Many quarterback options left available in the free agency market. What are the Bengals going to do with the “Red Rifleman” Andy Dalton? Is journeyman Brian Hoyer the answer for the Evil Empire Patriots? Are the Chargers going to hand the ball to Tyrod Taylor? Some teams will want a bridge type of quarterback for their team. A guy that will drive the car and help mold a young quarterback prospect.A guy that will hand over the keys without being a disruption to the team. Two quarterbacks on the market have played in the Superbowl. One of them has won the Superbowl. Plus you have a guy that threw 30 touchdown passes last season and is just about to enter his prime, young and healthy. These quarterbacks may be plucked after the NFL draft when teams know what they have and what they need. It brings up the big question about these guys that have done some great things in the game. Why are they still out there?

After signing the big deal after he won the Superbowl for the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, it’s been downhill for Joe Flacco. Flacco led the Ravens to the playoffs six times. Flacco brought his team to three AFC Championship games, which includes a 10-5 record in the playoffs. Flacco won seven of those ten games on the road. Flacco was the MVP of that Superbowl victory. The Ravens knew Flacco was on the downside of his career and they drafted Lamar Jackson. The way Flacco looked at Jackson not embracing him in his arrival to Baltimore. You can understand the guy is going to take your job. Lamar Jackson did take Flacco’s job with poor play by Joe and an injury. Flacco was dealt to Denver. After eight games of the rocky mountain high, Flacco was just average, nothing special. Had that kind of Jay Cutler thing going of “I don’t give a crap just keep depositing the money in my account every week. Flacco never made a pro bowl. His regular season numbers overall don’t jump off the charts. During playoffs he is a different animal. Denver found their guy in Drew Lock. Flacco has been shown the door in Denver after one season. Flacco is damaged goods right now with the hip injury a few years back and poor play. Would you want Flacco around a quarterback you’re developing? I think his play behind center these days is the reason he will not be in some teams’ plans for a starting quarterback. I can’t see him holding a clip board. Plus at 35 years old it might be time to put him out to pasture.

Cam Newton in my book is just a glorified fantasy football quarterback. Newton has a strong arm. Newton can score himself on goal line situations because being a bigger guy he is hard to bring down. Injuries sidelined Newton last season as he only played in two games. Cam Newton when things are going great he act likes like Superman soaking all the cheers in like a leach sucking out your blood. Then when things go south you’re dealing with a bipolar type of person. He’s like a kid taking his ball home to dodge questions from the press. The way Newton treated that female reporter trying to sound like she did not belong there. My biggest sticking point about Cam Newton is from the biggest game of his career. The biggest stage of them all, the Superbowl. Newton helped get the Panthers to the big game. Late in the game, the fumble Newton did not dive on. In a close game he did not want to get hurt. In the Superbowl everything is chucked out the window. You’re risking everything to help win that trophy for your team. With the Coronavirus lurking, will it delay Newton from getting another job after being released by the Panthers? Teams need to see how his injuries are progressing and if they have healed completely. My opinion is I don’t want my quarterback being a prima donna. Not sure I want him infesting my younger quarterback with bad habits. My biggest question is why former head coach, now Washington Redskins head coach, Ron Rivera who knows more about Cam than Cam, did not trade for him? Rivera was quick on the draw to trade for Cam Newton’s back up quarterback Kyle Allen.

I just cannot imagine being an Uber driver and having a athlete who is a muscular big guy, all of a sudden start groping you behind the wheel. Is the groping the tip? No thanks, Jameis Winston. Then he stole crab legs from a grocery store. Jameis Winston before he was drafted did some questionable things in college. This brings me to believe this guy has bad character. As a team will I have to keep Chico’s bail bonds on speed dial if I signed a Jameis Winston?

Besides being a nut job, Jameis Winston is only 26 years old. Winston has 5 seasons under his belt all with the team that drafted him, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winston has no injuries and has a strong arm with which he threw 33 touchdown passes last season. The downside is he threw 30 interceptions. By the way, Winston is the first quarterback to have the 30 for 30 thing going all-time. Then you add Winston’s 5 fumbles which adds up to 35 turnovers from one guy. Six of those 30 interceptions were returned for a pick six. Phillip Rivers had a bad year, he threw a ton of interceptions, the Colts signed him to a one year deal and he’s a guy closing on 40 years old. Jameis Winston is by far the most intriguing guy on the market because he is 26 years old. You can say Bruce Arians was unable to fix Winston. Maybe Bruce Arians did some good work because Winston threw a career high in touchdown passes. If Winston can behave himself off field and cut those interceptions in half, he might be worth it.

I’m surprised the Chicago Bears did not jump all over the Red Rifleman. Did GM Ryan Pace get warned that the Red Ryder will shoot his eye out?

Not sure what the Bengals intentions are with Andy Dalton. Some reports say they may keep Dalton and use him as the bridge type quarterback when they draft Joe Burrow. Maybe the Bengals think they can get more for Andy Dalton if they hold on to him after the draft. Dalton did not have such a great season last year. The team was riddled with injuries especially to the play-makers and the offensive line. Andy Dalton is 32 years old and has helped the Bengals to five straight playoff berths over his career.Andy Dalton had no luck in the playoffs as he never won a game behind center. I think Andy Dalton is a good character type of guy. I think a change of scenery would relaunch his career. Dalton is very durable and has a strong arm. If you can put him in the right system and surround him with some play-makers, he can get you to the playoffs. Maybe a different coach can navigate some success out of him in the post season.

I would love to see Bill Belichick and Jameis Winston plotting on the side line. Bad citizens and rejects or misfit toys always play better for the Patriots. It’s like boot camp with Bill Belichick as the drill Sergeant. Patriots are in need of something besides what they got unless they plan to fold up and rebuild. I can see the Chargers getting their bang for their buck giving Newton or Winston a go on a one year “prove it” deal. You can’t be happy if the Chargers are going into the season with Tyrod Taylor as the guy. That will just irritate your two fans they do have and now you’re stuck with extra Charger gear that you’ll donate to some Middle Eastern terrorist cell with old Rivers jerseys. Only Andy Dalton I would want backing up my guy or younger quarterback. Dalton should be a starter for somebody. It may take an injury for one of these guys to get picked up. Maybe they will all end up watching football with Colin Kaepernick on the couch. Does Kaepernick kneel at home when the National Anthem plays before the game?

Chase Daniels has been a career back up quarterback in the NFL for ten years. This off season Daniels is taking his duties to the Detroit Lions for a three year deal worth 13.5 million dollars. Chase Daniels will be the number two quarterback for the lions and back up Matthew Stafford. Last year Daniels was a back up to Mitch Trubisky on the Chicago Bears. Daniels has only started 5 games in the NFL. Daniels has not even tossed ten touchdown passes in the league. Daniels financially has racked up 34.3 million dollars in his career and it is not how he plays on the field.

Daniels knows how to read the play book which many players have troubles with and the understanding of all the X’s and O’s of each play. Bears brought Daniels in for two years to help them with growth of Mitch Trubisky. Head coach Matt Nagy runs a complex offense in Chicago. It’s a similar style offense to the Chiefs and Eagles. Two teams Chase Daniels has been on and he has worked with Matt Nagy before he got the head coaching job in Chicago. Matt Nagy’s play book could be the size of War and Peace as Mitch Trubisky is still trying to understand the first few chapters. In Chicago, Daniels did play a few games when Mitch Trubisky got hurt but he was more a glorified coach then an actual player. Sometimes a player may soak up more information from a teammate, perhaps a friend as well, better than the coaching staff. Daniels was that guy. On the field tutor.

Chase Daniels lacks arm strength I think to be a starter in the NFL. Chase Daniels’ five games he started he went 2-3. If Daniels has to fill in two or three games he’s a guy that can get your team a win. If it’s more games than that, I think your team is in trouble. Chase Daniels can complete the short game because he’s not the type of guy who will air out 20 yards or longer down field. Daniels has a 68% completion rate in the games he has played. Daniels has been picked off 5 times which is going to happen when back ups are trying to get their footing for the game. Plus being rusty watching most of the time mistakes will happen.

Daniels was drafted out of Missouri University. Daniels was a 4 year starter at the school and threw for 12, 515 yards which is still a school record to this day.  Daniels also tossed 101 Touch down passes during his time in Missouri. Daniels has most of the records of the school. The same school Drew Lock came out of the starting young quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Daniels college resume is what got him to the NFL.

Usually back up quarterbacks can stay stealthy for years and earn good money seeing no playing time, just riding the bench. Bears fans remember the great Jonathan Quinn a back up that came from the Chiefs like Daniels did.

Quinn started some games early on in his career with Jacksonville. Then was delegated to the back up position. Then years later he got the call and had to go out on the field where he was terrible. Quinn was 0-3 as a starter that year for the Bears. Quinn completed 51-98 which is good for a 52% completion rate. Those 51 completions were good for a meager 413 yards in 5 games he played in. Quinn did have a touchdown pass and three interceptions. The Almighty Quinn was never heard from again after the season concluded. Chase Daniels can at least play and give you some kind of chance. Daniels is not the best back quarterback in the league. Bears replaced him with the best in Nick Foles. Daniels may not be in the top ten  as a guy coming in to win a game for you. His coaching is the biggest key that has kept him in the league all these years. Daniels stays in shape, is smart and in ten years he has earned himself a retirement beach property somewhere on the waterfront. In a few years, Daniels can enjoy yachting and go anywhere he wants with most people having no idea who he is. That is the life of Reilly over the life of the Almighty Quinn.

 

Buffalo Bills acquire a legit number one threat at the wide receiver position. Bills land Stefon Diggs from Minnesota for multiple draft picks this season which include the Bills’ #1, #5, & #6. The Vikings also get the Bills’ #4 in 2021. Bills would get the Vikings’ 7th draft pick this season. Stefon Diggs is 26 years old and signed a contract extension in 2018 for another 5 seasons for 72 million. The Buffalo Bills will have Diggs through 2023 barring any injuries, trades, or extensions. Stefon Diggs is one of those disgruntled wide receivers that needs the ball and desires attention. It was no secret he wanted out of Minnesota. Buffalo will become Diggstown like the boxing movie where James Woods bets the local kingpin his guy can knock out the 20 best fighters in your town.  Diggs will be taking on his critics from Minnesota lined up like those fighters. Diggs will also have to deal with the Bills media and the mafia if things go sour.

I was expecting the Buffalo Bills to draft Josh Allen, a bigger target, even though Stefon Diggs is 6 feet tall. With Josh Allen’s inaccuracy I thought a taller target would help out the offense better.  They’d have  a guy that can reach into the skies of Buffalo and pull one down. The upcoming draft was filled with a bigger type of receivers compared to what the team has active on the roster with guys under 6 feet. Bills could still explore a taller target in the later rounds of the draft. A rotational guy. A red zone option. Stefon Diggs can do a variety of things which can work with some of Josh Allen’s strengths. Stefon Diggs is one of the best route runners in the league. Diggs’ greatest thing he does is create separation.  Separation can be a big difference maker especially if Josh Allen is on the run on broken down plays. Having Diggs with the separation and finding Allen’s eyes when he’s running big plays can happen. Plus Diggs can take a short route and turn them into big gainers.

Stefon Diggs gives the Bills a trio of wide receivers with different skill sets. It’s a talented trio of weapons as well that you can say is the best receiving  group in the division and maybe one of the tops in the AFC conference. John Brown had a huge year last season and did a little of everything. Brown is known as the burner taking the go routes deep. Then Cole Beasley gets those tough first downs as the slot guy going over the middle making clutch catch after clutch catch.Then you’re adding Diggs, a guy that can do a lot of things and draw a lot of attention. Last season Diggs caught 63 balls for 1,130 yards with six touchdown catches. He averaged 17.9 for catch. Diggs averages 73 catches 924 yards and six touchdowns a year throughout his career so far. It could any one of the three guys that have a big Sunday on any given Sunday.

I think the addition of Diggs on the offense will be able to score more points. Bills defense held many teams under 20 points each game last season. The offense had a hard times scoring 20 points per game. I think the new scenery will help Diggs as he did not see eye to eye with Kirk Cousins and others on the Vikings. I think Sean McDermott and his staff get their players to buy into their team philosophy. Former Buffalo Bill and Hall of Famer legend Jim Kelly compared this move to when the Bills brought in James Lofton. We know what happened when the Bills had Andre Reed on one side and James Lofton on the other. I think Buffalo will turn into Diggstown. A town Stefon will get sucked into and dig. The Allen Diggs combo will be just as deadly as the Kelly to Reed combo in Buffalo history. I don’t like using all those draft picks on one guy. Bills needed a legit play maker.  They got him. Plus the Bills have been doing well filling in holes with free agents.  This is a bold statement that the Bills are seeking the playoffs once again and want to go further. WELCOME TO DIGGSTOWN !!! Home of the best table slammers in the world.

I always wanted to see how Phil Jackson would fare coaching a team from scratch. Phil Jackson coached those six Chicago Bulls championships during the Michael Jordan years. Then Phil Jackson went on to L.A. For the Lakers he had Kobe Bryant and big man Shaquille O’Neal. Before the Death Star was fully functional, Bill Belichick’s first head coaching job was in Cleveland. Did Belichick get fired too soon? Sounds Cleveland Brown like. Belichick moved on and went to New England. The start of the Evil Empire. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick wrecked havoc on the league for 20 seasons. The Patriots won six Superbowl titles. Seventeen division titles. All good things must come to an end if you’re a Patriot fan. The rest of the galaxy is celebrating and hoping it will be true.

Tom Brady is moving on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Bill Belichick aka the Mastermind needs to find another quarterback.

The writing on the wall between these two egos of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick has been going on quite some time now. Signs of Tom Brady leaving this off season was him selling his house. Plus Tom Brady’s trainer selling his house. I figured the trainer lived in Brady’s pool house. Like Kato Kaelin living in OJ Simpson’s pool house. Tom Brady, being a California kid, rumors had him signing with a team from the west coast. Bruce Arians, head coach of the Buccaneers, was able to land and win the Brady sweepstakes and the Buccaneers are giving Brady a boatload of money and a two year deal. Buccaneers have plenty of weapons surrounding Tom Brady, which he lacked last year with the Patriots. Brady expressed those issues last season and stat-wise it was not a great year behind center for a guy that has 219 wins as a starting quarterback.

I think Bill Belichick wanted to do away with Tom Brady years ago. I think Jimmy Garoppolo was going to be Tom Brady’s replacement at one point.  Owner Robert Kraft, inbetween massage parlors and whore houses, probably nixed any of Wild Bill’s crazy ideas at the time. Patriots ended up trading Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers. As we all know San Francisco and Jimmy Garoppolo made it to the Superbowl and came away with a loss. Patriots also got rid of Jacoby Brissett who was the starter for the Colts last season. Now the Patriots will have to find someone to take Tom Brady’s place. Will the Patriots take a step back and reload? Perhaps draft a guy and develop their new Darkside Jedi Knight? Could Bill Belichick wheel and deal and take an option out in the free market or make some kind of trade and bring like an Andy Dalton from the Bengals?

I hope the Patriots fall flat on their faces. I hope Tom Brady, like other greats that played their last years on another team after leaving the only place they played, falls flat on his face as well. People will talk about all year about which one will have more success without each other. Will it be Tom Brady or Bill Belichick?  Could the Patriots meet the Buccaneers in the Superbowl? This would be a great story if both Belichick and Brady, opposite each other, met up in the biggest stage of them all. Could you picture Belichick coming up with a plan to dissect Tampa Bay’s high octane offense? Plus an offensive guru like Bruce Arians going up against a defensive minded Bill Belichick. Let’s also throw that Tampa Bay is home of the Superbowl next season. I can see Tom Brady being the first to get his team to make it to the grand stage being played at their homefield. What if the Patriots picked up Jameis Winston? What if Josh Daniels, the offensive coordinator, could fix Jameis Winston? Winston passed for 5,109 yards with 31 touchdown strikes. Winston also threw 30 Interceptions of which seven were returned for touchdowns. Winston made history with that 30-30 achievement, the first ever all-time to do that in the NFL. Bill Belichick does get the best out of bad citizens like what Jameis Winston is. Then you add that Jameis Winston playing in Superbowl versus the team that drafted him and cut him loose.  Plus Head Coach Bruce Arians has seen enough of Jameis Winston after just one year together. This kind of Superbowl scenario would be all the soap operas mixed into one big episode. Tom Brady could play Dr. Drake Ramoray.

If Belichick versus Brady does come into play at any time, it would be a version of Alien versus Predator.

Of course the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England might not face each other in the next two seasons. How long will Tom Brady be able to play in the NFL? After two seasons in Tampa Brady, Brady may be done and retire. Knowing the way Tom Brady’s mind works, he wants to last longer than Drew Brees. First man down, the other would have most of the NFL records all-time. In New England is the Patriots roster just in  need of a quarterback inserted in like a light bulb? Patriots have lost some players in free agency this year once again. The offense last season lacked weapons. Seems like the Patriots were in on some of those big receiver trades that occurred as Texans dealt DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals. Then the Vikings dealt Stefon Diggs to the Bills. The Patriots ended up not getting either or. If the Patriots take a step back and reload or rebuild, it might take a few seasons to get another death star to be fully functional. Tom Brady may be out of the league at that time. It may be hard to determine which one would be better without the other when it comes to Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.   Maybe the best case scenario,  they both fall on hard times and lead the league with a whimper instead of a bang. Which would make many people throughout the galaxy think of it as PRICELESS!!!

 

 

The Chicago Bears have to be cursed when it comes to finding a man behind center. The best quarterback in Bears history is still Sid Luckman who played during the 1940’s. Jay Cutler might have most of the Bears passing records but we know how that turned out. It’s been decades and decades of drafting quarterbacks that have turned into hot garbage when the Bears open them up like a gift  every year from under the tree during Christmas. Then all the has-beens that walked in and out of Chicago like some kind of zombie trying to remember where they originally were drafted from. Then the Mitch Trubisky project. This project is like a spreading fungus that is destroying everything in its path. This off season the Bears had a chance with so many reliable options on the free market and through trades out there they could find a man behind center. To right the ship. Put out the fire. Ryan Page instead pours gasoline on the fire and the Bears have added the best back up quarterback in the league in Nick Foles.

Ryan Pace wanted an open competition with Mitch Trubisky this off season for the starting nod. I can see most quarterbacks giving the Bears a big  fat NO to that idea. So here we go again as we ride the Ryan Pace broken down quarterback bus with no wheels. It all started with the signing of Mike Glennon. Then Ryan Pace drafted Mitch Trubisky. Pace told Glennon he was the guy and then they draft a quarterback.

Then Pace wasted draft picks to move up one spot with the San Francisco 49ers to get Mitch Trubisky that no one had interest in that early. The same draft the Bears did not think Deshaun Watson was the better option. Yes I will say even Patrick Mahomes. Both passed up for Mitch Trubisky. The first season Mike Glennon was horrifying. It was like 4 games hard to stomach kind of play. Mitch Trubisky was inserted into the line up ever since. Trubisky’s play has not been consistent. Trubisky had some nice games in 2018. Faltered towards the end. In 2019 Mitch Trubisky was very bad. At the end of the regular season Trubisky did a little bit better versus inferior teams. This off season Ryan Pace is swinging for the fences with all his signings. Bringing in older guys. This is like the last Hail Mary with this great defense the Bears have. The Bears and Ryan Pace trade yet another draft pick away this time to Jacksonville for Nick Foles. Bears used  a 4th round draft pick as they hardly have any picks in the first place, all had been dealt. The Bears use this one to pry a back up quarterback that is being paid a lot of money. Like a starter.

Someone should tell Ryan Pace to come back to reality and get out of the year 2013. The last year Nick Foles played almost the full NFL regular season slate and did well. The last good year Jimmy Graham had when he was all pro was also in 2013. It depends who you ask about Nick Foles and about his play. Last year in Jacksonville Foles only played in 4 games and he stunk. In Philadelphia Nick Foles is a legend . Foles is the man who took down the Evil Empire in the Superbowl in 2018. Foles even has a statue of himself like Rocky in Philadelphia for what he did for the Eagles. Then Foles is the same guy who led his Eagles at the time over the Bears in that playoff game where the double doink is still heard these days on a windy day. That day at Soldiers Field, Trubisky out played Foles but Eagles prevailed over the Bears. Could Nick Foles replace another high draft pick gone wrong for GM Ryan Pace?

The Bears could have signed Teddy Bridgewater as a free agent. Bridgewater is only 27 years old and played very well last season with the New Orleans Saints filling in for Drew Brees where he was undefeated as a starter. Screw the open competition and make Bridgewater your guy. Let Trubisky stand on the sidelines and learn to take a year off to find himself. However if you do that then you’re stating the obvious that Mitch Trubisky was a bad draft pick. Even Captain Obvious can tell you the Trubisky pick is just bad. Pace and the Bears are still in denial. I thought that Andy Dalton would have been the best fit for the Bears through a trade. Dalton has ties to Bears offensive coach Bill Lazor. Dalton is 32 years old. Bears are throwing everything at this last chance which includes the kitchen sink and the garbage disposal. Dalton has been durable most times throughout his career. Dalton has made it to some pro bowls. Dalton has guided his team to the playoffs multiple times. Early playoff round exits have haunted Andy Dalton. Bears should inquire about Dalton’s services even with Nick Foles. Dalton plays regular season Foles starts in the playoffs. Trubisky can go fetch the doughnuts.

Bears brain trust plot is they hope Mitch Trubisky can win the open competition which will probably be rigged. If Mitch Trubisky breaks out and does well they keep Nick Foles on the bench. Nick Foles is the better quarterback option. Foles knows the offense better then Trubisky. Bears obviously wanted Foles because of ties he has with the coaching staff. Last season John Difilippo was the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterbacks coach where Nick Foles was. Then Bill Lazor once again has ties to Nick Foles as well as he was the quarterbacks coach when Nick Foles was an Eagle in that 2013 season. Seems to me it is an organization divided. The front office wants Mitch Trubisky to avoid egg on their face once again in their list of flops in the first round. The coaching staff probably secretly wants Nick Foles. The problem here is can either one of these quarterbacks be the guy that gets the Bears even to the playoffs? Nick Foles can’t stay healthy. Mitch Trubisky can’t play consistent. Plus the offensive line is in shambles. Is there a door number three? Please anything.

It was only months ago I was watching the Green Bay Packers playoff game versus the San Francisco 49ers. I recall having a conversation with my brother about the Packer tight end at the time, Jimmy Graham. Once upon a time, Jimmy Graham was one of the best tight ends in the entire league. In 2013 Graham was all-pro for the New Orleans Saints; he had 86 grabs 1,215 yards receiving with 16 touchdown receptions. In 2014 his receiving yards went down had one less catch but had ten touchdown catches. Saints had Drew Brees throwing to the 6’7″ tight end who looked like a powered forward in the NBA going up high for some of those touchdowns. Jimmy Graham has always had top quarterbacks in the league throwing to him. After the Saints, Graham was traded to the Seattle where Russell Wilson threw to him.Then the last few years Aaron Rodgers threw to him in Green Bay. Since 2013 Graham has regressed every year. If Rodgers can’t get the best out of Jimmy Graham how the hell is Mitch Trubisky going to fare? Yes Bears wasted money and signed Graham to a  two year deal.

The Chicago Bears are in much need of a tight end. Trey Burton was a one year wonder in 2018 and fell off the grid in 2019. Adam Shaheen is a total bust the Bears are still in denial about. Plus Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen missed a combined 16 games last year. Bears as a group last season at tight end caught 46 balls for 416 yards with two touchdowns. Bears head coach Matt Nagy’s offense needs a tight end to make all the moving parts in his offense functional. In 2018 Trey  Burton  came from Philadelphia and was solid with 54 grabs 569 yards with six touchdowns. Jimmy Graham with Aaron Rodgers let’s not forget had 38 catches 447 yards with three touchdown catches in 2019. Which is just a tad better than the Bears tight ends as a group which some of them were MIA due to injuries.

Back to that game when the Packers were playing the 49ers in the NFC championship. My brother I were talking about how he caught the ball and was brought down by smaller cornerbacks pretty quickly and easily. Jimmy Graham of the past would break tackles and had some wheels to create separation and get yards after the catch. Jimmy Graham is 33 years old with a birthday coming up which will make him 34 years old. He’s also a tight end that can not block which makes him one dimensional. Nagy’s play calling at times has the Bears running less than ten times a game. You can say Jimmy Graham would be the best tight end in the room with the Bears. Is the best tight end in room worth 16 million dollars for two seasons with 9 million guaranteed?

This is a bad move by Ryan Pace, Bears GM. This money should have went somewhere else. Like the signing of Teddy Bridgewater. Bears need a quarterback. They need offensive line help as well in the trenches. Bears could have found a tight end through a trade. I would have rather have them  kick the tires on Eric Ebron instead of wasting money on a Graham cracker. Who will not be able to recapture the player he once was? They could even draft a tight end. I think you may be able to find something better off on the scrap heap after the draft or preseason than taking a gamble on Jimmy Graham. If Mitch Trubisky ends up  as the starting quarterback next year, how is Jimmy Graham going to put up better numbers from last season? Pace believes Mitch Trubisky will get the better of Jimmy Graham than Aaron Rodgers last year? Ryan Pace let me know what you’re smoking because you have the good stuff.

 

It did not take very long for former Bears linebacker to be plucked off the free agent market as Nick Kwiatkoski is now a part of Raider nation. Raiders add another grinder to their mix. The writing was written on the walls at Halas Hall when the Bears decided to keep Danny Trevathan over Nick Kwiatkoski. Only days ago Bears retained Trevathan’s services on a three year deal for 24 million dollars. Bears have plenty of needs and they may have thought Kwiatkoski was going to cost them more money since they passed up the younger talent of 26 years old to keep a veteran that turns 30 later this month. It was one or the other since they both play the same position of middle linebacker.  Kwiatkoski gets a three year deal to come to Las Vegas where the city of lights will have their first NFL team ever. Raiders moved from one of their long time homes of Oakland.

The Raiders defense played well in the first half of the season. They had a lot of draft picks as they sold off pieces in 2018, one of them to the Bears in Khalil Mack former teammate of Kwiatkoski. Head coach Jon Gruden used some of those picks on the Raiders defense. Raiders defense regressed in the second half of the season in 2019. One bright spot was the play of defensive end Mad Maxx Crosby, a guy they drafted in the 4th round from East Michigan. Crosby’s rookie season was amazing as he piled up ten sacks in his first season as a professional. Crosby’s play earned himself defensive rookie of the year. The Raiders were still alive at the very end of the  regular season on the bubble of making the playoffs.  Last season the Raiders had some bright spots to give this team hope in the future that they can turn it around and make the playoffs this year with what they have and adding to the mix.

Raiders land a great piece with Nick Kwiatkoski, another 4th round draft pick out of West Virginia. Kwiatkoski who filled in for the injured Danny Trevathan and played middle linebacker the way the monsters of the midway played that position for the Bears for decades. He was rock solid. Kwiatkoski had 76 tackles, 3 sacks, interception, and forced fumble. Last game of the season Kwiatkoski added a safety versus the Vikings. Kwiatkoski has a nose for the football. Born in Pittsburgh where they manufacture linebackers and guys that get dirty and play the game the right way. I have to give Chucky credit he has added another Gruden grinder to the defensive side of the ball. I like the way both Crosby and Kwiatkoski played last season. Both young pieces and these two could be the core of the silver and black for years to come. Raiders still rumored  to add a more pieces to their roster on both sides of the ball.  The team is off to great start in the first day in free agency.

Meanwhile the Bears probably picked the wrong guy. Danny Trevathon is a nice player  to have who can put a lick on the opposing offensive players going over the middle. I know the Bears could only keep one linebacker out of the two choices. When you have holes to fill on your roster you have to tighten the wallet on some of your choices. Bears window is closing. That dominant defense of 2018 took a few steps back in 2019. The only way this thing works for the bears if Trevathan can sustain his play for the whole year. If  the Bears use any available money they saved on not signing Kwiatkosi and land another quarterback and a tight end.  I wouldn’t mind an offensive lineman as well. Bears do not have many draft picks so decisions like not signing Kwiatkoski they have to be perfect with the rest of their free agent signings to patch up those holes. They better hope those holes don’t leak because letting Kwiatkoski, a guy you drafted and developed go elsewhere ,and he continues to play well while the bears sink into the abyss of what could have been, heads will roll. My gut feeling is injury prone Danny Trevathan will get another injury. Bears free agents again will not pan out especially at the quarterback position.  Bears will end up going in another direction in 2021. The Raiders moves will get the silver and black back to respectable and perhaps beyond.

WEEK SIX XFL POWER RANKINGS

2001 XFL FLASH BACK

THE FIRST XFL DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE FAIR CATCH

WRESTLING MOMENT TO REMEMBER XFL PART 1

Since St. Paddy’s day is almost upon us, we salute Roddy Piper. Got to root for the bag piper this time of the year.

WEEK SIX PRESENT TIMES

The whole sports landscape is shutting down due to the Corona Virus. XFL looks like the games must still go on. They may be playing this weekend in empty stadiums throughout the league. We know Seattle definitely is going to be playing with no fans. Stay indoors, open up a can a beer ,and watch the games and flash back to 2001 when the XFL played games all the time in front of no fans. That time the product was not good. Fans never showed up. Like Peter Brady’s birthday party when no one showed  up.

WEEK SIX POWER RANKING COMING AT YOU LIKE A BEER CUP SNAKE

#1.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (5-0) SAME  In week five the Roughnecks maybe are bored as they spotted Seattle a 14 point lead. Superhero P.J Walker looked more human making some mistakes. Walker still chucked the ball for 371 yards with three touch down passes as Roughnecks steamrolled the Dragons and fought their way back in this contest. Running back James Butler enjoyed two rushing touchdowns. One was scratched from a penalty. Butler was handed the ball off after the penalty and still scored. Three Houston Lambeau leaps to his credit in the game.

Nick Holley put a sweet move on the Dragons defender faked him out of his shorts to get a big gainer for a Houston Touchdown.

#2.DC DEFENDERS (3-2) UP 2 SPOTS    The Defenders needed home cooking and they got it after two disaster road games. They were able to prevail with their back up Quarterback Tyree Jackson who filled in for ineffective Cardale Jones. It was not pretty numbers wise but Jackson did enough. Defenders running back Jrurell Pressley had 107 yards on the ground. It was a game combined of 407 rushing yards by both teams. The Defender defense came up big time for the Defenders. Anthony Johnson was getting lots of pressure on Jordan Ta’amu. Johnson had on sack. Tracy Sprinkle and others combined to shut down a very good Battle Hawks offense as they broke down the St. Louis wall like the Berlin wall. Special teams had a block punt. But the MVP of the day was the beer cup snake in the stands.

All the empty beer cups formed a beer snake cup that went all the way up rows and rows of seats. The Buffalo Mafia would of been proud. Perhaps Bills fans would of had theirs around the perimeter of the stadium. Amateurs.

#3. ST. LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (3-2)  DOWN 2 SPOTS    St. Louis was playing so well. Last week they lost a close game to the DC Defenders whose season is the tale of two cities.  Battle Hawks played the Defenders at their place where they do well. The Defenders on defense threw everything at the Battle Hawk offensive line even the kitchen sink and St.Louis crumbled with that type of pressure. This pressure shut down the run game completely. Battle Hawks quarterback Jordan Ta’amu had no time to set up his option play that has worked all year. Plus passing the ball Ta’amu has seen better days. St. Louis will have to adjust to that pressure because every team will now be looking to pressure the QB and stop the run game at the same time.  Can Jordan Ta’amu beat you with his arm?

#4.LA WILD CATS (2-3) UP 2 SPOTS    The Wild Cats at home can score some big time points off anybody in the league. Wild Cats broke their own record of points scored of 39 versus the Defenders as they scored 41 off a pretty good Viper defense. On the road the Wild Cats were held under 20 points from a struggling New York team. LA Wild Cats are just one dysfunctional family. The quarterback Josh Johnson continues to let the f-bombs slip berating the offense coordinator in front of a live studio audience through the head sets.

These are the same Wild Cats that fired Pepper Johnson after one game as the team’s defensive coordinator. They also traded their best defensive player who was the captain away after the first game as well. The head coach Winston Moss took over the defense play calling. Moss’ coaching style letting the crazies run the asylum.

The Wild Cats need to learn how to win on the road before I put them in the post season.

#5.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (3-2) UP 2 SPOTS   The Guardians have suddenly risen out of the tar pits or whatever a Guardian cat comes from. New York now has won two games in a row. What is head coach Kevin Gilbride thinking? It takes the number three quarterback on the depth chart to run his offense effectively. Can the Guardians and Kevin Gilbride judge talent. The first quarterback Matt McGloin has the NFL experience but he was awful in the NFL. Then you go with a running quarterback Marquise Williams who had some experience playing in AAF a few drives a game for the San Antonio Commanders. Then now you find out Luis Perez is the best quarterback out of the lot.

Luis Perez was the starter day one for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF last year. Perez played most of the games and did pretty good. Since Perez took over he has a 92.1 QB rating. Matt McGloin had 52.2 QB rating. Marquise Williams had 68.2 QB rating. That is a huge difference. Don’t give me third time is the charm either. Some of these coaches have no clue. Gilbride will keep his job because he got lucky having Luis Perez stashed away on the bench most of the season. Without Perez the Guardians looked like the worst team in the league for a few weeks.

#6.TAMPA BAY VIPERS (1-4) DOWN 3 SPOTS   The Vipers are that team you can not predict. Last week they had a very nice lead and gave it up as the Wild Cats came from behind and took care of the slithering snakes. In week four Vipers came up with a huge win both their offense and defense looked solid. They looked like a team that found their mojo. They looked like a team that could string a few wins together. Not the case. First few weeks offense could not get the ball in the end zone. The defense played well. Now the defense is regressing while the offense is putting up big numbers at Menards. The Vipers since Jaime Elizondo took over the offense this team is averaging 28 points per game. Jerry Glanville has to get his defense back to where they were in the beginning of the season.  The Vipers are still in the thick of things to snag that number two playoff spot in the West.

#7. DALLAS RENEGADES (2-3) DOWN 2 SPOTS   The fact is in Football the most important position most of the times is the man behind center. The Renegades had the guy that was the face of the  XFL in Landry Jones. The two most experienced quarterbacks in the entire XFL with a good amount of NFL seasoning are Landry Jones and Josh Johnson. The Renegades are without their man since late week 4 game. The back up Phillip Nelson is not the answer. Landry Jones gives Bob Stoops a guy that can still focus after a mistake is made. With Landry Jones behind center the Renegades could win games on the road which many teams in the XFL have failed in that department. Renegades last hope is to hang in there until he gets back in action. Renegades can still get that number two playoff spot in the West. Longer Landry Jones is out this team will slip in the standings.

#8.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-4) SAME     The Dragons have battled in every game. The one game they won was very ugly however a win is a win no matter how it rolls out. The Dragons defense is the far better unit than the offense. The defense of the Dragons call it the turn over mask.

It’s a ski mask the players put on after they force the other team into a turn over. Like they are bank robbers. Dragons can force quite a few turnovers but they give up some big plays as well. Like live by the blitz die by the blitz. On offense the team is on quarterback number two B.J Daniels who did well in first start versus the Roughnecks. Daniels a run first quarterback. When the Dragons were down and the team had to rely just on his arm the Dragons offense went silent. Speaking of silent the Dragons home game this weekend will be played with no fans. Since Seattle seems to be the capital of the United States with the Corona virus outbreak.

With the outbreak and a team that is not as deep as other teams in the league with depth on the roster, Seattle might be the weakest link in the XFL and unfortunately having to deal with a nagging virus infecting the emerald city.

Hunting season is coming up for all the NFL teams. The quarterback hunt will be the biggest game on the menu. Above I can see Bill Belichick dressed in a rabbit suit sneaking up behind teams and preventing them to slay his prize. Will Tom Brady end his ties from Bill and the Death Star? Who will Bill Belichick pounce on if Brady leaves New England? Does your team have faith with your guy behind center? In a huge year where lots of quarterback options are to be gobbled up in off season where will these pieces fit on teams throughout the league? Will your team find the right Quarterback? Some teams it will be business as usual. Some teams believe that the quarterback is the final piece of the puzzle.  Who gets the soft Newton? What Uber drivers should be scared of Jameis Winston coming to your town? We will throw our hat in the ring and try to fit each quarterback out there through free agency or trade with a new team. We might be totally off and not get any of them right. Can anybody predict this kind of saga in the NFL? Playing the lotto is much easier and your chances to win are much greater than predicting the NFL.

Tennessee Titans

Titans win the Tom Brady sweepstakes. Titans also keep running back Derrick Henry who will become Brady’s best friend. When has Tom Brady had only one running back? Especially one of the best backs in the league. Patriots always had a slew of running backs in the back field with Brady behind center. With Henry, Brady does not have to do much. He’s aging and he needs an O’ Henry Bar. Like how John Elway when he finally won his Superbowls he had an elite back in Terrell Davis behind him in Denver. I like the connection with the Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Tom Brady cementing this new relationship together being former teammates. I think Titans make this move because  Ryan Tannehill has a history of injuries. Plus he has not put together a string of good back to back years as a starting quarterback. It’s like every other year with Tannehill.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ryan Tannehill likes to throw the deep ball and why not head back to Florida since Brady took your job. Instead of Miami, Tannehill locks up a deal with the Buccaneers. This gives Bruce Arians a veteran guy. Plus a veteran QB who will not throw a ton of interceptions like Jameis Winston. Tannehill had the deep ball working well last season in Tennessee. Buccaneers have an arsenal of weapons as well.

Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders love bringing in split personalities to their locker room. Jon Gruden will find a way to get the best out of Jameis Winston. Winston face of the franchise in Vegas; it has a ring to it. Uber prostitutes where Jameis Winston can get his hands dirty. Golden teeth with money spewing out of the slot machine or black jack tables as Winston can unleash his best side in life.

Indianapolis Colts

I like the Colts to be Phillip Rivers’ destination. Rivers has ties with head coach Frank Reich. I think Phillip Rivers would have a lot to prove. I think the Colts are nicely built and can surround Rivers with weapons he needs to be successful. Plus Colts defense could overcome Phillip Rivers’ mistakes, especially in the red zone. I think Colts keep Jacoby Brissett as a nice back up option for Rivers if needed or if this signing blows up in their face.

LA Chargers

Chargers make a move to improve their quarterback situation. I think they make a trade or pick up Cam Newton who gets dumped by Carolina. Newton with lots to improve. Chargers have Tyrod Taylor already on the roster. This could be an open competition between Taylor and Newton. It gives the Chargers at least some options just in case one goes soft.

Carolina Panthers

Panthers land Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater a guy from the Panthers division since he played with the Saints last two seasons has familiarity with all the opponents.  Panthers will want to cut ties with Cam Newton. End that chapter for good. Somebody will overpay for Bridgewater’s services. Panthers are the perfect team with a new head coach on board. Bridgewater is at a perfect age where a new head coach in the league will make his job much easier since he does not have to wait on a young draft pick to develop.  Christian McCaffrey would help Bridgewater in the short passing attack and rushing the ball. Bridgewater does not make many mistakes which Kyle Allen and Cam Newton are prone to do every game they started last season.

New England Patriots

Patriots do not stand by after losing the Brady sweepstakes.  Patriots would go bold and make a trade and bring in Andy Dalton from the Bengals. Dalton only has a year left I believe on his contract so Patriots may seek a guy like Derek Carr from the Raiders as well. It would be hard to believe the Patriots would land two guys. Why Not? If Andy Dalton does not pan out you have Derek Carr. Dalton’s contract expires so let him go or trade him to somewhere else. Patriots most likely would draft a quarterback as well.

Chicago Bears

The Bears do not have the draft capital to land an Andy Dalton or a Derek Carr. Bears will settle for a guy named Marcus Mariota, former Tennessee Titan. This gives the Bears a guy that can challenge Mitch Trubisky as they hope Trubisky prevails anyways in an actually not fair competition.  If Trubisky does not win the job Matt Nagy has another quarterback with a different set of tools than Trubisky in the quarterback room.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars will hold on to Nick Foles. No other team will want his contract. Then the Jaguars will trade away Garner Minshew once the dust settles under all the musical chairs of the quarterbacks this off season. Some team will pry Minshew’s services away from Jacksonville.

 

WEEK FIVE XFL POWER RANKINGS

OUR XFL LEAGUE ONE FLASH BACK

The Las Vegas Outlaws cheerleaders.

OUR WRESTLING MOMENT OF THE XFL 1

PRESENT TIMES

Week Five XFL Power rankings has many teams playing musical chairs. Vipers on the rise. New team that lives under the stairs. Which team would Snake Plissken rather escape? Has DC gone from top tier team to just ugly in weeks? What will Renegades do without Landry Jones? Week Five XFL Power rankings are here so let’s dive in cannon ball style!!!

#1.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (4-0)  I’m a fan of running back Nick Holley of the Roughnecks. He’s becoming a very nice weapon for the league super star quarterback P.J Walker.

Holley has 17 grabs for 195 yards and one touchdown through four weeks so far for the Roughnecks. Holley’s catches have been amazing helping his quarterback’s numbers. However Holley’s grabs move the chains and is a big part of that high octane offense that keeps on rolling. Holley is a former Kent state Golden Flashes alum.  Roughnecks defense continue to make big plays each week. Edmund Robinson had a strip sack fumble recovery for a touchdown versus Dallas last week.

Roughnecks P.J Walker has looked cool as a cucumber in crunch time to seal the deal for Houston. Walker continues to be the MVP of the entire XFL so far.

#2.ST.LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (3-1) SAME     St. Louis fans are loving their Battle Hawks. The Battle Hawks are expected to open up the upper deck next home game to continue to put up the masses of fans who are supporting this team.

The Battle Hawks head coach Jonathan Hays I’m a big fan of. Telling the kicker to “just bang it”, on field goal try. The way he coaches his players during the game is very inteersting with the live feeds . Not that touchy feely Pete Carol, groping all his players like some pervert. Coach Hays has that laid back style but a fun style and not afraid to tell you what you did wrong or give his players confidence telling them they did something great. St.Louis is well coached in every aspect of the game.

#3.TAMPA BAY VIPERS (1-3)  UP 4 SPOTS The Vipers I thought were a part of that Python hunt in the everglades weeks ago. Vipers home cooking finally has this team playing better. Two weeks ago they took the Roughnecks to the brink of beating them, but lost by one score. Then last Sunday Jerry Glanville’s Viper defense shut down the Defenders offense. Giving the Defenders a goose egg. Offensive Coordinator Jaime Elizondo for the Vipers took over the play calling and the Snakes are slithering on offense.  Actually scoring touchdowns.

Viper quarterback Taylor Cornelius has gained confidence ever since Marc Trestman does not call the plays on offense anymore. When will the Vipers kick Trestman out the door?

 

#4.DC DEFENDERS (2-2) DOWN 1 SPOT   The Defenders season is the tale of two halves so far. At home the first two weeks, they played like the best team in the league. Then Wild Cats and Vipers get their first wins versus the Defenders in routs. Old fashioned arse kicking. Cardale Jones looked like he was going back to the NFL with those first two starts. Jones looks like he has been  taken over by the kid that was picked last in gym. Should they hand the keys to back up quarterback Tyree Jackson ?

Jackson has a nice deep ball and with the Defenders play makers could be a nice spark to turn around the road humiliation. The Defenders will be playing at home in week 5. That can help turn around things. The Defenders have a lot of talent assembled over there. Just can’t see them staying this bad.

#5.DALLAS RENEGADES (2-2 ) DOWN 1 SPOT     Renegades are in serious trouble. Losing Landry Jones to an injury last week in a tight game versus the top team in the league, the Roughnecks.

Losing by one score in the most interesting match up in week four, the Texas Bowl.  Phillip Nelson could not get it done after Jones left the game. Landry Jones had three interceptions in the first half but that did not rattle the veteran quarterback. Renegades kept fighting back until he had to exit the game.  That was the Renegades first loss with Jones as their starting quarterback. Landry Jones’ return this season is in question. He could be done. Phillip Nelson started the first game of the season and filled in after the injury. Nelson has experience from playing for the San Diego team in the AAF last season. Not impressed. This injury might implode the Dallas Renegades’ whole season.

#6. LA WILD CATS (1-3) DOWN 1 SPOT      The Wild Cats should have won last week in New York. It was the Jake Snake Plissken bowl between LA and New York in which team will snake slither away from first in an escape between those two cities.

Wild Cats were without their top receiver Nelson Spruce.

Wild Cats came off a week where they bombarded DC in a big time rout and then lay an egg in New York. Josh Johnson had plenty of weapons besides Spruce to throw to. Plus Wild Cats had their starting cornerbacks back in action that were out versus the Defenders. To let Luis Perez who’s been on the bench mostly all year drive his team  and score 17 points off your defense when the Guardians were riding the struggle bus. Wild Cats kicker Nick Novak a veteran kicker from the NFL then the AAF missed two kicks of which one was blocked.  Wild Cats should have never had to rely on their kicker. The offense made bad decisions on third down especially veteran quarterback Josh Johnson taking sacks that caused drives to implode. Lots of dropped passes. Johnson was not at his top of his game as well. Bad coaching as well were a part of this team failing on the road to beat just a bad team in the Guardians.

#7.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (2-2) UP 1 SPOT    In New York it was all about bringing in the King Pin to run the quarterback position.

Luis Perez came in late to the game last week and probably did more in a few minutes behind center than any other Guardian quarterback. Perez earned the start versus the Wild Cats. Professional bowler/learning to play quarterback from watching YouTube was quite impressive. The Guardians break a two game losing streak. Perez did enough. Wild Cats missed two field goals, one was blocked by the Guardians to help the Guardians get their second victory. Would the Guardians been able to muster up 17 points with the others behind center before Perez? Probably not. New York is probably the worse team in the XFL with a 500 record.

#8.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-3) DOWN 2 SPOTS          The Dragons have hit rock bottom in the XFL. Seattle defense is a top tier unit in this league this season. The offense still can not find themselves.  Brandon Silvers has the devil QB rating at 66.6 for the season. At one point last week Silvers was 1-9 for like 4 yards. Silvers was yanked. Silvers finished 4-10 just 40 yards passing versus St. Louis. It’s Silvers second game this season he has thrown under a 100 yards.  Dragons inserted the running man into the game.

B.J Daniels gave the Dragons a spark for Jim Zorn’s offense last week versus St.Louis. Too little too late. Daniels has a Superbowl ring playing some wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks when they won it over the Broncos. Can he operate the Dragons offense without making it one dimensional where opposing defenses could key on him?