The Billy Joel song comes to mind about the death of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who were mowed down by a reckless drunken driver on Thursday evening. Only the good die young as Johnny is only 31 years of age and brother Matthew Gaudreau is 29 years old. Both brothers played hockey together at Boston College. On the eve of their sister’s wedding, they were riding their bicycles in their home state of New Jersey when an impatient driver went around the car in front of him and then ran the two brothers over. The Gaudreau brothers were going to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding which is now cancelled because of this tragic event that took place. The brother’s uncle spoke as the Gaudreau family is gut wrenched and still in shock. “Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brother-in-laws, two nephews, 2 cousins, 2 family members, two teammates, two friends, but two truly amazing humans.” These words were spoken by Uncle Jim Gaudreau.

Johnny Gaudreau’s last season, in his second season in Columbus, scored 12 goals while dishing out 48 assists for 60 points. Nicknamed Johnny Hockey or Johnny Ham & Cheese, he has played 11 seasons in the NHL. He was a big part of that Boston College team winning the 2012 NCAA Hockey Championship. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 4th round 104th overall of the NHL 2011 draft. He played 9 seasons in Calgary & then in 2022 signed with the Blue Jackets on a seven year deal. Johnny Hockey is a 1x all-star and has played in 763 NHL games. He has scored 243 goals while dishing out 500 assists for 743 NHL points. Not bad for a kid born in Salem, New Jersey playing solid hockey with the big boys from Canada.

Matthew Gaudreau after playing hockey at Boston College never found the ice at the NHL level. He went un-drafted and signed with the New York Islanders organization. Matthew played in the AHL (American Hockey League) and the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League.) He played two seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers who were the Islanders affiliate in the AHL. Matthew would then be part of the inaugural season of the Worchester Railers who played in the ECHL.

In seven seasons in the minor leagues, Matthew scored 36 goals. He finally hung up the skates and took a job at the Gaudreau brothers’ Alma Mater in Jersey in 2022 as the hockey coach. He has had that job at Gloucester Catholic High School since.

The driver of this very unfortunate act is 43 year old Sean Higgins who was driving a Jeep of some kind. He admitted to having 5 to 6 beers before he got behind the wheel. Right now the authorities are charging Higgins with two counts of vehicular homicide in the 2nd degree. On the report he said he grew impatient so he went blazing around the slower vehicle in front of him to then plow into the two brothers on bikes. I really just don’t blame the alcohol on this situation. If he was sober, that Higgins would not get pissed off and go around the slower car or truck. How many times do you see the people driving crazy every day on the highways across the United States cutting people off and not using the turn signal that you think is obsolete. Look at the road rage these days. People will pull out a gun on you if you even beep at them. He should have never gotten into the car after drinking that amount of beer either. This is really sad because now Higgins’ impatience ripped the hearts of the entire Gaudreau family. Making things even more heartbreaking is Matthew’s wife is expecting a baby. Because why? You have to get home a tad earlier? We know this happens every day. This story is being told because Johnny plays in the NHL. You can’t hold that against any celebrities or anybody that gets killed like this from somebody who drives like an A-hole.

The story about this accident has so many sad moving parts. How does the sister of the two brothers go on with the wedding after this sometime in the future? How would you like to be the groom in this situation? From what I have read, it sounds like the Gaudreau family has a strong bond. The wedding should go on because Johnny and Matthew would have wanted their sister to live her life and be happy. You wonder if any of the Gaudreau sons of either Matthew or Johnny will someday play hockey like their fathers. This family should and could come together to be a stronger unit where right now is grim, but the future could be brighter just because of this tragic event taking place on Thursday night. I’m sure many families break apart because of some kind of event that many can’t recover or move on. It sounds like both Johnny and Matthew were two guys that were good people. On and off the ice and family orientated. It’s a real shame this happens in life. Way too young for both guys who had bright futures ahead of them. Stories like this remind us you have to live life to the fullest. Enjoy the people in your life because you never know. My prayers go out to the family. As a hockey fan watching the Chicago Blackhawks, I’ve seen Johnny Hockey and he was a solid player any team would want to have on their top lines. Rest in peace to the Gaudreau brothers, whose lives were cut down way too short.

Alright stop, collaborate & listen as we all know Vanilla Ice was a one hit wonder in the music world. We know the white rapper made all his cash flow from his mastery of Ice, Ice Baby. Many musicians have rapped or played the fiddle to that one hit under their belts and never left the shadow of that hit. Forever known as the guy or girl who sang that one song. In sports we have seen many one season wonders. Sometimes a one year wonder at the quarterback position could save your season. Make every Sunday worthwhile to watch your team play for that year. Kind of a surprising type of season. Like hitting the bonus at the slots. Some cities like Cleveland and Chicago that always have died by the quarterback would sometimes have the one guy that gave their fan base hope for at least that season. They were one season and pretty much done and never found that magic again that they had in their biggest year behind center. They may have signed their soul away to the Devil. The hoopla of that one season messed with their mind set and they could not repeat it. I thought I’d start with my least favorite one season wonder at QB and work my way to the best Ice Ice baby of them of all of the one hit wonders. All these guys listed, I do not dislike. They probably screwed your pick em pool every week costing you money. How many people would love to have the one great season in any sport professionally? You can’t knock these guys. You wonder how they lost their mojo so quickly.

1989

#6. DON MAJKOWSKI (AKA THE MAGIC MAN)

Don Majkowski played ten seasons in the NFL. He will always be remembered playing for the Packers where he got the nickname Magic Man for his epic comebacks in 1989. The Magic Man went 10-6 behind center for the Packers that season as he completed 58.9%. He tallied a career high with 4,318 passing yards while throwing 27 touchdown passes along with 20 interceptions. In ten seasons his starting record behind center was 26-30-1. In the other 9 seasons, the Magic Man went 16-24-1. His only playoff game was in 1995 for the Lions – a game he did not start. The Magic Man poster was probably in every cheese-head’s kid’s bedroom throughout the dairy state. The Packers in the 1980’s were nothing special so the Magic Man did make that season special for Packers fans. Who cares because we know in the 1990’s they find their guy, Brett Farve.

2007

#5. DEREK ANDERSON

I mentioned Cleveland in the beginning of this article because of the great season Derek Anderson had in 2007. Anderson took the starting job away from Charlie Frye, another Browns dud behind center. Anderson went 10-5 after he took over the starting duties for the Browns in his second season in the NFL. Anderson played 13 seasons in the NFL and as a starter his record was 20-29. He won half of his games in one season. He passed for 3,787 yards while only completing 56.6 % of his passes. He threw 29 touchdown passes in 2007. Which is almost half of his entire career of 60 that he threw. Anderson got the big deal & then in 2008 his record was 3-6 for the Browns behind center. He only had two winning seasons as a quarterback as he was 2-0 for the Panthers in 2014. The Browns have not had too many winning seasons. Anderson probably gave the Cleveland fan base some nice memories. Anderson did not start any post-season games.

2013

#4. JOSH MCCOWN

The debate on the bar stools in 2013 during the Bears season was who should finish the season as the starting quarterback. Smoking Jay Cutler or Josh McCown? I was a fan of McCown who was a journeyman quarterback who seemed to find his best performance with the Bears. Cutler was hurt and McCown started 5 games for the Bears and had a record of 3-2 filling in for I don’t give a crap smoking Jay. McCown was a leader out there on the field as we never saw that with Cutler. McCown had 13 touchdowns that season with only one interception. He was completing 66.5% of his throws. The Bears went back to Cutler and the team did not make the post-season. McCown made things interesting. In 16 seasons McCown has played, 2013 was McCown’s only winning seasons as a starter in the NFL. His record as a starter lifetime was 23-53. McCown had 98 career touchdown passes to 82 interceptions while completing 60.2% of his passes.

2014

#3. KYLE ORTON

Old neck beard Kyle Orton actually had more than one winning season over his ten year career. Orton had a 42-40 record as a starter in the NFL in ten seasons in the NFL. Orton won with the Bears early in his career as he was eventually traded to the Broncos, sending Jay Cutler to Chicago. Orton actually had a winning season in Denver. Orton would lose his job to the great Tim Tebow who also could be on this list. For Orton it was the last season he played in the NFL and that was with the Bills. After spending time with the Chiefs and Cowboys, Orton became a starter in Buffalo in 2014. Orton started 12 games, went 7-5, and had the Bills on the verge of making the playoffs. At the time, the Bills were in a drought when it came to post-season. They were the worst out of the 4 major sports at the time and the long drought dated back to the 2000 season of missing the post-season. Orton made it interesting as the Bills had one of the best defenses in the NFL that year. Orton completed 64.2% of his passes. He launched 18 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. The Bills had a ten year stretch of bad quarterback play. Orton was a scrapper. He gave it his best, however he did not pull it off. It was another season without a post-season, but it was fun to watch every Sunday. You can say Orton is not a one season wonder, but he was a one season wonder for the Bills in 2014.

2002

#2.TOMMY MADDOX

Tommy Maddox’s NFL career started slowly with the Broncos, Rams, and the Giants during the 1990’s. Maddox had to redefine his football career in the first ever XFL where he took the LA Xtreme to the championship and helped them win it all in 2001. Maddox found his way back to the NFL after the 2001 season in the XFL. Maddox would get new life with the Steelers. In 2002, Maddox took over the starting job for the Steelers and had a impressive season as he was 7-3-1 as the starter and Pittsburgh made it to the post-season. He threw 20 touchdown passes as he tallied up 2,836 passing yards for the season. He completed 62.1% of his passes. In post-season in the first round, he led the Steelers to a victory over the Browns which resulted in a 36-33 win. Then in the second round, the Titans beat the Steelers 34-31. Maddox engineered 31 points of offense in that loss. Maddox in 2003 would have a losing season. Then he would only last two more seasons after that in a back role. Tommy’s record as a starter during regular season in the NFL as QB was 15-20-1 life time as he won about half of those game during one season. In 2003, he almost had the Steelers in the AFC Championship.

2001

#1. JIM MILLER

Jim Miller played six seasons in the NFL. He played 4 with the Bears and two with the Steelers, where he started his NFL career. Miller arrived in Chicago in 1999 in the same car he had driven since high school. I don’t think Miller has left Chicago. I would imagine the car is gone. Miller has stayed in Chicago, has been a television commentator for the Bears, and does all kinds of radio and television shows every year covering the Bears. Miller was no Richard Simmons or Rocky Balboa-looking specimen as the NFL were convinced he failed a drug test. His comments were, “Just look at me a pasty white dough boy.” Miller in 2001 had his only winning season and that was the year he played the most as QB1 in the NFL. He was 11-2 as a starter. He only completed 57.7% of his passes. He only threw 13 touchdown passes compared to 10 interceptions. However he won 11 regular season games as QB1. Miller led the Bear to the playoffs that year, however they were one and done in Jim’s only post-season start. Miller is like your regular Joe Six Pack guy bringing his lunch pail to work type of dude. He gave you everything he had on the field leaving nothing when the game was over. Miller actually had a winning record when he hung up the spikes as a starter. He went 15-12 all-time. He threw 36 touchdown passes compared to 31 interceptions. His career numbers are okay. Nothing to write home to mom about. You have to understand the long list of just bad quarterbacks the Bears paraded in downtown Chicago every season. Take away that 11 win season where he was a one season wonder. He went 4-10 in the other 5 seasons he played in the NFL.

During the off-season, the Buffalo Bills said goodbye to multiple veteran players. Many of these moves done by the Buffalo front office were to get under the salary cap. They had to remove talented pieces on both sides of the ball to keep some of the other talented pieces from leaving the team through free agency. The Bills would rework some of the guys’ contracts to be able to sign some free agents as well. The Bills are hoping that they patched up the roster with guys they drafted to replace some of the guys that had to leave town. Sometimes you find that diamond in the ruff with the multiple undrafted free agents you bring in to fill out the the 53 man roster. You hope maybe one or two guys stick. Most of these guys can chip in on the special teams while developing their natural positions. The Bills have had some injuries at the line backing position and may count on the local kid, Buffalo Joe Andreessen, to give this team the depth it needs.

Joe Andreessen is a 24 year kid from the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. Nicknamed Buffalo Joe by quarterback Josh Allen after he turned some heads during these three pre-season games. Joe played his high school football in Lancaster, New York. Then he played 5 seasons of College Football starting with Bryant University, a small division II school in Rhode Island that popped up in 1999. Buffalo Joe then would play his 5th year at the University of Buffalo. His play with the Bulls would get Buffalo Joe a tryout with the Bills, a team he grew up watching. In three pre-season games, Buffalo Joe got the nod and started at linebacker where he tallied up 24 tackles. He had the team high in tackles versus Pittsburgh as he collected 12 of them. He earned a spot in the Sporting News All Pre-Season team. Is that enough for Buffalo Joe to earn a spot on the 53 man roster? Local kid suiting up for his city’s team with the following of the Buffalo Mafia who have fallen in love with the idea of one of their own playing for the Bills on Sundays. It has that Rudy feeling or perhaps a Kurt Warner feeling of an underdog finding a way to make his dream come true.

What makes this kid special is his work ethic which started at Lancaster High School. Joe Andreessen was the defensive player of the year in Western New York. He went to Bryant University because it was the only school to offer him a scholarship. Buffalo Joe in his final year as a Bulldog at Bryant was named All American setting the school record with 112 tackles. He is third all-time in Bryant’s school history in tackles. Then Buffalo Joe transferred to University of Buffalo. The lone season as a Bull he played in 12 games and led the team in tackles. Let’s face it that Buffalo Joe is a tackling machine out on the field which you’ve got to like. He has shown that he has strength and speed on the field to compete with the big dogs of the NFL. The way he shoots through the gap is very impressive.

Last year, the Buffalo Bills lost their star linebacker Matt Milano to to a leg injury in week 5 in London, England playing the Jaguars. The line backing core was very thin in the playoff loss to the Chiefs. The Bills could not get Patrick Mahomes off the field in that one. Now the Bills have the injury bug hitting them in pre-season as Milano will miss the first 12 games of regular season due to a bicep injury. Last year’s replacement for Milano, Terrel Bernard’s play was magnificent. Bernard was also injured in pre-season but nothing to keep him out for the start of regular season. With Bernard’s injury it opened the door for Buffalo Joe. Joe Andreessen right now is on the bubble of making this Bills team. One thing that Head Coach Sean McDermott knows is line backers and the safety position he played during his college days. I have a feeling they really like this kid. Perhaps down the road this season he will get his chances on this Bills defense for whatever reason. The work ethic since high school and the path he has taken to get to this point… you want guys like this on the roster. The undrafted free agents especially from smaller schools are like rooting for the 16th seed to take down the number one basketball school. If Buffalo Joe becomes a solid linebacker for the Bills, the Mafia will write folk songs about this guy. He could be a legend in the making as we hope he makes the 53 man roster and goes beyond that to make this kid’s dream come true. This is a great story and it’s still in the making.

As the new NFL season approaches, we start to think: can the team you and I root for get to the Superbowl? Can they actually win the big game? I’m sure everyone except for Kansas City have grown tiresome of the Chiefs. The Chiefs will probably win their third in a row. Since the season has not started yet as every team gets ready playing preseason games, I thought of a list of teams I’d like to see win the next Superbowl. I start from the teams I don’t want to even want to have sniff the Superbowl & then work down to the number one spot of the team I want to win it all. Some of the teams I want to win it all have no chance. I have franchises I like that have never won a Superbowl, to get their first. Some franchises that have never won a Superbowl I want to keep it that way as well. I start with the Patriots who I hope will be the doormat of the league for the next decade. Check out your team. Hope you enjoy.

#32. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Patriots dynasty with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick was nauseating. The Patriots dynasty finally crumbled like Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. The franchise should be stripped of all its weapons of mass destruction and go back to their old helmets and losing ways. The Patriots should suffer at least a decade of bad football before they even come back into the playoff picture.

#31. CLEVELAND BROWNS

I would love to see the Cleveland Browns win a Superbowl. Not with the Dawg they have at quarterback. What’s wrong with the picture is a guy pretty much getting away with 22 women saying that he sexual-harassed them while getting a massage. They say crime does not pay, but he gets a contract for 230 million guaranteed. If you listen to him in his interviews, the dude does not get it. He shows no remorse, thinks reporters are making this stuff up, and are a inconvenience to him wanting to just play football. If the Browns had anybody else behind center, they would be higher on my list.

#30. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Enough is enough of Taylor Swift sightings at Chiefs games. The Chiefs are the new Patriots. I’m sick of watching the rerun of the same episode of the Kansas City Chiefs winning it all. Travis Kelce sounds like a meat head when this team prevails. Patrick Mahomes is a cry baby and I’m waiting for the day some defensive player just knocks him off his perch with a big hit.

Like Wilbur Marshall’s hit on Troy Aikman several years ago. Not wishing for the guy to get hurt. He needs his bubble to be popped and brought back down to Earth. Enough with the State Farm commercials we have to stomach every week of the NFL football season.

#29. DALLAS COWBOYS

I must have missed out on the vote that makes the Dallas Cowboys America’s team. With this label, the networks suffocate us with Cowboys games every week no matter where you live in the country. Why do I have to watch the overrated Cowboys like they are the team living in my city I call home. Then the owner Jerry Jones is a big reason why they will always be a team I will not root for in the Superbowl. Besides the Cowboys have already won multiple titles no reason to rehash those 1990 teams and that dynasty which would make a billy goat up-chuck.

#28. NEW YORK JETS

I know the New York Jets have not won a Superbowl since Broadway Joe gave his guarantee in 1969. Joe Namath backed up his words in Superbowl III. Now the Jets have something from the Tales of the Darkside with Aaron Rodgers behind center. Jets are like the Browns in this article. If they had a different quarterback, then I could have Gang Green higher up on this list. Aaron Rodgers went from an almost normal dude to gothic the last few seasons. His darkness retreats. His gothic girlfriend. His imaginary Covid shot. How he bitches about money he’s worth and holding up his team to make a decision if he is coming back for the season. How he ranted and raved about how he owns the Bears is my biggest reason I dislike this guy as I’m not going to hide that. Rodgers winning another Superbowl with this Jets team will give this SOB a bigger ego than any quarterback that has played the game. How his serenity now bullshit helped him accomplish his goals.

#27. GREEN BAY PACKERS

A typical Green Bay Packer fan most likely smells like beef and cheese. You can probably add bad batch of venison, brats, and cheap booze to those wearing a hat of cheese wearing an orange hunting vest. Since 1992 the Packers have a record against my beloved Bears 50-15 which includes the 2010 NFC Championship game. First it was Brett Farve who carved the Bears up like a jive turkey on disco night at the Brat Stop. Then you had the douche bag Aaron Rodgers own us like we were his city housing landlord’s feeding on cockroaches & drinking raid shots. Then he leaves and Jordan Love has not shown us the Love of losing yet. Packers and title town are far away from number one in my book on this list.

#26. CINCINNATI BENGALS

Back in the 1980’s I like the Bengals with Boomer Esiason and the Icky shuffle with Icky Woods. For many seasons the Bengals were like the penitentiary team with guys they employed like Pac Man Jones and Vontaze Burfict. Then the recent years with all the trash talkers like Eli Apple and Joe Mixon. The Bengals traded Mixon in the off-season to the Houston Texans. They drafted him and knew how he was a good citizen beating the shit out of his girlfriend back in college. They still selected him. The Great Joe Cool Burrow who wants the NFL to let the game have taunting be a part of the festivities. Probably because the Bengals lead the league in trash talking. Let’s get rid of sportsmanship, watch a defender drop Burrow to the ground, and wag his finger at him while he lays mangled on the turf.

#25. MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Dolphins hatred goes back to the late 80’s and 90’s with the rival with the Bills. When you flip off the Bills Mafia, which Bryan Cox did, you never forget. The present day Dolphins with the Cheetah Tyreek Hill and their aerial attack is quite annoying. Hill you hate this guy if he’s playing against your team. You may warm up to the Cheetah if you selected him on your fantasy team. The Dolphins can score a ton of points against weaker teams. In games with playoff teams, they don’t fare well. The Dolphins are overrated. They think they are better than they are. I love when they traveled to colder places because they’d look like frozen Pudding Pops with freezer burn. The Dolphins are arch-rivals to the Bills so they need to be placed in the back of the bus. Only thing I like about the Dolphins was the Ace Ventura Pet Detective movie.

#24. LA CHARGERS

I used to root for the Chargers when they were in San Diego. They had great quarterbacks like Phillip Rivers and years before Rivers, Dan Fouts. Two stud quarterbacks that suffered the Karl Malone disease never winning a title. Only Superbowl the Chargers were in was when Stan the Man Humphries was behind center back in 1995 when they lost to the 49ers. The hatred against the Chargers presently is because of their owner, Dean Spanos. The Spanos moved the Chargers from San Diego to LA to be the second fiddle to the Rams. Now the Chargers have Jim Harbaugh as head coach and another stud QB, Justin Herbert, in place. Harbaugh is an awesome hire and Herbert is a guy you can get behind. You can’t forgive the greedy owner who moved his team from the best climate in the United States to smog town in over-crowded LA where they already have a team. Just baffling as you see more fans of the visitors at Chargers games at home.

#23. LA RAMS

The Rams got their cake and had their ice cream moving from St. Louis back to LA and to play in a brand spanking new stadium. Then winning a Superbowl. It’s like leaving the girl you were friends with your whole life for something fake and shiny in LA. Ripping the hearts out of all the die hard football fans of St.Louis. If you don’t believe me watch the United Football League where they pack the stadium rooting for the Spring team called the BattleHawks. Why didn’t the Rams ownership just stay in LA in the first place? I’m not jacked up seeing the Rams win another Superbowl any time soon.

#22. NEW YORK GIANTS

I’m not over the Buffalo Bills first WIDE RIGHT kick heard around the world during the Superbowl with the Giants. Then Bill Belichick was the defensive coordinator for that team and gets credit for his D slowing down the Bills’ high power offense in that game. The Giants always seem to find luck winning Superbowls when they probably were not the better team. I liked the Eli Manning teams beating the Tom Brady teams. Especially ruining the Patriots perfect record – one thing Brady did not achieve. The Giants are from New York City which gives me a big reason not wanting to see them win anything. My guess is that Giants fans are Yankee fans and who wants them to feel good about their sports world. I don’t.

#21.BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Ravens’ past comes into play not wanting Baltimore to win a Superbowl. Since the Browns moved to Baltimore, became their own franchise, and left their old name in Cleveland, they have won two Superbowls. How many franchises are still looking for their first taste? How many franchises who’ve been around for decades and may have only one title to their names. The Ravens’ linebacker bat shit crazy Ray Lewis was a nut job. Did he murder people that year in Atlanta at a bar? We know he tried to cover things up. Lamar Jackson is one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Something about him and his game – he will not win it all. Disappointment versus the Chiefs last year in the AFC Championship. The Ravens get points off their score with me there.

#20. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

When the 49ers were a dynasty with Joe Montana and Steve Young, they racked up multiple Superbowls. I was not a fan of those on-going dynasties in the 1980’s which lingered into the 90’s. I always loved the 49ers full back Tom Rathman who even had a full back last name. That is only one player. The 49ers these days when you do root for them they lose like last year against the Chiefs. I guess you could say it’s fun time Bobby watching San Francisco lose Superbowls rather than win them. Then I LOATHE the patriot saint of kneeling in Colin Kaepernick who has made more money off the field then actually on it. The 49ers have too many Superbowl trophies. To see them win another one is like rooting for Patrick Mahomes to win his third one in a row.

#19.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Washington first scalped their old name, the Redskins. Then they went with the Washington Football Team that sounds better than the Commanders. It took how many years to finally come up with the Commanders as the new name. Washington has a new ownership. Dan Snyder is out who may go down as one of the worst owners of all sports. Rumor has it they may bring back their old nickname, the Redskins. I doubt it. This franchise is like a dog being neutered when they snipped away the Redskins name from them. They are not the Hogs of the past with those Joe Gibbs teams. I’m in no hurry to see the Commanders rise back up and win a Superbowl at any time soon.

#18. DENVER BRONCOS

The Broncos back in the day would get to the Superbowl and get their butts kicked in. They were like the Vikings or Bills. They seemed like they could not win the big game. They had the franchise quarterback in John Elway, aka horse teeth. Elway was the quarterback of those losing Superbowls. He finally slayed his dragon and the Broncos won back to back titles in 1997 and 1998. The Broncos would win another one in 2015. That’s three titles for the Colorado mountain high. I have liked them now over the last several years trying to find a quarterback. They humiliated themselves for going big on Russell Wilson. They need a few more years away from the Superbowl.

#17. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Philly special unleashed on Bill Belichick’s Patriot defense in the Superbowl was priceless. Nick the Dick Foles filled in for Carson Wentz late in that season due to an injury and got red hot and marched his team all the way through the playoffs, giving Tom Brady a Superbowl loss. What have you done for me lately? It is always a question in sports. The Eagles got back to the Superbowl and blew a lead to the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. The punishment is the Eagles still on a time out.

#16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

If Pete Carol was still the head coach of the Seahawks, they would not be in the middle of the pack. Carol is like that slick car salesperson that you see on the sidelines for many college basketball teams. Don’t get me wrong he was a great coach but a guy that left USC like the women and children when the Titanic was sinking. The Seahawks should have two Superbowl titles. Not running Mashawn Lynch on that final play at the goal line versus the Patriots was the biggest bone-headed coaching move of all-time. His Legion of Doom defense was filled with a bunch of classless guys like Richard Sherman. I guess that’s what you want on a defense called the Legion of Boom. Seattle is a place that is on my bucket list of visiting as the state of Washington seems gorgeous. Heard great things. Now they have new blood on the sidelines so they may be a team I can get behind in present day.

#15.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Jaguars have now been in the league awhile but still seem like an expansion team. The Jaguars seem to always be playing multiple home games in London, England. Just move there already. Then you have the Surf Nazi Ninja must die at quarterback. Trevor Lawrence reminds me of the character Sean Penn played in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the great Spicoli. The Jaguars have never won or even been to the big game but why would we want a Florida team winning it all especially a team with a bad logo a smurf tongue on a cat.

#14. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

I miss the old creamsicle uniforms the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used to wear in the late 70’s and 1980’s. The Buccaneers in those days used to know what to do. Lose football games. They once had a record of like 50 straight games they lost when the weather was under like 40 degrees. The Buccaneers have two Superbowl trophies. First one they made a trade to get head coach Jon Gruden. Then Gruden would take over and guide the Buccaneers to their first Superbowl versus his old team the Raiders. The Buccaneers even squeezed another Superbowl out of Tom Brady. I like the pirate ship at their stadium. We can wait awhile before we see this franchise get back to the Superbowl.

#13. HOUSTON TEXANS

This current Texans team is on the rise. Rookie CJ Stroud looks like the real deal behind center. The Texans added even more fire power to their team this off-season. I know the Texans have never won a Superbowl, but they feel to me like the Jaguars – that expansion team feeling. I grew sick of the Astros in Houston even to this present day. Now they added questionable personalities in Joe Mixon at running back and Stefon Diggs. Great players, but these two characters could ruin a young quarterback going into his second season. With these two additions, the Texans are a team you don’t really want to root for. Let’s not forget where Deshaun Watson was drafted from. All those girls that Watson sexual harassed were in Houston, under the Texans watch.

#12. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

When it comes to the Colts, they have won two Superbowls – one in Indianapolis in 2006 with Peyton Manning. Then in 1970 as they were the Baltimore Colts back then. I like the town of Indianapolis. They have a great fan base. The Colts owner Jim Irsay is my problem. Owners should not be in the news more often than your own team. Irsay reminds me of Donald Trump on social media or will say that bone headed thing whenever a microphone is in front of him. The Colts have the luck to get Peyton Manning & then replaced him with Andrew Luck. Maybe the luck has run out as Anthony Richardson sat most of the season with an injury rather than playing a full season his rookie year. Guys like Irsay and Jerry Jones you don’t want to see holding a Superbowl trophy at the end of the season. The Colts beat my Bears in the 2006 Superbowl which I may have gotten over, but it still stings.

#11. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

I love the town of Pittsburgh. They are a great fan base for their sports teams. The Steelers elect a head coach and he holds on to the job like the Pope does at the Vatican. The Steelers have great history and those awesome defenses over years. The Steel Curtain is one of the best nicknames for an NFL defense. The Steelers have collected a six pack of Superbowl trophies. They always find the playoffs. They always know when to remove or not pick up the contract of the crazies like Antonio Brown who are talented but not playing with full deck in their mindsets. Do you really want to see the Steelers win another Superbowl? It depends on who they play. I’d like to see ten other teams win one before they win their 7th.

#10. TENNESSEE TITANS

Another heartbreak moment in Bills history was the Music City Miracle done by the Titans that knocked the Buffalo out the playoffs in 2000. We could argue about that play on our bar stools for an hour as the Titans pulled off a questionable play in the last seconds. The Titans used to be the Houston Oilers as they had one of the best uniforms in the game. The Titans have been to one Superbowl as they lost to the St. Louis Rams, XXXIV, as they came up short on the last play. Something about Honky Tonk town with moonshine girls wearing boots eating great food while listening to legendary tunes makes my boat float. I get behind a Nashville parade and Titan Superbowl.

#9. CAROLINA PANTHERS

If Cam Newton was not so soft, the Panthers could have pulled off a victory over the Broncos in the Superbowl. Peyton Manning was not Peyton Manning like in that Superbowl. The Panthers lost two Superbowls, the first one Jake Delhomme was behind center. Delhomme had some great years in Carolina. Newton was just a fantasy quarterback and a guy overrated in my book. The Panthers have put together some great teams since coming into the league in the 1990’s. Not sure if the number one draft pick, Bryce Young, is the answer for this team. He has only played one season. The Panthers have made bad football decisions like the trade with the Bears sending DJ Moore to Chicago and swapping number one draft picks and losing draft picks. The Panthers still feel like an expansion team. When it comes to the state of North Carolina, they only have won one championship from the Hurricanes winning the cup. They do have North Carolina University which is a basketball power house. I like to see other teams win their first Superbowl before the Panthers. Especially teams that have been around longer.

#8.ATLANTA FALCONS

The Falcons fly in Hot Atlanta where they filmed the Walking Dead. The Falcons pissed everyone off when the blew that big lead to the Patriots in their Superbowl appearance. Giving Tom Brady another Superbowl ring with the stooge Bill Belichick feels like a kick in the teeth as they had that game. The Falcons are 0-2 in the Superbowl. I find the Falcons you like them, but some years you hate this franchise. Guys like Mike Vick and Neon Deon Sanders were guys I’m not going to root for. I loved head coach Jerry Glanville. His trademark black cowboy hat was a staple on the Falcons side line. You feel bad for guys like Matt Ryan, Chris Chandler, and Chris Miller not winning a Superbowl. Isn’t Kirk Cousins the same guy like Miller, Ryan, and Chandler? We may have to wait until Michael Penix Jr. gets a crack at the starting job behind center for the Falcons to get back to the big game.

#7. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Two of the funniest movies of all-time are set in Minnesota. The two Grumpy Old Men movies were hilarious. The Vikings had the best name for their defense back in the 1970’s. The Purple People Eaters. The Vikings were like the Bills of the 1990’s. They made four Superbowls in the 1970’s and lost them all. It was not like the Bills who lost 4 straight years in a row. Vikings appeared in 1970, 1974,1975, and 1977. The Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy will miss the entire season due to a knee injury. The number ten pick won the National Championship behind center for the University of Michigan. Could McCarthy when he gets back on the field in 2025 lead the Vikings to a Superbowl win some day? It would be a cool story plus making history getting the Vikings their first ever.

#6. ARIZONA CARDINALS

At one point the Cardinals originated in Chicago. They played their home games at the old Comisky Park that was home to the Chicago White Sox. The Bears played at Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs. I could of easily been a Cardinals fan growing up on the south side if they stayed in the Windy City. The Cardinals moved to St. Louis & then to Arizona. I could easily put them on the list with the Rams, Ravens, and Chargers. The moves by the Cardinals franchise from Chicago to St.Louis were before my time. I’ve met one die hard fan in Chicago who still roots for the Cardinals today even when they left town. The Cardinals I always loved the Pat Tillman story. Him giving up football and serving the country as an Army Ranger due to 9/11. I rooted for Kurt Warner the only season this Cardinals franchise made it to the Superbowl versus the Steelers which was one of the best Superbowl games of all-time. If the Cardinals won their first any time soon, I could get behind that. Their current team has lots to do to make it happen.

#5.DETROIT LIONS

The Lions have never even made it to a Superbowl. It was great seeing the Lions get back to the post-season last year and win a playoff game. The last time the Detroit Lions were relevant was back in the 1950’s. It was 1957 when they won a Championship. They actually won three titles in the 50’s. Some of the greatest Lions of all-time like Barry Sanders, Chris Spielman, and Calvin Johnson aka Megatron played on many bad teams and never experienced a title. The Lions have a team that is not going away any time soon. If they continue to get better the Lions’ Superbowl appearance may be in the cards.

#4. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Not sure Nicolas Cage playing the part of John Madden in the upcoming movie is a good idea. Cage ruined Ghost Rider for me with his bad acting. The Raiders make me look like a hypocrite as they have moved back and forth for years from LA to Oakland & then finally to Vegas. My grammar school team was the Raiders so I’ve always been fond of them. Something about the black and silver and that Raider logo makes me a fan. I feel bad for the city of Oakland and that fan base with the Black Hole was epic. They way the fans dressed like it was Halloween every Sunday gave the stadium that intimidating factor to the visiting team. Makes sense though that the Raiders would be Sin City’s team. The Raiders have won three total titles. I love how this Raiders team beat on the Chiefs on Christmas Day. Seeing Mad Maxx Crosby close out a Superbowl sacking a quarterback would be electric.

#3. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

I’ve been to the Big Easy once in my life and that’s a great town. I always loved Drew Brees and in my opinion he’s one of the top ten quarterbacks in the NFL all-time. The Saints’ only Superbowl was not an easy task against a very tough Peyton Manning-led Colts team. Brees versus Manning is like a Clash of the Titans movie. The defense was involved in Bounty Gate as that came out later as they beat up on Brett Farve in the NFC Championship game before they met the Colts in the Superbowl. The gold & black uniforms and the spicy voodoo town of New Orleans which brings you Mardi Gras every year gets my vote for the Saints to win another Superbowl soon. Not sure Derek Carr is the guy to get the job done.

#2. CHICAGO BEARS

Steve McMichael getting in the Hall of Fame this season gives the Bears 4 guys from that 1985 bad ass defense which is the most of all-time on any Superbowl team. That Bears defense was the best of all-time. All those players on that ’85 Bears team are still the toast of the town. All those personalities meshed and clicked for one of the greatest teams in the NFL. The Bears are 1-1 in Superbowls. They have not had an actual quarterback since the 1940’s when Sid Luckman was behind center. Can Caleb Williams be the guy? He sure looks like an actual quarterback. The Bears team is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. It’s about time after watching bums like Jay Cutler rewrite the franchise quarterback records. I’m a fan of the Bears so that makes it even better for them to win a title because it has been a very long time.

#1. BUFFALO BILLS

The city of Buffalo seems to be jinxed. The Bills and the Sabres have not won anything for decades. When the Bills were in the AFL before the merger with the NFL, Buffalo won back to back titles in 1964 and ’65 led by quarterback Jack Kemp. The Bills have been through heartache after heart break. Four Superbowl losses in a row when they had a stud quarterback in Jim Kelly during the 1990’s. The Bills suffered through two wide rights which includes the missed kick last year versus the Chiefs by Tyler Bass in the divisional round. The Music City Miracle still hurts in 2000. The Bills have maybe the best quarterback in franchise history in Josh Allen but he can’t beat the dreaded Chiefs in the post-season. The Bills fan base is one of the best in the NFL. Known as the Bills Mafia who like to drink and break tables at epic tailgating parties before and after the game. They are hungry and a diehard group that bleed Buffalo’s colors. They have been through decades of hard times. They keep getting up from the mat to root on their beloved Bills because they know one day they will win their first ever and it will be something special. You have to love a city that gets bad winter weather every year and elect to go with a brand new outdoor stadium instead of a dome like most cities are doing. The Bills get the first vote from myself to be the next winner of the big game.

Last year Bryce Young was the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft for the Carolina Panthers. The number two pick overall by the Houston Texans, CJ Stroud played like the best quarterback in the 2023 NFL draft. Young was not impressive in his rookie season for the Panthers. The number 4 overall pick, Anthony Richardson, for the Indianapolis Colts only played 4 games due to an injury. The Bears think they have the best quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft with Caleb Williams as most of the football world thinks the Chicago selection number one was a no brainer. A guarantee? Never any guarantees in the NFL with the chosen ones. Look at Young for the Panthers. The Bears have constructed a powerful offense with all the bells and whistles for Williams. They have surrounded him with secret service protection with their offensive line selection.

You bet the Bears General manager is thinking like Hannibal Smith of the A-Team liking a plan that comes together. What if the grand scheme fails? This is the Bears we are talking about. The last time someone saw a quarterback in the Windy City was watching the 1940’s Bears with Sid Luckman. If Williams falters, who gets the keys to the Bears shiny new offense? The choices may not be the brightest plan in the book.

The Bears played the Texans in the first pre-season action of the year in the Hall of Fame game. The Bears get an extra pre-season contest this season playing their guys at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Canton. Caleb Williams did not see any action. The cocky quarterback from USC played the part of a veteran number one guy on the sidelines in street clothes like he’s been in the NFL for years. The Bears have the extra game so Williams can still get the snaps he needs to ready for the season. Last Thursday it was Brett Rypien that stood out as he may fall number three in the pecking order of the Bears depth chart at QB. With Tyson Bagent, number two, who we will get too. Rypien was magnificent as he was ripping the ball all over the field completing 11-15 passes, 166 yards, with 3 touchdown passes. If you are scoring at home that is a 148.9 QB rating for the 28 year old. Rypien was signed because he has played for the Bears new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and Brett knows his offense. Rypien has played 4 seasons in the NFL with the Broncos and the Rams. Last year he started one game for the Rams and lost. In 4 seasons Rypien has played in ten NFL games making 4 starts where he is 2-2. He has completed 58.3% of his passes and tallied up 950 passing yards. He has thrown 4 touchdown passes compared to 9 interceptions… yikes. Could Brett be taking the next step like his uncle Mark?

Mark Rypien played 11 seasons in the NFL. He played 104 regular season games and had a winning record as a starter of 47-31. He had some good seasons with some clunker ones. He will be remembered for helping the Redskins beat up on the Bills in the Superbowl XXVI in 1991. Rypien was MVP during that big game on the biggest stage of his entire career. Uncle Mark only completed 56.1% of his passes and tallied up 18,473 passing yards while throwing 115 touchdown passes compared to 88 interceptions. He was a 2x Pro-bowler and many people would want that type of career.

Do the Bears or anyone else trust the 24 year old Tyson Bagent as a guy who can take control of the Bears offense if Caleb Williams has any hiccups? Bagent came from Shepard College in West Virginia which is a division II school. Bagent proved last year filling in for the injured Justin Fields he can play QB in the NFL. Bagent had 4 starts last season in his rookie year and won 2 games. He completed 65.7% of his passes in 5 total games. He tallied 859 passing yards, threw 3 touchdown passes, and had 6 interceptions. In year two with the Bears, he will have to learn another new offense. Can Bagent take the keys to the Bears offense and be successful? How long until opposing defenses catch up to him? Once you have film which he does, they might know his weakness and exploit that. Can a young QB like Bagent adjust on the fly?

The Bears had a hard time getting out of the gates last year as it took the defense until mid-season to start gelling. How long will it take Caleb Williams to gel with this offense? Brett Rypien played the Texans scrubs last Thursday as they sat many of their starters like the Bears did. So do you trust a guy like Rypien taking the controls of this team if Williams falters? He may just be a journeyman QB playing third fiddle or stashed on some team’s practice squad going team to team waiting for his next chance. Then Bagent could be a guy that regresses in his second year in the NFL. Do the Bears try to land a guy like Ryan Tannehill who still available on the free agent market. A guy like Tannehill has a track record as a starter and could do well in offense with all these bells and whistles and protection. You have to think teams will cut some interesting names that may be a quarterback worth signing instead of what the Bears have already. The Colts season was saved by Gardner Minshew last year when Anthony Richardson was done for the year. The Colts were in the playoff hunt until they blew their chances late in the game on the last game of the season. We know Caleb Williams thinks he’s already slated for rookie of the year and will guide this Bears team to the playoffs in year one. Just in case of emergency, the Bears may need something else behind Williams or the results will be the same ole Bears. Remember Joe Flacco leading the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs last season. How many QB’s did Cleveland use before signing Flacco? I like Bagent’s story. I like to see Brett be like his uncle or better. You have to be realistic because the Bears have a flaw in depth behind their rookie.