Indy Reunion, Philly Future?

I've let this stew for a while just to get an idea of what to potentially expect in September, though this trade was a week ago. Trades are exciting at times. Other points, it's not a surprise when a player goes to a team that they are expected to go to. Carson Wentz got his wish of getting out of Philadelphia. The Indianapolis gets him in their trade with the Eagles. In exchange for him were two draft picks. One is a third round pick for this year. The other is a second round pick for next year, but could be first round if Wentz accomplishes goals for the 2021 season.

Wentz reunites with Colts head coach Frank Reich, who was his offensive coordinator in his first two seasons. The second being the Super Bowl year that saw him be a candidate for MVP before a season ending injury late in the year. There's reason to have some optimism that Reich could make good play calling. Also, the Colts can run the ball and have great running backs. Not to mention the defense that is in the top five. But there will be a lot of questions on whether Wentz can prove doubters or if he will be a head case like he was last year.

If I'm Nick Sirianni, I'd be nervous. Philadelphia lost 33.8 million dollars in dead money because of Wentz getting traded. So far, they have released a few of their pricier offensive weapons that have been injured. Questions will arise on what will happen with Zach Ertz. There are tons of issues they have to address. It starts with the offensive line and a couple spots defensively. Maybe a wide receiver. That draft pick addition will help, but it may not be enough. I also look at the mental capability of Jalen Hurts. Will that last game of the year hurt him or will it be motivation to play better? Doug Pederson created this mess, but Philly fans won't care. They find a way to bitch about new staff.

The Colts are poised to be a threat in the AFC. If Wentz is their X factor, this can be a Super Bowl team. All the pieces are there. Commitment is all they need. The Eagles are in a need for a small rebuild. I don't see them competing for a playoff spot until next year or 2023. They got certain pieces. Howie Roseman's job is on the line as a general manager and this could be his last year as one if they don't do well in the draft and even free agency. Tale of two teams going in different directions. 

Who Wants to Coach? NFL 2021

Three firings before it ended, and another four more, maybe five.

Before it ended came the firings of Matt Patricia, Dan Quinn, and Bill O'Brien. O'Brien damaged the Houston Texans pretty badly. Supposedly, they are looking at Marvin Lewis and a favorite may be Jim Caldwell. Both have done well with the teams they have been around. Quinn had a number of struggles the last couple of years with the Atlanta Falcons. No run game and defense killed his chances. Detroit had no defense under Patricia. Along with running game issues and the health of Matthew Stafford, no surprise he was let go.

Adam Gase being fired was not a surprise. The New York Jets going 2 and 14 this year don't help. Too many problems on both sides. Cover 0 blitz, anyone? Salvaging the season and being 7 and 9 did not save Anthony Lynn from getting canned with the LA Chargers. Some injuries and poor defense hampered this season. Hopefully whoever is hired does not mess with what Justin Herbert did as a rookie. Doug Marrone being fired from the Jacksonville Jaguars is not a stunning thing. Second rate talent, though they were in some close games.

I thought Doug Pederson was safe in Philadelphia. Not the case with being let go yesterday. Supposedly, disagreements with Eagle owner Jeffrey Lurie to go with an abysmal year and questionable approaches. Losing the locker don't help. Carson Wentz's situation does not help either. Too much toxicity from the sounds of it. One likely candidate is running back coach Duce Staley, who has ties with Philly. Lots of surprise considering reactions from a number of sports networks. The one that is still in the air is Matt Nagy. Despite two playoff appearances. the Chicago Bears were one and done. Even with a good defense, the offense was still a hassle. Inconsistency is the word I would describe it. If he's gone, three coaches in eight years.

There are some places that one could envy and head to. Some are an easy fix and a couple are ones that require a year or two to rebuild. Have to play that hand and see what can be done with what will be a lowered salary cap.

Tank Culture in Football

Do I think there's tanking in football? Sometimes. But the ire that is stemming towards the Philadelphia Eagles is very obvious for anyone following the disastrous final game of the season. Tight game between them and the Washington Football Team. Then comes the decision to not tie the game on a field goal. Pretty common for Doug Pederson this year. But the changing from quarterback Jalen Hurts to Nate Sudfeld is what is driving many up a wall.

Washington won, securing the NFC East and being the last team to get into the playoffs. It eliminated the New York Giants from contention, but what I'll say is this. It isn't so much the Giants being eliminated that bothers people. Most will not disagree, including former players, that they could have more than six wins. It's how they were eliminated that's the issue. You play with pride. Players want to show they are still worth something to their team or to another team if they express interest in them. People are bringing up a press conference bite of Eagles center Jason Kelce valuing winning over tanking. That will not age well.

I see people bring up playoff bound teams resting players. That's a huge apples and oranges situation. Why risk injury with your starters before heading into the postseason? The look on Hurts' face when he got benched says it all. He was the reason the game was close with his two rushing touchdowns. He didn't look good from a passing perspective, but there is uptick to him compared to Sudfeld. I don't know how Pederson can keep a straight face and say that he was coaching to win. That is flat out chickenshit. Even beyond current and former Giant players, you got angry fans. Angry analysts. Former Eagle players feeling embarrassed. Some are questioning the inactives thing because you can get in trouble for that, but I don't think that's a huge factor.

What this will go into is the culture of the Eagles. This brings a bad message to kids and a bad message to high school football programs all over the country. It's the kind of bad moments that brings toxicity to a locker room. The ones defending Pederson's decisions don't seem to grasp the blatant tanking. Other teams played with pride like Detroit and Houston. If it was a blow out, I would understand. Philadelphia played a big game defensively to give Jim Schwartz a proper curtain call.

Philadelphia gets the sixth overall pick of this year's draft. It does make a difference where you are early. However, whoever they get is going to face a lot of unwarranted hype and potential scrutiny if he messes up or doesn't live up to the pick. Sudfeld I can see being a scapegoat. Unfortunate that Pederson will more than likely keep his job. Shame on owner Jeffrey Lurie and anyone involved in that organization. A shame also that the NFL will probably not investigate this. No excuses should be made at all.

Rich Enough and Jewish Hate

I don't know if I would feel comfortable giving Pat Mahomes a lot of money. Kansas City gave him a 10 year deal that is worth 500 million. The way I look at it, they want him to have his prime years in Missouri. While he has shown what he can do in these last two seasons, it's hard to gauge whether the team can continue to do well. My big concerns would be the run game and possibly the secondary on defense. They got a defensive coordinator that knows how to win in Steve Spagnuolo. Eric Bieniemy can still show his potential in hopes of getting a coaching job .

Ten years is a lot, though. Mahomes had a knee issue that took him out a few games last year. With most of these deals, a lot of quarterbacks did not see Super Bowls. Some playoff spots, but nothing else. But with how Andy Reid runs things and with wanting to continue on, Kansas City should still be poised to be a threat like in his Philadelphia days.

Speaking of Philadelphia, I've always viewed DeSean Jackson as a punk player. It wouldn't surprise me if he was part of a gang. That being said, he has had a solid career and wasn't in the headlines for the wrong reasons off the field. There is no excuse for what he did earlier in the week that has no place in the game. He quoted a series of lines that Adolf Hitler supposedly said, but wasn't true. Essentially, hate towards Jewish people. He has put out apologies, but it's funny his teammates, Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz, haven't said a damn thing.

For all the hoopla surrounding Black Lives Matter and all that crap, Jewish people go through quite a bit of hell, too. I didn't know until today Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and GM Howie Roseman were both Jewish. That must have offended them very deeply.  It's been 75 years since Allies uncovered the atrocities of what the Nazis did in places like Auschwitz. Quoting something from Hitler raises a lot of concerns, even if the quote was false. Anti-Semitism is probably not uncommon.

If the Eagles don't cut Jackson, I see a fine and maybe a game or two suspension. They are in a similar situation to what happened with Riley Cooper back in 2013. I don't know what the fanbase would want, but Lurie and Roseman have to do something. Even though he returned last year, he didn't do anything after the first week and was hurt. Times have changed over the last seven years, and if the front office doesn't make the right decision, they will look really bad for dealing someone that could be a racist, whether Jackson is or not.

We do need football, but some of these news worthy stories make you a little weary.

Trades of the NFL Pre Draft

The last 72 hours have been an interesting one for the NFL regarding players getting traded to other teams. Yesterday was a crazy one. Some non ones include the Seattle Seahawks releasing a few of their secondary, making it seem like the Legion of Boom era is over. Let's get on to what happened.

Speaking of the Seahawks, they traded defensive lineman Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles and a draft pick for a backup receiver and a draft pick. It would be interesting to see how he fares in his tenth year in a different division. Philly sent receiver Torrey Smith down to Carolina in exchange for Panthers corner Daryl Worley. Unless someone on their secondary is a weak link, I don't know. The city of brotherly love seems to want to avoid the Super Bowl hangover most get after winning one. For Smith, he could still be a home run receiver, but how many more chances will he get?

Alec Ogletree seems like he will fit in with Big Blue. The LA Ram linebacker was sent along with a draft pick to the New York Giants in exchange for two draft picks. He can get tackles and that is something the dreadful defense needs. Outside of 2015, he has been a lights out player despite no Pro Bowls. Last month, The Rams have also gotten corners with Kansas City's Marcus Peters and just recently, Denver's Aqib Talib. If anything, this team is getting serious about making that big push to the Super Bowl next year. How they handle Talib is a different story.

With how infamously bad the Cleveland Browns have been the last two years, they are making waves with their trades. DeShone Kizer, who had a pretty bad rookie year, was sent to Green Bay in exchange for corner Damarious Randall and both teams swapping picks in the middle rounds. They also got Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor for a draft pick. Last was getting Miami's Jarvis Landry in exchange for a couple draft picks. It seems like desperation to cobble up something for this year. That being said, it could be a decent offense, but that's wishful thinking. Adding Randall could help their abysmal defense. It's a wait and see situation and who they get in the draft.

I got a feeling we're not finished with seeing trades yet.

Super Bowl LII Recap

There were a lot of storylines regarding Super Bowl LII. Philadelphia went to the game in 1980 and 2004, both of which were losses. New England has gone five and four. Five wins in 2001, 03, 04, 14 and 16, with losses in 1985, 96, 2007, and 11. They both met in the 04 season, another close one in the Super Bowl. When it's all said and done, Philly went toe to toe and won it's first ever Super Bowl and it's fourth overall championship.

Jitters might be the word I would describe the first quarter, particularly the kicking game. Missed extra points from both Jake Elliott and Stephen Gostkowski. A bad handle from punter Ryan Allen caused Gostkowski to miss a 26 yard field goal in the second quarter. Other than that, it was a very thrilling game that went down to the wire. It seemed like every drive was going to end up with points with the final being 41 to 33 Eagles. Only one punt was seen in the entire game. Gutsy calls on fourth down favored the Eagles while the Patriots attempt early in the game faltered. 

Yards piled up to the point where Tom Brady had 400 yards passing before the fourth quarter started, and he ended up with 505. Both teams combined for 1,151 yards. This is a record ever for any game in NFL history, regular and postseason. Nick Foles had a very strong game, which we will get to in a short moment. He joins Doug Williams and Jeff Hostetler as the only guys to start three or less games and win a Super Bowl (Williams for Washington in 1987, Hostetler for the Giants in 1990) Each side ran for 100 yards combined from their ground game. Philadelphia dominated it with reaching 160 plus.

For the Eagles, they make the NFC East the first division to have all four teams as Super Bowl winners. Foles was unstoppable. Outside of the interception, he had just over 370 yards and three touchdowns. He made plays when he needed to and finished one of the finer postseasons for a player. LeGarrette Blount had a big game with 90 yards rushing and a touchdown. Nelson Agholor and Corey Clement were big contributors. Zach Ertz gave them the lead for good with his touchdown. Foles even got a receiving touchdown himself. Defensively, they did not let up, and it led to the only sack in the game being a big deal. Despite the points they gave up, they were relentless and played for 60 minutes, something most teams can't do against New England. A tough secondary and a front four group adds a lot more with their ability to stop most plays.

Regarding the Patriots, it is their third loss under Bill Belichick, all being NFC East teams during his tenure. (Two losses against the Giants) Not only that, but it is their fifth Super Bowl loss overall going back to their first one in 1985, which is a record in itself. There will definitely be some retooling come next year. The defense didn't give up much in points this year, but it was shredded in pass defense. Tonight was no exception. Their run defense wasn't abysmal, but it looked really bad against the Eagles. Their fourth down play early in the game didn't pay off. A pass to Brady as a receiver failed miserably. Gostkowski's missed kicks hurt them. James White and Dion Lewis didn't amount to anything tonight. Too many mistakes in every facet was very noticeable. With Josh McDaniels (though whether he takes the job as Colts coach as of now is now a big question) and Matt Patricia on the verge of leaving to be head coaches, a big question will be how the Patriots handle having new coordinators.

Something will have to give in Philly. Where does Nick Foles go? Does Carson Wentz still have the starting job? A lot of decisions have to be made if they want to repeat. In New England, it will be a matter of how much this Super Bowl loss will sting for Belichick and Brady. Judging by the benching of Malcolm Butler, something tells me that team is going to start ridding of players they think would hurt them. It wouldn't surprise me. After all, this is the same coach that cut Bernie Kosar in the middle of the 1993 season when he coached the Cleveland Browns. Anything can happen under Belichick. I would think they would rebound, but who knows. 

Odds are the riots are going very strong in Philadelphia due to the city going nuts over this win. In a few days, I will discuss the Hall of Fame players that got their call this past weekend. Until then, savor one of the most entertaining Super Bowls in recent memory.

NFL Super Bowl Prediction 2018

This upcoming Super Bowl is either going to be very grand or very disappointing. There is no third option for how this will end up. For the sake of this, let's get into both sides.

Right now, the Philadelphia Eagles are riding high on their defense. This is the group that has been on a high level in their two games, but in order to win, they need to keep it going for 60 minutes. Keeping eye on the running backs of New England is critical. Nick Foles proved worthy last week, but it will be a daunting challenge to pick apart the Patriot defense. So far the run game hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders, and it might have to rest onto the passing game. Keys to winning include getting the rushing attack to prosper, staying on a high level on defense and Foles playing it smart.

There is no happy ending for the Patriots. A dark cloud will still hang over both Belichick and Brady, whether they win this Super Bowl or lose. If they were to win, they need the defense to actually play for 60 minutes, not just the second half. Who do you cover, though? Philly has receivers that can move anywhere on the field they want. Obviously, the passing game is still strong, but running the ball, like the Eagles, is a daunting one. Keys to victory include playing defense for all 60 minutes, getting the ground game going, and avoiding huge pressure like the last two weeks.

As much as I don't care for both these teams, it's going to be a New England victory. I would go 28 to 21. The Eagles can only do so much on offense without over-relying on the defense. That being said, I could see the city of brotherly love winning it, but a potential riot could occur. I would hope this would be a good game, so let's see how things go on Sunday.

NFL Championship Predictions 2018

There were certainly crazy games last week. With that in mind, here comes the Championship Games.

I really didn't think the Jacksonville Jaguars would be in the title game for the AFC. They need more than just luck to get past New England. Nobody expected them to get this far, and their confidence is through the roof. They would need to not give up much on defense, and keep giving Leonard Fournette the ball. Add in issues with Brady's throwing hand, I wouldn't say it will be a close game, but honestly, who knows? People do forget about Dion Lewis being a factor. He could easily shred the Jags. Still though, I'm buying into the underdog. Not to mention Tom Coughlin in the front office. He knows the ways to beat the Patriots. It's why he has two Super Bowls and is part of the Ring of Honor in New York.

Minnesota had probably one of the craziest finishes in playoff history and erased demons of the past. Now there is a chance to play the Super Bowl at home. The last thing the Vikings have in their way is the Philadelphia Eagles. For Philly, it's just pure luck. It's mostly the defense. The question marks lie into how well Nick Foles can play and if the run game will actually get yards. Even with a touchdown, LeGarrette Blount only mustered 19 yards. It has to be more than just defense contributing for Philly. Minnesota needs a mistake free game from Case Keenum, and like the Eagles, get the ground game going. The defense can't bend like it did against the Saints.

Personally, I see a Jacksonville vs. Minnesota Super Bowl. Two weeks from now will be my thoughts on whichever two make it into the big game. Who do you think gets in?

NFL Divisional Round Predictions 2018

A week in the books already and the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs begin Saturday. Let's get to the games.

Saturday's games are the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles match late in the afternoon. The night game is between the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots. With Philly and Atlanta, it comes down to Atlanta beating up on Philly. If Carson Wentz was under center, I would say otherwise, but whoever is starting is going to have a bad performance. If it is Nick Foles, this is going to be different since this isn't the 2013 version that surprised everyone. The Falcons are top 10 defense this year and are very good at stopping the run, particularly refusing backs from getting touchdowns. With the experience of the postseason last year and last week's victory against the Rams, they can ride that momentum to the Championship game. Philly's keys to victory are the defense to not bend, get the receivers going and rely on running the ball. I don't see two of these going well.

Tennessee was a shocker in their victory against Kansas City. Now they have the task of stopping New England and hoping to make it back to a Championship game for the first time since 1999. It is only their seventh appearance in the postseason since the start of the 1994 season and they need perfection to even pull another upset. Marcus Mariota needs more than just luck as the Patriot defense struggled throughout the year, ranking second to last in pass defense yards given up and in the lower half for rush defense yards. Obviously, New England's passing is at the top, but the question is the defense and if the ground game will show up like it did the last two games of the year. I'm all for the upset with Tennessee, though realistically, it's a losing effort for coach Mike Mularkey.

Sunday's games are two rematches from this season. The early game is the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, while the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings are the final game of the Divisional Round. Jacksonville gave Ben Rothelisberger one of his worst games ever, picking him off five times. Their defense is good, but their magic won't work Sunday. The offense was putrid against Buffalo, and the Steeler defense will pulverize Blake Bortles. Leonard Fournette will struggle for yards and the Jaguars will be having issues scoring points. A lot can happen between October and January. The Steelers will win. How much they will win by is a question mark.

Week one saw the Vikes and Saints in a Monday Night game with Minnesota notching a victory. These are the two best teams not only in the NFC, but the entire league. They can throw the ball well and attack on the ground with duo running backs. The defenses can create turnovers and make big plays when necessary. Minnesota has to stop the Saints rushing prowess, which has run rampant throughout the season. Shut down Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, they will get their victory. Calm Case Keenum and he will do fine in his first playoff game. New Orleans has to put a lot of pressure on Keenum to make him throw a costly interception. Stop him and Latavius Murray, and a Championship game for the first time since 2009 (Both faced each other in the NFC Championship that year) will be theirs. I'm buying into Minnesota solely on their defense. Either way, this might be the best match up for the playoffs.

Next week, we will discuss the Championship games.