Predictions Divisional Round

Each week, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend’s games. I will prognosticate on all the playoff games each week. Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

The crystal ball was mediocre last week, posting a 2-2 record. Not great, but we will take it! Now that we are ensconced in the playoffs, the crystal ball assures me it will rebound this week with a better performance. The crystal ball is now 35-28-1 for the season; which is seven games over .500 (.555 to be exact). With all the great match-ups before us, this week is going to be a challenge for the crystal ball. Let’s see what’s in store for us this weekend.

Last Week: 2-2

Playoffs: 2-2

Overall: 35-28-1


Baltimore @ Tennessee: Last week, the Ravens had an easy time with the Dolphins, while Tennessee rested up on a bye week. The Titans have been a bit of a surprise this season, and Kerry Collins has found the fountain of youth. Kerry is playing at his best, and the Titans have a dynamic 1-2 punch in the running game. The vaunted Baltimore defense, led by Ray Lewis, will be up to the challenge though. Joe Flacco has been playing beyond his years, and has the Ravens offense on the right track. This game will be played close to the vest, and I don’t anticipate much scoring. Baltimore will win, but the Titans will make them earn it. Baltimore 18, Tennessee 13.

Arizona @ Carolina: The Cardinals took care of the Falcons last week in a well-played game by both participants. Carolina was using the bye week to rest up some lagging bumps and bruises. Arizona has played well this year, but not on the road, especially when traveling to the East Coast! Carolina is a well-balanced machine on offense. They have two quality RBs, as well as a solid WR core, lead by Steve Smith. The Panthers defense has played very well also. Arizona does have some firepower on offense, so never count them out. In the end, the Panthers will prove to be too much for the Cards! Carolina 29, Arizona 27.

Philadelphia @ New York Giants: This will be the most heated game of the weekend. These teams are only a two-hour drive down the turnpike from each other, with no love lost between them! This is the rubber match, as each team has won on the other teams turf. This bodes well for the Eagles, as they have had success at the Meadowlands. The G-Men have struggled offensively without Burress, while their defense has been solid. The Birds have been on a roller coaster ride all season. One week they look unstoppable, the next they look mediocre at best! They have been on a high note for several weeks now. These NFC East division foes have much history between them, and the crystal ball is a little hazy on this one. In a toss-up game, the winner will be the G-Men. New York Giants 24, Philadelphia 20.

San Diego @ Pittsburgh: San Diego has had a difficult season. They struggled early in the year (with some questionable officiating), but they bounced back to win their division at 8-8. Last week they were able to hold off the mighty Colts. The Steelers should be well rested coming off the bye week. Big Ben looks ready to go. I expect the Chargers to put a lot of pressure on the QB. Sproles has played well with LT being limited due to injury. If the Bolts want to win, they will need to get the ball down the field. The Steelers have a great defense, so it will be tough sledding in the ground game. The Bolts will find a way to win; the crystal ball sees a huge victory for Norv! San Diego 27, Pittsburgh 17.


Short Shots:

There has been much speculation if Terrell Owens will return next year to the Cowboys, because he is due a roster bonus of 3.1M on June 1st. Lat year, Owens was due a similar bonus in March…Jerry paid it! This year…Jerry will pay it again! Owens was given a contract extension earlier in the season. He is still a talented receiver at his ripe old age, but more importantly, who would replace him in the line-up? I see Terrell staying in Dallas and finishing out his career; he likes being a Cowboy!

Reggie Bush had to undergo microfracture surgery on his left knee, rather than arthroscopic surgery. The microfracture surgery is a more invasive procedure, where the recovery time is lengthier. Bush has been a disappointment after his sensational rookie season. This is just another major setback for Bush and the Saints. This is not a surgery that many players return from in full form. Good luck to Reggie!


From The Mail Room:

Samuel Z., Fort Worth, Texas: The Cowboys dont have a 1st pick because of Williams trade. What should they do in the draft?

Utopia1dc: Samuel, you are correct! The Cowboys sent a 1st and 3rd round pick to Detroit for Roy Williams. The thought was that an accomplished receiver, like Williams, would be better than what they would be able to draft in the 1st round of the draft. This theory remains to be seen, as Roy, did nothing while wearing the star on his helmet, to suggest that Jerry made a wise decision. It’s still too early to tell, but Roy needs to step it up next season. As for the draft, it’s a little premature to speculate, but I’ll do it anyway. The Cowboys need a QB to back-up Romo, and a WR as well. A quality safety would be nice also. It will be clearer in which direction the ‘Boys go, once free agency is in full swing!



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Reality Mail Bag - 01/08/09

Each week I will answer questions submitted by my loyal readers. I personally read every single email I receive. I will pick out the best five or so to use for the weekly post, as I won’t be able to answer all of them. I will also answer one or two questions on my daily posts as well. Now it’s time to open the mail!


Troy J., Miami, FL: The Cowboys have cut Pacman Jones. This punk was a waste of draft picks and money.

Utopia1dc: Troy, I will have to agree that Pacman is a punk, but he really wasn’t a waste of money or draft picks. He did not receive a signing bonus, nor did he get paid for the games he was suspended. As far as the draft picks go, the Cowboys are getting a pick back from the Titans (because of the suspension). They have actually already used the pick in the Roy Williams deal, so it might be a wasted pick anyway…but that’s a whole different alligator?


Rosario J., Dallas, Texas: Owens had a horrible year. The Cowboys should clean house and get rid of TO and Tank Johnson and any other trouble makers!!!!

Utopia1dc: Rosario, Owens did have a sub-par season…for T.O. He did have 69 receptions for 1052 yards and 10 TDs. He also averaged 15.2 yards per reception…not too shabby for an old man! His numbers were very similar to Randy Moss (69 REC, 1008 YDS, 11 TDs, and 14.6 YPR), but nobody is giving him a hard time? Tank Johnson was somewhat of a disappointment, but that’s on the field. He has done nothing as far as any off the field issues. And what other troublemakers?


Kurt B., Warminster, PA: Do you think the Eagles have a legitimate shot at beating the Giants on the road?

Utopia1dc: Kurt, the Eagles have a decent chance at defeating the Super Bowl Champs. I don’t think that the Birds being on the road is that much of a factor. The weather is similar, as the teams are only a two-hour drive in distance. Traveling shouldn’t be an issue either. The Eagles have already defeated the G-Men this year in the Meadowlands. With Plaxico Burress out, the Giants run game has struggled, as teams are stacking the line to stop the three-headed RB Monster! Stay tuned for my predictions tomorrow.


Jane B., Obelisk, PA: Who is your superbowl favorite? It looks like an open race to me. Go Eagles!!!

Utopia1dc: The NFC is wide open. If the Eagles can get past the G-Men, I think they have a real chance at advancing to the big dance. Carolina is also a team to be reckoned with. The G-Men won’t get to the Super Bowl! In the AFC, the Ravens are the team to beat, but don’t count out the Bolts. The Chargers have been playing well in the second half of the season and in the playoffs. They have done this with little help from LT! I will be rooting for Norv and his Bolts…I just think it’s his turn. Wouldn’t it be something if an 8-8 team won the Super Bowl?


Eagleman, South Philly: Yo cowgirl your cowboys suck. When are you gonna eat all that crow you were serving up?

Utopia1dc: Eagleman, any relation to Birdman? I used to have season tickets at the Vet in Birdman’s section several eons ago. Anyway, I’m not sure what crow I was serving? I call it like it is. If you have been reading my Blog, you would know that I have picked the Eagles on many occasions. I also defended Reid and McNabb when everybody had their bags packed for them. The Eagles beat the Cowboys to get in the playoffs, now it’s time for them to do something with this opportunity. As an Eagles fan, you may want to worry about the team they face this week, not who they beat several weeks ago!


Short Shots:

Eric Mangini has been named the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. I’m not sure why the Jets fired him in the first place? The Jets are a decent team, but Favre just faded down the stretch…he’s just too old. I’m not sure Mangini was entirely onboard with Farve’s acquisition in the first place. I bet the Jets are kicking themselves for cutting Pennington.

The Cowboys have cut Adam Jones. I’m not sure that was a good move. He played decently at times, and he was rusty some of the time. But that should have been expected, as he missed nearly a year and a half due to suspension the past two seasons. He may have been an asset next year with a little more time in adjusting back to football. I guess Jerry has had enough of the drama, and is appeasing his fan base with this move?



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Week 17 Review

The crystal ball had a mediocre performance this past week, going a mere 2-2. We’re not sure what happened, but this is not acceptable. The crystal ball took its lumps on the Cowboys game, but it may have been predicting with its heart rather than its fortune-telling powers? Either way, that puts the crystal ball at 33-26-1 for the season. That’s seven games over .500 (.558 to be exact). Hopefully the crystal ball will perform better in the playoffs! Let’s take a look back, and review what happened last week.

Last Week: 2-2

Overall: 33-26-1

St. Louis @ Atlanta: (WIN) The Atlanta Falcons got a huge win against the Rams last week, finishing the season at 11-5. Carolina got a last minute victory over New Orleans; otherwise Atlanta would have stolen the NFC South division. The Falcons had a superb season, and they are the 5th seed in the NFC, a far cry from where they were a year ago! The Falcons have found themselves a franchise QB in Matt Ryan, and Michael Turner isn’t too shabby of a RB either. Roddy White has finally lived up to his high draft pick potential. Atlanta could be a dangerous team in the tournament!

Miami @ New York Jets: (LOSS) The Jets had another dismal game to finish the season at 9-7. Favre faded down the stretch with his worn and withered 39-year-old body. The Jets lost 4 of their last 5 games, and found themselves on the outside looking in. To make matters worse, Favre looks like he’s playing the “I’m not telling you if I’m retiring or not routine” again. Their coach, Eric Mangini, got fired to boot! Miami won the AFC East crown…that’s just absolutely amazing. From 1-15 to 11-5…way to go Parcells and Sparano!

Denver @ San Diego: (WIN) Denver had a three game lead over the Bolts with three games to play. Surely the division was all but wrapped up…wrong! The Broncos choked and San Diego stole the division (and their hearts like it was Valentine’s Day!). Shanahan got the boot, so now Denver must rebuild. Norv and his Bolts will host the Colts this weekend in the tournament. San Diego looked very impressive in their total domination of the team they were trailing all season long!

Dallas @ Philadelphia: (LOSS) This was to be the game of all games; winner takes all; win and you’re in, lose and go home! The Eagles were prepared for the task at hand, while the Cowboys seemed lost in space. The Eagles jumped to an early lead, but the Cowboys responded. It started to unravel for the ‘Boys right before the half when Romo was picked off. That led to an Eagles TD and a last second FG (after an Adam Jones fumbled on the kick-off) right before the half. The Cowboys tried to rally in the second half and they were on the verge of scoring several times. Unfortunately, for them, they fumbled the ball away and the Birds showed no mercy as they scored two defensive TDs. The Cowboys may have more talent then many teams in the NFL, but championships aren’t won on paper; they’re won on the gridiron. The Birds are peaking at the right time as they enter the playoffs on a high note.


Short Shots:


Brett Favre…retire already! Just go away! It’s over! See ya! Can you tell I have a genuine dislike for this guy? Oh yeah…bye-bye!

The Cowboys traded a 1st and 3rd round pick for Roy Williams. They re-worked his contract so that he is averaging roughly 9 Million per season. Williams had 19 receptions for 198 yards and 1 TD in 10 games. Jerry better hope that in the off-season Romo and Williams start designing some secret plays to get him involved!


From The Mail Room:


Keith J., Irving, Texas: The Cowboys had another December collapse. Romo was horrible in December again. Where do the Cowboys go from here?

Utopia1dc: Keith, the Cowboys did have a horrible December once again. I really don’t think that it’s December that’s the problem though. Late in the season, teams have a ton of tape on your schemes. It seems that the Cowboys showed little imagination in their offensive play calling. Jason Garrett needs to be better prepared late in the season. The Cowboys were out of sync the whole season, but they were exploited late in the season. I think Romo is a very good QB, but he seems to force it when he gets in trouble. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. If the rest of the team played to their potential, he may not have been in those situations to begin with? The Cowboys need to re-group, re-load, and get ready for 2009 in their new stadium. Basically, that’s all they can do on January 1st anyway!

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Underachievers

This past Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys traveled to Lincoln Financial Field to play the Philadelphia Eagles in what was a win and you’re in the playoffs game. This game had a lot of build-up prior kick-off. The Eagles found out, about 15 minutes before the game started, that the stars had aligned for them; the Bears and Buccaneers had both lost. This game had everything football fans wanted. It was the ‘Boys against the Birds, with their playoff destinies on the line.

Unfortunately, if you are a Cowboys fan, Dallas forgot to show up for the game mentally. Maybe all the drama had finally caught up to them? Maybe the Eagles are just a better team? It doesn’t matter why…we all know what happened! The Cowboys shot themselves in the foot over and over again. They gifted the Eagles two defensive touchdowns, while squandering scoring opportunities of there own on several occasions. That’s not to take anything away from Philly, they made the plays and the Cowboys didn’t!

Defensively, the Cowboys made several mental mistakes in coverage, while offensively Romo wasn’t on the same page as his receivers… maybe not even reading the same book! The ‘Boys have been out of sync all season, but usually one side of the ball would show up. This time, every facet of the team let their fans down. The coaching staff, offense, defense, and special teams…it was an absolute nightmare!

The Cowboys lost a key component in last year’s success, Tony Sparano, who is now the head coach of the AFC East Champion Miami Dolphins. He helped Jason Garrett with the offense last season. It was obvious to any Cowboys fan how much Sparano was missed. If you didn’t know before…you know now! Sparano was why the Cowboys offense excelled last year! The Cowboys were pre-season favorites to win the Super Bowl, but that’s pretty tough to do when you don’t even make the playoffs. What a bunch of…underachievers!


Short Shots:

Several coaches have been fired already, and I’m sure there still might be more to come. Of all of them, I am most surprised with Eric Mangini being fired. The Jets are a good team, but Favre was simply out of gas by the end of the season. Not that I’m making excuses for Favre (because I simply can’t stand the guy), but he was battling injuries throughout the 2nd half of the season…and he’s 39 for God’s sake!

Peyton Manning is in the running for the League MVP. Sure, Peyton has all the stats and credentials for the award. He put the team on his back for the past 9 to 10 weeks, after his slow start due to injury. But, I’d like to nominate Chad Pennington. Chad was ousted in New York in favor of Favre, but Sparano swiped him up in a hurry. Without Pennington, Miami would have still been a cellar dweller. Chad brought instant leadership to a team in disarray. He managed the offense, limited his mistakes, and made the plays necessary to win the AFC East crown! Chad for MVP! Wouldn’t it be something if the Dolphins could win the Super Bowl? From worst to best in one season! It’s unlikely, but it would make for a heckuva story!


From The Mail Room:

Darren J., Philadelphia, PA: Your Cowboys are a disgrace. All you cockroaches should crawl back into the hole you came out of! Dallas Sucks! Go Eagles!

Utopia1dc: Darren, just for the record…I received over 25 similar emails. I picked yours because it was the only one without a spelling or grammatical error! Now, to address your comment; I wasn’t aware that Jerry had signed over a share of the Cowboys to me. But if he did, I wouldn’t care if they lost every damn game because they are worth over a Billion dollars…I’d be rich! They are not my Cowboys; I simply enjoy watching them play (well, not this past game…I’ll give you that much!). The Eagles won, the Cowboys didn’t. Why do Eagles fans always have to get in my face after a win? I have never done that to an Eagles fan…ever!

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Reality Mail Bag - 12/12/08

Each week I will answer questions submitted by my loyal readers. I personally read every single email I receive. I will pick out the best five or so to use for the weekly post, as I won’t be able to answer all of them. I will also answer one or two questions on my daily posts as well. Now it’s time to open the mail!


Chris T., Lansdale, PA: I just saw on ESPN that TO is stirring the pot again. Is he insane to think that Romo and Whitten are designing secret plays behind his back?

Utopia1dc: Chris, I saw the same piece that ESPN did. Ed Werder broke the story, so I’m not too concerned with it. Werder has a way of exaggerating the truth to fill his time on ESPN. Wade Phillips did confirm that Owens, Williams, and Crayton did meet with Jason Garrett to discuss their roles in the offense. But that’s a far cry from Romo and Witten designing secret plays…come on people!


Tom B., Warminster, PA: Jerry Jones is out of line with his comments about Marion Barber. If he says he's hurt then he's hurt.

Utopia1dc: Tom, I tend to agree that Jones was out of line for saying that publicly. He did do his best Jerry spin control to try to diffuse the situation. Barber is known as “the Barbarian” , because of his running style. I do agree with Jones though, I was expecting that a player like Barber would tough it out. Where there’s smoke…there’s usually fire! For Jones to say this publicly, I believe there is some merit in questioning Barber’s toughness!


Kaylee F., Brooklyn, NY: The Giants are going to put your precious Cowboys out of their misery. Go Giants!

Utopia1dc: Kaylee, I suppose if your G-Men beat the Cowboys on Sunday night, they will be put out of their misery. If the ‘Boys lose, their playoff hopes go out the window. But, don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. Your G-Men are having their own issues and that can’t bode well for them heading into the playoffs!


Mike D., Philadelphia, PA: Your Cowboys suck. If your such a big Cowboys fan why don't you move down there with all your cowgirls fans?

Utopia1dc: Mikey, if you read my profile you would have seen that I did live in Tulsa, which is a hop, skip, and a jump or two from Dallas. I enjoyed my time down there, as I was able to go to many games. I also enjoyed 2 Super Bowl victories while living down there, but I moved back because the heat was more than I could handle!

Shawn R., Abilene, TX: The Cowboys currently hold the 6th seed in the NFC but they have a hard schedule ahead of them. Are they going to be able to hang onto that final spot?

Utopia1dc: Shawn, that’s good question! It’s going to be tough because the ‘Boys play the Giants, Ravens, and the Eagles, to finish out the season. If they can win all three, they are in the tournament. If they lose Sunday to the G-Men, things could get a little crowded in the NFC. It could come down to the final game against the Birds; in a winner take all game!



Short Shots:


The ESPN machine is at it again with all the propaganda they are feeding us about the Cowboys. Now, I know that it’s good for their ratings. But if they want to talk about the Cowboys all day long, they should have taken my suggestion from earlier in the season! They should create an ESPNCowboys network. That way, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Classics, and ESPN News can resume with their normally scheduled programming!

It appears that Pacman Jones received some good news regarding his neck injury. After getting a second opinion, he may not need surgery for his bulging disk. If things go well, he may be able to return to action in a few weeks. If the Cowboys can squeak into the playoffs…that is!

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Exploding

Yesterday, the Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers, at Texas Stadium, by a score of 35-22. Don’t let the score fool you, the ‘Boys were in cruise control mid-way through the 2nd quarter. The Cowboys defense started off a little shaky, but they were able to limit the 49ers to field goals. After the 1st quarter, the boys trailed 6-0, but that’s when it happened…the game changed in an instant!

The Cowboys got the ball at their own 23-yard line to start the 2nd quarter. After an incomplete pass by Romo, and a 2-yard dive by Barber, the ‘Boys were faced with a 3rd and 8 from their own 25-yard line. The Cowboys were in shotgun formation. Romo was flushed to his right; he looked up and found Owens streaking down the sideline. Romo fired a bomb that landed in Owens hands. Owens broke a tackle and took it to the house, for a 75-yard TD.

From that point on, the Cowboys were unstoppable. Romo threw for 341 yards and 3 TDs. Owens had a career day with 7 receptions for 213 yards and a TD. Until yesterday, 89 yards were the most Terrell had recorded this season, which was against Philadelphia, in week 2. That play alone, could be the spark that the Cowboys needed to get to their ultimate goal!

Owens has been frustrated this year…no doubt! He has remained a good teammate, and has towed the company line. He bit his lip and didn’t throw Brad Johnson under the bus (though he very well should have). Terrell sees the big picture…he sees the prize! Owens knew that he would get his chance, once “his quarterback” was healthy. Terrell knew that when they got their timing back, there was nothing to stop T.O. from…exploding!


Short Shots:


Andy Reid pulled D-Mac in favor of Kevin Kolb to start the 2nd half yesterday. The Eagles only trailed the Ravens 10-7 at half-time. I’m not sure what Big Red was thinking? As expected, Kolb didn’t fare much better, and the Birds laid another egg! For those that want the Kolb era to begin will have to wait, as Reid has named McNabb the starter for the Turkey Day game!

Matt Cassel threw for over 400 yards yesterday. Actually, he has thrown for 400+ yards, 2 weeks in a row…a feat that has only been accomplished four other times. Cassel…I apologize for calling you a professional clipboard holder…sorry!


From The Mail Room:


Josh D., Topeka, Kansas: The cowboys played good and beat san fran but they stink. Do you really think da boyz have a chance to win superbowl?


Utopia1dc: Josh, I do agree that the 49ers are a poor team, but nonetheless, the Cowboys took care of business. You can’t control whom you play, but when you play a lesser team…you got to beat them. And the ‘Boys did just that! As far as the Super Bowl goes…why not? If Romo stays healthy and Roy Williams can get more involved, I think that the Cowboys offense is unstoppable!



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Predictions Week 12

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

The crystal ball was a little off last week by going a measly 1-2-1 for the week. The Eagles debacle in Cincy cost me dearly (but not as much as it did McNabb). That leaves my disgraced crystal ball and me at 17-18-1 for the season, a tad under .500 (.486 to be exact). This week the crystal ball was given a few extra days off to regain its composure. Let’s see what’s in store for us this week.

Last Week: 1-2-1

Overall: 17-18-1

San Francisco @ Dallas: The Cowboys got a much-needed victory against archrival Washington last week. The Cowboys find themselves right back in the mix for a play-off spot, at 6-4. Romo looks to be back on track after his mid-season hiatus. His pinkie should continue to heal as the weeks go by. The 49ers are coming off a big win as well, but I don’t see them keeping pace with the rejuvenated Cowboys. The Cowboys will look to get Williams and Owens involved early and often. Dallas 34, San Francisco 16.

Philadelphia @ Baltimore: It’s a good thing that the Birds are on the road this week; I just can’t imagine what kind of reception McNabb would be confronted with if this game were at the Linc. The Eagles were brutally disgraced last week by the Bengals. The Ravens didn’t fair much better, as they got thrashed by the G-men. Philly needs a win desperately as McNabb and Andy Reid are fighting for their jobs. Philadelphia 20, Baltimore 17.

Oakland @ Denver: The Raiders played well against the Fins last week but they still couldn’t manage to get a win. Offensively, they are a pathetic, to say the least. Their defense has played well at times. Al Davis shelled out big time cash in the off-season; I’m sure this isn’t the team he had envisioned. The Broncos got a huge win by knocking off the Falcons in Atlanta last week. Denver has a 2-game lead in their division and now is not the time for a let down. Denver 27, Oakland 13.

New York Jets @ Tennessee: The Titans are standing tall at 10-0 and they are ripe to be knocked down. The bigger they are, the harder they fall! Look out Tennessee; the original Titans (the New York Titans changed their name to the New York Jets in 1963) are coming to town to reclaim their nomenclature. Favre and his new buddies will get it done somehow, someway. Upset special…New York Jets 27, Tennessee 26.


Short Shots:


Shout out to D-Mac the trendsetter…this week’s game is in Baltimore at 1:00 PM. If you need directions, here’s a link to MapQuest.

The Cowboys got hit with another bit of bad new this week. Rookie sensation Felix “the cat” Jones will be placed on IR, as he needs surgery on his toe. Ironically, he injured his toe while rehabbing his quad. Felix will have to wait until next year for us to hear him meow!

Je’Rod Cherry is raffling off his Super Bowl ring, the first of the three he won as a member of the New England Patriots. No this is not another star down on his luck…read why here. Mr. Cherry, if you were part of the cheating in New England…all is forgiven!



From The Mail Room:


Vet, Ambler, PA: Will having two people by replay booth help correct issues? I personally think if one screws it up they both will.

Utopia1dc: Vet, I see that you’re a fellow Amblerite. I agree with you that having two officials at the booth won’t help one bit. If the refs don’t know how to interpret the rule, what’s the difference if they stand next to each other or not. They’ve always been able to confer with each other prior to announcing their final decision anyway.



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No Respect For The Game

Just this past Sunday (November 16th), something occurred in the NFL during a post-game news conference that has left me dumbfounded. The Eagles and Bengals played to a 13-13 tie. Usually that would be news in of itself, since ties are very rare in the NFL. In fact, the last tie came in 2002. The last time an Eagles game ended in a tie was, coincidentally, on November 16, 1997 against the Baltimore Ravens. But what’s got my panties all up in a bunch is what Donovan McNabb had to say after the game.

By now, I’m sure you have heard his idiotic statements regarding OT. McNabb did not know that the game would end in a tie, if neither team scored during the 15-minute period…pathetic! If that’s not bad enough, he went on to wonder how the NFL would handle that situation in the Super Bowl or the play-offs…oh my God, he was actually serious when he said this! I am flabbergasted!

Maybe I am being to hard on Donovan? Should he be expected to know every single rule in the NFL? The referees don’t get the rules correct all the time (as in the TD at the end of the Pittsburgh-San Diego game). Should the players be held to a higher standard? Is it even possible to memorize the entire NFL rulebook? Probably not!

As the QB, and leader of his team, D-Mac should know the rules about OT. I don’t expect him to know every nuance of the rulebook, but I do expect him to have knowledge of the game he plays professionally! A game in which has rewarded him financially beyond his dreams. A game in which has made him a household name. A game that he clearly enjoys playing. What’s clear to me is that Donovan McNabb has…no respect for the game!


Short Shots:


Roger Goodell will be one busy man this week as he is about to rule on the fate of several players. Deuce McAllister, Will Smith, Charles Grant, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, and Grady Jackson are all waiting to see if the Sheriff will rescind their 4-game suspensions. Pacman Jones is also on deck to find out if he is reinstated, so he can rejoin his fellow Cowboys.

Today on my morning commute; I was listening to WIP (local sports talk radio). They were taking a poll to see if the fans wanted the Eagles to win or lose against the Ravens this Sunday. The reasoning was that if the Eagles keep losing that they might fire Andy Reid. It was about a 50-50 split! If it were up to the fans…Andy…start packing!


From The Mail Room:

Bill R., Ft. Worth, Texas: I herd that miles Austin injured his knee against the redskins. Will this hurt the cowboys being able to stretch defenses?

Utopia1dc: Bill, it’s true. Miles Austin sprained his knee against the ‘Skins and he is due to miss 2-4 weeks. With Romo’s pinkie still not being 100%, I don’t know how much the Cowboys will be going deep anyway. The Cowboys spent a lot for Roy Williams; he needs to step up. Austin will be missed mostly as the kick returner.


Ken S., Horsham, PA: i read ur posts alot. Do you think the eagles will fire coach Reed if they not make the playoffs.

Utopia1dc: Ken, thank you for reading, and you’re not too far from me, in Horsham. The Eagles aren’t that bad of a team and I personally like Andy Reid as a coach. If I were the owner…I’d keep him on board. But if the ‘Birds do fall below .500 and miss the play-offs; then maybe it’s time for the organization to go in a different direction.



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Week 11 Review

The crystal ball bit off a little more than it could chew this past week. After all was said and done, the crystal ball was 1-2-1. That puts me at 17-18-1 for the season, a little under .500 (approx. .486)…not very good! I went out on a limb with two major upsets, and I got burned…not to mention the debacle (by Philadelphia) in Cincinnati. What’s done is done…so let’s move on; but first, let’s see what went wrong.

Last Week: 1-2-1

Overall: 17-18-1

Dallas @ Washington: This was a typical NFC East showdown. These two teams don’t like each other…okay, they downright hate each other! The Cowboys got a much-needed jolt from QB Tony Romo. He wasn’t perfect, as he threw 2 INTs in the red zone. The Redskins let the ‘Boys hang around in the first half, and that came back to bite them. Portis did play, but he wasn’t his usual self, as he is nursing a knee injury. The Cowboys closed out the game by feeding Barber the ball…he is a horse! The ‘Boys got a much-needed victory, and they are back in the hunt!

Philadelphia @ Cincinnati: The Eagles just flat out laid an egg! The ‘Birds only managed to score 13 points against the Cincy defense…that’s a disgrace. Westbrook just doesn’t seem to be himself after suffering his rib injury earlier in the season. McNabb takes too long to get going, and this game…he never got going at all! The game ended in a 13-13 tie after the OT period. Unbeknownst to McNabb, as he wanted to play some more! Donovan didn’t know that the game would end in a tie, if neither team scored in 15 minutes of OT…are you kidding me? Please!

Baltimore @ New York Giants: The G-Men are unstoppable right now. I figured that the Baltimore defense would rise to the occasion, but I was wrong. The Giants have too many weapons. As long as Eli keeps playing well, the G-Men are going to run away with the East and should lock up home-field advantage with ease. Flacco has been a nice find for the Ravens, but he needs more seasoning. Baltimore, at 6-4, is in the thick of things for the wild-card, and only trail the Steelers by 1-game in the division.

Tennessee @ Jacksonville: The Tennessee Titans, of all teams, are the only undefeated team in the NFL at 10-0. Jeff Fisher has his guys believing and playing as a team. Collins has taken over as the leader of the team…Vince who? The Jags had the Titans on the ropes, leading 14-3 at the half, but the Titans scored 21 unanswered points to maintain their spotless record. The Jaguars fall to 4-6, and have an uphill climb to get back in the mix for a play-off spot.


Short Shots:

Sheriff Goodell is supposed to make his ruling about suspended CB Adam Jones early this week. Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips have stated that they would welcome Pacman back, once he is reinstated. Adam would be an added bonus to the Cowboys defense, as they have struggled at times!

Donovan McNabb…the game ends after one OT period in the NFL…except in the play-offs! Oh yeah…there’s a 2pt conversion rule in the NFL. By the way, each team gets 4 downs to gain 10 yards for a 1st down. Come on, dude…show some respect for the game that has made you a multi-millionaire! Maybe Goodell should make players pass an “NFL Basic Knowledge Test” before they can cash their paychecks!


From The Mail Room:


Scott, Phoenix, AZ: The Cowboys traded for Roy Williams when is he gonna step it up? BTW, I read your blogs every day.

Utopia1dc: First, thanks for reading my Blog on a daily basis. Secondly, you have to keep in mind that Roy has only been with the team for about 4 or 5 weeks. It will take some time for him to get acquainted with the system and get his timing down with Romo. Look for Williams to be a major factor down the stretch and in the play-offs!



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Back In The Saddle

Last night, on Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys and Redskins met in a heated NFC East rivalry. The ‘Boys came to Washington, sporting a 5-4 record, while the ‘Skins were 6-3. The Cowboys welcomed back their offensive leader, Tony Romo, as well as Pro-Bowl corner, Terence Newman. Dallas had already lost to the Redskins earlier this season, and this was a must-win game for the Cowboys.

To say that the Cowboys offense struggled without Romo the past few weeks is an understatement. Though the Cowboys only managed 14 points against the ‘Skins, the offense moved the chains, which kept their defense fresh. Romo was far from perfect, as he threw for two interceptions in the red zone. Romo threw for 198 yards and a TD pass to Rookie TE Marcellus Bennett. Newman contributed as well, as he held Santana Moss to 5 receptions for only 29 yards. T-New also recorded an INT, which stalled a Redskin drive deep into Dallas territory.

The Cowboys took the lead in the 4th quarter (14-10) and never looked back. The Redskins went for it on 4th and 4 at the Dallas 37-yard line. Newman deflected the pass…Cowboys take over on downs with 6:40 left in regulation. The Cowboys milked the clock like they were on a dairy farm. They fed Marion Barber the ball 11 times in a row (1 short dump-off pass from Romo and 10 running). After Barber secured a 4th and 1 play with 1:02 left, Romo kneeled twice in victory formation. The “Closer” (Barber) did his job!

The Cowboys got a much-needed victory, on the road, against a formidable football team in the Washington Redskins. The ‘Boys are now 6-4, and they are in the hunt for a wild-card berth. For the Cowboys to win the division, it would take a miracle, as the G-Men won, once again, and they are now 9-1. Did the Cowboys turn the corner? Are they the same team that started 3-0? Are they the Super Bowl favorites, once again? Hardly! But, they are definitely…back in the saddle!


Short Shots:


Tennessee is now 10-0…that’s amazing considering that they are doing it with Kerry Collins as their QB. Good thing Vince Young had some issues at the beginning of the season!

The Eagles and the Bengals played to a tie. A tie in the NFL is extremely rare, as the last tie came in 2002. What’s amazing is that Donovan McNabb didn’t know that the game ended after 15 minutes if no team scored! What’s more amazing, is that after McNabb was told that by a reporter during the post-game press conference, he wondered what would happen if that occurred in a play-off game or the Super Bowl. Are you kidding me? A QB who has been in the NFL for 10 years, and counts $9.3M against the Eagles cap, doesn’t know this? This is absurd!


New Feature Coming Soon:

I now have an email link set up so that you (my loyal readers) can ask questions directly to me. I will read every question or comment submitted. I will answer them (as many as possible) in a weekly post, called…Reality Mail Bag.

I will also answer questions on a daily basis (when applicable) at the bottom of each post (right after the Short Shots). This section will be called…From The Mail Room.



Click To Email Me

Predictions Week 11

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

The crystal ball was a little off his game last week, as he finished at 2-2. That’s not bad, but we can do better than that. We are 16-16 (.500) for the season, but we are 9-3 in the past three weeks…not bad? Let’s see what’s in store for us this week.

Last Week: 2-2

Overall: 16-16

Dallas @ Washington: The NFC East division title is a pipe dream for either of these teams, as the G-Men appear to be running away with it. The wild-card race though, that’s on...in full force. A win for either team would go a long way in achieving their respective goals. The Cowboys will have the services of Tony Romo and T-New for this contest, while Portis looks like a no-go for the ‘Skins. This game is a must win for the ‘Boys, and I don’t see it as a close game at all. Dallas 34, Washington 17.

Philadelphia @ Cincinnati: The Eagles are licking their wounds trying to recover from their loss against the Giants; a game they could have won…if they could only gain a yard! The Birds need to be careful, because the Bengals are on a 1-game winning streak (hehe)…I think not! The Eagles will rebound easily here. It will be close for a little while, but then the Birds will pull away. Philadelphia 26, Cincinnati 13.

Baltimore @ New York Giants: The G-Men are standing tall after their big win against the Birds, while the Ravens are flapping their wings with authority after their whipping of the Texans last week. Baltimore is tied for 1st place in their division (along with the Steelers) at 6-3. Joe Flacco has been a pleasant surprise for the Ravens, and their defense (even though they have been banged up) has been keeping them in games, while Flacco learns on fly. Upset of the year…the Ravens will down the Giants in OT! Baltimore 23, New York Giants 20.

Tennessee @ Jacksonville: The Titans are the surprise team of the 2008 NFL season. They sit at 9-0 with a 4-game lead over the Colts (and a 5-game lead over Jacksonville). The Jags have been struggling this year at 4-5. Jack Del Rio was expecting more out of his club this year, but he finds himself on the hot seat, as his job is in serious jeopardy. His team will play hard for him and they will hand the Titans their first loss of the season. If you listen closely, you will be able to hear the popping of champagne corks (pop…pop…pop) in Miami, as the ’72 Dolphins celebrate! Jacksonville 17, Tennessee 16.


Short Shots:


Put up or shut up? It’s time for the Cowboys to show why they were the pre-season favorites. No more excuses, as Romo and others return from injury. The time to win is…now!

Jerry Jones said he would welcome back Adam Jones, if Sheriff Goodell reinstates him. That decision could come early next week, but I wouldn’t count on it. I think Goodell will make both Jones’ sweat it out for another week or three! For some reason, Goodell likes making an example out of Pacman!

On the other hand, Matt Jones is still playing football, even after Goodell gave him a 3-game suspension. Whatever Matt Jones has on Goodell…could you please pass it along to Pacman?

All week, the Redskins have been playing up that Portis is 50-50 to play against the Cowboys. Are the ‘Skins trying to hoodwink the ‘Boys, or are they being truthful about his injury situation? Either way, I don’t have time for this gamesmanship, as Portis is on my fantasy team…and I need to know the truth!

Last night, the Jets beat the Patriots to take sole possession of 1st place in the AFC East. Mangini had a smile, from ear to ear, on his face…Belichick looked like he had a bad wedgie. Down with the CHEATERS!

Too Little, Too Late

The Cowboys have a big game coming up this weekend against the Redskins. But aren’t they all big games? Yes, but this is a defining game for the 2008 Cowboys. If the ‘Boys lose…the season is all but over. If they win…they are back in the hunt for the wild-card race. The Cowboys were the pre-season favorites to win the Super Bowl…but that’s why they play the games!

The Cowboys should be in better position (at-least one would hope) than they have been in the previous three games. They will have most, if not all, of their guns a blazing, come Sunday. The Cowboys went 1-2 in Romo’s absence and now they find themselves three games back of the G-Men. The division race is all but done, but the ultimate prize, the Super Bowl, is still within reach. A far reach…but a reach none the less!

If the Cowboys can just win enough games (probably 10) to get into the tournament, they will be a wild-card team that no one will want to face. When the Cowboys have all of their weapons on offense healthy, they should be unstoppable…at-least on paper! Where does a defense start? Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Terrell Owens, Roy E. Williams, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin…oh yeah…Tony Romo…that’s a nightmare for a defensive coordinator!

But, first things first, is Romo going to come in after a 4-week lay-off and be at the top of his game? Will Romo and Williams have their timing down, considering they have only practiced a few times together? No and no…but that’s okay! Anything has to be better than what we have seen since Romo has been out of the line-up. Let’s just hope, that it’s not…too little, too late!


Short Shots:


If you were an NFL player, what would be worse…playing for the Lions or the Raiders? It’s a toss up…but at-least the weather is better in California!

Last night, Terrell Owens was on Dave Letterman to promote his new book. Terrell is racking up some frequent flyer miles this week. Dallas to New York, then back to Dallas, and then to Washington, D.C. for Sunday night’s game, and then back to Dallas again.

The Tennessee Titans are 9-0…can they go 16-0? Probably not, but then again, that’s probably a good thing…just ask the Patriots!

The Jets and the Patriots square off tomorrow night in Foxborough, MA. The winner will be in sole possession of 1st place in the AFC East. I bet NFL Network is happy with this match-up! The only person disappointed is John Madden, since he won’t be able to say “Brett Favre” 247 times on national TV!

Predictions Week 10

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

The past two weeks, the crystal ball has been on fire, by going 7-1. I am now sitting at 14-14 (.500) for the season…I am primed for the push to the play-offs! Since the Cowboys are on a bye this week, I will substitute a different game in their place. Let’s see what the crystal ball has in store for us this week?

Last Week: 4-0

Overall: 14-14

Buffalo @ New England: The AFC East is up for grabs, as there is a three-way tie for first place and the ‘Fins trail by one game. Both of these teams are coming off a loss. Cassel has been hanging in there, but the Bills defense will prove to be too much for him. The Bills will be able to exploit the Pats defense. New England has caught the injury bug this season and it will show on Sunday. Look for Rian Lindell to kick a 50+-yard FG as time expires to give the Bills a victory! Buffalo 23, New England 20.

Seattle @ Miami: Parcells and Sparano (and the rest of the Cowboys that have migrated to Miami Beach) have pulled the ‘Fins within striking distance in the AFC East. Miami is 4-4; which is three more victories than all of last year. Though defenses have been taming the wildcat formation as of late, Pennington has made them pay for it through the air. Seattle has packed it in for the year, so I don’t expect much from them. Miami 27, Seattle 13.

Indianapolis @ Pittsburgh: The Colts are four games back in their division, but they are in the thick of things for the wild-card race at 4-4. They probably won’t be able to catch the 8-0 Titans (and no that is not a typo), so the Colts will need to play on the road in the tournament. Now would be a good time to show the league that they can, as they go into the Steel City on Sunday. The Steelers are banged up a little and Peyton manning should have his way with them, as he has found a new favorite receiver in Anthony Gonzalez. Indianapolis 31, Pittsburgh 19.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia: This is the match-up of the week, no doubt! The G-Men and their underdog status won’t get them much sympathy in the City of Brotherly Love. The Philly faithful will be out in full force, as they are still riding high off of the Phillies World Series Championship. I am trying to get tickets for this game; as for one week, I will be an Eagles fan…because I want to see the Giants tumble. Come on Philly…do the Cowboys a solid! Philadelphia 24, New York Giants 23.


Short Shots:


Brady Quinn played very well last night in his 1st NFL start. Unfortunately, his defense let him down, as did Kellen Winslow. Maybe the Browns should make a play for DeAngelo Hall…it couldn’t hurt, right?

Tony Romo has been practicing all week. It looks like he should be fine for next week’s game against the Redskins…which has brought tears of joy to Jerry, Wade, and the entire Cowboy Nation!

Ryan Torain of the Broncos tore his ACL in last night’s game. The Denver Broncos are losing RBs at an alarming pace…Torain will be the 4th RB placed on IR this season. I hope the Broncos are current on their health insurance policy!

Cowboy Nation…repeat after me (for this week only): E-A-G-L-E-S…Eagles! May the football gods please forgive us?

Week 9 Review

The new crystal ball is on a roll. Last weeks debut at 3-1, was followed with perfection…4-0 this week! That brings our prognosticating record to .500 for the season. We had a slow start to the season, but now we are on a mission. I am not one to gloat (yes I am!)…so let’s see what happened:

Last Week: 4-0

Overall: 14-14

Dallas @ New York Giants: The Cowboys got humiliated in this debacle. The Dallas defense tried to keep them in the game early, as they scored on a pick-6 by Mike Jenkins…that was the lone highlight for the ‘Boys. The G-Men pounded the rock and shredded the Dallas defense. As we thought…the Giants were too much for the Cowboys!

Philadelphia @ Seattle: The Birds had a scare early in the game, as Koren Robinson scored on a 90-yard TD pass from Seneca Wallace! But then, as expected, the D-Mac and Westbrook show took over, as the Eagles reeled off 26 unanswered points. And you know what…the Birds showed pity, as it could have been a lot worse for the ‘Hawks. The Birds are chirping…chirp…chirp!

New England @ Indianapolis: The Patriots stumbled into Indy with a laundry list of injuries…too bad! The Colts took advantage of the situation, as Peyton Manning hooked up with Anthony (don’t call me Tony) Gonzalez for two TDs. It was a hard fought game…a game the Colts desperately needed! In the end, Adam (yeah, I used to be a cheater but now I’m not) Vinatieri kicked a 52-yard FG with 8:09 left in regulation. The Colts defense then preserved the victory with back-to-back takeaways! Cheaters…never prosper!

Tampa Bay @ Kansas City: Surprisingly, the Chiefs came to play in this contest. The Chiefs were winning 24-3. Jon Gruden had his “Chucky” face on…somebody please tell him Halloween was Friday! That must have spooked Garcia, as he proved he could still throw the ball at his advanced age. Garcia hooked up with his new favorite receiver, Antonio (I used to be a Cowboy until I threw my sweaty jersey in Parcells face) Bryant for a TD. The Bucs were successful on the 2-point conversion, sending the game into OT. Matt Bryant kicked a 34-yard FG in OT to give the Bucs a dramatic come from behind victory!


Short Shots:

The Cowboys are glad to hit the bye week, as they need to get healthy for a late season push for the play-offs. The Cowboys could learn a lesson from watching Byron Leftwich come in and save the day for the Steelers after Big Ben went down.

During his press conference after the loss to the G-Men, is it just me, or did Wade Phillips’ face look like he ate a bad tuna fish sandwich? I bet Wade is going through Tums like it’s candy!

The Detroit Lions blew a big lead against the Bears on Sunday and remain the only winless team in the NFL. Trick or Treat? Smell my feat! The Lions went down in defeat!

Today is Election Day…so don’t forget to vote! Don’t have time? Don’t feel like it? What’s the difference? Keep in mind that many men (and women) paid the ultimate price to give you that privilege…exercise it!

Bottom Of The Barrel

Yesterday, the Cowboys got their collective butts kicked at the Meadowlands by the G-Men. There is plenty of blame to go around for sure. But, did we not expect this? Wasn’t it obvious (it was to me…read more here) that the ‘Boys had no shot at winning this game? Everyone knew it…the coaches…even the players!

For the past few weeks, everyone has been toting the company line, saying the right things, rallying behind Brad Johnson. Yeah, yeah, yeah…we all know that the Cowboys were just hoping to stumble into the bye week with their heads above water. You know what? They did, as they limp in at 5-4, with a chance to right the ship.

Hopefully, after the bye, the Cowboys can turn the switch “on”…though, that is easier said than done. I do like their chances though! With Romo coming back, that will bolster the offense. The addition of Roy Williams hasn’t really panned out so far…but it will, once the Cowboys are healthy. And, don’t forget about Felix Jones either…he will add a little “juice” to the offense as well.

Defensively, the Cowboys should get T-New back, and possibly Adam Jones…that should help as well. So, there is a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow. We just need to patient as the Cowboys start crawling out of this hole that they have dug for themselves! Again, that’s easier said than done as the Cowboys find themselves in the cellar of the NFC East…at the bottom of the barrel!


Short Shots:


Brad “noodle arm” Johnson got the hook in favor of Brooks Bollinger in the 2nd half of yesterdays debacle. Brooks played fairly decent after his pick…which he threw on his very first pass!

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is half way there (on his 2 win prediction) as the Bengals got their first win of the season. Yeah for T.J.!

Indy got a big win against the Patriots last night…I like it when the cheaters lose! Boo for Belichick!

For the Cowboys and their fans (myself included)…thank God it’s the bye week!

Why The Cowboys Are Struggling

Heading into Sunday’s game against the Giants the Cowboys find themselves in a must-win game that they have no chance of winning. The Cowboys are struggling, no doubt because of their many injuries…but that’s too easy of a cop-out. Let’s take a look at why the ‘Boys are struggling even before the injuries started piling up:


1. Paging Terrell Owens…anyone…anyone? Where has Terrell Owens, the self-proclaimed best receiver in football, been all season long? We could easily blame Brad Johnson here, but T.O. was struggling to be part of the offense before Romo went down! I love me some me…just get open and catch the ball!

2. Marion Barber is not the real deal. I’m sorry…but he isn’t! Barber is a nice closer or change of pace back. His per carry average is way down since he has been the starter. The Cowboys paid a lot of money to a RB that is not a feature back. I know this is an unpopular stance in Cowboy Nation, but I have been saying this for years about Barber. Everyone wanted Barber as the feature back…be careful of what you wish for!

3. Jason Garrett…Head Coach in waiting? Let’s not anoint him before his time. Last year everything went pretty smooth…not so this year. Before we crown him as a head coach…let’s see him string together a few good seasons as a coordinator first! With the weapons the ‘Boys have on offense…any QB should be able to put up good numbers…did you hear that Mr. Noodle Arm?

4. The defense has not lived up to the hype. The Phillips 3-4 has shown little imagination. Wade was brought in because of his knowledge of the 3-4 defense. Last week was a good start, but the ‘Boys will need Wade to spice it up to get the results they need!

5. The Offensive line is…well…offensive. They have been billed as the best offensive line in the NFL. They have 3 Pro-Bowlers on the line and a boatload of Jerry’s money in their pockets. The Cowboys should be using their meat upfront to pound the rock…but they can’t…why?

I believe that these are the main reasons why the Cowboys find themselves in this position. These concerns were there before Romo went down with his pinkie injury. It was just a little harder to see, as he was masking many of these issues. Having said all this, I believe the Cowboys can turn this season around after the bye week. A win against the G-men would be huge…but don’t count on it!

Finally

Last night, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 to win the World Series in five games (4-1). This is the second World Championship for the Phils…they previously won in 1980…28 years ago. This will be remembered as one of the weirdest finishes in a Series with an unprecedented suspension of a game due to inclement weather. The game was concluded 48 hours later…in hindsight…it was worth the wait!

Philadelphia has been starving for a Championship for 25 years…Bon appetite! The city of “Brotherly Love” often gets criticized in the media about their fans…they booed Santa Clause for God’s sake! Some of it is warranted, for sure…but their passion is next to none. Trust me…I know! As a Cowboys fan, I don’t dare go into the Linc sporting my Dallas jersey. I get a lot of abuse from the Eagles fans all the time.

I am a casual fan of baseball in general and I don’t really have an allegiance to any team in particular. So I guess I can be a “homer” when it comes to the Phillies? If there is room for one more on the Phillies bandwagon…I’d like to jump aboard!

In 1980, when the Phils won the World Series, I was only 11 years old. I remember, as a 6th grader, how “pumped up” people were; how a city bonded together. I wasn’t allowed to go to the parade as my parents thought I was too young to go. I’m not making that mistake again…I’ll see you at the parade…somewhere on Broad Street…finally!


Short Shots:


The Philllies won the World Series in dramatic fashion…the curse of William Penn has been lifted!

The Chargers fired DC Ted Cottrell and they have promoted Ron Rivera (LB coach). There has been multiple mid-season firings this year…is this the new trend?

T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR) has guaranteed that the Cincinnati Bengals will win 2 games this year. Geez…there’s going out on a limb, T.J.! At-least Jon Kitna had the nerve to say that the Lions would win 10 games and make the play-offs last year…now that’s a leap of faith!

It appears that the KC Chiefs will deactivate Larry Johnson again this week. He is still waiting to hear from Sheriff Goodell. Rumor has it that L.J. could be done for the year. What’s the difference…the Chiefs are horrific!

Week 8 Review

The newly acquired crystal ball went 3-1 in its debut week, which leaves me 4 games under .500…we’re getting there! That’s an impressive start for a young and naïve crystal ball. It performed well in its new role…many people are relying on it…that’s a lot of pressure! It clearly has better prognosticating skills than its predecessor. Maybe the new mahogany base it sits on, gave it a sense of prestige. Well, for whatever reason…I’ll take it! Now let’s review what happened this past week:

Last Week: 3-1

Overall: 10-14

Tampa Bay @ Dallas: The Cowboys needed this game in a big way, especially since the rest of the NFC East teams won as well. The Cowboys defense came to play with a more hands on approach by Wade Phillips…maybe he really is a Mr. Fix-it (read more here)? It wasn’t pretty…ugly…you might say! Brad Johnson was awful…but they got the job done (read more here). Next weeks showdown with the G-Men is huge…we shall see!

Atlanta @ Philadelphia: The Falcons tried to make a game of it late but they were no match for the high-powered offense of the Eagles. The Birds were helped out late in the game when the officials blew a game-changing call. The Falcons were out of time-outs and couldn’t challenge the play. With the return of Westbrook, the offense was once again running on all cylinders. This teams dynamics change considerably when Westbrook is healthy. At 4-3, they are still a team to be reckoned with in the second half of the season!

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh: The Steelers out-played the G-men for most of the game. They had the lead, but then…Big Ben got picked and the game changed course. The Giants took advantage of the situation and stole this game on the road from the Steelers! Even though the Steelers lost, their defense showed how dominant it could be by stuffing Jacobs at the goal line on several occasions! The G-Men have a big one coming up against the Cowboys…stay tuned!

Buffalo @ Miami: With the Dolphins poaching half of the Cowboys staff and roster, Parcells and company has something good going on in South Florida! Ted Ginn decided to start living up to his high draft status by exploding with 7 receptions and 175 yards. Chad Pennington showed, that even though he doesn’t have a cannon, he could still manage a game. He threw for 314 yards and a TD…but most importantly…no picks!


Short Shots:

The World Series is on ice…well…rain, that is! Game 5 was called in the 6th Inning with the score tied at 2. The Philadelphia fans, as well as the Phillies, have been waiting since 1983 for a championship…now they will need for “mother nature” to cooperate! I guess a retractable roof would have been nice? Patience…my child…patience!

The Cowboys won despite Brad Johnson’s “noodle arm”. Can they hold down the fort for another week while many of their stars heal? The Cowboys face the division leading G-Men this week…a win would go a long way to achieving their goals (read more here).

Larry Johnson is to meet with Sheriff Goodell today for his many infractions…Good luck! He may need to wear those diapers that Dick Vermeil told him to take off a few years back!

What is going on with the Colts? Their offense is out of sync and the defense isn’t fairing much better. Peyton and company need to step it up or their "goose" may be cooked before Thanksgiving!

There Are No Style Points In The NFL

Yesterday, the Cowboys defeated Tampa Bay 13-9. The Cowboys were under a lot of pressure the past few weeks. On and off the field issues fueled the fire. Every news media outlet is looking through a microscope to see if and when the Cowboys will combust! Sorry…ESPN…not this week! We all know that you need the ratings and the material. How else would you fill your pre and post-game shows? Look elsewhere; there are 31 other teams with storylines.

Wade Phillips said he was going to be more involved in the defense…whatever he did…do it again! That was the best defensive effort I have seen from the ‘Boys in a long time. The defense played with emotion and a purpose. Maybe the insertion of young athletic players in the secondary was a breath of fresh air? Maybe the veteran players knew they needed to step up their game to compensate for the missing players? Whatever it was, it worked…defensively anyway!

The offense was out of sync all day. Owens was more involved than he has been lately, while Roy Williams caught his first TD as a Cowboy. Barber gutted out some tough yards as well. When Witten was injured (ribs)…doom was near. Surely the efforts on defense would go to waste. The offense was sputtering with no imagination on the horizon. The defense was playing lights out…holding the Bucs to field goals…bend but don’t break!

In the end, the Cowboys won despite the play of a Brad Johnson led offense. It wasn’t very pretty offensively…downright ugly even! The Cowboys managed a measly 172 yards of offense…are you kidding me? With all that talent on offense…all those Pro-Bowlers…pathetic! But Wade and company did what they needed to do…win the ball game, period! It doesn’t matter how you win. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t pretty. It doesn’t matter if it was ugly…because…there are no style points in the NFL!



Short Shots:


The Philadelphia Phillies smoked the Tampa Bay Rays 10-2 last night to take a commanding lead in the World Series. The Phils lead the Series 3-1. If they can win tonight, the Phillies will close out the Series at home and the celebrations can begin! Philadelphia has been craving a championship for decades and the Phils are on the verge of delivering! Let’s go Phillies! The parade down Broad Street is within reach!

Mike Singletary called out TE Vernon Davis on the sideline. He then sent him to the showers while the game was still going on. He later blasted him in the post-game press conference. I don’t know how good or bad Singletary will be as a head coach in the NFL…but I guess we all know who is in charge!

The Cowboys need to address the back-up QB position in the off-season. Can Brooks Bollinger be the answer next year? I don’t know! But I do know that this team has too much talent to waste on a 40-year old has-been (Brad Johnson)!

The Bengals and the Lions remain winless thus far this season. Both coaches (Marv Lewis and Rod Marinelli) are on the proverbial hot seat! I hope they are getting their resumes ready!

Predictions Week 8

Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend games. I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you). Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling. That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!

Last week’s performance was an awful one at 1-3. I warned the crystal ball for the last few weeks about its performance. I told it that there would be repercussions and consequences…no more excuses…it has been fired! I purchased a new (well, actually slightly used) crystal ball at a local thrift shopppe earlier today. It seems happy in its new home…I put it up on a mahogany base on top of the mantel. I also gave it a good polishing…so it should be ready to go!

Last Week: 1-3

Overall: 7-13

Tampa Bay @ Dallas: The Cowboys are playing for pride and self respect these days. Play-offs…play-offs…we’re talking about winning one game! The Bucs come in with a rejuvenated Jeff Garcia. WR Antonio Bryant (a former Cowboy who threw a towel in Parcells face) is looking to make a splash in Big D with a big…“I told you so!”. Brad Johnson will make his second start of the season and Roy Williams looks to make his first reception as a Cowboy. Dallas needs this game more…it’s put up or shut up time! Dallas 23, Tampa Bay 19.

Atlanta @ Philadelphia: The Birds are coming off a bye week and they are looking to get back in the NFC East race. Westbrook looks like he should be ready to go, so the Eagles will use a more balanced attack against the Falcons. Are the Atlanta Falcons for real, or is this just smoke and mirrors? We shall see! The crystal ball looks cloudy…so that must mean smoke! Philadelphia 34, Atlanta 13.

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh: The G-Men are riding high as they are in first place of the NFC East. The Pittsburgh defense is stingy and they will hold Brandon Jacobs in check. Look for Eli to be confused by the blitz packages of the Steelers. Troy Polamalu will put a hurting on Peyton’s little bro (hopefully Goodell will be lenient on him)! Pittsburgh 27, New York Giants 13.

Buffalo @ Miami: Buffalo is the surprise team of the AFC, IMO. They have been flying under the radar and find themselves in first place of their division. Who would’ve thunk it? Not me, for sure! The Dolphins will look to use the "wildcat" formation to confuse the Bills defense. Ronnie Brown will have a bounce back game as he was shut down last week. Sparano gave his players an offer they can’t refuse…win! Miami 23, Buffalo 17.


Short Shots:


The Philadelphia Phillies lost Game 2 of the World Series last night. The Series is tied at 1-1. The Rays will now travel to Philadelphia for Games 3-5. Let’s not head back to Tampa…let’s win it at home! Let's go Phils! Parade down Broad Street to follow!

Deuce McAllister and several other players have tested positive for taking water pills to lose weight. This is a violation of the NFL’s steroid policy and these players face a four-game suspension…will these players ever learn…cheaters never prosper!

Kellen Winslow II is getting the royal NFL shaft. The NFL won’t hear his appeal until next Tuesday, which will be too late to let him play this weekend. If he wins his appeal then he will get his weeks pay…sounds like they are treating Kellen like a “piece of meat”!

The New Orleans will “host” the San Diego Chargers in London this Sunday. The game will be played at the historic Wembley Stadium. It’s great that the NFL wants to expand its audience, but the Saints are getting screwed a home game!