Just makes me want to watch some NFL

Eli and Rivers meet for the first time tomorrow

Tomorrow's game that I'm really looking forward to watching is Eli v. Rivers I. Both of these teams sit at 5-3. Game at the Meadowlands where my girl is from, and the Giants will be wearing those beautiful blue jerseys. Both of these teams need a win in the worst way. The loser will really be looking down in the divisional race that they're involved in. I'd expect to see an absolute dogfight. We're talking playoff atmosphere NFL football tomorrow around 4:00 for the New York Giants and San Diego Chargers.

People wonder why I don't like the Browns anymore

Derek Anderson was hideous for the what, third week in a row? Eric Mangini is a foolish prick. Brady Quinn should be playing. So after they fucked Quinn, I mean what fun is this to watch? I don't even know where to start. It's really a lot of fun to watch other team's get their backup QB's some snaps every week against the Browns. It's a real joy. This organization is such a joke. I honestly would love to see them lose out, go 1-15 and see if that little czar Mangini comes back for 2010.

This team is a joke! Your wasting your time watching these guys. Only a fool and only in Cleveland would all this happen.

It's Sunday

A depressing Sunday. Brady Quinn has lost his starting job and his time in Cleveland appears to be pretty much done. We'll keep our eye on the Jets at New Orleans as well as the Giants heading to Kansas City. The Monday night tilt (Packers/Vikings) should be a very good game as well.

The San-chize makes history, Jets shoot to 3-0

[Gamebook]

[NY Times 5th Down] [NY Daily News] [NY Post]

This game was interesting from the start of Sunday morning. The temperature was 66 degrees and it was rainy at the Meadowlands. A stark contrast from the conditions Mark Sanchez played college ball in at USC.

Sanchez once again answered the bell. He went 17 for 30 for 171 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. He hit Ben Hartsock (OSU graduate) for a touchdown off a beautiful play fake. He hit Jericho Cotchery 8 times for over 100 yards and another touchdown.

Basically what I got to see as CBS switched over to this game to show us the end, was the Jets defense pounding Kerry Collins and blitzing the Quarterback on any down in any situation. Rex Ryan is a lot like his daddy. They're for real. They're going to hang around all year. And they're going to do it in an entertaining fashion.

I'm excited to go to the sports bar this weekend and watch them take on New Orleans for what should be one of the better games of the weekend.

Does Sanchez remind anyone a little of Derek Jeter?

Giants shut out Bucs 27-0

[Game book]

Another week, another impressive victory for the New York Giants. Eli Manning went 14/24 for 161 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with no interceptions to highlight the Giants offensively. Manning was aided by his running game; Ahman Bradshaw went for 104 yards on 14 carries and Brandon Jacobs went for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Manning finished over 100 in rating for the second straight week. He's now the third rated passer in the NFL. The Giants might be getting great value on Manning's contract, as was recently discussed in a NY Magazine Article.

Steve Smith caught 7 balls, one that went for a touchdown. Mario Manningham added four catches. Sinorice Moss caught one ball for an 18 yard score.

Kerry Rhodes is my homeboy

I was checking my Twitter page today and what do you know, Kerry Rhodes RT'd me. It's official, the Jets are my new team.

This was in response to me saying: Your gonna pick off 2 Drew Brees passes come Sunday in N'awlins man.

All the times I sent Josh Cribbs a tweet, I never heard back shit. He didn't appreciate my encouragement. Things are looking up already for this former Browns fan.

Turning my back on my team for the last time

I'm done with them. Forever, and for good. I'm truly done being a Cleveland Browns fan. I'm not going to miss it.

Brady Quinn has lost his starting job. I don't need to speak on what kind of train wreck the organization is. I want Sundays to be fun again. The Browns don't deserve my devotion. So I'm going to pick a new team. I'm narrowing the field of fun teams to watch. When the Browns went away in 1996, I pulled for the Packers. Now I'm going to head to the sports bar every Sunday and pull for either the New York Jets, the New York Giants, the Atlanta Falcons, or Green Bay Packers. Organizations that do things the right way.

I like the Jets a lot. I like Mark Sanchez. I like Coach Rex Ryan. Although I've liked the Giants for a long time (since 2004 when I started dating a New Jersey girl), that would be kind of copy catting. I need my own new original team. So by this weekend, I'm going to select a brand new team. And I'm thinking it's going to be the New York Jets.

The Browns are something I'm going to leave in my rear view. And I don't care how fucked up that really is. I know a lot of lifelong Browns fans who feel the same way. Maybe someday, I'll come back. I reserve that right. But I'll never root for Eric Mangini. That franchise is snakebitten, and they won't be missed.

It's Sunday

Sick as a dog, but one thing can make me feel better. An NFL Sunday. The Browns head to Baltimore. The Giants are in Tampa Bay. Falcons vs. Patriots will be a good game.

Enjoy.

Five Pick Friday: The Flu Bug Hits

So I'm a day late with Five Pick Friday. I woke up Friday morning feeling as sick as I ever have before. This morning it was even worse. I'm pressing on, and I'm gonna get my five picks down before I lay down on my death bed.

The game everyone will have an eye on will be the FOX National game of the week: the Falcons travel to Foxboro to take on Tom Brady and the Patriots. Bill Belichick got shown up by a young QB last week, and I don't like the odds of it happening again. The Patriots will win this game.

The Jets welcome the Tennessee Titans to town. I think Tennessee finds a way to beat Rex Ryan's team. I don't think Jeff Fisher will be out-gunned by Ryan. The Titans win by a touchdown at the Meadowlands.

Another showdown with Pittsburgh and the Bengals that people seem to have an interest in as a big game. Folks, do you realize that Ben Roethlisberger has lost only 1 start in his life in the state of Ohio; dating back to his High School days? The Steelers will win this game.

The Indianapolis Colts go to Arizona. I like the Colts to win. And if I don't finish this post I'm not going to get it finished because I am literally struggling that badly.

Upset Pick: For this week's upset pick, I like the Buffalo Bills to knock off the New Orleans Saints. This is a winnable game at home for the Bills who should be 2-0 and the New Orleans defense looks like it can be had on the right day.

Last Week: 3-2 (Nailed the upset pick)

Overall: 7-3 (.700)

The 5 year anniversary links

I've been with my girlfriend for five years today. Hard to believe. She's grown from a young lady who used to give me a hard time about drinking too much and spending too much time on projects like this very blog to my best friend and someone who I'm sure will always be a fixture in my life. Just thought that after five long and wonderful years with someone; it was worth a mention even if this is a football blog.

Here's some links:

-A recap by Peter Kings of last night's exciting Monday Night Football game between the Dolphins and the Colts. [SI]

-Matthew Stafford is struggling early for Detroit. [ESPN NFL Nation]

-The Jets just seem to have Tom Brady's number. [Pro-Football Reference Blog]

-Wade Phillips & Jerry Jones after the Giants loss this past Sunday evening. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]

-Analysis on everything that is wrong with the Browns offense. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

-Brady Quinn, still the starter for now. [PFT]

-The ever important power rankings. [ESPN NFL Nation]

-Hopefully, Brady Quinn can take advantage of a banged up Baltimore secondary (but he probably won't). [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

-Mike Lombardi's full weekend round-up. [National Football Post]

-Patrick Willis is the face of the 49ers franchise. [Pro Football Weekly]

-Kind of a sad day for me, Plaxico Burress is going away for a few years. [NY Times 5th Down]

-Ted Ginn Jr. had 11 catches last night, but the ball he didn't catch would have won the game for the Dolphins. [NFL Fanhouse]

-More fodder from the Giants 33-31 win over Dallas on Sunday Night. [The Blue Screen/NYDN]

-Finally, Larry Fitzgerald's brother got in some hot water over Twitter. [Deadspin]

Charting Brady Quinn

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has a really neat feature on QB Brady Quinn (which might be looking into things a bit much) but they actually chart every throw he has made. I'd recommend anyone who is interested in taking a deeper look at the quarterback's play to take a look at this each week. We'll re-post it here and go over it a little bit.

Charting Brady Quinn: A look inside. [Plain Dealer]

In New York another star is born

[Game Book]

I went to the sports bar before noon yesterday for the soul purpose of seeing this game. Okay, my roommate is from New York City so he had some rooting interest too. I have to say, I'd be riding an all-time high streak on ESPN's 'Beat the Streak' game right now if I hadn't picked against Rex Ryan and the rookie they're calling "Sanchise".

I thought that Bill Belichick would be way too much for Mark Sanchez and that Rex Ryan's strategy made him appear way in over his head. And once again the NFL showed me how little I know about it on some Sundays even after watching it for about 21 years religiously.

First off, let me say that it's not all Sanchez. New York is obviously buying into the system that Ryan has brought over. The son of a bitch will blitz you on any down, any distance, any situation. He has a lot of talent on that roster to begin with. I like every part of the roster except the receivers, and they're highly underrated. This is in stark comparison to the Cleveland Browns; who are obviously not buying into Eric Mangini's sell. Sanchez is a perfect fit in New York, and the guy does some good things between those white lines from what I've seen.

He has good mobility, his arm is the type that could allow him to play for 15 years in this game, and he makes good decisions. He made two throws in the third quarter of that game that were as good as you can make. For a rookie against the Patriots defense, that is quite a bit to ask. The talk is about his poise, and I saw it on Sunday. I thought through the first half that the Jets were too conservative and that since the Patriots hadn't done much on offense; the Jets had wasted an opportunity to grab momentum at home by not letting Sanchez throw more. It appeared to me that this actually worked to the Jets' and Sanchez's advantage in the second half as he came out gunning a little bit and it caught them off guard. When he fired the game's only touchdown strike to Dustin Keller, I had a feeling that the game was not going to go the Patriots way the rest of the day and it didn't.

In New England, they're shocked. Tom Brady got hit all day long and they're a miracle comeback away from being 0-2.

It's early in the season. Sanchez will have his tough days, they all do. But I like this Jets team to be a Super Bowl darkhorse if they stay healthy. There is reason to be excited if your a Jets fan and if you are a football fan who is watching for general interest, this team is a lot of fun. Bart Scott murders people, like him or not. Thomas Jones is a really good guy and a quality running back. Then you've got Sanchez and that big offensive line giving him time to make plays. It should be a fun team to watch all year long.

Giants spoil opener at New Cowboys Stadium

[Game Book]

The New York Giants once again delivered in a pressure situation and showed why they're quickly evolving as an elite team in the NFL. They spoiled the opening game at Jerry Jones' new palace in Dallas by winning on a last second kick 33-31.

This was a game in which the Giants got porous defense in their run stopping, allowing big yardage to Marion Barber and Felix Jones. They collapsed and allowed a late score with less then 4 minutes remaining to trail 31-30. But on this night Eli Manning was much better under center then Tony Romo, and that made the difference in the game.

Eli Manning was 25 for 38 for 330 yards and two touchdowns. He also led his 12th game winning drive in the the 4th quarter. He did it when the pressure was on. Mario Manningham made 10 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. This guy looks to be evolving as a superstar and a surprise target that could make everyone forget about Plaxico Burress in time.

The Giants had to win last night with their passing game, and they were able to do so. Tony Romo gifted three interceptions to the Giants defense, one which resulted in a score. The Giants now sit at 2-0 while the rest of the division is at 1-1. New York's upcoming schedule would be condusive to another nice winning streak similar to how they began last year. The Giants will go to Tampa Bay and Kansas City, and then welcome Oakland to town before a showdown with the Saints in New Orleans. They look ready for these challenges.

Falcons, Ryan prevail over Panthers 28-20

[Game Book]

I paid a lot of attention to the Falcons this past sunday as they soared in their throwback uniforms past the Carolina Panthers to a 2-0 start.

Leaning heavily on tight end Tony Gonzalez and wide receiver Roddy White, Ryan went through a stretch where he completed 13 consecutive passes. He finished with 21 completions in 27 attempts for 220 yards and three touchdown with one interception. His quarterback rating of 122.2 was the fourth-best in 19 NFL starts.

“It was a good rhythm,” Ryan said. “I didn’t know it was 13 (straight). We did a good job of getting opening, running our routes at the right depth. Protection was very good. It was detailed.”

I'm not going to lie. I like a lot of things about this humble team. They take after their coach Mike Smith. Whom I knew so little about that I thought he was black until the middle of last season. As Peter King of SI points out, they're humble and effective at sneaking up on their opponent.

7. Atlanta (2-0). Talk about a team sneaking up on the league. The Falcons are the quietest 2-0 team in football, and maybe the quietest team period.

It wasn't all smiles for the Falcons in this one as they lost top pick DT Peria Jerry for the year. This is particularly interesting because the Falcons travel with a 2-0 record now to face what was considrered an offensive juggernaut in the New England Patriots. This is a game I'd absolutely love to have TiVo'd or be at the sports bar for.

I like Matt Ryan especially. I like Micheal Turner. I like Jonathan Babineaux and John Abraham. While this team may be short on flamboyance, they show up and play the game the right way. They're my darkhorse team right now to really make some noise in the NFC. We'll see how they fare in New England, as it could be a pretty good shoot out and give Ryan a heck of a test. I don't see Belicheck getting beaten two weeks in a row by a young QB, especially at home. It will be a tough draw for the Falcons.