Just pass the official half-way mark, Week 9 of the 17 weeks.
I have only one upset, if it is considered an upset, on Monday night.
Enjoy …
Sunday’s games
NEW ENGLAND 27, Miami 20 … Pats will have to earn this one
ATLANTA 38, Washington 17 …. Falcons are in must-win-big mode
CHICAGO 27, Arizona 23 … Could go either way
CINCINNATI 24, Baltimore 20 … I can’t believe I’m picking Bengals
INDIANAPOLIS 27, Houston 26 … Might be a colossal upset
Green Bay 41, TAMPA BAY 20 … Bucs a mess at QB
Kansas City 20, JACKSONVILLE 17 … Is this my dumbest pick of ‘09?
NEW ORLEANS 41, Carolina 21 … Saints dominate start to finish
SEATTLE 23, Detroit 16 … Who cares?
SAN FRANCISCO 31, Tennessee 17 … Time for 49ers to make move
NY GIANTS 26, San Diego 24 … Giants will win close one
PHILADELPHIA 31, Dallas 17 … Pick of the week
Monday night
DENVER 23, Pittsburgh 20 … I still believe in Broncos
Home team in CAPS
Last week: 6-7
Season: 74-41
An interesting sight after the Celtics buried the Charlotte Bobcats last night was watching Rasheed Wallace watching Game 1 of the World Series on the bigscreen TV in the Celtics locker room.
Wallace, a lifelong Phillies fan, was commenting on each pitch as if he was in the booth.
The former high school player of the year attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia. According to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com), Wallace was on the basketball and track teams. Last night he told me he played on the baseball team, too.
“I pitched and played right field,” said Wallace. “I was pretty good.”
As for his fastball, I asked him if he threw it hard.
“Yeah, but man I was wild,” he laughed.
From watching his play-by-play, he knows baseball.
“All the Yankees got is CC (Sabathia) and the closer (Mariano Rivera),” said Wallace. “We can hit everybody else.” Note: I had a column in today’s Eagle-Tribune about Wallace’s seamless transition into Celtic-hood.
Disclaimer: I believe the Phillies can beat the New York Yankees. They are that talented and, as Don Zimmer said in column I wrote today in The Eagle-Tribune, they are tough. Oh yeah, they’re defending champs, too.
But the New York Yankees will win the World Series. I believed this was a semi-mirage, their incredible 2009 season. But you don’t do to the Angels what they did, which was dominate the series (4-2), unless you are very, very good.
What the Phillies having going for them is the fact that they won’t fear the Yankees. That will account for something.
But I see Pedro Martinez starting in Game 2 for the Phillies and that smacks desperation in my mind. Pedro was good last week against the Dodgers, but the Yankees are different. I’m guessing Pedro gets whalloped.
That means Game 1 is pivotal for the Phillies and I just don’t see CC Sabathia giving in. I see the Yankees winning the first game, 2-1, and then grinding it out in five games, possibly six.
Your thoughts?
If you asked 100 Boston Celtics fans if the team should sign Rajon Rondo, at least 95 would say “Yes,” with about 75 adding the exclamation point.
The point is almost everybody would like Rondo’s services. So that is not in question.
The question is: At what price?
The Celtics reportedly have offered Rondo under $10 million per year over five years. While that’s not disrespectful (he had better not say it is), it isn’t elite money.
The reason why this is a necessity is that by Saturday night, Halloween no less, is the Celtics’ exclusive window of signing Rondo to an extention. If they don’t, Rondo becomes a restricted free agent, which means the Celtics have the right to match an offer.
I will say this. If Rondo is offered $13 million plus per year by somebody else, he’s gone.
Maybe the Celtics and Rondo agree to five years at $50 million.
What Rondo has going for him is the fact that he will be the No. 1 point guard available.
What Rondo has going against him is that two super super superstars, including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and several superstars will be on the market as well, probably drying up the big-money spots on each team.
A few free agent competitors with Rondo are Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili,
Marcus Camby, Tracey McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal, Brad Miller, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, Mike Miller and Rip Hamilton.
This could be an interesting three days leading up to the deadline.
If Rondo balks at the initial deal and refuses to move, the Celtics will wait until next June.
Pats got a little lazy, let things slip away in a game that was out of reach. Now, the opening possession of the second half decides whether this is another laugher or not
Offense
Line … B … Not a good day to be Logan Mankins, and the rookie Vollmer is limping
QB (C-) … Brady throwing to picks, leaving points out there and keeping Tampa around
Receivers (B) … Solid day by the pass-catchrs. Funny how a rookie like Brandon Tate can pick up what a 17-year vet can’t.
Running Backs (C) … The real maroney is back
Defense
Line (B) … Too many big runs allowed
linebackers (B-) … Mayo made a great play early, haven’t heard from him since
Defensive backs (B) …. A+ for Brandon Meriweather. C for the rest.
How can a guy with so much credibility and class, so great a human being, athlete and spokesman for the game of pro football, flat out tell lies on national TV?
This is again Hector Longo speaking. I have the utmost respect for Phil Simms, but for him to sit on national TV and try to sell that the Bucs are trying hard and playing hard and might have a chance and are showing pride is a flat-out lie.
Didn’t he see Barrett not even try on the blitz when Brady hit Moss on the giant gain?
Sorry, the Bucs, like the Titans last week, have quit.
The NFL has some serious issues with the bottom third of its teams.
Phil Simms can’t cover that up.
I’ve watched nine minutes of Bucs, mostly on offense, and I have to wonder what coach Raheem Morris is doing.
1. Run at Vince Wilfork???
2. Keep Josh Johnson in the pocket?
There is no life to this Tampa. They have one chance, pound Cadillac Williams left, pound Cadillac Williams right, not up the gut, off tackle and out.
If not, it will be a long, long, long day.
Who needs to go to London for this?
Let’s see, Fly 6 hours to eat horrid food and watch the Pats pummel another NFL laughingtock? No need for that.
My fish and chips is better than anything they’re serving across the pond.
This one, like last week, is going to have to be stopped on cuts, probably by the third quarter.
Sunday, Oct. 25
New England 60, TAMPA BAY 0 … Why not?
KANSAS CITY 23, San Diego 20 … Chargers are finished
Indianapolis 38, ST. LOUIS 17 … Are Peyton and Colts the best?
CINCINNATI 31, Chicago 20 … Bears are not to be trusted
Green Bay 31, CLEVELAND 20 … Two teams in different directions
PITTSBURGH 28, Minnesota 20 … Steelers will not lose this game
San Francisco 23, HOUSTON 21 … Will come down to last play
N.Y. Jets 27, OAKLAND 20 … Could the Raiders … ? Nahhhh.
Buffalo 31, CAROLINA 27… Panthers are complete mess
New Orleans 26, MIAMI 24 … Might be upset here
Atlanta 31, DALLAS 27 … I believe in Falcons are contenders
N.Y. GIANTS 27, Arizona 17 … Giants will rebound in big way
Monday night
Philadelphia 31, WASHINGTON 24 … Can an owner be fired?
Homes team in CAPS
Last week: 6-8
We are here 45 minutes before the NFL’s trade deadline wondering if the Patriots are going to pull the trigger.
With all of the moves the Patriots made today, primarily cutting wide receiver Joey Galloway, it makes you wonder.
The Stephen Jackson to Patriots rumor (and I mean rumor) is interesting. He is a waste in St. Louis and he immediately would make the Patriots “the favorite” again.
Again, I don’t it will happen because of his potential price — two first round picks.
Anyway, stay tuned.
