Posted by | Madison | in Season Previews

I know the refrain: the Seahawks were riddled with injuries in 2006, bore the cross of the Madden Curse, lost Jesus offensive tackle Steve Hutchinson to free agency, too busy watching The Karate Kid, and they still almost made it to the Super Bowl, so this year, with everybody healthy and an improved secondary, they will surely make it back to Super Bowl and cleanse the nasty taste of the “horrible officiating” that cost them the title two years ago.

I’m beginning to wonder if coffee and salmon have the same effects as hallucinogenics. 

To say nothing of their team age, Shawn Alexander being on the wrong side of 28, Matt Hasselbeck being bald, a tough out of conference schedule and a better NFC West, I just don’t know if the Seahawks have heart. 

Holmgren might be an offensive genius and the team may have the skills to execute his gameplan but with the combination of running out of the tunnel to “Bittersweet Symphony” in the 2005 Super Bowl (and furthermore, not learning their lesson and having it be their theme song) and the Madden Cover Curse of 2006, I’m sorry to say that the Seahawks’ Super Bowl window has slammed shut faster and harder than my legs when I hear “I’m a Raider fan” on a first date.   

But since this is the wild NFC West where anything can happen, who knows where they will finish.  They could be 8-8 and be in the last place or first place come January.   

Posted by | Alikat | in Season Previews

I’m still thinking to myself, “How in the hell did the Ravens lose to the Colts at home in last year’s playoffs?”  That one bothered me for a while because I was waiting for Big Bad Ray to put a hurtin’ on Peyton and the boys.  It didn’t happen that day for Steve McNair as he looked awful and old.  McNair and Lewis aren’t spring chickens anymore and I sense some urgency to this year’s team.

So the Ravens went out and got themselves a 26-year old RB in Willis McGahee from the Bills to replace the worn down Jamal Lewis.  I think this was a great move as McGahee’s style fits in better with the Ravens offense.  I expect a 1,000+ season from the former Hurricane. 

Now that he’s had a full year in the system and with father time beating down on him, I expect McNair to have a very solid year.  He’s not able to do the things he once was but who would be able after having trailer trucks run you over for eight years?  He’s smart, a great leader and the other Ravens feel confident with him behind center.

On the D-side of the ball, The Ravens still have Ray Lewis or “Alley Thug” as I like to call him.  Now seriously guys, would you or would you not want Mr. Lewis to come on a trip with you if it involved a “meeting” some place dark and secluded with money involved? 

I know my answer!

Posted by | Madison | in Season Previews

Five words: Worst Defense in the NFC West. And in a conference that boasts the third 49ers attempt at the 3-4, the Cardinals first year in the Niners’ ill-concieved 3-4/4-3 hybrid, and a Seahawks secondary that I could have completed a few passes against last year, that’s saying a lot.

But in the second year of the Scott Linehan offense, it may not matter a whole lot. The power running game featuring the hottest running back in the NFL Steven Jackson will be one of the league’s best and the Marc Bulger-Torry Holt connection will be as dangerous as ever. With the acquisitions of a dangerous third wide receiver in Drew Bennett and tight end Randy McMichael, there’s no question that they’ll be able to put up points.

I’m not saying this is going to the Greatest Show on Turf II but any team that can score and can’t stop anybody else from scoring is going to fun to watch (see Colts, Bengals, et al). I’m not the sports betting expert here at hotchickshotpicks.com but I’d say the over might be a good bet whenever these guys are in town.

Posted by | Madison | in Season Previews

Labor day just passed which means that kickoff is literally right around the corner and the annual “This is the Year that the Cardinals will become an NFL Powerhouse” chatter is at a fever pitch.  The present is so bright, Matt Leinart might revert to being cross-eyed!

On a tangent, am I the only girl who thinks that even when he is showered and cleaned up, he still looks kind of greasy and sweaty, and not in the sexy roll in the hay way but in the I used to be a smelly, greasy, sweaty, cross-eyed kid way?  And besides, I don’t want to have anything to do with someone whose dalliances with one jailbird heiress might have forced him to scrub tilex on his unmentionables.  It just doesn’t speak too highly of him. 

Anyway, while the other experts cite the many obvs - new coach with a Super Bowl ring, two great receivers, Adrian Wilson who can jump over you while you stand…

…a possible future hall of fame running back, and the aforementioned formerly cross-eyed QB looking to make vast improvements - and have made the Cardinals a trendy pick to win the NFC West, I’ll go contrary popular opinion and say that they will finish dead last. 

Something will go wrong.  Matt Leinart may become cross-eyed again.  Though Anquan Boldin used to play quarterback, his receiver skills may not fit in Coach (don’t call me the Whizinator) Whisenhunt’s new offense.  Russ Grimm may not be able to change “the culture of leakiness” in the offensive line.  Levi Brown may become Leonard Davis II, never playing up to his potential.

Besides, any team that wants to implement Mike Nolan’s signature hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense of the last two years is just asking for trouble.  The 49ers were ranked in the bottom of NFL defenses running that crazy ass defense. 

Now watch them go on to win the Super Bowl.  Either way, you heard it here first. 

Posted by | Madison | in Season Previews

What a team, huh?  They sent eleven players to the Pro Bowl last year.  Superstars on both sides of the ball - L.T. and Antonio Gates on offense and Jamal Williams and the steroid twins Luis Castillo and Shawne Merriman on defense - and a solid (and dreamy) quarterback in Phillip Rivers calling the shots on the field.  Many say this is the most talented team in the NFL and most say that the Bolts are a Super Bowl favorite.  Our beloved football commentator Kige Ramsey thinks they will win it all.

This is where I have to depart with Kige’s wisdom.  True, true, this team is too good to go 4-12  but Super Bowl may be just a little bit out of their league.  I blame A.J. Smith, the same man who built this star studded, all-pro roster but who last season made one bad, horrendous, personnel decision.

Norv Turner?

Are you serious, A.J.?  That was the best you could do?  I’m afraid your days of being general manager extraordinaire are over.  Shouldn’t it have been a red flag that the Jerry Jones PASSED on Turner to run the show in Dallas?

Marty Schottenheimer may have a terrible post season record, but he’s a man to lead men.  Norv Turner is kind of like the Ned Flanders of the NFL.  He just doesn’t inspire men to win.

He’s vanilla.  He’s worse than vanilla.  He’s just plain.  Turner’s like your favorite uncle who read you stories and knew what toys to get you for Christmas.  Would your uncle be a good football coach?  Didn’t think so.

Don’t get me wrong.  Norv’s a great offensive coordinator.  Look at the work he’s done with the Cowboys and the Niners.  But it takes a special man to go from great offensive coordinator to great head coach.  It’s a different skill set and most people don’t have both.  Sean Payton will be a better head coach than he was a coordinator.  Norv has proven, and will continue to prove, that he is a better coordinator than a coach.

And besides, A.J., who the hell is Rivers going to throw the ball to at wide receiver? Eric Parker?  Kassim Osgood?  I guess Vincent Parker is okay but AliKat and I are thinking about pulling a “Just One of the Guys” and walking on to training camp to become the starting Y and Z outs.

Posted by | Madison | in Season Previews

Despite missing the playoffs in a spirit-crushing overtime defeat to the Niners in their finale last season, I like the Broncos to win the AFC West.  This prediction does cause me some bit of consternation, for example, am I the only one who is dubious on the greatness of Jay Cutler?  I mean, I guess you can round him up to above-average but that’s about it.

I’m not saying that he won’t be great but it seems like everywhere I turn, I hear folks talking about how they saw God (or John Elway) in that 54 yard pass to Javon Walker.  Those comparisons may be apt but give the kid some time to grow into that role.

Instead, I’m pinning my prediction on the backs of Travis Henry, Mike Bell, a revitalized and revamped defense with a few new big boys in the box, some speedy linebackers, two top drawer corners to execute Jim Bates’ defense, and the fact that Norv Turner will really mess things up in San Diego.  Hell, someone has to win the division and it isn’t going to be The Raiders or The Chiefs.

Posted by | Madison | in Season Previews

We’ve been watching Hard Knocks, The Chiefs training camp reality show on HBO and while we do find some of it very compelling, we think there is even a TV show to for the Chiefs’ 2007 season - Growing Pains.

Show me that smile again. (Show me that smile)
Don’t waste another minute on your cryin’.
We’re nowhere near the end (nowhere near)
The best is ready to begin.

Oooohhh. As long as we got each other
We got the world spinnin right in our hands.
Baby you and me, we gotta be
The luckiest dreamers who never quit dreamin’.

As long as we keep on givin’
we can take anything that comes our way
Baby, rain or shine, all the time
We got each other, Sharin’ the laughter and love.

Here’s the season outline: Jason Seaver (Herm Edwards) wants to renovate the Seaver home.  In order to do this, he needs Mike Seaver (Brodie Coyle and Damon Huard) to grow up and be responsible and make good decisions.

Meanwhile, Maggie Seaver (Larry Johnson) wants their marriage vows renewed with a big, new diamond which would put their long term house renovation plans at risk.

As all of this unfolds, Carol Seaver (Tony Gonazales) draws double teams from the high school boys which further causes headaches for everybody and Ben Seaver (the rest of the team with under two years of NFL experience) causes all sorts of hijinks for everybody to sort out.

The producers (The Hunt Family and Carl Peterson) bring in Leonardo Di Caprio (Priest Holmes) near the end of the year to save the season but all they accomplish is jumping the shark.

Add a live studio (arena) audience and you have a recipe for laughs all season long.