2011 NFL Projections

AFC WEST
1. SD Chargers (12-4)
2. KC Chiefs (9-7)
3. Oakland Raiders (7-9)
4. Denver Broncos (4-12)

AFC NORTH
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
2. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
3. Cleveland Browns (5-11)
4. Cinnci Bengals (3-13)

AFC South
1.Indy Colts (12-4)
2. Houston Texans (11-5)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
4. Tennessee Titans (4-12)

AFC East
1. NE Patriots (13-3)
2. NY Jets (9-7)
3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
4. Buffalo Bills (5-11)

NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
2. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
3. SF 49ers (7-9)
4. STL Rams (6-10)

NFC North
1. GB Packers (12-4)
2. Chicago Bears (10-6)
3. Detroit Lions (8-8)
4. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

NFC South
1. ATL Falcons (11-5)
2. New Orleans Saints (10-6)
3. Carolina Panthers (7-9)
4. TB Buccaneers (6-10)

NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
2. Philly Eagles (11-5)
3. NY Giants (9-7)
4. Washington Redskins (3-13)

Keep it Tight ! TOP 6 Tight Ends in NFL History

1. Tony Gonzalez ( KC, ATL) - Tony G is the greatest of all time and its not even close. He owns virtually every viable record for a TE and is in the top 10 in almost every category for a TE/WR. He has another season or two to try and add a Superbowl ring, but ring or no ring he is the best. He blocks, catches, leads by example. He will be a first ballot H.O.F. ( better go into Canton as a Chief)
1,069 Receptions 12,463 Yards 88 TDs AND COUNTING ...

2. Shannon Sharpe ( DEN, BALT) - Old Marble Mouth was an absolute beast. In addition to having the most Superbowl rings of any TE in this group ( 3) he retired owning most of the TE records before Tony G Broke them. He is being enshrined in the H.O.F. this year and still holds the TE record for receiving yards in a game. ( unfortunately against KC) 815 Receptions 10,060 yards 62 TDs very impressive

3. Ozzie Newsome ( Clev) - The incredible Oz could do it all. Most folks give credit to Kellen Winslow for revolutionizing the position but it was really Ozzie that did it. He had great speed, size, hands. Already enshrined in Canton, he is further cementing his legacy as one of the best football minds in the biz as the GM of the Baltimore Ravens.
662 Receptions 7,980 yards 47 TDs

4. Kellen Winslow ( SD) - The former Mizzou great was the security blanket, deep threat, and lifeline for Hall of fame QB Dan Fouts. Winslow could really stretch the field. He was an iron man that didnt like to come off the field. Just like the rest of the group he has a bronze bust in Canton, OH.
541 Receptions 6,741 yards 45 TDs

5. Mike Ditka ( Chic, philli, dal) - The Coach was actually a hard hitting TD catching machine before he was " The Coach" and doing commentary. Ditka is one of only 2 people to win the Superbowl as a player and a coach. He won the rookie of the year award to start what was a fantastic career. He was a rare breed that could dominate as a blocker or a receiving threat.
427 Receptions 5,812 yards 43 TDs

6. John Mackey ( Balt) - Another Hall of Famer, the late John Mackey was a great receiving threat for Johnny U and the Baltimore Colts. Mackey had great size, but what set him apart was his yards after the catch. It was a tall order to tackle Mackey once he secured the ball. John was your true blue collar warrior. The Former roommate of the Great Ernie Davis at Syracuse, Mackey played with the same passion.
331 Receptions 5,236 Yards 38 TDs

Rock Em Cock Em

At the start of each summer, hungry sports fans are able to watch the tradition, purity, and excitement of the College World Series. The top seeds rarely win it all, the recently drafted pro players are not the main attraction, and the most unlikely of heroes become part of folk lore for their respective universities. Congratulations to the South Carolina Gamecocks for cementing this recent run as one of the finest in the history of the sport, when they capped off the their 2nd straight national championship Tuesday night in Omaha, NE. The Cocks were unlikely to repeat as champs but did it the old fashion way with great pitching, defense, and fundamental baseball at its best. This resilient group of young men also found a way and dug deep down for an extra spark when it mattered the most. Although most of them will never play pro ball, they will always have this special time to look back on and reflect. This is truly rarefied air in the CWS baseball as its only happened 6 times.

Here are the only six programs to repeat as national champions

Texas (1949-50)

USC (1970-71-72-73-74)

Stanford (1987-88),

LSU (1996-97)

Oregon State (2006-07).

Top Left Tackles of All-Time

Fantastic Stache'

1. Anthony Munoz - Known not only for having an amazing mustache and a nasty sideways pinky finger, but also for being the most complete offensive lineman that has ever played the game.  He was a 9 time all-pro and named the NFL's 75th anniversary team, there's no doubt who belongs at the top of this list.
2. Willie Roaf - My personal favorite offensive lineman ever.  The man dominated the entire decade of the 90's being named to 7 ProBowl's, despite blowing his knee out in 2001, came back to Probowl form in 2002 after being traded to my Chiefs and dominated his last 4 years in the league.  The man saw the game transition to the passing era where the defensive linemen went from being large ogres to hybrid freaks of nature, that have 9ft wingspans and run 4.4sec 40's without missing a beat.  The only man in the modern era that I've ever seen make Dwight Freeney look like a pedestrian trying to rush the passer.  Best Left tackle in the past 20 years and 2nd best of all-time.
3. Tony Bosellli - Prototypical modern day tackle.  Had all the tools to dominate (which he did).  The offensive lines equivalent to Bo Jackson, shoulder injuries shot his career down in his prime.  Fun fact, Tony Boselli has the distinction of being the only NFL player being the first ever draft selection of two different expansion franchises, being the #2 overall pick of the Jags in 1995, and the #1 overall pick of the Texans in the 2002 expansion draft (their first ever pick).
4. Walter Jones - Notice a trend?  3 out of the top 4 picks are from the modern era of Left Tackles for a reason.  NFL offenses are putting more emphasis on the pass, NFL defenses have subsequently put more of an emphasis on pressuring the QB.  Modern day NFL tackles need to be quick enough to hold up against the speed of Clay Matthews off the edge, while still being able to stand up to the bull rush from a 300lb 3-4 end like Darnell Dockett.  Walter Jones did just that for 13 seasons being named to 9 ProBowl's along the way.
5. Art Shell - Exemplified the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick."  One of the most physical offensive linemen of all-time, teamed with Gene Upshaw to create the best left side of an offensive line ever.  Was still physically dominant in an era when the full use of hands was prohibited by offensive linemen (at the time was a 15 yard penalty).  Great offensive lineman, could have played in any era and been great.

Enjoy this last image of Anthony Munoz...

Completely MAV-O-LOUS ! !

Last Sunday night the Dallas Mavericks made history winning the 2011 NBA finals in stunning fashion over the heavily favored Miami Heat. The win in game 6 ended one of the most memorable playoff runs on record, I personally picked this Mavs team to get upset in round one by the Portland Trailblazers and funnier still was that it almost happened. Then I thought for certain my Lakers team would be too much for the Mavs and just when we had a large cushion in game one , the Mavs showed their incredible resolve and grit and came back to steal game one, then game 3 and finally the insanity 63% 3pt shooting beat down in a game 4 series clinching sweep. Mark Cubans bunch ousted the young OKC Thunder with ease and waltzed right into a heavyweight throw down with a young, high-flying, star laded Miami Heat team. After a game one loss many people thought that Dallas was just too old, too slow, to keep up with the Heat. Then came game two and through 42 minutes the Mavericks looked like they were well on there way to getting swept, that's when Dirk began his assault and brought them back from 16pts down in under 6 minutes to steal game 2. The Mavs went on to steal a couple more games they had no business being in, by that point the Heat were toast and were smothered out at home in game 6. This was just the type of series the NBA needed to ride a wave of momentum into an off-season of uncertainty and pending lockout. With Ratings up and jersey sales at an all time high, I firmly believe that the league and players will get the current issues resolved since this is the most invested fans have been since the Michael Jordan Era. However there are major issues and reconstructing that must take place to make sure team owners are not losing money. However for just a second lets give a round of applause to team basketball at its finest and the resolve of a true underdog the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks ! Bravo !

NCAA Football - Everything comes to the light

With the recent scandal at Ohio State and USC being stripped of its best years during the Pete Carrol Era this week one has to wonder what the hell is going on with college football? I am not saying this SMU of the 1980's but coaches and players have to know with this being the golden age for the media blowing things completely out of the water and the NCAA spending more money on trying to catch somebody in the wrong, players and coaches margin for error is razor thin. Its actually kind of annoying. These investigations take up so much time and money that by the time they actually charge someone with something most of the parties involved have gone on about their lives. Really, what good came from taking away Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy after he had already made millions and helped the Saints win a Superbowl? What moral objective was corrected by removing the USC teams accomplishments from the record books,? Is college basketball such a greater place by alienating the Michigan Fab 5 ( fan favorites) from the record books? I think its completely preposterous! Should the players have to mail in their rings? Does the Oklahoma team that got their asses kicked all over the field by USC in 2004 get to take the place of USC in the record books ? NOPE. Maybe the NCAA should go back and investigate every roster for every Nat'l champion over the last 70 years and see if some kid got taken out to dinner or if a booster gave someone a cash envelope or to see if Charlie Ward signed any autographs for anyone in Tallahassee. I believe its total bull shit, amateur athletics are always going to have someone trying to get something. When you are talented and under compensated like every single one of these kids are, then you are going to get what you can while you are hot commodity. Everyone knows the vast majority of these players will never sign a pro contract and once they graduate or are no longer a student athlete and relevant on the sports scene they can sell their memorabilia and sign autographs without any ramifications. Why are the Universities able to pimp out 18 and 19 year old kids and make 100's of millions of dollars a year, but a kid cant go out to dinner or sell his own autograph for profit ? The media and Universities are the ones that make these student athletes god-like in the minds of many, but are the first ones to run the kids through the dirt with public allegations and FBI like investigations. The total Hypocrisy in college athletics makes me fucking sick to my stomach. People can say what they want about the purity of the game, but the bottom line is that times have changed. I'm sorry but when Roger Staubach was playing QB the Universities were not making money like Microsoft. Pay these kids a fair wage, or leave them alone. Look for a follow up article in 2017 when Cam Newton sends back his Heisman and Auburn is stripped of its title, all the fans don't rip the tags off of your title shirts and hats, tell sports illustrated to shred the commemorative issues. What a shame.

15 THE GREATEST Running Backs in NFL HISTORY

1. Jim Brown - Cleveland

2. Barry Sanders - Detroit

3. Walter Payton - Chicago

4. Gayle Sayers - Chicago

5. Emmit Smith - Dallas/Arizona

6. Eric Dickerson - LA/ATL

7. Marshall Faulk - INDY/STL

8. Thurman Thomas - Buffalo/ Miami

9. Ladanian Tomlinson - San Diego/ New York

10. OJ Simpson - Buffalo / State Correctional Facility

11. Tony Dorsett - Dallas

12. Earl Campbell - HOuston

13. Marcus Allen - Oakland/KC

14. Curtis Martin - New England/ New York

15. Bo Jackson - Oakland