Long time and careful readers of the blog will remember our amazing football prognostications last year, when we went a documented 167-4.
Perhaps the glow of our success last year has altered our memory of the exact record, but all kidding aside we were picking games at about a 75-80% success rate, including the documented astounding pick, on record, that the lowly Dolphins would outright beat the mighty Bears.
Training camps open next week, and we thought we’d look at the divisions and give a preliminary prediction on the division winners. We reserve the right to change our picks based on injuries over the summer, and will make our final picks just before the season begins.
Remember…ahem…this is for fun only.
AFC EAST
NE Patriots
NY Jets
Miami Dolphins
Buffalo losers.
AFC SOUTH (why aren’t the Fins in the south?)
Colts
Texans
Titans
Jaguars
(Second year jinx strikes Vince Young of the Titans)
AFC WEST
San Diego
Denver
KC
Raiders
AFC NORTH
Bengals
Steelers
Ravens
Browns
NFC EAST
Giants
Eagles
Cowboys
Redskins
NFC SOUTH
Saints
Tampa Bay
Carolina
Falcons ( minus Vick…ruff ruff)
NFC NORTH
Vikings
Bears
Packers
Lions
NFC WEST
49’ers
Cardinals
Seahawks
Rams
Couple of surprises here. Starting with the NFC West, 49’ers have finally re-tooled and this is their break out year. Cardinals got the right new Head coach in Ken Whisenhunt for QB Matt Leinart and will make some noise, although their running game and OL line need to step it up. Texans will make some noise and Falcons are regretting trading Matt Schaub the best backup QB in the league last year to the Texans. Bengals have just too much talent to not win the division and the Steelers are only one year removed from their super bowl win. Ravens have just gotten too old to compete.
Our home town Fins just don’t have it. They may be a solid 8-8 but that’s all we see here. Ted Ginn, Jr., may just turn out to be the steal of the draft, but we think he will need a year or more to mature. The final analysis of Ginn as the number one pick of the Fins will always be linked to two factors: How will second round pick QB John Beck perform? And will Beck outperform the QB they passed on- Notre Dame star and Browns QB Brady Quinn. Ginn could make the pro bowl for the next ten years, but if Brady Quinn becomes a franchise QB, the Fin Fans will never let Fins head coach Cam Cameron forget it.
COLTS and CHARGERS are the class of the AFC with the Bengals and Patriots right behind. Yes, that’s right- despite all the high priced free agents the Pats have picked up, spending money is not always the way to win. Just ask Redskins fans. We think there will be some chemistry missing in New England, and there is nothing current NFL genius Bill Belichick (who is going through a messy personal situation of his own by being named as the third man in a messy divorce) will be able to do about it. The Patriots will be strong, but Tony Dungy is too good a coach, and Peyton Manning is the best player in the league. The champs will find a way to at least make it back to the big game.
NFC just doesn’t look as strong. The SAINTS look to be the class of the league (has that line ever been written before?) and we think the 49’ers will be close behind. The Bears will not repeat the great season they had last year. We are not sold at all on Grossman as a QB who can make it in this league and their defense is in turmoil.
So there it is. Our preliminary view of the NFL. Ride the 49’ers hard early before the line catches up with how good they will be. Over will be a big play in Patriot games, as they don’t have the defense but definitely have the fire power. Ditto for the Bengals. The Dolphins? Well, if you want to put your local bookmaker’s daughter through college and help out with those new boat payments, just keep picking the Fins. He will thank you at the end of the year.
See You tomorrow.
Rump, I'm here with some of the blog regulars and they would like to know what this has to do with what the salaries are at the PD's office?
ReplyDeletenobody gives a hoot about football right now; we're all watching baseball and Bonds' chase of Aaron's record as the Home Run King.
ReplyDeleteSave it for September Rumpole
i am sorry to note the passing of judge edmund newbold. he was an exceptional judge and person. he was always polite to counsel and parties. judge newbold was from the old school when lawyers took pay cuts to take the bench, unlike today when a lawyer cant make a living they run under strange names to achieve an advantage with some voters who are ignorant about their legal ability.
ReplyDelete11:05 am- to reiterate LONGTIME AND CAREFUL READERS OF THE BLOG well remember our proclivity for correctly predicting the outcomes of contests in the National Football League.
ReplyDelete11:43- Give us Reginald Martinez Jackson, Wilver Dornel Stargel, Willie Mays, and of course Hammerin Hank Aaron over this pissant, spoiled, steroid inflated Barry Bonds. We could care less what he does. Hopefully he will get indicted and hauled away to jail before hitting 755 and 756. It would serve him right and preserve the integrity of baseball.
We did not knowe or ever appear before Judge Newbold but we are sorry to hear of his passing. If someone who knew him could write a nice post, we would put it up tomorrow.
HR
The Vikings will be lucky to win 8 games this year, Rumpole. Can you even name their starting quarterback? As much as you seem to hate Rex Grossman, everyone at least knows who he is and he won two very tough playoff games to get his team into the Super Bowl
ReplyDeleteToo soon for football. I love Bonds, and if he were white, you wouldn't say that. Go to jail? IS that the standard you'd like to see for all illegal drug users? And remember, steriods were not against the rules of baseball at the time. Your true colors are showing.
ReplyDeleteThose Sunday DUI power rankings sped off faster than Scott Olsen from an Aventura cop!
ReplyDeleteActually I was served with an injunction, I can't say by who, but lets just say his name rhymes with "limbo rest". Until I am free, no DUI power rankings
ReplyDeleteWhilst hiking So. Dakota's Badlands I came across a butte with internet connection and learned, belatedly, of John Thornton's appointment to the circuit court.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Judge John. You're a great lawyer and going to make an even better judge, but, most importantly you're a plain ole good guy--one of the best. As our ancestors might have said: Cono, Thornton go bragh, oi vey, what a mensch!
However, what is it with you Rothman? First Freddy, then Kevin and now John--you chase all your partners into the judiciary. One small favor is all I ask, David. In the past you have given us Satchel, Yogi and Leo, to name a few--for John's investiture, please, no more baseball analogies.
i made good money with ya Rump
ReplyDelete2:42 I totally agree with you!! And I have always been a Rumpole fan. No longer though. He has become a turd.
ReplyDeletefuck bonds, he cheated and you know it. dont scream racism on this one. or vick.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm over here at Carnoustie, Scotland watching the British Open, and I have this overwhelming thought:
ReplyDeleteErine Els and Bobby Reiff- seperated at birth?
I just have one question for Judge Pinero, does he have an IPOD and is it playing
ReplyDeleteBadlands, you gotta live it every day
let the broken heart stand
its the price you gotta pay
keep pushing till its understood
that these Badlands are treating us good.
Bruce Sprintsteen, Badlands.
For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
ReplyDeleteThat it aint no sin to be glad youre alive.
I wanna find one face that aint looking through me
I wanna find one place, I wanna spit in the face of these
Badlands...
Rumpole,
ReplyDeleteYes and in today's eloquent vernacular--duh!
And these badlands are "treatin' us good" in spite of the 106 degree heat with no shade in sight.
WHO CARES ABOUT THOSE HIGH PAID PUSS'S, NOW HOW ABOUT THOSE GATORS THOUGH !!!!!
ReplyDelete