NFL | The Underdog

2015 in 15 Quotes

Posted on December 29, 2015 by DylanHornik

In the immortal words of Borat Sagdiyev, 2015 was a “great success. Very nice.”

New York saw some of the greatest storylines of the past 365 days in sports. It truly was a roller coaster year, there were the highs of playoff races, the lows of teammate quarrels, and everything in-between. An historic year like 2015 surely dished out its fair share of quotes as well. These snippets will always remind us of the Big Apple’s big year in sports. The quotes are in no particular order.

“He struck him out! Tears of joy for the 2015 Mets!”-Gary Cohen

An extremely appropriate call of the Mets’ division-clinching final out against the Cincinnati Reds in September. After 9 long years filled with tears of agony, this team was special. After acquiring Yoenis Cespedes and Tyler Clippard, this team rolled through the second half of the season right into October, where they beat the Dodgers in a scrappy 5-game series and swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field to win their first pennant in 15 years. They lost the World Series in 5 games but gave fans hope for the future.

The Mets were the best New York sports storyline of 2015. (Photo: Getty Images)

“It just went off in my hand” -Jason Pierre-Paul

It was a strange year for Jason Pierre-Paul. He blew off parts of three fingers on his right hand in a July 4th fireworks mishap, and poignantly stayed silent on the details of the accident for months. He finally opened up this month to Michael Strahan in a Fox Sports interview and this quote just about sums up his situation. Pierre-Paul missed the first half of the season for the Giants, who will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

“Going forward, we’re going to be a tough team. We’re going to be an intelligent team. We’re going to do things the right way.” -Todd Bowles

In a drastic regime change, Jets owner Woody Johnson fired the boisterous Head Coach Rex Ryan and General Manager John Idzik and hired the reserved Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan. After missing out on the playoffs the last four years, Bowles and Maccagnan have the Jets in position to earn a wild card berth with a Week 17 win against Ryan’s Bills. Maccagnan has pushed the right buttons, acquiring Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall and gritty quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to complement their tenacious defense. Bowles has gotten his team to play inspired football after calling them out for a lack of hustle mid-season.

“This is hard.” -Derek Fisher

In his first year as the Knicks head coach, Derek Fisher could only sum up their 65-loss season in three words. They didn’t have the roster depth to be competitive in 2014-15, and Phil Jackson unsuccessfully tried to implement his Triangle Offense. Carmelo Anthony played in only forty games before knee surgery shut him down. It wasn’t all bad for the Knicks, though, as they used their high draft pick to select Kristaps Porzingis, who has helped to turn the fortunes of the team around (see below).

“Hitting home runs doesn’t make you a good father, it doesn’t make you a good friend, and it certainly doesn’t make you a good teammate.” -Alex Rodriguez

After sitting out the entire 2014 season due to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, Alex Rodriguez seemed to have found the Fountain of Youth. In his age 40 season, he bashed 33 homers and had an OPS of .842 in 151 games, easily his best season since 2008. He kept a low profile off the field as well, straying away from scandals or weird magazine photo shoots. He was a key part of the Yankees’ run to the AL Wild Card game.

Alex Rodriguez hit 33 homers this year, including his 3,000th hit. (Photo: Getty Images)

“Holy S***!” -Victor Espinoza

While not a New York sports team story, it happened on the dirt track of the Big Apple, so it fits right in. Racehorse American Pharoah won the first racing Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Pharoah led wire-to-wire in the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, winning by over five lengths and giving trainer Bob Baffert his first Triple Crown on his fourth try. Espinoza, the jockey in the final race, was caught candidly expressing his elation over his triumph ny national TV cameras.

“It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”-Yogi Berra

An iconic expression from a baseball legend, Berra passed away this September at the age of 90. Berra, a three-time MVP and 13-time World Series champion, was known for his off-color witticisms as well as his stellar on-field production. The Hall of Famer hit .285 over his 20-year career, managed both New York teams, had a cartoon bear created in his honor, and left us with sayings like “It’s deja vu all over again,” and “when you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

“Wow. It’s great to be home.” -Chris Mullin

The Golden Boy of the Red Storm returned this spring. Mullin, a Hall of Fame basketball player and the greatest player in St. John’s history, came back to his alma mater to become its next head coach. It will be an uphill climb for Mullin with no prior coaching experience and no recruiting foothold in the five boroughs, but he enlisted in the help of fellow HOFer Mitch Rochmond and recruiting genius Barry Rohrssen. The young Red Storm have played well in a win against Syracuse and a tough loss against Indiana.

“Well, you’re not going to do anything about it.” -Geno Smith

The phrase heard ’round MetLife. After supposedly improving his game all offseason, Geno Smith uttered this sentence to IK Enemkpali over not paying a $600 plane ticket, which led to Enemkpali breaking Smith’s jaw with a right hook. This led to Ryan Fitzpatrick’s coronation as the starter, and his consistent play has led the Jets to double-digit wins. Smith, meanwhile, has rode the bench since recovering from his injury and doesn’t look like a part of the team’s future plans. Enemkpali, meanwhile, was cut by the Jets and signed by the Bills, led by, of course, Rex Ryan.

“They thought, skinny white guy, he’s not going to be physical. But I still fight for those rebounds.” -Kristaps Porzingis

After the dismal season last year, the Knicks drafted Porzin-God, who is playing like the Rookie of the Year and a breakout star in the league. The team is playing competitive basketball in the Eastern Conference along with a healthy Carmelo Anthony. Porzingis so far has averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game, and the Knicks are within four games of a playoff spot at this point.

giannis-antetokounmpo-kristaps-porzingis-nba-milwaukee-bucks-new-york-knicks.jpg

Kristaps Porzingis is outplaying every rookie so far this year for the Knicks. (Photo: Brad Penner/ USA Today)

“We didn’t always agree, but we never departed from one another without a hug and a handshake. I’m going to miss him, I won’t forget him.” -Bill Torrey

Torrey, the former General Manager of the Islanders, said this about legendary coach Al Arbour. Arbour passed away this August at the age of 82. He led the Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups in the early 80’s and is hailed as a legend by Islanders fans. It came as the Islanders were about to move from their original home in Uniondale to their sparkling new digs at the Barclays Center. Arbour will forever be linked to the original Islanders, and the lore of his dynasty will be forever remembered in the rafters of the arena.

“Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you.” -CC Sabathia

In an announcement that shocked the baseball world, CC Sabathia announced at the end of this season that he would check himself into an alcohol rehab facility. Sabathia finished with a 5.90 ERA in 2015, but a weekend road trip to Baltimore with the team let the wheels fall of for him. The baseball community should be proud that a fallen star, like the former Cy Young Sabathia, was able to step away from the game and see a bigger problem for himself. Manager Joe Girardi has said that he sees Sabathia in the rotation for 2016.

“We just ran out of juice” -Derek Stepan

That’s exactly what the Rangers did in the 2014-15 playoffs. They won and lost each of their first 13 games game by one goal, winning their first two series 4-1 and 4-3. However, they lost the conference finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 7 games, and looked pretty tired doing so. Their final two losses were shutouts at home to give the Lightning a berth in the Stanley Cup. The veteran defensemen have led the Rangers to the sixth-most pints in the Eastern Conference this season and a 14-5-1 home record.

” I think we can truly give something for the fans in New York City to cheer about.” -Josh Saunders

If you don’t know who Josh Saunders is, that’s understandable. He’s the goalie for NYCFC, who played their inaugural season this season at Yankee Stadium. They played to an audience that was top-five in the MLS in attendance, and gave the established Red Bulls a true rival. While NYCFC failed to make the playoffs, they have star power in Frank Lampard and David Villa. The Red Bulls were one step away from the MLS Cup Final, showing that soccer is one the up-and-up in New York for the first time in a long time.

“I know it’s been 15 years since the Bills made the playoffs. Well get ready, man, we’re going.” -Rex Ryan.

Rex Ryan stayed in state after being fired from the Jets in January, going to the division rival Bills and bringing his braggadocio with him. An improved roster in Buffalo (they added star running back LeSean McCoy to go along with big-play threat Sammy Watkins) and a quarterback change led to a glimmer of hope. This season hasn’t really gone as planned for Ryan and Buffalo, thought, who will miss the playoffs yet again. However, he does have a chance to play the ultimate spoiler role when he faces the Jets in Week 17 while they vie for a playoff berth.

There you have it. 2015 was a great year and, in the words of DJ Khaled, Let’s hope for “another one.”

The Historic Holiday Season

Posted on December 10, 2015 by DylanHornik

Cue the Andy Williams song, because it’s the holiday season. That means stretching the buttons on your reindeer-patterned cardigan to their absolute limits while taking 25 shots for Kobe Bryant’s 25 shots. It also means wearing in your favorite spot on the couch while watching Peyton Manning wear in his favorite spot on the bench.

This holiday season is one we haven’t seen in almost 20 years. While athletes like Bryant and Manning, the all time greats that have graced our TV’s this generation, are still making headlines, they’re not doing so with their wildly impressive play. Instead, these fading giants are speaking about their farewell tours (Kobe) and their desires to continue to play the game they love (Manning).

Peyton Manning, benched in favor of the younger Brock Osweiler, plans to play in 2016 even though sports moves towards a younger crowd of athletes (RantSports Photo).

What does it all mean? The season of giving is bringing its philanthropy to a whole new level, handing the reins of superstardom from one generation to another, albeit gradually and deliberately. The guys that I grew up watching, the ones that set all the records and established new styles of play, don’t want to give away what they’ve worked so hard to build just yet. It took Kobe two injury-plagued seasons plus a slow, retreating start to the season for him to realize that maybe, just maybe, this should be his last go. Peyton Manning still hasn’t figured that dying quail spirals out of an ailing shoulder attached to a surgically repaired neck are a telltale sign of retirement and front-office leadership. It’s just too hard for them to think that they aren’t the spritely 19-year-olds that they were when they began their rise to the top.

Speaking of young bucks, now is the time. Not 2014, not even 2015, but 2016 will be, mark my words, the year of the under-25 athlete. We saw flashes throughout the summer and fall, with Bryce Harper’s meteoric rise to the MVP and the hype around the Chicago Cubs’ baby-faced corps of hitters. Now, we’re seeing the likes of the Latvian Liberator, Kristaps Porzingis, the wizard of Os(weiler) grinning and winning in Denver, and even studs like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel skating through the NHL.

As these teenagers learn directly from the greats, Osweiler from Peyton, D’Angelo Russell from Kobe, Kristaps from Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki, I can’t help but wonder if we will ever see another generation of athletic prominence that we have witnessed since the late 1990’s. Seven of the top 20 scorers in NBA history played a significant amount of their career in the 2000’s. Five of the most prolific QB’s ever (Brady, Manning, Brees, Favre, Rodgers) did their damage in the Disney Era. In a period of baseball marred by PEDs and a lack of top athletes in the sport, we saw on of the most naturally talented players ever, Alex Rodriguez, start his career as the second coming, only to be caught up in the dark side of his times.

Kristaps Porzingis is two years older than me, 18 inches taller than me, exponentially more talented than me, and got to learn from Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki. (NYDN Photo).

This is exactly why I love the holidays; the season really is about giving. The aging are giving what they can to the young and talented, the young and talented are giving excitement and free air to the fans, but can this new generation of hyper-athletic, hyper-selfish athletes give back to the sports that give them a home in the same way we’ve recently seen? Only Father Time will tell.

The Superior Sport?

Posted on November 12, 2015 by DylanHornik

I love sports.

So do you. That’s probably why you’re reading this blog (except for you, Mom). That means that you probably watch more than one sport, which is good, because all of them are great, but which one is the best? That’s what I’m going to try to decide here.

I’ll be using a complicated (not) grading system based on four factors. Each factor, excitement, popularity, clarity, and live experience, will be graded out of five, and the total results will be converted into a score out of 100. I’m only going to grade the four biggest sports in America: football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Hopefully, this will all go according to plan, and the top dog in the wide world of sports will showcase itself.

Football:

Excitement: 4/5- Football is pretty damn great, let’s be honest. There’s at least one mildly exciting game every Sunday, and the really exciting ones go down in sports history, like last year’s Super Bowl between the Patriots and Seahawks. However, to truly understand a lot of the weight that some football games carry, you need to know some background context about each team. On top of that, the time between plays is not well-used and there are too many commercials for (now illegal) daily fantasy companies.

Popularity: 5/5- The top 21 most-watched TV programs in American history are all Super Bowls, so that should say something about the draw of watching grown men run into each other. In 2014, 35 percent of sports fans called football their favorite, the largest portion of any sport in America, according to a Harris poll released by ESPN. That means the sport gets big points in this category.

Clarity: 3/5- Other than the obvious, “run-to-the-end-zone-and-don’t-get-tackled” concepts, football is very, very difficult to understand. To be a casual fan is to barely understand half of the penalties that could get called over the course of one game. Not to mention all of the complex play calls that most fanatics try to understand, but can never accurately predict when watching from their couches.

Live Experience: 4/5 Football excels when it comes to this. there’s never a bad seat in any stadium, and the camaraderie between like-minded fans is at an all-time high in the friendly confines of the glorious home stadium. Heckling opposing fans is even nastier than most other sports, which is just as entertaining as the actual game. The only knocks are that it can be absolutely frigid in the middle of the season and sitting in below-freezing temperatures during timeouts, commercial breaks, and quarter and halftime breaks is unenjoyable.

Total: 16/20 or 80/100

Baseball:

Excitement: 3.5/5- The biggest knock on baseball is that it’s so slow, especially on TV. Not many people want to watch a game that could easily surpass three-and-a-half hours, but fanaticism is as fanaticism does. However, baseball is unique in that it is the only sport that allows for a walk-off scenario multiple times in a game. There’s nothing like a come-from-behind win in the bottom of the 9th…or the 16th.

Popularity: 4/5- Baseball ranks second behind football in the same ESPN/Harris poll, but has around 100 million more fans according to sporteology.com. Their big grade comes from the fact that it may be the most international sport on this list, with fans from Japan to America and the Caribbean to its budding life in Europe. As the national pastime of our country already, it’s more potent in its ability to travel globally.

Clarity: 3.5/5- There’s a basic understanding of the game like their is in football, but there isn’t such a deep understanding that’s vital to watching the game like in football. Superfans are crazed with sabremetrics and pitching matchups, but it’s not completely necessary because the basic stats can get you by.

Live Experience: 5/5- Going a baseball game is so great that there’s even a song about it. That alone is enough to give it a perfect grade. There’s something about ballpark food, although overpriced, that’s just magical, and watching a homer fly through the air live is more graceful than anything else in sports.

Total: 16/20 or 80/100

Basketball:

Excitement: 4.5/5- Basketball, along with hockey, is constant action, which makes them the most exciting sports of the four. In addition, breakaway dunks and long three-pointers are pure ocular ecstasy. Buzzer beaters are right up there with walk off homers as far as game-ending drama. Plus, the NBA Finals always have at least one great game. Like the NFL, however, there are too many commercials that break up the continuity of the contests.

Popularity: 4/5- Like baseball, basketball is also multi-national, with leagues in China, the Philippines, Australia, Spain, and more. China is becoming a hotbed for fans and pretty decent players. Basketball shoes might be the most popular footwear item in the history of western civilization, and everyone knows Jordan, LeBron, and Kobe, amongst others. Every suburban driveway has a basketball hoop, not field goal posts or a pitcher’s mound.

Clarity: 4/5- Every sport has its technicalities, but basketball also might be the easiest to understand. Run, dribble, put the ball in the hoop, and try to stop the other team without getting too touchy-feely. Travels are pretty self-explanatory, and if a player scores a lot of points, then they’re good. Stats are really unnecessary to be a huge fan of basketball, save for the “per game” stats (points, rebounds, assists).

Live Experience: 3/5- Arenas may be the most aesthetically pleasing venue except for baseball stadiums. Aside from that, basketball gets pretty boring live, watching the two teams trot back and forth, save for the occasional breakaway, which I guess is why someone would want to watch an entire contest live. The potential for late-game dramatics is also the draw for going out to a game. Overall, it’s not much of a spectacle, like football or baseball.

Total: 15.5/20 or 77.5/100

Hockey:

Excitement: 4.5/5- High marks for hockey for its intense level of play and the rarity of goals. When someone scores, every fan goes crazy like they already won the game. Fights are exhilarating too, and it’s the only sport where they’re allowed, if not encouraged. It’s also another game where play is nearly constant, and there are less frequent commercials. The half-point gets taken off for the short stoppages of play every time the whistle blows.

Popularity: 3/5- Outside of Canada and parts of the northern U.S., most sports fans on this continent don’t care for hockey all that much. You’ll find some hotspots of fandom, but overall real hockey fans are few and far between. That being said, hockey is huge in northern Europe and Russia, which is what drags this rating over the halfway mark.

Clarity: 3/5- There are a lot of rules that are confusing to the casual fan (what the hell is icing?), but once you watch long enough, you’ll get the most salient points. Still, there are some rules that are always in effect that won’t usually be at the forefront of a game, like where the goalie can and can’t handle the puck, or penalty box time for each infraction committed.

Live Experience: 4/5- Hockey arenas are great because you won’t get overheated wearing a nice sweater and a hat because, you know, it’s played on ice. They’re also really loud which makes it even more enjoyable, because the energy spreads around the seats. Plus, high-fiving that random guy next to you after your team scores is awesome, because that guy is probably drunk.

Total: 14.5/20 or 72.5/100

So there you have it. Baseball and football are the best sports ever, followed by basketball and hockey. I know it’s kind of anti-climactic, but that numbers never lie. Just be grateful that we have these four sports, though, every time you sit down to watch ESPN and billiards is on. Blah.

Is Racism A Problem in Sports?

Posted on October 8, 2015 by DylanHornik

Recently, a USA Today article explained that most fights in baseball were between players of different ethnicities. Jason Whitlock, an ESPN employee who was tapped to run The Undefeated, a website that examines the crossroads of race and sports, was fired because the controversial reporter was deemed unfit to run the website.

These two events beg some questions: Are sports trying to run from racism? Is race a problem in sports today? Or are people making a big deal out of coincidences?

Take this. In a 2013 review, The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, or TIDES, gave the NFL, MLB, and NBA grades of A, A, and A+, respectively, for their diversity amongst employees. The report points to an increase in diversity among management/front office positions and a diverse player base, but it still sings the same song that we’ve been hearing for years: no one hires minority coaches. In the 2013 season, there were just 3 black NFL head coaches, 4 managers of color in the MLB, and only 6 African-American general managers in the NBA. Many point to this as an obvious sign of racism in a sector that has been dominated by white men for so long.

celtics-head-coach-doc-rivers-inks-5-year-extension

Doc Rivers, who has been an NBA coach since 1999.

There’s also the issue of racism in the athletes who play the game. Whether it’s smack talk on the field or a poorly timed comment picked up by an unsuspecting microphone, the accidental racist remark by an athlete is almost not news anymore; fans see it so often that it is almost ignored (for a list of the 20 most racist sports statements, click here). Some wonder if racism can ever be cleaned out of sports, or if, since it’s so encompassing, we will never hear the end of controversial snippets from athletes.

Others point to exactly that: Sports include so many types of people that racism in that realm doesn’t exist. In that same report, TIDES shows a solid improvement in diversity among the three sports mentioned. More than two-thirds of football players are minorities, 81 percent of basketball players are “people of color”, and more than a quarter of MLB players are Latino alone.

Jason Varitek, left, literally gets in the face of Alex Rodriguez during a Yankees-Red Sox game.

That USA Today article displayed a graphic showing that 87 percent of baseball fights are between players of different ethnicities. That could simply be happenstance; since the baseball workplace is so diverse, it’s inevitable that most fights will include at least one minority. The NFL, MLB, and NBA are all consciously trying to bring their brand to the international level as well, which will of course bring in more diversity. To say that sports are racist just doesn’t make sense.

That doesn’t mean that there is no problem, that a melting pot workplace solves all of the racism issues in sports. Just because the employer tries to maintain equal-opportunity rights doesn’t mean the employees adhere to the same standards. It’s been an elephant in the room for decades, since the integration of most major sports; some athletes that play the games we love are racist.

Riley Cooper, who was caught or screaming the “N” word at a country concert. The NFL did not punish Cooper.

There’s nothing that the major sports can do about it, either. As long as someone can hide their disdain of other cultures from the spotlight long enough to establish residence in a league, current company thoughts don’t punish racist acts. In the NFL, the penalty for screaming the “N” word at an opposing player is the same for certain pass interference cases on the field, and only frequent offenses merit off-field discipline. Former MLB pitcher John Rocker was quoted multiple times disparaging multiple races and was suspended for a total of 14 games with pay.

I wish I could say that racism will leave sports within 20 years. I’m just not sure right now, especially with today’s youth being exposed to what happened in Ferguson and Baltimore in recent memory. The way that some minorities were painted by the media will stick in their mind forever, and those thoughts will either go away or mature into more negative sentiments as these children age. The only way to stop racism in sports, and in the world really, is through pure education. Teach these young athletes that it’s okay to be white, brown, black, yellow, red, pink, magenta, of whatever color and ethnicity, because a human is a human, and an athlete is an athlete. Major sports companies need to do a better job of creating tougher policies to try to eliminate blatant racism by its employees.

Poll: Assessing the Jets so Far

Posted on September 25, 2015 by DylanHornik

The New York Jets have surprised a lot of people in the first two weeks of the NFL season, using a swarming defense and mistake-free offense to roll to a 2-0 start. A lot of pundits have the defense tagged as the best and most relentless in the NFL, but little can be said about the offense other than its small turnover rate (a +8 turnover margin so in 2 games in 2015).

I’ve decided to take the power out of the hands of the professional analyst and get the pulse of the fan base in this post.

The question: Are the Jets legit? The answer: Up to you.

Vote in the poll below and comment why you think so.

The Underdog’s 2015-2016 NFL Preview

Posted on September 13, 2015 by DylanHornik

The perfect weather. The perfect game. It’s time for America’s sport, the only place where severely injuring someone is (momentarily) celebrated: Football. Here’s a full preview of every NFL team, including outlooks, record predictions, playoff predictions, and I pick not one, but two Super Bowl Winners. Without further ado, let’s play football!

Chicago Bears: Last Season: 5-11

This will be a rough year for Da Bears. Their biggest weakness is their offensive line, where the lone bright spot is Kyle Long. While Long has been described as an “athletic freak” during his transition to right guard, there is little to no hope for a line that allowed 41 sacks in 2014. That, coupled with Alshon Jeffery’s nagging injuries and Kevin White’s stress fracture in his leg, basically spells disaster for the offense. Defensively, the group is led by vet Jared Allen, Kyle Fuller, and Antrel Rolle. The defensive backfield has the ability to create takeaways, 19 picks last year, and set up the offense, but it seems as if the offense won’t be able to score. Prediction: 4-12.

Cincinnati Bengals: Last Season: 10-5-1

After not making the playoffs but not winning a game in each of quarterback Andy Dalton’s first 4 seasons, the Bengals look to change that with a more experienced and more talented supporting cast. Jeremy Hill had over 1,100 yards as a rookie last year and he projects to be one of the most productive running backs on the ground this year. A.J Green hopes to stay healthy after injuries limited him to 13 games last year. One of the most naturally gifted receivers in the game, Green hopes to help Dalton in the air. Dalton had just 19 TD’s compared to 17 INTs in what appeared to be a step back last year. With these pieces, including wideout Mohammed Sanu and tight end Tyler Eifert, who played in just 1 game last year, the offense is poised for a pick up. The defense is littered with big names such as Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, Rey Maualuga and Dre Kirkpatrick. This squad should improve upon their 21.5 points per game allowed last season with Kirkpatrick slated to make a huge impact at corner. Prediction: 11-5.

Buffalo Bills: Last Season: 9-7

This offseason was one of change for the Bills. They hired Rex Ryan as their new head coach, added LeSean McCoy and Percy Harvin on offense, and named Tyrod Taylor their starting quarterback. Taylor should be in position to run a fast-paced, big play offense with McCoy, Harvin, and Sammy Watkins lined up outside and Greg Norman as the offensive coordinator. Watkins is a big play threat (982 yards as a rookie in 2014) that should help Taylor ease his way into the starting job. After a slow start, McCoy picked it up last season and finished with 1,300 yards. He figures to be the biggest pawn in Buffalo’s offensive scheme, which ran for only 1482 yards in 2014. However, their line in suspect at best, which means Taylor may have to use his feet too often. On defense, the line is their biggest strength with Mario and Kyle Williams lining up with newly-rich Marcel Dareus (who is suspended for the first game). Their defensive backfield is nothing special and could be burned frequently (only 58 passes defended last year). Even with all of the additions, I still don;t think they will gain ground in the AFC East. Prediction: 9-7.

Denver Broncos: Last Season: 12-4

Returning essentially the same personnel as last year with new head coach Gary Kubiak, the Broncos yet again look like favorites in the AFC. Peyton Manning is still a top-tier QB at age 39, and he still has Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders out wide to throw to after totaling over 4,700 yards and 39 TDs last year. After losing Julius Thomas to free agency, the team picked up reliable tight end Owen Daniels, who has had at least 500 yards receiving in 6 of his 9 pro seasons. C.J Anderson (849 yards in 15 games) will take on starting duties at running back following the release of Montee Ball. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will look to veterans DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, and Chris Harris Jr. to provide a spark. 1st-round draft pick Shane Ray will learn and develop as a backup to Ware, meaning he’s learning from one of the best to ever play his position. For the Broncos, it will be how they finish with an aging nucleus and cutting down on their 20 giveaways. Prediction: 13-3.

Cleveland Browns: Last Season: 7-9

Oh boy. This team could contend for the playoffs if their offense wasn’t so horrible (54.6 completion percentage and 3.6 yards per carry in 2014). It doesn’t seem to get better for that side of the ball this year with Josh McCown at the helm of a squad of skill position players that have no real NFL credibility. Watching rookie Duke Johnson could be special behind a pretty good offensive line, but in today’s game you can’t win if you can’t throw. The defense, however, has the potential to be nasty. First-round pick Danny Shelton will look to open up holes for Karlos Dansby and Paul Kruger to get in the backfield. Throwing on them will be tough as well, with Joe Haden and Tramon Williams playing corner and Donte Whitner at safety. They led the league with 97 passes defended and were 2nd with 1,164 tackles total last year. If the offense can score, this team can fight, but it looks like another sub-.500 year in Cleveland. Prediction: 4-12.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Last Season: 2-14

The Bucs were really bad last year. Luckily, they got the first overall pick and used it on James Winston. He looked nothing more than an average rookie during the preseason. He does have a good offensive line to protect him and some real weapons like Vincent Jackson (1,002 yards in 2014) and Mike Evans (1,051 yards in 2014) to throw to. Doug Martin hopes to put in a full year’s work for the first time since his rookie year in 2012, when he ran for 1,400 yards and 11 TDs. The problem will be holding a lead on defense. While there are some bright spots like cornerback Alterraun Verner and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, it doesn’t look like the 25th ranked defense from last year will improve. All told, if Jameis can get over his rookie jitters, this team won’t be as bad as last year. Prediction: 5-11.

Arizona Cardinals: Last Season: 11-5

The Cardinals surprised a lot of people last year with their success, and they’re out to prove that it wasn’t a fluke. Carson Palmer hopes to play a full season after starting out hot last year (11 TDs and 3 INTs in 6 games) but injuring his knee. He still has legend Larry Fitzgerald at wide out, who had 784 yards in 14 games despite a merry-go-round at quarterback and Michael Floyd turned into a very reliable 2nd option. Andre Ellington hopes to factor into the offense more after gaining just over 650 yards in 2014, but this is still a pass-first attack. The offensive line hopes to stay strong again after allowing just 28 sacks last season. What this team really hangs its hat on, however, is defense. Although Todd Bowles is gone, the opportunity to be dominant is still present. Calais Campbell is a monster on the D-line that spearheaded a rush defense that ranked in the top half last year in yards allowed. Tyron Mathieu and Patrick Peterson hope to bring life to a pass defense that fell off the table towards the end of the year. If this team can stay healthy, unlike last year, that stability can bring another 10-win season. Prediction: 10-6.

San Diego Chargers: Last Season: 9-7

Unlike Chargers teams in recent memory, last season’s version showed a middling offense but surprisingly good defense. Phillip Rivers had a career year with 31 TDs and 18 INTs to go with a 66.5 completion percentage and 4,286 yards. Malcolm Floyd, Keenan Allen, and Ladarius Green all figure to be back in the fold in the passing game. Allen and Floyd each had at least 700 yards receiving, and Green in finally the top tight end after the retirement of Antonio Gates. The third-worst rushing attack last year seems to have gotten better with the addition of first-round pick Melvin Gordon, which also provides some stability to a position that saw 3 different starters last year. Their defense will still be pretty good, led by Manti Te’o and Melvin Ingram, both of whom missed significant time last season. Eric Weddle is still the best free safety in the game, and he anchors a defensive backfield that isn’t great, but can get the job done. This team will be more like the mid-2000’s Chargers squad, harkening back to the days of LaDanian Tomlinson. Prediction: 11-5

Kansas City Chiefs: Last Season: 9-7

Last year’s edition of Kansas City could’ve been so much better if they had some offense to support their number 2 ranked defense. On paper, this team doesn’t look bad on the offensive side of the ball. Alex Smith does have some weapons besides Jamal Charles (1,033 rushing yards in 2014) to look for such as tight end Travis Kelce, speedster Jeremy Maclin, and professional runner D’Anthony Thomas. Smith only threw for 3,265 yards and 18 TDs last season, partially because he was sacked 45 times. The line needs to keep him on his feet and give him time to find his weapons in the open field. This si by no means a deep-ball passing game, but Kelce can be used in short-yardage situations and Maclin can take the ball up the field on screens. This defense, though, is relentless. Justin Houston had 22 sacks last year (I know!) and they still have linebackers Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, and Josh Mauga. The defensive backfield is led by Phillip Gaines and Eric Berry, who’s status is uncertain after battling lymphoma for much of last year. Rookie Marcus Peters was a top cornerback prospect coming out of college, and he has prototype size and raw talent. I think that their offense improves this year, and postseason hopes are high. Prediction: 12-4.

Indianapolis Colts: Last Season: 11-5

This team is legit. The front office helped out Andrew Luck by adding Andre Johnson and Frank Gore to ensure that he won’t miss Reggie Wayne and that he has a real running attack. Most importantly, the offensive line need to continue to do a good job of keeping Luck on his feet so he can hopefully throw for 4,700 yards and 40 TDs again (they allowed only 25 sacks last season). Gore comes over from San Francisco after running for at least 1,000 yards in 8 of his first 10 seasons. The additions, plus T.Y Hilton, Coby Fleener, and Dwayne Allen should make this the best offense in the NFL. Defensively, they need to take the ball away more, as the team had a -5 turnover different last season. Trent Cole comes over from Philadelphia to bring an experienced edge rush to get Vontae Davis chances at some interceptions. If that happens, I don’t know if there’s a better team in the league. Prediction: 14-2.

Dallas Cowboys: Last Season: 12-4

After being pretty dominant last year, the Cowboys had to deal with one big change in particular; DeMarco Murray’s departure to Philadelphia. They haven’t really dressed the issue, going with a running back by committee to start the year. That doesn’t mix well for Tony Romo, who thrives off of the play action. Romo had a great year, throwing only 6 picks while completing just under 70% of his passes. He does have perhaps the best receiver in the game in Dez Bryant, who caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 TDs in 2014, as well as sturdy tight end Jason Witten, and some nice role players like Cole Beasley. Their defense is very average playing under the “bend don’t break” scheme. Morris Claiborne hopes to get back on track after missing parts of the last two seasons with injuries, and the Cowboys may have drafted the most naturally gifted defensive player in Byron Jones (44 inch vertical and 12 foot broad jump). Losing Murray hurts, but the ‘Boys still look good for this season. Prediction: 10-6.

Miami Dolphins: Last Season: 8-8

A lot of people like the Dolphins this year to improve because of the way that Ryan Tannehill played last season. He had virtually no decent options in the passing game, yet still threw for 4,045 yards and 27 TDs. Now he has Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, and rookie DeVante Parker to help him out. Lamar Miller ran for nearly 1,100 yards last season, meaning he should improve upon that number with a better throwing attack. If they can keep Tannehill upright, the Dolphins should score a lot of points. They have a nasty defensive line after picking up Ndamukong Suh, adding him to Cameron Wake, but the talent level on that side of the ball drops after that. Brent Grimes is the only other noteworthy player on that Dolphins defense, and he can’t stop the pass all by himself. They will get burned, and that’s the only thing holding this team back. Prediction: 6-10.

Philadelphia Eagles: Last Season: 10-6

They made a lot of moves this offseason, but I don’t think that the Eagles made themselves significantly better. They swapped quarterbacks with St. Louis, now being led by Sam Bradford. They added DeMarco Murray in free agency, swiped linebacker Kiko Alonso, and drafted wide receiver Nelson Agholor, just to name a few transactions. Bradford doesn’t fit in well in Chip Kelly’s offensive system, but Murray does as a runner, so he might run for 1,800 yards again, on the edges, Bradford doesn’t have many options (Riley Cooper is the #1 receiver). Nick Foles only threw for 2,100 yards last year anyway, so it sounds like a frustrating year of sweeps and powers for Bradford, who has arm talent but can’t stay healthy. Alonso is anchoring a defense that was horrible against the pass last year, giving up over 4,000 yards through the air. Walter Thurmond and Byron Maxwell hope to change that as newcomers. It’s going to be interesting to watch Kelly’s treatment of his personnel, which is limited on offense, and how much this defense can carry this team. Prediction: 8-8.

Atlanta Falcons: Last Season: 6-10

Last year was frustrating for the Falcons, whose offense was efficient but their defense was atrocious. Like really, really bad. And it didn’t get a whole lot better, either. Their offense will be roughly the same; Julio Jones will continue to be a stud and Matt Ryan will hide their lack of running game well (Steven Jackson was their leading rusher last season with about 700 yards- he’s gone). Scoring has never been the problem for them; it’s been stopping the other team that’s the thing. They allowed over 4,400 yards in the air and 1,800 on the ground. Atlanta did draft potential star Vic Beasley, but one player rushing the edge won;t help their lack of depth in the secondary or their lack of true leadership in the defensive huddle. Prediction: 7-9.

Giants: Last Season: 6-10

A rough year is brewing for the G-Men. After Eli Manning’s career year (4,400 yards, 30 TDs) and subsequent contract extension (4 years, $84 million) and the emergence of superstar Odell Beckham Jr. (1,300 yards in 12 games), I thought the Giants could make another stride this year. I was wrong. Their offensive line has been decimated, and they’re starting a rookie at left tackle as well as a guy named Marshall Newhouse. That doesn’t bode well for Manning, who needs to stay upright to repeat his numbers with Beckham and the return of Victor Cruz, who tore his patella last year. On defense, the lack of Jason Pierre-Paul hurts a pass rush that had the 4th most sacks in the league last year. They look to aging vets Cullen Jenkins and Robert Ayers to supply pressure on the ends, and Jon Beason (4 games last year) to supply the leadership. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara are pretty good corners, but they’re being helped by untested safeties Cooper Taylor and Landon Collins. If Manning doesn’t get murdered in the backfield by opposing defenses and if the defense surprises people, they Giants could be good. Spoiler: They won’t. Prediction: 5-11.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Last Season: 3-13

These Jags are still a ways away from being competitive, but they will take a small step forward this season. They added monster tight end Julius Thomas to give Blake Bortles a touchdown target (12 TDs each of the last 2 years). It’s a shame that they have no real first option at wideout, because Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson are good second options. T.J Yeldon hopes to make an impact on the running game that was near the bottom of the league last year, and Bortles himself should look to cut down on his rookie mistakes (17 INTs). The Jacksonville defense isn’t anything to write home about, either. Jared Odrick is a big boy at defensive end, but there’s no talent around him so blocking schemes can be drawn up around him. Damon House shouldn’t be a number 1 cornerback in the league, but he is, and he needs to improve on his measly 1 pick last year. Baby steps, Jacksonville. Prediction: 4-12.

New York Jets: Last Season: 4-12

Ah, what a typical Jets offseason. Everything looked promising after signing Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, trading for Brandon Marshall, and drafting Leonard Williams. Then Geno Smith got punched in the face, and now everyone is down on the Jets’ outlook. Smith’s absence might be a good thing for the offense, which was one of the worst in the league when passing (2,946 yards and 15 INTs). Ryan Fitzpatrick is more savvy (played in offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s system) and will be more open to throwing the ball downfield to playmakers like Marshall and Erick Decker, who racked up almost 1,000 yards last season. This team will have to hang their hat on defense, where it looks like nothing will be completed through the air. That’s drastically different from last year, when they had the worst pass defense in the NFL. Teams just won’t throw to Revis, so look for a lot of picks by Cromartie. The run stoppers up front are huge, too, headlined by Williams, Mo Wilkerson, and Damon Harrison. Quinton Coples finally looks like he can be the edge rusher that they want him to be, and David Harris always makes the tackle. If “Fitzmagic” can play smart, the Jets can be a decent team. Prediction: 8-8.

Detroit Lions: Last Season: 11-5

Ndamukong Suh is a big loss in the middle, but they adeptly replaced him with Haloti Ngata. That equals another year of being the top rush defense (league-best 1,109 yards allowed), especially with a healthy Stephen Tulloch (ACL tear last year). Their front 7 is strong, but the back end isn’t up to par with the rest of the league. Good safety play by James Ihedigbo and Glover Quin can mask the average play of Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis, and that’s not out of the question. They do pick off a lot of passes (3rd most in the league), but the Lions give up a lot of yardage in the air. Offensively, Matt Stafford will have a healthy Calvin Johnson and a confident Golden Tate (1,331 yards in 2014) at his disposal. In the backfield with him is Joique Bell (over 800 yards) and dynamic rookie Ameer Abdullah. This team will be very, very similar to last year’s squad, which is good for head coach Jim Caldwell. Prediction: 10-6.

Green Bay Packers: Last Season: 12-4

Another perennial playoff team with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, this year’s Packers team looks to continue their dominant run through the NFL over the last few seasons. There might not be a better quarterback than Rodgers, who threw for 4,381 yards and 38 TDs in 2014 (with only 5 INTs) en route to an MVP award. That was with str receiver Jordy Nelson, who is lost for the year with an ACL tear. Instead, he looks to throw to established option Randall Cobb (1,200 yards and 12 TDs last year) and untested DeVante Adams. Eddie Lacy should continue to make a name for himself after rushing for 1,100 yards last year and spearheading a top-10 rushing attack with Rodgers’ ability to scramble. Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers need some help on defense from their average secondary to really put their stamp on the league, though. Ha-Ha Clinton Dix is becoming a good safety, and Sam Shields is an above-average corner, but the other spots need to play above their talent level to improve a pass defense that allowed 26 TDs through the air in 2014. All in all, it still looks like an impressive season for the Cheeseheads. Prediction: 13-3

Carolina Panthers: Last Season: 5-8-1

A sub-.500 team in the playoffs? Yup, it happened last year, as things didn’t really come together for the Panthers in 2014. A dazzling offense led by Cam Newton was stagnant in the air with only 3,500 yards and 23 TDs between Newton and Derek Anderson. The running game was good, highlighted by Jonathan Stewart’s 809 yards and Newton’s 539. However, that was also with budding wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who is gone for the year after tearing his ACL in training camp. Philly Brown and Ted Ginn Jr. are hardly replacements for the production Benjamin had in his rookie year (1,008 yards, 9 TDs), but Pro Bowler Greg Olsen is back and he also sported a 1,000 yard season in 2014. The defense was supposed to be the pride and joy of this squad, but it ended up being pedestrian, especially against the run. Luke Kuechly hopes to change that and repeat his 100-tackle season last year. Star Lotulelei is a monster on the D-line, and he should improve on a down season a year ago. The secondary looks average yet again, with Roman Harper and Charles Tillman anchoring the 15th best pass defense from 2014. This team could b so good, but injuries cost them dearly. Prediction: 7-9.

New England Patriots: Last Season: 12-4

Don’t we just love the “Gate” ridden, allegedly cheating, Super Bowl Champions? They’ve already played their first game, a 28-21 victory over the Steelers. I gathered a few things from that win. First, a pissed off Tom Brady is really bad for the other 31 teams. He threw for 288 yards and 4 TDs, all of them to his tight ends, and looked even better than the stats showed. On the ground, their committee of Dion Lewis, Brandon Bolden, and LeGarrette Blount is the only weak spot offensively, as they gained only 80 rushing yards. Brady knows this, so he completed a pass to 7 different receivers, a trend that should continue all season long with no definitive star wide receiver and some really good tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Scott Chandler. On defense, they played the ‘bend don’t break” scheme perfectly, allowing the Steelers to throw for 351 yards and run for 134 yards. However, they only gave up 2 real TDs as the third one was scored in garbage time in the 4th quarter. This type of shoddy defense may not work so well going forward against good teams like the Steelers. I don’t think that this is a Super Bowl team, but Bill Belichick is a nefarious hooded genius and may surprise us. Prediction: 13-3.

Oakland Raiders: Last Season: 3-13

The Raiders seemed to have improved a lot in the offseason, making the fans’ hopes a little higher for this year. They added the best wide receiver in the draft in Amari Cooper to help out 2nd year quarterback David Carr (3,200 yards, 21 TDs in 2014). Their offensive line will be good again after allowing only 28 total sacks a year ago, so that will help Carr’s quest to lead the offense through the air. My goodness is this running attack back, though. Latavius Murray is listed as their first-string running back, which isn’t really good at all. Maybe he’ll split carries with Taiwan Jones (who?). The only area that they really needed help in (32nd in rushing offense last year) they didn’t improve. This defense, however, is big and bad. Khalil Mack is an absolute animal and he’s only in his 2nd year. Justin Tuck and Curtis Lofton provide the experience and some solid play at D-end and linebacker. They added Aldon Smith to their edge rush after he was released by the 49ers due to legal troubles (classic Raiders). The secondary looks promising as well, with D.J Hayden hoping to play a full season in the NFL for the first time in his career. He is still under the tutelage of safety Charles Woodson, who has become a sage in the defensive backfield (4 INTs in 2014). Like the Jaguars, this team will make baby steps. Prediction: 4-12.

St. Louis Rams: Last Season: 6-10

Jeff Fisher swapped quarterbacks with Philadelphia in the offseason, and I think that the Rams got the better end of that deal. Nick Foles is an established arm in the pocket, and he has some interesting weapons in Kenny Britt and, most notable, Tavon Austin. Austin has all of the tools but just hasn’t panned out yet in the NFL, so it will be interesting to watch him with Foles, who threw for 2,163 yards in half a season last year. The O-line needs to keep him on his feet and reverse their 47 sacks allowed in 2014. The strongest part of the offense will be the running game with Tre Mason and first-rounder Todd Gurley getting touches. That is a nice two-headed monster in the backfield that can create plays off of play-action for Foles. This defense has one of the best from 7’s in the game, headlined by Chris Long, Robert Quinn, James Laurinaitis, and Alec Ogletree. It’s the secondary that will get burned often with Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins starting at corner. T.J McDonald is an outstanding safety, but he can’t doit by himself. With the tough luck of playing the Seahawks and Cardinals twice, I think that this team may stay exactly where they were. Prediction: 6-10.

Baltimore Ravens: Last Season: 10-6

The Ravens were a good team last year, winning 10 games, but they had a lot of off-field problems (read: Ray Rice). Now with that out of their heads, they can focus on playing good football. Joe Flacco has a big target in rookie Breshad Permian, but he had a case of the drops in college and needs to fix that to be a deep threat. Steve Smith Sr. said that this will be his final year, and he hopes to finish off with yet another 1,000 yard season (1,065 yards in 2014). Justin Forsett is the most underrated running back in the league (1,266 yards last year) and he will continue his upward ascent into the top tier or RB’s in the league. The defense is led by linebackers Terrell Suggs, C.J Mosley (133 tackles) and Courtney Upshaw. This was a top-10 defense last year primarily because of their ability to stop the run (1,412 yards allowed), and it looks no different this year. The secondary will have it’s lapses, but Will Hill is a stabilizing force at free safety. You can never count the Ravens out, and they just might make the playoffs again in 2015. Prediction: 9-7.

Washington Redskins: Last Season: 4-12

Kirk Cousins definitively takes over after a hotly debated QB competition, and he should run an offense that fits their personnel much better than Robert Griffin III would. He has playmakers on the edges with DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, and Alfred Morris (1,074 yards last year) will line up with him in the backfield. The key will be to cut down on turnovers (18 INTS by 3 QBs) and to keep Cousins upright (58 sacks allowed in 2014). Jackson and Garcon are both big play threats whenever they touch the ball, so it is imperative that Cousins finds a way to give it to them. The defense is horrible against the pass (35 TDs allowed and only 7 INTs) and mediocre against the run (1,722 yards and 11 TDs allowed). That won;t change much this year with a subpar linebacking corps and no edge rush, giving opposing QBs all the time they need to make their reads. Last year was marked by inconsistency, this year will be more of the same, even with a stable QB situation (for now). Prediction: 3-13.

New Orleans Saints: Last Season: 7-9

The Saints have the most prolific QB in the league, solid running back depth, and decent pieces at wide receiver, but still only won 7 games? Yup. Drew Brees threw for almost 5,000 yards again last year but threw a lot of interceptions (17) and was sacked a good number of times (30). His receivers are average ad untested in Marques Colston and Brandin Cooks, who played in only 10 games his rookie year in 2014. Mark Ingram will now combine with C.J Spiller to form a formidable rushing attack, one that scored 17 TDs on the ground last year. This offense is like lightning, but the defense is really bad. They were in the bottom 10 in the league against the pass and even worse against the run last year. The lack of linebacking depth is the main culprit, but they didn’t really have secondary help, either, Brandon Browner comes over to try to help out Kenny Vaccaro and Jairus Byrd who form a nice safety tandem. If Browner does what he can do, he can eliminate a side of the field. It;s the other side that Saints fans should worry about. Prediction: 10-6.

Seattle Seahawks: Last Season: 12-4

I still think that the Seahawks should’ve won the Super Bowl last year. They were the hardest hitting and luckiest team I’ve seen in recent memory. They had the top defense again last season, but now they’re missing a big player in Kam Chancellor, who is holding out for a new contract. Richard Sherman will continue to shut down the number 1 receiver on each team, and K.J Wright and Bobby Wagner (80+ tackles for both of them) will continue to clog up the middle for the top-ranked rushing defense (1,304 yards and just 8 TDs against). Russell Wilson made the necessary plays and got lucky more than a few times en route to his second Super Bowl berth in 3 years, but now he has a huge target in tight end Jimmy Graham. Imagine Wilson scrambling out of the pocket with the defense closing in, and he dunks it to Graham for a big 3rd down conversion? We’ll see that more than enough, I’m sure. Marshawn Lynch knows why he’s here, to score touchdowns (13 last year). This Seahawks team is strong again, and is a trendy Super Bowl pick for the third straight year. Prediction: 12-4.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Last Season: 11-5

I really like this team on offense. Ben Roethlisberger has a lot of weapons at his disposal, and he showed it in their opening game, throwing for 351 yards in a 28-21 loss to the Patriots. He’ll continue to put up big numbers with Antonio Brown (9 catches, 133 yards, 1 TD in the game) and Martinis Bryant when he returns from a 4-game suspension. Le’Veon Bell will return from his one-game suspension, but they didn’t miss a beat with DeAngelo Williams in the backfield (21 carries, 127 yards). Bell might be the most well-rounded running back in the league with his ability to catch and block as well. The “Steel Curtain” looked more like a velvet sheet on Thursday night, allowing Tom Brady to rip into them for 288 yards and 4 scores. They have no real thumper or presence in the secondary, but Ryan Shazier will come into his own at linebacker. They have a big D-line with Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt up the middle. They limited the scrawny Patriots rushing attack to just 80 yards. That will be the bright spot for the Steelers’ defense. The offense will carry them, but how far until the defense falls Prediction: 9-7.

Houston Texans: Last Season: 9-7

I don’t know how this team finished with 9 wins a season ago. They played 4 quarterbacks and the one that started the majority of their games (Ryan Fitzpatrick) is gone. Now Brian Hoyer has the reigns of an offense that is also without Andre Johnson but a fully confident DeAndre Hopkins (1,236 yards in 2014). Arian Foster has injury troubles again, but if he gets right, he can really help out Hoyer by doing what he does best: running. He had 1,246 yards and 8 touchdowns in 13 games last year, expect similar numbers this year. J.J Watt is the best defensive player in the game without question, and he worked extra hard this offseason to make an even bigger impact than what he did last year (78 tackles, 5 fumble recoveries). The defense overall is stellar, especially against the run (6 TDs on the ground allowed last year). Kareem Jackson and Jonathan Joseph need to step up and stop the pass, as the secondary allowed nearly 4,00 yards through the air in 2014. I think that the QB stability will help this team, and the young defense will steadily improve. Prediction: 8-8.

Tennessee Titans: Last Season: 2-14

My pick for the worst team in the league! They did draft QB Marcus Mariota, but something about an undersized running QB doesn’t bode well for me in the NFL. The rushing attacks was very bad last year (only 1,400 yards and 6 TDs) but Bishop Sankey developed in the offseason and could surprise some people. Mariota has no real receivers; Harry Douglas is their number 1 option. Dealanie Walker is a top-tier tight end in the game with 890 yards last year. Marietta should look to him as safety net if/when his wideouts don’t produce. The defense is bad, plain and simple. They ranked almost dead last against the run last year (over 2,000 yards allowed), and they were below average against the pass (3,773 yards and 28 TDs allowed). Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo are really solid linebackers, but there’s really no other help for this defense. It looks like another year of futility in Tennessee, and it may stay that way for a couple years. Prediction: 2-14.

Minnesota Vikings: Last Season: 7-9

All hail AP! The return of Adrian Peterson will really, really help out this team, especially 2nd year QB Teddy Bridgewater.He ended with an average campaign by the numbers (2,900 yards and 14 TDs in 12 games) but he played much better than that the last few weeks of the season. He will be a better arm than he was last year, especially with new option Mike wallace coming over from the Dolphins. Peterson is back with a vengeance, and he’s so angry he might run for 4,000 yards. Just kidding. But a big year seems to be on the horizon for one of the best backs ever. That will really help a team that was middle-of-the-pack in rushing last year with Matt Asiata leading the way (14th in rushing years in 2014). The line needs to keep Bridgewater upright unlike last year, when they surrendered 51 sacks between 3 different QBs. The defense needs to shore up against the run (almost 2,000 yards allowed), but it looks like that won’t happen with this front 7. A patchwork secondary did fairly decent against the pass last year (7th in yards allowed, 17th in pass TD allowed), but I don’t think they’re so lucky this time around. A lot of question marks for this team, and that doesn’t translate into NFL wins. Prediction: 6-10.

San Francisco 49ers: Last Season: 8-8

Last season was really disappointing for San Fran. Colin Kaepernick did not play the way he has in recent years, throwing only 19 TD passes and 10 INTs. He also only ran for 600 yards, which is unusual for a QB who carves up defenses with his legs. They lost 1,000 yard back Frank Gore to Indianapolis, meaning the running game rests solely on Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush. That’s not the best case scenario for first-year coach Jim Tomsula. They did pick up deep threat Torrey Smith for Kaepernick to throw to, meaning he can show off his strong arm. They also have offensive line troubles, as the QB was sacked 52 times last season. A good defense last year went to waste, and now they don’t have Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, or Chris Borland. Their D-Line takes a hit as well, as only Glenn Dorsey returns. The 49ers have always hung their hat on defense, but with a depleted front 7, they can’t expect similar numbers from last year. That means the offense will be behind the 8 ball fro most of the game, which isn’t good for a mediocre attack either. Prediction: 5-11.

AFC Playoff Picks: Steelers, Patriots, Colts, Broncos, Chiefs, Bengals

NFC Playoff Picks: Packers, Cowboys, Seahawks, Saints, Lions, Cardinals

Super Bowl L Winner: Indianapolis Colts over Green Bay Packers

Underdog Super Bowl Pick: Chiefs over Lions

The 5 Best/Worst Sports Fights Ever

Posted on August 13, 2015 by DylanHornik

This season held so much promise for the New York Jets. A revamped defense, more talent on offense, and a new Head Coach/General Manager tandem with a refreshing philosophy. Then this week, the team announced that incumbent starting QB Geno Smith will miss up to 10 weeks with a broken jaw after a fight with linebacker IK Enemkpali. It was learned that the fight was over a $600 plane ticket, and that Geno Smith was being “smug” and “provoked” Enemkpali into delivering the ultimate Haymaker. The feisty linebacker was released, and Smith is scheduled to seek a second opinion before deciding on surgery.

This situation begs a lot of questions about the team and it’s leadership. Instead of answering those questions, I’m going to take on the subconscious inquiry that is “does this happen a lot?” The answer is yes, and some of them are as stupid as a plane ticket. However, some of them turn into career-ending and life-threatening situations. I ranked the 5 most headline-worthy scuffles between teammates in recent sports history. As Apollo Creed said to Rocky Balboa, “Ain’t gonna’ be no rematch.”

5. Tony Allen vs. OJ Mayo: Back in 2011, these two players, who are actually friends, were playing on the Memphis Grizzlies together. Mayo reportedly owed about $7,500 to Allen from a card game that the two played. Mayo refused to pay, and went on to berate Allen’s game and personal life. After teammate Zach Randolph (who appears on this list shortly) tried to settle the argument, Allen decided he had enough and hit Mayo several times in the face, head, and shoulder. The one hook that Mayo threw was avoided by Allen, who put in one more shot to Mayo’s eye for good measure. The result: A black eye and bruised face for Mayo and a hefty fine for Allen. All because of a card game.

Allen (9) and Mayo (32) on the court for Memphis.

4. Ruben Patterson vs. Zach Randolph/Qyntel Woods: The early 200’s Trail Blazers are infamous for their run-ins with the law (earning the nickname “Jail Blazers”), but this fight is especially mettlesome because of the way it went down. Ruben Patterson, a registered sex offender and domestic abuser, was arguing with rookie Qyntel Woods. In steps Randolph as peacemaker again, but this time it didn’t turn out so well. Randolph ended up punching Patterson square in the face. The result: A $100,00 fine for Randolph, and just 4 more years of NBA ball for Patterson, who has been arrested 3 times since his departure.

1246891407-ept_sports_nba_experts-602167566-1207625342

Randolph (center) and Patterson (right).

3. Michael Westbrook vs. Stephen Davis: When they were teammates on the 1997 Redskins, Westbrook and Davis were caught on TV scuffling. It ended with Westbrook beating the living daylights out Davis. Reports later said that Davis used a homophobic slur towards Westbrook, who acted out against it. This left the impression that Westbrook was gay, which he has denied since. In fact, in an interview with ESPN back in 2008, Westbrook claimed that the whole story has been misreported for years. The result: A successful MMA career for Westbrook, who has stated that he doesn’t like hitting people in the face, and a good NFL career for Davis, who was a 3-time Pro Bowler and the NFC rushing champion in 1999 and 2001.

Footage of the altercation between Westbrook and Davis.

2. Marcus Williams vs. Bill Romanowski: This altercation ended in Williams retiring from the NFL at the age of 27. In a practice drill, Romanowski put Williams on the ground, ripped his helmet off, and punched him in the face. He shattered Williams’ orbital bone and injured his brain. This forced Williams to retire, and he sued Romanowski for $3.4 million. Williams claimed Romanowski was suffering from “roid rage”, and the judge awarded $340,000 on behalf of Williams. The result: A $7,500 fine for Romanowski, a dead dream for Williams, and a 2-year long lawsuit.

The damage done to Williams.

1. Gilbert Arenas vs. Javaris Crittenton: It’s never good when teammates draw guns on each other in the locker room. The story goes like this: Crittenton was angry at Arenas, who refused to pay a gambling debt (the same card game that gave OJ Mayo a black eye courtesy of Tony Allen earlier in the list). This sparked a feud that continued for several days, when ultimately both sides drew unloaded pistols at each other in the locker room on Christmas Eve. Luckily, neither player shot and no one was hurt. The FBI got involved, and this whole situation turned into a huge mess for the Wizards. The result: Crittenton and Arenas were both suspended for the rest of the 2009-2010 season. Arenas “enjoyed” 3 more fruitless seasons in the NBA before going to China, and Crittenton was overseas the season after the incident.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ron Sachs/Rex / Rex USA ( 623635a ) Washington Wizards guards Javaris Crittenton (8) and Gilbert Arenas (0) Washington Wizards basketball team practice at the Verizon Center in Washington DC, America - 31 Dec 2009

Crittenton and Arenas. Photo by Ron Sachs

Determined, Dynamic, and Doing Well: Division II Success Stories

Posted on May 1, 2015 by DylanHornik

‘Tis the season for fresh starts all around the country. Today, May 1st, is the day that most of the 3 million or so high school seniors in the U.S make their final decisions on where to continue their higher education (Go St. John’s!). This weekend also happens to be the weekend of the NFL Draft, where hundreds of talented and determined athletes have their futures decided for them by the sleep-deprived, coffee-dependent executives of the National Football League. For football players and 12th graders alike, this can be a nerve-racking, and admittedly frustrating and disappointing time. For the seniors, getting into that big name school but not getting any financial help could crush dreams; likewise for the poor suckers that get drafted by the Jaguars and Buccaneers (sorry, Jameis Winston).

For as many heartbreaks as these circumstances allow, there is a small percentage of NFL hopefuls that didn’t let their college choice keep them from chasing their dream. There is a small group of NFL players that don’t come from the Alabama’s or Notre Dame’s, but rather some smaller schools in the NCAA’s Division II. I think it’s only fitting that this week those who got the most out of wherever they went and are living their NFL dream are given some limelight.

First up is everyone’s favorite average-sized superhero, Danny Woodhead. A graduate of Chadron State College in Nebraska, Woodhead set numerous DII and NCAA records, including the 2,740 yards he ran for in the 2006 regular season. He is a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner, essentially the Heisman of Division II, given to the best player in DII football. Despite his impressive stats, he wasn’t given an invite to the NFL Combine, and used his Pro Day to prove everyone wrong. Woodhead ran the 40-yard dash n 4.33 seconds, and bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times. Even after having the opportunity to prove himself in front of scouts, he wasn’t given the time of day during the 2008 NFL Draft, going undrafted. Woodhead stayed positive, and eventually signed a rookie level contract with the New York Jets.

Woodhead was a monster at Chadron State, racking up over 9,000 all-purpose yards.

His time at the Meadowlands was short, and he was used sparingly. After totaling just 151 all-purpose yards in his one season in green and white, Woodhead made the ultimate traitor move. He signed with the AFC-East rival Patriots the next season- one day before they played the Jets. He got his first start the week after, and scored his first career touchdown against the Dolphins. From there, Woodhead was off and running-literally. He had sustained success with the Patriots in his three-year tenure, and went on to sign a two year, $3.5 million contract with the San Diego Chargers. In his first season, he surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards for the first time in his career. Woodhead is described by his former college coach as “unbelievable”. His perseverance and attitude throughout his football career definitely reflect those sentiments.

He’s mostly known for the best interception of the 2014 NFL Season, but Brent Grimes had a season this year that proved that he is one of the most savvy and athletic players at the cornerback position. His road to the NFL, though, is one that’s not desirable. Like Woodhead, Grimes was undrafted out of his DII alma mater Shippensburg University, where he was a 3 time All-American. He was eventually signed to the Atlanta Falcons, who allocated him to the NFL Europe. He played for 3 teams there, winning World Bowl XV with the Hamburg Sea Devils.

This catch by Grimes is one of the top plays from the 2014 season.

After that season ended, he found himself on the active roster for the Falcons. After toiling on the bottom of the depth chart for two seasons, he found success in 2009 with 66 tackles and 6 interceptions. He was even better in 2010, earning Pro Bowl Alternate honors. But then the injury bug came after Grimes, and came after him hard. He struggled with injuries in 2011 and 2012 when he tore his Achilles. He wasn’t resigned with Atlanta after 2012, and pundits immediately trashed him saying he “wasn’t worth the money” and “dicey at best” after his injury. Boy, did he show them. He made the Pro Bowl again in 2013 and 2014, and for a large portion of the 2014 season he was in discussions as one of the top cornerbacks in the game. Not bad for a guy who came from a college town known for it’s Corn Festival rather than gridiron play.

Although his school is now considered Division I, Vincent Jackson’s alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado was a lowly DII program that went 2-9 in Jackson’s final year. As a Bear, he shattered school records in receptions, receiving yards, kick return yards, punt return yards, and receiving touchdowns. To top it all off, he started for the UNC basketball team as well. He is the only one of the three players highlighted to have been drafted- he was taken in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.

Jackson has had one of the most productive careers from a Division II player.

His first three years in the league were slow, topping out at a very average 41 catches. From there, his career and status as a top wideout exploded. Since 2008, he has only posted one season with less than 1,000 receiving yards and in that lone season, 2010, he held out of the first 10 games due to a contract dispute. Even after his move to Tampa Bay, where he’s had some pretty bad quarterbacks in a revolving door of starters for the Bucs (Mike Glennon, Josh Freeman, Josh McCown), he kept up his 1,000 yard pace in 2014, just nipping it with 1,002 yards. While some in San Diego rah-rahed about his poor, selfish attitude, he has been labeled by former coach Greg Schiano as a team player with an incredible work ethic, and is one of the captains for the red, pewter, and white.

This isn’t to say that your team should go out and take that guy from a local community college in the NFL Draft because he has untapped potential. There are guys a lot smarter than me making those decisions, and they leave nothing to chance. Look out for the next Danny Woodhead, Brent Grimes, or Vincent Jackson, and then say “I told you so” to all of your friends and co-workers.

My Story

Posted on April 10, 2015 by DylanHornik

Growing up in suburban New York, there was only one divisive subject in an otherwise extraordinarily homogeneous area. That was sports. My community was decidedly more Yankee-friendly than Mets-loving. We were more even split when it came to Jets or Giants. There was no other professional basketball team in New York other than the Knicks, so the large majority cheered for the team that played in Manhattan (although I did lead a rebel tribe that rooted for the Celtics in secret). Even in my own home, there was a bit of a divide. My father, from whom I get much of my fanaticism, and I rooted wholeheartedly for the Mets, while my sister took the easy way out and adored the Yankees after her first grade teacher confessed her love for the pinstripes.

I took sides in the lunch debates for years, but I admit that I never really knew what I was talking about. As a quiet kid growing up, I always let the loud talkers, those gifted early with the ability to speak up for themselves, drive the debates, and backed up their opinions with an timid, half-scared head shake.

Then, 2006 came. I was at the tail-end of my 3rd grade year (with perhaps my favorite teacher ever, but that doesn’t matter). What matters is that I finally convinced my mom that baseball isn’t dangerous and I finally got the opportunity to play. Naturally when I started playing, I watched more baseball to see how the pros do it. I tried to model my swing after the dangerous first baseman Carlos Delgado, then scrapped that idea when my coach gave me strange looks during my first BP session. He, along with my dad, taught me to keep my bat flat to get it through the zone quicker, to not move as much so I’m not off balance, and to keep my eye on the ball. My coach was one of the best minds for young ballplayers I’ve ever met, and since he has a son my age, I have been able to consult him throughout my playing career.

My not-so-meteoric rise to being a decent ballplayer in ’06 coincided with the meteoric rise of the Mets. Led by the offensive prowess of a young David Wright and by the precision pitching of a 40 year old Tom Glavine, the team won the NL East and rolled into the NLCS, where they ultimately lost.

The core of the ’06 Mets, david Wright and Jose Reyes.

I was disappointed by the finish of the Mets (thanks, Adam Wainwright), but my little league team won the title, and I was encouraged to sign up for football, coached by the same man that ushered me through my rookie year in baseball. Football was a rough season for me in the fall of ’06. The team finished under .500, and I was used sparingly as a short, scrawny tight end. The team I chose to follow, the Jets, fared far better, winning 10 games with rookie coach Eric Mangini, and making the playoffs as an upstart team.

Me in my rookie year of football.

After 2006, I was hooked. Playing the games helped me understand them better when watching, and I was finally making my own opinions on certain subjects. I didn’t like Chad Pennington as a quarterback (overrated), I loved Billy Wagner (it was a lefty connection), and I thought that Beltran could’ve hit that Wainwright curveball in the NLCS (upon further review, maybe not).

I think watching the pros helped me be a better ballplayer. I broke through in my second seasons in both sports, establishing myself as a force at the plate with tremendous speed, a good fielding first baseman, and an above average arm on the mound. On the gridiron, I switched to center and emerged as the most consistent player on a county champion 10 year old team. After finding success, my love for sports only grew.

Circa 2008, during a Little League game.

Middle school was strange for me. By then, I was a Madden playing, Sportscenter watching junkie. I suffered my first injury, a broken thumb during 6th grade football, and felt what it was like to watch from the sidelines. It was difficult, but it was fun for me to watch the game develop from afar. I decided there that baseball was a better path for me, and after a brief comeback in 7th grade, hung up the football cleats forever. Football remains a favorite for me because of the variables involved with needing 11 men to be on the same page and to do their job perfectly each play.

I got cut from the baseball team in 7th grade. I was heartbroken. I gave it my all in tryouts, everyone said I was a lock to make it, and I came up short. It pained me to listen to my closest friends talk about something funny that happened in practice, or how well the team played in a game. I had little league, but I outgrew it; I felt too mature to play on the little fields. My final year in little league was the year that Josh Hamilton made his MVP comeback in astonishing fashion. Most of my teammates were well versed in the art of baseball, and the chatter was rampant during the games we played.

7th grade, at a tournament in Cooperstown, NY. Homered on this pitch.

It never really occurred to me that I could talk about sports for a living until high school. By then, I had “burned out” of playing; I was more interested in the storylines that came with the performance of my peers. I would frequently give reports on my high school team to my dad, who either patronized me or was genuinely interested in why so-and-so was overrated or unfairly benched. In 11th grade, my varsity baseball team was a state semi-finalist, but my role was no more than pinch running outfielder. My life revolved around sports jargon; calling people by strange nicknames and turning everything into a home run analogy was commonplace. I decided to step away from the dugout my senior year, and focusing on honing my sports writing skills to get a leg up before I enrolled in college. I still follow my varsity team (my best friend is the catcher) and I do miss it. But the ball finally left the park on my playing career.

The teams I loved were inconsistent (hence “The Underdog), but one simple fact remained: I loved them, and I loved the sports.

The final sports team I played on. The Long Island Champion, state semi-finalist West Islip Varsity Baseball Team.

The final sports team I played on. The Long Island Champions, and state semi-finalists.

Why did I choose sports? At first, it was to fit in. But I found that the competitive nature of the sports world took hold of me, and it came so naturally to me. Once I realized this natural ability to understand complex games, I went with it. There’s something so majestic about sports, something that pleases all senses. The “crack” of a wood bat, the view of a perfect touchdown pass, the feel of a perfectly inflated basketball in your hands, and who could forget the taste of a ballpark hotdog or the smell of freshly cut grass.

More importantly, the games we love have given me memories that I will not forget. I watched Barry Bonds’s record breaking home run on vacation with my dad. I saw an unassisted triple play with my step dad, live. The countless hours talking sports with my best friends during sleepovers. And, of course, I can still hear my first baseball coach, inspiring me to continue to play the best games in the world.

Flying High: Why the Jets are Winning the Offseason

Posted on March 13, 2015 by DylanHornik

If the NFL offseason crowned a single champion, the Jets are definitely one of the top contenders. Coming off of a disappointing 4-12 season last year and a front office purge, the new regime of GM Mike Maccagnan and HC Todd Bowles had some work to do. The defensive backfield was in shambles, the offense was anemic, and no one saw the end of the dark days in the Meadowlands.

Then the front office got to work. After owner Woody Johnson’s comments about CB Darrelle Revis chalked up to tampering charges at the end of the regular season, Jets Nation knew that the team wasn’t playing around. With around $55 million in cap space, and the reiteration by numerous personnel that the team won’t be as frugal as they have been, hopes soared with the possibility of signing high-profile players.

Boy, did they deliver.

Before the free agency period even started at 4 PM on March 10th, Gang Green was already making moves. Last Friday, the Jets agreed to acquire WR Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 5th round pick in this year’s draft. While detractors point to his off-field history, declining age, and down year last year as causes of concern, the Marshall trade does more good than harm. Many of his incidents away from football are due to his Borderline Personality Disorder, which he is a staunch advocate for. He is 31, but he is still clearly capable of being one of the top producers at the position in the league, as evident by his 7 straight 1,000 yard seasons until last year derailed him. Due to injuries, he only played in 13 games, but more often than not he was not at 100%, and caught 61 passes for 721 yards and 8 TDs. These numbers are still pretty good, especially considering he had Jay Cutler throwing to him. If it doesn’t pan out the way it should, the Jets have the option to cut him after this year and is only due $7.5 million this year, considerably less than WR Percy Harvin, who presumably would still be on the roster if the trade fell through. Marshall also played for Bowles in Miami, where Bowles was an assistant and eventually interim head coach.

Huge wideout Brandon Marshall is the top target Jets QB’s have been looking for.

Obviously, trading for a top WR in the league means that the Jets need a decent quarterback. Geno Smith showed flashes of potential in the final game of the 2014 , but isn’t consistent enough to even be a short term option. That’s why the Jets traded for 32 year old passer Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick comes from Houston in exchange for a 2016 conditional 7th round pick. While he isn’t an elite quarterback, Fitzpatrick brings veteran savvy and journeyman knowledge to the team. He’s been consistent throughout this entire career, completing about 60% of his passes and throwing more touchdowns than interceptions. Like Marshall, Fitzpatrick has a connection to the new Jets coaching staff. He played for offensive coordinator Chan Gailey while the two were in Buffalo from 2009-2012. In that span, Fitzpatrick threw for more than 10,000 yards and 71 touchdowns, compared to 54 picks.

Then, free agency started. The Jets agreed to a new contract with LB David Harris just before the floodgates opened. The new contract, a 3 year, $15 million guaranteed deal, ensures that the Jets will have their defensive rock in the middle. Last season, Harris had 123 total tackles and tied a career high with 5.5 sacks. He has surpassed 100 tackles in 5 of his 7 seasons, all with the Jets. Harris will provide much needed support in the middle of Todd Bowles’ defense, which becomes hectic when he calls all out blitzes. Harris also adds to the veteran leadership that the team has deepened this offseason.

LB David Harris has been the steady force in an often changing landscape for the Jets.

The Green and White also shored up a hole in the offense, signing former first round pick James Carpenter to a four year contract. Carpenter, a guard, is a good pass blocker, which could help the revamped passing game. The Jets allowed 47 sacks in 2014, tied for 8th most in the NFL. This move provides depth to an offensive line that has seemed shaky since Alan Faneca was cut and Damien Woody retired in 2010 and 2011. Above all else, Carpenter knows how to win. He won a national championship starting on the offensive line for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2010, won a Super Bowl last year with the Seahawks, and won another NFC title this year. The re-signing of guard Willie Colon this offseason also adds to the depth of the O-line.

Now, let’s get down to the really exciting stuff. It was announced on Tuesday that the Jets outbid the AFC East bullies, the Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots (the Patriots for Pete’s sake!) for shutdown CB Darrelle Revis. Revis was drafted by New York, and played his first five years there before a nasty fight with then-GM John Idzik led to a trade. He played in Tampa Bay for a year, then came to the Patriots last year and won a Super Bowl ring. Gang Green signed him to a 5 year, $39 million guaranteed deal. While he isn’t getting any older, Revis is still arguably the best man coverage corner in the league purely because of his intelligence on the field and his rigorous study of game film. He fits perfectly in Todd Bowles’ system, which relies on corners to cover man to man to allow for heavy, unpredictable blitzing. Revis was excited too, tweeting that he is “coming home” on Tuesday night.

The team resigned another former player, CB Antonio Cromartie, to a four year, $32 million deal. Cromartie played with Revis from 2010-2012, when they were arguably the best 1-2 cornerback duo in the NFL. While Revis relies on his smarts, Cromartie, who turns 31 next month, is dependent on his pure athleticism. If he seems to get beat, he uses his speed to recover and make a play on the ball. He played for Bowles last year in Arizona, where Bowles was the DC, and defended 10 passes and picked off 3. The return of two good cornerbacks is only part of the makeover that the new front office is giving the defense.

Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie have returned to re-create the “Batman and Robin thing” that they have going on, according to Revis.

Today, the Jets announced the official signing of safety Marcus Gilchrist. Gilchrist started for the Chargers for the last 3 years, recording over 70 tackles each of the last two years. He is a durable, strong player and comes up quickly in the running game. This shores up the safety position for the Jets, who have been marred by injuries in the defensive backfield for the last few years.

Overshadowed by the larger signings, the Jets also resigned RB Bilal Powell, who can complement bruiser Chris Ivory in the running game. They also signed another cornerback, former Browns player Buster Skrine. Skrine (pronounced “screen”) has played in every game of his NFL career. He is speedy and a gym rat, and can be a good nickel corner for New York. I’m not making any bold predictions, but if the Jets can win in the regular season like they have so far this offseason, the NFL will be hearing a lot more of the phrase “Jet Up”.

	Chef Alderson: The R… on A Game in the Life
	Discover: Three for… on A Game in the Life
	Chuck Allegretto on I Love Ronda Rousey
	dhornik06 on What is Courage?
	Kelly Berdolt on What is Courage?