Maybe it does not matter how many times the Cleveland Browns shuffle their deck.  Does not matter how many times they clean out their front office. After the regular season the Browns  fired their head coach and GM. This seems to be the yearly tradition in Cleveland. They replaced the gigantic stupid move of last off season and brought in Kevin Stefanski from the Minnesota Vikings. Stefanski’s football background compared to the colossal moron Freddie Kitchens, makes Stefanski look and sound like a Bill Belichick. Stefanski has credit for the one year wonder as Vanilla Ice aka Case Keenum climbing the record charts that year in Minnesota. Browns brought in another GM Andrew Berry which is another name that  the jury is still out on. The one thing we do know is the Browns decision already made letting linebacker Joe Schobert walk out the door is baffling. The new regime steps in to the batter box first at bat and is called out on third strike right down the freaking middle is what I see.

Joe Schobert was one of the few good draft picks out of the many the Browns had and got it right. The Browns hit on a 4th rounder from Wisconsin  University in 2016 by picking Joe Schobert. University of Wisconsin, a Big Ten school where they grow defensive players like the corn crop. In 2017 Joe Schobert was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Last season Schobert was Johnny on the spot for the Browns with four interceptions. Schobert had 133 tackles for the Browns defense. Two sacks and broke up nine passes. Last season where the Browns will be remembered mostly because Myles Garrett used Mason Rudolf’s helmet as a weapon like in some kind of zombie apocalypse world. Then to see the STUPID reek out of the pores of all the Cleveland players on the roster every week except a Joe Schobert and few others.

This does not shock me the Browns would pass on Schobert’s services. This is the same Browns that passed on Carson Wentz services and chose Corey Coleman. The same Browns that took Johnny Manziel because Johnny Football told them they should draft him. The signing of Kareem Hunt then trading of Duke Johnson. Then bringing in Odell Beckham Jr. through a trade. Your quarterback Baker Mayfield has done nothing but regressed in his second year. He probably led the division in commercial appearances. All’s the Browns have going on is that this team as a group is a circus. The Browns should not be playing in the NFL with this team. They should be going town to town to set up their big top. Have kids feed peanuts to Myles Garrett. Perhaps a snickers bar would calm his nerves. He may think I’m racist against him.

Joe Schobert is a pure football player. Every team needs as many Joe Schoberts as they can get. Guys that play the team concept. Guys that understand the game and have the heart of the lion. Schobert’s asking price may be too large for the Browns. Browns want to address their offensive line which what team does not want to do that. Maybe Schobert’s asking price is high because he wants out of Cleveland. Which you would not blame him.The Browns could have and should have extended Schobert’s contract before it got to this point.  Schobert himself might want his services to go with a team with better coaching and more football players around him. If you strike gold on a linebacker you hold on to them. They are the heartbeat of the defensive unit. The Browns are too busy looking for their next trapeze act instead of keeping parts of their actually foundation of a football team. Schobert will resurface somewhere next season. Perhaps he will go home and play for the Green Bay Packers next season. A team that made the playoffs last season. A team with new coaching staff that went out last off season and added defense. Joe Schobert would be a nice solid piece to have on many defensive units around the league. In Cleveland Schobert may have to grow another head on his shoulders to stick with that circus act. It’s probably better off to go elsewhere. The Browns have done him a favor. Some may say a solid.

 

Karl Malone will always be on the list as one of the best NBA players of all-time. You can say Malone might be the best power forward to ever play the game. Malone is ranked number two in points scored all-time. Malone a two time MVP award winner. Malone made 14 all-star appearances in 19 seasons in the NBA. Malone was nicknamed the mailman because he always delivered. The only thing you can say he could not deliver was a NBA championship. Malone and John Stockton were able to get the Utah Jazz to the NBA finals two seasons in back to back years. Only to be defeated by those great Michael Jordan teams of the 1990’s.  Malone played 18 seasons in Utah and played in a lot of playoff games over those years. Malone was able to get one more chance at the holy grail when he signed with the LA Lakers in 2004. Those Lakers teams with, recently passed away, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Lakers made it to the championship but the result was another negative for Malone. Detroit Pistons took the series versus the Lakers and won the whole Enchilada.

In the NHL another Karl Malone story has taken place but this time the player is on skates not the hardwood of the courts and he plays for the San Jose Sharks. Joe Thornton has skated in the NHL for 22 seasons. Thornton was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins. Thornton played in bean town for eight seasons where he emerged as the captain of the Bruins squad. Bruins and Thornton suddenly did not see eye to eye on things. Thornton was shipped off to the west coast to the San Jose Sharks. Thornton has spent 14 seasons in San Jose since that trade which gives him 22 seasons of playing in the NHL and is still active.  Joe Thornton though only made the Stanley Cup finals once in his career. It was in 2016 versus the Penguins. Pittsburgh won that series 4 games to 2.

Joe Thornton and the Sharks last season in the playoffs were able to knock off one of best teams in the league in the first round. Sharks prevailed over Vegas Golden Knights then got past Colorado Avalanche and met the Blues in the Western conference finals. St. Louis might have knocked Joe Thornton’s quest for the cup out completely when they dispatched the Sharks. The Sharks had a loaded veteran team last season. It was the win or bust type of season because the Sharks knew they could not keep all of their players in the off season. They lost some goal scorers before this season even started. This year the Sharks started off bad. They never really got on track and had all kinds of problems. Joe Thornton did resign with the team. Sharks were unable to trade Joe Thornton to a contender at the trade deadline. Does he have another year in him? Sharks problems will not be fixed over night or over the off season. Next season could Thornton latch on to some team that could use his help like how Karl Malone tried after leaving Utah?

In 22 years Joe Thornton has only missed seven seasons of playoffs. Thornton has played in a lot of post season action with his playoff beard. Thornton is considered one of the best passers of all-time as he is one out of 13 players ever to have dished out 1000 or more assists in regular season play over his career. Thornton is the only NHL player to win the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies in one year splitting time with two teams. Thornton won those trophies in 2005-06 where he led the league in points and was the MVP that season. Thornton has scored 418 goals with the 1088 assists adds up to 1506 points. Thornton is the San Jose Sharks all-time leader is assists.

Both Joe Thornton and Karl Malone will go down as one of the best in their sport in small market cities. Both have played in bigger markets. Both will be remembered most from the time they called home most of their careers.  Both Malone and Thornton brought playoffs to two cities almost every year they were in the organization. We do not know if Joe Thornton will hang up the skates for good after this season. If he does he will be the Karl Malone of the NHL. Both never won a ring or hoisted the cup. Both played a very long time in their respective leagues. Add all the postseason games and you could tack on a few more regular seasons to their resume. Plus to be able to grind out that many years in a professional sport takes heart, motivation, and dedication. To play through all the wounds and injuries of their sport during decades of playing professionally, both these guys showed up every day. Sometimes the best land on lists that they do not want to be on. Both Thornton and Malone would  be guys anybody would like to build their team around because of the hard work they put into the sport that we watched them play the right way.

 

WEEK 4 XFL POWER RANKINGS

OUR XFL FLASH BACK

No coin toss in the original XFL. Just a mad scramble to get the ball to start the game.

OUR WRESTLING MOMENT

Jake the Snake Roberts was legend in the ring with that freaking python.

PRESENT TIMES

XFL week four power ranking we have a change at the top of the food chain. We have a new bottom feeder as well. After a wacky week three we are here to sort all of it out for the best we can. ENJOY!!!!!

#1.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (3-0) Are the Roughnecks stealing signs? That would be a sports epidemic to have two of your professional teams in the same city cheating. Look at Boston Red Sox & Patriots. Red Sox have not been convicted yet. They may be the OJ Simpson of the league when the investigation comes to a close. P.J. Walker continues his excellence behind center. Walker has now ten touchdown passes in only three games so far. Coach June Jones has the old run and shoot offense running like a well Oiled machine.

Just like those Oiler teams in the NFL. The thing I worry about with the Roughnecks is will they have to continue to outscore teams every week. The run and shoot offense is not a clock killer. If your team is up and drives stall it can get the opponent back in the game because you’re not killing the clock. The Vipers offense came to life versus the Roughnecks. Before that game it was dormant.  Last two games the Roughnecks have won the shoot outs. It’s hard to continue that pace throughout an entire season.

#2.ST.LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (2-1) UP 1 SPOT    Football was back in St. Louis for the first time since Rams skipped town.

St. Louis fans look more in to their team than most LA sports teams. Maybe the Chargers would be appreciated if they moved to St. Louis. Why would you even want that crap of an ownership in your town after the other piece of dung left town with his ugly mustache? Battle Hawks easily prevailed over the Guardians from New York. Nice rebound after losing a week before to a very good Houston team. Battle Hawks are very fundamentally strong on both sides of the ball. Well coached. Should be in the thick of things when this regular season comes to an end.

#3.DC DEFENDERS (2-1) DOWN 2 SPOTS    Hopefully the Defenders have not fallen and can’t get up. I would have to change my favorite Atari game from Defender to Missile command.

LA Wild Cats destroyed the Defenders with ease.

Defenders looked the best in all phases of their game in the first two weeks of the season. Last Sunday the Defenders had none of the phases of their game working for them. Cardale Jones was horrible. He tried to force things into coverage which resulted in turnovers. It was Jones’ first loss as a starting quarterback that dates back to his high school team. Jones was undefeated in his lone year as a starter at Ohio State. I feel the Defenders will bounce back. Plenty of talent DC has assembled and I’m not talking congress either.

#4.DALLAS RENEGADES (2-1) SAME  The Renegades have the best road record in the XFL. It has been a struggle bus for teams on the road this season. Ask the Defenders about their LA trip. Quarterback Landry Jones was originally the face of the XFL. A guy who has played for the Steelers and has some games under his belt. Jones does not have to do it all. The Renegades have a pretty good defense. They also have a quarterback’s best friend in a nice rushing attack. Cameron Artis-Payne is averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Second in the league in rushing after three weeks.The Renegades also have the Gronk of the league. A big tight end, Donald Parham Jr., who has some after burners.

Parham Jr. gutted the Dragon secondary bouncing off tackles and then out running his defenders. So far Parham Jr. is the best tight end in the league with 14 grabs 217 yards with three touchdowns.

#5.LA WILD CATS (1-2) UP 1 SPOT After three weeks of play, P.J Walker for the Roughnecks may be the best quarterback. At the end of the season it may be Josh Johnson of the Wild Cats. Johnson is a journeyman in the NFL. Johnson is like the Crash Davis of the XFL as players want to hear about his NFL stories. Johnson not too long ago almost had the Redskins in the playoffs a couple years back. In that crap NFC East division, Johnson was brought in because of injuries. Johnson played pretty well. Johnson and the Wild Cats put up an UGLY over the Defenders.

The biggest upset so far after three weeks of play. Plus they took out the best team in the league, the Defenders. In a 39-9 rout. Wild Cats wide Receiver Tre McBride who does not look Irish gets the first douche bag award.

After he scored he takes his helmet off like he is the ring master at the circus. He not only did this once but twice. Somebody will pop him down the line for his Odell Beckham Jr act. Act like you been there. Go celebrate with team. Not bow like you did everything yourself. Team game.

#6.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-2) DOWN 1 SPOT   I like lots of things about the Seattle Dragons. The defense has to be one of the top units in the league. The Dragons are able to get turn overs. Steven Johnson, the Dragons’ Linebacker, is one of the best in the league.

Steven Johnson leads the league in tackles. On offense Brandon Silvers is a streaky quarterback. He’s going through more cold periods than hot periods. Dragons lack a play maker that can stretch the defense. Running game is not there yet. I feel defenses can key and exploit the Dragons weaknesses.  Last week the Dragons were right there eye to eye versus the Renegades and when the second half came around, Renegades adjusted and pulled ahead to win the game.

#7.TAMPA BAY VIPERS (0-3) UP 1 SPOT    The Vipers looked a lot better last week especially on the offensive side of the ball. To me it looked like the play calling on offense was taken away from head coach Marc Trestman. If that is the case the Vipers found the end zone more than once versus the best team now in the league, Houston Roughnecks. The Vipers scored 27 points last weekend when they only scored 12 points the first two weeks. The Vipers only lost by one score versus the Roughnecks, taking the game down to the wire as well. Vipers defense has been pretty solid all year if the offense can do what they did last week this team could turn things around. I thought the Viper crowd was pretty excited about their first home game.

#8.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (1-2)   DOWN 1 SPOT       The Guardians take over the basement of my XFL power rankings. Even though the Guardians have won their first game versus the Vipers. I moved the Vipers up because last week they played better even though they have no wins and loss to the Guardians . Since the Guardians win, the New York team has been the worst team in the league. The offensive line is looser than a whore in a whore house. The Guardians are on their third quarterback who learned how to play the position watching you tube.

Luis Perez did get the Guardian offense into the end zone late in the 4th quarter. The same Luis Perez who started last season for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF. YouTube videos helped him land a spot on a  college football roster and he learned how to change a leaky pipe in the same day. The Guardian defense I worry about as well. That unit looked like the team’s strength to start the season.

The San Diego Chargers has always been a team I pulled for. From Hall-of Famer Dan Fouts lighting up the league with Charlie Joiner. From the great Stan Humpries that led the Chargers to their only Superbowl appearance with Natran Means running over people with a nice rushing attack that season. Then you wondered why the Oakland Raiders fans always had more fans in Chargers at their home games. Even with the move to LA visiting fans outnumbered Charger fans the last two years in their soccer stadium. Chargers fans are like extinct from the football world. They may have a small cult following. Chargers should be compared to the Tampa Bay Rays or Florida Marlin fans of the baseball owner.  Marlins it was the way ownership ran that team. Even though they won some World Series titles, Marlin fans have had less happy years and more painful years. Ownership has changed for the Marlins so times it may change for them. The LA Chargers times have “It’s still business as usual” for their ownership. If you look closely at the Chargers organization, you can see they have left a stench so bad to irritate fans and sour their stomachs for good. You completely understand why they don’t have a following. They Chargers deserve the results every year regarding what takes place on the field because of how the ownership runs things .

Chargers arrived in LA and played one season in 1960 in the AFL. After one season Chargers picked up and moved to San Diego. They say San Diego is one of those cities with the best climate. All year around great weather. Laid back people enjoying beautiful beaches and enjoying life. The Chargers and their owner Alex Spanos could not get a deal done to build them a new stadium. The talks have been going on with the city of San Diego and the Chargers for a very long time. After decades in San Diego, Chargers move once again back to LA. The Chargers joined the Rams in LA and instantly became the second fiddle of that town. Rams obviously moved back to LA from St. Louis and had bigger roots in LA for decades which were established. Chargers have been playing at a soccer stadium since 2018 and get outdrawn by the opposing fans and can never even fill up a soccer stadium. These are two cities now that the Chargers have fans that are just turned off by their existence.

I thought about Eli Manning and my first opinion on that was, “What is this primadonna doing?” In 2004 Eli Manning was originally drafted by the Chargers. Manning’s agent said he does not want to play in San Diego. Manning would rather sit out the entire season than put the bolt helmet on. The Chargers ended up getting Phillip Rivers who was drafted after Manning by the New York Giants. Manning went on to win two Superbowls for the Giants. Rivers has been a main staple behind center since but after a horrible 2019 season Chargers released perhaps their second best quarterback of all-time.  I give Dan Fouts the edge over Rivers. Would Rivers have won a Superbowl with the Giants? Some franchises have the luck and turn anything into gold while the Chargers are still evaluating scrap metal they collected on their roster. That year Chargers blamed Archie Manning for Eli not wanting to go to San Diego. Archie played in the small market of New Orleans. I think Archie Manning knew the owner of the Chargers is not worthy of his son’s talents because of way things were ran. Which now you think about it, now he was very correct.

That year when the Chargers were drafting Eli Manning and settled for Phillip Rivers, they had a starting quarterback. They had a guy better than both Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers. His name was Drew Brees. Why were they drafting a quarterback that year in the first place?  Brees ended up hurting himself so that helped the Chargers justify their release of Brees back then. Rivers would play 16 seasons with the Chargers and never reach a Superbowl. Rivers played in only 11 playoff games through his career as a Charger. Rivers would pass for 59, 271 yards with 397 touchdown passes and 198 interceptions. Last season it was rock bottom for Rivers. 23 touchdown tosses but 20 interceptions is what people will still talk about. Rivers went 123-101 as a starter. I remember some great playoff games Rivers had. However Rivers could not beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady with consistency and those two were the kings of the AFC conference .While Rivers won nothing for the Chargers, Drew Brees resurfaced in New Orleans and won a Superbowl. The Saints have been a powerhouse almost every year with Brees behind center. Rivers might be better off with a new organization. Perhaps he looked and will do well in a Colts uniform.

Now the Chargers in 2020 are talking that Tyrod Taylor will be their starting quarterback. The same Tyrod Taylor who got benched in Cleveland after only three games in that city. Taylor is just a game manager who can make plays with his legs. Taylor can not throw the ball downfield if the team gets behind. Taylor is more of a dink and dunk type of guy in the passing game. All safe throws. Taylor had success in Buffalo helping them get to playoffs a few years ago that broke a very long drought in Western New York for the Bills. Taylor is just two games over his career record as a starting quarterback at 23-21-1. With all the quarterbacks available this off season you are putting your faith in Taylor. This is what the Chargers do. These are reasons fans just give up on Charger football.

Former Charger Eric Weddle was fined ten grand because he wanted see his daughter perform at halftime. No wonder it was a blessing for Weddle when he signed with the Ravens after his career with Chargers came to an end. They traded away Junior Seau thinking he had nothing left in the tank. Seau went on to Miami and the Patriots and was very productive after his Chargers days. No wonder the Chargers drafted Ryan Leaf. The way the Chargers do things they need to get socked in their face with picks like Leaf. Chargers remind me of the LA Clippers when they had David Duke aka Donald Sterling running things. Alex Spanos has passed away but the Spanos family still run the Chargers. Not sure how long this team will last in LA. If you don’t have a following and you’re putting Tyrod Taylor in as your starting QB next season, it does not sound like a good business move. I see the Chargers moving again sometime in the future where they escape LA after the new LA XFL team draws more interest than Charger football. Any city desperate for an NFL team they need to be aware of this Charger ownership. Maybe London, England will be the way to go if the Queen can buy them out. CHEERIO CHARGERS!!! You have a future Monarch name change coming your way.

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.