Romo Mythology

Romo is Clutch?

 

As a society we have made advances in technology, politics, and the way we treat people. Social media has broadened the horizon in which we communicate with each other. Smart phones have made our lives infinitely more efficient. We have changed the way we treat women. Racism, while still a prevalent and touchy issue, is nowhere near where it was in the 1960's. We are generally more accepting. Now, you'd think with a nation so evolved as ours, we would know the difference between what is a myth and what isn't, right? Wrong. Let's give you a list of myths that are widely regarded as the truth:

1. Chewing gum stays in your stomach for years after you swallow it. Really? Studies show that it might stay in for a little while longer than other foods, but it will end up going where all the other food goes. It digests fine.
2. Dropping a penny from the Empire State Building will kill someone if it hits them. I'm sure you just face-palmed yourself. Anybody who has took a physics class knows that a penny dropped from the ESB would reach a terminal velocity of 100 mph. It would hit you with 1 foot-pound energy. In other words, You Won't Die. You'll probably get a bump on your head. You can join Hasim Rahman and Jeremy Lin as honorary members of the Hematoma Club.

Alright, so how does this have any correlation to sports? Sports have myths too, and some are still used and abided by to this day. The most popular yet flawed myth around the sports world is: 

• Tony Romo Isn't Clutch. This one baffles should baffle everyone. One of the best quarterbacks in the NFL is known to be anti-clutch. Another face-palm.

So far, the Cowboys are 7-5 and are leading the NFC East, one of the worst divisions in football, and have a huge matchup with the Chicago Bears tonight. They have no notable wins, and 4 of their 5 losses have come to teams with high-potent offensive attacks: San Diego, Denver, New Orleans, Detroit. You get the point. In all of these games, Tony Romo has had stellar numbers. The numbers should prove this point. The so-called "choker" has a career total of 19 4th quarter comebacks, and 21 game winning drives. That's right. This is the guy that can't win, right? He already has one other game winner this year, against the Minnesota Vikings. In 2012, a season that saw the Cowboys go a very average 8-8, Tony Romo had 5 comebacks. So if Romo wasn't in tune with his star player, the Cowboys could've gone 3-13. He's great in November too. Of his 21 game winners, 9 have came in November. The only active quarterback to have more game winners with less experience than Romo is Matt Ryan, who is playing like a Division 3 water boy this year. Romo also missed most of the 2010 season. So if you do the math, he would have 3 that season, and 24 total.

But the Cowboys are America's team. Why are they winning/losing close games all the time? Shouldn't they have the best players? What about the front office?

Outside of drafting Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and a few select players that have a direct impact on the team, the Cowboys have whiffed in every single draft. In the last 4 drafts, the Cowboys have only brought in 2 game changers to help Romo: Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray. Bryant has emerged as one of the best recievers in the league. Murray is injury-prone and is only good in stretches. Even with those offensive additions, the Cowboys have only managed to score 30 points or more just 5 times in 12 games. The front office has failed to help acquire talent that will balance the offensive attack. The running game can be good at times, but injuries keep it from being a consistent threat.
 

Aside from having an aggravatingly nutty owner/president/GM, Romo has cycled through 3 different head coaches, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips, and Jason Garrett. The work and frustration that goes with a changing staff is daunting enough, yet Romo has still managed to put up Pro Bowl-like numbers year after year.

 

Romo is clearly one of the top QBs in the league. So there has to be a reason why they can't win games at home when they are favorites. How about the defense? The Cowboys have the worst total defense in the NFL, giving up a regurgitating 4,754 yards on the season. They have the 31st worst pass defense in a conference that contains the likes of Kaepernick, Stafford and Brees. They give up 25 points a game. This isn't a defense you start on your fantasy team, ever. The defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin, is probably too old/unfit to handle the rigors of being a coach, and obviously can't run a college defense, let alone a pro defense. The crazy owner hired Kiffin over the offseason, and fired one of the best defensive minds in the NFL, Rob Ryan. This is the same Rob Ryan that turned the Saints defense 180 degrees. With 6 of the same 11 starters from last year, the Saints went from being dead last in yards per game, to 7th. They also went from being 31st in points per game allowed to 5th.

Romo's play has been money in close games too. Since 2008, while tied or trailing by up to 7 in the 4th quarter, Romo has 36.8 pass attempts per interception, and only 9 interceptions at that. He has the best passer rating in the 4th quarter of any QB since 2006 (102).

So he has only 1 playoff win. Drew Brees has 5 wins in the playoffs, and that includes a playoff run that saw the Saints win the Super Bowl. Does anybody crown Drew Brees as a choker? People forget that in 2003, Drew Brees had 17 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Do you hear analysts bicker about that stat? What about Peyton Manning? Including a Super Bowl run, he is just 9-11 in the postseason. He has 8 one-and-done games as well. Is he a choker? He had Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne to

throw to in Indianapolis, but he managed to get only one Super Bowl. Now he has Wes Welker and rising players like Eric Decker and Julius Thomas. Still though, he has greatly underperformed in big games in his tenure as the Denver Broncos quarterback. Whether it was last year against the Ravens, or this year against the Colts and the Patriots, Manning didn't play well at all. What were we saying about Romo again?
 

Let's not lie to ourselves about Tony Romo. We know who he is. He's an extremely cerebral and committed quarterback who has all but carried an underachieving franchise. If you think about it, Tony Romo is a lot like Lebron James. Both are stupendous talents who elevate the play of those around them. Also, both are heavily criticized by fans and media alike. James was "the guy that can't finish." Romo was the guy that choked on the last drive. James finally went to Miami to play with other great stars, and all of a sudden, he is a "finisher." Romo finally has a reciever (Bryant) that can stretch the field and make plays without pulling his hamstring every other game, and he isn't as bad a choker as he was before. Critics don't remember how Lebron carried the talentless Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2007 finals. They remember his offense being shut down and how the team got swept by the Spurs. Amassing over 500 yards and 5 touchdowns, Romo kept the defenseless Cowboys in the game vs the seemingly unassailable Denver Broncos, but everybody only remembers the interception with 2 minutes left. I always say "give street cred where street cred is due." If a guy can put up great numbers consistently but fall short every once in a while, he should have our vote. Tom Hanks is one of the greatest actors of all time. You wouldn't say that his career is a colossal failure just because he made disasters like The Terminal and The Bonfire Of The Vanities. Everybody makes a mistake here and there. Romo and Lebron- Game finishers.

One main reason why Romo is thought of as anti-clutch goes back to the 2006 playoffs. If anybody remembers that game, he muffed a field goal snap that would've won them the game. That moment stuck in people's minds. So whenever he throws a pick in crunch time, which is something all great quarterbacks do, we think back to the Tony Romo that muffed that snap 7 years ago. First impressions stick.

 

Regardless of what you may think about Mr. Romo, any GM would kill to have Tony as his franchise QB. He has inimitable talent and works as hard as any other player in the league. The myth that he isn't clutch is very unfounded.

His career is the quintessential roller coaster, complete with a launch track, steep climbs, high drops, on-ride cameras, corkscrews, cobra rolls, and loops galore. His NFL ride started with him being an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois. After years of riding the bench, he found his starting job filling in full time for an injured (and passed his prime) Drew Bledsoe. He instantly brought a new energy to the franchise, and the Cowboys seemed like they had found the missing element in their group. He was winning. He had numerous "This Is SportsCenter" commercials. After his playoff gaffe that same year, his stock ultimately plummeted. He could pad up the stats and win some games, but he just didn't have that "clutch gene." As the rest of his career unwinded, we saw the same thing over and over. His blunders weren't all the same though. Maybe it was a screw up in the last regular season game instead of the playoffs. But still, through all of this, a camera was recording the ride. His emotions before games were caught by the networks. His reactions were recorded at press conferences. Amid the chaos that has surrounded his X2-like career, he is still one of the best in the game. In my expert opinion, he has made it through the ride. We know all we need to know about Tony Romo. Most would say, "Geez! I'm glad I won't have to do that again!" Not Tony. He embraces the challenges, and has proven himself at the highest level possible.

Twitter: Follow me @RealDealSimon

          

The Thanksgiving Screwjob: Houston Texans Style

Hello, friends, family, colleagues. I'd just like to say a few words before diving in to the juicy stuff. My name is Steven. Born in Houston, Texas, 16 years ago today actually.

I am Texas loud and Texas proud. Although I've moved from Texas when I was 9, I still bleed Battle Red, Liberty White, and Deep Steel Blue! Along the way of reading from me, you will see me complain, try and make jokes that aren't funny, and many opinions you might disagree with. Regardless, my promise is to at least give you some form of writing that you can enjoy, or die trying! Now, I've said enough about me, let start digging into the topic at hand.

 

The Thanksgiving Screwjob



Sounds scary, eh?

It was one Thanksgiving ago in which the most controversial play in Texans history took place. Anyone who says it is not, go back through each of the Texans 12 seasons, and tell me what is.

It was the latter of the 3rd quarter, and the Detroit Lions were on top 24-14, and just like that, a miracle begins! Matt Schaub give a zone run to the right side to Justin Forsett, and takes it 81 yards to the house! TOUCHDOWN HOUSTON TEXANS! This run still stands as the Texans longest offensive scoring play in their history.

But wait! Forsett is clearly down. His knee and entire forearm right on the turf. All scoring plays are reviewed, so it should be 2&3 at the 26 yard line with the clock running inside of 6 minutes. But wait! There's a red piece of laundry on the Detroit sideline, which now negates the review. WAY TO GO JIM SCHWARTZ!

In overtime, the Texans prevailed 34-31 in their inaugural Thanksgiving Day game.

Who really knows what happens if not for Forsett. Kinda crazy to think about. Can the Texans score? Do the Lions pull the upset on the then 9-1 Texans?

To this day, I still get grief from Lions fans on this game (I do live in Michigan). But until the Lions and Texans meet again in 2016 in Reliant Stadium, they have to hate me for the same reason every day. But I have the Pack beating Detroit today, so hopefully they move on from me, and start crying to the kid in my school who likes Green Bay...

My Texans play Sunday against the (gulp) New England Patriots, so I will soon return to report on that.

For now, so long. Happy Birthday to me. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

What Is Going On In Gainesville?

         Recently, the Florida Gators football team has absolutely come crumbling down. After a solid 4-1 start, the team has lost 6 straight to LSU, Missouri, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Georgia Southern. Yes, I said Georgia Southern. The Gators struggles are a combination of injuries, bad coaching, and an ultimate lack of talent and depth. The Gators will miss a bowl game for the first time since 1990. Florida’s final game in this awful season is against Florida State, the Gators long time rival, and current number 2 in the nation. The game will likely be over before half.


The Gators have been absolutely decimated by injuries at key spots. Starting QB Jeff Driskel, and his backup Tyler Murphy are both injured. Driskel went down during the Tennessee game back in September, and Murphy has missed the last two games. That has left the starting job to freshman Skylar Mornhinweg. The Gators are down leading rusher Matt Jones to a torn meniscus. Leading receiver Andre Dubose has missed all season. Offensive linemen D.J. Humphries and Tyler Moore are out. On defense, the Gators best player Dominique Easley, has not played since early October due to a torn ACL. Michael Taylor and Alex Anzalone both went down last week vs. Georgia Southern.  In the secondary, Marcus Roberson has missed time and Nick Washington has not played since game number 3. A total of 21 scholarship players have missed games due to injury, including 12 starters total. It doesn’t matter what school you are, having as many injuries as Florida has had are tough to overcome.

Florida’s coaching staff has been mediocre this season. The offensive coordinator, Brent Pease, has struggled with the play calling. Someone on the offensive line always seems to miss an assignment, blowing up the play. Defensively, the Gators have been inconsistent, committing stupid penalties, and allowing big plays. Even in the beginning of the season, before the Gator players began dropping like flies, Florida struggled mightily on offense at Miami, with 5 turnovers. Many Gators fans want to see head coach Will Muschamp out as head coach. They are frustrated with all of the injuries and awful play, and are not used to seeing the Gators miss bowls and lose six in a row.


Looking ahead, Florida is most likely going to be blown out by Florida State. They are down to second and even third string guys at every position. They still are the University of Florida, and were just 1 Notre Dame loss away from the BCS National Championship last season. Whether Will Muschamp or some other guy is head coach, the Gators will be a threat in the SEC once again next season.

Image Link:
fansided.com

NBA Thoughts- Did The Buss Break Down? Has The Rose Finally Withered?

   Alrighty, folks, the day you've all been waiting for is finally here. The Will Fyfe Show has finally made its first endeavor into the world of sports commentary. You may not know it, but you've always been subconsciously waiting for me. Let's not dilly-dally any longer, time to get your Sweet 16 popcorn boxes ready Indiana fans. Take a seat and be partially amazed.

 

  

   As I am a complete rookie to this, I don't yet have any established practices yet. I would eventually love to have my own weekly or monthly segments, but you've got to start somewhere. Baby steps, people.

 

 I'd like to think my reach is very wide, but that's just me. You can expect everything under the sports sun to be examined and strongly scrutinized, including the show, the NHL, the greatest show on earth: Kentucky Basketball, and the NFL. But no soccer, soccer is what's wrong with the world. No one wants to hear Formula 1 insight, so I'll save that for myself. It's the offseason anyway, but Jerez is only about 2 months away... So let's begin with an NBA themed soliloquy for my first foray into journalism. More specifically Kobe Bean Bryant and D-Rose.

 

 

   Since it's the freshest, we'll start with Mr. Mamba. The Lakers recently inked the Bean to a 2 year, 48.5 million extension. Now from the outside, this may seem crazy. As a non-Kobe fan, I think it's crazy. I can't say what's more astonishing, the years or the money. 2 years for a player who confirmed that he is still 'weeks' away from playing. Although he isn't in as serious question as D-Rose was, Kobe still could not be as effective as he may seem in practice. He may never be the same Mamba, which scares many people. This move in actuality is a stark stand for the Lakers. As many super moves in the Kobe era have been orchestrated and theorized, none have paid off to the liking of Laker-Nation. 2 titles since Shaq and Kobe has been somehow disappointing, and no amount of dysfunctional superstars-via-trade could produce. This move shows to potential 2014 free agents, and the fruit is ripe, that they want to win. With under 3 million tied up for next year, besides Kobe, the Lakers have cap space to give like Oprah and cook books.

 

 

 

 The list of suitors is endless, and should be saved for another day, but this is the first serious move in years by the Lakers. No more Steve Nash or Metta World Peace, finally making way for super stars who want to be there. Kobe is the variable, but the Lakers interest is there. Rant over, round two. 

   If increasing crime rates, 104 years of hopelessness, or high winds aren't enough to destroy the city of Chicago, the right knee of Derrick Rose has just plunged the dagger into the heart.

 

 

   After only 11 games, DRose has injured his previously uninjured right knee, tearing his meniscus and requiring season ending surgery. Since coming back, Rose has been contributing a pedestrian 15.9 PPG. While many players would be happy with the scoring, this isn't what is expected from the 2011 MVP. This all begs the obvious questions. What happens to Rose now? Where do the Bulls go from here? 

 

 

   The simple answer is I don't know. The classic story with knee injuries is something we all know too well and the precedent has been set. The player may return, but will be rusty, a little scared, and in Rose' case, the explosiveness and speed is gone. With basketball being a sport that kills a players knees, this could be the end for Rose. The question that needs to be addressed more than any right now is what does management do? This will be less than 50 games in 3 years for Rose, and the once franchise point guard is found as useless. Chicago without Rose in my mind is no longer a Finals contender. And, also, it comes to my mind that maybe the Bulls need to consider a tank-job of a lifetime.  There's just too much that Rose does that can't be replaced, and Chicago has a massive decision to make. This will be a story we will hear again for sure. 

 

   Thank you to anyone and everyone who decided to take time out of your day to read my first and hopeless attempt at journalism. I assure you all, they're not all this bad and they will improve.

 

For now, so long, as this is William Fyfe, signing off.

 

   

 

   

 

  

A Look Back At Navy's 2012 Military Heritage Nike Uniform

This past Monday, Navy's football team revealed on Twitter the uniforms that they'll be wearing on December 14th when they take on Army - and they look pretty awesome.

Here is the @NavyAthletics unis for Army-Navy next month. @Uniformswag @UniWatch @BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/rr60fitG3m
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) November 25, 2013

Here is the helmet for the @NavyAthletics @Army_Navy_Game uniform for 12/14! @UniWatch @Uniformswag @BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/vPZd0bS7px
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) November 25, 2013

Here are the backs of the new uniforms for Army-Navy. #BeatArmy! @CBSSports @Nike pic.twitter.com/h9t8GaJAGf
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) November 25, 2013

In honor of those awesome looking uniforms I've decided to take a look back at the uniforms Navy wore against Army in last season's Army-Navy game.

As you can see in the photos above, Navy's 2012 uniforms look fairly similar to 2013's. Both look awesome. The one thing that I love about these uniforms is that it's not too flashy, but at the same time not too bland. It's a simple, "Hey, we're Navy. These are our uniforms.". Unlike anything the Oregon Ducks have suited up in, but that's a different story. The number design on Navy's uniforms look very classy as well. They're a perfect mix between flash and class. Same thing with the word "Navy" just below the waistline on the back side of the uniforms - a nice mix between flash and class. These uniforms are the definition of "swagger". Sorry Oregon.

The helmets of the 2012 uniforms fit perfectly with the rest of the nice looking threads. The navy blue/gold stripe going diagonally down the sides of the helmets are what brings these uniforms to life. It's a nice size and the placement on the helmet was spot on - not too big and right below that sick looking logo on the sides of the helmets. Speaking of that logo, it's one of the nicest logos that I've ever seen. I say that because it really lets people know what Navy stands for. It reminds people that the men and women serving in the Navy put their lives on the line day in and day out to protect this great country. The red/white chinstrap also serves as a reminder to what these brave men and women fight for each day. All in all, these uniforms from 2012 look awesome. The same can be said for this year's unis as well. They were both a job well done by Nike.


This was an article featured on Tru School Sports. Check them out!

Follow me on Twitter @antonjoe22! Also, check me out on Google+ (+Anton Joe)!

Insights: The Chaos Of College Football





As the only thing in the world where the word 'Chaos' is a good thing, College Football did not disappoint yesterday. And so, of course I am obliged to say some things about the nuttiness and near hilarity of it all.

Observation #1: Embarressment Returns To The Baylor Bears

Yesterday, in their astounding 49-17 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Baylor Bears looked quite bad. Actually, here is my collection of descriptions of how bad the Bears looked:

Absolutely Horrendous. Just Atrocious. An Abhorrence. An Embarrassment To Humanity. Cringe Worthy. etc.

Yes, folks, if you haven't noticed already, here is my point. I am MAD at Baylor. If they won this game, they would have been in line to play in the National Championship game, if Alabama loses to Auburn next week. They had played so well all season. It is just baffling that they decided to spontaneously combust yesterday. That was total annihilation.

I suppose you could blame that loss on the lack of star running backs Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin. But the defense had everybody, and for the most part, the reason Baylor lost was because their defense was simply atrocious. They let Clint Chelf and Tracy Moore just torch the field, ripping up turf as they ran. Baylor's defense looked uninterested at points, often let the OK-State game plan confuse them, and also couldn't make simple tackles. It was simply a debacle.

Full credit goes to the Cowboys, as the Gambling Gundys finally have their mojo back, as they look for a Fiesta Bowl bid in the near future.

Observation #2: Boston College Has A Solid Heisman Finalist On Their Team

Alright. Has anyone heard of Andre Williams? Well, if you haven't, you'd better rethink calling yourself a college football fan. Williams leads the FBS with not 1500, not 1800, but 2073 rushing yards, only the 16th time in FBS history that an RB has achieved over 2000 yards. And BC still has one more game, in which Williams can solidify himself as maybe even the Heisman favorite, against a terrible Syracuse team.

Think about this: Jameis Winston, of Florida State, is very likely not going to win the Heisman if he is charged in the possible Sexual Assault case, which you can find my thoughts about right here: http://benonallsports.blogspot.com/2013/11/thoughts-jameis-winston-case.html

Marcus Mariota, of Oregon, is still a very impressive quarterback, but with his embarrassing performances against Stanford and Arizona, he is pretty well out of the hunt for Heisman glory.

Johnny Manziel, of Texas A&M, is one of the most electric QBs in football, winning the Heisman last year. But Manziel has one obvious problem. His interception rate has really spiked since last year, and he is getting much more careless with the football. He isn't out of the Heisman race, but his candidacy took a significant step back yesterday against LSU.

Bryce Petty, of Baylor, as we have already discussed, had a horrible day yesterday with his Bears, and is out of the race.

The Heisman Race might very well come down to QB AJ McCarron, of Alabama, RB KaDeem Carey, of Arizona, DT Aaron Donald, of Pittsburgh, and Andre Williams.
Who should win it all? That is for you to decide. It's an open race now, and should be thrilling to watch.

Observation #3: The Magnificence Of Football In The State Of Arizona

In my final point, I think we need to reiterate how amazing Arizona and Arizona State's wins were yesterday.

First of all, the Wildcats. You must remember that Arizona was coming off a loss to Washington State. Yeah, Wazzu has had a nice little season, with a win over USC and a Bowl Berth, but come on. They are not a really, really good team. Oregon is. So Oregon should have won, 50-17 yesterday, right?

Wrong. Arizona decided to have a bipolar attack and won, 42-16. Wait, Oregon only put up 16 points? Yep. You see, Arizona is 7-4 now. 3 of those losses were within 7 points. So, if Arizona had made just a few more big plays in a couple more games, they would be 10-1 right now. Think about that. Arizona has a pretty darn good QB in BJ Denker, but the real star of this team is KaDeem Carey. Carey had an excellent season last year, but has really added some new dimensions to his game this year, and looks like potentially the top RB in the upcoming NFL draft. In the defense, the leaders would have to be linebacker Marquis Flowers and safety Tra'Mayne Bondurant. Flowers can really get to the QB, while Bondurant is near the top in the nation in interceptions. Also there is nose tackle Tevin Hood, who is a critical cog in the vanguard of the defense. So, in other words, there is a good amount of talent on this team. Love him or hate him (which I am not the biggest fan of him, as a West Virginia Mountaineer fan), Rich Rodriguez has done a sensational job with this team, and it looks like a Pac 12 contender for years to come.

And of course, there is that other team in Arizona.....

The Arizona State Sun Devils are going to the Pac 12 Title Game.

Quit your scoffing, it's the truth.

Journeyman Todd Graham has finally found the perfect landing spot, and he has got his team in the upper echelon of their league. For the first time, Arizona State has won the Pac 12 South. And you know, this team is just loaded with stars. An improving QB that has a truck full of potential in Taylor Kelly, and one of the most underrated running backs in the country in Marion Grice would be envied by any FBS and FCS team (Division II and Division III teams as well...). And then this stacked defense. DT Will Sutton and LB Carl Bradford are athletic freaks, and are game changers/NFL draft prospects. Safety Alden Darby and DT Jaxon Hood round out the Core Four.

Next week, Arizona takes on Arizona State for the Territorial Cup, and if ASU wins, they will HOST the Pac 12 Title Game. If Arizona wins, they might be able to end the season in the Top 25. I certainly will be watching these exciting programs.

And that is it for today, folks. Signing off, this was Ben Anderson.

Thoughts: The Jameis Winston Case

Before we delve into a few thoughts here, I don't exactly want to delve into all the facts in the investigation of Jameis Winston, as most all have heard all the evidence. If you haven't heard the big news today about the Florida State Seminole star, I refer you to this ESPN article: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10009077/dna-analysis-matches-jameis-winston-accuser

First Reaction:

I hope to goodness that these allegations are false. If they aren't true, and the woman presses charges, she is simply pressing charges just to get publicity. If the allegations are true, and Winston actually did assault the woman, he should be behind bars in the end. Either way, the case would certainly be a long, drawn out, highly publicized mess.

Second Reaction: If the lady involved in the case decides to press charges, Jameis Winston is all but eliminated from the Heisman vote. He absolutely will not get by with the voters with that kind of a cloud hanging over his shoulders. I wouldn't vote for him.

Third Reaction: Winston will be suspended, without a doubt, if the he is charged with the felony. FSU's athletic policy manual states, “In the event the student-athlete is charged with a felony, absent extraordinary circumstances as determined by the administration, he/she will not be permitted to represent FSU Athletics in game competition until such time as the charge is resolved and all court, university and athletics department conditions for reinstatement have been met.”

The only question that arises in my mind is what, "absent extraordinary circumstances as determined by the administration" means, but I don't believe this case will cause the FSU Athletic Department to take the unprecedented step of not suspending him. He will most likely be suspended immediately.

Fourth Reaction: If, as it seems like it will happen, Winston is suspended, will the 'Noles win their last few games? If they do win out, they will almost certainly be National Championship Game bound. But here is the thing. They would be starting their 3rd string quarterback, as their 2nd stringer has a season ending injury. That would cause some ginormous problems throughout all of Tallahassee. I wouldn't be able to see the Seminoles winning the Championship Game at all, let alone beating Duke or Virginia Tech for the ACC Championship.

Fifth And Final Reaction: Yes, it is still extremely early in the investigation. And this final point is only for it the allegations are true. You know, there is one thing that really irks my heart.

I have an odd feeling, that over the past few months, many parents in Northern Florida have heard one of their children say, "I want to be just like Jameis Winston when I grow up! He's so awesome!"

The allegations that have arisen the past week only go to prove one important life lesson.

Be Exceptionally Careful When Picking Your Idols And Heroes.

So many kids loved Aaron Hernandez. Adults and kids alike loved and respected Lance Armstrong. Joe Paterno was greatly endeared by everyone. Now, I am not lumping all of their wrong-doings in the same bucket. All were different. But all of these men were idols.

Ladies and gentlemen, in closure, I urge you all to greatly analyze who your heroes and idols are, and make absolutely certain that you are not giving too much love and support to them, as they could turn out to be frauds in the end.

If you have any disagreements, or comments, tell me right in the comment section right below this post! I'm Ben Anderson, signing off.

Are the Philadelphia Eagles Legit?

After four games, the Philadelphia Eagles were 1-3 and it looked as if this team was not going anywhere. The defense was giving up 25 points or more every game and although the offense proved effective at times, there were still many flaws in the system that Chip Kelly was trying to implement. Then came along the Philadelphia Eagles savior: Nick Foles. Finally an efficient quarterback who can read through his progressions, gets the ball out quickly, and gives his receivers a chance to catch the ball every throw. At first, many questioned whether or not Foles could run Chip Kelly's offense, since he is not known to run. Foles has proved in his starts this season that he can in fact run Kelly's offense, and will even tuck the football and run if he has to. The offense has been efficient, rarely turning the ball over, if they ever do, and the defense is starting to come together, as the Eagles defense has not given up more than 21 points since they faced Denver in week 4. Heading into their bye week at 6-5, a top the NFC East, are the Eagles actually legit, or has this just been a hot stretch that every team goes through?

Yes, the Philadelphia Eagles are legit. Are they good enough to win a Super Bowl? Not this year. But, are they good enough to make the playoffs this year and continue their success in future years? Yes. One of the reasons the Eagles have become legit, and will stay relevant for future years is their starting quarterback that has emerged: Nick Foles. People doubted whether or not Foles would be the future, and he has certainly proved those doubters wrong. He is able to run Chip Kelly's offense, and will have no problem running it for the years to come. Although there are quarterbacks in college such as Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariota, and Johnny Manziel who may end up being better than Foles, the Eagles will not be able to take any of those guys in the draft. Why? If Foles keeps winning, he puts the Eagles further back in the draft order to potentially drafting his replacement. There is nothing to hate about Nick Foles. He wins football games, and takes care of the football, as his only turnover is a fumble; and on that play he was clocked by a Packers defensive lineman who went unblocked.

Foles has yet to throw an interception in 162 passes this year,  he is first in the NFL in yards per pass attempt at 9.59 yards, has the highest passer rating in the NFL at 128.0, and is second in the NFL in total QBR at 78.2, right behind Peyton Manning. He also has 16 passing touchdowns and is five touchdowns away without an interception from breaking Peyton Manning's record of most touchdowns without an interception. Foles' 16 passing touchdowns in only five starts are more than Andrew Luck, RGIII, Tom Brady, Joe Flacco, Cam Newton, and Colin Kaepernick have had all season. But, Foles can't run, as the haters would say. He actually has two rushing touchdowns (more than Russell Wilson and RGIII), 123 rushing yards in 30 attempts (4.1 yards per attempt), and has picked up 10 first downs running. Of course, Foles is not a running quarterback, but he can run if he has to. Whether you want to accept it or not, Nick Foles can play.

The Eagles defense has not been given enough credit for the team's turn around. Every week I hear NFL analysts and so called "experts" say that the Eagles defense is atrocious. Do these people check the scores of the games, or do they base all of their opinions off of yards allowed? The Eagles defense has not given up more than 21 points in SEVEN GAMES. Week 4 was the last time a team scored more than 21 points against the Eagles, and that team was the Denver Broncos, who arguably have the best offense in the NFL. Chip Kelly has brought a new philosophy on the offensive side of the ball, and his defensive coordinator, Billy Davis, has brought a new philosophy to the defensive side of the ball. Davis's philosophy of football being "a points game, not a yardage game" struggled at the beginning of the year, but has started working now that the players have had more time in the system. His philosophy is accurate. It does not matter how many yards your opponent gets, as long as they do not score. Let them drive 70 yards down the field and end up with three points. I will take that every day of the week in the NFL.

The Eagles defense is ranked last in the NFL in total yards given up with 4597, 3301 of them being passing yards (ranks last in the NFL as well), and 1296 of them being rushing yards. Those are awful numbers, but the yards are not adding up to points for the Eagles' opponents. Teams are averaging 23.6 points per game against the Eagles, and if you were to only count the past seven games where the Eagles defense has not given up more than 21 points, teams would only be averaging 17.4 points per game, which would be FOURTH in the NFL. Either way, 23.6 points per game or 17.4 points per game, is sufficient when your offense is scoring 25.1 points per game, which the Eagles offense is.

Heading into the bye week, the Philadelphia Eagles should be feeling confident. Nick Foles, as running back LeSean McCoy would put it, is playing with a ton of swagger, and so is the rest of the Eagles team. Riley Cooper is proving all of the haters wrong, while DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy keep doing what they have been doing throughout their entire careers. I see the New York Giants being the Eagles only threat for the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys will choke, as they always do, making one of the hottest teams in the NFL, the Giants, the Eagles only true threat. I think that if the Eagles play as well as they have been after their bye week, the last game of the regular at Dallas may not mean anything, since the Eagles would already have the division wrapped up.

Do I see the Eagles winning the Super Bowl this year? Of course not, they still have some work to do talent wise. However, I do think that the Eagles have their future quarterback in Nick Foles that can be the centerpiece of the Eagles offense with dangerous weapons named DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy for the remainder of this season, and for years to come. Many people doubted whether or not Chip Kelly's system would work in the NFL and game-by-game, he is proving all of those doubters as the Philadelphia Eagles look like a bigger threat every week.

You can follow me on Twitter @AddHunsicker11 and please check out my website as well! (www.SportsTalkAllDay.com)

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Breaking Down the BCS

As the college football season comes down the homestretch, teams are starting to emerge as the favorites for a birth in the final BCS National Championship. In the BCS’s final season, we could be headed for one of the most dramatic years yet, where its computers may have to decide between 1-loss teams, or even undefeated teams.  Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, Baylor, Missouri, Auburn, and Ohio State are all still in the hunt. Let’s breakdown each team’s chances.

Favorites:

Alabama Crimson Tide 10-0  (7-0 SEC)-

           

For the Tide, their job is simple. Win out, go to the National Championship. Once they beat down on Chattanooga this weekend at Bryant-Denny Stadium, they will face two tough tests. The 6^th ranked Auburn Tigers host the Crimson Tide on November 30^th, in the annual Iron Bowl. The winner of this game is headed to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. If Alabama wins at Auburn, they will play either #8 Missouri or #11 South Carolina in the SEC Championship. If Alabama loses either of these games, it is highly unlikely they qualify for the title game.

Florida State Seminoles 10-0 (8-0 ACC)-

           

Florida State has the easiest path to the National Championship. Along with Alabama, if they win their next three games, they will be playing in Pasadena for the BCS Title Game. This week, the Seminoles should dominate 1-9 Idaho. After that, the Noles head to the swamp, where the Florida Gators await. Sure ,Florida has been absolutely awful, and decimated by injuries, but they are still playing for their pride against a long time rival. However, Florida State should pass this test. Next, the Seminoles will play in the ACC Championship vs an underrated Duke team. Duke is 25^th in the AP Polls, and is quietly 8-2 with wins over Miami and Virginia Tech. Florida State should not expect to waltz into the title, but they will be 2 touchdown or more favorites in every game until then.

Need Some Help:

Baylor Bears 9-0 (6-0 Big 12)-

Baylor is the team waiting on the BCS doorstep. If either Alabama or Florida State were to lose, and Baylor won out, then Baylor would get the ticket to Pasadena. The Bears lead the nation in scoring, averaging 61.2 PPG. They are also 7^th in points against, allowing only 17.4 PPG. Baylor is just slightly behind Ohio State in the BCS; however, if Baylor wins at Oklahoma State this weekend,  at TCU, and vs. Texas at the end of the year, they will pass Ohio State.

Ohio State Buckeyes 10-0 (6-0 Big 10)-

Ohio State is in a similar situation as Baylor. They must win out, and have 2 of the following lose: Baylor, Alabama, and Florida State. Ohio State has dominated a weak Big 10, and only has 1 quality win, over Wisconsin. They host an inconsistent Indiana this week, then head to the Big House next week to play at Michigan. After that, they will play in the Big 10 Championship game, against Michigan State (most likely). Ohio State also has to win that game. They have to prove to the voters that they dominated their opponents, to get more votes in the polls. As of now, they remain slightly ahead of Baylor in the BCS, but behind in the polls.

Need a Lot of Help:

Oregon Ducks: 9-1 (6-1 Pac 12)-

Did anyone think the Ducks still had a BCS chance after they were dominated by Stanford? No, Oregon has benefited from Stanford’s loss at USC. The Ducks now control their own destiny to the Pac !2 Championship, and Pasadena, for the Rose Bowl. In order to reach the BCS Championship, Oregon would have to defeat Arizona, Oregon State in the Civil War Rivalry Game, and win the Pac-12 Championship over either Arizona State, UCLA, or USC. If the Ducks win out, have three teams ahead of them lose, and manage to remain ahead of Missouri or Auburn, then the Ducks could be in the title.

The Missouri and Auburn Tigers: Auburn 10-1 (6-1 SEC) Missouri 9-1 (5-1 SEC)

These two teams are grouped together because they have the same path to the BCS title. Auburn plays their final regular season game hosting Alabama in 2 weeks. They have to win that game, and beat either Missouri or South Carolina. For Missouri, they have to beat Ole Miss and Texas A&M back to back, to clinch a spot in the SEC Championship game.  If Missouri won those games, and Auburn beats ‘Bama, then the two would square off in Atlanta for a chance at the BCS Title. There is a catch though: 2 of the following have to lose: Florida State, Ohio State, and Baylor. It is a long shot, but this is college football.

My Predictions:

BCS Title Game: Baylor vs Auburn

How this happens:

Baylor wins out. Auburn defeats both Alabama and Missouri. Ohio State loses to a solid Michigan State team in the Big 10 Championship.  Oregon is passed by Auburn, after back-to-back top 10 wins by Auburn. Finally, the craziest part. Florida State loses to either Duke or Florida. I do not know which, but I feel that Florida State will overlook them.

The next four weeks are going to be FUN. 

James Harden Must Improve On Defense

James Harden is one of the best two guards in the NBA, and his 2012-13 season made that fact quite clear. He’s one of the best players in the NBA with the ball in his hands, and can be a playmaker and knockdown shooter with the ability to finish on any given night. Unfortunately, his defense has been lackadaisical as of late.

In Thursday’s 99-98 loss to the the Lakers, Harden played poorly on the defensive side of the ball. This play is a great look at how bad his defense was:

Can you even call that defense? Steve Blake ran right pass him with a cut to the basket, and Harden didn't even notice or attempt to get back into the play. The Lakers won by 1 point & if Harden had played even average defense on this play, Houston might have won the game.

It’s not like James Harden can’t play defense, as he certainly has the body for it. He is a bulky 6’5 guard weighing in at a strong 220 pounds. You’d think Harden’s physical stature suggests he’s a good defensive player, right? Well, that’s not the case of course.

James Harden needs to pick up his slack soon or the Rockets will suffer. His teammates may become fed up with covering for him on defense & all that will do is cause more problems for the already abstracted Houston squad . I do believe that Harden will improve on the defensive end soon. He has weapons on offense in Dwight Howard & Chandler Parsons, so maybe they’ll step up on the offensive side of the ball & give Harden a chance to spend more energy on the defensive side of the ball. As a Rockets fan, I really hope Harden can pick it up soon. He has to play better on defense if the Rockets are serious about contending for an NBA championship.

This was a featured article I wrote for Hoops Heads. Go check them out! Also, add me on Google+ (+Anton Joe) & follow me on Twitter @antonjoe22!