Author: thewildshamrock

CAN A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR SAVE THE DYSFUNCTIONAL BLACKHAWKS?

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It has been another disastrous year for the Chicago Blackhawks as they will miss the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs for the 5th season in a row. The Blackhawks are at the bottom of the Central division standings of the Western Conference with a 20-41-9 record. The original six franchises were sellers at the deadline. Many hockey experts have said they are wasting away the talented young superstar they have in Connor Bedard, who is 19 years old in his second season in the NHL. The Blackhawks are on their second head coach for the season as Anders Sorensen is no better than the guy he replaced in Luke Richardson. The jury is still out on the Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson which he may have made a savvy move to right the ship for Chicago. Davidson corrected a bad move made by the former GM for the Blackhawks’ Stan Bowman. Davidson was able to get rid of the high price stink in the locker room who is paid a hefty salary in defenseman Seth Jones. Chicago may have their future goalie from the Panthers in Spencer Knight, a 23 year back up net minder for Florida

When you are a young goalie and play behind a superstar, Sergi Bobrovsky, you’re probably not going to get much playing time. Bobrovsky was one of the main cogs in the Panthers machine which is why they won the Stanley Cup last year. Plus the reason the Panthers are perched once again on top of the Atlantic division in the Eastern conference of the NHL world and will be one of the top seeds. Spencer Knight was first round pick of the Panthers in the 2019 NHL draft where he was selected 13th overall. He has so far played in 86 NHL games in 4 seasons and has a record as a starter of 46-29-7 with 5 career shut outs. He has 2.77 GAA (Goals Against Average) of 2.77 in those 86 contests with a save % of .906. This season with the Panthers & Blackhawks so far combined he has a record of 14-12-1 with two shut outs and 2.50 GAA and .908 save percentage. Knight before being traded to the Blackhawks had a 12-8-1 record and posted both of his shut outs with Florida. For the Blackhawks he is six games in and has a 2-4 record which makes sense. The Panthers are the better team and have the better personnel so the stats will teeter downward wearing the Indian head sweater.

I was not sure what the hell Stan Bowman was thinking when he orchestrated the trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets to acquire Seth Jones. The Blue Jackets received defenseman Adam Boqvist and plenty of draft capital. The Blackhawks did get some draft picks in return from Columbus along with Jones but are not the high kind of picks Chicago gave up. Jones also was thrown an 8 year extension on the contract he already had with the Blue Jackets worth 76 million which equals out to 9.5 million annually. For what the Blackhawks at the time were not going anywhere in the standings and surly did not need a high price defensemen who has only made one all-star appearance in 12 seasons. Bowman crawled away from his GM post at the time for his cover up of the Kyle Beach sexual assault case that still brings dark clouds hovering over the United Center where the Blackhawks lie in their muck. Jones has not played well in Chicago and is not worth the money the team invested in his talents. He wanted out, Kyle Davidson accomplished that, and it may be the move that will keep his job. The Blackhawks will still be on the hook paying 26% of Jones’ salary while Chicago gets the young U.S.A. born goalie and both teams rearranged some of their draft picks in the deal.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded their starting goalie Petr Mrazek to the Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks still have Arvid Soderblom, a Swedish goalie who has been in the league for 4 seasons and is still young at 25 years of age. He has 83 NHL games under his belt and his record is not very good at 15-51-11. Let’s not forget he has played on bad hockey teams since he entered the league, all with Chicago. With Spencer Knight and Soderblom pretty much at the same age and same amount of games, I like where the Blackhawks goalie room is at and has a chance to flourish. Knight helped the Panthers win the Stanley Cup last year. He has learned from Sergi Bobrovsky in Florida and that should help him take the next step in Chicago. Right now the Blackhawks defense is in shambles. All the veterans the Blackhawks signed in the off-season did the team no favors. Some of them were dealt to other teams. Connor Bedard’s development as a player seems to have taken a step or two backwards. Many experts still scratch their heads on why the Blackhawks never made Bedard a Captain this season. The Blackhawks still have multiple other younger pieces on this current roster that need to develop along with Bedard, who is the face of this franchise.

The Blackhawks need another solid piece to play along the side of Bedard. Like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks also on those teams had Patrick Sharp and the veteran Marion Hossa was the missing piece that made that dynasty finally gel as they won three Cups. They can’t waste Bedard’s youth on bad team after bad team. The Blackhawks have to help this young goalie Knight as well by getting stronger defense. If they don’t, the confidence of Knight and Bedard will be crushed & then this franchise will be set back in space years that it takes to get to the planet Pluto. This franchise is already going back to the dark times before Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews took the ice. Nothing but crickets chirping in the stands. The team is on a new network along with the Bulls and Blackhawks that most of Chicago is unable to see. Most of the bar scene don’t even care if they have this network because they are all bad teams. With Jones gone, the locker room is saying the same thing, “Good riddance,” which is a start to fixing a franchise that is broken once again. Bringing back memories when the home games were not televised and blacked out by Bill Wirtz, who goes down as one of the worst owners in sports. This latest move by the Blackhawks gives the team a Knight in shining armor, but they need an army of horsemen to bring respect back to one of the original six.

GEORGE FOREMAN PACKED A PUNCH IN LIFE

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Those famous three words spoken by broadcaster Howard Cosell, “Down goes Frazier,” in a heavyweight battle called the Sunshine Showdown, have left a lifetime mark in boxing history. Cosell, an ABC sports commentator, said this memorable call when George Foreman laid out Joe Frazier multiple times in the match up heard around the world which took place in Kingston, Jamaica. It was 1973 when Foreman became the Heavyweight Champion of the World for the first time. Foreman would have a decorated boxing career even retiring in his prime to become a ordained minister. Then ten years after retiring from the ring, he made one of the best comebacks in sports history. When I heard of his passing at 76 years old, I felt like digging my George Foreman grill out of the closet in some kind gesture to honor the gentle giant who touched so many hearts along with punching so many marbles out of his opponent’s head.

George Foreman was from the state of Texas and like it seems most boxers always have that troubled past in life. At the age of 15, he was a grown man who brawled in the streets and even was your not quiet friendly neighborhood mugger. Foreman would turn his life around and found the sport of boxing, which he was pretty good at. He won a gold medal in the ring in the 1968 Olympics for his country in Mexico City. Showed his patriotism with a small flag after he won the gold medal round. Foreman would compile up a record 76 wins to 5 losses after the Olympics fighting professionally. He was a 2X Heavyweight champion. When he hung up the gloves for good, he was inducted into two Boxing Hall of Fames. The World and the International. He walked away from the boxing ring at the age of 28, retired, and hung up the gloves. In 1987, ten years after, he returned to fight at the age of 38 and was successful. Foreman has that Rocky Balboa story we like in sports.

George Forman’s career was filled with epic bouts including the one in 1974 in Zaire, Africa. The Historical Rumble in the Jungle as Foreman faced perhaps the greatest boxer of all-time in Muhammad Ali. It was a fight that did live up to all the hype. Foreman would lose this epic battle being knocked out in the 8th round. Foreman was only 25 years of age at that time and would have 5 more bouts before retiring at 28. He would have a rematch with Joe Frazier and come out of that one victorious. Another memorable epic fight was with Ron Lyle where he won in 5 rounds. It was a battle with both boxers exchanging devastating blows in a grind out battle where George would add another W to his record. You wonder what would have happened if he did not retire at 28. Would his record be better? He may have gotten the title again. He did get the title again at the age of 45 which is unheard of. It’s not Tom Brady playing football and you can’t hit him. This is a guy taking on punches from beasts half his age with anger issues.

At the age of 45, George Foreman performed an epic 2-punch combo that put Michael Moore on the canvas. The referee counted to ten and that was all she wrote as Foreman once again held one of the prestigious awards in sports, the Heavyweight Champion of the World belt which is the greatest boxing prize of them all. How did he get to Moore? Foreman would have another epic showdown with Evander Holyfield that went all the way to the brink. Foreman would lose that match up. Remember Tommy Gunn from the worst movie in the Rocky Franchise that was part 5.

Tommy Gunn was actually a real boxer. His acting skills were not very good. His name was Tommy Morrison and he tried to beat Foreman when George was at the age of 42. Morrison would die years later from his battle with AIDS at the age of 44. Despite a few losses, Foreman would fight on until he reached another chance at the belt with Moore and delivered the best comeback in sports history, some would say. His final fight of his career was in 1997 when he lost to Shannan Briggs by decision. The Ring named Foreman the 9th greatest boxer to pack a punch of All-Time. In 2002 he was listed as the 25th best boxer of the past 80 years which is big compliment.

After boxing, George Foreman worked at HBO as a boxing analyst with Jim Lampley as they dissected match ups for over ten years together. Then what everyone wants to know about… the George Foreman electric grill. It was a grill known for its ability to cut down fat while the food cook. The fat would drain off the meat. Foreman was on all kinds of infomercials late at night hocking these grills to the insomniacs. Foreman would eventually sell the commercial rights for his grill for 138 million. Foreman would still be a preacher in Houston, Texas. He was a humanitarian. People wonder why he did not fight the great Mike Tyson. Because Foreman was no dumb cookie as he hated Tyson’s promoter, Don King, who gave the sport a bad name. Foreman would suffer heartache in 2019 losing his daughter Freeda who also was a former boxer. He was surrounded by his loving family when he passed as he leaves behind 11 kids with a few different mothers, imagine. His current wife. If you can pick a famous athlete to sit down and have a meal with, Foreman would be an interesting guy to talk to and on my list. Spring is in the air for most places around the world. Instead of lighting up the grill outside, maybe plug in your old Foreman grill and cook up something tasty to honor the late George Foreman who gave us some great entertainment in and out of the boxing ring. I know 76 is many years, but it seems way too young to leave this planet and a guy like Foreman put so much energy to others in his entire life.

CAN THAT HONKY TONK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL LIPSCOMB FIT INTO THIS MARCH MADNESS CINDERELLA SHOES

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When it comes to March Madness, everyone loves the underdog in the NCAA basketball tournament. In the first round of action, you look for the beloved Cinderella team to make a name for themselves. We have only seen a 16th seed take down a number 1 seed twice in history. It has happened twice since 2018 when UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County) took down Virginia 75-54. Then in 2023, FDU (Fairleigh Dickerson) amazed us knocking off Purdue University. Both schools I never heard of until tournament play. Taking down a 16th seed, I never thought that would happen in my time. That it was something that could not be done. A great Cinderella story could be a 15th, 14th, 13th seed winning their first game. I think the 12-5 combo in the tournament had been done to death by now. After these teams that most of the country has never heard of, it’s even better when they win their match up in the second round or beyond. I looked at all the unknown schools that have made the tournament this season to find that one which no one knows their name. A Cinderella team I can get behind. It’s not a 16th seed. It’s a 14th seed. The Bible Thumpers in Nashville, Tennessee – University of Lipscomb.

This year’s March Madness had a variety of interesting schools in this year’s tournament to choose from like High Point University, American, SIU Edwardsville and the clothes store Bryant. University of Lipscomb sounds like a swear word. Holy Lipscomb! They are nicknamed the Bison and they won the ASUN, Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. On March 9th they beat North Alabama as Lipscomb was a #2 seed in the tournament. It is the second time Lipscomb has made the March Madness tournament in school history. Last time, which was their first time in school history, was in 2018. They made it as a 15th seed, played North Carolina, and lost that match up by 18 points. The Bisons have never won a March Madness tournament game & that makes them a nice selection to be a cool Cinderella story for 2025.

Originally Lipscomb University was called Nashville Bible School and was founded by David Lipscomb and James Harding. In 1918 it became Lipscomb College. Then became a University in 1989. The school is a private christian school that you can get a liberal arts degree from, as part of the University is dedicated to seminary studies. The big school in Nashville is Vanderbilt which is only a few blocks away from Lipscomb University. I’m not one of those guys shoving religion down your throat ringing your door bell like in the Book of Mormon. How many commandments can any person break in a town like Nashville? Country music, moonshine, and sexy women wearing cowboy hats with sexy boots. I can see the temptation for an overachiever in Christian studies there, lashing out & painting the town red in an explosive manner. Then locking him or herself in a room for weeks for all the sins they committed. Makes ever tourist that goes to Nashville to party like some devil worshipers compared hard core Christians. I’m not going to assume Lipscomb University is only about religion 24/7. Everyone has the right to go with their passion in life. I have a clean slate for the Bisons and this article is about the Cinderella team that Lipscomb University could be this season.

Above is the Bisons leading scorer this season, Jacob Ognacevic, who averages 20 points per game. Jacob looks like something out of that legendary basketball movie that starred Gene Hackman, “Hoosiers.” Rest in peace, Gene. We lost a great one.

Hoosiers is about that underdog high school basketball team which takes the next step and gets themselves into the state finals. Lipscomb has played some of the bigger schools this season such as Kentucky and Arkansas as they defeated Duquesne, a team that I did not know until last year when they made it to the March Madness tournament. When the Bisons won the ASUN Tournament, they spread the ball out as they had 4 guys that had a big day putting the ball in the hoop in that championship game. Joe Anderson had 23 points who led all scorers that day. Will Pruitt and Gyasi Powell had solid games. Beating North Alabama gave the Bisons a sure ticket to tournament play as they finished the season 25-9 overall. They were 14-4 in the ASUN Conference along with North Alabama.

I wish I could teleport to places because Nashville should be rocking this Friday afternoon with two of their own schools in the mix. In the first game, the Nashville faithful will hope to see history be made and see Lipscomb University upset Iowa State who come in as a number three seed. Then later in the afternoon, Vanderbilt who gets in the tournament as number 10 seed play St. Mary’s who are number 7 seed. The Bison’s famous alum in sports comes from baseball. Guys like Casey Bind, Rex Brothers, and Caleb Joseph. Many small schools have no one that has played in the NBA. Can the Bisons pull off the upset over a Cyclone team who have history of being knocked out early in this tournament? Iowa State may be without their guard Tamin Lipsey who left the Big 12 quarter finals game versus BYU with a groin issue. The Cyclones ended up losing that one. The Cyclones’ second leading scorer Keshon Gilbert has been ruled out. You never know when a team like the Bisons who come into the tournament red hot winning their last six games, can be a threat to the Cyclones as they have that bad history that follows them in tournament play. We know the Bisons will have all the prayers lingering in the skies trying to get final approval in the heavens. Sometimes the heavens can play tricks on humanity supporting hated franchises in the NFL like the Patriots and Chiefs. Do the sins of Nashville put a gigantic dome on the Tennessee town blocking the prayers from getting to the heavens?

Some of Steven King’s stories have a happy ending. Our crystal ball is mostly on the fritz, but it’s telling us the Bisons will avoid a Cyclones disaster. Anything can go. I’ll put my hand on a stack of bibles and back the Bisons rather then turn to the High Point University chances. I would love to see many smaller schools win it and advance to the Final Four over those basketball universities that we all are sick of. The likes of Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, and UCONN. So give Lipscomb a AMEN!! Maybe the swear word, “Holy Lipscomb,” could work both ways if they beat Iowa State for their first ever victory in the March Madness tournament.

VERY WORTHY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ANNUAL CHIEFS’ POLICE BLOTTER

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It must be that time of year for the annual Kansas City Chiefs’ police blotter report. Just like Thanksgiving and Christmas they come every year; now after the Superbowl you have to expect a Chiefs player to get arrested. Last year Rashee Rice caused a chain reaction multiple car crash on the highway racing his former college teammate. The angered Rice also decked a photographer outside a Dallas night club. Patrick Mahomes’ father Pat did not land another DUI, but he was involved in an altercation with former MLB pitcher John Rocker in New Orleans at the time of the Superbowl. The Chiefs just re-signed Kareem Hunt who in 2018 shoved a women down to the ground and then kicked her. The latest headline for the Chiefs is wide receiver Xavier Worthy who was arrested for choking his girlfriend. Shake down, break down, you’re busted.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Xavier Worthy 28th in the first round after making a trade with the Bills to scoop up the blazing track star from the University of Texas. The Bills had their eyes set on Keon Coleman from Florida State and they landed him with the first pick in the second round. When the Bills played the Chiefs, Worthy seems to get amped up about that. Now he has a vendetta versus the Bills because Buffalo skipped over his talents. The Bills were looking for a different type of skills set for their receiver, and Worthy did not fit that criteria. Get over it. On March 7th, Worthy was arrested in Texas just like Rashee Rice in 2024 in the same state. Worthy will be charged with assault for choking his girlfriend, Tia Jones. She says this is the 5th time the Worthy has snapped throughout this year. She was awarded protection by a Texas judge, but he says he’s innocent. Worthy this year in his rookie season caught 59 balls for 638 yards with 6 receiving touchdowns. He always ran the ball for 104 yards with 3 rushing touchdowns. Impressive. In the beat down to the Chiefs in the Superbowl by the Eagles in a 40-22 whipping, Worthy stood out in garbage time for Kansas City. He racked up 157 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.

In 2018 after the incident that took place in a Cleveland hotel with Kareem Hunt, he did his Eagles version of a beat-down on that woman. He was cut by the Chiefs. Hunt would find a new home as he signed with the Browns. He came back to the Chiefs in 2024 and played 13 games during the regular season as he rushed for 728 yards with 7 rushing touchdowns. Head Coach Andy Reid said Kareem has matured since that incident back in 2018. The Chiefs already re-signed the running back for this upcoming season. I hate when bad things happen to good people as Rashee Rice would only play in 4 games in the 2024 season. He has 24 catches for 288 yards with two receiving touchdowns. Rice would collide with Patrick Mahomes after an interception, and he would go down with a left knee injury as he tore his LCL (Lateral Collateral Ligament.) He would miss the rest of the season. No worries Chiefs fans, he’s still on the chain gang for the 2025 season.

The Chiefs have these off the field stories that are so bizarre. How many times do we have to be force fed this Taylor Swift relationship with the meat for brains Travis Kelce? Then the annoying State Farm commercials with Patrick Mahomes. Let’s talk about Patrick’s neighbor, his father former MLB pitcher Pat Mahomes, who loves to get his drink on and then drive. I think he leads the league as the top dad racking up the most DUI’s. Your son can’t set you up with an Uber ride? Then he somehow runs into perhaps the biggest racist pitcher of all-time, John Rocker. That sounds like an excellent idea to engage in whatever meatball conversation they were going to have. Now they may fight in some celebrity boxing match for the one marble they have left in both heads of theirs.

I can see the fight card now being a thriller like the one with Screech from “Saved by the Bell” versus Arnold Horshack from “Welcome Back, Kotter.”

Did the Kansas City Chiefs land the guy in the front office from the Steelers? The team who drafted head cases like Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, another X-Chief. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy may be two young talented receivers in the game of football, but they surely don’t have their head screwed on right. Maybe the Chiefs should avoid picking guys from Texas Universities. There goes the idea of Johnny Manziel being the third string quarterback for Andy Reid and company. These Chiefs may have been lovable years ago when they were facing the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick dynasty. Now times have changed, as most of the NFL world cannot stand the Chiefs. They are not going to find love as the team looks more like the prison bus pulling up to play the guards in a scrimmage game for a little extra mashed potatoes in the prison cafeteria. Nobody will forget the Chiefs’ long walk on the Eagles’ Green Mile only weeks ago which was priceless for this organization of thugs.

SURELY CAPTAIN SERIOUS CAN’T BE SERIOUS ON A COMEBACK, JUST DON’T CALL TOEWS SHIRLEY

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The last time we saw Captain Serious Jonathan Toews on the ice in an NHL game was with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022-23 season. Toews’ contract ran out in Chicago and many believed at the time he officially hung up the skates for good after 15 seasons all with the Blackhawks. Everyone speculated retirement as Toews’ NHL career ended very quietly like he slunk away into the sunset not heard from again. All his injuries have healed as he took a long journey away from the game and went on personal retreat to the country of India. It sounds like some plot out of Batman the Movie. Bruce Wayne needed enlightened perspective to craft his own purpose as he trained with Ra’s Al Ghul and all the killers making up the League of Shadows to come back to Gotham and save his city. Captain Serious has been surfing in Costa Rica and then skating in Arizona as he never officially retired from the NHL. He is back from his long retreat with the mindset not happy with the way things ended after a extraordinary hockey career. He has closed the chapter on the Blackhawks for good. The 36 year old is looking to make his comeback and start a new chapter in his life with a new ending to his NHL career with a different team.

Jonathan Toews’ hockey career has been decorated like some 5 star general on the battlefield. Toews was born in Winnipeg, Canada and was drafted in the first round of the 2006 NHL draft 3rd overall by the Blackhawks. Toews with his partner in crime Patrick Kane turned around one one of the worst run franchises at the time in the sporting world, the Chicago Blackhawks. Toews helped the Blackhawks get back on the map by winning three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and then in 2015. He won the Conn Smythe trophy in the 2009-10 season as he was the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2010. He won the Selke trophy in 2013 for best defensive forward. Surprising he only made one All-Star appearance. He helped his country Canada win some gold medals. The first one he helped win was back in 2010 when the Olympics were held in Vancouver. Then again in 2014 the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Toews have played in 1,067 games in the NHL scoring 372 goals. He dished out 511 assists for a grand total of 883 points. He was named one of the 100 greatest NHL players in the 2017 Centennial celebration.

Jonathan Toews’ hockey career was derailed by a Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. This illness he had kept him out the entire 2020-21 season, right when the Covid-19 was lingering through the states and causing people harm. Then from February 21st through the month of April of 2023, Toews was dealing with effects of Covid-19 that kept him out of multiple games during that time span. For a two season stretch he only played in 124 games. Which were the final two years of his career wearing the Indian-head sweater.

Jonathan Toews will be out to prove the current General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks wrong. It was Kyle Davidson that basically pulled the plug on two of the greatest Blackhawks of my time and perhaps in franchise history. Besides not offering Towes a deal, it was the same year we saw Patrick Kane leave town to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Oh the humanity, if Toews followed Kane to Detroit next year. That would fire up the Chicago fans and not in a good way. I believe Toews’ captain days are over as he would not play the role on any team as one of the main staples that he was when he wore the Indian-head sweater. He should not have to settle for some rebuilding team and be more of an advertisement than a player to put more fannies in the seats to watch a has-been. I can see Captain Serious making a comeback because he would have something to offer with some gasoline still left in the tank. I would not give him a crazy amount of money either. A one year deal kind of to prove himself. He could be a guy that can help work the special teams in hockey like the power play of penalty kill. Have him on the third or 4th line & he can probably make some of the younger guys better on one of those skating lines. If I was a betting man, what would be a great ending for Captain Serious is if he went home and suited up for the Jets. The Winnipeg Jets are one of the best teams in the NHL this season. I think he could light the lamp 10-15 times in a season in a limited role. Most likely he would dish pout more assists than goals scored. I always like guys that play their entire career with one team. The Blackhawks are a mess right now, so why bring him to Chicago besides the fact the GM does not want him here. I would love to see Toews make that comeback and maybe be a part of another Stanley Cup run for someone else. I just hope he does not come back and return to the same results slinking away. Surely you can’t call Captain Serious Shirley as he would give it his all in a comeback attempt.

CAN THE BOSA SIGNING HELP THE BILLS GET OVER THE CHIEFS HURDLE IN THE AFC?

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Once upon a time Joey Bosa was one of the most feared defensive linemen in football. Bosa would constantly disrupted the opposing team’s offensive game plan week after week. Bosa is not the same football warrior that haunted quarterbacks like he used to. The LA Chargers had to make the decision on Bosa as he became a salary cap casualty this week. The Chargers saved 25.4 million by releasing the man they drafted in 2016 to the entire league of vultures who will swoop in to sign number 97 for his service he provides chasing down the ring leader. The Chargers’ new found money meant they were able to bring back their other QB destroyer Khalil Mack who is older but stays healthier over Bosa. Many wanted to see Joey sign with San Francisco to play with his brother Nick on the 49ers.

San Francisco fans had visions of the Bosa brothers being like the Malachi brothers in that Happy Days episode where they use their cars to crunch the opponents in an ole fashion crash up derby. Nick and Joey on opposite sides coming after the quarterback and meeting right in the middle for the CRUNCH!! The 49ers are in salary cap hell as many of their guys have bolted this free agent period to other teams. Joey did not hang around that long as he finds a new home with the Bills and their fan base, the Mafia. The Bills are rolling the dice on a one year deal with Bosa for 12.6 million to help Buffalo close the door on their nemesis, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Joey Bosa is 29 years old and knows Patrick Mahomes facing the Chiefs twice a year living in the AFC west for 9 seasons. When Bosa was drafted 3rd overall in 2016, it did not take him long to get up to the NFL speed of the game from Ohio State University. He won defensive rookie player of the year as he posted 10.5 sacks and had 17 tackles for loss in that first season. He leaves the Chargers organization at the number two spot all-time in sacks as Leslie O’Neal is number one all-time with 105.5 as Bosa finished with 72 wearing the Bolts uniform. Last year he played 14 games for the Chargers and only tallied up 5 sacks and 17 solo tackles. Bosa has 4 seasons where he has delivered double digit sack totals. The last time he did that you have to go back to 2021. In 107 games in the NFL, Bosa has 343 tackles, 157 QB hits, and 87 tackles for loss of yardage. He has forced 17 fumbles and scooped up 4 recoveries in his 9 years. He has made it to 5 Pro-Bowls. In 2020 Bosa got paid with a 5 year extension worth 135 million. Can he stay healthy is the biggest question about Bosa. He missed 9 games in 2018. He has only played in 28 games in the last three seasons.

The Bills have been looking for their Bruce Smith for decades. Smith was that guy in the 1990’s part of those 4 Superbowl appearances by the Bills where they had a guy that can put the QB on the turf. The Bills tried to get their Smith with the signing of an aging Von Miller who got a six year deal. Miller had actually more sacks than Bosa last season. However Miller never lived up to that Rams and Broncos legend that helped those two teams win the Superbowl. In 2023 the Bills as a group had tallied up 54 total sacks as a team. Last year that number dropped to only 39 sacks. The Bills had to cut Miller because he was going to be a big chunk of the salary cap and they saved a ton of money by releasing him. In a way Miller being a salary cap casuality pays off with the signing of Joey Bosa.

The Bills have a solid defense, but they need to get better at bringing down the QB. The Bills defensive line features DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver who are two beasts in the middle. The Bills just extended Greg Rousseau who is a young guy on the rise. The Bills rotate A.J Epenesa, another younger guy who has done well chasing down the QB. I would like the Bills front office to add another piece or two besides Joey Bosa to the front seven of this defense. More guys you have in the trenches rotating in and out is a good plan to keep Bosa healthy for the entire season. I do like this signing even though I’d rather have Khalil Mack because he stays healthy unlike Bosa. I know the Bills can’t swing a deal to get a Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson, or Mad Maxx Crosby. Why would the Bengals trade Hendrickson to an AFC rival in the conference? Garrett and Crosby just won the Mega Millions lotto ticket. Suddenly Garrett’s trade demands in Cleveland have disappeared because he got paid. The Bills can’t take on a big defensive player for that type of money. Why get rid of crucial draft picks as well? Bosa did not cost the Bills a draft pick. Bosa will be motivated because he was released. Because he only got a one year deal. He should be motivated because he got cut by a playoff team and now is with a better post-season team as the Bills get deeper than the Chargers in the playoffs last season. The Bills have a chance to get to the Superbowl. You know he will give it all to get a bigger and better deal next season which may not be with the Bills. He would love to win a ring in the process. Maybe the dream of playing with his brother Nick is alive and well by next season. Right now this Bosa signing is low risk with a high ceiling of rewards if it works out on paper and he stays healthy and delivers in crunch time.

THE NEW YORK JETS WILL BE FLYING IN AND OUT OF JUSTIN FIELD’S IN 2025

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The New York Jets can close the book on their darkness retreat chapters starring Aaron Rodgers. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood soured the Big Apple in New York as he single handedly burned down his own team taking the Jets franchise to nothing but a heap of smoldering ash. The Jets thought at the time they just needed a quarterback to get over the hump and signed Rogers after he left Green Bay kicking and screaming. It’s been two years of pure hell for J-E-T-S as now they can finally move on and try to put some distance between them and the Mr. Darkness retreat. The Jets in day one of free agency have found Rogers’ replacement by signing former number one pick from the Chicago Bears, Justin Fields. Fields gets a two year deal worth 40 million which 30 of that is guaranteed as he will be an expensive rebound for this fan base. This move also gives this Jets franchise a breath of air and a new start which they need right now.

Justin Fields is now 26 years of age and has 4 NFL seasons under his belt. Originally Fields was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1st round of the 2021 NFL draft number 11 overall from Ohio State University. He has played three seasons in Chicago where he had his ups and downs. Last year in his lone season in Pittsburgh as a Steeler, he achieved his first winning record in a season as a starting NFL QB. He was traded to Pittsburgh and only started 6 games for the Steelers where he had a winning record of 4-2. He played in a total of 10 games for the Steelers where he completed 65.8% of his passes which is a career high for Fields. He tallied up 1,106 passing yards with 5 touchdown passes and only 1 interception. He started the season as the starter for the Steelers because the other QB Pittsburgh signed at the time was Russell Wilson who had an injury to start the year off then replaced him week 7.

It took three full seasons as a starter for Justin Fields to win 10 games as a starter for the Chicago Bears. Last year he almost won half of those starts that he won in less than half a season. Fields is a duel threat quarterback that can beat you with his legs more than his arm. He has a nice deep pass but always had problems throwing over the middle of the field. I always say once athletes leave the Chicago sports landscape, they do better. Fields has always turned over the ball with an interception or he’s very good at coughing up the football. His career numbers in 4 seasons he is 14-30 as a starting QB. He has a completion percentage of 61.2% and he has tallied 7,780 yards in the air and thrown 45 touchdown passes. However he has thrown 31 interceptions. He threw only one as a Steeler. With the legs he has rushed the ball 418 times for 2,509 rushing yards with 19 rushing touchdowns. With the Bears he went through coaches and offensive coordinators like changing your underwear on a daily basis. In Chicago he had the turn style offensive line. With the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin, he changed his game and made less mistakes. He definitely had better protection. His turnover rate as a Steeler averaged out to 0.8% in 2024. From 2021-23 with the Bears, Fields averaged an NFL turnover rate of 2.8%. He has been careful with the ball in Pittsburgh. With the Bears he was the worst QB taking the sack. From 2021-23 he was sacked with a 12.4% sack rate. With the Steelers he cut that sack rate down to 9%. During those six games he started, the Steelers offense were averaging 20.7 points per game. The Jets would have loved to have 20.7 points per game as they did not get that with Aaron Rodgers last year.

The New York Jets pick at number 7 in this April’s draft may not get them one of the top two QB’s on the board. The Jets are in need of a future franchise quarterback. They have failed before at developing former number one picks they have selected such as Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. Darnold finally had his best year in a Vikings uniform last season. Darnold may be a late bloomer while Wilson looks like the next Ryan Leaf. If the Jets are going to select a quarterback in this upcoming draft, they need to develop him. The best plan may be to have the guy stand on the sidelines with a clipboard and learn. Justin Fields may be a bridge gap QB for the Jets. Fields could also showcase his own talents and improve his game on the field to ultimately get a bigger deal elsewhere. However if luck is not on the side of the Jets in developing a draft pick, then if Fields performance is solid they may have found a solution behind center. If Fields does good he could be a trade chip for another team if the QB he grooms turns into something.

The Jets have had a solid defense the last few seasons during which I thought they took a step backwards last year. The stench of Aaron Rodgers rotted everything it touched in that Jets locker room last year. The Jets have hired a defensive-minded head coach in Aaron Glenn, former Lions D-Coordinator. Glenn can probably get that defense to its old self. If Justin Fields is careful with the football, then the Jets may have found a new formula to win games. Defense and duel threat QB who does not turn over the football. I think Fields will also flourish because he will have his former teammate catching his passes. From Ohio State, former Buckeye Garrett Wilson is the best receiver the Jets had had the last three seasons. With all the bad quarterback play the Jets had over the last few seasons, he still has found ways to tally over 1,000 receiving yards. The Jets were 5-12 last year and finished 3rd in the AFC East. They should benefit with an easier schedule next season. My knock of Fields in something he may not be able to improve, is the killer instinct with the ball in his hands in the last minute of the game. Taking the lead or tying the game to send it to overtime. Most importantly, the comeback to win the game. He was a disappointment in close games in the last few minutes in a Bears uniform. Right now Fields has a chance to showcase his talents with a new team and being the starter. How will he handle objects in his side mirror that are closer than he thinks? I like this move by the Jets because it turns the page on Rodgers. Fields is most likely only a rebound after a bad break up for the Jets. He gives this franchise a chance to heal. He gives this franchise a chance to rebuild. He gives the Jets a fighting chance every Sunday and makes each week exciting even if the record is not a winning one. The Jets should be better than 5-12 as the darkness retreat clouds have lifted over the New Jersey stadium on home games.

WE NOW KNOW WHO PETE CAROL’S GUY IS AND IT’S NOT RUSSELL WILSON

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When Pete Carol was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders, you knew the “win now” mentality was going to be the plan for the oldest head coach in the league. You knew the Raiders would go in another direction with their quarterback room from last season that featured Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Many thought the Raiders would sign free agent Russell Wilson and Carol was set for their own reunion back in their Seattle days. The Raiders inquired about Matthew Stafford. The Rams were not going to trade their starting veteran quarterback. The free agent waters had some other interesting names like Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, and if you have the oldest coach in the NFL… why not get the oldest Quarterback in the league in Aaron Rodgers. Instead the Raiders went with Carol’s other guy from his Seattle days and struck a deal with the Seahawks bringing Geno Smith to Vegas baby! The Raiders will give Seattle a 2025 3rd round pick and the 34 year old Smith will be set for reunion with his old coach from Seattle.

Geno Smith was originally drafted by the New York Jets back in the 2013 NFL draft in the 2nd round 39th overall. After going 8-8 in his rookie season, Smith struggled after his first year in the league with the Jets. After 4 seasons the Jets pulled the plug on Smith. Smith bounced around the next two seasons before finding a back role for the Seahawks, as he backed up Russell Wilson. The Raiders will be Smith’s 5th NFL organization as he suited up one season each with the Giants and Chargers. Smith finally got another shot at the starting job when Wilson and Pete Carol’s relationship soured and he was traded to Denver. For the Jets, Smith had a 12-18 record as a starter dressed in green. For Seattle he will leave with a winning record of 28-24 in 5 seasons. He made two pro-bowls in 2022 & 23 both with Seattle where he resurrected his NFL career. In 11 seasons Smith has played in 94 games and has a record of 40-42 as the starter. He has tallied up 19,143 passing yards for his career with 105 touchdown passes to 72 interceptions.

Why Geno Smith over Russell Wilson? Wilson would have not cost the Raiders to give up any draft capital. I think the Raiders could have gotten Wilson cheaper as well. Wilson played 11 games last year for the Steelers where he was 6-5 as the starter. Wilson tallied 2,482 passing yards completing 63.7% of his passes. He threw 16 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions. Wilson had the Steelers in the driver’s seat to win the AFC North. The Steelers struggled at the end of the season and backed in the playoffs as a wild card, before they were quickly dispatched from the post-season after 1 game. Geno Smith completed 70.4% of his passes last season. He went 10-7 as a starter as he tallied up 4,320 passing yards. He threw 21 touchdown passes compared to 15 interceptions. He had Seattle in the driver’s seat in the NFC West, but the Seahawks would also fold down the stretch and miss the post-season. Wilson is 36 years of age and he can’t move like he used to back in his Seattle days. Smith is two years younger but has the ability to escape the pass rush with his legs. I think Smith has the stronger arm and can throw the ball down field better than Wilson can. Smith is more of that gunslinger mentality as Wilson is better at being careful with the football. Both guys are pretty much equal, but I would give Smith the edge. I think it comes down to Pete Carol probably has more trust with Smith than his old Quarterback he won the Superbowl with back in his Seattle days. I think Smith would get more respect in any locker room as Wilson is high maintenance and gets under most players’ skin with the special treatment he needs.

What is Seattle doing retooling or rebuilding? The Seahawks have one quarterback on their roster, former Washington Commander Sam Howell. In 2023 Howell chucked the ball 612 times that season which is by far the most passing attempts in the league. Howell has been in the league only 3 seasons and was back up to Geno Smith last year. He has played in 20 games and has a 5-13 record as a starter. In 2023 he tallied up 3,946 passing yards while throwing 21 touchdown passes but also threw 21 interceptions. He seems like Jameis Winston reincarnated. The Seahawks could be linked to Sam Darnold as their next starting quarterback. The Seahawks have freed up money by dealing Smith to the Raiders. Smith is the 19th highest paid QB in the league and is in his final year of a 3 year deal worth 75 million. The Seahawks were about 10 million apart with an extension for Smith. Seattle was looking to pay Smith 35 million per season, but his people wanted him to be paid 45 million per season. Seattle also has one of their top wide receivers in D.K. Metcalf who wants out and is seeking a trade. Even if you trade Metcalf, the Seahawks still have some interesting pieces for whoever their next starting quarterback will be. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a top receiver in the league. They have a pair of solid running backs in Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III. The Seattle defense played well last season.

The Raiders made a splash before this trade locking up their best asset on defense in Mad Maxx Crosby as he will be paid the most money by a player not being a quarterback in NFL history. The Raiders have brought in Chip Kelly to be the team’s offensive coordinator. Last year the Raiders ranked 29th in the NFL averaging 18.2 points per game. Kelly has had successful offenses that he had run in the NFL. Kelly was not a good head coach in the NFL. Kelly is most known for his exploding offenses at the college level. The Raiders have one of the best tight ends in the league. Brock Bowers may be the newest Travis Kelce in the entire NFL. Bowers in his rookie season caught 112 passes for 1,191 receiving yards and 5 touchdown catches. The Raiders will need another wide receiver. The one they currently had in Jakobi Meyers did have a nice season as well catching 87 balls for just over 1,000 yards and he caught 4 touchdowns. The Raiders will need a better running game than what they had last year. If the Raiders can add a few more guys to this high tempo offense Kelly likes to run, things may have gotten even more interesting in the AFC West.

Where does veteran Geno Smith fit in the pecking order of the AFC West at the quarterback position? You have to still rank Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs number one. Is Chargers Justin Herbert number two? His performance in the post-season last year versus Houston was weak. The Rise of Bo Nix for the Broncos may be the 2nd best QB in the division. Herbert and Smith could equal out behind Nix and Mahomes. The head coaching in this division is unbelievable. Remember the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos made the post-season last year leaving only the Raiders at home from the AFC West. Andy Reid, Sean Peyton, and Jim Harbaugh all explain why three teams made the post-season. Pete Carol and the Raiders are behind the 8-ball looking in, but today they improved their team with Smith behind center. The Raiders will need more pieces to be able to leap frog some of these division rivals. For the long haul I see the Raiders getting better as a team. They may grab a wild card spot next year or the year after. The Raiders and post-season don’t go together like the days of “just win baby” which now was decades ago. I don’t see the Raiders winning a Superbowl with Geno Smith as their quarterback. Smith is nowhere close to being the Rich Gannon style of QB who blossomed like Geno late in his career and led the Raiders to a Superbowl appearance. The Raiders need a true number 1 QB to go along with the rise of a Max Crosby and Brock Bowers. It is always good to talk about the silver and black finally getting their act together.

THE BEARS SEEK THE HELP OF A MAN THAT HAS HELPED TWO HATED DYNASTIES WIN MULTIPLE SUPERBOWLS

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The Chicago Bears are Trumping up their offensive walls to keep out the opposing defenses’ migrants. Maybe General Manager of the Bears Ryan Poles got a good fence guy recommendation from Donald Trump. The Bears pulled off a monster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to give Chicago a true pillar on an offensive line that gave up more screws than a whorehouse last season. The Bears acquire left guard Joe Thuney from the Chiefs for a 2026 4th round draft pick. Thuney has been the protector of Tom Brady back in the New England dynasty and has given protection to Patrick Mahomes for several seasons and this current Chiefs dynasty. Thuney has won 4 Superbowls in his 9 year NFL career, which 2 of them came from the Patriots and the other two the Chiefs.

Joe Thuney is 32 years of age. He was drafted by the Patriots in the 2016 NFL draft in the 3rd round 78th overall from the University of Carolina. His first 5 seasons was with the Evil Empire Patriots. His last 4 seasons he was down in Kansas City joining another hated franchise. Don’t let the age fool you as Thuney has only missed two games in his entire career. He played in all 17 games last year for the Chiefs. He has 146 games under his belt in the NFL. He is a 4x All-Pro and was selected to 3 Pro-Bowls in 9 total seasons. Last year he played 895 snaps at the left guard position. Then he was asked to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side at left tackle due to an injury. He played 217 snaps at left tackle. In the last two seasons he has had the highest pass block win rate of 97.8% in the entire league.

So why did the Kansas City Chiefs suddenly make Joe Thuney expendable? The Chiefs’ best offensive lineman Trey Smith recently got the franchise tag and is a guy younger than Thuney. Trading Thuney to the Bears will free up 16 million dollars off the Chiefs salary cap. Smith is only 23 years old and with a franchise tag would be paid in the neighborhood of 23.5 million which is the going rate out of your top protectors in the NFL. The Chiefs coming off their Superbowl loss will look to retool their roster but also get younger in the grand scheme of things.

For the Bears it’s simple, they have to protect their investment number one pick from last April’s draft in Caleb Williams. Williams was sacked 68 times in his rookie season which almost broke David Carr’s single rookie season he had in his first year with the Houston Texans. In 2002 Carr was sacked 76 times. This is the second move by the Chicago Bears in a matter of days. Both moves to improve their offensive line have come through trades. The first trade was with the LA Rams which landed them a 315 pound moose in Jonah Jackson, an X Detroit Lion who has ties to newly hired head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears have three free agents from last year who were fixtures on that terrible O-line they had who they will most likely let walk away instead of re-signing them.

Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator for the last several years had success because of the guys in the trenches. The Detroit Lions had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL the last few seasons. They ran a well-balanced offense with a two-headed monster at running back that opened up the play action pass for Jared Goff. Johnson turned Goff into a serviceable quarterback that can help your team go deep into the post-season. The experts think Caleb Williams has all the star-studded tools of being a top NFL quarterback in this league. Williams now will have protection in the middle of the line in these first two moves of the off-season by the Bears landing a pair of guards. Obviously Johnson still has to work on Williams’ mechanics and help him get rid of the ball quicker to avoid those types of sacks in which Caleb found himself doing his rookie season. Now it will appear he will get that time after these two trades.

As many expected, the Ben Johnson era will be a carbon copy of what the Lions needed to do to resurrect that franchise from the dead. The Bears are now investing heavily into the offensive line as Joe Thuney will get 16 million next year as he finishes a 5 year extension he got in 2021 by the Chiefs that was worth 80 million. Rumors are swirling that Thuney may get an extension even before putting on the shoulder pads. The Bears will be paying Jonah Jackson 17.5 million who’s in his second year of a three year contract he signed with the Rams. I don’t expect either deal to be a one year try out. If the Bears don’t give Thuney the extension, they can let him ride out the end of his deal and call it a day. For Jackson the Bears could cut ties with him before next season in his final year which would not cause problems for the salary cap. I think Johnson and Ryan Poles think these two guards will be here longer than one season. For Jackson who only played 4 games last year for the Rams, it is a move right now I will question. I give Johnson the benefit of the doubt as they have connections. I do like the Thuney trade. He is older but looks like a guy that still has thread on the tires and we know he plays that way. He’s been a part of elite winning programs like the Chiefs and Patriots. I like he comes from colder climates such as Kansas City and New England, so he should feel right at home in Chicago. I like Thuney able to play either tackle or guard. The Bears may need one more guy for that O-line to get the full makeover. Now they can address that in the draft or through free agency. All of the moves the Bears have made on offense the last two seasons are for Caleb Williams. Williams will be the final piece of the puzzle if this franchise will contend for years to come. Winning the off-season does not win Superbowl titles.

ANOTHER BEARS BLUNDER NOT RE-SIGNING SANBORN

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The Chicago Bears organization’s best comparison is a teenager who constantly makes bad decisions. It does not matter who’s in charge at the top. Does not matter who is the head coach. Somehow the Bears will make a blunder which will leave you scratching your head in disbelief. The latest is non-tendering strong side linebacker Jack Sanborn who’s a local kid and a player that has thrived the last three seasons since being signed as an un-drafted free agent from the University of Wisconsin. Sanborn was a restricted free agent and the money to keep him on this team is chump change which tallies to 3.263 million. Now Sanborn is a free agent and can sign anywhere he wants to. Some say the madness of this Bears move was to re-sign Sanborn for his services at a cheaper price. I have to believe some team will come in and scoop up a talent and want Sanborn’s services in the upcoming season.

Jack Sanborn is only 24 years of age and signed with the Bears as an un-drafted free agent in the 2022 season. That year he cracked the starting line up and made six starts for the Bears. In three seasons with the Bears he has played in 48 games and has made 19 starts at linebacker. Last year he played in all 17 games and tallied up 17 tackles while registering 1.5 sacks on the QB. Sanborn is a tackling machine as he has been involved in 164 tackles in three NFL seasons which 110 of those were solo. He has racked up 14 tackles for a loss of yards while defending 5 passes. He has one interception while racking up 4.5 sacks. He grew up a Bears fan and is from Lake Zurich, Illinois. Former Bears coaches say Sanborn is a versatile player, intelligent, a hard worker, and a guy that can play in nickel situations on third downs. You have to like his motor as he keeps going until the whistle blows. He can back up all the team’s linebacker positions. If not a starter, Sanborn would give any team depth on the roster.

The Bears have a new head coach in Ben Johnson who is here to fix the team’s offense and develop the quarterback. Johnson hired former Saints/Raiders head coach Dennis Allen who will be bringing in a different style of defense than what Matt Eberflus had the last few years. The Bears have invested heavily in linebackers through free agency by signing former Eagle T.J Edwards and former Bill Tremaine Edmunds before the 2023 season. Both Edmunds and Edwards might not be the linebackers in Allen’s defensive scheme. The Bears will be looking for guys that can pressure the quarterback is my guess and that made a guy like Jack Sanborn expendable for this new regime.

One team that may scoop up a guy like Jack Sanborn is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have a new D-Coordinator and it is Matt Eberflus who definitely knows what his defense needs and will know what he would be getting if they ink Sanborn to a free agent contract. Sanborn should have multiple suitors for his services. I know he was not drafted, but he played defense in the Big Ten at the University of Wisconsin. Big Ten manufactures linebackers and solid defensive options like a factory. It’s a conference that plays defense still. Many of these un-drafted free agents play with more heart than most of these guys that were drafted. Sanborn seems like that guy that a coach would say, “If I only had 11 Jack’s out there, what this defense could do.” That defense would play hard. That defense would not shoot themselves in the foot and play smart. Whoever signs Sanborn will get a better version of Jack because he will be even more motivated to be better if that is even possible. I’m not going to lie. I hate seeing the Bears give up on a local kid that was doing well. He is only 24 years of age and has not even hit his prime of his football career. I wish him the best of luck. I really do think the Bears have made another blunder which is the norm for this franchise and for all the teams in the Chicago Sports landscape.