Michael Sam Coming Out Is Seminal Moment For NFL

by Dugald Skene

The news of top defensive draft prospect Michael Sam coming out as gay just weeks before the NFL combine has dominated the headlines on the American sports networks.

Never before has a currently active NFL player come out, and yet Sam has chosen to do it before he has even entered the league.

Both current and former players have emerged in unanimous support of Sam and his decision to announce his sexuality, but much of the debate has been over the timing of the announcement.

The NFL released a statement on Monday in support of Sam, stating "We admire Michael Sam's honesty and courage. Michael is a football player.  Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014"

Michael Sam will enter the 2014 NFL Draft in May

Let's be clear, this shouldn't be news, but it is.  A man's sexuality shouldn't have a bearing on his draft prospects or the way he is treated within the sport, but the sad reality is that it may well do for Sam.  Sam's footballing skills and talent are undisputed and that should be all that counts. But for possibly the most macho sport in the world, image counts for a great deal.  Some franchises will not want to deal with him at all - they could do without the 'distraction' of one players sexual orientation from the business of football.  For others, it may be seen as an opportunity to raise the profile of the team and franchise.

Sam actually came out to his teammates in August and has played all season with his team knowing his sexual orientation.  No one broke the news because it didn't matter, and his decision to announce it to the wider world has been supported by the reaction from his Missouri State team and coaching staff.

Sam is predicted to go anywhere between the third and fifth rounds of the draft in early May, and the general consensus is that the decision to come out now provides more positives than negatives.

As a ground breaker, he will unfortunately spend an inordinate amount of his time discussing his sexuality over the day to day goings on in football, wherever he may end up. I wish him all the best for his future career.

NFL Conference Finals Are The Deserved Match Ups

by Dugald Skene

Never mind that the NFL conference final line ups are the ones we wanted to see, they are the match ups that all four teams deserve.

It's been many a year since the top 2 seeds from each conference have made it to their respective finals in the same year. Lately, there has always been an outsider, a wildcard team that has got hot in the post season.  Look no further than the Giants and the Ravens in the last two years as prime examples, both getting in through the back door to claim the Superbowl crown.

The divisional round didn't throw up any real surprises, and nothing like the exciting action of wildcard weekend (unless you're a fan of dominant defences slugging it out), but the cream has risen to the top, and the two match ups this weekend are generating many a headline.

The most obvious one is the difference in styles - the old versus the new, the young guns of the NFC taking on the stalwarts of the AFC.  The immediate advantage is that we will end up with a representative of each in the Superbowl and it doesn't really matter at this stage who progresses to the biggest stage - any combination of Seattle and the 49ers against the Broncos or Patriots is a mouth watering prospect.

With such even matched games, it's anyone's guess who will be in New York in February, but it won't stop me trying.

San Francisco at Seattle has everything - dominant defences, strong running games and two young quarterbacks that have the ability to carry their team when needed.

Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers has undoubtedly got the best arsenal at his disposal.  The triumphant return of Michael Crabtree at WR, together with veteran Anquan Boldin and TE Vernon Davis, means the 49ers have all their strongest options available to them.  The outstanding Seahawks secondary will have their hands full, but if there's any defence that can contain the 49ers wide men, it's the likes of Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and co.  Each had an outstanding game against the Saints this past weekend, confining Drew Brees to a career low 34 throwing yards in the first half of that game.  More of the same will be needed this time.

This will be the 3rd time the 49ers and Seahawks have

met this season

The Kaepernick/Wilson battle is generating a lot of intrigue.  There's no doubt that Kaepernick has go hotter as this postseason has gone on, not least because of the return to fitness of Crabtree, and Wilson's form during the last 5-6 weeks hasn't been great.  Wilson's options are also limited.  Percy Harvin is a doubt after being concussed at least once by the Saints (a great and legal hit too, by the way), and Golden Tate was a shell of himself after taking an early hit in the 1st quarter on Sunday.  Doug Baldwin isn't a first choice WR and so much of Seattle's game plan will be to run the ball through Marshawn Lynch - Beast Mode. 

I'm not convinced a one-dimensional running game is going to cut it against that front 7 of San Francisco who have been epic against the run of late.  Even with the 12th man behind them, Seattle could struggle in this one.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 6

If I'm truly honest about it, I don't care so much about the AFC conference game.  It's certainly one for the old timers, the fans of the pocket passer and the old school general type quarterback.  Both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have been here before - Manning going for his 3rd Superbowl appearance (and second win), Brady his 6th (and 4th win). 

Both men are under pressure for different reasons.  Talk in the NFL has been dominated by the idea of legacy and what it means for Manning to win or not win a second ring. There is no doubt he has been one of the best regular season QB's in the history of the game, but the regular season wins you nothing. His postseason record is poor  for a guy with his numbers.  Taking nothing away from his win with the Colts, with the Broncos he has the back up that might see him fulfil the undoubted potential of the last decade.  With WRs Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker and TE Julius Thomas, he has big men to throw at, as well as the small man with the big game aptitude, slot receiver Wes Welker.

This will be the 4th postseason game between Brady & Manning

 - Brady leads 2-1

Brady, on the other hand, hasn't won a Superbowl for 9 years, despite making it to the big one twice since the win in 2004.  A win this year could possible cement him as the best ever - the third quarterback to win 4 rings but easily the most consistent over the longest period.  This will be the Patriots' 3rd consecutive AFC conference game, and Brady and coach Belichik have won 11 divisional titles together

I see the Patriots going to Denver and playing hard ball.  If this past weekend has shown us anything, it's that the Patriots can evolve quickly, and lately their running game has come to the fore with LeGarette Blount - 8 TD's and almost 400 yards in his past 3 games. 

For Denver to win this, they need to get off to a strong start.  The longer the game goes on and Denver find themselves in a position where they need to make big offensive plays to win, the pressure might get just too much, and the Mile High crowd might not help their team as much as we might think.  When it comes to the clutch, I'd rather have Brady than Manning on my side.  That said, if the Broncos defence plays like they did for 3 quarters against the Chargers on Sunday, they're in with a very good start.

Pick:  Denver Broncos by 3

Steelers Release James Harrison

by Dugald Skene

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released linebacker James Harrison. Harrison completed the 2nd highest franchise sack total with 64. A great achievement, but really just a sideshow to one of the best Superbowl moments in NFL history - his 100 yard interception return against the Arizona Cardinals.

Watch this, it's stunning.

3 Key Battles In Super Bowl XLVII

by Dugald Skene

The 'Brother Bowl'. The 'Har-Bowl'. However the 47th edition of the NFL season finale is to be coined, the outcome is far more of an unknown.

The 49ers have the perfect 5-0 Super Bowl record. They haven't been there for 18 years, and they will be desperate to complete their self proclaimed 'Quest for Six'.

That said, the Ravens have the momentum, beating bitter AFC rivals the Broncos and the Patriots on the road on their way to New Orleans.

This one will be close, but for me the game will come down to 3 distinct aspects.

1. Joe Flacco vs The 49er Secondary

Ravens quarterback Flacco has thrown 8 touchdowns with no interceptions in this postseason. He only needs one more TD pass to equal four time Super Bowl winner Joe Montana's NFL record of 9-0 in a postseason run.

Flacco has more than his fair share of detractors, all of whom claim he cannot be considered an 'elite' QB. The fact is this overhauled Ravens offense, run by coordinator Jim Caldwell, plays to Flacco's strengths. One of those big weapons is the cannon in his right arm.

Flacco has demonstrated with lethal effectiveness the deep ball, exposing the secondaries of each of their conquered opponents. To pull off the deep pass, he needs the guys to pass to and in wide receivers Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones he has willing runners.

The 49er safeties Trenton Robinson, Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner will have their work cut out to avoid joining the likes of the Broncos' Champ Bailey on the roster of embarrassed defensive secondaries.

2. Ray Rice vs the 49ers Linebackers

In Ray Rice, the Ravens have a wise head on still very strong legs, playing as well as he ever has in his career. With the available combinations for Flacco between the wide receivers, Anquan Boldin through the middle and Rice in the back field, the 49ers defensive line and linebackers will have to be on the ball to stop the running back making significant yards.

The revered San Francisco defence allowed only around 15 points per game up until week 14. From week 15 and through the playoffs, that has shot up to 28.8 yards. Above all, they have struggled to stop the run and OC Jim Caldwell and Ray Rice will see that weakness and look to expose it. Expect a strong running game from both sides, but Sunday night might be very special for Rice.

3. Colin Kaepernick vs the Ravens Defence

Not a lot more can be said about this Ravens defence. The return of talisman, inspiration and all round tackle machine Ray Lewis has transformed the fortunes of the Ravens through the postseason following very indifferent form after week 9.

But it isn't just one man. Terrell Suggs has improved his fitness since his return and is resembling the sort of form that saw him claim the defensive player of the year award in 2011. Other linebackers Paul Kruger and Courteney Upshaw have shone as the season has gone on, as well as Ray Lewis' protoge Dannell Ellerbe. Oh yeah, and if the 49ers get round them, they need to watch out for veteran safety Ed Reed. It is one formidable unit.

But the 49ers have an offense that the Ravens haven't yet come across this season, and it all revolves around sensational young quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Much was made about the replacement of starting QB Alex Smith with Kaepernick, but Jum Harbaugh's decision has been vindicated as his young number 7 has guided his team to the Super Bowl.

Kaepernick has it all, and can adjust to what is in front of him. Against Green Bay, he rushed for an all time NFL record of 181 yards, exposing the Packers deficiencies in defence and inability to stop the run. But against Atlanta in the NFC championship game, he ran very little and used his incredibly accurate arm to dissect the Falcons defence.

I expect he will run more against the Ravens, but not necessarily out of choice but necessity as the Ravens defence will put big pressure on the 49ers offensive line. Combined with RB Frank Gore, San Fran could rack up a lot of rushing yards, looking to stretch the likes of ageing top tackler Ray Lewis to tire him out as the game goes on.


Whatever happens in Super Bowl XLVII, it's sure to be a close fought and brutal fight. Both teams have defences that rank near the very top in the last decade or so, and whichever one gets on top in the game, particularly with turnovers, will likely claim the Lombardi Trophy

NFL Franchise In UK Closer Than Ever

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has intimated stronger than ever that the opportunity for the creation of an NFL franchise based in the UK is as possible as it ever has been.

Speaking at his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference in New Orleans on Wednesday, Goodell was reacting to the positive news that both games set to be played at Wembley in 2013 have sold out, more than 9 months in advance.

"I think the message is very clear. We've got passionate fans that love the NFL in the UK," said Goodell.



2013 is the first year that 2 regular season games will be hosted at Wembley, representing home fixtures for the Minnesota Vikings and the Jackson Jaguars, the latter having committed to playing a game at Wembley in each season up to 2016.

The response to having two games could not have been more positive in the UK, with general admission tickets selling out within a week. The message to Goodell seems clear.

"We're always asking what is the next step after two games," he continued. "Do we move to three, do we try something else? How do we continue to celebrate the growth of the game in the UK? But I think from the positive reaction from the fans, that our ownership understands that this is a market in which we need to be more active."

Goodell's comments are the latest from a number of high profile and powerful players in the NFL. Last summer, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft also seemed very positive about opening up America's game beyond it's own borders.

It is generally accepted in the UK that the core fan base may have to expand to justify a sustainable franchise on this side of the pond. The NFL UK currently has over one third of a million registered members, and growing. The magic one million would most likely represent a more realistic number to represent the kind of interest to warrant a UK franchise.

It may be a few years yet before anything like this happens. In the meantime, UK and European fans have to keep expressing a demand to have fixtures over here to keep sending a strong message to that States that the option is a viable one. It seems that that message is starting to get through to those who can make the difference

Patriots Issue Texans With Reality Check

by Dugald Skene

Last year, the Houston Texans reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. This year, they have kicked on from that breakthrough to establish themselves as serious AFC title contenders.

The general consensus is that their run to a 11-1 record prior to this past weekend has been built on a combination of strong offence and defence, a relative rarity in the league. Consistently ranked in the top 5, if not top 3 teams in both areas in the league, Houston have seen themselves top the power rankings more than any other team this season.

The one blotch on their record came at home to a Green Bay Packers side that was coming off a run of indifferent results and languishing 3rd in the NFC North. An imperious display by QB Aaron Rodgers condemned the Texans to their only loss of 2012. The immediate reaction then was that the Texans would only face that sort of test against the top teams in the perceived stronger NFC - the Packers, Bears, 49ers et al. Given their form and their ability to dig out results in overtime as well as blow the occasional team out, the AFC title was surely only a formality, right?

Nobody told the New England Patriots.

After a shaky start in 2012, the Patriots have started to grow into the sort of perennial form that has seen them reach 5 Superbowls in the last decade or so. Under coach Bill Bellichik and led by QB Tom Brady, they are the epitomy of hardened playoff performers, and know exactly what it takes to get there, and then see it through. A trip to Foxboro to take on the Patriots is as stern a test as most will get in the NFL, and the Texans will have eyed the Monday Night Football clash as the true test to whether their aspirations of AFC glory are founded on solid ground or up in the clouds.

I'm not sure anyone expected this to be a blowout, but that's what it turned in to with Brady completing 21/35 for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns to help the Pats record a convincing 42-14 victory.

Tom Brady is fired up during last night's

demolition of the Texans

This was a reality check for the Texans. I still fully expect them to progress from last year in the playoffs and reach the AFC championship game where they are sure to meet the Patriots again. But if this dress rehearsal is anything to go by, they still have a lot of work to do.

Losses against Green Bay and now New England show that they struggle against the experienced quarterback. Both Brady & Rodgers are certain hall of famers, two of the best the league has ever seen with 4 Superbowl rings between them, but they are exactly the sort of opponent the Houston Texans will have to overcome in order to achieve their ultimate ambition.

This is a young and exciting team and one I hope to see go all the way, but for me, this year may be a little premature.

As for the Patriots, it will be hard to bet against them in the playoffs as Brady seeks that elusive 4th Superbowl ring.  Just like all the best teams, their form is starting to peak at the right time.  Some would argue that they want the Patriots to be beaten, just to give someone else in the AFC a go.  But you have to hand it to them. The longevity and sustained success of this team, which has had it's core kept intact for 10 years now, makes them one of the all time greats, up there with the  Joe Montana led 49ers team of the late 80's in my opinion.

So if that was a rehearsal for the AFC Championship game, week 15 sees the Patriots host the San Francisco 49ers in what many will predict as being the Superbowl match up in less than 2 months time.  If the Patriots come through that with a win, they will be favourites to go all the way.

What Next For The Ravens Defence?

by Dugald Skene

It has been a noticeable season already in the NFL for the number of high profile injuries, and it seems that the Baltimore Ravens defence has suffered more than it's fair share in recent months, dating back to when Terrell Suggs (last season's NFL Defensive Player of the Year) tore his Achilles.

More recently, it's the ageing but infinitely talismanic linebacker Ray Lewis (torn tricep) and starting cornerback Lardarius Webb (torn ACL) have been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

For Lewis, at 37 years old and in his 17th season in the NFL, his on field ability isn't quite what it was and as such, the Ravens will be able to replace him relatively easily. However, it's his unrivalled experience, leadership and influence on his whole team that will be most missed.  In his absence, the Ravens defence will be looking for a new leader, with big shoes to fill.

The obvious candidate is Ed Reed, veteran safety who has also excelled in the twilight of his career, much like Lewis.  But to add insult to the literal injury, it was announced yesterday that Reed has sustained a shoulder injury that should see him out.  The twist is that the Ravens have failed to place him on the injury roster, which if injured, is against NFL rules.

Cornerback Lardarius Webb has been ruled out for the season

The replacement of Webb is an altogether harder prospect.  One of the outstanding players in any position in the NFL, particularly playing in a nickel defence. The cornerback's aggression and tackling will be hugely missed by the Ravens in their defensive lineup which has bucked the trend in the NFL which has seen teams successfully expose the nickel defence.

Corner Jimmy Smith is the obvious like-for-like replacement for Webb though his effectiveness in the nickel defence is far less than that of the starter.

So what does this all mean for the Ravens?

There are two things.  Firstly, head coach John Harbaugh has to resist rushing any injured players back before their time.  Terrell Suggs returned to practice yesterday after being taken off the 'physically unable to perform' list, and although unlikely to be playing for another few weeks yet, there has to be caution coming back from such a serious injury.  For such an explosive game, where big men move very fast for short periods of time, a tear to the Achilles tendon is not something you want to rush back from.

The Ravens have also sprinkled seeds of hope over Lewis' injury this week, placing him on the injured reserve list and tagging him 'designated to return'.  Whether or not he will be in a position to come back during the course of this season is yet to be seen, but all realisitc signs indicate bad news.  In the meantime, the Ravens need to rest Ed Reed or risk having another of their key defensive players out for the season.

Let's not forget, the Ravens are sitting atop the AFC East with a 5-1 record and although games can never be sacrificed, players can and they shouldn't be risked for short term benefits.

The second thing for the Ravens is that the offence needs to step up.  Quarterback Joe Flacco has probably had his best start to an NFL season in his career, but will have to carry on that momentum and the burden of the franchise a little more in the absence of fellow captains and players.  The key to that is establishing early leads in games, giving an underpowered defence the chance to defend a lead, far easier than preventing a game get away from them.

The Ravens are ranked 7th for first half score differential, but most of that advantage has come in the second quarter and they are average at best at putting points on the board in the first quarter. This is what needs to change and the likes of Flacco, running back Ray Rice and outstanding wide receiver Torey Smith will be the key men tasked with achieving that goal.

The season is far from over for the Ravens, but it has got a little harder.  It'll be interesting to see in the coming weeks how a patched up defence and a far more relied upon offence cope with the injuries.

Packers Back In Business

by Dugald Skene

Green Bay Packers   42-24   Houston Texans

It's taken 6 weeks of the 2012 NFL season, but the Green Bay Packers finally seem to have found the kind of form that took them to a 15-1 record last season. In what was a must win game, the odds were stacked against them as they travelled to Houston to take on a Texans side unbeaten all season and owners of a prolific offence and devastating defence.

In the past 9 games with quarterback Matt Schaub starting fit, the Texans have won by an average of 20 points. On the flip side, the Packers have one of the poorer defences in the league, ranked 31st out of 32 teams last year.  Their success last term was predicated on the idea that how ever much the opposition would score, the Packers would just score more.

That sort of offensive form has not been on show this season, and most predicted the Packers slipping to a 2-4 record.  But Green Bay, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, had other ideas.

By the end of the contest, Green Bay had amassed 42 points against one of the toughest defences around, and in their own back yard. Rodgers threw for a Packers record equalling 6 touchdowns (matching Matt Flynn's effort at the tail end of last season in a game Rodgers sat out in the run up to the playoffs), notching up 330 yards with no interceptions in the process.

Aaron Rodgers led the offensive rout on the Texans

Despite all 6 TD's coming from passes, the Packers did not disown their running game, with tailback Alex Green carrying 22 times. Like in previous weeks, the emergence of a running game in the Packers offensive arsenal has provided the added dimension that has allowed Rodgers to exploit defences more with the pass.

The Packers dominated this game and led from the front. The Texans got 3 TD's of their own. their defence had limited success but linebacker JJ Watt did have another fine outing, notching up two sacks on Rodgers.  Quarterback Matt Schaub was less on form, particularly after being picked off twice.

The Packers now go to 3-3 and back to a .500 record.  They will certainly see this as a major turning point in their season and will look to extend this win into a series over the coming weeks.  The Texans, on the other hand, will not be dwelling too much on last night's defeat. They are still going to be one of the toughest teams alone will face and I still see them making it to the AFC Championship game come January. Their defeat leaves the Atlanta Falcons as the only undefeated team in the NFL, but they will be back. Nobody will want to be at the receiving end of their backlash.

NFL Week 4: Things That Caught The Eye

by Dugald Skene

By any previous season's standards, the 2012 NFL year has got off to a sensational start and has seen many preseason favourites got off to varying degrees of success and a few of the unfancied sides claim some impressive scalps.

Week 4 has seen the return of the regular NFL officials, and not before time.  Despite some fantastic games, the replacement officials came up short too many times culminating in the terrible decision to award a game winning touchdown to Seattle over the Packers last Monday night.  The NFL saw this as the catalyst to resolve the issues and so we now we are back to normal.

Week 4, like all previous weeks so far, has thrown up some interesting results, but here are a few things that caught my eye over the weekend.

Drew Brees Breaks An 'Unbeatable' Record

The 0-3 New Orleans Saints travelled to Wisconsin to take on Green Bay on Sunday in an effort to stop the rot and prevent them going 0-4.  The Packers themselves were under pressure having lost (controversially or not) 2 of their first 3 games, 2 of them at home.  It may only be Week 4, but this was a must win game for both.

Drew Brees throws himself into the record books

As predicted, the first half was a bit of a shootout between two of the leagues greatest quarterbacks, the Packers' Aaron Rodgers and the Saints' Drew Brees.  And despite the Saints ultimately losing in a tight contest 27-28 after missing a last minute field goal on the third attempt, it was Brees that came away having broken Johnny Unitas' long standing record of throwing a touchdown pass in 46 consecutive games. His pass to Colson in the first quarter was number 47, and adds another remarkable accolade to his already lengthy list.  His team may be struggling without their head coach, but Brees keeps on proving his class.

The Rams Prove Their Home Worth

After clinching their second win of the season last week against the Packers in debatable circumstances, the Seattle Seahawks travelled to St Louis to kick on. But new head coach Jeff Fisher has got his fairly fresh Rams side competing well and home form clearly seems to be a priority for them. 

After beating the Washington Redskins in Week 2 in a high scoring contest, the Rams were at it again, this time using a little nouse to out-fox a stubborn Seahawks defence with a clever dummy play from a field goal set up to throw to a wide open Danny Amendola in the end zone.  The touchdown proved the difference as the rams ran out 13-19 winners.  No one will fancy going to St Louis this season.

Texans Continue To Show How It's Done In The AFC

Coming into Week 4, the Houston Texans were the only NFL team to rank in the top 10 on total defence and total offence.  On paper, they are the best team in the league.  Backing that up by being the only AFC team witha 3-0 record, the Texans entertaineda Tennessee Titans side buoyant from their high scoring win over the Detroit Lions in Week 3.

The Titans were brought down to earth, with a thump.  This was literally the case for starting QB Jake Locker who fell awkwardly after being hit, damaging his left shoulder and leaving the game after the first quarter.  Experienced stand in Matt Hasselbeck is far from the worst replacement quarterback in the league, but his lack of match time was clear against such an aggressive Texans defence. 

Texans linebacker JJ Watt was outstanding once again

JJ Watt was once again outstanding and for me, is the best linebacker in the league at the moment.  On the other side of the ball, Arian Foster had another solid rushing performance and Andre Johnson was superb again at wide receiver.  The Texans ran out 14-38 winners to go 4-0 in the league, a record for the young franchise.

Eagles Show Their Potential

The late kick off on Sunday night saw the Eagles welcome divisional rivals the New York Giants to Philadelphia.  With both teams on a 2-1 record coming into this, a win would be crucial for either with playoff aspirations in this incredibly tight division.

It was the Eagles that grabbed the initiative with accident prone QB Michael Vick having his best game of the season so far.  His offensive line protected him better than previous weeks, not something too hard to achieve given the number of times Vick has been hit so far, 78 times in 3 games.  Despite a late rally from Eli Manning and the Giants in the fourth quarter, the Eagles held out to record an impressive 17-19 victory.  The Eagles now go to 3-1, the Giants to 2-2.  With the Redskins winning to go 2-2 and the Cowboys looking to go 2-2 on Monday night, the NFC East is looking every bit as tight as we hoped preseason.

The Cardinals & Falcons Keep On Winning

Both NFC teams the Cardinals and the Falcons waon last night in games that saw both almost lose out on going to 4-0 for the start of the season.  For Atlanta, it was an up and down performance against the up and down team of the league, divisional rivals the Carolina Panthers.  The 28-30 win sees them go to 4-0 for the first time since 2004.

In Arizona, it was a Miami team that is making a habit of making a pest of themselves that drove the Cardinals to overtime but only after Arizona QB Kevin Kolb mustered up two touchdown strikes in the fourth quarter.  It was Jay Feely who slotted the 47 yard field goal in ovretime after Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill was picked off in overtime by Kerry Rhodes.  Despite a very average 3 and a bit quarters from Kolb, the Cardinals have mastered a way to get the job done.  That's now 11 wins from the last 13 games.

Cedric Benson Provides Packers A Much Needed Running Option

The Packers are a passing team, that much we know, and with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, who would blame them?  But the effectiveness of the Packers offence became all the more potent as Cedric Benson produced his best performance of the season to provide a rushing option that has been so lacking for a slightly one dimensional Packers offence.  His running with and without the ball meant the Saints defence was exposed at times and allowed Rodgers and co to capitalise.  A fine performance that head coach Mike McCarthy will be looking to see improve in coming games.

Despite only 84 yards from 18 attempts, Benson provided the impetus

for the Packers 27-28 victory over the Saints

NFL Needs Officials Back Before Someone Gets Hurt

by Dugald Skene

It has been an outstanding start to the 2012 NFL season, with the first 48 fixtures throwing up more than its fair share of thrills and spills.

But the season so far has been dominated not by the plays or the touchdowns, but the officiating of the games.  The NFL is still in a lockout with the regular NFL standard officials and there doesn't seem to be any sign of the dispute being resolved until at least Week 5.

In the meantime, games are suffering for poor and lengthy decision making.  The first half of the Denver Broncos at Atlants Falcons game last Monday for example took a full 2 hours, around 45 minutes longer than usual due to the prolonged periods of review, and the sheer number of reviews required by the more inexperienced officials.

The effects of lengthy games are more tedious than any. It's the calls that are made that are wrong that are causing the real problems.  Things seemed to come to a head last night as the final play of the Packers at Seattle game came down to a 60 yard 'Hail Mary' pass from Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, lofted into the end zone in a 'hit and hope' effort.  The ball came down and appeared to be caught by defensive Packer MD Jennings, with Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate appearing to miss out as his hand came down on the ball, but not in control of it.

NFL's replacement officials have been dropping the ball in

more ways than one



The two officials on the scene gave conflicting signals, one indicating a Seahawks touchdown, one an interception. After a lengthy review and multiple replays, the score stood, and the Seahawks took the game 12-14 and relegated the Green Bay Packers to a second loss of the season.

This is probably the highest profile bad decision made so at, but there will be others.  And it seems the players are catching on to the opportunity to take liberties and play on the replacement officials inexperience at this elite level.  We've seen bad tackles and hits that have beggered belief, most notably the shocking and illegal hit on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub by Broncos linebacker Joe Mays, who has since been fined $50,000 and suspended for only one game by the NFL, small change in reality.

With such a focus on player safety, it's contradictory that the league refuses to ban players for longer rather than fine them for committing potentially career ending tackles. Luckily, Matt Schaub got away with a cut ear and somehow only missed out on one play.

These high profile and dangerous tackles are one thing, but petulance also seems to be setting in, with lots of small scraps and fracases happening around the field with the knowledge the officials don't have the authority they are necessarily used to having to cut them out on the field of play.  Players are taking advantage of the replacement officials, and whether it be dangerous tackles, petty scraps or just bad decision making, it is harming the game and the precious reputation of the sport.

While they may be discipline players for dangerous plays, the NFL has come out and backed the decisions made by the replacement officials, but of course they would.  They can't be seen to be standing opposed to the men tasked with holding the fort while they are still at loggerheads with the people that are supposed to be on the field.

The sooner the usual officials are back, the better it will be for everyone; players, coaches and fans alike.

RGIII Impresses In The Battle Of The Rookies

by Dugald Skene

Opening weekend is always tough for rookies, not least the quarterbacks upon whom their respective franchises have gambled so much.

This is absolutely the case for this years first two draft picks, Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck and the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III. Two contrasting styles, it was always going to be interesting to see who would settle the quickest.

Conventional wisdom suggested that it would be Luck who was the more poised and accomplished QB coming into the NFL. Playing for a Colts team doing their best to forget the tribulations of last season, a trip to playoff contenders Chicago Bears at Soldier Field would provide the sternest of tests for Luck. And so it proved, as both teams struggled to get their offences clicking in the game. That aside, Luck grew into the game, throwing 23 of 45 for 309 yards, despite being picked off three times.  His more experienced Bears counterpart, Jay Cutler, threw for 333 yards on his return to NFL action after crashing out with injury halfway through last season. The final score of 41-21 to the Bears fairly reflected the performances of the individuals, but Luck showed clear talent and isn't the sort to get down after a single loss.  I see him leading the Colts to 7 wins this year, a distinct improvement on the 2 last year.

Robert Griffin III celebrates his first NFL touchdown pass

There were contrasting fortunes for Washington's RG3 as the Redskins travelled to the Superdome to take on perennial favourites New Orleans Saints. A far more athletic and faster quarterback in the mould of the Eagles' Michael Vick, Griffin showed that he is more than a fast runner, throwing to Pierre Garçon in the 1st quarter for a massive 88 yard touchdown, the longest for the franchise since 1988. His strong start was emphasised by his completion of his first 8 passes, finally finishing 19 of 26 for a total of 320 yards. He also rushed for 42 yards and finished with a final QB rating of 139.9.

There will be debate over whether the Skins winning in New Orleans was down to RG3's performance as much as the lack of head coach Sean Payton steering the Saints ship. Redskins fans will be happy though. A winning start, on the road against a strong Saints side who haven't lost at home since December 2010 represents a great statement of intent. With the Giants losing at home and the Eagles struggling against the poor Cleveland Browns, the Redskins will be looking at their division and eyeing up a playoff spot. There is still a lot to do, but winning is a habit and Washington have got it early.

Jets & 49ers Impress In Opening NFL Weekend

by Dugald Skene

It was a strong weekend for the AFC over the weekend, with conference favourites the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans starting strongly as expected, and the Atlanta Falcons racking up 40 points at Arrowhead Stadium.

But perhaps the most surprising and impressive win of the weekend went to the New York Jets, who powered past the hapless Buffalo Bills 48-28. Much of the preseason chat was about which of his two quarterbacks head coach Rex Ryan would plump for - franchise QB and last years starter Mark Sanchez or the newly arrived headline maker from the Broncos Tim Tebow?

Mark Sanchez calls the shots for Jets against Buffalo

It seemed we wouldn't be finding out as both quarterbacks took to the field, with Tebow lining up as a slot receiver.  But it was Sanchez who called the shots, getting the offence up and running from the off, finishing 19 of 27 for 266 yards. Tebow's contribution from the pivot role amounted to 11 rushing yards from 5 carries and didn't throw a pass.  It looked like the Jets contrasting stars may well work in the same team after all.

For all the positives in offence, it's the defence that suffered, allowing 195 rushing yards, 169 of which were racked up by the impressive CJ Spiller. His 56 yard TD was down to poor tackling as it was strong running. There is still a lot to work on for the Jets, but they'll get a lot of confidence from scoring their highest first week total in franchise history.

The NFC performance of the weekend came from the defensively dominant San Francisco 49ers.  Lambeau Field is no easy venue to win at, not least against a heavily backed Green Bay Packers team led by Aaron Rodgers. But even the Packers number 12 struggled at times to overcome the ferocious 49ers defensive line.

We've come to expect a strong defence from the west coasters, and so it was a pleasant surprise to see them equalling their effort on offence. With the additions of Mario Manningham from the Giants and the veteran receiver Randy Moss over the off season, quarterback Alex Smith now has a more balanced array of attacking weapons at his disposal.  No doubt boosted by his late season and playoff form last year when the 49ers were unlucky not to make it to Superbowl XLVI, Smith has continued where he left off.  Completing 20 of 26 for 211 yards, Smith connected with Moss and Vernon Davis. Aaron Rodgers' stats may have been stronger, throwing for 303 yards, but the Packers didn't have the running to compete with the 49ers. RB Frank Gore ran for 112 yards against the Packers defence, including a 23 yard TD.

Aaron Rodgers gets sacked in the first quarter by the 49ers defence

The Packers will be back, and despite losing the same number of games already this season as they did the whole of the last regular season, they will definitely be in the mix come the playoffs.  A rematch against Rodgers childhood team the 49ers is still very much on the cards for the NFC championship.

NFL 2012 Preview

by Dugald Skene

It may be one of the shortest sports seasons around, but what the NFL lacks in longevity, it more than makes up for in competitiveness.

And so here we are again, on the cusp of another 5 month whirlwind that sees the New York Giants stepping out against the Dallas Cowboys tonight to defend their Superbowl champion status.



Eli Manning and the New York Giants Superbowl XLVI

But who will win their divisions, conferences and the big one, the Superbowl?

Saints Agree Record Breaking Deal With Brees

by Dugald Skene

Yet another sign of the burgeoning financial might of the NFL came to light last Friday as it was revealed by the New Orleans Saints they have finally met starting quarterback Drew Brees' wage demands, settling on a five year deal worth an average of $20 million a year.

This new deal represents the highest average wage payments to any player in the history of the game, beating the Indianapolis Colts who paid former star quarterback Peyton Manning an average $19 million a year.

Drew Brees has signed a record deal with the New Orleans Saints

The Saints have likely had to reorganise their finances to accommodate Brees' new wage agreement in order to keep to the $120.6 million salary cap. It means that one player will command 1/6 of the total available funds available for team wages. Of the $100 million, 5 year deal, $60 million is guaranteed, with $40 million of that due to Brees in the first year of the contract. This is an unprecedented payment to any player, and has shocked many in the game. The reason the Saints can do this is that they are allowed to spread the signing on fee of $40 million over multiple years, meaning that it'll likely only cost them around $10 million a year.

Brees, who broke the all time league record for passing yards last season, is by far and away the Saints MVP, with the franchise revolving around him. With all the scandal surrounding the Saints in the past few months with 'bountygate' and the subsequent suspensions, most notably of head coach Sean Payton, the talismanic Brees has become more and more the club's figurehead and face of the franchise.

In short, Brees could name his price and has waited more months than many feel was necessary for the Saints to agree his sum. Many fans have turned against Brees for his belligerence during the negotiations and some of his comments aimed at the organistation, but more have criticised the Saints for not settling sooner, particularly given the negative headlines of late. I don't think anyone can grudge Brees the deal, he has helped make the franchise the perennial Superbowl competitors they are and deserves to be rewarded.

Now that terms have finally been settled, attention for Saints fans now turns to pre season as the players head to camp for July 24th.  They will all be hoping that the Saints ship has now been stabilised and the team can look forward to another push for the playoffs in 2012.

Nike Bring NFL Right Up To Date

by Dugald Skene

Nike unveiled it's new 'Elite 51' uniforms for the 32 NFL teams for the upcoming 2012 season yesterday in New York.  It signals the single biggest change to the style and technology of the strips as Nike begin their 5 year licensing deal with the league following the conclusion of Reebok's 10 year contract.

Nike have updated the designs for all 32 NFL teams

The single biggest change has been to the technology, particularly the material.  Nike claim the jersey's are 20%-30% lighter and have a special '4-way' stretch technology that sees the jersey's become a lot tighter and more contoured to the players.  Combined with new collar designs and mesh panels, this extra tightness contributes to an overall dramatic change in appearance and fit that I think sees the uniforms look a lot more up to date.

Victor Cruz, Super Bowl winner with the Giants earlier this year, was on hand in New York to model the Giants new look.  He said "the [uniforms] conform to your body. They're tight. You can't get pulled or snagged on. That's the biggest thing for me: making sure that I'm sleek and I'm fast and I can't be grabbed or held."

Nike have gone into a lot of detail, not just producing jerseys, pants and helmet designs, but also shoes and gloves.  Here's a selection of some of the various details and designs:

Oakland Raiders have a particularly menacing outfit

Cincinnati Bengals pants detail

New Orleans Saints gloves

Carolina Panthers shoes

As well as the design, Nike have also worked hard on the integration of technologies into the fabric, most notably the integral padding in the baselayers around all of the "hit zones".  As well as the '4-way' fabric, integrated Flywire technology has been installed into the neckline to reduce weight and provide lock down fit over pads, increasing sleeve articulation for better range of motion.

Todd Van Horne, Nike’s Design Director for Football, said "Our brief was to provide players with everything they need and nothing more. We blended cutting edge technology and fabrications with more than 40 years of knowledge, craft and insight into the game. We worked closely with the teams, listening to their needs and delivering the best options to serve those athletes".

Of all the teams, it's the Seattle Seahawks who have had their appearance most radically updated, with a darker blue jersey and an updated, more aggressive looking graphic on the helmet.  Mark Parker, CEO of Nike, said the Seahawks were "very open and actually eager" to push a head-to-toe uniform redesign. "We worked with the players, coach and trainers. Really the whole Seattle organisation."

The new Seahawks uniform

It's good news for fans too as Nike have said that they will be producing a lot more training apparel and making more fan based memorabilia available.  Unfortunately though, it looks like the replica jerseys will cost a little more.  The old Reebok replicas came in at around $85 and the new Nike tops will be closer to $100.

What do you think of the new uniforms and the revised Seahawks design?

NFL Comes Down Hard On Saints

by Dugald Skene

The NFL today revealed the sanctions it was imposing on the New Orleans Saints following the revelations that defensive players were being rewarded form a bounty fund for deliberately inflicting injury on opposition players.

When releasing their findings the NFL stated that between 22 and 27 defensive players were involved in the bounty system and rewarded by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (now at St Louis Rams).  It is believed the bounty fund amounted to up to $50,000.

The New Orleans Saints have been heavily punished by the NFL

The NFL have come down hard on the Saints, with commissioner Goodell announcing today that head coach Sean Payton will be suspended for 1 year effective from April 1st after it was found he was in cahoots about the incentive scheme throughout the 3 years it was in place.  Assistant coach Joe Vitt has been suspended for 6 games without pay and fined an additional $100,000.  The Saints have also lost their second round Draft picks for both this year and 2013.  For a team that builds so specifically around the Draft, this is a major blow for the franchise.

The other penalties imposed on the team are as follows:

• The Saints are fined $500,000

• Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is suspended without pay for the first eight regular-season games of the 2012 season.

• Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is suspended indefinitely from the NFL, effective immediately. Goodell will review Williams’ status at the conclusion of the 2012 season and consider whether to reinstate him, and, if so, on what terms. Goodell said he will give close attention to the extent to which Williams cooperates with the NFL in any further proceedings.

• The Saints and the individuals disciplined today are expected to participate in efforts led by the league office to develop programs that will instruct players and coaches at all levels of the game on the need for respect for the game and those who participate in it, on principles of fair play, safety and sportsmanship, and to ensure that bounties will not be part of football at any level.

• The NFL also said the involvement of players in the bounty program remain under investigation and Goodell will address possible discipline at a later date.

It represents just about the worst possible outcome for the Saints fans who have been waiting the last few weeks for todays verdicts.  Huge questions will be asked of the team over the next 12 months as they look to regroup following this news.  For one of the top teams with arguably the best quarterback in the league, things couldn't get much worse.

Redskins Agree Trade Package With Rams

by Dugald Skene

The Washington Redskins have officially agreed a trade package with the No.2 pick St Louis Rams over the weekend which now puts them in a position to draft highly rated QB Robert Griffin III.

There were weeks of speculation leading up to and after the Combine where RG3 impressed so much as to where the Baylor player would be heading. As soon as the Rams announced that they were prepared to trade, it was the likes of the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins all vying for their position in the draft.

Robert Griffin III looks set to be heading to the capital

Having not faired too well in their NFC East division in 2011, despite doing the double over Superbowl champions the New York Giants, an improved Redskins team in 2012 makes this the most open division in the NFL.  Not only are the Giants obvious contenders, but the Dallas Cowboys are only a couple more wins on last year from making the playoffs (remembering they looked like shoo-ins before finishing 1-4 and ending the season 8-8) and the Philadelphia Eagles, having put last seasons ‘dream team’ debacle behind them look to be many peoples outisde bet for NFC glory this year.  It’s a genuine 4 horse race which can’t be said about any other division.

With the acquisition of Pierre Garcon from the Indianapolis Colts in the last few days, Washington are in full swing to improve upon last season’s 5-11 record.  In a wide open division, they have every chance to make an 8-8 or 9-7 season or better and progress to the playoffs.  From there, who knows what could happen.

Saints' Halos Knocked But Not Smashed After NFL Findings

by Dugald Skene

It’s only been a few weeks since the New York Giants won Superbowl XLVI and the off-season headlines have been flying in thick and fast.

So far we’ve had the Combine, the ongoing speculation as to where Peyton Manning is heading and the fact that Drew Brees apparently refuses to sign his contract with the New Orleans Saints claiming they are ‘miles apart’ with the terms.  Failure to reach an agreement could see arguably the best QB in the NFL become a free agent!

But perhaps the most dumbfounding headline of all has also come from the Saints. 

This week, the League announced its findings from an investigation into the New Orleans franchise that the players were financially rewarded by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for inflicting career threatening injuries on opposition players from what the NFL is calling a ‘bounty’ fund. 

The NFL discovered that somewhere between 22 and 27 defensive players were involved in the bounty system and that it amounted to up to $50,000.

To me, this is incredible.  Sure, I’m a fan of the NFL but I don’t think that is necessary to understand the abhorrence of the crime.  Any fan of any professional sport must surely appreciate that.

To translate this, it’s the equivalent of saying a top team (the Saints won the Superbowl in 2009 and can be considered among the elite in the NFL right now) in the Barclays Premier League have spent the last 3 years rewarding their players for going out to try and break opposition players legs when tackling - it’s ridiculous!

The men at the centre of the 'pay-for-pain' system who are still at the Saints are general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton.  In a joint press conference, they announced "…We acknowledge that the violations disclosed by the NFL during their investigation of our club happened under our watch.

"We take full responsibility this has brought undue hardship on [owner] Mr. Benson, who had nothing to do with this activity. He has been nothing but supportive and for that we both apologise to him.”

Despite this, it is reported that Tom Benson has no intention of firing either Loomis or Payton.

Saints head coach Sean Payton has apologised for his

involvement but faces no further action

For Gregg Williams, who was recently hired as St Louis Rams defensive coordinator, the future is a bit murkier.  The NFL may yet suspend and fine him after it was found that he may have instigated similar schemes whilst at the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills.

The whole issue has divided opinion among fans and commentators in the NFL.  Some believe that the physical nature of the sport is inherent and that violence and injuries are par for the course, so what’s wrong with providing an incentive to go out and do what you would be doing anyway?  Those people have come down hard on the League believing that the opening of an investigation was an overreaction.

The flipside of course is that there are those who believe ‘bountygate’ undermines the integrity of the sport, a sport that prides itself as the best professional league in the world.  Of course, American sports fans have a skewed and short-sighted view of the world and what they actually mean is their own country (where else invents their own sports and whoever wins the national championship is coined ‘World Champion’?).

Nevertheless, the NFL is an ever-expanding brand, evidence of which can be seen by the spread of regular season games to Europe.  The last thing the League needs is for its image to be tarnished.

For all the furore now, it seems that the NFL is keen to put the whole saga behind them as quickly as possible.  Aside from potential punishment to Williams, there doesn’t appear to be any signs at the moment of sanctions to be placed on either the franchise or the other individual co-conspirators. 

In a final statement from team owner Benson, he said "I have been made aware of the NFL’s findings relative to the “Bounty Rule” and how it relates to our club. I have offered and the NFL has received our full cooperation in their investigation. While the findings may be troubling, we look forward to putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans."

It may be that Benson's hopes will be realised and we will hear little more about this in the coming weeks, but there is a general consensus and growing fear from Saints fans that the NFL, who have strived so much of late to reduce the number of head injuries and concussions in the game, will come down hard on the Saints.

How?  The most obvious way would be to restrict them in the Draft, perhaps to remove their first two or even three picks.  For a team that builds around the Draft and uses it so effectively, this would be disastrous for a team like the Saints.

If the NFL is keen to get this over with quickly, we will likely hear soon of the outcome. In the meantime, there will be plenty in New Orleans crossing their fingers as they await he NFL verdict.

This Week In Numbers

by Dugald Skene

257 – the number of days that Andre Villas-Boas’ reign at Chelsea lasted.  Roman Abramovich’s patience finally ran out as he fired the latest instalment in the hottest seat in football.

119 – the number of caps Ronan O’Gara has now achieved with his substitute’s outing against France in Paris on Sunday in the RBS 6 Nations, extending his run as the most capped Irish player of all time.

969 – the number of minutes Celtic managed without conceding a goal before Gavin Rae’s wickedly deflected strike beat Fraser Forster for Aberdeen in the 1-1 draw on Saturday.

1.22.030 – the time set by Kimi Raikkonen as he came away from the final F1 practice session as the fastest driver at Jerez.  In a season with 6 World Champions competing for honours, 2012 is being predicted as the closest fought in years.

72 – the number of ranking titles Federer has won following his Dubai Masters final victory over Andy Murray.

4.33 – the fastest time at the 2012 NFL Combine for the 40 yard dash, set by Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson

Robert Griffin III Impresses At The NFL Combine

by Dugald Skene

In the run up to this year’s Combine, it was either assumed or mutually agreed that Andrew Luck represented the number one choice in the 2012 Draft.  In fact, it has long been considered the Stanford University quarterback would be the first choice in whichever Draft he entered since he first burst on to the college football scene in 2009/10.

What that has meant is that any other quarterback entering the Draft alongside Luck would always be second choice, and that’s exactly where Baylor graduate Robert Griffin III, or ‘RG3’ finds himself.

The great thing about the Combine is that players have the chance to exceed expectations and more eyes are laid upon the QB prospects than any other players as they are put through their paces.  Although most choose not to throw a football at the Combine (they tend to set up their own days when they can throw in comfortable surroundings and to receivers they are used to playing with), there are still opportunities to impress any potential suitors.

Coming into the Combine, there were a few concerns about RG3, principal amongst which being his height.  Stated at 6’2”, it was actually feared he was closer to 6’.  For any QB, that is pushing the low end of ideal quite a bit.  Most QB’s in the NFL vary in height but average around 6’4” or 6’5”.  The ability to see over the defensive line and down the field is crucial and every inch helps.

If RG3 could have exceeded expectations any more, then I’m not sure how.  He actually measured in at 6’2 ¾” (those three quarters proving all important) and with a background in track & field and particularly high hurdling, he is known to be quick but he clocked 4.41s for the 40yd dash, which is outstanding for a QB (the very best wide receivers do well to go sub 4.3s).

Robert Griffin III & Andrew Luck at the NFL Combine

However above all his physical attributes, his character and work ethic shone through.  With a military background, RG3 has the temperament and attitude that all the NFL teams look for in a young QB.  To have those qualities at such a young age goes a long way towards bagging a very healthy offer from the NFL.

Andrew Luck is a quality quarterback, of that there is no doubt.  What makes the ‘contest’ between the two top Draft picks so intriguing is their differing styles.  This, again, is where I think RG3 trumps Luck.

Luck is very much in the mould of Aaron Rodgers - he is great in the pocket, has all the throws but is not massively mobile, though more than the likes of Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger.  RG3, on the other hand, is more what many are calling the ‘modern’ NFL QB, one who has the throws, has the arm strength but also has that ability to make plays himself and is comfortable stepping out of the pocket and light on his feet, much more in the mould of Michael Vick or last year’s number one pick Cam Newton.

Let’s not forget either that RG3 won the Heisman Trophy over Andrew Luck this year, the award presented to the best college football player (Luck also lost out the previous year as well).

All this may have you thinking, why is RG3 not the automatic first pick?  Certainly, he has done himself no harm in the past week and has probably moved further up the wish list for many of the teams competing for his services.  It may still be a foregone conclusion that Luck is on his way to first pick team the Indianapolis Colts, but there are so many other teams vying for young Griffin.  The question after this year’s Combine is who wants him most?