Saturday, September 25, 2010

Braylon Edwards Actions Say - I Don't Care About My TEAM!

Braylon Edwards, wide receiver of the New York Jets, was recently arrested in the early morning hours of a weekday, for driving while intoxicated. Edwards is a starter and key piece to the Jets offense. The Jets not only have aspirations of winning the Super Bowl this season, but have bragged openly about how they will win the Super Bowl.

After being arrested, Edwards has more or less demonstrated what can be called a flippant attitude about the ordeal. Edwards blood alcohol was ONLY twice that of the legal limit. The stupidity goes even farther, when you realize that the owner of the Jets pays for a car service that will pick up any of his players, any where, at any time if the player calls and makes a request for a ride. Two of Edwards teammates were in the vehicle with him, which would mean they allowed him to drive while intoxicated. No, I have not read whether the teammates were intoxicated or not.

Really consider this for a moment. The STUPIDITY is completely incomprehensible. He gets drunk twice the legal limit. Doesn't ask for a ride from someone at the bar. Remember, he is a star football player. Plenty of fans would offer to help for free and the owners of the establishment could have pointed him to the right guy. He doesn't call a cab. He is only a multi-millionaire and could afford a cab easier than you or I could afford a newspaper. He doesn't call the free car service that his boss pays to provide him anytime, anywhere. STUPID!

A better word is SELFISH! Edwards wanted his fun with liquor and had no regard for others that were driving on the road, the two teammates in the vehicle with him, or the rest of his team as a whole. It is possible the NFL will suspend him for a few games. The Jets should bench him for the next game for sure to send the message to their employees that they will not tolerate such actions.

Edwards' Jets teammates should let him know how selfish he was in his decision making. He could have killed someone, himself, or his teammates that were with him. If he gets suspended, he can't help his team standing on the sidelines. He has caused a huge distraction for his teammates as they have to answer questions about the ordeal.

All in all, Braylon Edwards actions screamed loud and clear that he didn't care about the safety of innocent people on the road. He didn't care about his teammates safety in the vehicle with him. He didn't care about his safety. He didn't care about the well being of his team and helping them win. He didn't care about his employer's reputation. All he cared about was his "good time". Sad.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

A Couple of 2010 NFL Predictions You Want Hear Anywhere Else

As the 2010 NFL Season gets into full swing today, Sarge has a couple of predictions that you won't hear anywhere else. Anyone can predict Super Bowl competitors, winners, and MVP's, Sarge is going a little more in depth here and being more specific.

1) Peyton Manning and Brett Favre will miss games due to injury. The fact that each of these legends have played as many games in a row is absolutely phenomenal. However, when you play such a violent game, injury is practically inevitable. The odds increase greatly each week that you will be injured.

Manning and Favre are way over due to get injured. There are whispers that Manning's offensive line is a little shaky this year. Of course, no one can compensate better for a shaky offensive line than Peyton Manning with adjustments and a quick release. However, reality screams that the odds are going to catch up sooner or later - this year is the year.

Favre's age is really starting to tell on him as the last two seasons he looks and moves more fragile than he used to. Oh sure, he looks and moves great to be a 40 year old quarterback in the NFL. However, being 43 Sarge can tell you that the body injures easier and heals slower. Anyone over 40 will usually tell you that age makes the body more fragile. Sarge believes that Favre, because of his age, will not only suffer injury but the season and career ending injury. Again, you can avoid it only so long.

2) Bill Belicick will be exposed as a SCHEMER not a TALENT EVALUATOR. Belicick gets so much credit as a great coach, and rightfully so. However, he had a lot of help building those Super Bowl teams, and Sarge isn't talking about the video camera. This is the NFL, everything other than a player, coach, or official giving away team information or throwing a game is legal. Sarge digresses. Scott Pioli, now the GM of the Chiefs and son in law of Bill Parcells, and Thomas Dimitrioff, GM of the Falcons, contributed greatly to the player selections on those Super Bowl teams. Can Belicick do a good job, yes. However, to do a great job he needs help. Look at some of his decisions in the last couple of years - Laurence Maroney, disappointment. Adalius Thomas, disappointment. The jury is still out on the young DB's Belicick has drafted in the last two drafts. However, Sean Payton, Drew Brees, and the Saints sure made them look AWFUL in that beating on Monday night last season.
In addition, Belicick has no offensive or defensive coordinator for the 2010 season. No matter how good you are, you must have good people in place around you in the ultimate team game.

Have a great 2010 NFL Season.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Favre Cost His Team By Reporting Too Late For Training Camp

Sergeant Football has said repeatedly that Brett Favre will not retire until one of three things occur - a major injury, another Super Bowl win, or an embarrassing season. Favre can say all he wants about he just isn't sure up until the last moment, but I believe deep in his heart he has known the last few years that he would end up coming back to play in the NFL. He has reported to training camp late allowing very little practice time for himself as well as time for him to develop timing and chemistry with his receivers. This selfish act could cost his team dearly in 2010.

Only Favre knows why he doesn't want to show up with his team until 2 weeks before the season starts. It has been proven time and again that playing the position of QB in the NFL is now the toughest thing to do in all of sports. If you don't believe me, consider that there are only 4 or 5 great NFL QB's playing today - Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and maybe a couple of others. YOU MUST HAVE PRACTICE TO PLAY SUCH A TOUGH POSITION NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS YOU HAVE PLAYED IN THE NFL, WHAT YOU KNOW, OR WHO YOU ARE. The timing, strength, and endurance needed will not allow you to show up late and be great.

Last season, Brett was able to slip by because the Vikings started off with weaker teams such as the Browns and Lions. He didn't have to be at his very best for his team to win. In 2010, Favre and his Vikings opened with the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. Favre didn't play awful, be he sure wasn't his best. Yes, he is missing a key part in WR Sydney Rice but still Favre was off his game. He stated after his Vikings lost 14-9 that he didn't feel rusty. He claimed that he felt fine but then went on to admit that some of his throws and reads were off.

Look at the score again, 14 - 9. Five points. Five points, that is all the Vikings lost by. They had opportunities in the second half but could not sustain drives. Five points, that is all, five points. I can't help but believe that those five points were left on the practice field in the weeks prior to Favre showing up for training camp.

How can such a legendary player in the ultimate team game, allow his team to suffer because he selfishly doesn't want to put in the time or effort needed to prepare? That is exactly what Brett Favre has done to the Vikings in 2010. No one wants to begin the season with a loss. Well, the Vikings have and that loss was by 5 measly points. No need for anyone to try and convince me that if Favre had of been well prepared that the Vikings would have still lost by 5 points. Wins are very hard to come by in the NFL. Ask all of the former head coaches and current head coaches. Again, in the ultimate team game, Brett Favre cost his 52 teammates and coaches a precious win because he selfishly waited too late to report for training camp thus not playing his best in game 1 of the season. 5 measly points, thats all, 5 measly points.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Make Your Fantasy League Better - Final Edition

Over the last few weeks, Sarge has listed several ways for you to improve your fantasy league. The best part of improving your fantasy league is the fact that there are no exact rules or ways to go about it. You and the other members of your league can make any and all changes that you want. With that said, here is the final suggestion to improve your fantasy league.

Picking Winners Each Week

Fantasy Football is usually about the players. However, there is another phase of football that can add to your league - THE GAMES. That's right, they play games in the NFL every week. There are winners and losers. Picking winners of each game is a great way to add competition to your fantasy league.

If you use a website to host your league, which you should, some will have a menu for each league member to pick NFL games each week. If you really want to add to the difficulty, you can find a way to use point spreads. In our league, points awarded for picking winners of games is compatible with the points awarded for players performance. We also have bonus games. We have found that the games that are split evenly in picks are the ones that should be valued more. Picks are not revealed on our website until kickoff of that particular game. With 10 members in the league, any game that is divided in picks by 5-5 or 4-6 is considered a bonus games and worth twice the points of games that are divided 0-10, 1-9, 2-8, or 3-7. If someone fails to pick a game, that is an automatic LOSER. Lack of effort is not rewarded here.

Fantasy Football can be about more than just the players. The more in depth, the more competitive and enjoyable. Sure anyone can realize that Chris Johnson should have a monster game against a weak defense but it takes a little more knowledge to determine who will win between the Colts and Patriots. It can get really entertaining when you need a player to do well but the opposing team to win because you have points riding on them winning.

Fantasy Football is great but you can make it better. BRAINSTORM! Stretch the limits to make your league unique and better than any other.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Making Your Fantasy League Better - Part 6

Now that we have improved on the basics of most fantasy leagues, let's get creative. Fantasy football is about players and statistics, however, we have added another element to our league. Your ability to predict the success of players and teams.

Add Preseason Picks of How The NFL Will Turnout

In our league, each participant is given a sheet to fill out at the beginning of the season. On this sheet, you must predict where each team will finish in each division. You must also predict who will be the wild card teams and the exact seedings of each conference in the playoffs. We award points for each correct pick as the season progresses. These picking points are added with the players points your team accumulates. So, not only do you have to study which players will have great seasons, you must also know which teams will do well.

We have a full sheet of predictions you must make including NFL MVP, First coach to be fired, offensive and defensive rookie of the year, Defensive MVP, Coach of the Year, team with the worst record, team with the best record, last team to lose starting the season, and last team to win starting the season. All of this adds to the fun of the NFL season. Much more for you to watch and pull for based on your predictions.

We also predict the Conference Championship games, Super Bowl, and Super Bowl MVP. We award huge points for these so that people who's players have been injured or not performed well still have an opportunity to win the league.

Because our predictions go all the way through the Super Bowl, we keep our players through the Super Bowl. This adds to the strategy of which players you want when the deadline for transactions takes place. That deadline in our league is week 12. So many people tell me how their league is over in week 17, BUMMER DUDE! Our league is just heating up.

Several times our league has been won in the Super Bowl, which made for an AWESOME ending. In 2001, when the Patriots beat the Rams in Super Bowl 36 on Vinatieri's kick, that kick decided our league champion. In 2004, when the Patriots beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl 39, our league was decided at the end of the game on whether Tom Brady was the Super Bowl MVP or not. Your league ends in week 17, MY LEAGUE IS DETERMINED IN THE SUPER BOWL. Not even close which is better.

Make preseason predictions a part of your points and carry your players all the way through the Super Bowl. You will be glad you did. AND YOU WON'T GO BACK.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Making Your Fantasy League Better - Part 5

Points, Points, Points, and more Points


Traditional fantasy football has very few points. It is time for you to enjoy the fun of having it rain points during a fantasy football game. Brainstorm with other members of your league for ideas about how your players can score points for you.

Most leagues award points for touchdowns scored. Well, it is time to modify that rule. Award more points for a longer touchdown. Why should a 1 yard TD run be equal to a 80 yard TD run? This can slightly alter the value of some players as they are "home run hitters" that can score from anywhere on the field. It provides more entertainment to the game. When your players score, the first question you ask is, "how far was it?"

Award points for yardage gained while rushing, receiving, or passing. Have negative points for turnovers. This alters the strategy for QB's who throw a lot of int's and RB's who fumble a lot. Award points for individual defensive players. Sacks, tackles, interceptions, fumble recoveries, and defensive touchdowns are some of the categories for scoring.

Make sure you are using team defenses. Again, be very creative with the scoring. In our league, we draft 3 team defenses and start 2 of them each week. Award points for sacks, turnovers, defensive and special teams touchdowns. Award big points for the rare accomplishments in a game, such as a team defense getting a safety. I have found that awarding BIG points for a team defense getting a shutout can be greatly entertaining. It is so rare to see a shutout in the NFL. Plus, as the game progresses the shutout takes on the feel of a no hitter in baseball. You are holding your breath with every play.

One other category that we do not use but I feel could be fun is drafting head coaches as a part of your team. Each player draft 1 or 2 head coaches and award points for wins and take away points for losses. If you set the values correctly, coaches wins and losses would weigh very heavy each week.

The great part of all this is that there are no boundaries or etched in stone rules. Again, the participants of your fantasy league should mold and shape your league to what is most entertaining for those same participants. A point for every TD is long out dated. Give me points, more and more points, falling like coins from a slot machine.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Sit Up And Listen When......

You hear Cris Carter or Marcellus Wiley giving their insight or opinion on football. I have grown to enjoy these two former NFL players more and more each time I hear them. What makes them so enjoyable? Simple. They speak what they really believe without fear. Being genuine, what a concept.

So many sports analyst or commentators are afraid to really speak their mind. They are afraid that they will ruin their friendships with so many other players, coaches, or front office people. Cris Carter and Marcellus Wiley are not afraid to criticize anyone.

Just a few weeks ago, Cris Carter's son left Ohio State's football program due to his bad grades and enrolled at a junior college. I was very interested to see if Carter would hold his son to the same standards he indicates professional athletes should keep. Sure enough, about a week after the news broke, Carter made a public statement that the family's goal was for his son to be back at Ohio State next year. He also indicated that him and his wife wanted their son to grow up, accept responsibility and "be a giver in life and not a taker". That last quote is my favorite quote of the year so far.

Carter has also spoke candidly about how he himself failed his teammates at Ohio State when he took benefits from an agent and was ruled ineligible his senior season. In addition, he has been very brutally honest about how partying almost cost him his NFL career in the early years.

Earlier this year leading up to the NFL draft, Jeff Ireland of the Miami Dolphins asked Dez White if his Mom was a prostitute. A big uproar ensued over whether a GM should ask such a question of a player. Marcellus Wiley was very candid in stating that a GM should be able to ask anything he or she wishes. He elaborated on the fact that football is an emotional game and that if you are going to draft a kid and pay him millions of dollars, you want to know how the kid is going to react in pressure situations. Wiley is a very smart guy, who attended college at Columbia.

In a day when it seems everyone is kissing up to someone or stroking someone's ego, it is very refreshing to hear two former players who have been there - TELL IT LIKE IT IS. ESPN should create a radio show for Carter and Wiley. They would need a host who could ask the thought provoking questions and stir the pot. Carter and Wiley could just be themselves and give informative, opinionated answers. I guarantee you it would be a great show. Anytime you hear Cris Carter or Marcellus Wiley, I encourage you to sit up and listen. You may or may not like what their opinion is, but you will know exactly WHAT THEIR INFORMED, EXPERIENCED, OPINION IS.