Black Ball Sports

In light of last weekends’ Eagles and Bengals game ending in a tie in which many Eagles players including Donovan McNabb didn’t know a game could end in a tie; we are going to highlight other things NFL players might not know.

• Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson apparently doesn’t know that if you stink and been otherwise annoying to your team for several years, then they will deactivate you rather than forgive a violation of a team rule.  Apparently he did the all too common no-no amongst NFL players, being late for a meeting.  It is stunning how quickly Johnson, TO and Torry Holt fell off the top receiver list.  Greg Camarillo (WHO?) from Miami has more catches and yards then any of them do.
• Adam “Pacman” Jones apparently doesn’t know that regular people wouldn’t be welcomed back to their jobs after numerous run ins with the law and noted alcohol abuse.  Seriously, when is Goodell going to stop being Jerry Jones pet and start enforcing rules on more than just hits on the QB and complaints about referees?  I don’t know when the NFL created a rule banning freedom of speech but legalized idiocy. Ricky Williams seemed to be more restricted by the league for smoking weed then Jones has been for being involved in violent acts.  In light of the murders of Sean Taylor and Darrent Williams, you’d think the NFL would be more focused on protecting and preventing potential acts of violence against it’s players.  Instead, Pacman continues to be a part of the league and is only but a night of drinking away from causing the death of himself or someone else.
• Jared Allen apparently doesn’t know that the QB now wears a tutu under his uniform and his hence not to be hit any harder than my 6 year daughter hits a baseball.    Allen has been fined $75,000 for three rough hits on QBs this year.  Remember when the QB was only protected from obvious late hits and outright body slams?  Not anymore, the league should just go ahead and do away with the sack, the defense has to grab the flag from his waist.  As little as the QB is hit anymore, why doesn’t Joe Montana or Troy Aikman just come back and play.
• Norv Turner apparently doesn’t know that when you are blessed with great talent, you are supposed to immediately cash that in for a Superbowl so no one can question your coaching ability again.  I still don’t know why this guy has a job in the NFL.  He’s brutal.  I don’t know how anyone can legitimately defend this guy.  He’s still living off being the offensive coordinator for the Dallas 90s dynasty.
• Tony Romo apparently doesn’t know that goodwill off the field will mean nothing if you don’t come through in the playoffs.  Romo recently paid for a homeless guy to watch a movie with him.  It’s a shame in a lot of ways that so much focus is put on the negative (biggest stories this week, Pacman and McNabb) and winning is the only thing that matters.   Romo there will be no mercy when the Cowboys disappoint this year, and you can just start preparing to answer TO criticisms now.  They are coming….
• Breaking News: Blackballsports.com was just fined $10,000 for criticizing the NFL.

Picks:

Last week: Kali 3-2-1, Antonio 5-0-1, Strike that there are no ties in football as far as I’m concerned.  I’m putting the Eagles pick as loss for both of us.

Overall: Kali 30-23, Antonio 30-23 ironic that is now a tie for us.

Oakland at Denver:

Kali: I can’t believe Denver is going to win their division.  This goes back to my earlier blog about bad division winners not getting home field advantage over a better team in a better division.  Does anyone believe denver would even be in the running in the AFC East or North.
Pick: Denver

NY Jets at Tennessee:

Antonio:  I think I’m caught in the matrix.  The Titans are 10-0 with Kerry Collins playing and the Jets are 7-3 with Brett Farve at QB.  Only the NFL has this kind of drama.  We could seriously be 2 months away from a Jets at Tennesee rematch for the AFC Championship.  I thought both teams woudld be improved off last year, but no way could I have expected this.  I thought the Titans wouldn’t make the playoffs, but in reality they’ve essentially clinched their division already.  I think they will keep it rolling this week.
Pick: Titans

Philadelphia at Baltimore:

Kali: I can’t believe McNabb didn’t know the overtime rules.  And if he really didn’t I can’t believe how proud he seems to be of it.  I can’t believe I’m saying this but right now Joe Flacco is playing better than McNabb.
Pick: Baltimore

Antonio: I’ve run out of words to describe what I think about the Eagles and their lack of clutch.  They have amased an amazingly non clutch track record the past two seasons.  Winning on the road against a tough opponent after their past two games is far too clutch for them.
Pick: Baltimore

NY Giants at Arizona:

Antonio: I keep praising the Giants week in and week out, despite my utter hatred for them. What I find very scary, is that they have room to improve.  Manning and Plaxico have been just so-so.  They’ve rushed for over 200 yards in three straight games.  Arizona is a quietly decent defense.  But, the Giants seem to be on a mission.  They are reminding me a lot of the Patriots.
Pick: NY Giants

Kali: The Giants dominated the Ravens on both lines last week.  And they probably will do the same against Arizona.  But I have a feeling Kurt Warner will have just enough time to find #81 and #11.
Pick:  Arizona

San Francisco at Dallas:

Kali: I don’t know if Dallas played well or my Skins sucked last week.  Actually I do know my Skins sucked.  But its funny how any kind of win can breed confidence.  And it looks like Dallas is getting healthier.
Pick:  Dallas

Antonio: Terrell Owens has to produce at some point right?  If not the Cowboys have a real problem.  They will have to rely more on their defense which has generally been mediocre to bad.  Pacman is probably going to hurt more than help.  If this was in SF, I’d give the 49ers a better chance.  They are playing hard, have to respect that, but it ain’t gonna happen this week.
Pick: Dallas

Washington at Seattle:

Antonio: The Skins have to find a way to pass the ball.  Jason Campbell either has to take more risks and the coaching staff has to put more on his back (ironically, the Eagles need to do just the opposite and take some pressure off McNabb).  The Seahawks are still fighting for Mike Holmgren, and now Hasselbeck is back.  Still…
Pick: Washington

Kali: The Skins have scored a total of 16 points the last 2 weeks.  So no reason to pick the Skins, but I’m a biased fan so that’s the why.
Pick:  Washington

Syracuse at Notre Dame:

Kali: I like Notre Dame and Tony likes Syracuse.  Honestly can’t say I’ve seen a Syracuse football game since McNabb left.  Notre Dame sucks, Syracuse seems to suck more.  This is a game that will be lost not won.
Pick:  Notre Dame

Antonio: If NBC didn’t regret have a tightly locked agreement with Notre Dame this might do it.  I mean Syracuse might just be on the worst downward trend since Temple finally gave up on Div 1A football.  Add to that a clearly down Notre Dame team, and it has the makings of a disaster.  This is akin to a NIT opening round game on a Wednesday while everyone is getting their NCAA picks in.  I’d love to see Syracuse pull off the “upset”, but I don’t think if Charlie Weis called QB sneaks on every play the Orange would win.
Pick: Notre Dame

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