The Blackhawks General Manager, Stan Bowman, should be taken to the scrap yard where all former Chicago sports GM’s go. Rusting away and wore out their welcome in the Windy City. Bowman, who suddenly has become injected with the Chicago Bulls influenza ,as his thought process has gone to Beavis and Butthead standards. John Paxton and Gar Forman should have been melted down years ago. The guy that walks on water in Cubland, Theo Epstein’s decisions have crumbled that dynasty before it ever took off. The Bears’ Ryan Pace could not pick a quarterback if his life depended on it. Now Stan the Man has been in control of a hockey dynasty that he never even created. Could he maintain it? No… Two moves by Stan at the NHL deadline that leave you scratching your head. Two moves and they got nothing in return.

The Blackhawks were sellers at the NHL trade deadline. The Blackhawks sent Defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the Calgary Flames for a 2020 3rd round draft pick. Originally from the Swedish National team and played for the Swedish Hockey League before coming to the NHL. The Blackhawks also traded goaltender Robin Lehner in a three team deal. Lehner heads to the Vegas Golden Knights. Blackhawks receive a second round 2020 draft pick. Defenseman Slava Demin who is a prospect. Plus  goaltender Malcolm Subban. The Toronto Maple leafs was the other team involved. Blackhawks will pay half of Lehner’s salary to fit the whole deal under the salary caps.

Blackhawks signed Robin Lehner  in the off-season. Lehner came off a great season in New York playing for the Islanders last year. Lehner was one of the best netminders in the league. Lehner continued to play well as he had a great first half of the season in a Blackhawks uniform. The Blackhawks signed him to a a one year deal which did not come cheap. When your team, one of your heroes from those three Stanley Cups, goalie Corey Crawford has been injured for long periods of time over the  last few seasons, it’s time to react. Those periods Crawford missed, the team was horrible. Crawford has stayed healthy this season as the Blackhawks had a nice one two punch in front of the net. Both goalies wanted to come back with the Blackhawks next year and beyond. Goalie is obviously not the problem with this team that stays at the.500 mark and will again miss another post-season berth. Crawford’s history of dealing with concussions is not the goalie I would have extended. Now that idea you had in off season will need to be addressed once again.

Then a young defenseman Erik Gustafsson who is only 27 years old was dealt. He had a breakout season last year with a 60 point season.  Gustafsson was the sixth highest scoring defenseman in the entire league. His numbers had dropped this season. If the Blackhawks knew they would not resign him after this season with his contract expiring, why not trade him during the off season and get more back for his talent when the ceiling was high. The Blackhawks were trying to squeeze one more playoff run with the Stanley Cup core. Gustafsson will be like one of those players that always happens to leave Chicago and turn into something special for another city.

The Blackhawks continue and will always be a 500 team the way they are doing things. Stan Bowman continues to shuffle players in and out of Chicago to work with that Stanley Cup core. It has not worked as they even keep bringing back players from the cup days they already traded away. When the Blackhawks young players start doing well they can not afford them. The firing of Joe Quenneville how is that working out for them? The Blackhawks are stuck in the middle with jokers to the right clowns to the left which the biggest is Stan Bowman. The Blackhawks need a tear down and complete make over. The way things are going they are heading down Chicago Bulls avenue.Just because you share the building with the Bulls  does not mean you have to operate the same way.

 

 

It’s time for the Chicago Blackhawks to come up with another plan. This team should be very busy at the trade deadline selling off pieces. Since Marian Hossa left town the Blackhawks  have continued to spiral out of control. They are having the same problems with the salary cap. Handcuffed by some mega contracts that need to come off the books. They fired legend Joe Quenneville who led those great Blackhawks to be three time Stanley Cup winners. The new leader, Jeremy Colliton, has not fared well. Perhaps his leadership skills are more suited coaching younger players like he did in the AHL.  The Blackhawks are not supplying enough young talent from the minors either. This team does not have to do a complete overhaul. It’s time to get rid of the old heroes and start bringing a young nucleus to build a solid core out of. I would build this thing around Patrick Kane. The rest of the core has to go which includes the captain Jonathon Toews.

I loved in the beginning of the season to have the luxury of two very talented goalies. If my team is in the playoff hunt and beyond, this idea speaks to me. Ride the hotter hand in the playoffs. St.Louis did with their goalie last season and won the cup. From now and to the end of the season the Blackhawks are not going any where. Cory Crawford is finally a piece you can trade. He has not been sidelined for months with an injury or those concussions that resurface over the last few seasons. He has a .915% save rate which he’s been in the net with a very bad team. That save percentage on a good team  instantly he would have a better record. I would trade him immediately before an injury can occur. I would hold on to Robin Lehner and give him an extension. He would be the new mask in front of the net even though he has played this season for the team. Crawford can help another team do well in the playoffs and have a better chance to reach the Stanley Cup finals that way. Plus now you’re not paying two net minders a good chunk of the cap.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook in their prime were fun to watch. They were two guys that helped the Blackhawks with all three Stanley Cups. Who can forget Duncan Keith spitting out teeth like chiclets? Asking the crowd on parade day, “Does anyone know a good dentist?” Seabrook scoring laser shots from half ice. Both of these guys make a ton of money. Both have no trade clauses. Both are on the decline. Both are older and with all the playoff games these two have been involved in with their regular seasons in hockey years turn into dog years. Seabrook has only played in 32 games this season. Some games he has been a healthy scratch. Duncan Keith one of my favorites throughout this run has played in 52 games. Combined between the two they have 4 goals scored. I know they play defense but they used to provide more scoring. Plus the defensive skills are in question. Both these guys need to come off the books somehow, even if you have to pay part of their contracts in a trade with another team.

Brandon Sadd is only 27 years old. This season he has 18 goals in 49 games for the Blackhawks. He will end up with twenty-something goals by the end of the regular season. Brandon Sadd should land the Blackhawks a nice return. He’s young and is a nice offensive threat to have. With plenty of playoff experience. Plus we know in the playoffs his game got better as he scored some big goals in his career. This will help clear some salary and can get you some draft picks or a talented guy on the verge of coming up to the NHL.

The Captain has to go and is the biggest move this team should make. I know it’s like getting rid of Captain America. I love what Jonathan Toews brings to the table every night. An obvious leader. A grinder. A very important cog in the machine. A guy that can win face offs. A guy you do not want to see go anywhere else. What would he look like not wearing the indian on his sweater? The problem is they pay him like the Penguins pay Sidney Crosby. Toews’ numbers should be higher than what they pay him. He has already played 13 seasons in the NHL. He is only 31 years old but hockey years are like dog years for him as well. Last season Toews scored 35 goals. This season he only has 16. If you are able to trade Toews, there’s a huge chunk of cap relief in an instant. The amount you pay Toews, the Blackhawks can pay three talented younger players and build a deeper roster.

I think the Blackhawks could take a page out of the Pittsburgh Penguins book with their superstar, Sidney Crosby.  Crosby came into the league playing and learning  from hockey great  Mario Lemieux. Sidney Crosby quickly took over Penguins hockey. When Marion Hossa came to the Blackhawks that was when the team took off with all the young talent they had. Building around Patrick Kane with plenty of youngsters, a salary cap not holding you hostage can turn this team around very quickly. Love to see the Blackhawks get rid of Stan Bowman. I think I’ve seen enough from him as general manager. Maybe Jeremy Colliton can still work out. Rather have Joel Quenneville with this plan. Robin Lehner as the goalie. Patrick Kane your superstar you’re building around. You have some nice young pieces like the rise of 22 year old Alex DeBruincat. Plus 19 year old rookie Kirby Dach has been a nice addition and looks to have a very talented future ahead.

WEEK THREE XFL POWER RANKINGS

Down memory lane of XFL part one, they had the Cheerleaders from the local strip clubs it seemed performing on the sidelines.

OUR WRESTLING MOMENT TRIBUTE XFL PART ONE

We went with an NFL legend for our wrestling moment for the XFL. Refrigerator Perry is no dumb cookie. He did the Superbowl shuffle as well.

PRESENT TIMES

XFL WEEK THREE WE KEPT IT FOOTBALL

#1.DC DEFENDERS (2-0) SAME  Defenders beat up the Guardians like the tar pits sucking up the saber cats in prehistorical times. Cardale Jones is right now the best quarterback in the league. Eli Rodgers’ mother passed away and on the funeral day last Saturday, Rodgers dedicated the game to her. Rodgers elected to play the game instead of going to the funeral as he was going to meet up with the family afterwards . Rodgers played very well and the Defenders remain undefeated. Defenders unleashed another weapon. Wide Receiver DeAndre Tompkins caught a touchdown pass in his first game of the season.

Just not fair with Rodgers, Ross and Tomkins in the mix a triple threat. DE Anthony Johnson who the Defenders got from LA in a trade chipped in with a sack. DC in two games overall defensive and offensive sides of the ball look to be beyond the best of the rest of the league.

#2.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (2-0) SAME  P.J Walker is slinging the ball for the Roughnecks. Walker has already thrown 7 touchdowns for 449 yards in two games. One interception on Walker’s resume in two games. Lets talk about Roughnecks Wide Receiver Cam Phillips who has hauled in 4 of those seven touch downs that Walker has thrown.

Phillips has 130 yards tallied up so far with 12 grabs in two weeks. Phillips has emerged as one of the top receiving threats in the league. The Walker Phillips combo is the most lethal in the XFL. Houston looks to be a top team in this league all year.

#3.ST.LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (1-1)  SAME  Battle Hawks split their two Texas road games to start their season with the hand they were dealt. Houston Roughnecks may be one of the top teams in the league when everything is said and done for the year. Right now Roughnecks are tops in their division. Battle Hawks battled them in week two to lose by 4 points. Maybe Houston stole all their signs using the garbage can banging on side lines for more than banging on the drums all day. Right now if you’re the Battle Hawks your quarterback has two starts under his belt. Jordan Ta’amu has the best completion rate in the XFL. Plus he has razzled and dazzled using his legs. Plus running back Matt Jones has the most yards rushing in the XFL.

Now the Battle Hawks come home to a town that needs some good football which this team is providing. In a town that was abandoned by those nasty Rams. The Battle Hawks will now be the new girlfriend with new moves in the bedroom that will blow their minds away.

#4.DALLAS RENEGADES (1-1)  UP 1 SPOT   Insert Landry Jones at quarterback in week two and the Renegades and head coach Bob Stoops are in the win column. The Renegades came in as the favorites to win the whole enchilada this first year in the XFL. The team played a sloppy game with the LA Wild Cats for three quarters. In the 4th quarter suddenly it was GO time. Both teams came to life. Landry Jones at the end in an 18-18 game led the Renegades to the final score to put the team on top for good. Renegades have a nice defense. The offense final got going as Landry Jones hammered off the dry wall dust from his construction days inbetween the Steeler days and leading up to the XFL.

#5.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-1) UP 1 SPOT

Former Seahawk great Steve Largent was on hand for the Dragons’ first home game ever. Largent, an NFL Hall-of Famer, lit the torch for this Dragon history. Dragons won the game. Brandon Silvers had a very bad day at the office. His quarterback numbers were dreadful at 7-18 91 yards a touchdown pass and interception. 68 of those yards came on one pass play to former Navy Quarterback converted into wide receiver Keenan Reynolds.

That touchdown was the only thing Seattle could get off that stingy Viper defense. The Dragons defense had three interceptions one of them for a score with four sacks. Dragons were lucky Vipers have no offense but it’s a victory and that’s all that counts.

#6.LA WILD CATS (0-2) UP 1 SPOT         Wild Cats looked a lot better in week two than they did in week one. Even though they played in a very sloppy game for three filled quarters with the Renegades.  Wild Cats made some changes as they traded their captain of their defense Anthony Johnson a DE to the Defenders. Johnson needed a time out. Wild Cats get a cornerback in return, Bradley Sylve. This move coming after they got rid of their Defensive Coordinator as well, after their first game. Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson who was hurt in week one made his first start for the Wild Cats.

Wild Cats overall had a better performance and lost by one score to the Renegades in a game tied late in the 4th quarter.  Head coach of the Wild Cats, Winston Moss, to me sounds like he has nothing intelligent to contribute in the live feeds.

Plus he walks off to the very back of the sideline to take a load off during the game last Sunday. Sits by himself resting. He may factor in at being the problem of the team not the others who the Wild Cats dispatched.

 

#7.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (1-1) DOWN THREE SPOTS  After the first week I said the Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin was a vocal leader out there on the field. Like a Phillip Rivers before his last season in Chargers uniform. I thought McGloin overthrew his receivers in week one and he would get better. I was wrong. Remember when the Oakland Raiders were rolling with Derek Carr in the beginning of his career? Raiders were able to win the AFC West with games still yet to be played. Carr had an injury occur which sidelined him for the remaining of that season. Matt McGloin took over the rest of the way and the Raiders collapsed like a house of cards. They were quickly dispatched in the first round as well with McGloin behind center. In week two McGloin looked the part of Phillips Rivers from last season and himself in the Raiders uniform years ago. Interceptions. McGloin is only completing 47.9% of his passes. Overthrowing wide open receivers that are wide open. He should not be the one bitching on the sidelines. Guardians should start Marquise Williams this weekend. Last season in the AAF he came in part time for the Commanders and did pretty well.  With Williams running the Commanders as a team they did not look like they were stuck in quicksand. Like what the Guardians looked like in week two.

#8. TAMPA BAY VIPERS (0-2) SAME       A friend I have who is originally from Tampa Bay, Florida said he hated the name Vipers. His thoughts on the name was they should have called this new team in his town he was born, something to do with the history of Tampa Bay. Like weather. The hockey team Lightning. The Arena football team named their squad the Storm. In baseball the Devil Rays were sting rays swimming in the ocean. Later Devil was taken out of the equation.

Locals lashed out so they became the Rays. The Ray of sunshine. The Buccaneers were pirates. What about pirates or Marauders as the name of the new XFL team in town? I said what about Pythons instead of Vipers like after the big hunt in the Everglades. No dice because Pythons are an invasive species to the glades.

The Vipers need more than just a name change right now. Marc Trestman has used already three quarterbacks and the struggles are for real on the offensive side of the ball. In  the Redzone  the Vipers have no clue how to get the football over the goal line. This friend of mine had to deal with Trestman as I did as head coach of the Bears a few years back. How he resurfaced on another one of your teams is just gut wrenching.

When will the owner of the Vipers Cobra Commander step in and end this experiment gone bad?  The Vipers defense is the best in the league. With a guy who has his own video game named after him, you know why his unit is the best.

Yes, send in the troll, Jerry Glanville. Out with the dwarf Trestman. Then change your uniforms while you’re at it. Maybe call yourself the Marauders in week three just for my friend’s sake.

The San Jose Sharks last season in the playoffs went deep into the waters of the NHL Playoffs. The Sharks upended the Vegas Golden Knights in a very tough first round match up that went the distance. Many experts had Vegas as a Stanley Cup finalist. Then in round two of the NHL playoffs, the Sharks showed a very young talented team in Colorado what it’s like to skate with a team of veterans. Sharks were ousted in six games versus the Blues in the Western conference finals. Could Doug Wilson, the Sharks GM, keep this veteran team intact to make another run at it the following season? With the NHL salary cap to deal with, the Sharks as a whole were in trouble. They could not keep everyone. They had choices to make. The league brought a bigger boat to the ice rink or the bad decisions came back to haunt San Jose.  San Jose were the team now Shark bitten.

Before the season In free agency, the Sharks let many of their goal scorers sign with other teams. San Jose were known last year as a team that can score a ton of points. Sharks felt like they could let a fan favorite, Joe Pavelski, go. They did not resign Gustav Nyquist or Joonas Donskoi. That’s 58 goals the Sharks let go from their total offense a season ago. Which comes out to 1/5 of the scoring from the 2018-19 team. They were hoping the young guys would step up. The pressure mounted for the core they kept intact to contribute every night. To pull the slack of the few lines that were pretty much non existent this season. The young guys failed. Logan Couture has been dealing with injuries. Tomas Hertl, Evander Kane and Timo Meier could not take the team on their backs. As the Sharks fire power has been very limited on what they can do this season.

JOE PAVELSKI                        GUTAV NYQUIST                         JOONAS DONSKOI

The Sharks put all their money in the Erik Karlsson basket. A stud defender most of his career. A defender though that will take a big chunk out of the salary cap to keep. Karlsson’s biggest problem is staying healthy. This year he’s been ruled out the rest of the year with a thumb injury. In 2017 they gave up a lot to pry Karlsson away from the Senators. Which they gave Ottawa the 2017 first rounder Josh Norris in that deal. Plus Karlsson’s big contract meant the Sharks could not bring back any of those goal scorers they let go.

The San Jose Sharks’ 2019-20 season will go down as one of their worst seasons in 15 years. The biggest problem they had last season when the playoffs started was their goal tending. Martin Jones shined in the playoffs last season as the high octane Sharks offense were able to put the puck in the net with ease. This season Jones has been a train wreck. Two long streaks of ten games Martin Jones has gone dormant. Save percentage has hit rock bottom during these tough times in the net for San Jose. Plus Jones is another bad contract on the books. His yearly hit on the cap is about 5.7 million and he has 4 years after this season to go. Martin Jones came from Boston for another first round pick in 2016 this team gave up.

The San Jose Sharks from out of the gate this season dug themselves a huge hole. This prompted them to fire their head coach, Peter DeBoer. DeBoer got a job with the Vegas Golden Knights.The Sharks jumped on the Golden Knights  X head coach Bob Boughner in what the NHL season has been nothing but musical chairs with coaches. The Sharks then had to change their team philosophy with the coaching change.   Sharks improved under Boughner but found themselves back in their own rut again. With several teams to leap frog to get into the playoffs with the season dwindling quickly. The Sharks will need the playoff magic they had last season and more to get back into the thick of things. Perhaps a bus crash of a few teams to help their cause.

San Jose Sharks have been around for 27 seasons. The Sharks have made the playoffs 21 times out of those 28 years in the NHL. They will definitely miss the playoffs this season. The Sharks would only have missed seven seasons of playoff hockey. No championships in 21 NHL times in the postseason. They have made it to the Stanley Cup finals one time losing to Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. This franchise has done a lot of good things since they first started to get to the playoffs that often. The Sharks could be facing some bad years ahead of them with bad contracts on the books. The youth not responding. Plus they still have a flux of veteran players in the mix. Might be best to hit the reset button and blow it all up, even the beard of Joe Thornton.

 

 

 

 

Rumors throughout the NFL grapevine this off season say the Raiders might be interested in signing Tom Brady. Raiders are thinking a two year 60 million dollar offer for the 42 year old quarterback with a six pack of Superbowl rings. Bringing Tom Brady to Las Vegas in their inaugural season would send all the slot machines into a frenzy. Tom Brady did put up his house for sale in the New England area. Brady’s trainer as well. Brady wants to play closer to his home on the west coast. All these rumors do not rule out Brady returning to the Death Star. Tom Brady was seen in Vegas talking to the Raiders owner at some event. Sometimes you follow the bread crumbs and the facts turn up. If Tom Brady does leave the Patriots then what happens to Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr? The Chicago Bears should pounce on Derek Carr like a vulture pecking at some road kill.

Derek Carr would be a perfect fit for Matt Nagy’s Chicago Bears offense. An offense that is designed to hit the open guy with all kinds of formations that try to mislead the opposing defenses. Carr can hit all the short routes. The Raiders lacked the deep threats over the years. Remember Amari Cooper and Carr took the league by storm. Derek Carr’s deep ball and any throws 20 yards or beyond which most quarterbacks in the league are better than Mitch Trubisky. Carr is right now in his prime at 28 years old.

Mitch Trubisky is a good guy. He may be a good quarterback at some point. He has shown some nice flashes on what he could do in the NFL. It is hard to just give up on someone like a Trubisky. In the NFL the window of opportunity is only open a short time. The Bears dominant defensive window I’m talking about. Last year playing from behind most of the time did not help the defense. A new coordinator in Chuck Pagano. Plus the defensive unit was left on the field far too long. The lack of running game you have to blame Matt Nagy for not mixing the offensive game plan each week. Lots of missed passes, stalled drives or never getting a drive established. That is on the quarterback.

The Bears have to make a decision about Mitch Trubisky. Will they put all of their marbles in the Trubisky basket? The Bears could bring in another veteran to push Trubisky in a quarterback competition for the starting job. The Bears would have to rid themselves of the expensive substitute teacher in Chase Daniels. Daniels was hired for his tutoring more than his actual play of the field since he knows Matt Nagy’s system. Can the Bears bring in an Andy Dalton? They need a guy that can take over if Trubisky goes into a rut. They can not just bring in another journeyman lifetime back up quarterback to compete.

The Derek Carr thing would mostly likely be just a pipe dream. Lots has to go down to have him even be available in a trade. Derek Carr’s had 70.4 % completion rate on a Raider team that lacked the play makers. Raiders had the better running game . Rookie Josh Jacobs looks to be one of the premier backs in the league for years to come. The Bears had a better receiving core than the Raiders. Trubisky had 63.2 % completion rate last season. Derek Carr’s yards per completion is at 7.9 while Trubisky is at a low 6.1. Derek Carr had 21 touch down passes and only 8 picked off. While Trubisky numbers were down at only 17 touchdowns and ten interceptions.

Too many questions to make a scenario happen like this. Is Jon Gruden happy with Derek Carr as his quarterback? Raiders have plenty of money to spend. They could get a new quarterback and improve holes in their roster at the same time. Would Gruden get a chubby coaching someone like Tom Brady? Can’t beat them let them join you as Gruden has been beaten by the Patriots quite a few times over the last two decades. The playoff game in snow versus the Patriots which would be known as the tuck rule game with Brady fumbling in crucial play that eventually haunted the Raiders. If Raiders get Tom Brady, head Coach Jon Gruden has done well with established veterans before. Rich Gannon turned into gold with the Raiders. Gruden won the Superbowl with the Buccaneers with Brad Johnson.

With Mitch Trubisky’s lack of experience in college should he even have been a first round draft pick? Will Mitch Trubisky ever be in the same conversation as Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, two guys drafted after him in the first round of the draft?  Bears are in a hostage situation because of Mitch Trubisky. They have no leverage as well. No draft capital. Not a lot of available capital with the salary cap as well. They used all their beans on the young quarterback and spent all their money on the defense and play makers for the offense. The Bears still have the tight end position to address. Plus some of their talented linebackers are heading to the open market. The Bears would have to do a magic act to pull off a deal for a quarterback like Carr. Let’s face the facts. The Bears are going to be driving around with the old beat Jalopy the Trubisky model instead of a vintage sports Carr.

 

 

OUR INAUGURAL FIRST EVER XFL POWER RANKINGS

Another football league and we are all over another power rankings for that league. XFL two has arrived on a field near you. You may hate our power rankings.

He Hate me loves them which isn’t saying much. We will rule with an iron enforcer’s fist as we will rank the best and worst of the XFL teams after week one.

The XFL is quitting the wrestling aspect in the XFL part two. Cold turkey they quit the habit insiders say. We will throw our own wrestling aspect in the ring of our XFL power rankings.

#1. DC DEFENDERS (1-0) First thing I thought when I heard DC’s nickname, Defenders.

The Defenders started off slow. As their first game went along they got better. They have a big time offense. They have a play making defense that put the Dragons away last week late in the second half. Cardale Jones at quarterback showed why he was unbeatable at Ohio State. The Defenders have some great wide receivers in Eli Rodgers and Rashard Ross. Ross is former Washington Redskin. Also Ross was one of the best receivers in the AAF last season with the Arizona Hot Shots.

I also like the back up quarterback the Defenders have.

Tyree Jackson from the University of Buffalo is another big arm and play maker they have behind center.

#2.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (1-0) Roughnecks going with an old school style of logo for their XFL team.

Houston Oilers brings back memories. Now they need a Warren Moon on the Roughnecks like the Oilers had.

PJ Walker’s first game as a Roughneck did a great imitation of Warren Moon. He aired it out for 272 yards, the most out of any other quarterback in the league. He tossed 4 touchdowns and Walker’s team scored the most points in week one with 37. Look at the comparisons of the Roughnecks and Oilers logos both being oil rigs. They both have black quarterbacks. Both are wearing ones. Moon wears number 1. While Walker wears number 11. Obviously Walker will need more games to catch up to Moon’s accomplishments. Moon did start his career in the CFL before doing very well in the NFL.

#3.ST.LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS (1-0) The Battlehawks were the only team on the road that won a game in the first week of play. St.Louis rolls out a ball control attack with many options of running plays. They played turn over free. Plus good defense. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu made his first professional start. Is he the Lamar Jackson of the league as he sliced and diced the Renegade defense for big runs? PlusTa’amu passed for 209 yards.

Can the new football team in St.Louis be able to fix the Rams walking out on them? St. Louis is the only city in the league that does not have a NFL team present in the same town. The Blues winning the Stanley Cup helps. Finally a Stanley they like over the Stanley that broke their hearts.

#4.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (1-0) Are the Guardians that type of team that just takes advantage of your mistakes? Then they drain your blood like a vampire.

Could it be the Vipers played terrible? Matt McGloin and NFL journeyman missed a lot of passes. I did like his leadership skills. Showed you grit. Not a guy that will put up huge numbers. But a guy that will put wins in the column.

Reminded me of a Phillip Rivers before last season. A vocal leader in your face style. It’s his huddle or the highway to others.

#5.DALLAS RENEGADES (0-1) Renegades coming into the league were the favorites to win the entire league. Without their face of the franchise, Landry Jones, behind center, they already have one loss under their belts.

Phillip Nelson, former Fleet quarterback from the AAF, could only get the Renegades 9 points during which drives stalled and they settled for field goals. Renegades defense only gave up 15 points to the Battlehawks. Landry Jones, the team says, will be under center in week two. Maybe changing the light bulb is what the Renegades need after one week of play.

#6.SEATTLE DRAGONS (0-1) The Dragons coming in, experts thought they were the worst of the bunch. What experts? Bloggers like me. I thought the Dragons played pretty well in the first week. They have quarterback Brandon Silvers who surfaced late in the AAF last year and did very well before the entire league put up an out of business sale. At the local flea market everything must go.  Austin Proehl, son of former NFL wide out Ricky Proehl, was the first player to score a touchdown. Austin was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and he is off to a great start with 88 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Dragons also have Kenneth Farrow, a shifty running back who played in the AAF for the San Antonio Commanders and did very well. Dragons have some play makers and a quarterback on the rise. They could be a sleeper team. They hung with the DC Defenders until the 4th quarter. I think the Defenders look to be one of the better teams in the league.

#7.LA WILDCATS (0-1) LA for years did not have a football team. Now the city of LA has three professional football teams. The thing the Chargers, Rams and the new Wild Cats have in common is they all suck. Is the arena Football team the San Jose Sabercats still around?

The Saber Cats might be a scarier team to play than the wild cats. Unless they already moved to LA. Wild Cats are still waiting for NFL journeyman QB Josh Johnson to be healthy to take over behind center. LA already got salty with Pepper Johnson after one game. Johnson the defensive coordinator was let go after one game in the books. The XFL is a very cut throat league.

#8.TAMPA BAY VIPERS (0-1) When Tampa Bay gets a football team they love dressing them up in bright colors.

The Buccaneers started off with creamsicles uniform colors. The Vipers have a neon green thing going with white. The greensicles. Is Rainbow Brite the mayor of Tampa Bay?

Can’t believe after only one game the league has caught on to Marc Trestman’s offense. When he was head coach of the Bears, his offense did very well for almost an entire  year. Let’s not get into the defense those two years Trestman was the man on the sidelines. Aaron Murray at quarterback did not look good. The back up looked better. A quarterback controversy already? Red zone offense was very puzzling. Only good thing to report is the defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville looked awesome in the Viper jacket.

Perhaps Marc Trestman will be the first ever head coach fired during the season and Jerry can take over.

 

 

Last weekend the XFL THE SEQUEL debuted. It was 20 years ago when the first XFL game was played between the New York/New Jersey Hitmen at the Las Vegas Outlaws in Vegas. The owner of the XFL Vince McMahon promised the league would be totally different the second go around over the first. It would be pure football without the wrestling theatrics mixed in. Usually part two movies flop at the box office like a Weekend at Bernie’s II or an Airplane two. I will compare the XFL to lower budget movies, not a must see Tom Hanks award winner. It’s not the star flooded juggernaut of a league like the NFL.  Can a Spring football league thrive with a history of other leagues that seem to die off faster then a zombie virus in an apocalyptic world? The first XFL hit rock bottom so all you could do with league two is look up.

THE KICKOFF RULES

The XFL did promise football and none of those extra shenanigans. No mad scramble for the kick off. Fair catches were not outlawed. Last year AAF league had no kick offs. The XFL has a kick off, and no coin toss. The XFL revised the kick off. The kicker and the returner are lined up behind the rest of the special teams on the field. The kicker kicks the ball. No one moves until the returner touches the ball. Then play resumes. The Returner runs and the one team blocks while the other team tries to tackle the returner.  I liked this rule a lot. The AAF took one of the most exciting plays out of the game. While the NFL, this play is mostly touch backs. XFL thumbs up.

POINTS AFTER TOUCHDOWNS

Last year the AAF did no extra points. It was only two point conversions after each touchdown. Field goals are still in play if you come up short on third downs and are in range; you can kick to try to get three points. The XFL has three different point selections after you score a touchdown. No kicking involved. They range from 1 point play right on the two yard line. Then a two point play is like the five yard line. A three point play about the ten yard line. All three options the offensive team has to run the ball in or make a completed pass over the goal line.  This will set up some different strategies for your team. Depends what your offensive team is capable of. Depends on what their strong suit is. You can actually get a nine point play. It is an interesting change, but the jury is still out as to will it be a wait and see. AAF two point rule might be the better way to go.  Math skills will be important for head coaches.

THE DEFENSE

The AAF had some rule on defense you could not blitz so many players.  It was one of those rules that would be called. I compare this rule to the pass interference call in the NFL or what is a catch. No one can explain properly. Every referee has a different version. The XFL does not have any such rule which just handicaps the defense. In my opinion make it flag football then, with too many restrictions on one unit. Why even suit up? XFL gets the nod.

OFFENSE

Both the AAF and XFL wanted to speed things up. Everyone is in a rush these days. Both leagues had made adjustments to the play clock in between plays with less time to stand around. No talking about what to get Bernice for her baby shower. It’s get up and go. The XFL has headsets in the quarterback and the playmaker’s helmets. Quarterback helmets communications has been going on for years. The play makers is something new. This eliminates some of the huddling plays and kind of gives the league a hurry up offense style of play at times.  Less commercials would speed up any game in my opinion. I like to watch a game. I’m not looking at my watch or phone. Overtime is an extra beer. Less beers and both leagues lose.

SOME OF THE NAMES HAVE CHANGED BUT FAMILIAR FACES

I wonder if the AAF had survived with the XFL debut, one league or both leagues would of been completely watered down. I notice lots of X -AAF players in the XFL. Quarterback Phillip Nelson started for the Dallas Renegades last year and was with San Diego Fleet. He only got the start because Landry Jones was hurt and will start in week two. Brandon Silvers who came on late last season for the Memphis Express and did well.

Silvers is a starter for the Seattle Dragons and looked pretty good in his debut. Then Jamal Summers was making plays for Birmingham Iron in the AAF.  Last weekend he was making plays for New York Guardians. Plenty of others with the AAF back ground have merged in the XFL. The XFL has gotten players not just from the old AAF league. Former Ohio State stand out, Cardale Jones, is QB one in DC. Phillip Walker from Temple University did very well for the Houston Roughnecks behind center in the declawing of the Wildcats. With the multiple amount of AAF players in this league it’s a win for the XFL. Those players are used to playing full contact football in Spring  which it has been about less than a year still. These players could help others get their bodies to adjust in an different environment. This is a win win for the XFL.

LOGOS

The first XFL had names and logos that were mostly fit for a prison penitentiary league. Most of the logos were beyond terrible. This go around the XFL has really improved their logo and names. I thought the AAF had some great logos in their short term league. My favorite team logo from the AAF  was the San Diego Fleet.

The battleship on the side is awesome. I give Seattle Dragons as my favorite helmet from the XFL.

The Dallas Renegades helmet reminds me of some helmets from other past leagues.

DALLAS DESPERADOS, ARENA & OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS USFL, LOOK LIKE THE XFL DALLAS RENEGADE LOGO

A new football league in February in week one will always do well. The AAF’s first weekend had over 2.9 million viewers. People still have football juices flowing through their bodies from the Superbowl. Plus it’s a new league and curiosity plays a factor. Plus February is the worst sports month all year. NHL and NBA all-star weekends. Plus baseball is just going through the motions in Spring training. AAF games were on TNT, Football Network, and the CBS Sports Network. Then once in a while on the prime time channel of CBS. XFL has done better with 3.3 million viewers. XFL the games are on bigger networks. They are easier to find then the AAF. Fox, ABC and ESPN should and will help this league develop longer down the road than the  AAF followed.

The XFL opening weekend the games were not bad to watch. Just like the AAF games on their opening day weekend. I loved that it was football. Leaving wrestling out of the XFL this time probably was the number one thing that was discussed when they had this idea of the return. The XFL games will get better. February should be a big month for the league. Can this league excel beyond? March Madness, baseball opening day and the NFL draft. Plus NHL and NBA playoff push. These are the biggest obstacles in this league’s way. Plus do football fans lose their grid iron juices when the seasons change? People have outside work to do when the temperatures rise. Spring people and events come out of the wood work that take control of your couch potato days of throwing food down your gauntlet while viewing the game of football which takes over the weekends. Can the product on the field hook line and sinker the fans throughout the whole season?

It was money that demolished the AAF. Like Rocky Balboa leaving Paulie in charge of the finances. Vince McMahon is one rich SOB. With his wrestling backing. He says the league is good enough to survive on its own for three seasons. XFL has already sold more tickets then the AAF.  Oliver Luck as the commissioner has the back ground for this type of business. The XFL took some things that worked in the AAF. I liked how the AAF had big NFL names in their coaching staffs. XFL has done the same way.  They added some of their own stuff but basically have the same NFL rules to the game. I did not like how the AAF made their game as a stepping stone to the NFL. That is obvious and every player’s  dreams. The XFL has that USFL mentality that “we are a league by ourselves.” Just don’t let Donald Trump interfere with the operations of the league. Keep it simple, play the game of football, and the XFL should be able to stick around. Make your game easy to find, which they have done so far. This league should not be in any rush to expand to more teams until you have a cult following in place. They will need regulars at this bar to survive.

 

The NFL is just an ocean of drama when it comes to the players that put on the helmet every Sunday. Everyone has their own team they root for. Sometimes they might put up with players that are whacked out of their minds because they help your team win. Perhaps you don’t have a tolerance level for these players’ actions. Some teams do very well at getting rid of the riff raff. Some teams hold on to the riff and raff like they will find themselves being shanked from behind by them in a dark corner of their offices. Lots of NFL players if they were not playing the game on Sunday, would be behind bars.

Besides the hatred of the drama from these players that have plagued the league. Most people hate teams that always beat you. Players that beat your team every time. They might dance on your grave. They might not. However they ruin your season every year. They might even cost you money. They don’t care. Sometimes you have to rely on another team you might dislike less than that team. You want them to beat the player from the team that stabs you in the throat and cost you a week in fantasy. What if you can list a player from each team and discard them from the atrocities they have done to your heart and soul? Some teams it is hard just to pick one. Plus how far do you go back that the wounds are still sore? My list will go back to when the leagues emerged which was the AFL and NFL. I’m not that old but some of my choices come from a time far back in time. This would be a list also that if the owner could get rid of these players that tainted their organization, would they? This list has lots of factors. It is all opinions as well. You say Tomato, I might say Tomaaaato.

AFC

WEST

SAN DIEGO/LA CHARGERS

RYAN LEAF

First round BUST. Hot headed and blew up at reporters. Went to jail.

DENVER BRONCOS

BRANDON MARSHALL WIDE RECEIVER

Marshall is a typical receiver that would complain he is not getting the ball enough. Known for mental issues. Probably needed Prozac on his coco puffs to have a good day.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

JACK TATUM

Nicknamed the assassin for all his vicious hits. Love big hits in football, but not using your helmet as a weapon. Tatum would have been banned from the league if he played nowadays. In 1978 his helmet to helmet shot ended Darryl Stingley’s career leaving him paralyzed.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

KAREEM HUNT

Hunt beating up the girl in the Cleveland hotel hallway. Then to kick her while she’s on the ground.

SOUTH

HOUSTON TEXANS

MARIO WILLIAMS

I did not care for him when he was on the Texans. Thought he was overrated. Then he got a lot of money to come to Buffalo.  He did nothing in Buffalo. I have a guy I hate more then him in Buffalo. Mario makes my list in a Texans uniform.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

BOB SANDERS

This guy always flexing his muscles after he made just the simplest play. He could not stay on the field most of the time. Wow you did your job and made a tackle.

TENNESSEE TITANS

FRANK WYCHECK

This is a guy who was over the line when he threw the lateral pass in the Music City miracle game. The Titans stun the Bills in a first round playoff game. With seconds left in the game the Bills should have won. Obviously over the line still to this day.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

JALEN RAMSEY

The Jaguars had a few players I could have had on this list. Ramsey this season forced his way out of Jacksonville by complaining and not playing in games. Before that how his Jaguars were the best defense he chirped. Then when things start going bad.  Ramsey jumped ship first as he pushed the women and children out of the way so he can escape. Told a magazine in an interview which quarterbacks across the league were good, bad, and ugly. Bulletin board material doing that.

NORTH (FULL OF CRAZIES)

BALTIMORE RAVENS

RAY LEWIS

A lunatic who covered up murders in Atlanta. Who knows? He probably did them. He was protecting his posse. He was a great player but his antics on the field especially when the Ravens beat your team, it made you cringe. You had to count to ten to restore the balance in the blood pressure.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

ANTONIO BROWN

This guy has lost his marbles. When is he going to learn to stay off Twitter? He’s like that drunken guy who broke up with his girlfriend. Texting in the wee hours how they need to get back together. Then the next day how he hates her guts. How many women has Brown sexual assaulted? Starting to add up and be even with the amount of catches he had in the NFL.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

MYLES GARRETT

This guy needs a snickers bar during the games. Using the helmet as a weapon. Garrett would do well in a zombie apocalypse.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

VONTAZE BURFICT

Former Bengal. Last season with the Raiders Burfict had a jarring cheap hit on the Colts tight end which got him suspended. Not his first rodeo on cheap shots. In a playoff game he cost the Bengals a playoff win with a hit to the head on Steelers wide out, Antonio Brown. Explains Brown these days. But the hit was flagged and Steelers moved into field goal range and eventually won the game. It could have been over before his nonsense.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

TOM BRADY

Were you thinking of someone else?

BUFFALO BILLS

OJ SIMPSON

My main reason was his acting in those Naked Gun movies. Biggest reason you know  the Juice got away with murders. Then found jail time for breaking into someone’s house to steal his own memorabilia.

NEW YORK JETS

LE’VEON BELL

The holding out in Pittsburgh. This season could not play a game due to being ill. However he goes out bowling the night before the game that week. My mum always said if you can’t make it to school, then on the weekend don’t expect to go out with your friends. Now he has the money, the contract, and says he misses Pittsburgh.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

RICHIE INCOGNITO

Incognito is like the Gooch on the show Different Strokes. You never saw the Gooch on the show. In my mind he exactly looks like Richie. Plus the man wanted to cut his father’s head off at a funeral parlor. His father was the one in the casket.

NFC

EAST

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

TERRELL OWENS

Owens I could have gotten on a few teams. I think Donovan McNabb would have won a Superbowl without Terrell Owens being on that team. Owens is a cancer to any locker room he went in.

NEW YORK GIANTS

ODELL BECKHAM JR.

Beckham is a dog. An untrained dog that will never be housebroken in any locker room. Only reason to root for him is if you have him on your fantasy team. Not too impressed with his numbers these days.

DALLAS COWBOYS

LEON LETT

Definition of hot dogging it is Leon Lett. In the Superbowl Lett was running down the sideline holding the ball out celebrating before he got to the end zone. Glad Don Beebe caught up to him and knocked the ball out of his hand before he got there. Now Lett, you’re known as just a fat tub of lard that got the ball knocked out after you showboated.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

DEION SANDERS

Redskins paid Sanders way too much money and they were not close in getting their bang for their buck. Sanders is an overrated player in my books. He won Superbowls. More of a headcase than what he did on the field. Especially on defense he was a bad tackler. I give him props for some of his returns in special teams.

CENTRAL

GREEN BAY PACKERS

CHARLES MARTIN

Martin had a hit list on his towel. One Sunday he body slammed Jim McMahon to the turf. Some believe Jim McMahon was never the same after that hit that sidelined him. Martin also had others like Walter Payton on his towel hit list.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

ADRIAN PETERSON

Tanning his son’s hide with a switch. Who knows if it was just the bum he was whacking. Spanky Peterson probably did more that did not get out.

CHICAGO BEARS

JAY CUTLER

The Bears gave Cutler a few Brinks trucks of money. For what? Exactly. A classless guy that did not give two craps about his team or the fans. Known for pick sixes in crucial parts of the game. All the talent he had. The smug look on his face says it all.

DETROIT LIONS

NDAMUKONG SUH

One of the dirtiest players in the game. How many times did this cat walk on players’ legs or arms when they were down on the ground after a play was over? Late knockdowns after the whistle was blown were another common thing in Suh’s game.

SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

BRYAN COX

I could have put his name for a few teams. He flipped off the Buffalo Bills fans in a playoff game when he played for the Dolphins. That’s when I really hated him. Then he seemed to migrate to some of my favorite NFL teams like the Bears and Saints. Still was not a fan. Sometimes it’s the uniform. I think it’s just him.

ATLANTA FALCONS

MIKE VICK

What this guy invested his money into. Dog fighting on his own property. Man’s best friend fighting another man’s best friend. How many dogs starved? How many dogs were beaten? That is training them into ferocious animals to fight other dogs. How many dogs were put down? I thought he was overrated as well as a player.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

JAMEIS WINSTON

He is a scum. Ask any female Uber driver. They are there to drive you, not so you can grope them. Plus he is the interception king and defenses are the only ones who love this guy. Can you say pick sixes? It’s like hitting the jackpot on a slot machine.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

CAM NEWTON

In his only Superbowl appearance he did not dive on a fumbled ball in the last few minutes of the game. Afraid he would have gotten hurt. That is very soft. Not polite to female reporters. Plus Newton will walk out of a press conference if you ask him anything else besides what his favorite color is.

WEST

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

COLIN KAEPERNICK

A total bum. A vanilla Ice. One year wonder. Making money on a myth about himself off the field and then on the field. Kneeling during the National Anthem. Do it on your own time.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

RICHARD “DICK HEAD” SHERMAN

From the Legion of boom defense. Could have named all of them. One of the biggest mouths in the league. Has Twitter wars with people just smack talking. Says that no one will throw that ball on his side of the field. That was a big gainer by Sammie Watkins last Sunday late in the game on Sherman’s side. Shermsies  is now 1-2 in Superbowls. That is 0-2 in the last two.

LA RAMS

CLAY MATTHEWS III

Hated him on Green Bay. I hate USC. Clay went to USC. Thinks he’s Thor. Overrated.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

MATT LEINHART

Another Trogan I don’t care for. A total bust. Bad memory period of just too many bad Cardinal teams over the years. Wasted time I can not get back

 

For Superbowl LIV coming in it was easy to decide who to root for. In a game that featured the San Francisco 49ers versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs’ last appearance in the Superbowl before last Sunday was 50 years ago. That was a win versus the Minnesota Vikings in Superbowl IV. Chiefs made it to the very first Superbowl versus the Packers and lost. With the win versus the 49ers last Sunday they are 2-1 in the big game. The 49ers’ last Superbowl appearance before last Sunday was in 2013. That was the loss to the Ravens and the 49ers first ever lost in the Superbowl. Before that the 49ers won 5 Superbowls. Losing Sunday to the Chiefs it’s been two Superbowls in a row the 49ers have lost. The 49ers are 5-2 all-time in the big game. I came into Sunday wanting the Chiefs to win. The Chiefs I have  always liked in my book. Certain teams I did not want the Chiefs to win against. It’s a franchise that has had a lot of heartbreak. It’s a franchise that had a lot of great players I liked over the years. The 49ers I hated mostly because they kept beating everyone. I loved Michael Jordan and the Bulls teams in the 1990’s. Fans probably liked Michael Jordan and only the player, like they do Lebron James. Does not matter what jersey they wear. Fans from other cities probably got sick of the Bulls. Rooted against them because they were tired of seeing them win every year. I think I got sick of the 49ers  winning, but thinking of that now I respect many of the players from that era. The last two 49er Superbowls teams I hated more than their winning teams.

HAND ME DOWNS

The 49ers and the Chiefs seem to be like brothers from different mothers. Every time the 49ers grew out of their quarterbacks they sent down their hand me downs to their younger brother the Chiefs. This why some called the game on Sunday the Montana bowl.

Montana was like Tom Brady except he had a heart of gold. He won Superbowls like Brady period. Montana had to be moved because the 49ers had Steve Young in the wings waiting. Joe Montana late in his career guided the Chiefs to an AFC championship. That was the furthest they would get with Montana behind center. Over the years the Chiefs welcomed more hand me downs from the 49ers. Steve Deberg , Alex Smith, Steve Bono, and Elvis Grbac.

QUARTER BACKS IN SUPERBOWL 54

Will the Chiefs down the line get a Jimmy Garoppolo? Probably not because they will ride the Patrick Mahomes train until it’s gasping on fumes. Jimmy Garoppolo is a local kid from the Chicagoland area. You have to root for the local kids. Went to a small state school, Eastern Illinois.

Is Eastern Illinois a quarterback factory? Tony Romo played there. Sean Payton, head coach of the Saints, went there.

Sean Payton was a scab and played for the Bears during the strike season in the late 1980’s.

Jimmy Garoppolo played behind Tom Brady to start his career. The Evil Empire probably injected Jimmy with everything to make him a better quarterback. Bill Belichick I think wanted to keep Garoppolo. If the 49ers won last Sunday, Patriots fans could be wondering if they should have kept him instead of Tom Brady.

Jimmy Garoppolo has an incredible starting record in the NFL. Knocks on him if he can stay healthy and he did this season. Plus if it came down to him to make the clutch throw could he do it?

Built around a strong running game all season. The 49ers did not continue that scheme and put the balls in Jimmy’s hands in the second half and he missed a big chance with a wide open Emmanuel Sanders. It could have potentially put the 49ers up on top for good last Sunday.

The Chicago Bears could have drafted Patrick Mahomes. They threw away extra picks to move up one spot to get Mitch Trubisky from San Francisco. 49ers then went defense. They fleeced the Bears and still got their guy. Some Bears fans were rooting on the 49ers because they did not want to see Mahomes win the title. All because the Bears could have had him. Would Mahomes  have been the savior for the Chicago Bears if the they drafted him instead of Trubisky? Probably not because when the Bears get their hands on things, they turn into stone.

Patrick Mahomes was the Superbowl MVP. Not a very Mahomes like game with two picks one late in the game one in the red zone that cost the team points late in the game. When the Chiefs were in the hurry up offense Mahomes responded. The 49ers were up by ten points late in that game.  Ask the Houston Texans defense about Mahomes? The comeback gets the Chiefs the title and gives Patrick Mahomes an MVP trophy in the Superbowl because he led them back and won it.

FOR ALL THE X CHIEFS

This Superbowl title for the Chiefs should be shared with all those players who were close. On some of those teams that dominated the league and would be ousted early in the playoffs.

MY FAVORITE CHIEF

The Nigerian nightmare Christian Okoye was my favorite Chief player of all-time. He was like a Mack truck just running over defenders when he ran the ball. A big force that would hit the hole and the headlights and his grill coming at you head on. In big time collisions he usually won.

You have to like how Damien Williams performed on the grand stage last Sunday. Two rushing touchdowns with 104 yards on the ground.

Other player from the Chiefs I loved is when Marcus Allen left the Raiders and went to the rival Chiefs. The touchdown plunges he had over his career from the goal line were a thing of beauty.

RIP Derrick Thomas the Chiefs got the job done finally.

Thomas was the heart and soul of those Chiefs defenses for a long time. I would compare him to Khalil Mack nowadays. He passed away unfortunately. A guy like that who created havoc for opposing offenses for years was very special and fun to watch him play the game of football. These players do not come around often.

Neil Smith was the big guy on the D-line that quarterbacks feared. Smith played alongside Derrick Thomas for years and they had some great defensive units and the Chiefs won many games. Smith took on double teams and found ways of getting in the face of some of the greats like John Elway and many quarterbacks in the league.

X- NINERS

I respect guys like Jerry Rice, Steve Young and Joe Montana. I did not like them back then. But they played to win the game. They played it the right way. I was rooting on the San Diego Chargers when the 49ers destroyed them in the Superbowl.

Who can forget another running back that ran over people in Natrone Means. His name says beast of running back. Then a gutsy quarterback Stan the Man Humpries. This guy did not do anything well. But he found a way. He was a great leader. Dan Fouts and Phillip Rivers have all the Chargers passing records. Both of them never got the Chargers to the biggest stage. Stan was a guy that brought those underdog Chargers to the Superbowl. Even though the 49ers killed them in a bloody massacre. That was a great and fun team to watch.

Two of my favorite 49ers. One was the hard hitting safety Ronnie Lott on those defensive teams that helped Montana and Young get those 49er Superbowl trophies.

If you caught the ball over the middle,if you dared, Lott would have creamed you.

TOM RATHMAN

The last name you think full back. Tom Rathman was one of the best full backs of all-time. He would spring running backs with great blocks. He would get chances and run you over rushing the ball. Loved his catches out of that back field. Just a swing pass for a touchdown or a big first down. Rathman would get the one tough yard for the first down as well.

Kyle Juszczyk on Sunday for the 49ers was the first full back to score a touchdown in the Superbowl in 17 years. Kyle wears number 44 like his favorite back growing up which was Tom Rathman. Juczczyk has 3 catches for 39 yards on Sunday. Came close to getting in the end zone twice and if he did and the 49ers won, would he possibly have been the MVP?

THE COACHES

Before the Superbowl, the Chiefs’ Andy Reid had the loser label stamped on his back like a tramp stamp.

Andy Reid been around a long time. One of the best coaches in the league. Before this year only made it to the Superbowl once. As a head coach with the Eagles. The Donavan McNabb led Eagles team, lost to the Evil Empire in 2005. Reid has gotten the Eagles teams to the NFC championships multiple times. Then Reid guided the Chiefs last year to the AFC championship and they lost to the Evil Empire. Reid and the Chiefs found their way back in the AFC championship once again, this time prevailing over the Titans.

For a long time the Chiefs made the playoffs and could never get very far. If they did they would find a way to lose. With Andy Reid and before that Marty Schottenheimer.

Marty Schottenheimer was one of those best coaches that won only the regular season. He won some playoff games. But the losses is where he will be remembered the most.

Kyle Shanahan to me looks like Charlie Brown with the hat. Son of former Superbowl winning coach Mike Shanahan. Kyle comes in as a loser label as well. The year when the Falcons were beaten by the Evil Empire. It’s always the Patriots making these coaches losers. The play calling scheme he called in the second half in 2017. Instead of running the ball to kill the clock the Falcons were too pass happy with a large lead. Result was Evil Empire stormed back and took one from the Dirty Birds.  You could say the same thing, that the 49ers abandoned the run which was working for them and passed more with a ten point lead on the Chiefs late in the game. Chiefs made the stops and started their comeback. Looks like Kyle Shanahan is the block head now.

OVERALL

The Chiefs and the 49ers was a good game. It was a thousand times better than last years clunker between the Patriots and the Rams. Who the hell do you root for in a game like that? The Rams are a team that abandoned St.Louis to move back to LA. A place from where you want escape if you were anybody intelligent.

Then who wants to root for a franchise like the Evil Empire? Rooting for Kansas City made it easy. Rooting against a prick like Richard Sherman. Dick head was the blame for my X factor Sammie Watkins.

Former Bill was wide open and Sherman mouth wide open with nothing to say. PRICELESS !!!!

With the Chiefs winning, guys like Kareem Hunt, former Chief running back cut for beating a woman up in a Cleveland hotel hallway, don’t get a ring.

Hunt is riding out his jail sentence in a Cleveland asylum. Shows you good guys do win.

The 49ers you think of the bad seeds they have had over the years. Besides Richard Sherman. Jim Harbaugh was a very annoying coach.

Guys like Terrell Owens who should be compared to nowadays Antonio Brown.

Then Colin Kaepernick.

A player making more money off the field than on. A one year wonder with a cult following that believes he is the messiah. The kneel downs during the National anthem. The fake tryouts of a comeback. He has created a myth about himself. He does not want to play football which would actually spoil his legend, that he has brainwashed in peoples’ heads.

The 49ers history made this Superbowl an easy pick to go with the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes made it exciting. Guys like Andy Reid finally get a ring. Plus the tomahawk chop will be heard on the parade route as the Chiefs fans deserve this one.

The black hole might have a different opinion about the Chop being heard from on the parade route.

 

Before the 2019 NFL regular season began, many people in Chicago were thinking Superbowl. With the great defense in place. A young quarterback ready to take the next step. An offensive guru coach ready to open up the playbook. Kicker was the only problem. Then the whole team regressed. Mitch Trubisky did not take a step forward, rather just a few steps backwards. Looked good at the end of the season, but the jury is still out on Trubisky. The league figured out Matt Nagy’s offense. The defense was just okay.

The defense was not that scary like they were in 2018. Chuck Pagano calling the plays seemed like quarterbacks had all day to throw. If the Bears want to keep their window open and rebound next season, they will have to make some changes. They will have some tough choices. One of the big decisions is what to do at the middle linebacker position. Nick Kwiatkowski or Danny Trevathan? Two talented players. Both are free agents. Both called the plays on the defensive side of the ball. Field generals out there making sure everyone is lined up correctly. Being able to adjust on the fly at times. An important position like Brian Urlacher and Mike Singletary did when they were here.

Danny Trevathan was drafted by the Denver Broncos. Helped Denver win the Superbowl versus Carolina years ago. He’s a hard hitting linebacker that has played in the league for 8 seasons. One of the best linebackers in the league. Has been the back bone of the Bears defense and before that the Broncos, Trevathan has play making abilities and is the field general out there. Great against the run. He will be 30 years old in March. Injuries are the biggest problem when it comes to Trevathan. He has missed 18 games total for the Bears. Three out of the last 4 seasons he failed to play in all 16 games. In his eight year career, he only has two seasons he played the Full Monty. How many more years can you get out of him? The team will have to make sure you have somebody as a backup plan with his history.

Nick Kwiatkoski’s stock is on the rise for his play last season subbing in for the injury of Danny Trevathan. Kwiatkoski had 68 tackles during that 7 game stretch. Add in 3 sacks, an interception, and a safety versus the Vikings in the last game of regular season. Plus football focus stats say Kwiatkoski in coverage is allowing only 4.0 yards per target which is ranked the tops in the league for those who qualify. Kwiatkoski was born in Pittsburgh where linebackers are made from the old steel mill factories. He was drafted by the Bears from West Virginia University. He has played for the Bears for 4 years. During the Fox era I thought his play earned him a starting position on the field. Bears brought in Trevathan which had Kwiatkoski playing special teams in filling in for injured players. At 26 he’s at the prime of his career. He’s a grinder type of guy as well. Nothing flashy, just plays the game and makes the solid tackle.

Both these guys are variable commodities to have. Both will get paid. Bears can only keep one of them with all the issues they have going on. With the sudden retirement of Luke Kuechly, the Carolina Panthers may look at Kwiatkoski to fill in their vacancy. Nick Kwiatkoski will probably get a longer deal than Danny Trevathan who is 4 years older and has injury history. Even though football contracts are not guaranteed it’s that signing bonus which is the biggest factor. The NFL has a salary cap so it could be the money that makes the Bears’ decision who to keep with so many things the team needs to do. Would Trevathan take a discount to stay in Chicago? I could see him going back to Denver and joining his former Bears coach Vic Fangio, who is the head coach of the Broncos. If the money is not right. Bears do not have anybody else on their roster now that can replace either guy in that position if they both bolt to another town. Bears have no first round pick. Drafting a middle linebacker after the first round most likely will not be able start from day one.

Bears need to address the tight end position. They should bring in another veteran quarterback.The offensive line needs help. Bears still unsure if Mitch is the future behind center? I would love them to add another pass rusher and get rid of Leonard Floyd. With Khalili Mack locked up. Roquan Smith is still in his rookie contract. The Bears just extended Eddie Jackson. Bears are assembling a nice core on defense. They should bring back Nick Kwiatkoski and give him a long term deal and let him take over the middle linebacker position. Let Danny Trevathan go. Kwiatkoski is younger and is durable. Plus being only 26 years old he can grow with the core they have signed. This defense can be good for a very long time keeping these guys intact. When is the offense going to catch up? Bears should not weaken one side of the ball to try to get the offense even with the defense. They can get created and rid themselves of the expensive back up teacher in Chase Daniel. Trey Burton is another guy you can cut to free up some salary. Offense needs tinkering and the defense just needs to stay together the best they can. Going younger at a position with a guy that can do better than the older guy, is a better plan for the future. Nick Kwiatkoski has the nose for the football. Johnny on the spot on many plays when he’s out there. Now we just need a better scheme on defense. Then what Chuck Pagano has done would help them recapture that domination of 2018.