Sports Betting Tips and Game Handicapping Picks » Pro Bowl

Roethlisberger suspended for 6 games

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:04:13 +0000

That’s almost half of the season.

When a guy gets suspended from the NFL with still a few more months left before the 2010 NFL football season begins, you can’t help but wonder what moves will that guy’s team make to save themselves from limping out of the gates come September.

That is the dilemma the Pittsburgh Steelers are in these coming months as they prepare to start their campaign this coming season without their prized quarterback who already led them to two Super Bowl titles in four years.

That’s right, the NFL finally suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for six games after rape allegations were thrown at the young NFL star. In a letter to Roethlisberger, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that Roethlisberger must adhere to any counseling or treatment that is recommended by the professional evaluators to help him make better decisions and avoid situations that can cause legal or other problems. A professional behavioral evaluation is mandatory for anyone that has violated the personal-conduct policy.

Also according to the letter, Roethlisberger may not attend any team offseason activity until he has completed the evaluation and the evaluating professionals confirm with the commissioner that Roethlisberger may resume football activities. If so cleared, Roethlisberger will be able to participate in training camp and preseason games this summer.

”The personal conduct policy makes clear that I may impose discipline ‘even where the conduct does not result in conviction of a crime’ as, for example, where the conduct ‘imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person,”’ NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated in his letter to Roethlisberger.

”As the District Attorney concluded, the...''

Kevin Kolb will start for the Eagles

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:04:10 +0000

At least that’s what Eagles coach Andy Reid feels.

Yes, Kevin Kolb will be starting for the Philadelphia Eagles once the 2010 NFL football season gets here. That’s right, Kolb will finally get the opportunity to show Eagles fans why their team drafted him three years ago.

And as far as Kevin Kolb is concerned, he’s ready for the challenge ahead. Andy Reid has already talked about how much confidence he has in Kolb and the command his young quarterback has over the Philadelphia Eagles offense. Kolb feels it’s his time to show the rest of the world that he is a star in the NFL.

”Everything I’ve done in my life has led to this,” Kevin Kolb said. ”I’m ready to roll and lead this team.”

”I didn’t even blink when Andy told me. I really didn’t,” Kolb said, referring to him being promoted to the starting role. ”I’m excited about it. I’m sure it will have a little drama, but it will be a fun ride. I truly have that outlook on it. I think this team will surprise some people.”

”I trusted the organization, I trusted Andy to get me here one day,” Kolb added. ”The times last year when I started that I felt I was ready, but the team wasn’t ready, maybe the city wasn’t ready. I knew Andy would put me in the situation to be the starter.”

Of course, you can’t blame some people who feel Kolb shouldn’t be a starter yet, especially when you still have a guy like Michael Vick on your team.

When Michael Vick was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, almost every single football fan from the City of Brotherly Love thought he and Donovan McNabb will be one formidable one-two punch together. Instead, it was Kolb who played McNabb’s backup and Vick was relegated to a gadget player.

Now that McNabb is out of the picture...

Problems heading to the 2010 NFL Season

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:02:25 +0000

Uh oh.

Another round of labor talks between the NFL and NFLPA took place while the scouting combine got underway, and still there was no indication of a new collective bargaining agreement being reached, meaning a 2010 NFL football season without a salary cap seems a certainty.

Negotiating committees for the NFL, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and the NFLPA that includes executive director DeMaurice Smith, Colts center Jeff Saturday and Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel were among several participants, met for more than 90 minutes.

Goodell said the two sides discussed ‘’setting up” another meeting, but did not establish a date. Goodell declined to discuss other topics on the agenda, but said he remains hopeful the two sides will negotiate a deal before the CBA expires.

”I think it’s natural that deadlines produce results, so I think deadlines help,” he said. ”I think there is a general desire on both sides to get a deal. But I don’t think you can create artificial deadlines.”

Smith and other NFLPA executives will meet with player representatives and some agents at another meeting where the NFLPA will address a larger group of agents and player reps. The state of labor and how they will impact players and agents will be the main subject of discussion.

Goodell ruled out any chance of the owners agreeing to a temporary one-year salary cap to avoid an uncapped season, saying that’s the reason owners opted out of the previous deal in the spring of 2008.

An uncapped year was seemed inevitable for months. If that’s the case, there will be no spending cap, or floor, in terms of how teams pay players. Free agency will be far more limited as a result, and teams can also dump contracts of players who haven’t lived up to them without suffering any penalties that could have been triggered under the old salary cap rules.

The current CBA expires in 2011. If...

Guys to take in the 2010 NFL Draft

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:04:50 +0000

You just know they can't wait to draft a guy like Tebow.

Along with the rest of those guys who haven’t done shit this year. Just so you should know, teams like the Redskins, the Rams and the Lions have began to look for solutions to improve on the mess they created back in the ‘09 season.

And these teams might finally get what they’re looking for in the coming 2010 NFL Draft. And as far as that goes, only one name stands out, Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Suh is an outstanding prospect in the NFL Draft class because there is so much to like about him. Sure, his durability could end up becoming a huge problem but if he can stay healthy and keep the production up, he’s a jewel most of the teams in the league can’t afford to pass.

The guy is a good fit for both the 4-3 and 3-4. Ndamukong Suh has 56 tackles, 11 TFL, five sacks and eight passes broken up in 10 games as a senior. When playing for Nebraska, Suh notched 76 tackles, 16.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks in 2008. He also blocked two kicks and returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns.

Most scouts say that he can be compared to Richard Seymour. Both Seymour and Suh have that great length, explosiveness, and strength that you want in a defensive tackle with the ability to play various schemes.

We also have another jewel in Russell Okung of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The outstanding right tackle qualified for the All-Big 12 First Team. He has all the makings of a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle and has the upside to potentially warrant a no.1 overall draft pick.

If he can hone his technique slightly...

Orton and Quinn fight for Broncos QB spot

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:02:39 +0000

Who will get the starting job in Denver?

In case you didn’t know, the Denver Broncos made another offseason move with the addition of Brady Quinn for the 2010 NFL football season. The Broncos acquired the former first-round draft pick from the Cleveland Browns for fullback Peyton Hillis, a 2011 sixth-round draft pick and a conditional pick in 2012.

The big question the Denver Broncos are trying to answer now is who will get the starting nod from coach Josh McDaniels? Will it still be Kyle Orton or newly acquired Brady Quinn? Quinn’s departure comes one day after the Browns agreed to terms with free agent Jake Delhomme on a two-year contract. Quinn went 3-9 in 12 starts for Cleveland , which drafted him with the 22nd pick in the first round in 2007 out of Notre Dame.

Quinn won Cleveland’s starting job last season, but was benched after 2 1/2 games for Derek Anderson. Quinn eventually got his job back when Anderson struggled but he was hindered by inaccuracy. He completed only 53 percent of his passes last season for 1,339 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. His rating was 67.3.

Interestingly, the Broncos reportedly pursued Brady Quinn last season when they were trying to replace Jay Cutler. Instead, they dealt Cutler to Chicago for a bevy of draft picks and Orton, who beat out Chris Simms for the starting job in June.

The Denver Broncos said that they are satisfied with the work of Orton, who led the Broncos to a 6-2 start before a 2-6 finish kept them out of the playoffs for a fourth straight season. This marked the longest drought in the 26 years Pat Bowlen has owned the team. Bowlen recently said he likes Orton as his quarterback but would like to see the Broncos draft a passer next month.

The Broncos offered Orton, a restricted free agent, a first-round tender offer that would pay him $2.261 million this season. But like hundreds of other players caught up in the league’s labor issues, Orton is expected to boycott his team’s start of offseason training.

Does that mean the starting spot in Denver...

Will Brett Favre come back next season?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:20:36 +0000

The FAVRE WATCH continues...

With still more than a few months left before we get to see what the 2010 NFL football season has in store for us, Brett Favre ain’t budging yet when asked on what exactly are his plans for his imminent future in the NFL.

You see, Brett Favre said that he still hasn’t decided yet on whether he’ll play again next season, and doesn’t expect to make an announcement anytime soon. Well, we can’t say we haven’t heard something like this from him before.

Appearing on NBC’s ”The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Favre, who played for the Minnesota Vikings last season, politely balked when host Jay Leno asked for his thoughts on returning for the 2010 season.

”Well Jay, it’s only been a month, and I know now that I’m just not going to say anything anytime soon, just going to kind of sit back, relax, enjoy the offseason,” Brett Favre said in his first public appearance since the Minnesota Vikings lost in the NFC championship game at New Orleans back in January 24.

The pride of Kiln, Miss., Favre is the NFL’s career leader in nearly every major passing category. Hell, the guy’s a three-time league MVP too. The former star quarterback of the Green Bay Packers had one of his best seasons ever after doing what was once unfathomable, playing for Green Bay’s rivals, the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings were rewarded with 33 touchdowns and the lowest interception rate of Favre’s career. But Minnesota’s loss at New Orleans left the 40-year-old battered. He said afterward that his decision probably wouldn’t take months and that his main concern was whether his body could hold up for another season.

Asked if that defeat still upsets him...

Where will Brian Westbrook go next?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:01:16 +0000

Like Tomlinson, Westbrook has began looking for teams to play for.

With the 2010 NFL football season still more than a couple of months away, guys like Tomlinson and Westbrook have more than enough time to find a new place to call home where they try to salvage what’s left of their playing career.

In case you haven’t heard, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to part ways with their all-time leading rusher by releasing Brian Westbrook a few weeks ago. Westbrook, who has a history of injuries, missed eight games in 2009 after suffering ankle injuries and two concussions.

In his eight-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles, he never played a full season. This seems to be part of the reason why Philadelphia didn’t want to bring him back in 2010. He was also due to make $7.25 million.

Now that he’s a free agent, Westbrook may have to accept the fact that he will most likely be signed by a team for a limited role as a no.2 (or even no.3) running back. Here are just some teams that may consider signing Westbrook now that he is no longer with the Eagles.

The Minnesota Vikings may be a good choice for Westbrook since running back Chester Taylor is now a free agent and hasn’t been re-signed by the team. Not only would Westbrook be a good back playing behind a player like Peterson, but the Vikings will most likely be a Super Bowl contender next season, whether Brett Favre returns or not, with a strong running game and one of the top defenses in the NFL.

What could make this deal even more likely is the fact that Brad Childress is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Childress spent seven seasons on the Eagles coaching staff before taking the head coaching position in Minnesota, including four years with Westbrook.

He’s given other former Eagles, such as...

NFL Rule Book needs to be updated

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:02:23 +0000

They should, because, I don’t know about you but, I’m sick and tired of coin tosses deciding the outcome of an NFL game.

A standard NFL game consists of four quarters each with 15 minutes. The clock stops after certain plays. If an NFL game is tied after four quarters, the teams play an additional period called overtime game lasting up to 15 minutes.

NFL overtime rules say that in an NFL overtime game, the first team that scores wins, even if the other team does not get a possession. This is known as the sudden death. On the other hand, if neither team scores during the overtime, then the game is considered as a tie. In an NFL playoff game, additional overtime periods are played, as needed, to determine a winner.

The sudden death overtime rules call for a 15 minute period to follow the end of regulation. The first team to score wins. During the regular season, if after the end of the overtime period, no team scores, the game is recorded as a tie.

Playoff games will continue with multiple overtime periods until somebody does end up scoring. At the end of regulation time the referee will immediately toss a coin at the center of the field in accordance with the rules pertaining to the usual pregame toss. Unfortunately, the key to the game often rests on the flip of the coin.

There has been a public clamor to change the rules of the overtime for the longest time because of the problems the teams face. Some of the problems with the current system include; only three, or in rare cases, two points are required to win the game and the team that loses the toss, may never even touch it in the overtime period.

The team who wins the coin toss can elect to receive or kick away the ball. The teams that elect to receive usually go on to win, but not always. According to NFL stats, 60 percent of the games are won by the team that wins the toss, a very decisive advantage.

The NFL should seriously consider other options that...

Brian Westbrook released by the Eagles

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:36:02 +0000

My my, teams are really letting some once great running backs go these last couple of days huh?

Brian Westbrook won’t be playing for them Eagles no more once the 2010 NFL football season gets here. Yes, just like LaDainian Tomlinson not playing for them Chargers anymore. You see, after two cases of concussions last season, the Eagles finally let him go, stirring up some rumors that he may just call it quits and walk away from football.

However, Brian Westbrook claims that is simply not the case. ”My plan is not to retire. My plan is to continue to play football,” he said in an interview with a local radio station in Philly. ”There’s 32 teams out there. Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to go and play with another team.”

Yes, after two concussions that kept him out for a good portion of Philly’s last campaign in the NFL, Westbrook feels he can still play football and bang heads with guys like Jared Allen and Patrick Willis. And in case you’re wondering, no, he doesn’t have a death wish.

Westbrook, who thanked Philadelphia Eagles fans and coach Andy Reid for all their support, said his agent has already heard from three or four teams about his availability for 2010. Of course, we don’t know if those three or four teams play in the NFL. Hell, he may end up playing for some team in Canada for all we know.

Westbrook also said that he understood why the Eagles got rid of him the way they did.

”It’s hard for teams to keep veterans, especially aging veterans at a higher salary number, when they can get younger guys,” Brian Westbrook said. ”Especially when guys have battled injuries the way I have the last year and a half or so. I understand that. I completely do.”

As for the rest of the Eagles...

Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl 44

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:04:30 +0000

Are you ready for the big game?

In case you’ve been living under a rock lately, the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will collide this Sunday in Miami, Florida where we’ll see which of these two teams will be crowned the Super Bowl XLIV champions.

Who will take the big one? Let’s look at the Indianapolis Colts, who have already recorded their most single-season wins in franchise history with 16. The quest will be a second Super Bowl title in a four-year span and since they’ll be playing in their fourth Super Bowl appearance in Miami, it seems the stage is set for the Colts to win their second Super Bowl title.

You see the last time Peyton Manning and his Colts were in Miami playing for the Super Bowl, they defeated the Chicago Bears 20-17. Manning was also the league MVP that season, the same as he is now coming to Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, Florida.

That’s why the Colts should take this one easy.

Sure, the New Orleans Saints are as good as the Colts this season with both teams flirting with perfection all year to post the best win-loss record of their respective conferences. Both the Colts and the Saints also have Pro Bowl quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Drew Brees respectively. That’s probably why Super Bowl XLIV will prove to be a high scoring affair.

However, while Drew Brees have become one of the most explosive quarterbacks to ever play football, he ain’t no Peyton Manning. Manning has been here before, leading the Colts to the playoffs every year since 2002 that includes a Super Bowl season back in 2007. A win in Miami Sunday will further solidify Manning as the very best to ever play quarterback in the NFL. Brees is good but Manning is simply just a notch better.

Manning was openly criticized for never...