ZB Notebook 09-25-12

by | Sep 25, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

Lost in the barrage of anger and venom being directed toward the officials who made the bad call that cost the Packers a win on Monday Night Football against Seattle is the fact that Green Bay really didn’t play well enough to deserve to win.

The Packers controlled the second half, but still only scored 12 points in 60 minutes of football. And Aaron Rodgers got sacked something like 27 times. So yeah, anger about the call is justified to a point, but coaches say all the time their teams need to make sure they play well enough so the outcome of the game isn’t close enough to be affected by bad officiating.

Call was bad … really bad: That said, it was a really, really bad call. And what makes it worse is how goofy it looked. Golden Tate first pushed one defensive back to the ground for an obvious offensive pass interference. Then the Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings grabs the ball for an interception only to have Tate wisely attempt to latch on in an attempt to steal a “simultaneous possession” call.

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NFL Picks, 2012 Season Week 3

by | Sep 18, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Picks

After two weeks of the regular season Philadelphia has turned the ball over nine times – and won two one-point games. When congratulated on the start, Chris Meares of The Mole & Meares Show described the feat as … well, Un$%&@believable.

We’ll see if Meares can match his favorite team by beating us at our picks for week three.

Last week, bloggers from The Landry Hat and HogsHaven both took their best shot. The Landry Hat struggled during a tough week to a 7-9 finish. HogsHaven matched Andy with a 9-7 mark. Tony grabbed top honors for week two with a 10-6 mark. So here is where we stand for the season so far.

Week two Total
Celebrity bloggers 9-7 20-12
Tony 10-6 18-14
Andy 9-7 17-15

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ZB Notebook 09-10-12

by | Sep 11, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

Five rookie quarterbacks started their careers on Sunday. Only one looked really good. From the start of the game, Robert Griffin III looked in control of Washington’s game against New Orleans. Despite the Saints having a chance to tie the game with a final drive, there really wasn’t a point during which it seemed like Washington was in any real trouble. That’s a huge credit to Griffin, who does appear to be the best quarterback the Redskins have had since … Joe Theismann?

There will be rough patches as teams gather film on this composed rookie, but I may have been wrong predicting another season in the cellar of the NFC East for the Redskins. This guy looks good.

None of the other rookies fared well in their debuts. Andrew Luck got beat up by Chicago. I still think he’s going to be fine, but when the Colts fell behind the Bears and the run game provided little support, Luck was out of … luck.  It is important to note the similarities between the first games of Luck and one Peyton Manning, however. CBS put up the linked graphic during the game broadcast. Colts fans can take solace in the likelihood that better days are ahead.

Russell Wilson showed glimpses that he’s going to be alright, though he ended up not able to pull the Seattle game out in the end against Arizona. Cleveland’s Brandon Weeden and Miami’s Ryan Tannehill both had forgettable debuts. A statistical breakdown of their performances can be found at RealRedskins.com.
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Modell’s death renews debate on his Hall of Fame cred

by | Sep 7, 2012 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts

Tributes and recollections of former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell have been pouring in since word of his death broke Thursday.

For decades, Modell was one of the most visible of the NFL owners, having taken a lead role in negotiating the league’s first major television contract and in establishing Monday Night Football.

Not one to shy away from controversy, Modell bought the Cleveland Browns in 1961 and fired the team’s namesake coach Paul Brown two years later.

Later on, Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, leaving the football-intense Ohio city without a team for several years.

It was reportedly a move Modell felt he had to make, but it’s also the move he is most closely associated with and it has left him with many detractors.

Eric Edholm, senior editor with Pro Football Weekly, told ESPN-1500 in Minneapolis Thursday that the story of the NFL’s history could not be told without mentioning Modell’s name and that he thinks the owner should be in the Hall of Fame.

“The fact that he is not in the Hall of Fame does not make sense to me,” Edholm told listeners.

The move to Baltimore left an entire region bitter and bought Modell a number of enemies, however. And that issue alone, according to Edholm, is keeping him from being enshrined.

I think he probably should be in the Hall, though the backlog of players we’ve discussed time and again makes it unlikely he’s selected anytime real soon. It lends some credence to the argument made a few years back by Sports Illustrated reporter Peter King that “contributors” should be considered separately from players and coaches.

I’m sure his death will revive discussion of his merits as a candidate. It may already be doing so. His contributions to the game were more great than bad. What are your thoughts? Will he get his day?

AFC West prediction 2012

by | Sep 6, 2012 | 2012 season

AFC West

Newcomers to the division and several players who return from injuries make the AFC West one of the more difficult divisions to prognosticate heading into the season. The division has long been tight and with three teams coming off 8-8 seasons and the fourth a close 7-9, this is no different. I think two teams get noticeably better this year and two stay the same or get worse.

Kansas City Chiefs: Two years ago the Chiefs came from nowhere to win the West. A slip last year wasn’t surprising, particularly with the loss of Sean Berry, Tony Moeaki and Jamaal Charles early on. This year Kansas City looks to rebound, with those three returning and the addition of battering ram Peyton Hillis, whom I expect to have a big season. This will be a tight one but I think the Chiefs prevail.

Denver Broncos: The higher profile Peyton joining the AFC West this year is Manning, who will lead the Broncos to the playoffs. But I think it’s going to take him a short bit to shake off some rust. I like the Broncos to keep it close and they’ll be right there in the mix at the end.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders were one of three teams to tie for the AFC West crown last season at 8-8. I like what I’ve seen from the Raiders’ new brass in the wake of the passing of Al Davis last year. But after trading for Carson Palmer, Oakland was a bit hamstrung when it came to improving the team in the short-term. I think the Raiders will be back before too long, and they’ll surprise a few teams this year, but it’s going to take a couple before they can challenge this year’s versions of the Broncos and Chiefs.

San Diego Chargers: Disappointing last year, the Chargers lost Vincent Jackson to free agency and Vincent Brown for the early part of the season to a broken ankle. The offensive line is in some disarray. Ryan Mathews is great when he can play but he’s anything but durable. This team is playing for Norv Turner’s job. I think they fail.