There’s nothing better than the start of a new NFL season. Everyone’s in first place, hope springs eternal for fans the world over & it just brings a certain electricity to the air. Combined with college football, the weekends now have purpose and don’t require much planning on the entertainment front. While waiting for things to officially kick off, the Crew got together and brainstormed a few things that we thought warranted a closer look throughout the season. It’s definitely not an be-all, end-all list, but we definitely feel like they could have some impact on the league this year.

1. The Albert Haynesworth/Mike Shanahan Dynamic

We’re not Redskins fans. Yet and still, we feel somewhat sorry for their fans because this Haynesworth fellow pulled the football version of the Louisiana Purchase when he took $100M in 2009. In return, he’s given them essentially nothing except for more failed conditioning tests than sacks. He’s been everything but innocent this entire summer and, the way things are sounding, they’re going to get a lot worse before better.

2. “QB Or Not QB: That Is The Question”

So which rookie quarterback is going to be the next Peyton Manning? Or maybe the next Leinhart? With many college superstars entering the league this year, it looks like most of them will be riding the pine. This year’s class includes names like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Jimmy Claussen, but number one draft pick Sam Braford seems to be the only one getting significant playing time under center. Unfortunately, most of that time he’ll be getting to know the league’s top tier defensive ends – on his back. While the other rooks wait to get promoted, we”ll be figuring out all the names of the new NCAA quarterbacks.

3. How Many QB’s Ndamukong Suh Will Decapitate By Season’s End

Can anyone remember the last time a defensive lineman had people this excited to watch football, let alone the Lions. Detroit likely won’t contend for the NFC Championship this season, but Ndamukong Suh will definitely be worth the price of admission. After seeing him tear Jake Delhomme’s head clean off his shoulders, best believe Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre are praying their offensive lines remain healthy. The over/under for Suh? Six. He’s definitely going to get Cutler though.

4. The Batman & Robin Show aka T.O. Joins The Cincinnati Bengals

Over the past five years, the Bengals have clawed their way from the depths of the leagues bottom feeders into a respectable franchise. Their success is due in large part to a couple of draft picks actually panning out and becoming the Midwest equivalent of the Oakland Raiders, rolling the dice and becoming a safe haven for talented, but troubled cast-offs. After Antonio Bryant didn’t work out, they decided to bring Terrell Owens on board with the blessing of both Chad Ochocinco & Carson Palmer. Now fighting for both ratings and catches, it’ll be interesting how friendly the dynamic duo will still be by season’s end, especially with Owens on field production directly affecting his bank account.

While we patiently wait for the REAL sports to start (hehe), you know the players are getting ready with conditioning and more things of that nature. And if you’re lucky enough to have HBO this year, you’d know the New York Jets are the current hosts of Hard Knocks, a behind-the-scenes look at a team’s training camp. Getting over consecutive 9-7 records takes an extra effort and the last thing they need is hotshot rookies creating a hostile environment in practice. Read the rest of this entry »

Antonio Cromartie gets around. He’s on pace to make Magic Johnson look like A.C. Green. Cromartie, a cornerback for the Jets, apparently has seven kids in five states from six different women. Read the rest of this entry »

The Jets may not be heading to the “Big Dance,” but the organization and their fans can find solace in knowing they’ve got one of the most entertaining coaches in all of sports. He knows football too, but that’s besides the point. Rex Ryan is one of those guys who is a classic quotable waiting to happen win, lose or draw. He’s intense, to say the least, and has never made any apologies towards his attitude. And nor should he. Read the rest of this entry »

To quote esteemed sports philosopher Reggie Noble, “this is what it’s all about.” Win and you get a free trip to Miami and a chance for immortality. Lose and you’re forced to take solace in the fact you get paid millions of dollars to play a children’s game. Damn it. Read the rest of this entry »

Each conference’s best teams battle it out for a trip to the Super Bowl this weekend.  Everyone who was expected to be here is present, as the season served as an extended preview of an inevitable match-up in the NFC.  We always knew the Colts would be here, but who’d rise up to challenge them changed each week as pretenders came and week throughout the season.  Since no one else wanted it, the Jets seek to make the Colts pay for letting them in.  Both games should be competitive (finally!) as two teams stamp their tickets to Miami. Read the rest of this entry »

So much for drama.  Save for the Chargers and Jets, the games this weekend were almost over before they started.  The teams who were supposed to win took care of business for the most part and one underdog is still in the hunt.  Setting up for what should be a couple of good match-ups next week, take one last look at how those teams got there. Read the rest of this entry »

Welp, we’re back again trying our hand at picking this week’s games.  Looking to redeem ourselves over our paltry showings last go around, save for Jason who was omitted on accident, we put the mp3′s down long enough to expound on the pigskin.  Maybe this week we’ll even get some picks right.  Y’all know the drill:  Read, call us out for our naïveté & discuss below. Read the rest of this entry »

The NFL playoffs are supposed to be an exposé of the best teams and players the league has to offer. Ideally this leads to classic games, complete with 4th quarter drives and heroic individual efforts. Sadly this week was more about delivering beatdowns, as the Bengals, Eagles and yes, my beloved Pats were exposed as playoff frauds. Below is the game-by-game rundown.

Bengals Vs. Jets

This was a sloppy game between two teams that aren’t very good. The Bengals offense was hindered by crushing injuries/deaths in their wide receiver corps. Amongst the walking wounded was Chad Ochocinco, out with a sore posterior from the raping delivered over three hours Jets DB by Darrelle Revis. Watching Revis was particularly annoying as a Pats fan, because he’s totally mastered Ty Law’s style, making just enough contact with the receiver downfield to disrupt routes without getting flagged. Rookie Shonn Greene was the star on offense, routinely beating Cincy’s contain with edge runs. The Jets still have no business planning Super Bowl parades, as the Bengals were a shell of their former selves and the worst playoff team. San Diego should kill the dreams of Firemen Ed and annoying Gang Greeners everywhere next week.

Cowboys Vs. Eagles

Many, including myself, were expecting the Eagles offense to awaken after laying an egg last week but Dallas shut down McNabb and company for a second straight week. Meanwhile Tony Romo put his playoff demons behind him with some help from Miles Austin and Roy Williams.

The big play though was Felix Jones 73 yard TD run, in which he simply ran past the Eagles defense. Few players in the NFL have such raw speed and his playmaking abilities should scare the shit out of other NFC fans.

Patriots Vs. Ravens

Hey Pats fans, it was a good decade for us. But what a deflating way to close it out, getting punked by Baltimore. Everyone, and I mean everyone, laid an egg for the Pats – from Randy Moss’ no show to “Pro-Bowler” Brandon Merriweather getting schooled by Ray Rice on the first play of the game on an 83 yard touchdown. And just like that the game was over. Well not really, first I had to languish through three hours of Brady two yard checkdowns and approximately 73 third and ones where Baltimore converted by flattening our front 7. The Ravens move on, although they’ll need more out of Joe Flacco to take down the Colts next week. The Pats meanwhile, have some serious questions to answer in the offseason and a long climb back to the top. How’s KG’s knee?

Cardinals Vs. Packers

At least we had one classic game. More bullets were fired than the North Hollywood shootout as both Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner were afforded ample time to sit in the pocket and pick their favorite targets. This game had a little bit of everything, including a ballsy onside kick call by Green Bay that helped them get back in the game. By the 4th quarter, both defenses were gassed and it was clear that whomever had the ball last would win. Which should have been Arizona, but kicker Neil Rackers shanked a 34 yard field goal with 10 seconds left. The game thus proceeded to OT, Green Bay won the toss and appeared to be in the driver’s seat. Then, one great defensive play from ‘Zona sealed the deal.

Can the Cards win another shootout in the SuperDome next week? Probably not. But you just can’t count this team out.

This is what we’ve all been waiting for ain’t it?

Another season has come to a close and now it’s time to get down to business.  We’re down the twelve teams and all have one goal in mind.  The Super Bowl.  Some teams have better chances than others, but it begins with the Wild Card.  With the last two Super Bowl Champs starting out as Wild Card qualifiers, every team has to believe that if they get on a run that anything is possible.  Read through the as the Crew states how we see things going down this weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

“Time to separate the platinum from the white gold/Right from the door/The real from the fake, Ready rock from the raw…” – Jay-Z

With the NFL season winding down, Week 16 found teams looking to sew up playoff spots.  Although the top seeds were pretty much solidified, there were enough teams with hopes of a Wild Card berth jockeying for seeding to keep things interesting throughout the extended holiday weekend round of games. Read the rest of this entry »

My name is David D. and I’m a Saints fan.

Yeah, I know you are too. Now.

But I’m a lifelong Saints fan. I made it through the “Aint’s” and Mike Ditka years. So this year has been…bizarre. Somehow the Saints became the best team in the NFC and are favorites going in to every game. And I honestly have no clue how to react. Read the rest of this entry »

Sunday, Sexy Sunday With Marie Soko

Poverty’s Paradise: Original Samples [Kevin Nottingham]

Anti-Social Networking Apparel [Trend Hunter]

Before Desert Storm [Steady Bloggin']

An Open Letter To KSK From Jets Coach Rex Ryan [KSK]

Driver Behind Murder Of T.I.’s Friend Sentenced To Prison [Creative Loafing]

Nike Sportswear x Livestrong x Mister Cartoon [Nike]

Michael Jackson Poised To Make Billboard Chart History, Again [Billboard]

Coolio Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges, Heads to Rehab [E! Online]

Buy A Major SS Shirt & Become Fresh [TSS]