Weekend Football Roundup

With Week 2 of College Football down the drain, and Week 1 of the NFL almost in the books, lets take a gander and what we know, what we thought we knew, and what we think we will know after tonight:

 

• South Carolina and Notre Dame can officially be counted out of the National Title Picture. You can make the obvious joke here and probably be right (that Notre Dame will probably still earn a BCS game even with another loss) but you can count them out of the Title game becuase they’re defense looks worse than last year against Alabama and Michigan wasnt near the opponent of 2012 Alabama. South Carolina and Spurrier also put up a poor showing on defense and appear destined to play in a bowl thats before New Years Day.

• One final thought on college football this wekend: my preview for Saturdays games may have been the most poorly predicted games of my lifetime. I was in an airport leaving Disney, so I sort of have a defense, but never the less, I promsise I’ll never toss up another stink bomb that bad. Just to recap my disaster: Notre Dame/Michigan wasnt all that close (Michigan was clearly better), WVU stood with Oklahoma instead of getting mauled, South Carolina lost to Georgia (never bet on a good SEC team to start 0-2 unless its Tennessee) and Miami beat Florida and beat them handily with that stout defense. I now feel vindicated as an FAU grad and fan.
• So San Fran is really good. And Colin is not a fluke. And Boldin is still relevant.  And despite they’re defense getting a biot toasted (Rodgers factor) they are still really good.
• Is Tampa Bay one of the dumbest teams out there?  Don’t underestimate the reason as them playing for a firey coach that perhaps they have already tuned out. Greg Schiano has college coach written all over him for 2014, and Tampa Bay has rebound team written all over them once he leaves and they hire a “players coach.” Vincent Jackson was a beast, by the way. He’d look great in midnight green complimenting DJax. PS: now the Jets are 1-0 and have that false sense of hope again. I secretly love when that happens to teams like the Cowboys,but sheesh, leave the Jets alone Karma gods. They deserve a break.
• Loved the way Geno Smith, EJ Manual and Terelle Pryor looked yesterday. Feisty if not spectacular. They will at least be fun teams to watch this year instead of train wrecks.
• Disappointed in Cleveland yesterday.  Looked good for 3 quarters and then Miami woke up from a slumber and trounced them. I wanted them to be a (sound, sound) sleeper this year even though I strongly dislike Joe Banner.
• I LOVE when the Bengals do Bengals things. And Jay Cutler! Who woulda thunk it?!
• Was Matthew Stafford looking really really good or was Minnesota looking really really bad? Other than Adrian Peterson, I’m not entirely sure they have a team.
• Welcome back to the conversation New Orleans. And Atlanta….your the mid-2000’s Atlanta Hawks of the NFL. Just frisky enough to make regular season noise, tough at home, very very good #1 guy, (Matt Ryan-Joe Johnson who are very very good but not elite) and will bow out of the playoffs to a real contender.
• Andy Reid had a nice showing in his debut with the Chiefs. I am rooting for him and I think they will be a decent 9-7ish team this year with playoff potential in a weak AFC.  The AFC right now has Denver, Baltimore, and New England as playoff locks. The other 3 teams? Tell me KC isnt as good as Indy, Houston, Tennessee, Pitt, or Cincy. See, you can’t.
• The NFC East is sure not the NFC Beast anymore. I mean, I could be wrong and Washington could just maul the Eagles tonight but I don’t see that happening. More likely scenario: Washington wins 24-20, goes to 9-7 and battles with the Giants and Cowboys for that division title all the way into week 17.  I see the Giants winning the division though (assuming Tom Coughlin isn’t sitting in a jail cell alongside Aaron Hernandez for murdering David Wilson.)

Fantasy Studs: Peyton Manning, Colin Kaepernick, Reggie Bush, Aaron Rodgers, Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Adrian Peterson, Anquan Boldin.

 

Fantasy Duds: Chris Johnson, MJD (please don’t see my article vs. The Duke. Please, don’t.), David Wilson, Montee Ball. Doug Martin, Aaron Hernandez (sorry, had to)

 

Monday Picks: Wash 24-20 over Eagles, Hosuton 31-7 over Whale’s Vagina.

Weekend Football RoundUp + MNF Picks

With Week 2 of College Football down the drain, and Week 1 of the NFL almost in the books, lets take a gander and what we know, what we thought we knew, and what we think we will know after tonight:

Flyers Re-Up with Simmonds

I’d be lying if I said this off season has gone as planned for the Flyers. I’d also be lying if I said the Flyers would be opening the regular season on time with the pending lockout hanging over everything. However, until September, business must go on and the Flyers have made a move to lock up their own in Wayne Simmonds. Acquired in the Mike Richards trade last summer, Simmonds collected career highs in goals and points this year and showed nice grit. A nice move by the Flyers, however they still need either a.) two defensemen (all star to elite level) or b.) a goalie upgrade.

Philadelphia 76ers Get Young

Sixers Lose Williams; Add Scoring Guard Young

By: Mike Gill  |  Yesterday

The Sixers and Lou Williams have parted ways. (Rob Carr, Getty Images)

Lou Williams will not return to the Sixers after they agreed to sign guard Nick Young to a one-year deal.

“Philly, I appreciate you all. Unfortunately I will not be coming back … they decided to move in a different direction,” Williams posted on Twitter Friday afternoon.

In his place, the Sixers bring in free agent shooting guard Nick Young who at 6-7 averaged 14.2 points and he can shoot from the outside and score.

Young could serve as a scorer off the bench to replace Williams as the top scoring threat off-the-bench or move into the starting lineup at shooting guard to replace Evan Turner.  The Sixers like the size he brings to the shooting guard spot.

Overall, I like this move much like I endorsed the Sixers replacing Williams with Jamal Crawford (who went to the Clippers).  The Sixers needed more size and adding Young gives the them a big guard who can score 14-17 points per game.

PCPTAKE:  Significance here is a one year deal for Young.  Sixers seem to get that 2013 will be the year they can shed salary and finally make a move in free agency and are doing what it takes to position themselves to be players in next year’s market.

Philadelphia Phillies – One Last Attempt To Sign Cole Hamels

by Daniel Seco

The Philadelphia Phillies will make at least one more attempt to sign Cole Hamels to a long-term contract before the team fully commits to dealing the left-hander, reports Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter).  As mentioned earlier today, opposing clubs believe Philadelphia has an asking price of four to five prospects for Hamels, which makes a deal unlikely at this point.  The 28-year-old was selected for his third All-Star team on Sunday after posting a 3.08 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 through 16 starts this season.

Bleak Outlook for Philadelphia Phillies

John Morosi on Twitter

Scout on ‪#Phillies‬: “They’re not young. They’re not healthy. And their system is thin.” Not a good scenario.

PCPSPORTS TAKE – It’s said but true.  I know it’s not a popular idea but the Phillies best option is to trade Cole Hamels for the biggest haul they can get (which would be substantial).  I say this regardless of where they are in the standings come the trade deadline.  A package that starts with 3B Will Middlebrooks and SS Xander Bogaerts from the Boston Red Sox would get it done for me.

Phillies Passed on Brandon Morrow

Anybody remember when the Phillies passed on taking Brandon Morrow as part of the Cliff Lee deal with Seattle a few years back? I groaned about it then and wonder if anybody else would like to groan with me now. He is arguably the best pitcher in Major League Baseball through the first month and a half of the season. Good thing Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies and Juan Ramirez. have all panned out.

Quintin Mikell Will Find Something Better To Do Than Watch NFL Draft

by Tim McManus on Apr 19, read full article here

Count at least one Eagles player amongst those that do not have the stomach for the NFL Draft this year.

“I usually am [a big NFL Draft guy], but I won’t be watching it this year,” said Quintin Mikell. “I’m going to find something better to do with my time.”

In talking to several players at Power Train in Cherry Hill, the temperature is luke-warm at best when it comes to the upcoming draft. Much like the fans, their excitement level has been affected by the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season.

Plus, for them, it’s a very personal matter.

“It’s going to be a little frustrating,” said Mikell. “How are we going to have a draft and there’s not going to be any football? How are you going to have a first-rounder cross the stage and shake [Commissioner Roger Goodell’s] hand?

“‘Welcome to the NFL. You have no job.’ ”

Reports surfaced in March that the NFL Players Association was encouraging top prospects not to attend the draft in New York City, though that movement appears to have lost traction. Draftees are in an awkward position where they will be immediately locked out by the team and league that selects them; just another oddity in an uncomfortable offseason.

“Whether rookies go up and shake the commissioner’s hand, that’s not really a big deal to me,” said defensive end Victor Abiamiri. “I just want to focus on the season getting here, playing football and making that money.”

Far from a boycott, Brent Celek and Todd Herremans will be throwing a draft party on April 30 at their new bar in Old City, “879.” But that appears to be more of a business decision, and less an endorsement of the event.

“I used to be into it, not too much any more,” said Celek. “I like that stuff, right now I just don’t have the time for it. I’m doing my own thing.”

Phils Interested In Lowry

Scott Lauber of the News Journal is reporting that the Philadelphia Phillies will be one of approximately 15 teams in attendance for 29-year-old left hander Noah Lowry’s Tuesday audtion.  Lowry is seeking a one-year deal after battling thoracic outlet syndrome for the past several years.  Lowry has not been an effective pitcher since 2005 but was once believed to be one of the most promising prospect in baseball (and member of my fantasy team).

Media Expressing Dissapointment In Phils Haul

Did Ruben give up too much...too late?

Now that the details are emerging regarding the three team blockbuster between the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners, many are beginning to express disappointment in the haul the Phillies will be receiving in return for Cliff Lee, Kyle Drabek, and Michael Taylor. I have to say I agree with them. My first thought is, if you were going to give up Drabek and Taylor, why not do this last year? The team could have made their run with Halladay and Lee at the top of the rotation and then traded Lee to the Mariners after the season. In my opinion, they’re giving up the same package that the Blue Jays wanted over the summer without the benefit of Halladay for the 09′ postseason. Poor form. Anyhow, here are a couple others that seem to agree with me…

Yahoo’s Jeff Passan seems to think the Phillies are the only team that didn’t make out in the deal, liking the hauls for both the Jays and Mariners.

MLB.com’s Noah Coslov is reporting via Twitter that a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization doesn’t understand the deal from the Phillies point of view, since Michael Taylor is Major League ready right now.