Category Archives: sports

Ranking the 4 NFC West Starting Quarterbacks

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Ranking the 4 NFC West Starting Quarterbacks
31 Mar

Our tour around the NFL takes a stop in the NFC West, as we continue to rank the top starting quarterbacks in every division. Doing so has opened our eyes a bit on some teams and their current situations, especially how it could relate to their attempt to make it to the NFL playoffs.

In other words, it’s not easy to win if you don’t have things figured out under center. Let’s take a look at the four teams in the NFC West and rank their quarterback situations:

4. Nick Foles (St. Louis Rams)

It was just three years ago that Foles took the NFL by storm by throwing just 27 touchdowns to two interceptions. Those ridiculous numbers came crashing back down to earth in 2014, though, as Foles turned the ball over far more before having his season cut short by a collarbone injury. Now he’s in St. Louis and via the mixed results, we can’t be sure exactly what the Rams have under center. On one hand, Foles is a steady pocket passer who anticipates the rush well and displays solid arm strength. On the other, his accuracy can wane and he can make questionable decisions.

We’ll find out which version is the real Foles in 2015, but the good news is the Rams finally get a competent player under center after having to endure life without Sam Bradford (knee injuries) over the past two seasons. If Foles just stays on the field all year, St. Louis should be much better for it. That being said, Foles is new to this division and has arguably proven the least out of the four starting quarterbacks in the NFC West.

3. Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers)

Kaepernick could be argued as the top NFC West passer in terms of sheer talent and upside, while he’s also just one of two NFC West signal callers to appear in a Super Bowl. He didn’t win, though, and other than that has done little to suggest he’s the long-term answer under center for the Niners. Kap has certainly flashed elite running ability and has even dominated as thrower inside the pocket at times, but his inconsistency in that area has been very concerning. Playing in the brutal NFC West hasn’t helped one bit, but not being able to step up his game (or even perform at a moderate level) has really bogged down his overall rating.

Kaepernick has a shot to rebound in 2015 with a new head coach, a new weapon in Torrey Smith and more work on refining his footwork and timing. If he’s actually improved, he could make an argument to be #2 in this division. For now, though, he’s taken a step back.

2. Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals)

Palmer hasn’t been in a Super Bowl and actually has just one playoff appearance under his belt. He also shredded his knee for the second time in his career in 2014 and set to be 36 years old in December, his best days could easily be far behind him. He was fantastic as a starter in 2014, though, and before he went down he had a surprisingly potent Cardinals team looking like legit title contenders. Coming out of the NFC West, that’s saying something.

If Palmer can return to form and stay healthy in 2015, he could potentially pick up where he left off and earn this #2 overall spot in the NFC West. Due to his ability as a pocket passer and the system he’s in, we like his odds.

1. Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks)

There can only be one top quarterback in the NFC West and it’s an easy call to make. Russell Wilson is young but he’s already proven his worth in Seattle, as he’s made it to two Super Bowls and won one in his first three seasons. Seattle should once again be a top contender to win it all in 2015, and the elusive, play-making Wilson is probably still the biggest reason why.

Wilson is still waiting to get paid and continues to be vastly underrated by many, but few package mobility, running ability and down field passing like Wilson. He’s even firmly established himself as a sound pocket passer and has never falled below a 63% completion rate. There isn’t much to hate about his cerebral approach to the game and it’s not crazy to think he’ll be even better in his fourth season.

Think our ranking of the four NFC West starting quarterbacks is all jacked up? Let us hear your list in the comments below about this and football uniforms!

Ranking the Four AFC South Starting Quarterbacks

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Ranking the Four AFC South Starting Quarterbacks
31 Mar

When scouring over the landscape of NFL teams and their starting quarterbacks going into 2015, few divisions are more interesting than the AFC South. Andrew Luck is the only locked-in starter inside the division that scares NFL defenses, while it’s possible that three of the AFC South’s teams could be directed by signal callers with a year or less of starting experience. The point? Luck and his Indianapolis Colts could yet again feast on the AFC South if these other young passers can’t find a way to quickly progress.

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, though. First, let’s rank the top starting quarterbacks from the four AFC South squads as we countdown the days to the new 2015 NFL season:

4. Blake Bortles (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Bortles had flashes of solid play as a rookie, but overall struggled during a rocky rookie season that involved a lot of turnovers and losses. Bortles exhibited the mobility and arm strength that got him selected as the #3 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but he struggled with reads, concepts and decision-making. His division is soft on paper and it may not take much to see him take a huge jump, especially given the massive upgrades in talent around him – the team drafted running back T.J. Yeldon and signed tight end Julius Thomas.

It’s anyone’s guess if the added talent and extra year in Jacksonville’s system will give Bortles the time he needs to develops, but it’s certainly possible. However, until we see that steady progress, he’s cemented into the bottom of our 2015 AFC South quarterback rankings.

3. Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans)

Mariota is adjusting from a spread system to an NFL offense, which means he could face a lengthy and rough transition to snaps under center and connecting with wide receivers he’s never played with. We know he can hit on quick, short throws and execute in a system that is largely mapped out, but can Mariota read NFL defenses, make key adjustments and make intermediate and deep throws on a consistent basis? No one can know just yet, but the word on the street already is quite good, as Mariota seems to have a better understanding of the pro game that many believed he would. That’s giving him the early edge on incumbent starter Zach Mettenberger, who is a rock in the pocket in terms of mobility, but can really sling it.

Mariota will have a learning curve, but he was a dominant college player and has the athleticism to get himself out of jams. That won’t get him a stout ranking among passers in the AFC South just yet, but he’s also not dead last.

2. Brian Hoyer (Houston Texans)

Hoyer has jumped in front of Ryan Mallett for the time being, and due to knowing Bill O’Brien’s system and being the more cerebral passer of the two, appears to have a minor leg up in the quarterback competition. Mallett easily has his competition beat when it comes to arm strength, but Hoyer proved last year that he can help his team get wins when he has a solid defense and a strong running game around him. He did fizzle out in Cleveland down the stretch last year, but it’s at least arguable now that Hoyer gives the Texans their best chance to compete in 2015. That may not get them to the playoffs, but it does get Hoyer into second place in our AFC South quarterback rankings.

1. Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts)

This isn’t a competition and even if it were, only a handful of passers in the entire league could rival Luck. As it stands, he’s leaps and bounds above the rest of the passers in the AFC South, and his 2014 numbers tell you all you need to know. Luck played his best football to date, as he fired in a career high 40 touchdowns and over 4,700 passing yards, while adding another three scores on the ground. Easily one of the more dynamic players in the league thanks to his ability to kill defenses with his arm or legs, Luck is near the top of the league and the scary part is he’s only going to get better. That means good things for the Colts, who have made the playoffs every year he’s been under center, and even advanced to the AFC title game in 2014. For the AFC South and the rest of the league, that’s obviously bad news.

Think this order is messed up? Spin us your logic in the comments below!

Ranking the Four AFC West Starting Quarterbacks

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The AFC West is a lot more competitive than people give it credit for and in 2015, the growth of the Oakland Raiders just might make it the deepest division in the NFL. That might be a slight reach, but the rise of Derek Carr could come this season after the former Fresno State product made solid strides as a rookie in 2014. Of course, Carr still can’t hold a candle to the legendary Peyton Manning, who is back yet again to make one last Super Bowl run with the Denver Broncos.

In a division that clearly has the old and young at the quarterback position, something may have to break eventually. Manning and Carr aren’t the only two signal callers in the AFC West, though, so let’s get to know the division a little bit better by ranking the four starters at arguably the most important position in the AFC West:

4. Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders)

One could make a case for Carr to be pushed one spot higher in these AFC West quarterback rankings, but that ultimately would have more to do with pure talent and upside than what he’s done in the NFL to this point. Carr definitely had real flashes of greatness in his rookie season, when he put up 21 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. Carr didn’t hurt himself in year one and wasn’t really the main reason Oakland failed in 2014, but he also wasn’t the reason they succeeded often enough, either. Carr has good size, great arm strength and better pocket presence than advertised, so the sky appears to be the limit for him as he gets ready for his second year in the league. While his talent and potential are exciting, we still need to see more. For now, he’s stuck at the four spot behind three more proven passers.

3. Alex Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)

Smith has maximized his ability under Andy Reid in Kansas City, as he lacks major arm strength but in this system can roam free and kill defenses with his accuracy and athleticism. Smith has been at his best with the Chiefs and in two seasons has proven that his game managing style is plenty good enough to lead a franchise. That being said, Smith has only moderate high level success in his career and has major physical limitations in the passing game. He could prove some doubters wrong now that he has Jeremy Maclin at his disposal, but for now he doesn’t touch what Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning bring to the table.

2. Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers)

Rivers proved yet again in 2014 that he’s a total baller that can beat anyone in any given week. Rivers helped the Chargers to a hot start early in the year and even played a flawless game in a big win over the Seattle Seahawks. Rivers has always been held back by mediocre talent around him, but gives it everything he has on a weekly basis. Turnovers ended up being a big issue for him again in 2014, but he’ll head into 2015 looking to get the Bolts back into the playoffs. He’s far and away the second best passer inside this division, but he still doesn’t quite hold a candle to the great one – Peyton Manning.

1. Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos)

Manning has only one Super Bowl win under his belt, but he has all of the important records and is easily the most prolific and most cerebral passer the game has ever seen. Longevity and effectiveness continue to go hand in hand for the 39-year old quarterback, as he enters 2015 as good as ever between the ears. Manning suffered through a leg injury that hindered his performance down the stretch late last year, but was otherwise his normal elite self through the first 12 weeks. He’s lost some bite on his deep ball, but the placement, timing and accuracy are all still there. As long as he’s healthy going into 2015, this isn’t a close call. He’s still king of the AFC West and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, in general.

Think we got the order wrong? Let us hear who should be #1 in the comments below!

Johnny Manziel Ditches Money Sign Celebration

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Predicting the Top NFL Quarterback Battles
31 Mar

The summer is used for NFL rookies to get affiliated with their new teams, new free agents to find their role in new cities and veterans to establish the type of chemistry that will last for an entire year. While all of that is going down, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is just trying to grow up.

After a rookie season where the troubled former Texas A&M star quarterback started just two games and did little to impress, Manziel had to know he was on thin ice with the Cleveland Browns. That may have been a huge reason why he spent over a month at a rehab clinic for unspecified reasons. But regardless of why, Manziel seems to finally be on the right track as training camp slowly approaches.

The latest sign that the second-year pro finally has his mind right? He’s ditching the controversial “money hands” touchdown celebration. Fans only got to see it in preseason play and one time on a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the regular season, but the clearly wiser Manziel has decided to “retire” the much-hated (and also much-loved) celebration.

“The money sign will not be back”, Manziel confessed in a recent interview. “I will not be making it”.

Whether Cleveland’s coaching staff or front office suggested the money hands celebration to hang’em up or it was Manziel’s own idea, it may be a sign of maturation that Manziel is ready to move on from childish antics that aren’t necessarily becoming of a professional, successful NFL franchise passer.

So, what does it all mean? On the surface, it could mean that “Money Manziel” is no longer a thing and that the darkness that was previously hanging over the man the nation has come to know as Johnny Football may finally be lifted permanently.

It’s too early to tell if all of the would-be positive changes Manziel has processed will lead to better production on the field or if he’ll even get a true chance to prove himself. For now, Manziel is just a wide-eyed backup behind starter Josh McCown. He still doesn’t have the offense completely down and by all accounts has quite a ways to go in the next two months before he could give McCown even the slightest of pushes.

Ditching the money sign flash is a step in the right direction, though, and one Manziel absolutely needed to make. His persona was a colorful and entertaining one, but it was also one of a brash party boy who had little regard for himself or anyone else. That’s not the mark of a very good person and it certainly isn’t the foundation in which to build a long, successful NFL career. The fact that Manziel has realized that and is trying to do the right things speaks volumes. Now we can let his play do the rest of the talking.

Think Money Manziel’s disappearing act is a tease and Johnny Football is destined to be a bust? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below!

2015 NBA Finals Preview and Predictions

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Why You Can't Help But Love Stephen Curry
31 Mar

The 2015 NBA Finals are finally here, as Thursday gives us game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. It’s a very interesting series at first glance, with the Western Conference offering up the best team and the #1 overall seed and the Eastern Conference pushing a Cavs team that proved through the playoffs they were the true #1 seed in their conference.

In a very real sense, this is a battle of the two best teams in the league. The Cavs and Warriors wasted little time getting to the league’s title game, as the two lost five games combined in these playoffs, with Golden State losing just one game at home. Of course, when two dominant teams meet each other in the final series of the year, something naturally has to break. Let’s analyze this matchup from every possible angle and come away with a predicted winner of this year’s NBA Finals:

Who Wants it More?

The Warriors haven’t won a title in 40 years and Cleveland never has, so it’s safe to say it’s pretty close. Of course, winning a very long time ago pales in comparison to never winning at all, so the Cavs will want this more. Of course, wanting isn’t always having.

Season Series

Cleveland and Golden State split their two games during the regular seasons (1-1), with both teams taking care of business at home. If that’s how the Finals go, the Warriors would win in seven games. Odds are it’ll go down a little differently, while the Warriors are the better team both at home and on the road.

Path to the Finals

Cleveland has been more impressive technically, as they have two sweeps during the playoffs and lost just two games to Golden State’s three. Of course, they also faced a weak Boston Celtics in round one and swept probably one of the worst #1 seeds ever in the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. So, sure, on the surface, the Cavs’ path to the Finals has been more impressive. Golden State got here in the tougher Western Conference, though, as they moved past the Pelicans, Grizz, and Rockets.

Coaching Edge

Is there an edge when it comes to coaching? If we’re talking experience, it’s not even close. David Blatt has years overseas and he’s even won titles. However, both Blatt and Steve Kerr are rookies, so it’s a borderline tie. That being said, Golden State’s Kerr has a better coaching staff, with Alvin Gentry as a headlining act. The Warriors might have the slight edge here, while Kerr has also been a total master when it comes to roster and in-game management.

Stephen Curry vs. LeBron James

Which star is bigger in this series? Who has more pressure? Who is easier to stop? The answers are: equal, James, and neither can probably be stopped. I think both could have their way in this series, but if one is going to struggle it’s going to be James. Not only is there easily more pressure on him (weight of that of a city, and all), but he’s also a one-man wrecking crew now that Kevin Love is down and Kyrie Irving is far less than 100%.

Biggest X-Factor?

J.R. Smith is easily the biggest x-factor for the Cavs and for the Warriors it’s got to be Andrew Bogut. Bogut has been solid on the boards and has blocked shots at a solid rate, but he can’t suddenly come up lame – or even worse – get hurt. He needs to own Timofey Mozgov just as he should and also keep Tristan Thompson off the offensive boards. For Cleveland, they need to be sure to help James offensively and a lot of that is going to come down to the floor spacers knocking down open jumpers. Smith is the key guy here, as he’s rather streaky at times. He’ll be good for 1-2 big games, but for the Cavs to win this series he might need 3-4 of them.

The Verdict?

The odds (quite literally) say the Warriors win this, and it might not even be close. I personally badly want that to be the case, but there is a methodic marching from these Cleveland Cavaliers. Even with Love down and the rest of his team looking like a fairly weak supporting cast, something tells me LeBron James simply won’t be denied. The Warriors are great and could easily win in five or six, but they have a rookie head coach and have never been here before. This is the fifth straight Finals appearance for James, and sixth in his career. That experience and James’ drive could be the ticket.

Think the Warriors are destined to win it all? Tell us why in the comments below!

2015 NBA Draft Rumors: Who is Headed Where?

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2015 NBA Draft: Karl-Anthony Towns and the Top Lottery Locks
31 Mar

The 2015 NBA Draft is just under three full weeks away, as we’ll finally learn where college basketball’s top prospects will play professionally on June 25th. With that date drawing closer, NBA Draft rumors are starting to swirl like crazy, with many of the biggest names being involved in all kinds of draft talk.

Who will the Minnesota Timberwolves take with the first overall pick? Will the Los Angeles Lakers trade their pick? Where will all the big names go? We won’t lay out our final 2015 NBA mock draft just yet, but in an effort to better understand everyone’s value and possible landing spots, let’s peruse the latest NBA rumors and see what just might stick come draft night.

Minnesota’s Potential Pick

There haven’t been any obvious rumors regarding the Timberwolves, who almost certainly have to have their pick down between the draft’s two best bigs – Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor. There is also an odd rumor that Minnesota could be interested in point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, but considering they already have Ricky Rubio (who they just signed to a big deal) and Zach Lavine, that doesn’t make much sense. That is, unless they want to move on from Rubio and think they have a good trade coming their way. The odds still rest with one of the big men, as Towns has the physical presence and upside and Okafor is probably the more polished scorer with better footwork. Either way, Minnesota probably can’t miss here.

Laker Options

Los Angeles is a tough team to gauge right now, because they probably aren’t trading their pick (although they haven’t said no to the idea), and they could be stuck just taking whatever big man the Timberwolves don’t. That’s not a bad thing, though, as both Towns and Okafor are NBA-ready bigs who can make a significant impact right now and also have bright futures as potential superstars. The odds suggest Okafor would fall into their laps at the two spot right now, but the team has also met and worked out Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell. Russell has been talked up as a lead guard or a shooting guard (probably more ideal) and perhaps the Lakers view him as the long-term replacement for Kobe Bryant, who is expected to retire after the 2015-16 NBA season.

Knicks Eyeing Justise Winslow?

The Knicks are all over the map, which makes them one of the more interesting cases to follow during draft season. They really could use talent in any position and despite rumors that they’ll just abandon ship and trade down, the #4 pick could still get them a very solid player. They’ve been linked to Justise Winslow, who could be a great wing player at the two or three. If they plan on using Carmelo Anthony at the four then Winslow would be a great find at the three spot, although he seems to have the ability to play shooting guard if need be, as well.

Winslow is probably their best option at four, as he carries the highest upside, but they have reportedly also been linked to Kentucky big man Willie Cauley-Stein. That’s another move that makes plenty of sense, since the Knicks have absolutely nothing to speak of down low at the five spot. New York has also been tied to another Kentucky player in Trey Lyles, while point guard Emmanuel Mudiay would also deserve serious consideration.

Of course, they also have been tightly tied to Murray State point guard Cameron Payne, which could (and should) involve them trading down. Picking Payne at #4 would be insane considering he’s a mid-round prospect, at best, and the Knicks could acquire other assets by moving down in the draft. New York could have something else up it’s sleeve, but the latest buzz suggests them trading down is a real possibility.

OKC Likes Stanley Johnson?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a weird lottery team, as they have a talented enough roster (when healthy) to make a championship run, yet they can load up with some more talent with the 14th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft. They just might if they can find a way to get their hands on Arizona swing man Stanley Johnson, who they are reportedly smitten with. The main problem is he’s far too talented to slide to the 14th pick, which means they may have to consider making a move up in the lottery. Johnson could serve as a great scorer off the bench the way James Harden used to, while he could also project as a decent long-term replacement should Kevin Durant leave in free agency next year.

Got a hot NBA Draft rumor to add to the list? Let us hear it in the comments below!

7 Reasons Why You Can’t Help But Love Stephen Curry

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Why You Can't Help But Love Stephen Curry
31 Mar

There might not be a better or hotter player in the 2015 NBA playoffs right now than Golden State Warriors stud point guard, Stephen Curry. The league’s MVP for the 2014-15 season has only gotten better as the Warriors have advanced through the playoffs and capped yet another strong performance as the Warriors took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night.

Where do Curry and the Warriors go from here? That’s anyone’s guess. They’re facing a Rockets team that stormed back from a 3-1 hole in round two, so we can’t say they’re NBA Finals bound just yet. However, with Curry playing like he is, it certainly feels like a prediction worth vouching for. That being said, let’s sit back and enjoy the ride as we remind ourselves with a few reasons why Stephen Curry is so fun to watch:

The Black Mamba Approves

Kobe Bryant doesn’t hand out compliments very easily and definitely not very often. He couldn’t help himself last night, though, as Curry poured in 33 points and helped the Warriors beat the Rockets by one point. Bryant didn’t just approve, he made a fair point that defenses try to trick Curry into taking would-be tough shots. As Bryant notes, though, those so-called tough shots are the exact shots Curry seems to prefer. And then he knocks them down repeatedly.

He Breaks Records

His game alone is impressive (and in so many ways), but what do you say about a guy who sets records and then proceeds to break his own. Curry set the record for made three’s in a season two years ago (272) and that was astonishing enough. Then he broke it this year by hitting 286 from deep.

His Daughter is Cute as Heck

Hey, we had to throw it in here, right? Curry makes magic on the basketball court and he also played a hand in creating an adorable little girl. She even seems to have some of his swagger already. One has to wonder if one day she’ll sport something remotely close to her dad’s jump shot, as well.

All-Time List-er

Curry is so good, that at just 27 years old (in March), he’s already 50th on the all-time three-pointers made list for NBA history. Ray Allen sits atop the league with considerably more (2,973 to 1,191) but it’s arguable Curry has at least another 8-10 years to chase him down. Even if Curry somehow doesn’t take the career crown for three-point land, another season like this past year would already put him in contention for the top-25 in history. And he won’t even be 28 yet.

That Sweet, Sweet J

Does anyone have a prettier jumper? Not only does Curry have terrific shot mechanics, but he also can get his shot off as quick as anyone we’ve ever seen. In fact, he might have the quickest, most accurate release the league has ever seen. He’s not called the Baby Faced Assasin for nothing, after all.

Champion?

The best part about Curry might be that he’s playing a position that isn’t the easiest to dominate. There are a ton of elite point guards and what makes things even harder is that he’s carrying a strong team at this position. On top of it all, Curry is largely a jump shooter and defenses know his strengths, yet he continues to score at will. If he rides this play all the way to a title, Curry backers can suddenly put him in elite company as one of the best pure ballers we’ve ever seen.

Kid at Heart

Possibly the coolest thing about Curry is that he comes off extremely humble. He’s not cocky or arrogant, he loves to share the credit and success both on and off the court and overall he just seems like a good, genuine dude. Just as impressive, he seems to simply love the game of basketball and being part of a winning team – or just a team in general. His child-like reaction to an Andre Iguodala dunk probably says it all. Take a look.

Got another good reason why we love Curry? Let us hear it in the comments below!

NBA Gets it Right With Leaked Christmas Uniforms

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NBA Gets it Right With Leaked Christmas Uniforms
31 Mar

The NBA is giving us an early Christmas present: NBA uniforms that actually look cool. After badly missing on the NBA Christmas Day uniforms in the past, leaked images of the new uni’s suggest the NBA has corrected it’s past mistakes and will be pushing out a much better product for the 2015-16 NBA season.

The guys at Uni-Watch.com unveiled the new NBA Christmas uniforms, and though we’re months away from seeing them on players when they’re live and in action, it’s still an exciting development.

No More Griping?

One of the biggest things about the new Christmas Day uniforms is that they should appease many of the star players that complained about the old jerseys that had the tight sleeves. LeBron James was one mega star that went public about his disdain for the sleeves, as he confessed it negatively impacted his shot. They looked a tad restrictive, so we won’t doubt King James on that note.

So, on top of potential improved performance on Christmas Day, we’ll also get less complaining. It’s a win-win!

Key Notes

Cursive! I’m personally torn on how I feel about the cursive font on the front of the jerseys for every single team, but it’s at least partially cool. It comes off feeling somewhat sophisticated and absolutely retro. That aspect has some of the Christmas uniforms feeling the same, but if you think about it, they probably should. Sophisticated appears to be the running theme here, too, as the fellas at Uni-Watch point out some other cool tidbits about the new uni’s.

In fact, the guys over at Uni-Watch make plenty of good observations and we don’t want to flat-out copy their opinions, so we went ahead and jotted our own down before reading their article. We did notice later that we agreed on some key notes, however. One big one was how these new Christmas NBA uniforms (some of them) pay homage to some NBA team’s traditional jerseys.

For instance, the Washington Wizards jersey has two stripes encasing their name on the front, just like they normally do with their current, regular jerseys. The Portland Trail Blazers also get their classic diagonal design around their name on the front of their jerseys, as well. Those are the two most obvious ones, while the Orlando Magic also have their usual blue pin stripe look, which looks pretty snazzy with the creamy white as the back drop.

The nicknames are also gone from the Christmas uni’s, which is good and bad, depending on how you look at it. Some people think it’s silly to use a nickname for a guy that basically is just his name (D-Will, D-Rose, etc). Names like King James, Flash or The Truth are where it’s at, but other guys don’t even have true nicknames, so it was probably a good idea to class Christmas Day up a bit this time around.

Best and Worst?

There are definitely some winners and losers in this group. We can’t be sure just yet which teams will actually grace the court come Christmas Day, but we know which ones we’d prefer and which should burn their jerseys right away. I’m not a fan of the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to the new jerseys. Perhaps the alternates with color would bring more out of them, but as they stand in these photos, they come off very basic and quite bland.

The best have to be Portland and Washington, as they look very retro and rather slick. Miami’s rich red jerseys look solid, too, while you could chalk up the Kings, Magic and Timberwolves as winners. The rest meet somewhere in the middle. Then again, I’m only one set of eyes and we have a lot of time between now and Christmas to decide which jerseys are best.

Which new NBA Christmas uniforms do you love or hate? Let us know in the comments below!

Aaron Rodgers Owns Celebrity Jeopardy

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Aaron Rodgers Owns Celebrity Jeopardy
31 Mar

Aaron Rodgers is easily one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He might just be the best one, overall. As it happens, the Green Bay Packers star passer is also a boss when it comes to Jeopardy.

Rodgers appeared on Tuesday’s Celebrity Jeopardy episode and destroyed in a variety of ways, as he ultimately topped fellow celebrity competitors, Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary and astronaut Mark Kelly. A-Rod took the win with a final score of $8,399, which won him $50,000 for his charity, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. While it was a noble cause and Rodgers’ win was impressive, it was perhaps his timely humor that stole the show.

After missing what some deem to be an easy answer late in the game, Rodgers later tweeted what he should have said.

Turd Ferguson references a character on Saturday Night Live’s parody of Celebrity Jeopardy, where SNL legend Norm MacDonald portrays iconic actor Burt Reynolds, who for some reason takes to the shows as a wise-cracking caricature of himself, better known as Turd Ferguson.

Rodgers did his best to offer his own jokes during his own stay on the actual Celebrity Jeopardy, as he photo-bombed Kevin O’Leary and also gave O’Leary a sharp look after answering a question with the word “shark”.

Rodgers was such a hit on the show, in fact, that long-time host Alex Trebek paid tribute by doing Rodgers’ well-known “discount double-check” move.

Aaron Rodgers took it to Twitter to mention that he’s now won a Super Bowl, been named MVP and is now even a game show champion. What’s next for the star quarterback? Perhaps winning another MVP as he leads his Packers to another Super Bowl title in 2015.

Think Rodgers was a hit on Celebrity Jeopardy or he should stick to playing football? We want to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

5 NFL Stars That Could Be Traded in 2015

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5 NFL Stars That Could Be Traded in 2015
31 Mar

It’s far too early in the NFL off-season to assume teams as we see them are already in their final form. We just got done with the 2015 NFL Draft and teams will be finalizing their key rookie and free agent signings, but before long some will be looking for a major change via another venue: trades.

Some big names are floating around the rumor mill as possible trade candidates, and some could even dramatically change the fortunes of their new team, should they be traded. While trade rumors involving guys like Philip Rivers and Sam Bradford once ruled the headlines, those guys are now near-locks to stay put. Let’s take a look at the five biggest names that could actually be on the move, who could trade for them and why you should care:

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears

There are several reasons why the ever talented, yet always disappointing Cutler could be on his way out of Chi-town. On top of Cutler seemingly always being hurt, always having a poor attitude, turning the ball over too much and not winning enough, we also have to face the reality that a new regime is in town. Chicago declined to draft a new franchise passer in the 2015 NFL Draft, but if John Fox and co. don’t think they can win with him, they might be best served to just start over.

Cutler’s hefty contract is rather tricky, as few teams will both want to eat his salary and actually see him as their answer. There is also the matter of the Bears not having a legit, competent passer in place of the potentially departing Cutler. Even so, the Bears could opt to unload Cutler if the right deal comes to them. Teams that could be a quarterback away from competing include the Bills, Jets and possibly even the Browns.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

The latest buzz has Peterson staying put in Minnesota, but it’s possible Minnesota’s steadfast love for their franchise player could be a PR ploy to make him look like the bad guy, and not them. They also could just want to get all they can out of one of the best running backs in the league. Peterson may end up staying put, but he surely won’t want for suitors. The Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals have been tied to him in rumors in the past and could once again emerge as trade suitors.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A once promising talent that put up a staggering 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground as a rookie, The Muscle Hamster has been in a free fall over the past two years. It arguably had much more to do with a shaky offensive line, injury and then a new coach and system in 2014, but Martin has still not been the elite back many expected him to be. The Bucs also just declined his option for next season and appear to have “their guy” in Charles Sims. If Martin isn’t traded this year, he’ll find a new home next year.

Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers

If Davis has any trade value left, the 49ers may want to take advantage of it. Davis regressed severely in 2014, thanks to injury and Colin Kaepernick failing to find him as he had in the past. There’s still a chance Davis buys into the new system and rebounds in 2014, but the Niners could also choose to cut bait with four other tight ends on the roster ready to compete for a bigger role. Now 31 years old and in a contract year, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Davis traded from the only team he’s ever known.

Mychal Kendricks, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Normally a smart team wouldn’t try to trade such a solid player in Kendricks, who is a balanced inside presence at linebacker. Unfortunately, he’s entering a contract year and the Eagles don’t seem too excited about paying him. More importantly, they appear content with Kiko Alonso and Demeco Ryans operating on the inside of their 3-4 defense and they don’t want to lose a talented player like Kendricks for nothing in free agency. With value to be had, there have already been whispers that Philly has tried to get as high as a second round pick for him. That won’t happen, but teams seeking help on the inside like the Packers could engage in talks regarding as high as a fourth-round pick.

Have an idea where these guys might be headed or have other trade candidates in mind? Let us hear about it in the comments below!