ZB Notebook 11-20-12

by | Nov 20, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

I’m not going to say the Atlanta Falcons are a bad team. At 9-1 they deserve more respect than that, but they may be the least convincing 9-1 team I’ve seen in awhile.

The offense remains explosive, but the team lost five picks to Arizona at home last weekend in a game that shouldn’t have been as close as four points. The run game is nonexistent and now news has leaked that an already injury-tainted offensive line will now be down Joe Hawley for four games due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

This isn’t a good thing for a team whose top runner has put up just 61 yards in the last two games. The defense isn’t much better either. LaRod Stephens-Howling broke the century mark and scored against this tackling-challenged bunch.

Truth be told, Atlanta’s impressive record has been built on close wins against less-than-stellar opponents. Six wins have been by a touchdown or less. And some of those victories have come against Kansas City, San Diego, Washington, Oakland, Philadelphia, Dallas and Arizona. (more…)

Kluwe lends support to Ray Guy’s Hall case

by | Nov 16, 2012 | Hall of Fame

With the gay marriage amendment defeated during the election in Minnesota earlier this month, outspoken Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has found a new topic on which to opine: Ray Guy’s omission from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The arguments have gone both ways. He revolutionized the punter position. So he should be in. He’s just a punter, so he should stay out. He was great at pinning teams inside the 20 yard line so he should be in. His gross average wasn’t all that great so he should be out. As this Pro Football Reference blog post states, few players’ cases stir “as much passion and disagreement as Ray Guy.”

The topic came up again earlier this week when a Yahoo! Sports story featured the 62-year-old Guy, who now works at Southern Mississippi with former athletes from his alma mater, where he also helps raise funds.  (more…)

NFL Best Bets: Week 11 – 2012

by | Nov 15, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Gambling

Well, what do you know? We had a decent week. My 3-1 and Tony’s 4-0 make it look like we actually have a clue what’s going on in the NFL.

We were due. The wins bring him to 18-22 while I “improve” to 16-24. Are we about to get on that midseason roll? Time will tell.

Here are our picks for week 11. (more…)

NFL Best Bets: Week 10 – 2012

by | Nov 6, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Gambling

Sure, when I go to Vegas, everything is normal, but the week after I leave all hell breaks loose.

“Books get destroyed,” screams the headline of a VegasInsider.com story that estimates gamblers took the city’s establishments for $7 million to $9 million over the weekend due to the success players had in betting favorites on parlay cards.

Nobody is going to feel sorry for Las Vegas sports books, however. Whether they lost $9 million or not, over time they’ll do fine. And they still did better than Tony and I did on our bets, which have been a struggle all season long.

I got a 2-2 for the week that probably would have netted a small profit with my success in nailing the upset of the week, Tampa over Oakland. It wasn’t a big spread, but the Raiders never should have been favored in that game, in my humble opinion.

Tony was 1-3, hitting only the Indianapolis win over Miami. So, for the season, Tony is a dismal 14-22 while I am a slightly even more pathetic 13-23.

So here’s your next chance to win money by doing the opposite of what we suggest… (more…)

ZB Notebook 11-1-2012

by | Nov 1, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

I didn’t fare well at the tables in Las Vegas last weekend so, while I was licking my wounds, I had plenty of time to follow the Sunday football games. Throughout the day and in the days that followed, what stuck with me is that there are a number of teams that have to be thinking about major changes, including potentially sacking their head coaches.

I wouldn’t have guessed heading into the season that Romeo Crennel in Kansas City would have topped my list. But not only did the Chiefs suffer yet another complete dismantling, this time at the hands of rival Oakland, but Crennel admitted after the game he had no idea why running back Jamaal Charles had just five rushes and eight total touches throughout the game.

Really? No idea at all? You are the head guy there. You have a certain  amount of say in stuff like that. If I was the owner of that team, I’m not sure I would have let Crennel out of the stadium without a better explanation.

There was talk of how the Raiders loaded the box against the run. Understandable. So throw Charles the ball. He is great out of the backfield too, isn’t he? When you’re having a bad day but the score is close your best players have to touch the ball.

It was a bad performance all the way around for an organization whose coach and general manager, Scott Pioli, are on the hotseat. But it was just one of many bad days for coaches.

Chargers ready to replace Norv Turner?: Heading into tonight’s game, perhaps the hottest seat of all belongs to Norv Turner, the oft-criticized head man in San Diego. The Chargers are being investigated by the NFL for the possibility that the team used stick ‘em in a game a couple weeks ago. If they don’t beat the Chiefs tonight, he might need some of that banned substance to hang onto his job. (more…)