The Halloween Hockey League: Zombies vs. Vampires

Happy Halloween everyone! Since this is a holiday that celebrates the ghoulish and there is a lockout, I created my own NHL Halloween league. I read somewhere that the ancient Greeks believed that redheads would become vampires, and that reminded me that during the 2012 All-Star Game, the Red Team (Team Alfie) created the Ginger Line. As I thought about it, there are a surprising number of redheads, gingers, or Day Walkers as Cartman calls them, in the NHL. In fact, you can fill an entire roster if you really try (some players may not be true gingers but have at least a reddish tinge to their hair). Here is what Team Vampire would look like:

            Left Wing                                    Center                                Right Wing
           Daniel Sedin                               Henrik Sedin                       Daniel Alfredsson
          Scott Hartnell                                Eric Staal                              Claude Giroux
     Tomas Fleischmann                    Nicklas Backstrom                      Johan Franzen
           Raffi Torres                                Jeff Halpern                            Danny Cleary

                                    Defense                                                 Goalies
          Brian Campbell             Duncan Keith                       Jimmy Howard
          Christian Ehrhoff          Marc Staal                            Cory Schneider
          Kimmo Timonen           Matt Greene                          James Reimer
          Bryan Allen                   Mike Commodore

This is a very talented team with several Stanley Cup winners and All-Stars. There are many goal-scorers, some play-makers, and scrappers. The defense has both defenseman who can score and those who are non-stat guys that can block shots and turn the puck over. The goalies are even talented. Jimmy Howard is an All-Star, and Cory Schneider is a promising franchise goaltender. Even Reimer has shown some potential. This is a complete team that would be hard to beat.

But what rival could take on this undead team? Well, Team Zombie will, of course! A zombie is described as an animated corpse. While this isn't a zombie team in the traditional sense, this is a group that has missed considerable time due to concussion issues or plain-old horrific injuries. In the NHL, what else can be closer to being dead and coming back to life than a brain injury? Here is what Team Zombie would look like:

           Left Wing                                    Center                             Right Wing

         Simon Gagne                              Sidney Crosby                      Nathan Horton

         David Perron                            Jonathan Toews                   Colby Armstrong

 Guillaume Latendresse                Pierre-Marc Bouchard              Matt D'Agostini

       Max Pacioretty                             Jochen Hecht                          Jay Beagle

                                    Defense                                                 Goalies

               Kris Letang               John-Michael Liles                  Ryan Miller

             Michael Sauer                Joni Pitkanen                       Rick DiPietro

             Keith Ballard                 Steve Montador

             Mike Mattau                  Radek Martinek

Team Zombie features the NHL's Christ-child Sidney Crosby, which will probably lead to my being struck down by lightning, but it is undeniable that he is one of the players who has lost significant playing time due to concussion issues. The team does have some stars in Horton, Toews, Gagne, Letang, Liles, and Miller. However, unlike Team Vampire, they lack the star power throughout the roster. Although when the injury reports were released which inspired jokes that it basically named an All-Star team, Team Zombie clearly does not.

If Team Vampire and Team Zombie were to face off, I would expect a 6-4 win for Team Zombie. I think Crosby would have a great game and get a couple goals and a few assists. However, the Sedin twins would probably give Miller and the defense a hard time. Hartnell and Letang might drop the gloves at some points. After all, the Vampire-Zombie rivalry would be the new Philly-Pitt rivalry. While the goaltenders will make some unbelievable saves, I think Miller would have his hands full with the Vampire roster. The lack in depth would be the fatal flaw of Team Zombie, but it will stay close and the last goals might even be an empty-netter in an attempt to force overtime. And with that, have a happy and safe Halloween!

Trick or Treat: Sports Pranks

Trick or treat, smell my feet. Give me something good to eat! If you don't, I don't care. I'll pull down your underwear! In the spirit of Halloween, I have compiled a list of sports pranks. A very special thank you to @KevinJ42, Peter in California, and Mark in California for their submissions! Oh, and as far as I know, everyone still has their underwear and there were no stinky feet.

Baseball:

@KevinJ42 submits the hidden ball trick. This is a prank in which the third baseman pretends to hand ball to pitcher, but instead, he conceals it in his glove and tries to tag out the third base runner as he walks back to the base. 

Basketball:

Peter in California submits that Chris Cohen pranked the Warriors for about fifteen years.

Mark in California submits a prank that Charles Barkley pulled on Manute Bol. Charles shows him several food items that are under silver covers. As Bol removes each one to see the food, he finds one with a teammate who frightens him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwc6Sdlhp9A&feature=player_embedded

College Football:

I remember hearing this story on a tour of Harvard. This is probably one of the more famous college football pranks of all time. During the big game against Yale, some Yale students mixed up the Harvard tiles to spell, “We Suck.”

Football:

During the Chicago Bears training camp, Charles “Peanut” Tillman put Rex Grossman on a dolly and wrapped toilet paper around him. He ran around the field screaming that Hannibal Lector was out. This is the story that first endeared Tillman in my heart.

Hockey:

While with the Vancouver Canucks, Brad “May Day” May with his teammates tormented Matt Cooke. One day Cooke showed up what has been described as what might be the ugliest sweater ever known to man, and the guys took to teasing him a good bit. While Cooke was busy putting on his equipment, May took the sweater out of the locker, and with the help of some of the guys, they taped his number on the back of the sweater and put it up in the rafters. When Cooke came out to the ice, the guys started looking up to try to get him to see what they had done. As he realized what he was looking at, May Day turned to him and said, “Well, your number may never be retired, but that sweater is!”

Brad May went through his teammates’ pants pockets to retrieve their keys while the guys finished practice. He took all the keys off the rings and dumped them in a shoe box. As the guys began to leave the rink to get into their cars, they would stop to reach for their keys. Once they realized that they were gone, the players headed back to the locker room. No one was too happy that they had to find their keys amongst everyone else’s keys. Despite the fact that May put his own keys in the box, he was ratted out and the guys plotted their revenge. At the time, MayDay was driving a BMW convertible. It was a nice day in Vancouver, so he had driven with the top open. The guys had purchased those large tins of popcorn you can usually find during the holidays and filled the car with it. When May went to his car after practice, he had to play it cool as a few teammates were hiding in the bushes trying to get his reaction on camera.

Perhaps one of the most storied pranks is that of Taro Tsujimoto. In the 1974 NHL draft, GM Punch Imlach of the Buffalo Sabres became tired of the long and laborious process of telephoning draft picks and decided to have a little fun. With his 11th round draft pick, Imlach chose Taro Tsujimoto of the Tokyo Katanas. Once the draft had finished, the NHL recorded the pick and printed media guides as usual. However, Imlach did not admit to his prank until training camp was about to begin. There was no Tokyo Katanas and no Taro Tsujimoto. The NHL was not so happy about this, but Buffalo Sabres fans have kept the legend of Tsujimoto alive throughout the years.

I can’t find who the pranksters were now that I’m trying to find them, but there is one LA Kings prank I remember well. Two Kings players decided to prank Brad Richardson after a game. For all games, players are required to wear suits and nice dress shoes. The pranksters took his shoes out of his locker and cut off the bottoms, not completely so that he could put on the shoes and take a few steps before the bottoms would fall out. They waited just outside the locker room, and they were puzzled as Richardson strolled out... with his shoes. From inside, they heard a loud, “What the---?!” from inside. When they realized it was a fuming Wayne Simmonds, the pranksters laid low and ran. I think they mistook Simmonds’s #17 for Richardson’s #15 which were probably right next to each other.

If you would like to contribute, please use the comment box below, tweet me at @SportingAJenda, or email me at thesportingajenda@gmail.com. Thank you for reading and have a happy Halloween!

A New Home for BobbyLu?

Over the weekend, I saw a blurb that Roberto Luongo might be headed to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This isn't the first time that this rumor has floated around, but the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers also seem to be in the mix this time. There are some things I like, but there are a lot of things I just don't understand about this move. Maybe I should start with what I do know.

There is absolutely no way that Roberto Luongo can return to the Vancouver Canucks for whenever this lockout ends. Well, they may take him for half a season, but unless he wins the Cup, he will not be returning for the next full season (and even at that it's probably iffy). Why do I say that? No matter the team, the goalie is almost always the player carrying the brunt of criticism when teams lose. There is no difference here. When the Canucks are losing, fans are quick to criticize Luongo's play. And part of that stems from the fact that he carries a huge contract. He still has ten years left on his twelve-year contract with a $5.33 million cap hit. The expectations that come with a contract like that are huge, and in Canada, forget it. The Canucks are expecting to win the Cup, and when they appeared but lost in the Finals in 2011, a lot of fans blamed Luongo. And this past season, when they lost in the first round to the eight-seed Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver fans were calling for his head. To be honest, losing to the Bruins in the Finals was not all Luongo's fault. That team played like they were running out of steam, and it very well could have been because the Western Conference is far more competitive than the Eastern Conference. But there are no excuses, you have to be playing your best hockey when it comes to the playoffs. The Canucks that year just weren't playing as well, and the Bruins were on top of their game. This past year, they entered into the playoffs without one of their best forwards, Daniel Sedin. Luongo was pulled from this series, but I'm not sure that if he was playing at the top of his game that the Canucks still would have won the Cup or even that series. I say this mostly because of the absence of Daniel Sedin, but Kevin Bieksa also wasn't contributing in the way that he usually does. But also, the Kings kicked into high gear and went on a historic run to win the Cup. However, what happened, happened, and the team began reconsidering the value of the Alain Vigneault and Roberto Luongo. When the team extended A.V.'s contract, attention turned to the goaltender yet again, despite the fact that he has a no-trade clause. But the way that the city reacted to the disappointing playoff run, it became more and more clear that BobbyLu was no longer welcome in Vancouver.

Enter Toronto Maple Leafs. This is a struggling team. It should be noted that the struggles aren't just on the ice; they also have some monetary constraints and have had to be creative when it came to making trades and free agents. With Luongo's contract, I'm not entirely sure how this will work, but I'm guessing if the rumors are true that the organization has approached Mike Gillis, then they must have some sort of plan. They have made great improvements over the last few years, but they still haven't been able to make the playoffs despite the promises of Brian Burke. One of their weaknesses is at the goaltender position. They had been rotating between James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson, but neither of them are truly a star goaltender. I think that Reimer shows promise, but I don't know if he will ever be elite. When the team traded Gustavsson to the Jets (Winnipeg not the Tebow ones), it became clear that the Leafs would be in the hunt for a goaltender. It would make a lot of sense that the Canucks are looking to unload one while the Leafs are trying to acquire one. But does Toronto make a lot of sense for Luongo? This is where I struggle. The Leafs are not a Cup-contending team, even if he does go there. Right now, I think they are concentrating on getting into the playoffs more than anything else. But again, he would be playing for a Canadian team who have now made this big trade to acquire him in an effort to inevitable make a run at the Cup. The pressure is huge again. However, I read an article on the Yahoo! Puck Daddy blog by Greg Wyshyski (article here: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/roberto-luongo-maple-leafs-denials-details-probable-destination-161401448--nhl.html) that points out Luongo could legitimately put the Leafs into the Cup race and that he would be a "savior" of the team rather than a scapegoat. I can see this as a possible scenario, but I'm struggling to accept this as a likely one. I think it will boil down to what the Leafs are going to have to give up in order to acquire the goalie. I believe that Luongo will put the Leafs in the hunt for a seed in the playoffs, but for a trade of this magnitude, I would think you would want a little more. In the Eastern Conference right now, the eighth seed is not going to be enough to make a deep run into the playoffs. If this trade does happen, it will be extremely interesting to see how this team does.

The Florida Panthers are also in the mix. BobbyLu did spend some time with the franchise before Vancouver, so there is some familiarity there. The Panthers made a lot of roster changes and produced a great team that secured a playoff spot for the first time in twelve years. Like the Maple Leafs, this team is not without its financial problems, as they have had to fire their mascot, but this team has already made significant strides to make playoff runs. One of their weaknesses is at goaltender, which makes this trade intriguing, but it is unclear whether they would like to take a veteran or look to their developing prospects. I would think that Luongo might be more interested in the Panthers because they have a stronger team that has already produced results, and he won't have to deal with the intense Candian media and fan scrutiny. But I think it's really a question of how interested the organization is in the goaltender.

Now, here is where things stop making sense. The Edmonton Oilers have expressed interest in BobbyLu. This is the youngest team in the league and has made every effort in developing a team that is not only young but also talented. The aim is to create a team that can make the playoffs for many many years and contend for the Cup. When the lockout ends, the Oilers may be presenting the first line of consecutive number one picks in Taylor Hall (2010), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), and Nail Yakupov (2012). The only reason they wouldn't be debuting Yakupov is if they apply the same philosophy that they did with Nugent-Hopkins and wait to see him in training camp to decide if he is ready to play at the NHL level. It was revealed in an episode of Oil Change that Steve Tambellini was willing to put Nugent-Hopkins in the AHL or juniors until he was ready. He did not want to interfere with the player's development. This is an organization that clearly has every intention in getting the most from their draft picks (which have been high because they're horrible) and have faith in the farm system. While they have been awaiting Devan Dubnyk to be that franchise goalie they would like him to be, they have put Nikolai Khabibulin in net. If the Oilers acquired Luongo, they would be severing ties with either Dubnyk or Khabibulin. Let's say they drop Dubnyk, then the team has two veteran goalies, which isn't the end of the world, but unless they are getting something more valuable by moving Dubnyk, it's probably not the direction that the Oilers are trying to go. Like I said, they've been trying to go younger. So if they drop Khabibulin, we're looking at a Luongo-Dubnyk tandem. The problem is this is that they will be in the same conundrum as Vancouver. Luongo is a big contract, so you're going to have to start him. But Dubnyk is a young potential star, if he begins to shine like the Oilers think he will, then you're going to want to eventually start him since he is younger. As a long-term plan, you'll want to go with Dubnyk. However, with the money you had spent on Luongo, you're not going to want him on the bench counting towards the cap, but it'll be even harder to move him since he's older now. I find this rumor to be the least believable, but from what I understand, the Oilers were just interested in hearing some numbers to assess value. It was a sniff, so to speak. However, I still don't understand it for the above explanation.

And the last thing I don't really understand is the timing. Well, that's not entirely true, I get it but I don't get it. Right now, we're looking at a lockout in which owners want to shorten contracts and bring down the ceiling on how much players earn. BobbyLu has a TEN-year contract, which was drafted up by the owners in the first place. I understand that this deal was made a couple years ago and that what's done is done, but if we are to go forward, why is this contract being circulated now? Obviously, there wasn't enough interest before the lockout started, and I am guessing that that is because owners didn't want to take a large contract before the new CBA was in place (though that didn't stop some). But right as owners are trying not to honor the large contracts signed just before the lockout, this Luongo rumor is going around. I don't understand that. I know he can't stay in Vancouver, but why isn't this deal hammered out once the CBA is agreed upon and the money issues are settled? It's not as though the season is about to start in a few days.

How To Spot a Fake Giants Fan or How To Avoid Looking like One

For this blog, I decided to do something a little different. I am not a big baseball fan, but I have listened to enough sports radio to follow what is going on in the league, especially with the home teams (San Francisco and Oakland). What I've noticed is that all of a sudden people you know who were never interested in sports, suddenly become big fans of teams. Well, I've decided to create a truth detector to allow you to figure out if the person you're talking to is a real or fake fan. Of course, I could not do this alone. I enlisted the help of Matthew (@figslee on Twitter) who has been a San Francisco Giants fan since in the womb. A special thank you to him for collaborating with me on this guide.

It's October.  The most exciting time of the year, if you're a baseball fan.  It's time to put all regular season stats and match ups aside and begin the tournament that crowns the World Series Champions.  It's the playoffs and when the playoffs arrive, it is inevitable that people all of a sudden become "die-hard" fans of the hometown team. True fans of the team bemoan this as the bandwagoners seem to grow in numbers. After the Giants won the World Series in 2010, fans, new and old, flocked to the stadium.  After a disappointing season in 2011 in which they failed to make the playoffs, some returned to only paying attention to when the playoffs came around this year. First it should be pointed out that aside from the core pitching staff,  a lot of key changes have occurred for the Giants.  Namely the fact that only two starting position players, Buster Posey and Pablo "Panda" Sandoval (just to remind you why you bought that panda hat), remain from that 2010 World Series winning team.  So here are a few tips to help you spot the bandwagon fans and how to avoid looking like one.

1. Brian Wilson is not an active player. The 2010 World Series introduced the world to Brian Wilson, arguably one of the best closers in baseball. But what really held people's attention is a playoff beard that inspired the slogan, "Fear the Beard." This 2012 playoff, there will be no beard. In April, Wilson underwent Tommy John surgery and has not played since. Thus, not mentioning this player or wondering why the Giants aren't putting him in is probably a good idea. Please leave your Beard shirts at home, thank you.

2. The other memorable character of the 2010 World Series is Tim Lincecum, the Freak. After signing a two-year, $40 million contract and turning down a five-year, $100 million contract before the beginning of the 2012 season, Timmy just hasn't lived up to the extremely high standards that he set for himself, for the majority of this season. There were a lot of theories circulating about why he was struggling so much. Maybe it was the money, a curse of the Giants, his losing a ton of weight, or his laying off the weed. However, he bounced back and is looking to return to Freak form after winning a sudden death playoff elimination game four against the Cincinnati Reds. I only mention this, so you avoid saying something like, "Well, he's been doing this all season."

3. Barry Zito doesn't suck anymore. For years after the Giants signed Zito to a mega-contract, the pitcher was never quite able to live up to the expectations that came with it. However, when Lincecum struggled, Zito stepped up his game and helped the team win. Thus, no lamenting about why he's in the lineup. You can trust him.

4. MELKY Caberera played for the Giants, not MIGGY Cabrera. This is an easy mistake to make if you're the casual fan. The two have the same last name and very similar first names. Miggy Cabrera plays for the Detroit Tigers and won the Triple Crown. MELKY is NOT on the Giants roster, as he had been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. Just to avoid confusion, you should know this.

5. Andres Torres plays for the Mets now. Yes, a lot of you reading this blog or someone you know bought his jersey and loved him dearly, but the Giants have Angel Pagan patrolling center field now.  Matthew would like to for those trying to fill the Torres void to give him a chance because he promises you will love him just as much, if not more. Maybe you can eBay your Torres jersey and buy the Pagan.

6.  Jonathan Sanchez, who pitched a no hitter for the Giants against the Padres in 2009, is also no longer with the team. He was a fan favorite, especially for his bold words and great performance on the last day of the season in 2010 to get the team into the playoffs. Don't be surprised if you hear a surly response to your "where is Jonathan Sanchez?" question; he was traded to the Royals for Melky Cabrera (see number 4).

7.  Hunter Pence is a new face to the lineup, picked up just before the trade deadline this year from the Phillies. What Pence brings to the team is a big bat to address the problems on offense the team has had. He might look awkward in just about every aspect of his game, but he's a really good baseball player. Maybe you can be the first to suggest the appropriate animal hat for the newest member of the team.

Though some of the faces of the team have changed since the magical 2010 World Series run, this 2012 team has a lot of characters to really cheer for.  It is embarrassing to be caught jumping the bandwagon, but this is a guide to help you not break your ankle on the way up. By the same token, this can also help you spot who is trying to pass himself or herself off as a true fan. If you were enthusiastic enough to buy tickets, hopefully this list prepares you in some way to fight off the parking lot jeers and scolding you will receive on your way to true fandom. Welcome to AT&T Park (forgot to mention that's where they play), enjoy the ride.

An Open Letter to Travis Rodgers

Dear Travis Rodgers,
I am a big fan of yours. Your wit and humorous take on sports is entertaining and never fails to make genuinely make me laugh. I really do love your show! However, I'm not such a big fan when it comes to your views on hockey. I realize that hockey is not part of your deal, and I'm okay with that. I know that it hockey fans amuse you like children are entertained by clowns, but I still feel the need to vocalize what the lockout means to hockey fans, or at least to me.

Fans do care about the lockout, and they are upset that the first two weeks are cancelled. It isn't simply about the two weeks, which in all fairness are like you pointed out not entirely germane to a season of 82 games. What fans are upset about is that these first two weeks being cancelled are a big indicator that at least half if not the entire season could be in jeopardy. The last lockout was like the end of World War I. There was a CBA that was signed, but neither of the sides had resolved anything and resentment still lingers. This new CBA that has to be put into place is bringing out those old feelings of hate, and up to this point, the owners have been much like Goodell resisting coming to an agreement with the referees in that they really just don't care about the fans. So when fans are upset about the first two week, they aren't really upset about that but what it means. Right now, all signs point to December as a realistic deadline for the NHL with January 1st being the opening week if there is even any season at all. Fans are coming to the realization that this season is in some real trouble.

I'd also like to point out that while the casual fan may not care about the regular season, hockey fans care about it. I am a passionate Los Angeles Kings fan (and have been one since 2002 so didn't just jump the bandwagon), and I watch EVERY game. If I don't watch it live, I watch it later. What draws me to watch is that the games count, especially in the Western Conference and more specifically in the Pacific Division (which FYI includes the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Dallas Stars). In the last few years, the there are only a few games that differentiate a 3rd place team from the 8th place team in the playoff hunt (and 16/30 teams make the playoffs, not 94%, and yes, because I say so). Not to mention the 9th and 10th place teams are usually a game or two or even a tie-breaker away from the last spot into the playoffs. It is often not guaranteed that a team will make it into the playoffs unless they win their division. And no, hockey people don't just watch in May when the playoffs start. The hunt really begins in February with the mid-season trade deadline and last stretch of games to make it back onto a playoff campaign. A lot of hockey people like to watch because these games are so critical and can be dramatic. For example, a couple years ago the Kings started in 12th place as they entered into a game against the Detroit Red Wings. They went on to win the game, and they took 5th place. However, because the game was in Detroit, and there were other games to be played in the Pacific Time Zone, the Kings ended that day in 10th. I realize that I am not like the majority of other hockey fans, but I watched the other games since they did have an impact on my team and I just enjoy hockey that much.

And casual fans do care about at least one regular season game. Most people enjoy the Winter Classic, the one outdoor game of the year. The NHL has made it into an event and has been successful in attracting even those who may not have even considered watching hockey at all. Hockey fans who usually only watch their own team play will tune in to watch this game. I think the NHL gains viewership with this hallmark game.

I can't argue that the NFL is king because you're right; it is. And the NHL might be vegimite. But it's my vegimite, and as a hockey fan, I just had to say something. We hockey fans care that the first two weeks are gone, and we really do think the regular season is important. This is where all the drama is. Sam Gagner of the Edmonton Oilers had the first eight-point game in 24 years, putting him in the ranks of Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, and Paul Coffey. Sid the Kid tried to come back after suffering a concussion the season before. He played a few games before having to be placed on injured reserve again after a few hits. However, he did return with a vengeance in a game against the New York Rangers (who you would probably be a big fan of since they are the Broadway Blueshirts) and brought to rest the question of whether he would ever be the player he had been prior to the concussion issue. Rick Nash was the biggest player a team could try to steal away from the Columbus Blue Jackets (yes, that team that had been offered all of the New York Islanders draft picks and declined). Nash is like the Tom Brady of the Blue Jackets in the sense that he is iconic of the team and is its best/most important player. Nash had a no-trade clause, but rumors had been circulating that he was willing to be traded. During the regular season, the Los Angeles Kings went from being the worst offensive team in the league during the first half to being in the top fourth in offense and snagging the last playoff spot. The top NHL draft pick, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers, had his first hat trick (that's three goals in a game) in his third game. Meanwhile, Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes, who is one of the team's consistent top goal-scorers, finally got his first hat trick in his 1,161st game. So a lot happens during the regular season that hockey fans love to see.

In any case, I had to get that off my chest. I do love your show, and I enjoy it immensely. I'm sure this little rant of mine will just make you laugh and provide some entertainment, but hockey fans care. And yes, hockey is a thing... to some people, even non-Canadians.

A big fan,
Jen

Fantasy Football

I recently entered Grantland's Fantasy Football Contest, and I decided to post my submission. These are my top five picks and one sleeper pick. Hope you enjoy and wish me luck!

1. Arian Foster

Arian Foster is perhaps the undisputed best running back in the league. He rushed for 1,224 yards and 10 TDs and caught 53 passes for 617 yards last year. His value is only going to skyrocket on a Texans team whose only viable wide receiver is Andre Johnson, who has trouble staying healthy. Without a passing game, Schaub will be relying more heavily on Foster. Not to mention, Foster is motivated and determined. Rising from the practice squad to the NFL, he is not about to slack off to be back at the bottom of the barrel. Besides, he has to find a way to pay for those dapper bow ties.

2. Calvin Johnson

If you believe in curses, you will want to stay away from Johnson, since he graces the Madden 13 cover. If you don’t, Megatron is a lock. He set himself among the all-time NFL elite with his 96 catches, 1,681 yards, and 16 touchdowns last year. His production in his five years in the league have already set franchise records and ranked him in league records. Megatron is a hall-of-famer in the making, and a genuine “sure thing!”

3. Ray Rice

Although Ray Rice does not look like the typical running back, he has learned to use his size to his advantage. Last season, he rushed for 704 yards, made 76 catches, and made 16 touchdowns. Over his four years in the league, he has scored 24 touchdowns and rushed for 4,377 yards. Rice is the real star of this offense, no matter what salary demands Joe Flacco makes. With a team that does not have much of a passing game, Rice is the one doing most of the scoring.

4. Drew Brees

Despite the suspensions handed out to the coaching staff and players from the Bounty Gate scandal, there is little that will affect the offense. Drew Brees will be the star quarterback that he has always been, and he had one amazing record setting year in 2011-12. One of the great strengths of Brees and the Saints is their passing game, which is how Brees was able to pass for 5,476 yards and make 468 completions. Looking at the schedule, the Saints face relatively weak defenses and play the majority of the stronger defenses in the Superdome, which is a huge advantage. This will allow the Saints offense to shine, and Brees may throw for another 5,000 yards.

5. Rob Gronkowski

Normally, a tight end wouldn’t crack the top five, but Rob Gronkowski is not a typical tight end. What makes him so special is that at 6’6” and a well-muscled 264 pounds, Gronk is a beast. He is fast and able to shrug off coverage, or just drag them along with him. Last season, he lead all tights ends in receiving yards with 1,327 and set an NFL record at his position with his 18 touchdowns, almost twice as many as the tight end with the second most touchdowns. He has become a dependable target for Brady, especially in the red zone. Although the Patriots have asked him to tone down his off-field antics, he’ll be amping it up on the field.

Sleeper Pick: Terrell Owens

Chances are that Owens isn’t on anybody’s radar, but there is value to adding him to your roster. Yes, TO may love him some him, but over the last few years, he has learned that not too many people feel that way about him anymore. Will Owens stop being the locker room distraction that he has been in the past? Probably not, but he has never been laughed out of the league and have to pull himself out of disgrace. His pride took a huge hit when no teams showed up to see his work out despite the media he had invited, and even the IFL Allen Wranglers seemed to have been happy to be rid of him. Owens has something to prove this coming season. Lest we forget, he did not exactly bomb out in Cincinnati on a team with Andy Dalton at the helm. He had 9 TDs and caught 72 passes for 983 yards. It is not unreasonable to think his numbers might improve with Matt Flynn on the Seahawks. Even at thirty-eight, TO still has the athleticism and skills to contribute, and what better motivator for a narcissist than a bruised ego?

Under Pressure: Quarterbacks Feeling the Heat

A long time ago, Brandon Tierney and Eric Davis of The Drive on 95.7 The Game had an interesting debate on which Bay Area quarterback had more pressure, Carson Palmer or Alex Smith. Now that most of the offseason traffic has subsided, I thought I'd revisit the topic of NFL quarterbacks and the pressures they face with the upcoming 2012-2013 season.

Jay Cutler
I think Jay Cutler may be the quarterback with the most pressure this next season. Ever since da Bears acquired him in 2009, fans have heralded Cutler as the first true quarterback since Jim McMahon. The excitement surrounding the trade was palpable practically coast to coast. However, as hypercritical fans led by the Debbie-downer media figure Jay Mariotti, the honeymoon was over as his faults came to light. Now, I will admit that he faced the most criticism during the 2011 playoff game against the Green Bay Packers when he appeared to have given up on the game due to an injury which most argued wasn't that serious. With that scrutiny, Cutler turned his critics around when he organized training camps during the lockout and played with heart throughout the season. No one ever uttered a skeptic murmur when he was out with a finger injury. (For those who don't know, it sounds weak, but his finger required surgery.)

Those who stayed true from the beginning and continued to trust pointed out that Cutler is very talented (which I wholeheartedly believe) and never had any true receivers. (Yes, Cutler did have Matt Forte, one of the best running backs in the league, but the NFL has become a passing league. If you want to truly succeed and be a contending team, you need a strong passing game.) As Gisele pointed out to football fans everywhere, "My husband can't f***ing throw the ball and catch it too." (If you have no idea who I'm talking about, seriously consider coming out from under that rock A LOT more often.) If Brady can't be blamed, how can we blame Cutler? So in the 2012 offseason, the Bears signed Cutler's former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall. With this trade, comes a silent, "No more mistakes, prove yourself." Now, it should be pointed out that Cutler never made any statements or insinuated that the team didn't have the talent. He didn't have to anyway, considering the media was doing it for him once they came around to the fact that the guy can play.

Although the acquisition of Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell was not an effort to create competition for the position, Cutler probably feels a small bit of pressure to perform well since he could easily be replaced. Is Campbell that talented to steal the number one? No, absolutely not. Campbell lacks the skill to be a true star in the NFL, but that isn't to say that he couldn't lead a team to a winning record and even a postseason. Campbell didn't lose his job in Oakland because of lack of talent. For those who don't remember, he suffered a broken collar bone around the midpoint of the season which lead coach Hue Jackson to make a deal with his former Bengals to get Carson Palmer in an effort to salvage the season. If that deal had not been made, Campbell may very well be preparing for another season with the Raiders. However, his presence in Chicago is most likely a response to the numerous injuries to quarterbacks in the 2011-2012 season, including Cutler. The Bears learned then that they had no viable backup, and they cut Caleb Hanie loose. Unlike the Texans who found some luck with Matt Leinart and T.J. Yates, the Bears weren't able to push threw to make the postseason. Campbell offers that depth, but at the same time, Bears fans have a short attention span and are known to chant for the backup when the quarterback has a bad game (which happens to everyone). I highly doubt to see Campbell get quality time on the field unless Cutler becomes injured, but it is something that might linger in the back of his mind. He's going to have to watch his back because I do not think there is a backup in any position who is not gunning to prove they deserve the number one position.

Peyton Manning
One of the biggest stories of this offseason was the health and future of Peyton Manning. Thanks to Rob Lowe who started the hoopla with a tweet questioning retirement for Manning, the sports world was running wild about the story. While the biggest story should have been the Super Bowl, the Manning saga appeared to be on the forefront of everyone's minds. After missing the 2011 season due to injury, there became speculation that it was more serious than initially believed, and it was not long before reports confirmed that Manning had had not one, not two, not three, but four neck surgeries. It was unsure whether the Colts would be honoring the contract they had with the quarterback, and there were conflicting reports between the team doctors and Manning's own personal doctors on whether he was set to play. Soon the question of his health allowed an "out" for Jim Irsay, owner of the Colts, to part ways with Manning, and he became the hottest commodity on the market.

There is absolutely no way that any team was NOT interested in the quarterback, but several teams put themselves in the forefront. The Miami Dolphins put an aggressive campaign to recruit the quarterback, even though his name is not Chad, and fans even paid for a billboard welcoming Manning to the city hoping he would choose them to play. The media considered this a viable possibility because Peyton owns a home in Miami or somewhere nearby, and their lack of a viable quarterback is no secret as evidenced by the 2011 season. However, it had been rumored (and later confirmed) that Manning desired to finish his career with a team that would be making a Super Bowl appearance if not winning it. Given his age and the fact that his younger brother is fresh off winning his second Super Bowl which one-ups him, it is no surprise that the very competitive Peyton would make this a priority. Now, the Dolphins 2011 season probably indicated they had more problems than just at quarterback to make a real push for the championship. They were the last team in the league to have a win, and although they looked better toward the end of the season, there is no guarantee that the same troubles will not return. And they did not look that good to be a Super Bowl contender.

The Tennessee Titans invited Manning to a workout, and he obliged. Again because he wanted to end up with a team that would be in contention for, if not winning, the Super Bowl within the next few years, even with the upgrade at quarterback, the Titans most likely have a few too many holes to make a real shot at going the distance. In all likelihood, he may have been doing the due diligence to see the facilities and hear what the team could offer before making a firm decision.

The last team that made a late push for Manning after being unable to sign their own quarterback before the deadline was the 49ers. Despite the fact that the team made a public statement that they would not be pursuing Peyton Manning and would be sticking with Alex Smith, it became an entirely new ball game when there was no signed contract. The 49ers most likely made the statement because like several  other teams, they did not want to publicly go after the quarterback, and when unsuccessful, have to then go back to their quarterback and pretend that they believed in their guy from the very beginning. I would speculate that the 49ers might have delayed putting Smith's papers in order before the deadline so that they would have an excuse to pursue Manning. Just days before the deadline, Smith stated that he and the team were close to an agreement and that it was just a matter of hammering out a few last details. Since contracts often are signed just within the final ticks of the clock, fans did not seem to worry much. However, as time elapsed, the 49ers were quick to invite Manning to a workout, and Smith was on a flight to Miami to workout for the Dolphins.

Now, the team that did end up with much sought after quarterback is the Denver Broncos. You would think that fans would be overjoyed, but that was not quite the reaction. What clouded the enthusiasm? Well, Broncos fans were already under Tebowmania. Although a divisive sports figure, he did turn a disastrous start to the season under Kyle Orton into one that took the team to the playoffs. John Elway was instrumental in bringing in Manning despite the impression he made that Tebow would remain the starting quarterback. Peyton will be entering the season with having to win over some fans who might still be bitter about losing Tebow.

He'll also have to prove that he is still the quarterback he was before his four neck surgeries and taking a year off to recover. And with all the back and forth medical reports about whether he was clear to play, he will have to stay healthy and be the athlete that everyone remembers him to be. No matter how much he works out or practices with other players, you cannot replicate game play. He can be prepped to play, but his timing and some mechanics may not be quite right to produce the plays he had been making prior to his injury. And I'm guessing with the neck there may be some mobility issues that Manning would have to work through or overcome in order to have the confidence to stick his neck out, so to speak, because the position can be vulnerable. I'm not saying that he can't or won't do it because I think he can. Bottom line is, he's going to have to show everybody that he isn't injury-prone or hindered by his injury and can still play at the NFL level.

When Peyton signed with the Broncos, he confirmed my sinking suspicion that he really likes horses. Okay, not really. But when he joined the team, there was also a sense that he was looking to play for a team that would win the Super Bowl in the next few years because at his age he will only have a few years left to play. Being in the AFC West that includes the Oakland Raiders, the San Diego Chargers, and the Kansas City Chiefs, this division is up for grabs and no one quite knows what to expect. However, if Peyton Manning returns as the elite quarterback that we have all known him to be, the Broncos will probably be the favorite to win the AFC West. But we will all just have to watch and wait to see what unfolds.

Mark Sanchez
Up until a surprising turn of events during the offseason following the Manning signing, Sanchez would not have been on this list. However, the astonishing addition of Tim Tebow to the team has created a buzz around the New York Jets. Now, it would be far from the truth to say that Sanchez is a future hall-of-famer or an NFL star quarterback. Although he had a disappointing season last year, I think his years with the Jets has earned him the right to continue as the undisputed number one quarterback for the time being. As long as the Jets aren't acquiring a quarterback who is definitively better than Sanchez, he should be the quarterback.

Although I would like to see Tebow succeed in the NFL, I don't think he has quite proven that he is any better than Sanchez. Tebow still has some development before he can break through to become that star his believers feel that he can be, but he has that allure that keeps his name in the mix. Tebow has made numerous statements that he is happy to the backup, but what else is he really going to say? After leading the Broncos from a dismal beginning of last season in which he started as the backup to ousting Kyle Orton for the number one spot and making an incredible playoff run, he's a had a taste for the limelight. Considering with the way things ended for him in Denver, I'm sure that Tebow has even more drive to prove to everyone that he can be that guy, that all-star that we're all waiting for him to become.

New York might just give him that chance, which is why Sanchez is under the hot seat. It is not unfathomable to think that Sanchez could drive the team down to the field, and when close enough to the end zone, they then might put in Tebow in a wildcat to score. In this scenario, you've got Sanchez throwing for several thousand yards but Tebow with all the touchdowns. When you look at the stats sheet, then what do you do? It could be a formula for success in terms of wins, but do you really have a number one quarterback? And this is probably the better of the scenarios that could play out.

On the other hand, Sanchez is under a high-powered microscope with Tebow waiting in the wings. I'm sure it won't take much for fans to start chanting for Tebow. Sanchez really has to be spectacular to keep the press and fans from critiquing his play, and it might be a matter of time until the team crumbles to the pressure and puts in Tebow. Sanchez is in an unenviable position in the sense that every small mistake is magnified, as the team has a viable backup. He probably has to be near perfect to keep his job.

Alex Smith
I am including Alex Smith mostly because of the intense pressure that is now on the team. After making it to the NFC championship game last season, the 49ers are now even more focused on becoming a consistent Super Bowl contender and winning it in the next year or two. Now, Smith is in no way a star quarterback, but under Coach Jim Harbaugh, he has tightened up his game and not have made the mistakes he used to make. He has not become a star overnight, but in simpler terms, he doesn't suck the way he previously had. Outside of a couple games that he really put on a stellar performance, he's a mediocre quarterback. If Smith can play the way he did against the Saints in the playoffs last year consistently, he would be a top five quarterback, or at least close to it. And a large part of the 49ers success has been their defense, but if the offense vastly improves, this is a team to really watch.

And that's exactly what the 49ers did during the offseason. A hole in the offense was the wide receiver position, and they acquired Mario Manningham from the Super Bowl winning Giants team. This vastly improved the team instantly. Randy Moss might be an improvement to the team as well, but there are questions to his joining the organization, but this could be the right team for him. Moss has had some personality issues with previous teams, but Harbaugh has been phenomenal at getting players to give him everything they can. I don't see Moss quitting on the 49ers like he did in Oakland under Harbaugh's watch. Depth at running back was also a concern, so GM Trent Baalke acquired Brandon Jacobs from the Giants. Gore will still be the undisputed number one back, but Jacobs adds another option and will be able to step up should Gore suffer an injury.

Now, with these improvements on offense, Smith is going to have to continue the progress he had made last season. He's given a lot of tools, so he has to be able to make those plays. He doesn't necessarily have to be better, but he does have to prove that he is not going to regress into the quarterback he had been until Harbaugh. He needs to show that he is not a one-season-wonder, so to speak. Smith has a lot of pressure because not only has the team improved on offense, but he also has to take the 49ers farther than last year, meaning to a Super Bowl appearance. This is a team can say that the end goal is the Super Bowl and really make good on it.

One other aspect that might play into pressure on Smith is the fact that this is a team that missed out on Peyton Manning. Remember, Manning worked out for the team but ultimately signed with the Broncos. Although Smith flirted with the Miami Dolphins during the time the 49ers courted Manning, nothing came of either situation. If Smith's return to the 49ers is not what fans expect, they may begin wishing he left for Miami or Baalke had made a better run at Manning. This might not be a big piece of pressure, but it's probably in the back of fans' minds who aren't shy about letting players know how they feel. At the same time, this was the first season that fans actually expressed something other than hatred for Smith, so I doubt he really cares what fans have to say.

Andrew Luck & Robert Griffin, III
Eyes will be on both rookie quarterbacks who were the top two picks of this year's draft. Andrew Luck had been a highly regarded college quarterback who was the most NFL ready. He will be the new face of the Indianapolis Colts as they enter into a new era without Peyton Manning. I don't think that he will be expected to do what Manning has done over his career, but fans will be looking to see if he is worthy of that number one pick in the draft. Although there is some pressure for him to do well his first year, I think that there is also the understanding that you never really know how a player will do without a few years of experience under the belt.

The same goes for RG3 with the Washington Redskins. This is a struggling team that is hoping to turn things around starting at the quarterback position. He's reported to be the most athletic quarterback, rivaling Cam Newton, but those are just projections until he hits the field. The Redskins traded up to get the second pick from the Rams, and fans will want to see that this was worth it with his performance on the field.

Drew Brees
With the whole Bounty Gate scandal (and if you have no idea what I'm referring to, you might need to get out from under that rock more often), Coach Sean Peyton has been suspended from the team for the year. Joe Vitt will be the interim coach, but he will miss the first couple games to serve his own suspension. Fans and players will probably be looking at Brees even more to provide leadership for this team. Some people think that Brees will serve as the coach of the offense and in a way head coach for the team, but I don't buy into that. If quarterbacks were to be the head coach of a team, why have a head coach? I think players will be looking to Brees more now than in previous years, but in no way is he going to be a coach. Yes, with all his years of experience, he will be calling plays, but I don't think it will be any different than business as usual. He will have to be the rock for the team, after the rubble that the Bounty Gate scandal has left.

Although I started this blog based on a discussion on whether Carson Palmer or Alex Smith had more pressure, I ultimately decided not to include Palmer because I don't think the pressure is on him. The Raiders have gone through a lot of changes since the passing of Al Davis. The change is far more than just a new general manager and head coach. Davis had been a visionary, and his approach to his team was rather unorthodox. He ran things his way, but with his son, Mark, taking the reins, the Raiders are entering a new era. The approach is completely different, and we are all waiting to see what the future holds. I think there is a lot of optimism for the team since they had a fairly successful season last year. But the AFC West is a division with a lot of unknowns, and the Raider is a big piece of that. Reggie McKenzie is a first-time general manager, but he did play for the Raiders under Al Davis. People aren't sure what to expect from him quite yet, and head coach Dennis Allen had been the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos is a first-time head coach. No one knows what to expect from him either. Because people aren't sure what to expect, I think some pressure is taken away because they aren't necessarily seen to be a true Super Bowl contender. It could happen but it's not something that would make the season a disappointment should they not make it. Palmer is a big piece of the offense since former head coach Hue Jackson was a large part in acquiring the quarterback after Jason Campbell broke his collarbone. But I think Palmer's success will depend largely on the leadership and system that Allen and McKenzie put in place. For those reasons, I did not include Palmer.