12 weeks have gone by fast. When I started this blog 12 weeks ago I was trying to discover my identity. I wrote passively, was long winded, and my words were cluttered. Over the 12 week span i've cleaned up some of these problems but I am still a work in progress.
In ICM 501 we were required to have a blog. At the time I wanted to write an NFL blog. However, it was the first course in the ICM masters program. I felt writing a sports blog would be considered very cliche. Instead I chose to write about traveling. At the time I was commuting over an hour a day by car to work. Quickly I discovered this was not a topic I could sustain a blogroll for 12 weeks. The blog ended up being lackluster and I felt defeated.
This course gave me a second chance at writing. I chose a topic I was passionate about and built a persona around it. I'm still building that persona but I'm happy where I am right now. Writing about the NFL is something I have always wanted to do. It is the one thing I am truly passionate about. Although i'm writing for an audience, i'm really writing this blog for me. I love talking about this league. Sometimes I have no one to talk about it with. This blog has proven to be my conversation about NFL. I thought I would have struggled since this course occurred during the NFL offseason. I think that helped me. My writing was not about games but about deeper issues affecting the league.
As I continue working on this blog I will probably remove my pseudonym. Throughout the course I never shared my writing with anyone on Facebook. I only shared my posts on twitter with the professor and my group-mates. I was afraid that people would criticize my work. Now I don't care. People will either like it or they won't...and I am ok with that. I'll let my work speak for itself.
I enjoyed this course overall. The assignments were interesting and made me brainstorm when thinking about posts. Luckily I was able to adapt all the assignments to my niche. I never was sure where I stood in this course, but quite frankly it did not bother me. I made the decision when enrolling in this masters program that I could care less about grades. I'm doing this program for self happiness and getting 100% on everything is less important actually learning something new. I liked that we were split into groups. Sometimes in large classes it is hard to follow all 25 people on a message board. If you miss a day on the message board you are behind. I liked being able to follow 2 other blogrolls and give them the attention they deserve. I wish we did a google hangout at least once during the semester. I would have liked to put faces to names (at least to people in my group).
Going forward I am just "Steve", a passionate NFL fan who is excited for the upcoming season. I couldn't be more excited to reveal myself to the world and to get to work on my writing.
This is just the beginning...
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The NFL's Social Media Campaign
If you have been following this blog over the past 11 weeks then you have seen me write about the NFL's relationship with media. Regular season games get monster ratings for the networks. Post season games do even better. The league has learned how to utilize its relationship with the broadcast networks with the newest advances in television technologies (can you say 3D Super Bowl??)
That is why it's no surprise the sport also dominates on the social media playing field. The area of social media the league gets its most attention is twitter. Most NFL websites have blog writers and beat writers. Twitter is a platform for beat writers to share breaking news quickly to fans. If a story is of high priority, there is a good chance it will be written in a blog post. Twitter is the "preamble" to blog post. I follow many NFL writers and insiders on twitter. Half their tweets are about blog posts they are preparing to write. I've stolen their approach this semester and I do the same thing. I use Tiny URL to link followers to my work.
Players are actively involved with twitter. Think about it for one second, what corporate job gives you direct access to high profile employees? The NFL does. You can follow your favorite players on twitter, tweet them, and re-tweat their posts. On many occasions fans have received responses from a player they have tweeted. This is a great way for fans to interact with players and is another way of connecting fans to the sport. The league does have a strict rule prohibiting players to use social media during the games. I think its a smart rule. At some point their needs to be a sense of privacy in a locker room or on a sideline. I comparre this to an employer prohibiting their employees from tweeting in the board room.
The NFL also uses Facebook to connect with fans. Each day, my Facebook feed will show something like this:
That is why it's no surprise the sport also dominates on the social media playing field. The area of social media the league gets its most attention is twitter. Most NFL websites have blog writers and beat writers. Twitter is a platform for beat writers to share breaking news quickly to fans. If a story is of high priority, there is a good chance it will be written in a blog post. Twitter is the "preamble" to blog post. I follow many NFL writers and insiders on twitter. Half their tweets are about blog posts they are preparing to write. I've stolen their approach this semester and I do the same thing. I use Tiny URL to link followers to my work.
Players are actively involved with twitter. Think about it for one second, what corporate job gives you direct access to high profile employees? The NFL does. You can follow your favorite players on twitter, tweet them, and re-tweat their posts. On many occasions fans have received responses from a player they have tweeted. This is a great way for fans to interact with players and is another way of connecting fans to the sport. The league does have a strict rule prohibiting players to use social media during the games. I think its a smart rule. At some point their needs to be a sense of privacy in a locker room or on a sideline. I comparre this to an employer prohibiting their employees from tweeting in the board room.
The NFL also uses Facebook to connect with fans. Each day, my Facebook feed will show something like this:
The league makes an attempt to share multi-media with its fans. This is a fan driven sport and the more access fans have to its favorite players and teams the better it is for the NFL. By littering these types of posts on Facebook there is a better chance this link will be shared by users (this happens with viral videos all the time). Expanding your audience is always a good thing if you are a growing business; the more eyeballs on your product the better chance it has to succeed and make money for you.
The NFL uses video to assist its social media campaign. Video blogs have become the standard for most reporters. During training camp, fans want to see the newest practice videos and post practice soundbites associated with blog posts. Here is an example of a Jets Blog written by Rich Cimini of ESPN New York. Rich is perfect at writing two to three blog posts a day, tweeting about his posts, and supporting his writing with a video package.
My original proposal was to move an existing NFL franchise back to Los Angeles, the second largest media market in the country. This is something the league is already talking about and there is an online presence about the subject. If I were to lead up the social media campaign for this project I would create a webpage in conjunction with the league informing fans about the topic. The page would highlight my points for placing a team in LA. I would use twitter to tweet articles from this blog specifically relating to the topic. If the project grew attention I would utilize video platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo to distribute league provided video materials and commercials centered around the topic. If the topic were to be talked about on television, radio, or in print I would direct viewers to those distribution platforms through Facebook and Twitter.
When proposing a topic the most important component is the credibility of the writer and the source. I would make sure the information being disseminated to the public was thorough and accurate. Then I would take to the social media masses and spread my word. This has become the way of the world on the web and it has been successful so far.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Better Bounce Back Season in 2013?
The video bellow is of a show I produced at my job last week. Every once in a while I get to produce a show on a topic I am passionate about. For this show we argued over which NFL team would have the better bounce back season in 2013, the NY Giants or the Pittsburgh Steelers. You can watch the cutdown version of the show here or go to FanSportsLive.com to watch the full version.
It's no secret, I'm a Giants fan. But i'm going to disagree with the jury here and say the Steelers have a better shot at a bounce back season. I think both teams are talented. Call me crazy, but I think both teams can compete for a Super Bowl this season. But the Giants play in the NFC, which is far more competitive on paper than the AFC. Look at their division alone. The Redskins are a formidable team that won the NFC East last season. The Cowboys are full of talent, despite their ineptitude at the coaching position, and don't sleep on the Eagles, who I think will be vastly improved and could win between 6-8 games this season. The teams in the NFC East are probably separated at the end of the season by a game or two.
Meanwhile, the road to a division title is probably easier for the Steelers. Their main competition, the Ravens, took a hit offensively over the weekend losing Dennis Pitta to injury. I think they will still be a competitive team but miss out on the playoffs in the AFC. Last month I wrote a post about the Cincinnati Bengals and how they are primed to win this season. They are a threat to the Steelers. The Browns are a young team that is getting better but are nowhere near competing with the big boys.
Despite their age, I believe the Steelers have the best Quarterback and coach in the division; two components to a winning team. The last time the Steelers missed the playoffs was in 2009. The following two seasons they went 12-4. They have never had a losing season under coach Mike Tomlin. Their defense is still a top 10 defense in the league. Plus on the schedule they play the AFC East within their conference. They are better than 3 of the 4 teams in that division. I don't think enough people are talking about the Steelers and they will feel foolish come November.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Breaking Format, but for a good reason
I am going to break format of my blog for this one post. Although I love the NFL, It has always been a dream of mine to write and produce a short web series. For my capstone project I plan to create an interactive web page for a web show I have been writing for years with a couple of close friends. The goal is to produce, direct, and edit about 3-4 "webisodes" of our original web series entitled "Perfect Men".
Bellow is an example of a script for one of the episodes. I'm not expecting many people to get it right away. Writing for comedy is incredibly difficult to do. What one thinks is funny can be stupid to hundreds. Yet, this is our attempt. I would actually love some honest feedback on this script. Please take a look...enjoy!
ESTABLISHING
SHOT OF DINNER
CUT
TO 4 SITTING TOGETHER AT DINER BOOTH
ERIC,
STEVE. KEVIN HAVE HANDS OVER THEIR FACE IN DIGUST
GREG
IS HOLDING HIS COFFEE IN HIS HAND
Greg
What's
the problem
Eric
Greg,
this is the third date in a row that you have ruined for me...with a
ladder!
Greg
I
don't see why you are complaining! You said you were in the middle of
a project. Plus. I rented this ladder from sears hardware on a home
equity line of credit and I figured getting to your room the quickest
way was in a straight line. Hence, why i used the ladder.
Kevin
You
don't have a home, how do you have a line of credit?
Greg
Ask
the government
Steve
Whatever
the case, Greg, this is becoming a habit. We spend money on rent so
that we can pretend to have semi-nice places to take girls home to
and the property value goes down every time you arrive to "Help
Out"!
Eric
Yea,
and Crap! this reminds me that i'm behind on my rent!
Greg
I
don't understand why you don't just live at home like I do. All the
free bananas you can eat. "I am Potassium incarnate!"
Kevin
Why
don't you just ask for a raise at your job
Steve
Where
are you working now anyway
Eric
I've
been doing some part-time work over at the day care center
CUT
TO ERIC GETTING HIT BY LITTLE KIDS WITH BASEBALL BATS
Steve
Where
were you before that. I thought you worked at a coffee house
Eric
I
did until I caffeinated the Kiddy Cappuccino.
CUT
TO ERIC BEING BEATEN BY LITTLE KIDS WITH BATS IN COFEE SHOP
Kevin
You
need to get a job where there aren't any kids. Why not here...i mean
we are here all the time?...Hey Jose
Jose
yea!
Kevin
Any
chance you guys are hiring?
Jose
Whose
asking?
Eric
Well,
i'm trying to look for a new job. I need some extra pay to make rent
Jose
you
got Breast's?
Eric
we'll
no...
Jose
then
were not hiring are we! Tough break, if you had breast's no problem,
but this is a showman's business. You should try at the milk mart.
Greg
[cuts
off jose]
I
LOVE THE MILK MART..I'M THERE ALL THE TIME!
Kevin
what
the hell do you have to do at the milk mart?
Greg
Buy
Milk...I"M THE CALCIUM CHAMPION!!
Steve
well
apply, you cant lose..
Greg
I
don't understand why you spend all this money in rent to impress
girls. You should do what I do, just have sex with girls in your car.
Eric
The
thought of you doing anything sexual in your car makes my stomach
turn, especially since you drive every Saturday.
Kevin
Have
you no shame! don't you care that people can see you
Greg
no
no no.. i go where no one ever goes, besides i have mirrored windows
so it's impossible to see inside.
Steve
Greg,
those only work during daytime, at night you can see everything
Greg
No
No No, trust me, as a man who has had sex at least 3 and a half times
in a car, i know what I'm talking about. My windows are like my cars
condom.
Eric:
Gross.
But you know what? children don't hang out at the milk mart...I think
i'll apply. Can you give me a lift tomorrow Kev?
*fades
to Eric walking over to the milk mart, with Kev's car in the
background*
Manager:
You
know what, you're the most qualified applicant i've ever received.
You have an impeccable beard.
Eric:
why
thank you sir, it's my pride and joy
Manager:
you
look just like a dairy farmer. You got the job. Let me walk you
out...Milkman.
*eric
and the manager walk out of the store*
Manager:
So,
we'll see you at the opening shift tomorrow morning!
Eric:
Thank
you so much for this opportunity sir,
*sounds
of Greg over run, Eric's closing sentance, eric looks over at the car
moving in the background and see's Greg humping nothing in his car.*
Manager:
OH
SWEET NONFAT DAIRY
Eric:
NO!
*greg
uncomfortably humping something in his car, Eric looks sick and
proceeds to puke all over himself and the milk mart.*
Manager:
Oh...oh
that is not pasteurized....we can't allow any of our employees at
Milk mart to throw up all over the building...I'm sorry but you're
just not Milk Mart Material....
*kevin
pulls up*
Kevin:
Didja
get the job? Oh, greg's here. *HONK HONK*
*eric
looks at kevin*
[end]
Training Camp is upon us
To players it's similar to the first day of school. For fans it's similar to christmas day (well..kind of, week one is more like christmas but you get the picture). Training camp has begun for all 32 teams. If you're an NFL junkie like I am then you have been watching NFL Networks coverage of inside training camp religiously since Wednesday.
Training camp is great because it represents a fresh start. Every team is equal, looking to develop their own identity. It's great for fans because they can go out to practice and watch their favorite team up close. Most teams offer special incentives for coming out to practice such as autograph nights (the NY Giants did this sunday after their practice).
But there is one thing that teams hate during training camp...injuries. And already several teams have been hit with the injury bug early in camp. On Saturday the Philadelphia Eagles lost wide receiver Jeremy Maclin for the season to a torn ACL he suffered in practice. Despite the presence of DeSean Jackson, Maclin has been the teams most productive receiver over the past two seasons and is in a contract year. A tough break for him and the Eagles, as they look to learn a new offense under first year coach Chip Kelly over the next 6 weeks.
The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens also lost a key piece of their offense on Saturday when tight end Dennis Pitta injured himself on a jump ball in practice. Pitta landed awkwardly and was initially diagnosed with a dislocation of his hip. The Ravens were so concerned that he was rushed into surgery Saturday night where it was revealed he has a fracture in his hip bone. Pitta is also done for the season. This is sure to hamper the Ravens offense, especially since they were relying on Pitta and fellow tight end Ed Dickson to make up for the loss of WR Anquan Boldin (traded to the 49ers). The Ravens signed productive tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in an attempt to alleviate the loss of Pitta.
In Denver, the Broncos also suffered a season ending injury to offensive lineman Dan Koppen. Koppen was expected to play center for the team. This now leaves the Broncos thin on the O-Line as several of their other starters are recovering from off season injuries.
Injuries are the biggest fear of teams during training camp. Injuries in preseason games are even worse (a reason why the preseason should be shortened but that is a whole other argument). The silver lining for the Eagles, Ravens, and Broncos are that these injuries happened early in camp. They have plenty of time to adjust and move on with other players before the season begins. A loss to a star player in week 1 or the first month of the season can be far more devastating to a teams season.
Here's to good health and good competition for the next 6 weeks.
Training camp is great because it represents a fresh start. Every team is equal, looking to develop their own identity. It's great for fans because they can go out to practice and watch their favorite team up close. Most teams offer special incentives for coming out to practice such as autograph nights (the NY Giants did this sunday after their practice).
But there is one thing that teams hate during training camp...injuries. And already several teams have been hit with the injury bug early in camp. On Saturday the Philadelphia Eagles lost wide receiver Jeremy Maclin for the season to a torn ACL he suffered in practice. Despite the presence of DeSean Jackson, Maclin has been the teams most productive receiver over the past two seasons and is in a contract year. A tough break for him and the Eagles, as they look to learn a new offense under first year coach Chip Kelly over the next 6 weeks.
The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens also lost a key piece of their offense on Saturday when tight end Dennis Pitta injured himself on a jump ball in practice. Pitta landed awkwardly and was initially diagnosed with a dislocation of his hip. The Ravens were so concerned that he was rushed into surgery Saturday night where it was revealed he has a fracture in his hip bone. Pitta is also done for the season. This is sure to hamper the Ravens offense, especially since they were relying on Pitta and fellow tight end Ed Dickson to make up for the loss of WR Anquan Boldin (traded to the 49ers). The Ravens signed productive tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in an attempt to alleviate the loss of Pitta.
In Denver, the Broncos also suffered a season ending injury to offensive lineman Dan Koppen. Koppen was expected to play center for the team. This now leaves the Broncos thin on the O-Line as several of their other starters are recovering from off season injuries.
Injuries are the biggest fear of teams during training camp. Injuries in preseason games are even worse (a reason why the preseason should be shortened but that is a whole other argument). The silver lining for the Eagles, Ravens, and Broncos are that these injuries happened early in camp. They have plenty of time to adjust and move on with other players before the season begins. A loss to a star player in week 1 or the first month of the season can be far more devastating to a teams season.
Here's to good health and good competition for the next 6 weeks.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Presentation: Moving an NFL team to Los Angelas
Welcome to the Kick is Good! blog. My name is Paul James, the writer and managing editor. This is our first video blog. We hope you enjoy our presentation. The season is just 7 weeks away. Training camp is opening up this week. Preseason games are start in about 2 weeks from now. It's an exciting time to talk football. But today's "Vlog" is centered around a league issue that I believe should be talked about in NFL circles. I propose the league move a team to the Los Angeles market. If you have been following the blog over the past couple of weeks you might have noticed my elevator pitches on the topic. Allow me to further explain why I think this idea will help the game.
The NFL is all about making a "buck". This is a made for television sport. It's a much watch every sunday in the fall. Local bars are packed, people host house parties, pizza and wing places are busy all day with orders. This lasts the whole day because you have 1pm games, 4:15pm games and a Sunday night game. The baseball, hockey and basketball seasons can't compare to the NFL ratings wise. It's not because their product is not any better, it is because their season is so long. Hockey and Basketball are 82 games over a seven month span. Baseball is 162 games over a 6 month span. When viewers are provided with the same content almost every single day of the week they will be more inclined to "skip" a game because they can just watch it tomorrow. Also the sting of a loss does not hurt as bad because their is a game the next day. That's not the case for the NFL. Every game is a big game because their is only 16 of them. A win in week 1 is as important as one in week 15. Hence why these games become must watch. They provide so much drama. Drama equals television ratings.
LA is the second largest media market in the country. I think the NFL has been foolish for not having a franchise in this market since the Rams left in the mid 90s. The league has tried to create a presence in there placing NFL network in culver city, but that fails in comparison to having an NFL team in town. From a television standpoint, putting a team in LA is a fantastic idea. It will produce more eyes watching the games on CBS, FOX, and NBC in the second largest market, because their would be a local game in town.
Some have argued that LA is not a great sports town. I disagree. I think its a bad sports town if a team is non-competitive. Prices of tickets are expensive. If a team plays in a large market they are going to charge more for tickets to the game. If the team is not playing well people are not going to spend money to come to the game. I know the Dodgers and Angels have suffered through this in recent years. But when the Lakers are playing well (and now the clippers), fans flock to the staples center. When USC football was in its hay day in the mid 2000's their stadium was packed and ABC was showing their games nationally ever Saturday night. This shows me that the Los Angeles market can support an NFL team, especially if it is an established winner.
Now the question becomes, how does a team get to LA? One thought is expansion. I am not in favor of this idea. Right now the league has 32 teams. It's a perfect number for conference structure (4 divisions of 4 teams each). Adding another team ruins this balance and makes scheduling along with division alignment a nightmare. Plus, expansion teams take time to develop talent. The Texans and Browns were the last two expansion teams. It took the Texans over a decade to finally become competitive and the Browns are still trying to win over 8 games a season. Expansion also dilutes the talent pool around the league since you would need more players. The NBA deals with this problem all the time and why they have discussed contracting several teams to make the sport more competitive.
My plan is to move an existing franchise into the Los Angeles area. I would start by looking at small market teams that have difficulty selling out their building for home games. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the first team that come to mind. They struggle to draw fans and their games are constantly blacked out locally since they don't sell out. Jacksonville is not a great pro sports town. It's a southern city which makes it a possible destination for a Super Bowl, but the league already did that once in 2004 and the reviews of the city were not positive. They are one team I would consider moving.
The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings are two other teams i'd be interested in relocating. Both have old stadiums. The Vikings are struggling to get a new stadium built in Minnesota. Both teams have decent roster talent (the Vikings made the playoffs last season). But the fan base in these cities are so passionate about their teams. Lets face it, their is not much to do in Buffalo NY and Minneapolis in December and January. Football provides entertainment for people in these regions. Even when these teams are bad (the Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999) they still sell out their building. I would rather leave these two teams in their markets.
Finally we come to the St. Louis Rams, a franchise that previously played in Los Angeles and left after the 1994 season because their stadium lease expired. Five years later they won a Super Bowl in St. Louis. The team was successful in the early 2000's and was able to fill its building. But since 2003-2004 the team has struggled to be a consistently good. Normally they are picking at the top of the draft. The positive about picking high is that you accumulate good players. I think the Rams have a good foundation of young athletic players, starting with Quarterback Sam Bradford and defensive players Chris Long and James Laurinitis. They also have a head coach in Jeff Fisher who is a proven winner and can coach in the big game. This team is on the rise. It's unfortunate that they play in a division with the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, otherwise I think they could threaten for a Wildcard spot in a competitive NFC. In two years from now the Rams could be a top team in the conference and an exciting watch for a new fan base.
Ironically, two years from now is when their stadium lease expires. Recently the team was denied $700 million dollars by the CVC to make advances to the Edward Jones Dome. When the Rams first signed a contract with the city of St. Louis on a stadium deal for 30 years, part of the agreement stated that their stadium remain in the top 25 percent of the league. Denying money for repairs takes the dome out of this percentile and allows the Rams to break their lease in 2014.
Stan Kronke, the teams owner and real estate tycoon, would not be apposed to moving the team to LA. Ultimately, the Rams to LA are a great fit. They already play in the NFC West division. Moving to LA makes sense because they could stay in that division. It would not affect the current structure of division and conferences like moving a team such as Jacksonville would. It also makes sense for travel purposes. Currently the Rams are located in the central time zone, which means most of their home games are played at the 1pm time slot. But, most of their away games are played in the 4pm time slot since Arizona, Seattle, and San Francisco are all west coast based teams. Moving to LA would mean all four teams would play in the same timezone, making start times consistent for players and fans.
More importantly, the Rams have a history in LA. Returning them back home would re-ignite the LA Ram fan base and spark a new interest in younger fans. If the team is competitive, they will play in nationally televised games and gain greater exposure to the country. The Rams hardly ever get a Sunday or Monday night national game in St. Louis. Advertising revenue from a new stadium in LA would help the team financially. Playing in a big market might attract some big name free agents. A lot of players live in California in the offseason so playing in LA would be convenient. And a new stadium in the market means a Super Bowl could be played their. Who knows? Perhaps it could be the Rams that play the first Super Bowl in their home stadium?
I've laid out how moving the an NFL Franchise back to Los Angeles is both economically smart for the league and a team. I think the St. Louis Rams are the team to move. Please understand that I am a fan just like all of you. I hate the idea of moving a team out of a city where there already is a fan base. I am not try to hate on the city of St. Louis. It is a great sports town, as evident by the Cardinals fan base. I just think the league and Los Angeles need the Rams.
Thanks for checking out our first video blog. Check back weekly for new posts consisting of news and notes about the National Football League. Enjoy the start of training camp and we will see you next time on The Kick is Good Blog!
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Offseason Improvements: AFC teams most improved and trending up
It's getting to that point where we can taste training camp. Teams begin reporting next week and fans get a first look at their favorite teams roster. Camp signals the end of the offseason. All the work by general managers and scouts putting their teams together through free agency and the draft are now complete. It's hard to make wholesale changes to a team during the regular season. The NFL is not like baseball where teams can make multiple moves at the trading deadline to drastically get better (you can blame the salary cap for that).
Two AFC teams that I think had a great offseason were the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins. Let's start with the Chiefs, who after a 2-14 season were bound to make several changes. Perhaps the biggest change came off the field. The hiring of John Dorsey as general manager and Andy Reid as head coach is a great foundation that the team can build on for years. Reid is a proven winner and won several NFC East division's with Eagles teams that had good, but not great talent. His presence alone on the sideline should provide the team with an extra 2-3 wins this season. Trading for quarterback Alex Smith in exchange for a second round draft pick was good value. Smith, although not a top 10 QB, is a solid professional that can manage a west coast offense. He does not have the strongest arm but is intelligent with ball decisions. He has a myriad of offensive talent to spread the ball to. Jamal Charles is a pro-bowl caliber running back. The team re-signed number one receiver Dwayne Bowe to a multi year contract. Drafting Eric Fisher with the first overall pick is not sexy but the right choice. Fisher will be a pillar of their offensive line for a decade. Teaming him with left tackle Brandon Albert will provide the team with strong bookend tackles to protect Smith and to help run the ball. The teams defense has some good players like linebacker Derrick Johnson and budding star Eric Berry at safety.
The Dolphins rebounded nicely with a 7-9 season after a disastrous 2011. First year coach Joe Philbin was a good hire, and has developed a winning culture in Miami (something its lacked since the Marino era). Quarterback Ryan Tannehill did not get the same amount of exposure that Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russel Wilson received (most likely because his team was not a playoff team), but had a formidable rookie season considering he had very little weapons on offense. He should improve in his second year as a starter. The team chose not to resign left tackle Jake Long (which I think was a mistake) and have yet to replace him with another player of his caliber. But they have improved the offense by re-signing last years leading receiver Brian Hartline and pairing him with pro-bowler Mike Wallace (formerly of the Steelers). Wallace is a burner that will provide Tannehill with a deep threat down the field. They also signed wide receiver Brandon Gibson, a productive player for the St. Louis Rams the past few seasons. Miami stole tight end Dustin Keller away from the division rival Jets by signing him to a one year contract. These additions should make their passing attack fairly potent. On defense they signed Dannell Ellerbe from the super bowl champion Ravens to play linebacker. Cameron Wake is still on the roster and I believe one of the best pass rushers in the league. They will pair him with first round pick Dion Jordan out of Oregon, who the team expects to contribute on defense right away. They lost corner back Sean Smith in free agency to the Chiefs and have not replaced him.
Overall, the AFC conference is a lot weaker than the NFC conference (a conversation for an article that is coming soon). The Broncos, Patriots, Ravens (although weaker) and the Texans are the class of the conference, with the Colts, Steelers and Bengals also in the mix for playoff contention. But the improvements made by the Dolphins and Chiefs put them right in the thick of things. I think one of these two teams could surprise and win a wild card spot. Right now my money is on the Chiefs who play in a weaker division than the Dolphins (they play the Raiders twice). Either way both teams futures look bright and their stock is trending upward.
Two AFC teams that I think had a great offseason were the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins. Let's start with the Chiefs, who after a 2-14 season were bound to make several changes. Perhaps the biggest change came off the field. The hiring of John Dorsey as general manager and Andy Reid as head coach is a great foundation that the team can build on for years. Reid is a proven winner and won several NFC East division's with Eagles teams that had good, but not great talent. His presence alone on the sideline should provide the team with an extra 2-3 wins this season. Trading for quarterback Alex Smith in exchange for a second round draft pick was good value. Smith, although not a top 10 QB, is a solid professional that can manage a west coast offense. He does not have the strongest arm but is intelligent with ball decisions. He has a myriad of offensive talent to spread the ball to. Jamal Charles is a pro-bowl caliber running back. The team re-signed number one receiver Dwayne Bowe to a multi year contract. Drafting Eric Fisher with the first overall pick is not sexy but the right choice. Fisher will be a pillar of their offensive line for a decade. Teaming him with left tackle Brandon Albert will provide the team with strong bookend tackles to protect Smith and to help run the ball. The teams defense has some good players like linebacker Derrick Johnson and budding star Eric Berry at safety.
The Dolphins rebounded nicely with a 7-9 season after a disastrous 2011. First year coach Joe Philbin was a good hire, and has developed a winning culture in Miami (something its lacked since the Marino era). Quarterback Ryan Tannehill did not get the same amount of exposure that Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russel Wilson received (most likely because his team was not a playoff team), but had a formidable rookie season considering he had very little weapons on offense. He should improve in his second year as a starter. The team chose not to resign left tackle Jake Long (which I think was a mistake) and have yet to replace him with another player of his caliber. But they have improved the offense by re-signing last years leading receiver Brian Hartline and pairing him with pro-bowler Mike Wallace (formerly of the Steelers). Wallace is a burner that will provide Tannehill with a deep threat down the field. They also signed wide receiver Brandon Gibson, a productive player for the St. Louis Rams the past few seasons. Miami stole tight end Dustin Keller away from the division rival Jets by signing him to a one year contract. These additions should make their passing attack fairly potent. On defense they signed Dannell Ellerbe from the super bowl champion Ravens to play linebacker. Cameron Wake is still on the roster and I believe one of the best pass rushers in the league. They will pair him with first round pick Dion Jordan out of Oregon, who the team expects to contribute on defense right away. They lost corner back Sean Smith in free agency to the Chiefs and have not replaced him.
Overall, the AFC conference is a lot weaker than the NFC conference (a conversation for an article that is coming soon). The Broncos, Patriots, Ravens (although weaker) and the Texans are the class of the conference, with the Colts, Steelers and Bengals also in the mix for playoff contention. But the improvements made by the Dolphins and Chiefs put them right in the thick of things. I think one of these two teams could surprise and win a wild card spot. Right now my money is on the Chiefs who play in a weaker division than the Dolphins (they play the Raiders twice). Either way both teams futures look bright and their stock is trending upward.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Most successful nfl franchises
This is the dreaded down time before training camp that die hard nfl fans like myself hate. To fulfill my fix I've watched a lot nfl network. Over the holiday weekend they showed a marathon of "America's Game", a documentary series about superbowl winning teams. It's amazing that out of 47 Super Bowls played, half have been won by the same 5 teams, the Cowboys, Packers, Giants, 49ers, and Steelers.
Each team has won at least 4 championships.
To put this in perspective, four teams, the Browns, Lions, Jaguars and Texans have never even played in a Super Bowl. The Bills went to the game four times and lost every time ( including twice to the cowboys and once to the giants).
Watching this marathon made me think of why these teams have been so successful. It starts with good ownership. Each one of these franchises is lead by strong ownership teams; say what you want about Jerry Jones but he always is willing to spend on his team! They all have drafted well which is a testament to their front offices. Names like Montana, Rice, Smith, Aikman, Swan, Manning, Simms, Bradshaw, Rodgers, and Roethlisburger are just some of the names drafted by these teams. Most, if not all of them will be hall of famers one day. And the coaching staffs have been legendary from Chuck Knoll's steelers, to Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys, to Bill Parcels Giants.
The best thing about these franchises is that they continue to stay competitive. A missed playoff appearance is made up for by a successful season the following year. Yes, the 49ers were dreadful for a decade and the Cowboys have not won a playoff game since the 90s, but recently they have provided their fans with competitive play until the end of the season. The 49ers literally were a catch away from winning the Super Bowl in February.
I don't see much changing this season. I think all five are playoff teams, with the Packers, 49ers and Steelers being the closest to play for a Super Bowl ( I believe in Big Ben and coach Mike Tomlin to have a bounce back season.) I'd love to see another team join these 5 in the leagues elite. One more Super Bowl win for the patriots might do it for them.
Who do you want to join the NFL elite franchises? Do you think I missed anyone? Chime in!
Elevator Pitch First Draft
Money Talks. This is true in both cooperate America and in the National Football League. For almost two decades the NFL has not had a team in the second largest media market in the country, Los Angeles. Many argue that a city like LA is too busy and not a pure sports town. Teams like the Dodgers, Kings, and Angels struggle to draw consistent attendance when their product on the field/ ice isn't championship caliber. But the NFL is different. It's the most popular American sport and their are only eight home games played a year. Based off fan success and interest in college football programs such as USC and UCLA, I believe a professional team would thrive in a city like Los Angeles. There are already 32 teams in the league, which creates an even balance for divisions and conferences. I don't believe adding an expansion team is the correct course of action. Instead, relocation of an NFL team is necessary for Los Angeles to have a team. I propose that the St. Louis Rams of the NFC be the franchise relocated to a new stadium in LA. Recently the Rams were denied a grant of $700 million dollars that would go towards repairs to their current stadium in St. Louis. Since the grant was denied the Rams have the ability to break their lease with the Edward Jones dome after the 2014 season. This is a young team that is on the improve. In two years from now they will be competing for a division title and potentially an NFL championship. If moved into a brand new stadium in Los Angeles they would be sure to draw interest and pack their building (something they are not doing in St. Louis). The Rams already play in the NFC West division and moving the team to LA would not mean division reorganization for the NFL. Also, the Rams franchise already has a history of playing in Los Angeles. Returning the team to the city would reignite the former Los Angeles Rams fan base and encourage a new, younger fan base.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Elevator Pitches
Pitch One: Moving the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles
- The NFL has not had a team in LA since the Rams left after the 1994 season and the Raiders moved back to Oakland after the 1995 season. The NFL is both a game and a business. Not having a team in the second largest media market is costing them dollars. The league could sell merchandise and stadium sponsorships for a Los Angeles based team. An LA stadium could also serve as a venue to a future Superbowl site, which would boost the local economy.
-This week the St. Louis Rams were denied public funding for 700 million dollars in repairs to the Edward Jones Dome (their home stadium). This allows the Rams to get out of their stadium lease after the 2014 season. It makes perfect sense for the Rams to relocate back to Los Angeles for the 2015 season. The Rams already play in the NFC West division with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals, all western time zone teams. Moving to LA provides a better travel plan for all four teams when they play within the division.
- If the league were to pick a team to relocate to LA, the Rams would be a good choice. The team is on the rise, rebuilding its roster with many talented young players after some very lean years. They have a coach in Jeff Fisher who is a proven winner and a quarterback in Sam Bradford who is a budding star. Their defense is young and aggressive lead by Chris Long and second year defensive back Jenoris Jenkins. If kept intact, this is a team that will be competitive for a number of years. If the league plans to relocate a team to Los Angeles its smart to move a successful team then a rebuilding team. A successful team immediately attracts fans. An passionate fan base means more advertising and merchandise opportunities and greater television exposure. This means more money for the league and the team.
Pitch Two: Creating a Tuesday Night Football Television Package for the last five weeks of the season
-This pitch can be both profitable for the league and the networks. We have Sunday night football, Monday night football, and now Thursday night football. Why not Tuesday night football? After December 1st the college football regular season ends. The NBA and NHL seasons are in their beginning stages. Weather in the northeast after Thanksgiving Day is cold, dreary and dark. Most people spend their nights watching television. I am confident a Tuesday night game would do well for ratings.
-The positives are that it creates greater exposure for the league during its most crucial portion of the schedule, the last five games. If the Tuesday night schedule adapted the same rules as the sunday night schedule then the league could "flex" important games into the time slot. It also introduces fair weather fans to more teams. Thanksgiving Day normally has good game ratings because people who normally don't watch the NFL have the game on (because of tradition). A Tuesday night game could potentially have the same effect during the winter months.
- A network would have to bid for the rights to this abbreviated schedule. That's a positive for the league because its an additional revenue source to the already established television contracts. In return, the network who gets the bid is guaranteed viewership and can sell advertising premiums at a high rate (most likely higher than what they would be getting for a spot on a typical tuesday night during the holiday season).
- The NFL has not had a team in LA since the Rams left after the 1994 season and the Raiders moved back to Oakland after the 1995 season. The NFL is both a game and a business. Not having a team in the second largest media market is costing them dollars. The league could sell merchandise and stadium sponsorships for a Los Angeles based team. An LA stadium could also serve as a venue to a future Superbowl site, which would boost the local economy.
-This week the St. Louis Rams were denied public funding for 700 million dollars in repairs to the Edward Jones Dome (their home stadium). This allows the Rams to get out of their stadium lease after the 2014 season. It makes perfect sense for the Rams to relocate back to Los Angeles for the 2015 season. The Rams already play in the NFC West division with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals, all western time zone teams. Moving to LA provides a better travel plan for all four teams when they play within the division.
- If the league were to pick a team to relocate to LA, the Rams would be a good choice. The team is on the rise, rebuilding its roster with many talented young players after some very lean years. They have a coach in Jeff Fisher who is a proven winner and a quarterback in Sam Bradford who is a budding star. Their defense is young and aggressive lead by Chris Long and second year defensive back Jenoris Jenkins. If kept intact, this is a team that will be competitive for a number of years. If the league plans to relocate a team to Los Angeles its smart to move a successful team then a rebuilding team. A successful team immediately attracts fans. An passionate fan base means more advertising and merchandise opportunities and greater television exposure. This means more money for the league and the team.
Pitch Two: Creating a Tuesday Night Football Television Package for the last five weeks of the season
-This pitch can be both profitable for the league and the networks. We have Sunday night football, Monday night football, and now Thursday night football. Why not Tuesday night football? After December 1st the college football regular season ends. The NBA and NHL seasons are in their beginning stages. Weather in the northeast after Thanksgiving Day is cold, dreary and dark. Most people spend their nights watching television. I am confident a Tuesday night game would do well for ratings.
-The positives are that it creates greater exposure for the league during its most crucial portion of the schedule, the last five games. If the Tuesday night schedule adapted the same rules as the sunday night schedule then the league could "flex" important games into the time slot. It also introduces fair weather fans to more teams. Thanksgiving Day normally has good game ratings because people who normally don't watch the NFL have the game on (because of tradition). A Tuesday night game could potentially have the same effect during the winter months.
- A network would have to bid for the rights to this abbreviated schedule. That's a positive for the league because its an additional revenue source to the already established television contracts. In return, the network who gets the bid is guaranteed viewership and can sell advertising premiums at a high rate (most likely higher than what they would be getting for a spot on a typical tuesday night during the holiday season).
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Got Jersey's??
I'll admit, i'm frugal with money. But when it comes to spending on the NFL I like to splurge. I try to attend at least 1-2 games a season. Although the sport is made for TV (and I have that covered with my 46 inch flat screen in my man cave) there is something about attending a game that makes fans feel alive. Going to a game is like going to a prom, you must dress in the proper attire. Winter games call for sweatshirts and knit caps. Summer games call for t-shirts and headbands. However, you can't go wrong with a team jersey. Although expensive, I believe they are the best way to show off your team pride.
I have one jersey, a Hakeem Nicks #88 home NY Giants jersey. This is normally what I wear on game day. I'm thinking about getting another jersey this upcoming season but i'm torn. First, the price of the jerseys are usually $100 (authentic ones). Second, is it weird to wear a jersey if you're not attending a live game?? I've heard women complain that it's stupid guys wear jerseys to the bar. "Why waste your money?? You're not a player...thats not even your name on the back of it." Five years ago I would have disregarded a statement like this. Now that I have other expenses its hard to at least not think about it.
Should I buy a second jersey for the season? This is my summer debate. What are your thoughts? Are you a jersey wearer??
Monday, July 1, 2013
The Backup QB: An alternative publishing plan
Over the past six weeks I have been able to explore some thought compelling topics related to the national football league. One of my favorite pieces on this blog is my post about the death of the linebacker. If you have not yet read the piece here is a link . This piece is not a summary article. It doesn't talk about stats. It is not focused on one particular player or team. The reason I like this piece is because it's thought provoking. It examines an issue in the league that is not being discussed. Obviously, I think it is an important topic to breach.
I've always been a fan on sports journalism. More so, I've been a fan of sports storytelling. I love watching programs such as HBO's Real Sports or ESPN's Outside the Lines, because the examine the game as more than just highlights. A criticism that I have of sports programs is that they are obsessed with highlights and care more about the sizzle than the substance. That is not my style and you wont see it in my writing. My piece on the death of the linebacker was meant to have a feel similar to what you would see on a 60 minutes sports addition or an E60 episode.
Focusing back on NFL literature, I've always been a fan of the traditional sites like NFL.com and CBSSports.com/NFL. But my favorite places to read articles on the NFL are on larger editorial sites such as Pro Football Talk.com or Bleacher Report. If my work were being published elsewhere, a site like these would be the target location. I've structured my style to mimic those publications.
Bleacher Report has an entire application process for getting your work published on their site. Although they do not require you to be a professional writer they do encourage blogger to have some experience and samples of work to submit for review. Their process seems inviting for a young aspiring sports writer.
PFT and the other television avenues mentioned above are usually contributed to by staff or freelance writers that work for either Disney, Turner, CBS, or NBC. To contribute to these sites you will need years of experience mixed with strong examples of writing. Maybe if I write long enough I could work at one of these corporations one day (although I already work for one of them...not telling though)
Proposal: My Voice and My Promises
Six weeks ago I started this blog. I was asked to write a bio, make a case for why I should be writing about the NFL, and post a resume of my credentials. Everything was rough. I was relearning how to write. I was trying to discover my voice. I was hoping to develop an audience. I was too passive. Six weeks has gone by and I know progress has been made. I'm writing with less fluff. I'm proof reading better. I'm writing and then re-writing sentences. I'm trying not to waste the readers time.
I now have a foundation. I'm confident that I can build on what I have learned. So here is my relaunch, my proposal, my guarantee for the next six weeks. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Paul James and this is "The Kick Is Good Blog".
My voice is opinionated. I'm not afraid to criticize the league I love. I'm not afraid to admit I root for a particular team or player. I'm not afraid of the audience not liking what I have to say.
My voice is insightful. I'm a passionate fan of this league for almost two decades. The game has brought me happiness in victory and sorrow in defeat. I've seen moments that will stick with me forever. I've cried over losses and jumped for joy over victories. I have a relationship with the sport that is incredibly personal. When things are going well I feel great. When things are going bad (like last weeks events) I feel anger.
My voice is thought provoking. When you read my work I want you to internalize it. I want you to think before commenting. I welcome arguments to my theories. I love discussion about my topics. I would not be writing about this if I wasn't interested in debate. That is what makes sport fun after all isn't it?
My voice is knowledgeable. Anyone can memorize stats, but I am interested in how those stats fit in a context. I can make a case for why a team's defensive stats are misleading because of the division they are playing in, why a quarterbacks completion percentage is less important than being able to make the big throw in a big spot, and why a specific division is going to have 3 playoff teams based off their strength of schedule.
These are all traits of my writing that you have been getting to know over the past six weeks. Hopefully you have enjoyed to this point. But as an author I owe you more. Here is my promise to you over the next six weeks. Since we are a fan of lists, let's format my proposal in such a way.
- I propose creating a more consistent voice. A voice that stays opinionated, insightful, knowledgeable and thought provoking. A voice that communicates with its readers more than once a week. Look for more than one league related post from here forward.
- One reason why I have not written more than one post a week is because I put so much effort into one long post for my readers. That is going to change. Look for shorter posts but at a greater quantity. I will try my best not to sacrifice quantity over quality.
- I will make a better presence know on twitter. I admit, I am not a big fan of the "twitter sphere". Maybe it is because I have not given it a chance and don't realize its power. Look for more posts from"@pj_thekickisgood" in the next 6 weeks.
-I have always loved video. I've debated doing a video blog post. Yes, this is a writing medium, but I'm naive' to think the future of online communication is through just written text. Video supports the written and vice versa. Look for at least one video blog in the next 6 weeks.
- Look for posts with thought provoking questions. Part of this job is to be a fire starter. I love creating a dialogue, especially about this league that I care so deeply for. I want to engage my audience and to evoke emotion (both good or bad).
- I want to continue to write for the informed audience. I owe it to the educated fan to continue writing passionately. But, I am also going to make an effort to write for the un-informed audience. I feel this will be my biggest challenge. How can I write for someone un-informed and keep it concise enough that they won't leave the page? That is a major goal.
My work is cut out for me. I know I am better prepared then when I started. Progress is important. Advances each week will help me get this blog to where it needs to be. I'm going to use a simile and say that this blog is like the NFL season. The first 6 weeks were similar to the offseason. Now we have approached training camp (which is beginning at the end of July). By the end of this course I will be ready for the start of the season.
Hopefully by the end of this course the kick will indeed be good...
I now have a foundation. I'm confident that I can build on what I have learned. So here is my relaunch, my proposal, my guarantee for the next six weeks. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Paul James and this is "The Kick Is Good Blog".
My voice is opinionated. I'm not afraid to criticize the league I love. I'm not afraid to admit I root for a particular team or player. I'm not afraid of the audience not liking what I have to say.
My voice is insightful. I'm a passionate fan of this league for almost two decades. The game has brought me happiness in victory and sorrow in defeat. I've seen moments that will stick with me forever. I've cried over losses and jumped for joy over victories. I have a relationship with the sport that is incredibly personal. When things are going well I feel great. When things are going bad (like last weeks events) I feel anger.
My voice is thought provoking. When you read my work I want you to internalize it. I want you to think before commenting. I welcome arguments to my theories. I love discussion about my topics. I would not be writing about this if I wasn't interested in debate. That is what makes sport fun after all isn't it?
My voice is knowledgeable. Anyone can memorize stats, but I am interested in how those stats fit in a context. I can make a case for why a team's defensive stats are misleading because of the division they are playing in, why a quarterbacks completion percentage is less important than being able to make the big throw in a big spot, and why a specific division is going to have 3 playoff teams based off their strength of schedule.
These are all traits of my writing that you have been getting to know over the past six weeks. Hopefully you have enjoyed to this point. But as an author I owe you more. Here is my promise to you over the next six weeks. Since we are a fan of lists, let's format my proposal in such a way.
- I propose creating a more consistent voice. A voice that stays opinionated, insightful, knowledgeable and thought provoking. A voice that communicates with its readers more than once a week. Look for more than one league related post from here forward.
- One reason why I have not written more than one post a week is because I put so much effort into one long post for my readers. That is going to change. Look for shorter posts but at a greater quantity. I will try my best not to sacrifice quantity over quality.
- I will make a better presence know on twitter. I admit, I am not a big fan of the "twitter sphere". Maybe it is because I have not given it a chance and don't realize its power. Look for more posts from"@pj_thekickisgood" in the next 6 weeks.
-I have always loved video. I've debated doing a video blog post. Yes, this is a writing medium, but I'm naive' to think the future of online communication is through just written text. Video supports the written and vice versa. Look for at least one video blog in the next 6 weeks.
- Look for posts with thought provoking questions. Part of this job is to be a fire starter. I love creating a dialogue, especially about this league that I care so deeply for. I want to engage my audience and to evoke emotion (both good or bad).
- I want to continue to write for the informed audience. I owe it to the educated fan to continue writing passionately. But, I am also going to make an effort to write for the un-informed audience. I feel this will be my biggest challenge. How can I write for someone un-informed and keep it concise enough that they won't leave the page? That is a major goal.
My work is cut out for me. I know I am better prepared then when I started. Progress is important. Advances each week will help me get this blog to where it needs to be. I'm going to use a simile and say that this blog is like the NFL season. The first 6 weeks were similar to the offseason. Now we have approached training camp (which is beginning at the end of July). By the end of this course I will be ready for the start of the season.
Hopefully by the end of this course the kick will indeed be good...
Sunday, June 30, 2013
NFL has character problem
This was a horrible week for the NFL..and not one game was played. The league found itself in the spotlight of the national eye when former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested Tuesday and charged for first degree manslaughter. Hernandez, who was denied bail, is also facing multiple gun charges and could be looking at life in prison. Within hours of being arrested at his home in Massachusetts, the Patriots released the tight end. It was a smart move by an organization that looks to stay away from distractions (though they did sign Tim Tebow).
Hernandez arrest was just one of three this week. Cleveland Browns rookie Ausar Walcott was also arrested and charged with attempted murder in New Jersey and Indianapolis Colts safety Joe Lefeged was arrested on multiple gun charges in Washington. This string of player arrests bring the total to 31 since the end of the 2012 season, an alarming number for a league that prides itself on policing its players. Ironically, all this happened on a week where the NFL held its annual rookie symposium, a traditional event meant to transition first year players into the league and teach them how to stay out of trouble off the field.
We refer to professional athletes as "heroes". I hate when people say that. Just because you have a special athletic ability doesn't make you a hero. But, it does make you a public figure. Being an NFL player makes you a public figure. Right now the NFLhas a public figure problem. Every year around draft time you will hear this term used, "high character" player. A high character player is one that possesses a unique skill set on the field and is a model citizen off the field (no legal troubles, drug or alcohol problems etc).
Since Roger Goodell has been commissioner he has stressed discipline and healthy choices. When players made mistakes he has been firm with punishments and suspensions, no matter how big of a star they might be. Goodell must feel embarrassed after this weeks string of arrests. His league now has a character problem. Think about the business division you work for. If 31 people were to be arrested from February to June you would probably be questioning the company's human resources department and wonder if background checks were being conducted before hiring employees.
It's impossible to police grown men 24/7. Teams and owners invest time and money into players expecting results and hoping they will stay out of trouble. When a situation like Hernandez's occurs you can't help but shake your head. Aaron had just signed a long term contract with the Patriots last offseason worth over 40 million dollars. What went wrong here? Others will look to Hernandez's checkered past where he failed a drug test while attending college in Florida. Perhaps this should have been a red flag to the Patriots. A picture at age 19 of him holding a handgun in front of a bathroom mirror doesn't help his case either. There are too many cases of immaturity and legal mistakes amongst NFL players. I'm not sure why this keeps happening. Does money dilute your mind that badly that you feel you can do anything and get away with it? I didn't know we were playing the game of life with Monopoly money.
NFL spokes person Greg Aiello said this week "{the league} have policies and programs that hold all NFL employees accountable and provide them with programs of education and support." Obviously the message is being missed. Perhaps suspensions need to be more severe. Maybe the education needs to be updated. 31 arrests in five months doesn't demonstrate accountability to me. Goodell and his team should be ashamed, as I am, a fan of this league for over 15 years and someone who roots for this "public figures". Something better change quick and its up to the league office to figure it out. I look forward to what they come up with.
Hernandez arrest was just one of three this week. Cleveland Browns rookie Ausar Walcott was also arrested and charged with attempted murder in New Jersey and Indianapolis Colts safety Joe Lefeged was arrested on multiple gun charges in Washington. This string of player arrests bring the total to 31 since the end of the 2012 season, an alarming number for a league that prides itself on policing its players. Ironically, all this happened on a week where the NFL held its annual rookie symposium, a traditional event meant to transition first year players into the league and teach them how to stay out of trouble off the field.
We refer to professional athletes as "heroes". I hate when people say that. Just because you have a special athletic ability doesn't make you a hero. But, it does make you a public figure. Being an NFL player makes you a public figure. Right now the NFLhas a public figure problem. Every year around draft time you will hear this term used, "high character" player. A high character player is one that possesses a unique skill set on the field and is a model citizen off the field (no legal troubles, drug or alcohol problems etc).
Since Roger Goodell has been commissioner he has stressed discipline and healthy choices. When players made mistakes he has been firm with punishments and suspensions, no matter how big of a star they might be. Goodell must feel embarrassed after this weeks string of arrests. His league now has a character problem. Think about the business division you work for. If 31 people were to be arrested from February to June you would probably be questioning the company's human resources department and wonder if background checks were being conducted before hiring employees.
It's impossible to police grown men 24/7. Teams and owners invest time and money into players expecting results and hoping they will stay out of trouble. When a situation like Hernandez's occurs you can't help but shake your head. Aaron had just signed a long term contract with the Patriots last offseason worth over 40 million dollars. What went wrong here? Others will look to Hernandez's checkered past where he failed a drug test while attending college in Florida. Perhaps this should have been a red flag to the Patriots. A picture at age 19 of him holding a handgun in front of a bathroom mirror doesn't help his case either. There are too many cases of immaturity and legal mistakes amongst NFL players. I'm not sure why this keeps happening. Does money dilute your mind that badly that you feel you can do anything and get away with it? I didn't know we were playing the game of life with Monopoly money.
NFL spokes person Greg Aiello said this week "{the league} have policies and programs that hold all NFL employees accountable and provide them with programs of education and support." Obviously the message is being missed. Perhaps suspensions need to be more severe. Maybe the education needs to be updated. 31 arrests in five months doesn't demonstrate accountability to me. Goodell and his team should be ashamed, as I am, a fan of this league for over 15 years and someone who roots for this "public figures". Something better change quick and its up to the league office to figure it out. I look forward to what they come up with.
Monday, June 24, 2013
New Wiki- Miguel Maysonet of the Cleveland Browns
Miguel Maysonet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Miguel Maysonet (born December 13, 1989 in Puerto Rico) is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stony Brook University on Long Island. He holds most of the universities major records as a running back. Prior to attending Stony Brook he attended Hofstra University on Long Island.
Contents
1. High School
2. Hofstra University
3. Stony Brook University
4. NFL
|
High School
Maysonet attended Riverhead High School from 2005-2009. In his junior year in 2008, Miguel won the 2008 Hansen Award as the top football player in Suffolk County. He rushed for 2,328 yards and 33 touchdowns, leading Riverhead to a 12-0 record. In 2009 he was honored as New York State Gatorade Player of the Year and won the MVP of the Empire Challenge football game, which pits the best players from Long Island against the best players in New York City. Miguel was a three time all suffolk county pick for football and given all-Long Island honors twice. He finished his high school career with 75 touchdowns. He was a four sport athlete and lettered in several varsity sports such as track, basketball, and lacrosse.
Hofstra University
Upon graduating from Riverhead high school, Maysonet was recruited by Syracuse University and Stony Brook University. Ultimately, he chose to play college football at Hofstra University. As a freshman in 2009, he led the Pride in rushing with 385 yards, scoring three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 68 yards. His best game of the season came against Maine where he had a career-high 95 yards. Following his successful rookie season, Hofstra chose to discontinue its football program due to poor attendance at home games and increasing costs to the athletic program. The university’s decision left many players such as Maysonet without a team to play for the following season. Many players chose to transfer to other FCS football programs.
Stony Brook
Following a successful rookie year at Hofstra, Miguel transferred to nearby Stony Brook University. In his sophomore season he rushed for 1,128 yards including four games where he rushed for over 100 yards. Behind Maysonet the Sea Wolves had the eight best rushing attack in the FCS and he was selected All-Big South first-team at running back. The following season Miguel played in all 13 games for the Sea Wolves, starting nine. He had one of the greatest seasons by a Stony Brook rusher, winning Big South Offensive Player of the Year and being award first-team All-Big South. In 2011 he rushed for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns. He set school and conference records for yardage in a season. Miguel had eight games with more than 100 yards rushing and two games with 4 TDs, also a Big South record.
2012 was Maysonet’s final season at Stony Brook. In 2012 he started all 13 games for the Sea Wolves in one of the greatest seasons by a rusher in FCS history. Miguel rushed for 1,964 yards (the 11th most for a season in FCS history) and scored 21 touchdowns. He was honored as the Walter Payton Award (outstanding FCS player) runner-up and won the CFPA All-Purpose Player of the Year award, as well as Big South Offensive Player of the Year.
NFL Draft
Following a historic college career at the FCS level of college football, Maysonet participated in the 2013 NFL scouting combine in anticipation for the 2013 NFL Draft. Maysonet posted 20 reps on the bench press at the combine and ran a 4.43 second 40 yard dash. Despite a decorated college career, few teams showed interest in Miguel prior to the draft. He ended up going undrafted.
Philadelphia Eagles
Shortly after the NFL draft Miguel was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. Miguel participated in rookie mini-camp in early May but was not able to participate in an Eagles mini camp taking place at the beginning of June because his school year had not finished. Shortly after the mini-camp Maysonet was cut from the team. Rumors were that he did not fit the offensive style of new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. The signing of former Dallas Cowboys running back, Felix Jones, may also have played a role in Maysonet’s release.
Cleveland Browns
On May 21st 2013 the Cleveland Browns picked up Miguel Maysonet off waivers.
In Cleveland, he will compete with Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya, Brandon Jackson and Dion Lewis, another ex-Eagle for backup spots in the Browns’ backfield.
References
Sunday, June 23, 2013
An 18 Game season: A proposal and a solution
When the NFL players association and the owners were negotiating the current collective bargaining agreement in the summer of 2011, one of the proposed topics was expanding the regular season to an 18 game schedule. Currently, the league operates on a 17 week season. Each team plays 8 home games, 8 away games, and has a 1 week bye between week 4 and week 12.
Personally, I am in favor of expanding the season to 18 games. Extending the season means more games, tighter playoff races toward the end of the season and more sundays to eat, drink and "pig out" with friends. Ultimately the players voted down the notion of a 18 game season because of health risk (a topic that has become important to many current NFL players). But, If they were to expand the season to 18 games here is how I propose the league structure the schedule:
- Each team continues to play their 3 division opponents twice (6 games in total) from week 1-16.
- Each team will continue to play one out of conference division in weeks 1-16 (ex: NFC East plays AFC East)
-Each team will continue to play 2 in conference games against teams from the other 2 division in their conference (ex:NFC east vs. NFC North or NFC South or NFC West)
-Each team will continue to play another division in their conference (ex: NFC East vs NFC West)
- Each team will have 2 bye weeks. The first bye week must fall between after week 3 and before week 8. The second bye week must occur between week 10 and week 16, essentially making week 9 a "re-start or second start" of the season where every team is playing.
-Week 18 and Week 19 will be treated as "flex weeks". Schedules will be determine after week 17. If there are close division races the top teams will play each other in Week 18 to determine the division winner. If a division winner has been determined already by week 18 and the second place team is fighting for a wild card position with another team in the conference then those two teams will play each other in week 18.
-Week 19 will be used as a tie breaker week. If a division is still yet to be decided the two teams fighting for first place will play each other for the division title. Also, teams directly battling for seeding will play each other. For example, if the number 2 seeded team and the number 3 seeded team are separated by 1 game in the loss column, they would play each other for the right to a first round bye.
I believe that this schedule structure will provide for a better end of season experience for the NFL fan. With an 18 game schedule there are better odds of an under .500 winning percentage team not making the playoffs because more winning teams will be involved with important games down the stretch. This schedule makes football more meaningful towards the end of the season in more cities. I think it would also place a greater emphasis on winning your divisional games and your division. Having to fight through an 18 game season just to make the playoffs could be exhausting for a team. This schedule system rewards teams that play consistent winning football over the course of the season.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)