Neither owners, nor players sympathetic in bargaining breakdown

by | Mar 15, 2011 | Business of Football, NFL Random Thoughts

Since the NFL and NFLPA decided they could not come up with an agreement for how to split $9 billion on Friday afternoon I’ve checked in on the twittersphere from time to time and it’s not really helping either side win the public relations battle.

I was already irritated that a bunch of rich guys couldn’t come to an agreement with a bunch of richer guys on how to split a plenty big pot o’ cash. But then I started reading.

Some players, in between hollow apologies to fans or tweets of disbelief wondering why fans are irritated with them instead of or in addition to being upset with the owners, are posting “jokes” like Alex Brown (alexbrown96) did Sunday afternoon: So since I am unemployed and have a pregnant wife and 2 other kids can I go get WIC?

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Season ends with Super game

by | Feb 5, 2011 | 2010 season, NFL Gambling, NFL Picks, Super Bowl

I have a confession to make. I’m not really a fan of the Super Bowl.

It’s partially because as I was growing up many of the games failed to meet expectations. As entertaining as some of the advertisements can be, in my eyes they’ve never made up for sitting through a 56-10 drubbing in what is supposed to be the NFL’s showcase game.

It’s also partially because my team has never managed to win the big one, so yes, I admit to some sour grapes.

But primarily it’s because it means the season is ending and we’ll be subjected to several months before the next meaningful matchup. This year’s big game in Dallas is even more bittersweet, as the out-of-touch honchos of the National Football League and its Players Union have shown little urgency in their efforts to solve the collective bargaining issues — meaning there’s a shot this could be the last game in a long, long time.

So, while I like the marathon of the season and the chase of the playoffs more than the Super Bowl itself, at least this years version should provide an interesting game.

Pittsburgh vs Green Bay (-2.5) at Dallas: Over/Under 45.5

Both of these NFL heavyweights have been around forever. The Steelers have six Vince Lombardi trophies. The Packers have three. The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who can complete finish the masterful job he has done replacing legendary Brett Favre with a win Sunday. The Steelers have Ben Roethlisberger, who can take another step in rehabilitating his image by winning a third Super Bowl ring. (more…)

Ryan Boser offers Zoneblitz readers fantasy football feedback

by | Jan 31, 2011 | Fantasy Football

The Steelers-Packers Super Bowl will put the finishing touches on another football season and start for many of us another several months of withdrawal. This year it’s likely going to be worse, with fewer reports of offseason training programs and more news revolving around collective bargaining talks between owners and players.

But true fantasy football players know they can’t be caught off guard. If the owners and players come to their senses, there will be football in 2011 – and if there is football in 2011, there will be fantasy football in 2011, as well.

Ryan Boser, who last year wrote for FantasyVictory.com and filled in no KFAN-AM 1130’s Fantasy Football Weekly program, took a few questions from Zoneblitz.com, filling us in on what he’ll be keeping an eye on in the months ahead.

Zoneblitz: Now that the football season is over what should serious fantasy players be paying attention to in preparation for next year?

Boser: Everybody’s going to watch where skill position players like DeAngelo Williams end up, or where the A.J. Green’s of the draft land. I’m often more interested in offensive line developments and coaching changes. That’s where fantasy production all starts.

Zoneblitz: Will Michael Vick repeat his great season? Where would you draft him and how much in a $100 auction would you spend on him?

Boser: For the first time in five years, he’ll be going through a normal offseason preparing as a starting NFL quarterback. He’ll return to the same coaching system, surrounded by the same dynamic playmakers, so everything is in place for a repeat. (more…)

Championship Sunday picks

by | Jan 23, 2011 | NFL Picks

It’s time for me to throw up my hands and admit that I’m just not going to get my arms around the 2010 season. Every time I think I’ve got it figured out someone throws another curve ball and I end up .500 in picks. But it’s too late to stop now.

We find out today who plays in the Super Bowl. I have hunches, but I can see scenarios where any of the four teams move on. Here’s my guess (http://www2.vegas.com/gaming/):

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Randy Moss is a Hall of Famer but could have been so much more

by | Jan 18, 2011 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts

One reader who left some comments said Randy Moss is worth a Hall of Fame post discussion of his own. I think he’s right. I’ve been thinking about this post for awhile but that comment finally spurred me to do some research. Here’s what I found.

It will be difficult for Hall of Fame voters to deny Randy Moss a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame based on the numbers he has put up, despite controversies that have followed Moss around throughout his career.

He has made highlight reel plays and posted several amazing game logs and seasons and, through minor incident here and minor incident there, put up some fantastic numbers during the first 13 years of his career.

But an analysis of those statistics also indicates that he could have been so much more. Had Moss maintained the pace he was on the first six years of his career he very likely would have eclipsed Jerry Rice, at least statistically, as the greatest wide receiver of all time.

And frankly it wouldn’t have been close.
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