2012 NFL Draft - 1st Round Mock Draft

The 2012 NFL Draft is one the deepest drafts in recent memory. Most of the guys who will be drafted are proven commodities. You won't have a lot of guys who rose into the first-round based just on their NFL Combine performance. It is quite reassuring for a team to draft a player based on their actual on-field production than to cross their fingers and take a risk on a guy who can bench more and/or looks better shirtless.

I do my impersonation of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay with my own Mock Draft.

Warning: Alabama and LSU will be represented well in this year's 1st round of the NFL Draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts - QB Andrew Luck (Stanford)
This is a pretty easy pick, you might as well write him in.


2. Washington Redskins - QB Robert Griffin III (Baylor)
Washington didn't trade up to draft anyone other than Griffin III.


3. Minnesota Vikings - OT Matt Kalil (USC)
Minnesota recently said that this pick was on the market. Don't take any of Jim Irsay's tweets seriously...ever. If they trade this pick or not, Kalil will go at #3.


4. Cleveland Browns - WR Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)
Unless the Browns can trade down to pick a QB, Blackmon is too good to pass up.


5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Morris Claiborne (LSU)
Who cares about Wonderlic scores! I love Claiborne and he'll be a good one.


6. St. Louis Rams - WR Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)
The Rams still need to bolster their receving corps and Floyd would help. He's a bit of a reach at #6, but he fills a team need.


7. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Melvin Ingram (South Carolina)
This will give the Jaguars another pass rusher and will help Jeremy Mincey on the other end.


8. Miami Dolphins - QB Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M)
If no one trades up to get Tannehill earlier, he'll be picked by the Dolphins. They need a QB of the future and he's worth the risk.


9. Carolina Panthers - DT Dontari Poe (Memphis)
Poe is the 'Mr. Upside' of the 2012 NFL Draft. Scouts see something special in him and he has all the tools to be a good defensive tackle.


10. Buffalo Bills - G David DeCastro (Stanford)
He's the best guard in the draft and will help get some holes for Fred Jackson to run through.


11. Kansas City Chiefs - LB Luke Kuechly (Boston College)
He's been compared to Keith Brooking...Kansas City needs a Keith Brooking-type linebacker.


12. Seattle Seahawks - DE Quinton Coples (North Carolina)
Seattle's defensive front was really bad in 2011, Coples will fill their need.


13. Arizona Cardinals - OT Riley Reiff (Iowa)
Reiff may not be available at #13, since teams like to trade up to get left tackles. If he's there at #13, Arizona would gladly pick him.


14. Dallas Cowboys - S Mark Barron (Alabama)
Dallas has needed a strong safety since Darren Woodson retired. He would be an upgrade over Abram Elam.


15. Philadelphia Eagles - DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State)
Andy Reid loves him some defensive tackles. They also need help at cornerback, but this will add depth.


16. New York Jets - RB Trent Richarson (Alabama)
I think I'm the only person who think that Richardson will fall in this draft. The NFL is a different league than it was a decade ago. If someone doesn't trade up to draft Richardson, the Jets will get a steal. He would be a nice complement to Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow.


17. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Michael Brockers (LSU)
Cincinnati has bolstered its defense with physical guys. Brockers would be a nice fit in that defense and it would be the best pick for the Bengals.


18. San Diego Chargers - CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
The Chargers have yet to replace Antonio Cromartie and Kirkpatrick is their guy.


19. Chicago Bears - OT Jonathan Martin (Stanford)
Jay Cutler has found that it is hard to throw the ball while on your back. The Bears have whiffed on a few other offensive tackles recently, but Martin will help him stay on his feet.


20. Tennessee Titans - CB Stephon Gilmore (South Carolina)
A ballhawk cornerback with 4.40 speed? The Titans will jump on him if he's there at #20.


21. Cincinnati Bengals - G Cordy Glenn (Georgia)
He was a beast at the NFL Combine and replaces Bobbie Williams, who left via free agency.


22. Cleveland Browns - OT Mike Adams (Ohio State)
Mike Holmgren likes a talented offensive line. Adams might be a reach at #22, but there isn't a quarterback worth the reach. They could pick Brandon Weeden, Kirk Cousins, or Brock Osweiler later in the draft.


23. Detroit Lions - CB Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama)
The Lions have spent the last two drafts building their defensive line. It is time for them to spend some picks on their secondary.


24. Pittsburgh Steelers - ILB Dont'a Hightower (Alabama)
He's the perfect pick for the Steelers. His name sounds like he should have played for the team in the 1970s.


25. Denver Broncos - DT Jerel Worthy (Michigan State)
Denver needs help against the run and Worthy would be the best defensive tackle on the board.


26. Houston Texans - WR Kendall Wright (Baylor)
If the Texans pick Wright at #26, it would free up Jacoby Jones to focus on just being a receiver. Wright will help in the receiving corps, but he's a threat as a kickoff & punt returner.


27. New England Patriots - OLB Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
This draft is becoming very Crimson Tide heavy. He's undersized and doesn't have a true position at either defensive end or outside linebackers. Even though many mock drafts have him going much higher, he's a project.


28. Green Bay Packers - DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse)
The younger brother of UFC champion, Jon "Bones" Jones, would look good in a Green Bay jersey.


29. Baltimore Ravens - C Peter Konz (Wisonsin)
Konz would be the "Center in waiting" and would take over when Matt Birk retires.


30. San Francisco 49ers - WR Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech)
Alex Smith needs more targets and I wouldn't be surprised if Coby Fleener is picked here instead of Hill. Jim Harbuagh coached him at Stanford and having another big target would benefit Smith. I think they go with Hill because I don't know how Vernon Davis would react to having another tight-end as competition.


31. New England Patriots - S Harrison Smith (Notre Dame)
Even though New England needs to improve their front seven, their secondary was the worst group to have every made it to the Super Bowl. 


32. New York Giants - TE Coby Fleener (Stanford)
Kevin Boss is a good tight-end, but Fleener could be the next Rob Gronkowski. He's a big target for Eli Manning and he'll get open in their offense.


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Would Peyton Help Groom Tim Tebow?

As Peyton Manning is in Denver talking with the Broncos, we all wonder how this will affect Tim Tebow. It isn't a guarantee that Manning will sign with them, since he will most likely visit a few more teams. Would Manning be afraid of the backlash that comes with blocking Tim Tebow from starting? Would he accept the role of mentor? What can Tebow learn from one of the games best quarterbacks? A lot of questions are still in the air, but one thing is known, they are both fierce competitors.

Manning has never been on a team with another quarterback that could start in the NFL. I think he has helped groom some of his back-ups in Indianapolis, but it wasn't his job. When the Colts were winning 12 games a year, Jim Sorgi or Curtis Painer would play a lot in the last few games of the year. Manning would have a headset on and he would be calling plays. He was able to do that because he had no threat at losing his job. I'm guessing that he enjoyed watching someone that he helped mold and call plays for him. Saying all of that, the situation in Denver would be quite different.


Drafting Tim Tebow in the first-round and having the ground-swell of support from Denver's fans, has been a problem for the Broncos front-office. John Elway has since taken over the operations and he wasn't in charge when Tebow was drafted. Football bloggers and mainstream journalists were waiting to see if Elway would him a shot. After a watching the first few games last year, Elway thought that they had nothing to lose and unleashed Tebow. Was Elway hoping that he would fall on his face? Elway's in a position that he has to leave Tebow alone or the fanbase will turn on him. The only way out of this would be if he signed Peyton Manning.

Denver's defense was very solid last year and rookie Von Miller was exceptional. In a weak AFC West, the Broncos are built to win now. They have the cap space to sign Manning and maybe a few of his old teammates (Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and/or Dallas Clark). The fanbase would realize that Manning would be the best choice to lead this team...right now.

What can Tebow learn from being Manning's back-up? First, he would probably be in less pictorials with his shirt off. I've seen Tim Tebow shirtless more times than I have seen myself nude. After that is addressed, he can learn to become a better passer. Manning helped build an offense around his strengths. Tom Moore was a huge help in doing that, but he started to learn defenses and call audibles at the line. This what Tebow needs to learn the most from Manning. If he can recognize defenses, he can go in the huddle and call one passing play and one QB option play. He can see what the defense gives him and then signal to his teammates which play he's calling. If he perfected that, Tebow would be more of a threat than Michael Vick...assuming that Tebow learns how to throw more accurately.

Will Manning groom Tim Tebow if he signs with Denver? I'm assuming that it would be a condition in his contract. What if Manning finishes his career there, in three or four years, and hands the keys to Tebow and he stinks? It wouldn't completely tarnish his reputation, but it wouldn't look good. Brett Favre never had that problem with Aaron Rodgers, even though he had nothing to do with Rodgers' success.

The apprenticeship that Tebow would receive from Manning would be priceless. They are both fierce competitors, Tebow just needs someone to mold him. He will not be fixed over night, so Manning would be the perfect stopgap.





Seriously bro, put on a shirt!

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Farewell, Peyton Manning : A Fan's Goodbye

After 8 months of "will they or won't they", the Colts and Peyton Manning finally parted ways. I'm here to try to give a logical outlook from a fan's perspective, since I've heard "talking heads" speak about how Colts fans are mad...this couldn't be more false. I hope I can shine a new perspective on the dilemma the Colts are facing and why most Colts fans wish the best for Peyton Manning.

First, let me make it clear that ever since it was clear that the Indianapolis Colts were going to get the #1 pick in the NFL Draft, I knew that Manning would be gone. If anyone paid attention to Manning's contract extension talks that happened last summer, you knew that owner, Jim Irsay, wanted to make him happy. Irsay wanted to make Manning the highest paid quarterback in the NFL and was offering him more money than Manning even thought was necessary. He took less than what Irsay was offering him, because he wanted money left to get other players and maybe this was a hint that he knew that his neck wasn't healthy enough to play. This situation could have been much worse, especially if Manning agreed to the amount of money that Irsay was first offering him. I wanted to make that clear before I start to explain what the average Colts fan is thinking about this whole ordeal.


Since the end of the regular season, the Colts organization has made it clear that they are going into full-blown rebuilding mode. They fired the President, GM, Coach, and a lot of the other team personnel. The team offered a long-term deal to wide receiver Pierre Garcon, who turned down the deal. Garcon is an average 3rd receiver on a .500 team, so this was a big red flag. The Colts also re-signed defensive end, Robert Mathis, to a long-term deal. This was the final nail in the coffin in the Peyton Manning saga. They wouldn't have had the money to keep Manning after re-signing Mathis. A knowledgeable Colts fan already knew the answer before the owner announced that they would release Manning.

I was listening to Colin Cowherd's radio show this morning and his idea of what the average Colts fan is thinking was infinitely wrong. I shouldn't have expected that he would be a good judge, since I disagree with most of his views, in which most are said to be the antagonist. He said, "Colts fans shouldn't be mad, they are the luckiest franchise in the league. You didn't earn the #1 pick when they drafted Peyton Manning and they didn't earn the #1 pick this year." First off, how does one "earn" the #1 pick in the NFL Draft? The #1 pick goes to the team who ends with the worst record in the league. Does a team have to intentionally throw games to "earn" the #1 pick? After saying that, Cowherd rattled off Manning's career accomplishments, which were mostly incorrect. Cowherd was only correct about the fact that the Colts have been the luckiest team in the NFL, because as fans, we had the chance to root for a great quarterback and a stand-up guy for over a decade.

Growing up in Northern Indiana in the late 80's & early 90's, I didn't know many other Colts fans. One of the earliest seasons that I remember, the starting quarterbacks were Jack Trudeau & Gary Hogeboom. The team went 3-13 and it didn't get any better after that. They acquired Eric Dickerson and had a few 8-8 & 9-7 teams, but the carousel of starting quarterbacks still occurred. As fans, we had to endure Chris Chandler, Jeff George, Paul Justin, Craig Erickson, Don Majkowski, and finally, "Captain Comeback", Jim Harbaugh. The Colts were up & down through these years, but never had a franchise quarterback. They had some talented guys at other skill positions, but they couldn't get over the hump. They would get high draft picks year after year, but with picks like Steve Emtman & Trev Alberts being busts, they couldn't catch a break. When the Colts went 3-13 in 1997 and received the 1998 #1 overall pick, I'd say that they "earned" Peyton Manning.

Colts fans have endured bad seasons and teams that overachieved with lackluster talent. We aren't the New York Yankees, Detroit Red Wings, or Dallas Cowboys, if they don't make the playoffs, their fans turn into an angry mob. We have won the most games over the last decade and we are blessed fans. We will have a few down years, but it will make the next winning season that much better. We are a group of optimist fans and will continue to support the team.

We wish Peyton Manning and thank him for all that he has done for the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. If it wasn't for him, Lucas Oil Stadium would have just been an unused blueprint and Indianapolis would have never hosted a Super Bowl. Saying all of that, we just hope that he doesn't go to a team that will destroy us in the near future. If he comes into Lucas Oil Stadium on the visiting team, he will be cheered. After he retires, he jersey will be retired and will most likely get a statue in front of the stadium. Until then, we wish you the best, Mr. Manning.


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Interview: Ken Dilger

I had a chance to speak with former Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight-end, Ken Dilger. We spoke about NFL Playoffs, what happened to the Colts this season, and who was a better high school quarterback, him or Jay Cutler. It was great to speak with him and he was in Peoria, Illinois doing some great work for a charity. See what he's up to now and find out how you can contact him.

Me: I want to ask you about the Colts. I I want to asked you about the Colts. It was tough to see them struggle with injuries all season. What could they have done differently against the Jets in the playoffs?

Ken Dilger: When you have 19 or 20 guys on injured reserve and are missing Austin Collie & Dallas Clark, it's hard. The Jets game was very conservative. They didn't throw it down the field. They were nervous to make a mistake. They were out-hustled in the 2nd half.

Me: Did you question the late timeout?

Dilger: I did, anytime you have an offense trying to run down the clock and Sanchez doesn't have experience and ability. You let the offense run the clock. Everybody should question that.

Me: When Clark comes back, do you think they can use Tamme & Clark in 2 TE sets, even though Tamme's blocking ability isn't great?

Dilger: No, I don't think you will see that. you need one pass catching tight-end and Clark is better. I think you will see Brody Eldridge used more.

Me: The production that teams are getting from their tight-end position really spiked over the last few years. Look at what the Patriots did with two rookie tight-ends this year. What are your thoughts on the evolution of the position?

Dilger: It has been changing the last 15 years or so. The tight-end position became more of a pass catching threat. Guys like Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Heath Miller have changed the position. Every team is trying to find that guy. If you have a big tight-end that can run, you have a big mismatch.

Me: Who was a better quarterback at Heritage High School, you or Jay Cutler?

Dilger: {laughs} I would say it was me.

Me: Do you think he would agree?

Dilger: No, he won a championship there.

Me: Why did you change to tight-end at Illinois?

Dilger: I was a big kid and didn't have a weight program in high school. I gained 20 lbs that first semester and it was a natural progression to the position.

Me: Who do you have this week and who is your favorite to win in the Conference championships?

Dilger: You have two great matchups. Bears & Packers are hated division rivals. They know each other so well. It will come down to turnovers, which quarterback can managed the situation and atmopshere. The slight edge to the Packets because of Rodgers. The AFC, you have two hated teams with two great defenses. The Jets played well enough to win, but you go into Pittsburgh, Polamalu & Miller didn't play last game. You have to give edge to Pittsburgh across the board. It's a great match-up.

Me: Who would win between the Steelers and Packers in the Super Bowl?

Dilger: Steelers & Packers? Pittsburgh has more weapons on offense with Mendenhall and veteran wide-receivers.

Me: Are you saying Mendenhall because he went to Illinois?

Dilger: Of course, It doesn't hurt!

Me: Do you ever wear your Super Bowl ring?

Dilger: I do! I wear it out for special events like this one.

Me: What are you up to these days?

Dilger: I live in Indianapolis. I run a mortgage company here.

Me: A lot of current and former athletes use social media to keep in touch with your fans. How do you keep in touch with the fans? Twitter or Facebook?

Dilger: I'm on Facebook 3500 fans on there, I get asked a lot of questions. My wife thinks it's stupid.

Me: Tell me about why you're in Peoria today

Dilger: I am with the Febreeze TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE campaign. A family in Peoria was one of the finalists and put a photo and video of them in their basement in all their Colts gear. She didn't win, but we have a big presentation to give $10,000 to St. Jude Hospital in her name.

Me: Thanks for taking time to talk with me today. Good luck with with everything and it sounds like a great charity.


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It's Time To Cut Ties With Bob Sanders

Bob Sanders made his first start since rupturing his left biceps tendon last season. He hasn't played much for Indianapolis the last two seasons due to injury. He suffered another injury yesterday, this time it's his elbow. The Colts have drafted well at defensive back the last few years and it could be time to cut their losses and trade or cut their defensive superstar.

I have been a broken record over the last 12 months and my stance has not changed. Sanders has only eight regular season starts over the last two season. Since he signed his 5-year/ $37.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed in 2007, he has missed 27 of a possible 36 games, including playoffs. It would be an unpopular decision with other Colts fans if they did decide on letting Sanders go at some point. He was the main reason they won the Super Bowl a few seasons ago. The Colts have been pretty loyal to their stars over the years. They even gave former star, Edgerrin James, a Super Bowl ring, even though he left for Arizona the previous off-season.

The extent of Sanders' injury is unknown, but both sides are being quiet about it, which is a red flag. The injury did not occur to the same left arm that kept him out last season. The play that Sanders suffered the injury wasn't gruesome. You wouldn't have even guessed that his elbow was what ended up being injured. Indianapolis should be able to fill the position. The Colts doesn't have that much depth at safety with Melvin Bullitt filling in for Sanders over the last few seasons. Antoine Bethea is starting on the other side, but they also have young corners Jacob Lacey, Deshea Townsend, and Justin Tryon able to fill in, if needed.

The Colts run defense suffered with Sanders going out in the 1st quarter. Arian Foster went off for over 200 yards with a couple scores in victory. Indianapolis will have to focus on that and use their pass rush less. Mathis and Freeney go upfield too much and must stay back and play the run.

I hope Sanders can come back soon and play at a high level, but if he can't stay on the field, the Colts will have to do something. I will keep my ears pressed against the wall and hopes I hear good news concerning his injury.

2010 NFL Football - Week 1 Betting Picks

The 2010 season starts on Thursday with a great game. It's a rematch of the NFC Championship game when Brett Favre and the Vikings was one or two plays away from going to the Super Bowl. The Saints ended up winning the game and went on to win their first Super Bowl. The rest of the schedule is pretty loaded and should be an interesting week. Here are my betting picks against the spread for Week 1 of the 2010 NFL season.

Minnesota Vikings (+5) at New Orleans Saints (-5) - My pick is New Orleans

Brett Favre hasn't had much practice and he's still having ankle issues. The Vikings will miss Chester Taylor's pass catching ability out of the backfield and Sidney Rice as a deep threat. The Saints appear to be the same team on paper this season and I see them covering this game, because the Super Bowl champ always wins and covers the next season's opener.

Carolina Panthers (+7) at New York Giants (-7) - My pick is Carolina

This line seems kind of off. I know that Carolina wasn't great last season and they lost Julius Peppers, but Matt Moore showed promise and they still return DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Giants had defensive issues last year and I'm not sold on either Ahmad Bradshaw or Brandon Jacobs to help make the Giants offensive attack balanced. I see the Panthers ruining the Giants home opener and not only win against the spread, but win outright.

Miami Dolphins (-3) at Buffalo Bills (+3) - My pick is Miami

The Dolphins is a darkhorse to win the AFC East this season, if they can take care of their own business. They need to win their divisional games and the rest should play itself out. The Bills lack blue chip players are nearly every position and will have trouble winning games this season, Miami should thank the scheduling Gods for not having this game in December. The Dolphins win and cover this game.

Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (+2.5) - My pick is Atlanta

This line should be higher in Atlanta's favor, but the Steelers are a "public team," so homers for the team bet blindly on their team. The Steelers are without Big Ben and trot Dennis Dixon out there to start. Dixon looked "good" in garbage time last season, but Atlanta is a good football team. The Steelers defense will have to play out of their minds to keep this one close. I am picking the Falcons to cover this game big.

Detroit Lions (+6.5) at Chicago Bears (-6.5) - My pick is Detroit

I really don't feel great that I am picking the Lions. It's not that I don't feel comfortable in doing so, but the franchise has been synonymous with losing for the last decade. The Lions have had a couple decent drafts in a row and some of their younger players are starting to turn the corner. The Bears add Mike Martz in as Offensive Coordinator, but that will a disaster if they can't get better at protecting Jay Cutler. Martz's plays take longer to develop and Cutler will end up on his back more times than any other time in his career. I see the Lions keeping this game close and winning against the spread.

Cincinnati Bengals (+4.5) at New England Patriots (-4.5) - My pick is new England

I know the Bengals made the playoffs last season and I should like them more, but the AFC Central teams didn't show up to play them last season. They swept their division and backed into the playoffs. New England does well when they have plenty of time to study their opponent. Since this game was announced months ago, I see the Patriots taking care of business at home and covering the spread.

Cleveland Browns (+3) at Tampa Buccaneers (-13.5) - My pick is Cleveland

The Browns played themselves out of a top 3 pick last season by winning their last few games of the season. Jake Delhomme steps in at QB and adds a few new weapons on offense and defense. Tampa Bay was another team that scraped the bottom of the league in 2009. Josh Freeman gained a lot of experience last season, but they have a lot of youth on their team as well. The Browns should be able to keep this close and pull out a victory and cover, if Delhomme takes care of the ball.

Denver Broncos (+2.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5) - My pick is Denver

Denver's training camp reads like a MASH unit. Everyone from Elvis Dumervil to Knowshon Moreno have been injured. The Broncos started out red hot last season, but cooled off and didn't even make the playoffs. They added some pieces, but lost Dumervil for the season with injury and traded away Brandon Marshall. The Jaguars had trouble scoring points last season and could be the last year in Jacksonville for head coach Jack Del Rio and for starter David Garrard, if they don't pull out a winning season. I see Denver winning a close game, I would pick them with the money line.

Indianapolis Colts (-2) at Houston Texans (+2) - My pick is Indianapolis

I realize that everyone picks Houston to finally make the playoffs before every season, but having the spread at only 2 points in favor of the Super Bowl runner-ups, is ridiculous. I know that Sage Rosenfels is no longer on the Texans and can't fumble away victories, but the Colts are going to cover this one big.

Oakland Raiders (+6) at Tennessee Titans (-6) - My pick is Tennessee

I realize that one of these years the Raiders will win games like this, but not in 2010. The Titans are still a dangerous team with the speed of Chris Johnson and Vince Young. The safeties have to play in the box to stop the running attack and that could leave Kenny Britt open a few extra times a game. The Titans should win and cover this game at home.

Green Bay Packers (-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (+3) - My pick is Green Bay

The Packers have looked great this preseason and I look for them to keep adding to their resumé this season and cover in Philadelphia. Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings should have big games against the Eagles secondary. Kevin Kolb looked impressive last season for the Eagles, but the Packers defense is very tough and will throw out a ton of different looks to confuse the young QB. The Packers are my pick to win the NFC this year.

San Francisco 49ers (-3) at Seattle Seahawks (+3) - My pick is San Francisco

The 49ers are the favorite to win the weak NFC West this season and Seattle looks to be in full rebuilding mode. The Seahawks don't have many blue-chip players yet and will have issues this year winning games. If Alex Smith can hit his receivers and Frank Gore stays healthy, they should have a big season. The Niners will cover this game on the road.

Arizona Cardinals (-4) at St. Louis Rams (+4) - My pick is Arizona

The Cardinals is another team in transition, but won't get much of a test during Week 1. The Rams haven't done much to improve their team in the off-season and lost their best wide receiver (Donnie Avery) to injury for the season. The Cardinals have Derek Anderson as their starting QB and some key pieces were traded or signed elsewhere in the off-season. Arizona should win this game and cover the spread against an even weaker Rams team.

Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) at Washington Redskins (+3.5) - My pick is Dallas

I struggled with this pick the most out of any of the other games on the schedule this week. The NFC East is a toss-up at this point and it will all come down to which team has a better divisional record. The Cowboys have their eyes set on the Super Bowl and the Redskins are definitely improved, but to what extent is still to be determined. This is a true rivalry game and should be intense, since it's also opening weekend. The Cowboys offense is improved and looks like a team ready to take the next step. Both teams have issues at left-tackle, so both teams should be able to pressure the quarterback. The Cowboys are a stronger team, so I am picking them to win and cover.

Baltimore Ravens (+2.5) at New York Jets (-2.5) - My pick is NY Jets

This should be one of the better games during Week 1, since both teams have been picked by experts to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this season. The Ravens improved their offense by adding receivers to a prolific rushing attack. The Jets improved their team on both sides of the ball, but adding veterans at skilled positions. If Darrelle Revis wasn't playing, I would pick the Ravens to win against the spread, but since he just ended his holdout, I will pick the Jets to cover, it will be that close of a game.

San Diego Chargers (-4.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (+4.5) - My pick is San Diego

It's been a long time since a Monday Night Football game has been played in Kansas City. I can see that energizing the Arrowhead crowd, but that can only do so much for the team. I believe KC is an improved team, but San Diego, even without Vincent Jackson, is a much better team. The Chargers should win this game big and cover this spread at halftime.

These picks are for entertainment purposes.

The Post Where I Predict Super Bowl Things

Super Bowl XLIV or Super Bowl 44 for those who hate Roman numerals, is set to take place this Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints have both went through the hype machine, survived media day, was able to fight through all the taping of the video montages sure to take place during the 15-hour pregame. The table is set and they are ready to eat. I'm here to predict some prop bets that you can wager, if that's your cup of tea.

First, let's explain something first, I can't say that I am unbiased when it comes to this Super Bowl. As I am writing this, I am wearing an Indianapolis Colts sweatshirt that I picked up the last time I was in my homeland of Indiana. I can look past it while picking these Super Bowl Prop Bets, but let's start out with predicting the score.

Colts 31 - Saints 21 - As I am writing this, most sportsbooks have the Super Bowl Odds somewhere around 5 points, so you should take the Colts.

Now for the more odd props that you could wager on this Super Bowl.

Heads vs. Tails - I'm more of a Heads man myself, so I'll pick that.

Coin Toss - The Colts have been pretty luck this year, so I'll say that they will win the coin toss

Team To Receive Opening Kickoff - The Colts will win the coin toss and I think that they will defer to the second half, the Saints will get the ball first.

Team To Commit The 1st Penalty - The Saints are favored (-140) and I think that's the smartest bet

Team To Score Last In 1st Half - The Colts are favored (-140) and Peyton Manning loves those last minute 1st half drives

Will There Be A Safety - The sure bet would be No, but at (-1400) odds, you could probably put a few bucks on Yes at (+800) to hedge a few bets.

Will The Team That Scores First Win The Game - Yes is at (-195) and No is at (+155), I actually like NO here.

Total Interceptions Thrown By Both Teams - I like the Under 2.5, which is currently (-200)

First Turnover Of THe Game, Interception vs. Fumble - I like Interception here at (-170), Adrian Peterson isn't playing in this game

Total Number Of Colts Players To Score (Including Kickers) - It's currently at +/- 3.5, I like the Over on this one, a lot.

Longest Touchdown Of The Game +/- 49.5 - I like the over on this one, it's at (-115), I feel that someone will bust at least one big play.

Over/Under Jersey Number Of Player To Score First TD +/- 25.5 - I LOVE the over on this, more of the receivers have a number higher than 26, expect Marques Colston

I'll write another post about more individual prop bets during the Super Bowl

Not Again! Bob Sanders Out For Year

Bob Sanders was the Defensive Player Of The Year just a few seasons ago, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy since. He is under-sized and is a very physical player, which may lead to some of his past injuries. There is no doubt that the Colts are a better team with Sanders in the lineup, but they have done well without this year, but will this injury lead to the Colts' defense being exposed?

It's been a long time since the Colts have had a great player in their secondary. Jeff Burris was a good player and Ray Buchanan had a few good seasons, but went on to the Falcons and had his career years. Bob Sanders was the first elite defensive back that I can remember the Colts having since they moved to Indianapolis. He hasn't stayed healthy since he signed his contract extension and it's possible if he can't stay on the field next year, he could see his way out of Indianapolis. The Colts no longer play the Tampa 2 and they have learned to play without him for most of the last few years. He is clearly a slow healer, unlike Dwight Freeney, who if he gets injured, seems to be back on the field the next week.

The Colts are currently undefeated, it's not uncommon really, over the last few years this has happened a few times. They go through the first-half of the year undefeated, then they start to play divisional opponents a second time and then usually a tough game against the Patriots or Steelers and lose a few games. Injuries usually start to add up and a team that goes 8-0 in the first half, ends up as a 12-4 team.

The injuries that I am most worried about are the injuries to Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden. Jackson injured his knee in practice for the second-straight season. He will miss the remainder of the season, an injury is that is similar to what occurred in 2008. Hayden will miss a few weeks with an injury, so he will miss the Patriots game. With these two guys out, they will have to start two rookie corners for the next few weeks. Tom Brady could be drooling by that time, since he has been known to go after rookie corners, but if he has two of them to carve up, it could be a long game for Indianapolis. Jacob Lacey and Jerraud Powers will be tested over the next few weeks.

I was worried about the Colts at the beginning of the year. Anthony Gonzalez suffered a knee injury in the first game and has yet to return. He had his knee scoped this week, so the timetable for his return may have been pushed back a few weeks. They have a nice young receiving corps and guys like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie has stepped up in place of Gonzalez. He can afford to stay away and fully heal up, a luxury that members on the defense do not have.

The next few weeks will be a test for the Colts. They have two games against the red-hot Matt Schaub and the Texans, the Patriots, and the Ravens over the next four weeks. If they get past these four games, they only have the Broncos and Jets as possible teams to knock them out of the ranks of the unbeaten.

I don't think this team should worry about staying unbeaten, if they know anything, a loss in the regular season doesn't mean much, it looks like they will win the AFC South. A loss in the post-season will end their season, if they are going to have a bad game, they better have it in the regular season or another productive season will go up in flames.

C'mon Colts, Bring Back Mike Vanderjagt!

Adam Vinatieri looks to be out for 4-8 weeks with a knee injury and the Colts signed veteran kicker, Matt Stover to fill in. I think this move isn't very bold. Stover has only attempted three field goals over 50 yards in the last three years and have only connected on one of them. His leg isn't what it used to be. Isn't Vanderjagt out there?

The Colts have had a big-legged kicker since the days of Dean Biasucci. It's another area that the Colts have excelled in, since back in those days, they were very bad. I think that the signing of Matt Stover is unacceptable in my book. They need the ability to score points once they get near the 35-yard line. Stover will only be accurate from 45-yards or less.

I was being a little facetious by asking if Mike Vanderjagt was available, but really is he? I'm sure he could go out there with a fifth of vodka in his system and kick a football 55 yards...only if the game isn't on the line.

The Colts had to release trouble DT Ed Johnson in order to fit Stover on the roster. Johnson is the starter on the defense and they struggled last season when they released him after some legal problems. They could have kept him and just had rookie punter, Pat McAfee, handle the kicking duties. He was a superb kicker at the University of West Virginia. He already is in charge of the kickoffs because he has a huge leg. I would feel confident in him taking over kicking field goals more than Matt Stover. I feel that this roster move will hurt the Colts against the run the rest of the season.

Gone To Indiana

I'm going to be gone for the next two days visiting family and friends in the land of Peyton Manning and Larry Bird. As I am gone, go to the "Friends Of The White Boy" section and visit some of my friend's blogs. They do very good work and they will appreciate the business. I want to leave you with a question, who was a better receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, Clarence Verdin or Troy Walters? Please discuss and let me know your answer when I get back.


Stingers On Ice
Pacers Place

NFL Football - Week 4 Betting Picks

We had a good Week 3 with our betting picks against the spread. We went 10-6 and went with the money line in the Detroit game. We are liking a lot of road teams to win ATS this week. It could be a recurring trend this season, since home-field advantage doesn't seem to be holding up this year. Could the Lions win two in a row? Could the Steelers go 1-3 to start the season? Here are our Week 4 NFL betting picks against the spread.

I don't think home-field advantage is as important so far this season as it has been in the past. It will change later on in the season when snow and heavy winds may sway the momentum of the game. This early in the season, teams are still tweaking with the offense and many lack an identity. The good teams will win on the road and the bad teams will lose at home.

Oakland Raiders (+9) at Houston Texans (-9) - My pick is Oakland

I might be insane, but the Raiders can still run the ball and Houston is the worst in the league at stopping the run. Oakland may not win this game, but should keep it close, with or without JaMarcus Russell.

Tennessee Titans (-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (+3) - My pick is Tennessee

Jacksonville looked good last week, but the Titans are hungry for their first win. The AFC South games are usually closer than most games, but the Titans will win this game by more than 3 points.

Baltimore Ravens (+2) at New England Patriots (-2) - My pick is Baltimore

I missed on the Falcons beating the Patriots last week, but the Ravens are a better team than Atlanta. Joe Flacco may not have many weapons, but they have a dual-threat running game that will cause New England's D-line to struggle. I like the Ravens to out-right win this contest.

New York Giants (-9) at Kansas City Chiefs (+9) - My pick is New York

The Giants faced a large spread last week and they easily covered. I think it will happen again this weekend. They will shutdown Larry Johnson and force the Chiefs to throw on their secondary. The pass rushers for the Giants will have a field day on Matt Cassel.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7.5) at Washington Redskins (-7.5) - My pick is Tampa Bay

The Bucs will be forced to rely on Carnell Williams and Derrick Ward in this game. Albert Haynesworth is hurting, so the Bucs will be able to run all over Washington. I don't care who Tampa Bay has at quarterback, it won't matter much in this game.

Seattle Seahawks (+10.5) at Indianapolis Colts (-10.5) - My pick is Seattle

The Colts will win this game, but they don't normally beat opponents by much. Seattle will be without Matt Hasselbeck, but Seneca Wallace is a good back-up. Julius Jones will have a good game, but the Colts will make defensive stops when it counts.

Cincinnati Bengals (-6) at Cleveland Browns (+6) - My pick is Cincinnati

The Bengals looked great against the Steelers last week and the Browns were their usual horrible Browns. The Bengals defense has improved a lot from last season and I see them winning this game by a lot. The Browns can't score on any NFL team this year, Derek Anderson won't change anything for them.

Detroit Lions (+10) at Chicago Bears (-10) - My pick is Chicago

Could the Lions possibly win two weeks in a row? I doubt it, the Bears looks to finally have things starting to mold. Matt Forte must have a big game, the Bears need him to get going this season or their hopes of making the playoffs could end soon. The Bears win this game easily, by two touchdowns.

New York Jets (+7) at New Orleans Saints (-7) - My pick is New York

The Saints always start off looking unbeatable, but when they face a good defense, they don't seem so powerful. Bart Scott and the rest of the Jets defense will make Drew Brees work for their yards. I'm not sure if the Jets wins this game, but they will keep it within seven points.

Buffalo Bills (-1) at Miami Dolphins (+1) - My pick is Buffalo

Miami will have to rely on Chad Henne and their running game to put points on the board, but the Bills have more weapons on offense than the Dolphins. I look for Terrell Owens to finally get going and Fred Jackson to dominate in this game. The Bills will win this game, in a close one.

St. Louis Rams (+9.5) at San Francisco 49ers (-9.5) - My pick is San Francisco

The Rams could be the worst team in the league. Kyle Boller adds a better passing option than Marc Bulger, but the 49ers came into their own against the Vikings last weekend. Vernon Davis finally has his head screwed on straight and is a physical beast. Shaun Hill will keep targeting him against the Rams and win this game and cover the spread.

Dallas Cowboys (-3) at Denver Broncos (+3) - My pick is Dallas

Denver has not played any team that did not make the playoffs last year and Dallas has played three games against teams that finished over .500 last season. I know what kind of team the Cowboys are after three games, I have no clue if Denver is any good yet. This game will prove it and Denver is a hoax, the Cowboys will run all over them and win this game and cover.

San Diego Chargers (+6.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6.5) - My pick is San Diego

I am not sure if many people saw the Bengals/Steelers game last week, because this line has moved a lot in the Steelers favor since it has opened. Troy Polamalu isn't going to play and Antonio Gates will be free to catch everything win sight. The Chargers will go into Pittsburgh and win this game. This is my upset of the week.

Green Pay Packers (+3.5) at Minnesota Vikings (-3.5) - My pick is Minnesota

Brett Favre will be pumped up to play his old team on Monday Night Football. Green Bay's new 3-4 defense will cause Farve some trouble, so look for Adrian Peterson to run amok. Ryan Grant will have a good game and Aaron Rodgers will have a lot on his shoulders if the Packers plan on keeping this one close. Give me the Vikings ATS in this game.

I hope you enjoy our picks. They are for entertainment purposes and please bet responsibly.

NFL Football - Week 3 Betting Picks

There are some nice NFL games out there to bet on this week. I see a few must-bet games out there and even a few upsets in Week 3's games. Can the Jets keep up their winning ways? Are the Panthers really that bad? Are the Lions ready to win a game? Here are my picks against the spread for the NFL games in Week 3 of the season.

I don't think home-field advantage is as important so far this season as it has been in the past. It will change later on in the season when snow and heavy winds may sway the momentum of the game. This early in the season, teams are still tweaking with the offense and many lack an identity. The good teams will win on the road and the bad teams will lose at home.

Tennessee Titans (+3) at New York Jets (-3) - My pick is Tennessee

The Titans have lost two close games against potential playoff teams this season and they have a very potent offense. The Jets have beaten two potential playoff teams, but won those games. If the Titans lose this game, their season could seem to be over, so they are desperate for a win. The Jets beat the Patriots and they will not be as pumped up as last week. The Titans will win this game in a close one.

Cleveland Browns (+13) at Baltimore Ravens (-13) - My pick is Baltimore

I know that 13 points are a lot for a game between two NFL teams, but at this point, the Browns barely qualify as an NFL team. Baltimore have looked great and they have an offense this season. Joe Flacco will have a big game and cover the spread.

New York Giants (-6.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6.5) - My pick is New York Giants

It doesn't seem like home-field advantage means a lot this season so far, if you take away the Patriots/Jets game last week, I can't think of a game that it mattered. The Giants are a better team than the Bucs and Leftwich will be on his back most of the game. The Giants will get their running attack going and cover the spread.

Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5) at Houston Texans (-3.5) - My pick is Houston

Jacksonville aren't anything near the team that made the playoffs two seasons ago and the Texans looked great against the Titans last week. Jones-Drew may have a good game, but I like the spread in this game and think Houston will win by at least a touchdown.

Sam Francisco (+6.5) at Minnesota Vikings (-6.5) - My pick is Minnesota

The Vikings can stop the run and at this point the 49ers can only run the ball. It sounds like a simple pick, the Vikings will ride Adrian Peterson to a victory and cover the spread.

Atlanta Falcons (+4) at New England Patriots (-4) - My pick is Atlanta

Tom Brady is skittish in the pockets and their defense lacks playmakers, it could be a long season in New England. Matt Ryan went to Boston College and it is a little homecoming for him. I see him have a big game and targeting Tony Gonzalez all game long. I like the Falcons not only to take the points, but to win the game.

Washington Redkins (-6.5) at Detroit Lions (-14) - My pick is Detroit

It has been 19 games since Detroit has won a game and this one could be winnable for the Lions. Washington looks confused out there and their offense is stagnant. If the Lions can get a couple turnovers, they can win the game. If they can't win the game, the Redskins barely squeak by, but give me the points and the Lions.

Green Bay Packers (-6.5) at St. Louis Rams (+6.5) - My pick is Green Bay

St. Louis looks like they could be this year's Detroit Lions. I haven't seen one good thing about that team. The Packers have revamped their defense and Marc Bulger will have a long day. The Packers will win this game easily and cover the spread.

Chicago Bears (-2) at Seattle (+2) - My pick is Chicago

It's official, I have picked the entire NFC North to win against the spread this week. Frank Gore ran all over Seattle last week and it looks like they will be without Matt Hasselbeck this week. Qwest Field is an extremely tough place to play, but Matt Forte will carry this team and win this game by at least a field goal.

New Orleans Saints (-6) at Buffalo Bills (+6) - My pick is New Orleans

The Saints have put up some ridiculous offensive numbers the past two weeks and the Bills have looked good. This line is pretty close to where I believe the score may be, but I feel that the Saints will be able to win this game by more than 6 points. They will be one-dimensional, with their running backs banged up, but Brees is a special player and it won't matter.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (+4) - My pick is Pittsburgh

The Steelers own the Ohio teams and it doesn't matter that this game is being play in Cincinnati. The stadium will be filled with Steeler fans and I see Willie Parker finally have a good game against the Bengals defense. The Steelers win this game easily and cover the spread.

Denver Broncos (-1.5) at Oakland Raiders (+1.5) - My pick is Oakland

Denver is 2-0, but they played the Browns and Bengals, while Oakland is 1-1 and could have beaten the Chargers if they didn't lose their minds the last 5 minutes of the game. I believe Oakland will win this game and they will keep feeding the ball to Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

Miami Dolphins (+5.5) at San Diego Chargers (-5.5) - My pick is San Diego

The Chargers will be out for blood this weekend after losing to the Ravens last week and squeaking out a win against Oakland. The Dophins ran the wildcat, but it wasn't enough to win against Indianapolis. The wildcat will not work against the Chargers defense and they will have a hard time scoring points. The Chargers will win this game big and could embarrass the Dolphins.

Indianapolis Colts (+2.5) at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) - My pick is Indianapolis

The Colts are 2-0, but the games have been close. Arizona lost to a possibly good 49ers team, but bounced back and embarrassed Jacksonville last week. The Cardinals are good at home, but they have trouble with non-divisional teams. I like the Colts to go to Arizona and win this game, Boldin isn't 100% and Tim Hightower is not an every-down back.

Carolina Panthers (+8.5) at Dallas Cowboys (-8.5) - My pick is Carolina

Dallas is on Monday Night Football and Tony Romo have had some rough games on Mondays. "The Death Star," the Dallas Cowboys stadium's nicknamed by Bill Simmons, could be a bad luck charm, since Carolina will be desperate and show up to play. Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will have big games and make this game close. Give me Carolina and the points in this game.

I hope you enjoy our picks. They are for entertainment purposes and please bet responsibly.

Why Your Team Didn't Win The Super Bowl - AFC

Everyone has a team that they are loyal towards and most fans had their dreams crushed at some point this season. Some teams had a tough defeat in the playoffs and some teams never really had any shot at the Super Bowl. It was a long season with many ups and downs and some team's seasons could have been salvaged by one single play that didn't go their way or a string of bad GM decisions. Here are the reasons why your AFC team didn't win the Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens - Their offsense was too erratic and relied solely on their running game to score points. Joe Flacco will end up being a good NFL quarterback, but they just asked too much of him in his rookie season.

Buffalo Bills - They drafted Trent Edwards. Edwards spent most of his college career injured and can't seem to stay healthy.

Cincinnati Bengals - Carson Palmer's injury made the Bengals regress in 2008. I'm not sure if they would have been a playoff team if Palmer stayed healthy, but his injury made them look like amateurs.

Cleveland Browns - Romeo Crennel was their head coach. I know that most of the Browns recent draft picks haven't lived up to the hype, but a coaching change will do them well.

Denver Broncos - A Pop Warner team could pass on their secondary. A team with Dre Bly and Champ Bailey shouldn't be this bad.

Houston Texans - They are in the same division as the Colts and Titans. If doesn't help their record or confidence when you face two of the best teams twice a year.

Indianapolis Colts -They can't beat the Chargers in the post-season. They had a long winning streak going into the playoffs, but San Diego has their number.


Jacksonville Jaguars - They let Marcus Stroud leave. The Jaguars defense wasn't the same without Stroud clogging the running lanes.

Kansas City Chiefs - I'm not sure if they have rebounded from being on HBO's "Hard Knocks" two years ago. An injury to Larry Johnson didn't help, but their season was derailed long before training camp.

Miami Dolphins - Having Chad Pennington as their quarterback finally caught up to them. Pennington may have had a much better season than expected, but he can only get you so far in this league and the first round of the playoffs seems to be the limit.

New England Patriots - This one is easy, Tom Brady's knee. Brady is the one player on the Patriots that they couldn't overcome losing. Matt Casell did a spectacular job, but he wasn't Tom Brady.

New York Jets - They traded for Brett Favre. I don't think the Jets would have won the Super Bowl with or with Favre, but he didn't help the cause.

Oakland Raiders - Rich Gannon retired. I could have chosen many reasons for this, but seems like all their problems started a few years ago when their team got really old within a few months of going to the Super Bowl.

San Diego Chargers - They didn't retain Lorenzo Neal. LaDainian Tomlinson needs a fullback to lead the way for him. Jacob Hester didn't cut it and Tomlinson had one of his worst years.

Tennessee Titans - They stomped on the towel. I do believe in karma and Big Fat Lendale White didn't earn the Titans any extra points by stomping on a Terrible Towel.

2009 Off-Season - AFC Team Needs

2008 was a great season for the NFL. The entire season was filled with drama and stayed competitive until the final week of the season. Some teams came from obscurity (Dolphins) and and some teams took a step back (Patriots). Here are the needs of all 16 AFC teams for the 2009 Off-Season. Let's hope it's very active and teams get what they need in the draft and free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Offensive Line - "The Steel Curtain" was back on the defensive side of the ball, but the offensive line looked like tin foil. Big Ben needs to stay upright to stay healthy and lead this team.

Cleveland Browns - Defensive End - The Browns couldn't get any pressure on the quarterback this season. They were decent on short yardage situations, but they gave up too many 3rd and long first downs.

Cincinnati Bengals - Cornerback - Teams lit up the Bengals secondary in 2008. Injuries plagued the team, but Ndukwe can't be your best defender. They need to upgrade with more than one new face covering wideouts.

Baltimore Ravens - Wide Receiver - Baltimore took a step in the right direction last season by drafting Joe Flacco. He has a huge arm and can spread the field with long passes. They don't have any deep threats on the team currently and it would even help their running game by signing an #1 receiver.

Indianapolis Colts - Defensive Tackle - This has been a need for the Colts for a few years. They have been taking their early draft picks on offense and taking fliers in the late rounds with DTs that don't work out. They need to lighten the run-stopping load from Bob Sanders and get a large body to plug up running lanes.

Tennessee Titans - Wide Receiver - Whomever the quaterback is in Nashville next season, they need someone better than Justin Gage catching footballs. Bo Scaife is their best receiver and he's a top-15 TE, at best.

Houston Texans - Defensive End - Mario Williams is a great pass rusher and they are very fortunate to take him over Reggie Bush and Vince Young. He is often double-teamed and they would could be a playoff team if they had a book-end pass rusher on the other side to help him out.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Defensive Tackle - In 2007, the Jaguars had one of the best defenses in the NFL. Marcus Stroud, left via free agency, and they Jaguars couldn't stop the run. If Jacksonville is going to compete, they need a good defense. Their offense isn't built to consistently score 30 points a game.

Miami Dolphins - Wide Receiver - Chad Pennington had a good season for the Dolphins. He deserves all the credit for their success. If you step back and realize Greg Camarillo was his #1 receiver for most of the year, it's even more amazing.

Buffalo Bills - Quarterback - I'm not sold on Trent Edwards. I think he will be a decent quarterback eventually, but he needs more grooming. Dick Jauron has one more season in Buffalo and he needs to win or he's out of there.

New England Patriots - Linebacker - Jerod Mayo will be a great linebacker for many years. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the rest of the linebacking corps has an average age of 38. If they sign a few linebackers and stay healthy, the Patriots will be back on top of the AFC East, if not the entire conference.

New York Jets - Quarterback - Brett Favre has a 10% chance he'll be back and the Jets have to ask themselves if they even want him. Kellen Clemens is their next best option, but Matt Cassel could be a free agent and he could be a nice addition to open the new stadium.

Oakland Raiders - Offensive Line - After drafting many offensive linemen and none of them working out, Oakland has to get better fast. They spent a lot of money on JaMarcus Russell and he can't live up to his potential if he is running for his life.

Kansas City Chiefs - Linebacker - I would have mentioned quarterback for Kansas City, but Tyler Thigpen started looking like Len Dawson the last half of the season. The Chiefs have to get better at linebacker to help their young defensive line out.

San Diego Chargers - Fullback - After letter Lorenzo Neal leave last off-season, the Chargers realized his worth during the 2008 season. L.T. didn't look himself and needs a fullback to clear a path. If they sign a fullback, L.T. should go back to his normal numbers and scoring nearly 20 touchdowns a season.

Denver Broncos - Cornerback - Dre Bly and Champ Bailey looked good on paper, but when they are together on the field, it's quite scary. The Bly/Bailey duo looked old when they faced better-than-average wideouts. If they get younger and faster at this position, it should help them out, but they clearly need much more help in a variety of areas.