A Chicken Is Not Pillage

Payton Manning, Denver Bronco!

I think the Fark headline was the best:

God to replace Jesus in Denver.

One of the very best quarterbacks in NFL history will now try his luck with the orange and blue in the mile high city.  I've been bouncing off the walls in excitement since 9 this morning.  Payton Manning as a Denver Bronco!  I absolutely love this. 

I tip my hat to the Puppetmaster, John Elway.  He has come so far in recovering from the damage wrought by Hoody McJunior.  John Fox is an able and accomplished coach.  Jack Del Rio is a break-out defense waiting to happen.  Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil will be crushing opponent's QBs as the opposition has to play from behind.  And now, we have a certain Hall Of Famer taking snaps under center.  This, THIS, is a team of imminent destiny.

Of course, the Twitter talk all day long has been about Tim Tebow.  What will happen to touchdown Jesus?  Let me make this very clear:  I  DON'T CARE!  Tebow will make a buttload of money wherever he goes, even if he stays with the Broncos.  I really don''t care about his feelings.  Pay me half his salary and I'll feel bad for him.  Don't get me wrong.  Tebow was hellaciously exciting as a QB, and I wish nothing but the best for him.   But, as I've clarified before, NFL Football is a business, and Elway will get what he wants.  If the Broncos use Tebow as a marketable commodity, then he still gets more money than I will see in my lifetime.  Despite the feigned disinterest, many teams could and should snap at that, especially Jacksonville and Miami.  Tebow puts asses in seats and sells product.  If Tebow stays with the Broncos, then also good.  He makes money and we win games.  I'd call this a win-win.

I don't care about Tim Tebow right now, because my quarterback is Payton Manning.  PAYTON FUCKING MANNING!  Not since 1993 have I so looked forward to the NFL season.

Why I love the Twitter

Comedy.  Belly-shaking, can't resist the public laugh, joy to your roots - Comedy.

Being a football fan, this is the funniest thing I've read in months.

Championship Playoffs - 2012

1-3 for picks last week, though only one outcome was truly surprising.  In my opinion, the 'Niners and Saints played the game of the year.  Alex Smith probably played the game of his career.  I thought my wife, a diehard 49ers fan, was going to have an aneurism during the last 5 minutes of that game.  San Francisco truly looked like a championship team. 

Of course, the one game I hoped most to be wrong about was the one I picked correctly.  The Patriots walloped the Broncos.  Tebow haters across the land were rejoicing at his failure.  It's probably not worth reminding many of them how they kvetched that the Broncos defense was really responsible for the Denver wins that Tebow got all the credit for.  Of course they were, just as that defense was in large part responsible for the blow out in Foxboro.  There was no pressure on Brady.  With the exception of Champ Bailey, the secondary looked confused in coverage and the linebackers looked even worse.  Don't get me wrong, these are things John Fox can and will fix when the Broncos make the playoffs next year.  ~heh~

Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips deserve enormous credit for what they accomplished with the Texans this year.  If Jim Harbaugh didn't already have 'Coach of the Year' locked up, I would suggest that it should and would be Kubiak.  The Texans played a truly inspired game against Baltimore but came up short due to inexperience, especially at the quarterback spot.  I'm not taking anything away from T.J. Yeats.  I don't think any other 3rd string Rookie in the league could have come close to his performance.  Now, NFL coaches are prohibited from complaining about the officiating, but I sure as hell am not.  I was disgusted by the "quality" of officiating during the Ravens-Texans matchup.  For the Ravens to have gone through that game with not one penalty is a goddamned travesty.  I'm all for letting the players play.  But letting them play dirty is just sickening.  On Houston's first punt, there was a blatant and obvious hold (tackle)  on the return.  Ray Lewis put another of his signature forearm helmet blows to a Texan receiver.  Yes that is illegal and no it wasn't called.  Bouldin's helmet hammer of a Texan was right in front of an official and caused a scrum.  No call.  Despite the mistakes of Jacoby Jones and the interceptions of Yeats, the Texans were in that game until the end.  A few calls to play fair against the Dirty Birds might have actually given Houston a chance to win.  ~sigh~

For the record, I'm already sick of the calls for a Harbaugh rematch.  To me that's as pointless a narrative as 'two black coaches meeting in the Super Bowl' when Lovey Smith's Bears met Tony Dungy's Colts.  For me, and I think I've expressed pretty well why, it is about the game, not the social or family drama.  I quite earnestly do not want to spend the next 2 weeks hearing about how difficult this is on Mom and Pop Harbaugh.  If it comes to pass, in my mind it won't be about Jim v. John.  It will be Coach Harbaugh's 49ers against Coach Harbaugh's Ravens.  To be honest, I don't think that will happen.

NFC

New York Giants (4) at San Francisco 49ers (2)

I've written it dozens of times and been proven correct dozens of times.  The New York Football Giants are not the same team in the playoffs that they are in the regular season.  Every single one of them, from Eli Manning to Brandon Jacobs, steps up their game a notch or two.  Just think.  Six weeks ago, Tom Coughlin's job was on the line.  Ya' kinda gotta like these guys.  Against the Packers, Eli exploited a fast defense that was weak on the coverage and thin against the run.  He also proved that he is an elite quarterback.  For some reason, people still find that surprising.  Uhmm, the 'Niners aren't the Packers.  They aren't susceptible to the run, and they aren't soft in coverage.  This is a solid group who will make a quarterback earn every point.  Alex Smith is proving a very capable field general.  He doesn't have to make every extravagant throw, and he proved last week that he can run with some authority.  That's something Eli has shown little aptitude for.  The front four for the Giants are good at pass rush, very effective against Rodgers, but they lack the shift to run defense and Gore knows how to exploit that.

Weather won't be an issue.  Perhaps earthquakes or lighting issues will.  It's all on the D's and San Fran simply is better.  I don't think this will be all that high-scoring but ... My wife is calling this.

New York - 24, San Fransisco - 31  (my pick would be 16 to 24)

Baltimore Ravens (2) at New England Patriots (1)

Well looky here.  I've finely found a team (other than the Raiders) that I dislike more than the Hatriots.  Of course, that would be Art Modell's bastard Baltimore step-child, the Ravens.  They are dirty and I haven't a doubt about that.  They win by intimidation.  Except the Patriots don't easily intimidate.  So, it's the Lawful Evil of Belichick against the Chaotic Evil of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.  My money would be on the Hatriots.  Defense may win championships, but dirty defense can't compensate for weak offense, especially if the officials are doing their job.  That is precisely what Flacco offers.  Ed Reed was right to call him out.  He is not playing like a championship quarterback, and the internal team struggle will manifest itself in Foxboro. 

For no known reason, the Patriots' defense has been the worst in league most of the season.  They didn't look that against the Broncos.  The Texans showed New England the exact path to victory.  Oher can be duped and Flacco is flappable.  I expect pressure on Flacco most of the game, and Flacco can run, but not even close to like Tebow.  On the flip side, the Ravens couldn't seem to pressure a rookie with pass rush, but pressured him with coverage instead.  Does anyone really think that Brady will fall for such stunts?  He has a 5 progression check down, and is the fastest in the NFL at going through it.  I'm kind of thinking that Brady will throw for 350 yards, and that's grossly conservative. 

The other thing that the Ravens couldn't do was stop Arian Foster.  Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis isn't Arian Foster, but he's pretty good.  And Danny Woodhead, a tiny little tot, surprises the most aggressive linebackers with his power and speed.  Get him in space and he'll kill you.  That is precisely what Belichick will do.  Expect some runs from the tight ends as well.

Since the beginning of the season, we've all listened to the pundits tell us how these Ravens are better than the team that won the Super Dooper Bowl.  Maybe they are.  But they are not better than teams that challenge them.  The Patriots win this.

Baltimore - 27, New England - 34

Divisional Playoffs - 2012

I didn't have the time to post my picks for the Wildcard round, which is just as well since I only went 2-2.  I sincerely thought that Dalton and the Bengals could take advantage of the severely injured Texans.  Kubiak and Phillips are proving to be a very formidable coaching combination.  And let's be honest here.  There may have been a few people who thought the Broncos could beat the Steelers, but if anyone tells you they knew how the Broncos would beat the Steelers, then they are lying their asses off.  I knew how they *could* beat the Steelers; I 've written it here before. McCoy needed to take the chains off of Tebow and let him play the game he is comfortable with.  That's what McCoy did, but I sure didn't expect it to happen.  The reason the Broncos won is because neither did Dick LeBeau.

So, all of the top seeds advance, and the team with the third best conference record goes home.    Before anyone accuses me of hypocrisy, I want to reiterate what I wrote last year.  No team without a winning record should be in the playoffs.  I held that last year, when the Seahawks hosted a game with a losing record.  I haven't changed my mind this year at all, just because the Broncos made it with a record of 8-8.  I'm certainly more sympathetic to the argument that 'the fans love it', but I don't think you'd get that response from Pittsburgh right now.   Still, at least for the moment, the Bronco's have a winning record and they go to the East coast.

NFC

New Orleans Saints (3) at San Francisco 49's (2)

I will go ahead and predict that Jim Harbaugh is the Coach of the Year.  I personally think it should be John Fox, but Harbaugh didn't just take the Niners from worst to first in division.  He took them to the number 2 seed in the NFC, and 8 of his players were selected to the Pro-Bowl.  This is a fine team based on power football.  Drew Brees, on the other hand is peaking.  He is almost automatic anymore, and lookee here, he has a running game to work with.  A lot is being made of the fact that Brees isn't as good 'outside'.  We're not talking about Green Bay in January (yet).   This is the city by the Bay.  I don't think the venue will affect the Saints at all.  This all boils down to whether the Niner's D can withstand the yardage onslaught of New Orleans.  As good as they are, I am unconvinced that they can.

New Orleans - 31, San Francisco - 24

New York Giants (4) at Green Bay Packers (1)

Here's your likeliest upset of the weekend (not saying there won't be others, or that this will be).  The Packer's defense has looked awfully mediocre most of the season.  Funny thing, though.  When they have to make plays, they do.  The real question for the Pack is the O-Line against a Giants front that has come on recently.  This isn't just stopping Jared Allen or Ndomukong Suh.  The entire front four of the Giants are hell-on-wheels when they play well.  Lately, they have been. I got a kick out of listening to the Sunday pundits telling me all about how the Giants were one and done.  Have they totally forgotten that the Giants have never been the same in the playoffs as they have been during the regular season?  Oh, and that Eli guy really is the elite quarterback folks were laughing at him for stating last year.   Still, Aaron Rodgers finds a way to get things moving.  Of all quarterbacks playing, he reminds me the most of a seasoned John Elway.  If nothing presents itself, he conjures something good.  I think this might boil down to the venue of those SOCIALIST commie Packers.

New York - 18, Green Bay - 24

AFC

Denver Broncos (4) at New England Patriots (1)

Yes, they played each other 4 weeks ago, and 'Brady schooled Tebow on quarterbacking'.  Uhhhh, no.  The Broncos handed the ball to the Patriots 3 times resulting in 17 points.  The Patriots won by 18.  You do the math.  The Patriots scored when given the opportunity, and the Broncos gave them those.  This will likely not be that game.  The Broncos will have to remember three things.  1)  Don't turn the ball over.  That one is fundamental.   2)  Speed kills.  The Broncos are faster than New England at the receiver position, the lines, the defense and the quarterback.   Last meeting, the Broncos tried to control the pace of the game.  Open it up and let the players play.  3)  Brady can't use his gaudy number of weapons if you run the ball 3 ways, hard fast and continuously.   The problem for Denver is indeed that Brady has a gaudy number of weapons.  But just for the record, no, the NE tight-ends are not faster than the Denver linebackers can cover.  Still, experience matters, and I think that's what carries this game.

Denver -13, New England - 28

Houston Texans (3) at Baltimore Ravens (2)

I hate the Ravens, okay?  I want Houston to kick their ass, period.  TJ Yeats has been phenomenal as a rookie QB, and the Texans D is better (and certainly cleaner) than the Ravens.  This is the game I'm calling based on emotion.

Houston - 27, Baltimore -21

 

Update:  It's early, but I may have been wrong about that San Fran defense.  Maybe too the offense.

Update:  Hell, I was wrong  about the San Fran offense.

The Raiders

Eric quips:

I just wish that my RAIDERS had gotten the job done against the Chargers and that they were in the playoffs.

Dude,  you do realize that the Raider's fortunes are never going to change while they remain the most penalized team in the NFL, right?  Most of their penalties happen on defense, but way too many on offense as well.  You can't give the opponent 100 yards and expect to win.  I think Hue Jackson was confused.  He wasn't meant to bring the Raiders a sense of enthusiasm or destiny.  He was meant to bring them discipline, and he failed miserably.  The younger Davis, of poor dress and worse haircut, apparently doesn't share his father's romance with the game.  He wants wins and profit.  I'm sorry, Eric.  I think your team is destined for the cellar for at least another few years.

Every team save one in the AFC West has hired two head coaches in the last three years.  The only team with consistency is the one which has gotten consistently worse since Norv Turner's tenure began.  The Chiefs will likely do well with Romeo.  The Raiders are stuck in inconsistent hell.  They traded away too many picks for Palmer, and now they're stuck with him regardless of what they can build, regardless of who wishes to coach for the impatient and petulant Davis.  The Broncos have found a winner in Fox, and I suspect they'll keep him for many years.  John Elway has much to do with that.  The Chargers?  Who knows.  They've got one of the best receivers in football, and one of the best tight ends of all time.  They have a guy who can legitimately contend for elite status at quarterback.  Look at the scenario, and I don't think the Raiders are much for being a team  to expect great things of. 

Sorry, Eric.  The Raiders have an epic reputation, but it probably isn't going to be satisfying being a fan for a while.

 

A Few Thoughts On The NFL and Distractions

Time has been limited for me. That's probably an understatement.  I have had little (awake) free time and I've chosen to spend it with my many greatest loves, my wife, my animals and NFL Football.  Reviewing my last post, and inspired by comments therein, and an email or many over the years, I would just like to throw a few thoughts out.

There are those who deride football as being a waste of concern.  There are those who think the undo influence exerted by players is a net bad for society.  There are those who believe that fostering certain ideas are politically bad due to the awful tie between dogma and leadership.  It's not that I think any of those people to be wrong, per se.  I just don't really care.

See, I love NFL football.  I have watched the sport since I was 5 years old, and to this day my admiration for it and study of it has not waned one bit.  Anyone is welcome to suggest that it manipulates my emotions based on  lizard brain stimulus.  Fine.  I get that.  So what?  Most of the functions that give people joy are the very same.  Sex, strenuous activity, drugs, competition at any level, seeing friends succeed just as the disappointment of seeing them fail, religion, music, dancing, hobbies, political advocacy.  All manipulate the emotions  in the same manner that football does for me, if not to same intensity.

I don't like religion mixed with my football.  I like politics mixed even less.  The problem with Tebow is that folk think they have to mix them both with a guy who really has no say in the direction of either.  He's a football player and that's what he can control.  Right now, he's thrilling me to no end.  He plays good football.  If people in the Flathead want to idolize him, really, so what?  People believe what they want to believe. There is no forcing them to idolize what is healthier for 'mankind'.  There is no fostering of behavior that we see as worse than what has come before.  Tim Tebow can speak to these folk and make no difference to their thinking at all.  Yet we'd rather he not do it?  Why?

It is an insistence, a nagging reminder of a well wornout canard.  The underlying axiom is that football is a grand distraction from 'bigger things'.  To which I can only respond that no, it's a distraction from 'different things'.  We are human beings, each one running a unique mental program of unimaginable complexity.  Our stimuli are unique, our moral codes very personal and our interests well varied - even among singular individuals.  What's common is that we all have stimuli and interests which inform our moral codes.  What else is common is that we all have distractions.  Those can only be seen as bad if we have a society pre-convinced that many personal values should be universal, and that distractions from those values is a net harm.  Fine.  I accept that and simply submit that distractions are necessary activity for the human animal.  Some are destructive to the host and society.  Some are shared activity among like stimulated folk.  It shouldn't be a mystery that I come down in the camp of the latter.

To bring this back to Tebow, part of this post is in reaction to Pete Talbot's comment below.  I don't highlight that to insult it, but rather to applaud it.  Pete made a very clear distinction between Tebow the Player and Tim the Evangelical fostering bad behavior among others who foster bad behavior.  I appreciate that distinction a great deal, because it feels very natural to me.  I don't care about Tim the Evangelical save that I agree with Pete about bad behavior from those folk.  Craig Moore responded in defense and Pete has accepted the challenge.  The interchange is fine, enjoyable even.  It peaks my interest.  That's because they're discussing politics and a moral code in critique of the stimulus of religion.  That's not a stimulus I'm personally invested in, and politics/religion are deep interests of mine.  What they're not talking about is how lame my personal distraction is.  What they're not talking about is a quarterback.  My quarterback.

When Tebow comes in March, I may be right there in my tut-tutting of his tutalage.  But I remember this clearly.  As a good liberal I was morally outraged by the very thought of Tim and his Mom doing an ANTI-abortion commercial during the SUPER BOWL!  I saw it.  You know what?  It wasn't offensive at all.  It's base message was "think of what could happen in the world with the life of this baby."  The thing most on the right miss is that most women going in for an abortion already think about those things.  What get's missed on the left is that Tebow and his mother were advocating a *choice*.  Football gained him the popularity for his pulpit, but he wasn't speaking for the NFL, the NCAA, for fans or for any who love football as football.  If you want to hold to the idea that Tim the Evangelical is a bad person and or bad for society, that's fine.  He's an entertainer, like any other, and how far one goes to condemn him is equally measured by how far one goes to enforce their own moral code.  It doesn't his play on the field, now does it?

Football is a distraction, agreed.  Many employers hate it because it distracts from productivity.  Many persons hate it for personal reasons, such as that they've encountered football players behaving badly.  Many hate it because they find it an abhorrently violent ground acquisition struggle of pointless merit and minimal return to the nature of good.  Many hate it because it is a big money business.   So what?  Many have a difficult time with disagreement, that's what.  That also seems universal to the human animal.  I'm not a big fan of poetry, dramatic readings, interpretive dance, modern pop-music, the Baltimore  Ravens, RAP, poorly written horror, conspiracy theories and stupid people.  These are distractions that clearly don't work for me, but obviously work for others.  The only reason my distractions would cause reaction, and yours would cause reaction with me, is that we disagree.  Tim Tebow appears to be a point, a focus, of great disagreement.  I would submit that disagreement is proof that a distraction actually matters.

This Really Pisses Me Off To No End!

(Bonus points if you know the origin of that quote.)

Tim Tebow is coming to Montana; Kalispell, more specifically.   He's the carrot for a Christian school fundraiser in March.  He will speak of football, his life experiences and his faith.  Given his obvious charm, he will no doubts enthrall the assembled donors.  I've no problem with that.

But he is my quarterback, for good or ill.  And I'm already tired and annoyed by the attacks against Tim Tebow the person hidden within complaints against his football skill.  So lets get a few things clear, 'kay?

Tim Tebow is mostly what Christians aspire to be.  He's also what many of us wish Christians in general would be.  He is (as indicated) charming, humble, humorous, giving of himself, thankful, faithful, very hard working and committed.   There are those who've asked many times and I ask the same question:  What's not to like?  He's a good man, who may or may not ever become a great NFL quarterback.  American sensibilities have changed somewhat about what is a good man, and I think most would have been pleased if he had entered the news confab after the Pittsburgh game, muscular arms spread wide, screaming "Are you not entertained?"  (Small points if you know that quote.)

There are those who absolutely must point out that "Tebow worships a magic sky fairy ~snicker~"  Uhm, fine.  I would ask this:  Tebow doesn't deride you to accept his religion.  Why would you deride him to accept yours?

Then there are those who want desperately to believe that Tim Tebow makes them feel bad.  These are mostly the ones who just wish he would quit talking about his faith.  I see no reason why he would or he should. It's still magical thinking.  'Tebow gives credit to his God but he should make that private because somehow it will be bad - while he wins games.  Personally, I don't give a crap if he gives credit to his toilet bowl, as crazy as that would be.   Tebow followed his path and he likes it, so others want to believe that he's looking down on them because their results weren't as stellar or what-have-you.  That's mostly fear and jealousy.  If you feel bad because Tebow wears his faith in the open, then I suggest you commit to your path as he has committed to his.

There are those already who suggest that Tim's Christian piety is an act, a hustle, a grift.  Show what you know.  Tim Tebow works his ass off, and people aren't as stupid as one would expect.  If Tebow were running a hustle he would be exposed as simply as Ryan Leaf or as complexly as JaMarcus Russell.  Tebow wins games.  He competes.  If he is running a hustle to give God the credit, then all power to him.  I'm a Bronco fan.  I like the Broncos winning games.  And most high-profile wide receivers are grifters anyway ...  (So what did happen to Randy Moss and Terrell Owens? ...)

I like Tim Tebow and look forward to seeing him after 7 months of working with John Elway.  John Fox should be the Coach of the Year (though Jim Harbaugh likely has that won.)  If Tebow wants to come to Montana to raise money for schooling then good on him.  I truly don't care.  His faith is part of what makes him an exciting draw to watch.  For me, he is my quarterback.  So, bring on New England.

Touchdown Jesus

Like many a Bronco fan, I am terribly conflicted concerning Mr. Timmy Tebow.  When the Boy Disaster Hoody McJunior traded the Bronco cash cow for the magic Tebow beans, I was mortified.  I understand why he did it.  McDaniels thought himself some kind Dr. Quarterbackstein who could create an unstoppable hybrid monster of this athlete from hell.  No.  In my 40+ years of watching professional football, the only genius at developing quarterbacks I will acknowledge is Gary Kubiak (okay, maybe Mike Martz.)  In truth, most players are what they are coming out of college.  Their skills develop and refine, but they will remain what they were fresh out of the box.  When it comes to quarterbacks, either they will fit a system, a system will be developed to fit them, or they will fail.  The best example I can give is Vinny Testeverde.  He was expected to be the savior of Tampa Bay.  But a system which required 50 passes a game without the o-line to protect that and no running game essentially ruined the career of a man who could have been great in the NFL, in the right system.  Bill Belichick, on the other hand, took a weak, frail, slow but unreal accurate passer boy and turned him into a Hall of Famer.  The problem with McDaniels drafting Tebow is that no one, inside or out of the Bronco organization, knew what he intended to do with the boy.  Under McDisaster, the Broncos were a pass-first team with a very limited running game and a defense built solely on the talents of an old  safety (Dawkins), an old cornerback (Bailey) and a phenomenal defensive lineman/linebacker (Dumervil).  Dumervil and Bailey got injured.  The Broncos traded away one the best receivers in the league (Brandon Marshall), a great tight end (Tony Sheffler) and one of the best running backs they had, (Payton Hillis).  So you really have to ask:   What did McDaniels expect to get out this expensive first rounder, a fullback?

As a football fan, one of the happiest days of my life was when Mc-Denial-s got his walking papers.  Good luck with St. Louis, Josh ... whoops.   In come John Fox and John Elway, stuck with the personnel left them, including Tim Tebow.  Here is where shit gets real by getting very unreal.  During his tenure with the Broncos, Kyle Orton was a very good passing quarterback (one of the league's best).  But he simply couldn't get the ball across the goal line.  Under McDaniels that was blamed on the lack of a running game.  But this year it became very evident that it was actually much on Orton.  There simply was no touchdown love, unless Tebow was in the game.  I'm not attempting to explain it; I simply can't.  Orton went 1-4 as a starter in 2011.  The fans were panicking; Elway was celebrating*; I was depressed.

All that any of us heard, since Tebow was drafted, was how he couldn't play quarterback in the NFL.  He has happy feet.  He will get injured.  He can't throw the ball.  He won't stay in the pocket.  He can't read defenses.  His mechanics are all wrong.  He is inaccurate.  He doesn't have a quick release.  He is Releegiousss!  But the fans wanted Tebow, and I wasn't much in disagreement.  Who could blame us, really?  The man won two national championships, appeared in a third and won the Heisman trophy.   The Miami game was a perfect start.  The rest is history.  As a starter in the NFL, Tebow is 7-3.  This year he is 6-1.  Face it, the guy wins football games.  Every week, he gets better and every week, the Broncos look stronger.  That's not all Tebow.  It is the system.  The Broncos' defense is outstanding, and their running game is terrifying.  Fox knows how to win with this guy more than Elway does.  This is punch mouth football, the likes of which Bronco fans haven't seen since 1998.

Jimmy Johnson and Brian Billick broke down Tebow's throwing motion, and what they say is encouraging.  He holds the ball low, before his throwing motion begins.  That's bad.  Usually, that leads to turnovers, save that Tebow knows the response to pressure.  When he raises the ball, it is quick and that leads to some inaccuracy on the short passes.  Agreed.  His release is powerful, but not quick.  That sounds like another Denver quarterback I am familiar with.  Everybody seems to have a problem with the whole 'left-handed' thing.  The quickest release from a quarterback I've ever seen was from a left-hander, one Boomer Esiason.   That is an an issue of practice.  Against Minnesota, Tebow completed passes from the pocket, one of which should have been a touchdown and one that was.  He also completed a touchdown on the run from the sidelines, like another Denver quarterback I could name ... Billick kept saying that stacking 8 in the box would nuetralize Tebow by keeping him in the pocket.  He said that right before Tebow threw a touchdown pass from the pocket.

Simply put, this guy wins.  I don't know what else to say.  I can't say it any better than Percy Harvin did:

"I was sure enough hoping we were going to get him, but I've been on his teams," Harvin said, adding: "He's a winner. He's a leader. All of the things you hear about, you may think it's too much, but that's what he is."

Tebow wins football games.  I don't care about his religion, and I am not a member of his "cult".  Tbogg consistently hopes that Tebow will fail, with his "There will be Teblood" series.  Maybe there will be Teblood.  I expect that there will be downs as well as ups.  But Tebow wins football games.  That's good enough for me.  His passing motion will get better, as it has every week.  His accuracy will get better, as it has every week.  Tebow may actually be this bizarre hybrid that McDaniels saw him as.  No one works harder than he does.  No one tries harder than he does.  As a Bronco fan, that works for me.

 

*Elway is stewing and angry.  He wants a "mini-me" so bad he can taste it, and that means only Andrew Luck.  What John doesn't recognize is that Tebow shares his greatest qualities.  Tim has a strong arm, Tim has happy feet that can actually accomplish the scramble and win and Timmy Tebow has the burning desire to win every game. John needs to get a grip ...

2011 Picks - AFC

I don't see very much changing in the AFC between last year and this.  A few of those changes could be significant, however.

AFC East

The Jets had the swagger last year.  They likely will this year as well.  They resigned  Santonio Holmes and acquired Plaxico Burress.  Wouldn't it be nice if they had a better quarterback to throw their way?  Sanchez is good, but he showed fear in the face of a strong defense last year.  He'd best get over that, I think.

The Patriots have added power at most every position they needed to.  Albert Hainsworth with be in his element, leading an aggresive and speedy defense.  I'm counting on Dane Fletcher getting at least 4 sacks this year and he better not disappoint me!  The Gronkowski brothers add consistent depth at tight end.  Wes Welker is healthy and joined by another huge threat down the field.  It has always been my belief that Chad Johnochosincoson is a dedicated and talented receiver, awaiting a team that used his talents and appreciated them, regardless of his theatrics.  He isn't that half-effort pissant Randy Moss.  Chad will play for the Patriots, and Brady will look all the better for it.

Buffalo ... I got nothing.  Merriman is a cure for absolutely nothing on defense, save lines on an injury report.  He's an aspirin for an amputation.  The only bright spot is Ryan Fitzpatrick, a perennial back-up who has the chops to lead a team, and the talent to look good while doing it.  I think they'll improve from 4-12 to 5-11.

Miami is intriguing, but keep in mind that I'm not a Henne hater.  He's looked good in pre-season throwing to one of the best WR in the league, Brandon Marshall.  They'll be better than Buffalo, but not by much.

1)  New England Patriots, at least the number 2 seed in the playoffs

2)  New York Jets, playoffs almost certain

3)  Miami Dolphins

4)  Buffalo Bills

AFC North

There's a lot of folks real high on the Baltimore Browns .. er ... Cleveland Ravens ... Baltimore blackbirds.   I don't really see why.  Flacco is good, but hasn't shown any ability to throw off a rush the way a certain other AFC North quarterback does.    The Ravens defense is still formidable (dirty) but aging by the minute.  This is not a team on the rise.  They are still formidable, and I expect them to be a wild card in the playoffs.

Ben Rottensburger still has some of the best numbers in the AFC, and in the NFL.  The Steelers are the cream of the North, despite their holes on defense.  They will make it happen.

One of the worst trades it has ever been my sad experience to witness was Payton Hillis for Brady Quinn.  Hillis came in for the MASH unit of the Broncos as a 7th stringer and more than pulled his weight.  And now he's putting up tough and gaudy numbers for the Browns.  Colt McCoy is proving himself a true leader, and Massaquoi is poised for a breakout year.  They will rule Ohio.

If there is a worse ownership/management in the league than Cincinnati, I'm not aware of it.  Paul Brown is spinning in his grave and cursing his sons.  A possible future Hall of Famer walked away from Paul Brown Stadium in anger and the ownership deserved it.  Carson Palmer was right to 'retire'.  This team sucks, and I truly hate them.  I predict that they will win the 'Andrew Luck' lottery, and if I were Luck, I would immediately demand a trade to a team that matters.  Worst in the NFL - the Bungals.

1)  Pittsburgh Steelers

2)  Baltimore Ravens

3) Cleveland Browns

4)  Cincinnati Bungels.

AFC South

This whole division boils down to how long Payton Manning is on the sidelines.  I hate to write that, but it's true.  Indianapolis owns the AFC South if Payton Manning is playing.  If not ...

Tennessee has the second worst management in the NFL.  They signed Chris Johnson last minute, in a division that features Arian Foster.  ~sigh~

Have I mentioned that Houston has Arian Foster?

WTF was Jacksonville thinking cutting David Gerard a week before season open?  Luke McCown?  For real?  Are they trying to be the Bengals?  This is a tough division.  It still won't matter when  ...

1)  Indianapolis Colts

2)  Houston Texans

3)  Tennessee Titans

4)  Jacksonville Jaguars, struggling for a top 5 draft pick

AFC West

Vincent Jackson is not holding out.  Antonio Gates is not injured.  Phillip Rivers has the opportunity to be among the elite of the NFL.  The San Diego defense, best in the league in 2010, is poised to be even better in 2011.  Tough schedule?  No problem.  San Diego wins this division, hands down.

Kansas City remains static.  They have a running game, and a fair defense, and they have a tough schedule.  blah blah blah ...  I see them as third tier in a weaker division.  Castle shows skills, but he needs a running game that has been shown susceptible, and the rest of the AFC West has protected themselves against that.  Last year they were 2-4 in division.   I don't expect any improvement on that.

The Raiders have lost some and gained tidbits.  It doesn't really matter.  Jason Campbell can actually direct them to a respectable record, given that this is likely the fastest team in the NFL.  Darren McFadden is a beast, and no Bobcat fan will ever forget the hurt that Taiwan Jones can put on a team, should he break the field.  Still, the loss of Asomugha is bad, very bad.

~sigh~  My Broncos.  Many are predicting them to be the 31 tagged bridesmaid.  I'm not convinced, unless Elway really wants Andrew Luck that badly.  SI thinks the Broncos go 4-12 again.  I'm thinking 6-10.

1)  San Diego Chargers

2)  Oakland Raiders

3)  Kansas City Chiefs

4)  Denver Broncos

2011 Picks - NFC South, NFC West

Figured I'd better get this part done before tomorrow's game between NO and GB.

It's a toss up as to whether the most talented team in the NFC is Green Bay Packers or the New Orleans Saints.  I'd have to pick the Saints.    As a Bronco fan, I've seen Darren Sproles make defensive backfields look like the keystone cops once he breaks the plane.  All apologies to fans of Aaron Rodgers, but Drew Brees is simply the best quarterback  in the NFC.  I'm not saying that New Orleans will win Thursday's match up, but that game could well be the preview of the NFC championship.

No term describes the Atlanta Falcons better than 'solid'.  They are solid on offense and defense.  Matt Ryan is probably the most underrated quarterback in the league, and the Falcons balance their offense better than most any team in the NFL.   Still, injuries in the Big Easy helped Atlanta to the best record in the NFC last year.  Remove the 'good luck' factor, and they are still second best in the division.

Plucky kids.  That's the way to describe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  This is a good team, improving quickly.  Josh Freeman is proving that he can have star power, and Tampa can finally rely on some consistency in offense.  If any team is better poised to play spoiler, I don't see it.

I admit, I am a fan of Cam Newton.  He is wickedly athletic, but like most Southern ball players he still has to adjust to the NFL game beyond just the spread offense.  I think the best off-season acquisition for the Panthers was probably Jeremy Shockey ... if he can stay healthy.  Carolina needn't worry about having the first draft pick, though they will still be bottom tier in the NFC.

1)  New Orleans Sainst

2)  Atlanta Falcons

3)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though not likely by much.

4)  Carolina Panthers

Last year, I predicted that Pete Carroll would have a hard time adjusting his rah-rah style to the NFL.  He has shown nothing to offer confidence in his choices this year.  Getting Zack Miller out of Oakland was a smart move, probably smarter than getting Sydney Rice at WR.  Tarvarus Jackson is a weak spot.  He can't hit Rice if he has the happy-feet.  (Keep in mind, I *like* Tarvarus Jackson.  I'm just not convinced that he can lead a division champion yet.)  That defense remains so weak up front, and the linebackers aren't much to brag about either.  No depth on defense.  I'll be somewhat surprised if the Seahawks repeat their division winning performance of 7-9.

'Couldn't be happier that the Niners finally have a coach worth a damn.  I wonder how long it will take Jim Harbaugh to realize that Alex Smith is not the quarterback of the future, or even the now.  But hey, I think Frank Gore will have a good year.

Arizona is the wild-card in the whole of the NFC.  Kevin Kolb definitely has talent, and Larry Fitzgerald shows the potential of breaking all kinds of single season records.  The defense is suspect, but in an entire division of 'suspect', that may not matter.  This is easily the weakest division in football.

If I had to pick the most intriguing team in football, and I do, it would be the St. Louis Rams.  Sam Bradford is an elite quarterback waiting to bust out of a newb's shell.  I am willing to forgo my Bronco bitterness and admit that Josh McDaniels is one helluva good offensive coordinator.  Have I mentioned that the Rams still have Steven Jackson force feeding the ball to defensive linemen?  The most exciting thing about the Rams is the aggression on their own defense.  They are young, talented and improving.  I've seen several predictions that have the Rams going 9-7.  I figure 10-6 or better, probably better.

1)  St. Louis Rams

2)  Arizona Cardinals

3)  San Fransisco 49ers

4)  Seattle Seahawks