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Football online: Winston to Buccaneers bound to happen

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Photo credit: Harry How / Getty Images Sport

Author: Jon Kuzma

With the NFL combine finishing up and reviews of just about every big time college player taking place. I would like to state that I’m not a big fan of this years quarterback draft class. While it’s usually best to choose a quarterback who is slightly oversized, it’s hard to be convinced Jameis Winston is that guy. Yes has everything I want in a quarterback. Great size, a big arm, and played at a big time college program. However it’s his decision making on and off the field that worry me. If you could take away the bone headed mistakes Winston has made off the field, I would be a hundred percent a supporter of his and draft him without second thought number one overall. The fact is though Winston hasn’t shown the maturity to hand him the reigns of a whole NFL franchise. When looking at him it seems very much like the pick the Buccaneers used on Josh Freeman out of Kansas State. A very talented quarterback coming out of college standing similar in stature to Winston. Freeman was slightly bigger being 6’6 240 while Winston is 6’4 230. The difference there being Winston was a much more accomplished passer during his time in the colligate ranks. Putting up about twenty touchdowns more than Freeman in a year less of time at the helm. The good news for Winston is scouts were amped about his football I.Q at the combine many saying “he has the best football I.Q we have ever seen”. I wonder how Peyton Manning feels about that?

The Buc’s will undoubtedly have a tough decision to make with the number 1 pick. It’s always tough when you’re in the position that the Buc’s are in coming off a two win season. They need a franchise savior and usually when you have the number 1 pick a quarterback just makes sense. Every team can take a step in the right direction by landing a big name quarterback. I’m actually surprised more teams don’t move back(trade down), and honestly if I didn’t take a Q.B I would most likely draft a defensive tackle to solidify the defense. In the Buc’s case though they already have that piece in Gerald McCoy. Also with the emerging star wide receiver in Mike Williams it just makes sense to get a guy who can get him the ball. Don’t expect that to be anyone but Jameis Winston and truthfully that is the right pick for this franchise.

After that time will only tell if he is Jameis the savior or similar to the likes of Josh Freeman and Jamarcus Russell, NFL failures with a similar mold.

Football online

Charity of the day: American Humane Association

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Football players: Suh still hanging around Detroit area

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Photo credit: Icon Sportswire

Author: Jon Kuzma

While the fact that Suh is still hanging around the Detroit area could be a non-factor on whether or not he resigns with the Detroit Lions. It does say one thing. He wasn’t repulsed enough during his time here in Detroit that he felt like he had to skip town as soon as the season was over. Which is a good thing to hear if you’re a Detroit Lions fan. In fact just a few days ago Suh updated his Facebook status saying “Beautiful morning in Detroit for an indoor workout”. With the season being over Suh has no responsibilities at the moment as far as team activities go. He very easily could have spent the off-season back around the Portland Orgeon area where his family has ties. Yet the player who has been often been called “selfish” by some Lions fans is still around the area of the team that drafted and calling Detroit “beautiful”. Enough to make some fans think “hey, maybe he is coming back”? Another thing that stands out about Suh is the fact that the Lions brass has continuously made announcements remaining optimistic about retaining the pro bowl defensive lineman. Mayhew has publicly stated that he believe “a deal is close with Suh”. The most coveted free agent will surely be courted by other teams but Suh is a smart guy. He has to know his opportunity in Detroit is special. He is the hero of a rebuilding city that was once a precious piece to the American puzzle. His importance and impact go beyond just the playing field, he is a symbol for the community. A symbol that if the Lions who were often the doormat team of the NFL can turn it around. So can the city itself. Look for Suh to remain a Lion.

Charity of the day: Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Go donate! www.bcrfcure.org

Goodell is overpaid and under-producing

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Photo credit: Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport

Author: Jon Kuzma

35 Million dollars. That was how much Roger Goodell made in 2013 and while that number was down from the 44.2 million that Goodell brought in during the 2012 season. He is now the highest paid commissioner of all the major sports leagues. He was once only surpassed by Major League Baseball’s commissioner Bud Selig. However since 2011 Goodell’s pay has substantially increased while Selig’s salary capped out around 22 million (before his retirement). Keep in mind the NFL is the highest grossing and most prestigious of all of the American sports leagues. So yes he should indeed be the highest paid commissioner because he is working for the league that offers the best product. Yet when you factor in all of the blunders and mishaps Goodell has had, he doesn’t hardly seem worth the steep price that he is getting paid. A guy known for his stern approach and his disciplinarian style, Goodell gives off the vibe that he is arrogant but does so very subtly. Anyone with any competence in judging ones character can see that the commish is pompous, and a not very likable guy. In fact in a poll held by ESPN in 2014 the people of the United States voted that 37.8% of people disliked Goodell, that was the majority. In another poll held by CBS Sports 60% of players of the league didn’t support Roger Goodell as their commissioner. While sometimes being likable can be overrated, other times being unlikeable can be a measure of ones poor efforts. The fact is the NFL was going to strive with whoever was at the helm because it is the greatest sport in our country. The question remains how much of a cap did Goodell put on the leagues growth? With the Ray Rice case under his belt, the inconsistency on punishments, and the over glorifying of himself through the punishment of his players. One would have to say enough to make an impact and not in a good way. So while the great owners of the league like Arthur Blank will be politically correct and endorse Goodell. Hopefully you will be smart enough to make your own decision.

Football online:

Charity of the day: Homes for Our Troops

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Roger Goodell is struggling as commissioner of the NFL. He’s overpaid and under-producing.

Football online: The play call heard around the world

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Photo credit: Scott Cunningham / Getty Images Sport

Author: Jon Kuzma

Super Bowl XLIX was one of the better moments in Super Bowl history. After watching the Broncos get annihilated in last years Super Bowl it was good to get back to good competitive football. The action was back and forth most of the game and like many games in the National Football League it came down to the last possession. With a coach like Pete Carroll though you’re safe from a bad football decision with the game on the line, right? Wrong, the Seahawks would go on to do the unthinkable in the last thirty seconds of the game and decide to throw a pass from the half yard line. This pass was then picked off by Malcolm Butler and fans got to watch Tom Brady celebrate profusely on the sideline most likely wondering “why in the hell did they throw there?”

While Pete himself has came out and stood by the decision to go for it, and even Bellichick himself has come out to support the decision made by Carroll. The fact is it was flat out WRONG. We live in age of pro football where fundamentals have evaporated from the game. Could you imagine Vince Lombardi watching that play call from heaven? He most likely would have died again. It was unstomachable to watch that play, you had to feel for the Seahawks players whether you were rooting for them or not. To get all the way down to the half yard line and have the best running back in football and pass. That is completely unacceptable.
Now Pete Carroll is still a phenomenal football coach but he was clearly getting a little too aggressive down the stretch. Fake field goal pass against the Packers, going for it in the end of the first half of the Super Bowl (which led to Chris Matthew touchdown), and finally passing at the end of the game on the one yard line. Didn’t he realize his luck was bound to run out sooner or later? I mean heck even at USC he went for it on fourth down against Texas in the national championship (and while that didn’t work), still the football gods clearly were more than generous to Pete Carroll. Here at endzoneblog.com we love Pete he is a great coach and tremendous person, but shame on you for that call. You let your players down.

Charity of the day: Donors Choose

Go Donate! DonorsChoose.org

Football online: Pete Carroll is a great coach but he made a really bad call in the Super Bowl.

Football skills: Lions fans would be foolish to undervalue Stafford

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Photo credit: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport

Author: Joey Carr

With the Lions recent success the organization is in a rare position. It’s been a longtime since the Lions stock arrow has been pointing up and quarterback Matt Stafford has much to do with that success. In fact Stafford is the fastest player to ever throw for 20,000 yards. He did so in seventy one games that’s three games sooner than the great Dan Marino who did so in seventy four games. And just recently Stafford won the Pro Bowl’s offensive most valuable player award throwing for over three hundred yards. Such feats would likely make you here on most teams.

Yet despite these accomplishments many fans in the Detroit area are still openly bashing the young gun slinger. Often questioning Stafford’s decision making ability and interception rate. Most of this focus on the negative is unfair judgement of Stafford. Fans have to remember just how difficult it is to play quarterback in the Nation Football League. Yea it’s easy to say “look at the way Rodgers throws and conducts the offense”. That doesn’t mean getting rid of Stafford is going to bring in a player even remotely close to Rodgers abilities. In all likelihood the Lions would regress getting rid of number 9 due to the fact they would have to develop the next player they bring in.

The fact is Stafford will likely go unappreciated in Detroit until the city nearly drives him out of town. Hopefully Stafford has enough character to look past the naysayers or the fans of Detroit might end up being the ones remorseful in the end when he skips town for greener pastures.

Charity of the day: Boys and Girls Club of America

Go donate! www.bgca.org

Football players: Blount and Lynch offer similar running styles

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Photo credit: Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport

Author: Jon Kuzma

While watching Legarrette Blount run the ball two weeks ago against the Indianapolis Colts it was hard not to see the similarities in his and Marshawn Lynch’s running style. Both runners are primarily power runners who aren’t known for their break away speed but more so their bruiser style. Like Beast Mode the Patriots running back has the ability to go Blount mode, which he clearly went against the Colts scoring 4 touchdowns. While Brady can clearly get the job done through the air. Blount will be a good x-factor in the Super Bowl which Belichick will likely call on often. Don’t be surprised to seem him gash the unusually stout Seahawks defense for a touchdown or two.

On the opposite sideline you have arguably one of the best running backs in the league if not the best. Marshawn Lynch has consistently been the first option in the Seahawks offense and has been a big reason they’ve been contenders year in and year out. In particular this year Lynch had a career high in Rushing Touchdowns with 13. Always known for rumbling look for Beast Mode to excel on the big stage and have a big day for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Last week with the game on the line Pete Carroll went to Lynch often and he will likely do the same Sunday. Lynch should get at least two touchdowns.

Look for both of these players to have a big impact for their team. The player that does will likely give their team that extra boost. Despite everyone saying this is a “passing league” the fundamentals of football still are in establishing the run. The team that does so will have the advantage.

Charity of the day: Global Fund for Women

Go donate! www.globalfundforwomen.org

Football players: There are some similarities between Legarrette Blount and Marshawn Lynch.

Football online: The transition from John Fox to Gary Kubiak in the Denver scenario:

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Photo credit: Justin Edmonds / Getty Image Sport

Author: Jon Kuzma

Football online content!

When John Elway and the Denver Broncos decided to part ways with Head Coach Jon Fox it was mainly due to the fact that they felt like he underachieved in the post season. Elway went on to state that “they had differences on how to get to the next level”. When interpreting that, it feels like Elway might have thought offense was the way to get the job done being a former offensive player. While John Fox is a defensive minded guy who likely thought they should improve the defensive side of the ball in the off-season. Which would make perfect sense why Elway would dismiss Fox and Hire Gary Kubiak who was Elway’s offensive coordinator during the Broncos successful 1998 and 1999 Super Bowl runs. With an offense that started to sputter just a year after being the best ever statically, maybe making the move to Kubiak was the right one. He can work hand and hand with Peyton Manning and iron out any wrinkles that the Broncos might have. The other side of the argument is maybe they don’t fit as well due to a clash in offensive philosophy. As stated above the Broncos had the best offense ever last year, and that came under Fox who was indeed a defensive minded coach. How could this have happened? Mainly offensive freedom, with Fox more focused on things on the defensive side of the ball it gave Manning more freedom to do the things he had success in on the offensive side of the ball. This was one of the reasons Manning chose the Broncos over the Forty Niners who were coached by Jim Harbaugh. Manning knew he would have more freedom in Denver over the very hands on Harbaugh. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, Manning could either improve drastically under Kubiak’s supervision or he could be kept on too short of a leash. The other questions surrounding the team would have to be how much will the defense falter with the loss of a great defensive mind? There is a reason John Fox has went to numerous Super Bowls, he’s an excellent defensive coach.

Charity of the day: Global Fund for Women

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Football online: Article discusses some things to look out for in Denver.

Football players: Richard Sherman talked the talk then walked the walk

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Photo credit: Sam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport

Author: Jon Kuzma

When you hear Richard Sherman’s loud mouth antics it’s easy to mistakenly identify his methods as false bravado. The Compton California born cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks has been as brash as just about anyone who has ever donned an NFL uniform. However since joining the league in 2011 no one has backed up their trash talk more than Sherman. In fact nobody since 2011 has intercepted more passes (24) or defended more passes (61) than Richard Sherman. Those two stats that he leads are the optimity of how to measure an outstanding cornerback in today’s NFL. If that alone isn’t enough to believe Sherman when he says “I’m the best corner in the league” than maybe this will help you understand. Last year Sherman led the whole league in intercepted passes before eventually making the play that sent the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. There the Seahawks were able to absolutely demolish the Broncos and the high octane Peyton Manning offense. Now a week and a half away from the Super Bowl Sherman is in the same situation all over again. Poised and ready to become a back to back National Football League champion a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since the New England Patriots did so in 2004 and the following season in 2005. While humble people around the world will be rooting for the Patriots to throw all over Sherman, keep in mind that Sherman is far from ignorant. A graduate of Stanford University many in the football community believe Sherman’s antics were all about marketing himself, which would indeed be a testament to his intelligence. He is a premier player in the league and whether or you like him or not you have to respect him. He could have easily fell flat on his face like we see so many other athletes do after their outlandish outbursts but when it was all said and done he backed it up. It’s safe to say Richard Sherman talked the talk then walked the walk.

Charity of the day: Planned parenthood action fund

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Football players: Article about the rise of Richard Sherman

Football online: Bet on an up year from Manning if he returns:

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Photo credit: Timothy A Clary / AFP

Author: Jon Kuzma

With the rumors already being leaked that Peyton Manning will indeed return for a fourth season with Denver Broncos pending a positive physical evaluation. It’s time to assess just how Manning’s future might look. While it seems like football fans everywhere are giving up on Manning due to his poor playoff performance, one would be foolish to write off the aging vet. Manning is arguably the greatest player ever at prepping himself for success. If you factor in that for one of the few times in his career his back is against the wall (the other time being his recovery from neck injury). You’d be smart to think that Manning is going to be focused more than ever to give it one last go. A well trained and healthy Manning will likely put one last outstanding year together, and then ride off into the sunset. No matter how the following season ends that will likely be it for one of the greatest Quarterbacks the game has ever seen. So while the velocity on his throws weren’t there at the end of this season. Don’t expect the same results the following year. The only other hurdle in Manning’s future is coming back next year to begin with. At what point do you take your health into consideration and say enough is enough?

Charity of the day: Brain and behavior research foundation

Go donate! www.bbrfoundation.org

Football online. We got you covered.

 

Enough with deflated footballs already

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Photo credit: Billie Weiss / Getty Images Sport

Author: Jon Kuzma

With the Super Bowl a week and a half away you would think that the sports media world would be focused on the biggest spectacle in sports here in America (I’m told the world cup is slightly bigger world wide). That hasn’t been the case however with the dark cloud that has been recently looming over the National Football league, which was the alleged deflating of footballs by the New England Patriots. Many analyst and and people in the football community believe the Patriots should be punished for their actions. Yet when you stop to actually think about it, the game was completely out of reach. Now if the game had been twenty one to twenty and the Patriots slightly edged out the Colts then you might have a legitimate point. However the Patriots absolutely trounced the Colts last sunday in a 45-7 victory. Now I’m not saying the Patriots shouldn’t be punished. They’ve developed a track record of suspect behavior between this and the “spygate” scandal. So if they have to be docked a mid-round pick then go ahead and do so. Just don’t go disqualifying the Patriots from the Super Bowl or banning Belichick from the Super Bowl. The National Football League’s image has taken a serious hit this last season and doing something drastic would only damage that image worse. Personally if I was Mr. Gooddell I would have done my best to keep this whole thing under wraps. It will be interesting to see how everything plays out.

Charity of the day: Mental Health America

Go donate! www.mentalhealthamerica.net

In the case of the deflated footballs the NFL should downplay the incident

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