Thursday Night Pick Em’ – Week 14

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Browns @ Steelers 8:00PM

Thank god its Thursday. Tonight the Steelers take on the Browns on Thursday Night Football. It just doesn’t get any easier for the Browns after taking a beating from the Ravens last weekend. The Steelers look drastically better than they had at the beginning of the season and look poised to make a serious playoff push. James Harrison had 3 sacks last week and looks like he hasn’t lost a step. The Browns have one of the best secondaries in the NFL and if they could just get some support from their offense they would at least be able to put up a fight in their defensive minded division. Colt McCoy is still young, but I’m just unsure he will be the long-term answer as the signal caller for the Browns. As I’m sure most of you predict; the Steelers take this one.

Prediction: Steelers 24 Browns 10

 

 

Pujols Earns 1/4 Billion Dollar Contract With the Angels

Earlier this morning former Cardinal Albert Pujols; the MLB’s most coveted free agent signed a 10 year $250 million contract to play for the Angels. Making it the third largest contract in MLB history; behind Alex Rodriguez’s Rangers and Yankees contracts. The contract will more than likely be the last of Pujols’ career, as it will take him to the age of 41. The Angels just landed the guy their offense needed after finishing 19th in the MLB in runs scored last season. He’s arguably baseball’s best hitter and has been since he emerged into the league as a 21 year old back in 2001. Pujols is regarded as one of the few clean stars during the tainted steroid era, and is a lock as a first ballot Hall of Famer. Pujols is well respected in the MLB because of his style of play and the way he conducts himself on and off the field. This signing will put the Angels back as the favorite in the A.L West in place of the Rangers, who will more than likely also lose their top pitcher C.J. Wilson this offseason; who is rumored to potentially be heading to South Beach to join the Marlins. The Angels finished 86-76 in 2011 and 80-82 in 2010, both their worst seasons since 2003. Pujols, who averages slightly fewer than 41 homers a season is going to completely turn this offense around as it puts a bat in the line-up that pitchers really fear since Vladimir Guerrero was in his prime. Although a quarter of a billion dollar contract is a lot to fathom, I see this is a great signing by the Angels as they land the MLB’s best all-around player.

Your take on the Paul situation?

With all the trade rumors going around the NBA prior to the shortened season beginning, I thought it would be fun to get your guys take on who will be the best team in the league come June.  It looks like the Heat are signing Shane Battier who will most likely be the biggest role player in the league this year.

All of these scenarios are based upon the rumors that are going around. For example, the only way the Lakers will most likely get Paul is if Howard goes there too to create their own big 3, and that the Celtics will only get him by giving up Rondo, Green, and 2 first round picks.  Any other teams that you think have a legitimate shot, post in the comment section.

Crazy Fan Gets Tebow Tattoo

So while browsing the web today I came across something I found to be a little bizarre. Ya I am on the Tim Tebow bandwagon. The guys a winner and has completely turned around the Broncos season.

I came across a Tebow fan that loves the guy so much he got a tattoo to prove it. I’m all for getting a tattoo of your favorite team or something along those lines, but a tattoo of a player that’s proven himself for 7 games? Come on’ guy. Not only is this borderline ridiculous, but the tattoo just looks terrible.If you look at the tattoo closely you can see there is just a helmet sitting on top of the guys chest. The guy doesn’t even have a head. Hopefully the name of the artist that did this tattoo doesn’t get released for the sake of his career.

Bringing more talent to South Beach

There is some serious stuff going down in Miami right now. The Marlins have made the decision to totally revamp their entire organization from the ground up. We all know how dismal they were last year (didn’t they lose like 46 straight?), but they are bringing it this offseason. Big moves with Jose Reyes, a new reliever in Bell, and they’re after some guy named Pujols if you haven’t already heard ($200+ million for a 10 year deal). Although there are rumors that they have missed the boat on Pujols, they just snagged Mark Buehrle to bolster their starting pitching staff a few hours ago. On top of all this, they just built an absolutely tricked out stadium in Miami, and have rolled out some fresh new jerseys that actually looks like that they’re from Miami. Regardless, the Fish are still in the NL East and will have to battle with the likes of Philly and the rejuvenated Braves. If they grab one more big name pitcher they have more than a chance of snagging the Wild Card spot and if they over-achieve could quietly win the division. Don’t know what Miami is putting in the water, but $100 million contracts are like peanuts to these organizations. Meanwhile the Orioles are in the hunt for absolutely no one…stay hot.

Mayor Menino Speaks Out on Cathedral’s Fist Pumping Loss

Mayor Thomas Menino bashed the MIAA this morning when asked about his opinion on the Cathedral High School Super Bowl loss last Saturday. If you missed the story check it out here(https://tullysportsblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/fist-pump-costs-owens-cathedral-h-s-super-bowl-title/). Menino stated, “I think sometimes these rules are written by frustrated athletes,” Menino said on a visit to the high school. “They never participated in a sport, and they don’t know what it is to be excited. You play in a football game, you run for a touchdown, and you do something special.”

Mayor Menino even offered to take the Cathedral football team out to lunch to help ease the pain; although I’m sure it would help much. Of course the MIAA will stand up for the referee that made the call, but what I really want to know is how do they really feel about the situation? Do they honestly think the call on the field was the correct call? The MIAA must adjust these rules. Texas and Massachusetts are the only states in the U.S. that have adopted the NCAA’s rules on taunting. If the NCAA took away touchdowns every time a player so much as raised his hand running into the end zone, all games would end up like the LSU v. Bama’ game earlier this season. Bottom line: This referee took away a Super Bowl title from the more deserving team, and every single possible action needs to be taken to make sure this never happens again.

Week 14 NFL Power Rankings

With none of the top 7 teams losing this week not much has changed there, but their were many upsets last week and this weeks rankings reflect that.

1. Packers (12-0) +0 – Even if they lost last week I would still have them here. They’re offense is just too good.

2. Ravens (9-3) +1 – Their running game is dynamic and Flacco is doing a good job managing games.

3. Patriots (9-3) -1 – They started career special teamer Matthew Slater at safety last week. Their defense is a concern but I still see them battling with Pit and the Ravens in the AFC.

4. Steelers (9-3) +1 They absolutely destroyed the Bengals and their defense looks like Steelers defenses of the past.

5. Saints (9-3) -1 – Their offense looks like it did when they won the Super Bowl, but then again there hasn’t been to many changes since then.

6. 49ers (10-2) +0 – I still don’t believe in their ability to score points against a quality defense.

7. Texans (9-3) +9 – Their defense is going to have to carry them if they want a shot to get through the brutal AFC.

8. Cowboys(7-5) -1 – They just dropped a game they shouldn’t have lost. How typical. I still have faith in this team though.

9. Broncos (7-5) +5 – They are beginning to gain confidence in Tebow and allow him to throw the ball around a little more.

10. Lions (7-5) -2 – Their defense got picked apart last week by a great passing attack, but their offense can still put up points with the best of em’.

11. Jets (7-5) +1 – Sanchez has been playing better and isn’t losing games for them. He’s never going to be All-Pro caliber, but he needs to keep them in games instead of being the reason they are out of them.

12. Titans (7-5) +5 – I see them having a legitimate shot at making the playoffs is CJ keeps it up.

13. Falcons (7-5) -3 – They just lost to a team with T.J Yates at QB. Their offense is to hit or miss to be a top 10 team right now.

14. Giants (6-6) -5 – They showed they can play with the best of them, but at times they also play with the worst of em’. They play to their opponents skill level.

15. Raiders (7-5) -4 – After an embarrassing loss to Miami it wont get any easier when they go up against the red-hot Broncos.

16. Bengals (7-5) -3 – They’re still very young and its showing. Give them some time and they may be a top 5 team in the next couple of years, just not now.

17. Seahawks (5-7) +6 – They are leaning on the run game which is why they have been successful. If they hadn’t been so bad early on they could have been a playoff team.

18. Bears (7-5) -3 – Caleb Hanie really is that bad. They need to make a move for McNabb or say goodbye to their season.

19. Chargers (5-7) +0 – Even at 5-7 they still have a lot to play for with a shot to catch the Raiders.

20. Dolphins (4-8) +4 – They just blew out the Raiders last week and are on of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. It’s just a little to late.

21. Cardinals (5-7) +4 – They showed they have improved when they beat the Cowboys in OT last week.

22. Eagles (4-8) -4It’s almost amusing at this point.

23. Bills (5-7) -2 – Their D-Line is an absolute mess.

24. Panthers (4-8) +2 – Cam Newton is the real deal, they need to focus on the defensive side of the ball in this upcoming draft.

25. Chiefs (5-7) +6 – Don’t let them jumping 6 spots fool ya. Same goes for their victory against the Bears. They only scored on a fluke hail mary and only stopped a team with Caleb Hanie under center.

26. Redskins (4-8) -6They were embarrassed in the fourth quarter last week. Up next: The Patriots.

27. Vikings (2-10) +0 – For whatever its worth with a healthy AP they are still better than a handful of teams.

28. Buccaneers (4-8) -6 – They haven’t won a game in almost two months. Even a healthy Freeman won’t help them as he hasn’t had a great season.

29. Browns (4-8) -1 – Their offense is just terrible.

30. Jaguars (3-9) -1 – Imagine if they didn’t have MJD to take pressure off Gabbert? They might have been in the same situation as the Colts.

31. Rams (2-10) -1 – After getting shutout Sunday vs the 49ers you can see how bad their offense really is. The worst thing is their defense isn’t any better.

32. Colts (0-12) +0 – They probably won’t win a game all year, Manning out, Luck in?

Introducing: Music from RTM

20111207-142838.jpgLife can get stressful…Relax, Breathe Deep. Our boys at Relaxing the Masses have set up a new music blog that helps you do just that. Throughout the day they’ll highlight a wide range of up and coming rap and R&B artists. We added a new page to the site, Music – RTM, that has a link directly to Relaxing the Masses. So remember, take a deep breath, relax, and show the RTM guys some love.

Life Lesson from Orlando’s CEO

Orlando Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide has decided to “resign” after 20 years with the team.  I put the word resign in quotations because he probably would have been asked to leave anyways.  He drunk dialed Dwight Howard over the weekend to try to convince him to stay with his team, just like an 18 year old guy trying to get some on a Friday night (or any guy for that matter).  If a belligerent, 50 year old man calling you up at 2 in the morning to talk about his feelings doesn’t get you to stay, I don’t know what will.  Oh wait yes I do, get him a better team around him.  Vince Carter, Hedo Turkoglu, and Gay-Gay Reddick are not going to win you championships.  In fact, it’s not even going to make you the best team in Florida.  There is probably a 7% chance of him staying in Orlando, and that’s only if he breaks an ankle and no one wants him anymore.  They will never make it out of the East with the Heat, Celts, and Knicks still around (assuming Carmelo has stopped sucking, and the Celtics sign more than the 6 players we have right now). So moral of the story, don’t drunk dial other dudes, it never turns out for the better.