Super Bowl Sunday

This upcoming Sunday marks the 51st time people have gathered with friends, food, and drinks to watch funny commercials and the NFL Championship. It’s Super Bowl Sunday.

For a high schooler like myself, it’s probably the only sunday night that you’re looking forward to. Other than Super Bowl Sunday, sunday nights are just a huge sigh as you start thinking about the incredibly long week of school that will start the next morning.

On Super Bowl Sunday, family friends get together to enjoy a night that celebrates the game of football. There’s usually some betting, and sometimes the Giants, Steelers, or Patriots are in it.

In my community, this would mean someone at the party is both nervous and excited to see their favorite team take the field. This year, the Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons, who are quite the juggernaut that no one really saw coming.

With a coaching staff headlined by Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan, the Falcons cruised past the Packers with ease in the NFC Championship, making a crystal clear statement that the Patriots will get a run for their money.

The Falcons are in the Super Bowl for the 2nd time in franchise history, and haven’t been there since 1999. On the other hand, this isn’t Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s first rodeo. This will be Brady and Belichick’s 7th Super Bowl appearance, and they’ve been very successful other than the two times against my Giants.

This game is very hard to predict. It’s hard to pick against Brady and the system, but the Falcons blew threw the NFC with ease. Both teams are more offensive minded, but both defenses have been overachievers.

In the past, the Giants were able to beat Brady with pressure. If the Falcons can dominate the New England offensive line, it could be a long day for Brady. The Falcons have Vic Beasley Jr, who led the NFL in sacks this year and could be a difference maker on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Falcons offense has the weapons to gash any defense, and they’ve proved it. Between Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Taylor Gabriel, and Mohammed Sanu, Matt Ryan has a handful of playmakers around him.

While I would like to see the Falcons shock the world, I would also like to see Tom Brady silence the haters once again. Brady went to Michigan, so he is automatically my boy. The best QB of all time is constantly debated, but I want Brady to solidify himself as the best ever.

Without Gronk for most of the year, Brady has led the Patriots to convincing wins with a receiving core consisting of Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, rookie Malcolm Mitchell, and Danny Amendola. In the AFC Championship, Brady made Chris Hogan look like Randy Moss.

If the Patriots can beat the incredibly talented, well-coached Falcons on Sunday, the argument for Brady only gets stronger.

I can’t make a prediction, but I will say that I hope it’s a crazy game and Brady throws the winning touchdown in the final moments.

The High School World

Through less than a year of high school, I have been introduced to a whole new world of sports. I mean, I would be clicking through channels, and pass over every televised high school sporting event. But now, I find myself desperately searching for a high school basketball game on TV.

The home games at my high school are more of a social event than professional or college games. For example, our school lost every home football game this past fall. And even though I attended all four, I couldn’t tell you the score of any of them the next day. I doubt any high school student could.

Then basketball season came around. I didn’t really think I’d go to a lot of games, but freshman ball got me engaged. I started in every contest, averaging a stellar 10.6 PPG while logging the most minutes per game on the team.

I was very well-known after getting a shoutout on the morning announcements from the principal. She informed the whole school that I had set the record for most 3-pointers in a quarter at our high school.

As you could probably predict, I was completely immersed in high school basketball. That’s how it began. I started to go to my high school’s home games. Last year, the high school team was undefeated at home. This year, not bad, but definitely not undefeated.

Regardless, the games were fun so people went. Definitely better than homework. My first ever high school game (as a student) was Columbia vs Irvington. Irvington won, led by a 6’5” freshman. This kid was insanely talented, using a smooth jumper and throwing down some huge dunks.

After the game, a scout for a Division III college approached a different Irvington player, and they exchanged information. So, I went home and researched this guy, and watched videos of him play. I began to look through all of New Jersey’s high school prospects.

That’s when I realized how cool high school basketball was. Future college players playing against kids I go to school with everyday. I became an expert on NJ high school players, and knew who to watch for in every game.

For example, my high school played its rival, Seton Hall Prep, a few weeks ago. SHP was led by junior guard TJ Gibbs. You could tell he was the best player right as he stepped on the court. Only a junior, Gibbs has offers from esteemed programs such as Uconn, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Virginia.

In fact, there was a scout from Virginia’s coaching staff in the gym. It was so cool to see future college players play at this level. More recently, St. Anthony’s came to play my high school team. Coming into the game, they had four players with Division I offers.

The final score was 91-44, in St. Anthony’s favor. One of their seniors, Markis McDuffie, had already committed to Wichita State, while another, Jagan Mosely, was being scouted by Louisville. Mosely threw down an insane alley oop in the game, which was caught on video.

Of course, I had that video sent to me immediately. I tweeted the video, tagging Mosely. Thirty minutes later, I check my phone, and find that he retweeted my tweet. After all, he’s just another high school kid. Pretty cool.

I’ve found a new love for high school sports, especially with the local talent. The highest rated high school point guard in the country, Isaiah Briscoe, plays 15 minutes away! He has already committed to Kentucky, and John Calipari attended a tournament that my high school played in, back in December.

And now I find myself obsessed with recruiting, whether it’s Jim Harbaugh’s targets for Michigan, or just monitoring the offers/commitments of local NJ players. Heck, I watch more high school basketball than NBA basketball.

High school has opened up a whole new sports world, one that is entertaining, cheap, and very fun to watch.

Playoff Time

The 2014 NFL season ended yesterday. It was a very interesting year, including the domestic violence issues that sidelined notable players such as Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, and Greg Hardy.

Throughout the league, several rookies made a huge impact on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Odell Beckham Jr, Mike Evans, Jeremy Hill, Terrance West, Kelvin Benjamin, Zack Martin, Brandin Cooks, Tre Mason, and Carlos Hyde made a big difference for their teams this year. Defensively, CJ Mosley, Anthony Barr, Khalil Mack, Aaron Donald, and Chris Borland made a big difference for their teams this year.

While the future looks bright with a lot of young talent, the veterans were able to dominate as well this year. Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, and Peyton Manning all finished in the top 4 in passing yards.

It was quite a competitive league this year. Some teams competing for a playoff spot, while others were competing for the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Yesterday, the playoff bracket was set, as all the teams completed their 16-game schedule. Unfortunately, my Giants weren’t good enough for the playoffs, but too good for a top five pick in the draft.

The Buccaneers secured the #1 pick in the draft. Anyway, here are my bold predictions for the 2014 NFL Playoffs.

First, the AFC:

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers. This is a tough division matchup between two good teams. Pittsburgh will have the edge playing at home. If Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell can play, I think the Steelers offense gets them to the divisional round.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts. This is the other AFC wild card matchup. The Colts have not been playing well lately. However, I strongly believe that home field advantage is a large factor. The Bengals defense is not that great, and I expect Andrew Luck to have a big game. I think the Colts win a close game, and advance.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos. The last time these two teams met at Mile High Stadium in the playoffs, Tim Tebow led the Broncos to an overtime victory. This is a clash between two high powered offenses. The difference will be the Denver defense. With the crowd on their side, the Broncos will knock the Steelers out once again.

Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots. There is no way the Colts go to Foxborough and win. Brady will pick apart the Colts secondary, and Andrew Luck will have trouble against a tough Pats defense. Patriots win.

That leaves the Patriots and the Broncos. A rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game. Last year, it was in Denver. This year, in New England. Two good defenses and two good offenses. A tough game to predict. However, I think the Broncos will find a way to win. CJ Anderson has been on fire lately, with 7 touchdowns in the last four games. The Pats will have a tough time stopping Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, especially with Peyton Manning throwing them the ball. Broncos beat the Pats again, and get to the Super Bowl.

Now, the NFC:

Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys offense has been great. The Lions defense has been great. I am almost positive the Lions will (at least they should) put up points against a Cowboys defense that is 26th in the league in passing yards allowed. Advantage, Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson. The Cowboys rushing attack, led by DeMarco Murray, was incredible this year. However, Detroit has allowed the least rush yards per game in the NFL. Lions win.

Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers. The Panthers were lucky to make the playoffs, as they didnt even finish with a winning record. Meanwhile, the Cardinals boast a record of 11-5. With one of the best defenses in the league, the Cardinals go to Carolina and win.

Detroit Lions @ Seattle Seahawks. This game is in Seattle. I repeat, this game is in Seattle. Seattle is arguably the toughest place to play in the NFL. With one of the best defenses in the league, and the crowd behind them, the Seahawks are going to make it hard for the Lions to score. Really hard. Meanwhile, I’m confident Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch will find a way to score points, being that it’s so difficult to contain them both. Seahawks win.

Arizona Cardinals @ Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers has been arguably one of the best QBs of the year, with 38 passing touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. The Cardinals come in without their starting QB (Carson Palmer) or their starting RB (Andre Ellington). With the crowd behind them, the Packers defense will make it tough for Arizona. Packers win.

That leaves the Packers and the Seahawks. It’s unfortunate this game is played in Seattle. The great Seahawks defense and the screaming crowd will make it hard for the Packers to score. I think they will score some, though, with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. However, Seattle’s offense will be the issue for Green Bay. Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch will torture the Packers defense. Seahawks win.

Super Bowl XLIX:

Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks. A rematch of last years Super Bowl. Last year, the Seahawks destroyed the Broncos, 43-8. I think this time it will be much closer than that. Two good defenses, two good offenses. It will come down to the wire. Peyton will have a tough time against the Seahawks defense, but I do think the Broncos will manage to score. Russell Wilson’s mobility will be key, as well as his ability to extend plays. The Broncos will have a tough time containing both Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. In the end, I think the Seahawks win, for the 2nd straight year.

I’m really just hoping the Lions go to the Super Bowl. First of all, I would like to see Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson play in the big game. And, if the Lions go, Odell Beckham Jr will replace Megatron in the Pro Bowl. And I really just want to see Odell play some more football. The playoffs begin on Saturday, January 3rd, 2015, and continue until the Super Bowl, which is February 1st in Arizona!

Time to Bowl

The college football season is winding down, as bowl games are right around the corner. This year’s postseason is quite significant, being the first year with the 4-team playoff system. Before, the top two ranked teams would play in the BCS National Championship game. Not anymore.

Now, the College Football Playoff committee determines the four teams that will play in the new playoff. The other bowl-eligible teams, who don’t qualify for the playoff, will still have an opportunity to play in a bowl game. Like always.

Towards the end of the season, the committee releases their playoff rankings each week. Currently, the top four teams are: Alabama, Oregon, TCU, and Florida State. In that order. A lot could change, as the season isn’t over. Some teams still have a regular season game to play, and there’s also the conference championships, which have yet to be played.

It’s hard to tell what will happen in the next few weeks, as upsets are very common in college football. But, I have made some predictions on who will get into the 4-team playoff. And here they are.

First, I think Alabama gets in. Alabama’s last game of the season is Missouri in the SEC Championship game. I like their chances. Missouri is a solid team, but they have played a pretty easy schedule. I know the SEC is tough. But they really haven’t played any good teams, being in the SEC East.

Their toughest opponent was Georgia, who beat Missouri 34-0. Other than that, Missouri just played mediocre football teams. I don’t think they have what it takes to beat the hot, talented Alabama team.

So, ‘Bama gets in. Next, I think Oregon gets in. Oregon, led by Heisman candidate Marcus Mariota, has looked really good lately. Their final game, in the PAC-12 championship, is against Arizona. Arizona is the only team who has beaten Oregon all year.

And that’s exactly why I think Oregon will beat them. Oregon wants revenge. It may be a close game, but I think Oregon comes out with a victory, and secures a spot in the playoff. If Arizona (who is ranked 7th in the country) wins, I believe they will make the playoff, as the PAC-12 champs.

Next, I think Florida State gets in. Florida State’s last game, in the ACC Championship, is against Georgia Tech. I actually think Georgia Tech could pull off an upset. It’s very possible. But, I think Jameis Winston will lead his team to victory, and Florida State will claim a spot in the playoff, being the only undefeated team in the country.

Most ESPN experts agree, and think Oregon, ‘Bama, and Florida State will get spots in the playoff. The real problem is the 4th spot. Who will it go to? After the loss of Mississippi State, it’s really between Ohio State, Baylor, and TCU.

Ohio State’s final game is Wisconsin, in the Big Ten Conference Championship. The buckeyes star QB, J.T. Barrett, who passed Drew Brees for most touchdowns in a single season in the Big Ten, is out for the year with a broken ankle.

I don’t think Ohio State will be able to keep up with Melvin Gordon and the Badgers offense without Barrett. I think Wisconsin rolls, and knocks Ohio State out of contention.

Baylor plays Kansas State in their last game. Kansas State is a pretty good team, going into Baylor with a 9-2 record. Their only losses are TCU and Auburn, two very good teams. I think Kansas State pulls off the upset, knocking Baylor out of contention.

That leaves TCU. The Horned Frogs play Iowa State in their last game. Iowa State has a 2-9 record, and are pretty bad. It should be an easy win for TCU, which would have them finish with an 11-1 record.

Therefore, I think TCU gets in. However, if Baylor wins, that’s different. If Baylor and Ohio State both win, there’s a conflict. All three of those teams will have one loss. Regardless of Ohio State, if Baylor wins they should get in.

Baylor and TCU will both be 11-1, and Baylor beat TCU. With the same record, in the same conference, Baylor has the head-to-head advantage. There’s no reason Baylor shouldn’t go over TCU.

So, really, in my opinion, Baylor controls their own destiny. Now, say Ohio State and TCU both win, and Baylor loses. Ohio State would be 12-1, while TCU would be 11-1. Each with one loss, I think TCU deserves to go. They have a more difficult schedule than Ohio State, being in the BIG-12.

So, this is how I see it. Based on my predictions, the 4 playoff teams, in the 1st year of the College Football Playoff, will be: Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, and TCU. However, the 4th team could be Baylor (If they win), or Ohio State (If they win AND Baylor loses AND TCU loses).

There’s a lot of football left. I’m excited to see how the rest of the games will unfold, and which teams the College Football Playoff committee will put into the playoff! Tune in to ESPN this Sunday at 12:45 ET to see which 4 teams make the 1st ever College Football Playoff.

My Rough Draft

As much as I would love to wear a Johnny Manziel New York Giants jersey, I would be pretty disappointed if the G-Men picked him. The 2014 NFL Draft starts tonight, and I have some desired picks that I would be thrilled to have as a Giant fan.

First and foremost, the lack of talent at the linebacker position has been partially mended by the presence of Jon Beason. However, we definitely need another linebacker. Defensively, the Giants are in solid shape.

Our defensive line is very solid, with Pierre-Paul. We also have lots of potential in guys such as Damontre Moore and Johnathan Hankins. Also, Cullen Jenkins should make a solid contribution as well. The secondary has improved immensely.

We have very good young players including Prince Amukamara, Hosley, and Antrel Rolle. Then we also added Walter Thurmond and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who will make a big impact.   That leaves linebacker.

If the Giants draft a linebacker in the 1st round, our defense is in good shape. Khalil Mack, out of Buffalo, won’t be available. However, the Giants have a great shot at Anthony Barr, out of UCLA, who is my preferred 1st round pick.

Anthony Barr

If he isn’t available, I’m also happy with CJ Mosley, out of Alabama. Mosley and Barr will be great additions to a prosperous defense. Many analysts believe the Giants will settle for Eric Ebron, tight end out of UNC. I would be disappointed.

Hopefully, we get Barr or Mosley in the 1st round. Now let’s move to the other side of the ball. One of our best offensive weapons has left, in Hakeem Nicks. We definitely need another wide receiver.

Then we move to offensive line and tight end. One of the Giants biggest   problems last year was the offensive line, and blocking. I think the Giants 2nd round pick should be offensive line, wide receiver, or tight end.

In the 2nd round, I like Kelvin Benjamin or Morgan Moses out of Virginia.   Kelvin Benjamin has great speed and size. I have seen mock drafts with him going in the 1st round, 2nd round, or 3rd round. Hopefully the Giants take him.

Kelvin Benjamin

Truthfully, there are many more players I would be happy with, too many to name. However, I am really hoping the Giants have Anthony Barr/CJ Mosley, Kelvin Benjamin, and then a good tight end and offensive lineman.

Other than those three, the Giants should use the other four rounds to pick offensive and defensive linemen. It can never hurt to make your front line deeper.

Ideally, the Giants fulfill my desires and go into the 2014-2015 season with lots of acquired talent and potential. Remember, IDEALLY. That all starts out with letting Eric Ebron go in the 1st round! Can’t wait to watch tonight!

Another Manning Goes Down at MetLife

Well, it wasn’t so long ago that Eli Manning threw 5 picks against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. However, many people thought that his big brother, Peyton, would have a much better outing at MetLife against the Seahawks.

It was better, but not by a lot. Right from the start, the Seahawks were in control- literally. The Seahawks had the fastest scoring play (12 seconds) in Super Bowl History with a safety on the first snap of the game.

In the first quarter, Peyton Manning and the best offense in the league couldn’t even get a first down. Are you kidding me? I was willing to bet $50 that Manning would shred the young Seattle secondary.

Manning threw two picks in the first half, one was a pick-6 caught by Malcolm Smith, the Super Bowl MVP. I mean, when it was 15-0 I figured Peyton would heat up and make a run to end the half. I thought wrong.

At Halftime, I could’ve sworn Percy Harvin returned that kickoff. At our Super Bowl party I announced my theory, and everyone went nuts when it came true. That was pretty awesome.

Once it was 29-0, there was no way the Broncos were gonna have a shot. Everyone in the Stadium knew that the Seahawks weren’t looking back. They capped the game off with a definitive score of 43-8.

Honestly, probably the worst Super Bowl I’ve ever witnessed in my 13 years and 364 day life. I thought, no matter who won, it was gonna be a great, exciting game with big play after big play.

Instead, it was boring and not even close. And Richard Sherman didn’t even get to go on a postgame rant! I know it was not classy and all, but it’s still pretty entertaining when Sherman goes at it. Unfortunately, he had a high-ankle sprain in the 4th quarter.

The one positive the Broncos got out of the game was that Demaryius Thomas broke the Super Bowl record for catches with 12.

All in all, the Super Bowl was really bad, but it’s a great excuse to hang with your friends and play “Kill the Carrier” on a school night. So, I’m satisfied anyway. And how could I not, we have a snow day today!

 

 

Bowl Mania

Unfortunately, the privilege to watch Michigan football on January 1st has been terminated this year. I always look forward to having a big party with my dad's fraternity brothers and their families on New Year's Eve, and then watching Michigan the next day.

However, not this year. Michigan plays on December 28th, in the Buffalo Wild Wings bowl against Kansas State. And for my standards, the Buffalo Wild Wings bowl is a disgrace. But we deserve it. 

When I look back on their season, I think to myself.. "Wow, we were terrible." And we were. Yet, we should have gone 11-1. We were 2 yards away from beating Ohio State, a team that is rightfully excluded from the BCS National Championship.

If Al Borges would've called a good play, rather than a horrendous formation and an inevitable target. Honestly, their entire stadium, and everyone who was watching knew where the ball was going on that two-point conversion.

And yet, they ran the play anyway, capping off an atrocious season. Point is, we should've beaten Penn State, and we would've, if we didn't miss 3 game-winning field goals. Nebraska was a terrible loss, because they were not a good team at all.

 All in all, aside from Michigan State, we honestly should've run the table. However, based on the fact that we were denied the opportunity to play on January 1st, or an even better bowl game for that matter, anyone can conclude that Michigan did not do what they should've and could've. Shoulda Coulda Woulda!

Anyway, this year is the last year of the traditional bowl games. Next year, they'll start the 4-team playoff. I'm not very sure if I like the playoff format or not.

 On one side, I recognize how this system prevents teams like Ohio State (Who went 12-1 playing an awful schedule) from getting into the championship. On the other hand, it sort of ends the bowl game tradition. 

But, I don't really have a major problem with it, so whatever. More importantly, this is the last year for the traditional bowl game format. So, I am going to enjoy it. Also, a bonus would be winning my Bowl Game pool, in which a group of friends and I simply predict the winners of every bowl game and we see who gets the most right.

Here are my bowl picks. 

(The unhighlighted games are the games that I’m having trouble with) Except for the last one, I got Auburn

 

It is out of 70 points, for the value of each game is a different amount of points. Let's see how I do! And yes, I do think Auburn beats Florida State. For awhile, I was going Florida State all the way. However, I gradually changed my mind.

And yet, what has happened to all the talented offenses that played an SEC team in the National Championship?...Oregon's electric offense lost to Auburn in 2010, Ohio State's electric offense in 2006 and 2007 lost both years to Florida and LSU.

The SEC is just bigger, and better than any other conference. They've won the National Championship the last 7 years! And who has Florida State played? Yeah, they have some really talented players offensively. But so does Auburn! 

I think Tre Mason is going to have a great game as always, but I think the difference maker is gonna be 1. Auburn's defensive line. If they get pressure on Jameis Winston, they're in good shape. 2. Nick Marshall. If he can beat Florida State's secondary consistently, FSU is gonna have a tough night on January 6th.

Today is the day that begins another bowl season, a series of college football games that will go right down to the wire and captivate you from the first whistle to the last. Happy Holidays!

Oh, and by the way... If you haven't seen Anchorman 2 yet, you absolutely have to. It was hilarious! 

The Fall

Fall got out to a great start in the sports world, and in my life. First of all, it's my favorite season. It's not too hot, not too cold, and bug-free (which is crucial). However, things were going TOO well. 

At some point, something had to go wrong. And believe me, it did.I like to call this period "The Fall of Fall", meaning the downfall of my sports in Autumn.

 First, it was the Giants. They started 0-6, and nothing was going well. Recently, they started to play well, but a bad loss to the Cowboys decreased their playoff chances.

Personally, I think it is ALL on Eli Manning. Before, people said he isn't playing well because they haven't established a running game. Andre Brown is rushing well, and the results aren't that much different. The passing game is still pretty darn awful.

The defense has finally stepped up, led by our new MLB Jon Beason, who is great. The defense has been holding up, running game is effective, it's just Eli Manning isn't throwing the ball well. That's why the Giants are 4-7. 

Next, it was Michigan football. Devin Gardner was supposedly a Heisman candidate, and Michigan was supposedly a top-25 team. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Gardner might be the worst QB in college football.

His decision-making is so awful. The offensive line is atrocious, along with the running game. I don't even know what else to say! I hope Shane Morris proves himself next year. 

Gardner fumbles at home against Akron

And then the Knicks. Chandler goes down, and everything goes down with him. 3-12? Are you kidding me? I went to the Clips vs. Knicks game the night before Thanksgiving. I noticed something: Bargnani can't play defense.At all. 

Also, Woodson's rotations are so terrible. J.R. Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr. (Slight bias) and Iman Shumpert should play a lot more. Thank god I had an amazing Thanksgiving the next day! 

After all this, I sat back and said to myself: Well, I always got Michigan hoops. After a Championship NCAA March Madness run last year, ranked in the pre-season top-10... We are gonna be great. Then, of course, we lose to Iowa State, and CHARLOTTE. Really? C'mon, man.

Anyway, with all that going downhill, I just tried to forget it all and just play 8th grade hoops, and prepare for the regular season. Last year, I did not have a great season. I turned the ball over, and I didn't shoot well. 

I was determined to start the season off with a big performance, and start off on the right foot.Only, of course, in my last soccer game, I tore my MCL. So until Christmas (hopefully), I am out of basketball. 

Thanks to an awesome California trip for Thanksgivvukah, I was able to temporarily forget all this, and just hang with my family. I repeat, temporarily. The disappointments may have to continue.

Today, Ohio State plays Michigan in football. Michigan plays Duke on Tuesday in hoops. Giants play Washington on Sunday Night football, a game that has a lot on the line. For Hannukah, I want all W's.However, that request is definitely a stretch. 

Hopefully, all of these atrocities can turn it around. Maybe, the Jewish Festival of Lights will give the players spirit to destroy their opponents. Doubt it though, since the vast majority of athletes aren't Jews. But wait till I'm in the NFL, representing the Jewish community! Just kidding. 

Use Your Head!

Despite the Giants' horrific start, I am going to discuss something else that has to do with the NFL. This past Sunday, in Week 7 of the NFL, there were some scary injuries.

At least 8 players were hurt, and Brandon Meriweather was suspended. These injuries included several players that have some solid fantasy value, including Doug Martin, Arian Foster, Jermichael Finley, Sam Bradford, and Reggie Wayne.

Everybody on that list except for Foster and Finley is done for the year. There have been many other injuries in previous weeks, including Randall Cobb, Julio Jones, and David Wilson.

But frankly, I don't really miss Wilson, no offense. Peyton Hillis should be just fine for the G-men. Anyway, football is just turning into a bloodbath. And not just in the NFL....

My friends and I play football a lot in our local park. We are definitely very small, apart from a few people. We had been playing other groups of kids, and absolutely blowing them out. So then, we decided to take on a bigger challenge.

Our middle school is made up of two elementary schools: Tuscan and Jefferson. We are from Jefferson, and we wanted to take on the boys from Tuscan. For the record, they thought they would "wreck us" due to their evident size advantage.

However, we wanted the challenge. So, sure enough, two weeks ago we went to the park and set down the rules. We wore cleats, and our team colors. 5 on 5, no padding, tackle football.

Despite the fact that we are all friends, it turned out to be a sick,intensely competitive game. And we even got a crowd! Aside from that, something unplanned occurred.

In the 4th quarter, when we were up 93-91, one of our players decided to take on the two biggest kids on Tuscan's team. Meanwhile, he is merely 5 ft tall.

He caught the ball down the sideline, and sprinted ahead. The two big defenders closed in from both sides, and then it happened.

Our player made a sharp stop, just as the defenders went in for the tackle. I expected a huge hit, but I saw our player running to the end zone, to give us a two possession lead.

When I ran to celebrate, I realized what had happened. The two defenders, slammed into eachother when the sharp cut was made.

One of their players had blood streaming down his face. We rushed him to a nearby house, and he turned out to be OK. HOwever, it was terribly scary and horrific.

It turned out he suffered a mild concussion, and received 3 layers of stitches by a plastic surgeon. The other defender had a huge bump on his forehead.

An intense, wildly fun football game had turned into much more, just like that. thankfully, both of them are fine now. But, we never got to finish that game...

We probably never will too. I doubt we'll play tackle for awhile now. My point is from that unfortunate story, that football has turned into something else, not just a popular sport in America.

If I was bigger, I might consider playing football. My parents won't, after seeing all these horrible injuries.

Brandon Meriweather drills 2nd-string RB James Starks with illegal hit, after injuring the 1st-string RB Eddie Lacy

Football is a great game, and I really love playing and watching it. But it is ridiculous. There has been WAY too many injured players this year, and it's not even half way through the season.

Head injuries is the worst. You gotta learn to use your head to think about the right way, not to slam it into someone else's head.

I previously mentioned Brandon Meriweather's suspension. He is one of the many players who frequently attempt to play defense with their head, as opposed to making legal, safe tackles.

On the bright side, my fantasy team was unaffected. I didn't have any players that were hurt. However, other teams in my league got screwed, and can't even compete anymore.

Football is awesome, but all these injuries are changing people's views on the game. The game is great, especially when it's played legally. Everybody loves a hard hit when it's legal.

Early Season Woes

Well, I have finally found something worse than the Giants two losses. Just 
kidding, but I am not pleased with the G-Men. At all. Eli is playing terrible, 
and the running game is a disaster. 

Oh, and my condolences go out to all the David Wilson fantasy owners right now. 
Unfortunately, when Andre Brown broke his leg, I decided to go after David 
Wilson in my fantasy league. Dumb move.

Anyway, when I said I'd found something worse than the Giants, I don't even mean 
the Jaguars. Now, the Jags are definitely worse than the Giants, but the Giants 
were actually supposed to be good!

I mean, how can you be worse than a team who didn't get passed their own 36 yard 
line in Week 1. Yes, you heard that statistic, it's not a typo; the Jacksonville 
Jaguars weren't able to get passed their OWN 36 yard line.

Besides that embarrassing fact, I managed to find something terrible in the NFL. 
Trent Richardson, an Indianapolis Colt? I thought it was a joke when I saw a 
headline on FoxSports, after my 2nd straight Fall Ball loss against Union.

When I got home, I checked NFL.com, ESPN, and cbssports.com to make sure I 
wasn't going crazy. First of all, it never really occurred to me that NFL teams 
make trades. Now, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but compared to other 
sports... Not a lot of trades in pro football.

My dad’s fraternity brother/ESPN Analyst Adam Schefter discussing trade

Anyway, when I saw that headline, my first thought was, "Is this a comedy show?" My 
second thought was, "If for some reason thats true, is Andrew Luck a Brown?" Of 
course, the chances of that are unlikely, but trading a young, talented RB in 
the NFL is pretty unlikely too.

I had to see who the Colts had given up, expecting a player like T.Y. Hilton or 
somebody with some serious value. When I realized how little the Indianapolis 
Colts had given up, I was shocked. 

A draft pick. That's it. Trent Richardson for a draft pick. My friend Joe, an 
unfortunate Cleveland fan, had a theory: The Browns wanted to get rid of all 
their good players to get the 1st overall pick of next years draft. 

That is preposterous, but I haven't come up with a better solution, other than 
the obvious, "They are rebuilding." 

Even so, why not rebuild around a talented young player? I don't get it. Also, 
it kinda bothers me that the Browns have given up so early. They may not have 
the best team in their division, but it is a little ridiculous to give up on the 
year after Week 2. 

Despite all this, my fantasy team is 2-0. So, I have something to hang on to. 
Hopefully, the Giants will step it up too.