Jeffrey Almer, whose mother Shirley died as a result of eating the tainted peanut products was also on hand to testify. He said, "Cancer couldn't claim her, but peanut butter did.........She was let down by the government whose responsibility is to protect it's citizens." Huh? I've read the Constitution and protection from peanuts isn't in there. There are inherent risks associated with life Mr Almer. Governments' job is not to hold your hand from the moment you pop out of the womb until you assume room temperature, although there are more and more of you out there who think this way. If Peanut Corp. did something illegal or criminal, then proceed with legal action in a court room, not this dog and pony show in DC on the taxpayers dime.

If the Democratic led Congress were serious about doing something about Big Peanut, they should immediately assemble a Blue Ribbon Commission and hold more hearings. Their findings would most likely result in the creation of a Peanut Czar. Jimmy Carter will be summoned to head up the Office of Peanut Safety. After Card Check passes Congress and is signed into law, make sure the peanut plants become unionized. Create a 200% excise tax on peanuts and peanut related products. Pass a 20 billion dollar bailout for the peanut industry to offset lost income from the salmonella outbreak period. (of course, 20 million would go to Big Peanut, the rest can go to pet projects such as studying the mating habits of the neon yellow purple lipped tiger striped goby) Hire 1,000 Federal Peanut Police to continually monitor peanut safety. And finally, once that it's been documented that the free market can't regulate the peanuts properly, the Feds will simply move in and Nationalize the peanut plants.

Once these actions are taken and a jar of peanut butter will finally cost 12.00, peanut products will finally be safe Mr Almer. Or will they...........................because we know how great the government is at managing things.

Pete, I miss you buddy

2009-02-10T19:35:00.000-08:00

Pete, (listening to the Beatles) I'm here tonight after the visit from our Socialist President here in our hometown this evening, reviewing the comments from the new Treasury Secretary today and the passage of the "stimulus" bill today by the Senate.

So much has happened since you left. I miss having beers with you. I miss your wisdom. I still can't remember that shrimp recipe we made before Kathy and Laura Lee got home from bowling. I'm still here, right next door, remembering you every day. You must know I've talked to you many times, whether it be on the boat or in a chair in the back yard, you are not forgotten.

There is no doubt you are looking down from above and I've got to ask for some guidance. Things are not looking good for us. Give me a sign. Let us know that things will be okay. Life has changed so much since you left. I miss you Pete. Your picture resides in our dining room and I see you every day with that 30 pound gag you caught in February 1998, the day we fished in the fog all day nearly getting run over by the shrimp boat Casey Jones.

In these troubled times, each time I look out my back door and see your old house, I think of you. You would be blowing a gasket with whats happening here today. Just give me a sign that things will be okay. An unopened pack of Viceroys at the front door will freak me out, something a bit more subtle perhaps. I miss you man. I think about you each and every day.

A-Roid comes clean.

2009-02-10T19:14:00.001-08:00

Sports Illustrated broke a story this weekend that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids/banned substances in the 2003 where usage wasn't considered illegal. A-Roid confirmed the report and said he had made a mistake. This all makes sense now. I've never been an A-Rod fan, but it now is putting in perspective his reported involvement with Madonna. You've gotta be juiced on something to want to be with that whacked out bitch.

Messiah visits Ft Misery, did you get your bucket of cash today?

2009-02-10T17:44:00.000-08:00

The Messiah flew into town here today. The jet wash from Air Force One which permeated those of us in the great unwashed, provided economic stimulus. I was frozen right after The Messiah touched down. I was as useless as a visitor from Michigan or Indiana who doesn't understand you can turn right on red after a stop in a major intersection. I went to Home Depot to purchase some 5 gallon buckets just to catch all the money our leader was going to be throwing around.

Laugh if you must, but review the questions which came out of the Town Hall meeting here today. Nearly everyone was asking for something. Henrietta Hughes asked for a house and a car. Someone asked for Obama to insure unemployment insurance pay the entire amount of lost salary. Then, a young 20 something kid who has worked at McDonalds' for 4 years asked, while jumping up and down, what Obama was going to do to make sure people like him will get better benefits. Welcome to Ft Misery BHO. You got a limo trip into the downtown heart of Ft Myers right down through Dunbar on MLK drive. Folks started lining MLK at 6am this morning, and when they were interviewed by the hometown media, there were lots more folks who wanted something for nothing.

5 Presidents have visited Ft. Myers. In an ironic twist, the first was Herbert Hoover. Hoover is credited with the Great Depression, but it was Roosevelt who carried it on. Hoover was elected President with no actual experience, he was a Cabinet official. His decision to defeat the economic downturn in 1929, was an increase in volunteer efforts and increased government actions. Sound familiar? Whats more ironic about the visit today by The Messiah is, that Hoover came to Ft Myers to visit Thomas Edison on his birthday. Edison's birthday is February 11th. Edison used to frequent the downtown area near the City Tavern and Arcade Theater, a mere 2 blocks from where Obama spoke today at the Harborside Convention Center.

Right out of the gate today, Obama started naming folks who lost their jobs, and brought up Steve Adkins, owner of Target Construction, a local company which remodels schools. He's had to lay off workers and has had to sell his house and downsize for his family of four. He's a model of everything that's wrong here in Lee County. Steve and his wife Michelle, have really undergone some hard times. Most likely he was hooked up to government projects and the money sucking off the government tit was drying up. Let's look and see just how horrible Steve and Michelle's life is.......................

According to the Lee County Property Appraiser website, Steve and/or wife Michelle own:

1 lot on 2nd St- valued at 29,000.00
1 lot on 2nd St.-valued at 188,360.00
Home on Riverside Dr -valued at 550,000.00
Home on Riverside Dr- valued at 181,000.00
Home on Rhode Island Dr- valued at 221,000.00
Home on Michigan Ave- valued at 193,000.00
Property on W. First St.- valued at 292,000.00
Lot on E. Riverside- valued at 314,610.00
Lot on Palm Ave- valued at 165,860.00

Two properties in a trust
one lot on Monroe st valued at 79,950.00
one condo at Sanibel Harbor valued at 112,000.00

Primary homestead
Canterbury Drive, valued at 310,000.00

Wow! 2.6 million in property holdings. This is an exact snapshot of all the problems in America today. And just how much did the Adkins family donate to the Obama campaign............

Gloom and Doom

2009-02-09T17:46:00.001-08:00

Well, the Messiah addressed the Nation tonight and I hope that anyone who watched the prime time press conference, that they would have understood the one hour of prime time was a scripted display , and how can you think it wasn't formatted. Questions were scripted to journalists from CBS, Chuck Todd from NBC (which should be a conflict of interest) ABC, CNN, NY York Times, Huffington Post, NPR, and a question given to Helen Thomas.

There were no answers offered tonight, and there won't be any more offered tomorrow while the Messiah hovers across the SW Florida area causing transportation issues during his visit, and I thought the Messiah wants to improve our economy. Socialism works, according to the Messiah.

over 1,000,000,000,000.00 dollars

2009-02-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

That's a trillion dollars folks, and that was what your Congress is getting ready to add in spending with the new pork bill agreed to tonight in Congress, as reported by major media outlets.

How much exactly is 1 trillion?

You could stack 1,000.00 bills one on top of another and that stack will stretch nearly 70 miles.

You could have spent 1 million dollars a day since the birth of Christ and you'd still have 70 more years to go before running out of money.

Western Civilization hasn't been around for 1 trillion seconds. 1 million seconds equals 12 days. 1 billion seconds equals 31 years and 1 trillion seconds equals 31,688 YEARS.

Godspeed to those of you who have children. I'm glad I don't have any. It's immoral to leave children with this coming tax burden.

Miami Mullet Fans, I warned you.............

2009-02-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

From pft.com posted this evening,

TUNA FINAGLES THE ABILITY TO WALK AT ANY TIME
Posted by Mike Florio on February 6, 2009, 6:04 p.m. EST
When Dolphins V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells leaked on December 28 (presumably via former ESPN colleague Chris Mortensen) that Parcells had a 30-day window within which to walk away with full pay once owner Wayne Huizenga transfers control of the team to Stephen Ross, it was obvious to us that Parcells was trying to take advantage of the contractual term he so shrewdly had included into his deal.
And here’s what we surmised on January 6: “[W]e can’t imagine Parcells staying without a clause that allows him to walk away at any time, with a huge cash payment and the ability to work wherever he wants. With a contract that gives him the power to leave now and take the rest of his money, he holds all the cards. And he’ll stay under his terms, or he simply won’t stay.”
As it turns out, Parcells parlayed his 30-day cash-and-carry clause into a provision that allows him, at any time over the life of the deal, to pick up and leave, with the full remaining amount of the contract in hand.
According to (surprise, surprise) ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Parcells has the option to depart without any restrictions.
And with pay.
If he leaves, he’ll receive the balance of his original four-year, $12 million deal. (It has been erroneously reported in some circles, and we fear that we’ve repeated the mistake in some of our postings, that Parcells signed in early 2008 a four-year, $16 million contract.)
Per Mort, the new provision was negotiated before Huizenga sold the team to Ross, who was aware of the change and didn’t object to it.
How could he? If neither Huizenga nor Ross wanted to give Parcells the ability to leave whenever he wanted to leave with full pay, Parcells simply would have (and could have) left with full pay as soon as Huizenga handed the keys to Ross.
Bottom line? It’s another case of Parcells showing that he’s a master of the football business, both when it comes to the football — and when it comes to the business.

I warned you Mullet fans last year when the Tuna was hired. His agent, Jimmy Sexton also represents Nick Saban, another former Mullet employee who stuck it to Huizenga (I'm all for sticking it to that slimeball) and then to LSU when he slipped out of town to coach Alabama. Saban's coaching career is like a Springer episode. Now the Tuna, after schooling the Mullets, he is preparing to "snook"-er the team as he "skates" out of town with a boatload of money. Don't look for the Tuna to flounder long though, he'll depart Miami in 2009 and land in an NFL city near you in 2010, while extorting the owners for even more money. Honestly, more folks should read this blog, I called this move last offseason, check the achieves. Free economic stimulus advice, coaching moves, comeback player performance stats, what more could you ask for.

219 days until the start of the 2009 NFL season and the Detroit Lions watch starts again. We are 11 more consecutive loses away from the worst losing stretch of any NFL franchise. Come on Detroit, you can do it!

Cher speaks, who cares

2009-02-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

Cher: Republican Rule Almost ‘Killed Me’Friday, February 06, 2009By Nicholas Ballasy, Video Reporter
(CNSNews.com) - Grammy award-winning singer and Academy award-winning actress Cher told CNSNews.com that living under Republican rule almost “killed" her, and she does not understand why anyone would want to be a Republican. She also said that President Barack Obama’s “intelligence” and “spirit” are “so great” he will be able to do “more than anyone could possibly do.”

Oh Cher, universal healthcare won't cover facelifts. All those tweaks and turns on her scalp has definitely affected her brain. She makes about as much sense as a soup sandwich.

And I scribe this evening, breaking news is that the Senate has reached a tentative deal on the nearly 1 trillion dollar pork spending bill. Goody goody. The march towards Socialism continues. I am disgusted that the people's money is going to be spent on all the social spending programs liberal lawmakers couldn't get through on their own merits. Get ready America, you won't recognize our nation within 2 years. My family did not serve this Nation for this shit.

She speaks!

2009-02-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

The Today show this morning aired a snippet of the interview with the formerly unnamed 33 year old single mother of the octuplets born last week. It has yet to be released whether or not NBC paid for the interview. Seeing that GE stock is at 11.00 a share, maybe not a wise use of funds if they did pay money to talk to this ditz.

It didn't take long for the victim card to be played. She struggled with depression. Of course you did. She claims she wanted a large family to make up for the isolation that she felt as an only child. Isolation? You're the ONLY freaking child. You are the focus of attention. She claims she had a dysfunctional childhood. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggghhhhhhhhht.

She has collected 165,000.00 in worker's compensation funds from a back injury suffered at work. Slip and Fall? Call. Morgan and Morgan. She's collected money and not worked since 2000 due to a back injury yet somehow she can tote around 8 kids in the womb for 9 months?

She claims she was married and her husband finalized their divorce last year, after being separated for 5 years. Was he hanging around to see if there was going to be a windfall profit in the future? Just a thought. Well, seeing how this woman has not 1 but 2 publicists, and has reportedly been shopping around her story for money.

She also said that she has used the same fertility expert for all 14 of her children. Did this expert work at Miracle Gro before entering into the fertilization field? The sperm used for the in-vetro process was donated by a "friend". Hmm. I wonder when he'll be trotting out to tell his story for a few bucks? Coming soon to a National Inquierer cover in a grocery store by you soon.

I have a question for Ms. Suleman. Are those lips live or Memorex? Just a little too Angelina Jolie Botoxed up for me to believe they are real.

I really feel sorry for these poor children who have been brought into this world by this selfish woman. I'll bet money that this woman will have a tv show within a year.

News stories of the day

2009-02-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

Bill Gates Buggy?

Yesterday at a technology conference in California, Billionaire Bill Gates opened a jar filled with mosquitoes and released them through his audience. Top industry executives were appalled, some were even quoted as saying that they were no longer going to sit in the front row during Bill Gates speaking engagements. Gates was trying to emphasize the worlds malaria problem, by stating that poor people shouldn't be the only ones who get malaria. I thought he was trying to demonstrate how buggy the Vista operating system is.

West Virginia waterfront property?

Yahoo news is reporting yet another Global warming story this morning. The story states that if the West Antarctic Ice Sheet melts completely due to warming temperatures, Washington DC will be completely underwater. Wooo Hooo! Let's hope.

Silence!

It's taken about two weeks longer than I thought, but it looks like Senate hearings on talk radio will begin soon. MI senator Stabenow (who is married to a liberal talk show producer) threw out the idea yesterday in an interview as reported in the Politico. This will be the revival of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine". There is nothing "Fair" about it. If you don't agree whole heartedly with everything the administration wants to run down the taxpayers throats, then you must be silenced. The truth is, that the market has created the people on talk radio who are successful. Liberals have had opportunity to create talk radio shows but they aren't successful. How'd that Air America work out for ya?

FLASH! Emergency post! Idol is rigged.

2009-02-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Well, it was brought to my attention this afternoon, that while I've been keeping a firm grip on the pulse of the Nation to the events occurring which shake me to the core, I'm following our Speaker of the House telling us that 500 million people a month are losing their jobs and our President saying if we don't pass the Porkulus, errr Stimulus package quickly, this Nation will never recover, a travesty has happened. A decision was made which shakes the Universe.

Deep in research this afternoon, I received a phone call telling me that Katrina "bikini girl" Darrel had been voted off American Idol last night. How could this be? She was just voted to move on the night before. Low and behold, after a few mouse clicks, the worst was confirmed. This is not good. And I say this from a standpoint of only wanting Fox to have good ratings, which means they can generate advertising revenue, and that helps the economy. I'm all about the trickledown economics.

Hurricane Katrina Darrel, you might have caught her audition. She had the voice of a thousand angels singing on high, other than that, she wasn't very notable. However, for some reason, she really rubbed the 2 female judges the wrong way. Who really cares what Paula thinks, by the final weeks of the show, she'll show up so out of it, she'll vote for anything or anyone. Hell, she has even slept with contestants in previous years. The new judge, Kara DioGuardi, (aka Devil Spawn) is simply screwing everything up. Kara wanted to become a singing star but has become a producer instead. Hey Kara, those who cannot do, teach. You have just ruined my entire season of Idol. I was so looking forward to the catfights down the stretch run in the final weeks. The snarky comments between the two of you, and perhaps even bikini girl jumping over the judges table with some hair pulling around late March. Great TV. That would be great for ratings. Remember, I'm all about stimulating the economy without government intervention.

This Kara "Italian Stallion" DioGuardi is really screwing up the show so far and I don't think at this point I can follow it to conclusion. My football season ended last Sunday around 10pm and my Idol season ended last night. 220 days until football starts anew.

And Seacrest, when Katrina went to give you a kiss on camera and you pulled away, are you pitching or catching in your relationship? Former Idol contestant Clay Aiken came out of the closet, just a suggestion...............

Charlie Sheen has a brother in Cape Coral?

2009-02-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

In a February 5th story in the Fort Myers News-Press,

"A Cape Coral man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly was found engaging in distasteful acts with “at least one blow-up doll” in a car in the parking lot of a Publix.
According to Connie Baron, public information officer for the Cape Coral Police Department, George Bartusek Jr., 51, was arrested and charged with breach of peace.Officers were called to the Publix on Santa Barbara Boulevard after someone complained about the man’s behavior with a doll in the car.Baron said Bartusek was acting “distasteful” with the doll. It’s uncertain at this time if other charges will be added."

When I read this story, I was reminded of the New York Daily News story which quoted Sheen's former wife, Denise Richards as saying Charlie purchased a 6,000.00 anatomically correct sex doll. There is a story on circushour.com regarding a September 2007 episode in which Sheen convinced two women to come home and have sex with his "girlfriend". When the girls got to Sheen's apartment, they realized the "girlfriend" was a blow up doll. The girls broke into laughter and left the apartment. Sheen was outraged and went into a rage, reportedly taking a meat cleaver to the dolls arm. Then, in a creepy GoodFellas' movie theme, he then wrapped the doll up in a carpet, threw her in the trunk and drove around town in the middle of the night looking for a dumpster to dispose of the "body". That's just a bit disturbing. And all this time I thought the half in Two and a Half men was the kid.

8 is not enough, how about 14.

2009-02-04T15:18:00.000-08:00

Last week, the National media broke the story of a woman In California who gave birth to octuplets. The doctors at the press conference spoke of how they were anticipating a delivery of septuplets and were surprised when there was another child delivered. Oh, it was a great feel good story, until the rest of the story unfolded over the past few days.

The unnamed mother, which has hired a PR firm since delivery, has not granted any interviews and her name hasn't been released. Over the course of the last few days, stories about how this woman has 6 other children, her parents bought her a house after the 6 children were born, the parents have filed bankruptcy and are living with the 6 year unemployed former psychiatric technician. The father has said publicly that he is returning to Iraq to go to work and her mother said she is moving out of the house once her daughter returns home with the octuplets.

I was immediately interested in this story the morning the story of delivery of the octuplets broke and the mother's name wasn't released. My septic nerve was inflamed in a mere few moments after listening to the story. In this day and age, with an event such as this monumental delivery will almost always be exploited for monetary gain. I must just be a jaded person who hasn't embraced the creation of life, there can't possibly be any ulterior motive, no money making issue, just a simple woman wanting to give birth.

Well well well, my septic nerve was correct last week. It didn't take long for the "unnamed mother" to hire a PR firm, and go on the hunt for the big bucks. This morning, the unnamed mother, trotted out a publicist on the Today show, stating that the mother was exploring all offers to find the best avenue to get her message out to explain her story. In other words, who is going to pay us the most money!!!!! Come one, come all, bring baskets of money. It is reported that this unnamed woman wants 2 million dollars to tell her story. She wants a book deal and wants to be hired my a major network morning show as a child consultant. In the current American Idol, Next Top Model, Dancing with the Stars climate, she'll most likely get it.

She'll most likely also get a reality tv show deal. I have come up with a few reality tv show ideas,

I dated a Turkey Baster-
Market this to the We/Oxygen lesbian network. She can detail how to get lots of children and never have a man involved.

42 mouths a day on the taxpayers dime-
This show will appeal to all those struggling mothers out there with 14 children on how to apply for federal, state and local aid to help pay for all the children on the backs of the greedy Republicans who don't pay anything in taxes. This will air on the Oxygen Network as well.

The Most Fecund Female in America-
This show could air on a few different networks. I could see the unnamed mother as the host of a 10 week show. Potential fecundity filled women would have to compete in a 10 week competition which involves a combination of American Idol and Miss America, however they would have to be unemployed and no boyfriend/husband.

And finally, I think the unnamed female should direct her publicist to get her a few endorsements. This unemployed, unnamed 33 year old woman who is reported to love children, should get an endorsement deal. Really, why shouldn't she get 100,000.00 for an Octuplet Sperm Bank Seal of Approval? After all, why should we judge her and her motives? We are in a new era America. Change you can believe in. While we are changing, hold on to your damn wallet while everyone else benefits for irresponsible behavior.

Official NFL countdown

2009-02-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

221 days until the regular kickoff game on Thursday September 3rd 2009

224 days until the rest of the NFL starts their campaign. The Detroit Lions need to lose 11 more games to overtake the Bucs as the first team to lose 27 games in a row.

368 days until Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.

God I hope there will be a great Rays baseball season this year.