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Grab a seat, the GAME is on! 5
Something that has always caught the ear of a NFL fan is the phrase “trade rumor.” Some notable trades of the past the broke the books were the Joe Montana trade from San Francisco to Kansas City, Nnamdi Asomugha from Oakland to Philadelphia, Emmitt Smith from Dallas to Arizona and Peyton Manning from Indianapolis to Denver. These are just a few of the major tide turning trades throughout the NFL’s short lifetime. But what are some of the talks going around for 2014? Nothing record breaking seems to be standing out this year, but with the trade deadline just around the corner, some interesting things could happen. One of the biggest names on the rumor wire this year is wide receiver Vincent Jackson. There have been reports that the Buccaneers have been shopping V-Jax around to a few different teams. Some teams that would most benefit from this trade would be the Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers or Indianapolis Colts. Another big name that seemed to be floating around this year is another bruiser from Tampa Bay, 6
running back Doug Martin. Again word has it that there have been a few talks still ongoing with a few different teams. So who needs a running back at this point in the season? Not a whole lot of teams would be incredibly interested, but a few good fits would be the New York Jets, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders or the Baltimore Ravens. Finally, the third and final big name on the rumor wire yet again hails from Tampa Bay, strong safety Mark Barron. Barron is a young tough kid that packs a punch when he hits you. Why Tampa is even thinking of trading this monster away is beyond me, but hey if you’re desperate what else can you do. A few teams that would most benefit with Mark Barron playing for them would be the Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams, New York Jets or the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Defensive Demise The best offense is a good defense. This is a phrase that seems to withstand the test of time. It seems to prove itself every year, especially after the 2013 super bowl where the number one defense defeated the number one offense. So what about a team like the Dallas Cowboys who are now sitting at a record of 8-3 with one of the worst defenses in the history of the game? By mid-season last year the Cowboys defense was breaking records, but not the good kind. Statistically, physically and mentally the Cowboys produced the worst NFL defense to ever walk onto a field. A team that used to pride themselves on run-stuffing, hardhitting and turnover causing was now the punch line of the NFL. Not only were 40% of the team’s starting defensive players injured, but their backups were subpar when it came to playing in the NFL, and it continued to get worse. Long touchdown passes plagued the Cowboys soft corners and shaky safeties. Their porous defensive line and third string 8
line backing allowed running backs to have career days. Despite the defense being as bad as they were, they still managed to reach an 8-8 record due to their semi high-powered offense. Tony Romo had one of his best years statistically along with wide receiver Dez Bryant having the best year of his career. Rookie wide out Terrence Williams seemed to be the perfect complement for Dez, especially on the long ball. But no matter how hard the Cowboys offence tried, their defense would blow the game for them. So now we move forward a year. The Cowboys are sitting pretty tied for first in the division with the Eagles at 8-3. Their offense has been on point this year toting a top five wide out in Dez Bryant and the current league leader in rushing by 300+ yards in DeMarco Murray. The offensive line play has been out of this world, possibly the best in the history of the NFL. So what about the defense, how are they 8-3 after a record setting terrible defense last year? Well, statistically, the
Cowboys D is just as bad as they were last year. They are giving up almost the same amount of yards and points as last year. The main difference in this year’s defense, takeaways. The Cowboys have finally been able to take the ball away from the opposing offense more often than last year allowing their own offense to run clock on the field. So once again, the best offense is a good defense, unless of course you’re offense has the best O-line in football, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray.
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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the word football? If you’re like me, you think of frigid air, giant men pulsing with testosterone, flaring tempers and most importantly hard bone crushing hits. This is what makes the game fun to watch for some, seeing people take a blow that could put you out of commission for a week yet getting right back up for the next play. But what about the players who don’t get up for the next play? Its players like David Wilson, second year running back for the New York Giants, whose career was ended before the season could begin because of a head and neck injury. These are the poster children for the NFL and their player safety campaign. The NFL has made huge steps in creating a safer environment for their players and the people they represent. Just looking at the uniforms the players wear themselves one can see the difference. One thing many people have noticed this year 12
is that players’ helmets are too large and fall off sometimes during plays. While many think this is bad, in reality it is a new safety “feature” for the NFL’s new uniforms. The helmets are made a little bit larger with extra padding inside. Because of the extra size of the helmet and excess padding, they have become much better for absorbing hits and blows to the head. The only downfall these new helmets have is the fact that they tend to come off at times due to their size, but since being implemented this year concussion rates in the NFL have plummeted. Also player uniforms have actually been designed by engineers at NASA in order to have extra bulk padding while being aerodynamic and light weight. These new pads on the uniforms have been great for players and have really helped cut down on soreness after a game along with other major injuries while playing.
N’If’L
2012 NFL 1st Round Re-draft
Fantasy football has become one of America’s favorite football season past times. Creating a league is easy, and then all of the fun begins. You sit down, watch the games, follow your players as you score points against your friends earning you the rights to talk smack and win your league title. Strategy is key when drafting an NFL fantasy football team. You take players according to their position and the players on their team around them. So what would the past few years have looked like at a fantasy standpoint had specific players been drafted by different teams in real life? We broke down the list of the 2012 NFL first round draft picks and submitted a re-draft with the knowledge we now have about these players. We now have the list of the first ten picks of the NFL 2012 draft, re-drafted. Some get drafted as normal, some players fall and others move up from other rounds, anything can be possible here in the N’If ’L. The 2012 N’If ’L re-draft has officially opened. 1. Indianapolis Colts • Original pick- Andrew Luck QB 13
• Re-draft- Andrew Luck QB It is hard to ignore the talent that Andre Luck possesses. Yes he may have fallen short in the playoffs twice, but think of it this way, twice means two times, which was his first and second year as a pro. 2. Washington Redskins • Original pick- Robert Griffin III QB • Re-draft- Russell Wilson QB Washington has been the punch line of all the NFL jokes as of late. Mainly because they traded three first-round draft picks in three consecutive years in order to draft RG3, who has turned out to be somewhat of a bust due to injuries. And then there is Wilson, winning a super bowl in his second year, need we say more? 3. Cleveland Browns • Original pick- Trent Richardson RB • Re-draft- Ryan Tannehill QB Richardson just so happened to be traded away to the Colts after his rookie year. Why re-draft a guy they got rid of anyways when a solid starting QB like Tannehill is sitting there waiting to take Cleveland to the playoffs. (Remember
this is the N’If ’L, don’t take us too seriously now.) 4. Minnesota Vikings • Original pick- Matt Kalil OT • Re-draft- Josh Gordon WR While Kalil is a very important piece in the Vikings football puzzle, after last year’s 1,646 receiving yardage output while toting a mind blowing 18.9 yard per catch average, you can’t pass on this guy. He would be the perfect complement to the Vikings all-star running game. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars • Original pick- Justin Blackmon WR • Re-draft- Luke Kuechly LB Amidst legal issues and somewhat of an identity crisis, Blackmon seems to be one of the biggest busts this first round had to offer. While Kuechly on the other hand, has set himself in motion as one of the top 10 if not top 5 linebackers in the league. 6. Dallas Cowboys • Original pick- Morris Claiborne CB • Re-draft- Michael Floyd WR Let me excuse what I had just previously said about Blackmon, he does not hold the title of the biggest bust in this draft, Claiborne does. The Cowboys gave away their second round pick in order to move up eight slots in the draft to nab Claiborne, the man who has since never finished a season healthy along with being benched twice for attitude related issues. 14
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers • Original Pick- Mark Barron DB • Re-draft- Mark Barron DB The Bucs may have traded Barron away this year, but I feel that it was a pretty poor choice. For a team that needs safety help, Barron was the perfect choice. 8. Miami Dolphins • Original Pick- Ryan Tannehill QB • Re-draft- Alfred Morris RB Morris has defined himself as a true running back in this league. A good running back is just what the Dolphins need to succeed. 9. Carolina Panthers • Original Pick- Luke Kuechly LB • Re-draft- Alshon Jeffery WR Though Carolina has gotten much needed help at wide receiver in this draft with Kelvin Benjamin, Alshon would be his perfect compliment. 10. Buffalo Bills • Original Pick- Stephon Gilmore CB • Re-draft- Nick Foles QB Foles has taken a semi-dysfunctional team and made them a playoff contender; just imagine what he could have done with a truly dysfunctional team like the Bills.
F.Y.I Visit our Website www.blitzquarterly.com Tweet at us @Blitzquarterly Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/blitzquarterly Check out our mobile app Blitz Mobile Any further questions? e-mail Tom Calimer tc7272@ship.edu
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It’s Miller Time
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So what happens when a player in the NFL doesn’t live up to his hype, produces poorly or even worse yet becomes a detriment to his team because of poor character? They get the axe. So trust me, there are a few players that I would love to see on the chopping block this year, players like Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon and Darren McFadden are a few of them. But in all honesty, I don’t think any of those players will get cut this year. The few players that many believe should be worried about job stability this year aren’t bad guys; they aren’t of poor attitude or even bad luck. All of them have great talent; one even was considered an elite running back at one point in time. They just belong to teams that are not the right fit for them. So who are these guys? We can start with the guy many considered to be the best running back of our age, Chris Johnson. Johnson was an electrifying runner with the Tennessee Titans for a few years, posting over 1,000 yards in 3 consecutive years, one of which was over 2,000 yards. He just sort of fell off with the Titans, their line became weak and Johnson couldn’t get anything going 18
on the ground. So here he is now with the Jets, probably the worst place he could have gone. He hasn’t gained over 40 yards yet this season and again can’t seem to gain positive yards. This is in part due to the terrible offensive line set to block for him, but we don’t seem to think Johnson will be in New York much longer after this year. Another man we think will be getting ousted this year would be quarterbacking Ryan Fitzpatrick. After leaving the dismal Bills for an NFL’s worst in the Texans, Fitz hasn’t been able to prove himself. With lack of men to throw too Fitzpatrick brought the Texans to a weak 4-6 record before being benched. We feel that he will be a part of another team by the beginning of next year, hopefully one that can allow him some time in the pocket to exploit his talents.
National Forensics League The butterflies in your stomach are intense—one play away from a win, down by four with 2 seconds left. The final timeout was called and you wait for those 30 seconds to end to see how the game unfolds. Its fourth and goal as your quarterback steps onto the field, the crowd is writhing with anticipation. “BLUE 42, BLUE 42, HUT HUT HIKE!” He steps back in the pocket, looking right; looking left, and then lofts the ball high in the air to the back of the end zone. It’s quiet now, almost as if the air has been sucked out of the stadium. Everything seems to be going in slow motion. The receiver is in the air, catches the ball, and comes down in the end zone— touchdown. The stadium explodes in a roar of excitement. But wait, something was pulled from the refs pocket and thrown onto the field. The flag— what could possibly constitute a flag at this moment, the play was perfect? “Holding, number 83, offence, 10 yard penalty, 10 second
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run off, the game has ended.” The fans turn to the jumbotron to watch the reply and watch the ridiculous penalty. The flag was thrown on a receiver, in the opposite side of the end zone from the touchdown, because he knocked a defensive player down after the ball had already been caught. This is what the NFL has become. The NFL has made astounding advances over the course of its history, not only in the form of player safety but also in the form of technology. The invention of the slow motion reply has to be one of the NFL’s crowning achievements. But some say with productivity comes punishment. Referees have become the punch line of the NFL. Bad calls have always been a part of football, but more often than not within the past few years, penalty flags have been the deciding factor in close games. Don’t get me wrong, some flags are needed, some are legit, but in a situation such as the one above, it is a bad call. We, as
fans of the NFL, have spoken and heard the term “let them play” more than ever. We believe it has become a problem. A penalty, much like the one called above, which has no influence on the play in progress, should not be called, especially in game deciding situations. In football, rules exist the regulate player safety, contact, action and equality. A penalty flag is tossed when one of these factors has been violated. In a discussion with former head coach of the Waynesboro Area Senior High School football coach, Darwin Seiler, it became clear to me that I was not the only person that had a beef with NFL officiating. “It’s borderline disgusting,” said Seiler. “Kids that I coach, kids that go through school years with NFL hopes learn to play a certain way. Now all of a sudden, that is the wrong way to play. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, the way your taught to play is the way you will continue to play.” So maybe yes, that penalty on 83 truly was holding, but does it change the fact that a different receiver caught the ball on the opposite side? No. Did it stop that specific defensive player from tackling the receiver or quarterback? 20
No. Did 83 intentionally do this in order to injure the defensive player? No. The “penalty” nowadays is looked at so carefully to make sure it is the right call, yet even if it wasn’t, it cannot be taken back. But this isn’t the worst of it; officiating has also taken play reviews to an all-new level. Every turnover along with every touchdown now will be reviewed. Okay, no big deal, just making sure things are legit right? Wrong. Officials treat every play almost as if they were
investigating a murder, looking for any reason whatsoever to call the play back. “It feels as if they are looking to prevent a touchdown or turnover by any means possible rather than confirm it,” stated lifelong football fan Doug Wolff. “The worst part is plays I’ve watched my entire life, touchdowns and turnovers, catches or runs, now all become questionable. Did the tip of the ball touch the ground? Did he graze the other man’s helmet? It makes you think how different these officials have made the NFL compared to its past. What would
games have looked like back in the day if refs dictated the outcome as much as they do now? It seems like half the rules these refs use as explainations are made up. I know I’ve never heard of some of them.” Doug has a point. Take into consideration how different outcomes would be had refs been so prevalent back then. The 1982 NFC Championship game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers wouldn’t go down in history titled “The Catch” because the game ending Montana to Clark touchdown would have been called back due to an illegal block on offense. When Marshawn Lynch ran for 67 yards and had a game-winning touchdown against the Saints in the 2011 wildcard playoff game, Seahawks fans went insane. But put officials from 2012-2014 in that game, holding on the offensive line 12 yards BEHIND Lynch. That play now gets called back 9 times out of 10, even though it didn’t impact the game. This year sports the first time in NFL history that during a game, officials call to an office in New York City, watching the game on T.V. for how they should call that play during a review. That alone shows how much influence officiating has on a game. Many even consider football to be fixed because of situations like this. “The officials are hired to watch the game and determine how to call a play or throw a flag. What makes a special person in New York any better than them to call a play when they aren’t 21
even at the game? Who’s to say these people aren’t getting calls as soon as a play goes under review with offers of money for a specific call?” said lifelong football fan Jim Calimer. The NBA got caught for official payoffs, and personally I believe Jim and think it is just a matter of time before the NFL gets caught too. So maybe instead of the officials taking a closer look at the plays on the field, why don’t we take a closer look at whose making these rules and who decides to hire these “professional” officials. Do us all a favor here refs, let these players do what they get paid to do—play football. Just please, LET, THEM, PLAY!
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Fantasy Keepers
Quarterback: 1. Andrew Luck, Colts- 265 points this season, averaging over 22 points per game. 2. Peyton Manning, Broncos- 264 points this season, averaging over 22 points per game. 3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers- 256 points this season, averaging 21 points per game. 4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks- 225 points this season, averaging over 18 points per game. 5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers- 209 points this season, averaging 17 points per game. Running Back: 1. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys- 198 points this season, averaging over 16 points per game. 2. Matt Forte, Bears- 190 points this season, averaging over 15 points per game. 3. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks- 186 points this season, averaging 15 points per game. 4. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers- 168 points this season, averaging 14 points per game. 5. Arian Foster, Texans- 161 points this season, averaging 13 points per game. Wide Receiver: 1. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos- 175 points this season, averaging 15 points per game. 2. Antonio Brown, Steelers- 172 points this season, averaging 15 points per game. 24
3. Jordy Nelson, Packers- 160 points this season, averaging 13 points per game. 4. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles- 152 points this season, averaging over 12 points per game. 5. Dez Bryant, Cowboys- 148 points this season, averaging over 11 points per game. Tight End: 1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots- 135 points this season, averaging 11 points per game. 2. Julius Thomas, Broncos- 115 points this season, averaging 10 points per game. 3. Antonio Gates, Chargers- 103 points this season, averaging 9 points per game. 4. Jimmy Graham, Saints- 102 points this season, averaging 9 points per game. 5. Greg Olson, Panthers- 101 points this season, averaging over 8 points per game. Kicker: 1. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots- 119 points this season, averaging 10 points per game. 2. Cody Parkey, Eagles- 116 points this season, averaging 10 points per game. 3. Adam Vinatieri, Cots- 115 points this season, averaging 10 points per game. 4. Steven Hauschka, Seahawks- 101 points this season, averaging 8 points per game. 5. Dan Bailey, Cowboys- 98 points this season, averaging 8 points per game.
Twitter & the NFL Since the invention of the internet people have always thought of different ways to get connected with one another. One of the most efficient ways to stay connected is through social media, mainly Twitter. Twitter has become one of the most used social media sites in the NFL of all time. There are many Twitter personalities throughout the NFL from players to analysts. Most of which are very fun to read or follow. But with Twitter only being about four years old and gaining its most attention in the past year or so, what would it have been like if older players in the NFL had been able to use Twitter in their heyday. Here is a small list with the top five media manics had Twitter existed earlier. 5. Deion Sanders Sanders, also known as Neon Deion, was one of the most electrifying players on the defensive side of the ball to ever play the game. He has also since become one of the more entertaining analyst personalities to watch on television. Knowing this corners cocky attitude and love for the game gives him a secure spot at number five on our list. Just imagine if Twitter existed back then. 4. Randy Moss Arguably one of the best receivers to play the game, Moss also could be quite the diva. From his fake mooning of the crowd in Minnesota to the trash talking he gave a five star catering company in New England, Moss is a solid four on our list. Give the man a Twitter, who knows what else could have happened. 3. Joe Theismann Theismann is a super bowl winning quarterback. But originally his name was pronounced “these man” not “thize man”. This
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being said, Theismann locked in at our number three on the list for officially changing his last name to rhyme with Heisman, the trophy given to great college football players. This is the kind of guy we are glad didn’t have Twitter back when he played. 2. Chad Johnson (Ochocinco) Chad Johnson wore number eighty-five on his jersey. Therefore he wanted to change his last name to eighty-five in Spanish. (Why, we do not know.) In actuality the name read Ochocinco, which means eight five, not eighty-five. Since retiring, Ochocinco has changed his last name back to Johnson and established himself as a comical Twitter user. It is almost a shame he couldn’t have made his Twitter earlier in his career. Last but not least, our all time leader in media manics, Terrell Owens. Who else could top this man on the list. From dancing on the star against Dallas, to falling short in the super bowl with the Eagles, to crying about his quarterback while playing for Dallas all the way through playing very poorly side by side with Chad Johnson himself, Owens is quite the character. Now none of this means the guy wasn’t talented, because he sure as heck was. However, had Twitter existed while Owens played, we would have quite a few more C’mon man comments about his career.
Female Fantasies More than ever we are seeing female interaction when it comes to the NFL and fantasy sports. Fantasy sports used to be looked at as just a “guy thing” but we have seen an increasing amount of females actively becoming involved. More interaction of NFL female fans has stemmed from the recent Rice scandal where he allegedly punched his fiancée, now wife, and knocking her unconscious. Since this instance the voice of female fans has started to pour out. Females are taking a stand with this issue, giving their opinions, and they are definitely being heard. An ESPN anchor, Hannah Storm, has been one of those females. This past September, Storm gave a two-minute spiel on the Rice scandal; Storm noted, “It was like jumping off a cliff. I had no idea how it would be received.” Her message was received and from giving this message she has helped voice the thousands of female fans’ voices on national television. There has always been a glass ceiling with men and women, despite the topic. Whether it is news, sports or hobbies there is always a separation. But with women like Storm, that glass ceiling in the NFL is starting to break. Stephanie Medina from “FOX NFL Sunday” directs the show, calling the shots and ensuring each show is a success. On the “FOX NFL Sunday” team we see more women like Lisa Ashley, FOX’s department head for hair and makeup and Gina Poretti, VP of Production, and how these women are essential for “FOX’s NFL Sunday” team. Victoria Trilling, head stylist for FOX Sports Media Group, notes 26
that having the women as a support group really contributes to the feeling of the team being like a family. The glass ceiling may also be shattered soon due to the young women that have been involved with football in high school. In the 2009-10 school year there were 1, 249 girls that participated in high school football. These females are out, or almost out, of college and from this select group, we could see an even bigger increase in the female NFL voice. But for now an activity female NFL fans get involved with is fantasy football. By females creating a fantasy team, they can actively participate in what their significant others are, and females can be included in the conversation more. Some names of female fantasy teams are: Aph-THROW-dite, Victorious Secret, Wrecking Gals and You Just Lost to a Girl. These names speak volumes in terms of female interaction with the NFL. The names still have that feminine aspect to them, but it also shows that females’ interaction should be taken seriously, just like male interaction. “I love my fantasy football team. My husband and I bet against each other all the time and it’s fun. I get to participate in something that would have seemed unspeakable 50 years ago,” said Kayla Morrison, an active fantasy football player from Baltimore, Maryland. Morrison noted that all of her family loves the all-American sport, including her mother, and she doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
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The Lucky 13
13 teams who never won a superbowl
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So with fantasy football comes fantasy commissioners. I myself am a commissioner of a fantasy football league. Depending on the way your commissioner sets up your league, you may have the option to keep a few players at the end of the year so you don’t have to redraft a full sheet every year. So who do you choose to keep? Do you keep the injury prone yet high scoring Arian Foster, or do you let him go and maybe draft someone better in the next year’s draft? We have put together a small list of the most valuable keeper and most easily discarded of each position. So let’s start with the most important position in football. Many would say keep Peyton Manning, and after letting him go last year and missing out on him this year I am inclined to agree. Manning, despite his age, has just about everything going for him. He has a great team, a great arm and a great sense to not throw picks. On the other side of the spectrum, it should be fairly easy to drop little brother Eli Manning. With 15 interceptions in 12 games, he doesn’t win me over at a fantasy standpoint. Next up we have the running back. Despite his injury history in the past, DeMarco Murray is the best option at keeper for running back this year. He has over 350 more yards than the next best back and is tied for 2nd in rushing touchdowns this year. Now with the drop, it gets pretty tricky. Some may disagree, but I would have to say Lynch couldn’t be considered a great keeper after this year. Mainly due to his age, Lynch has had a semi down season this year and there have been talks of trades after this year. Now we come to wide receiver, and the most
clear cut keeper in this category is Jordy Nelson. With the most touchdowns this year and most touchdowns of over 40 yards, Nelson is an animal. Marques Coleston is the wide out I would be wary of keeping after this year. Not only has this year been his lowest total for targets but he has also failed to score a touchdown this whole entire season. The tight end position is always a fun one to evaluate due to the fact that there are always new names added into the mix. I would have to say Rob Gronkowski is the most valuable keeper in this department. He is the biggest weapon the Patriots have next to Tom Brady and he seems to catch everything that comes his way. The easiest discarded tight end this year would have to by Kyle Rudolph. He may have had a great season last year, but he has been injured for this entire season making it hard to evaluate his worth after this year. Lastly we have the kickers. Kickers are the saving grace of some fantasy teams. The most valuable kicker for this year would have to be Dan Bailey. Not only has he connected on 90% of his kicks since he came into the league, he has also become the most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL. Finally, Matt Bryant would have to be the kicker to let go this year. Once known as Matty Ice because of his game winning kicks, Bryant has failed to show that flash this year. This may be in part to the fact that he is playing for a very, very disappointing team.
Official Sound Sponsor of the NFL 31