NFL POWER RANKINGS

That glorious time of year is back!! The time when NFL sets out to prove why it is the dominate league, 32 teams will send the best players in the world out for 17 weeks for a chance to raise the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season. The New Orleans Saints shocked everyone when they defeated the league's poster bot Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. This year will more likely be no different, every year there is a team that comes from no where to surprise. Which will it be this year?

Based on what ESPN.com and NFL.com have with my own personal twist on it. Here are the teams ranked "least to beast" as I like to say, if you follow the league see where your team falls and why and if you don't follow but are going to give it a try here's who you should look out for. I look forward to hearing the opinions on this. So let's get started shall we...


32. St. Louis Rams

 

Steven Jackson is a beast  looking to have a winning season for the first time in his career, but they have way too many holes in way too many place. With only 1 win last year I honestly don't see them doing any better. Projected record 2-14.

31. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills added a young playmaker in C.J. Spiller at the running back position, but not really anything else. I like second year safety Jarius Byrd, I see alot of Ed Reed in this kid. Maybe I'm speaking too soon but I like what he brings to the table. But with no QB and no real defense to speak of the Bills are just another team with a  rebuilding stage that is far from over. Projected record 3-13.

30. Tampa Bay Bucs

Tampa is young and athletic. But their youth is what is going to hurt them, I don't see enough veterans on  this team to make any strong moves up the ladder. And being in the same division  as the Saints, Falcons and Panthers doesn't help their cause. I like Josh Freeman but i just don't see enough for them to be a strong contender or to be taken seriously for that matter. Projected record 3-13

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew is the best player in the Entire NFL..Under 6 foot that is. He alone is the reason the Jaguars can be a dangerous team every year being as though he is worth 5-6 wins on his own. But being more worried about fantasy football and not the real deal may come back to haunt him. The Jags QB situation is still in question, it seems to me that David Garrard seems to be getting worse instead of better. And in this league you can't afford to go backwards. Projected record 5-11

28. Kansas City Chiefs 

Predicted as the next big ball hawking safety, Eric Berry steps in as the chiefs best player. However, thats not a good thing. Berry will be asked to be to the Chiefs what Reed is to the Ravens and Polamalu is the the Steelers, a huge task to ask of a rookie. But Berry is up to that challenge, I like this kid and I like his confidence but I don't feel that same respect for the Chiefs. Jamal Charles will be a good player for them but the team isn't one that has come together completely yet. But Honestly I don't feel like they are that far off. Projected record 6-10

27. Cleveland Browns

The Browns have one of the Top 50 best players in the NFL (that list on the way) in Joshua Cribbs. He can run, catch, pass, return kicks and play special teams. The only downside is that the rest of the Browns could do none of that But the Browns have upside I like the addition of Jake Delhomme at QB, Jarome Harrison is coming into his own at running back and the addition of Sheldon Brown and Joe Haden to Eric Wright at corner back makes them one of the best secondaries in football. I like what Mike Holmgren is building in Cleveland I see big things for them. Projected record 6-10.

26. Detroit Lions

I was Big on the Detroit lions last year before the season, yes I know they were coming off a season where they didn't win a single game, and yes I Know that they only won 2 games last year but I'm going out on a limb here and saying that they will be good. I'm not going to say better then last year because that will be too easy but good. Matthew Stafford is in his second year along with Brandon Pettigrew at TE, they add Nate Burleson to Calvin Johnson so Stafford will have plenty of toys to play with. And they had one of the better drafts picking up Ndamukong Suh at DT and speedy running back Jahvid Best, another toy for Stafford to play with. Suh joins DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, S C.C. Brown and CBs Chris Houston and Dre Bly to a revamped defense. I maybe the only person again but I'm big on the Lions again. Projected record 7-9

25. Chicago Bears

The Bears are big on Jay Cutler, but I'm not. The Bears trust Jay Cutler, but I don't. The Bears and many other people like this guy but.. well you get the point. Mike Martz comes in as offensive coordinator to make this offense explosive. Too bad you can't do that with no QB and bad receivers! Then why are they 25th you ask? Because the defense healthy and remember the last time they had a defense that was healthy. They ended up in the Super Bowl. I may not like Cutler and the offense but  if he can put at least 14-17 points on the board the D can bring home some games. Projected record 7-9

24. Arizona Cardinals

Yes, The Arizona Cardinals the same Cardinals that it took a miracle catch to beat in the Super Bowl only two seasons ago. However the Cards had a HOF QB under center then, any team with Larry Fitzgerald should be a team to look out for but I don't see them having the same swagger as the past couple of year without Kurt Warner. Look for them to take steps back but I still like them to be tough match ups for most teams. Projected record 8-8

23. Denver Broncos

I like Tim Tebow but I don't know if he is an NFL QB just yet. They have gotten rid of their best weapon in Brandon Marshall and have lost NFL Sack leader Elvis Dumervil for the season. I love the pick up of Jamal Williams but thats just not going to be enough to me, Dawkins and Bailey are both up in age and look to hold the team together. I like Knowshon Moreno and Eddie Royal on offense I just don't see any big jump from where they were last year with what they have. Projected record 8-8

22. Seattle Seahawks

Matt Hasselbeck is healthy, that is bad news for the rest of the NFC west because the last time he was healthy in 2005 he took his team to the Super Bowl. Pete Carroll has added some good talent around him in Leon Washington, Russell Okung at LT and Golden Tate at receiver. He (Carroll) is also is taking a big chance on WR bust Mike Williams hoping that he can regain that USC form under his former coach, and the way he's looked this pre-season there is a good chance thats possible. Add in T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a healthy Deion Branch with John Carlson and I like the Seahawks to be back to that high powered offense form. Projected record 8-8

21. Carolina Panthers

I'm high on Carolina, they ended the season last year on a good note and they also get back a top 5 receiver back in Steve Smith. They figured out the QB situation with Matt Moore getting the job and what I believe to be a capable backup in Jimmy Clausen. Plus, they know their role they are a run first team and they don't get away from that and try to be anything else. They have "Smash and Dash" or as they like to be called now "The Hardy Boyz" in DeAngelo Williams (a top ten back in this league) and Jonathon Stewart (arguably the best backup in the league). I like their look the D looks good with Jon Beason Moving to outside LB and I honestly don't think losing Julius Peppers will make a big difference. Projected record 8-8

20. Oakland Raiders

Maybe I'm drinking the Raider kool-aid too early but all I know is the only issue that this team had last year was their QB situation. Exit JaMarcus Russell and enter Jason Campbell. I like what Campbell brings to the team, a person willing to work and willing to lead and look out for their young receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and they already have a good TE in Zach Miler. The Defense will pick up where they left off as one of the best in football adding John Henderson to Richard Seymour, Nnamdi Asomugha, Thomas Howard, Tommy Kelly, and Kamerion Wimbley. Also drafting well on D with Lamarr Houston and Ronaldo McClain. Big year for the Raiders. Projected record 9-7

19. Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson believes he is the best back in the NFL and its hard to argue. 2,006 rushing yard and 2,509 yards from scrimmage. No player in NFL history has had more yards from scrimmage in one season than Johnson. Not to mention he is clocked as the fastest man in NFL history. In a league with names like Barry Sanders, Darryl Green, Deon Sanders and new names such as DeSean Jackson, Felix Jones and Devery Henderson no one is clocked faster than Johnson. He believes that he can run for 2500 yards. But I don't know how that helps his team if they wear him down going for that kind of milestone. I like Vince Young and I really like Johnson but I only see them one win better than last year. Projected record 9-7

18. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers had a bad year by their standard last year. With loses to teams like the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns they basically eliminated themselves from the playoffs. Fast Forward to now they won't have Ben Roethlisberger for at least 4 games and they shipped their best receiver in Santonio Holmes to New York. They do get Aaron Smith and Troy Polamalu back on a defense that was still pretty good. I see them being about average however, after 4 games without your QB you will be doing more catching up than fending off. Projected record 9-7 

17. San Francisco 49ers

Patrick Willis is arguably the best LB in football and is the head of that good defense over there in Niner country. I love Frank Gore and the fact that they drafted offensive line so that they can feed him as often as possible. They have the attitude of their HOF head coach Mike Singletary, Vernon Davis has finally come into his own and looks to continue his great play. I like the Niners to win the west because they are the best team in a weak division. Projected record 9-7

16. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have a lot to proves especially the head coach. Yes, the head coach and not the QB I have to Kolb a full season before I can give a complete evaluation. I know he has to get better with his redzone decision making but thats something that comes with time. DeSean Jackson is a playmaker simply put and perhaps the second faster player in football next to Chris Johnson, I mean he is the only player in history to be selected to the pro bowl as both a receiver and a returner. Brent Celek is a beast at tight end. And LeSean McCoy looks to be their next Westbrook. The only reason I have them this low is because the QB is still unproven and the defense has a bunch of questions that still need to be answered. Tony Romo shredded them last year now they him twice and 10 other proven QBs and getting rid of Sheldon Brown and losing Marlon Jackson for the season didn't help. I like the look of the offense however and I honestly see big things for Kolb. Projected record 9-7

15. Washington Redskins

New coach in Mike Shanahan and a new QB in Donovan McNabb gives the redskins a new attitude. I originally had them lower but looking at it now they McNabb isn't in the same position he was in when he originally got to Philadelphia. He has 3 capable running backs who are all healthy now, Santana Moss is the head of a young talented receiving core along with Chris Cooley. And this is probably the best Defense McNabb has had since his Super Bowl run in 2004. I personally think Donovan is worth 5 wins by himself but pair him Shanahan who can make the best out QBs and receivers I see a good run out of Washington. Projected record 9-7

14. New York Giants

I like what Eli Manning has become and what Steve Smith is becoming. Along with Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, and Kevin Boss is another great talent inside the "tight end" East. Osi Umenyiora is going into his second year from his knee injury and the draft selection of Jason Pierre Paul will work wonders for them I feel plus the addition of Antrelle Rolle to gives them much needed help to that secondary. They ended the season poorly last year but mainly due to injury I see them winning 10 games because of what they get back from injury and what they've added. Projected record 10-6

13 Cincinnati Bengals

I like the Bengals a lot based on what we saw last year and based on the talent they've added in the off-season. The Defense has gotten healthy and the offense is just flat out stacked. But they do play in a tougher division so they will have a worse record than the Giants, but the reason I have them ahead of the Giants on this list is because I feel in a head to head the Bengals will beat the Giants. The get Odom back, who led the league in sacks before he got hurt. Carson Palmer needs to play better down the stretch and I don't believe they will sweep the division like last year but I do like them a lot. Projected record 9-7

12. Miami Dolphins

Remember earlier when I said someone will be that team that sneaks up on the league. I believe that will be the Dolphins. No one seems to be talking about them as much as the rest of the AFC and I honestly don't understand why. They did nothing in the off season but get better, they got Ronnie Brown back, they've replaced Ted Ginn with Brandon Marshall and Akin Ayodele with Carlos Dansby. Chad Henne in the second half of the season played better than QBs Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Joe Flacco, And Mark Sanchez. People are praising the Jets and he beat them twice. I like the Dolphin a bunch and I see big things for them. Projected record 10-6

11. Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White. This makes one of the best offenses in football. The Falcons are coming off back to back winning season and Ryan and Turner didn't even play the entire season last year. Posting a record of 9-7 I see them being one better, with the addition of Daunta Robinson to the defense they have something that they haven't had since DeAngelo Hall left for Oakland and thats a good cover corner. Projected record 10-6

10. Houston Texans

Not having Brian Cushings for the first 4-6 weeks will hurt on D and they are starting a rookie at CB. But they are one of the best teams in football at making adjustments and they are already on the cusp. They have the best WR in football in Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub is finally up in that count of top ten QBs in football. They just missed the playoffs by a sneeze and I don't see that being the case this year. They are really just too good in my opinion to be sitting at home this year in January. Projected record 10-6

9. New York Jets

I'm not as big on the Jets as everyone else is and the reason why is the QB. Last year Mark Sanchez threw 12 TDs and 20 INTs, now that seems to be OK to most people because they made it to the AFC championship game. But the fact that he basically showed no improvement later on the season just hasn't sat well with me and I still don't see anything that tells me he will be much better this year. And if they don't get Revis in then things don't look as good. But I would have to be crazy not to realize what they have added this year, Jason Taylor and Antonio Cromartie to already the best D in football, LT is looking like his old self and not just looking old and Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards along with Jericho Cotchery and Dustin Keller gives Sanchez a great group of talent that he will have for a long time. Projected record 11-5.

8. San Diego Chargers

I like Philip Rivers a lot more than Mark Sanchez and I like what I see so far in Ryan Matthews. I believe they will get their starting left tackle signed up and if Vincent Jackson gets into cap then they will be dangerous. The Defense has some question marks but we say that every year about the Chargers defense. They still have Antonio Gates and Darren Sproles can go back to the spell guy where he was best. The Chargers posted the longest winning streak in football last season and got eliminated from the playoffs because Jackson got stuck on Revis Island. Projected record 11-5

7. New England Patriots

Brady is Healthy, Moss is out to prove something and Welker looks like the knee wont be an issue. And last I checked Bill Belichek was still the head coach. The Defense came together last year and I don't believe they will have another embarrassing showing like they did in the first round last year. Remember as high as everyone was on the Jets the Patriots won the division. I have them with the same record as the Jets but I have them beating the Jets twice. Projected record 11-5

6. Minnesota Vikings

No Sidney Rice and not knowing what will happen with Percy Harvin brings the Vikings Down. I still like any team with Brett Favre under center, Adrian Peterson at running back and a Defense that led the league in sacks. I think that they will be good but I think that now with the concerns they have in Brett's last season it drops them below the Packers.I wouldn't get too comfortable seeing the Vikings early if I were teams or coaches because they still have a whole lot and ask San Francisco, Brett can beat you on his own. Projected Record 12-4

5. Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis made one really good point recently, that this defense hasn't allowed a TD this pre-season. Even with Ed Reed and 3 cornerbacks out early in the beginning of the season I honestly don't feel like they will miss a beat. Drafting big Cody from Alabama to put next to Ngata they are going to destroy the run. Now on the other side of the ball Joe Flacco has come into his own and with Ray Rice to hand it off to who wouldn't, but now he not only has that he has Anquan Boldin, Donte Stallworth added to Derrick Mason. A lot of Weapons and a lot of confidence in this team. I see a big year again. projected record 12-4

4. Dallas Cowboys

As Much as I would have LOVED to put them at the number 1 spot I would be just lying if I did so. They have the Best LB in football in DeMarcus Ware and arguably the best DT in Jay Ratliff. One of the best LB groups that you will find in the sport and a CB tandem that can cover any teams best 2 receivers. And I firmly believe no one has more weapons than Tony Romo, 3 good running backs, a great Tight End in Jason Witten, and 2 good back ups at the same spot and adding Dez Bryant to Miles Austin Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams with the biggest Offensive line in football. They are amped at the chance of trying to play in the Super Bowl in their house but in order to do that they have to stay focused, because its no secret when they are being highly praised they don't show up. Projected record 12-4

3. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers has learned a lot from Brett Favre because in only 2 seasons in starting he has moved into the top five QBs in all of the NFL. He has the chemistry with his receivers and TEs that puts this team ahead of the Vikings and the Cowboys. Not to mention the Defense was 2nd in the league in total Defense, and also has the Defensive Player of the Year in Charles Woodson, this D does two things that every team wishes they could do, get to the QB and create turnovers. And once they get those turnovers the Offense turns it into points. I like the Packers a lot I have the Packers and Cowboys in the NFC championship game. Projected record 13-3

2. New Orleans Saints

Its so difficult to not put the team that won it all in the number 1 slot but lets be honest, history is not on the side of the Who Dat Nation. Although they may still be celebrating in the streets of Nola we still have to see. I do like the fact that they bring back all but 1 starter and drafted for needs and not wants. Oh, they still have Drew Brees the second best QB in football and that will win you a hand full of games in itself. They are still packed at WR and look for Reggie Bush to have a good year this year. And that Defense led the league in scoring last year. I expect them to pick right up where they left off. Projected record 13-3

1. Indianapolis Colts

This is just a given Peyton Manning is the NFL's best player and happens to play on the NFL's best team. On D they have Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis rushing the passer and drafted Jerry Hughes just in case Freeney has trouble with that knee. Antoine Bethea has eclipsed Bob Sanders as the teams best Safety but Bob Sanders healthy is not a bad number 2. And on the other side, where do I start? The team didn't miss Marvin Harrison at all both Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne both had 100 catches, Austin Collie emerged as a good weapon for Peyton and Pierre Garcon is Peyton's new deep threat and Joseph Addai and Donald Brown are more than capable running backs to do everything with an Offensive line that doesn't allow defenses to even stare at Peyton Manning wrong let alone sack him. Did I mention Peyton Manning? The Same Peyton Manning who has averaged 12+ wins a season and only didn't go undefeated because they sat the last 2 games of the season. Simply put they are the best team in the league with something to prove. They feel like they should have won the Super Bowl and they are on a mission. Projected record 14-2

No Answ3rs L3ft?!!

Hey everybody, I'm sorry that I haven't blogged in a while I've been a little out of it. But now I'm back with plenty to speak on including; LeBron, Tiger, The Phillies and most important the NFL.

But first there is something that caught my attention that I just had to speak on. Allen Iverson!

Arguably the greatest player in NBA history under 6'0''.  Iverson for his career has averaged 26.7 points per game (PPG) ranking him 6th all time, placing him above names such as Oscar Robertson, George Gervin, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was labeled as a ball hog his entire career but what most people don't realize is that he ranks 36 in NBA history for total assist, averaging 6.2 APG for his career to go along with 2.3 SPG(steals per game), ranking 8th.

His awards and accomplishments run longer than his statistics -

• 95 Big East Rookie of the year, Big East Defensive player of the year, and Big East all rookie team.
• 96 Big East Defensive player of the year, First Team All-American, First Team Big East and selected 1st overall in the 1996 NBA Draft.
• 97 NBA Rookie of The Year and All Rookie First Team.
• 99 First team all NBA and NBA scoring champ with a 26.8 ppg average.
• 00 Second team all NBA
• 01 NBA All-Star MVP, NBA MVP, First team all NBA, NBA scoring champ averaging 31.1 ppg
• 02 NBA scoring champ with a 31.4 average, NBA steals leader averaging 2.80 SPG, Second team All NBA.
• 05 NBA All-Star MVP

The one question that the "Answer" can't seem to figure out is, why does a man with these accolades and game still to speak for can't find his way onto a team?

Well the answer is simple, Allen Iverson is NOT a team player. As great of a player he is he has always been a head case. He has clashed with every coach he has ever had with the exception of Larry Brown and John Thompson, he has always been lazy as evident with the historic "we talking bout' practice. Not a game but practice" quote. Now his lack of championship success can't be blamed entirely on him because the Sixers never put a valuable team around him, and the one year that they did they just ran into a better team in the NBA finals in the Lakers. But then again Iverson never really worked well with others, he publicly stated his disapproval in Philadelphia's decision to try and build the team around him and former guard Jerry Stackhouse, he never really was comfortable in the idea to help make now Sixers guard Andre Iguodala a better player by working with him in practice. And in the later years as he hit the trading block he publicly addressed wanting to play for a "contender" with no superstar.... That simply Doesn't exist.

Iverson is the clear case of the star that just doesn't understand that sometimes you can't go into battle alone, think of every Champion ever in any sport and you will always find the sidekick next to them. Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem, Bird had Parrish, Shaq had Kobe and then D-Wade. Think of different sports aswell Montana/Young had Rice, Aikman had Irvin and Emmit, even in boxing where people say that its the "ultimate me sport" not true! Ali had  Angelo Dundee, Tyson had Cusdmato, Point being when you pair people with one common goal of success then failure is almost impossible. 

I love Iverson as a player, he is my favorite all time because of what he could do at his size. But his attitude is what keeps him from being the superstar that everyone wishes that they had instead of being the player no one wants to take a chance on. It's sad to see such a great talent waste away in the purgatory of his own selfishness, One thing for sure is that Allen will always be loved in the hearts of the people of Philadelphia but it is clear that what we as a city saw in him the rest of the league doesn't see with the same vision.

Every superstars looks to leave the game on their own terms, Allen is basically being pushed out against his will. But what he must understand is that if you don't want to work with the league the league will definitely not work with you. If he doesn't ant to change his stance on his position in the NBA it's sad to say that we have seen the last of the answer. 

Leading The Flock

Being a Dallas Cowboys' fan I understand pressure, we as fans hold our team to certain standards and the Dallas Cowboys (being "America's Team") not winning a championship since 1996 is  just not acceptable to our standards. After guaranteeing to be in the Super Bowl, in Dallas, this year Tony Romo and the Boys have added more pressure on themselves than they've already had coming into this year. But living in the city of Philadelphia I can say that the team with the most pressure on themselves coming into this season is the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles' fan are the most passionate, most ruthless, but yet some of the most loyal fans you could ever have, every year they firmly believe that "this year is our year". For 10 years the Eagles have been one of football's elite teams, easily being the most dominate team in the NFC East during that time span posting a record of 39-25 in the division, making the playoffs 8 out of the last 10 years, with 5 NFC championship appearances and 1 Super Bowl appearance in 2004. But yet that is not enough!

Eagles fans demand more from their team, but starting last off-season the organization began to show that they would take away more to give the illusion that the team would actually meet the demands of the fans. Such as not paying 35 year old Safety Brian Dawkins. Believing Dawkins' skills had diminished the Eagles parted ways with the veteran for youth, a mistake the Eagles would soon regret as they didn't find a suitable replacement for the veteran. Dawkins however went on to have his best season as a pro recording 116 tackles (first time ever record 100+ tackles in a season), 11 passes defended and 2 interceptions. The Eagles defense struggled because of the move with their passing defense dropping from 3rd in the league to 17th and the team's total defense dropping from 3rd in the NFL to 12th.

The Eagles don't seem to have learned from past mistakes parting ways with veterans like CB Sheldon Brown, RB Brian Westbrook and probably the most important QB Donovan McNabb. McNabb being the most important because the Eagles traded McNabb to division rival Washington Redskins, one of the unwritten laws of the NFL ( DO NOT TRADE YOUR STAR WITHIN THE DIVISION). The Eagles by doing this are telling McNabb they are not afraid of him, but don't respect him as-well. 

The Eagles key problem is their youth, with youth comes excitement but it also brings immaturity. WR DeSean Jackson emerges as the team's best player and even though he is arguably the most exciting player in the NFL he has entirely too many weaknesses in his game and on many occasions last season showed his immaturity. His Maturity problems also came up this off-season when he publicly ripped QB Donovan McNabb, after McNabb's departure from Philadelphia and also making questionable comments about Eagles management due to contract disputes. The Eagles have never won a Super Bowl in the Team's 76 year existence and if they plan to do it this year then they will need a big year from Jackson. 

This is Jackson's team, the issue is that they go from a 1st ballot Hall of Famer under center to an unproven project in Kevin Kolb. No Team has been successful when a wide receiver can proclaim that "This is my team", that just can't be the case when this is a Quarterback's league. If you don't have a QB running the squad it's just not likely that you'll find success, just look at all the best teams in the NFL now; Colts(Peyton Manning), Patriots(Tom Brady), Saints(Drew Brees), Packers(Aaron Rodgers), Vikings(Brett Favre) and Cowboys(Tony Romo) etc. These are all teams that if you walk into their locker rooms there is no doubt in anyone's mind who the leaders are, the Eagles can't say the same and this is the pressure they've placed on themselves.

Andy Reid will surely be on the hot seat if the Kevin Kolb experiment doesn't work, Kolb, who wanted the opportunity to prove himself as a starter, will also have a short leash, if a new coach comes in, then he wont necessarily be labeled "The Guy". Jackson, who had an incredible season last year has to pick it up where he left off without a big arm QB to take advantage of his greatest asset, his speed. Which means less deep balls and more of going across the middle, something that is in question in DeSean's game. And last but not least the ownership will find themselves pressured to make a coaching change if this season isn't a success, the last finger was pointed at Donovan McNabb when the Eagles traded him, now there isn't anyone for Big Red to hide behind. All fingers will be pointed at him for every move that has been made this off-season. I know one thing is for sure, the Eagles fans have great expectations for this young team and will not tolerate another "better luck next year" ending.

Enough Is More Than Enough

There are somethings that are more important than anything, the number one thing that comes to mind after that statement is Life. But not to the NCAA, sometimes you have rules and I'm all for the whole "rules are meant to be followed", but I am also a firm believer that in many cases that rules are meant to be broken. but again leave it to the NCAA to make themselves bigger than even life itself.

The NCAA has a rule that allows them to regulate how much contact a member school can have with a prospective student athlete and their families, but in this situation it shows a flaw in a rule that clearly needs to be changed. 

Emil Smith was a Boise State football recruit that passed away in a car accident on July 18th in Hermet, California. His brother Dimitri Garcia, 22, was the driver of the vehicle. He also died from the accident.

Smith was the star football player of the Rancho Verde High School entering his senior year, he verbally committed to attend the Boise State Broncos on June 23. Smith said it was the coaching staff that drew him to Boise State in the first place, but after the death of Emil Smith the Boise State coaching staff was handcuffed in how they could handle this situation. Because Smith didn't sign his National Letter of Intent (which student athletes sign in February) the NCAA prevented Boise State from sending or even showing any form of condolences towards Smith's family and friends.

NCAA bylaw 13. 10. 2 states that member institutions may only confirm its recruitment of a prospective student athlete before he or she signs their NLI.

Bylaw 13. 2. 9 states how large a donation or token of support ($100) a school may provide in the event of the student athlete's death, provide he/she  signed their NLI.

Boise State could not attend the funeral of Smith, send flowers or cards to the family, phone the family to give their support or even address Smith by name in interviews. They were basically told to forget about him because he died to soon for the NCAA. This to me is a ridiculous rule by the NCAA and one that clearly needs to be changed or just thrown out all together, So basically they are saying that if a kid can't sign on a dotted line they don't matter to them, if a kid dies and any expense is over $100 then forget about it, this is really just ridiculous. The NCAA wants to use kids to make billions of dollars but if they cant make them any money then whatever happens to them doesn't matter; I personally haven't had the pleasure of becoming a parent just yet, and my heart and I'm sure the heart of the entire Boise State institution goes out to the parents of this young man. I don't know what its like to lose a child but I know that it cant be something that any parent can/wants to handle, I pray for the parents of Emil Smith and if nothing else should make the NCAA open their eyes to how ridiculous their "RULE BOOK" is. Let this be it!!

What Now

At a record of 41-0 with nine world championships in five different weight classes, defeating names such as Oscar De La Hoya, Diego Corrales and now Shane Mosley even stepping out of his element into the wrestling ring to face a 7'1'' 500lbs giant, and being ranked Ring magazine's #1 pound for pound fighter in the world in 2008 before his 21 month leave from the sport Floyd "Money" Mayweather is now looking like the fighter that most people may have not thought they would see him as.

Floyd Mayweather's skill level and talent in the ring has stood alone in the sport of boxing for a long time, make no mistake about it Floyd has dominated everyone he's stepped in the ring with either with his blazing speed, out of this world conditioning, or just brilliant boxing knowledge, many people call his fights boring, I call them clinics. But now my stance on Floyd Mayweather is starting to shift slightly, For the record I am a HUGE fan of his and like him against almost anyone, but I call myself the "sports realist" for a reason and to be 100% honest Floyd Mayweather is ducking the inevitable fight with Manny Paquiao. Yes, Floyd is ducking Manny. The people who called themselves the greatest(Ali, Tyson, Hopkins, Joe Lewis etc) backed that up against anyone who dared to challenge or question otherwise.

Floyd wants to be put in the same class as these fighters but has yet to accept that one fight that would clearly put him over the top. I understand the drug testing and I back that, get the sport clean and make sure that the fighters that you're fighting are clean, that's a good thing. He took on Shane Mosley and put on the most dominating performance in his career, but months before that fight Floyd was quoted as saying on HBO's Joe Buck live "I don't understand why people would be excited about Manny Pacquiao, because Manny Pacquiao has been knocked out before"  and now after the second chance of negotiations for the mega fight fall through we are left to wonder why. It's no longer the blood testing because Manny Pacquiao has agreed to any form of blood testing that Mayweather wants to have, it maybe money but because money has never been a major issue to Manny and because this fight looks to pull in more money than any of the fighters have seen in any other fight, I'm almost sure they can come to a compromise.

The fact is that Floyd doesn't want to lose, but to be honest there is nowhere else for these fighters to go. Manny has accepted an November fight against Antonio Margarito but that doesn't look to be as interesting as watching paint dry, and Floyd has yet to accept a fight but there are people for him to fight he can go up against the young undefeated star Andre Berto who no one seems to want to fight, take a page out of Pacquiao's book and fight Miguel Cotto, or wait until Manny is done with this Margarito business and pick up talks again but if they fall through again I don't know where there is for them to go. Manny maybe to fight Shane Mosley and Floyd to fight one of the fighters I just mentioned. Ali fought every he was asked to, as did Tyson, Hopkins etc, the longer Floyd puts this fight off the more and more people can say that he never wanted it in the first place.

Back On Top??

Remember in the late 80's into the 90's when the NBA was ran by the eastern conference? From the 88 season all the way up to the new millennium it was almost a guarantee that the NBA championship went through the East, Yes, the 87-88 season ended with Magic's Lakers celebrating their 11th franchise title. Soon after that (The very next year after) began the changing of the guard so to speak, from the "bad boy" Pistons sweeping the Lakers the very next year, to Jordan's Bulls dominating in the 90's it was the East that sold out stadiums. The Pistons took two back to back in the beginning of that decade, and then it was Michael and Bulls taking almost everyone after that. The West managed to sneak two in during the middle of the decade when the Rockets took advantage of a brief Michael Jordan retirement, but once MJ returned the  Bulls picked right up where they left off establishing the East dominance with an outstanding 32-20 record in the NBA Finals.

Fast forward to 2010, The guard seems to be changing once again in favor of the Eastern conference. With the Spurs and Lakers being responsible for 9 of the last 12 championships, the East has been looking for the chance to snatch the power of the league back, Enter the Miami Heat. The Heat follow the trend that has been set by the 2008 Boston Celtics, go into free agency with an open checkbook and get the 3 best players you can get on one team. The thing is when Boston did it they walked away carrying the trophy, the Heat look to do the same grabbing the three biggest names in free agency in the NBA, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Lebron James look to follow in the footsteps of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Not to mention this years champion Lakers with their own version of the big three in Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Ron Artest.

With the Lakers clearly being the most dominate team in the western conference, the east is making it look plenty difficult for the champs to 3peat. With the Miami Heat not only grabbing their own superstar back they put the most under the radar star next to him and "arguably" the leagues best player; combined that with the shooters Pat Riley placed with them and the Heat look to challenge the Bulls league record of 72 wins, but thats not all, A'mare to the Knicks with Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony possibly following him next year makes New York a team that people will soon have to take serious. And then with "the band" back together in Boston they look to give it one more try to raise the Larry O' Brien trophy for an 18th time in franchise history, they have one of the best point guards in the NBA in Rajon Rando so I believe more will be placed onto his shoulders then in years past.

It will be difficult at first with Kendrick Perkins being out for a while with that knee, but the additions of Jermaine O'Neal and "The Big Shamrock" Shaquille O'Neal  the front court still has Kevin Garnett so they should be fine. It may be a front court of age but also of experience and how could we forget the Orlando Magic? You can't! Let's not forget this is a team that destroyed the Celtics a few years ago to get to the finals, and don't forget the young guns of the east the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls. The Hawks keep the core of their team and look to be better with the experience they've gained and the Bulls add experience with Carlos Boozer and good shooting with Kyle Kover to an already talented roster led by Derrick Rose, Loul Deng and Joakim Noah with these moves these teams are showing that the East is back.

I personally have the Heat winning the east, with their shooting and perhaps the best big three the NBA has seen in a long time I don't see how the age of the Celtics, talent level of the Magic, or youth of the Bulls can compete with this team. These three got together for one purpose and except for the Lakers I don't see anyone getting in their way. One thing is for sure, the NBA is slowly making their return it may not be the NFL but they have a product to be proud of.