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2025 NFL PREDICTIONS: WEEK 8 DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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WEEK 8 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (11-4)

We had a better week than week 6 when we only managed to get 8 correct out of 15 match ups. Week seven was sort of an easy week to pick. We were on the wrong side of the Icy Hot bowl that featured two aging quarterbacks. Thursday nights have not worked well the last few weeks. Picking the Commanders over the Cowboys turns into a very humiliating pick. Would love that one back. That is the way the cookie crumbles. In week 8 we are looking for perfection and no way we will come close to that. It sounds good on the computer screen writing it. We will get back on the horse and try to do better even though we have less match ups this week.

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-3) AT LA CHARGERS (5-3)

The last few weeks picking Thursday night games has been disastrous. This Thursday is very challenging between two teams I have not figured out all year long. The Chargers and Vikings have solid defensive units this season. Justin Herbert is the better quarterback than Carson Wentz. I figure if you keep betting on Jim Harbaugh, he is bound to win more games than lose. Even though I picked the Chargers last week to beat the Colts, he disappointed me there. It’s a new week. I like the Chargers defense to force the Vikings QB into mistakes where they benefit from and change my Thursday losing streak by flipping the script.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

THE SUNDAY TILT

MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-6) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (3-3)

The Dolphins have been swimming in toxic waters all year long. Can Kirk Cousins Wally Pipp Michael Peniz Jr., who pipped the former Viking QB? Whoever is the QB for the Falcons this week, Miami can not stop their running back Bijan Robinson who should have a big day versus the fish. Atlanta plays better at home and Miami should fire everyone.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

CHICAGO BEARS (4-2) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-5)

Can the Bears win 5 straight games? I bet you are thinking last time Chicago has done that was back in1985. The Bears did win 5 straight games back in 2018. The Ravens will be without their star quarterback Lamar Jackson who is dealing with a hamstring that has kept him out multiple weeks. The Ravens are in desperation mode right now. They need to win this game or their playoff hopes are crushed. The Ravens should be better on defense with some of their guys coming back and the team is rested from being on a bye last week. Without Lamar, the Bears should win this one on the road rather easily. The Bears have been playing well on both sides of the ball. Look for the Bears defense to make Cooper Rush have another bad day at the office as he already has thrown 4 interceptions in two starts.

OUR PICK: DA BEARS

BUFFALO BILLS (4-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-3)

The Panthers have won three straight games and are perfect at home. The Bills have lost two straight games and are coming off their bye week. The Panthers will be without their starting QB Bryce Young as veteran Andy Dalton gets the start. The Bills have been gashed by the running game the last two straight weeks that led to losses.

The Bills have reinforcements on their defense just in time. Their rookie corner back Maxwell Hairston will make his NFL debut coming off a knee injury he suffered in pre-season. Then two free agents the Bills signed in the off-season for their defense, Larry Ogunjobi and Micahel Hoecht, will make their season debut coming off the league’s suspension list. The Bills will be better on defense. The bye week should help this team clean up their act. Dalton will be a sitting duck for defense that wants to make a statement. Josh Allen redeems himself from the bad performance he had in Atlanta.

OUR PICK: BILLS

NEW YORK JETS (0-7) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-4)

The Jets have been secretive about who’s starting at quarterback this week like it’s Area 51. The Jets should take whatever alien is in the building at Area 51 and insert it at the QB position. It’s got to be better than trotting Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor out there. Joe Flacco has given the Bengals hope and may be the guy that saved Cincinnati’s season. All Flacco needs to do is throw the football to Ja’Marr Chase 50 times. He’ll do the rest. The Bengals defense is terrible, but they should handle the Jets’ Area 51 secret project.

OUR PICK: BENGALS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-2) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (2-4)

The Texans may be without their superstar wide receiver Nico Collins who is still on concussion protocol. The 49ers will lean in once again on Mac Jones as their starting quarterback who’s filling for the injured Brock Purdy. Jones is 4-1 this season as the starter. It’s the same story for Houston and San Francisco this season. The 49ers have concurred their injury problems by continuing to put W’s in the win column. The Texans have been solid on defense the entire season, but that does not help their offensive line. Being slim at the receiver position with an offense that has not run the ball well keeps me away from Houston like they have the herpes and are looking to spread the disease. The 49ers are the safer bet here.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-2)

What do you think? The Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has the new Death Star half built as New England has won 4 straight games. Rookie quarterback Dillion Gabriel won his first ever NFL start last week versus the Dolphins. Gabriel has not set the league on fire but has not been careless with the football. The Browns offense has been pretty dormant most of the season. The Patriots will face a challenge with the Browns stud defense that will keep them in the game. Drake Maye will out-duel the Browns rookie and keep the Patriots hot streak alive and well at least for another week.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

NEW YORK GIANTS (2-5) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-2)

The G-Men gave the Eagles their first loss of the season a few weeks ago. With that win, the Giants snapped a 8 game losing streak dating back to last year against teams in the division. Can the Giants sweep the season series versus the Eagles?

The Giants have not done well in Philadelphia over the last few years. It’s been a house of horrors for the team in blue. It’s hard to sweep a division opponent. It’s very hard to sweep the Superbowl champs from last year. Jaxson Dart has been giving the Giants a boost with his play at the quarterback position. However this is the same Giants team who blew a huge 4th quarter lead last week to the Broncos. The Eagles snapped a two game skid with a win last week. I like the Eagles to get their revenge. Dart will give the Giants a solid chance, but they come up short of the bullseye.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-2) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-6)

The Buccaneers offense went dormant on Monday night versus the Lions. The Saints continue to lose games & players while their quarterback Spencer Rattler has played well. Baker Mayfield is running out of guys to throw to as Tampa Bay lost Mike Evans for several weeks due to an injury versus the Lions. The Buccaneers last lost a few of their play makers. I think Tampa will run the ball down the Saints throats this week. Baker Mayfield will hook up with a few deep passes to the undrafted beer man suiting up for them this week only. The Saints will linger like they do. Tampa gets back in the win column with a solid defense performance.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS (5-2)

Are the Denver Broncos lucky or are you convinced they are one of top teams in the AFC? The Cowboys are coming off one of their better wins of the season beating up the Commanders. This match up features the Broncos, one of the top defenses in the entire league, versus the number 1 offense in the entire league that the Cowboys have. The Cowboys are number two overall in scoring, but their defense is the problem. The Broncos have their problems as well as they lead the league in penalties. Shame on you Sean Payton. Can the Cowboys turn this game into a shoot out? Dak Prescott seems like he’s in some kind of shoot out every week. The Cowboys have not won consecutive games this year. They are 1-3 on the road. Denver in general is a tough place to win. I think top defense always trumps tower top offenses. Like ICE stealing candy from a baby.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

TENNESSEE TITANS (1-6) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-1)

Who will get the worst beat down in Indianapolis this season? The butt fumbler Mark Sanchez or the Titans rookie QB Cam Ward? The Colts look and are playing like they are the cream of the crop in the AFC. The Titans are in hell right now. This game should be a blow out favoring the Colts because they are far far the better team. The Titans QB is going through growing pains right now. They fired their head coach. It’s a mess if you are a Titan fan.

OUR PICK: COLTS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-2) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2)

Aaron Rodgers will face the Green Bay Packers for the first time in his career. Will he own them after the game like he did all those seasons owning the Bears? Rodgers says this is not a revenge game. Are you buying what he is selling everyone? Hell no as I thought about this from my dark place last night sleeping. Green Bay in general tends to struggle away from home. The Steelers offensive line has done better at protecting the old man. Rodgers has been getting the ball out quickly which should keep Packers defender Micah Parsons in check. I think this game means a lot for Rodgers like the Jets game mattered to him. I can see Rodgers makes a big statement in like an F-U to his old team. Steelers win a close one at home.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-4) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-3)

The Commanders have all kinds of problems this season. They will be without their starting quarterback Jayden Daniels once again. The Commanders on defense can’t stop anybody. They are on the road with their back up quarterback being Marcus Mariota who is 1-1 filling in for Daniels so far this season. It’s hard to beat the Chiefs in general. It’s even harder to beat them at Arrowhead. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are back on track after starting out of the gates 0-2. Mahomes and the Chiefs should score a ton of points on the Commanders defense. The Chiefs defense can limit Mariota and prevent him from having a big day. A big game from Mariota would not come close to an average game by Mahomes.

OUR PICK:CHIEFS

2025 NFL PREDICTIONS: WEEK SIX DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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WEEK SIX STRAIGHT PICK-EM

Week 5 was a complete disaster for most people in the world trying to pick winners in an NFL game. With all the upsets & injuries you could compare it to the video game of Mutant League football where anything goes. I thought I was savvy on my Saints over the Giants pick. I really thought I pulled one out of a magic hat with the Jaguars over the Chiefs pick. The rest of them I felt like I was run over by a steam roller. I somehow finished week 5 with a even record.

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (7-7)

On the 14 game slate, I had half of them correct. Is the entire NFL watered down where clearly there are no superior teams? Seeing the two undefeated teams, the Eagles and the Bills, lay an egg on Sunday to the Broncos and Patriots. Do you have to change the script pick with your gut? Go the opposite in what you believe? This is what the NFL wants where anything can happen. Where some weeks look like a highway wreck full of cars in a zombie apocalypse. We will continue to swing the bat and hope we make solid contact in week six.

SEASON RECORD: (52-26)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD: (5-2)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD: (4-1)

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (0-1)

WEEK SIX

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-1) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1-4)

How can the Eagles lose two straight games and one of the teams be the Giants? The Giants are at home and it’s a Thursday night where anything can happen. It’s also a division game where these two teams know each other very well. This is true, but the Giants have a rookie quarterback in Jaxson Dart and he was quickly brought back down to earth after winning his first ever start in week 4. The Giants turned over the ball five times in 5 straight drives. The Saints landed their first victory of the season. The Giants also give Spencer Rattler his first NFL win of his career after losing ten straight starts in his first two seasons in the league. Look for X-Giants running back Saquon Barkley to play a big part in the Eagles righting the ship and getting back in the win column.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

THE SUNDAY FLIGHT TO ENGLAND

DENVER BRONCOS (3-2) AT NEW YORK JETS (0-5)

Who’s waking up at the butt crack of dawn to watch Jets football being played across the pond in London? The Broncos travel to Europe after getting a significant win over the undefeated Eagles in Philly. The Jets may be the worst team in the NFL. If only Justin Fields had some kind of offensive line in his entire career. The Jets 0-line has allowed the most pressures in the league to this point of the season. When it comes to the Broncos they have pressured the QB the most this season until this point.

Broncos line backer Nik Bonitto has seven sacks by himself so far this season which is what the Jets entire defense has right now in 5 weeks. The Jets defense has not been able to produce one turnover yet. This will be good for Broncos QB Bo knows Nix.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

THE REST OF THE SUNDAY TILT IN THE STATES

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-1)

The last time the Browns won a game in Steel City it was back during the post-season of 2021. Back when Baker Mayfield was the Browns QB. Cleveland probably wishes they still had Mayfield. The Steelers are coming off a bye week. Which means Aaron Rodgers coming off a darkness retreat. The Browns traded away Joe Flacco so now the show belongs to Dillion Gabriel who started last week in the loss to the Vikings in Europe. Bailey Zappe, former Patriots QB, was activated from the practice squad as the number two QB. That leaves Deon Sanders Shedeur holding the clipboard as the number three guy on the Browns totem pole. The Browns have not won a regular season game in Pittsburgh since 2003. Rodgers will score some points off the Browns defense. The Steelers defense will throw a monkey wrench into the growth of Gabriel as they are second in the NFL in takeaways.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-3) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-1-1)

Joe Flacco started in AFC North with the Ravens. He may die in the AFC North with another team in the division. Flacco started the season with the Browns and he was traded to one of their rivals in the division, the Bengals. The Packers started out of the gates hot at home with a 2-0 record. The Browns beat the Packers on their first road game giving Flacco and the Browns their first win of the season. Then the Packers walked away from Dallas with a tie. Can Flacco light up the Bengals offense in the absence of Joe Burrow who may be out until December with an injury and are 0-3 without him? The Bengals second string QB has thrown 8 interceptions in three starts since Burrow went down. What happened to the Packers defense on the road? The Bengals are thinking Flacco could fling the rock all over the field with the talented receivers they have. Can Flacco beat Green Bay twice with two different teams in a matter of weeks? Green Bay is different at home obviously. Flacco should credit the Browns defense for the the first win and loss for the Packers. Flacco will get the start but will not be in sync right away with the Bengals offense. I like Green Bay doing a 360 and playing well at their home turf in this one and getting the better of Flacco in this one. Next year Flacco needs to be a Steeler to have all the uniforms in the AFC North.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

LA RAMS (3-2) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-4)

Lamar Jackson will miss his second game in a row for the Ravens due to a injury. The Rams should be licking their chops facing a junior varsity defense riddled with injuries. Former Dallas Cowboy Cooper Rush gets his second start in a Ravens uniform. His first start versus the Texans resulted in three interceptions. Matthew Stafford leads the league in passing yards and is closing in on Dan Marino on the all-time list as he needs 50 more yards.

The Ravens defense has already given up 177 points in 5 games which is the most in franchise history. I don’t see the Ravens defense stopping the Rams aerial attack. The Rams defense will zero in on Derrick Henry and take him out of play and that will be the key for a LA road victory.

OUR PICK: RAMS

ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-1)

Marvin Harrison Jr. faces his old man’s team, the Colts, in his father’s house in Indianapolis. The Colts are off to a great start as they are looking like one of the AFC power house teams right now. The Cardinals have lost three straight games by a walk off field goal in each of them. The Cardinals hit rock bottom last week shooting themselves in the foot multiple times and gift wrapping a victory for the Titans which even had a bow on top. The former Ohio State receiver has been quiet this year catching only 20 balls for 306 yards with 2 touchdowns. Kyler Murray is a streaky quarterback at best. He has not hit his stride yet this season for a big game. The Colts offense is well balanced. Jonathan Taylor is a beast. Daniel Jones is having a career year. The Colts defense should just do enough to tame the Cardinals offense here for the 5th victory of the year and another home win.

OUR PICK: COLTS

LA CHARGERS (3-2) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-4)

The Chargers are 3-0 versus teams in their own division. The Chargers are 0-2 versus everyone else. The Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is 3-14 versus teams with a winning record since 2022. This will be the 4th time Justin Herbert versus Tua Tagovailoa have met. Tua has the 2-1 edge over Herbert. I don’t like the Dolphins defense. The Chargers defense has been solid most of the year. The Chargers are using their 3rd or 4th running back already this season. Whoever it is, Moe, Larry, or Curly, or even Shemp, the Chargers should have a running game to go along with the aerial attack versus this Dolphins defense.

I think the Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh will have his team playing their best after losing two straight games.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-2) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-1)

This game is a toss up. I’m shocked that the Jaguars have been playing so well. Both quarterbacks for both teams – Sam Darnold for Seattle and Trevor Lawrence for the Jags – have lit up the skies. Lawrence was huge versus the Chiefs on Monday night knocking them off their high perch. Darnold lost in a shootout versus Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers. To pick this match up, it comes down to defense. Seattle has played well all year until they face the Buccaneers last week. Jacksonville continues to get takeaways like they mass produce them in a factory somewhere. This game has shoot out written all over it. I like the home team in this one. It’s a long flight for Seattle as well.

OUR PICK: JAGUARS

DALLAS COWBOYS (2-2-1) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-3)

The Carolina Panthers are undefeated at home winning both games they played there. The Cowboys offense can score 30 points per game and at the same time give up 30 points per game. The Cowboys will face their former teammate running back Rico Dowdle who’s coming off a 200 yard performance against a bad Dolphins defense. He should be able to have back to back solid games running the rock as the Cowboys defense can’t stop anybody. This game is another toss up. I give the nod to the Panthers since they defend their home turf very well.

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-2) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-4)

Spencer for hire Rattler finally won his first NFL start last week after going 0-10 as a staring QB for the Saints. The Patriots went into Buffalo and upset the Bills in a prime time Sunday affair. The Patriots offense is heating up with the Stephon Diggs making an impact with New England’s QB Drake Maye. The Saints have battled in most of the games they have played this season. The Patriots confidence is rising and their head coach Mike Vrabel is constructing the next dynasty here. Can the Patriots be overconfident in this one on the road after beating the Bills in Buffalo? Can Rattler stay hot? This is the NFL and anything can happen. Last week was a shit show of craziness. This will be a close game. I like the Saints in an upset to get it done and bring the Diggs show down a peg or two.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-4) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-4)

You wonder if Pete Carroll regrets coming back to the NFL as a head coach and taking this Raiders job? Geno Smith has been terrible this season as he tallied up 9 interceptions in 5 games. The Raiders have lost 4 straight.

The Titans finally won their first game of the season with their rookie quarterback Cam Ward & had an impressive comeback. Or did the Arizona Cardinals gift wrap that victory for Ward and the Titans? This game could go either way. I think Pete strikes a deal with the devil as he always has and the Raiders somehow pull out a victory on the road.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-1) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-1)

How many injuries are piled up for both teams here and they each have won 4 out 5 games to start the season? Baker Mayfield coming off winning a shoot out versus the Seahawks will not have Mike Evans or Chris Godwin. The Buccaneers are hurting at the running back position. The 49ers have thrived with back up quarterback Mac Jones who will get another start for injured Brock Purdy. Jones is 3-0 as the starter and has 6 touchdown passes to only 1 interception in 3 games. Jones engineered an impressive win versus the LA Rams in week 5. This will be another close game that could go either way. I like the 49ers defense and confident they can do enough to slow Mayfield and that Buccaneers offense down and make a few stops to give Jones the drive he needs to win this game on the road.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

DETROIT LIONS (4-1) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-3)

Can the Lions go back to Arrowhead stadium and knock off the Chiefs like they did back in the opener of the 2023 season? The Lions have won 4 straight games since losing the opener on the road in Green Bay. The Chiefs started out of the gates 0-2 but since won 2 out 3 games. The Chiefs recently lost to the Jaguars on Monday night after building a two score lead on Jacksonville. Patrick Mahomes has never beaten Jared Goff as these two quarterbacks have faced each other more than once. The Chiefs offense has been better the last 3 weeks. The Lions have been solid in the last 4 games on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs are not that team like they used to be where Arrowhead was a guaranteed victory for Mahomes and company. I like the Lions to do it again while they have their defense intact as they put Mahomes and Andy Reid in a bigger hole to open their season.

OUR PICK: LIONS

TWO MONDAY NIGHT GAMES

BUFFALO BILLS (4-1) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2)

The Falcons are well rested for this home game versus the visiting Buffalo Bills. The Bills encountered their first loss of the season versus the Patriots. The Falcons had a win over the Commanders before the bye where their offense put up 34 points. The Falcons in 3 were shut out by the Panthers. The Bills lost a close game and the team was sloppy with turnovers and penalties. Look for the Bills to clean up their game and get back on track like a well-oiled machine on offense. The Bills will key in on the Falcons running game. I think Michael Penix will be confused at the looks of the Bills defense which will create a few takeaways and escape Atlanta with a much needed victory to get back on track.

OUR PICK: BILLS

CHICAGO BEARS (2-2) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-2)

Last year the Commanders won this match up with a Hail Mary pass to put the Bears away. Will Washington use the Our Father play to do in the Bears this year? The Bears have won two straight games. The Bears are coming off a bye week. The NFL will have the Commanders facing off versus the Bears for years to come as Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels were picked 1 and 2 in last year’s NFL draft. This will be the first ever Monday night game involving two quarterbacks going 1 and 2 in the same draft class. The Commander won in Daniels’ return last week versus the Chargers. The Bears won a wild one versus the Raiders in week 4. The Bears have gotten better, but the Commanders are the better team here. This should be another wild game as Washington defends their turf and gets the W.

OUR PICK COMMANDERS

JONATHAN GANNON HAS SOME OF THAT MIKE DITKA RAGE INSIDE HIM

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It’s about time a head coach goes postal on one of their own players for being football stupid. On Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals could have broken the game open versus a bad Tennessee Titans team. Third year running back Emari Demercado for the Cardinals in the 4th quarter broke through the defense and was on his way for a 76 yard touchdown run. Instead of crossing the goal line with the ball in his hands being chased by a Titan defender, he just drops the ball on purpose before he actually hits pay dirt. The referees ruled the play a fumble, turnover of downs, and a touch back. The Cardinals would have had a 21 point lead in the 4th quarter. Demercado, a 26 year running back out of TCU, thought he crossed the line with the touchdown. At the time it was more important to him to show boat and look cool for the cameras. The Titans would end up winning this game. After the play, Jonathan Gannon, head coach of the Cardinals, went ballistic on his running back. They say he even got physical with his running back. Gannon should not strike any of his players. Giving the running back a verbal conversation needs to happen because this stuff keeps happening in the NFL.

Last year wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for the Indianapolis Colts, did the same thing as Emari Demercado. It was the Colts versus the Rams and Mitchell nonchalantly dropped the ball before the goal line thinking more of the celebration than the team. These players looked at themselves on the jumbotron in the middle of the play to see their glory on the gridiron first hand. In the NFL, every time a player gets a first down every player has to get up and mock the referee with the signal that so and so got his team the first down. Every time a defender gets a turnover, why does the entire defensive unit have to celebrate by the cameras in the end zone? In the 1990’s the Dallas Cowboys were blowing out the Buffalo Bills in the Superbowl. The Cowboys defender, Leon Lett, recovered a fumble and was rumbling and tumbling down the side line looking like an easy touchdown. He was celebrating the score before he got across the goal line. The Bills wide receiver Don Beebe chased the almost 300 pound defender down knocking the ball out of hand before he got it across the goal line. Lett was holding the ball out like a loaf of bread.

That game was out of hand as the Cowboys were destroying the Bills. Lett would get the Superbowl ring, but that one play has plenty of humiliation attached to his career. No one will recall how many sacks Lett had or how many championships the man won. They will recall the idiot celebrating way too early and getting the ball knocked out of his hand.

The Arizona Cardinals started the season out of the gates with a 2-0 record. Now they have lost the last three games by a total of 5 points. The Cardinals make history with all three straight losses coming off a walk off field goal. The Cardinals lost their first game to the 49ers in week 3 by a kick at the end of regulation. Then in week 4, Seattle beat Arizona with a walk off field goal. Joey Slye did the same thing last Sunday to help the Titans win 22-21. The Cardinals shot themselves in both feet versus the Titans after the fumble by Emari Demercado. With 4:55 left in the 4th quarter, the Cardinals defender Dadrion Taylor-Demerson intercepted a tip ball thrown by Titans QB Cam Ward. The interception could have sealed this game for Arizona. When Taylor-Demerson came crashing to the ground with the intercept, he fumbled the ball. The ball bounced around until Titans receiver Tyler Lockett secured the ball in his hands in the end zone for another Titans score. It all started with the showboating by Emari. Eventually Slye would get the chance to walk off the Cards after the Titans defense forced Arizona to punt and got the ball back. The Titans then drove down the field and set up Slye for the kick. He made it the third straight walk off kick in a row to end Arizona’s week with a loss.

Growing up watching the Bears in the 1980’s, Da Coach Mike Ditka would not deal with shenanigans like Emari Demercado trying to be too cool for school. When Ditka coached the best running back on the planet, Walter Payton would hand the ball to the referee after each time he scored a touchdown. Act like you have been there before was Sweetness’ philosophy. Do you remember when Ditka unleashed his bark on his quarterback Jim Harbaugh? The same Harbaugh that coaches the Chargers. Harbaugh may not be showing his rage on the side lines, but I bet money he would not take this kind of non sense from his third string running back. Head coaches like Ditka would have cut his Cardinal sin the next day. The NFL owners pay big money for their head coaches and they want results. If the Cardinals miss the playoffs by one game, this is the one that will be pointed to. Losing to a bad Tennessee team with a rookie QB who has not been good is unacceptable. When you give the bad team the game, your locker should be cleared out. Especially for Tom Foolery. When playmakers do these things, it can cost a guy like Jonathan Gannon his livelihood being his first head coaching gig.

Jonathan Gannon did apologize to his running back. He realized his team lost the game because of more than one play. That fumble play by Emari took the sails out of the Cardinals flight in that game. How quickly the Titans turned things around like that. You would think Emari will learn from his bone-headed blunder in the future. Will the Gannon rage scare other players presently or in the future? Not wanting to win for the name on front of the jersey rather than win for his own name on back of the jersey. Nobody knew who Emari was before his blunder on Sunday. If he did not fumble, they would have said that a 3rd string running back that scored a touchdown in garbage time. This sounds better than your head coach going nuclear on you before a live studio audience.

THE DAWG POUND IS DESPERATE FOR A QUARTERBACK

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The Cleveland Browns should hold auditions to find their next franchise quarterback. This off-season, the Browns have collected rookie quarterbacks and veteran quarterbacks to cover up the reek of Deshaun Watson which may be the worst trade in NFL history. Watson will miss the entire 2025 season due to re-injuring his Achilles tendon. Hate when bad things happen to bad people. The Browns brain trust thought they needed to bring in a cast of characters to find their next starter behind center. They acquired veteran QB Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles. They signed another veteran Tyler Huntley who was Lamar Jackson’s back up for years in Baltimore. They drafted two quarterbacks in the NFL 2025 draft. In the 3rd round they took Dillon Gabriel from Oregon University. Then they took Shedeur Sanders in the 5th round from the University of Colorado. Then they brought back an old friend who may be over the hill at 40 years of age in Joe Flacco, who suited up for the Browns in 2023 and he was named this year’s starter.

I think any Dawg in Cleveland would rather have Joe Flacco starting as their quarterback than Deshaun Watson. In 2023 Flacco took over the starting job for the injured Watson and started 5 games for the Browns. Flacco went 4-1 and the Browns found the post-season. The Browns were quickly dispatched by the Houston Texans who rebuilt most of their team thanks to the Browns front office giving them a slew of top draft picks for the sexual predator. Last year Flacco suited up for the Colts because Watson wanted another Dawg behind him doing him doggie style. The Crab man in Jameis Winston is the king of the pick six. Flacco wanted to come back to Cleveland, but the Browns front office fumbled the ball again and listened to the sexual predator instead. Last year Flacco started six games for the Colts and had a losing record of 2-4. The Browns are starting a guy who is 40 years of age and has not played a 16 game schedule since he was a Raven in 2017. Since Flacco won the Superbowl with the Ravens & then was paid, he has not really done well since his resurrection with the Browns. He flopped in Denver after Baltimore. He then saw action with the New York jets for three seasons filling in for injured and inefficient Quarterbacks there. His last winning season besides 2023 was back in 2017 with the Ravens when he went 9-7. In 2018 he started 9 games for the Ravens, had a 4-5 record and then Lamar Jackson took over. Flacco headed to Denver. Flacco has 17 years in the NFL during which he has plenty of experience. He is familiar with the Browns division playing in Baltimore for so many years.

The rest of the quarterbacks that Cleveland brought in, many of them did not survive. If you can’t play QB in Cleveland maybe you should hang up the spikes. The Browns cut Tyler Huntley as he will probably crawl back to Baltimore & beg for his old job. Kenny Pickett did not see the field due to a hamstring injury. Pickett was a former Pittsburgh Steeler which he knows the AFC North from starting his career there. He was traded to the Raiders which leaves the two youngsters. I thought Cleveland was going to avoid the mistake of drafting another bust like Johnny Manziel. In the 3rd round, they drafted Dillion Gabriel who is QB number two for the Browns this year. Then in the 5th round the Browns just could not resist and took a flier of Shedeur Sanders who fell in the draft like the 1929 Stock Market crash. Sanders looked good in the very first pre-season game. Then looked horrific in the other two preseason games. He will be the Browns 3rd string QB. The Browns then perhaps don’t trust what they have in this year’s QB room, so added another veteran former New England Patriot Bailey Zappe to their practice squad. Looks like the Cleveland front office is not trusting Sanders and looking for a quick insurance plan just in case. When has Joe Flacco been a mentor to young QB’s? He was not a big fan when the Ravens took Lamar Jackson in the first round. He did not mentor Jackson after he was benched.

The AFC North is a grind house playing Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Will Aaron Rodgers have his own resurrection at the QB position with the Steelers. If Flacco gets hurt, these young draft picks Cleveland has will be thrown to the wolves. This could be a recipe for disaster. Memories of DeShone Kiser going 0-15 as the starter in 2017 throwing 22 interceptions that season. Tim Couch was the number 1 pick overall in the 1999 NFL draft and he was a bust. Johnny Manziel was a science experiment that blew up in the lab that was the NFL field. If you’re the Browns, you don’t want to see Dillion Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders in a game until late in the season. These two next QB busts should at least hold the clipboard and learn most of the season before they get their feet wet on the NFL turf. I would root for Dillion Gabriel. I think Browns fans would want him to be the next franchise QB. Shedeur Sanders is overrated. Being Deion Sanders’ kid carries too much baggage. Then having the audacity to throw a few draft interviews of teams you did not like is equal to the Cleveland’s brain trust just being stupid for drafting you in the first place. These are the same idiots that kicked Baker Mayfield to the curb for playing most of the season hurt. You had a franchise QB you drafted number one overall in 2018 and you let him go. Mayfield looks solid in Tampa Bay. Why did these morons give Deshaun Watson a guaranteed contract which still baffles me? Giving that kind of money to a guy coming in with all sorts of baggage. Cleveland is desperate. They reek of desperateness. The same smell the stadium workers have to dung out after the Dawg pound heads home after another defeat. Now all the pressure is on a 40 year old QB that will make or break your entire season. Flacco is not the future. He is a distraction from Watson and like in baseball you want your starter to eat all those innings to save the young arms in the bullpen. More games Flacco plays, the better for the kids to learn. It may look and feel a lot better than the sting these fans took last year with Watson and Jameis Winston at the helm. Quarterbacks in Cleveland have been more than a sting. They are compared to a zombie bite. You have to cut off the arm or leg if bitten. No wonder so many Dawgs in Cleveland are named Lucky with missing limbs due to their QB play.

RICHARDSON BRINGS BACK THE NIGHTMARE OF JEFF GEORGE FOR THE COLTS

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Is it too early to determine that Anthony Richardson may be a first round bust for the Indianapolis Colts? Can you pull the plug on a guy after two seasons who’s only played in 15 games and is only 23 years of age?

Richardson was drafted in the first round by the Colts 4th overall in the 2023 NFL draft from the University of Florida. How many chances to give a number one pick, especially the guys that play quarterback I’m thinking have nine lives in the NFL like Morris the cat? If Richardson was a fish and the field was his tank of water, he has been in and out multiple times for injuries or his poor play making him gasp for air and flop around. Suddenly Colts fans are having nightmares of one of their greatest quarterback busts in their history, Jeff George.

Jeff George was supposed to be the “real deal can’t miss” quarterback of the draft. The Colts selected George number 1 overall in the 1990 NFL draft out of University of Illinois. I watched him play for the Fighting Illini, and he had a cannon for an arm. George was born and raised in the state of Indiana so it seems like it was meant to be with the Colts hitting a home run on this pick. George would last 4 years in Indianapolis out of his 12 year career that featured stops in Atlanta, Oakland, Minnesota, and Washington. In 52 games over a 4 year span, George’s record as a starting QB for the Colts was 14-35 as he made 49 starts wearing the horseshoe on his helmet. George was simply a bad dude, not in a good way. He demanded to be traded. He would have arguments with coaches on the field wherever he played it seemed. He was not a good teammate on and off the field. A cancer in the locker room is putting it simply. He even made gestures in bad taste to fans in the stands. In 12 seasons he only had three winning seasons as a starter. He played in 131 NFL games in his career and as a starter he had a 46-78 record well below .500. He completed 57.9% of his passes and threw for 27,602 passing yards. He did throw 154 touchdown passes, but he a was gunslinger and threw 113 interceptions. This is a guy that had all the talent in the world but was too pig-headed to use these traits for good not evil purposes like the money and fame.

In two seasons, Anthony Richardson is strutting down Jeff George lane, but he is not the asshole the former University of Illinois quarterback was. Richardson only played in 24 college games. Basically he became the starter his last season on the college gridiron. Every team knew he was going to be a project that they had to mold into a true NFL quarterback. His athleticism is top notch. I’m not sure why the Colts even played him in the very first season he was drafted. You could make a case for him sitting on the sideline for one full season which could help his development. Patrick Mahomes sat most of his first season as he got action in a meaningless game at the end of the season for the Chiefs, who had their playoff position that year settled. Last season, Richardson completed only 47.7% of his passes. He tallied 1,814 passing yards in 11 games. He threw 8 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions. Surprisingly he went 6-5 as the starter for the Colts last year. In two seasons he has an 8-7 record as a starter. He has completed once again only 50.6% of his passes which is very bad. He has tallied up 2,291 passing yards. He has 11 touchdown strikes to 13 interceptions.

This season the Colts are going with another bad quarterback as their opening day starter – Former Giants QB Daniel Jones. Jones has one winning season under his belt in six seasons. Jones is a former first round pick by the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft as he was selected 6th overall. His starting record as a QB is horrific as his record is 24-44. His completion rating is much better than Anthony Richardson’s over his career at 64.1%. Jones has thrown 70 touchdown passes compared to 47 interceptions. This looks like an upgrade on paper. Jones will be looking to prove something after being dumped by the Giants. He is a better option giving the Colts a balanced offense. He can utilize all the talented receivers the Colts have as well. At which Richardson had problems. The Colts have a star running back in Jonathan Taylor. With Richardson, the opposing defenses can key on Taylor and Taylor only. Last year the Colts offense thrived with Joe Flacco behind center.

Will the Colts consider trading Anthony Richardson? Being athletic is not always the recipe at being a true quarterback in the NFL. You know in this league some coach is licking their chops to coach Richardson and mold him into a QB. Richardson has been in and out of the water so much he may be scarred right now being a back up in Indianapolis. He may need new scenery to develop. He may be a bust right now but a guy that is a late bloomer down the road like Sam Darnold. I believe he will have more chances like 9 lives, a number one pick gets compared to a 7th rounder. Present day in the NFL they expect these quarterbacks to establish themselves right away thrown to the wolves. Some can swim right away, but most cannot as teams move on quickly. I’m not feeling sorry for the Colts as they had legends behind center like Peyton Manning, who won them a Superbowl. They had Andrew Luck who was a solid QB for years for the Colts. Right now Richardson is on Jeff George Boulevard in his Colts career. Not with the bad attitude. George was able to at least complete passes down the middle of the field where Richardson will run more. He will get hit more in the open field. He will take on more injuries and eventually most running QB’s that can’t throw the ball with accuracy have a short shelf life in the NFL.

MILLER LITE

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The old advertising campaign for the beer Miller Lite asked if it ‘tasted great or was less filling.’ Once upon a time ago, Von Miller did not taste great to opposing quarterbacks. Von was a one man wrecking machine on the football field causing havoc on the opposing team’s offensive game plan. Miller in his career has won two Superbowls and you’d think he was the one that invented the strip sack in the NFL. At the age of 36, Von is maybe less filling on offensive linemen in the NFL as injuries have mounted up. This off-season the Buffalo Bills released him as he is a big chunk of the salary cap and not worth the money they would pay him. Miller time will try to resurrect his NFL career with the Washington Commanders. Does he have any suds left in the can to help the Commanders defense?

Von Miller has 13 seasons under his belt in the NFL. In 2011 he was drafted 2nd overall by the Denver Broncos where he played parts of ten seasons there. In Superbowl 50 he was the MVP, as he exposed the soft play of quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers.

Miller was like a fly on a piece of shit in that Superbowl game. Years later the Broncos as a team went through rough times not winning and they traded their legend to the LA Rams in 2021. Miller’s presence with Aaron Donald, the stud of that Rams defense, made that unit even better and they won the Superbowl. Miller became a free agent and the Bills came knocking on his door with a pile of cash in a hefty contract. The last few seasons for Miller have not been Miller-like in Buffalo. In 2022 he racked up 8 sacks as he would miss 5 games tearing his ACL in his knee. In 2023, he did come back from that injury and registered zero sacks for the season. Last season he missed 4 games as he was suspended by the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy. Last year in 13 regular season games for the Bills, he had 6 sacks and 17 tackles. Miller is the active leader in sacks with 129.5 of them he has had during regular season. His football resume in his career is impressive as he made 8 Pro-Bowl games and is a 3x All-Pro. In 2011, his rookie season, he won defensive rookie of the year honors. He is a staple on the all HOF 2010’s decade team.

The Washington Commanders are an up and coming team as they made it all the way to the NFC Championship game last season. It was the play of their rookie quarterback that infused life in this dormant franchise called the Commanders. The name Commanders seemed dreadful at first as it replaced the original name Redskins. Now Jayden Daniels behind center is making that offense a well-oiled machine and stacking up victories it seems the Commanders name just rolls off your tongue. Were the Commanders just lucky last year playing a easier schedule? The Commanders won 9 one score games. Six of those games, the Commanders had the final possession of the game. The Commanders have now 22 players on their roster who are 30 or older. Daniels is on a rookie contract, so you can stockpile your roster with veterans. The Commanders need to get younger but for now they are chasing the ring. You can blame the front office for bad drafts for many years as this may be the best path to take for the Commanders. It worked well last year with the Commanders adding linebacker Bobby Wagner to the mix. He became an instant leader for that Commanders defense.

What do the Commanders expect from Von Miller? This is an interesting move by signing Miller. When Dan Quinn was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons the year they went to the Superbowl and blew that halftime lead to the Patriots, they made a signing that year like Miller. The Falcons added defensive lineman, Dwight Freeney, a former Colt and he was like Miller at that time in his late 30’s on his last leg. The Commanders last season were ranked number 11 in sacks in the NFL. On crucial 3rd downs, they always have problems generating pressure and could not get off the field. The Commanders have a few guys that tallied up 6-8 sacks last season. Frankie Luvu had 99 tackles and 8 sacks. Bobby Wagner was the heart and soul of the Commanders defense because he had 156 tackles and two sacks. Wagner goes back to the legion of Doom defense back in the Seattle days with head coach Quinn. Can Miller become the Commanders closer? He has torn 2 ACLs in the same knee. He has missed the entire 2020 season as he dislocated a tendon in his foot. The Commanders could keep Miller fresh most of the game and unleash him in the 4th quarter. Miller will bring some more leadership to their defense. He will also bring some extra attention from opposing offenses and that could free other defenders. He would help your offensive linemen, especially younger guys dealing with Miller in practices. All his savvy moves being on display every week. It’s only a one year deal which includes some incentives that can motivate a player. He will be playing with a chip on his shoulder, out to prove he is a better player than his few seasons in Buffalo. Not sure he will taste great to opposing teams. As he may just be less filling at his age and not be the Miller from his Broncos days being a one man Army.

CAN SHOW ME THE MONEY, BACKFIRE ON A NFL HOLD OUT?

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As always, the NFL has a few players at this time holding out from their current contract wanting to get PAID. The three big names are Trey Hendrickson, Terry McLaurin, and TJ Watt. Hendrickson, a defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals had led the entire league in sacks the last two seasons. Scary Terry McLaurin helped his rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels become the offensive rookie of the year for the Washington Commanders as they went all the way to the NFC championship game versus the Eagles. Then Watt is the heart and soul of the Steelers defense. Can the Commanders, Bengals, and Steelers win the Superbowl without these guys? Back in 1985, the Chicago Bears had two studs on their defense hold out due to their contract dispute. The Bears ended up winning their only Superbowl while these two guys stayed at home twiddling their thumbs and watched all of this unfold from their couch at home.

The 1985 Chicago Bears some would say had the best defense ever in the history of the game. They were one of the scariest defenses of all-time without two of their key players. Todd Bell was a pro-bowl safety in 1984 as he felt after that year was a great time to talk about his contract. Bell was drafted by Chicago in the 4th round of the NFL draft in 1981 from Ohio State University. The other Bear that skipped out on the Superbowl shuffle was linebacker defensive lineman Al Harris who was a first round pick of Chicago in the 1979 NFL draft from Arizona State. Bell would play 8 NFL seasons for 103 games with the Bears and Eagles. He had 7 interceptions in his career along with 10 sacks. In 1984 he had 4 of those 7 interceptions and one of them was a pick six. He forced two fumbles as well and racked up 4.5 sacks. Al Harris in 1984 played in all 16 games and racked up 2 sacks with an interception. Harris would play 11 seasons in the NFL 9 with the Bears and two with the Eagles as he racked up 149 games. He retired with 23.5 career sacks. Both Bell and Harris would return to Bears in the 1986 season. You would have thought with the talent the Bears had on that defense and Walter Payton the best running back of all-time, they would have had a dynasty like the New England Patriots. In 1987, the Washington Redskins knocked out the Bears in the Divisional round. That group would never get back to the Superbowl.

All three current hold outs are important to their team’s success this upcoming season. Right now even without TJ Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the weakest link of the three teams. Watt played in all 17 games last year for the Steelers and racked up 11.5 sacks. The Steelers are trying to go beyond one and out in the post-season with an aging Aaron Rodgers at QB. Rodgers was a cancer in the Jets locker room last season and is not the same guy that played for the Green Bay Packers a few years ago. Last year Pittsburgh’s defense was not the Steel Curtain of old times. Without Watt and the cancer at the QB position, I don’t see the Steelers going all the way. Last year the Bengals defense was horrific. If Trey Hendrickson was not playing for the striped cats, it could have gone worse for them. The Bengals have Joe Burrow. They have one of the best wide receivers in the league in Ja’Marr Chase. Then on the other side of the field we can not forget about Tee Higgins. The Bengals dug themselves a hole as always in the beginning of the season. They lost games in shoot outs. Then they turned things around and were red hot in the second half of the season. In the last game of the season, the Chiefs rested their top star players as Denver rolled in that game and made the playoff that kept the Bengals out. When the Bengals get red hot on offense, they could be a team that could win it all. They could do without their top defender in Hendrickson. The Commanders were amazing last season, and Jayden Daniels looks legit as a star quarterback. Can this Commanders team win without Scary Terry McLaurin? He caught 82 balls last season for over 1,000 receiving yards. Most importantly he caught 13 touchdown passes. McLaurin is not a one year wonder – he has had great success with bums as his quarterbacks. The Commanders acquired another top receiver in the league, Deebo Samuel, from the 49ers. Deebo by himself without McLaurin is not going to get the numbers that Scary Terry got. It just sounds better to have Deebo and Scary Terry as your wide outs for a 2nd year quarterback. Out of these three hold outs, I think McLaurin is the most important guy. With Watt or without Watt, the Steelers may not even get to the post-season. The Bengals could do the Bears imitation with their offense and leave their sack artist at home. Only thing in the NFL is great offenses can become ordinary coming up against a solid defense in big playoff games.

I’m sure guys like Al Harris and Todd Bell would say they have no regrets sitting out the entire 1985 season. The Bears had their own hit song called the Superbowl Shuffle out before they even got to New Orleans for the big game. The Bears would lose only one regular season game that year, to the Miami Dolphins. They destroyed the Patriots in the Superbowl. All the names & all those personalities on the roster & the coaching staff meshed perfectly in that season as they had one magical year. No regrets. I’m not buying what those two are selling. Did they not read the room of their teammates when coming up with the idea of holding out? The Bears line backing crew had Mike Singletary, a Hall of Famer. Then Wilbur Marshall who blew up opponents from his devastating hits.Then Otis Wilson was a solid player. In the secondary, the Bears had Gary Fencik and Dave Duerson as their starting safeties. I can see why the Bears did not give into the demands of Harris and Bell. Harris and Bell were solid defenders but expendable at the same time. Still to this day in Chicago, those ’85 Bears players get free drinks when they come to town. When they won it all Bearmania was crazy in Chicago. Everyone was swept up into it during that entire season. I think Bearsmania went all around the world. Remember this was before Michael Jordan won six NBA titles. Those two guys came back the following season to watch all their teammates get a ring. I get that NFL players put their bodies on the line to play every Sunday and they should get paid. It’s not like they get chump change for what they do. That would be hard to swallow sitting out and seeing your team win it all without you. I’d rather they show me the ring than show me the money.

HENRY RUGGS III WANTS TO RIDE AGAIN IN THE NFL

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In 2020, Henry Ruggs III was drafted 12th overall in the first round of the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was the first ever pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in their first season in Sin Town after leaving Oakland. He was a talented wide receiver coming out of a big college football program at the University of Alabama. He would now be making millions and more millions of dollars living out his dream playing the game he loved his entire life. Being in Las Vegas could be naturally a distraction with loose women, fast cars, drugs and alcohol along with gambling which could be the whammy of hexes. No young man should ride that line as the ending is always no good. Young people are stupid and we have all been there ourselves. In his second year in the NFL, it was the fast car with the girl in the passenger seat going at an unbelievable high speed which ended killing a woman named Tina Tintor and her dog. Ruggs and his girlfriend at the time would survive that horrific night on November 2nd, 2021. Ruggs would end up going to jail as he was sentenced to 3-10 years charged with a felony DUI and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. In 2026, he will have his first parole meeting and he says he wants to still play football in the NFL and once again for the Raiders.

As a rookie, Henry Ruggs III’s first year in the NFL was decent. He played in 13 games, he was targeted 43 times, and caught 26 balls. He had racked up 452 receiving yards with two touchdowns. In his second year in the NFL, Ruggs played in 7 games before he got his Corvette up to a speed close to 160 MPH on a Las Vegas highway. In 7 games he was targeted in year two, 36 times. He caught 24 balls. In year two he already had the same amount of catches, yards, and touchdowns he did his rookie season. He racked up 452 receiving yards with another two touchdown catches. In 20 NFL games, Ruggs III had 50 catches for 921 receiving yards and hauled in 4 touchdown catches. By his numbers alone, he was starting to adapt and understand the NFL game while playing at a higher level. The NFL now plays 17 games per season so Ruggs III was on his way in year two to murder his rookie season numbers. If he played 9 more games, the standard 16 at the time, he should have had over 1,000 receiving yards and close to 100 catches and lets say 6 to 7 touchdowns. Now he’s starting to sound like a number 1 guy on a NFL team. If Ruggs III made the right decisions and not have drove his car while intoxicated with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. Who he had a kid with. He would have certainly made millions more dollars after playing out his rookie contract. Obviously if he stayed healthy on the field.

Henry Ruggs III spoke publicly for the first time about the tragic accident he caused to kill Tina Tintor and her dog on that night speeding to get to another party. It was at the Hope for Prisoners group held in Las Vegas where he spoke and wished he could go back to make things right. He would need a time machine to go back in time to save the girl he killed, who was 23 years of age. He is saying all the right things and apologized to the Tintor family. Not just for killing their daughter but bringing up the memories of the horrific accident when his face appears in the papers or his story goes on social media. He never addressed the family of the girl he killed face to face. He says he would like to apologize to them face to face to show them the real Henry Ruggs III. He admitted he was trying to escape the pressure of being a first round pick on a NFL team with stunts like living in the fast lane. He would like to play football again and even stay in Vegas where he is being incarcerated and play for the Raiders. He has had time to reflect about the situation and improve his mind set spiritually talking about it while praying and finding the Lord is my guess.

How do you get so intoxicated at a Top Golf place earlier in the evening, where Henry Ruggs III and his girlfriend were at before racing over to their next place? His alcohol limit was off the charts after he plowed into Tintor’s car. His girlfriend, Je’nai Kilgo Washington, needed arm surgery after the crash. Ruggs III was sentenced in May of 2023 as he took a plea agreement over the reckless driving charge. He also had a loaded hand gun and being intoxicated while possessing a gun is another law he broke. He has transferred to a transitional housing unit as his life seems to being closer to getting back to normal. His parole date is August 6th of 2026 and if he gets out, he will only be 27 years old. If he makes it back into professional football, his name would be in the headlines for the Tintor family to read about. Do you trust guys like Henry Ruggs III to have a second chance in life for being so stupid? This story will not stop future young men in their 20’s from driving like assholes. The more money they’ve got, the faster the car. We see it every day if you take a drive on a highway. People driving whatever car beyond it’s speed with no turn signals and cutting people off. No wonder we have road rage in life. Guys will say whatever they think the other person wants to hear to get what they want. Will the Tintor family be there to try to close the door on Ruggs III for longer time served? I know after Top Golf, he was not driving that fast wanting to kill somebody that night. Accidents can happen & that’s why they are accidents. I hope the Tintor family does have a say in the matter because losing somebody at 23 years of age in something like that is heartbreak for the rest of their life. If Ruggs III gets out and makes it back to the NFL, how is he going to escape the pressure the next time with the ghost of Tina and her dog on his shoulder when he’s on the field? Being only 27 years old does not mean you have all the answers. Serving time could improve a man’s mindset but for how long? What team will take a chance on a guy with this heavy load on his shoulders bringing this to your team’s locker room? I know lots of things have to happen before we do see Ruggs III back on the NFL gridiron. With that type of money, these guys in professional sports could afford the best car services to take these guys out to paint the town red. Not sure why they don’t use them because this guy may have been a number one receiver right now for somebody getting the bigger money. It’s the Tintor family we have to back, regarding their decision on anything to do with Ruggs III getting out early.

THE SAINTS WILL MARCH ON AS CARR DRIVES OFF INTO THE SUNSET

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The Derek Carr era is over in New Orleans after only two seasons in the Big Easy. Carr has decided he will hang up the spikes for good at the age of 34 while playing 11 seasons in the NFL with the Raiders and Saints. Carr suffered a labral tear in his right shoulder which is his throwing arm, last season. Medical scans have shown he has degenerative changes in his rotator cuff which will need surgery to repair. Everything can heal on its own which will have a longer timetable. If Carr did have surgery, he would definitely miss the entire 2025 season. Instead he will forfeit 30 million in earnings in the contract and walk away from the game for good.

Derek Carr was drafted by the Oakland Raiders back in the 2014 NFL draft from Fresno State University in the second round. He played for the Raiders in Oakland and when they moved to Las Vegas for 9 seasons. In 2023 the Raiders head coach was Josh McDaniel,s the former Patriots disciple who should have never landed a second gig as a leader of a football franchise. McDaniels benched Carr. Things escalated as Carr would then not waive his no trade clause and eventually be released. Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints who were looking for their next QB to lead this franchise. Since Drew Brees retired, they have fallen on hard times. Carr made 4 Pro-Bowls. In his first ten years in the league, he played 15 or more games per season. He had some years he hovered around the top 10 quarterbacks in the league. Overall he may have been a middle of the pack QB his entire career. He only played in one post-season game in his career and was on the losing end of the wild card game in 2022 with the Raiders. Carr played for six different head coaches throughout his career of which two of them were interim. He had 5 offensive coordinators when he wore silver and black. With the gold and black uniforms in two seasons, he had 2 different offensive coordinators and two different head coaches. If Carr came back this season, he would have had three different head coaches in New Orleans as the Saints hired Kellen Moore during the off-season.

Last year the Saints were 0-7 without Derek Carr as the starter. Carr had an even 5-5 record in 10 games before his season ended. He completed 67.7% of his passes and tallied up 2,145 passing yards with 15 touchdown passes along with 5 interceptions. In New Orleans he leaves the Big Easy with a winning record in 27 games he did start, he went 14-13. I thought when Carr did sign with New Orleans, they had the best shot at winning the crappy NFC South division the last two seasons. His first season in New Orleans he had the Saints close, but at the end they could not march across the finish line. In 11 years Carr would have a losing record playing in 169 NFL games. He had a record of 77-92 as a starter. His completion rating was 65.1% as he tallied up 41,245 passing yards. Threw 257 touchdown passes with 112 interceptions. His two best seasons were in 2015 & ’16. In 2015 he had his career high with 32 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. In 2016 his record as the starter was 12-3 and the Raiders looked like they were going to go deep into the post-season. Carr had 28 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions in 15 games. The Raiders would make post-season and Carr would not play because he suffered a season ending injury close to the end of regular season. The Raiders would be one and done that year in post season.

Derek Carr’s brother was drafted in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Houston Texans from Fresno State University. David played 10 seasons in the NFL with Texans, Giants, Panthers, and 49ers. His career started in 2002 and ended in 2012 as he played in 94 games. David was a first round bust. His rookie season he set the record for most sacks in one season by a QB in his first year. He went 23-56 as a starter and tallied up 14,452 passing yards. He threw for 65 touchdown passes compared to 71 interceptions. Derek most definitely had a better career than his brother David. I remember David put in a ton of time helping his younger brother be the better NFL quarterback.

The New Orleans Saints did draft a quarterback this season a few weeks back. In the second round at number 40, they selected Tyler Shough from Louisville. In 2024 the Saints drafted Spencer Rattler. In 2023 the Saints drafted Jack Haener. Shough was most likely hand-picked by the team’s new head coach Kellen Moore. Look for Shough to be the guy unless they land some veteran quarterback in a trade or pick one up as a free agent. Drew Brees was not drafted by the Saints. The Saints’ best QB they have drafted, you have to go back to 1971 when they drafted Archie Manning. Archie never got the Saints to post-season. Bobby Hebert was the first ever Saints quarterback to guide the Saints to the playoffs back in 1987.

Hebert played in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders before going to the NFL where he signed with the Saints in 1985. The Saints’ best teams in history never developed a franchise QB. Now it’s time they do that. They have a new head coach. They have a slew of young QB’s to mold. Derek Carr unfortunately was not going to bring this Saints team all the way to the Superbowl. Playoffs at best. It did not happen. This current Saints team should gut this team that is in salary cap hell the last few years. Getting Carr off the books is a start. It would not take the Saints long to catch up to all the other teams in the division if they cleaned house and let the young guys get the experience while growing as a team. Who knows? Maybe one of the guys they have at QB will be the answer. If not, next year’s crop of QBs is much better. I did like Carr as a QB for both the Raiders and Saints. He was not going to be the next Mathew Stafford by going to another team and winning the Superbowl type of veteran. He had a nice career and was stuck in the middle of the pack his entire career which is not a bad thing as many guys can’t even start one game in the NFL.

THE SANDERS SLIDE

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Do you remember Deion Sanders’ touchdown celebrations during his NFL days?

Did he call it the prime time shuffle after his nickname? To me it looked like some version of the electric slide. Neon Deion Sanders’ son right now has his own slide that is making the prime time news in the NFL draft coverage. Shedeur Sanders was supposed to be drafted in the top 5 of the 2025 NFL draft. Some experts had Shedeur being the 2nd best QB in the draft. His father Deion, who is the head coach of the University of Colorado, was his son’s college coach. He had a list of teams he did not want his son playing for. During the NFL scouting combine, Shedeur did not throw any passes or do any of the athletic training. He was present as he did several interviews with multiple teams. Some of those interviews were solid & some went very poorly. The Tennessee Titans with the very first pick took Cam Ward out of the University of Miami. The Giants, which was where many thought Shedeur would land, went with a top notch edge rusher in Abdul Carter with the number three pick from Penn State. Many thought when the Giants made the trade with the Texans to get the 25th pick of the first round pick, Sanders’ son would be scooped up. The Giants picked a QB but it was not Shedeur. New York went with Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. Sanders would slide out of the first round without being picked. Yesterday in rounds 2-3 of the NFL draft, other quarterbacks were picked instead of Shedeur. The former Buffaloe now is on the Chutes and Ladders slide. He’s free falling as three rounds have gone and he is still available. Why?

Shedeur Sanders can throw a nice deep ball. In 4 seasons, 2 at Jackson State and 2 at Colorado. Shedeur has tallied up 14,353 passing yards combined. He has completed 1,267 passes in 1,808 attempts which is good for a 70.1% completion rate which is impressive. He has thrown 134 touchdown passes compared to only 27 interceptions which is remarkable. His arm strength is good, but not great. His short passes are not very good as the balls come out wobbly. He is not a duel threat. He’s a pocket passer that gets sacked a lot. He sounds like a Justin Fields. Fields will run the ball more. In the NFL, teams that were in the need of a QB were the Giants, Saints, Browns, and Steelers. You have some teams that will draft a QB to develop a guy for the future. The Giants went with Jaxson Dart as their guy because their head coach, Brian Daboll, and general manager, Joe Schoen, come from the Buffalo Bills organization. They like Dart because he reminds them of Josh Allen in the way he plays the game. The Saints may be without their starting QB, because Derek Carr’s injury from last year may linger into this season. Some experts said Shedeur would do well playing in New Orleans in a dome. The Saints did pick a QB on Friday and took Tyler Shough at number 40 from Louisville. Let’s remember the Saints drafted Spencer Rattler last year as he got some playing time in his rookie season. They like some of the flashes he has shown. The Browns have Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett who they traded for in this off-season. The Browns want to forget about Deshaun Watson. They drafted a QB yesterday at number 94, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon University. Cleveland does not want to risk another Johnny Manziel and they failed miserably on the Watson trade. The Steelers is a possible landing spot for Sanders. The Steelers re-signed Mason Rudolf and think they are in with Aaron Rodgers. Shedeur could still get picked up by the Steelers in later rounds. Any team could still pick up Shedeur. Five QB’s have been picked up including Seattle who took Jalen Milroe from University of Alabama, number 92. The Seahawks signed veteran Sam Darnold so they will slowly develop Milroe.

You know Deion Sanders had high hopes for his son and still does. You know Prime Time pictured Shedeur getting drafted in the top 5 of the draft and starting for some team right away. Perhaps his performance being like Jayden Daniels with what he did last year for the Commanders getting them into the post-season. Deion would be scarred coming into the draft if people even said Shedeur is suited to being a back up QB in the NFL to start his career off. Being a back up QB most of the times you are the most popular guy if the first string guy is doing bad. I see this entire drama unfolding because if your team does draft Shedeur Sanders, you’re bringing his father Deion along for the ride. Deion reminds me of those fathers when the kids are playing, telling the coach to put his son in. Deion would talk badly about any coach not playing his son through the media. Why would any team want to bring this drama into your locker room? I’m not saying all teams in the NFL should avoid Shedeur. He could be the real deal. If I’m a franchise and I choose to go down this path with the Sanders slide, I would want his son for cheap if I have to deal with the drama they bring to the table. In later rounds, Shedeur might be a guy someone takes a chance on. I would not make him a starter day one. He would have to earn it. I don’t care what Deion would say. If Sanders’ kid was taken in the first round, a team would be paying him, dealing with criticism all the time from his father on coaching him, and he could turn out to be a flop. You are fired. I think he would fit perfectly with the Steelers. First knowing Aaron Rodgers is the guy. We don’t know if he will be the guy for the Steelers. That may hurt Rodgers’ feelings having another QB on the roster. I think Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin could get the best out of Sanders’ son and contain the father. Deion’s next son should participate in the NFL combine and let the cards fall where they lie instead of sabotaging him with certain franchises because you don’t like the city or coaching. Fathers always knows best is not in the Deion handbook.