Adam Man's Week 2 NFL Preview

Okay, so I may have lost all credibility with my predictions for Week 1... but it's freaking Week 1 of the NFL Season. You have a better chance at winning the lottery than guessing that stuff right. My 7-9 week was pretty pitiful, but at least I was right on the Tennessee pick, which I was confident on all the way. But San Diego and Indy losing at home to crappy NFC teams? Rookie QB/Head Coach duos going 2-0 in their debuts? Insanity. Listen, Reggie Bush and Eddie Royal owners, I'm sorry I hated on their chances. But history backed me up, and that's all we had to go on. That being said, let's try to right the ship this week. Here are my picks for Week 2:

Packers @ Lions (+6)
All you have to do is look at my fantasy rosters to know I love the Packers offense (Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings twice). All you have to do is look at the Lions to realize I hate them (though I'm now starting Jon Kitna in the league where I drafted Brady 2nd overall... gulp). If Detroit made Atlanta look like an all-world track team, this game could get real ugly, real quick.
Prediction: Packers, 34-17
Fantasy Love: Rodgers, Grant, Jennings
Fantasy Hate: Kevin Smith

Oakland @ Kansas City (-3.5)
I will check this game to see how Dwayne Bowe, Ronald Curry, and Zach Miller do for my fantasy teams, and for no other reasons. I cannot possibly tell you how much I hate thinking of this game. Like, nightmare bad.
Prediction: Kansas City? 17-14? I guess?
Fantasy Love: Dwayne Bowe, Run DMC
Fantasy Hate: Ronald Curry, Larry Johnson

Giants @ Rams (+13.5)
I don't think the Giants are great, but even I can see this one will be a walk. We should get the Raiders, Cheifs, Rams, 49ers, and Dolphins into one stadium and fight until 1 team survives. There's really no room in the league for that much suck. The Rams are about to make Eli Manning look like a god.
Prediction: Giants, 31-14
Fantasy Love: Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, Brandon Jacobs
Fantasy Hate: Stephen Jackson, Marc "Whitey" Bulger

Colts @ Vikings (+2)
Here's where the games start getting confusing. The Colts lost to the Bears, who I feel are worse than the Vikings. But sports, time and time again, seem to prove they are not math... so transitive properties don't help here. Tavaris Jackson scares the poop out of me, as he should every Minny fan... but he won't need to do much here as All-Day and All-Night run All-Over the Colts, and their D-Line makes Peyton wish his knees worked right. Unless Indy gets an early lead, in which case the Vikes are screwed (get used to this rule).
Prediction: Minnesota, 27-24
Fantasy Love: Purple Jesus, Reggie Wang Wayne, Garrett Mills
Fantasy Hate: Tavaris Jackson, Sidney Rice, Joseph Addai

Titans @ Bengals (+1)
I'm going to go by my rule that people generally think Tennessee is worse than they really are and that Cincinnati is better than they really are. Vince Young is sad about interceptions and riding around with a handgun... but it's my understanding that dealerships in Tennessee place a handgun in every glove compartment as a promotional tool. Anyway, I'm riding the Chris Johnson express and waiting for the Cincy to show me something.
Prediction: Tennessee wins a painful game, 19-14
Fantasy Love: Chris Johnson (he's good), Bo Scaife (what?), Ocho Cinco (giggle)
Fantasy Hate: Carson Palmer (show me first), Chris Perry (ditto), Titans WR's

Saints @ Redskins (+3)
It's scaring me how many road teams I like this week, though this game doesn't scare me much. All the Zorn Stars out there are going to need to wait longer to see this team click, and even without Marques Colston the Saints offense looks strong. I'm not ready to all-out endorse Reggie Bush, but you should by no means have him on your bench.
Prediction: Saints win, 27-14
Fantasy Love: Drew Brees, Jeremy Shockey, Prime Minister Yah Mon
Fantasy Hate: Jason Campbell, Mantana Soss, David Patten

Bears @ Panthers (EVEN)
Another mystery game... I don't think anybody expected these two to pull out Week 1 games against teams thought to be AFC Elite. Chicago's win was more impressive, and more shocking, to me... but Carolina showed some toughness coming from behind on the road. I think Matt Forte has another big game, and Kyle Orton game-manages better than Jake Delhomme gun-slings.
Prediction: Bears, 21-16
Fantasy Love: Matt Forte, Deangelo Williams, Mushin Muhammad, Desmond Clark
Fantasy Hate: Kyle Orton, Jonathan Stewart

Bills @ Jaguars (EVEN)
After Brady went down, people started raving that the division was the Jets for the taking. Um, the Jets aren't even the second best team in the AFC East. Look north to Buffalo, where they've put together a solid team that will surprise people. I called Jax losing to Tennessee last week, and I'll call this one again this week. The Jags won't be bad this year, but they won't break out how most people claimed. I said it before the year... won't be a great season for Garrard. Not with Matt Jones as his primary target.
Prediction: Bills, 24-14
Fantasy Love: Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans, Maurice Jones-Drew
Fantasy Hate: David Garrard, Matt Jones, Robert Royal

49ers @ Seahawks (-3)
So the Seahawks looked bad last week, but that was on the road against the Bills (who you now know I respect). This week they're at home against the 49ers (who you should assume I don't respect). The bulging discs in Hasslebeck's back scare me, but I think this defense will hold off the Niners just enough for a win.
Prediction: Seahawks, 20-17
Fantasy Love: Maurice Morris, Nate Burleson, Frank Gore, John Carlson?
Fantasy Hate: JT O'Sullivan, Isaac Bruce, Courtney Taylor

Falcons @ Buccaneers (-3)
Another situation that's changed... I expected a lot more from the Bucs last week than they gave, and a lot less from Atlanta than they showed. On the road this week, the rookie QB/coach shakiness will take hold. Also, the Buccaneers field a defense (the Lions should consider trying that out). Tampa will need to show more on offense before I can favor them largely, but...
Prediction: Bucs, 23-14... that feels about right.
Fantasy Love: Earnest Graham, Michael Turner, Joey Galloway
Fantasy Hate: Brian Griese, Matt Ryan, Mike Jenkins

Patriots @ Jets (+1)
The Matt Cassel era begins... and I can honestly say I'm excited. If you're confused why, read this article. Also, I'm not convinced by the Jets at all. The Pats will be running a lot to set up the play-action, and it will work. Brett Favre will make a crazy play, and throw a crushing interception. This game will be close, but the team that is better, not the QB who is better, will win this one.
Prediction: Patriots, 20-17
Fantasy Love: Sammy Morris, Randy Moss, Lavernues Coles
Fantasy Hate: Thomas Jones, Girl Parts Jericho Cotchery, Matt Cassel

Dolphins @ Cardinals (-4.5)
When it comes to games between bad teams, sometimes you just have to go with your gut. My gut tells me the Cards are slightly better than the Dolphins (what an endorsement!). The Fins made Thomas Jones look good last week, and they'll make Edge look even better. Miami will lose to a second grandpa QB in as many weeks.
Prediction: Cardinals win, 21-10
Fantasy Love: Edgerrin James, Larry Fitzgerald, Ricky Williams
Fantasy Hate: Chad Pennington, Ted Ginn Jr., Jay-Z Anquan Boldin

San Diego @ Denver (EVEN)
Another game that you expected to be easier to call 2 weeks ago. San Diego lost a homer they should have won, then officially lost Merriman for the season. Denver's passing game looked strong without Brandon Marshall, and against one of the better Pass D's in the league. Combine those with the Denver home field, and I think San Diego is in panic mode at 0-2 before playing 3 games they should, and will have to, win.
Prediction: Denver wins, 28-20
Fantasy Love: Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Jay Cutler, Tomlinson
Fantasy Hate: Any 1 Denver RB, Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland (+6.5)
Wow, that loud crash you heard was people diving off the Browns bandwagon. C'mon everybody, it was 1 game against a very good team. I'll agree the Cleveland won't be an incredibly consistent team this year, but the talent is still there and they'll be in the playoff hunt. They'll have to dig out of a hole though, as Pittsburgh looks crazy good and I don't see them losing this one.
Prediction: Pittsburgh, 31-20
Fantasy Love: Willie Parker, Big Ben, Heath Miller, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow
Fantasy Hate: Santonio Holmes, Jamal Lewis, Donte Stallworth

But what do I know. Enjoy the games everybody. Back on Monday for the MNF predictions.

What A Difference A Ring Makes

Sixteen months ago, seemingly everyone was calling for him to be fired for, among many other things, his team allegedly tanking the season for draft position. Twelve months ago, most people were wondering how he was going to screw up his suddenly loaded roster. Three months ago he was handed the first NBA Championship trophy for the Boston Celtics in 22 years. And two days ago, Doc Rivers was rewarded for not screwing up a stacked roster with a 3-year, $5.5 million per season contract extension (which is almost 5 times as much as he ever made in a season as a player).

Now I won't lie, I was one of the many who believed Doc needed to go at the end of the '06-'07 season. I know they were young, and I know they had major injuries, but I was just never convinced that Doc was as good at bringing young players along as everyone else seemed to be. I watched the games, and I didn't see the improvement in discipline and decision making you'd expect if their coach was actually great at developing youngsters.

But then the now famous moves were pulled, and a team perfect for Doc Rivers' style was suddenly there in front of him. You might argue that a roster with 3 superstars will make any coach look good... but try telling that to George Karl out in Denver. Doc's strengths as a coach... keeping players motivated, united, loose, and prepared to play... played perfectly into a roster of character guys who wanted to win more than anything. Coupled with a great defensive x's and o's coach, Tom Thibodeau, Rivers kept the ship sailing along even through some tough playoff waters (when his elder stars must have been getting worn down) and fulfilled the giant amount of expectations put on him at the start of the year. No wonder the media loves this guy.

So now Doc will be with the team through the 2010-2011 season. That keeps him through Paul Pierce's existing contract (who will be 34 at the end of that season), and one year before Kevin Garnett's contract ends (who will be 35 at the end of '10-'11). Of the other starters, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo's current deals both expire in '10-'11 as well, with Ray Allen's finishing in '09-'10 (when he will be 35). Doc has shown that he can win with this set of players, and it looks like they're all together for at least a few more years. Will they dominate as much now that they're all a year older and their hands weighed down by a couple pounds of diamonds? Will Doc finally figure out he should play Leon for heavy minutes? We'll find out soon enough.

One things for sure, he should have no problem affording condos in Las Vegas hotels now.

Chicks League: 0-1

A tough start for Team Katerade (thanks for the nickname of the year, Adam Man) in the ESPN Chicks League, as I lost to Tomilee with a final score of 94 - 63. OUCH.


Good starts: Roethlisberger (13 points) and Randy Moss (16 points; hopefully he can keep it up with Cassel)

Solid: Ryan Grant and Selvin Young (9 each),

Piles of garbage: The remainder of my team (Run DMC, Anthony Gonzalez, Chris Cooley, Seattle D). NOT psyched that Darren McFadden left the game in the second half (please don't be too injured, okay? Thanks.)


This was (sadly) not a poor decision-type loss, either.. My bench had a grand total of 26 points, 20 of which came from Aaron Rodgers. Looks like some major reshuffling is in the works for this week..




Picture of Erin Andrews included in this post because she is a chick, and this picture came up when I googled "0-1 record."

A couple quick NFL notes

1) Has anybody paid close attention to the Wrangler commercials, featuring "The Wrangler" himself, Brett Favre? If you do, you'll notice one important thing.... this pickup game of football features Brett Favre at QB, a guy running out to catch a pass... and 10 guys running into each other at the line of scrimmage. There are no other WRs, and there are no defenders trying to cover the one guy heading out to catch the pass. What the hell kind of pickup game is that? I've never played a pickup game of football where there was more than 1 offensive and defensive lineman... a guy to snap the ball and a guy trying to rush the QB, nevermind the BULK of the players rubbing up against each other at the line of scrimmage.

Not only that, but they have one shot of the receiver diving to make a catch for a touchdown, and slamming into a giant mud puddle. So Brett Favre, "the greatest QB of all time," can't even hit a receiver in a pickup game when there's nobody covering him without the receiver needing to dive? And Brett leads him right into the one mud puddle on the field? What a jerk.


2) It's shocking how okay I am with the Brady injury already. I'm actually getting excited to see how they respond and how the year plays out. If anything, it snapped me out of the Super Bowl coma and is making football interesting again. I'm not foolish enough to believe the Pats are still favorites to win it all... but I've tried the "favorites" thing, and it's honestly less fun than being the scrappy underdog after a while.

Oh, and to everyone who's saying the Patriots are toast because they don't have Tom Brady now... most of you are picking Minnesota as a Super Bowl contender, and their QB is Tavaris Jackson. Seriously, did you see that guy last night? At least Cassel will be able to look at more than 1 receiver before he pulls the ball down and frantically tries to run for the first down, and he'll probably hook slide instead of taking 10 linebacker blows to the skull each game.

Worst Case Scenario

A couple weeks ago, I met up with my sister and her husband for a last-call drink at a bar near my place. We chatted, drank, and caught up a bit... a pleasant evening overall. Then, as we were saying our goodbyes, my sister smiled at me sweetly... flicked her wrist... and swung her purse directly into my balls. While I crumbled like a cheap card table under a certain friend of mine, she let out a short laugh and skipped away with my brother-in-law. Really, I should have seen it coming.

That's really the best way I can explain how Super Bowl XLII felt. Just as I had let my guard down after my sister and I getting along so well as adults the past few years... leaving myself wide open for such a stomach-churning ball tap... the Patriots (and Sox) success in the past decade caused me to let my guard down, forgetting that being a lifetime Boston sports fan means you're always vulnerable to an out-of-nowhere blunt force blow to the testes. The guys out there know the feeling I'm talking about... that hollow, helpless, sick feeling in your stomach that feels like it will never go away.

So this morning all I can think of is that, if after I recovered from my sister's deftly placed purse swing, just as I was getting back to my feet and preparing myself to walk away, she had ran up and steel-toed me in the kidney.... that would be the equivalent of Brady's knee buckling yesterday. Just as we, as Patriots fans, finally felt healed enough to put the past behind us and start the season with new optimism... this next blow came so swift and so early that we didn't even cry out in pain. We just winced, shook our heads, and stared vacantly at each other.

My dad was at the game, and asked me to call when I heard any updates. After that ticker came crawling across the screen, I called him and told him the news... "It looks like an ACL, he's probably done for the year." What worried me the most was that my father, who is never at a loss for words, came back with such a short and emotionless answer. "Well, I guess now we'll find out how good they really are. Thanks for calling, I'm glad it was you that told me." Then good night, and the conversation was over. Maybe it was that churning stomach feeling that kept him from wanting to talk longer, but the whole situation made me uncomfortable.


That's all I can really put into this right now, I'll be back with more about week 1 later, including how I'll be talking myself out of believing this is the end for the 2008 Pats. Keep your heads up, everyone... and don't forget to ice those balls.


EDIT:
Might as well get these up before the games start, even though they will help nobody. Just want to get them on record...

Vikings @ Packers (EVEN)
This game has big implications in the NFC. Green Bay and Minnesota have been looked at as the favorites to win the North, but with Chicago stunning Indy last night there's even more pressure to get an early win in the division. Both teams are really tough on defense, and both have huge potential on offense... but I'm gonna stick with Purple Jesus and say the Vikes win, 24-21.
Fantasy Love: Adrian Peterson, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings
Fantasy Hate: Tavarius Jackson, Chester Taylor, Sidney Rice

Broncos @ Raiders (+1.5)
Another division battle, but this one's much less interesting. Most people will be watching to see if Run DMC will be the next ADP, and if the Broncos offense can get in rhythm without Brandon Marshall. I'll be tuning in to see if Ronald Curry will catch any passes or if I'm a total moron for starting him on my fantasy team. I've gone back and forth on this one, but I'll go with the home team and the better running game... let's say Oakland, 17-14.
Fantasy Love: Run DMC, Huggy Bear Jr., Tony Scheffler
Fantasy Hate: JaMarcus Russel, Jay Cutler, Darrel Jackson, Eddie Royal, Ronald Curry :(

Adam Man's Week 1 Preview: Part 2

Things got a little hectic (translation: they expected me to do actual WORK at work) and I wasn't able to get this up earlier, so here's my quick hits on the remaining 8 games of Week 1. For the record, I was totally right to tell you to start Plaxico Burres this week (and please ignore that I told you to start Chris Cooley too).

Buccaneers @ Saints (-4)
One of my top picks for game of the week (Peyton Manning: "And if you don't have NFL Sunday Ticket, you'll probably miss it!"). Mostly because I think everybody overrates New Orleans and underrates Tampa. That was me for a long time too on the Tampa front, but no more. Tampa had the best pass defense last year, and I think they're deep enough at RB to overcome their questionable receiving corps (and the Saints pass defense will help make Jeff Garcia look gooood). Tampa Bay wins, 23-10.
Fantasy Love: Earnest Graham, Marques Colston, Joey Galloway
Fantasy Hate: Reggie Bush (43 carries, 109 yds, 0 total TDs career vs. TB), Ike Hilliard

Chiefs @ Patriots (-13.5)
Another one of my votes for best game this week, because my idea of "the best game" is my team winning by copius amounts of points. This feels like a good time to point out I will only be referring to Lawrence Maroney as "Lo-Mo" from now on. Big game for the Kool-Aid Man. In a laugher, Pats win 37-10.
Fantasy Love: Tom Brady, Lo-Mo, Randy Moss, Dwayne Bowe
Fantasy Hate: Larry Johnson, Brodie Croyle, anyone wearing red

Panthers @ Chargers (-6.5)
Friends of mine think this one will be intersting. I'm not convinced. I think the Panthers are an 8-10 win team this year, and that's not good enough to beat the Bolts. Jake Delhomme will take some time to get back to full-speed, and the Chargers win, 24-14.
Fantasy Love: LDT, Antonio Gates, DeAngelo Williams
Fantasy Hate: Jake Delhomme, Vincent Jackson

Cowboys @ Browns (+5.5)
I watched this season of Hard Knocks, and it only confirmed that the Cowboys will be good this year... but they'll also be thin at WR and sometimes shaky in the defensive backfield. Lots of people are worried about the Browns preseason injuries, but I'm not. Romeo Crennel only puts healthy guys on the field, and they'll all be there. In front of the Dawg Pound, Browns win, 34-31.
Fantasy Love: Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, MBIII, Felix Jones
Fantasy Hate: Both defenses, yeesh

Okay, the rest of these games don't interest me much, and I'm late for the bar, so I'm going to power through the rest of Sunday night and give you Monday Night previews later.

Cardinals @ 49ers (+0.5)
Everyone on the Cardinals bandwagon! Again! Yeah right... I'm not fooled again. 49ers take it, 17-14.
Fantasy Love: Frank Gore, Bryant Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald
Fantasy Hate: Kurt Warner, Edgerrin James, Isaac Bruce

Bears @ Colts (-8)
Even the great Neck Beard can't get them out of this one. Colts take it easy and win 31-10.
Fantasy Love: Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne, Devin Hester
Fantasy Hate: Any other Bear, Peyton Manning (until I see that knee in action)



Peace, I'm out!

Chick's League draft results

Chicks League Draft: A (Shoddy) Running Diary:

9:55pm: After braving some Java-related issues and a couple Jack and Coke's, I enter the draft room. There ended up being 12 teams in the league.. not too shabby, ladies. Since I have drafted in the worst possible spot in every draft this year, why not get assigned the 10th pick? I begin to ponder if I should take FrankGoreMarshawnLynchClintonPortis, or live dangerously and go for Tony Romo or Randy Moss. Hmmmm.

10:00: First pick = LDT.. second pick = Brian Westbrook. FINALLY a league where AP goes where he should (#3 overall). Oh right.. we all listen to the same podcast, so we all have the same rankings.. uh ohhhhh.

10:02: Alex Roman is picking now, right before me. I have a sneaking suspicion she is auto-drafting.. best available is Clinton Portis, and I get ready to become a certified Romo-sexual for the third year in a row..

10:02:30: NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Alex Roman had been quiet in the chat so that she could fly under the radar and steal Tony Romo from me. Sob. Also, I know it is ridiculous to take Tony Romo at number 10 overall, but I wanted to. I am almost sick of drafting at this point, so I just wanted to do crazy things instead of logical things. Also, crazy > logic is allowed in the Chick's League.

10:03: I take Randy Moss. Blah.

10:05: The snake draft.. loves it.. Gore, Portis, P. Manning, and T.O. go.. Back to me.. oh heyyy, Ryan Grant.

10:06: I am in a funk about my team. I hate not having a great RB, but it's impossible to grab with the 10th pick. Oh well.

10:20: The snake draft.. hates it. Very mediocre RB and WR talent left (sorry, Larry Johnson and Willis McGahee). Big Ben it is!

10:22: Darren McFadden (whom I will be referring to as Run DMC for the remainder of the season, fyi) on the turnaround! I have a ridiculous, unhealthy amount of love for this guy.

10:28: Chatting with the other girls in the league as I wait for my next pick.. oddly, most of us started playing fantasy sports when a boyfriend's league needed an extra person.. now we're all full-on dorks. And none of us are still dating the guys who got us into fantasy football. Conclusion: fantasy football kills relationships!! League consensus about tonight's NFL game was that a.) Eli Manning is still Eli Manning, b.) We are worried about Jason Campbell and c.) Can interesting games please start?? Come on, Sunday.

10:32: Rule number one of drafting: Do not take any RB/WR from Denver. Mike Shanahan hates your fantasy team. Whoops.... hi there, Selvin Young.

10:34: I am the millionth person to use this joke, but whatever: Ricky Williams... smoke em if you got em.

10:35: Back to the chat, which is now clearly a discussion among twelve chicks. A short journey into our world: Is Tony Romo attractive, or do we just think so because he's famous/rich? (He's legitimately cute, in a boyish way, but he shouldn't date Jessica Simpson anymore) Is Tom Brady a jerk for dating Giselle right after dumping baby mama Bridget Moynahan? (Whatever, Tom Brady can do whatever he wants) Is it okay that we sometimes draft a guy because he's attractive? (Yes, since no one unattractive is good at anything anyways).

10:44: On the heels of the 'drafting attractive guys' discussion, I reluctantly take Chris Cooley, with the disclaimer that this pick is NOT based on his looks. Or, judging from the game earlier tonight, anything else.

10:46: KENNY WATSON! Oh, Kenny.. let's run away together and I'll whisper sweet nothings about how much I believe you will be end up being the best running back in Cincinnati this year. Eff you, Chris Perry bandwagon.

10:47: It's all downhill after you take Kenny Watson in the 8th round and the chat has returned to the subject of 'How hot is Tony Romo,' so here is the rest of my team, round by round:

9th round: Anthony Gonzalez
10th round: Reggie Brown
11th round: Seattle Defense
12th round: Aaron Rodgers
13th round: Bobby Engram (yeah, I know he's out for 6-8 weeks.. it's the 13th round, chill)
14th round: Justin Gage
15th round: Kevin Boss (promptly dropped for a kicker.. I forget who.)


This week I am playing Tomilee, who has a pretty solid team, featuring P. Manning, Portis, Bush, Hines Ward, and Greg Jennings.

I hope I don't lose to a girl.