Mission Accomplished In Cincinnati?
Hopefully, the way Cincinnati has handled Chad Johnson thus far will prevent players from pulling similar stunts in the future.
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Are The Bengals Doing Us A Favor?
Terrell Owens used to be considered a team cancer while Chad Johnson was just in need of a little attention every now-and-then.
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Grading The Deal: Fitzgerald Stays In Arizona
In addition to catching nearly everything thrown his way, Fitzgerald opens up space for Anquan Boldin on the other side.
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Grading The Deal: Seattle Signs Julius Jones
The decline of Shaun Alexander’s health and career seems to have forced them to retool their backfield earlier than they initially planned.
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Grading The Deal: Walker Signs With Oakland
The combination of JaMarcus Russell’s incredibly strong arm and the speed and skills of his newest receiver could make for quite the pairing. Of course, that all depends of the health of Javon Walker’s knee.
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Grading The Deal: Pats Lock Up Randy
While losing Samuel, Stallworth and Gay could come back to hurt the Patriots in 2008, retaining Randy Moss was as imperative as it gets.
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Grading The Deal: Stallworth Joins Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns mean business and the New England Patriots’ record-setting season seems as though it was years ago, not simply one short month.
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Grading The Deal: Turner Will Get Big Shot For Big Money In Atlanta
Michael Turner will play the role of Fred Taylor in the Falcons’ offense, with incumbent back Jerious Norwood possessing the type of speed that should allow the team to attack with both thunder and lightning.
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Grading The Deal: Vikings Steal Berrian From Chicago
Bernard Berrian will hopefully give the Vikings enough punch to take the pressure off of their running backs.
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Grading The Deal: Asante Signs With Philly
Philadelphia not only made the first big splash of the NFL’s free agent period with the move but also fortified a defense that struggled mightily last season.
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A Q&A With The UNFL
The United National Football League is less than a year away from kicking off its inaugural season – so what better time than now to chat with their senior leadership.
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Eli Manning: From Free Fallin’ To Running Down A Dream
As it turns out, Tom Petty’s impressive discography makes for an excellent soundtrack to the rollercoaster of a season enjoyed by Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.
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Giants Stun Pats: Blogging The Bowl
Read what Andrew Perna blogged throughout the New York Giants' amazing upset win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Super Predictions
The Giants are a formidable opponent for the undefeated Patriots, but no one is going to keep New England from making history this Sunday in Arizona.
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The UNFL, A Fan’s Dream
We have the exclusive scoop on how you can get involved with something special before it is too late, similar to what happen to a handful of lucky people in the 1920s when the NFL was formed.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Championship Picks
As all good things must, Andrew's perfect prediction record for the NFL playoffs came to an end last weekend when the Chargers upset the Colts and the Giants knocked off the rival Cowboys.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Divisional Predictions
For the second-straight year Andrew went 4-for-4 with his Wild Card weekend picks, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Wild Card Predictions
Here at RealGM Jeff Risdon is our resident ‘picks’ expert, but Andrew's performance during last year’s NFL playoffs has earned him another shot at competing with Jeff for prediction supremacy.
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Orlovsky Makes A Difference At Home
Dan Orlovsky may have left Connecticut back in 2005 when he departed for the Detroit Lions, but his presence can still be found in the state.
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The Patriots' Awe-Inspiring Perfect Season
Andrew hopes you were watching on Saturday night because a last-minute scheduling agreement allowed millions of football fans around the globe to witness NFL history.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Saving Face
A lot went down in Week Sixteen of the season, click to check out the highlights. Andrew's Drew Crew may have been eliminated last week, but he still managed to take home two league trophies, saving a little face in the process.
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Advertising Audibles, The Commercial MVP
In terms of dollars and cents, it’s hard to determine what Peyton Manning actually means to the companies he represents, but he certainly is ubiquitous.
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Keyboard Quarterback: End Of The Run
Week Fifteen of the season signaled the end of the road for The Drew Crew, but the Eagles kept their slim postseason hopes alive with big win over the NFC East champion Cowboys.
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Keyboard Quarterback: I'm In!
When it mattered most the Drew Crew came through, but the Philadelphia Eagles did not. Check out the best from Week Fourteen and a preview of Andrew's first-round playoff bout.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Panic In Week 13
The results from Week Thirteen have caused Andrew to hit the panic button. The Eagles have lost two straight to fall behind in the NFC playoff race and the Drew Crew have lost five straight! Psychiatrists, enter with caution!
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The Birth Of The UNFL, A True Developmental League
Millions of children, teenagers and grown men participate in organized football throughout the fifty states, and abroad, but where do they play when the National Football League is maxed out?
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KQ: Eagles Come Close
Andrew muses on attending the Eagles-Patriots' classic and all that took place in the NFL's Week Twelve.
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Week Eleven: Injury Nightmare
Andrew's Eagles were victorious, but they may have lost quarterback Donovan McNabb in the process. Find out how he's coping and read about the best from Week Twelve.
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The Running Busts
Rarely do preseason projections come to fruition, but nobody expected to see these Tomlinson, Gore, Jackson and LJ so far down the list of the NFL’s leading rushers.
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KQ: Week Ten Review
The Eagles remain in contention for a playoff spot in the mediocre NFC, The Drew Crew takes a major hit and for the first time this season Patriots fail to win this weekend!
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Keyboard Quarterback: Nine Is Fine
In Week Nine we saw a rushing record broken, a battle between the NFL's last two unbeaten teams and the Eagles get clobbered in prime time. Now it's time to see what Andrew thought of it all.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Back On Track
Both the Eagles and Drew Crew returned to the win column last week, making Andrew very happy. Make sure you check out his musings on those victories and the best of Week Eight's NFL action.
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Keyboard Quarterback: It Never Happened
Week Seven didn't exactly play out how Andrew would have liked. In fact, he wishes he could erase it from his memory entirely.
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Keyboard Quarterback: The Brady Boys
Andrew enjoyed his best week of the fantasy season thus far, compiling a 10-2 record. Check out that and more in the rundown of what went down in Week Six of the NFL season.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Injury Woes
Injuries decimated The Drew Crew in Week Five, but they were victorious nonetheless. Find out how Andrew pulled it off, and what he found most entertaining about last weekend's NFL action.
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Keyboard Quarterback: 12 Sacks
The Drew Crew is back on track, but Andrew's Eagles are not. Check out the Week Four edition of the Keyboard Quarterback as he muses on all that is football.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Fly Eagles Fly
Andrew's happy because his Eagles got their first win in grand fashion, but he didn't enjoy the rest of Week Three in the NFL. Weak fantasy owners beware!
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Keyboard Quarterback: Fantasy Miracles
Week Two was a week of fantasy miracles for Andrew Perna, who enjoyed everything about this week's action except the Patriots win and the play of his Eagles.
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Keyboard Quarterback: It's Back!
If the NFL is back in action, that means so is the Keyboard Quarterback. Make sure you check out a retooled edition of the KQ with our very own Andrew Perna.
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Imagine If..
The difference between the Falcons and teams like the Browns and Raiders is that Cleveland and Oakland’s problems are a lack of talent, depth and experience. Even without Michael Vick, the Falcons possess all three of those key characteristics.
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RealGM Fantasy Mock Draft Version 1.0
As promised here is the 2007 RealGM Staff Mock Draft. I assembled twelve of the site’s most knowledgeable people, from forum moderators all the way up to editor Christopher Reina. An hour and a half later, and after countless immature jokes about players, each other and Michael Vick, we bring you our best efforts…
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The Perna Fantasy Rankings for 2007
Forget all those ranking lists of over 400 players, rarely does a league draft that deep. Here's all you'll need to rule your league (and a little more).
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Ocho Fantasy Tips
Andrew is back with more fantasy insight as he profiles eight key tips for your upcoming league draft. Learn how to handcuff and ensure an advantage over your opponents!
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Fantasy Warm-Up
RealGM's resident fantasy junkie is back, and preparing for the 2007 fantasy football season. Last year Andrew fielded nine teams, this week he practiced his drafting skills in a "stranger" league.
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The Newest AFL Fan...
Andrew's with you. He understands how painful the last few weeks have been. What began on Monday February 5th was perhaps the toughest stretch of the calendar year.
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The Crystal Ball...
The Super Bowl is less than twenty-four hours away, and I’ve just begun to type my Super Bowl predictions in my keyboard. It’s not that I’ve been deliberating over who I think will prevail..
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Dear New Englanders...
I know what you’re thinking, they had it. Up 21-3 with halftime approaching, how could the Patriots, one of sport’s most clutch teams, lose a lead like that?
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Keyboard Quarterback: Championship Weekend
Andrew isn't gloating after inproving his playoff prediction record to 7-1. Why, you might ask? It could have something to do with the fall of his beloved Eagles...
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Keyboard Quarterback: Divisional Predictions
Okay, so Andrew's predictions led him to a 4-0 record in last weekend’s wildcard games. This week the picks will be a lot less obvious, click to see who he picked!
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Keyboard Quarterback: Wild Card Predictions
Check out the last Keyboard Quarterback of the regular season. This week I'll focus on the Wild Card weekend and fill you in on how my fantasy season ended.
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Week Fifteen: Great Success!
The NFL playoffs may be just two weeks away, but not much has been decided in football’s playoff picture. And on the fantasy front Andrew had has best fantasy week of the season!
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Week Fourteen: The Week of the Rush
Things in the NFL are getting intense. Records are being broken, seasons are being ruined, and jobs are being lost.
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Week Thirteen: Fantasy Playoffs and Rookies Break Out!
Week thirteen in the NFL was one of many surprises. The Colts fell to the Titans, Jay Cutler had a so-so professional debut, and Reggie Bush broke out for the Saints with a four-touchdown performance.
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Gravy On The Keyboard Quarterback
Check out the new and improved Keyboard Quarterback featuring the highs, lows, crazy statistics, and fantasy exploits of week twelve!
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Keyboard Quarterback: Fantasy Carpet Ride
Week eleven in the NFL was one for the ages. The Colts lost their first game, the Eagles lost their quarterback for the season, and LaDainian Tomlinson once again single-handedly lifted millions of fantasy owners to victory.
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Keyboard QB: Week Ten
After a weekend of intense football, with eleven games decided by a touchdown or less, I’m hungry for more.
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Week 9: Only One Undefeated Remaining
Week nine in the NFL was an eventful one. The Bears lost their first game, the Colts remained undefeated, and Big Ben and the Steelers’ season might as well end now.
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Keyboard Quarterback Following Week 8
Why didn't Bill Parcells put in Tony Romo before now? Same goes for Gary Kubiak and the other team from Texas, with Sage Rosenfels. The beauty of being a Keyboard Quarterback.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Say It Ain't So
Three games were decided on field goals in the NFL this weekend. Hear about the rest of the league highs and it's many lows, including Andrew's many fantasy shortcomings.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Blowing It Like 'Zona
If you enjoyed the competition last week, when several games where decided by single-digits, then you must have loved what week six in the NFL provided for you. Eight games were decided by less than three points, and several NFL stars exploded for career days in both winning and losing efforts.
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Keyboard Quarterback – I’m Back
Week Five was by far the most exciting weekend of football we’ve seen this season, and another successful campaign by my fantasy teams only increased my enthusiasm. Nine games were decided by ten points or less, and we saw thrilling comebacks by the Chiefs, Colts, and Saints.
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Keyboard Quarterback: The Week That Was Four
Week four in the NFL was full of exciting individual performances, incredible comebacks (including more than one in the Colts-Jets game), and the rise and fall of football’s unbeaten teams.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Packing It In
Week three in the NFL was a week full of highlights, including a quarterback who threw five touchdowns, a running back that tallied three, the continued dominance of several teams, and even a few teams who fell deeper into the depths of their winless misery.
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Keyboard Quarterback: Week 2 Was Full Of Surprises
The Saints are hot, Peyton breaks more records, Eli and Plaxico have a back foot walk-off, Rex channels Jim McMahon and what is happening to the Panthers and Bucs?
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Keyboard Quarterback: Fantasy Overload?
In the first edition of our Keyboard Quarterback column, there is quite a bit to discuss following the NFL’s opening weekend. With the Highs and Lows of Week 1, plus the official announcement of RealGM's 2006 Franchise Player of the Year.
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Be An NFL GM Finals: Peyton Vs. Bush
We’ve finally come down to the ‘Be an NFL GM’ Finals. The AFC will be represented by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, and the NFC has sent Saints rookie running back Reggie Bush. Both players have cruised through the field up until this point, but which will be named RealGM’s 2006 Franchise Cornerstone?
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Be An NFL GM Semifinals: Eli Vs. Bush
The second final four match-up is between two of the NFL’s younger, and more promising, offensive players. Eli Manning has shown flashes of the brilliance the Giants hoped for when they got their hands on him just a few seasons ago.
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Be An NFL GM Semifinals: Brady Vs. Manning
In the first of two final four match-ups New England’s Tom Brady will take on Indianapolis’s Peyton Manning for the chance to represent the AFC in the finals of our ‘Be an NFL GM’ contest.
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‘Be an NFL GM Contest’: Final Four
And then there were four. The race to become RealGM’s first ever Ultimate NFL Franchise Player is now much closer to being over with only four men still in contention. Your votes have helped Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Reggie Bush soar past the quarterfinals and into the semi-final round.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Bush Vs. Alexander
In our last of the four quarterfinal match-ups we feature a battle between the league’s reigning MVP and a rookie who could soon become one of the NFL’s most talented players. Both Reggie Bush and Shaun Alexander are running backs, but which will make it to the Final Four?
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Eli Vs. Urlacher
If Eli can get past Brian Urlacher he’ll be one step closer to a possible Manning vs. Manning match-up in the finals. Which of these two will make the Final Four?
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Peyton Vs. Tomlinson
Both Peyton Manning and LaDainian Tomlinson have coasted up until this point in the voting, neither having been challenged by their two previous opponents. That’s not likely to remain the case when the dust settles on this quarterfinal match-up.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Brady Vs. Palmer
And then there were eight. In our first match-up of the quarterfinal round we showcase two of the AFC’s top quarterbacks. Carson holds the advantage of being younger, but Brady is a proven winner and isn’t recovering from major knee surgery. Who would you rather have anchoring your NFL franchise?
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Quarterfinal
We began RealGM’s first-ever ‘Be An NFL GM Contest’ with thirty-two talented players, and now we are down to just eight possible franchise cornerstones. Much like in the first round, quarterbacks dominated the second round and represent four, or half, of the remaining gridiron stars.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: James Vs. Alexander
Edgerrin James and Shaun Alexander are among the NFL’s elite running backs. Entering this season Alexander will be coming off an MVP season, while James will be beginning his first season as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Both backs are in their prime, so which of the two premier players would you rather have anchoring your roster?
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Bush Vs. Peppers
Julius Peppers is among the NFL’s most talented young defensive players, and Reggie Bush is among the league’s most promising rookies. In one Preseason game, Bush has already demonstrated that he will be able to produce highlight reel plays in the NFL as he did at USC.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Urlacher Vs. Hawk
This battle is one between two defensive players, something that we haven’t seen much of in this NFL ‘Be A GM Contest.’ The winner of this battle may very well end up being the last defensive player standing, so take your time when deciding which you’d rather have to start a franchise with.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Eli Vs. Portis
This match-up was supposed to be a battle between Donovan McNabb and former teammate Terrell Owens, but Eli and Clinton must not have gotten that memo. Eli soundly defeated Owens, and Portis narrowly surpassed McNabb on his way to the second round.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Tomlinson Vs. Johnson
If you’re talking about the best running backs in all of football Larry Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson are undoubtedly two of the first names you mention. Both young and extremely talented, it seems as though they’ll be enjoying success in the NFL for years to come.
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Be An NFL GM: Peyton Manning Vs. Vince Young
One could describe this second round battle as old versus new, veteran against rookie, or traditional meets unconventional. Either way Peyton Manning and Vince Young are too completely different quarterbacks, and if we’re lucky we’ll get to see Manning and Young battle each other this season as opponents in the AFC South.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Palmer Vs. Roethlisberger
The next second round match-up is yet another quarterback battle, this one between two AFC North rivals. Roethlisberger is fresh off a Super Bowl victory, while Palmer is fresh off surgery to repair a severely injured right knee.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Brady Vs. Culpepper
Our first second round match-up is a battle between new division rivals. Brady, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots takes on Culpepper, the new quarterback of the once-great Miami Dolphins. These men are the same age and height, but that’s where the similarities end.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Alexander Vs. Davis
Shaun Alexander is coming off a record-breaking 2005 season and will be on the cover of Madden 2007 when it is released in late August. So what could possibly keep him from making it into the second round of our ‘Be an NFL GM’ Contest?
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Edgerrin Vs. Jackson
With Edgerrin James joining Shaun Alexander and Steven Jackson, the NFC West has three of the most talented running backs in the game. This matchup only involves James and Jackson, as one begins life without Manning and another without the shadow of Marshall Faulk.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Bush Vs. Cadillac
Reggie Bush is football’s most talked about rookie running back, while Cadillac Williams was last season’s top rookie rusher. Both men stand 5'11" tall, but Cadillac has a seventeen pound advantage on Bush, who is the faster of the two.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Vick Vs. Peppers
Michael Vick and Julius Peppers are two of the most athletic and versatile players in the NFL. If this was an era where players played both offense and defense, Vick would be one of the game's best DB's and Peppers would be one of the best TE's.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Hawk Vs. Hutchinson
Steve Hutchinson helped Shaun Alexander have a career-year in 2005, but bolted to Minnesota after appearing in the Super Bowl with the Seahawks last season. Green Bay expects A.J. Hawk to become the ionic replacement to Brett Favre for the franchise.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Urlacher Vs. Williams
Brian Urlacher, one of the NFL best linebackers, has been a big part of the return of Chicago’s stingy defense. Roy Williams, who has two seasons under his belt as a member of the Lions’ receiving corps, has sixteen touchdowns in his two-year career.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: McNabb Vs. Portis
As the first round continues to motor on, we feature a match-up between two more NFC East rivals as we pit Donovan McNabb of the Eagles against Clinton Portis of the Redskins. Did Portis leave his magic in Denver? Can McNabb rekindle the greatness of his 2004 season after shedding Terrell Owens this winter?
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Owens Vs. Eli
It’s a battle between Peyton’s younger brother and Donovan’s old best friend. Would you rather start an NFL franchise with Owens’ hands of glue and mouth of elastic? Or would you rather have Eli Manning’s laid-back attitude and arm of steel? It’s your choice!
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Moss Vs. Tomlinson
The eighth match-up marks the mid-point of the first round of our ‘Be an NFL GM’ Contest. It also pits two of football’s most popular and explosive players against each other in a battle for the ages.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Larry Johnson Vs. Javon Walker
Our seventh match-up features a battle between a newly acquired stud wide receiver, and a running back that had the best nine-game stretch in history last season. Walker joins the Broncos this season, while Johnson finally becomes a full-time RB.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Vince Young Vs. Bryon Leftwich
Our sixth match-up features a battle between two of the NFL’s youngest and most promising quarterbacks. Byron Leftwich of the Jacksonville Jaguars is entering his fourth season in the league, while Vince Young will be entering his first NFL season when the Tennessee Titans open their 2006 season this fall.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Manning Vs. Williams
Our fifth match-up features the first overall pick from the 2006 Draft and the game’s best quarterback. Thus far the trend has gone in the direction of the man with the ball in his hands on every offensive down, but is there something in Mario Williams that Houston sees and we still haven’t?
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Roethlisberger Vs. Edwards
Our fourth match-up features a young wide receiver from Cleveland and the quarterback of the reigning Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Edwards seems to be the most promising talent on a weak Browns’ squad, while Roethlisberger received the nod to represent the Steelers ahead of guys like Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, and Joey Porter.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Lewis Vs. Palmer
Our third match-up is between a young quarterback and a veteran line-backer. Lewis is a former Super Bowl Champion and one of the NFL’s most feared defensive threats, while Palmer is one of football’s most promising young talents.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: Brady Vs. Ferguson
Our second match-up is between a battle-tested quarterback and a rookie offensive tackle. Brady is the three-time Super Bowl Champion QB of the Patriots, while D’Brickashaw Ferguson is going into his first NFL season as a member of the Jets.
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Be An NFL GM Contest: McGahee Vs. Culpepper
The opening first round match-up is a battle between two of the AFC East’s biggest names. Both are talented players that any NFL GM would love to have on their roster, but given the chance to pick just one to start an NFL franchise, which would you pick?
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Top Fantasy RBs
Last week, I highlighted the best quarterbacks in fantasy football. While having a stud quarterback is important, running backs are the work horses of any and every fantasy team. Without an elite running back, you might as well pack up your season now.
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Top Fantasy QB's
With the football season just over two months away, I figured it would be as good a time as any to begin RealGM’s fantasy football coverage. I’ll begin by listing the top ten fantasy quarterbacks for the 2006 season.
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This Just In: Roethlisberger is Human!
Is Ben’s accident more tragic because he’s a sports hero? Was his decision to ride without a helmet more irresponsible than if an average guy had made the same mistake?
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‘It’s Like the Super Bowl’
While American Idol is by no means anything close to any major sporting event, it does have its upside. Imagine if the winner of the Super Bowl was determined by fan voting? hey could get Tom Brady to play the hosting role of Ryan Seacrest, and have the panel of judges consist of John Madden, Michael Irvin, and a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader.
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The Biggest Stories Of The Off-Season
The Brett Favre soap opera is finally over for another year, thank you! The Ricky Williams sopa opera is finally over for another year, thank you! These have kept our attention since the Super Bowl, but now it is time to turn our attention to a few famous players from the Rose Bowl.
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Celebrate This!
Once again the NFL, also known as the No Fun League, is trying to crack down on end zone celebrations. Apparently the league still doesn’t find Joe Horn’s hidden cell phone trick or Chad Johnson’s mock marriage proposal very funny.
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Big Moves Early
NFL executives wasted no time making moves this off-season, as several marquee trades and signings were made over the past few days. Over the past week or so the NFL offseason has exploded. Regardless of the amount of moves we see in March, there are still several months remaining until training camps will open for players.
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The NFL Rookie Pageant
Football is considered by many people to be the most brutal of the mainstream sports in America. Players are expected to steamroll over one another on their way to the end zone, or to use their brute force to prevent them from doing so. So can some please explain to me why the NFL Combine has become the closest thing sports has to a beauty pageant?
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Time To Spare Us The Pro Bowl?
Although the Pro Bowl is played the week following the Super Bowl for good reason, to avoid serious injury to any of the players selected to compete, having the game played after the season has ended takes away some of the drama.
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Time To Say Farewell Favre
In light of Brett Favre publicly announcing that he is seriously considering hanging up his cleats, I’ve decided to try and make his choice an easier one. Brett, please retire.
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Predictions Of The Final Four
The NFL season began with 28 teams vying for a chance to play in Super Bowl XL – 32 if you count Houston, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Oakland. Now only Pittsburgh, Denver, Carolina, and Seattle are still alive.
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Divisional Playoff Predictions
Last week’s Wild Card predictions didn’t go quite as well as planned. After one round of playoff action my record stands at a respectable 2-2. The Patriots and Panthers prevailed as I predicted, while the Redskins and Steelers made me regret my picks of the Buccaneers and the Bengals.
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Wild Card Predictions
Over the past few months we have been providing you with Andrew Perna's takes on the highs and lows from the NFL each week. This week he changes things up and give his predictions for the weekend’s Wild Card match-ups.
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Jolly Johnson
It’s the holiday season and as the saying goes, “It’s always better to give than receive.” Except when you’re one of the NFL’s top wide receivers. Chad Johnson has promised to bring holiday cheer to all when his Cincinnati Bengals take on the Buffalo Bills this Christmas Eve.
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High & Low Five From Week 13
This week we saw the Seahawks clinch the NFC North division title, the Bengals assure themselves their first winning season in fifteen years, and the Colts continue to break records as they chase football’s ultimate record.
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High & Low Five From Week 12
In week twelve we saw four overtime battles. One ended on a 41-yard touchdown run by LaDainian Tomlinson, another ended on a field goal after Ron Dayne busted for a 55-yard gain, and another ended on a 56-yard touchdown pass from St. Louis quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to Kevin Curtis.
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High & Low Five From Week 11
In week twelve we saw Indianapolis win a shootout in Cincinnati, Kurt Warner defeat his old team in St. Louis, and Chicago win a battle between two of the NFL’s hottest teams. We also saw Tampa Bay come back to bite Atlanta, the Dolphins get blanked by the Browns, and the continued free-fall in Philadelphia.
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High & Low Five – Week 10
In Week 10 we saw Brady push the Patriots past the Dolphins, Samkon Gado lead the Packers to an upset victory over the Falcons, and the Bears win after returning a missed field goal for a 108-yard touchdown. We also saw the Colts continue their dominance by beating the Texans on their way to 9-0, the Panthers win their sixth straight game, and the Steelers use three quarterbacks in a victory over the rival Cleveland Browns.
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So Long, Farewell Terrell
Your stay in Philadelphia was supposed to be a match made in heaven. You were the athletic, downfield weapon that quarterback Donovan McNabb had always lacked. Your arrival in Philadelphia to pair with McNabb and their stifling defense meant the sky was the limit for the Eagles. Despite your tragic leg injury towards the end of the season, the Eagles still accomplished their goal of winning the NFC Championship.
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High & Low Five From Week 9
In week eight we saw LaDainian Tomlinson run wild in New York, Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil gamble on the game’s final play, and the Carolina Panthers win their fifth straight game. We also saw the drama in Philadelphia come to a head, Baltimore’s continued struggles on offense, and the Miami’s’ failure to capitalize on several Atlanta blunders.
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High & Low Five – Week 8
In week eight we saw the Texans earn their first win of the season, the Giants take hold of the NFC East with a blow-out win over the Redskins, and Patriot linebacker Tedy Bruschi make a triumphant return to the gridiron. We also saw Daunte Culpepper go down for the rest of the year, the Broncos light up the Eagles’ pro bowl secondary, and the debut of Gregory Gall – the fan who was responsible for Brett Favre’s sixth turnover of the game.
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High & Low Five – Week 7
Week seven in the NFL quickly became the most exciting week we have seen thus far. Several games where decided in the final seconds, and several teams made impressive comebacks. The Giants, Seahawks, and Vikings all won in dramatic fashion on Sunday, while the Rams, Eagles, and Cardinals were able to win despite falling behind early.
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High & Low Five – Week 6
Week 6 in the NFL saw the return of Dolphin running back Ricky Williams, and the continued success of the Cincinnati Bengals. We also saw the defending champion New England Patriots loss to the surging Denver Broncos for their third defeat of the season, which is the most losses the team has suffered in a season since 2002.
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High & Low Five – Week 5
Week five of the NFL saw some familiar and some strange sights. The Patriots beat the Falcons on a fourth quarter drive by Tom Brady that led to the game-winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri. The Indianapolis Colts defeated the 49ers 28-3, and became the NFL’s last remaining undefeated team (5-0). The Texans were blitzed by the Titans in a 34-20 loss, and are now the NFL’s last remaining winless team.
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High & Low Five – Week 4
This weekend in the NFL was an eventful one. The Manning brothers played spectacularly, and carried their respective teams to empathic victories. All four of the remaining undefeated teams continued their unbeaten streaks, while Baltimore and Oakland earned their first wins of the season. The Patriots were beaten at home for the first time in almost three years, whilst the Saints won their first “home game” in the Alamodome in San Antonio.
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High & Low Five – Week 3
Week three in the NFL was an offensive explosion. Of the 28 teams who played this past weekend only two scored fewer than ten points, Cleveland and Chicago. The Chargers picked up their first win over the Giants and Eli Manning, who shunned the team on draft day in 2004 and New England handed Pittsburgh’s sophomore quarterback Ben Roethlisberger his first regular-season loss.
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High & Low Five – Week 2
During week two of the NFL season we saw the fall of the Patriots, the rise of the Buccaneers, and the continued dominance of the Steelers. The Viking offense continued struggled without Randy Moss, while the Texans offense simply doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, the Colts newfound defense won them another important early season battle, while the Bears newfound offense won allowed them to beat the Lions in a 38-6 romp.
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High & Low Five
The opening week of the season featured the explosion of Willie Parker, a brilliant game from Drew Bledsoe and the dreadful performances from Daunte Culpepper and David Akers. In the first of a season long series, Andrew Perna brings the Five High's and Five Low's of the previous week.
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Julius The Great?
The Dallas Cowboys were America’s football team, but that was a Troy Aikman and an Emmitt Smith ago. If Bill Parcells and the Cowboys are going to return to prominence once again, an elite running back is a must have.
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All-Red Zone Predictions
Every year sports writers, commentators, and analysts put together a roster of the best players in the NFL from that particular season. I figured it’s easy enough to select players for one of these teams after the players have scorched the playing field - so I’m going to make some predictions as to who will be on the first All-Red Zone Team this January.
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Fantasy Addiction
Fantasy Sports are sweeping the nation. If you’re a sports fan, you’ve at least been asked to join a league of some kind. Everyone has, that friend who competes in at least a dozen football leagues every season and shells out seemingly thousands of dollars on entry fees and pools.
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Madden Era
Ever since the early nineties, children have been taught football by one man. No, he’s not their football coach, uncle, grandfather or even their father. Most, if not all, of his students have never even met the man who introduced them to the gridiron.
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49ers Gone Wild
San Francisco 49ers’ public relations director, Kirk Reynolds had a brilliant idea. He’ll prepare a video tape to help teach the players how to deal with the diverse San Francisco media. It was the perfect plan.
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Effective Management
While offense and defense are obviously the focal points of many organizations, effective management should also be considered equally as important. The New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles met in Super Bowl XXXIX for this very reason.
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Defense Still Wins Championships
Offensive numbers are on the rise and the sports world has become one big highlight reel, but one thing has remained true. Defense stills wins playoff football games and ultimately championships.
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T.O. Needs A Time Out
When wide receiver Terrell Owens came to Philadelphia before the 2004 season, he was considered a great football player but not the best teammate.
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