Remus and Romulus

Thought I'd give Rob some exposure since his brother gets all the press. As you know, Rob has been confirmed as the new defensive coordinator in Dallas. He'll have to get to work right away repairing some glaring weaknesses in the secondary. What are the chances he could lure Nnamdi Asomugha, one of the top corners in the league, to Dallas? After all, he coached him for 4 years at Oakland, and Nnamdi recently said that he'd resign in Oakland if Ryan returned there. Or what about free agent Champ Bailey who will likely not be returning to Denver? Why let another team grab these guys?

Which would you rather be?

A shut-down corner that nobody throws to? e.g. Nnamdi Asomugha
Or, a very good corner who gets opportunities to pad their stats? e.g. Asante Samuel

Both players were drafted in 2003, Nnamdi in the 1st and Samuel in the 4th. Some key comparison stats then...

Games played:

Nnamdi 122
Asante 117

Career Interceptions:

Nnamdi 11

Asante 42

Interception Yards:

Nnamdi 69
Asante 564

Passes Defensed:

Nnamdi 62
Asante 132

Contract:

Nnamdi- 2/19/2009: Signed a three-year, $45.3 million deal (28.5 guaranteed)*
Asante- 2/29/2008: Signed a six-year, $57.14 million deal

Verdict: Padding stats sounds great, but I'd rather be feared by all QBs and WRs, while earning mucho dinero.


*[Note: This contract was recently voided due to Nnamdi not reaching performance incentives. But really, what do you want? The guy was only targeted 27x all year, allowing 13 completions. Yes, I said 'all year'].


Divisional Round Predictions: Find below my original predictions made Saturday mid-afternoon...with additional commentary in red...not bad...off in few places but overall pretty close. You be the judge:

Steelers/ Ravens:

- Rice has been sporadic
- Flacco should net 220-240yds and a touch
- Roethlisberger plays too good under pressure...will frustrate Suggs
-Mendenhall will move the chains and pound it in from the 1...
-Steelers ride the home-field advantage and win a close one

**Rice was sporadic...I gave Flacco too much credit for yds, but he did net a touch...Suggs did the frustrating most of the time...Mendenhall made 2 house calls...

Packers/Falcons:

- Rodgers will throw for 320-350yds and 2 - 3 touches
- Pack will stack the line and limit the Burner
- Matthews will try, but won't get to Ryan
- Falcons will max protect and look for opportunities underneath...could be Michael Jenkins' 15 mins of fame
- Falcons 20-2 at home with Ryan under center
- Will be 20-3 after today
- Pack will win the highest scoring game of the weekend

***Rodgers nets 366, 3 house calls, and a door knocker...Burner limited to 39yds...Clay proved me wrong and got 2 sacks...Jenkins gets his 2nd highest recpt total for a game all season...

Bears/Seahawks:

- Yes, the Seahawks won their earlier match-up
- Yes, they sacked Cutler way too many times
- and yes, they are smokin hot right now after a monster win over the Saints
- But the party ends now.
- The Seahawks D will show up, but I like the Bears D to dominate behind Pepper
- Bears advance and will host the Pack next week

***Seahawks D did not show up...and Bears dominated offensively as well

Patriots/Jets:

-Listen closely.
- Rex Ryan and the Jets are annoying.
- It doesn't sound like confidence to me..more like fear...a wounded animal with its back against the wall
- But aren't those the most dangerous?
- Don't expect a 45-3 repeat of their last contest...the Jets will be tough
- And despite his denials, Cromartie has ticked off Brady
- He won't shy away from trying to make Cromartie pay...and maybe Ryan knows it and has something up his sleeve
- Someone is going to make a lot of cash$$$ if the Jets win...but it won't be me.
- I don't have the balls to bet against Brady
- Patriots by 4

**The Jets fought like wounded animals...Ryan's pre-game psychological antics paid off...should've have followed my gut and made some cash...

Touch Football Update

The Bear Obsessions won their first game of the new winter season over the Gunners with solid play on both sides of the ball. Then took care of the young Orange Krush as the defense took over the game. Now 2-1, let's see if the Bears go deep this year.

Final Notes:

- Credit Pete Carroll for being proactive in trying to improve this Seahawks team. The acquisition of Charlie Whitehurst was not seen as a great move, but hey- he led the team to a crucial Week 17 win over the Rams to get into the playoffs. Traded away Deion Branch who was impactful for the Patriots over the 2nd round of the season- yet disappeared during the playoffs. Knowing Forsett wouldn't be a 20 touch per game RB, he trades for a bitter Marshawn Lynch with something to prove. Lynch has the biggest game of his life against the Saints. Questionable move to fire his OC Bates after a monster win over the Saints and a near come-back against the Bears but he made the decision citing philosophical differences. Adds Tom Cable to his staff coaching the O-line (word is white undershirts will now be banned from team facilities). You have to trust this guy knows what he's doing. Guess we'll see.

- Why is it news that Tony Romo is healthy and ready to play? Who cares? The Boys didn't even catch a sniff of the playoffs this year. Why am I even writing about this?

- Look for my Championship round predictions with the D&G Playsheet tomorrow morning.

The NFL would prefer if the Eagles advanced but it's no guarantee. The Packers will be ready. But can't you imagine an Eagles/ Falcons NFC Championship in Atlanta? WOW

1. Help me understand you Commissioner Goodell. You are the product of privileged upbringing as the son of a former United States Senator. You join the NFL as an administrative intern and for many years worked very closely with both Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue. Since your appointment to the top job, you've instituted a newer, stricter player conduct policy. You've presided over many judgements (Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, Big Ben, Donte Stallworth, and of course Michael Vick), each time putting your stamp on the 'sentence' and bringing the NFL to a new level of respectability. But help me understand you sir. Because I cannot explain what happened in the case of Brett Favre (or Sean Payton). It is so clearly a case of favouritism, it boggles the mind. Whereas previous judgements were swift and exacting, this was slow, onerous, and wrong. In one fell swoop you've lost a lot of the credibility you'd built up. You succeeded in protecting the NFL's current golden boy, effectively allowing him to ride off into the sunset with a mere slap on the wrist (a wink and a pat on the butt no doubt)- reputation intact. But you failed to be fair (and I don't buy the fact that you couldn't prove it). Let me ask you- if it were Terrell Owens accused of sending x-rated text messages and lewd photos of his ding-a-ling would you have been so kind?

2. You pretty much know you're a good coach if you can hold down a job for more than 3 years. Things are usually crazy the week after the season ends, but is it just me or are things a little bit weirder this time around?

- Marvin Lewis re-signs in Cincinnati: What? This is a clearly disfunctional relationship and Lewis couldn't stop his team from giving up mid-year. They don't plan on resigning their best receiver. Cedric Benson seems to have been a one season wonder. What can possibly change next year?

- Jason Garrett has earned the job in Dallas. But gosh, couldn't you have seen Jeff Fisher in this job? Jerry Jones was not able to pry him away from Tennessee after Bill Parcells departed (he asked for permission to discuss the job with Fisher and was flatly denied). *With the Titans announcing that VY will no longer be their QB, it would appear that they've chosen Fisher's side and will be retaining him as coach.

- The 49ers will be ready to announce a new head coach by Friday? Expect it to be Harbaugh. He'd get to stay on the West Coast and take over a team that has a lot of talent in a weak division.

- Rob Ryan is apparently a top candidate for the Carolina job. Now why wouldn't he be a top choice for Holmgren right there in Cleveland, now that he's fired Mangini? Hmmmm.

- Cowher was rumoured to land in Miami now (and not Carolina where he lives). But we know that won't be happening now with the Fins deciding to retain Sparano.

- I'm not that surprised Kubiak was retained in Houston. He produced a talented offence and is well liked by the players. All he needed was a really good defensive mind and he's got that in Wade Philips. Expect a tougher team next year if Koobs allowed Wade to install a 3-4.

- If both Singletary (LBs Coach) and McDaniels (OC) both land in Minnesota, expect the Vikings to be a QB away from challenging for the division once again, this time under Leslie Frazier. Both were not great Head Coaches, but are proven coordinators.

- Tom Cable gets fired? What?! He was only 6-0 in the division which for Al Davis is equivalent to winning the Super Bowl. What the hell?

New OT Rules

Anyone looking forward to the new OT rules as much as I am? I find this the most interesting part "...trying an onside kick to begin overtime, a foolhardy move under the old system, but more likely now. Why? Because the team attempting the kick has given the opposition a chance to possess when it kicks off. If the kicking team grabs the onside kick, then marches down and makes a field goal: Victory".

Playoff Predictions

- Colts over the Jets in a close game

- Ravens over the Chiefs. This game will be closer than people think.

- Eagles over the Packers. Yeah, I said it. Aaron Rodgers will throw for a bundle, but I think Reid will have the better game plan.

- Saints and Seahawks. The only foreseeable upset here will be some fan's upset stomach after eating 2 steaks, a rack of ribs, chicken, cookies, and washing it all down with a keg of beer. Saints in a rout. Even without a running game.

Touch Football Update

The winter indoor season is here and The Obsessions, started it off as they usually do- with a loss. Good team though...just some Christmas rust that needs shaking off. This team will make the finals.

Around the World

Homeless man in Columbus, Ohio has a voice that could save his life. Word is he's already fielding 1000 job offers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCqdKYjM2ak

'Going Green' gets out of hand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO_-gwiteFE&feature=player_embedded

Football Commercial Reel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8J0sK3UcPA&feature=fvsr