THE HAIL MARY MAY BE THE CLOAK AND DAGGER OF EBERFLUS’ FATE AS BEARS HEAD COACH

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The football gods may be against the Bears having a franchise quarterback. The off-season looked pretty good for the Chicago Bears drafting a number one quarterback in Caleb Williams. Drafting a top flight wide receiver in Rome Odunze. The Bears General Manager Ryan Poles made a savvy trade landing another top veteran wide receiver in Keenan Allen from the Chargers. The Bears landed a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron who came in with experience. The defense was set from the 2023 regular season and only to get better. The Bears got off to a 4-2 start and were sitting pretty as fans were thinking this could be the year the team gets back to the playoffs. The last two games the Bears have played, it shows their head coach Matt Eberflus is way over his head in this job. Since the Commanders’ Hail Mary pass, Ryan Poles has to be thinking he has made a colossal mistake keeping Eberflus as his guy as this team has taken a few major steps backwards with the meat of the schedule coming into play. The Bears season is hanging by a thread.

Let’s take the hot tub time machine back to the Hail Mary pass thrown by Jayden Daniels of the Commanders that broke the Bears’ back in week 8. Matt Eberflus calls the defensive plays even as the head coach of the team. Eberflus was hired from the job he did as a defensive coordinator & when he was with the Colts, his defense was solid. The last drive versus the Commanders in week 8, the Eberflus defense played too soft. The first two plays where Washington managed to get to mid-field, it was rather quickly. Then not having any time outs left to burn before the Hail Mary pass went off. Both teams were lined up as Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson was too busy taunting the crowd thinking that his team, the Bears, had the game wrapped up. Stevenson was late getting over to the party. He got there but did not cover the guy he was supposed to cover. He went up high in the air with the rest of the scrum and tipped the ball right into the hands of Noah Brown who was waiting in the end zone all by himself. This as Washington steals a game in which they dominated most of the game.

The Bears should have stole this game as their offense came alive late in the game. The Bears could have taken the lead way earlier as Eberflus let his offensive coordinator call a hand off to a back up offensive linemen, who fumbled the ball on the exchange with Caleb Williams. How do you let a guy cold and coming off the bench take a pivotal hand off at the goal line to take the lead of game the other team has dominated? Doug Kramer Jr. should have not even been in that situation. Why bring in the trickery at that point of the game? Eberflus could have nixed that play being the head coach as he is listening to all his coaches through the headphones. Bobby Wagner recovered the fumble off the hands of Kramer Jr. The Bears defense would make a stop & then the offense finally took the lead in the last minute of the game. Then the Hail Mary pass leaves the Bears with egg all over their face.

Last Sunday, the Bears offense were playing the 26th ranked defense in the entire league the Arizona Cardinals. The Bears disciplined Tyrique Stevenson after the Hail Mary debacle. He would not start versus the Cardinals. Stevenson did issue an apology for not boxing out Noah Brown, the Commanders wide open receiver. When he heard he was being demoted as part of the punishment, he took himself out of a practice during the week. Then during the game on Sunday versus the Cardinals, as the Bears were on offense you see wide receiver DJ Moore just walk off the field during a play. For no apparent reason. The Bears got annihilated by the Cardinals. The Cardinals ran down the heart and soul of that Bears defense. You could see mis-tackle after mis-tackle. The offense had no answers from the Cardinals defense. It seems like the Bears were running the same play over and over. The Cardinals would flush Caleb Williams out of the pocket and then he would throw the ball on the run for an incomplete pass most of the afternoon. The Bears as a team came out unprepared and undisciplined on both sides of the ball. They even had Williams sling the ball with two minutes left in the contest during garbage time. One play it looked like Williams was hurt. It would have been time for the pitch forks and torches if your number one pick got hurt in a game that was out of hand.

The Bears won 7 games in 2023 and had a great second half but laid a clunker in their last game in Green Bay to their rival, the hated Packers. In that game the Bears seem like they went through the motions. The Bears GM Ryan Poles thought it was good enough to keep Matt Eberflus who started out of the gates ugly but turned the season around. It was that defense that excited people last year & looked like it was one of the top units in the league. So far this season the Bears defense has played well for most of the season. The Cardinals steamrolled this Bears team. You can blame some injuries. Maybe this defense is unraveling hearing the same voice. You can blame the current GM as the team has a shaky offensive line and Williams seems to throw on the run often. This is the 3rd season under Eberflus and as a head coach, his record sucks at 14-28. The Bears have not faced any of their division rivals yet. The NFC North is stacked with the Packers, Vikings, and the Lions. Before the last two weeks the division was being talked about that possibly three teams could make the playoffs. In Chicago we were thinking the Vikings may be the team that did not make it. Now the finger points to the Bears as the weakest link. I have a feeling that the Vikings, Lions, and Packers will show how inferior the Bears really are. We as fans always get suckered in. This is the year. Amazed at all the shiny new pieces. The looks like it’s the best team we had ever assembled since the ’85 team. Then we remember that we have not had a franchise QB since the 1940’s.

The former great Carolina Panther wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad when he played for the Bears said, “Chicago is where receivers go to die.”

Now we need a new head coach because Matt Eberflus is terrible. The Bears will not ever fire a coach during the season. Besides, which coach does the Bears have on this Eberflus staff right now that has head coaching experience? The new offensive head coach may be a problem as Caleb Williams started off cold out of the gates. Then started to improve. Then now has regressed. Just your typical rookie QB’s, you can say. The number two pick in Washington, Jayden Daniels, is not playing like a rookie. Shane Waldron’s trickery plays have backfired. The lack of a running game is a head scratcher. Waldron could be expendable too. Once again we have the same ole Bears. It happened to Mitch Trubisky. Then Justin Fields. Now it could occur with Williams. Two head coaches, along with two offensive schemes in the first two seasons of your football career. It looks to me like Eberflus has lost his locker room. The division games the Bears play coming up in the meat of this schedule will show you this team is not a playoff team. This team and its roster and coaching staff have more holes and question marks than answers to having a playoff roster in the NFL.

NFL WEEK 9: WEEKLY PREDICTIONS DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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LAST WEEK’S RECORD FOR WEEK 8, (9-7)

THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES:(5-3)

FRIDAY GAMES:(0-1)

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES:(7-3)

OUR SEASON RECORD:(77-46)

NFL WEEK 9 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

HOUSTON TEXANS(6-2) AT NEW YORK JETS(2-6)

Where do you go if you are the Jets after losing to the Patriots last week? The Texans lost another weapon in their passing game as Stefon Diggs is out for the year with a knee injury. When is it time to pull the plug on Aaron Rodgers? Because the Jets are in the coffin right now as their 2024 season is being nailed shut?

The Jets are 2-6 and are favored in this contest. I know CJ Stroud did not play well last year at the Jets stadium in New Jersey. This match up can go either way. I can see Rodgers and this Jets team suddenly resurrect themselves and get the victory. I like the Texans defense in this match up as well. I love to see the Jets season end here. I pick Houston to win because the Jets are a badly-coached team and they make too many mistakes. I just don’t trust the Jets. Stroud will rely heavily on the running game with Joe Mixon taking this offense on his shoulders. The running game is the weakness to the Jets defense.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

DENVER BRONCOS(5-3) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS(5-3)

The Broncos have won two straight games and their rookie QB Bo Nix continues to improve himself at the NFL level. The Ravens were absolutely stunned by the Browns last week getting beaten by the likes of Jameis Winston. You would think the Ravens in this match-up have the better defense, but that goes to the Broncos. Denver defense is the big reason why this team is 5-3. The Ravens defense may be one of the worst units in this team’s history. Hard to believe because last year the same defense dominated and got this Ravens team to the AFC Championship. The Ravens defense should slow Bo Nix down just enough for Lamar Jackson and that offense to get enough points for the win. The Ravens offense has been one of the best in the league. Jackson along with the running back Derrick Henry has created a rushing attack that teams can’t stop. Jackson gets his passing plays in as well to keep the Denver defense from not guessing what is next. I like the Ravens being at home. I like the Ravens offense getting their points on a solid defense. I think Ravens rebound from the lost to Cleveland and get back in the win column.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

DALLAS COWBOYS(3-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS(5-3)

I thought the Cowboys were going to wake up last week versus a 49ers team they had trouble in the past beating. The Falcons won a big division game as they swept the Buccaneers and have a big tie breaker within the division they are holding. Both the Cowboys and Falcons defenses are struggling to stop opposing offenses. This game should be considered a shoot out. The Cowboys are due for a big game soon. That game where the Lions massacred the Cowboys is still lingering. I like Kirk Cousins keeping this a very close game. In the end the Cowboys find a way to win a game to right the ship at least for one week. They will calm the critics and be back at the 500 mark.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

MIAMI DOLPHINS(2-5) AT BUFFALO BILLS(6-2)

The Dolphins offense showed a pulse last week in the return of Tua Tagovailoa. The Bills have won back-to-back games and beat up on the Seahawks. The Bills were the team when Tua landed a blow to the head and was out for multiple weeks with a concussion. The Bills defense tamed a great Seattle offense last week on the road. Seattle is a tough place with top play. How does Miami beat the Bills is the million dollar question? If the Bills can beat Miami this week, they could literally step on the fin’s throat and pretty much end their season as this team needs to win a ton games to be back in the playoff conversation. Miami defense is a problem as they allowed Kyler Murray to have a big game against them in Tua’s return. Josh Allen has dominated the Dolphins and he plays his best at home in Buffalo. The Bills defense has the recipe to keep the Dolphins Air and Water show in check.

OUR PICK:BILLS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-6) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-7)

This game should be slated the toilet bowl of the NFC South. The Saints started out 2-0 and have lost six straight. The Panthers are the worst team in the league & have lost five straight games. The last time these two teams met was week one when the Saints put up 40 points on this Panthers team. The Saints have been decimated by injuries, but will get their starting QB back in this one Derek Carr. The Panthers corner back Jaycee Horn was bitching last week at Sean Payton for trying to run up the score as Denver scored 28 points and brought out the trick plays with 5 minutes left in regulation.

Jaycee Horn’s father Joe played for the Saints and was a wide receiver who used a cell phone in his touchdown celebration. Maybe the Panthers need a mercy rule. I think Carr will give this Saints offense the juice it needs to get back in the win column.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

LA CHARGERS(4-3) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(2-6)

The Chargers are a quiet 4-3 as they beat the Saints last week without any big news or highlights. The Browns shocked the football world as they upset their division rival the Ravens with their back up QB, Jameis Winston. Could the bad start for the Browns come down to the bad play of Deshaun Watson? The Chargers defense will give this new Browns life a bigger challenge than what the Ravens defense has done all year. Winston having back to back games without the costly turnover is rare. The Chargers have Justin Herbert who has had a pretty good season with 8 touchdown passes compared to one interception.

Before this season it seemed like Herbert had the air show going every week throwing bombs through the skies all around the football world. Now he seems like a game manager under Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers don’t have those big weapons they let go in the off-season. The Browns defense now has a spark with last week’s win should be able to stop Herbert and company. I like Nick Chubb running the ball for the Browns to take the pressure off Winston. The Browns are at home, so we roll with Winston this week for the hell of it and watch Cleveland get their mojo back while Watson’s at home pouting about his future.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-6) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(3-5)

The Raiders gave the Chiefs a battle last week. The Bengals took a beat down by the Eagles. Joe Burrow is walking a thin line for this 2024 season. A loss by the Raiders may be the hole the Bengals can’t dig themselves out of. The Raiders will go with Gardner Minshew who started last week. The Raiders should be able to generate points off a bad Bengals defense. If Tee Higgins can go, I like the Bengals in this one. No way Minshew can keep up matching scores with Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins as his options. I still like the Bengals even without Higgins. The Raiders are gassed from throwing everything at the Chiefs now traveling to Cincinnati. Since Davante Adams was traded, the leading receiver for Raiders has been their tight end Brock Bowers.

Not enough as Burrow still thinks he can run the table and get the Bumbles, cough cough I mean Bengals, back in the playoff conversation. The Raiders will be the first notch on this long road.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(2-6) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(1-6)

Who the hell do you pick in a game with these two teams? The Patriots upset the Jets and Aaron Rodgers which was priceless. Maybe the first time I rooted for the Pats since Drew Bledsoe was the man behind center. The Titans have been getting kicked around by the good teams the last two weeks. Before that the Titans would not do what I predicted which was very agonizing. The Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye suffered a concussion & he most likely will not play in this one. I like Mason Rudolf delivering in a game like this. Rudolf is better than Jacoby Brissett on any given Sunday. I have a predicted winner but really who cares about this game?

OUR PICK: TITANS

CHICAGO BEARS(4-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS(4-4)

It’s hard to believe the Cardinals right now are in a 3 way tie for first place in the NFC West. The Bears were beaten by a Hail Mary play at the end of regulation by the Commanders. Kyler Murray can do well against bad defenses as he delivered last week in a one point win over the Dolphins. The Bears were dominated by the Commanders most of the way. Then fought their way back in the game and took the lead. Then they shot themselves in the foot at the end of the game to give it right back to Washington. The Bears defense is solid, so Murray will have problems. Caleb Williams has done well against bad defense this season in a string of wins. Williams I believe will not get off to a slow start this week as the Bears should get an early rushing attack established to dictate this one for the win.

OUR PICK: BEARS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-6) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(5-2)

Doug Pederson was the only head coach in Eagles history to have won a Superbowl. Pederson has been to Philadelphia as Head Coach of the Jaguars. This visit Pederson has no defense. The Eagles exposed a bad defense last week that the Bengals trotted out on to the field. The Jaguars have not won a road game all season. The Eagles defense contained the Bengals offense which is hard to do with Joe Burrow behind center. Trevor Lawrence is starting to find his groove, but his defense has let him down all year. In a shoot out Jalen Hurts will prevail because the Eagles defense will make some stops on Lawrence. The Eagles are one those quiet teams that are starting to string some victories together as they won three straight. Make it 4.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(6-2) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-6)

Once upon a time ago… that’s how the story will be told. The first team rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels beat was the New York Giants. It was week 2 and it was a close game 21-18 Commanders win. The following week the coming out party for Daniels was heard throughout the football world. The Giants come home after giving the Steelers a battle most of the game on Monday Night Football. The Commanders won last week on a Hail Mary pass to beat the Bears in game they dominated and you don’t know why they needed to win using the rosary in the last seconds. The Commanders defense has turned into one of the better units in the league. We know the Commanders offense have razzled and dazzled the competition since playing the Giants last. We can’t really say that about the Giants. The Giants defense is okay, not scary like the Commanders. Daniel Jones will settle for more field goals than touchdowns in the red zone.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

DETROIT LIONS(6-1) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(6-2)

The Lions and Packers right now are the two power houses of the NFL North, since the Vikings dropped two straight games. Combined the Packers & Lions have won 9 straight. The Packers 4 and the Lions 5. One problem involved the cheese heads. Will Jordan Love play? He suffered a hamstring injury in the win over the Jaguars last week. The Lions offense with Jared Goff, his receivers, and the two headed monster in the back field have been the best offense in the league. They scored 52 points versus the Titans last week. Let’s not forget the 40 something dismantling of the Cowboys a few weeks back. The Packers have survived without Love behind center. The former Titan, now Packer Malik Willis, is 2-0 as a starter this season. This will be a heavyweight fight between these two teams. Exchanging blows each quarter. The Lions get the final blow as Love will not be 100% & keeps Detroit king of the division at the half way point of the season.

OUR PICK: LIONS

LA RAMS(3-4) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(4-4)

The NFC West is up for grabs. The Seahawks, Cardinals, and 49ers are all at the same record of 4-4. The Rams are right behind all three teams with 3-4 record. The 49ers have a bye this week. The Cardinals have their hands full dealing with the visiting Bears. This is a big game between Seattle and LA.

The Seahawks crumbled at home versus the Bills last week. Two of Seattle defenders got in a fight in on the sidelines during the game. The Seahawks offense who was scoring on every team, looked bad versus the Bills defense. The Seahawks may be without their star receiver DK Metcalf in this one as he was out last week with an injury. The Rams look like a new team with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back from their injuries. This made Matthew Stafford look like a different QB this season versus the Vikings. I’m going with my eye test here. The Rams defense looked solid last week and the Seahawks can be streaky with Geno Smith like last season he was cold more than he was hot. Stafford has the hot hand as the Rams have won two straight.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(4-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(5-2)

I thought the Colts should have started Joe Flacco versus a Texans team they would have beat if he was behind center last week. The Vikings started off 5-0 and now the wheels fell off the purple bus and they are desperate for a win. Flacco will get the start on Sunday night versus the Vikings and they are a different team when he starts over Anthony Richardson. The Vikings defense which has done well during that first 5 games were sliced and diced by Matthew Stafford. I like the Colts offense with Jonathan Taylor back as the premier back and how Flacco can open up the passing game like the Rams did to that Vikings defense. Remember Sam Darnold has always been a losing QB throughout his NFL career. One of the toughest things to do as a quarterback is break a losing streak. Darnold has played his best football this year behind center. This will be a close game. I like Flacco’s experience better as the Colts rebound from their division loss to Houston and win a tough road game.

OUR PICK: COLTS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(4-4) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(7-0)

Surprisingly Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense were still able to score a good amount of points last Sunday versus the Falcons without his two top receivers. Kansas City held off a Raiders attack and got their revenge from the great Christmas story of last year when Vegas beat the Chiefs. The Buccaneers defense has been like the easy slot machines giving money away on each button push. The Buccaneers have lost two straight and playing in Arrowhead with a solid defense the Chiefs have, is not a very good recipe. Let’s not forget the prince of the NFL Patrick Mahomes can run a balanced attack and keep the Chiefs perfect for the season.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

RUSSIAN ATTACK

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This Russian attack is not the Soviet Army invading our country like in one of the greatest under the radar movies in Red Dawn, which has a cult following. This is not the insensitive invasion of Ukraine by the dick head Vladimir Putin.

This Russian attack is a lone wolf named Alex Ovechkin, invading the Great One’s all time goals list in the NHL. The Great One being Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin, nicknamed the Russian machine, needs only 37 goals to tie a NHL record that in our lifetime we never thought we would see get broken.

In 1994 Wayne Gretzky was skating with the LA Kings when he scored his 802nd goal to pass up another legend hockey player. That player was Gordie Howe who had 801 goals in the NHL.

Gordie skated 25 years for the Detroit Red Wings & then went on to the WHA (World Hockey Association) to play a few more years. The WHA would fold up shop and eventually merge with the NHL back in 1979.

Howe would end up playing one more season in the NHL as a Hartford Whaler. On October 15th of 1989, Gretzky was only 28 years old and passed up Howe’s 1,850 points in his first year with the Kings against his old team, the Edmonton Oilers. The great one even added the overtime goal in that game to give the Kings a 5-4 win over the Oilers that historical night. The great one scored 894 goals in his career playing in 1,487 games in a 20 year NHL career and retired at the age of 38. Even if Alex Ovechkin breaks his record, I think many will say Wayne is still the best hockey player of all-time in the NHL.

This is the 20th season for Alex Ovechkin who was drafted by the Washington Capitals number one overall back in the 2004 NHL draft. Ovechkin is 39 years old and has played his entire career in Washington. Ovechkin helped the Capitals win their first ever Stanley Cup back in the 2017-18 season. Ovechkin has played in 1,434 games in his NHL career and has 857 goals. In 8 games this season Ovechkin has 4 goals. Last season Ovechkin had 31 goals, his lowest amount since the 2012-13 season playing a full schedule. During the Covid season Ovechkin had 24 goals in the 2020-21 season. In the 2022-23 season, Ovechkins had another 40 or more goals as he lit the lantern 42 times. He has scored at least 41 goals in 13-19 seasons coming into his 20th year in the NHL.

How would you feel about a Russian breaking the Great One’s record for most goals all-time? Alex Ovechkin has ties to the dictator Vladimir Putin which is never a good thing if he’s seeking endorsement deals. You have to respect the work he puts in on his craft to be a top scorer in the NHL for 20 seasons. If Russia does not invade Ukraine and are still at war with their neighbor country, I’m not really writing this part of the article. Former goalie and Hall of Famer Dominik Hasik compares Putin to Adolf Hitler. He would like to see the NHL do something about the Russians in the league. How Ukraine should get some compensation to help their country which could be paid out players from the Mother Country. Hasek wants the NHL to fork over the money as they have allowed Russian players in the league since the war started in 2022. The Russians that play in the NHL give their own country and world advertisement that nothing is wrong in the world. The Russians have been banned in the Olympics. Putin’s country still has his own people in sports across the world like tennis. Do you fault players who most likely want to play the game then fight in a war? How these players make money in the states and Canada and help their own back in the old country. You know some of that money is then taken by the Russian government to buy more bullets or tanks to kill innocent people and children always become victims.

Some of these Russian players have been some of the best players in the NHL over the decades. If Ovechkin breaks Gretzky’s record, it’s like Barry Bonds being the home run king cheating and passing Hank Aaron, a guy who did everything right. I don’t think of Ovechkin as a guy that cheated the game. If he gets the record this season or if it drags into next, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth because he is a guy that had his picture with Putin. He is a guy that never said anything bad about his buddy dictator when reporters brought it up to him after his country invaded. Playing the old Nintendo game called Rush’n Attack which was spelled differently so no feelings were hurt during the sales in the late 1980’s during the Cold War. That is how the relationship seems to be strained as we look at it like the video game or Red Dawn the movie. We have to always look at most people in every country and believe they do not want to be involved in a war. They want to make a living they love with a significant other and have kids while being happy. How ironic that if Ovechkin does pass the great one, he is wearing a Capitals sweater and plays in the nation’s capital. Maybe Donald Trump will have his ICE guys take care of him on the ice. Trump may also be in a selfie with Ovechkin and text it to his old buddy Putin in Russia. Right now it just does not feel right for anyone to be close to the Great One’s record.

NFL WEEK 8: WEEKLY PREDICTIONS DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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LAST WEEK’S RECORD FOR WEEK 7, (12-3) Our best of the year.

THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES:(5-2)

FRIDAY GAMES:(0-1)

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES:(6-3)

SEASON RECORD:(68-39)

NFL WEEK 8 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

MINNESOTA VIKINGS(5-1) AT LA RAMS(2-4)

Last Sunday the Vikings got their first loss of the season by a division rival, Detroit Lions, on a game-ending field goal. The Rams managed to get by a bad Raiders team. The Rams will be getting some of their bigger play makers back on offense as Cooper Cupp and Puka Nacua will give Matthew Stafford his two best receivers back in the fold. The Vikings defense were gashed by the Lions after the offense built the team a nice lead early in that one. This will be the hardest thing for the Vikings all season, which is to rebound quickly from a loss on a short week which is their first one all year. Do you trust the Rams? They have been wishy washy all year. Stafford will get better with his guys back. The Vikings should rebound especially that defense. I’ve been liking what Sam Darnold has done to this point. Close game but I like Vikes on the road.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

BALTIMORE RAVENS(5-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(1-6)

The Ravens have won 5 straight games. The Browns lost their starting quarterback for the year. The Browns fans are dancing in the streets naked until they see QB 2 in Jameis Winston. The Ravens defense has not been that elite unit like they were last season. With the interception king at quarterback for the Browns, oh the hunting they will go as they could force multiple turnovers. Overall I can see the Browns playing better with Nick Chubb back. I think Winston will keep this game close and watch the Browns offense run smoother. These two teams know each other. The Browns defense will have a hard time stopping Derrick Henry or do you get Lamar Jackson in an option running game that has worked well. I will go back to the interception king serving up too many gifts for the Ravens to seal the deal with another win under their feathers.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

TENNESSEE TITANS(1-5) AT DETROIT LIONS(5-1)

The Lions have taken over the throne of the NFC North kingdom removing the Vikings last Sunday. The Titans waving the white flag as they traded veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs. This will be the second consecutive road game for the Titans who are looking for Rudolf the back up quarterback to take the Lions down in his story. Mason Rudolf is a better option than Will Levis who is hurt and has not done well as the starting quarterback this season. The Lions are at home and their offense, and they score points which the Titans can’t match. The Lions are just far better than the Titans as well. Detroit will sit on their throne for at least another week.

OUR PICK: LIONS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(4-3) AT HOUSTON TEXANS(5-2)

This week 8 match up is a battle for first place in the AFC South. Some would have thought that Houston was light years ahead of any other team in the division. The Colts have quietly stayed in striking distance as they just got by the Miami Dolphins. The Texans lost a close game to the Green Bay Packers that sent Stephon Diggs in a tizzy with a Packers defender during that contest.

Diggs is lone wolf on things and his mind set is all about the Diggies which could sink the Texans time to time. The Colts will have their star running back Jonathan Taylor back. If the Colts win this, they will both be 5-3 for the year. I like Texans in this one because the Colts will have Anthony Richardson starting and he can’t match anything CJ Stroud is putting up on the scoreboard. If Joe Flacco was the starter, then this match up got way better.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

GREEN BAY PACKERS(5-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(2-5)

The Jaguars return from their summer home in England the last two weeks, and now will play a home game in Florida with the visiting Packers. The Packers coming off a big win over the Texans. The Jags won last week over the Patriots and now you can say they are not in last place in the AFC south. The Packers are not the Patriots and Jordan Love should carve the Jaguars up like Thanksgiving turkey as Jacksonville has a weak secondary. Trevor Lawrence could have games where he can match anyone in the NFL but with the long stay and long flight the Jaguars may come out purring like kittens then a jungle animal.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

ARIZONA CARDINALS(3-4) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS(2-4)

The Dolphins will be getting the guy that makes their merry go round, go around. Tua Tagovailoa is cleared to start from the concussion protocols. Tua has missed several weeks after suffering a concussion in week two versus the Bills. The Cardinals found a way to beat a team not in their division with a walk off field goal to end the Chargers on Monday night. The Dolphins offense without Tua has been dormant. The Cardinals defense is the best recipe for the Dolphins to knock off the rust. Can Kyler Murray go head to head with TUA? I don’t like the Cardinals playing on the road in Miami where the humid conditions favor the Dolphins most of the time. Tua is the spark that will light up the Cardinals with a big boom.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

NEW YORK JETS(2-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(1-6)

I find myself rooting for the Patriots in this one even though the wreckage of the previous dynasty is still smoldering. This match up gives me no choice because the Jets have Aaron Rodgers, a guy you have to hate with a deeper anger. Jets need this win more than the Patriots just because of the season aspirations coming in. Jets want to be that darling playoff team with an aging Rodgers leading them deep into post season. The Patriots are developing a rookie quarterback Drake Maye who has done well so far in a few starts. The Patriots coming home after playing in England will probably get steam rolled by the Jets as their defense who will make the bold statement. Mr. Darkness Retreat will play well in this one and get the Jets back in the win column.

OUR PICK: JETS

ATLANTA FALCONS(4-3) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(4-3)

The Falcons and the Buccaneers met in week 5 on Thursday night that was an epic battle for sole possession of the NFC South. Last week Kirk Cousins was rattled as he felt like he was in a cage from the Seahawks defense which encapsulated him in the pocket with punishment all game. The Buccaneers defense has seen better days as the Ravens hung a 40 berger on them in the Monday Night game. I like the Falcons getting back on track with that Buccaneer defense being unable to stop anyone. The Buccaneers offense during that game lost their two best receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Not sure how Baker Mayfield will respond with these guys out. The Falcons defense is nowhere to be compared to this Buccaneers unit. I like Cousins dropping another 30 points on this Buccaneers teams, sweeping the series. and taking over first place.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(4-2) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS(3-4)

The Eagles and Bengals have quietly won two straight games. With a win, the Bengals will get to the 500 mark and once again look like they have dug themselves out of an early grave.

The Eagles are winning games but Jalen Hurts and that offense do not look crisp like they use to. The entire Eagles team just looks ordinary and nothing special. The Eagles should generate some offense from this terrible Bengals defense. Joe Burrow is the grave digger for this team and after the hole is dug, he brings his team out of the hole and the Bengals usually go on a tear and win 5 or more games. That Bengals offense will be hard for this Eagles defense to contain. Hurts and company will not score more than that Bengals offense. Bengals even up their record and are back in the playoff conversation. This is one of the norms about the NFL in these scenarios. Bengals find their way back into the season and Chiefs continue to win Superbowls. Just part of the regular scripts.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-5) AT LA CHARGERS(3-3)

Did some witch doctor in New Orleans get the Voo Doo doll wrong? Derek Carr is still out. The Saints injured list is a mile long. Each week & each poke of the doll something bad happens to this Saints team who have now lost 5 straight after winning their first two games. The Chargers are Even Steven at 3-3 and lost to the Cardinals in a game that was not a thriller on Monday night on a walk off field goal. Chargers only scored 15 points. Spencer Rattler has had some flashes of looking like a quarterback in this league. He is still a rookie and the Chargers defense should gobble him up. The Chargers will run the ball well to establish control in this game. The Saints front office needs to eliminate the witch doctor to remove the curse or this season may be one of the worst for New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina leveled most of the town.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

BUFFALO BILLS(5-2) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(4-3)

Both the Bills and Seahawks come away with wins last Sunday. The Bills inserted their new weapon for Josh Allen and he connected with Amari Cooper for a score, a guy they just landed in a trade. Meanwhile Seahawks defensive front was in the face of Kirk Cousins all afternoon in a win over the Falcons. The Seahawks can score points. The Bills bend and try not to break defense will look for turnovers where Geno Smith can make mistakes. Smith has six interceptions this season. The Bills are 2-2 on the road this season and Seattle is not the easiest place to win on the road. I like Josh Allen being able to escape the Seattle pressure. I like the Bills well-balanced offense. The Seahawks will generate points. However the Seahawks will have one less weapon for the Bills to deal with in wide receiver DK Metcalf. The Bills defense will get that Smith turnover and get out of Seattle with a win.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CHICAGO BEARS(4-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(5-2)

This Bears versus Commanders game features the top two quarterbacks picked in last April’s draft. For the Bears Caleb Williams was picked number one. He started off slowly out of the gates & now looks like he has figured out the speed of the NFL game compared to college. Jayden Daniels out of the gates behind center has been red hot. Williams is completing so far 65.3% of his passes with 9 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions. Williams can run the ball but prefers to pass the ball when he is on the run. Then Daniels is completing a whopping 75.6% of his passes which is unbelievable. Daniels has thrown 6 touchdown passes to only 2 interceptions and has 4 rushing touchdowns with his legs. Both these teams have solid defenses to go along with electric offenses. Daniels looks like he will play but he will be playing with bruised ribs he suffered versus Carolina. This may be a start of inter conference battle for years to come. Who wins this one?

The X-factor is Montez Sweat who actually led both teams last year in sacks. Sweat was traded by the Commanders to the Bears. I can see Sweat having a big game and making a impact play to turn the tides in favor of the Bears as they win a close one.

OUR PICK: BEARS

CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-6) AT DENVER BRONCOS(4-3)

The Panthers are a very bad team. The Broncos knocked off a very bad team last Thursday beating up on the Saints. The Broncos have one hell of a defense that should paint the picture right there. The Broncos QB Bo Nix is slowly developing and should have a solid game versus a bad Panther defense. It’s in Denver. That’s all she wrote.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(6-0) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-5)

What happened to that Raiders team that knocked around Patrick Mahomes on Christmas Day? The silver and black would win that game. I ask myself: Is it possible for the Raiders that are 2-5 right now to give the Chiefs their first loss? The Raiders will reinsert Gardner Minshew who was benched weeks ago because he struggled. The Chiefs QB Mahomes has not thrown a touchdown pass of his own in weeks. The Chiefs just made a trade with the Titans as they land DeAndre Hopkins in hopes that will change in Vegas. It’s a home game for the Raiders but I imagine you will see more red than black jerseys. I’m sure the Raiders defense will throw everything including the kitchen sink at Mahomes. I just don’t see Minshew or the Raiders running game getting much off this Chiefs defense. It is just a pipe dream to think Raiders can resurrect that Christmas magic.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

DALLAS COWBOYS(3-3) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(3-4)

The last time we saw the Cowboys they were pummeled by the Lions. Detroit put up over 40 points on this horrible Dallas defense. The 49ers gave you hope last week for a little while of getting revenge versus the Chiefs from the Superbowl loss. The Chiefs won that as you all know that. The 49ers have a grocery store list at Aldi stocking up the covers and fridge with injuries. The Cowboys are rested and set for another prime time game. The last few meetings the 49ers defense has toppled the Cowboys offense. I really don’t care for either team as they both reek and desperate for a win. The 49ers are favored in this one. Just the way the NFL has gone, watch America’s team have a big night knocking the 49ers out with what ever they have standing in this game. Dak Prescott now the highest paid QB in the league has to show something or he will be headed for Watson Bust Boulevard. My gut says the Cowboys will be a complete different team and barely win this one on the road. You can’t have a week without talking about the Boys making it to the Superbowl those sickies.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS???

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW YORK GIANTS(2-5) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(5-2)

Do the Giants show a pulse in this Monday clash versus the Steelers? The Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin may be the QB whisperer.

The Steelers have gotten 5 wins out of QB’s tossed to the curb from other teams. Justin Fields went 4-2 as a starter to start the season for Pittsburgh. Last week Russell Wilson got his first action of the season and he looked like his old Seattle self and Steelers grounded the Jets. The Giants are probably the worst New York team that plays their games in New Jersey. The Steelers defense should easily prevent Daniel Jones from having any kind of chance that he thinks he’s going to win the game. Wilson may come down to earth but the Steelers running game will do the heavy lifting on offense and Pittsburgh should be 6-2 as we are closing on the first half of the season. Not too shabby.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

THE JETS ARE DOOMED WITH RODGERS

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For the last few seasons the New York Jets had that ferocious defense, one of the top units in the league. It was a defense that could suffocate a running game. In the air their defenses were Maverick-like in the danger zone. With that defense in place if only they had a quarterback, then the sky was the limit for their future contention window. This franchise has tried developing their franchise quarterback through the draft. The team has high picks over the years and have swung and missed with guys like Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. He was bad on the field along with bringing that toxic feeling to the gang green’s locker room. Then the Jets front office finally landed their answer at QB, the man the legend former Packers star & future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers who has a Superbowl ring. In two seasons of which one Rodgers was hurt the entire year after leaving the first quarter with an injury, he has single handily taken this Jets team two steps backwards instead of forward.

In Aaron Rodger’s second season with the Jets, the team is off to a 2-5 start after the first 7 games of the season. Maybe it’s time he looked himself in the mirror or got some more quality time at his darkness retreat. Rodgers has 10 touchdown passes compared to 7 interceptions. The Jets are averaging 18.3 points per game. The Jets offense is ranked 24th in the NFL in scoring this season. Whose fault is that? The great Rodgers is 40 years old, has played football for decades, and has been on plenty of winning teams in his NFL career. Many great quarterbacks will take the blame themselves. Rodgers will point fingers at the other guys. The Jets loss to Buffalo when the Bills sealed the win off with an interception, Rodgers blamed the veteran wide receiver Mike Williams for running the wrong route. The ball looked like it was under thrown as well. Not Rodgers’ fault as he pointed that out after the game in the press conference. Williams played with the Chargers last year & was a nice weapon for Justin Herbert. He signed with the Jets this off season as a free agent. Williams has been working himself back from an injury that occurred last season. The Jets just made a trade for one of Rodgers’ disciples back in the Green Bay days, Devante Adams. More on him in a little bit. Now Williams appears to be on the Jets trading block.

My biggest beef with this Jets team is how the owner Woody Johnson fired a promising head coach in Robert Saleh. Only six games into the season, Rodgers and Saleh bumped heads on a few things.

Did Aaron Rodgers orchestrate his frustrations with the Jets owner making this move happen? Saleh is a former defensive coordinator from the San Francisco 49ers and the problems with these Jets teams have been the offense. The Jets would promote their defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to the interim head coach. Ulbrich is known as a positive guy, a former disciple of Pete Carol’s staff. Could he be the yes man for Rodgers the rest of the way? The Jets have brought in Rodgers’ former head coach last year Nathaniel Hackett who once upon a time ago was Rodgers’ offensive coordinator in Green Bay. Hackett landed a head coaching job in Denver and fizzled out with the Broncos and did not even last a full season. If you remember what Sean Payton said about the Broncos team when he took over. “One of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”

The Jets also said after the firing of Saleh and promoting Ulbrich to interim head coach, they will have Todd Downing call the plays on offense. Hackett will still be Rodgers’ right hand man but the team is going with some younger blood on the play calls in hope to spice things up.

After the Bills lost, the Jets made a trade and landed Devante Adams from the Raiders. Adams was fed up with the Raiders. He demanded a trade and got his wish as he lands with the old quarterback from their Green Bay days. The Jets have surrounded Rodgers with guys he is familiar with like Randal Cobb and Allen Lazard now Adams. With Adams in the fold, could it hurt the Jets young receiver Garrett Wilson who is the team’s number one guy? Then you wonder about if the Jets now become pass happy and abandon the run as they have a solid running back in Breece Hall. Does Rodgers use another wish from his genie the Jets front office and find himself another back he has worked with back in Green Bay? It’s the Packers East coast team they are building in the AFC.

Can Aaron Rodgers and the Jets dig themselves out the hole they have dug this season out of the gates at 2-5? The Jets defense use to be stout versus the run. I noticed opposing teams have gashed this defense for big chunks of yards. This Jets team still has some missing pieces like the offensive line has needs. I’m all about Rodgers getting creamed back there by defenses. This Jets team has to clean up the penalties in which they shoot themselves in the foot many times. Rodgers will point the finger at the referees for those mistakes. To me this Jets team feels like the nut job is in charge of the asylum. Which my middle finger is pointed to Rodgers on that guy. Last Sunday night even with Roger’s new toy Adams, the Steelers killed the Jets with Russell Wilson at quarterback. Rodgers is not a top ten QB in the NFL anymore. You saw that in Green Bay & you see it this season. Look at Jordan Love now in Green Bay. Rodgers could not even hold his jock strap the way Love is playing. For years Rodgers held the Packers hostage not letting the organization know if he was playing or not the following year. It took kicking and screaming to get Rodgers out of the door to Green Bay. I’m sorry but New York is where X-Packers QB’s go to die. Brett Favre did not do well as a Jet. At least Favre moved on from New York and had a few productive seasons with Minnesota. How long is the leash that the Jets owner will keep Rodgers on after this season? Sooner or later this Jets defense contention window will close. They will age or move on seeking riches from other teams. Then you’re left with an aging quarterback that will need prunes and will not play like Tom Brady in his 40’s. When it is all done Rodgers will point that finger to blame Woody Johnson for not getting it right to surround Mr. Darkness Retreat with the proper weapons to run a well-oiled machine offense. The Jets are doomed and will go back to the drawing board looking for a quarterback. While Rodgers will slink away thinking it was not his fault.

I HATE WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE.

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Is this the last we will see of the 230 million dollar quarterback named Deshaun Watson in Cleveland? On Sunday, Watson’s season came to an end with an Achilles injury on the field versus the Cincinnati Bengals in front of the Dawg Pound. They let their feelings out by booing their quarterback who had to be carted off the field. The Browns season has been disastrous so far at 1-6. Everything points to the struggling Watson as the Browns offense has failed to score at least 20 points this season. Watson has not even clipped the 200 yard mark in passing this season in seven games. Watson’s past is still haunting him. The fans hate his guts. Can the Browns march Watson back out there in 2025? If the Browns cut ties with him and eat all the remaining guaranteed money, would any other team want Watson? You can’t trade him. No one is that stupid, except for the Browns front office for agreeing to the trade with Houston years ago. Then giving him that ridiculous contract and making it guaranteed.

As fans, you have the right to boo. You purchase the expensive tickets to see a bum get 230 million dollars and not play well. It is not a classy thing to boo a man that just got injured as others have chimed in with their opinion about the Dawg Pound’s reaction. Why does Lebron James get to say whatever he wants on the Twitter?

“Y’all know how much we’ve been thru throughout the years both good, bad, and indifferent. With that being said, booing anyone that’s down with an injury let alone your own player, is lame AF!!!

Yes, Lebron James has always done it right by all with “THE DECISION” taking his talents to south beach. Then some of Deshaun Watson’s teammates commented on how hard he works. How much of a great guy he is. The man is despicable as he had over 20 sexual assault cases. Hide your children, mother, wife, and sister… the sexual predator is coming over for dinner.

I don’t believe in death threats to anybody that plays a sport regarding how he or she does on the court, ice, or field. That is amateur hour. Then you hear that Deshaun Watson was crying because of the injury. He’s not crying thinking about all the Cleveland fans. He’s crying because now he will have plenty of time to collect his own thoughts about his life: past and present. Three ghosts haunting him like in the Christmas masterpiece, the Scrooge. The future is grim for this man. He does not get it. He thinks he has not done anything wrong with all those sexual assault cases. Why is he paying them off to go away? He has not apologized and he will not, until nobody in the NFL wants him on their team. Enough with the water works because we are not buying what you are selling.

In the 2017 NFL draft, I thought that Deshaun Watson out of Clemson was a sure thing. An actual quarterback that can change your franchise. I wondered why the Bears at the time took Mitch Trubisky. Everyone thought Patrick Mahomes had talent, but it was Watson that was going to change the franchise. Now we know it was Mahomes who changed the Kansas City Chiefs and turned them into a dynasty. Watson in 4 seasons in Houston played solidly behind center. The Texans were in the playoffs as Watson has a career 1-2 record in the post-season. In 54 games in Houston, his record was 28-25 as a starter. He completed 67.8% of his passes and threw 104 touchdown passes compared to 36 interceptions. In 2023, he led the NFL in passing yards and threw 33 touchdown passes. This is the guy Cleveland thought they were getting. In 19 games as a Browns quarterback, he has a record of 9-10 as he was completing 61.2% of his passes for 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Watson was suspended from the NFL in 2022 because of what happened with the sexual assault cases. He only played six games. In 2021, Watson did not play one single game in the NFL because he wanted out of Houston. It was because he did not get a say in what the front office was doing. Like the hiring of a head coach or general manager. To have those kind of balls, thinking you can dictate your terms to your bosses and the owner is just feeble-minded. Your boss or my boss would tell us to take a hike. Then came all those sexual assault cases out of the woodwork where he showed every massage therapist his junk throughout the tri-state area.

I would not blame the Browns fans for booing. Go right to the source, blame the front office and the owner of the asylum. You could throw the present coaching staff under the bus for rolling Deshaun Watson out there every week so they can watch hot garbage. I think the coaching staff is probably told they must start Watson or else. Next year Watson will cost the Browns 46 million dollars. The year after, another 46 million. If I was a fan of Cleveland and Watson is the quarterback next year, I would cancel my season tickets. Make the owner feel the heat because they were the ones that made the worst trade in NFL history and gave this clown guaranteed money. If I was Cleveland, I would give Watson a broom or something. Maybe he can mop the floors in the bathrooms after the games. You have to eat all that money, start rebuilding, and go on with the next two years with salary cap issues. Just like the Broncos did with Russell Wilson. If Watson gets, cut could he sign a cheap deal like Wilson did with the Steelers? Sure. What team would want to have this wrecking ball coming to their city along with having this plague in your locker room. If Colin Kaepernick, another nut case, has been black balled from the NFL, Watson’s doings outweigh what the X-49er quarterback did. The Browns thought they were getting their QB answer after decades of guys rolling in and being dispatched from the draft, free agency, or trades. Watson had talent while Kaepernick was more of one year wonder. Who gives a rat’s arse what Lebron James has to say Everyone knows Watson is a bad dude, not in a good way. The stupid owner Jimmy Haslam is the stupid one signing Watson’s paychecks. Time to do the sensible thing and unplug the Watson experiment instead of continuing to neuter your fan base.

NFL WEEK 7: WEEKLY PREDICTIONS DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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LAST WEEK’S RECORD FOR WEEK 6: (11-3)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD:(4-2)

FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES(0-1)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD:(5-2)

NFL WEEK 7 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

DENVER BRONCOS(3-3) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-4)

The Saints and the Broncos have screwed me all year with their shenanigans. The Saints injury list reads out like a Santa Clause list. Including without their starting QB Derek Carr. The Saints have lost 4 straight games. The Broncos are going through growing pains with their rookie QB, Bo Nix. I like the Broncos defense who are one of the top units in the league. The Saints defense has gone to complete shambles giving up 51 points to Tampa Bay last week.

My X-factor is the return of Sean Payton to New Orleans. Plus factor in that Broncos have won 3 out their last 4 games.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(1-5) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS(1-5)

This is a pair of 1-5 teams battling on a neutral site. The Jaguars played in London last week and have stayed there while New England flew over the pond. The Patriots unleashed their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, who played well in his first start for the Patriots. These are two bad teams, but I expect Maye to play well in his second start. I like Trevor Lawrence better in this match up as he has been getting better each week. The victories are not there yet for the Jaguars. Maye and the Patriots will score points off a leaky Jacksonville defense. I suspect this game to be an offensive shoot out with the Jaguars saying Cheerio to the Patriots at the end.

OUR PICK: JAGS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(3-3) AT ATLANTA FALCONS(4-2)

The Seahawks and the Falcons are heading in opposite directions. Seattle has lost three straight games. The Falcons have won 3 straight games. Another long flight across the country for Seattle. The Falcons offense is rolling like a well-oiled machine and the Seahawks defense is easier than a whorehouse in a bad neighborhood. Captain Kirk Cousins is playing well. I like the Falcons at home and they have the better defense to make this decision rather easy.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

TENNESSEE TITANS(1-4) AT BUFFALO BILLS(4-2)

The good news for the Titans is Mason Rudolf, former Steelers QB, gets the start. The Bills are finally at home after three straight road games where they won only one game. Rudolf filled in for Will Levis once this season and the outcome turned into the Titans’ only victory. I expect a better offensive performance for the Titans. I expect a better offensive performance from the Bills who will be on high after escaping New York with a victory on Monday night.

Even though the Jets technically play in Jersey. The Bills defense is getting healthier with guys returning. Then Buffalo made a trade landing the Browns’ top receiver, Amari Cooper, could be a nice jump start to that Bills offense we saw in the first three weeks of the season. Cooper will draw attention and Josh Allen will find someone open for the winning score.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CINCINNATI BENGALS(2-4) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS(1-5)

The battle of Ohio with two bad teams. The Bengals are trying to dig themselves out of an early season gigantic hole they dug themselves. The Browns’ season has been horrific. The Yankees just wiped out the Guardians in the baseball world. You know every Cleveland sports fan has awaken seeing this in a drunk stupor.

The thoughts of it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now these Cleveland fans are left with Deshaun Watson. Back to the drunk stupor because life was better. The Bengals have a solid offense. Watson is bad, Joe Burrow is better. The Browns are already waving the white flag dealing Amari Cooper to Buffalo. I like the Bengals in this state rivalry.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

HOUSTON TEXANS(5-1) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(4-2)

Jordan Love versus CJ Stroud may be a great game here. The Texans, that sexy pick from experts, being a AFC heavy weight is panning off. Meanwhile the Packers in that loaded NFC North division is something you can’t sneeze at. On paper this looks like a shoot out. Both teams have a pretty good defensive unit. This will be a close game. Going with the home team on this pick as Love will just do a tad more than Stroud for a victory dance at Lambeau field. As Packers keep pace with the Lions, Vikings, and Bears… Oh my!!!

OUR PICK: PACKERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS(2-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(3-3)

If the Dolphins can hover around the 500 mark as they await the return of Tua Tagovailoa to save their season, you never know. The Colts are the better team with Joe Flacco behind center. It’s that simple. The Dolphins have former Ravens QB Tyler Huntley starting behind center. I like Flacco better. The Colts have won without their number one running back, Jonathan Taylor. Both teams will score points because their defenses are terrible. Flacco gets the last laugh.

OUR PICK: COLTS

DETROIT LIONS(4-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS(5-0)

I believe any NFC North match up this season may be must see television. The Lions visiting Viking-land will be epic. The Lions have won three straight. The Vikings have not lost yet. Jarred Goff and Sam Darnold have had solid seasons so far. The Lions in that blow out win over the Cowboys lost their best defensive player in Aidan Hutchinson.

The Vikings are well rested and at home sounds like a recipe for winning. I like the Lions head coach, Dan Campbell, pushing all the right buttons with his team by losing Hutchinson and overcoming the Vikings. Sometimes when you’re playing well and too well like the Vikings, a bye week can hurt you more than help. I like Lions overcoming this hurdle, taking over first, and giving the Vikings their first lost of the year.

OUR PICK: LIONS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(3-2) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-4)

The Giants and Eagles have played bad football, but combined they are 5-6 so they are finding ways to win games. Eagles barely won against a bad visiting Browns team at home. The Giants offense was a no-show versus the Bengals on Sunday night. Looks like the G-Men will get one of their play makers back in wide receiver Malik Nabors. This is one game I would not want to watch on the docket. Is Jalen Hurts due for a big game for the Eagles? Do you trust a pretty good Giants defense? I don’t trust Daniel Jones for the Giants behind center.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-4) AT LA RAMS(1-4)

This game is a clunker. The Raiders traded away Davante Adams, first of all. What kind of message are you sending to this Raiders team? The Rams have played in some close games but have only one win to show for it. The Rams were a playoff team last year. The Raiders defense was solid last year. My pick will be based off the QB. The Raiders are probably riding with Aidan O’Connell over Gardner Minshew, which is not a huge upgrade. The Rams are at home and still have Matthew Stafford who should be able to get it done.

OUR PICK: RAMS

CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-5) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(4-2)

The Commanders got a true measuring stick of this Jayden Daniels-led team versus the Ravens last week. Even with a loss the Commanders hung with one of the top AFC teams for 4 quarters. Meanwhile the Panthers. Bad defense. Andy Dalton and that Panthers offense will score some points. Not enough to compete with the Commanders. I like Washington getting the easy rebound and reestablishing themselves with a W.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS(5-0) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(3-3)

The rematch of the Superbowl!!! The Chiefs have not lost a pep in their step as they are 5-0 out of the gates this season. The 49ers are a different story. They have piled up a ton of injuries. They have ridden the struggle bus to a 500 record. The Chiefs are coming off a bye week. Andy Reid’s teams historically have dominated coming off the bye week. The Chiefs defense is plying well. The 49ers defense is not playing well. Everything seems to favor the Chiefs. This should be an easy go with Kansas City. This is the NFL, nothing right now is set in stone. We know the script will have the Chiefs winning it all at the end. The script needs dramatic scenes. The 49ers win a big game for that dramatic flare and gives the Chiefs their first loss of the year. They can’t win them all.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW YORK JETS(2-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS(4-2)

The Steelers are making a move at their quarterback position benching Justin Fields for a healthy Russell Wilson. Confused? I certainly am. Then the Jets are getting the band back together as they are forming the Packers east coast team. The Jets land one of Aaron Rodgers’ old weapons from Green Bay by getting Davante Adams from the Raiders. Rodgers had his best game in a Jets uniform in a loss on Monday night to the Bills. How will Wilson do in his debut in the black and gold? Will the Steelers get Wilson from the Seahawks days or the Broncos days? Will the Steelers fans will be up in arms? Both teams have good defenses. The Steelers are better coached than the Jets team who shoot themselves in the foot regularly. Is the Jets owner relying too heavy on Rodgers with the firing of their head coach before the Bills game and now getting Adams? This Jets team seems like a house of cards ready to be blown down by the Steelers defense. I just don’t trust Rodgers. I don’t trust Wilson either. Mike Tomlin has gotten a 4-2 record with Fields as the starter. Watch Wilson play better than that Denver Wilson, but not his old Seattle self as the Steelers pull off a close one.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

TWO MONDAY NIGHT GAMES

BALTIMORE RAVENS(4-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS(4-2)

This will be an interesting game between the Ravens and Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield lit up the Saints as the Buccaneers put 51 points on the scoreboard. The Ravens dealt with the rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and the Commanders for a victory. The Ravens have won 4 straight after losing the first two games out of the gates. Who has the better defense? The Buccaneers did give up a ton of points to back up quarterback last week. The Ravens are not that stout unit they were last season. You have to give the Ravens defense the nod. This should be a great game. At the end I stand by Lamar Jackson who has a career record of 22-1 against NFC teams. I go Ravens.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

LA CHARGERS(3-2) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS(2-4)

Every time you look at the scoreboard, it seems the Chargers get a win somehow. The Chargers are very quietly a 3-2 team. The Cardinals’ 2 wins have come against teams in their own division. I like Justin Herbert having a successful game over the Cardinals’ bad defense. Kyler Murray is too up and down for my taste. I like Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers defense that can keep Murray in check. This is not a very exciting game, but I like another quiet Chargers victory to end week 7.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

HANGING OUT WITH MR. COOPER

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For the Buffalo Bills, life without Stefon Diggs has had its up and downs. The first three games of the seasons the Bills offense was rolling like a well-oiled machine. It was an offense where everyone feasts as Josh Allen spread the ball around. It was working when the team was averaging over 30 points per game and started out of the gates 3-0. It was Diggs who? Then the next two games the Bills struggled on offense losing two conference games to teams they most likely will meet in the playoffs. The Ravens and Diggs’ new team, the Texans. Suddenly Diggs was being missed as the Bills had no top receiver to take double coverage. They did not have a guy that would step up in crucial situations to keep the chains moving. The Bills only averaged 15 points in the next two losses. On Monday the Bills found a way to get back in the win column beating the Jets. Bills only scored 23 points which was better than what they did in two straight losses. This offense was missing Diggs, but not Diggs as a person and his mentality of me, me, me, and me. The Bills at 4-2 are in first place in the east and want to stay there. They struck a deal with the Cleveland Browns adding a true number 1 receiver to this team by landing veteran wide out, Amari Cooper.

Amari Cooper is 30 years old and was a former 1st round pick of the Oakland Raiders back in 2015, 4th overall in the NFL draft. Since the Browns are handcuffed by Deshaun Watson’s contract and starting 1-5 out of the gates, the front office feels it’s time to sell off a few pieces in Cleveland. The Bills will land Cooper and receive a 2025 6th round draft pick from the Browns. The Browns will get the Bills 3rd round pick in 2025 and their 7th round pick in 2026. Cooper’s salary, because his deal was reworked, fits perfectly under the Bills salary cap. The Bills General Manager Brandon Beane did not have to give up a ton of draft capital or find ways to fit a higher priced receiver in the team’s cap. Cooper gives Josh Allen a true number one receiver again to really give this aerial attack the Bills have a big boost.

This is the 10th year in the NFL for Amari Cooper, who came out of Alabama University. The Bills will be his 4th team he has suited up for. He started with Oakland & then was traded to Dallas. He has been on the Browns for the last three seasons. Any time he has started for a new team, he has come out of the gates strong and has had big years tallying up 1,000 or more yards for each new team he has played for. Last year Cooper and Joe Flacco had a nice connection on the field in Cleveland. The Browns went to the playoffs. Cooper had 72 catches for 1,250 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Some of that was with Deshaun Watson earlier in the season. Cooper’s game got better with Flacco. This year Cleveland’s offense has really struggled and Cooper had only 24 catches for 250 yards with two touchdowns in six games. Cooper would need 750 yards in a Buffalo uniform to notch his third straight season reaching 1,000 or more yards. Cooper’s career in 146 games he has hauled in 691 passes for 9,736 yards with 62 touchdowns. Stefon Diggs arrived, also in 2015, and has played ten seasons in the NFL. Diggs has more catches, yards, and touchdowns. Diggs has hauled in 847 catches for 10,387 yards and 70 touchdowns. As you can see, career-wise Cooper is not that far off from Diggs, maybe except catches.

The Bills leading receiver to this point of the season for the Bills is Khalil Shakir, who has 20 grabs for 249 yards with two touchdowns. Shakir is a slot receiver who will benefit with the presence of Amari Cooper. Shakir should not be your number 2 guy. He’s a very nice number 2. The Bills have been developing a rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman, who has 20 grabs for 201 yards with two touchdowns. The Bills have two solid tight ends in Dalton Kincaid, who has 21 grabs for 217 yards with a touchdown catch. The other tight end is Dawson Knox who scored his first touchdown of the year on Monday night versus the Jets. Everyone eats in the Bills offense as veteran big body wide out, Mack Hollins, even has two touchdowns this season. The Bills cut two time Superbowl winner veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdez-Scantling, who had only caught two balls so far for 26 yards to make room on the roster for their big trade acquisition.

After the loss to the Bills, it did not take the Jets long to pull the trigger and land Devante Adams from the Raiders. Adams reunites with his former quarterback from Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers. Adams wanted out of Vegas. Adams is one of the best receivers in the NFL. Suddenly the AFC has an arms race for aerial weapons. Rumors have it that Buffalo kicked the tires on Adams, but Vegas had a higher price. Maybe too steep for the Bills salary cap. It did not seem that long after sending Adams to the Jets, the news came out of Cooper heading to Buffalo. Will Adams resurrect this Jets team that has far more problems than just Rodgers? Rodgers probably played his best game with the Jets versus the Bills in that Monday night game. The Jets have dug themselves a hole early on, but they have plenty of time to get back in the playoff talk. The Bills could be 5-1 as they shot themselves in the foot in the game versus the Texans. The Bills head coach Sean McDermott blamed himself for poor clock management that could have sent that game to overtime. The Bills are getting people back from their injuries as well. Hanging with Mr. Cooper may be the ace card this Bills team needs. A good locker room guy. Amari Cooper is a great route runner. Now the Bills have a deep threat for Josh Allen. With Cooper in the fold, other guys will get open. I like the Bills running game. This move keeps defenses guessing. The Jets may turn things around with Adams. The Bills can now be talked about with the top tier teams in the AFC, the Ravens and Chiefs, with Cooper now in the mix.

NFL WEEK SIX: WEEKLY PREDICTIONS DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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LAST WEEK’S RECORD WEEK 5:(9-5)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD: (3-2)

FRIDAY NIGHT RECORD:(0-1)

SEASON RECORD:(45-33)

NFL WEEK 6 – STRAIGHT PICK’EM

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS(2-3) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS(3-2)

Both the Seahawks and the 49ers have played poorly the last few weeks. The 49ers lost to the Cardinals last Sunday. The Seahawks lost a home game to the visiting Giants. Both teams have taken on injuries in the first 5 weeks of the season. It’s a short week for both teams. The Seahawks defense worries me the most in this match up as injuries have taken a toll on this unit. I like Brock Purdy having a big game doing his thing with a 49ers well-balanced attack with the run and pass and tackling while taking this game rather easily.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

THE LONDON GAME

LONDON JAGUARS(1-4) AT CHICAGO BEARS(3-2)

The guards at the tower of London look like a marching band at a high school football game. I say London Jaguars because every year Jacksonville plays a game or more in England. The Bears will be the home team which is not really a home field advantage in this one. It seems Bears fans travel well so they might be in town. Caleb Williams had his best game last Sunday as a rookie quarterback in this league. Williams feasted on a bad Panthers team. The Jaguars had themselves a nice week notching their first win they needed to stay afloat. I like the experience of Trevor Lawrence as he has been here, done this game, and he right now is finding his groove. The Bears defense keeps this game close. I can see the Bears looking lethargic in the first half with the flight and getting used to the surroundings. The Jaguars will overcome any jet lag and take care of business in their home away from home.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS(4-1) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS(3-2)

Lamar Jackson versus Jayden Daniels sounds like the Clash of the Titans movie. The Commanders have won 4 straight games. The Ravens have won 3 straight. The Ravens defense is not the same unit from last year as the Commanders will score points. The Ravens obviously will get their share of points as Jackson and Derrick Henry have created a dominating run game. Can Daniels be stopped? Can Daniels be contained? I think the Commanders will hit a speed bump in this one on the road. The Ravens will prevail late with a go ahead score and slow down the rookie just enough to put this game on ice.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

ARIZONA CARDINALS(2-3) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS(3-2)

Jordan Love earned his first victory back from his injury that took him out in the first game in Brazil on opening weekend versus the Eagles. The Cardinals found a way to upend the 49ers last Sunday in an upset. Love and the Packers offense should be able to feast on the Cardinals weak defensive line. The Cardinals have only beat the teams in their own division as their other win was against the Rams. Kyle Murray has had a decent season so far but I like the Packers being able to make stops on defense. I don’t see the Cardinals offense being able to score another 40 points on this Packers defense in Green Bay. I have the Packers prevailing in this one at home.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(2-3) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(1-3)

If either team wants to win this game, they should turn to their back up quarterbacks.

Joe Flacco has done very well over the second year quarterback Anthony Richardson who may be able to play this week coming back from an injury. The Titans had a bye week last week and are well-rested.

It was the play of Mason Rudolf that came into the game for Will Levis in week 4 to secure the Titans’ first victory of the season. If this game is Levis vs Richardson, you have to lean Titans. Even if Flacco gets the start the Titans have the better defense as the Colts can’t stop anyone. The Colts will not have Jonathan Taylor for this one. I like the Titans rested up and putting their divisional rival away in this match-up.

OUR PICK: TITANS

HOUSTON TEXANS(4-1) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS(1-4)

The New England Patriots will hand the keys to their rookie quarterback Drake Maye after only winning one game in the first 5 weeks of the season. The Texans, everyone’s darlings to be the new power house in the AFC, should have no problem with this Patriots team. I’m sure Maye will have growing pains in his first ever start in the NFL. Everyone in New England wants this kid right away slinging the football like the great Tom Brady. With Caleb Williams finding his game after a few bad performances, the Patriots will have to have patience with a rookie. We know the Patriot fans will want Maye to come out like Jayden Daniels blazing. It “Maye” take some time. I like Houston winning this game on the road by double digits.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

TAMPA BAY(3-2) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS(2-3)

Last time we saw the Buccaneers, they lost a game on Thursday night in an epic shoot out that went to overtime versus Kirk Cousins and the Falcons. The Saints opened up the season winning their first two games and putting over 40 points on the score board in each of them. The Saints have come back down to earth in a fatal crash as they lost three straight. Derek Carr is out.

Now the Saints will launch their secret weapon. Spencer Rattler is a rookie quarterback. Rattler was drafted out of South Carolina University and he is fearless. I like the Buccaneers chances better in this one with Bake Mayfield playing well. The Saints O-line is banged up. The Buccaneers are rested up.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS(3-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS(2-3)

The Steelers have lost two straight games after winning their first three. The Raiders are having QB issues. Will the Raiders bench Gardner Minshew and go with Aidan O’Connell? He was the starter for the silver and black last season. Looks like Russell Wilson will be back from his injury but the Steelers will stick with Justin Fields. The Raiders are without their star wide receiver Davante Adams who wants to be traded. I think O’Connell will give the Raiders a spark but not enough to light up the Steelers talented defense. I like Fields being able to match up against this Raiders defense that is still banged up.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS(1-4) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES(2-2)

These Browns are a natural disaster right now. How many more weeks will the Browns continue to trot out Deshaun Watson before pulling the plug on the 230 million dollar QB?

The Eagles needed a bye week and they are well rested after being off in week 5. The Eagles have been festering with their bad loss to the Buccaneers two weeks ago. I like Jalen Hurts out-dueling anything Watson has. I think the locker room will be an issue for Cleveland which may already be dividing. My gut feeling is the Eagles have their best game of the season in front of the home crowd against a team that is in total disarray right now.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

ATLANTA FALCONS(3-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS(1-4)

The Atlanta Falcons have to be licking their chops right now heading to Carolina to feast on Panthers meat. Kirk Cousins and that offense rolled over a pretty good Tampa Bay defense. The Panthers were shell-shocked playing the Bears on the road. Andy Dalton will keep this game close during the first half. The Falcons have a well balanced attack and the way Cousins has already adapted to his new team means look for Atlanta to light up the score board against a bad Panthers team. They can’t stop it but know it’s coming.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

DETROIT LIONS(3-1) AT DALLAS COWBOYS(3-2)

Both the Lions and Cowboys have won two straight games. The Lions are well rested coming off their bye week. The Cowboys last two wins have come against the Raiders and the Giants which does not give a confidence boost that they can take down the visiting Lions. The Cowboys may be without their star defender Micah Parsons who missed last week with an injury. I like the Lions offensive line man handling the Cowboys defensive front giving Detroit big holes to run through. Dak Prescott should keep this game close most of the game, but Lions will prevail late in the 4th to escape Dallas with another road victory.

OUR PICK: LIONS

LA CHARGERS(2-2) AT DENVER BRONCOS(3-2)

The Broncos are surging as they have won three straight games as you ask yourselves how. The Chargers have lost two straight and they are coming off their bye week. It seems like both teams play better defense right now than putting points on the board. The Broncos defense has been playing lights out. Bo Nix versus Justin Herbert could be the beginning of these two quarterbacks playing against each other for years to come. Herbert has been bothered by a ankle issue. Nix, the rookie quarterback, has been quietly improving each week as the Broncos have been tip toeing around the NFL. This while quietly stringing together victories. Jim Harbaugh coached teams are always a thorn in the side for opposing teams. Sean Payton had the Broncos playing well last year when his team looked like the worst team ever in football history. I like the Broncos in this one to continue quietly to gallop to another victory.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

CINCINNATI BENGALS(1-4) AT NEW YORK GIANTS(2-3)

The Giants had an upset last week over Seattle on the road. The Bengals had it. They missed a field goal versus the Ravens and ended up losing their 4th game of the season. This may be the biggest hole the Bengals early on into a season dug themselves. Joe Burrow is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL right now as him and his receivers Lamar Chase and Tee Higgins are on the field together and on the same page. Daniel Jones has struggled this season. Jones and the Giants offense should be able to generate points off a bad Bengals defense. In the end Burrow should beat Jones. That Bengals offense will be a huge challenge against that Giants defense, which will break.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

BUFFALO BILLS(3-2) AT NEW YORK JETS(2-3)

This game has all the drama going on by both teams. The Jets fired their head coach this week, Robert Saleh. You may say Aaron Rodgers may have something to do with it. The Jets defensive coordinator will take over the head coach duties. Last Sunday it was the Bills head coach Sean McDermott who cost his team a W versus the Texans with bad clock management. The Bills have lost two games in a row. Josh Allen got banged up last week pretty good versus the Texans. Speaking of Rodgers, he has struggled in the last two weeks throwing lots of interceptions. The Jets also demoted their offensive coordinator. Nathan Hackett may be on coffee duty. This will be the Bills’ third straight road game. The Jets made the long trip back from England where they lost last week. Injuries for the Bills is a factor. Their offense averaged over 30 points per game in the first three games & now have averaged just 15 points per game in those two losses. Last year when the Jets opened up at home in Rodgers’ first game wearing the dark green, he was injured early on and was out for the season on a sack by Leonard Floyd. I like Allen having a big game here. I like the Bills defense finding a way to irk Rodgers as he makes a few critical mistakes to give the Bills a victory they need.

OUR PICK: BILLS

BLOSSOMING YOUNG ROSE WILTED BUT SURVIVED 15 YEARS IN THE NBA

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After the Michael Jordan era in the 1990′,s Chicago hoops turned very sour. The Bulls were the ultimate disgrace and a bottom feeder in the NBA for several years. To this day after the Jordan retired, the Bulls had a few moments of glory, but mostly black clouds have lingered up above the United Center. Before the 2008-09 season, the Bulls found some luck in the basketball world getting the lottery number one pick as the ball bounced their way. The Bulls’ chances to get the number one pick were very slim. The Bulls used that number one pick on local Chicago kid Derrick Rose, who played hoops at Simeon High School and was one best basketball players in the city and the state. Rose played his college ball out of Memphis University and he was looking to be the savior of Bulls basketball. It started out with a bang but ended up as what if, as that is the Chicago way in this city’s sports landscape. The smell of roses led to a wilted flower in need of water as he had to go elsewhere for that. Many thought his career was done but he survived although he was never the same player. Had moments of the old Derrick Rose. Some say he is a future Hall of Famer. Did he do enough on the court to get selected to that prestigious honor?

Derrick Rose, obviously drafted by his home team the Bulls, ended his career in the town he played his college ball in – the Memphis Grizzlies. Rose would play 15 seasons in the NBA with six different teams and some of those years he played for more than one team. Rose played seven seasons in Chicago. He would suit up for the Knicks for 4 seasons, Pistons 2 seasons, Timber wolves 2 seasons, 1 season with Cavaliers, and the Grizzlies. Rose came into the league like gang busters as he was quick and could beat you to the lane. He had a sniper shot that could hit from anywhere. He could dazzle you with a nice feed to any one of his teammates on the floor for an easy bucket. His first season in a Bulls uniform he was Rookie of the Year and awarded a spot on the All Rookie NBA team in 2008-09 season. In his third season, the 2010-11 season was magical as the Bulls had the best record in the league at 62-20 and almost made you forget about Michael Jordan. Just for a second. This Rose-led Bulls team stormed themselves all the way to the Eastern Conference finals and fell victim to that dream team of the Miami Heat. If you hate Lebron James with his decision to take his talents to South Beach where he assembled the big three which included Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosch. The Heat dispatched the Bulls in 5 games. What if Lebron stayed in Cleveland? Could the Bulls have gotten by him and that Cavaliers team he abandoned or perhaps another team? That was the year when Rose was the youngest ever player to win an MVP award in the NBA at 22 years of age. He made the All-NBA team as well in that 2010-2011 season.

Then the Bulls the following season would once again be playoff bound in the 2011-2012 season. They opened up against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. They blame head coach Tom Thibodeau for having Derrick Rose in the game as the Bulls were up by double digit points. Rose would injure his left knee as he tore his ACL. You could add another “What If” to this situation. Rose would miss the entire 2012-2013 season to recover. Many fans and the Bulls front office blamed Thibodeau, whose philosophy as a coach is when you have a lead keep your foot on the gas pedal. If Rose blamed his coach for the injury, why then did he play for him years later in New York and Minnesota. Rose had that explosiveness to the net which is a blessing but a curse for some players as the grind on the knees can easily snap that ACL. It could happen any given day at any given time. Rose would recover but was not the same player as he once was. Unfortunately that ACL in his left knee was only the beginning for his issues on his basketball legs. In 2013, Rose had a pair of tears to his meniscus in his right knee. In 2015 another tear to the meniscus, this time back to his left knee. Rose definitely lost more than a few steps from being that MVP at the age of 22.

You have to respect Derrick Rose to continue to overcome these injuries and still play a significant role for an NBA team. Rose had to change his game no doubt. He would become a weapon with his below the rim style over making the splashy dunk as he did not have that explosiveness due to the knee issues. He played a different role coming off the bench mostly, Teams would look from him as a quick spark. On October 31st of 2018 in Minnesota, wearing a Timber Wolves uniform Rose scored 50 points against the Utah Jazz. In 2020-2021 he was important to the Knicks team playing solid basketball off the bench as the 6th man which he almost won that award. Who was Rose playing for in 2020-2021? His old coach from the Bulls, good ole Tom Thibodeau who the Bulls front office marched out of town back in the days.

At the end, Derrick Rose averaged 17.4 points per game in the NBA. Rose averaged 3.2 rebounds per game while dishing out at least 5.2 assists per game. Those are not bad numbers. Rose is only 36 years old. In basketball years are like dog years so his frame is much older as the work to get into shape to play in the NBA have to be excruciating at that age. Rose would end up being 3 x all-star. His numbers don’t jump off the page at you but the Basketball Hall of Fame have guys with less credentials than Rose had. I was not a fan of Rose when on one media day right before one of those NBA seasons was about to start, he was talking about his contract instead of giving insight to the reporters on how the Bulls were going to do that particular season. When athletes cry they need more money to feed the family or give to their entourage, it just makes people like Johnny Lunch Pail spit out venomous words against these primadonnas making millions. Of course you can defend Rose and others mouthing off like that at a young age. Young and stupid… we have all been there. Overall my opinion is that Rose is worthy of the Basketball Hall of Fame. I like his work ethic to overcome those injuries. I don’t think he did enough in his entire career to get that honor. I think if he had two more seasons healthier under his belt before the first major knee surgery, then you can put him in. If I was the Bulls, I would not retire his number. Not sure if the Bulls have their own Hall of Fame of sorts like many franchises do. Definitely they should have a spot for a Chicago kid playing for the home crowd winning an MVP award. Derrick Rose still brings the Chicago Bulls fans the best memories of any other small amount of them we have after the Michael Jordan era. What if the Rose did not wilt in that playoff game versus the 76ers? Maybe the Bulls could have had another title. Let’s not forget about the people behind the scenes. Dumb, Dumber, Dumbest – the owner and the front office at the time. The Chicago’s sports landscape has never had the sharpest tools in the shed when it comes to the owners and their henchmen.